Rain Dance

Kimi cuddled closer to him instead, tucking her head under his chin.

(After all his feelings and racing heart, you'd think Ava would want to look for him lol.)

(I'm trying to decide whether she is actually looking for him, or if she's been having really weird intense dreams lol)

"...Hhmn?" Voltaire hummed, finally coming to. For a moment there was a reddish glow in his pupils, but it soon faded.

"You were singing in your sleep again" Kimi murmured softly. "It sounded pretty"

(Now how would those dreams be explained? XD)

"Was I?" asked Voltaire groggily. "I never remember...only reason I believe it is because Adair used one of my machines to record it one time. It sounded so weird."

He suddenly became aware of his nakedness, and hers. "Uh..ah..."

"Hmm?" Kimi asked drowsily. "Is something the matter?"

Voltaire looked into Kimi's eyes. There was no fear whatsoever. He found himself silently lost in those eyes for a while.

"...Just...clothes," he finally replied, sitting up and searching for his outfit. "We need to get back soon and we can't go back naked. They're probably wondering where the hell we are."

"Probably..." Kimi murmured. "Ava will be worried if she's awake."

"That's gonna be fun explaining later," Voltaire said dryly as he pulled his pants and boots back on. He was stealing looks back at Kimi despite himself. "I guess we could always say we got stuck waiting for the rain to pass. That's true enough."

Kimi nodded as she slid her dress back on.

It took Voltaire a little while to find his shirt. When he picked it up he noticed it was damp. With some annoyance he put it on anyway, knowing it would dry faster if he just wore it. He gave a little grunt as steam rose from the wet clothing.

"You ready?" he asked, as he picked up the bags and flung them over his shoulder.

Kimi stood and smoothed her dress. She nodded with a small smile. "Yes."

The trek back wasn't as far as Voltaire expected. Along the way they ran into Curtis, who was doing some fighting practice.

"Hi dead man," Voltaire greeted casually. "Where's Barrett?"

"Off helping Raizin with experiments," Curtis explained. "Finally get some time to myself. You know, I'm surprised you guys didn't go the cave route. Following advice for once?"

"We were taking that route, until they about collapsed on our heads," Voltaire grumbled.

"What do you do now?"

"Nothing!"

Kimi shyly stayed back. Her face directed to the ground so she wouldn't make eye contact.

Curtis paid a quick glance to Kimi. Voltaire unconsciously moved in front of her possessively.

"You know she's not my type," Curtis teased. "Though I do suggest doing something about those hickies on her neck."

Voltaire's face suddenly turned bright red as he glanced back at Kimi. Curtis laughed.

"They aren't too bad, but you should be more careful about it," Curtis advised with a smirk. "Congratulations, by the way."

"S-Screw you," replied Voltaire, still embarrassed.

"That won't be necessary."

Kimi's face flushed and she ducked her head more, to allow her hair to fall and hide her face and neck.

"Well, whatever, we need to get back," said Voltaire, still a bit flushed as he escorted himself and Kimi past Curtis. "Don't die on the way to the tournament."

"That would be hard since I'm already dead," Curtis answered, returning to practice.

"You know what I mean. Later," Voltaire replied, leaving the elder Hunter to his exercises. After they had walked a good distance he paused. He lifted up Kimi's hair to blow some white flames onto her neck to take care of the bruises.

Kimi was still blushing. "I didn't know there were marks." She mumbled.

"I didn't notice them either. Probably because your hair usually covers your neck," said Voltaire. Or because I was too busy staring at the rest of you. "...Do I have any?"

Kimi shook her head. "I only kissed your neck a little. I didn't bite or suck at it"

"Okay, just wanted to make sure," Voltaire replied, continuing to walk on. "Curtis can be a smartass when he wants to be, but he's a good guy overall. My guild used to be led by him."

Kimi looked a little surprised. "What happened?" She asked softly.

"He died," Voltaire replied simply. "And then Raizin got a hold of his body and spirit and made a zombie out of him. He's stuck serving that hairball now."

"He is?" Kimi tilted her head slightly. "Nevermind... Let's just hurry back"

They did not have to hurry much, for they soon spotted Ava on the horizon. Adair was on her back.

"Volty! There you are!" Ava greeted, flying over and nearly knocking Voltaire down with the wind of her wings. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Had to wait out the rain," Voltaire explained. He held up the bag full of spoils. "We should eat well for a good while."

"Yay!" Ava cheered, before her expression became slightly more serious. "I was having all these really weird dreams. I thought maybe something had happened."

"...Really?" Voltaire asked. He had a suspicion that he knew when these 'weird dreams' had taken place, but he was not about to elaborate on the matter.

Kimi smiled. "We got a large buck and a cougar" She stated happily. "The cougar came out of no where when Voltaire was about to shoot the deer. Two for the price of one!"