ch2

.:Dream sequence:.

Uzimi paced through the dispersing silver mist, holding her arms around herself in a supportive hug. With further inspection, she noticed she was in an ever expanding silhouette forest, one that appeared dead, black and gray as far as the eye could see.

Just beyond its concealing hands lay the sounds of agony, the low, unmistakable roar of men screaming for victory, yelling in anguish, pleading for lives lost; some silenced forever.

It was the war, she realized, the battlefield that was soaked in a river of crimson and bone. Uzimi instantly pounded towards it, no fear restraining her soul, her pulse thundering, throat growing hoarse by the name that stuck to her lips no matter how hard she tried to shout it.

Bursting from the entanglement of brush, Uzimi dug her heels into the soft earth, loaming over an on-looking cliff that allowed her gaze to sweep near the ends of the earth. Down below was the ocean of carnage, the wave of men slaughtering each other, a few negret's loaming in the middle to pick off who ever fell under their attacks - whether comrade or foe - while Erribi of all kinds swam on the outskirts to deal with the deserters.

The very smell forced Uzimi to cover her nostrils, trying to filter out the stench of decaying flesh baking in the setting sun. She wanted to cry, she wanted so desperately to turn away and punish those down bellow for this mutilation, but still her voice eluded her. It's a dream.. All a horrible, horrible dream, she kept repeating to herself, the sight burning the longer she watched, the longer she wished someone would spare her the sight and release her from this nightmare.

And suddenly, as if a higher force had answered her prayers, a quick flash pulled her attention further along the line of falling men and beast's. Her misty orbs drifted towards the falling titans until finally settling upon a familiar halfret charging into the mist's of it all..

The woman's breath caught in her lungs.

Shinning in all his glory stood the one she searched for, yearned for. He was caked in the spray of red and yellow and every other color blood that pumped in the different species veins, but that didn't hinder his skills nor diminish his godly physic. Aolase kept right on fighting, cutting his victims where they stood, not even losing steam the further he strained himself. And there, tied firmly around his arm, was her luck charm, leaving him unscathed by the love sewn into the very fabric.

A smile hung loosely on Uzimi's lips as she shouted his name with all the breath she could muster, shattering the invisible walls that left her mute. The call echoed past the mounds of the dead, ringing true through the living collision of bodies and into Aolase's perked ears. He spun on his heels, the red of his hair framing feather-like around his head in a heavenly glow, bestowing her the same welcoming smile that she held.

All the war faded behind his form, the two gazing at one another, lost in the perfect image of their loved one. Aolase whispered her name far across the battlefield, Uzimi somehow catching it lingering on the wind even with the considerable distance separating them.

But the battle hadn't ceased entirely, it had only swallowed Aolase deeper into its core, digesting him slowly in its scarlet and gold acid of dead. The juices dripped from his claws, slithering down to the sprawled bodies he treaded upon.

"I lov-" The sentence became gagged, his mouth clenched shut. He narrowed his eyes, the swimming pain behind them shone brighter than the reddening sky behind his back.

A thin stream of blood snaked down the corners of Aolase's mouth, he slowly reaching a hand to his chest where a sword protruded out from the other side. The yellow ribbons splashed from his wound and onto the ground, causing him to gaze back up to his worry filled Uzimi.

Dropping his sword with a heavy clank, and loosing his coordination to stand, Aolase reached out to her, unable to touch, unable to hold the one his heart hungered for.

To far, they were to far.

Uzimi's expression contorted into hysterics upon seeing this, hanging off the steep, never ending tears drowning every part of her body. "No… Aolase! Aolase!!"

His sorrowful grin hung weakly in place, closing his lids as his head lolled down towards the ground. Finally, gravity forced his body to collapse when all life fled from its shell, drained away as he fell into his shallow grave. The sun was blotted from the sky the moment the quivering, decaying corpses devoured his into their mounds, clouds bursting to wash Uzimi's body of all feeling.

She crept even closer to the end of her perch, still unable to believe he had fallen so easily… because of her. I distracted him… I killed him! What have I done? What have I done?!

Clasping both hands to her face, she still stepped closer to the fall, the height would surely break her neck, if not kill her on impact, but she was numb by now from the pain twitching in her heart. The notion of death didn't frighten her, in fact, it was welcomed if it meant she would be with Aolase again.

Sniffling the last of her emotions, Uzimi brought her chin up with dignity once Aolase's figure had grown gray. She watched as his body become eaten away by the raging armies, leaving her alone in an unforgiving world; A world he no longer was apart of.

