| What of Jin and Touya? | |||
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CHAPTER FIVE: Love of the Ice Master Jin woke lazily to the dim light of early morning. He was lying on the floor, near the fire, and holding on tight to his pillow. He jumped when he realized that Kaze's cold hazel eyes were glaring at him. Or so he thought. "Eh? Now why're ya mad at me, lass!? What'd I do?" he inquired softly, afraid some one else might hear and wake. "...You are a....stupid, drunken, perverted imp, you....you....jackass!!" the girl mumbled. Jin was about to say something, but then she added to her statement. "God damn you, Kasumi....bastard..." she continued, and Jin had to grin. Maybe this Kaze wasn't so bad after all. FLASHBACK: After Jin had calmed her into a state of sleep, Kaze had done something he never would've thought her capable of: she purred. It wasn't so weird as unrealistic, and had shocked him. But he was even more shocked when he was able to draw his eyes from her face. If he'd thought her face was pale and cold, he thought she must have been a ghost, and a clammy one at that. Scar tissue practically coated her throat, and parts of that were bloody and chapped. Shoulders that had probably once been soft and fragile were presently tough and tense, and thin trails of darker skin proved they'd seen rough times. As Jin examined the odd marks, he realized horribly what they were from... "Whip marks." he'd whispered, lifting one hand and running it alongside the imperfections that the girl no doubt had to recall when she allowed her mind to wander. The arms were scarred more than neck and shoulders combined, and the wind master took time to note once again that she'd been in the Demon Slave Trade. As he'd noticed before, the girl clearly didn't eat often. Ribs were visible to the point of sickening the wind master, and he'd seen some pretty disgusting things in his long life. Like Risho's face, for one. Risho. Now that was something he didn't like to remember. Jin growled low in his throat at the thought of the repulsive bastard. He'd made Touya, Gama and him do many unpleasant things in the five hundred plus years they'd been master Shinobi. Several of which still gave Jin nightmares. The girl shuddered in her sleep, and Jin quickly focused his attention back on her. Amid all the scars, bruises and bandages, Jin noticed tattoos on the sleeping Shape-shifter of Darkness. One, which he'd seen earlier on her back, was identical to her necklace. Another rested on her right shoulder blade, but instead of a cross it was a four-leaf clover with a black whip circling it in the Celtic pattern. And a third lay on her collar bone, in the shape of a silver, feathered dragon crouching in a defensive stance. A black rose was wedged between its jaws, and Jin noticed great detail in the black arrow stuck in its shoulder.... END FLASHBACK As Jin snapped out of his recollection, he found that Kaze's eyes had closed again. Wondering what had caught his attention enough to make him jump out of his memory, he remembered something else: Cuddles. Hovering into the hallway on a soft yet effectively sturdy wind, Jin glanced about. As he'd thought, Cuddles was there, nudging the door to Neko's room. Tied loosely about his neck, a small piece of paper dangled. Although Jin couldn't read the small print from such a far distance, he was able to make a guess. Smiling, the wind master floated over to the small dragon. While Kaze had been unconscious, Touya told Neko about his Spirit Beast. Now, little Cuddles was playing Cupid. "Heya, Cuddles...I'd say ya be needin' a hand, aye?" the Irishman whispered, grinning with one fang exposed. The pale dragon at his feet glanced up at him, icy eyes pleading 'yes'. The wind master carefully opened the door, just enough for the slim dragon to slither in. He closed the door soundlessly, and returned to the living room. Kaze was not going to be happy upon awakening, but Jin didn't care. After all: he was the master of the winds. And, sticking with Koenma, a man. And men were stronger than woman....(Yeah, right!!!) Jin sat down beside the couch, leaning against it for support as he rested. Every so often he'd glance at the sleeping girl, and every time he'd question something. "I can't tell if this one's crazy or just stubborn." he thought several times, reflecting on the previous two days. Even in such a short amount of time, she seemed a little bit calmer. Maybe not warmer towards people, but calmer anyhow. She opened her door silently, careful not to tread on a tell-tale creaky board or brush up against the wall. After all, the wind master had very good hearing. As she crept along, staying hidden in the shadows like the ex-ninja she was, Kanaria couldn't help but smile. So long as he didn't hear or catch scent of her, she could watch Jin as long and intently as she wished. Which was pretty intently. Standing near the wall of the hallway, Kanaria was able to gaze upon Jin in a way she'd never seen him: quiet and serious. There was no doubt in her mind that Jin was very deeply engrossed with his thoughts, for he never had such a solemn expression on his face. It was the first time she'd seen him dead-serious and sadly silent, for he almost always had a smile and carefree nature about him. But since he ran into the other girl, Kaze, he'd been less carefree and a shade more mature. "That bitch is making him upset..." she seethed within her mind, glaring at the defenseless girl on the couch. What Kanaria wouldn't give to rip her throat out and hand it to the wolves... After a good hour of starring at the wind master, Kanaria felt she ought to creep back to bed and wait till it was just her and Jin. Surely she could coax him to toss the worthless Shape-shifter of Darkness back into the river that should have taken her life in the first place. Or perhaps get him to smile again at least. Lord, how she loved that smile. But before she could make her move, Kaze would have to