Waking Up in Vegas
Prologue
Bel
It was a quiet almost harmonic atmosphere in the plane, if you ignored the sun, which was blinding through the little window. I closed my eyes and tried to relax while Fran — surely for the millionth time — stood up fast, mumbled a sorry and disappeared to the board toilet for vomiting. Luckily I —the prince— had no problem with traveling for a long time in a plane. I just grinned in a gloating manner commenting on the situation with a "Frogs simply aren't made for flying". No reaction. Of course, he was already gone.
Looking down at my bag, I pulled out the folder with the instructions for our 'Mission Las Vegas.' Folder, what a joke! You could call it a novel. Use it as a weapon! Surely no one could survive a hit if this was being thrown hard against their head or neck. The mental image caused me to grin. Looking at the files, I wondered if I should take a look at the screenplay the shark and the boss must have written; the thickness of the files was enough to annoy me. What a lovely family we are.
Looking back down at the documents, I could take a look to inform myself of the mission, but we were going to VEGAS! Anyone who goes there won't be going there to work, and then leave when business is done! If there were such people in the world, you could count me out. It's official, and I made my decision, and stuffed the folder back into my bag.
I leaned back and tried to relax. First class wasn't as enjoyable as flying in a private jet, but good enough for the moment. Fran came back from the toilet; his skin was back to his normal tone and demanded for a pill. He sat down in his seat next to mine. As soon as the stewardess arrived with his order, Fran swallowed the pill and leaned back. I watched him silently, still grinning gloatingly. That is until a series of "senpai" and "fake-prince" wiped it from my face. It was annoying. Every so often I had the strong desire to stab him to death and sew his blathering mouth shut. Three knives found their way into his hat. "Don't bug the prince!" I wondered if it was God's punishment for killing all those people.
Well, if it was, I must have been killing many more than I could remember at the moment. Not that it became a reason for feeling guilty, because this frog could be really entertaining sometimes, and he didn't die so easily. Who wouldn't wish for an unbreakable toy? I grinned.
"Ouch!" cried Froggy; "Senpai, what exactly is this mission they send me to, besides babysitting you?
"This stupid Shark-Captain should also get it managed to keep an eye on rabid pseudo-prince. Or did Bossu think he'd destroy the machines with all of his yelling? I don't know. It's just getting on my nerves to be teamed up with you again…so, what's the dumb mission?"
Was it his most adored hobby to try to insult the whole Varia with his words? I would have guessed so. Although, it was absolutely ridiculous how he always managed to get me pissed off, like right now.
"Know what, Froggy?" I began; "for little nuisances like you, our beloved airline is going to open the terraces to film 'Gone with the Wind' with you. And about the idiotic mission …"
Grinning I took out the folder again, threw it in the air and fixed it with some knives at the ceiling. "Read it yourself … if you're able to reach it."
We both knew he wasn't. He was so incredibly small, not to say tiny.
"And don't tear it. I've got at least three ideas of stories to convince the boss of the fact that it's your fault," I added, leaning back again while grinning at the frog.
"Funny, senpai. I could die of air shortage." He really spoke irony and sarcasm fluently.
He looked up at the folder. I did the same. We had not turned our heads any other direction as he continued to speak.
"Admit, you haven't taken the tiniest look into this stupid folder.
"The thing about the stories made me curious. What oh-so-imaginative stories did this pseudo-nobleness think of? I bet at your quirk there'll be a speaking dragon and an idiotic fake-prince with his sloping crown who tries to get back the holy folder, which had been swallowed by a frog. I'm right, am I? I'm sooo~ not sorry." He was obviously annoyed.
A pleasing view; of course I had to answer.
"It shouldn't be funny, stupid frog! And the prince really didn't bother to take a look at the instructions. Too boring. It's much more fun to annoy you." I grinned widely.
"And it's none of your business, what's going on in my head. When we've arrived, you should try to find a publishing company who's willing to print your wannabe fairytale. And hopefully you get lost on your search."
I was already very sure that I wouldn't even get rid of him, if I'd tie him up, put him in a bag, which I throw in a chest and send to the Himalayas. Sad, but true, I had to make the best of it. And in this case, the best to do was going on with annoying him; at the moment it was his turn.
"I'm shocked. How shall be able to learn something from a senpai that is such a pinhead?"
