AN: Hallo! Itsa me, Xperya! With a new chapter to this story. Be proud people. Really long chapter ahead. With a little surprise in the end ;3. Also great thanks to littleflower54276408, Electronnik and Sabrine123, for reviewing last chapter. You guys rule! And Electronnik has probably the funniest ''roses are red, violets are blue'' poem I ever read. I spit my drink... Anywhooo, this is an emotional chapter, with really confusing emotions, and stuff. I'm hoping you guys will like this... ;-;

Disclaimer: Akyo,Zayenn,Keyan(you will find out who she is) are mine. Rest, riot games.

The shadows of her memories chapter 4

It was a relatively normal day. But this day, was special in a way. Today was the celebration of the Lunar Revel, and the festival was bound to take place soon after the sunset. Even if the young trainees weren't allowed to leave Kinkou by themselves, without being accompanied by a responsable adult, in the middle of this event, fireworks were going to be set across the Ionian skies.

Even if today was the celebration of such an important event, that didn't gave neither of the two young ninjas, excuses to not train. The sun was in the middle of the sky, while the two almost finished their ongoing battle. Akyo had improved over the time she had spent training with Zed. She almost mastered the staff, and was getting better and better at hand to hand combat. But Zed wasn't dissapointing either. He had gained a lot more control over his power, and became more relaxed, and was not so intimadating anymore. He was still intimidating, but still.

Akyo was looking forward to this day. Her mother had promised to take her and Zayenn, outside the order, into the beautifull festival. She always did, that's for sure. The Lunar Revel got everybody out of the order, for a well deserved break. The festival was for all kinds of ages, from young little toddlers to the wise elders.

With a final clash of their staffs, that sent both of the ninjas back a few steps, they decided to call it a fight. They bowed to eachother, and soon after, Akyo let herself to fall onto the ground, trying to regain her lost breath. She sat on the soft grass, her legs underneath her body, while she supported herself onto her right arm.

Zed was just as exhausted, but he found himself a comfortable spot onto the grass, next to her, he laid his body onto the grass, crossing his arms beneath his head, looking up to the skies.

''Are you coming to the festival?'' he heard Akyo say.

''Maybe,maybe not. If master will give me permission to go, I will, if not...'' he explained to her.

''But, you just need an adult to keep his eyes on you, don't you?''

''Well, yeah...''

''You can come with me, sister and mother. I'm quite sure mother wouldn't mind to take you too with us.'' he turned his head to look at her, and saw a small smile on her face. He couldn't deny now, could he?

''How about master?'' he inquired.

''Pssch. Master wont be a problem. I'll talk to mother, and I'll ask her to talk with master, so he will give you permission to come.''

''You really want me to come to the festival, don't you?'' he said amused.

''Why of course! You're my friend, and, honestly, I don't have fun just with mother and sister. It would a lot more fun if you'd come too!''

''Alright you win. I'm coming to the festival.'' he said closing his eyes. He let out an amused chuckle at her girlish ''yay''.

''Alright then, I'm going to talk with mother!'' She said, rising to her feet, but turning to him, with a cautious look.

''When I return, I'm expecting to see you meditating mister.'' she said, her face neutral.

He groaned in protest, and she let a smile pass her lips. She turned around and dashed for the order. She couldn't wait for the festival tonight, and the fact that Zed was coming too, only made it better!

~(o-o)~

Akyo as well as Zayenn and their mother, were all getting ready for the Lunar Festival. Their mother had opted for her usual white kimono, while Zayenn had gotten herself a red and orange one. Akyo was more a fan of blue, her blue and white kimono making her look so innocent. She had tied up her face's lateral bangs, letting her long ebony hair flow gracefully on her back. Zayenn had chosen to keep her hair untied , her dark bangs framing her face.

''Alright girls. Are you ready?'' Keyan asked her two daughters.

The tall, dark haired beauty that was speaking, was called Lady Keyan, proud Shadow Born of the order, mother of the two girls. She had long black hair, and stunning black eyes. Altho she was extremely cold when in public, she had a gentler side when it came to her daughters.

