The two were running through the forest, hopping over stones and fallen trees. The snow had cleared out a bit, making running easier. Kazune had always been the fastest within his town. He guessed it was from running away from bullies and being used to dodging stones that were often thrown at him, in any case, his reactions were quick. He moved swiftly as a cat and fast enough to rival wolves. He guessed that if he were not a freak of nature, he would have been quite popular with women. He was not too disheartened that women didn't idolize him, but the privileges would have been nice. Even he wished that someone would offer to make him a home-made lunch and that he could ask someone to accompany him to public get-togethers.
They entered a clearing with little snow left on the ground. Finally they had broken the boarders of Kazune's country. They were now in a sort of No-Man's-Land between the village and the dessert country. Karin and Kazune were free but not safe yet. Anyone could be arrested in this land because it is ungoverned.
Kazune looked over at Karin and saw her kimono changing from light blue to a spring green with small pink flowers around the hems.
"That is strange" Kazune thought. "Ice women shouldn't be able to do that... should they?"
She was like a chameleon, changing to suit her surroundings. It was an alluring new aspect of Karin.
At the instant of thought, Karin glanced back at Kazune with a glaring look. He could tell that he should not have noticed her facial expression, that she was trying to look back in secret, perhaps to see if he had noticed the change in the kimono's color.
Idiot, did she think that he would not see that it went from plain blue to green with pattern? Kazune decided not to pursue that certain aspect for now.
"Let her think that I am oblivious for the moment."
They ran till they had reached a rocky patch with the once grass slowly turning to dusty sand. Darkness was approaching.
"We should stop here for the night." Karin said curtly.
"We need to scout the area for bandits and we need to gather firewood."
"Is that an order?" Kazune asked with a perturbed voice.
"Well, sort of." Karin replied. "If we want to get through the night safely..."
"I thought you could handle the cold?" Kazune said mockingly. "You were sleeping in the snow naked yesterday."
Karin's face blushed again and hardened with anger. "THAT was yesterday, THIS is today." she said defensively. "Go gather the wood, I will look around."
"I am not taking orders from you." Kazune said bluntly. "Why don't YOU go get the wood? I'll look around."
"Why can't I look around?" she said angrily.
"Because you are a girl, if you do find bandits, do you really think you could handle them?"
"I almost killed you and you question my abilities to defend myself?!" she cried. "What about you?! You aren't that special, Mr. Runaway. You're fast, what'll that do for you if you find bandits?"
"I can hold my own!"
"You asked for my help!" Karin said, dealing the last blow.
Kazune went quiet. He had asked for her help, but he did not want to comply with a girl's plan. No matter how smart she is, no matter if she was right... he would not agree to her demands. His pride was far too huge to let a woman climb over it.
Quietly Kazune said "I don't want to take orders from you."
"Excuse me?" she said with a hint of surprise.
"I don't like being bossed around. I will come up with the plans and we will follow them as I say."
Karin advanced towards him with such a speed that he hardly had time to react. She raised her hand as if to slap him across the face, but as he went to block it she punched him hard in the stomach with her other hand. Kazune fell backwards gasping for air, clutching his gut.
She started a full on fist fight with him.
She fell on top of him, slamming his head against the ground as he reached up and pulled her hair, tilting her head back, exposing her white neck. She allowed herself to be pulled backwards only to bite his leg. Kazune yelped in pain as he hit her over the head. To her misfortune, Kazune swiftly stood up and stepped on her perfect little hands. Karin cried out in pain with his weight on her fingers.
Kazune, looking down at her with a dark face, coldly said "I have no problem hitting girls who deserve it."
Karin looked at him fearfully with tears welling up from pain.
"I am bigger and stronger than you. Let me do the more dangerous job and you'll live through this journey. Ice woman or not, I am still more powerful."
Kazune stepped off her hands and walked off towards the rocks to look for bandits and shelter.
Karin looked after him with confusion and awe. Making no mistake, she hated him at the moment for his chauvinism and ignorant pride, but at that moment she had made a decision very native to her country. To other countries it seemed shameful, but she had decided to attempt.
Karin went to gather fire wood.