I had no idea what would make me a 'pinhead', but I didn't even bother thinking about it. I was just below my level most of the time. This time I decided to condescend him.
"I already have to look after you and now I should teach you something, too. Return if you can see my level high up above you." Luckily I didn't have to worry about any answer of the frog, because just a moment later one of the Stewardesses came towards us with this typical fake smile and the question of a wanted meal on her lips.
I grinned. "The best you got for me and some flies for our beloved frog over there."
Almost at the same time, said frog declared that I would pay the costs. How dared he? Telling this woman I—the prince— would spend my money for him too. Originally, I had planned to pay at least mine, but now it was up to the frog. With an indignant sound I stabbed another knife into his hat.
"The prince doesn't pay on principle."
The poor Stewardess was a bit confused about our little argument, but the frog still ordered without hesitation or going into what I just said. But after the woman had been gone he continued our conversation.
"I thought you had lots and lots of money as the prince that you are, or do you just not want to confess your shortage of money because it would proof that you aren't a real prince?"
There was such a lack of logic in his sentence that I really had to think a bit harder to find a matching answer.
"The prince does have a lot of money and apart from that not every prince has these amazing treasures like in the typical fairytales with halls filled of gold. So maybe you should visit some psychologists or neurologists to look for some failures in your brain that cause your missing logic."
As if my words had switched his mind back to normal, he immediately turned back to his old manners by trying to insult me again.
"You just aren't intelligent enough to get my logic, that's all. It's not everyone's thing to understand such a complex and impressive being as an illusionist."
Surely often enough it was hard to figure him out, but "The prince's intelligence is much higher than yours. 'To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness'".
"Oh of course, you're so complex with your profound mimic and your complicated, emotional actions. It's so confusing." I put so much sarcasm that even a deaf would have heard it. I had one of my social moments and wanted to make it easy for my poor retarded frog.
He didn't answer this time. Our little conversation was interrupted by the already known stewardess, which poured Fran's white wine in his glass and told me about the selected dish she picked out for the prince. It really sounded delicious and one hell of expensive. Well, it wasn't my money. The Varia paid for the flight, food and hotel. So it wasn't a matter of money on what to eat on this plane. I was simply allowed to order an Italian red wine from '23, a caviar baguette, a salmon in cream sauce and kaiserschmarn with cinnamon and caramel. I was able to do so, so I did so. Easy rule, isn't it?
"Or shall I bring you the menu, sir?" the Stewardess finished her offer.
I grinned again. "That's fine with me."
Just at the same time the frog decided to continue our little argument by a simple comment.
"You mustn't call a hypocrite like him sir." Froggy really seemed to have a death wish.
I took out some knives again for stabbing him but this time I hesitated, still staring at my precious weapons. I looked up to Fran.
"Know what, you aren't even worth it. It's a waste using them for stabbing an unworthy frog like you." Then I turned to the Stewardess.
Poor woman. Had to take part in our little verbal fight.
"Usually I'd prefer something like your highness or your majesty, but I'll make a little exception today." One day I would make the frog pay for making me lose my nerves on him. And not just by using my knives.
Fran
Oh, my fucking god. How incredibly I hated this guy. He was such a burden for the world, please somebody kill him. But I knew no one would ever do me this offer. I would be stuck with him for my entire life, as long as nobody was able to accomplish miracles.
"Aha?"
Why should I waste my air to say something more? He wasn't worth even my attention. I noticed that I still had knives in the hat and pulled them out. I bent two standards according to the third and I looked at it curious. I was somewhat intrigued by these knives. They were created out of a storm flame resisting material, so that he could use it without problems for years, but God, this design… totally cheesy—a fake-prince worthy. Mainly designed unnecessarily elaborate. His stupid knife fetishism was incredible, but they served their purpose. They were sharp as scalpels.
The stewardess came back and brought me my shredded turkey, and gave me a knife and fork; I had something else in mind.
"They cut well, right?" I asked as if I wanted a response, which I surely wasn't waiting for and used, without further response, the not bended knife to cut my food. No stupid mess with a blunt knife and that almost brought me to smile inwardly. Especially when I thought of how Bels would be driven to incandescence. And indeed, I noticed in a side view to my senpai that he wasn't that amused of my little joke.
