"I don't care," Neko said evenly. She placed his hand over the bruise she had received at her collarbone from Gokan and hugged it to her. "I don't need her," she told him softly. "I have you, Jasper-kun."
She looked up at him as he sent his lifeforce to heal her pain. The look of devotion in his eyes, which were trained on her face, threw her off. She knew she was his princess but this was beyond that, wasn't it? She was mesmerized by that look. Where had it come from? It made her want to let him know that she cared for him and trusted him and wanted him to stay around even after the ritual was done.
"Jasper-kun�," she whispered, but found she didn't know what she wanted to say to him exactly.
She didn't get the chance anyway. "Here, I'll take you back to the reflecting pool," Jasper said gently, as he wrapped up his healing of her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mi-chan jumped at the sound of leaves rustling behind her. She turned quickly and took a defensive stance, ready for anything. To her relief, only Tenshi walked out of the bushes.
"Oh, Tenshi-kun, you startled me," she laughed, trying to cover up her embarrassment and nervous tension. "Are you feeling better?"
Tenshi nodded, allowing Mi-chan to relax a little more. "I know how Koneko can get her memories back," Tenshi informed her quietly.
Instantly, Mi-chan forgot the fact that she was lost and that Neko was with Jasper. All that really mattered was getting Neko back. "A- Are you sure? But how?"
"The forest kami told me. They felt sorry for us and wanted to help. I talked to a representative for them, and she gave me the ritual, no strings attached."
"Tenshi-kun, I could kiss you!" Mi-chan exclaimed, quickly adding the disclaimer, "But I won't." She was ecstatic at the thought of restoring her sister. All the pieces seemed to be falling into place now. "We even have the last stone!" She showed it off to Tenshi, handing her the treasure Neko had left behind in her hurry.
Tenshi stared at if as if it were a complete enigma to her. "Then it's true. We really could do this right now. We're going to get her back. Everything's going to be okay."
"Well, don't get ahead of yourself. We still have to find Neko-chan and Jasper-san," Mi-chan reminded her.
"Oh," Tenshi tore her eyes from the stone. "I can do that too."
Mi-chan took a long hard look at Tenshi, making sure that things really were going as smoothly at the moment as it seemed. The way she was acting, Mi-chan didn't think she was an illusion. Besides, she was holding the stone, and Mi-chan was absolutely certain that was real.
No, she was making sure Tenshi really was as okay as she had assured Mi-chan she was. But Tenshi's turquoise eyes, though slightly distant, seemed sane and aware. And equally important, they showed no signs that she was possessed.
"Um, okay. Lead on then."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tenshi led Mi-chan out of the woods towards the reflecting pool, describing the ritual in detail to her. Not only had Loraxia told her what Neko had to do, she had been extremely helpful with her directions to find Mi-chan and the ritual spot. Tenshi was very grateful to her and the forest kami. But she would be even more grateful after Neko got her memories back. Then everything would be fine.
As they exited the woods, both Tenshi and Mi-chan instantly noticed Neko and Jasper hanging out together by the pond's edge. They were just a little too friendly, Tenshi thought, and then scolded herself for being so jealous so easily again. *Of course they're friendly. They're friends. Just like how friendly Koneko was with you before you kissed her. She wasn't looking for romance. She's not with him either.*
Tenshi knew it wasn't going to matter anyway. Neko was going to get her memories back and remember how much she loved Tenshi. Any other feelings she had that would prevent that would just melt away. Tenshi had faith in that. But she didn't want Neko to enter that pond hating her. Talk about confusing her! Neko would return, distressed by what had happened between the two of them. Tenshi wanted to apologize now, to have Neko forgive her before she started the ritual. At the very least, to explain to her what had happened.
But she couldn't figure out how interrupt Neko and Jasper without making it look like she was jealous again. And she definitely didn't want to freak out Neko again.
Luckily, Jasper saw her and Mi-chan approaching and made the first move.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jasper had finished healing her, but Neko didn't want him to let her go. Too much had happened, and she didn't want to face all that yet. She just wanted to feel safe.
"Neko-chan," he said quietly. "Michiru-san and Tenshi-san are back. You should go see them."
"I don't want to see Tenshi-kun," Neko answered back, burying her face in his chest so there was no chance that she could see her.
"It's just a misunderstanding. Please, she looks so sad. Can't you at least give her a chance to apologize?"
She looked up at him. The closest he had ever come to arguing with her was when they were talking about Tenshi. He and Mi-chan wanted her so much to give Tenshi a second chance. "Will you stay with me?"
"I'll be right here behind you, Hime-chan," he promised and gave her a gentle push towards Tenshi.
She turned toward the one everyone said should be her girlfriend, but upon seeing Tenshi's apologetic face, Neko began to feel a little angry again. It was a similar expression to the one she had had right after she had kissed Neko. But her remorse hadn't stopped her from mistreating Neko and Jasper later. So Neko really couldn't trust it.
But Tenshi's sad expression turned to one of shock and concern shortly after Neko turned. "Koneko, what happened?!"
Neko looked down and realized how beat up she still looked with her clothing ripped up and all. Embarrassed, she pulled together the torn edges of her blouse. "Nothing. I'm fine," she told Tenshi quickly. She didn't need the blonde to treat her like she was broken or anything. "Did you want something?" she asked, even more anxious now to get this over with.
Tenshi looked abashed at being brushed off so quickly. "I- I wanted to apologize." Neko didn't respond so she continued. "I shouldn't have gotten jealous and yelled at Jasper-kun. I know you're just friends, and I completely overreacted. And I'm sorry I kissed you too."
As she apologized, Neko could feel herself getting closer and closer to tears. How dare she?! How dare she expect that she could just say she was sorry and everything would be okay? Neko's emotions ran deeper than that. She just couldn't accept that.
"You were supposed to be my friend!" she told Tenshi, her eyes flashing at her. "You didn't ask me about my feelings, you just took what you wanted! I wasn't asking to be kissed, and I wasn't asking for you to get jealous! I just wanted you to be my friend."
Home
