We meet again! [Miki/Chris]

[miki]

[size=1"It's too hot. You told me that the tear desert would be colder due to the season being winter..." Miki moaned out loud, falling onto the sand and just coughing.
"I told you, Miki. I said the Desert would be cooler since Winter is here, but I never said it wouldn't still be painstakingly hot, you should of listened to me. " Fiora pointed out, floating behind her without a sweat. "Sometimes you shouldn't jump to conclusions."
"Fine, you suffer this damn heat." With that, Miki took off the choker and caused Fiora to stagger and fall backwards into the sand.
"No." Fiora stated coldly, putting the choker back on and letting Miki take her place once more.
"Hot...." Miki cried, looking up at the sun and closing her eyes. "I don't have water on me either and there's no village nearby..." She looked around. "An Oasis!" Her eyes widened at the sight of the oasis, the water splashing against the sand and the tree casting over it and creating a shadow. "Oasis means water!"
"Oasis means mirage." Replied Fiora, sighing as Miki dived towards the oasis just to come headfirst to sand.
"Could have warned me..." Miki sighed, forcing herself to sit up and wipe the sand from her face and once again spat out mouthfuls of sand.

She pushed her hands to the sand and sighed, head low and her hair covering her face as she felt the sand dry up the last of the saliva on her tongue, causing her throat and mouth to become dry. "I give up... I can't go on further." Miki sighed, eyes closed. [/size]

[Christopher K. Greyknow]

Looking out across the desert Chris let out an audible sigh. Crossing the desert wasn't his brightest of ideas; despite the glaring sun beating down on him. He figured he'd toughen up and get stronger if he made it through, but now he wasn't too sure if he'd survive.

Pulling out the canteen he carried with him Chris shook the contents. This one was almost empty, and he had another full one in his backpack. According to those on the fringes of the dessert he only needed one and a half canteen to make it across this part of the desert. He filled up both just in case, and by the sound of the contents he was about half way to the other side.

Glancing up Chris noticed a slight movement over the dunes. Crouching down he moved silently up the sands. He didn't know if there were bandits in this part of the dessert, but he wasn't going to chance it. If anything it should give him some training if they were hostile.

As he peeked over the edge Chris noticed a figure lying flat out in the sun. His eyes trailed up and down the petite form trying to see if it was human or just a pile of clothes. It took him a moment to recognize the face of Miki. With a silent curse he scrambled over the dune and down to the fallen young woman.

"Miki!" Chris fell at the young woman's side; his eyes full of worry as he looked her over. "What are you doing out here?" Noticing that she looked absolutely parched he held out his canteen. "Here."

[miki]

Miki heard a voice announce her name, causing her eyes to flicker open. Admittedly, she was being dramatic before, but it was for a good cause though. Looking around with more sand once again on her face - her red eyes met Chris and they brightened like she was perfectly fine.
"Chris?" She looked towards what he was holding towards her and a huge smile beamed across her face.

She shook the water bottle and blinked. "Isn't this water? You'll need it."
"Don't be a fool, take it. You should value your life." Fiora hissed, watching Chris.
Miki gazed at the canteen of water and then nodded, taking it and shaking it just to take a few small sips. These were enough to keep her going for the rest.

Despite the shaky stagger, she slowly stood up and stretched. "Hey, Chris. What are you doing here?" She gazed over at the older male, lips pursed straight and red eyes glinting with confusion.

[Christopher K. Greyknow]

“You need it more. I have extra.” He continued to hand the canteen over to the parched woman. With an audible sigh he stood up with her; reaching out to steady her. He shook his head. “That’s what I was asking you. Don’t you know how dangerous it is in the desert?” He hooked his arm around Miki’s to keep her stable. “Why did you come out here without water?”

His eyes tried looking deep into Miki’s, as if trying to see the one hidden behind. “Fiora, I thought you’d be able to keep Miki from being reckless. Why didn’t you warn her against going out here without rations?” His eyes focused more on Miki now. “Or did she warn you and you just didn’t listen?”

[miki]

Miki puffed up her cheeks slightly, closing her eyes and sighing. She wasn't one to lie and she admittedly had barely any pride within her.
"No.. She did tell me, but she worded it to a different phrase that I assumed it was going to be colder. Her exact words were:"She took a slow deep breath and put a sort of mature voice in act to imitate her twin.
"The desert is cooler now that the winter is in." She murmured, before sighing.

"I thought she meant the temperature would be bearable. It's not..." She sighed, pressing her hand to her cheek and letting her red eyes sadden, blinking when she felt his arm around her waist and she gazed towards Chris with a blush across her face, looking into his eyes long after he had questioned, her heart thumping loudly in her chest. She only realized that his arm had been around her waist. She gazed over at him with a smile and then shook her head. "She told me to bring water, but I didn't because I didn't think the village was that far away... It's so hot..." She fanned her face before pulling her hood up and pressing her hand to her waist.

