[Flashback] A Summer Manhunt (Markus)

[Kendall Saarinen]

As the pair walked Kendall poked at Markus' face. "You look so cute when you blush." She giggled cutely as she swung their hands back and forth. It felt nice to have a boy's hand in hers. She was just like a big girl now! She could not wait to show Markus off to all of her friends. Of course he would need a good bath first and maybe a haircut. She could fix him up though. He would look like a little prince in no time. "So, tell me about yourself boyfriend" She liked to be able to say that. Now that Markus was her boyfriend he could buy her flowers and go shopping with her! "I want to know aaaaaaaaall about you." She held his hand tighter in excitement. A small squeal escaped her lips when Markus called her darling. "You called me darling!" She planted another kiss on his cheek and rested her head on his shoulder. "We are going to be the cutest couple in all of Mizahar." Once at the docks, Kendall pulled Markus down to the beach. The beach was rocky and a little hard to walk on. It would not be a problem with Markus holding her hand though! "Hold my hand tightly Marky! I don't want to fall over!" He was her big strong knight. He would not let her fall. When the made it down to the water line Kendall smiled out at the sea. "It is so beautiful! Don't you think it is beautiful Markus?" She looked at him with an excited look. "We should go swimming together! She giggled as she pulled him into the water with her. "You know, a lot of couple kiss when they swim together. We should do that sometime!"

[Markus Andres]

There was something about holding Kendall's hand that comforted Markus ... and there was something about it that made him think of being chained in a prison. A prison with a single guard who seemingly overdosed on happiness. The second kiss on his cheek made the young bully rub his burning red cheek again. Doing every not to hit the girl's head resting on his shoulder. "Naturally!" Markus said with pride in his voice when she said they were the cutest couple. "My father is a boring merchant. Who spend all his time at his office. I have 9 siblings. 5 brothers and 4 sisters." It was quite crowded at the house, hence why Markus spent much of his time out of the house. When they reaches the harbor, Markus did not look at the water, he looked around for anyone he knew. Hoping no one saw him with a girl. It would be embarrassing. He held her her hand tightly and helped her when she needed help. But when Kendall talked of the ocean, he looked out over the water and smiled. It was quite pretty actually and he smirked and nodded to his girlfriend and held her closer. "Wait, now? But... Sure. Let's go swimming." He stepped after her into the water. Running past her and pulling her with him further out. His mother wouldn't be happy he came home in drenched clothes, but he didn't care as he let himself fall forward and let go of Kendall's hand and swam around Kendall. Grinning and almost laughing. He loved to swim.

[Kendall Saarinen]

"Well, my father studies plants and animals. I have two brothers and a sister." Kendall thought about the idea of having so many siblings. If they were like her brothers she thought she would like the idea. They were funny and entertaining. On the other hand, if they were like his sister she wanted no part of it. Kendall looked around excitedly to see if anyone was watching as her new boyfriend helped her over the stones. "Look how romantic we are being!" The little brunette giggled as she felt Markus' arms around her. This would have to be what they did on their anniversary next year. Clearly the two preteens would still be "dating" after a year. At least Kendall thought this way. If she had anything to do with it they could be dating forever. "Yay! You are the best boyfriend ever!" Kendall wrapped her arms around the boy and kissed him on the cheek. Shortly after she raced into the water, dress and all. Her mother would be upset that her nice dress had been drenched but she was rebelling with her boyfriend! That is what all the big girls did! Kendall swam close to Markus and grabbed onto his hand. "This is such a great date! You need to recite poetry to me now. That is what all the best boyfriends do." She smiled at Markus cutely, letting her bright green eyes attempt to enchant him. "You are the best boyfriend so obviously you have to recite poetry to me."

[Markus Andres]

Kendall's dad sounded awesome to Markus. He loved the wilderness. Or he loved what he had heard of the dangers beyond the mighty mountain range. Much more exciting than his own old a moldy dad. "Does he oft' venture out beyond the mountains?" Markus asked curiously as he kept himself above water with his one remaining hand. Now that Kendall had joined their hands together. The little boy looked at the girl's green eyes. Green eyes looking into green eyes. Mesmerized as he wondered what she was talking about. Poetry? He didn't even know what that word meant! He looked at the girl blankly as she continued. Telling him that the best boyfriends, a club he was a part of, apparently, would know poetry! And would recite it! But the girl didn't get much more than a blank stare from the bewildered youth. It was pretty hard to recite something he didn't know. For some reason, he felt like an ass for betraying those green eyes. "What is that?" Markus felt stupid for asking such a question. A wave rolled against Markus who last he balance in the water and was pushed towards Kendall. Markus wrapped his arms around the girl. Or his arm, the other one was still holding on to Kendall's hand. When Markus' feet touched the ocean floor and stabilized him. He couldn't be more than an inch away from Kendall. For he was holding on to her in a very close embrace. A fiery redness rose in his cheeks again. Obtaining a much deeper red hue than before as he peeked at her eyes.

[Kendall Saarinen]

Kendall pouted slightly as she thought about Markus' question. "I think so… I know he has been to Syliras. Is that over the mountains?" Kendall did not know much about the land outside of Zeltiva. She had no reason to. Everything she needed was there. Why would she care about anything over the mountains? "You don't know what poetry is?" Kendall's eyes opened wise in surprise. How could Markus not know? Poetry was the most beautiful and romantic thing in the world! It is what lovers whispered to each other at night. It is what people whispered to each other before uttering their vows before Cheva! At least this is what all the stories had told her. Her mother would not read her stories that were not true, would she? The brunette giggled cutely as Markus wrapped his arms around her. "Look at my big strong boyfriend protecting me from the waves. I am such a lucky girl." She found his flushed cheeks painfully adorable. "I can say some poetry to you if you like. That way next time you can say some poetry to me." She hummed quietly to herself as she tried to think of something to make up a poem about. "Dear Markus, you are the cutest boyfriend in the whole city. You are lucky your girlfriend is so pretty. Now we are swimming in the bay. I cannot think of a better thing to do during my day. I hope you liked my poetry. It's better than… sitting in a tree." Kendall smiled brightly at Markus. "Did you like it?'