Welcome To ......

[Kilatani]

Ryouta sighed a bit as he pulled a large wad of cash out of his pocket. He thought to his self,'This would be a good time to bring it out, I suppose' he clutched it tightly,'Think of the bikinis Mara would choose from!!,' he covered his nose to hide his nose bleed. For some reason his eyes couldnt help but stay on Mara. He was a bit embarrassed from the random thoughts coming to his head, at the moment, he couldnt find a thought that would calm him down just for a bit.

Mai examined Ryouta's hand closely,'Money? Since when did he carry that much with him?' She looked up at his face and noticed a small stream of blood flowing down his face. She immediately thought it was about Mara, especially since he was staring at Mara and nothing else. 'She definitely has had an affect on him.' Mai rested her head on the table as she watched Ryouta quickly shuffle around in his pocket.

Ryouta stuffed his money back in his pocket and reached for a napkin to wipe his nose,"We can get you a new one." he said calmly, as he cleaned him self up,"What do you think?"

Mai looked at Mara, raising her head off the table,"We could go to the beach when ever you want! Wouldnt that be cool?" she grabbed at Ryouta's arm ,"What about me? Can we get a new one for me?"

Ryouta placed a hand on Mai's head,"Of course!" He looked at Mara. Mai placed her hands on top of Ryouta's hand.
"So what do you think Mara??" they both said in unison.

[Amu Hinamori]

Mara saw Ryouta pull something out of his pocket. Ryouta was acting a bit wierd, but she noticed he covered his nose. She wondered why, until she saw a small trickle of blood behind his hand. She had a pretty good idea what was going on now.

"Well... I guess since Mai needs a bathing suit too, we can go together."

Mara smiled. This would be her first time in a few years going to the beach. Her father used to take her all the time until he died. Her step father was very strict about these things, and considered them to be 'childish nonsense'.

[Kilatani]

Ryouta looked at Mai and then Mara.
"It's settled then, lets go." he said as he grabbed Mai's hand and raced to the car.
Ryouta immediately met with his driver,"Start the limo! Open the doors!" he shouted at the driver. The driver quickly followed the directions, swinging all the doors open. Ryouta swiftly slid into the back with Mai and Mara.

"Hurry! Drive us to the nearest clothing store or bethingsuit store!! NOW!!" Ryouta demanded.

"He must really want to see you in a bikini..." Mai whispered nervously to Mara,"At times like this, it makes talking to him completely hopeless."

[Amu Hinamori]

"You really seem worked up about this, Ryouta..."

Mara jumped into the back of the car with Mai and Ryouta as the limo screech to a start, speeding towards the clothing store.

"Wow... this place is huge."

Mara went into the closest store and started exploring around. The store was full of female swimwear. They had so many bikinis and swim suits, It was like a forest of bathing suits. She strolled over to the swimsuits that were Red, Black, white, or a combination of the three.

"Hmm.. This one looks nice..."

Mara pulled out a bikini that had to be string tied at the top, and had underwear like bottoms. The top had crossing red stripes that were outlined with black against a white base and the bottoms were full black. Mara took it into the back and tried it on. She examined herself before leaving to show Ryouta and Mai. She looked quite cute and sexy in the bikini.

"I don't see how they think I'm skinny..."

Mara poked her tummy and smiled.

"I look just fine."

Mara stepped out of the dressing room and approached Mai and Ryouta.

"How do I look?"

[Kilatani]

Ryouta couldnt help but noticed how Mara looked in her swimsuit. Hisface turned completely red with embarrassment, he turned his head away from Mara, covering his mouth thoughtfully. He mumbled a few words that were indistinct from Mara's point of view, but clearer that the sky to Mai.

"'You're about.....as sexy......as they get'?" Mai tugged on Ryouta's pants looking at him questioningly, "Okaa-san, are you talking about Mara?" Mai placed a hand on her chin, acting as if she was thinking deeply about Mara's swimsuit. She snapped her fingers enthusiastically and exclaimed,"That color is so you, Mara!" she clinged to Mara's back speaking quickly and incoherently. Mai just couldnt keep her hands off of Mara and her swimsuit,she found them both together irresistible.
"My, oh, my, your skin is so smooth and flawless and the material on the swimsuit is to die for!!" she screamed.

