Vacation in the Country (Jyo)

[Ziare]

There was no way that Jyo could possible know what those words meant to her. She had been worried that Jyo would leave her or go off on his own quests. She didn't want to loose him.
She threw herself into Jyo's arms holding him as tightly as possible almost as if she was never going to let go.

"Jyo, I cannot see myself without you. I want to be with you forever."

[jyo]

"If i have anything to say or d about it thats how it will be. ogether." he said holding her in return. He was silent for ainute and noticed he was getting sleepy. They had shared and active nght together. And it was getting late.

"I love you Ziare." He said and drifted to sleep. he was going o b dreaming of her and he hoped he'd wake up in time the next moring so they could talk a bit more before having to get up.

[Ziare]

Ziare woke up before Jyo she had despite herself had a very restless night. She was nervous and had only slept a little. She saw that threw the closed curtains the sun was rising and they were close to her town. Rosewood was a very small town and they were lucky they had a train station at all. There were still about an hour away from Rosewood and she looked at Jyo hopeing he would be awake.

"Jyo, are you awake." she whispered if he wasn't already she didn't want to wake him.

[jyo]

Jyo looked over at Ziare and smiled.
"Yes I'm awake." He said. An announcment rang through the tain sayong they would be at their destination in aboutan hour.
"Hmm not long. About enough time to get dressed and have breakest then make sure we have everything." He said sounding slightly dissapointed. He liked being right here with Ziare. Buthe also was looking forward to meeting her family.
"I didn't even think to ask. Will your family meet us at the station or do we get to meet them when we get to your house?" He asked.

[Ziare]

Ziare smiled when he had spoken and had cuddled up next to him longing for just one or two more minutes of this perfect solitude with Jyo.

"Well most of them will be busy with the farm and the older ones have their own homesteads as well as helping Momma. One of the little ones might, but it's doubtful Momma will let them for everyone on the farm has thier own jobs." Ziare told him. "But I can guarantee a lookout at the farm, bet it's the little ones, they'll make sure they stick close to the house so they'll see us when we arrive."

She was happy and nervous at the same time. She was so excited to see her family again and for them to meet the newest addition to her life. They knew Jyo was coming but they didn't really know what he was like except for in the letters she had sent home. Ziare didn't recieve many letters because her mother had no time with five children still at home it was very hectic.

"We'll be walking from the station to my home which isn't very far maybe a mile or two. But that's good because I can show you many things on the way. Though be prepared there will be a lot of staring on the townspeople's part. Not only am I a summoner but your magical as well and we both are from the city." She said pulling herself up on her elbow and leaning over to give Jyo a soft kiss. Her stomach was hurting and her hands were shaking as she pulled back.

"I don't think I can stomach breakfast." she told him hoping he'd catch the drift. "If you want you can go and I'll go with you but there is no way I can eat." She held up her hand that was shaking quite a bit.."Looks like I'm more nervous than you."

[jyo]

Jyo shook his head.
"No I'm not that hungery. I'll stay here with you." He said smiling. He kept what she had said in mind. He was used to the staring and so on when he went somewhere where magic was still not well known. He could easily handle staring. It was people wh had the ignorant hostility to spellcasters he disliked. And it didn't sound like thats what he would run into

He stayed with Ziare for quite a while in bed talking with her about different things. Nothing important this time. Just smal things. Like how classes hadbeen gong and life at the Acadaemy and in the city.

Time flew by as the train started slowing slighty.
"I think thats our cue to get some clothes on and get ready to hop off the train. Granted I'd rather just stay here a bit longer. At least this ride was something worth rememberng." He said smiling as he sat up and then slid of the bed and held out a hand to Ziare.
And there is always the trip back." He said

[Ziare]

Ziare smiled brightly as she took Jyo's offered hand and reluctantly left the warm comfort of Jyo's arms and the soft bed. But he was right there was always the ride back.