"Why are you here?" She suddenly asked, her tone all serious. "
----

While this was happening, Fiora's red eyes narrowed as she glared at Chris, somewhat amazed he had been given the expression that he was able to look through Miki's eyes. "Quit staring." She murmured, floating around the two and crossing her arms. If only... Don't make it seem like it's my fault."

[Christopher K. Greyknow]

The young man just shook his head with a smile. As always it seemed that miscommunication can occur no matter how close people are. Even those who share the same body. He could only chuckle inwardly at the thought.

When he noticed her blush Chris looked away embarrassed. He was only holding her to keep her from falling to the hot sand again, but now he was self-conscience. A mental shake of his head forced him back to the task at hand, which was to get them safely out of the desert. “The desert is a little cooler, but it will always be a desert. Be glad we’re not in the monsoon season or we’d really be in trouble.”

Shifting in the direction he was headed Chris tried to guide Miki along the course. “That still doesn’t explain why you are in the desert in the first place. Were you thinking it would be a quick shortcut?” He pulled out his second canteen and took a small sip. Right now it was the only thing they had to help them survive the brutal sun.

There were a few cacti strewn about, but he had no idea which ones were good and which ones caused hallucinations. They weren’t quite at that point of desperation for experimentation. Chris let go of Miki’s hip to see if she was stable enough to walk on her own. He looked at her when she asked her question. “I’m here for training. I figured if I survive I might get stronger as a result. All it’s made me however is really thirsty.”

[miki]

"Training? Out here? You're insane." Miki spoke firmly, an unimpressed tone to her voice; of course, this was an act. She was cuddled up against Chris, a huge smile on her ever-blushing face and her red hair brushed messily over her shoulders.

"He said some other things, idiot." Fiora hissed, landing on the ground and pondering before watching the two cuddle. "I think I'm going to be sick, my eyes," she vanished with one last sigh, causing Miki to snap out of her daze and blink.

"Oh, uh- uh... I wanted to go to the desert to get tanned, y'see. My agent told me to." she lied, a smile on her face.
The real reason she was coming through the desert was to head to the village and wash away the last aching memories she had of Shinzu. He had gotten to the point where she would wake up in the night and see him at her window with a knife, the darkness looming around him with a great amount of ominous feelings.
Of course it was only nightmares, but the reaction was always the same. She'd wake up screaming or in a cold sweat.
She had tried having Fiora sleep, but the memories would always flicker in her mind and scare her even more while Fiora slept peacefully and happily without a care. Why this was, is because Fiora didn't fear Shinzu like she did.

Miki didn't know why this strange fear for him had started, she just had the feeling he wanted to kill her and had it for a while. Now that Chris was here, the scared feelings she had were replaced with this warm glow, like Chris was chasing them off and giving her the final chance to relax.

[Christopher K. Greyknow]

Looking down at the young woman Chris couldn’t help but smile. “This coming from the one who didn’t bring water into the desert.” He chuckled lightly as he turned to look out across the sands. They were heading out from the blistering sands, almost in the opposite direction that Miki was traveling. He figured that they should get to some place cooler before trying this again.

Chris’s eyes wander back to Miki as she attempted to explain. “Uh huh….Well you’d definitely get a tan, but the beach is easier. At least there you can jump in the water if you catch fire.” His voice definitely showed that he didn’t believe her, but also indicated that he wasn’t going to push.

Glancing out over the desert Chris’s mind began to wander. Finally he figured that he should at least say something to keep things from getting awkward. “So what have you been up to lately? Besides evaporating in the desert.”

[miki]

Miki pulled a face, it was playful but made to look angry. "I do not BURN into fire!" she announced, pretending to be hurt.
She began to move onward, pressing a finger to her lips as she headed over the sand dune, kicking down the sand before peering around through the waves of heat.

She heard the soft sound of sand hissing as the small wind pushed through the grains and listened to it.
"Let's see..." in the distance, the familiar sight of a village in the distance, causing her to run towards it with her hair flowing wildly behind her before she staggered and flopped out in the shade of a building.

[Christopher K. Greyknow]

Muttering under his breath about how even water can burn Chris just shook his head and looked ahead. He figured he’d chalk it up to heat delirium and dehydration and let her argument stand. Already he figured there was no arguing with her when she was like this.

Looking ahead Chris noticed what looked to be a group of building shaped rocks in the distance. It was the perfect place to rest since they provided a little shade in the never ending heat. He was about to point it out to Miki when the young woman immediately ran for them on her own. His hand moved to stop her and he was about to call out, but he figured that she saw the temporary rescue. So he just followed along.

