X-Miz-x0x-Pennii-X - hey sorry for the long wait for updating!! this one is soo long i was all "WHOA!" lol so hope you liek it and leave a looooong review!! lol

Fruit, Flirting and Fun

Chapter9

“I’ve never slept so well before.” Katey mused, with closed eyes. She snuggled more into her pillow. “Mmm…” she tiredly groaned and yawned. “This is an odd pillow.” She opened her eyes slightly and realized she was outside; on Starry Hill. “Well that explains why it’s so bright.” she breathed deeply “Hmm?” she opened her eyes fully and realized her ‘pillow’ was a long tan arm. Still partially asleep she stared confusedly at it before rolling over and staring face to face at a sleeping Kyle.

She shot her upper body up and sat there staring incredulously at him. She couldn’t help but blush uncontrollably. She had, had her left shoulder on his chest and her head had been resting on his left arm which was laying straight in one direction. Her left arm had been bent backwards as her fingers lazily grazing his arm.

Katey shakily stood up and wondered a bit higher to the top of the hill. The hill was high enough that you could see over the tips of the lush trees. The view she saw was of more gloriously high mountains. The river flowed magnificently in a calm motion around each towering mountain. And besides the water and mountains there was plenty of open land.

“All I remember from last night is…counting stars with Kyle. And Cody. Then,” she had a concentrated look as she remembered more and more details. “Sitting side by side next to Kyle and he told me some names of stars.” She smiled “Then lying next to him and sharing memories.” She looked around and saw Kyle beginning to stir in his sleep. “Must’a fell asleep after that.”

It looked about noon. Katey walked over to Kyle rubbing his closed eyes then staggering to his feet.

Katey smiled “‘Morning sunshine.”

He yawned “Yeah, uh yeah mornin’ sun…something or other.” He yawned again.

Katey chuckled “Tired?”

He walked towards her “Me? Nah. I'm good.” He bent down and picked a dandelion.

“Flower?”

“Weed.”

“Fine.”

“No.”

“Want it?”

“Yes.”

“Fine.”

“Okay.”

“Here”

“Thank you.”

They paused and laughed briefly “Come on,” Kyle began “Lets get something to eat.” He whistled for Cody.

Cody came out of the bush, with of course, an orange. Katey sighed and laughed. Kyle, who knew nothing about Cody’s orange reputation, looked confused.

“What?”

“Nothing.” She chuckled as they walked back to the village.

“So anyways,” he good humouredly smiled “Have a good sleep honey?” he said sarcastically putting as arm around her; he was referring to them spending the night out together. He squeezed her arm as they entered the village.

She grinned and rolled her eyes. “I sure did sweetheart. And you?”

“Oh the very best dear.” He said as he pulled her tighter to him.

Katey rolled her eyes again and reached her hand to his to take his arm off her. In that instant she saw a gaping Cat a few yards away. Katey smiled devilishly and pulled his arm tighter around herself. Kyle, a bit surprised that she kept his arm around her, smiled questionably at her. Katey realized she still had her hands holding his arm.

Butterflies took over her stomach as she meekly apologized. “S-sorry about t-that.” She took her hands off his arm.

“For what? Suits me fine,” He grinned down at her, she slowly smiled back. “–Honey.” He added. He slowly moved his hands up and down her arm to comfort her. Katey blushed then he dropped his arm.

“Katey! Kyle!” called Nali from one of the cozy larger huts. “You hungry?”

They entered a good sized hut that had a thick rectangular piece of wood serving as a table on the floor. It had colorful cushions on each side. Three bowls were on each side with, red fruit with a tinge of purple, in them. Beside that was a smaller bowl with drinking water in it.

“Come sit.” Nali motioned for with her hands to some cushions in front of some food.

They obediently sat and curiously inspected what lay before them in the wooden bowls. Katey looked at Kyle signaling him to take the first bite. He obliged and mouthed ‘You owe me.’ Katey smirked.

“Nali?” he began. She looked up. “What is this?” he said trying not to sound rude.

“Food. Fruit. It good for you. Eat. Tastes good.” She smiled and began to eat.