"All right." she said and gave him a cute kiss on the nose by standing on her tip toes. She turned from him and went to the bathroom keeping to door open and starting getting dressed. It was too warm for her sweater so she packed it away leaving on her tank top and her jeans to dress in until she got her bags later. She ran her brush through her long hair which usually took quite a long time as her hair had never been longer and loved finding new ways to make brushing in more difficult for Ziare.
She finished quickly and left the bathroom with her bag in hand to see if Jyo too was ready. She was clutching her stomach afraid she would lose what wasn't there if she thought too much about it. Why was she so nervous?

[jyo]

Jyo slide on a grey tnk-top and he put on some black slacks as well. He wore his normal black combat boots but cleaned them up a bit and slide on the one-sleeved white coat he normally wore He then fastend Ember's collar back on his arm. He combed his hari back and tied it in a ponytail He didn't much belive in getting all dressed up for this. But he made sure the clothes were clean and well kept. it was clear he was making an effort to look like he normally did. Just a bit nicer.

He ws just sliding the coat on when Ziare walked in. She looked just as beautiful to him as always
"Well looks like we're ready." He said when she walked out. He had made the bed and gotten the carry-on bags they had brought together. The train slowed to a stop.
Rosewood station." Rang the announcment.

"well here we are." He said grabbing the bag he brought and handing Ziare her's and then putting an ar around her as they walked out of the room and then off the train to recive thier main bags.
"You seem nervous. And I mean big time. Are you going to be okay?" He asked as they were gettng of the trin. He looked around seeing who was there
"And is any of the family here?" He asked

[Ziare]

Ziare couldn't speak she just shook her head and taking Jyo's hand she led him off the platform and down onto the street that would lead them into Rosewood. It was good to be home and she noticed the subtle changes that had been made to it since her absence. But it was still the same quaint town she had grown up in. The hills rose up on either side of the valley town and great trees that were several hundred years old stood at various places in and around town.

Ziare was starting to feel a bit better but she was nervous still her stomach was still hurting. She clutched Jyo's hand for all it was worth her knuckles turning white. When they entered the town proper the staring began but these were people she grew up with.

"Good to see you Ziare." the old school teacher called from her desk in the open air classroom. Ziare nodded and smiled not wanting to distrub them.

"Ziare!" a shout rang out over the town. She turned and there was Philip, she had forgotten to tell Jyo about Philip. "How is my lovely bride to be, and who is this she brought with her." She hated how he still had aspirations to marry her.

"Philip I am not your bride to be I am not anything. And this is Jyo my boyfriend." she said with a smile.
"Jyo, this is Philip my best child hood friend." she let go of Jyo's hand and gave Philip his hug which always seemed to enjoy much more than she did. They did their crazy secret hand shake and she promised to come by and say hi to his family later.
"Sorry, shall we?" she asked pointing towards the road and blushing. "Tell you more about him later."

[jyo]

Jyo smiled and chuckled as Ziare's friend came up. She seemed to have a past wih him but she did say Jyo was the first boyfriend she had ever had so this eemed to be on her firend's mind and not hers.
"Ambitious about her eh?" He said with a small grin and stayed back slightly. He wanted her to greet her friends and so forth without him interjecting for now.

He waited for her to be done and she pointed down the way they needed to go. He nodded ad being t gentalman he was grbbed their bags and slung them overhis shoulder. He had noticed the stares from pople at the station but as he thought they would have been. it was cuiousity more then anything else and that he actually liked becaus it was likely someone would ask them about themselves at some point or another. But for now it seemed they ould be able to simply go about their way.

"So anything you ant to point out to me as we walk." He asked knowing it woudn't be far or long to her home.But that in two miles there could be alot to see.

[Ziare]

Ziare smiled at Jyo's comment to Philip and continued walking.

"Oh so many places to see and tell you about." she said getting excited. "I'll have to give you a brief tour now and then later give you the full works."

She pointed to the tree she had lost her first tooth falling out of and the river where she learned to swim. She pointed out the general store and the bakery. She showed him where Philip lived passing by without saying hello, for now. She pointed to the trail that led into the woods.

"Back down that trail is where my powers woke. I'll take you there either today or tomorrow." she said promising. The house was getting closer and they were just about to turn onto the road that would lead them there when she heard a question.

"Why, if it isn't little Ziare. Been rampaging all throughout the city I imagine causing all kinds of mischeif. And who is this strapping lad?" Ziare turned to see the familiar old face of Mr. Becket whom she had always called grandpa.

