A+regretful+apology+for+an+unintended+hurtful+kiss

After settling Crowe into her room for the night... Wren walked over to the home where Yuki stayed, finding her not back on the ship yet... she went up and laid on the roof watching the stars, and waited. Finally, upon Yuki's return after her discussions with Helena and Amynta, Wren hears her come up the roads. She glides down softly from the roof to meet the young priestess.

"Yuki!" she hugs her friend close, "I was hoping to catch you alone before we left tomorrow... I was starting to think you had decided to stay at the temple this evening... I'm glad to see you've returned! ...though you seem ...discontent." Wren frowned and looked her over concerned.

"If you have a few moments... I have a couple of questions... and an apology," Wren blushed, "but first... what happened at the temple? are you alright?"

Yuki seemed surprised to find the elven woman waiting for her. As Wren hugged her, several conflicting feelings passed over the priestess' lovely face - confusion, curiosity, warmth, disappointment, confusion again, self reproach, resolution and warmth again. All an open book to the witch before her.

Wren frowned sadly feeling Yuki's unease and confusion... so it really had upset her! She must really like him... what a strange relationship they seem to have.

"W...Wren?! You were...waiting for...me?" Yuki stepped back a little and smiled at her friend, "What are you... Mmm? Oh! ...I'm...so..." Yuki sighed, "...TIRED!" She seemed to collapse a little against Wren's shoulder. Yuki...was still Yuki. "But! I have permission to leave to collect the next book! Helena was VERY understanding! You know...she's SOOOO BEAUTIFUL! er...NOT that I was...ah....keen on the particulars!" Her tired eyes sparkled with mischief, "...And...I brought a few more things with me so... Lots of holy water and empty vials and...a few other things!" With a mysterious smile, she patted her chest. It seemed to bulge slightly, "I'm all ready to leave! Is...er...everything alright?" Her voice is only a little strained as her imagination supplied a rather passionate kissing scene between Wren and AXTON... Shoo! Shoo! She dismissed it with a determined wave into the air. Why...did THAT seem to make her...uncomfortable? Yuki couldn't sort it out at all... It must be because Wren was dating Kale...wasn't she?

KALE! Of course. That HAD to be it! That handsome devil probably forced himself on her too! ...though why they were alone together in the first place Yuki couldn't say... And...why to the lake... Did...Wren like lakes...and Axton... She glanced at Wren... Maybe...the passion she'd witnessed between them in the chapel of Sune...hadn't been a game after all...

She nodded in surprise at all of the stuff Yuki had brought along, and took some of the load from her to help carry it, "Oh! I'm so glad you got permission! We wouldn't make it without you. ...You've been busy! I would've come up to the deck if I had known you had so much to carry. Thank you for bringing it!"

"Well... everything's as fine as it can be at the moment... though there are some things on my mind that I need to attend to," Wren nodded to her and tried to read through all the confusion and fears on Yuki's face.

Ignoring the odd twisting feeling in her stomach - when had she last eaten anything? - Yuki carefully set her bags down and opened the door to her house, beckoning for Wren to follow her inside, "...I haven't had time to do...'much' in here yet! But...I was thinking...I need a few more mirrors...and pillows!"

Helping to carry her things into the house, Wren looked around and nodded to Yuki, "It doesn't seem enough like you yet, but I'm sure you'll have it looking great in no time." She nodded again, looking around.

//Yuki is obviously trying to cover it, but she is so upset! What have I done?! I certainly hadn't meant to hurt her... she's my friend. // Wren frowned again. She looked sadly at Yuki.

"Yuki..." Wren laid a soft hand on Yuki's shoulder, "I was wanting to talk to you about Axton..."

"...A...Axton?" The young priestess jumped a little at the mention of her handsome superior's name and a package slipped out of her hands, falling to the floor with a muffled 'thump', "W...Why...?"

Could it be Wren really had already fallen in love with the gorgeous priest...? Yuki wondered.... W...Was SHE about to...c...confess her feelings to her friend?! D...Did she want her...help?! A quiet uneasiness...swirled around inside her stomach... She really should have eaten more than those spicy noodles...and a glass of water...today.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She started off tentatively, trying to broach the subject carefully... but then just sort of started talking quickly... <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You see... I ... I didn't realize... I don't know how I missed it... but... I just didn't see how you felt about him! I never meant to hurt you! When I said he was a good kisser... the... the disappointment! Oh... it was all over your face! I'm so sorry! I... was trying to cheer you up about the whole "stealing of your first kiss" and it obviously came out allll wrong.... which that STILL was NOT a kiss, by the way... but I... I never meant to hurt you! The kiss was meaningless! Just pretend, so we blended and went unnoticed... I didn't know you liked him!

