Selfish Journey-another path(private.)

The men didn't really looked scared but a little cautious it almost seemed that they were trying to convince themselves that it was a bluff, and she had no such power, and was definitely could not stop all of them.

Zero felt a little uneasy. She couldn't mean to take them all on. There were quite a lot of them. He looked at his sword wondering if she could hold them off long enough if they saw him to grab his sword, and he could help her.

The pair of eye's that once watched Zero, and Meiko were now watching his girl. 'Who are you to them girl...why risk yourself for there benefit...' The pair of eye's thought while watching her.

One of the men decided to be bold. He stepped forward just an inch only to be shocked, and his his body first electricfied, and sent flying backward from what she considered a low shock. A few of the other men watched, and ran to his aid. The leader spat at the ground. "Damn demons moves in packs like damned wolves." He had the others follow him back towards town.

Zero released a heavy sigh. "She was pretty good, but...why...why did she help us? You don't think she's looking to pick a fight with you do you?"

Zero nodded in compliance. There was a nice little group of them, and his sword was with his clothes. He really didn't want them to get it again. Not to mention they'd know that him, and Meiko were somewhere close by. He felt a little nervous.

The eye's that once watched Zero, and Meiko now were set on the cat girl standing before the sizeable group of men. The group of men were surprised by the girl stopping.

The leader or at least the one who seemed to be the leader stpped forward. "Listen miss our quarrel is not with you. So for your own safety i suggest you step aside before a pretty thing like you gets hurt." the man said resting his hand on her shoulder.

'Is she a friend of yours?' The mysterious figure said looking at the girl then back at the cave. Zero talked in a low whisper.

"Meiko...what's she doing? Do you think she knows we are here? do you think she is helping us?"

Catching her grin, and hearing her heed. He followed her a few steps into the cave. It was very majestic, so quiet, and peaceful. It sent a warm feeling through his heart. It was obvious not many humans or demons had been near here. He gently touched the walls. He let out a peaceful sigh, and a very happy grin touched his lips. "I didn't think there were places like this over here." He realized he hadn't told her he was from the other continent or that he was an elf. "I mean...i didn't realize that this would be behind a waterfall."

The pair of eye's that watched the two became very wary they had disappeared from site behind the waterfall. He then sensed people. There was a small group of men approaching the waterfall. They all looked rather mean.

Zero's ears picked up the sound of heavy footsteps. He turned to Meiko sure she had to hear them as well. "Meiko i think someone's coming."

He grinned back at her. He moved back with smile a bit as she splashed at him. He was playfully suspicious thinking she would just get him with a good splash. He approached slowly, and watched her movements carefully. Finally he began to approach her only to watch her disappear behind the waterfall, and say. 'wow' He rushed through the waterfall to find out what had made her say wow. He was stunned to find a cave. "Whoa...that's amazing. You would never know this was here from the outside."

The moment in which he waited to gain approval from her facial expression seemed to pass very slowly, but to his excitement a smile was returned to the action. His body felt incredibly tense, but it was a feeling he enjoyed. He wasn't prepared when she pulled him into another kiss, but he didn't complain, and wrapped his arms around her wanting to hold her close. He felt the urge to protect her, and keep her happy.
He gently pulled back after the kiss. "I don't know what this means, but for right now...i'll protect you." He said softly sincerity, and strength in his voice.

It took him a moment to notice the water around him was steadily getting slightly warmer with each passing word that passed over his lips. As he finished speaking he looked at the water. He hadn't noticed till he'd stopped talking that it was warm. Still stuck in the awkward silence that followed what he'd said he couldn't bring himself to do anything to break it. As he finally found the motor skills to look up she had come closer to him even so much as putting her hand on his shoulder. Though she spoke in such a whisper her words would have been wasted on human ears. His elf ears twitched. He looked at her shocked, and for an instant dumbfounded.

He knew it was selfish. He knew his intent when he started this journey. The intent he still planned to hold onto, but maybe until then...until he got to his destination...

He gently placed his hands on her waist, and pulled her body close to his. He looked down at her only for a moment letting his eye's sat a powerful gaze on her. He then leaned in slowly until there lips met, and kissed her letting there lips linger upon one another for nearly two minutes. He pulled back softly. A deep crimson blush turning the color of his face.

"My friend..." a pair of eye's deep in the brush of tree's said watching the two. "To watch your life unfold is painful."