"Oh, I think something came to my mind what I should teach you: RESPECT." Fran, that was a bad Idea.
The next 2 knives found their way into my shoulder and I had to react quickly to cover myself in an illusion that nobody would notice how I bled.
"And these," he pointed onto the bended knives; "I'll get back, without any signs of use, and I don't care how you'll do it."
Funny. Really senpai? Why should I bother with repairing his stupid knives? Just because he wanted me to! Uh-uh. No. Never. Forget that, you stupid fake-prince. Annoying enough that you think you could stab me the whole time, just like you like it. Somebody should really teach him a lesson, a good one. Just... making him pay for everything he ever did to someone.
The Stewardess came with another bottle of whine and a bunch of caviar bvaguette. I was about to vomit. Fisheggs. Gross.
"Anything else, gentlemen?" I looked at the pretty woman and my eyes widened a bit.
"That's not a man," I said and pointed at Bel; "This is a lady."
I was about to laugh, when this scene came into my mind. 'I'm a lady~!' Before I even recognized how the poor woman was shocked about her mistake, I felt another knife in my shoulder. Oh, come on. It was just a joke, even though every one of my jokes was so fucking good played that everybody believed I was actually serious; the fake-prince had to get angry, of course.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, madam!
"You were right, no worry." He said and lowered his voice. Imbecile. Did he really think I wouldn't hear him?
"Don't listen at the little one,"
Little one? Oh fantastic. Now it was the fake-prince giving me this stupid nickname. I could kill both of them, especially senpai, for being an asshole and ruining my life. I sighed a bit. Maybe I was just a bit angry because I didn't feel quite good. I hated travelling far, ever since someone invented it. Being stuck in a little place for more than an hour was more torture for me than anything else. The air was so thick and so bad, that I could hardly breathe; of course I got sick from this. Bel continued talking in an even lower voice. Now I had to listen very carefully.
"This little one is a bit retarded, poor little fella. That's why I'm with him. It's my duty to stop him before he's about to hurt the other people around him."
Another knife found his way, this time, directly into my arm. It was funny how he seemed to be talking about me, but ended up describing himself. I tensed up a bit and strengthened the illusion to cover myself, because it was just bleeding like hell, and I tried not to show it. I wouldn't let Bel win. Never.
"I doubt that stabbing me with your knives, while I try to enjoy this very delicious food, will contribute that I start respecting you, fake-prince, or even—" I looked at the confused stewardess. Poor one.
"Not to hurt the others around me, you idiot." the last part of the sentence I mumbled.
I didn't want Senpai to know that I was that enraged. All because of this terrible trip! Did I mention that I hate flying?
"Oh, and please point out to the cook that the meal is exquisite, and the wine is fantastic. Thank you very much, for this magnificent food. I really enjoyed it."
Besides the fact that the fake-prince stabbed me, while I tried to eat, I added in thoughts. The prince grinned and I really expected the food to run away from him, because he was so unbelievably disgusting, but it didn't move.
"You're not the genius of us two, so you're not supposed to doubt my methods," he started eating and I wanted to show my irritation by rolling my eyes, but I over thought it and leave it.
"Hmm~, it's really not bad." He commented on the food and looked out of the window.
"How long are we on the trip now? The prince doesn't want to look at the watch," What a rotten blockhead, "The prince seems to be lazy, that's all."
"The prince never said that this isn't true, but only idiots struggle hard when somebody else could make their job." He grinned again and I herd his stupid laugh that my sickness got even worse.
Another Stewardess looked at us and smiled. "It's 3 p.m. at the moment, and the duration of the flight will be four hours more. We'll be at the airport at 5 p.m.,"
There was another question I wanted to ask. Just to make sure, how long I had to survive this whole thing here.
"How long does it take from the airport to Las Vegas?"
The Stewardess seemed to think about it and then looked again at me. I knew it from the start. Her eyes told me that she was that kind of person who normally was very rational. She overlooked the whole situation, stood calm and never did something without over thinking it.
"I would say, something about half an hour."
"Sounds acceptable. Thanks for the meal."
The other stewardess, who served the meal came back, heard my words and smiled gently at me. She was a person who always was full of hope; someone who believed in the good in a people, who pretended to herself that life and the world was okay—foolish little girl. She brought the fake-prince his meal and cleared up my table. I was tired. Tired of this too long trip and this terrible prince. And of course this frickin'' sickness was also something that made ma head really messy. I hated not being able to think properly. It made me vulnerable towards the prince, and I didn't want to lose a fight. Since we first met each other, we knew that we would only annoy each other with our existence.