Realizing that’s the best answer they were going to get they forked up a bite with the wooden stick utensil-like thing. As soon as it touched Katey’s tongue she froze. Katey closed her eyes “Oh my…this is so…” Katey thought as she covered her mouth. Kyle obviously was having the same thought since he wore the same expression and seemed to be forcing the food down.

“What wrong Katey? No good?” Katey saw the slightly hurt expression on Nali’s face.

“Uh-erm—” she swallowed hard “It’s great.” Kyle almost coughed up his food at what she just said. He elbowed her and she frowned elbowing him back and whispering “You’d have said the same thing!”

Just then Marina and Hizari and another man came in and sat down. Marina sat next to Katey. Right away Marina sensed their dislike of the fruit. She muffled a laugh and whispered to Nali as she watched the two close-to-barfing teens.

“You must another fruit? Yes?” they nodded happily.

They pushed aside the first fruit as Nali placed another fruit in front of them. Katey immediately sunk her teeth into the succulent pear shaped produce. Juice was released into her mouth as she realized it was delicious.

Kyle looked at her. “Like it?” she nodded.

“You?”

Kyle took another bite “Yeah its great.” Katey glanced across the ‘table’ and saw that the other person at the table was turning a deep red with a slight tinge of purple. Katey nudged Kyle and he looked curiously over.

“Marina?” Katey whispered as she recognized the fruit the man was eating was the same as hers and Kyle’s.

“Hmm?” she responded eating.

“Why is that man turning such a deep red?”

Marina casually looked up then her facial expression changed to slightly surprised. “Oh my. Nali!” she finished in their language.

Nali looked at the villager. “Oh! Come, we get you something for that.” The two got up and left.

Kyle leaned over “What happened to him?” he asked Marina. Katey slowly and suspiciously laid the remainder of her breakfast back into the bowl.

“Oh, nothing too serious. It just means he is allergic to that fruit. Also it’s called the Abungo fruit. Don’t worry, only few people are allergic to it.”

“What does it do?” Katey asked still eyeing the fruit.

“First time someone eats it and turns red, it means their allergic to it. They’ll just be really red for a few hours. But if they eat it a second time they’ll get sick. It’s only happened twice and one of those times it was fatal.” She glanced at their gaping expressions. “Oh but don’t be scared! If you turn red just stay away from it and you’ll be fine.”

Katey looked worriedly at Kyle. He smiled sheepishly and shrugged. “Do you think we’ll be okay?” Kyle asked for Katey’s sake.

“Well you don’t appear red. You’re probably okay. Don’t worry about it.” She smiled and continued to eat.

Kyle shrugged it off and finished his Abungo fruit off and drank his water. Katey carefully finished eating feeling paranoid and looking at her arms for signs of redness.

“Hmm…” she mumbled.

“What?” Kyle asked.

“Am I red?”

“No.”

Marina interrupted “Would you two mind helping us pick a few baskets of apples today? We’ve got company coming in a few days.”

“I’ll help.” Katey responded as Marina took a sip of her water.

“Yeah I'm in.”

Marina looked confused. Katey laughed briefly “He’ll help too.”

Marina smiled. “I’ll come by in after awhile for awhile. Not feel so good.” Hizari stated. Katey forgot about him being there. Hizari waved and left.

“Well let’s go.” Kyle said. They cleaned up and pushed the drape in front of the door to the side to exit.

“Its really hot today.” Kyle observed shielding his eyes with his left hand.

Katey fell into step with him as they neared a large patch of bright red apple trees. The ‘forest’ or apple trees seemed to go on and on in almost every direction. Marina gave them a few baskets before disappearing back to the village and leaving them alone with a few other people at different trees.

“Some are really high!” Katey exclaimed as she strained to reach one.

“Here go on my shoulders.” Kyle offered as he bet down. Katey looked questionably at him. “Come on. I won’t bite.”

Katey smiled “No thanks. I'm good.”

He moved closer. “Get on Katey.”

“Nu uh.” Katey faked an angry look.

“Think of the hungry people!” she kept her fake angry look. “Katey.” He said in a sarcastically stern way.

“Kyle.” She said in the same voice.

