A Moment Suspended

Focus (Part Three)

Hey guys, it's been a while? How has everyone been? Well I hope! I'm sorry about such a long delay in the updates. I've been crazy busy with trying to enlist in the Navy. As always feel free to leave a comment of an idea or suggestion, or just an overall critique of the story so far. I hope you all enjoy! ^.^

-Shino

My face became flushed and my eyes were darting between her eyes and somewhere, anywhere else. "I-I am not nervous around Ast- Stupidsta! I'm royalty, and he's just a... peasant." The reality of him being from Hage had begun to set in, and with it the overwhelming fear of Nebra, Solid or Nozel finding out. I could feel my heart beat to a slow, heavy rhythm as well as my breath become shallow. My body was beginning to fail me the more I thought about it. My legs were trembling underneath me and I suddenly had the urge puke. "If they find out, what will happen to me? More importantly what will happen to Asta." I thought to myself.

"What's wrong? Did I hit a nerve?! I am so sorry!" Kahono said with concern in her voice.

"No, it's not you, not at all. It's just a family issue." I replied with my words trailing off.

"Close your eyes and listen."

Reluctantly I closed my eyes and focused on the sounds around me. "What exactly am I-."

"Shhh! Listen!" She exclaimed. "Do you hear the crashing and pulling of the waves? The serene song it sings as the waves kiss the land, then slowly withdraw? I do, and I especially do when I feel overwhelmed or afraid. I can only imagine the politics that surround royalty but I'm sure that in one way or another it involves Stupidsta. I won't understand how the rich are until I'm a superstar but I do know that if you really care for him, then why would you let anything get in the way?"

By the time she finished I felt my breath become normalized and my body relax. I couldn't tell if it was her words or the surrounding sounds, but whichever it was it helped. I opened my eyes only to meet hers. "Kahono..." I was speechless, the only word I could manage was her name.

She revealed her blinding smile once again and replied with "That'll be 400 Yuls."

I let out a small chuckle as I reached for my pouch, grabbed the 400 Yuls and handed them over. Which shocked Kahono to the point her red eyes grew to the size of the moon over our heads.

"I was... what did... What?!" She exclaimed.

"What do you mean what? You asked for 400, so I gave you 400!"

The look of shock is stained on her face as she stumbles across words. "I-I joking was. You, thank!" She spurt out before slapping her hand against her forehead.

I tried to contain my laughter but to no avail, which ended up with me on the ground, gasping for air as she yelled at me to stop. Once the laughing fit was over, my stomach was sore and I was out of breath, I managed to meet her eyes as my back laid against the soft, warm sand.

"You done yet?" She said with a pouting expression.

I barely kept the aftershocks down as I told her "Yes."

"Okay well, thank you very much for this kind gesture, but it'll be free this time. Next time though, I'll be charging you twice as much!" She said as she tossed the pouch next to me and laid down on the opposite side. "Y'know, I never really had the opportunity to connect this closely to another girl. I've only ever really had my brother. So..." she quickly sat up, clapped her hands and I watched her eyes glisten. "Let's talk about boys!" She giggled.

"You're acting like I have had friends before the Black Bulls. I grew up resented by my own house." I replied.

"I guess this is a learning experience for both of us then!" She said clapping her hands excitedly."

Hey guys, I tried to make this part longer but I go really restricted with the amount of time I could spend writing on it between work and training. I hope you guys like this very short part and let me know if you guys want anything done differently, or any suggestions to make my writing flow better. Thanks again guys!

-Shino