I sighed and dropped back into my seat. It was the most comfortable seat in which I ever flew, but it wasn't the most comfortable I ever sat in. It was, however, enough to make me tired. So tired, that I didn't even noticed how I fell asleep. I didn't even want to fall asleep. It just happened.
Bel
Had it not become silent at a moment's notice, I wouldn't have even guessed he really fell asleep. I took a long look at him to make sure it wasn't just a silly joke, but the frog was indeed sleeping in his seat. I didn't get it. How did he dare leave behind a bored prince for something uninteresting and unimportant like his sleep? Had he thought the prince would eat for so long he wouldn't notice? He had to entertain me. No exception. He could be tired, deadly hurt or blue; it just was his duty to take away the prince's boredom, even when he was sleeping.
I swallowed the last mouthful of food and leaned back. So the prince had to effort for his entertainment himself today. I took a look at the frog again. He almost looked like a sleeping child this way. Not as annoying as awake and almost kind of, well …cute? But that didn't matter. I could amuse with him even if he's asleep, and I already had a nice idea for that.
I grinned widely and let out a silent laughter while lifting my back and searching for the marker. It took some time and I began to wonder how it got managed to hide so well from the prince's fingers, but at least I held it between them trying to make my mind up for a funny, but short sentence to write all over the sleeping froggy's face.
In the beginning I thought of something like "Property of Prince the Ripper" but it was way too uninspiring. The next idea coming to my mind was much better, and I decided not to wait for the big flash of inspiration. I just chose the last one. Poor Froggy. The marker was waterproof. I leaned over and began writing in my fair, debonair handwriting. "Free Frog's legs for everyone" It wasn't my most brilliant idea in life, but I had to admit I still liked it.
My work was done. The first funny part was over. The second one could have me waiting hours and hours. I hated this fucking boredom. Shitty frog. Hopefully he woke up soon. I wanted to see the expression when he sensed my little prank.
I leaned back in my seat for a few seconds that felt like half a fucking hour. I really got victim of deadly dullness. It couldn't stay that way. Shortly I thought about tying his bootlaces together. I liked the idea but abolished it almost immediately. The prince would never ever kneel before this frog. Not even for something like this. I closed my eyes for a minute lasting second. Then I looked up to the folder on the ceiling. I wouldn't take it back down now. So there was nothing left than waiting. Great. Gorgeous.
Luckily I hadn't waited for too long until Froggy woke up. From the moment half an hour later, I noticed his little moves and the change of speed of his breathing, there was this wide, knowing smile on my lips. The frog didn't notice it in the beginning. Surprised by the fact that he had fallen asleep he checked the clock. Just a moment later, he turned to me and first saw this almost really psychopathic smile of mine.
"Had a nice dream, Sleeping Beauty?" I asked staring at my self-made writing on his face. He still looked a bit sleepy, but that didn't hold him off arguing again.
"I wish I could just fall asleep again, your face is much worse than any nightmare,"
"That's maybe because I am your worst nightmare, frog," I still grinned and even started laughing, when the stewardess came around again, giggling while she wanted to hear our wishes.
Fran slowly turned his head towards me again. "What have you done? Dyed my hair pink?" There wasn't a hint of anger or something in his tone, but I was sure that it just was his mask again.
"The prince is unaccountable— also a very nice idea. The prince will keep that in mind for the flight back home."
I wondered if I would be able to remove this grin from my face before I die. Fran went to ignore me and turned to the stewardess who had listened the whole time, standing next to us.
"Now that you're already here, dearest, I need another pill and to dispatch this scumbag maybe an axe, if possible,"
Now he really seemed to be galled, although he hadn't even read the beautiful adornment that was spread all over his face. Nice. I grinned.
Ready to answer, he spoke. "And senpai, start memorizing my name. Even if it isn't the most amazing one in the world, thank you." Yes, the Frog was galled. Great.
"An axe? Primitive. Ushishi. Wouldn't have guessed that's your style.
"Froggy, you're on a plane. The prince doesn't think you'll be able to get an axe up here."
