I looked up finally towards my destination, shrieking happily as I noticed that Chihiro was sitting up rubbing the back of her head and looking about.
She turned toward the shriek and smiled widely getting up slowly to come over to me.
Looking next to her I panicked, noticing that the spot where Haku was supposed to be was empty.
Chihiro noticed my panic and pointed behind me, where the sneaky devil had somehow managed to get over to my grandmother without me noticing in the slightest.
I laughed, collapsing finally on the ground, my bones protesting against my weight.
Chihiro sat beside me looking at the cave and my grandmother curiously.
"What happened?" She asked looking down at me curiously.
"Well Haku went unconscious and then you did, so I called on my good friend Telnu for some much needed assistance. He brought us here, and I helped you back to life and helped Haku before meeting my grandmother for the first time. We destroyed the relic using our energy and an incantation and now I feel like jelly. So you know, not much." I said shrugging and smiling ruefully.
Her eyes widened as she looked about and noticed the black rock, and it's surface covered in curves of gold and silver metals.
"Not much happened, my butt! Darn I missed everything." She exclaimed screwing up her face into a silly pout.
We broke out into a fit of giggles as Haku walked up to us.
He didn't seem hurt at all; he didn't even look like he felt an affect of what had happened.
He bent down and looked at Chihiro for a moment, trying to find words for something.
She smirked and nodded her head.
"Oh I get it you want some time alone with your looverrrr." She said emphasizing the last pat as I tried desperately to swat her. Sadly I only managed to lift it and throw it across my self.
Smiling impishly I did my best to pull it back to where it had been.
Boy did this feel odd, it was like all of my body except for my head was numb.
"Your grandmother told me what you did." He said, his eyes shifting around a bit as he seemed to be trying to find the right words that eluded him.
I smiled sheepishly, trying to shrug.
He smiled at this focusing on my eyes.
"No it was incredible what you did for me. If it wasn't for you I would be dead and the shadows would have the relic. You are the most incredible person I have ever met." He said sincerely still looking into my eyes.
I could feel my face blushing furiously as I looked back.
His eyes looked from mine and shifted ever so slightly down to my lips, before pulling up once more.
I smiled and waited not sure what he would do.
The same pull I had felt before popped up again and this time I wasn't able to move my lips towards his as he did back.
His face moved forward ever so slightly, and I smiled up at him warmly hoping he would get the hint and keep moving forward.
To my relief he did, his black hair still slightly wet shielded the world from all eyes as he crept forward.
His breath tickled my face, as his eyes searched mine, our lips bare centimeters apart.
Using every bit of strength I could muster I pushed my head up, just barely touching his soft lips before having it crash back down.
My heart beat so fast as he looked at me his eyes surprised but happy with my action.
He bent down faster now, capturing my lips with his.
My stomach fluttered and turned over and cursed the fact that I couldn't move my arms at the moment or I would have pulled him closer still.
My lips thankfully were fine, and I kissed him back passionately as he lifted me up and held me against him.
Our heated kiss slowed slightly as his tongue ran along my bottom lip, sending shivers down my spine.
I opened my mouth letting him in as he let his tongue move about delicately at first. He tasted sweet, his tongue soft and swift as he brushed against mine.
My mouth curved into a fools smile as his tongue reluctantly left my mouth, and he kissed my lips deeply once more before pulling away.
"I hate that I can barely move right now, I mean seriously you really choose the weirdest timing, you know that?" I said trying to sound irritated but instead falling into a fit of giggles.
He grinned broadly at me, winking before reaching one of his arms to wrap under my legs.
He lifted me up easily, as if I was a feather even though I felt like a bag of lead.
Carrying me over to my grandmother I looked at her curiously.
How was it that an old woman like her could still sit upright while I was a sack of jelly?
She seemed to guess my question and chuckled, smiling at me.
"I'm more used to using my energy Lena, while you on the other hand have never literally pulled out the energy from your body. You get used to it overtime." She said shrugging.
"So now that the relic is gone, will the spirit world return to normal?" I asked her.
"In time yes, but for now things may get worse before they get better. Everyone will have felt the relics disappearance, and in time they will realize that it wasn't a good thing to have around. For now you all need rest. First though Lena I think there is something you need to see, and for that I think it's a good idea if you can at least walk." She said chuckling as she stood up slowly and moved over to me.
She pressed her thumb to my forehead sending a shock throughout my body. Suddenly my body felt lighter, more normal.
She motioned to Haku to set me down and I laughed with joy as I stood on my own two feet without toppling over.
"Now, the shadows may be angry but they can't cause you any harm now that you have been in my cave. You are protected by my magic now. We must go to the surface for this, and I think Lena, your new friend Telnu could be helpful for this." She said moving towards the entrance of the cave.
I staggered backwards as Chihiro threw her arms around me, whispering how happy she was that Haku and I had finally kissed. I laughed and thanked her, watching her rush to catch up with my grandmother who talked happily with her as they walked.
Haku's arms wrapped around my frame from behind and I snuggled back into his embrace.
I turned around finally, staring up into his emerald eyes, relishing the moment.
Wrapping my arms around the back of his neck I took advantage of the opportunity and pulled him towards me, meeting him in the middle.
Our lips collided passionately, as I moved my hand up to run through his hair. Just as I expected it was inhumanly soft, just like his lips.
I nibbled at his bottom lip, smirking as he stiffened in surprise.
He smiled against my lips and nibbled back, entering my mouth as we relished the taste of each other.
We finally pulled away reluctantly, gasping for air.
He smiled at me before grabbing my hand and running towards the water where Isletta and Chihiro were chatting idly.
Telnu, it is done. My grandmother says we could use your help getting to the surface, is that all right?
I spoke to him with my mind, and jumped as his head, shot out of the water.
He bowed deeply to my grandmother and looked at me happily as he spoke.
"You have done this world a huge favor my good friend, I would be happy to escort you to the surface." He said turning so his body was a step away from the cave floor.
We climbed onto him, my grandmother in front, me behind, followed by Haku and Chihiro.
He dove under the water gracefully, and a large bubble formed about us as the water broke over our heads.
I heard Chihiro laugh in excitement as we road through the water in our comfortable air bubble.
The shadows that now surrounded the cave entrance dispersed quickly as we passed, terror etched into their forms.
They disappeared as quickly as they had been there and the ride to the surface was spent pointing out fish and other creatures that dwelled in the lake.
My grandmother chatted to me about how much she had wanted to see me, and hoping that I would have more of her traits.
It was strange to suddenly know family again, I had spent so long staying away from the only family I knew, chatting with one was really quite strange but refreshing.
We broke the surface and coasted to leisurely to the long stretch of land to our right.