Intermission

Koa tugged slightly on one of her braids and smiled.

“Sir,” she laughed slightly, “do not do that.” Koa smirked at her devilishly and tugged the braid again. She sucked her teeth and stood up. “I said, do not do that.” Koa stood to his feet. Leilani swallowed hard and stared up at the man that towered over her. “Do you want to fight?” She smirked up at him.

“Do you want to fight, me ku’uipo?” He whispered as he leaned in close to her. She felt her heart race. He placed his hand on her cheek and stared deeply into her eyes. She nodded slowly and bit her bottom lip. “Alright,” he chuckled, “get ready.” Leilani backed up slowly then exited the room.

“Where are you off to in such a rush?” A voice giggled slightly as Leilani rushed past an open door. She paused and turned back to the room.

“Koa and I are about to fight,” she blushed as Merope made her way over to the door. She flipped a braid over Leilani’s shoulder and shook her head.

“Just don’t be too rough with him,” she giggled as she touched another one of Leilani’s braids. Merope stared at Leilani quietly as she studied her face. Her gaze shifted from her hair to her eyes and from her eyes to her nose. She finally fixed her gaze upon her lips and smiled. “You should get going. You don’t want to keep Koa waiting.” Leilani nodded, blushed, and rushed from Merope’s room. Moments later Leilani heard a soft wrap outside the door.

“Come in,” she called. Koa pushed open the door and laughed. “Are you ready?” She beamed brightly. Koa nodded and moved to the center of the room. Leilani blushed and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

“It has been a moment since we have done this,” he laughed as he smirked slightly. “Are you sure you still remember how?” Leilani rolled her eyes and lifted an eyebrow.

“Assume the position,” she demanded as she cracked a smile. Koa lifted an eyebrow and cracked a smile. Leilani lunged at Koa and dished out flying kicks and multiple punches. Koa deflected her attacks as quickly as she launched them. Merope listened outside the door quietly.

“Harder,” Koa shouted. Merope covered her mouth and giggled. “You have to do it harder,” he instructed. Merope listened to the stifled groans inside the room. “Give me everything you got!” Merope pushed the door opened and stared at them.

“Oh,” she laughed as she looked at them. “You two are sparring!” Koa and Leilani exchanged glances.

“What did you think we were doing?” Koa inquired. Merope stumbled and stammered over her words. “Oh,” Koa exclaimed. Merope turned to leave the room. “Wait,” he called back, “you would have just walked in on us?” Leilani gasped as Merope dashed from the room.

“Could you have imagined if we were?” She pushed Koa playfully. Koa glanced at her.

“We always could,” he smiled. Leilani felt her face turn beet red. She covered her mouth and rushed from the room. Koa shrugged and followed behind her. “Guess that was a no,” he clapped his hands together as he headed back to his room.

“Hey guys,” a voice shouted from outside, “I found it.” Merope, Koa, and Leilani rushed outside to the young man in the yard. “Gaia has smiled on us this evening.” They stared at the object in his hands.

“She said it would help us,” Merope reminded the group as she tilted her head slightly.

“Yeah, but how?” Koa questioned. Leilani shrugged as Koa rested his arms on the top of her head.

“That is the question,” she replied.