Once he reached the shade Chris found Miki collapsed on the sand. She looked like she was completely exhausted, and he sat down next to her softly. “Let’s rest here for a while. We can continue once the sun sets. It would be a lot cooler then.” Looking up at the position of the sun it won’t be for a few more hours until sun set. Then they could continue until they were out of this god forsaken place.

[miki]

Miki gazed up at Chris through slightly open eyes to look up at him. A small smile crept on her face and she gave a quick nod, sitting up and stretching. Admittedly the heat had cooled down since she had found this more shaded and secluded area. Looking towards Chris, her red eyes gazed at him and looked him over before closing her eyes and smiling. She leaned back against the shadowed area, sighing in relief and contempt.

Seconds seemed to fly by before Miki had realized she had been quiet, the reason behind this was because her heart was racing a million miles per second in her chest and she could hear it in her ears. Looking awkwardly towards Chris, she silently hoped he couldn't hear it even though it was obvious that he couldn't. Her stomach rumbled and she instantly blushed, hugging her knees and pressing her lips to them.

Fiora watched the two, circling them before landing on the ground. Her faint outlined body sat in front of Chris and she stared at him with great curiosity.
"He's grown, I give you that." She spoke slowly, but a serious tone in her voice. "Judging by your awkward silence, you both LIKE each other." She held her hands out, the sides touching each other and cupping the air before leaning her head over them. "This is what I think, excuse me while I throw up my invisible lunch at this soppy cutesy-wootsy crap." She made gagging sounds after.

"You're so mean, Fiora. It's nothing like that at all." Miki grabbed a rock and chucked it at her sister, watching the rock go through her body like it wasn't even there and she sighed.
"Just saying it as it is, that's not offending you now - is it~?" Fiora teased before laughing. "Why not just admit it and give yourself some credit?"

[Christopher K. Greyknow]

Looking up at the sky Chris began to think of the best way to leave the desert. They had enough water between the two of them for the rest of the way, but he didn’t know where they would emerge. Would they be close enough to a town to rest up? Would they be near a stream or a river? Or would they find themselves in the middle of some plains with only grass for nourishment? He shook his head. Maybe he should have bought that map when he had the chance.

The sudden declaration and flying rock caused Chris to look at Miki in surprise. It took him a moment to guess why she threw the rock; mostly based on her expression after she threw it. Either she had a lot on her mind, or a certain someone was egging her on. Looking back to the clear blue sky he smiled slightly. “Fiora trouble?”

Leaning back against the rock Chris glanced over at Miki. “You never did tell me what you’ve been up to.”

[miki]

Fiora smirked when she heard her name. "I'm not causing trouble, I'm just blossoming love ~" she mocked, moving closer to Miki causing her to lean back against the rock more and slink down.
"Yeah, she's pestering me about something that's none of her concern." Miki waved her hand and sighed before blinking at Chris' next question.

"What I've been up to...?" She looked up, her red hair covering her face. She listened to everybody in the town talk. "I've... Oh! Riley went off and left Griffin Wing so Durri is our new guild master." She shrugged, closing her eyes and smiling. "Still haven't found my lost brother. Still avoiding any chance of seeing Shinzu, but... Nothing interesting. How about you? It has been a while since we last saw each other, so it's kind of rare to run into you - especially on a desert!"

"Fate ~" Fiora hummed.

[Christopher K. Greyknow]

Smiling at Miki, Chris looked up at the light blue sky. How was he going to answer that question? With a shrug he figured he might as well tell the truth. “Training and missions for the Government.” His eyes drifted to the endless sand before them before continuing. “Most of the missions were small, not even worth investigating. But they asked me to because I’m still new and they need to at least look like they take some of it seriously.”

Shifting on the sand Chris inadvertently moved closer to Miki without realizing it. “Heard Shinzu left the Government. Now he’s a part of that new Kitsune guild.” He sighed glumly. “I want to investigate this new guild, but the government is against it. They’re curious, but they don’t want to risk it since Shinzu is there.”

With a sigh Chris leaned against the shadowed wall with a slight smile. “Oh well. It just means I have to keep getting stronger if I ever hope to pass him by. And that means training to the extreme.” His smile grew. “Hence why I’m in the middle of the desert risking sunburn. Crazy huh?”

[miki]

"He left the government? I haven't spoken to him for a long while; I really wouldn't know and to be quite honest - I could care less.
He's a fool and will always be." There was for once some spite in that always-bubbly tone.

"Oh well, I couldn't care less about him." She laughed, smiling and closing her eyes. Stretching and listening to the sound of insects crying out happily to themselves in the heat.
"hey, there's a restaurant - Why don't you take a break from training and come with me to get some food? I know, we could call it a date between friends?" She felt a blush sting her face but forced it to hide with a wide yet embarrassed smile.

Standing up quickly, staggering at the feeling of head rush before shaking her head. "Don't stand up quickly!" she mused quickly, holding her hand out towards him and pressing her free hand to her waist, a smile on her face.