A while later after we got out of the mountains we stopped for a quick break. So the horses could rest and get a drink of water. It was warmer now, for that I was grateful the whole areas was lush and colorful not to mention the air was warm and fresh. It was well into the afternoon, but yet it was still nice. About that time I spotted Tomite walking my way, it was then I remembered I had to give him my answer. "Hey Chiyo, Takiko wanted me to tell you, that she'll cook dinner tonight. So you don't have to worry with helping, just relax." Tomite said as he was walking up to me. "Oh I see okay …. mind walking with me for a bit?" I asked. From there I turned, and started walking along the river bank. I heard the sound of the rocks clanking together, as Tomite stepped on them. I wanted to honestly tell him, how I felt with no one else around. I'd be too embarrassed to say anything with anyone else there. "So you wanted to talk, to me?" Tomite stated after a few moments of silence passed. I stayed quiet for a few moments, collecting my thoughts as I did.

Finally once we reached a spot, where the river split off, down another path I turned around. "Yes I wanted to give you a honest answer, to your question. I think you're the nicest guy I know, you're strong, and brave." I started. "But?" Tomite asked quietly. I took a deep breath preparing myself for what I was about to say."But I can only see you as a friend. I'm sorry I don't have feelings for you like that." I replied. It was a rather tough decision to make, especially since Tomite was such a great guy. But I owed it to myself, and to him to be honest about my feelings. My eyes met Tomite's brown ones, trying to see his reaction. "Ah that so? Oh well cant be helped, we can just stay friends." Tomite replied with his usual goofy grin. At the sound of that, I was relieved that he had took it well. "Thanks for understanding." I said. With that I gave him a quick hug then headed off in the other direction. I figured now he would want some time to himself, so I left without another word. I'm sure in time that, he'd meet someone who was better off for him, than I was.

Right now I doubted a relationship would be any good for me. Especially with the current situation at hand. Besides for the moment I didn't think there was anyone I liked. After a while of walking, I finally came back to where everyone else was at save Tomite. "Oh good you're back, where's Tomite? We're about to head out to cover more ground before night fall." Takiko asked. "Oh um he wanted to be by himself, so I left him down by the river." I explained. It was about that time that Hikitsu headed in the other direction. "I'll go get him." he called over his shoulder.

Tomite's POV

I was walking back and forth, up and down the river bank. I was trying to collect myself before I went back to the others. Mainly I just didn't want Chiyo to see me down, and feel guilty about rejecting me. I didn't want to trouble her, after all I had said I would still be her friend. The sound of pebbles getting kicked, had me looking up. Heading towards me was Hikitsu he must have guessed what was going on. "Hey Hikitsu, what's up?" I asked casually. Even though I already suspected he knew that, didn't mean I wanted to tell him just yet. "We're leaving, and I came to get you." Hikitsu said as he stopped in front of me. "Oh I see heh, Uruki cant sit still one damn minute." I muttered as I half chuckled to myself. At this moment I was doing anything, to keep from showing my obvious depression. But somehow I had a feeling that with Hikitsu it wouldn't work that easily.

From there we started walking along the river back towards, where the others were. "She turned you down." Hiktsu stated. At this I stiffened a bit, but continued walking. Like Uruki maybe even more so he was always so blunt, and quick to get to the point. "How did you know?" I asked trying to keep the conversation going. After all these years, it was still amazing how, well my best friend knew me. "It wasn't hard to guess, what with the way Chiyo, and you were acting." Hikitsu replied. So she was feeling guilty then? Damn and here I didn't want her feeling like she had to accept my request. Don't get me wrong I would have been thrilled if she had, although I knew all to well you couldn't force your feelings on another, nor could you make them fall in love with you. "Ha,ha, yeah I was shot down but there's no reason for her to be down." I said sheepishly as I rubbed the back of my head. My eyes averted down to the bank of the river, trying not to look so disheartened by having been rejected. I knew Chiyo didn't reject me because of my being a celestial warrior, no she had already accepted that part of me. Although knowing she didn't share my feelings which steadily grew as the days went by, I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt like hell right about now. "Chiyo's just like that, she's a caring person a lot like our miko. Its only natural for her to feel like she's done something unforgivable." Hikitsu said his eye averted towards the sky.

As I looked up and over towards my best friend,he had this refreshed calm look about him. A small smile was spread about his lips, as he spoke of Chiyo …. and didn't I just hate knowing this? My eyes went slightly dark with jealously yes I was this childish, to be so petty that I'd have to feel jealous of Hikitsu for liking Chiyo too. "Yeah I know, she's …. well she's great." I replied quietly doing my best not to let him see my ill feelings towards him. About that time we reached camp everything had been packed up, all that left to do was mount our horses and ride out. Uruki and Takiko were already on their mount Chiyo,was over by Hikitsu's horse petting its fur, her eyebrow was furrowed a trouble looked touched her soft facial features. Swearing under my breath I stalked over to my own horse, I'd ended up causing her more trouble by confessing than anything else. I knew I should have just stayed quiet, and yet the man in me just wanted to have my feelings returned.

