Chapter Twenty-Six: Bonding

Hope awoke the next morning good and rested, she had not had the nightmare that night and she was glad she didn't. Turning to Ashten who lay on his back very still, she smiled and brushed his silky black hair back with her fingers his white ears flicking in acknowledge. Hope giggled and turned to Ivan who sleep next to Lilly that night. Lilly and Shippo had already left the hut and Hope decided she would go explore herself. Standing up Hope quietly walked out of the hut and into the damp outside, the rain had now stopped and it was well into the day now. Hope smiled at a few villages that waved as they walked by, stretching her arms out Hope walked into the larger part of the village and looked around the open shops.

"Have you heard about the young men who have been disappearing around the village lately?" A villager discussed near by.

Hope hearing the soft whispers walked over closer to the villagers, not trying to pry stepped closer slowly so she wasn't noticed and listened into a conversation a few villages where caring on near by.

"Yes I have, I also heard the villages near by have lost many son's as well." The other answered.
"Do you think it is a demon?"
"It probably is, there are more now then there has been in many years."

Hope sighed as the two walked off, she started to turn back to the hut where the others lay sleeping but stopped when her eyes caught sight of the women she had seen yesterday. Her soft brown hair was tied up in a bun, and her body was covered in a white kimono that cut off at the knees. Her big brown eyes where intently staring at someone, Hope fallowed her gaze to Shippo and Lilly fighting once again on the other side of the village. Hope turned fully around to look at the two who seemed to be arguing about something stupid, unable to hear them Hope walked to another shop pretending to be looking over the arrows there.

"Shippo if you want to be with her then be with her!" Lilly groaned.
"But I don't!" Shippo yelled in frustration.
"I saw you this morning, you was staring and sitting so close you could have kissed her!" Lilly began to cry.
"I was making sure she was ok that's all!" Shippo muttered.
"You're such a liar, your just like him!" Lilly protested.
"Don't compare me with your ex Lilly, I am NOTHING like him! Maybe if you could get over him and move on you would be happier!" He growled.
"I AM OVER HIM! I love you Shippo!" She argued.
"WELL I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH YOU!" Shippo yelled before thinking.

Hope looked up at them just as Lilly stepped away shacking her head tears filling her eyes.

"Then Why didn't you tell me, so I could stop making myself look like an idiot! Your such a JERK!" Lilly yelled.

Hope sighed and pulled her coins from her pocket to pay for a few bundles of arrows that she picked out with fine tips. Looking back to the two Hope caught sight of Lilly running off in the direction of the lake that lay a few ways away from the village. Shippo stood still his head low as if he couldn't believe what he had done, Hope caught him shutter but she couldn't see his eyes. Sighing Hope started to walk back to the hut, the women she was looking at before was still staring, Hope didn't know if she was just surprised a fight had broke out in public or if she was trying to determine if Shippo was free. Hope quickly laid the arrows next to her bow beside Ashten who was still sleeping soundly now he lay on his side curled into a ball like he always did except when he had crawled into her bed at night when he was scared. Hope smiled at her no long little brother suddenly realizing how grown up he looked and how grown up he was now acting. Hope turned to leave when she noticed Ivan had left sometime when she was gone, giggling she shock her head.

Stepping out Hope looked at Shippo as he walked up to her his head still low and his body slumped. Hope stepped aside for him to go into the hut but he stopped next to her and looked up at her, Hope smiled gently to him to try and comfort him but he just lowered his head once again and walked into the hut. Hope sighed and looked in the direction Lilly had gone and started walking.

Hope came up behind Lilly, she sat next to the lake her legs pulled up to her chest her arms wrapped around them, and her chin lay gently on top of her knees, her brown hair softly braded down her back. Hope walked over and sat down beside her tucking her legs underneath her and laying her hands on her knees. Lilly's dark blue eyes started into the lake like all she wanted was to jump in and drown.

"What do you want?' She muttered.
"Look Lilly, we haven't gotten along at all since this whole journey started. But to fight together we can't have fights in the group." Hope started.
"I don't like you, I never will." Lilly interrupted.
"Look Lilly, I don't think Shippo meant what he said. He was just frustrated." Hope continued.
"What do you know of it, you don't know anything about me or Shippo!" Lilly yelled glaring over at her.
"Lilly, you can't have a future if you don't let go of the past." Hope muttered.

Lilly looked over at her and sighed lowering her head lower into her knees. Hope smiled at the fact she didn't get yelled at once again and put a finger into the water swirling her finger around as she started at the ripples forming out from it.

"Its hard, to love someone and give them up." Lilly muttered.
"Yea, I know." Hope agreed.
"Its like there dead but they aren't." Lilly admitted.
"There are other people in the world Lilly, many that are better then your ex." Hope muttered.
"But the one I want doesn't want me." Lilly muttered under tears.
"I don't think Shippo meant anything he said, he just was angry that you was questioning him." Hope commented.

Lilly sighed and looked down at the ripples Hope was making with her finger the soft water swirling around and a few carouse fish floating by to see what might be in there water. The silence was nice, Hope felt she might be connecting with Lilly a little, even if she didn't like her they had to learn to work together as a team. The soft chirping of birds rang throw the air from the forest just one the other side of the lake.

"Maybe. Guess I should go apologize to him." Lilly muttered.

Hope smiled and stood Lilly standing next her, the two started to walk back to the village together, just before they reached the village Lilly turned to Hope and gave a soft sigh.

"Thanks, but I still don't like you." Lilly muttered.
Hope nodded, it wasn't only hard for Lilly to move on from the past but to admit she was wrong. As they walked into the village Hope watched as Lilly ran into the hut they had stayed in for the rest of the night, looking over the village Hope caught sight of Ivan standing with three other girls. Wondering what he might be doing Hope walked over.

"Oh Ivan your so handsome!" One of the girls announced.
"Well I work hard at it. Would any of you consider bearing my children?" He asked playfully.

Hope shook her head and walked on over glaring at all the women and then hit Ivan in the head with her fist, the girls stepped away thinking this might be his girlfriend they stepped back and whispered to each other about how great he was.

"What are you doing!?" Hope growled.
"I am just getting me some lovers…" Ivan cried softly.
"At least your father had reason to do it, your just doing it for fun and its wrong Ivan!" Hope announced.
"Excuse me are you his mother, or his girlfriend?" One of the girls asked.

Ivan almost busted out laughing to Hope expression of the question putting her hands on her hip she turned to the girls and glared.

"NO I'M NOT HIS MOTHER! I am not that old!" She yelled.

Bloopers:

Ashten: Haha his mother!
Hope: Its not funny!
Shippo: It so is!
Hope: Is not!
Ivan: I would have one sexy mother!
Everyone: GROSS!
Ivan: I am only joking man why dose everyone have to take me to seriously.
Hope: Sure you are!