Hey, guys! I know I made you wait again but... Nope, I have no excuse ^_^
Garu: You never had good excuses anyway...
Me: ...
Garu: ... O_O... erm...
Me: ...
Pucca: *Walks in late* Hey, sorry I'm late I had to help out... What's wrong?
Garu: Well... *Sweat drops*
Pucca: *Looks at me and sighs* Garu, you didn't!
Garu: I can't help it! That psycho needs someone to keep her in line! She would never start the story without me telling her to!
Me: ... Oh, really Garu.
Abyo: I lived! :D
Me: -_- Only beccause I need you in the damn story.
Ching: Can we please get start the story already?
Me: Oh, sure ^_^ Enjoy while I go and knock some sence into a few of the characters! *Runs after Garu*
Pucca smiled softly at her best friend. She had wisely, having gotten over the fact that Pucca was fine, swapped the awkward topic onto more neutral safe ground of conversation. Her birthday. Though it made memories that were best left hidden the familiar chatter of Ching reminded her of before her time in that torture house.
"Even though I still have the music and food ready, the reservation for the newly opened restaurant, the one with the wedding sized room, has been taken because of the uncertainties we encountered." Nicely put, Ching silently scolded herself. She hurried along hoping Pucca hadn't noticed her slight pause. "So I'm a little stumped on the venue now. I thought you might have a place in mind. I know it's meant to be your birthday surprise but… I'm clueless," she lied. She still had the venue, but she wanted to keep Pucca's mind occupied.
"Erm… Maybe at Goh-Rong?" She had always had her birthday there ever since she had moved to Sooga Village and she always enjoyed it.
"Nah, sorry Pucca but it's been done. You are going to have an amazing kick-ass venue that will put Ring-ring to shame! Hmm… I guess I'll think of something." Pucca grinned at Ching's choice of words. Ching always helped to cheer her up, even if the unhappiness she had felt wasn't because of Garu this time.
"I leave it to you then, Ching," she joked. It felt good again just bantering with her friend.
"Are we interrupting something?"
Both girls turned to look at the doorway, which Pucca's guardians had left through a few minuets ago, to find Abyo leaning against the door frame. Ching's face lit up at the sight of him, her emotions rising to her cute face. Abyo winked at her, enjoying the suddenly blushing shy expression he received. Pucca smiled genuinely at the pair. A shifting form besides Abyo caught her attention. A blinding smile covered Pucca's expression. Garu.
Garu strode into the room, due to a subtle glare from Abyo, to be beside Pucca's bed. Garu finally dared to look at the girl sat on the bed with many wires strapping her to the frames. He felt a guilty surge of joy at her beaming face but he couldn't help be remember Ring-ring's words. Will you learn to hate me, Pucca? Unsurprisingly he received no answer from her or his own mind.
"You okay?" The question, though useless, sounded more intimate that it should have. It was if they were alone and their best friend's were not watching them.
"I'm-," Pucca began but before she was forced to lie Ching saved her by excusing herself and Abyo.
"We'll see you later Pucca when you're discharged. Bye Garu," Ching slyly ended giving him a knowing look, as if to say tell her how you damn well feel you idiot.
"Oh, but-" Pucca began.
"Bye guys," Garu interrupted, watching as they quickly exited the room. Abyo smirked at Garu before shutting the door behind them. Garu looked back at Pucca to notice her confused expression. Why did they leave so quickly? She felt his gaze and temporarily forgot Ching and Abyo's weird behaviour. She felt her face become hot as she stared back at the dark mysterious eyes remembering his soft lips against her cheek. "You're being released as soon as they get the doctor that treated you back in to check your condition and to sign your release."
"Thank you."
"No problem," Garu spoke indefinitely.
"For everything, Garu."
Garu nodded while staring at one of the machines attached to Pucca. "Don't mention it." Pucca glanced down at herself, slightly hurt at Garu's sudden change of attitude.
Why was he being suddenly cold towards me? Did he regret saving me? Or the kiss? Or… She glanced at the beautiful gift she had received upon her awakening. The gift that she had received from the man that now seemed to be pushing her away. The amazing rainbow colours winked at Pucca, teasing her because of her cluelessness about the man she loved. Why, after all this time, can't I understand your train of thought? She silently cried in frustration.
"Garu… Are you okay?"
Garu snapped his gaze onto Pucca to see her pleading eyes. "Of cause. I'm just worried about you." He smiled gently, dazzling Pucca. This was the second time that Garu had smiled at her like that and it still held the power to make her head light and her body weak.
"Erm… Garu?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you… Would you stay with me till the doctor comes?" Pucca shyly asked.
Garu was taken back for a moment before he smirked. He carefully sat onto the bed, avoiding all of the wires, before gripping Pucca's hand. "Just try to kick me out," Garu teased, pushing away the guilt that was beginning to plague him. Relieved Pucca relaxing, noting how tight her muscles had been straining at the idea of being left alone.
