Womanish Lady

Chapter 25:

The two runaways met back up with Bon-bon, and Siomi led them to the swing Fuyaiyah wanted to ride, and played on it.

In the middle of being pushed on the swing, Fuyaiyah laughed.

"I was looking for you everywhere! How'd you get caught by him?"

"Lower your voice!" he hissed. She talked loudly because swinging had her constantly moving to and away from Siomi.

"I would've lost him, but he was awfully close to where you were supposed to be, so I wanted to lead him away from you. I wanted to return the favor from when you helped me at the Palace."

"Wait - I can't hear you. Stop the swing."

Siomi helped the swing come to a stop, and Fuyaiyah looked up at him with bright eyes and a smile. She was having a good day.

"What was that?"

He got a tinge in his heart. He shook his head.

"Nothing - I just didn't want him to see you."

"Oooh. You're right. Good thinking Siomi! Now, push me again."

"What? No, it's my turn! Move."

"Huh? You weren't thinking about the swing until I brought it up!"

"Well now I want a turn."

After going back and forth for a minute, Fuyaiyah gave up the swing, and wanted to push Siomi. She was having trouble timing when to push him again, and inevitably got bumped to the ground by Siomi.

Siomi jumped off the swing laughing and ran to her.

"Are you okay?"

Fuyaiyah looked at him with sparkly eyes. He was taken aback. Then he got hit with a snowball. A smile slowly formed on Siomi's face, and in no time, they were running around with snowballs.

"I don't appreciate it when you keep telling everyone that I'm your wife. I'm no such thing." Fuyaiyah brought up randomly as they were walking.

"Why not? Don't you want to get married one day?"

She felt herself get warm.

"Well - of course. But don't make it seem like I'll end up with you!"

Siomi continued to look at Fuyaiyah.

"Why not? I can't imagine you with anyone else."

"Geez! Don't make it seem like I can't get anyone else either!"

He furrowed his brows at the thought alone.

"I don't even want to imagine it though. I just think nobody else looks right being by your side but me."

Fuyaiyah felt her body get warm.

"Be quiet. Somehow, I'm only feeling insulted."

Siomi laughed, and they continued walking in silence.

A few hours later, they had found a spot by the lake where a tree was bent over conveniently enough to divide the space, so they bathed in it.

"It's the warmest time of day, so if we want to rinse ourselves, now's the best time," said Siomi. Fuyaiyah ignored him, believing his intentions were perverted, but then decided to heed to his words. Now, they were in the river, trying their best to rinse themselves off as quietly as possible.

"I'm grateful that you took me along," said Siomi.

She looked over her shoulder, embarrassed.

"What're you talking about? I didn't want you to come in the first place. I just wanted time to myself."

Siomi looked back too. Their eyes met between the tree's leaves and they both whipped back around.

"But you're not upset that I came along," there was a moment of silence. "So, what's been bugging you? I have some ideas, but it's hard to say for sure with you.

Fuyaiyah looked at her reflection in the water.

"I feel so dumb saying this aloud, but I found myself constantly wanting to just stay comfortable. I wanted to stay by you guys and my friends, and ignore what I got myself into."

Siomi looked back a little with a confused look. He got to see the whip scars on her back, and turned back around.

"I know I'm not allowed to feel like that though - people helped me, and valuable lives were sacrificed for something in regards to me - that's why I was so upset with everything and myself. So I just wanted a moment to be alone."

"Every last one of us is in an uncomfortable position though, Fuyaiyah."

She furrowed her brows