“Don’t make me make you.” He grinned. She backed up.

“Forget about the high ones. I can get these ones.” She said meekly as she plucked a juicy looking apple from an empty low branch. She leaned down to put it in the basket, Kyle grabbed her from behind.

“Come on Katey!” he began to squeeze her around her stomach.

Katey squealed. “Okay! Okay I will.” She laughed.

Kyle bent down and she got up. A few other villagers walked by with small smiles. Cody appeared in one of the trees and swatted at one of the apples, then stopping to nibble on it, but he decided that he’ll stick to oranges.

“See? Now you can get the higher ones.” Katey nodded and smiled.

A few hours past and Marina and Nali had come and moved to different trees deeper into the apple ‘forest’. Hizari came for a bit but felt sick and left. They had five baskets of apples, and Kyle had put Katey down sometimes and then picked her up again.

“Well I vote for a break.” Katey said on Kyle’s shoulders as she plucked one more apple.

“I’m in.” he bent down and Katey got off. She laid down on her back.

“This feels good.” She said stretching her arms.

Kyle turned still on his knees and slipped on a leaf and landed next to Katey but ended up on top of her. His hair fell slightly over his startled blue/brown eyes. Katey’s cheeks went to a light pink as her stomach bubbled with glee. Her hazel eyes widen as her looked at her. A thought crossed her mind “I like this better…” Katey smiled. Kyle just looked at her with the same startled look. He faked a quick cough then leaned up. Katey felt a bit disappointed as she slowly leaned up and looked at him.

He turned towards the dirt path. Katey followed his gaze and saw what he was looking at. Catalina. Cat strutted up to them, eyes glued to Kyle.

“Hey Kyle.” She flipped her hair “I like you’re hair like that. Looks sexy.”

He ran a hand though his slightly messy looking, out-of-bed, hair. He mumbled a ‘hi’.

Cat turned her attention to Katey then acted if she didn’t notice her. “Oh Katey! I didn’t see you there. You just blend in with this dull scenery so well I almost didn’t notice you!” Cat smirked.

“Knock it off Catalina.” Kyle said annoyed.

“Whatever do you mean!” she clasped a hand over her heart.

Kyle stood up and offered a hand to Katey. Katey kept holding onto his hand hoping to annoy Cat. She succeeded. Cat glared at their clasped hands.

“Anyways Kyle. You weren’t at your shelter thing last night. Where were you? I came by to see if you recovered from your injury.”

“What injury?” Kyle asked confused.

“Well obviously you were suffering from a head injury since you said you just want to be friends!” Catalina chuckled.

“I meant it.” He said beginning to walk off with Katey.

“Why? It’s not like you’re with Kathy.” Cat smirked. Katey glared.

“Katey, you mean. And actually I am.” He said matter-of-factly.

Katey’s expression went to shocked/confused, Cat was just bewildered. He faced his body to Katey and wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. Katey's mouth opened but no words came out, she just looked at him but he didn’t look back.

Kyle leaned in and whispered “Play along.” Katey smiled. Cat’s jaw dropped.

Kyle wrapped his other arm around her and dramatically spoke “I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with Katey!” his voice quieted a bit “It’s true I love you.” Katey could have sworn he meant that. It was as if he was saying it half to the act and half for her.

Her heart thumped faster. Then she realized it was her ‘line’. “Oh dearest Kyle, I love you too!” she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his right shoulder so she was facing Cat. Katey smiled devilishly at Catalina before she stood on her toes and quickly kissed Kyle’s cheek with her eyes watching Cat’s expression.

“Hmpft.” Cat grunted as she stormed off.

Kyle let go of Katey and grinned humorously and they both laughed.

“Did you see her face?!” Katey said putting a hand on a nearby tree and they laughed some more.

“Yeah that was so good!” Kyle said. They began to walk back. “You look kind of red Katey. You okay?”

“Yeah. Am I really? Hmm.” The leaves ruffled as a warm breeze blew slowly in.

Kyle’s expression took on a mischievous grin “It’s nice.”

“What?”

“It’s nice that you fought Catalina in my honor!” Katey’s mouth dropped open and she turned red. “I’m touched! Really.” He put a hand over his heart.