She received an excited 'yes' from both of them. Keyan was gratefull for this day. The only day Zayenn was forgeting her hatred towards Akyo, and both were enjoying the festivities.

''Alright. Let's go. Oh, and Akyo dear, where is Zed waiting for us?''

''Wait. Zed's coming too?'' Zayenn asked, eyeing her sister, and letting a cheshire like grin spread across her features.

Akyo blushed madly in response to her sister's new face. She knew very well what she was thinking of, and dear god, she wasn't getting out of this.

''Ah, so my little sister invited her boyfriend to the festival?'' Keyan tried hardly to muffle her laughter. Akyo was a living tomato, and Zayenn's grin was getting wider and wider by the second.

''H-He's not my boyfriend, what are you talking about!'' Akyo said, trying to keep her voice straight, hiding her embaressment. She knew this tease wasn't a rude one, and she was gratefull, but in all honesty, she would love a rude tease right now, instead of this.

''Hm? You know what I'm talking about. You two seems very close, and I'm quite sure you asked him to come with us.'' Zayenn said as the grin never left her lips.

''S-S-So?'' Great,she was stammering.'' He's my friend, and I did invited him to the festival, but only as a friend. Period.'' She said in a finishing tone, altho her face was still a crimson red.

''If you say so sister.''

''Okay,okay. Leave your sister alone Zayenn.'' Keyan said, the amusement still obvious in her voice. ''So say Akyo, where is he waiting for us?''

''I don't know. Probably at master's office. I'm going to get him'' she said as he started walking towards the door. The moment she opened it, she froze. In front of the door stood Zed, dressed in a black kimono with red accents here and there, which put an emphazis on his red eyes. He looked like he was about to knock, but he did stopped mid-air, and looked at her.

The kimono she was wearing ,could be considered childish, but it made her look absolutely stunning. The blue on the kimono, acentuated her icy eyes, now having a little bueish makeup on her eyelids,her lips shiny and rosy.

Neither dared to break eye contact, the world around them dissapearing. Akyo couldn't help but blush at the thought of her thinking he's handsome. He was, in all honesty. Soon, the disscusion that had taken place just a mere seconds ago, came back fresh on her mind, and the pink hue turned into crimson red again.

Upon seeing her red face, Zed returned to the normal world, and eyed her strangely. Why was she that red?

''Akyo, you alright?'' he asked her, a hint of concern in his voice.

Upon hearing his voice, Akyo too woke up from her dreaming and tried to come up with a response to his question.

''O-oh? Erm, yeah, I'm fine! Would you excuse me for a second?'' she said before dashing for the bathroom, opening the door, closing it, and leaning with her back on it, hiding her red face into her palms.

Perfect. Plain perfect. Her sister had teased her about him being her boyfriend, and when she wished she wouldn't have to see him directly in the face so soon, there he was on her doorstep, looking so handsome, making her look like a lovestruck maiden.

Zed for his part, was a little confused by her outburst, but paid no mind to it whatsoever. Soon he heard a voice calling him inside.

''Ah,Zed. Please, come in.'' he recognized that voice.

As he entered he was greeted by Zayenn wearing a flaring kimono. She shot him a small smile and then dissapeared behind a door. He looked at Keyan, as she smiled kindly at him.

He in all honesty wasn't used to seeing her that way. Whenever he saw her, her face was always neutral, not showing the slightest emotion, her gaze cold. She frightened him like nobody esle, with her cold gaze, and powerfull demeanor. And he wasn't the only one. She was one of the best ninjas the Kinkou had, so it was normal for her to be feared by so many. But here she was now, smiling at him, and having the warmest gaze she could.

''Take a seat now. Zayenn said that she had forgotten a few accesiories.'' She said rolling her eyes amused. ''And Akyo...'' she said letting the sentence hang in the air. '' I think she is in the bathroom?'' she said more like a question rather than a statement.

''I'm here now.'' they heard a voice, and turned their heads to look at Akyo, not so flushed anymore. Zed observed there was still a pinkish hue on her cheeks. Zayenn also returned into the living, and now all of them were ready to set off.