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki's eyes flew open. ...W...WHAT?!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I'm so sorry... do you hate me?" Wren fretted over her, speaking quickly with thoughts just spilling out in words. She frowned sadly, and looked at Yuki's face, genuinely regretful.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...h...hate...you?!" Yuki stumbled back against a nearby chair and fell into it, a shocked woman. "H...how could I...ha...?" She stopped and began shaking her head slowly then more vigorously as everything the beautiful elven witch had said...began sinking in to her heart,

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stepped forward and was about to ask if Yuki was alright, but stopped short when Yuki started shaking her head.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"No... NO... No, Wren... There's NO WAY that would happen! I mean... There's...just..." She just kept shaking her beautiful head, "...A...Are you teasing me? No. But... Axton... There's just... How...? ...NO...WAY... I...I..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stood there, wide-eyed, staring at Yuki. //<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Is she denying the kiss happened? Now she's more upset?! Had she had doubted what I said before... and I just confirmed her worst fear?! //<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Wren stood there locked in place feeling worse and worse about what she had done.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She stopped, shaking her head one more time. "I...th..think you misunderstand...er... the nature of our...uhm...'relationship'. He's...He's..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren finally managed a blink and stood there, still staring at her, hanging on her last words...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hadn't her friend heard of all the things he'd done to her? All the chores! All the...harassment! The way he made her call him 'Master'?! He was rarely kind! And never...EVER complimented her on her appearance. He always called her things like 'idiot' and 'dummy'! And HE TOYED with her for his OWN amusement! He had the WORST personality! And he didn't really like CAKE!? (I mean who DOESN'T LIKE CAKE!?) He was NOTHING like a PRINCE! NOTHING! There was NO WAY she could like a man like that... ...Was there? "...my superior..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren blinked again. She looked at Yuki, confused. //Her superior? What is that supposed to mean? The look on her face... is she denying her feelings for him?! Did I misread the disappointment? Does she really not like Axton? No... there was disappointment there... she was awkward when I came to her tonight... No... She likes him... why deny it? Is she not allowed to date him because he outranked her in the temple?//

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki...exhaled a long, slow breath then blinked up at her dear friend, "I...think...I don't really know...what you're thinking...but...." Her face suddenly broke into a radiant smile, "Ah! You....were worried FOR ME! WREN is SUCH A GOOD person!" Yuki beamed, "SUCH a GOOD PERSON!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren's eyes widened in surprise again. She looked bewildered at Yuki. //<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">What just happened?! How did I become a good person again? Is... she not mad? Is she pretending to not be mad? //

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She laughed...somehow...breaking the tension rising up inside her. Then shook her head one last time, "That...guy....couldn't possibly love anyone...but himself... And he isn't even kind to me..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren's eyes saddened, she crouched next to the chair where Yuki was sitting and laid a hand on Yuki's hand.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki sighed a little, "...N...Not like he's been kind to you..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren frowned. //<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Kind to me? He just plays games with me... I barely know him... so by kind ... she means... treats as desirable? Aww! Is she jealous of the way that we flirt? Poor Yuki! //

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki searched her friend's eyes, "Could it be...y...you...perhaps...like him, Wren? Will you...m...make him your lover...too?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren's eyes widened and she blinked at Yuki. //Me like him? He is very fun to play with... but ... I don't think that's what she means... is she still denying that she likes him? Is she denying it because she thinks I'm in love with him? ... Make him my lover?! Whoa, wait a minute...//

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren laughed softly, "Oh, Yuki... I'm so sorry... I grew up with all women... Men are... they're so different... they're so fun to play with.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki arched a beautiful eyebrow on the word 'play'.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sometimes I don't even think about it... but I have plenty of men to play with, I didn't mean to play with yours...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">'Yours'? The priestess made a choking sound in the back of her throat. Wha...What was Wren...? Axton wasn't hers! He wasn't HERS AT ALL! She didn't WANT him to be HERS! What Wren was saying... She couldn't understand it AT ALL!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">no, no, of course I wont make him my lover. ... I know things are different with you, searching for that one perfect romance, so you might not understand... but Axton and I... we just play.

