Choices

Kiuko woke up the next morning, in a daze. Memories from the previous night invaded his thoughts, as he tried so desperately to forget them...to forget her. ...The rain pouring down upon them. The sad --- Ever so sad --- look in Kaya's eyes, as she pleaded with him to return home to her. He would not go. He had to prove his point.

"God Damn! Why does she have to be so fucking stubborn?...pft...I can get along without her just fine." He scoffed, sitting there in his car thinking. In spite of his words, he still remembered everything about her... her beautiful forest green eyes...her long blond hair, that was much more golden then his own dirty blond locks...her warm smile and her undeniable kindness.

He then got up, and turned the key in the ignition. The Trans-am started up, and running as he realized, he had to find somewhere to go...and somewhere to eat; He was starving.

Down the road, there was a "Danny's Dyner", where he decided to go and get a bite to eat. He pulled over, and stepped out of the car, and into the restaurant. As he walked up to the counter, a young man about his own age accidentally bumped into him. The man had short brown hair, and blue eyes, very similar to Kiuko's own, yet darker in colour and he wore glasses.

"Oh, I'm sorry, please excuse me," The boy said, as he looked up. As soon as he did though, his eyes flashed in recognition, "Kiuko? Is that you?"

Kiuko looked closely at the boy, before he came to remember exactly who he was. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he barely realized that the boy had bumped into him at all.

"Kyro! Wow, long time no see bud! How you been?"

Kyro smiled at him.

"I've been good. Been traveling the world a lot. Seen some really cool stuff. How's your girl doing?"

Kiuko was quiet for a min. He didn't know what to tell him. Kyro had been a Spirit Knight since the early ages, and Kiuko and Kaya were the ones who had reviled to him, just exactly who he was, and what his purpose for being here was. Kiuko thought for a second before replying.

"She's...well...We decided to take a break for a while...So...I don't know how she is."

An image of Kaya's face, saddened and drenched appeared in Kiuko's mind, making him falter a bit as he said it. He stopped him self though. He would not think about her; She needed to learn her place, so it would be a good thing if she was sad. He didn't need her -- It was her who needed him!

"Taking a break hmm. That's understandable I guess. Although, I have to admit, I never would have seen that one coming. You two were together like glue, for years. But I guess that if you spent so much time together, it would eventually drive both of you nuts, without a break every now and then."

Kiuko nodded. I guess he understood. Things would be good now that he had a potential companion to talk to on the long road ahead. He decided to approach Kyro with the question.

"Where you headed next?"

"Germany. I only decided to stop home in Canada for about a week, but it was fortuitous that we had stumbled upon each other."

"Indeed. Germany hmm. Mind if I tag along. I have nothing left for me here, and it would be a good experience."

Kyro looked at Kiuko questioningly, and raised an eyebrow.

Hmm...Looks like its not just a break from the relationship after all...got to wonder what broke the two of them up... He thought to him self.

"You want to come with? Sure.. well...If money is no object that is."

Kiuko held up a wad of cash he had collected over the years, and Kyro smiled.

"Alright then. Good to have you back on the journey my friend."

"It's good to be back. Maybe I will learn some super special german sword technique or something." Kiuko laughed to him self.

"Heh. Maybe."

The two of them, then headed out the doors of the Diner after finishing off there food. The plans they made would surly be an interesting few months. They could only expect good to come of this, as they chatted and caught up on old times.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Kaya awoke out of bed, stiff and sore. She walked down to her kitchen and fixed her self some breakfast, hoping the day would be a more positive one then the last few weeks were with him around. She didn't know what the day would bring, but only hoped that good could come of it.

"Anything is better then what happened last night..." She stated sadly. She got up from the table, and put the dishes away, then grabbed her sketch book, and headed out the door for a walk. She needed some air, and with all this alone time to think, it was driving her mad that she had nothing to do.

She headed to the nearest forest and sat down under a tree. She began sketching the trees and animals she saw run by. It was calming and relaxing for her, as she rarely ever got a chance to do this when she was a worrier, and she was cherishing every second of the tranquility of her surroundings.

~I don't have to have magic to be the Forest Spirit...~ She thought to her self. She smiled, and continued with her drawings, unaware of the girl who was watching her from a short distance away.

