A FEW DAYS AFTER
     The group of young people went on a picnic to the Lake of Hope. They planned to go for a swim, so they all wore bathing suits under their clothes. Mytho wore a pair of red trunks, Fakir wore a pair of black trunks, Rue wore a red triangle bikini, and Ahiru wore a plain white triangle bikini. They ate a basket of fruits, cheeses, and breads. After talking for a while, they all decided to go swimming, and they ran into the water.

 

     "Let's play Chicken!" shouted Ahiru. The others enthusiastically shouted in agreement and partnered up. Ahiru and Fakir, Mytho and Rue. After a few rounds with Ahiru and Rue pushing each other into the water, they decided to switch roles: Girls would carry boys. The boys sat on the girls' shoulders, and they groaned in pain.

     "Lose some weight Mytho!" giggled Rue.

      "Exercise more!" laughed Ahiru.

 

     Then, both girls got a mischieveious glints in their eyes. Purposefully rocking back and forth, they made the boys lose their balance and made them fall in the water. When the two guys emerged, they splashed water in their faces. They boys retaliated and they had a "Water Splashing" fight. Then they had a diving contest Fakir's trunks came off and floated to the top. Everyone laughed, and Ahiru grabbed it and swam for her life. Fakir followed in hot pursuit, one hand desperately covering his "manhood". Though Fakir was swimming with one hand, he caught up to her and wrestled the bottoms away from her vice grip. Soon, it they sun began to set. Clutching their stomachs from laughter, they ran to shore, dried off, and walked home.

 

LATER THAT NIGHT

     Fakir looked at his watch for the fifteenth time in the last half hour. He stood at the foot of the stair with Ahiru. She wore a lovely white silk gown with a halter back. He hair was in its usual long braid. He work a dark green dress shirt, a black tie, a black jacket, and black slacks. They both were waiting for Rue and Mytho to come down. They were all supposed to have a fancy dinner together, Rue and Mytho were taking quite a while.

 

     "Rue! Mytho! What are you doing?" Ahiru called.

 

     "You guys just go on and have dinner. Rue is sick and I need to take care of her!" Mytho's voice answered. Fakir and Ahiru shrugged their shoulders. Fakir offered his arm to her and she gladly took it, on their way to dinner.

 

AT THE RESTURAUNT

     Ahiru and Fakir were having a wonderful time, just talking and enjoying their delicious meal.

 

'This is it,' Fakir thought. 'I'm going to tell her how I feel.'

 

      "Ahiru?"

 

      "Yes, Fakir?" Ahiru answered, swallowing the last of her dessert.

 

      "We've known each other for a long time, right?"

 

      "Hai! Five years, I think!"

 

      "Well," he paused and took her hands in his affectionately. "Ahiru, I wanted to tell you that I l--"

 

      The waiter interrupted, holding out the check to Fakir. "The check, sir?"

 

      "Oh yes, the check..." Fakir murmured. He let go of Ahiru's hands and took the check. "Thanks." 

 

      Ahiru looked at Fakir with confusion written all over her face. "Fakir? Weren't you going to tell me something?"

 

      He had a sad look on his face as he answered, "No, nevermind."

 

     Days passed by. During Mytho and Rue's visit, they often set-up Fakir and Ahiru on little "dates". They just convientently forgot about little group meetings and left Fakir and Ahiru alone. Sometimes they would accidentally lock the two in a room together that had a romantic meal set-up in there, "forgetting" that they were even there. Sometimes, when the DID show up for meetings, they would unexpectedly have to leave, leaving the pair alone. The two secretly didn't mind, and they fell even more in love as the days went by.

 

AT THE FIRE FESTIVAL
     Ahiru wore her green gown emsemble. Fakir wore a dark blue, almost black suit. Mytho wore a black suit, and Rue wore a strapless red satin gown. They all danced in the square, listened to music, laughed together, and reminisced about other times. Mytho and Rue excused themselves, saying that they had some "business" to attend to before they four were going to visit the lake. Sighing, Fakir and Ahiru walked by the waterside of the Lake of Hope by themselves.

 

     Fakir looked at Ahiru. Her skin glowed in the moonlight and her red hair spilled over her shoulders. She was breath-takingly beautiful.

 

     "Ahiru...." whispered Fakir.

 

     "Hmm?" she murmured gazing at the full moon in the dark sky she turned around, and faced him.

 

      Fakir had lost his self-control. He placed his soft lips on hers, reveling in their sweet taste. She returned it and snaked her slender arms around his neck. In the sky, fireworks went off. They parted.

 

      "Fakir?" Ahiru whispered.

      "Yes?"

      "Aishiterou..."

      "Aishiterou, Ahiru"

 

     They joined in a sweet kiss once again, not knowing that from across the lake, two pairs of eyes by a pile of fireworks was watching them, smiling.

 

~~Owari~~