Chapter 6: Careful Observation

"Alright, let's get going," commanded Zakuro. She was standing outside the tent ready to go as we all looked up at her through hazy eyes

"What are you talking about Onee-chan?" Mint grumbled. "The sun's not up yet!"

"It is five thirty, and it is too; get up and moving; Now!" Mint slowly pulled herself up and followed Zakuro out of the tent lethargically but obediently. Ryou just rolled over and covered his head with the pillow.

"That goes for you two, too!" Zakuro yelled back to us.

Every one sat down to breakfast half asleep. The sun was just starting to really come up. Zakuro and Mint went over to Ami after eating to get the map and their specific instructions.

"I've never seen Zakuro be so bossy," comment Purin. We couldn't help but all nod in agreement.

"Let's go, let's go," she said again, clapping her hands together. We all scurried to clean up and grab our backpacks. Somehow, it seemed like it would be a very long day.

There were only four days left of hiking before we started the canoeing. I felt kind of sad to see this part of our trip end. So much had happened to me… I felt different… stronger; not just physically but emotionally too. I looked around at my friends around me. This last week and a half out here had brought out things in us that were undetected before. I could only imagine what the next two weeks would bring.

"Hurry up baka-strawberry," called Ryou. "You're falling behind." I scowled at him and rushed to catch up.

"Okay, we can take a lunch break." Zakuro let her bag fall to the ground before turning around to see Mint, Retasu, Purin, and myself slump to the ground, in unison, leaning against one another. She shook her head.

"At this rate we'll be at the next camping spot in half the originally estimated time," Akasaka-sama said sitting down with us. He turned to Mint. "Why don't you take over after lunch Mint? Give Zakuro a break." Zakuro seemed disappointed by her loss of control, but we were all happy to hear that Mint would be taking over.

"Alright!" she said, taking a sip of tea. Uh-oh. There was something in the tone of that 'alright' that was making me a little nervous. "I'll work just as hard!" Purin, Retasu, and I fell back against each other again, groaning.

"You know," said Ami handing us lunch, "I seem to recall a cold spring coming up soon… The water is so crisp and clean there that you can drink it without even purifying it."

"You mean no yucky iodine?" cried Purin with excitement. Ami nodded with a smile.

"Alright! I'll work extra hard then!" We all laughed at her enthusiasm.

The day was growing increasingly hot, making the promise of the cold spring sound better and better. Mint kept her word- meaning she was just as bad as Zakuro! I sighed and kept moving on. If Mint was in charge I couldn't give her any excuse to pick on me.

"Do you hear that," Lettuce asked about an hour or so later. We stopped for a moment. Rushing water could be heard just ahead. Akasaka-sama smiled.

"I believe what we are looking for is just ahead."

"Alright then, let's set up camp here and head on down for a swim?" suggested Zakuro with a smile. "I know I was rough on you guys this morning, but think about how much time we'll have to relax this afternoon!" We couldn't help but agree with her reasoning. I don't think we'd ever set up camp so quickly!

As we walked through the woods to the spring the vegetation began to clear and the ground came to an end. Soft vines of ivy hung above us partly shrouding the area below. As we got closer we could see the spring through the vines- there were several small platforms, each one cascading water over the next. You could see right through to the bottom and a cool breeze was rising up from it.

The spring itself was about four feet below our cliff, so we had to climb down on the rocks. It was completely worth it. Though the water was shallow, there were plenty of places to sit. We all kicked back and relaxed. Well, except Ryou. He'd said something about needing a nap and gone into the tarp. The more I thought about it, the more I realized he'd been kind of feeling sick all day. Suddenly worried about him, I got up and headed back for camp, leaving my friends to enjoy the water.

"Ryou," I whispered as I peered into the tarp. He was asleep. I lay on my sleeping bag, next to his, and looked at his face. He seemed to be in some sort of pain. "Ryou," I tried again. Ryou slowly opened his eyes and looked at me. Blushing he sat up quickly.

"What are you doing here Ichigo? I was napping!" I sat up and frowned.