Pucca began to fill in Garu on what Ching had been chatting about. "-and now we have no venue," Pucca finished with a yawn. She guessed she had been out for a good few hours but seeing her loved ones again, the people she had thought she had lost forever, she was becoming tired. Maybe the trauma of what she had been through was catching up to her? Or she was suffering from side-effects from the multiple drugs that were being pumped into her system? She couldn't be sure as another yawn escaped her. She blinked up at a still smiling Garu, her eyelids heavy, and gave a sleepy smile. Garu watched as Pucca dozed off into oblivion.
Garu watched quietly as she slept, mostly to make sure she wasn't being dragged into a nightmare, before he lightly laid a kiss on her pale forehead. Casting a glance at the sleeping girl over his shoulder he left the room in order to find Ching.
...
Ching sighed as she saw the decorations. Who had to mess with them this time? She growled on her mind as she set to work untangling the lights. The party was tonight but the amount of work left seemed to be at least a weeks worth. A chirping noise made her look to her right. "Won!" she said delighted.
When Ching had turned fourteen she decided that she had to begin living her life without Won on her head, especially since Won was really injured during one of her sparring matches. Won had disappeared a few weeks ago and Pucca had comforted her when she became depressed. Before Ching could begin to over think Pucca's kindness and her situation now a second chirping caught her attention.
A second bird settled besides Won followed by three little birds. The baby birds were the spitting double of Won when she had first got him. Ching grinned, "You've got babies!" Won chirped at her sounding almost as happy as Ching. Looking at Won's mate Ching politely said, "Nice to meet you, I'm Ching, Won's friend." The chicken chirped in a reply and Ching giggled. "I'm a little busy sorting out a party," Won gave another chirp as he nodded his tiny head, as if he understood that Ching had to get back to work, and flew off, his family right behind him.
Ching, newly energised from Won's return, got back to work with a smile. She worked solidly for an hour untangling the damn lights which she was cursing at by the end before taking a break. She strolled over to the refreshment bag she had brought with her upon hearing that the decorations were muddled. She tool out a bottle of water and drank greedily. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and placed the bottle down again. Good thing too as a moment later arms laced around her middle in a loving embrace. She squeaked a little at the sudden contact.
"Abyo!" she cried.
Laughter met her protest. She rolled her eyes as she was twirled around by her idiot. Abyo was smiling wickedly as he bent to steal a kiss from the surprised girl's lips.
"Abyo, stop! I have too much work to do!"
Abyo's smile widened as he whispered so tenderly, "Make me stop." Ching couldn't speak as she watched his face loom closer. "You've done enough work. You deserve a reward," he breathed, his lips tantalisingly close. Ching looked into Abyo's mischievous eyes with her own half lidded ones. Abyo tightened his arms bringing their body's close enough to feel each others racing hearts. "Kiss me."
Ching obediently closed her eyes as she closed the space between their lips. The kiss was unbelievably delicate. Ching gave out an unwilling moan into Abyo's mouth, who was encouraged into letting his hands wander down Ching's slim back, his touch light. He reached her butt and cupped it with both hands as he hoisted her onto the table behind her, causing her refreshment bag to end up on the floor with a clatter. Ching gripped Abyo's still intact shirt and pulled Abyo closer with a small whine.
Someone suddenly cleared their throat. Both parties pulled away to look at the intruder.
Garu shifted uncomfortably. Anyone who had walked on on their friends while they were so engrossed with the other would obviously feel awkward. Ching, blushing and eyes at the floor, gently pushed away her boyfriend. Abyo sighed and gave Garu a 'really?' look. Garu rolled his eyes at him before settling his gaze on the flustered Ching by his side.
"Sorry to interrupt but I had a favour to ask of you." Ching looked up at him, the idea of Garu asking a favour making her forget her embarrassment of being caught lip-locked. "Its about the party..."
The couple in front of him exchanged glances before looking back at Garu. "What is it?" Abyo asked.
I hope this chapter isn't too dull and that it makes you forgive me for my lack of punctuality :) Sorry it's a little short :(
Pucca: Hope you liked this chapter anyway :D
Ching: Another should be put up sometime this week or next week! :D
Abyo: Don't forget to review!... =_=
Garu: *Whispers* Or Rachel will surely kill me...
Me: Don't be so dramatic. I only scratched you with my blade *Rolls eyes*
Garu: Only a scratch..? O_O My whole arm is broken and my chest has a winking face carved into it!
Me: Only a flesh wound ;)
Garu: But-
Abyo: Dude, don't even try to reason with that psycho, she will just retaliate with a come back...
Me: Stripper boy has a point XD
Everyone: Review for the sake of poor Garu! =^_^=