Crystal Star Guardian's

What Do You Mean We're Lost!?

"Will you stop whining?!"

"I'm not whining! All I'm saying is I'm tired!"

"You've BEEN saying that for forty-five minutes! I call that whining!"

The guys and Nora had had enough. They stopped and turned, glaring at Mia and Jessie.

"What?" they chorused.

"Both of you knock it off," Cye told them.

"She started it!" the two girls stated at once, pointing accusingly at each other.

"Why'd we bring them again?" Rowen asked Sage tiredly.

"Don't ask me, I'm not the leader."

The two of them looked accusingly at Ryo.

"Hey, don't blame me," he retorted.

Kento's stomach took the opportunity to growl rather loudly.

"I'm hungry," he said.

As if on cue, everyone else's stomachs decided to growl too.

"We all are," Nora replied. "Look, it's getting dark anyways. Why don't we just make camp now?"

"Good idea," Ryo agreed. "Let's find a clearing."

"There's one just over this hill," Rowen said, looking at the map.

The seven Ronins and Mia trudged over the hill, and sure enough, there was a clearing at the bottom. In the clearing, the grass was plush and healthy. Tall trees surrounded them, all their leaves a nice rich green.

"I feel like a cottage should be here," Jessie said.

"Nora nodded, "Yeah, with a woman who talks to animals and seven little men with big noses."

Both girls giggled.

They set up camp, which was two tents. One for the girls, and one for the boys. They then made a fire and sat around it as it became dark, roasting things to eat. The wind rustled the leaves over-head as they talked into the night, telling stories and jokes.

"There, standing before him was his dead wife," Jessie said creepily, the fire casting an orange glow on her face. 'But where is your pretty dress?' he asked.

'In the grave,' she replied eerily. 'But where are your gorgeous necklaces?' he asked. 'In the grave,' she replied. 'Where is your golden arm?' he asked, trembling now. 'YOU HAVE IT!' " Jessie screamed, grabbing Mia.

The older girl let out a shrill squeak, and everyone laughed.

"That was good," Rowen praised. "Where'd you hear that?"

"From an American friend," Jessie replied, grinning.

Mia grumbled. "I didn't think it was so good."

"Yeah, that's why you surely wet yourself," Nora smirked.

"I did not!"

Everyone minus Mia laughed, their voices echoing along with the chirping of crickets and hoots of owls.

~*~

"We should get some sleep," Sage remarked an hour later, seeing Nora leaning against Ryo's shoulder and half asleep.

"Aw, do we have to?" Jessie whined.

Cye nodded, "I think Sage is right. Don't worry, Jessie, we’ll have more fun tomorrow."

"Butbutbut.."

Kento laughed, "She sounds like a motor boat!"

Jessie cracked a smile.

Ryo gave Nora a gentle shake, and she groaned as she opened her eyes.

"What?"

"Bedtime."

Everyone crawled into their respective tents, Cye was last after he poured a bucket of water over the fire.

~*~

At some point during the night, Rowen awoke. He sat up.

"Man, I gotta pee."

The archer crawled out of the tent, careful not to wake anyone up. Then headed off into the woods. He went a good distance before (ahem) relieving himself (giggle) As he was heading back to camp, a hand touched his arm

"Ah!"

"Rowen!"

"Jessie? Don't DO that!"

"Sorry. What're you doing?"

"I had to um.. do something. What're you doing here? You didn't follow me did you?"

"No. I came out here to do something too, and I got lost. It's a good thing you came by."

"Yeah, really. But you scare the hell outta me."

"I said I was sorry. Look, can we just get back?"

"Scared, are you?"

"No! I'm just tired."

"Uh huh."

"Please Rowen?"

"Okay. Let's go, camp is this way."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

~*~

"Rowen?"

"What?"

"I don't think we're going the right way."

"How do you know?"

"Oh, I dunno. Could it be the fact we've been walking for two hours and there's no sign of camp? I know you didn't walk this far to pee."

"How'd you..? Um.. Jessie?"

"Yes?"