No more light for her now, no more sunshine to brighten her day. It had all turned black the moment he was no longer apart of her life, gone forever, breaking his promise to her. There's no longer a reason to exist. She began to whimper, so in love with a ghost that it was destroying her to be separated from him, there's no meaning anymore, no point. Hovering one foot over the ledge, Uzimi took a finale breath to still her nerves. What life could she possibly have now that he was gone? She held nothing but this moment, this broken promise of his safe return and a sixty foot drop that could take all the pain away in an instant.

Glancing at the spot Aolase had once stood, Uzimi caught her lip with her teeth, mouthing, I love you Aolase, more than my words alone can describe. Let us always be together. With her thoughts set free, Uzimi took the plunge into purgatory, the last step she would ever have, the last she would remember in this desolate dream life.

Shutting her eyes in its velvety blackness, she wrapped her arms over her chest as the wind teased her hair, falling to a bottomless blanket of sleep. The warmness would comfort her till she hit the bottom, yet it already felt like she had hit that long ago… when he had left.

.:End Dream Sequence:.

Were am I?

Uzimi's eyes fluttered open, her lashes clouding the bright image leaning before her. It was like breaking forth from a long tunnel, the light now became so much clearer at the end, and so intense, that she squinted to keep it from stinging any further. "Where am I?" Uzimi questioned, her voice rough and raw to her own ears, sending a throb to pulse in her neck.

Had she slept on it wrong, or perhaps this was a personal hell for those endless suicidal thoughts. She inwardly groaned if that were the case, cursing the higher forces that seemed content to keep her life a tragedy.

Leaning up, and hissing at the stiffness in her back, Uzimi clenched a hand to her temples, becoming dizzy from the lack of oxygen in her brain. The woman fumbled because of the spreading headache rooted to the ends of her skull, groaning soundly when the room took a sudden spin. She said nothing more until gathering her bearings, knowing she had sat up a little too fast for her body to handle, clenching her lids shut to drown out the twirling world.

The days events slowly flooded into the woman's conscience, growing more vivid the longer she took in great amounts of air to clear her head. She felt hot and cold all at the same time, recalling the injured negret she had rescued earlier, the struggle she had endured to get him home, and then… Uzimi's attention snapped onto the creature staring at her, observing every movement she made, barely a breath away from her face. This instantly sparked her instincts to leap back from the negret's presence, screaming at the top of her lungs for him to stay away or else - though she hoped he didn't ask "or else what" cause she doubted she could do anything to him.

Clumsily scrambling to the far end of her house, she howled when he recoiled, running her already sore head into the wall. The male shrieked right along with her, surprised and shocked that she had hollered when he had only been watching her sleep. He brought his covers up to his nose, eyes wide in fright, "Don't hurt me don't hurt me." He stammered, leaning back from the woman as if she were the devil.

The reaction was less than understandable, confusing by his sudden display of cowardice. What was the deal with this creature anyway? Hadn't he been the one who attacked her? The startled healer could only glare blankly, trembling uncontrollably by his presence.

She trembled because of his strength, of what he was capable of doing to her if she wasn't wary or careful, allowing for her attention to quickly skim along the living room for a means to defend herself if need be; though she imagined nothing in her house would be sturdy enough to stop him.

Uzimi resigned herself to sit in a kneeling position, grasping her throat to finger the small beads dotting around the claw marks, readying her legs in case he went for her life again before the day was over. Just as she went to brace herself for a mad dash to the door, since he leaned forth in attempts to crawl closer, the negret decided it best to stay put and not frighten the lovely lady that seemed so afraid of him any further. He had only wanted to comfort her, since she was injured and all, but it appeared she didn't want him to move so he decided it best to stay put.

Again she scanned for a suitable weapon, and the best way to escape, this making him follow her eyes and mistakenly assuming her focus was on the pile of switches laying near the herb cabinets. "Are you mad at me?" The male shakily inquired in a voice that seemed not to belong to him at all. It almost appeared... child-like, as if he worried he was in trouble.

Uzimi curiously tilted her head, staring intently at the way he held himself in that withdrawn position. It was so unlike the creature that had attacked her before, almost timid in a way.

"I wont hurt you, if you don't hurt me." She offered, none to convinced of the statement.

His shoulders suddenly dropped in relaxation, sighing long and hard, still hiding behind the blankets. "I'd never do that, you helped me after all. I remember, I'd remember your face from anywhere." He gave a tiny, reassuring smile, yet it went unnoticed.

Uzimi inched closer to the door, which was also near the switches, sending the ease he once held to go fleeing back until he was stiff as a board again, "Y-your not gonna use those sticks to swat me… are you?"

It was easy to detect the quiver in his tone, instantly reminding her of the village kids when she had to disinfect a scratch or when their mothers switched the fire out of them for misbehaving.