//<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">'Axton and I...we...just...play...' //

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">An odd pang shoot through Yuki... It was ugly and strange and she didn't like it. ...this sudden feeling... Of being...separate. The two of them played games... Yuki...searched for an epic...love... What...was this feeling of...being...apart...and...different...and pitied...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He's very good at the game, challenging, so I find him interesting... but I don't like him the way that you're thinking... more like a shiny new toy."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You're my friend! And that means so much to me... No, you like him... I promise from here out, my hands are off," Wren smiled at her.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You're wrong." Yuki stood up. She wasn't angry or annoyed or even flustered. Just very...definite now that some of the shock had worn off, "I...I don't know why you're saying this but you're wrong! You're wrong...Wren. There's no way. No way I could...LIKE 'that'...NARCISSISTIC, bossy, MEAN, overbearing, smug, FULL OF HIMSELF AXTON!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren peered questioningly at Yuki, reading her body language as she protested any feelings toward the priest who seemed to care about her. //What did he do to her when no one else was looking? Why does she always seem so exasperated and angry with him... and yet... the disappointment on her face... so... it wasn't just a verbal denial... Yuki is conflicted... okay... well I certainly don't want to be the one who pushes her into his arms or pulls her away. That's her choice to make. ...but if she's going to like him, then she needs to know him for who and all that he is... though I’ll certainly try to tread more carefully... I'll still be me, and he'll still be him... and time and choices will do the rest. Why DOES she like him if he's so mean to her?//

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I...I was on a date with Mr. Harbinger. Mr. HARBINGER!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren nodded to Yuki. //<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Yes... yes, of course she was... who could forget? She certainly had interesting attractions. //

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Y...You and Axton...can...ah...play ALL the games you like...TOGETHER." Yuki looked like this conversation made her uncomfortable and she had no idea why, "He's coming to Thay with us...er...tomorrow...per our high priest's orders. So you'll have weeks to...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"A...AND If...If you KISS each other or DON'T kiss each other...I don't see...what that has to do with me! I...don't. Definitely not! So... Please. Be...at ease. Be at ease, Wren.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren smiled at her as Yuki tried to convince her that it didn't matter to her.

//<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You're wrong." Yuki stood up. She wasn't angry or annoyed or even flustered. Just very...definite now that some of the shock had worn off, "I...I don't know why you're saying this but you're wrong! You're wrong...Wren. There's no way. No way I could...LIKE 'that'...NARCISSISTIC, bossy, MEAN, overbearing, smug, FULL OF HIMSELF AXTON! I...I was on a date with Mr. Harbinger. Mr. HARBINGER! //

//<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Y...You and Axton...can...ah...play ALL the games you like...TOGETHER." Yuki looked like this conversation made her uncomfortable and she had no idea why, "He's coming to Thay with us...er...tomorrow...per our high priest's orders. So you'll have weeks to... //

//<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"A...AND If...If you KISS each other or DON'T kiss each other...I don't see...what that has to do with me! I...don't. Definitely not! So... Please. Be...at ease. Be at ease, Wren. You don't need to concern yourself about me. ... //

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki's words floated out through the window at outside, and the young man who had been listening smiled a little wistfully. The red haired priest sighed and set the large box he'd carried halfway around the city outside of her door. A box filled with ink's, and quill's, and paper. So it was true...she hated him now...so much so that she was trying to set him up with Wren. Axton nodded to himself...it was fine, he deserved her hate anyway. As long as he could travel along with her...and protect her when he could. For the promise he'd made to her parents. She could...hate him...as long as she was safe.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He put his hands in his pockets...and walked carefully away from the window to return to the temple. He'd have to come back in the morning, after all. He hoped the rest of the young priestesses group would accept him, he wasn't entirely sure Yuki had told them yet. Yuki really did deserve someone better than him anyway...perhaps that elven hero Erevin. He couldn't help but note how she spoke of him to her superiors...the warm...admiration and affection, making him feel a pang of jealousy. But he had no right...no right to be jealous. He'd protect her far better he ever could. He wouldn't fail her...like he had done...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You don't need to concern yourself about me. I'm the last thing you need to worry about. More so... Won't Kale... Won't Mr. Kale...be...troubled?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren blinked at her. //<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Don't worry about her?! That's why Axton and I were there in the first place! Don't worry about her... she's my friend! Of course I worry about her! ...Kale? Why would Kale be troubled.... oh... OHhhh does she still think that I like Axton? //