"Wow, those are really good." She said.

Kaya looked up as her green eyes met amber eyes. The girl looked on at Kaya's drawing, smiling in awe, and thinking quietly to her self. Her short black hair pooled around her shoulders, as her camo-jacket ruffled when she placed her hands inside her pockets.

"Thanks." Kaya said, "I've never had anyone compliment me on my art before...its just a hobby I have."

"Really? Because its really good. I wish I could draw like that." The girl grinned, and then sat down next to her. " That will probably be a hell of a fun time painting it."

"I don't paint.." Kaya replied.

"What? Why?" She looked confused.

"I can't...I am not very good at it."

She paused a few seconds, and then smiled again.

"I could paint it for you. I am good at painting, but I can't draw very well. We could make a good team. By the way, my name is Nyomi."

Kaya looked towards her, and smiled back.

"I'm Kaya."

Kaya then picked up her sketch book, and began to turn the pages. She had shown Nyomi the drawings she had done in her spare time, up until the recent ones. Nyomi sat, interested in all of them, and agreed to paint each and every one of them for Kaya, if Kaya wanted it. She was flipping through the pages, until she stumbled upon one drawing that showed Kaya and a blonde haired boy holding hands with three symbols above them and 3 arrows. That struck a thought in Nyomi's mind, and she just had to ask her.

"Kaya?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah?"

"This picture is interesting...Hmm, those symbols…You’re pagan too I take it? What gave you the inspiration to draw this? A boyfriend perhaps?"

Kaya looked at the girl a little confused.

"Pagan? No, lol. This picture was inspired by my...my X. The arrows represent the paths we had taken when we first broke up, and how they led us back to each other the first time...But It was not meant to be. You can keep this if you like..I don't feel the same way about him now..."

Kaya's eyes began to tear, and Nyomi figured that it was a hard break up. This girl must have spent a lot of time with this guy... She figured Kaya could use some internal peace, so she then posed another question.

"Do you practice any martial arts, Kaya?"

She shook her head.

"Hmm, I see. I think you need to get your mind off this loser, so why not come practice with me and my friend some time...His name is Tyrone, though everyone just calls him Tye, and he was the one who taught me that "'Hitori-Jitsu Cures All!'".

Kaya thought about it for a moment. Kiuko was such a stuck up snob, and it probably would be a good thing that she took her mind off of him for a change. Maybe learning this Hitori-Jitsu could help her focus on learning something a little more normal anyway. After all; those days of magic are dead now, so why not?

"Sure! If learning this form of martial arts can clear my mind, than clearing my mind sounds like fun. Hey, if it cures all, maybe it can cure a broken heart!"

Nyomi smiled, "That's the way to think! I'll tell Tye next time I see him. You’ll feel more at peace in no time. We will have you performing at Kagei in no time.

"Kagei?" Kaya questioned.

"You'll see what I mean when we go. But right now, I want to see more of your pictures." Kaya nodded and turned the page.

The two of them sat and talked, and became friends quite quickly. Up until the point when Nyomi checked her watch.

"Oh no...Kaya, I have to go. Kaz is waiting for me probably right now."

"Kaz?" Kaya said, unaware of who her friend was.

"Oh. Kaznami. My best friend for over six years. He is such a great guy, You should meet him some time. He was the one who got me into martial arts, and introduced me to Tyrone." She said.

"Well alright. Nice meeting you Nyomi."

"Nice meeting you too. Will I see you again tomorrow?" She asked.

"Sure. I will just be sitting by my tree as usual. If you want my number here it is."

Kaya handed Nyomi the number, as they said there goodbyes. They then both headed there separate ways, but would see each other again soon. As Kaya was walking home, she thought to her self,

Maybe I really don't need Kiuko to be happy after all...I don't need magic either.

She smiled, and then headed into her house. For once, she actually had a good day, and she could only wait for more good days to come.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Ok, there it is, Ch 2. It will be a little while before Ch 3 is posted, as I have to revamp the entire thing, but please R&R. Let me know what you think. Most of the characters in my story are based off of real friends of mine. All with the exception of like 2. I hope you will like Ch 3 as much as these. See you there. :)