Author's Note:

Hello, my loves! Badbutt94 is back with another one-shot for our Tales of Arise game. I thought this would be fun to write, so I hope you enjoy it. And don't worry, there will be a boy's version, too, so stay tuned for that.

Summary:

SPOILER ALERT! DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO THIS PART YET OR DID NOT COMPLETE THIS MISSION! After the awkward hot spring scene, Shionne couldn't get the image of naked Alphen out of her head. Luckily, Kisara and Rinwell are there to help her work through her new emotions. Rated for general audiences as long as you can handle talk about sex.

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The Hawks and the Bees: Kisara's Advice

Several days. Several days of trudging through icy terrain. It has been several days since the group stayed at the hot springs. It has also been several days since Alphen and Shionne spoke to each other after the awkward hot spring incident. Every time the two tried to talk to each other or fight in battle, awkwardness followed them like the monsters they'd had to fight. No matter how hard they tried not to let it disrupt their battle skills, the awkwardness followed them then, too. Not being able to take it anymore, the other members of the group (Dohalim, Kisara, Law, and Rinwell) tried to give the couple space to talk things through. Unfortunately, it only ended in disaster and bickering.

Finally, they reached the beautiful, luscious, grassy, and floral terrain of Elda Menancia. Knowing that things needed to change with their new environment, the group decided on a different approach. As they set camp, Kisara and Rinwell had the bright idea to forge for food with Shionne while the guys remained behind to tend to the camp and their fire. As they forged for food, Shionne couldn't help but notice the sunset on the edge of the cliff she stood on. Despite her knowing that she needed to look for food, Shionne's mind was a mile away and back at camp with the tanned man she'd grown to care for during her travels.

"Shionne?" Kisara called, scaring the pink-haired gunner. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine. You just scared me, is all," Shionne said, trying to laugh the awkwardness off as she gripped her chest.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. You seem… distracted. Care to share why?"

"Not really?"

"Shionne, you're our good friend, and we're here for you if you need us. But lately, you've been acting strangely towards Alphen for a few days now. We're starting to worry about you." Rinwell said.

Suddenly, a blush darkened her cheeks.

Suddenly, a blush darkened her cheeks as she tried to cover them. "It's nothing to worry about. I'm just… upset with Alphen, is all. Yeah, that's it. I'm just a little upset at him." The other two girls gave sideways glances at each other, showing their disbelief in their friend's words. "You don't believe me, do you?"

"Not a chance. Here, why don't we take a seat and let's figure things out," Kisara offered as she guided the girls to sit under a nearby tree. "Now then, why don't you tell us what's going on so we can help you figure things out."

"There's nothing to tell. I just don't feel like talking or being around Alphen at the moment. Is that really such a bad thing?"

"Not necessarily. But, when it affects our formation and the group dynamic, then we have a problem."

"Kisara is right, Shionne. I'm mad at Law a lot, but I haven't let it affect how we work together since we've talked things out. Why don't you try talking to him again? I know the first time didn't go that well, but why don't you try giving it another shot?" Rinwell suggested.

"No offense, girls, but I don't think this is something I can talk to him about. It's too embarrassing," she said as she covered her blushing face again.

"You know, you two have been acting weird to each other since we left the hot springs. Could that have something to do with it?" Kisara asked.

"Don't bring that up!"

"Ha! So, it does have something to do with that! Come on, out with it. Was it because you saw him… naked?" asked Rinwell. Suddenly, Shionne's blush darkened as she kept her mouth shut and turned away from the other women.

Feeling bad for her friend, Kisara scooted close enough to comfort her without activating her thorns. "Shionne, it's ok that things are still awkward after that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that was probably the first time you've ever seen a man naked, right?"

Shionne nodded, "It wasn't what I expected. I also wasn't expecting the dreams to come afterward."

"Dreams? What dreams?" asked Rinwell.

"Well… after the incident at the hot springs… I started to have these weird dreams about Alphen where he's… less than clothed, if that makes any sense?" Kisara and Rinwell gave each other a look before they giggled behind their hand. "It's not funny! It's humiliating. I don't think I can ever look at Alphen the same way again! I'd rather the ground would open up and swallow me already."

"Shionne, what you're experiencing is nothing short of normal, especially when you're attracted to that person," Kisara said reassuringly.

Shionne's blush deepened until her face was tomato red before she turned her nose up at them. "I am sure that I have no idea of what you're talking about."

"Sure~ you don't. I see the way you look at him."

"Rinwell! You're not helping!" Shionne groaned as she tried to use her hair to hide behind.

"You're no different either, Rinwell. I, too, see the way you blush every time Law is around."

