A Date Cut Short (Guess.)

[Price]

Quietly, Price led Phaedra Weiss up to his room, passing people all along the way. To all he met, he gave a courteous nod, which sat directly at odds with the challenging smirk, and mentally tried to guess their powers, as usual. Many of these people, after being passed, would return the nod or wave a little, and some, after passing, would do a double-take, realizing exactly who the new student was carrying in tow: Junpei's fiance.

Price opened the door to his dorm room, extending his hand in a rare, yet slightly sarcastic, display of chivalry and allowing Phae to enter in first. Once inside, she would be greeted by a room completely unique in its simplicity: Unlike the magically-decorated and/or themed rooms of almost all other students at the Academy, Price's looked quite like the room of any regular 17 year old student. A few books were in a bookcase, the bed was unmade, a few various shirts were scattered around. There was a 32-inch plasma flatscreen on the wall, and below it, a surround-sound speaker system console, along with a DVD player and a Playstation 2. On the desk sat and laptop along with various CDs and magazine, and an empty bowl with a spoon in it. Off to the side was a pantry filled, oddly enough, halfway with junk food, and half with the more healthy variety. There was a mini-fridge and a microwave as well, but none of that was important.

Coming up behind Phae, Price quickly wrapped his arms around her midsection from behind, resting chin on her shoulder and kicking the door closed. It shut with the tell-tale click of being locked as well, as he had set the lock before he closed the door. Without a word, he pointed toward the double-glass doors that lead to the balcony, and released the hold on Phae for a moment, opening them and sitting down outside, waiting for her to follow.

[Phae]

It wasn't too long of a treck through the school to get to the dormitory section. Her hand still firmly in his their fingers entwined letting everyone in the academy that saw know that Price was not only vying for Phae's attention but as of now he was doing rather well.

They reached the dormitory and he opened the door. She let go of his hand and chuckled at the mock chivalry. Stepping in her eyes took in the room and she smiled brightly. It was so him. Every corner of the room reminded her of Price. From the clothes on the floor to the empty bowl on the desk. Her blue eyes sparkled at the normality of it all. In a way it was just perfect. It looked a lot like her too she had to admit. When she had lived at home she and Phoebe had shared a room. Phoebe's was always clean and spotless while her own was usually messy and strewn about. Instantly she felt at home and she smiled.

About to explore she felt Price's arms around her waist and she knew she wasn't going to go anywhere. She leaned back into Price and closed her eyes for a brief moment and let herself enjoy this touch. Opening her eyes slowly she looked at where he pointed and smiled. The balcony would indeed give them the most beautiful view of the stars. He left her and went out onto the balcony and she smiled. Taking another look around the room she walked to the balcony.

Outside the stars were just beginning to show as she stepped out. It was beautiful up here. She saw Price seated and thought about how she wanted to sit. She could sit next to him but she could also sit with him. She smiled and decided to be brave and she sat down in his lap gently.

"Hey.. Rich." she said softly as she leaned into his chest gently her head on his shoulder. Her hand found his and once more entwined their fingers. She looked up at the stars slightly as her thumb stroked the back of his hand lightly.

[Price]

"Hey there, Phae," Price said, smiling up at the stars as she sat in his lap gingerly, her hand finding his and their fingers interlacing. He leaned back against the wall nearby, his left arm reaching up and placing itself casually around her waist, finding her other hand and weaving them together, as well. Price smiled confidently, at this point he couldn't have been any more comfortable.

He looked up into the sky, at the mass of stars just beginning to show themselves. Truly, when one lived above the clouds as they did, little got in the way of a beautiful starscape. With his hands wrapped around Phae's, and his head in the stars, it was quite possibly the most comfortable place Price had ever been in. All of his discontentment and disappointment from earlier had disappeared, and here, he was happy.

"Hey, Phae..." Price said again, not feeling the need for nicknames at this particular point in time. "You said you do this often, why not point out some constellations for me? I can pick out the Big Dipper, but I lose count from there on."

[Phae]

There was something so warm about Price and again he used her real name. She smiled at this. Lucky really meant something to her but only from him. Yet, when he chose to use her real name that ended up meaning even more.

His arm came up around her and took her free hand in his as she leaned against him. She inhaled his scent softly her eyes closing for a moment as she relaxed in his arms. She was thinking slowly about the changes she was going to make starting tomorrow. For, now she was realizing just how hurt and sad she had been. Now that the weight from her shoulders was gone in Price's presence.

He asked her about the constellations and she smiled taking one of her hands from his she leaned back a bit more and pointed to the constellations. She began to name and list them with ease pointing out each one to him making sure he knew exactly where it was. It seemed for at least half an hour she pointed them out showing and then quizzing him on them to make sure he understood. Her hand finally returned to his.

