Okay. I think this is the last chapter tonight (I've written... three, I think.) and the last 'nonsense' chapter before the main plot returns. c: Unless I have a dream that gives me inspiration. In which case, sorry. xD

Ari yawned as she sat up from her bed, stretching, grunting with mild irritation as the sleeve on her other shoulder slid down, exposing more of her chest. She pulled it up silently and stood, shuffling about in the room-

This was not home.

She struggled to remember what had happened the night before – after she'd had a mud-fight with Mnem (and Vreagon and Mor, as the two clearly couldn't resist joining in the fun), the group had… what had they done exactly? They'd eaten… after they'd washed up a little in the river, anyway. After they'd eaten, Vreagon and Mor retired for the night, and Mnem and herself remained awake. From there she had no idea what had happened. The fact that she was sitting in Mnem's room, sat up from his bed, with him right next to her, wearing his clothes-

Oh, God, what did I do last night?

Mnem mumbled softly, groaning and opening his eyes, yawning and sitting up. "Ngh… Ari? Awake already?"

"…what did we do." Ari deadpanned, staring at the man as he froze, staring back at her.

"You… don't remember…?"

"…Should I?"

"…"

His silence threw her into an even more fearful state. What had they done? They hadn't…- she gasped and stared in shock, looking down. Why the hell didn't she remember something like that! Surely she'd remember, she didn't drink, obviously. But then what else would explain all of this? Why on Earth would she sleep at Mnem's 'house' (rather, his one-room-cave) instead of her own, or him at her home, if they had to sleep together?

Mnem laughed. "I'm just messing with you. We didn't do anything. You wanted to come here to get away for a while, so we did. I think the truth was that you didn't want to wake up to the sun. You always bitch about that."

Ari relaxed, sending a half-hearted glare. "Don't scare me like that."

"Sorry. I wasn't planning to, but that look you gave me… I had to."

"Men. You're all alike, you know that?'

"Aah, no, I have to disagree. If we were all alike, Renel would either be nice or we'd all be assholes."

"Good point."

"Do I make any other kind of points?"

"Yes. Bad ones."

"Bitch."

"Ass."

They shared a laugh as Ari flopped in his chair. "New question. Why am I wearing your clothes?"

"You didn't want to sleep in yours, did you? They were all wet."

"…point well taken."

"I see we've moved on from 'Good point'."

"Because you seem so full of yourself I figured a little change was necessary." She watched him sit up and found herself staring at the little bit of skin that showed on his stomach, the shirt just a little too short for his semi-long torso. He sat on the arm of the chair and looked down at her, grinning. She grinned back, sighing.

"…I suppose I should get back home, huh?"

"Want me to come with you?"

Ari looked up, screwing up her face. "Hmm… now, let me see…"

"Ari. Yes or no."

"I don't know, I mean you did just give me the scare of a lifetime."

"Okay, okay, I get it. Never make you think we did something when we didn't, got it."

"And?"

"And what? I said I was sorry already." Mnem gave a toothy, confident grin, leaning back slightly.

"No, no, annnd?" Ari watched Mnem lift his eyes to the ceiling in thought, biting his lip.

"Hmm… I sense this is a trap."

"Oh?"

"Mm. So let's see…I'm sorry. I'll never do it again?"

"Nope."

"Aah… I accept my punishment?" Mnem tried, his voice rising in pitch for a moment in question. Ari shook her head, leaning closer, her eyes sparkling.

"Nope. Not even close, though I'll keep that in mind."

"Shit."

"Ha."

"Hint?"

"Three words."

Mnem froze, and the smile died on his lips. Three words? "…what… three… words…?"

Ari's eyes softened and she leaned back, sighing. "Tell me."

"Tell you what?"

"…how…you… damn it, you made this awkward!" She crossed her arms again, pouting.

Awkward. Three words. How he…-

…Oh.

He looked at the girl seriously, staring at her face. That was quite the step – though their kiss had been nearly two weeks ago (at least, their first had), he hadn't expected it to get serious – at least not in her eyes, since she seemed to be the least interested between the two of them – for a long time.

Yet here she was.

He bit his lip. "Are you… Aah… are you sure about that?"

Ari's face fell. "…I…No, it's fine. C'mon, let's go, okay?"

He could definitely hear the hurt. His heart jolted and his stomach twisted, and as he watched her retrieve his clothes he turned, already prepared for her to change. She shuffled with the clothing and he remained silent, the awkwardness in the air growing nearly unbearable-

"You can look now."

Mnem looked over and she smiled weakly, stepping past him. He began to take off his shirt and Ari turned her back, as well, leaning against the back of the chair from the seat. He sighed as he pulled up his bottoms, shifting his hips to make them a little more comfortable. He'd yet to find a shirt he was interested in wearing but he figured it was safe.

"Okay. Go ahead."

Ari turned and faced him, her eyes widening as she turned away once more. "Agh! You said it was safe…"

"…it is. Unlike you, I don't have breasts; therefore I have nothing to hide."

"It's still awkward."

"No more awkward than this." He left the comment hanging, and Ari fell silent, setting her head against her hands.

"…you don't, do you." She spoke softly, and Mnem looked up, peeking through the neck of his shirt. He felt much like a turtle, unable to pull the tight top over his head.

"What? No, no, it isn't that, it's just-"

"…Why the hell is your voice so muffled-…" Ari turned to face him, her face freezing up as she stared at him in disbelief, watching him struggle with pulling the shirt down.

"…what?"

"…It's a damn shame that shirt isn't green, or this would be perfect."

Mnem huffed. "Har, har. Help?"

"You sure you don't want to find another shirt…?"

"This is all I've got clean at the moment."

"We are going to be jumping in water. Dirt isn't important."

"But I want to be clean!"

"Agh-fine. You're impossible, you know that?"

"Yep. Now help me out of my fucking shell."

Ari giggled and walked over, latching on to the ends of the shirt and yanking them down. His head was freed from the neck, and he shook his head to regain a sense of control. She grinned at him and turned, heading for water, and Mnem bit his lip.

…Now or never.

"Hey, Ari?"

"Hm?" Ari turned, facing him, still walking backwards.

"…I… erm… I uh…"

Shit, this is harder than I thought it would be… it's just words. Won't kill you.

"…Damn."

Okay, maybe they could.

"You…?"

"…I love you." Mnem murmured, looking down. Ari blinked, surprise in her eyes.

"…it's… a bit early for that… isn't it…?"

Mnem froze. "…Wait… that isn't the three words…?"

"…No…"

"…" Mnem winced, opening his mouth to apologize –

Only for Ari to break into laughter. "Payback for making me think we had sex. Yes, yes, those were the words. A bit awkward hearing them from you though."

Mnem bristled, huffing. "And why is that?"

"…Don't know. You just seem so shy." She gushed, reaching over to pinch Mnem's cheek. The male grunted and slapped her hand away, though he couldn't help but smile at the attention.

"Am not."

"Yes you are. Oh, by the way-"

Just after she spoke, he fell into the water in surprise, watching the brunette follow him, grinning and flashing him a slow thumbs up, and without waiting for him she pushed off of the rock and began swimming away. He grinned and did the same, his chest nearly bursting.

"I love you too."