I knew it was absolutely absurd to answer the sentence of his, but it was the prince's entertainment.
"And by the way, the prince does know your name, Fran," I consciously overemphasized every single letter like I would savor it. However, it wasn't really tasty; something else about his name came to my mind.
"Why does Froggy actually have a girl's name? Did the prince miss some important information?" It really interested me.
The first day he arrived, I mistook him for a girl. The name surely made for it, too. I surely hadn't been the only one. So according to the name it maybe hadn't even been a misunderstanding. I shortly took a look down at his abdomen before looking back into his green eyes, putting on an inquiring face.
Fran
I nearly grinned. I really would have done it, if it weren't for the fact that I didn't ever showed any emotions. I already showed the prince too much of my emotions on this flight. It was enough for like five years. Back to normal. No. That was impossible— I mean this was a sensitive topic. I hated this guy just for asking me such a thing. Of course he didn't know anything about me, how could he? I felt offended. He should just shut up for the rest of this stupid flight. Oh my god, I was doing it again! Getting enraged because of this stupid prince...! Calm down Fran, it's just because of your sickness.
"Another question: why were you named after a demon normally shown in the ancient mythology on the toilet?"
It was pretty funny, because as an illusionist you were supposed to know a lot about mythology. Just as a student of Mukuro. I don't know, but I liked it. Maybe the reason why I nearly fell over for laughing was when I heard all of the names of the Varia main members. Except for that one name... that one name I would never forget. That one person who had played a big role in my life— had played.
I didn't know why, but I was about to tell Belphegor the truth. Maybe because I just wasn't someone who was good at lying. Well, let's just say this frickin' sickness made it really hard. So let us all face our past again, guys. Facing my past… I hated it. I always detested it. My past was a part of my life I never wanted to talk about. Something I never wanted to be reminded of, but was always confronted with it.
"I don't like it myself. Basta. Oh, and if you're really that interested, you homosexual dick-powered something, I can show it yourself later… if you wish. Because I am male."
I knew I was at my lowest level of arguing, but frickin' god, this fucking sickness made me mad! More than that, the prince knew that I hated being mistaken for a girl, because nearly everyone did! Besides Lussuria, all Varia members thought at first sight that I was a girl. Because of my face, height, voice, and body that really looked a bit feminine. But that wasn't a reason to see me as a girl. That was the reason why I put sparkle-glitter-powder into Squalo's shampoo. Nice look, really; he got into the sun, and his hair sparkled like the kin of Edward Cullen. Hilarious. Everybody, except the boss, was punished for their mistake. The only ones I had to leave out were Boss and Senpai. I never tried to do something stupid to my Boss. Never, something of what I knew he would kill me for. And Bel was clever. It was hard to play a prank on him, especially when you knew you would get paid back for that. Bel just continued talking without even knowing what I was thinking.
"To be honest, froggy, I think it was a bad joke my parents wanted to make, because it seems to be the opposite of my stupid brother, who was named like an angel.
" Aside from that, I'm not gay and no, I really don't want to look at that. Enough said. Your turn froggy." He seemed to survey me and warped his face in disgust.
Nice. I rolled my eyes. His only existence was a torture. There was little silence, and I really thought of how to tell him the truth without saying too much. Nobody was supposed to know anything about me. Even bugging Lussuria was never successful with his psychological questions, or his mental don't-know-what actions to get me to open myself. No way. Never. Forget it. But this time, Bel really did it.
"Fran…? That… I don't know it myself. My mother gave me that name."
I had a strange feeling in my chest, thinking about this woman that gave me this life. I never hated her. Even now I loved her, but I knew that it was also my fault. I was too late and that was the only damn reason why— Enough...
Another memory showed up, and I got even sicker. That man. The image of that man that was my father; the same man that named my sisters. That man, that— I didn't wanted to think about it. It was my past. It was over and it was nothing actual. It had happened. Things happen in life. I should remember that. I looked at the watch.
"We—" Fuck. Sickness. Now. I jumped up and quickly went straight to the toilet. It was just too much for me. My past, this flight, my poor stomach couldn't handle this shit.
"Seriously, that's getting annoying." I mumbled and looked in the big bags of my coat for a toothbrush. Yes, I carry a toothbrush in my coat bag so don't ask. I washed my face and brushed my teeth, then… yes, noticed Bel's funny little present. That was the reason why he was grinning that wide. What a fag.