"So, what was your childhood like? I mean, you must have traveled a lot in your days? Was that hard on you?" she asked looking up into his eyes gently.

[Price]

"Soo... Orion... Ursa Minor, Ursa Major, and the Pleiades? Gotcha, gotcha," Price said satisfactorily, pointing and repeating some of the various constellations in the air as Phae listed them initially. While Price was damn-near always in a fairly good-natured mood, if you could live with his inherent cockiness, tonight, he was different. He wasn't just good-natured, he seemed happy. Truly and completely happy.

Leaning back, Phae asked about his childhood, and the possible tumultuousness of moving around a lot.

"Was it hard? Naah, I can't really say it was hard. I mean, my dad's been teaching me the martial arts since I could walk, so really, I've been moving around for tournaments and such since I was about 5 or 6, participating in all the youngest age brackets. I guess I was just used to it, you know? I didn't have anything to compare it to for it to BE hard on me. I mean, I guess there's the whole friends deal, hard to have friends when you're always on the go, but I met a lot of people in the circuit, so it turned out alright, I think. I didn't really ever get to hang out with too many my age, though, since I was always competing in higher age brackets. More challenge, you know?"

Price shrugged, smiling at Phae as he did so.

"Besides, look at me, I sure turned out fine, right?" Price grinned, a more playful grin than the usual cocky smirk that would have graced his face after such a line.

"So, how about you? I mean, this must be a big move, from back home to this big floating rock. Was life better back then? Is it weird to be so far from home?"

[Phae]

Phae leaned back into Rich as he began to describe bits of his child hood. She smiled as she could definatly imagine just how he would be. A cocky little child beating everyone in the matches he could. She almost chuckled at a mini-Blacky taking out other kids. Like the bully on the playground.

Then he asked about her childhood and she smiled thinking back to it. It hadn't been much like his at all but it had still been one filled with happiness.

"Well, Phoebe and I were born our parents already lived in the house I grew up in. I'm only a few minutes older that Phoebe and from birth we shared a room. We grew up reading and watching the stars when we weren't studying our swords play. We never really went to school publicly we were tutored because of how much of our days were spent learning the sword." she said with a smile.

"But life was good. My powers woke at a young age so I studied both magic and swordsplay. So my life was rather busy. But when I got the notice to join Arcane I was thrilled. I wanted to study my magic further and here I could do that. I wanted to expand my magic, because magic is soo neat I think. And I've met so many people here that are wonderful." she said with a bright smile as she looked up at Rich.

"How do you like it here so far, Rich?" she asked softly as she stroked the back of his hand with her thumb.

[Price]

Price had little to say in between while Phae talked about her own childhood, which was most definitely a lot more calm than Price's own, he figured. While he had never been jealous of the lifestyles of the 'normal' kids, that weren't so rife with moving about the world, the sound of it, now that he had stopped and thought about it, was rather nice. At least now, that he was here at the Academy, he wasn't planning on moving around, so perhaps he could understand that lifestyle as well, at least to a point.

Phae countered back, asking Price about how he was liking his stay at the Academy so far, and he narrowed his eyes a moment, furrowing his brow and wondering if she had just read his mind. Normally, the thought would have been a joke, but since coming to this place, Price could never be too sure.

"Well... I haven't been here long, so I don't rightly know yet. Of course, it seems like a really nice place, though. Even if my own abilities aren't anywhere near as impressive as most everyone else's apparently, this place will still give me a more well-adjusted place to perfect them in the right environment. Of course... the people here are pretty cool, too. Some more than others," Price said with a smile, hugging Phae close with his left hand, even with her hand still in his. A broad smile crossed his face as he leaned in and nuzzled his head into her neck jokingly, but lovingly.

"So tell me this... who would win in a fight, with both swords and sorcery: You or your sister?" Price asked after he was done nuzzling, grinning mischievously afterwards.

[Phae]

As he nuzzled into her neck she chuckled and nuzzled back lightly. When he pulled back she leaned in gently and placed a soft gentle kiss on his neck. He asked his next question and she couldn't help but chuckle.

"Wow, now there is a hard question. You see, she recently woke and though she isn't as powerful mage wise as me she has some tough stuff to deal with. She can push her emotions on people among other things so it's tough to fight her in battle period. With a sword skills alone, she's better, because where I concentrated on learning both magic and blade she learned blade alone. Yet, I'd have to say that with magic and the blade I'd kick her butt. I can astral project and she'd have to fight two of us. So I would have the advantage." she said with a nod.

"So me." she said with a bright grin. She looked up into Rich's eyes and smiled.

"So martial arts is one thing, but is that how you learned to use your katana? Or did you have seperate training for that?" she asked looking at him.