Ryouta grabbed Mai off of Mara, detaching her of her own little fun. At the same time, he was hiding his heavy nosebleed from being apparent to Mara.

"That's a nice swinsuit." he said calmly. He then looked at Mai and patted her on the head,"Looks like it your turn to choose you swimsuit." he smiled.

"Great! I want to match Mara!!" she laughed,"Maybe youshould pick out matching trunks too,huh?" she held her face, almost as embarrassed as he was at the question.

"Uh.....yeah.....no.......uh, maybe......well see." he smiled nervously.
'Cant let Mara see me sweat.' He took in deep breaths and look at Mara, he couldnt control the flow. He held his nose tight and excused his self to get his trunks.

"Meet me back here when you all done shopping!" Ryouta hollered back at Mara as he ran away.

[Amu Hinamori]

''Well thank you Mai''



Mara smiled at Mai. It was apparent that Mai was becoming quite attached to Mara. Mara laughed at Mai's comment(s) before Ryouta pulled her off of her back. Mara chuckled once she saw Ryouta's nose bleed. She pointed at his nose, stiffling her laughter.


''Ya got a little something there... nosebleed boy.''

Mara grabbed Mai's hand and smiled at Ryouta.


''I'm gonna go take Mai to pick out her swimsuit. Try not to pass out over there... nosebleed boy.''

Mara grinned at Ryouta before heading off to the kids' swimsuit area.

[Kilatani]

"Nose bleed boy?" Ryouta couldnt help but laugh a little at the comment Mara made about one of his bad habits. It's been something he couldnt control for as long as he remembered.

"How creative." he spoke softly to his self as he approached the men's section of the bathing suit store, not seeing much that would catch his eye.

"These plain commoner swim trunks arent for me." Ryouta sighed as he browsed through the millions of sections filled with simple to more exotic trunks.

"Hm...these are ok...but I want something more....me..." he picked up a few pair and examined them thoroughly.

"Excuse me sir?" he heard a voice call behind him,"Is there anything that I can assist you with?" He turned around looking through the pair that he picked out.

"Uh, no not at the time." he replied. He looked up to find a girl looking at him, smiling and blushing. She had wavy brown hair that framed her faced and brought out her emerald green eyes. She was wearing the store uniform, that emphasized her curves by its tightness.

"Are you sure?" she smiled, flirtaciously. Ryouta couldnt help but stare at her for a while.

"Maybe I should introduce myself?" she asked, "My name is Ikumi Ito. And you are?" She took a step closer to Ryouta.

Ryouta backed on to the shelves of shorts, some fell over onto his head,"Uh...My...my name is Ryouta Izawa." he clear his throat. Ikumi leaned in some on Ryouta, who was nervously trying to back away, "So, Ryouta, do you have a girlfriend?"

Ryouta couldnt help but think,'What is this girl up to?' He clenched on to the shorts he was picking out, 'Someone, Anyone, please save me!!!'

[Amu Hinamori]

Mara and Mai had just chosen a nice matching swimsuit for Mai, and they headed back towards Ryouta's section when they saw him being harrassed by a she-witch. She was quite pretty, and appealing to the eyes, but she like the type that was bad news. Mara walked over to Ikumi and tapped her.

"Umm.. Excuse me.. Is there a problem here...?"

Mara crossed her arms and stared at the girl. Mara didn;t know who she was, but she was trouble, no doubt. Mara would have to keep an eye on her.

"So.. Is there a problem here...?"

Mara was somewhat glaring at her and had a slight air of contempt.

[Kilatani]

Ikumi looked back at Mara. Mara had a certain type of aura of her that offended Ikumi, but it didnt trigger and foul emotions toward her. Ikumi knew what Mara's relationship with Ryouta was just by the look in her eyes. Of course, she knew she had to keep her calm and cute composure. She bowed toward Mara withouit hesitation.

"Ah, hello." she smiled, "There doesnt seem to be a problem." She held her hands together as they rested on her legs.

Ryouta who was still a bit stunned at how close Ikumi was to him. Now that she was turned away he couldnt help but look at her butt, he resisted when he saw Mai and Mara in front of her. It suprised him how upset Mara looked, he couldnt help but smile just a little and Mai mimicking her.

"Hey you girl!!" Mai yelled at Ikumi,"You cant corner my okaa-san like that!! That's Mara's property!!"

