<blockquote><div><cite>Wave Drakon wrote:</cite>Kaim had, for some reason unknown to him taken heed of this womans offering, actually listening to her instructions he had made his way up onto the second floor and outside of the wooden door, the number "3" labeled above the handle in a crude combination of brass and copper. He had his sword hilt still held firmly in his left hand, the rusty scabbard locking the blade in it solidly..it had been unseen for years, the blade itself would probably be in dire need of repair. He tapped the scabbard lightly against his knee, as the man downstairs had forseen, it released small flakes of rust onto the floorboard creating a small pile.<br/><br/>How did this woman know his name anyhow, Kaim as fair as he knew wasn't a common name amongst people, most certainly humans..maybe a bounty had been put on his head and the woman was just assuring his capture by an invitation upstairs. He tilted his head curiously, his left ear picking up on a small creaking sound behind him, he turned to face the room door again and pressed his ear against the lock, he could hear the wood at either side of the doorway straining somewhat. A trap perhaps..or maybe just some rotting wood..<br/><br/>After several minutes Kaim could hear the light boots belonging to the stranger pattering up the stairs one after the other before he could see the  woman from the neck down, he took a step back as this womans arms wrapped around him somewhat tightly, <span style="font-style: italic">"Its been so long,..I've missed you very much.."</span><br/><br/>Kaim stuttered for a moment lightly nudging the woman backwards with his palm, pushing against her shoulder he stared at the womans chin and then up to just above her eyes as it was all he could manage from his height and angle, "Who are you? Do..you obviously have me mistaken me for somebody else.."<br/><br/>He felt the womans stare hit his shadow engulfed eyes, she spoke quite depressively as if Kaim had upset her<span style="font-style: italic">"Have I really changed so much that you don't recognize me? Its only been ten years but I did not think I had changed so much?"</span><br/><br/>Ten years..it sounded familiar. How could it not be, ten years ago was their certain adventure. Was this woman somebody he and the others had met along the way? Or was she just an adventure seeker looking to find one of the shamed fools who followed their fantasies to near death only to discover it to be a myth. "I have no idea what you're talking about miss, but please just let me go.."<br/><br/>This stranger replied in an almost instant, <span style="font-style: italic">"Ever the gentlemen Kaim. But I suppose my hair has grown a bit and I have aged as we humans are want to do."</span><br/><br/>Kaim stared down at this woman from the darkness of his hood, his jaw slowly lowering in surprise. He reached up with both hands, gripping onto the rim of the hood, gently pulling it back from over his head and his heart beating faster all the while. He flicked back the remainder of his hood, revealing a shallow cheeked and pale individual, with several large purple bags under both of his somewhat dulled and now navy rather than aqua, blue eyes. His stubble was minimal, none above the lip but it resided on his chin and jawline, his hair was matted and greasy, unwashed like the rest of him for weeks. "I..Imari..is that you?" She looked as amazing as ever, never had he thought that the girl he secretly loved..could get so much more extravagant.<br/><br/>His blue eyes scanned her green, he glanced to his left as her right hand came up slowly to gently caress the side of his face, gliding her soft palms lightly over the stubble and dirt, <span style="font-style: italic">"Oh Kaim.....it has been far too long since we have been together."</span><br/><br/>Kaim could feel the raw emotion of her happiness at seeing him again, perhaps it could only be equalled by his own. The emotion in her voice carried forth intensely although still partially hidden, he could feel his own heart re-igniting its passion for the woman standing before him, his hidden feelings almost being blurted out in his next statement, "Imari..its been ten years and you still look..beautiful.." He suddenly felt ashamed of what he had become, moving away his cheek from her hand as a result of this shame.<br/><br/>Imari's hand lowered slowly sadness in her eyes that he had moved away from her, <span style="font-style: italic">"You are still as handsome as I remember. Save that you need a shave and a nice hot bath. Come let's continue our reunion in my room where we can speak in private."</span> her tone soft as she went to her door unlocking it, her hand making another slight movement by the door to disable the small trap she had set. Old habits and paranoia die hard, especially in hard times. Entering she would wait for him to follow as well before closing and locking the door behind him, <span style="font-style: italic">"Make yourself comfortable. Would you like a drink of water?"</span> she asked as she removed her deep forest green cloak, revealing the armor that he had made for her all those years ago.<br/><br/>Kaim stood awkwardly in the center of her room, he had just met the only girl he had ever held a deep but secret passion for again for the first time in ten years. It was all so sudden he couldn't really say anything, he instead lowered his sword with scabbard to the floor, propping the hilt against the deskside. With a widened stance he slowly unclipped his brooch letting his cloak shuffle down from his head and shoulders, down into his readily waiting arms, where they then placed it atop the back of the desk chair. He stood up to his full height, stretching his back out into several loud cracks as he spoke, "Agh..no thank you I'm fine.."<br/><br/>He could already feel the ten year absence question arising in Imari, he quickly took the initiative and spoke out to her first, "So..where have you been all these years? What have you been doing?"</div></blockquote>