Chapter 15. A day out ... Gone bad
Even though Joey had agreed into taking Tomoko out on a date, he had no idea what to do on it, after all, he didn’t have a lot of female friends back on earth. He decided to go with the flow, and just let things happen. Joey an Tomoko decided they should wait with the set date because it was already later in the afternoon. The two of them talked about what had happened so far in the Desert. In the meanwhile, back in Heaven, Krad found the little note Tomoko left him. He immediately went to the mirror that could see all.
“I’m so embarrassed that she wrote she knew I would find this here.. but that’s not the point, Joey needs to do everything alone but now Tomoko is there..” Krad said while gazing into the mirror. “It’s not like I can do anything about it now..”. The moment Krad finished his line, Nagisa walked into the room, being all worn out by her hard training.
“Do anything about what Krad?”. Nagisa asked him while she walked to a cupboard, taking a glass from it, while filling it with water.
“Tomoko went to Joey in the desert, their all alone out there.” He replied without looking away from the mirror. Nagisa dropped her glass of water onto the ground and ran to the mirror, pushing Krad out of the way.
“What?! Their all alone out there?! How did she get there anyway?” Nagisa called out loud.
“Easy there now Nagisa, Tomoko is his teacher, I’m sure everything will be fine..” Krad said while dusting off his robes.
“How do you know that? I mean, have you ever seen the look on her face when he takes off his shirt? It’s like.. wow..”. Nagisa said, with a small twinkle in her eyes.
“Yes I’ve seen it.. but I’ve also seen yours” He said with a grin at her. “And besides, you never make a move on him anyway.”
“W-what? I-I mean.. I don’t want to! H-He’s my friend and nothing more!” Nagisa said, her face slowly turning more red.
“Right.. well, I’m sure if those two get together it will be very nice for both of them, I mean.. Tomoko isn’t ugly.” Krad said, teasing Nagisa.
“Okay, okay! I like him! And I’m so jealous that Tomoko is there with him!” She said, crossing her arms, getting more red.
“Don’t worry about it.. just be more attractive than Tomoko and you’ll be fine.. but you should get back to training before you head off to sleep.” Krad said with a gentle smile.
“Alright..” She said as she walked back into the garden. “Here I am again!” Could be heard before she closed the door. Krad watched her close the door, and then he gazed back into the mirror with a more serious look in his eyes. “I hope you know what your doing Tomoko.. he has free will, but he doesn’t have much time left..” He said against the mirror.
The next morning, Joey woke up on the hard floor, with just a small piece of cloth as a blanket. He slowly sat up straight, stretching himself. He looked around the room, where he found Tomoko fast asleep on the bed made of stone. He remembered already that this was the day of his first date ever. He smiled and got up, walking back to the bottom floor of the stone house, quickly making some breakfast for the two of them. A few minutes later, Tomoko walked into the room, still dressed in the clothes she was wearing the day before, only more wrinkly.
“You know, in a way you look nice all ruffled up” Joey said without hesitation as he looked up at Tomoko with a gentle smile. Tomoko turned red in an instant as she sat down behind the table, on the chair made of stone.
“T-Thank you..” She said in a whispering way. She looked up at him, flashing a quick smile before she turned to her plate, starting to eat her breakfast. Both of them quickly finished their breakfast. Tomoko quickly dusted herself off, trying to look a bit better for Joey. At that moment, Nico came into the room. He saw Joey and Tomoko together before flashing a quick smile.
“The two of you look like a couple.. going somewhere today Joey?”. He asked him while looking at Tomoko, eying her up and down again.
“Well.. were supposed to go out on a date.. but now that I think of it.. I don’t know any place nice to go to in here.” He said, shrugging lightly.
“Well, you can always take her to the oasis, I heard it’s a popular place for dates, not only water.” Nico said.
“ Sounds like a plan to me” Joey said. “Thanks Nico, where is this Oasis?”
“It’s not far from town, it’s an hour walking across the desert eastwards. I hope your “date” doesn’t mind walking across scorching deserts” he said with a smile.
“I’m sure Tomoko can handle it, right?” Joey said while giving a quick look at Tomoko.
“In those clothes? She won’t be able to move at all.. here let me take care of that.”. Nico quickly took a knife from his pocket, and cut the dress Tomoko was wearing, short. It almost became like a summer dress. Tomoko looked down at her legs, but suddenly took the lower part of her new dress and pulled it down a little.
“Is something wrong?” Joey asked.
“It seems.. I cut it a bit high.. you can.. well.. see her.. you know.. “ Nico said while turning away. Joey also turned red, looking away.
“W-well.. it’s.. fine right.. a nice breeze.. and.. were friends, so.. there’s nothing to worry about, right T-Tomoko?” Joey said in a stuttering matter, slowly turning an eye to Tomoko.
“Y-Yeah.. it’s fine.. really.” She replied, slowly letting the dress go, facing Joey. After a few minutes, the two of the started walking through the desert. Joey occasionally watched Tomoko’s dress with a blush.
As they walked through the desert, the two of them talked about the more casual things, how things went in here with Joey while he was gone for instance, but also what Nagisa was doing in the meanwhile.
“So she’s finally doing something like I did? Wow.. I never expected for that day to ever come, I mean.. I don’t even know what she’s been doing all this time to be honest.. something with potions?” Joey asked Tomoko, with a slight grin on his face.
“Well.. I suppose you right.. She’s been doing alchemy for beginners. But she really failed at that..”. Tomoko said with a small smile on her face. “I’m actually a bit worried about her though.. She needs to be in perfect shape to fight..”.
“I know what you mean.. but Marcus and Jin are training her now right? In that case, it’s bound to go well..”. Tomoko smiled at him, but she was actually not satisfied with this talk, after all.. it went about the stuff they normally spoke about. She played with the bottom part of her dress as she looked up at Joey.
“J-Joey.. have you ever thought about.. marriage?” She suddenly said, her face being flushed.
“M-Marriage? You mean.. that I need to get married, right? I know it’s a must.. but it’s hard to choose someone.. after all, love is something that is very important to me..” He replied, hanging his head slightly.
“I-I know what you mean.. but.. I have to ask.. do you.. you know.. like someone yet?” She said, as she took a tight grip on his hand, pulling herself closer to him. Joey turned red, finally getting the hint Tomoko has been giving to him for ages, he kept on walking, with her close to his body. After a while he looked at Tomoko and said.
“Tomoko.. I.. Well.. I can’t exactly.. choose yet.. I think.. I’m too young to be able to make these important decisions..”. Joey looked at Tomoko, who was directly looking at him, her face was shining bright in the sunlight, he face being slightly red from the sun, and from her blush. Her lips glimmered a bit, seeming desperate for a kiss. Her eyes twinkled as she slowly opened her mouth to speak.
“Joey.. please.. kiss me.. it doesn’t have to mean anything yet.. but kiss me..”. Joey stopped walking, the oasis being in their view, he looked into her eyes, then at her lips, it was so tempting to kiss her, he felt different feelings in his body, he slowly brought his lips closer to hers, he could feel her warm breath on his lips, he could smell her scent that was around her. He felt the most comfortable that he had ever felt in his entire life...