Zero wondered why she had gone behind a tree he thought she had worn the bikini under her kimono. He felt his body getting used to the chilly water. He could actually move around a little, and stopped shivering. He leaned up against the edge of the water. He let his thoughts wonder, and closed his eye's. It felt nice to relax. He had both his sword, and the gem back. Now there was only one thing left. He smiled opening his eye's as he heard her move into the water.

"Yes, it's gorgeous." though as he said that he was looking at her a decent bit more than the waterfall.

"All the more for us." He smiled nervously. He swam a little closer. He almost felt a knot in his throat. "Meiko..." His voice trembled. "...i want to thank you...You saved my life, and...i want you to know i really...li...like you..." He spoke like a teenager goin on his first date.

Zero noticed her eye's suddenly dart somewhere. He looked behind him to see if he could catch what she did. His ears picked something up. He could've sworn her heard someone's voice say Meiko's name. He figured it was just some of her new fans speaking of her in passing he didn't think much of it. He turned back to her. He gave her an apologetic look. It was his fault that they couldn't go about as they pleased. He released a heavy sigh. He grinned. At this point with all she'd done for him. He just wanted to do something to mak her happy. In the back of his mind he was thinking he'd get to see her in the suit again. "That's a really great idea." He grinned. He was surprised as to how helpful the front desk was with helping to get them out quietly. In exchange for an autograph or two that is. The spot they told them about turned out to be a beautiful waterfall. It was a very serene, and peaceful scene. You could feel the tranquility, and calm in the air itself. He sighed happily. He pulled his shirt off over his head. He got in slowly. He shivered a bit. "It's pretty cold." He playfully splashed at her. "You should change, and join me."

Zero frowned when she mentioned her birthday being the following day. "I know, i'm very sorry. I hadn't counted on the celebrity status you would achieve from winning the contest. I really..." He let his eye's fall away. A small blush appeared on his face. " I wanted to really take you to the fireworks, and out to eat, and give you a really great birthday. Sort of as a thank you for traveling along with me, and i don't know that kind of stuff. And you really wanted to see them right?" He released a sigh. He wondered what she was looking for as her eye's seemed to be darting around the room searching for something. "Is everything ok; is something wrong?" He asked.

Zero was waiting patiently his mind was still wrapped around that strange girl on stage. He was uncertain about the looks she was giving Meiko. However as his mind drifted to Meiko. He kept picturing her in her bikini...however his mind continuing to prevert the image in his head more. He blushed shaking his head trying to remove the depraved uncothe pictures from his head. It was only moments later. His ears picked up the sound of something fluttering in the air. By the time he turned around she had already landed, and grabbed him, and was on her way with him back to the hotel to get there stuff. He wondered if she noticed it was him that called out from the crowd as he ran behind her staring at the back of her head. When they got to the hotel Zero hurried along to grab his things. He quickly gathered his belongings, and went to her room. "Meiko...I don't know how to thank you for all you've done...i really...i really appreciate it."

Zero was waiting patiently. Zero's ears picked up the sound of something fluttering in the air. By the time he turned around she had already landed, and grabbed him, and was on her way with him back to the hotel to get there stuff. Zero hurried along with her. He quickly gathered a few belongings, and went to her room. "are you ready? We don't want to dawdle to long."

Zero held his breath as the host slowly built up anticipation as to who had won the contest. He looked up to watch him speak, but he was still far to embarrassed to look up at Meiko. When the announcer calld Meiko the winner Zero acted calm, but was overwhelmed with excitement, but not for the gem; on the contrary for the second in time he had forgotten about the gem, and was souly happy for Meiko's victory. He grinned widely as she smiled on stage. He waited for her at the back entrance. However many of her new male, and few of her new female fans followed her, and were looking to congratulate her. Zero somehow got lost in the crowd. He figured he'd wait for her outside of the crowd.

A cloaked figure watched the festivities from far away. Prince what were you thinking leaving the safety of your world coming to this land...the figure thought, and what connections have you made with demons...' He continued to think as he looked up at Meiko up on stage.

Zero watched how the girl looked at Meiko. It was uncomfortably fierce not in fun in any way. He then saw her lips move, even with his elven ears couldn't pick up the sound, but after that Meiko looked at him. There was a bit of a shaken look in her eye. He shot her back a worried glance. He then closed his eye's, and thought Meiko didn't need more worry needed reassurance. Zero took in a deep breath. His face turned beat red. "Meiko is the hottest!" He yelled. The crowd hushed for a moment before all agreeing in a large roar, and beginning to chant Meiko's name. Zero could barely raise his eye's he was far to embarassed that was very uncothe.