Needless to say, this caused Uzimi to beam timidly and shake her head, deciding to change her course of direction and, hesitantly, extend a hand to remove the blanket from his face, "No, I wont hurt you, not unless I have to put more medicine on but that wont be until later. Your injuries were serious, but I fixed that."

The negret allowed his shoulders to lose the stiff hump when her fingers accidentally stroked his cheek, his appearance no longer reminding her of a startled bunny but more along the lines of a love sick puppy. He glanced to the bandages she indicated, rubbing the slash, stroking it clumsily. Quickly, the male snapped his focus back to her gentling expression, beaming a quiet, "Thank you." to her kindness.

Uzimi simply nodded towards that, giving him a once over before plopping down in front of him, praying she wasn't murdered for this trusting act. The awkwardness that had once filled the room settled in again, lingering like a sick haze one would find in the early morning fog. The gold and silver skinned negret fiddled with his blankets, not meeting her stare when she sat so close, almost shy being around a girl he wasn't used too. Finally, after curiosity got the better of her common sense, Uzimi cleared her soar throat to ask, "How did you get those injuries? I-I mean, I don't want to be nosy but… well, they were pretty bad. You don't get those every day you know."

The male gazed vacantly at the question, twisting in place as his mind desperately sought the answer. Sadly, it seemed to elude him, causing his brows to knit tightly together.

Uzimi still sat patiently, able to see his difficulty on the subject. She hardly felt threatened by him, as strange as that sounds, now that he ran an unsteady hand through his blood red hair. On closer observation, she valiantly fought the rush of heat licking up and down her body when she took the time to thoroughly examine him. (Not to say she didn't while he had his clothes off a little while ago) Now, being this close, she wasn't concerning herself over his injuries, thus allowing proper time to study his face with a keen eye. He was extremely handsome, that made apparent with one look alone. He had the face of a tarnished angel, gold running down the middle like a strip while silver rested on both sides, his body having the same design, shimmering like a metal coin when light was held to it.

All in all, he was gorgeous. Ahhhh! Stop that thinking Uzi! Appearances are deceiving, which was very true since he had already made an attempt on her life. At least… he had. He didn't seem ready to do it again for some strange reason.

The male eventually turned his sights to the ceiling, thinking while taking in his new surrounding. "Well? How did you get that nice chunk taken out of you?" She pressed, sending him to nerve his lip and look down into his lap, allowing his violet eyes to settle on the callused hands and pointed claws that held small traces of her blood underneath them. "I cant remember." He squeaked, embarrassed at his muddled memory.

Uzimi gapped in shock. It was hard to imagine how someone could forget how they were nearly killed! "Uh, okay. Do you at least remember where your from?" She still trying to gain some kind of answer to his identity.

The negret shook his head shamefully, shoulders scrunched.

"Do you remember anything?"

Again he shook his head, gazing up at her innocently.

Uzimi huffed a bit of air to her messy bangs, raking her brain for a means to figure out who exactly this stranger was. He didn't seem to know anything, much less who or where he was from. Perhaps he had that amnesia thing, bumped his head some how.

Leaning in a little closer, he gently pressed his voice forward, a glow of trust leaking fluently from his body, "Why don't I look like you? You're all pink and I'm this strange color."

The woman only shook her head like a mother would to a curious toddler, wanting to groan at his ignorance, "That's simple, and strange you have to ask. It's because your some kind of Erribi, but I'm pretty sure you're a negret.."

His head tilted curiously, not at all understanding her meaning. "What are those?"

Uzimi scratched the back of her head, scrambling for a way to explain further to one that should already know all of this seeing to the fact he looked a few years older than herself. "See your pointy ears and shiny skin?" She aimed her finger to said features, leading the him to nod. He reached up, delicately stroking the points, feeling the tips to be positive what she said was true. And sure enough, it was.

"Soooo, what's a... negret?" He screwed his gaze into her own, watching Uzimi's face pale while he observed her rounder lobes.

This was an uncomfortable subject, something that wouldn't be easy to describe to one that didn't know what it was, especially since their two species, or any species for that matter, weren't exactly on friendly terms. Coughing into her hand, Uzimi really didn't know how to explain this to someone, much less a grown man. This subject was usually a given.

He's like a small child in the mind area, I suppose. So… I guess I have to tread softly. Oh joy, I get to raise another kid. The woman thought blandly, thinking back to the time's she had to give Aolase motherly lectures when ever he misbehaved or did something completely stupid.