[Price]

Price smirked, obviously pleased with the answer. The girl wasn't afraid to cut herself out to be just as good as she really was, not any unnecessary modesty, and that was something Price appreciated. After all, the only reason the boy was cocky was because, well, with as many tournament championships under his belt as he had, he figured he had at least a little reason to think of himself as being talented in his field.

Now, the kiss. That light little kiss on his neck. That, right there, had been like a setoff point for the young martial artist. He had simply been waiting, from that very first kiss all the way back that morning, for some kind of sign that would give her completely over to him. He had every intention of becoming this girl's boyfriend, but he didn't want to give her the ultimatum, him or Junpei. He wanted her to have chosen him completely freely of her own will. And as far as Price was concerned, that kiss made her choice.

"My swordplay? Oh, well, Kyokushin Karate does have a few techniques in regards to the katana, but not many. Most Karate was taught originally to help defend the unarmed members of Japan. Most of it was self-taught, using basic principles of the martial arts. I'm still not that great with it, as you noticed. It's one of the things I was hoping on improving while I was here, along with my channeling."

Price shrugged, passing it off as inconsequential for now. After all, there was still something he had yet to do.

"That reminds me," he began again casually, even though it really hadn't reminded him of anything. "Speaking of sword fights, I owe you for that last one," he said, smirking in his usual cocky manner. Likely, if Phae thought she knew Price at all, she'd think he was simply referring to the fact that he had lost, and wanted to repay the favor to her. However, Price meant something completely different, as he suddenly, gracefully, removed his left hand from hers for the moment, bringing it up to her face and tilting her chin to face him as his lips finally met with hers and his eyes closed. He kissed her deeply, before finally parting slowly, letting his lips linger a bit on hers before doing so. There was a light in his eyes and a playful grin on his face.

"Now, I think, we're even?"

[Phae]

Leaning there in his arms she was so comfortable. She felt safe. She knew he was a good fighter. She had seen so herself. Now, Phae was a girl that could usually take care of herself but it was nice to feel protected and she knew that Price could do it.

She looked out at the stars quietly as he spoke of his own swordsplay. She was eager to learn as much as she could from him about himself. She wanted to know everything about this complex man. Already, he had shown her man sides of himself and that made her happy. That he opened up her in this way.

When he said he owed her she smiled. She figured that he wasn't one that would be okay with letting his girl win. He would want to continue trying to beat her over and over again until he finally won. Not that she minded. It would help with her own skill and she could continue to beat him and hold it over his head.

But what she didn't expect was for his hand to let go of hers. She looked down at it in time to see it come up to her chin. Her mind confused but her heart racing as he brought her face up to look into him. His lips met hers and her eyes closed. Her heart pounded in her chest as she let her hand come up and stroke his cheek. The kiss lasted several moments before it broke and she looked up at him with a smile on her face trying to remember how to breathe. Right, in and out.. okay Phae we're still alive.

"I don't like being even." she whispered.

Moving forward again she pressed her own lips against his. Her hand cupping his cheek gently and with feeling as her lips pressed against him. She let her lips play with his about as long as the last kiss before gently and reluctantly she broke it. She had already begun the changes she would make permanent tomorrow. As for now, she was in the world of Richard Price and she wasn't ready to come back yet. Her eyes opened and she smiled up at him her eyes bright.

"Now, that's better." she chuckled softly.

[Price]

"Better? Oh, we're far from good just yet." Price grinned. He had struck gold. Finally he had taken the plunge, the last step, and it had been repaid in all kinds of ways. It was true, what he had felt, and it seemed this girl really did feel for him the same way he felt for her, regardless of who she may have been seeing already. This warmed Price's heart immensely. He was fairly sure someone would end up confronting him over this, if not Junpei himself, than someone, but that didn't even matter anymore. No matter what would happen, it looked like he was going to have Phae on his side. And that's the only thing that was important right now.

His hand quickly glided up from her chin up her cheek, taking her hair in her fingers and delicately pushing it back behind her ear and leaning in to kiss her yet again, this time taking an even longer amount of time of it, keeping his lips toying with hers for a long, long while before breaking it with a smile.

"In fact... it may well take all night." He couldn't help but grin down at the beautiful Phae Weiss, who he no longer felt weird in the least bit about showing the more conscientous side of himself to.

[Phae]

Well, though Phae had truly wanted to be in this position she had never thought it would really happen. At least not tonight. Rich had definatly seemed like the kind of guy that would make her wait or want her to break up with Junpei first but yet here they were liplocked again and she didn't mind one bit.

His hand tucked her hair behind her ear and came in for another kiss. She smiled slightly before their lips actually met and then she was lost in Rich once more. This kiss was even better than before. Her lips and his were pressing together in a long and sweet kiss.