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki sighed and shook her head, settling back down into her chair, "I'm sorry Wren... That's none of my business... My head is all over the place. You...just...surprised me. And...I'm no good when I'm this tired.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh, but of course I need to be concerned about you! You're my friend! ... and of course, it's your business... you're my priestess of love, right?" Wren winked at her.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I'd been looking forward to today for...EVER so long. It just...didn't seem to go well." She twisted her fingers together in her lap, "...I don't even know...if Mr. Harbinger will want to see me again... Oh! WHY...why did it have to end this way! It...was my FIRST date!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Well... it was a memorable date! So... it wasn't perfect... I know you wanted it to be... but you'll have more dates... just think of it as an adventure in love," Wren smiled hopefully.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki cried, "...And it was going so well! Until that boat broke sending me into that horrible ice cold water. I swear it wanted to drown me! It WANTED me. So cold and awful like it was...alive.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren shivered. //<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">What HAD happened? Maybe we shouldn't have been spying on her... but just think if we hadn't been! //

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And to wake up...and see Axton...looking at me...like that! A...After..." Her fingers strayed to her lips, "It...I..." Yuki shook her head, "And now I have to apologize to...to him! HE STOLE my FIRST KISS..." She held up a tired, lovely hand, "...I know...I know... Mynta and Priestess Helena said the same as you... I...overreacted...it seems... So....I w...will apologize and thank him...for saving my life. Just...not tonight...and...er...maybe not tomorrow... Isn't that...childish?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Childish? No... I think if you want to thank him for saving your life... you should wait until you feel that way... while sometimes words are the proper thing to do... words are just words... unless you mean them."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki nodded, as if those had been her thoughts as well <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"But I'm sorry I've kept you up late and added more trouble to your day," Wren frowned,

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki shook her head, "No! No, of course not!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"If it gives you something to look forward to tomorrow... I did go to the Sokolov Bakery... and there's cakes and breads and assorted baked goods in with the supplies Azarius put on the boat if you're hungry in the morning."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...Cake?!" Yuki's eyes glowed. "...oh! That was such a good idea!" Her stomach rumbled just a little but she frowned it down. It was late and never a good idea to eat...before one slept... "Tomorrow morning then. I look forward to it."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren smiled at her and walked to the door, "Thank you for talking with me... for not hating me for the person I am and the mistakes I make. You're a good person, Yuki Ashdown... and I'm lucky to have you for a friend."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki hugged the elven woman, warmly "Aww...No...no, I'm the lucky one. Wren is an amazing person! Wren...must ALWAYS be...Wren. ...Captivating and beautiful.... Kind and lovable. "

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren returned her hug, happy that Yuki was still her friend. She shook her head and smiled at Yuki... //<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">she holds people up so highly... are we all destined to fall? //

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She stepped away and leaned against the doorframe. "...Be...at ease, k?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren nodded to her, "Don't worry. I'm always me... as much as that sometimes gets me into trouble." Wren laughed softly. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She stepped out of the door and smiled back at Yuki, "I don't understand a lot of things... but I do know you're the most selfless... and sweet... and pretty young woman that I've ever met. You surprise and amaze me all the time. Don't sell yourself short, okay?"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Selling...herself...short? Curiosity flickered across her tired eyes but she smiled, grateful for her friend's kind words.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Be assured that you mean a great deal to me... and there really isn't an Axton and I... we were only there together because of our concern for you..." she smiled at her,

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...concern...for me..." Yuki couldn't understand what the elven woman meant but...the feeling was clear and warm and honest and she was grateful for it...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "...and if you grow tired of him being mean to you... just let me know, and we'll feed him to my sister." She winked at her playfully.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">For the first time since returning home, Yuki laughed! Somehow the idea of Crowe eating Axton alive wasn't far-fetched at all.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren walked down the walk to turn and wave to Yuki... but she stopped and stared at the box on the ground. //We took everything in, didn't we? I know that we did...// she looked around and listened.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren walked back up and picked up the box. //This doesn't look like the stuff Dom uses... Azarius? He does seem to watch Yuki...// the smell of flowers seemed to waft off of the paper... a scent she recognized as one she often smelled on Yuki, coming from the temple... Wren glanced toward the cliff side toward the door up to the deck... "Yuki? Is this yours?"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">But a yawning Yuki had already turned to go back inside and shut the door... No doubt exhausted from a very long...day.