Ikumi looked at Mai questionably,"Property?" she spoke softly. She looked back at Ryouta, he was instantly stunned but her bright stare.

[Amu Hinamori]

Mara looked at Ikumi as she bowed. She was playing it too polite for Mara. She already got enough of that formal stuff at home.

"There's no need to be so formal. I get enough of it at home..."

Mai had said something somewhat of what Mara was thinking. Ryouta was HER boyfriend, and Ikumi was moving in on HER territory. And Mara wasnt just going to take it lying down. She noticed that Ryouta was stunned when Ikumi stared at him, and a vein poppeod out on her forehead. Normallyy things like this did not offend her. She considered them to be 'trivial' but this time was different.

"Ryouta... I think it's about time we left...."

[Kilatani]

Ikumi looked back at Mara. She chuckled a little as Ryouta hesitated to get around her. "Do you really have to leave so soon?" she asked, holding onto his wrist. She reached into her pocket and pulled something out and slipped it into Ryouta pants without anyone noticing.

Ryouta's face turned red, he was no good at talking back to cute girls. He closed his eyes and looked away. He stretched his hand out toward Mara for her to grab so he could leave without seeing Ikumi's innocent eyes. 'This girl is really a pain, batting those green eyes at me as her weapon!'

Mai looked at Ikumi once more. "She's really pretty. I wonder how bad she wants my okaa-san. Will this be the last time we meet?" she whispered to herself. Mai stomach started to churn as she turned away from her, the image of a demonic grin came across Ikumi's face.
"What are her intentions?" Mai bit her lip nervously.

[Amu Hinamori]

Mara puffed her cheeks and grabbed Ryouta's outstretched wrist.

"Let's go...."

Mara pulled Ryouta's wrist from Ikumi's hand and headed towards the cashier. She decided that they would get him some trunks from elsewhere. She could have sworn that she saw a devilish smile on her face as the headed towards the exit.

"I can't believe she had the gull to do that.... I get the feeling I'm not gonna like her..."

She kept pulling Ryouta by the wrist, not wanting to look back.

[Kilatani]

Ryouta opened his eyes and Mara pulled him toward the cashier. He smiled as she pouted looking back at Ikumi. He pulled Mara toward him, holding her in his arms.

"Thanks for saving me." he smiled. He didnt look back Ikumi in fear of her glowing eyes to hypnotize him again,but he hoped she saw them together.

Mai found herself looking at Ikumi intensly. There was an underlying fear of her return, she knew she would appear again. She knew something was going to happen. Ryouta would eventually be swept away by her charm. "Dont you dare come near my okaa-san ever again." she hissed, running too grab Ryouta's other hand.

Ryouta recalled when Mai told Ikumi that he was Mara's 'property'.
"...property?" he looked at Mai,"What's up with calling me 'property'?" he said slightly aggravated. "Im not officially Mara's property until we kiss." he smiled at Mara,"What do you think?" he chuckled.

"You shouldnt joke around about stuff like that okaa-san!!" Mai shouted.

"Who said I was joking?" he shrugged.

[Amu Hinamori]

Mara kept a tight hold on Ryouta and blushed slightly when he pulled her towards him.

"Yeah... just don't go hanging around her. She's nothing but trouble..."

Mara looked at Ryouta then shrugged. It had just occured to her that they DID have yet to have their first kiss... and Ryouta did have a point. He wasn't her real boyfriend until they kissed and vice-versa. But the beach, especiall y at sunset, would provide ample oportunities. She blushed a little and smiled cutely to herself. SHe put the whoule Ikumi situation behind her for now. It was just her, Mai, and Ryouta.

"Oh yeah... We still have to get your trunks, Ryouta. Mai and I already have our swimsuits."

She smiled.

[Kilatani]

When they had approached the cashier counter, Ryouta immediately let all the swinsuits plop on the counter and tossed a wad of cash on the counter.

The cashier wasnt sure what to do with so much cash in his hand. Ryouta held his hand out for his change. He wasnt sure when he would need his emergency wad again so he was quick to ask for his change. He got his wad back which was only slightly smaller. The limo had pulled up to the front of the store automatically at the sight of the small group exiting the store. Ryouta made sure that he held on to Mara's hand as well as Mai's.