"Very... funny..." I grinned.
Actually it was funny. Yes it was, but I didn't want to admit that the prince made a good joke. Anyway, I tried to wash it up, but as expected, it didn't want to wash off. Stupid lettering, why wouldn't it do what I wanted it to do? Like come off? I sighed and looked through the options I had. Remove skin? Nope, it was too difficult right now, and my arm already hurt because of the frickin' knives. Go back without doing something and always wear a poker face? Something that would be absolutely me, but I had some pride, and I didn't want to walk through the whole plain and all the way to the hotel room with this frickin' lettering. Cover the lettering with an illusion? My best option, although I knew it wasn't that easy. It was hard enough to cover the bleeding parts of my body, but I thought it might stay till I was in the hotel.
So I covered my face in an illusion and went back to my seat. I was pretty glad to see a glass with water and another pill there to take. Everything was fine, as long as it helped me make it to my hotel room. Or just save out of this frickin' plane. I was a bit afraid that maybe my body would get resistant against all my pills, but I doubted it. If my body really would get resistant against all my pills, I would be so motherfucking dead. And that's just because I wouldn't survive without them. I mean I just held my life under control with pills.
Bel
"Fran...? That... I don't know it myself. My mother gave me that name."
The Prince was deeply disappointed about the frog's boring answer. I had hoped for some little piece of information about his past he treasured and kept so strictly secret. I always tried to pick up the hints and figure out why this boy became the annoying, stupid, emotionless frog he was. But said frog didn't even leave the prince a tiny chance to unravel his mysteries.
Stupid frog.
"You could have at least made up something interesting. The Prince needs entertainment." That was nothing but the truth. If I hadn't been that bored I could have ignored little Froggy during the whole time of our flight.
Speaking of ignoring, the frog didn't even listen, stood up and rushed to the toilet again. Now should be the time he'd discover the nice scripting on his face. Now he should try to wash it off and capitulate noticing the marker had been waterproof. I wished I could see his stupid face. For a second I thought of following him, just to see the face he'd make and to laugh at him. I forgot the idea a second later. Why should I do this? I wasn't in primary school. So, I just tried to imagine the look on his face but it didn't work out very well. I just knew him too little. To blame was his, always, expressionless mask. Unemotional, lifeless… his fucking façade! Reason enough for the prince to stab him over and over again.
He came back again. He didn't take that long this time. My grin shrunk a bit as I noticed that my pretty writing on his face was gone. Just like this. I took out the marker again.
"Waterproof," I mumbled puzzled.
In that moment I understood. The words were still on his face. Cheater. He had only covered it. Not by make-up but by one of his— hate to say it — professional illusions.
"Shitty Illusionists." I cursed still in a lower voice. He stuck out his tongue at me as answer. One of these moments again I wanted to see him bleed on the floor. One day, Froggy, one day…
Maybe I could replace those pills he always took against something else, something really funny for the prince. But then again, I'd have to choose it quickly and how the hell should I get something like that on a plane. So this plan wouldn't work out this time. Maybe on the flight back home? Watch your back Froggy, the prince will have a little revenge when—
"I'm none of your servants who behave like monkeys all day, so you feel entertained.
"You're just not endued enough with busying yourself alone in peace. And it isn't very smart to insult all illusionists at once."
Either he was incredibly courageous or extremely foolish for always interrupting the prince's thoughts. I guessed it was the second one.
"That's right. You're apish enough without trying. And that doesn't have anything to do with abilities or something like this."
But he didn't even listen to me. That frog had a strong death wish. He took a book out of his coat pocket and began reading. I tried to take a look at the title but Froggy was holding it too awkwardly.
"What are you reading?" I asked and snatched it before he was able to answer.
Homer's "The Iliad"...? I was a bit surprised. I didn't know anyone who would read "The Iliad" just for fun.
"Is that to impress the prince?" I asked in a bored tone.
"Why should I try to impress you? Your opinion counts as much as an empty bag of crisps'."
A bag of crisps! Who did he think he was! But it wasn't the time to discuss the importance of my opinion. It was much more urgently for me not to lose my little toy-frog to his meanwhile second book. He was the prince's solo entertainer and I failed to see a need to change this approved system.
