The Flow of Love

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

"Whoa!" Unna exclaimed, as she twisted and wiggled herself free and quickly created distance between herself and Ni. "I...I just...I can't! I don't like a lot of touching and I take time to warm up to people. You are nice and you are fun. You're beautiful as well, but we just have different beliefs. For me to give a chance, would mean I would dedicate all of my love, but that would likely smother you while leaving me feeling empty."

Unna was now standing on the other side of a fountain, opposite of Ni. "Please, understand me, Ni. I'm not ready..."

[Gar]

Ni couldn't help but laugh. "I'm not asking you to marry me, silly," she giggles, "Just saying that maybe it would do you some good to try new experiences," she lifts her hands in a gesture of surrender, "but, hey, message received."

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

"Why don't you try a new experience in not having sex? Then maybe I will decide to try a romantic experience after I get to know you better?" Unna asked, fairly certain of what the answer would be. "We could...you know...be exclusive for a while. It would take a long time for me to want to have adult relations, but could you give that a chance?"

Unna giggled nervously. "This whole experience would certainly be a great story for the children we would adopt together!"

[Gar]

Ni winced at this, though the amused smile never left her face. "Hun, you won't even let me touch you and you're already thinking of kids?" she shakes her head, "I was abstinent the whole time I was at the academy. I was abstinent the whole time I was running with Gaddy, before we boarded the Vengeance. Trust me, I know what abstinence is, I'm forced into it from time to time, and it is the worst. I don't see the point of being exclusive with anyone."

She perches herself on the fountain. "Look, I'm not asking you to give it all up or anything; you don't need to put all your eggs in one basket. I'm not saying that I'm your one and only. Perhaps think of it as a little entertainment until your Knight in Shining Armor arrives..." she laughs and glances at Unna with that wry smile, "I promise I won't be jealous if you become exclusive with someone else down the line...but I'd appreciate the memories."

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

Unna looked down into the fountain, and contemplated the reflection, knowing the reality of how she would feel. "I would get jealous..."

[Gar]

Ni sighed, her mouth twisting into a frown. She stared at the Iktachi for a long while, pondering over something. After a moment of awkward silence she sighed again and stood up on the fountain.

"Ok, look..." Ni walked along the fountain edge to reach Unna again, sitting right in front of her, "I'm not entirely sure this is going to work, but hey, I'm all for trying things at least once. I've never attempted pursuing just one person before--I like that immediate gratification--but who knows? This could be fun, if not a fun challenge. So I'd consider giving it a try...however!" Ni's devilish smile had returned as she held out her hand, offering Unna to take it, "first I'd like a kiss," she said with resolve, raised her brows, "and I'm not talking about a peck on the cheek. It is nothing serious or binding, shy one. I'd just like a sample of what I'd be getting into before I commit to anything."

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

Unna bit her lip shyly as Ni stared and pondered. She listened to Ni's proposal and considered it for a moment. She looked down at the fountain as if she could find the answer in the water. She smiled and looked back up at Ni. "I could do that..." Unna said nervously. This was a whole new side to Unna, as if enough new sides hadn't emerged over the past months. "...but first, a date! Then we can decide when you walk me back to the temple if we want to kiss." Unna extended her hand to Ni, as if she wanted to shake on it.

[Gar]

Ni laughed at this. She took Unna's hand and pulled her closer, Ni's other hand reaching up to Unna's cheek. Their noses were touching as Ni said, "This here is the date. I already know what I want. What happens next is up to you."

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

Unna giggled in a way that she hadn't giggled since she was a little girl making her dolls get married. She was shaky with nerves, which was another unusual feeling for her. She thought that perhaps she accidentally swallowed some of the butterflies from the garden and her heart felt like it was trying to escape from her chest. "I...I thought the kiss was at the end of the date. Right now, it is just starting. Should we go to dinner first?"

[Gar]

Ni laid her forehead on Unna's shoulder dejectedly. "You're killing me with this romance stuff."