"I was just worried about you, gesh. See if I do that again," I mumbled. He sighed and relaxed a little.

"I've got a headache," he muttered- which I guess was his way of say 'sorry for snapping at you, let me tell you the problem now.' "I just wanted to try and sleep it off, but it's not working."

"I can go get some medicine from Ami…"

"No. I'll live." He stretched and started to get up. I grabbed his arm and pushed him back down.

"Ryou, I am your partner on this trip and we're supposed to look out for each other. It also means that we are EQUALS out here. You are not my boss, and I am not your employee. Now, as your partner and equal, I am ORDERING you to lie down and let me get you some medicine." I looked at him sternly, which I must say surprised him immensely. Truth be told, it surprised me too! He simply nodded dumbly.

"Here," I said returning a little later. "Take two of these." I handed him the pills and a water bottle. "There's fresh spring water in there for you." I sat back beside him.

"Ichigo," he said after a while. "You can go back to the spring. I'll be okay here. Thanks." Wow, he thanked me for something! I guess this trip really was a time for firsts.

"I don't really feel much like swimming anyway," I admitted wringing out a cloth I'd gotten for a cold compress. I gently traced the rag over his face in an attempt to make him feel better. He smiled nostalgically.

"My mother used to do that for me when I had a fever," he said softly. I paused. "That was a long time ago…" I looked at him sadly.

"I'm sure she was a good person." Stupid comment, I thought to myself. But I really didn't know what to say in this particular moment.

"Yeah…" he said, a little more like his 'I don't really care' self. I placed the rag on his forehead and let it stay there. He looked over at me and stared for a long while. I felt my skin flush.

"What?" I finally asked him.

"Why are you taking care of me Ichigo?" He asked me sitting up. I blushed even more, if that's possible.

"What, can't I care about you?" Now it was his turn to blush. "Sure you're mean to me… and only me. Sure you won't give me a raise, though I work the hardest. Sure you tease me mercilessly and can be a real jerk sometimes…"

"Get to the good part," he grumbled.

"Oh yeah… despite all those things, I know you care about me Ryou. And that's enough to make me care about you. We're friends, right?" I smiled happily at him. He sat there a moment in kind of a dumb silence before a smile crept onto his face. He nodded. I looked down at the floor, blushing. His smiles were so sweet… they just did something to me.

Soft... Smooth… I felt the gentle caress of a hand on my face, trailing through my hair. I was paralyzed. He was carefully guiding my face to his. My heart was pounding in my chest as I tilted my head, preparing to taste his lips…

"Ichigo-onee-chan!" Purin and the others were returning. Ryou and I jumped a mile apart. "Come on guys, we're going to play a game!" she said peering into the tarp. Of course, this was Purin. Even though she was just a child, she wasn't stupid. "Oooh… what's going on in here?" She cried out excitedly. We both rapidly tried to shush her but it was too late- everyone was there.

"So what have you two been doing in here?" ask Mint suggestively. We both waved our hands frantically and claimed I was just taking care of him.

"I'll bet," said Zakuro with a wicked little grin as she walked away. I wasn't blushing any more- I was waiting for the ground to open up and swallow me.

"Dinner's ready!" Ami called. What a relief!

After dinner I went back to the little cliff with the ivy overlooking the spring… The sun setting on the horizon lit the sky in brilliant reds and pinks and lined it with lavender clouds. The trickling water was soothing to my ears… I took my shoes off and gently placed my feet in the water. It was cold… I wandered on the flatter part of the spring to a small carved out section where I found a nice rock to sit on. The stars were becoming visible now… it would be a full moon… I leaned my head back against the rocks, staring into the night sky. I'd never appreciated it before… I closed my eyes and thought about what had happened earlier. I blushed… he was… we were about to kiss…

I shook my head quickly, waking myself up from the trance. What was I thinking! This was Ryou! I couldn't possibly have feelings for him, could I? And what did Aoyama know anyway? Ryou and I were friends, nothing more…

Right?