I threw the book against his head. "Now Froggy, pack away those stupid books and do something interesting!" The Prince wasn't willing to sit around stupidly the whole time.
"I'd offer to read 'The Iliad' to you, if you were able to read.
"In my opinion this is namely the true reason you haven't read the folder yet. You can't read. With your bangs, you shouldn't be able to see anyway."
He didn't even look up at saying this.
This frog was one hell of a pain in the neck. He always denied clear facts we both knew where true: that I am a prince, a genius, and now even my ability to see.
"You should know how illogical this is. And stay away from me with Homer. I have no time for the dead and gone," No. Not right. "If anything, then the dying." Better. I grinned.
"And forget about that fuckin' folder!" To bring out my words I took another knife out and threw it to the others into the document.
Fran stayed silent, and with the speed of the Olympian sprinting champion my boredom came back to me. Bugged by the silence I leaned back in my seat.
"This flight is just way too long. Maybe I should invent beaming." I mumbled to myself, still thinking of a way to kill the time that stretched like bubblegum in here.
"Hey Froggy, what do you expect from our stay in Vegas? And don't tell the prince you thought we'd do the job and travel back home immediately." I wasn't interested in his answer at all, but it was the only possibility that came to my mind to get rid of this annoying boredom. Although…no, dying out of boredom was a very un-prince-like alternative.
Fran
I just ignored his comments.
Exactly, why should I even notice him? Life was so much easier if I just ignored him for the rest of my life, but I knew that this was even for me, a top ignorer, something impossible. When the prince got bored or noticed that I ignored him, he would do anything just to get attention. So what was much worse: The prince doing everything to piss me off, or pissing off the prince?
I preferred the last one.
Suddenly I noticed a little note on the side of my second book. I read "Faust II" a German drama, full of philosophy and all this stuff. The modern illusionist should get along with such texts. It really helped, and this was the awkward thing about it. Understanding and reading such texts really helped your mind to get along with quite difficult moments. And these books weren't just normal ones. Don't know why I think he did it in first row for his precious chrome, but through the whole book he underlined important phrases with colors or wrote some important notes and hints on the side. But one really surprised me. "Better use of illusions through the training of multitasking. Mind and soul prepare for being concentrated on two or more things at one time. Mind has to get used to spinning illusions, so that it gets a routine thing. Best way for training— part-time job." I was about to table flip, but there wasn't a good table... and it wouldn't fit my image.
"You sure saw a bit too much TV, shishou," I thought and nearly threw the book aside.
How come such a little note disturbed me so much? The guys that were about to teach me things really were quite amusing. Really funny, my senpai and my shishou... I was nearly about to vomit again. How could I take shishou for real when he was such an idiot, nearly every time?
"Hey Froggy, what do you expect from our stay in Vegas? And don't tell the prince you thought we'd do the job and travel back home immediately." I turned around immediately and looked a bit confused at the fake-prince.
Wait what? Did he really want to have small talk with me? That was strange. Was he really that desperate to start a conversation? To really wanting to start a normal conversation with me? He knew I wouldn't play along. But somehow I wasn't really in the mood to start arguing again.
I shrugged, "No problem for me, to stay there some more time, as long as I don't have to get into a plane again.
"I haven't got money to play at the casino, even with the money I get from the missions,"
Well that was a lie. I had enough money to play for some weeks, but I had another plan. I still pursued my dream to escape from the Varia and restart my life. I wanted to go to a private university for the gifted and wanted to study chemistry. I loved chemistry. For me, it was a really interesting and amazing subject. I was good in it, and it was fun for me to mix my own poisons. I even poisoned Squalo once! Yes it was a stupid, but a nice and very interesting hobby I had.
"If you haven't got enough money, we can play Bel's too. That would get interesting," He grinned. "If you like flying that much, I'll make sure that I'll take you with me the next time." I just did like I hadn't heard his comment and continued.
"And a person who walks through every club, I'm even less.
"Did you really hope you could initiated me into the art of 'getting a woman to sleep with you, and then just vanish, that she desperately looks for you while you watch the video you made while she didn't notice'?"
A woman some seats near us looked shook and gasped. Well, I didn't care. People should think what they wanted to think.
"I'll pass."
"Tsk, just a minute ago you intended that I would be gay. Admit it, you don't have any clue what you're talking about."
