19 An accidentally kiss.

With a magnificent leap, Ethan gracefully descended from the air, his landing producing a satisfying crunch as his feet made contact with the dry leaves scattered across the ground.

The surrounding forest stretched as far as his eyes could perceive, a symphony of towering trees swaying gently in the wind.

Clutching a worn bag tightly in his hands, Ethan cast his gaze about the wilderness. "I've lost it again. I was so certain it was here," He lamented, his voice laced with a hint of disappointment.

Weariness settled upon him, and he surrendered to the ground, settling down with the bag resting beside him. "Perhaps I should head back and meet with her… although…" He mused, contemplating his next course of action.

Suddenly, from the depths of the forest, a melodic voice pierced through the trees, carrying a sense of urgency that resonated within Ethan's heart. "Ethan! Ethan!" It called out, filled with desperate longing.

The voice belonged to Aiko, who had traversed the forest with an air of childlike distress. Her footsteps echoed through the woodland, as she careened left and right, her determination unyielding as she tirelessly sought to find him.

Aiko's exasperation rang through the air, her frustration palpable. "Blast it all, he couldn't have gone too far!" She exclaimed, abruptly halting in her tracks.

Her eyes widened in a mix of astonishment and relief as she laid her gaze upon Ethan, standing before her in all his serene glory.

"Yo," Ethan uttered with his customary calmness, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His hand rose slightly, a subtle gesture to acknowledge his presence.

"E... Ethan." Overwhelmed by a surge of emotions, Aiko propelled herself toward him, her body moving with an urgency that matched the pounding of her heart.

She threw her arms around him, seeking solace in the warmth of his embrace, her face buried in the fabric of his shirt. .

A profound sense of relief washed over her, the weight of worry and uncertainty lifted from her shoulders in that single moment.

Ethan's gaze softened a bit as he looked down at Aiko, concern etching his features. "Are you alright?" He inquired, his voice filled with genuine care.

Releasing her grip on him, Aiko took a step back, her eyes still reflecting the remnants of worry. "Why weren't you in your room this morning?" she questioned, her tone tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"I ventured into the forest early in the morning, searching for something," Ethan replied, his response direct and unwavering.

Aiko raised her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as she spoke in a sharp tone, "You weren't planning to run away, were you?"

Ethan's eyes widened ever so slightly, caught off guard by the accusation. He shook his head, a gentle sigh escaping his lips. "Not initially," he admitted, his voice carrying a tinge of contemplation.

"What do you mean by that?!" Aiko's voice rose, laced with a hint of frustration and confusion, her emotions coursing through her words like a tempestuous storm.

After a heated exchange, Aiko managed to drag Ethan back to the entrance of the castle where the rest of the heroes had already gathered. They were poised to depart for the town of Dianu, their carriages packed with goods and provisions for the journey ahead.

As they approached, Veronica stuck her head out of one of the carriages and waved, calling out to Aiko, "What have you been doing?! Come on, we're leaving already!"

"Sorry!" Aiko replied before turning to Ethan and grabbing his hand with a smile. "Let's go," she said, leading him towards the carriages.

As they approached, they saw that the boys had congregated in one carriage, while the girls had taken up the other. Ethan was left with no choice but to join the boys.

However, upon trying to enter the carriage, Bali spoke up in a cold and unfriendly tone. "What do you want?" he asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Ethan paused in his advance, feeling the weight of Bali's hostile stare. "The same thing you're doing... sitting inside the carriage," He replied, his voice cool and even.

"This wagon was reserved for the heroes only," Quin interjected, his voice tinged with a touch of sternness, his grip tightening around his scythe as he spoke. "I'm sure you understand, but there's no space left for you here."

Ethan's gaze flicked towards the other carriage, noticing that it was empty and available for use. Without a word, he turned and made his way towards the carriage filled with goods. As he climbed aboard, he could feel the weight of the other heroes' disapproving glares, but he paid them no mind.

Taking a seat amongst the crates and barrels, Ethan settled in for the long journey ahead. Despite the tension amongst the group, he couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort building within him.

In the final moments before the carriage set off, Aiko suddenly appeared out of nowhere, swooping into the carriage with a whoosh of air. Unpredictably, she landed right on top of Ethan, their foreheads colliding with a resounding thud.

Ethan blinked his eyes open, finding himself sprawled on the ground, only to be met with the gaze of Aiko, her smile radiant as she positioned herself directly on top of him.

"What are you..." He began, his voice trailing off as confusion filled his eyes.

"Well, knowing you, I figured I might as well stay with you so you don't do anything stupid," Aiko interrupted, her words laced with a hint of teasing.

Ethan sighed, his mind processing her words. "Okay, I understand," he conceded, his tone tinged with resignation. "So, can you please get off me?" he requested, with a gentle yet firm tone.

"Oh, sure," Aiko responded, ready to lift herself off. However, before she could regain her balance, the carriage suddenly lurched forward, causing her to lose her footing and fall back onto Ethan.

In an instant, their lips inadvertently met, a fleeting and accidental kiss that left Aiko speechless. Her face flushed beet red, betraying her embarrassment and surprise.

.....

A/N

Would you prefer I had more smut or just stick to the plot?