“Well you should be.” She folded her arms with a mischievous grin of her own. “I don’t do it for everyone you know. And now that you mention it, my ribs do kind of hurt.” She rubbed her side.

He frowned. “She hit you.” It was more of a statement than a question.

Katey realized that he never actually saw the fight. Katey looked at his expression; he seemed to be thinking. “But I’m alright. You got hurt for me, and I got hurt for you. But I'm not really hurt.”

Kyle looked straight ahead. “But she’s not the only one who hurt you.”

Before Katey could respond Nali ran up to them “Come we make neck-laces.” She said necklaces like two different words.

“Okay.” They said. They walked into Nali’s marketing hut. She sells necklaces, bracelets, anklets. She has a variety of colors with different shades for beads. Inside of her hut there are short legged tables with rectangular wooden bowls full of different colored beads. Each color shade had a meaning. Also some long beaded necklaces hung from the roof above the tables. Nali had some large cushions in the middle of the room circling a fire pit.

“Okay. We make necklaces. Yes?” Nali showed them the basics in the braiding the strings and other stringed designs.

Nali began to point to different colors of beads and say each meaning. Katey listened carefully as well as Kyle.

“I be back soon.” She smiled then left through the fabric drape in the doorway.

“I'm making you one.” Kyle declared as he grinned and reached for some string. “So don’t watch.”

Katey laughed. “Fine. I won’t. But I want to make you one, so you don’t look.”

Kate reached for two beads; light blue signified bravery and the dark brown signified patience. Katey noticed that those colors were also his eye colors so it suited him perfectly. She smiled and Nali returned soon. For the next hour she helped them make their necklaces. They thanked Nali when they were done and walked outside as the sun started to hide behind trees almost settling in for the night.

“Here.” Kyle said softy handing Katey his creation. Katey smiled and thought his face appeared to be getting pink.

“Thank you Kyle. Green and light brown? What do those mean?”

He ran his fingers through his hair and smiled. “The green is for beautiful and the light brown is for kindness.” Katey blushed slightly, but thank goodness for her now red-ish skin he didn’t notice.

“Heres the one I made for you.” Katey put it in his hands.

“Thank you Katey. What do these colors mean?”

“The blue is for bravery and the brown is for patience.”

He looked confused “Patience?”

Katey picked patience because he was being patient with her about love. “Yes.”

“Oh. Okay. May I ask why?” he smiled.

“You’ll figure it out.” she said, hoping his dense side wouldn’t keep him from ever figuring it out.

“Come on. I want to get you this charm for it that I saw earlier.”

They walked up to a man behind a table with numerous charms made from many different things. Kyle showed her a dollar-sized flower-shaped seashell/

“It’s gorgeous.” Katey gasped “Kyle you really don’t have to.”

“I want to. Really.” Kyle reached for his other necklace to trade for the charm. The man at the table shook his head and hands then put the charm in Kyle’s hands.

“Free.” The man said. Kyle protested but he just smiled excitedly and shook his head again. Kyle shrugged admitting defeat and put his hands around Katey’s neck and untied the necklace he made for her. He slid the charm on and then tied it again.

“Thank you Kyle. It means a lot.” She smiled happily at him before quickly hugging him. He gladly hugged her back. Many villagers around them smiled largely and clapped their hands. Kyle and Katey wore confused expressions.

Marina suddenly stood outside one of the eating huts “Kyle! Katey! Come eat.”

They sat down with Marina, Hizari, Nali, Tanta and Kyle’s three friends Ruffarro, Paki and Tendai. Also Cat and her parents John and Janice were there.

Marina looked at Katey “Your so red Katey. You feel good?”

“Oh really? I still am? Well I feel fine thanks.” Katey watched as Cat helped with the supper obviously trying to look like a nice girl. She had on a fake smile every time she looked at Katey; she returned the gesture.

Once they got their bowls of salmon and salad they prayed their thanks and ate. Katey reached for her pink fruit juice and took a sip. Ruffarro noticed Katey’s charm and whispered to Paki, they eyed her seashell charm. Cat watched Katey with a mischievous grin. Katey began to blink a bit faster realizing a strange feeling in her stomach.

