After the group finally calmed down about the link between Iris and Cade (it helped that the link was no longer there) everyone had gone their seperate ways again. Jing sighed quietly as she walked away with Bast, shaking her head a little. She hadn’t said a whole lot since they got back from the attack, thinking about everything that had happened.

Bast too was silent, still rather disturbed at the link Cade had secretly shared with Iris. But as they left the area where the others were he sighed, turning away from the path to sit under a tree.

Jing watched Bast, following him and sitting down beside him. “You alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He muttered, turning to look at her intently. “Did… did Aurixel have any powers when you knew him?”

Jing bit her lip as she was asked about Aurixel, looking at the ground infront of her. “Some… But not the kinds of spells he has used to attack us.”

Bast sighed, “Well, he looks like he’s a Dragonlord now so I suppose that explains it too.” He leaned back against the truck of the tree. “I’m most worried about those blasted bubbles he keeps using!”

Jing nodded in agreement “They don’t seem to be able to break from the inside.” She said quietly, thinking about how it only took an arrow to break them the first time. But no matter what they dd on the inside they remained solid.

“You tried using your powers in the bubble? Maybe make yourself too heavy for it to lift?” He suggested.

“Tried it. Well as much as I could do without hurting myself.” Jing said with a sigh. “Didn’t work at all…”

Bast sighed, “He’s starting to annoy me. Though it does seem like they aren’t that quick to see where we leave the barrier, with how long it took him to arrive there…”

“But after a bit of time he did find us. And its obvious now he isn’t alone. What about the one who tried to take Iris, and almost did?” She asked, looking at him.

Bast nodded. “Yeah I know. It… seems like they’re pretty bent on finding us three.” He frowned, “I still don’t know why they call me Demi…”

Jing shook her head “I don’t know either. I wish I did. It seems the only one of the three we know why they are trying to get ahold of is Iris. Since she is a cleric.”

Bast nodded, “They may want the disks, that’s for sure… but why me? And you?” He looked at Jing. “Unless it’s Aurixel who wants you…”

Jing looked at Bast for a moment before looking away and sighing “I’m not sure myself… and it doesn’t matter either way.” She muttered. “Aurixel is probably working for the green that controls the island and… that green is friends with a certian red I never want to see again in my life.”

Bast gave a wry laugh. “Frankly I wouldn’t be too thrilled to see that green dragon myself.”

Jing chuckled nervously “Thats right… you have met that green.” She said before looking at Bast “How exactly are we going to keep from getting captured… and keeping Iris from being taken too?”

“I’m not sure…” He admitted. But privately he was liking more and more the idea of getting caught himself to figure this all out. If only he was still cursed…

Jing watched Bast for a moment, able to tell there was more on his mind. “Do you really have no ideas? Or just none you want to say outloud?”

His gaze flicked to Jing, then away. “No, not really.”

“Bast…” Jing muttered, moving a little so he was looking at her again. “Just tell me alright? If you have any ideas just tell me?”

Bast looked at her, then smiled faintly, “I was thinking of how best to corner you to tickle you without being interrupted this time.” He said, springing at her.

Jing’s eyes widened in shock, flailing and trying to scramble away from her attacker. “Don’t you dare Bast!!!”

Bast laughed, managing to pounce her to the ground and sitting on her he began wriggling his fingers along her sides.

Jing flailed more, trying to push Bast off of her. “N-No Bast! D-Don’t you dare!” She said, struggling to keep from laughing.

Bast just continued to grin and tickle her, trying to pin her hands to keep them from flailing.

Jing struggled more, and finally burst out laughing, her long tail wacking Bast in the face with the fluff. “S-Stop Bast!”

Bast blew out at the fluff and continued his relentless tickling.

Jing continued to struggle, unable to use her powers to get Bast off since she couldn’t consentrate. “S…Stop it you evil kankiru!” She yelled out between laughs, still trying to push him with her hands to tail.

Bast finally relented, jumping off and a few paces away from her, with a wide grin on his face. “Now THAT was a good smile.” He nodded in approval.

Jing was trying to catch her breath, laying on the grass. “I…I hate you…” She muttered between gasps, but there was still a smile lingering on her face.

“Yes, you never fail to let me know that.” He smirked. “One day I’ll be gone for good, and what’ll you be saying then eh?”

Jing didn’t say anything for a moment, finally sitting up and calming down. “Oh come on Bast. Why would you leave all your friends? Now…” She looked at him and smirked “Payback!” She said before moving to tackle him to the ground.

“Wh…ACK!” He jumped backward, tripped over his tail and fell on his back.

Jing grinned, sitting ontop of Bast and starting to tickle him back.

Bast laughed and squirmed, hands trying to grab her wrists to stop the tickles.

Jing smirked, “Not going to happen.” She said before trying to use her powers to make Bast’s hands to heavy to lift up as she continued to tickle him.

His hands didn’t become heavy and he shot them at her wrists, grabbing each firmly and pulling them away and up, making her fall forward slightly towards his face. He grinned. “Really?”

Jing was shocked when her powers didn’t work and she was pulled closer to Bast. “W…Wait… Your hands didn’t get heavyer…?” She asked quietly.

Bast blinked, “No… not at all.” He said, and moved his head up and gave her a quick kiss on the nose before releasing her.

Jing was about to say something but she grew silent when Bast kissed her, and she moved quickly to get off of him, silent.

Bast let her get off, and sat up slowly, grinning sheepishly, but suddenly feeling rather awkward. He hadn’t expected THAT reaction.

Jing face was quickly going bright red, biting her lip a little she looked away from him. “What was that for?!”

Bast shrugged, “Felt like it…” He said, inching over to her, trying to see her face. “Why, didn’t like it?”

Jing’s face went redder if that was possible and she still didn’t look at him.

Bast grabbed her shoulder, pulling her to turn her over. He laughed as he saw her cheeks burning, and poked them. “Oooh… hot!”

Jing looked at him before flailing and trying to move back more, and tripping on her own tail when she tried to stand. Falling back to the grass she just felt her face got hotter.

Bast laughed, and moved over to grab her in a hug. “You are adorable when flustered.”

Jing yelped at the hug flailing a little “B-Bast…!” She said but couldn’t get out anymore, not knowing what she could even say. Why was she acting like this?! It was embaressing!

Bast just chuckled, nuzzling her neck before letting her go again. “Though strictly speaking, I find you highly adorable all the time.”

Jing bit her lip and looked away from Bast when he heard his comment. He was just being mean now teasing her like this! But at the same time her whole was was still bright red.

Bast stood, still grinning. “Well, let me know when you get over being embarrassed.” He said, then leaned in close to her ear. “To kiss you on the mouth.”

Jing jumped a little when she heard him, moving away a little.

Bast watched her, sighing. “I guess you really are still a kid.” He turned, walking away.

Jing watched him walk away, for once not making a fuss about being called a kid. She just sat where she was and biting her lip a little looked away. What had she done to upset him… she hadn’t known how to react!!

Bast walked through the brush, not keeping to the trail and walking away from the general living area. He frowned, mulling things over. How would Jing react if he let himself get captured?