The kiss broke and she chuckled at his comment. He was sweet, cocky yes, but she liked that part of him too. Something about him that just clicked with her and she wasn't going to let him go. She hadn't felt this happy and this good in so long. So many things had happened and she had begun to lose touch with herself.

"I don't think that's such a bad thing." she said softly as she looked up into Rich's eyes.

She moved in her hand moving back into his hair running through it slowly and softly as her lips met his again. They definatly could be at this all night. She didn't want to make it a competition, that would cheapen it. But she didn't mind if they stayed up all night so long as he held her and kissed her like this. His hair was so soft between her fingers her eyes closed now as she continued to kiss him. This kiss he was going to have to break because right now she had no reason to do it herself.

[Price]

Price's hand, after going past her ear, gently moved to hold her behind the head, at the lower neck area, as Phae came in for yet another kiss, this one long, and with no signs of ending in sight. If Price's mouth wasn't occupied, he would have smiled. This, this right here was what he was looking for, a moment of true happiness with a girl who he found more exciting than any others he had ever met. With that thought, Price's eyes closed as he melted into the kiss, figuratively speaking, with little intention on breaking this little session anytime soon.

--Fast Forward: One hour, forty-five minutes later...--

Price's eyes opened gently, as his hands, one casually sliding down Phae's right side, the other's fingers interlaced with hers, and slowly, carefully, broke the kiss, his lips lingering on hers as his tongue retracted back into its own holding place. His eyes met hers, and he smiled, a strange little mix between his happy smile and his cocky smirk. While his mouth showed cocky, his eyes looked truly happy. Without another word at the moment, his arm around her tightened a bit as he hugged her close to him, lowering his head onto her shoulder and leaning it against her own head contentedly.

[Phae]

Phae had been kissed a few times in her life but nothing had come along like this. They had been kissing only kissing for over an hour she knew for a fact but she didn't know the exact time. Yet, time had stopped for her the moment his lips touched hers and she could no longer think about anything else but Price and how good he made her feel.

In his arms she just felt right no matter what. She felt whole again for the first time in months. She was healing as they kissed, as they spent time together, as they bonded.

The kiss broke gently and though she was reluctant to do so she knew that eventually the kiss would end. She opened her eyes slowly and saw his beautiful face. She smiled brightly her true colors shinning to him at this moment. There was just happiness on her face. He moved closer to her and pulled her in tighter in a hug.

She returned it wrapping her firm arms around him she lay her head on his shoulder as his lay on hers. She couldn't help but not want to leave. She was dead tired, after working out and eating little but spending a full day with Price and having a blast at it. Yet, she didn't want to leave. Didn't want to return to that empty room. Junpei was never there anymore and she hated all the reminders of him around her. They only made her feel worse then she already did and lonely.

While spending the day with Price she had made many decisions and one was that she couldn't be the only one doing this relationship thing. She was moving out effective tomorrow. She closed her eyes slowly and hugged him to her.

Slowly, however she drifted off to sleep in his arms. Her hold on him loosening and her breathing deepening as she slept soundly. She hadn't really slept much lately and the last few days it was a few hours tops. This was the first time in months she had gotten decent sleep and it was all thanks to Price.

[Price]

Price just sat there, silently, savoring this perfect moment with Phae in his arms. Life, at the moment, was wonderful, and there was nowhere else he needed to be. Price smiled genuinely, looking down at the beautiful girl in his grip. At sometime about that moment, however, she fell asleep. Her grip loosened and her breathing became deeper and more regular, causing Price to first grin, then laugh a little outright, yet quietly all the same. For a moment, he looked down at her rhythmically rising and falling chest, not oogling, but simply wondering what to do with her. With a sigh and a little shrug, Price decided on the only available course of action, to him at least.

He began to stand up, positioning his arms and body in such a way that he lifted the girl up as well, one arm around her back, one across her upper legs, carrying her lying form through the glass door, which he opened and subsequently closed with his foot. Once inside the dormitory room, Price carefully laid Phaedra down upon the bed, her head gently resting against the pillow. After giving her one last, long look, partly to admire her beauty, partly to ensure she was sleepy, and partly because she was just so damn cute when she slept, Price judged her to be asleep enough, and changed clothes in his own room, discarding his tight shirt and jeans for no shirt and a much more comfortable pair of black cotton pajama pants, and removing his socks and shoes. He gave one last look at Phae, making sure she was comfortable, and with a shrug, and a quiet mutterance to himself of 'Well, it is MY bed,' crawled up into bed next to Phae, his left arm draped over her, his right arm cradling his own head as his heavy lids slowly closed, and Price drifted off to sleep as well, near to the wonderful girl he had only recently met.