''Come on, come on!'' Keyan said excitedly. '' You don't wanna miss the start now, would you?''

~(o-o)~

The festival itself was majestic. Warm lights spread by the laterns made out of paper, stands with different products, from food to toys and clothing, were all crowdedly into the center of the mighty state of Ionia. People, all dressed in different elegant kimonos, were walking, talking and laughing, celebrating the Lunar Revel. Into this compact mass of people, there were also two small ninjas, both watching in awe the celebration of the Lunar Revel. Keyan had decided that both Akyo and Zed were responsable kids, so they wont get lost into the festival. Zayenn had left not long after they had arrived, saying that she had to meet with some friends. And so, Akyo and Zed were let by themselves, into the great festival.

While passing by a particular stand, Akyo stopped and looked back, Zed not observing her. She watched the spot, as a memory she had gaven no importance whatsoever until now, poped in her head.

It was years ago, at her first festival. She was a mere 6 years old, standing beside that very stand she had just passed, and she was holding thigtly on her mother's kimono, as Keyan was speaking with a man. She looked around the festival and observed the people walking past her, but then, she observed a young boy, with brownish hair, looking bored as ever, as he stood by an old man. Not long after she had laid eyes on him, he turned his head, his eyes meeting hers.

Those red pools she started gazing into, were devoid of any emotion, like his face. But still she could feel herself drowing into the crimson eyes. This sensation, was, however cut off, when he turned his head to look at the old man, who was speaking with him, and then they started walking into the crowd. She had never forgotten those eyes. Never.

She had a tender look on her face, as one of her hands was resting on her heart. How could she have almost forgotten,that this was the place, where she had met him for the first time? By now, Zed observed her absence and returned to her side. He was a little confused at the soft face she had, but as he looked into the direction she looked, he too remembered.

He remembered those warmth filled blue eyes. He could not understand how, someone could have such a warm gaze, even when looking at a stranger. Another thing he couldn't understand is that, he didn't saw any fear in her eyes. Only curiosity. How couldn't he have scared her? He could usually scare somebody off with just a normal glance, but she was different.

He looked at her and couldn't help but smile. Still after all those years after their first encounter, he still didn't managed to scare her away. Altho he, nor she, did remember this particular event, they acted like they were friends for so long. Such a great effect this girl could have onto him.

Now that he tought about it, he couldn't remember the last time he had been nice to anybody. Thinking about it, was he ever nice with anybody at all? But as soon as they had met into the clearing that day, all those months ago, he wasn't as cold as he usually was. He opened to her a lot into such a short period of time, it made him wonder, was she, really, just a mere friend for him? Everytime when he gazed into her eyes, or she laughed , or she smilled the slightest smile at him, he felt warm and fuzzy in the inside. Was this what his master had called 'love'? In turth, he didn't really knew if he was capable of loving, but he will have enough time to think this off.

As he woke up from his toughts, he looked at her and saw that she too, had returned to the real world.

''Come on, let's go!'' she said while looking at him and smile. There, that feeling again. He nodded, but before he could say anything, in front of them, a crowd had formed, and there was a lot of noise coming from it. The noise itself was above all the festival, and soon music started swinging in the air.

Akyo's face broke into a big smile, she caught Zed's hand and started dragging him towards the crowd, ignoring his shouts of protest. As they made their way to the center of the crowd, she couldn't help but feel even more excited. After finally making it in front of the row of people, Zed was ready to ask her what was with all the hurry, but soon his question was answered.

As he looked in the center, a giant dragon, obviously made out of paper, but still looking extremely real, hold up by what it looked like 10 people or so, was dancing trough the center, amusing the crowd. Akyo looked so into the dance of the dragon, that she didn't observed she hadn't let go of Zed's hand, and she was still holding it.

She looked at Zed and saw that, even if he didn't looked impressed, he was still having fun. Suddenly she became very aware of the fact, that, in all honesty, they were holding hands. And if it made her heart race, she really didn't mind it. Her sister's tease poped up in her head again, and she couldn't help but wonder, was Zed for her just a friend? She owned him so much, for helping her, for being there for her. He could push her buttons, annoy her like nobody else, and then with just a smirk, he would make her look like a flushed idiot. Even if she liked him in a more romantic way, he probably wasn't feeling the same.