"Kisara! Don't tease me, too!"

"Look, what I'm trying to say is that what both of you are experiencing is normal for people when they're attracted to someone else. However, I think it's time for both of you to learn about the hawks and the bees, ladies."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Shionne as she finally turned around to face the rest of the group.

"What I mean is that it's time for you both to learn about how to handle your emotions and some possible urges you may have. And, should the opportunity arise, then you'll also need to know how to conduct yourself when it comes to having sex."

"SEX!" Rinwell and Shionne yelled.

"Yes, sex. Again, it's perfectly natural for this to occur when you're around the one you like most, especially if you're alone." Kisara said before clearing her throat. "Now then, when two people like each other, they develop feelings towards each other. And with these feelings come urges."

"What… do you mean by urges?" asked Shionne.

"I mean urges as you feel in your dreams. Tell me, do Alphen, and you kiss in your dreams?"

"Yes."

"And do you sometimes do more than kiss?"

"… Yes…"

"Tell me what happens when you do more than kiss."

"Sometimes we hug. It's so nice, especially since I don't have my thorns to worry about. Sometimes, he holds me as if he's afraid I'll disappear or that my thorns will come back. And sometimes… he's not wearing clothes, but neither am I, and we're touching each other."

"All perfectly normal. And when you mentioned touching and being naked, you're referring to a type of sexual intercourse. That's where two people come together and… well…"

"Come on, don't be shy now, Kisara. Tell us!" Rinwell said, squirming in her seat.

"When two people engage in sexual intercourse, the man inserts his penis into his female companion's vagina."

"What is a penis and a vagina?" asked Shionne.

"Wow, you really were sheltered. Even I know what that is," Rinwell said.

"It's not like I had much of a choice."

"It's all right. Many people either don't know the correct terminology for our genitalia, or they're too embarrassed to use it. Anyway, the important thing to remember is that the feelings and desires that you're experiencing are perfectly normal when you think of or are around someone you like, so don't feel embarrassed," Kisara explained.

"I appreciate it. I thought I was going crazy for a moment," Shionne laughed.

"Wow, Kisara, you're so knowledgeable about stuff like this. Have you had… sex… before?" asked Rinwell.

"I've… had a partner or two in the past. Of course, they did not work out between us, but I enjoyed the time I spent with them."

"Wow, so you can still have sex with someone even if you don't stay in a relationship with them?" Shionne questioned.

"Absolutely. Sex does not define a relationship. It is a big step in a relationship, not as big as getting married, but it does change things about your relationship with that person. Sometimes it's for the better, and sometimes it's not. Regardless of how things turn out between your partner and you, cherish the memories as they are and do not put so much stock into it. Things will go a lot smoother if you allow things to happen naturally. And don't worry about feeling alone in this. Based on how Alphen has been acting, I can almost guarantee that he's just as nervous as you are, Shionne."

"That's… comforting. I'm sorry if we've made things awkward for everyone. I will speak to him as soon as we return to camp,"

"That's the spirit!" Rinwell cheered.

And with that, the girls stood up, finished searching for ingredients for dinner tonight, and returned to camp. Still high on her resolve and with the information, Shionne confidently approached Alphen.

"Hey, Alphen, may we speak in private for a moment?"

"Uh, sure," he nodded as he got up and followed her out of earshot distance.

Once they were far enough away, she took a deep breath before finding her words.

"I would like to apologize."

"For what?"

"For avoiding you and being awkward around you. It was not a good way to handle the situation, and it affected how we worked as a team. I should have just tried talking to you or being receptive when you tried talking to me. It wasn't fair to you. I am sorry for that."

"You're not the only one who needs to apologize. I'm sorry, too, especially since you saw me… naked… It must have been not very pleasant to see. I know that I was embarrassed, and I know I can be a little dense sometimes. But, thank you for allowing us to talk like this," he nodded.

"It was kind of funny, actually," she giggled before she realized what she said. "I mean, not you or the size of your… penis. I meant the situation itself."

"It's ok, Shionne, I know what you meant. You don't have to be embarrassed," he said with a blush on his cheeks.

"Come on. The others are waiting for us. Let's eat some dinner and go to sleep. We have a big day ahead of us if we want to continue finding all of the cores," she smiled before turning away from him, trying to hide her blush.

Alphen nodded as he followed her back to camp. The remainder of the night went off without a hitch. After their misunderstanding and awkwardness cleared up, the air surrounding the group lifted, and order was restored. Hopefully, things shall remain that way… that is until the thoughts that plagued Alphen's head throughout the night don't eat him alive first.

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The End