"Grandpa Becket." she screamed and ran to him throwing herself into his arms.

"Yes, yes, my child it is me, never thought this old man would last did ya Zi. Well, I tell you I'm not going not yet, he can't have me." he said with a laugh. "Now be a good girl and introduce the friend you so hazardly left behind."

Ziare turned around and motioned for Jyo to come.

"Grandpa this is Jyo. He is my boyfriend." she said blushing.

"Ahh, poor Philip never had a chance did he child." he said laughing in a gruff voice. "Ahh, Zi you sure could keep those boys running couldn't you."

Ziare said nothing and blushed smiling.

[jyo]

Jyo calmly walked over with a wide smile.
"Hello Mr. Becket. Jyo Mashima at your servie." He said holding out his left hand to the man. He would have to take some time to speak with this man. He had learned that the older people in this world were always worht listening to as they had been around for a long time and hd much to teach.

"I must say with the reaction Ziare showed at seeing you again. I am surprised she neer mentioned you to me over this last month. But abey you are supposed to be a surprise." He said with a small chuckle. He was lking getting to know who Ziare had grown up with and finding out where she had lived before they met. He knew he would learn alot about her and alot in general while he was here with Ziare.

[Ziare]

Ziare blushed he was right she really hadn't mentioned Grandpa Becket but she really hadn't talked all the much about her life here in Rosewood to anyone even Jyo.

"Grandpa Becket was the man who played with us and read stories to us. He would make the most amazing things out of wood and give them to us when he was done. He made each of us feel special no matter how many kids hung around his house." she said to Jyo.

"Oh, child I am not all that." he said with a dry laugh and a big smile enjoying the compliment. "Now be off with you but make sure you and you're friend here come to my house tomorrow for lunch I won't take no so don't even try."

"Never could say no to you." she said kissing him on the cheek and taking Jyo's hand waving. "Tomorrow it is."

[jyo]

Jyo gave a wave.
"A pleasure meeting you." He said as the man walked away. Jyo and Ziare started heading to her house once more.
"An interesting man. I look forward to when we visit him." He said Jyo was also curious as to the spot where Ziae had first used her magic. He wanted to be there in the spot she had first shown her potential.

The two of them walked along and Jyo listend to anything Ziare had to tell him about her home. She had grown up in such a beautiful place. He liked it out here. He was seriously considring mastering portal magic so he culd comeout here often.

[Ziare]

Ziare and Jyo walked up the dirt pathway that led to her home. A little girl with brown curls and dirt on her face stood on top of the railing of the fence. She had grown since Ziare had seen her last. She was ten now and still full of vigor and life.

"Zianna! Mom Zianna has come home!" the little girl screamed out loud. Ziare winced at the nickname and hoped maybe Jyo wouldn't notice.

Up ahead the little girl broke into a run a hug smile on her face and her deep brown eyes full of excitement. Ziare let go of Jyo's hand and knelt down to embrace her little sister.

"Mylie! You've grown so much." Ziare said pushing her little sisters curls out of her face. Compared to Ziare Mylie was dark; brown skin brown hair brown eyes a sharp contrast to Ziare.

"Zi, you have missed so much! Nita is getting married, and Zeig had puppies with a different dog and we got to keep one, and Quint threw a rock threw the window, and who is that?" she finished her rampage looking up in amazement at Jyo.

"Calm down Mylie we are here for the weekend I'm sure you can fill me in by then." Ziare said standing and taking her sisters hand in hers. "This is Jyo, Mylie."

"Is he your boyfriend?" she asked flat out.

"Why yes, yes he is." she said laughing and looking at Jyo as they headed down the road furthur.

Ziare looked ahead and saw her mother had come out of the house and was waiting for them to come up the way. Ziare loved it here, she loved coming here it spoke to her soul. Maybe one day she could return with Jyo by her side.

Ziare felt a tug on her hand and she looked down at Mylie.

"What is it?" She knelt down.
"I like him." she whispered loudly pointing at Jyo and then running ahead. "Come on! Hurry up Zi."