As they rode to the beach, he could see the sun reaching the horizon. He thought about how it would be if him and Mara kissed during the sun set. He couldnt help but get a little excited. Water came into view, they were almost there. Ryouta thought about what they should do, sand castles, water fights, pictures, he smiled thinking about how much fun they would have together. He looked back to see Mai a bit troubled, but he thought it could've been about how she looked in her swimsuit, probably didnt think she looked as good in the same swimsuit as Mara.

Mai looked out the window of the car, the vision of the demonic smile wouldnt dissappear. 'What was this feeling? Why am I so worried?' she thought. She looked at Mara and then Ryouta, she smiled. Mara had transformed into Ikumi, she looked at Mai.
"Something wrong, Mai?" Ikumi hissed. Mai knew that wasnt who she thought it was, she wasnt scared of Ikumi, she was scared of what Ikumi could do.

"Think about the beach, how much fun you could have." Ryouta smiled,"Dont worry about anything else, we're here to relax for a bit."

Mai looked at Ryouta, thinking about the last time she went to the beach. Nobody else went there but them, in a way, it was their private beach. Mai smirked remembering the feeling of water washing over her feet. How relaxed she felt as she built her sand castle. She felt a renewed happiness. 'Why worry about the future? Let's worry about now.' she thought looking out the window.

"We're here!!" Ryouta called.

[Amu Hinamori]

"Looks like were there... You ok, Mai...?"

Mara looked at mai, who seemed to be a little worried. Mara thought it was about thr Ikumi thing, so she placed a hand on Mai's shoulder.

"Don't worry Mai. It'll be okay."

Mara leant in to whisper to Mai.

"I won't let her have Ryouta..."

Mara smiled at Mai, and looked out the window. They were there. The beach looked so nice. And th ebeest part is, it was just the three of them. No one to look on them, or bother them.

[Kilatani]

Ryouta could feel his heart jumping out of his chest.
"We're finally here." he whispered.

Mai smiled back at Mara,"Thanks Mara, I feel a lot better now." She felt like she was whole again since she had left her mother and father, Ryouta was her uncle, but paired with Mara, she couldnt help but feel like she was with her mom and dad once again.

Ryouta started to dig around his pocket for his cell phone and found a piece of paper with his cell phone.
It read: Ikumi Ito <3 Call me when you get tired of your other girl.
Her phone number was behind the note. Ryouta looked and the paper for a minute. He wasnt one to throw away numbers, but thinking of how this girl approached him and how Mara reacted at seeing her. He didnt want to upset Mara. He balled up the piece of paper and tossed it out the window.

[Amu Hinamori]

Mara saw something fly past the window, but she didn't really bother to care what it was. The limo stopped, and Mara stepped out of the car.

"I'll go with Mai so we can change, and well meet you by the shore, okay?"

Mara grabbed her and Mai's bathing suits and headed towards the bathrooms. They were WAAAY cleaner than those public beach bathrooms. After a few minutes they were both changed and waiting for Ryouta at the shore. It was quite a nice ocean breeze. And the waves washing against Mara's feet was so relaxing to her, as if all her troubles were washed away with the tide...

[Kilatani]

Ryouta grabbed his stuff and left for the bathroom. He changed his clothes and saw Mara and Mai enjoying the beach. He smiled.
"I'm glad you guys are havingso much fun without me." he laughed.
"You're acting so weird, okaa-san." Mai said,"We havent even started yet!" she smiled. Mai ran to where Mara was and splashed some water on her.

"Stop daydreaming silly! It's time to party!!" Mai shouted as she pointed back at Ryouta.

[Amu Hinamori]

"Hey you!"

Mara laughed a bit and splashed a little water on Mai as well.
When she saw Ryouta in his trunks, she blushed a little, thinking to herself, "Wow... Ryouta's Hot...o//////o"

"Don't worry, there's plent of fun for everyone."

Mara splashed some water at Ryouta, and chuckled a bit.

"I'm goin' in the water!"

Mara went out farther and submerged herself completely in the water. The water was cold, but it felt GREAT. She swam out a little farther and explored th e bottom of the shallow ocean a little, until she came up for air.

"Come on in guys! The water's great!!"

She smiled and waved at them from not too far off the shore. She didn't know if Mai could swim, so she made sure not to go TOO far...