Sitting with legs crossed, the woman set her hands on her knee's, beginning with the basics, "A negret is you, Earth bound Fae that happen to be far stronger than human's. There's a whole bunch of different kinds of creatures in this world. If you don't know what to call them, since it's disrespectful to say, "hey you, thing!" you call any magical creature you're not certain of an Erribi. I'm pretty sure you're a full blood negret, since Aolase's descriptions of one match you fairly well. But what ever you are I hope its nice." She decided to leave out the whole 'warring' thing with him, knowing it would be an overload to his fragile mind.

"I'm nice. Very nice." He made sure to make this perfectly clear, speaking hastily as if she might flee that very minute if he went too slow. He then looked around, thumping his chin with a thoughtful finger, "What's an Aolase? Is it an Erribi too? Are they nice like me?"

Uzimi took in a large gulp, spinning her misty attention elsewhere. "He's a halfret. Half human, half negret. A very dear friend of mine that's somewhere else right now."

"Will he be coming back?"

She snapped a stern glare onto his face, not at all liking how he had somehow turned the questions around on her. "I think that's enough about me, I want to ask you some more things… if you can remember that is. No offense, but I don't trust guys I hardly know."

He nodded for her to go on then, ready but doubtful he could fill in any details. Everything in his head was a blur, fuzzed over to the point he wasn't entirely sure anything was real other than the nice lady that was seated in front of him.

Squinting her eyes a bit, Uzimi leaned into his face, "How old are you?" It was a question she must know, to be sure just how bluntly she could speak to this man, and precisely figure out how to handle such a predicament as bizarre as this.

Now it was his turn to feel uncomfortable, rolling his eyes this way and that, counting on his fingers to be sure he had it right. "I'm... oh, what's after six?" He held out his hands, with seven fingers up. "I'm this old, my birthdays in the spring… I think." He gave a sound of consideration, but didn't say much after that, possibly still a bit foggy on the time and date.

Gasping for air, Uzimi fell over with legs hiked in the air. No way. He thinks he's how old?! The stupefied expression said it all, leaving the negret to politely jab a finger into her side, "Are you okay? Am I wrong? I could be wrong, are you dead? Your breathing but your brains gone bye-bye." How inquisitive of him to notice.

She remained sprawled on the ground a little while longer, twitching her foot every time he poked her. "Do you even know your name?" Uzimi mumbled, springing back to life just as quickly as she had fallen over in disbelief.

It startled the man by her quick recovery, but he broadly smiled in return, his fangs gleaming dauntingly, "My names Fen... Fen... something."

Turning to the window, his lips pulled further upwards, admiring the cerulean sky with its blends of pinks and purples. It appeared he became easily distracted, especially with new surroundings to explore. "My names Fenry." He leapt up to run towards the open window, not paying any heed to his still dangerous wounds.

"Fenry, your injured! you cant jump around like that or they'll reopen." Uzimi warned like an anxious mother, aware she wasn't even being acknowledged.

"Look it, look it!" Fenry bounced on tip toes, pointing eagerly at the sky, "The suns setting. Oh, its so pretty, can I go out and play before it gets too dark, mommy?"

"M-m-mommy?" Her eyes nearly bugged out at the word, jaw slacked to the ground, skin paled to match the horror of who he thought she was. "I-I'm not your mom!" He didn't seem fazed by her declaration in any way, continuing to hop around, excitement bubbling deep inside his chest. "But my mommy was so pretty, I remember that. She was beautiful, just like you. You have to be my mommy."

Well, he certainly is polite, charming in fact. Uzimi couldn't hide the blush that followed behind the compliment, standing on shaky legs as she slightly stumbled with a hand raised up to her burning cheeks. It took every ounce of self control from keeping her voice to a steady tone. This man had some strange effect over her, with that silky voice and that tender smile. Maybe I've been cooped up by myself to long or just need a good, hard fuc- "Mommy, you're all red, just like the sun outside. So cute."

"T-thank you Fen, but I assure you I'm not your mom. My names Uzimi."

"Uzi'star, Uzi'star." He sang the name, using the same negret titles as Aolase had done when first they met, twirling around to face the trembling woman. The two bumped into one another, from both their lack of paying attention, causing Uzimi to fall forward into his open arms.

Her mind was currently else where then on her predicament and Fenry's was dancing with his new found friend. "Oh, your so short Uzi'star." He clasped her firmly to his toned chest, catching her before she fell over completely in shock. Uzimi glanced up to his broad smirk, disheveled by the fact that she barely made it to his neck in height. "I'm not short, your just tall." She barked up to his loaming stature. He had a strange way to be perfectly blunt and an even stranger affect on her body.

The human tried to fling herself away, and reclaim some dignity, not at all liking the way his touch was so hot it could be called searing... And possessive if she didn't know any better. She managed to gain a few inches between their bodies, catching her breath as a loving expression fashioned onto his features for his beloved Uzi'star, despite her scowl.

