Devoted2charmed's Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews to everyone who did! Those who didn't, go drop.

KurosunanoKazuo's Author's note: What she said! I'm also making an important announcement! I am demanding at least double the reviews on ALL my stories per chapter! Meaning if one story has three chapters, I expect six reviews. Failure to do so by February 14 will result in me going on a 4-month hiatus on Blue Wing x Red Whirlwind. No double reviews per chapter! Happy reading! ^__^

Chapter 9: That Night

Aiko lay in bed, staring worriedly at the ceiling. Usagi was snoring away in the next bed, and at some point not long before midnight a nightmare had driven Mizu into his sister's bed, as they so often did at home. It wasn't the children she was worried about though.

It was Kazuo.

He hadn't said a word to her since she'd hatched her little plan to help Usagi drive off her pestering uncle. He'd booked the rooms and gone straight upstairs. He hadn't even looked at her since asking if she was alright.

Aiko rolled over, burying her face in the cheap fabric of the pillow. She'd only come up with the joke to get Neji off Usagi's back. Aiko of all people knew how overprotective he could get, and now it was pretty much guaranteed that he wouldn't come near them for the rest of the journey, however long their paths ran parallel. She hadn't thought it would upset him.

And was he really upset? Was he angry with her, perhaps for acting childish? She honestly couldn't tell. That was one of the things that made her so agitated around him. She couldn't read him. Most people she could read easily, tell their emotions and anticipate their reaction to almost anything. Kazuo was different. On some level that made her nervous.

Aiko got quietly out of bed and folded a cheap robe over her underclothes. Cursing her own foolishness the whole way she left the two children sleeping soundly and, closing her own room up after herself, padded across the polished wood floor of the hall to the room Kazuo had intended to share with Mizu. Being that Mizu was now snuggling with his big sister, Kazuo would be there alone.

"Kazuo-kun?" she whispered, opening the door a bit and peeking her head inside, "Kazuo-kun, are you awake?"

-Earlier-

Kazuo wasn't upset in the least; he was just entirely confused over what had just happened. He was so scared for Aiko and if it was just a joke, why did she do it? Neji was someone he had developed a mutual respect with. He knew from Mizu that Usagi didn't like him, but there were better solutions to that problem that could've been implemented… he stood there, staring at the moon and didn't bother to notice that Mizu had left, he knew he'd be fine. Mizu was just going to find his sister. Kazuo was pretty jealous of that… he never had a blood-related sibling… but what did Aiko really mean to him? Sure she was cute, but she was also really playful… and immature… and understanding… God how she understood him and cried for him… how he kissed her… he would never regret that… he had felt love he hadn't experienced in a long time… not since…

"Kazuo-kun?" he heard her speak as she opened the door, he turned to face the door and saw her head "Kazuo-kun, are you awake?"

Kazuo nodded as he saw her "Yeah… I'm awake, everything okay?"

She fidgeted a little, then shook her head nervously, "Do you . . . do you mind if we . . . can I ask you something?"

Kazuo nodded "I don't see why not…"

Aiko bit her lip, then padded nervously over to the bed. Kazuo sat up, looking at her with that unreadable expression of his. She swallowed and sat down. "Kazuo-kun, are you . . . are you . . . mad at me?"

He shook his head "No... I'm just really confused, Aiko-chan..." He turned and faced her "Why did you make Neji-kun out to look like that? Or... did he really try something...? And please be honest, Aiko-chan..."

Aiko squirmed. "Well, um . . ." she tried. The words didn't come out. She looked up at him, then down at her hands twisting in her lap. Kazuo watched her struggle for words, blushing cutely in the moonlight streaming in through the window. He felt his heart rate pick up, though he didn't know why.

"I mean . . . I just . . . I just wanted, to help Usagi-chan, that's all." That didn't sound right. "I mean, I figured the best way to make sure Neji stayed away was to make him to embarrassed to come near us." That sounded worse. "Its a little like how I tried to play that joke on you and the Kazekage back at the village." Way worse!

Kazuo sighed and responded "Aiko-chan, Neji-kun and I are on good speaking terms…" Well, he had hoped… after what just happened that would be put in question. "And… I'm stronger than him… so if he ever bothers you again… just let me handle it… ok?"

Aiko's head jerked up to look at him, then nodded rapidly. Her face was red, her eyes were wide and slightly panicked, and she was breathing hard, making her small, well shaped breasts thrust up and down. Kazuo smiled.

"But for the record, Aiko-chan, you're cute when you freak out like that." He didn't give Aiko time to take in those words, he simply leaned forward and kissed her. At first she gasped and tried to pull away, but her took hold of her wrist and held her still. When surprise faded she released a shaky sigh into his mouth and pressed her lips more firmly against his. Her tongue was slow to come and play, and tentative when it did, but her mouth was soft and the taste of her was the same as before, warm and slightly sweet.

"Aiko!"

Aiko jumped, falling backwards onto hard stone. She opened her eyes and saw shadows and dark stone, her nose was immediately assaulted with the smell of sulfur, and a deep chill soaked her skin. Her eyes searched wildly for some scrap of familiarity with which she might orient herself. Kazuo was gone, as was the hotel and the bed and the moonlight. Instead she was in a cellar, a foul smelling room carved into the living earth. Stones lined the upper walls, where grim daylight shone through a barred window which looked out at ground level onto the street, a winged tower just visible some distance away. The floor was dirty and littered with cobbles and bits of broken chains.

Before her knelt Kyeko.

Short dark hair hung greasy and unkempt around her small shoulders. Tan skin had turned pale from a long time in darkness. Watery brown eyes wide with panic.

"Aiko look out!"

"Aiko-chan, Aiko-chan, what is it, what's wrong?!"

Aiko's eyes snapped open. Kazuo was kneeling by the bed, holding her in his arms and shaking her gently. His eyes were wide and concerned as softly called her name.

"Aiko-chan, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she murmured, trying to clear her head, "I . . . I think, my mother just contacted me."

"You had a dream? Now?" Kazuo asked, blinking confusedly.

Aiko nodded. "Yeah, and now I know where we're going. I saw a tower in my vision. One I've seen before."

"Where is it?" Kazuo asked.

"In the Land of Wings."