#!ewww

Queency woke up even before the sun got up. She looked around the cave and saw the others are still asleep so she went outside for some fresh air. When she was already out, she saw a boy her age wearing peculiar clothing and a cape. He had an unkempt black hair with a blue sheen when caught by the light, and his skin was the color between fair and tan. He seemed taller than she was but a bit shorter than Kenshi. He was standing idle by a tall tree; he seemed preoccupied by something and waiting for someone.

            ‘Hmm… Who might that be?’ she said to herself and decided to walk up to him.

She was nearly one and a half feet away from the boy when she tripped herself on an unsuspected rock. The boy held her fall.

            ‘Sorry… Thanks,’ Queency said looking straight at the boy and feeling a little embarrassed by her clumsiness. She saw that his eyes were ice blue and seemed mirror like or the color of the clear lake when it freezes during winter.

            ‘It’s alright, no harm done,’ said the boy as he helped Queency to straighten up. ‘By the way, I am Takeshi Haruka, 15 years old. Everything fine, Miss Aino?’

            ‘How’d you know my name?’ Queency confusedly asked.

            ‘I know lots of details about you and your companions. I was sent here by Aphrodite to help you,’ Takeshi explained.

            ‘Is that so…? Well, what are you waiting for? I’ll introduce you to everyone Takeshi, is that right?’ Queency cheerfully said as she rests her arms upon Takeshi’s shoulder.

Without a doubt, Takeshi blushed. ‘What is this feeling?’ He quietly asks himself.

When they entered the cave, everyone was already awake, and all eyes where on them, each pair has different expressions.

            ‘Queency… nice taste you got… where’d you get him…?’ Rei asked playfully.

            ‘You know what? I think he’s charming…’ Lalaine played along.

            ‘Queency, don’t talk to strangers!’ Kenshi shouted like someone who really cares, or that of someone angry and jealous.

            ‘Guys…, Let Queency talk… Who is he? Where did he come from? Why is he here?’ asked Benedict.

            ‘Let’s do this one at a time… He is Takeshi Haruka, sent by Aphrodite, and he is here to help us,’ Queency answered.

            ‘Uh- yeah, who is Aphrodite?’ Rei asked as she thought that the name just spoken was familiar.

            ‘Aphrodite is my mother, she was the one who prepared and showed you this cave as your shelter,’ Takeshi explained.

‘Oh... that’s right. The voice like a lullaby…’ Rei remembered.

            ‘Then why do heck would we need your help with anything?!?’ Kenshi shouted again.

            ‘Weren’t you paying attention to what had happened? Your camp site turned into a forest… the hole… this cave…?’ Takeshi pointed out the obvious.

            ‘He’s right…’ Lalaine agreed.

            ‘I’ll help you so you can help us…’ Takeshi pronounced.

            ‘What do you mean? We’d be superheroes of sort?’ Queency said jokingly.

            ‘Yes. And we’ll start our training today,’ Takeshi informed them seriously.

The gang were confused at some point but agreed to it, partly because they can’t back out of something just like that and partly because they really think that he needed some help.

            ‘He needs to lose the cape…’ Lalaine thought to herself.

            ‘I don’t trust this guy one bit… he’s a retard,’ Kenshi concluded in his mind.

Without a warning they’re thoughts were interrupted, ‘Sorry for barging in like this…’ Takeshi said as he smiled while eyeing Lalaine and Kenshi, ‘the cape is a traditional uniform… and I am not mentally ill.’

Lalaine and Kenshi’s eyes widen in disbelief. They’re minds have been read as demonstration of power. Thinking that something bizarre is really going to happen, they agreed to the pact of being superheroes. Therefore, after having breakfast they packed everything and set for another hike.

            ‘That reading minds power…’ Kenshi frowned at Takeshi, he did not like him at all, and he said to him, ‘it’s very rude.’

            ‘I’m sorry but situation called for mind reading, I won’t intrude like that in the future,’ he answered to Kenshi then faced the gang. ‘I’d take the lead from here then we’d keep shifting every two hours and thirty minutes until we have all led the group,’ Takeshi gave out the plan for the day.

There wasn’t really training at all. They just walked and walked and walked. They went to climb a mountain and at nearly an hour hike they saw a venomous snake.

            ‘Oh, my gosh…! Why is it looking at me…?’ Rei said as she panicked.

The snake went for the bite, ‘Move!’ shouted Queency as she pushes Rei out of the way… Rei managed to get away but Queency was bitten on one of her thighs. Takeshi drove the snake away using magic and performed first aid on Queency.

            ‘Thanks Queency… Uh… are you okay?’ Rei asked shyly.

            ‘Yeah I’m fine…’ She answered standing up, and then she went running to Takeshi and gave him a tight hug, ‘Thanks Takeshi… for saving my life…’

Takeshi looked at her and blushed. He gave her a bashful smile.

            ‘Oy Queency! You’re a minor… you’re not allowed to hug men just yet, especially him, a stranger to us all!’ Kenshi bellowed.

            ‘What the heck are you nagging about!?’ Queency asked him irritably.

            ‘Don’t worry Incy… He’s just jealous you know…’ Lalaine said teasingly.

The same instant Queency heard what Lalaine said, she was gone. She ran away either because of embarrassment or because of she didn’t like what she just heard although Lalaine was just teasing or is she…

            ‘Benedict, I’ll leave this training to you…!’ Takeshi said that and he was out of sight; he’s gone of to find Queency.

..to be continued (?)

©Spica|2011