MAR Fan Fiction ❯ Sibling Rivalry ❯ The Next Morning ( Chapter 4 )

That night, the large group rented a few rooms in the nearest Inn; one for the girls and two for the guys. Shizuka lay on the floor, tossing and turning for several minutes before sitting up. She glanced at Dorothy and Snow who were both asleep. Snow was on the couch and Dorothy had gotten the bed. Shizuka quietly sighed in frustration. `I know I should get some sleep, but I just can't!' She then quietly peered out the window, watching the full moon slowly creep higher in the ink pool sky. After a few minutes, she turned away from the moon-lit view; the only light in the otherwise pitch black room came from outside. She then pulled out her sketchbook and a pencil from her bag. She opened it up to a blank page and began to draw. It was a wolf with sharp claws, spikes, dragon wings, and a whip-like tail. A few minutes later, it was fully shaded and complete. She sighed and put the book and pencil away; bored once more.

Shortly after the night's end, she sat upon the roof observing her surroundings. The sound of quick footsteps caused her to spin her body around quickly. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it was only Ian. Shizuka could detect a person's individual magical signature within their magical power. Although surprised, the blue eyed girl kept a straight face. “Don't sneak up on me.” Ian just smirked in his usual way. “I thought sneaking up on you was impossible.” She sighed lightly as she sat down beside her. “So, how long were you awake?” He asked. She responded by rubbing her eyes. “The whole night. I just couldn't get any sleep.” Ian turned his gaze from the view to his comrade's face. “Yeah, me too. I wonder why?” Shizuka shrugged. “Maybe because pretty much all the chess pieces are after us?” Ian nodded. “Maybe.” He then stood up. “Let's get downstairs before the others start thinking that we ditched them.” Shizuka stood up as well. “Yeah, I could just imagine the look on ugly's face.” The tow of them then laughed their heads off.

Several minutes later, Ian and Shizuka sat in the quiet and seemingly abandoned lobby. Jack then swaggered down the stairs and into the lobby. Ian and Shizuka couldn't help but laugh. Jack then turned to them. “And just what is so funny?” Shizuka answered only because she was the first to stop laughing. “Sorry, but if we didn't know any better, we'd say you were drunk.” To their surprise, Jack actually let out a little laugh. “I guess it is a little funny.” A few minutes later, Alviss, Ginta, Alan, Nanashi, Dorothy, and Snow came walking down the stairs. A few `thud' `thud' `thud's later and Babbo bounced into the lobby as well. Ginta grinned widely. "Hey guys, what's up?" Jack, still swaggering, waved a lazy hand. "What's it to ya?" Ian and Shizuka looked at each other and were both thinking the same thing. 'He's drunk.'

Alan then turned angrily to Jack. "Jack, have you been drinking my beer again!?" Jack's eyes darted nervously around the room. "Ugh…no." Alan's eyes flashed dangerously as he punched the back of Jack's head. "Don't lie to me! I know you drank all my beer this morning and filled the empty bottles with water! Now what am I supposed to do when I'm depressed?!" Jack rubbed the large bump on his head. "Shut up, you ugly old dog!" The tow of them then started punching and kicking each other. Shizuka turned to the others, who were acting as though nothing was wrong. "How many times has this happened before?" The others shrugged. Alviss thought for a second. "By my count, twenty three." Ian couldn't help but laugh a little. "Jeeze, how much longer is this fight gonna go on?" Nanashi sighed, though it was laughter-hinted. "This usually goes on for about thirty minutes; sometimes longer."

After about an hour and a half of fighting, Jack and Alan both had collapsed onto the floor; panting heavily. Dorothy crossed her arms in annoyance. "Are you two done yet?" Her tone was that of frustration yet amusement at the same time. Shizuka had to hide her laughter behind a hand. Both guys nodded and stood up, but they were very shaky; for a number of reasons. Ian merely shook his head slowly in disbelief. "Sheesh, I've never seen a fight last that long." Shizuka nodded. "Yeah, neither have I."

Three hours later, the large group of ten was walking through the forest. Jack was finally through the 'drunken' stage and walking, almost sober but he was still sore. Ian, Alviss, Nanashi, and Shizuka were walking a little behind Ginta, Babbo, Snow, Dorothy, and Alan. Shizuka shifted her ÄRM-filled backpack slightly and her eyes continuously darted from one bush to another. Ian kept jumping at every little rustle the bushes or leaves made. Alviss, however, was totally calm. Why shouldn't he be? After all, he's not the one who betrayed Phantom. "Will you two calm down? No chess pieces are going to attack."

Suddenly Alan, who was leading the group, stopped in his tracks. "I wouldn't speak so soon if I were you." The bushes to the right rustled violently for a few seconds. Then, out stepped Rolan, now a bishop, and eight pawns. Shizuka narrowed her eyes in annoyance. 'How the heck did they find us? Oh well.' Despite her fear, Shizuka's face and eyes had that look that would ensure anyone's death. A slight quiver ran through Rolan's body. 'Why me? Why'd I have to be the one to find them? I'm doomed. Oh, the heck with this!' Suddenly, Rolan and the eight pawns teleported away. Jack raised an eyebrow; a look of total confusion on his face. "What was that about?" Shizuka sighed slightly. "My guess is that those nine were sent to drag Ian and I back to that lowlife Phantom, but chickened out." There was a frown on her face, showing only a small fraction of her annoyance and only one-hundredth of her worry. Alviss looked at his usually fearless little sister; a look of worry on his face.

The group continued walking for several hours until it was nine o' clock at night. They reached a small hotel and once more rented three rooms. Shizuka sat up for hours and grew tired of sitting around. She then sat up on the roof; ever alert. After a few seconds, she was joined by none other than Ian. He seated himself beside her; sighing slightly. "What's wrong now?" Shizuka frowned. "Nothing, why?" Ian smiled, showing little of his total worry, and wrapped his left arm around her. "I know you better than you seem to think. Come on now, tell me what's wrong?" His tone was so sweet and caring; Shizuka couldn't help but open up to him. "It's just…what if we get captured? I never want to go through that again. NEVER!" Her eyes were now tearing as the horrid memories flooded back. Ian pulled her closer and wrapped his right arm around her as well. His face grew sympathetic as he rested his head against hers. "Shh, it's okay. Those losers will never get their hands on you. I promise." He ran a hand through her hair as he continued to comfort her. Shizuka slowly began to calm down as Ian held her tightly; continuing to run his hand through her hair.

After several minutes, Shizuka finally calmed down enough for Ian to relax his hold. However, he kept an arm around her shoulders. He also blushed slightly as Shizuka cuddled closer; her right arm now around his back. They sat there, staring at the moon for several minutes before Ian decided to make his move. He turned his body ever so slightly until he was fully facing Shizuka. His hand slowly made its way to the back of her head. However, before he could do anything else, Shizuka wrapped her arms around his neck and was already kissing him. Ian blushed darker as he deepened the kiss. Both could feel their own heart beat faster and faster against the other. It wasn't long before Ian spontaneously decided to go just a little bit further. He slowly slid his tongue forward, but he was still somewhat hesitant. Shizuka turned bright red in an instant, but decided not to break off. A split second later, her tongue was roaming his mouth as well. They continued their make-out session for several hours until they decided it best to return to their rooms.