Selfish Journey-another path(private.)

Zero released a sigh. "So i guess tomorrow we will have the gem. And then we can enjoy the rest of the festival for your birthday." He smiled. He spoke as if there was no way she would lose. "Well then i guess we should find something to eat. The last thing we would want would be for you to pass out on stage from a lack of nourishment." He smiled. "So, what is it taht you feel like eating?"

His nose suddenly picked up a familiar scent. "It's those guys they are coming close. We should get out of here quick." He said not wanting to cause a big commotion.

The man looked rather dissapointed. He sighed. "Ok, I understand." He watched as she walked away. That boy looked familiar. He shook the thought from his mind. "Oh, well."

He looked at her surprised. "Make your own? Can you really do that? That's pretty cool. I had no idea. But i still stand by what i said you don't have to do this so if you ever feel like backing out." Howver having known her for even this short time she didn't seem like the type to back out after she'd already made a decision. After following the directions they ended up at a large home looking place. They both entered a receptionest greeted them both. "What can i help you with?"

The man took a step back. He looked up, and down Meiko's fram to tell you the truth anything you wore would only deminish your beauty. 'i'm sure you think that.' Zero thought to himself. The man saw Zero's untrusting glare. He paid it no mind. He smiled. "Actually i have something i thing that is just perfect for you." He went into the back room coming back with a bikini. It was a deep purple with a small gold star on the front of the top. "So what do you think?" Zero looked at the suit. It was a bikini, but it wasn't as revealing as he'd thought. He imgained Meiko in it. He blushed. "Um, i'll wait outside.", " You can sign up at the festival headquarters planning comittee." He wrote down the directions. "It's not far. And as far as the bikini if you like it, and you'll mention my shop. ( kurubiki's general store.) Then i'll only charge you one piece of silver. That's fair right?"

Zero looked to her. He couldn't allow Meiko to do something like that. "I can't ask you to do something like that. There'll be a ton of men ogling you. I can find another way i won't let you do something like that." He almost sounded like a jealous boyfriend.

The man shot Zero a strange look hearing him say he'd find another way. He however hearing Meiko turned to her clapped, and laughed. "Yes the festival is massive. There are tons of games, and lot of people. A lot of people come around for it. Not to mention There is a big firework type event at the end. It's really a site to behold."

He let out a gentle sigh. He was sure she couldn't understand. "I'd rather be dead if i couldn't possess this item." he quited down quite a bit after say responding. But to break the silence he asked her about her birthday plans. "Relaxing...Hm...i guess that would be nice, but come on it's your birthday those aren't plans." He grinned. "If we are going to travel together we have to celebrate it in someway. I know i'm happy you were born. I'd be dead by now if not for the fact. He laughed. He hadn't given much thought to the contest. "I hope it's nothing stupid." After a while he decided that it was probably ok to go out now. "Well i think it's been enough time we can go check." They walked through the town. He was still on gaurd. But there didnt' seem to be any distubances. Finally they stumbled upon a small shop. It was owned by a rather older gentleman there on the top shelf rest the gem. The man seemed to be eyeing Meiko. "I am here to enter the contest to win that gem." The man scoughed. "You can't enter stupid don't you know anything. This rare gem is first prize for the annual swim suit contest winner at the town festival. Women only." He eye'd Meiko. "However i think she would have a very good chane of winning."
Zero looked to Meiko. He couldn't possibly ask her to do that. He would have to come back to still it. "When is the festival?" Zero asked. "(same day as Meiko's brithday) " The man said. "Isn't that your B-day?" He asked looking at her.

He chuckled. "And i suppose you'll be the one to supervise me? talk about the blind leading the blind." He was surprised by her request to join him. He was glad at least she wasn't mad about him leaving. When she asked what was so important. He didn't answer right away. His content smile turned into an obvious forced smile. "It...It's actually something from my brother, Actually more than anything that's what is important for me to get." He looked at his sword. "This is merely a weapon, but that item...i'd be willing to trade my life for that item." He said with intensity. He looked up at the clock then back to her. He didn't want to talk anylonger about his problems. When he turned to her after looking at the clock it was with that content smile. "So, for you Birthday what is it we should do?"

Zero looked at her it was strange. His eye's cried out thank you a million times. "Thank you Meiko..." He didn't know what else to say. He couldn't be any more grateful. He never thought he'd meet such a kind person in all of his travels, and so pretty, and powerful." He looked at her as she walked away. He thought he was caught staring when she turned to look at him. "Oh i memorized the address, but we should lay low for a while before we head out. I...goo...I mean if your not to busy would you like to come with me. I mean i'm not going to do anything rash. That's why i'm going to wait for a while cause i'd hate to run into those bandits looking for me." He smiled. "You should get some rest, and again thanks. I'm just going to hang out in the lobby for a while."