Kyle put a hand on her shoulder. “You okay there Katey?”

Katey put a hand on her stomach. She opened her mouth but said nothing.

“What’s wrong Katey?” she battered her eyelashes mischievously. “Cat got your tongue?”

Ignoring Cat Katey answered Kyle’s question. “I-I don’t know Kyle. I don’t feel good at all. Uhmm M-Marina?”

She looked up. “Yes Katey? Something wrong dear?”

Katey nodded feeling worse.

Kyle looked harder at her “Maybe you should go lie down. I’ll come by later.” She nodded.

“I’ll with you Katey.” Marina stated.

About a half hour later Kyle was on his way to Katey when Ruffarro, Paki and Tendai stopped him. “Kyle!”

Kyle turned abruptly “What is it?”

They babbled on and on until their noticed Kyle’s confused/annoyed look. Tendai began “We see Kay-tee’s necklace charm.” Kyle nodded motioning for them to continue. “You know the meaning of flower seashell??” Kyle shook his head slowly, not knowing it had a meaning. “There be legend for charm. Listen now...as we say tale of the flower seashell…”

There was once a young good-hearted boy who was in love with a young girl whose beauty shone brighter than the moon and stars. “You are my flower and my love.” He told her. But one day the girl was gone, for the Goddess of Beauty was jealous of the girl’s appearance and the boy declared that he would do whatever it takes to get her back. For days he searched and prayed to the Gods for guidance. He was led to an outstandingly large and untamable sea. He began to swim for weeks on end; he almost lost all hope for land until he saw what looked like Hell itself. He looked to the heavens questionably before racing through the blazing land of Death. Furious flames burned heatedly in every direction along with terrified suffering people. Near the end he saw more water that surrounded a small patch of land with palm trees bordered by glittering sand. Radiant light from the heavens shown upon the island indicating for him to go to it. He crawled ashore and saw numerous white flowers, seashells, and he saw the girl lying amongst them with closed eyes. He prayed for her survival and was granted a vision. He saw the sea and Hell he went through, and how he told her that she was his flower. He then thought of a seashell and picked up one and plucked a flower. The two items created a bright white light which rejuvenated the girl with life and the shell and flower formed as one, as did the boy and girl. The young boy became the seashell; for he went though the sea and Hell. The girl became the flower; for she was his flower, and together they created a stunning flower shaped sparkling seashell that symbolizes one boy’s dedication to his one true love. And to this day they live among the elements helping both girl and boy in their journey to finding true love of their own.

“So it be known as charm for lovers. And rarely is it given. So giving it to Katey means lots for you too.”

Kyle’s jaw dropped and he began to get nervously excited. “Wha–… I…No I mean…she…I'm…” he sighed “–So dead.”

They gave him sympathetic glances then laughed and slapped his arm in a gesture that said ‘you dog you!’ (Lol!) Kyle forced a laugh then it disappeared as he ran to Katey’s hut. He could see a bright orange light beaming out. Obviously the fire. There were no full moon tonight just stars here and there.

“Katey!” he said out of breath as he bounded into the room.

Marina put a finger to her lips “Sshh!”

Nali and Tanta were on the ground around Katey. She was asleep taking deep breaths and sweating. Kyle slowly moved towards her not taking his eyes off her.

He whispered “What’s wrong??” he placed a hand on her left hand at her side.

“Some sort of allergy we think.” Marina said as she dabbed a damp cloth on Katey’s forehead.

Tanta was talking, Kyle didn’t understand, and she was waving a long colorful cloth around and sprinkling dust on Katey. Nali had her eyes closed and she was singing quietly as she cried softly. Kyle’s heart did a flip flop.

“Katey…” he whispered to himself. He looked at her necklace and saw the charm. He prayed out loud not caring who heard him. “Dear Lord, please watch over her and keep her safe. I…I…I need her Lord. Please…”

Marina had been watching him, she smiled softly and let a single tear fall from his prayer.

Kyle hesitated then forced himself to ask quietly. “Will she be okay?”