"We're lost.."

"I hate you Rowen."

~*~

For some unknown reason, Nora awoke. It was probably the fact that Mia was snoring like a dying horse.

"We should just put her out of her misery, ne Jessie?" she chuckled.

No response.

"How can she sleep through this? Hey Jess!" Nora went to shove her friend, but saw instead that she wasn't there. "Jessie?"

Nora exited the tent, just as Ryo got out of the boy's tent.

"Ryo, Jessie's-"

"Missing?" he cut her off.

"Yes! How'd you know?"

"Rowen's missing too."

~*~

"How could you get us lost?"!

"I'm only human. I didn't see YOU giving me any directions, Jessie."

"I was already lost! Besides, can't use the stars or something? You ARE Strata!"

"There's just one problem with that."

"Which is?"

"It's cloudy."

"Oh. Damn."

"Hey, it could be worse."

"How?"

"It could be raining."

As soon as the last word left Rowen's lips, thunder cracked above them. Heavy rain began to fall, hard and fast, as if the heavens had been torn open.

"I still hate you Rowen."

~*~

Cye, Kento and Sage did not look happy at being woken up. Not only that, but they were now soaking wet because of the downpour which was still coming down.

"I thought you said it was suppose to be a clear night, Sage," Cye said, glaring at the blonde.

"That's what the weatherman said."

"Television has let us down," Kento sniffled.

Cye patted his shoulder. "It's okay Ken."

Nora emerged from the girl's tent, practically dragging Moa.

"What?" Mia demanded grumpily. "I was having this great dream!"

"About a motorcycle with no muffler?" Nora inquired.

"No, why?"

"That's what you sounded like."

"Why you-"

"Both of you stop!" Ryo cut in. "We have a situation here in case you've forgotten. Rowen and Jessie are gone."

"Wait, they're gone together?" Mia asked.

"Yes," Sage replied.

"And you want to LOOK for them?"

"How hard is this to understand?" Nora raised an eyebrow.

Mia suddenly burst out laughing. Everyone stared at her, their wet hair dripping water into their already soaked faces.

"What's so funny?" asked Cye.

"Just the fact you think they're lost!" Mia chuckled.

Kento blinked. "Huh?"

"Think about it. Rowen's gone. Jessie's gone. Alone in the woods. Hm.. I wonder what they could have been thinking."

Suddenly everyone got what Mia was implying. "Oh!"

"Jessie and Rowen, together? Like that?" Nora asked. "I'll kill her!"

"Why?" Ryo asked suspiciously.

"She didn't tell me she was with him!"

Everyone minus Nora rolled their eyes.

"Let's go back to sleep," Sage suggested.

Cye nodded. "Good idea. Night guys."

"Night," Everyone chorused.

~*~

The next morning, Rowen and Jessie trudged back to camp. Tired and muddy.

"Oh, hey guys!" Cye greeted good-naturally.

Nora grinned. "Have a nice night?"

"No!" Jessie snapped. "Not only did we get lost, but it was pouring! Didn't you guys notice?"

"Yes," Sage stated simply.

"Then why didn't you look for us?" Rowen whined.

Kento smirked, "We didn't think you'd appreciate it."

"Huh?" Jessie blinked.

Ryo chuckled, "Mia let us in on what you would be doing alone in the woods at night."

"What're you talking about?!" both muddy teens demanded.

"You were so obviously snogging," Mia said happily.

Jessie and Rowen looked at each other, then back to the group.

"Mia.." Jessie said.

"Yes?"

"I'm going to kill you now."

The older girl jumped to her feet and ran, Jessie right behind her.

"Get back here!"

Everyone else looked at Rowen confusedly.

"Mia was telling the truth, wasn't she?" Ryo asked.

Rowen ran a hand through his hair, combing out a clump of mud. He let it drop to the ground with a 'plop'.

"What do you think?"

The teens looked at each other, then at Rowen with grins.

"You snogged!" they chorused.

Rowen rolled his eyes. "I hate you all."

The End! ^ ^