She droped her head, looking at the ground, sadness taking place of all the happiness she had just felt.

Zed observed her sudden change in attitude, and couldn't help but voice his worries. He approached her, so she could hear him, with all the noise around, and asked:

''Are you alright?''

Her head, slowly rised, like she was waking up from a dream, looking with big eyes at him. He saw, looking into her eyes, that she wasn't okay at all. However, she tried faking a smile, and told him:

''Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry about it.'' he didn't believe one word from what she said, instead, he looked around, and saw that not very far away, was a small quiet hill. He turned around, now he holding her hand, running towards that hill, ignoring her shout of protest. While a blush crept up her face, she closed her eyes half-way, and obediently followed him.

As soon as they managed to get out of the festival crowd, and walk up the hill, Zed stopped, and turned to look at her. She, still having a small blush on her face, couldn't understand what made him take her here.

''You know, I've been honest with you all this time, might as well do the same.'' he said ,a little angry at the fact that she was lying him.

Caught with the lie, she knew she had no way out, other than telling the truth, and that wasn't happening. Instead she tried to find a way to put it, so she wont have to embarass both of them.

''I'm just, a little tired.'' she said

''Why?''

(AN: sorry ^^'.For a better atmosphere, go to yourepeat, and listen to the cinematic arrival of birds from 0:00 until 2:29. Trust me, you'll like it :D)

''Because I have a lot of stuff to figure out.'' and that wasn't far from the truth. She observer a conviently bench close by, as she sat on it, Zed following soon. The silence was comforting both of the ninjas conflicting feelings. Taking both of them by surprise, the Ionian sky was lighted up by fireworks. All the previous sadness was soon forgotten, as excitement and happiness took it's place.

Akyo turned her head and looked at Zed, looking slightly amazed by the fireworks. She did owned him so much, and to calm her aching heart, there was only one way.

While Zed observed the fireworks in slight awe, he felt something warm press against his cheek. His breath hitched in his troath, and as soon as it came, it was gone. He turned to look at Akyo with an amazed face, and observed the blush on her face. Soon she had her arms around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder.

''Thank you.'' he heard her say, and he couldn't help but feel a little awkward at the moment. He was used to physicall contact, but not this kind. After she had let him go, he felt a little dissapointed, missing her body's warmth. Instead, they both turned to look at the lighten sky, Akyo moving closer to Zed.

''Happy Lunar Revel, Zed.'' she said, as she could feel sleep creeping up her eyes.

''Happy Lunar Revel, Akyo.'' as soon as he said that, he felt a weight on his shoulder. He turned around and he saw Akyo's sleeping face, her head resting on his shoulder. He sighed. He slowly moved, trying not to wake her up, picking her bridal style, her head resting on his chest. He started walking for order.

As he manged to push the door open, he saw darkness into her family's quarters. Probably Zayenn, and Lady Keyan were still at the festival. He really didn't knew how he was going to find her room, but thankfully, on the left, there was small plaque, holding her name. He opened the door and entered the room.

He settled her body onto the bed, making sure she's staying comfortable. As he moved to the door, he turned to look at her. Her face was serene, her breathing calm. She had one hand next to her head, the other one on her stomach. Her lips were softly parted, taking small intakes of air. The moon lighted her form, making her look like an angel.(I'm smilling like a crazy fangirl tiping this XD) He felt something drag him to her, as he started walking towards her. He reached her bed, and looked down at her. Then he started leaning in, finding support in one of his hands, which was next to hers. He leaned more, and more, until his lips founds hers, and pressed them softly against hers. It felt strange, and in the same time, he wanted this to continue forever. But, like waking up from a dream, he separated from the kiss, and looked panicked at her face. She was still sleeping. Letting out a sigh of relief, he slowly moved away from her body, and to the door. He stole a last glance at her, and then exited her room.

AN: DUN DUN DUN! There is it my lovely readers. The cherry of this beautifull cake! Remeber, rating ,reviewing and the rest is always appreciated. Until next time~~