Normal POV

What felt like hours later which in reality was,only a few short minutes Hikitsu, and Tomite finally returned to camp. I got caught up in petting Hikitsu's stallion, its black fur was thick yet so soft at the same time. I wanted to distract myself so I wouldn't let anyone else,know how much I was kicking myself for hurting Tomite. Maybe I shouldn't feel this down, since it couldn't be helped that I didn't like the dark haired teen. However that's not how I was, to merely brush it off as something that could not be helped. At the same time I didn't want the others, to see my outer exterior thus causing them to worry in the end. "Will you be riding with me then?" came the soft sound of the blond warrior's voice. Blinking I came out of my thoughts, and turned my eyes up towards Hikitsu who was mounting the horse as I stood there looking up at him. "If it wouldn't be any trouble, then yes." I replied deciding that it would be less awkward as well. It seemed cruel to ride with Tomite, after having all but shot him down. Hikitsu reached down his hand extending towards mine, so that he would be able to help me up on the horse.

Clasping his large hand I allowed myself,to be pulled up and seated in front of the older man. Not long after that Hikitsu willed his horse to go, as Uruki and Takiko set out ahead of us followed by Tomite. As we rode out leaving our campsite behind, I kept my eyes straight so that I wouldn't risk meeting with the dark haired teen's. If I saw the pained looked in his eyes, at that moment I wouldn't be able to say anything. I was afraid I'd just stare, in the end annoying Tomite where he snapped at me without meaning to. Not that I didn't feel that I didn't deserve to be snapped at, for some part of myself believed he'd have the right. Oh sure maybe the real answer was, that I hadn't done anything wrong and true I hadn't. I'd turned him down that was something you did, when you didn't care for the person in the way they did for you. It was completely normal and happened everywhere, not just in my time period. I knew this and yet that still didn't make me feel any better, than I did the moment I opened my mouth to tell him, that I didn't return his feelings. Funny how it takes coming to another world, when you're down on your luck .. really makes you think. In ways coming here had changed me, for before I wouldn't have thought much,about declining someone asking me out.

Nor could I say that I was ever this caring, or worried for a group of people back home. Constantly I was living a stressful life, having to cater to a perfect aunt who was obsessed with my making above average grades. Having to make myself look perfect, because I thought if I did then Sai would only look at me. That we'd end up together, go to collage me in the school of my aunt's dreams. And him either with me or at a collage near by. Then we'd eventually get married, perhaps have a couple of kids and grow old together. It was a cliché dream that every girl, at one point or another has a had in her lifetime. Living in a naïve world wasn't all that bad, until everything came crashing down as you realized that reality hit you in the ass. Making you open your eyes to the way of the one, and what was really there and not in some fantasy land that you created for yourself. Losing Sai had done that for me, opened my eyes and though it hurt like hell .. less now than hurting Tomite had. I was thankful to the boy who had cheated on me with a rich girl, who probably had problems of her own. Because for it wasn't for him I would have never, found true friends even if I did have to cross time and space to be here with them.

It was all worth it, if at the end of the day I was sleeping out under the stars with nothing but irreplaceable friends surrounding me in a semicircle. Leaning back against Hikitsu, I willed myself to relax so that the muscles that made me stiff could unwind. There was just something about being around, the silvery blond haired celestial warrior, that put me at ease more than anything else. I wouldn't dare utter the words out loud, it was another way I was selfish .. for wanting to keep the thought to myself. "We're going to be going further away from the north, we can lose them for a while if we do that." Uruki's voice sounded throughout the area, breaking the silence that had become all too void. "How far away?" I turned in the direction of his and Takiko's horse. It seemed like a logical choice, if we could put distance between us and Qu dong. (As I came to know, that was where the men that were wanting to sacrifice me were from was called.) Then there was at least a little hope, at coming up with a formidable plain. "I was thinking we could go south to Hong nan, the land in which the god Suzaku is said to look over." Uruki said throwing the idea out there, for anyone to disagree with. I had a feeling however, he'd rather not have anyone disagree with him, but that was the wind user for you. "If we're going to hide anywhere, we should go to the west. They'll expect us not to go there, because its closer to their territory." Tomite replied, trying to reason. The sound of the voice almost made me flinch, for some unknown reason. The tone however was not harsh, or even remotely depressed the dark haired warrior actually sounded determined. Which is what kept me from flinching back against Hikitsu, like I would have if he'd snapped. "That may be so Tomite, but what if they decided to check in Sailo first?" the sound of Hikitsu's voice filling my ears. I didn't have to look up to know that his face too was somber, with reason as he talked with his best friend. Something told me that it was his way, of helping Tomite from having a break down, or getting agitated by every little thing Uruki said. "Exactly which is why I think we should go south. If only for a little while, it'll be change of pace." the wind user spoke up. I said nothing only listened to how everyone would debate on this, it was probably for the best that I kept my opinions to myself for the moment anyways.