Scars of Battle and Betrayal (Rated T for Teen for Violence and Blood plus some mild language)

He's right you know my little lotus blossom... said a voice that made Natsume look up quickly to see a shadowy visage of her father and mother as well as a young man she'd been fond of growing up.
You freed us from them when we had abandoned you to them...for that we are grateful. We are sorry that we put you through the torment you must have endured...go in peace Natsume dear...and show those monsters that they were right to fear us... they said before vanishing smiles on their faces.

Natsume smiled still crying though now she felt better. "Arigato father...and sayonara..." she said.

"Huh? Who are you talking to?" Kyle asked as he looked around.

He couldn't see anyone else but him and Natsume.

Natsume dried her eyes. "Just my family. I guess their spirits only wanted to talk to me." she said smiling. "Now let's move on I've held us up too long." she added.

"Yeah...sure" Kyle said looking confused.

He stood up and took out his device which displayed his map. He looked at it. They were still a good ways from the center villiage.

"We still have a ways to go and its already the afternoon" Kyle said.

"Then what are we waiting for." Natsume said sounding more cheerful than usual. She had forgiven her family and was ready to move on with her life. She'd still take the Fal'cie out without mercy but she wasn't going to mope around anymore.

"First she's sad and depressed and now she's cheerful and happy, what is with this girl?" Kyle asked himself.

He followed Natsume, amazed at how her mood often changed.

"Right" Kyle said.

"The main route should be this way." Natsume said leading the way. It may be scorched and damaged but it was still familiar to her. It brought back fun memories of her and her friend Yoshi playing hide and seek out here.

"Lead the way ole moody one" Kyle teased as he walked ahead of Natsume.

"You do realize I could get you lost here and completely vanish so I'd watch the wisecracks. But I'll let it slip this once since you're so darn cute." Natsume said before leading the way.

"Me get lost, I don't need a jet to get back and forth, I can teleport. I only did it for your sake" Kyle teased again.

Kyle then then vanished into thin air leaving Natsume alone.

"And I don't need to teleport to disappear." Natsume said. She continued to make her way to the destination. She saw teleportation as a crutch more than anything else. 'Walking is always better.' she thought to herself.

Kyle teleported behind her.

"BOO" he shouted.

Natsume jumped turning on a dime but then tripped and found herself kissing Kyle. Her cheeks went bright red as she pulled away.

(you should know better than to jump scare a pretty girl.)

(LOL, well this Kyle is different than the one you've RPed with in the past. This is the real Kyle Ravenscroft, a samurai, jokes around, and serious when needed)

"You can't write that one off, that's the second time that's happened" Kyle said as he his faced burned with embarrasment.

Kyle turned around to hide his bright pink cheeks.

"Do you like me or something?" Kyle asked without turning around.

"I don't know...it just happened...one minute I'm jumping from you startling me and then..." Natsume didn't finish. She didn't understand why her lips always seemed to make a beeline for kyle's anytime they were close enough to kiss. 'Why does this keep happening?' she thought to herself.

"Hmm...seems like it. I'm not exactly trying to rush into a relationship with anyone, not during the state of things. Not saying you're not pretty or anything"

'Did that just come out of my mouth. Abort, abort!'

Kyle turned around laughing sheepishly.

"I mean it would be crazy for us to be attracted to each other and we've only known each other for a day. I hardly know you and you hardly know me" Kyle said looking embarrased.

The words that first came from Kyle made Natsume's blush go a deeper shade of red. 'He thinks I'm pretty...well he is very handsome himself...oh jeez calm down natty you're gonna faint if you keep this up.' she thought to herself nodding at the second thing he said.

Suddenly an explosion came from somewhere in the trees. Kyle noticed a mushroom shaped cloud coming from the middle of the forest.

"Screw this, Lucifer!" Kyle said.

Lucifer exploded from his summon gate and crashed in front of Kyle. Kyle jumped onto Lucifer and extended his hand for Natsume.

"If we keep walking then whatever they're doing here will go unpunished" Kyle said.