Chase was in a tree.

Which, frankly, surprised even him, because since when had he even been able to scale the thick wooden trunk up into the safety of the branches?

But there he was, nestled on one of the thicker branches, hidden behind a veil of green leaves. A breeze rustled the foliage and tousled his hair wildly, and he dangled his feet in the air, sighing contentedly.

Kazu tropmed through the dead leaves and brantches in her over-sized black boots. Her short hair was pulled back into a low pony tail at the nape of her neck and the first layer of her hair scattered on the sides of her face. She wore a pair of long worn jeans and a yellow spegetti-strap tank top and of course, her thin black choker. Kazu gazed up at the blossoming trees and signs of new life flourising around her. A soft smile spread across her face. Of the seasons, she liked spring the most. Making sure no one was around, she started singing to herself, a slow and gentle song. The nores were soft and soothing.

Chase saw Kazumi ages before she saw him; this, of course, was entirely to blame on the fact that he was hidden behind a thick blanket of lush Spring leaves, green and full and a great cover, actually. He considered calling out to her, but figured it would be more fun to surprise her, instead. She walked through the forest, singing to herself, looking completely relaxed.

I can change that, he thought to himself, grinning wickedly to himself. He waited until she got just a little closer...a little closer...and then he dropped.

"Hi!" he yelled as he nearly fell on top of her, landing neatly on his feet mere inches away from her instead.

"AH!" kazu screamed and she fell backwords and landed on her butt. "AH! heyyy that's not nice!" kazu said. Although her tone was whiny and unhappy, a smile crept on her face. Kazu got to her feet and brushed herself off. "So, what are you doing here?" she asked absetmindedly.

Chase grinned and rearranged his hair with his hand, brushing locks out of his eyes. "Um, same thing you're doing, I guess." He shrugged, "Meaning nothing." He sat down on the cushy forest floor and put his hands in his laps. "I like it here. It's quiet." His glasses slid off the end of his nose, and he pushed them back up absently. "Oh! Didn't you want to meet up here, anyways?"

"AHHH! that's right!" Kazu said in relization. "Maaaannnn i am so scatterbrianed" "I'll try and remeber better next time! It's just......there was a lot going on last night......" Kazu said amost in a trance. She shook her head. "A-anyway, wanna take a walk, it's a really pretty day!" "and i'm pretty sure i can't beat you at rock-skipping! I've been practicing!"

Chase grinned. "I wouldn't be so confident if I were you. I am, after all, the self-proclaimed rock-skipping champion of the world. It's true. I've got the plaque and everything." He winked, and added, "If you really want to try your luck, I guess I'm okay with it..." He was teasing, of course.

He walked over to the pond and, quickly analyzing the small pile of rocks by the bank, picked up four or five of the smoothest stones. "You want to go first?"

Kazu laughed. "Self-proclained?" She cocked an eyebrow. "Ya, that's really saying something there." "Alright alright, i'll take a swing at it." Kazu bent down and picked up three smooth stones she found. She gave the first one a good toss and it went abut 40 ft. She turned to Chase. "You're turn!" She closed her eyes and smiled, sticking her tounge out.

Chase nodded his head, impressed. "Beginner's luck," he claimed, bending down to get his own rock. He twisted, and then uncoiled, flinging the rock across the water. It splashed on the surface several times, and landed right about where Kazumi's had. "That's pretty close," he remarked, standing back. "Hmm, I think you got that one, though." He handed her another rock. "Best two out of three?"

"You are so on!" Kazu said smirking. She threw another stone and this time is went about 34 yards. She turned to Chase and gave a small bow. 'Your turn, sir." she said gesturing to the lake and speaking like a butlar. "I look forward to beating you."

Chase nodded his head, and obliged. He wound up, and tossed the rock across the water. This attempt was more successful than his last; it would up at around 55 yards. "There we go," he said, grinning. He stepped back, and wiggled his eyebrows. "Last one," he said, handing her the rock. "Make it count, Kazu."

"Will do." she said winking. She closed her eyes, took in a deep breath iof air, and chucked the rock as hard as she could, practicly sending herself forward. She watched as the rock skipped over about 60-65 ft. "All right!" she said.

Chase hesitated. She looked happy. He might as well give her a small victory...this time. He spun on his heel, stuck his arm out straight as a stick, and pivoted in almost a full circle. The rock sank through the air and plopped resignedly only about ten yards in.

He feigned surprise and disappointment, frowning and wrinkling his forehead. "Darn it," he groaned. "You win."

Kazu laughed. "Thanks!" she said. A small spring wind blew Kazu's hair around her face. "Ah! I'm so exicted! today is so pretty!" "Ne Onii-chan, can you teach e how to climb a tree?" Kazu asked spinning around and looking at him.

Chase's jaw dropped in mock shock. "Miss Kazumi, don't you know how to climb a tree?" Well, it wasn't like he was an expert--but still, that's something that they teach you when you're a little kid, whoever "they" are, isn't it?

"Well, come on," he urged, taking her by the hand and pulling her back to the line of trees in the forest. "OK," he started as soon as they reached a good climbing tree, "Just..." he put his foot on the lowest branch, pulled himself up, and stood there. "It's like a ladder, see? Now you try."

Kazu nodded. She wedged her foot between a tree and began to climb. Grabbed onto brantched and taking hudge leaps up. She was very wobbly, but making this. "Waaa!" she shreeked as she almost tripped. She was well good into the bratches by now.

He could see her losing her balance, and reached out to grab her just as she tilted backwards. He caught her by the hand, bracing himself on the tree trunk with the other, and grinned. "Careful," he warned, a little after the fact. "Use your hands against the branches, otherwise, it's really easy to fall." He smiled. "But you already knew that, huh?"

"Y-ya." a sweat drop appeared on kazu's face. Kazu took Chase's advice and made it to a sturdy branch. She sat down on it and rested. "Ya, my father never taught me how to climb a tree becuase he was afraid i'd fall. Yet he was always encourging me to try new things and do my best. So i don't get why he was so agenst this...he never told me."