He seized her yet again, after she had placed every loose strand of hair in place, the embrace overbearing and down right smothering, "Maybe your a pixy then, their really small and fragile like you." He effortlessly brought Uzimi up to his face, not taking much of his strength to do this, liking the feel of molding her into his chest. "Will you grant me a wish, pixy? I wish…" Fenry began, brightly awaiting for her to play along.

Uzimi felt so helpless in his hold, and squished, but comfortable all at the same time; Almost as if they were two puzzle pieces belonging to the same picture. She quickly shook such assumptions aside, fighting his strength again. I need to get a hold of myself, he's just seven years old… er, 25… or grrrr! I don't care any more.

He was obviously teasing her by now, nestling his nose into her silky tresses, loving the intoxicating smell that sent his senses tingling. Uzimi found it less than amusing at the close body-compacted-to-body game.

"Fenry, I'm not a pixy. I'm, what everyone calls, a human woman, or a Caster for my healing abilities, and we cant grant wish's. Well, at least I cant. Could you please put me down, I'd like to stand… and breath?"

He groaned in disappointment at her seriousness, reluctantly doing as told. Smoothing the wrinkles from her dress, Uzimi eventually brought her deep chocolate eyes up to meet his violet pools, those pools she could just drown herself in.

Aolase. She mouthed the name though her voice refused to utter such non-sense. The logical half of her brain said this was a stranger, that this was a walking talking danger, a spreading flame that could - and would - consume her whole if she didn't watch her step.

But the compassionate part, the memories, the emotions, they screamed of something worth placing herself in danger for. He was someone that needed her, and she needed him in an ironical way. She needed someone to anchor her to the ground, a person to talk too. The look of his friendly, familiar appearance stung her eyes but it also eased it at the same time. An inner, complex battle raged, one Uzimi had no control over anymore. A war between her head and heart.

There was also something mysteriously familiar about his presence as well, even if she shut her eyes and forgot the similarities he and Aolase shared, she felt he was from a distant time and place. Where exactly, she had no idea. It was just a niggling thing in the back of her mind that rose and fell whenever it pleased, much to her discomfort.

Fenry arched an eyebrow towards her sudden silence, bringing a hand up to her glazed over eyes. He waved several times trying to catch her attention, since he wasn't used to being ignored. Eventually, he tapped the end of her nose with a flick, it immediately snapping her thoughts back down to earth.

He watched the way she scrunched at the wake up call, chuckling as her face went into many humorous expressions. "Uzi'star, why do you always give me that look? Are you sick?" He felt her forehead for a fever, tingling Uzimi's flesh. The electricity alone nearly knocked her back into a burning frenzy. His warmth, his heat, his smooth flesh on hers… Oh Lord, she had to escape this!

Pulling his hand down, the woman steadily gained control over her nerves, smiling fondly at the baffled negret, stepping slightly towards the kitchen, "Uh… no. I'm just thinking. Thinking, thinking, thinking. Busy, busy, busy-" Stopping herself at the said words, Uzimi slammed a fist into her head, grunting at the remembrance, "Oh crap! I forgot about my errands. And the medicine! I just left it out in the woods like an idiot. Stupid Uzimi!"

She shook her head many times, figuring to let herself off the hook since she did have a half dead negret to worry contend with at the time and, there for, shouldn't beat herself up over the matter. It's not like anyone was out there to steal it or it couldn't be replaced even if they did disappear in the morning. The woman set her focus on the creeping darkness outside her window, rubbing her closing neck wounds while staring distantly at the fading colors, "I guess I wont be doing anything tonight, other than making dinner and keeping your temperature from returning." And making sure you don't murder me while I sleep.

She gazed back up to her companion, observing the way he had already lost interest in her and now proceeded to poke at the gauze on his belly and chest, cringing each time his finger made contact to the blood spots. Yet, after flinching, and the pain lessoned, he went right back to poke it again.

What a strange man.

She finally snapped out of that, calling him away from hurting himself. "Fenry, stop messing with those."

"But their itchy." He protested, jutting out his lower lip as if to prove his point.

"I don't care if they sing til' the cows come home, leave them alone." He plopped on his pallet, obviously not liking to be told what to do, sprawling on his back to give her the stink eye. "They itch." He defended, jaw clenched shut in frustration.

Uzimi only sighed towards his childishness, turning her back on the big baby to fix dinner, her ears picking up a faint sound of his disobedience.

"No scratching." She warned, as if she had eyes in the back of her head.

"I'm not." The sound continued.

"Leave them alone."

