Once Upon a Nightmare

Ramshackle Dorm

Kalim had barely made it to the entrance of the palace that was the Scarabia dorm when Yuu tackled him to the ground.

"Whaaa-OOOF!"

"GOTCHA! GEEZ LOUISE!" Yuu huffed and sat up letting Kalim sit upright and rub his sore nose from having face planted into the sand.

"Ow, what was that for, Yuu?" Kalim rolled over to sit.

"I'm sorry, but you just rushed off without letting me say anything." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "For starters I don't want you telling anyone about my gender."

"Huh? Why?"

"Well-"

"YUU!!!" Grim came bounding over huffing and puffing. "What's going on!?  You never run this fast unless it's urgent." He stopped and slid belly down into the pavement. "Hot… too hot to run."

"Urgent…" Kalim gave Yuu serious eyes. "It's really that serious?"

"It's a long story, Kalim… but the short version is, is if this gets spread I may get kicked out of school."

"FNGHA?! WHAT'D YOU SAY!?!?" Grim was up like a lightning bolt.

"You mean they'll expel you?" Kalim instantly clamped his hands over his mouth as if to keep the secret locked tight. Yuu nodded her head and Kalim bowed down to her apologetically. "I'm Sorry, I didn't know… but if that's the case then what should I do about our-"

"That's the other thing." Yuu laughed a little and she made him sit back upright. "You don't have to feel responsible for your instinctive reaction, Kalim. I'm sure your customs require you to, but I don't. It's better if we just keep everything a secret… okay?"

Yuu took his hand and gripped it firmly. He glanced down and then up at her. His smile came fast and genuine as it always did.

"Okay… but it would have been nice. You're cute and fun to be around. I'm sure our marriage would be a happy one."

"Who's what now?!" Jamil's voice broke the tender moment and Yuu slapped both hands to her face. Just how many more people were gonna find out about this?

"Eh? Oh! Jamil! It's nothing, just a joke!" Kalim quickly got to his feet trying to laugh it off. Jamil's face didn't buy for one instant. Kalim sweated bullets and he quickly pulled Yuu to her feet. "Anyway… I'm gonna walk Yuu back to her dorm. See yah at dinner, Jamil!"

"Hold it!'

"Run for it!" Kalim whispered and the two made a break for the portal.

"Not more running!" Grim whined and chased after them. "Is this what practice is gonna be like?!"

Jamil halted his instinct to race after them. Kalim was hiding something and Yuu seemed to be at the center of it… Then something clicked in his mind.

Marriage…

HER dorm…

Is SHE alright…

"Huh? Could it be…" Jamil glanced back up in the direction the three had run off to. He would have to grill Kalim about his suspicions later.  He would take his time, he decided. Allow Kalim let his guard down, and then pin him about the Yuu situation.

Happy with his decision, he turned inside and started to make dinner preparations.

~Ramshackle Dorm~

Yuu and Grim both panted, completely out of breath. Kalim huffed as well, but to him it felt more like a light jog than a full on sprint.

"Good, it looks as though he didn't follow us. I'll have some time to come up with an excuse for my earlier comment."