be...taken out of the picture. Touya woke to the sounds and smells of a warm breakfast being made, and slipped out of his bed with a grumbling belly. He was used to waking up early, and a glance at the clock told him it was indeed early. Six twenty to be exact. Now his only question was, who else was up? "Kaze can't be up until her wounds heal, Kanaria can't cook (like she'd get up to make anyone breakfast), Taki had to accompany Kasumi home last night and will be exhausted...and I don't think Jin would know how to use a stove if one came up and started telling him how in an Irish accent...." the ice master muttered, edging his way down the dark hall and into the brightly lit kitchen. Unfortunately, a little too bright. "Damn! Why do humans have to make such blasted inventions? They can't wait for the damn sun?" Touya cursed quietly, shielding his eyes with his arm. Suddenly, a soft giggle penetrated his range of hearing, causing him to unshield his pale eyes. "Oh....Uh, good morning, Neko. Did you, uh, sleep well last night?" the ice master asked, short of "smoothly" by about an entire two sentences. Neko chuckled again, smiling warmly at the male demon. She covered her mouth with her hands, and was graced by a small blush instead. "I'm sorry, Touya. I slept well, considering...You?" the young girl replied. "Huh? O-oh, yeah. Yes, I slept quite well. Well, considering all that's happened." he responded. Neko grinned and motioned toward the table. "Sit. I 'll have breakfast on the table before you can say "ice cream"." she said. Touya smiled. "Oh really? Ice cre-....damn you're good." the ice master mumbled, his food indeed being set in front of him before he could say "ice cream". The girl laughed quietly, being careful not to wake any of the others. "I was just getting something made up before I leave today..." she explained. Touya, who had been eating an egg, nearly choked in shock. "L-leaving? Where?" he blurted. "Oh, not like that, Touya. I mean I have to go to work. I work in an ice cream shop when Kaze isn't around to hunt and go to the market." the young ice demoness explained. Touya sighed with relief. "Oh, yeah....By the way, I'd be happy to give you a chance, Touya." "Wha-....oh..." He'd forgotten about that. Well, not so much as it slipped his mind at such an early hour... "Cuddles is so sweet...And I guess since he is a reflection of you, that means you're just as sweet..." Neko giggled, swiftly kissing the dumbstruck ice master on the cheek. A rare blush crossed the male's face, and he smiled softly at the touch. 'Wow. And to think I was worried about getting turned down...' he thought. FLASHBACK ON NOTE: "What the hell do I say? 'I know I've only known you for a day or two, but I think I'm in love with you?' That sounds so friggin' lame!" Touya thought, scratching out the line he'd written, crumbling up the paper, and tossing it into the corner where a pile of such letters lay. He sighed, and looked out the window. It was dark as hell outside, but the stars shone down bright as the glint in Neko's eyes.... Touya jumped, struck instantly by inspiration. "Duh!! I write a sappy poem and confession that I like her, then plead for a chance! If I'm persuasive enough, there's no way she'll turn me down!!!" he muttered excitedly, allowing his male ego a few moments to brag. And so began his letter: Neko, I realize I've only known you for two days now, but I cannot deny how I feel in my heart. Gazing up at the blackened night sky, I witnessed the glint of the peaceful, glistening stars that fill it, and realized with a soft gasp of wonder that the same glint resides, with even more enchanting beauty, in your eyes. The way your hair flows, gently, with your every move; it suddenly reminds me of the fluttering snowflakes in the heart of winter every time I glance at you. Your voice is a sweet lullaby, trickling into my mind as I lay in my bed; allowing me to drift to sleep on its melodic waves and a promise of calm, gentle dreams of you. Think me foolish, for I admit I become weak in the legs at the murmur of you angelic name, and my cold heart thaws quickly beside you and your sparkling smile. Darkness which I've fled from in hopes of sunlight has faded. But now I see, even as the darkest hour of night looms near, that the sun's bright light fades when I compare it to you. I fail to find enough words to describe your absolute beauty, and pray these shall sufice until I do: so sweet and understanding are you, I've been able see things in a new and better light. My heart, oh my heart, it is calling for you, dearest. And pray continue it does, for it has never known such joy. And longing. Longing to feel that silken hair beneath my fingertips, and know the pleasure of loving one so fine and perfect as you. I beg of thee to accept me, and give me a chance to feel that pleasure. Awaiting your answer, Touya END OF TOUYA'S VERSION NEKO'S VERSION: Neko sat up as something rested on her stomach. Light as it was, she didn't understand what it could be. A soft chirp made her grin, and she sighed with relief: Cuddles. "Well, hey there. Whatcha' got?" she inquired, seeing a small note about the fuzzy dragon's neck as the light next to her bed flickered on. Her heart beating wildly, she untied it from the creature's neck, and slowly unfolded it. Inside, written neatly in deep blue ink, was a letter from Touya. Tears brimmed Neko's eyes as she read, and a soft smile graced her lips. Who knew the ice master as such a poet? She surely hadn't. And he really felt this way? Towards her? She was stunned, amazed, at how passionately he described her and asked for her love. Love. Now there was something she hadn't felt in some time. "Oh...That's so sweet. How can I refuse this?" she said, glancing at the dragon beside her. "Simple. I can't." she stated afterwords, sighing and turning the lights off. Dreams filled her mind as she floated into the dream realm. |
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