"I am." Scratch scratch.

Uzimi spun on her heels, tip toeing to the door and poking her head around the corner so he was unable to see her standing there. And, like her ears had told her, he was laying there, pulling the gauze off to claw at the maddening spot. "AHA!" The woman leapt out, wooden spoon pointed at the man. All his hairs stood on end, resembling that of Pookums when he was frightened, "I knew I heard you at it, now stop that or I'll sew your hands to your butt."

Fenry's face had grown sheet white when Uzimi caught him, little jolts of fear coursing up and down his spine by the scream. "Y-you would not." He protested, somewhat unsure if she would.

"Try me Fen, I have all I need over there in the cabinets and you would be powerless to stop me." Which she knew wasn't true, he could stop her very easily. Whimpering under his breath, Fenry pulled his shirt bottom back down to cover the binding, folding his hands in his lap to show a truce. He seemed innocent enough right now, but like Uzimi's mother had once told her, 'If you give a man an inch, he'll walk a mile.'

Uzimi held a finger up, just to silently say, 'I'm watching you so don't even try it mister.' It was remarkable the way he actually listened to her, then again, so did Aolase when she held that certain look about her.

It was said that it could strike fear into any Erribi's, and human, soul.

Returning to the stew, Uzimi spun the brew until it was thick with meat and vegetables, steaming in delicious perfection. The smell must have filled the cottage, for, before she could turn around to call her guest to the table he was already standing right behind her, hovering over the contents with a look to gobble it all up by himself. Saliva washed down the corners of his jaw, dropping onto her shoulder in a disgusting sense. "That looks so good." The grumble in his stomach told her he was extremely hungry. Fenry pressed himself closer against the woman's backside, allowing her to map out each little bulge, especially the one pressing into her bottom, easily.

Fenry was nearly smothering her, squishing her body against the stove so he could leer at the floating juices. She could feel every curve of him, every hard place, even through there clothes.

It nearly sent the woman into panic, the way he wrapped her up in his warmth, his weight leaning heavily against her smaller frame. The memories of Aolase's surprise hugs floated in and out of her head, swirling into multiple thrills and excitements. It practically turned her blood into lava, scorching its way through the skin, raising her hormones till she had to push fiercely against this loaming males chest.

She didn't need, nor want, this feeling. She was too vulnerable right now, to desperate to ward off these emotions, this building heat. "Get off!" Uzimi screeched breathlessly, leaving the negret to stumble two feet away, head bowed like a fearful dog.

She was so moody, so bi-polar, it temporarily knocked him off balance, sending Fen to scrunch up with wide, hurt filled eyes, "S-sorry Uzi'star, I was just wanting to see what you made. It smelled so good I couldn't help myself." The tone was barely above a fragile whisper, afraid of her flared temper that wasn't necessarily directed at him.

Stroking the sweat from her brow, and noticing the solemn expression he held, Uzimi softened her voice, cooling the adrenalin that couldn't help but make matters worse. "No, Fenry... I didn't mean to snap at you. You just startled me and I... uh, didn't want you to get burned by the stove." A far from truthful excuse that the child-like mind ate up anyways, returning his grin and trust to her. "Oh, yeah. I forgot fire can burn and stoves can be hot." He hesitantly inched closer, waiting to see if she scolded him if he did, letting a larger smile slide goofily in place when she didn't. He teetered on his tip toes to see into the pot, rubbing his still growling belly. "Is it done yet, Uzin'star?"

"Huh? Oh, yes, almost."

Licking his chops, Fenry skipped over the remaining tiles as if he were playing hop-scotch, coming up right beside her, giggling, "Can I help? I'll be really careful, and not spill anything, and get the bowls, and put spices in, and..." He rambled on and on, probably bored from sitting on his pallet or just eager to speed up the cooking process. This brought Uzimi to laugh behind her hand, a true, honest to god real laugh. Oh, I haven't done that in a long time.

She curled her fingers over his lips, silencing his endless rattle before he ran out of things to say and fell over breathless, "You," she tapped a pointer finger over his nose, flashing an amused smile towards her guest, "Can go wash up." Pulling several leaves from his tangled mess of hair, she placed them in front of his nose to prove her point. "The bathrooms back there, down the hall and to the left. If you want, the hot spring is out back near the garden. You might feel more comfortable out there since you're so… um… big." She pointed in the direction, giving a reassuring push to aid Fen on his way.

"But…" Fenry began meekly, arching his eyebrows at the darkness that lingered down the route she had indicated. Uzimi waved a finger at his hesitance, tutting his persistent sluggish pace, "Get down there and scrub that dirt off. Go on." She unconsciously slapped his butt to get him going, forcing the negret to yip and walk to the edge of the lighted kitchen.

