"Gintan!" Dorothy yelled loudly above the calls of the others.
Ginta had dragged Keina off in a random direction, and had yet to find the others. Jack was beginning to complain again. Ginta, however, didn't want to give the impression of stupidity and drove on in hope of coming across them soon. When he heard Dorothy's loud call, he turned and sped in the direction of her voice. He could see a clearing up ahead, and knew that it was where the rest of the group was. Finally, Ginta thought breathlessly. He hadn't realized how long he had been running. He looked over his shoulder and caught a quick glance of Keina. He was surprised-she wasn't tired in the least. Wow, Ginta marveled, good stamina. Ginta, Keina, Jack, and Babbo finally arrived at the clearing.
"Gintan!" Dorothy cried happily as he came through the trees to the clearing. Her eyes sparkled with relief and joy as she embraced Ginta at once. "You worried me."
"Well, I'm fine. See?" Ginta said, trying hopelessly to escape the embrace. Keina watched this in amusment. It had been awhile since she had seen such feelings openly expressed.
"Huh, who's this Ginta?" Dorothy released Ginta and turned her attention to Keina.
"Oh," Ginta perked up instantly. "this is Keina. I found her in the woods and she has no where to stay, so I told her she could stay with us!" Ginta added enthusiastically.
"I found her, " Alviss muttered to himself.
Dorothy eyed her skeptically. She seems to be attracting too much attention from Ginta, Dorothy thought accusingly. But I wonder, those Arm are unfamiliar to me..I wonder where she got them. Dorothy changed her perspective almost instantly.
"Hi, I'm Dorothy." her tone was friendly and welcoming. "This is Alviss, Alan, Snow, and.." she paused slightly to make a face at the blond that was standing off slightly to the side. "..and Nanashi" she finished.
Nanashi smirked. He didn't like how the Sorceress had mentioned his name last, but it wasn't a large matter. Nanashi turned to look at Keina, and his jaw dropped.Something almost like a gasp escaped his lips.
Then, a sly smirk broke across his face and something sparked in his eyes.
"Did anyone ever tell you that your pretty gorgeous?" Nanashi walked over and stood in front of Keina. His voice came out smooth, like liquid.
"Not as gorgeous as my Dorothy-chan of course, but still quite so." He added. This earned him a glare from Dorothy, but he ignored it.
"So, what made you decide to honor us with your presence?" He inquired.
Nanashi's words were an extravagant compliment, and Keina wasn't used to it at all. She blushed furiosly against her will and had no idea how to respond.
"I..umm uhh.." Keina fumbled with words and tried to make them come out. Baka, Baka! she reprimanded herself. Pull yourself together.
Nanashi snickered. He was enjoying her reaction far too much. Keina looked up at him questioningly, but he wasn't looking at her face. His face was downcast and his hair obscured his eyes. He seemed to be in thought. While all of this was going on, Alviss was observing everything. A slight feeling of annoyance rose in him as he watched Nanashi's acti. Will he ever grow up? Alviss wondered dryly. His annoyance turned to anger as he watched the color on the top Keina's cheeks turn to pink at Nanashi's words. This is ridiculous, Alviss accused internally, we don't know this girl yet.
Alviss cleared his throat, which indicated the desire of attention from the rest of the group. They turned to face him.
"I think it's time we prepare for the night." Alviss stated.
The group just now noticed how late it was getting, and proceeded to fufill there nightly duties. Keina offered to help, but everyone told her to relax and leave it to them. So while the rest of the group was as work, Keina leaned against the nearest tree and examined the actions around her. Snow and Ginta were speaking with Alan, but their words were intelligable. Nanashi and Alviss, along with Bell, went to collect firewood and water. Dorothy and Jack had gone to find food, and had just now come back, both with a notoriously large amount of fruit in their arms. Keina layed her head back against the tree and closed her eyes. She hadn't been awake for very long, but she was already exausted. As she sat there, she wondered how long it would be before she was forced to leave the group. She hoped it would be a long time before that happened, but she had a sinking feeling that it was inevitably soon. Still, she decided to hope for the best. She sighed and opened her eyes, taking in the moment while she could. Seeing her emerge from her thoughts, Snow took two pieces of fruit and walked over to Keina.
"Are you hungry, Kei-chan?" She asked, smiling sweetly and holding out a piece of fruit. Keina looked up and smiled back.
"Hai." Keina answered. She took the offered fruit and and nodded a thank you before taking a large bite out of the fruit. The fruit was sweet and juicy, and satisfied every ounce of hunger in her. Snow smiled in satisfaction and took a bite of her own. Then, she sat down next to Keina and started up a conversation. While the two girls conversed, the other members of the group reviewed their opinions of Keina.
She seems nice, Dorothy thought as she took a bite of her own piece of fruit. I wonder where she got all those exotic Arm. I guess it's no matter at the moment, I'll have to earn this girl's trust and go from there. Dorothy walked over and joined in the chatter with the two girls.
I wonder how much experience she has, Nanashi's thoughts varied greatly from those of Dorothy. From the demonstration she gave earlier, not much. I guess I'll just have to change that. Nanashi smiled to himself pervertedly. I won't take long..
"Eck! There's a worm in this piece!" Jack exclaimed in disgust. He took the fruit and threw it aside, hitting Ginta on the side of his head.
"Hey, watch it, Jack!" Ginta grouched, picking up the fruit and hurling it back.
"A gentlemen does not throw things." Babbo reprimanded. This earned him a glare from Ginta.
Alan reached out and caught the fruit before it reached Jack again.
"Cut it out!" He barked and tossed the piece of fruit over his shoulder and into the wood behind him.
Alviss leaned against a tree, apart from the rest of the group. He wasn't sure why, but he was still experiencing the feelings that he had felt when he had stared into Keina's eyes earlier that day. The intensity that he had felt, the feeling that it gave him when he looked into her eyes, what was it? It felt like his insides were..melting? No, that wasn't it he thought. Then added darkly, more like turned to ash..
The night passed by with little action. Soon after they had eaten, the group had turned in for the night. Sleep passed quickly and morning came. Alan got them all up early for a trip through the training gate. A deeper probe into that plan, however, would reveal that Alan was eager to test Keina's strength.
"Alright everyone, get going." Alan said, eager to get the teenagers out of his hair for the day.
"How long are we going for?" Ginta questioned. He didn't look reluctant, just curious.
"Just a day." Alan replied. They all knew that this actually meant sixty days in the Training Gate, but only one day in the world of MAR.
Dorothy sighed. "Let's just get this over with."
"Shuuren No Mon!" Alan shouted and the three gates appeared.
When they opened Ginta and Jack hopped into the first one, Snow and Dorothy hopped into the sencond one, and Alviss and Nanashi hopped into the third. Keina looked up at Alan questioningly.
"You can go with Snow and Dorothy." Alan answered.
"Uhh, which one did they go into again." Keina hadn't been paying attention to who went into which gate.
Alan hadn't payed attention to that either. "Hmm, that one I believe." Alan pointed to the third gate.
"Alright, See ya." Keina replied and hopped in.
Wait.. It just dawned on Alan what he had done. He had sent Keina into the same gate that Alviss and Nanashi had gone into. Alan smirked. Have fun Keina.. were his last thoughts before he sprawled out on the grass beneath his feet and began to rest.
This chapter was the most painful to write. It bored me to tears and I almost didn't make it through. I plan to make the next chapter at least slightly more interesting. Please R&R!!