Zero hadn't expected to have his own questions concerns, and comments turned on him so effortlessly. As she began to barrage him with questions. He was stuck by how she was the one upset. And to top it off she was more upset at him than he was at her. He didn't really understand how that was possible as he tried to answer the questions.
"Ah...well i was resting at first, but i couldn't sleep. So i tought i'd go out for a walk around the town, and that's wehen i ran into the men. I couldn't just do nothign so i confronted them. And looked i got my sword he said triumphantly, and we both got away safe so neither of us should be mad, and i found out where the other thing i need is." He couldn't understand how he was now on the defensive, but he knew hed' better keep it up. "i'm sorry though i didn't mean to worry you." For some reason that felt weird rolling from his tongue he couldn't possibly be that important to her yet.

As she shoved the leader Zero grabbed his sword from off of his back. He was pulled along as he looked at his blade. He was lucky there was no blood on it meaning that the foul thief hadn't used it to end anyone's life. He smiled continently as they made there way through the crowd. The bandits didn't seem to be chasing them so they were ok for the time being. Suddenly something caught his eye. He stopped suddenly, and grabbed a hold of Meiko. There on the wall was a poster...And in the poster was the black diamond. The bandits must've sold it, and taken the profit. He took a better look at the poster. There was some battle. It seemed to be the grand prize to whoever could beat some giant monster in a colliseum like setting. He looked at Hitori. As she asked him why he stopped. He shook his head. "I just thought i saw something. We should get back to the room." As they reached the hotel it occured to him that he'd been followed. "Hey...i mean it could be just coincidence...but did you follow me?" He asked.

Zero was a little uspet that she wouldn't let him pay for her after all she'd done for him. But he'd find someway to pay her back for the room. But for the time being it was imperative that he get her into her room for sleep. There rooms were only two doors down from each other. Zero nodded with a smile as she suggested he sleep well. He slipped into his room. He waited a good ten minutes before he stretched his head out of the door frame to look around. He walked casually back down the stairs to the first floor. He looked back at her room to make sure she wasn't stepping out of her room. She might realize what he was doing.

After he confirmed that she hadn't he slipped into the busy streets his hood still up. It took a solid hour before he gathered the information that they gang was now in the high class district causing havoc at a restauant. As he found them the leader held his sword on his back. He seemed to be laughing at what his four corhots were doing. "Evil people." The leader turned around quickly. He remembered him immeadiately it was thanks to him they could get away with this paying people off, and living it up in this town.

"You have something that belongs to me....i don't care for the money. Just give me my sword, and the gem you stole." The leader didn't say anything. The four like before surrounded him. He was so focused on the leader that he didn't notice. He looked around him. He couldn't use his power, since they got a good look at his face last time they might try to turn him in. He was able to dodge a few attacks. But it didn't take long for them to restrain him. THe leader sighed, and got up. He unlatched the sword from his back. "I guess this time we'll kill you. I'm not sure how you survived last time but..."

Zero smiled as they gathered their things. He was hoping she'd actually want to get some real rest on the bed. If not that he was going to have to figure something else out. They set out a little later than normal since they were close enough to their destination they wouldn't need to stop to have lunch out in the fields. He thought it might be fun to try ice skating again at sometime. He still had to figure out what she wanted to do for her birthday. Because if she really wanted to do something they wouldn't be able to travel so they'd have to stay in the town. He tried to think this through as they walked. He didn't even realize he wasn't talking until. He saw the town. He looked at her the sun was still fairly high in the sky meaning that it wasn't even that late. He smiled at her. "We're here already, that was fast." As they prepared to enter town Zero threw up his hood. "the sun is really getting to me." He said as they entered the town. He didn't know how she would act if she found out he was being hunted. Zero suggested the first inn he saw. "Um would you be ok with staying here?" he questioned. He really wanted to get her settled so he could accomplish what he wanted to get accompllished sooner.

The sky above them was cloudy, and a cool wind crossed their paths. The sun hid behind large cumulus clouds light could not peirce.

His content tired face. Turned into a smile as he nodded at her kindly. He sniffed the air pulling in the air from the meat. A hungry grin crossed his face. He slowly crawled toward the fight. He took in another big whiff. He looked up at Meiko. "Thank you for leading me all the way here, and all you're doing. I'm glad you found me." he blushed a bit. He waited quiet after that feeling a little awkward he didn't say things that made himself sound so vulnerable usually. As hthey began to eat his ears twitched very gently. They were definately only a few hours from the town. He could hear even from here the sounds of conversations, and merriment. He would love to take this time to rest. But in his mind he was already devising a plan to ditch Meiko for a few hours. "so, when we get into town i think the first thing we should do is get ourselves rooms." That way we can take a nap in a bed before heading out into the street to pick up provisions to continue. Sound good?" he asked as he shoved some meat into his mouth waiting for her reply.

ooc: sorry it's so short, brain fails