Oh my god. Did I just...? I think I just... oh my god. Uzimi's face flushed, all the blood rushed to her cheeks. That love tap had been a simple thing she'd done just out of pure silliness, but it seemed these little teasing's she had performed so often in the past turned horribly embarrassing in the present.

Spinning back to the smoldering pot, Uzimi hoped he just went so he couldn't see the crimson rose petals blooming on her pale skin.

"Uzimi, I can't go down there."

"And why not?"

Fenry fumbled with his thumbs, eyes planted on his feet as he mumbled under his breath, "Its dark down there." His whisper was down right adorable to say the least, he imagining the darkness had ears and would attack if it heard such an insult. Turning his head over his shoulder, the shaking male pointed down to the closed door in just a matter of seven steps away, "Monster's are hiding, waiting to get me if I go by myself."

Uzimi couldn't help but chuckle at that, almost unable to keep her sides from stitching. I don't believe this. This big, strong, tough looking negret is afraid to go down a hallway by himself. This is rich.

Uzimi set the spoon aside, taking up his elbow to direct him, "All right, come on. I'm gonna show you there's no such things as monster's in my house." She took the lead, showing that nothing was down there to leap from the shadows... except Pookums if anyone so stepped on the fiery fur balls tail. Hell, I'm sure he could make mence meat of anything that tried to hurt him.

Uzimi slightly chuckled towards the thought, not only because of her imagining such a picture of him beating up the boogie man but also from his cowardice when he benched even poor Aolase by at least 50 pounds. And it was safe to say that no one messed with Aolase.

"See," she effortlessly waved a hand towards the shadows, "nothing that can hurt you Fenry. No monsters, nothing. Just you, me, and…" A warm hand clasped onto hers, followed by a very close negret by her side. Gasping, Uzimi nearly yanked the appendage away and sprint to the other side of the cottage before he invaded her space entirely. But... glancing into his fretful expression, she didn't possess the heart to do so.

He was swiveling his glowing orbs every which way, one hand held up to his mouth to bite the nails from shear nervousness. Fenry wasn't just scared, he was terrified! This big, tough looking negret... Was afraid of a little dark. The grip on her hand proved that much of his fear, it felt as though he would squeeze it clean off.

Her blood was unable to pump into her fingers, bones surely cracking at this point, "Fenry, calm down, your a lot stronger than me so loosen up, okay?" He nodded but didn't really do so. The shivers in his arm shook her petite form down to her very toes.

Once making it safely to the other end, Uzimi lit a near by candle in hopes to ease his worries. A deep sound of relief escaped Fenry's mouth.

"There's nothing in the dark that can hurt you Fen. I'd tell you monsters don't exist, but they do." She blew the match out, turning to see he still fretted despite the small light illuminating both their faces.

"But they cant hurt me... right?"

Smiling reassuringly, Uzimi stroked his chattering jaw, the same way she did so many times to... No, stop that. Uzimi berated, discovering herself so captivated by this man's transfixed eyes, the same one's that searched hers, that his face was constantly being replaced by Aolase's.

"Right Uzi'star?" He shrilly repeated, disheartened he wasn't getting anywhere.

Uzimi gradually bowed her head, shaking the thoughts of her fiancée from her mind, loathing the way she couldn't tell Fen what he so wished to hear. Negret's could, and would, hurt others if given the chance. It was just their nature to lavish war. Even Aolase hated how he enjoyed a good bloody brawl every once in a while, always grumbling of how he would black out and wake back up with bruises.

Most negret's, along with other Erribi, never seemed to fight for love ones or other such things… they did it for the shear pleasure to inflicted misery upon others. She knew this more than any, having experienced it once before, praying that Fenry, at one point and time, wasn't like so many others. That, perhaps, he was good, just as sweet and gentle as he was now.

But I highly doubt that. Only a special few fight their urges for carnage.

"Fenry, from these," she placed her free hand onto his bandages, the same that lay underneath his shirt, caressing them softly so he felt nothing but her light touch, "I'm sure some monster's can... if you let them. But you… you wont ever let someone hurt you, don't allow that no matter what." A fire blazed in her eyes, not even her building tears could smolder those growing flames.

Loyally, Fenry nodded approvingly, promising her that both of them would always be safe. He vowed never to let anyone or thing hurt his Uzi'star, no matter what.

At that moment, when he looked so sincere, so trusting, all's Uzimi wanted to do was fall into his arms and cry, to wail, to thrash around until nothing inside was left in her withering form. All this pint up sorrow, stress, worry, anger just wanted to be unleashed. But... no. He couldn't handle that from her. Hell, he couldn't even walk down the hall without pissing his pants.

