Just the Maid

Chapter 30- The Hunters and the Hunted: Part Four

It was a really long morning. It was so boring, just staying up with nothing to do but look at the sunrise. Well, that and the trees, the water, the fish, and Killua's sleeping face. I don't know why his face. I was just... drawn to it, for some reason. But, eventually, he woke up. I quickly looked over at the water, trying to subdue the blush creeping up my face.

"Mornin'," he greeted me.

"Good morning, Killua," I answered. I looked back over to him. "Did you sleep well?"

"Well, it's no bed, but it was doable."

"Well that's good. Do you want to eat first, or get straight to exploring some more?"

"I'm good, are you hungry?"

"No, I'm fine. We can continue on then." I stood, holding my hand out for him to grab. He took my hand and stood up.

A shock. Like before. I fought my blushing again and quickly helped him up, releasing as soon as he was standing. He held my cloak out to me and I took it, wrapping it around myself.

"Well, uh, shall we go?" he asked, awkwardly. I nodded. He grabbed his skateboard and we set off into the forest.

'Four more days of just wandering... I hope something interesting will happen soon...' I thought. I yawned, covering my mouth.

"I told you that you should've slept. I would've been fine," he commented.

"So? I believe that sleep is important and we had been awake for multiple days in a row before we came here, so you really needed it."

"Yeah, well from the looks of it, you need it more than I do."

"I'm fine, don't worry about it. I'm up and walking, aren't I?" He just 'hmph'ed at me and continued on. I stared at his back as we travelled through the underbrush.

We walked and walked and walked some more. We didn't run into anyone. I ate some of the leaves on the trees as we walked to help regain some of my energy. It didn't help much, but they did at least help fill my belly.

Some time in the afternoon, with the sun blazing down on us, Killua finally stopped our little train.

"Let's rest up a bit before we go on," he said. I nodded and sat down against a tree.

My eyes kept wanting to close. But I didn't want them too. I needed to be as strong as him. I don't want to be weak and fall asleep now. But it's so warm and I'm actually comfortably full...

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

I woke up to a white shirt and long, blue sleeves and the forest moving in front of me. I was swaying... Was someone carrying me? I looked up and saw Killua's face. My face grew bright red and I scrambled to try and get out of his arms. At least I was wide awake now!

He chuckled a little and said to settle down. I stopped struggling and he set me down. I looked up to check the time and saw that it was sunset again. I turned and bowed to him.

"I'm so sorry it will never happen again!" I apologized quickly, embarrassed. He just chuckled again.

"I told you that it should have been you that slept."

"Yeah, well-"

"Don't even finish that 'sleep is important' thing. I get it, it's fine and all, but remember..." He walked up to me, really close, and said, "I'm stronger than you, physically. I can take it, but you can't. I care about you and your health. That's what's most important to me right now." He put his hands on my shoulders in finality. We stared into each other's eyes for a moment before he let his arms fall to his side.