Marina watched Katey’s unconscious body. “I don’t know Kyle. I just don’t know…”

X-Miz-x0x-Pennii-X - hey thanks for readin! Review! And make it a LOOONG review lol since it was a long chapter!! PLEASE!

I am going to start posting the names of the next chapters since im not sure if some people read them lol so here is the name of CHAPTER 10 (lol) "Everyone Learns to Say Goodbye."

Here is a different myth written by my good friend LISA! lol she has helped me alot and she suggested this myth and since i didnt' use it i stil wanted to post it!! ENJOY!

There once was a young boy and girl. The girl was so beautiful that she made the stars itself dim of their beauty. Both the girl and the boy were arranged to marry. They boy couldn't wait till the day of the marriage ceremony. but to his and the villages horror, she disappeared a day before the wedding. But the boy was patient and prayed to the gods that she would show up tomorrow. But to his emmensse sorrow, the girl did not show up. In fact, she did not turn up for weeks. The boy was heart broken. He wouldn't sleep or eat for days. He was almost near death when tiredness draped itself like a blanket over him. He was asleep within seconds. he then began to dream weird things. things of seas, lands covered in fire, and a flower. A large beautiful flower that looked as if it had been painted with the colors of the rainbow with a paintbrush made of clouds. at the end of the dream, he saw the gods surrond him. He looked up, fearful of what may happen t him. The eldest of the gods, a small man with a long beard, spoke to him.
"Do not be afraid my child." the man said tiredly. "we have come to tell you that the goddesses, jealous of your wife-to-be's beauty, have token the girl and hidden in her deep inside a cave. But to get to her you must cross the seas and hell itself to reach her. She is in the shape of a flower. But it will be up to you, which flower you think your wife-to-be is."
The Gods left the boy in a daze and felt himself awake. A few days later, after he had regained his stregth, the boy left the village. After a couple of miles though, the boy realized that he had no ida where to go. Looking up, he saw a cloud in the shape of a finger point toward the east. As he kpt on walking, he saw the finger change directions repeatidly to show him the way. After many tiresome days, he saw the sea. Running towards it he saw nothing. Not a boat or anything. How was he supposed to cross now? The boy then prayed to any god listening to help him, and dived into the sea. He swam for many weeks, almost drowning many times. Finally he reched the end to see a land covered completely in fire: hell. Gathering up all the courage the young boy had inside him, he ventured into the great flaming pitt of doom. He walked through the land, almost turning back when he saw the horrific sites that behled him. He saw woman, man, and child alike being tortured for whatever wrong deed they had commited. At the end of his journey though, he saw a man that looked just like him, sobbing as he tried to chase a girl that just refused to be caught. The boy realized that the man was him and the woman that he was chasing was his betrothed. This was what was going to happen or what he feared was going to. Struggling to ignore the sight that hehad just witnessed, the boy trudged on through the barren wasteland before finally seeing a glimmer of light. Running foreward as fast as he could, the boy saw something that made his heart leap for joy. The cave. But to his sadness, he saw not her, but a group of flowers all clustered closely together. The boy fell to his knee's weeping. How was he supposed to pick the right flower. They all looked the same. In complete dispair the boy took a dagger from his pack and made to end his life before a sudden image flashed before his eyes. A flower. A flower with petals the colors of the rainbow. He then realized that the flower was the girl. The boy stood up and dried his tears before wandering into the flowers. The boy searched for what felt like weeks before finally coming upon the flower. Picking the flower gently up, he stared amazed. For just where the flower had been only seconds before stood a beautiful young girl. The boy made to kiss her but the walls of the cave began to shake and quake as pieces of rubble and rock came falling from the roof of the cave. Grabbing the girls hand, the couple ran out of the cave and ran through hell as fast as they could, trying to outrun the terrisome roaring that sounded behind them. Finally, the girl and the boy reached the edge and stared across the sea before the girl began to weep. She did not know how to swim. The boy, not knowing what to do, kissed the girl softly before feeling a change come over them. Instead of a boy and a girl, their lay on the sand a seashell, meant to tell people of how love could conquer everything, even a large seemingly endless sea and a terrifying hell.