It was hardly fair of her to fall apart in front of her child-like friend. What would it prove? That she was weak? That she couldn't do a single damn thing without someone there to hold her hand along the way? What kind of message would that send him? What kind of message would that send to herself?

Blinking back the sorrow, Uzimi placed a strained, teasing smile for the big oaf, jumping up to ruffle his hair affectionately. "Well, you fluffy little thing, you need to wash up and I need to get the bowls out. Hurry up so we can eat."

Uzi'star... Fenry wanted to smile back, he tried in fact, but it always dripped away. He had smelt it. He knew she wanted to cry, but from what? Him? He didn't want that to be the cause, for his Uzi'star to be sad no matter what. She was too pretty for tears. To kind to be so sad.

Before he could reach out, the lovely woman had already picked up her skirts and vanished down the black fingers of the hallway, busying herself with chores. She had barely brushed past him and yet his heart gave a sudden tremble at the way she smelled, the way her hand felt cupped in his.

Fen had wanted to jump in front of her, to take her up in his arms again and lull her sorrow as she had made his own pain vanish, yet he knew she wanted to be alone. It was just something inside of him, an instinct -or a voice- that told him to leave her be. What ever it was that spoke deeply from within, he listened to its age old wisdom, cracking his neck, flexing his fingers to pop the joints until he found a wash cloth. If she didn't want any comfort he supposed he shouldn't give it. The only thing he felt he could do to please her was to do as instructed earlier and wash himself of the grime that made him smell like something had died. It's no wonder she didn't want me to hug her, I smell like crap.

Turning the soap every which way, Fenry sniffed the scented bar curiously, its overpowering odor curling his nose at the floral stench.

"UZI'STAAAAAAAAAAR!?" He whimpered out into the open, removing his tangling shirt the best he possibly could until she answered, "Do I have to use this stinky stuff to clean me? It's stinky!"

"Sorry, it's all I have for now. Just hold your nose until you're done."

"Uzi'staaar!"

The said woman heaved exasperatedly in the kitchen, shoulders slumping each time he interrupted her cooking. "What?!"

For a while he didn't answer, leaving the woman to tilt her ear in case he whinned in his usual high pitched scream, grinding her teeth into her lip when he eventually replied, "My shirts trying to eat me alive."

She blew a long, agitated breath, dropping the bowls on the tables, "Your shirt isn't gonna eat you, just unbutton it properly and slip out."

"I can't, I tried pulling it over my head first and… well… I need your help."

Uzimi finished with the rest of the silverware, trotting down the hall, again, to assist this blunder head before he drove her up the wall, "Fenry, I cant come in here every five seconds to help you-" She was rendered speechless.

He had some how in the process shimmied from his pants, struggling with the shirt folds that were caught around his head and arms. "I cant get free." He sniveled, tugging repeatedly on the fabric, making it worse, until it eventually ripped down the backside, sending the poor little guy to panic. Fen quickly seized the torn cloth, a look of dread spreading along his features, "I'm so sorry Uzi'star, I didn't mean to break it."

She remained in that one position, unmoving, unable to speak. Just... completely... traumatized.

"FENRY GET YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON!" She finally roared, throwing her hands over her eyes at seeing his bare ass staring right back at her.

"But you told me to take a bath." He went in on the defensive, spinning around without any regard for his nudity.

"Yes... Well-" Uzimi couldn't form any words at the moment, her energy was focused on shielding her vision from that mans flawless, rock hard butt! That totally hot, juicy, must touch...

"AHHHH!" Uzimi flew into the kitchen, leaving Fenry to stare blankly at the fleeing woman; utterly perplexed. Scratching his head, he pulled a strange face, sniffing peevishly, "I'm just naked. Girls are so weird." He took hold of several fluffy towels, still grumbling over having to use the stinky soap and how Uzimi needed to make up her mind already.

Neatly folding his clothes, even the ripped one, and placing them on the toilet, the negret took one glance at the small tub and knew, without a doubt, he wasn't going to take a bath there. It wasn't just small, it was really small, hardly being half his size if he laid down and stretched out. So, snatching the candle, the man decided it best to head out back to see if the hot spring was a little more welcoming… and adequate for his large stature.

All the while, as Fenry playfully batted bubbles from one hand to the other, he could've sworn he heard a loud banging coming from the kitchen with Uzimi growling over and over, "Bad Uzimi, bad! Dirty, dirty Uzimi," as she smashed her head on the tables hard wood surface, thud after thud, to get his nakedness out of her head.

Sadly, not even the jaws of life were going to pry that image away.