I think the following words were just a mistake to say, but what should I do? I mean it was a situation I really could handle hard. I was 18. My childhood— and about my whole life— ended when I was 8, and everything I did till now was just surviving. Of course I was a bit in a bad mood.
"Senpai listen, I'm not in the mood or condition to think clear.
"I'm miles in the air in a frickin' height in this damn tin can, without fresh air and have to feed myself with fuckin' pills to not to puke all my guts out of my body; besides, I think you're bisexual. Homosexuals are all people somewhere deep inside of them."
Okay bad joke...
Well, it wasn't meant as a joke. I was serious here. I really thought so. Every people were homosexuals deep in their minds. Every girl admired another girl and kinda loved her; every man somewhere looked up at another man, thought that he looked good and everything.
In my case, I was bisexual. How I knew? Of course not because I noticed how I stared at shishou's ass once in a while, seriously. I just knew. I knew that I liked men and women. But I never knew that it would become big topic.
I looked at the display. "Thank god, just another hour."
That meant in about an hour I could leave this plane and say that I survived the stupid flight. Senpai thought my little break to take a deep breath was something like a license to talk again. Stupid fake-prince.
"Ushishi, the frog is really afraid of flying, how amusing." amusing my ass stupid orc-prince.
I never knew what he was even thinking. I mean… I was thrilled by my shishou to analyze all the people around me. No problem with all the Varia members. Not even Xanxus was a problem for me, but senpai was different. Sometimes I couldn't tell if he was lying, being very sarcastic, or if he hid a secret. I think that was the reason why I hated him.
"I'm not afraid of flying. I just get sick easily when there is bad air. That only means if I'm in a plane, a car, a bus or whatever for long time. I'm a man of nature." I rolled my eyes.
An Illusionist needed nature around him. We were a special kind of people. We were sensible and physically very skilled, which means that I lacked nature spirit energy that should circulate, and of course I could forget that in this plane.
"The air here is quite good, don't get all worked up about it.
"It's better than in the economy class and if you're such a 'nature-human' you will swim the next time to Vegas, believe me." I shivered a bit inside.
Oh no. No, no, no, no, no. Never. Swim? Forget it fake-prince.
"What are you taking there actually the whole time? So, sooo~ And how did you came to this interesting interpretation?" He leaned back and crossed his arms behind his neck.
He seemed very relaxed if you noticed his next comment.
"Oh and the plane can still crush down. Things can happen a lot in an hour, so no reason to be happy, froggy~" He really wanted me to commentate his stupid words, he really begged me to. Unfortunately I talked a bit too much in my opinion, I definitely had to work on my "not-talking" skills, but it was too late.
I started, and when I started there was not a moment I would shut up. In case I wasn't about to say something nobody should know, though…
"With my bad luck it even would happen." I was serious.
The 666 Hell ring brought bad luck to his owner before it happened that he had one moment of luck, but I believe it was just a bad joke from someone who thought it was funny to tell such stories. But if you wanted to know, the number of bad luck I had till now was about 640. Maybe I would have luck one moment in this stupid trip.
"Bad luck? Yep, me too, with you as a partner." I knew he meant my being as I was, my annoying and a bit childish way of behavior. But I still felt offended.
"You have never seen my skills in a real fight, except the little combo-trainings with Lussuria, you never saw me fighting. You are absolutely clueless about my skills."
I raised an eyebrow to cover my little shiver again and crammed my nails into my jacket.
"And for your information, Mammon was a man." And that was my last comment for the rest of the flight.
Bel
That's right, I indeed hadn't seen him in a real fight; one about life and death, or something like that. But my "bad luck" comment dealt with his annoying existence. Not with his abilities. I told him exactly this. It just was misfortune to get someone as a partner, and you turn out to absolutely loathe him. Possibly there was one single person that stood above him on my I-totally-hate-to-death list. Said person was my twin brother Rasiel, although he actually shouldn't be counted in. I had killed him years ago before my time in the Varia. Rather 13 years ago.
So, depending on whether you counted him in or not, Froggy was first or second on my list. Impressive accomplishment.
"And for your information, Mammon was a man." His comment…
"What does he have to do with this?" I asked still a bit confused and well, maybe, a little bit hurt.
I tried to repress all those memories about him, Mammon, my former best friend. The prince never had something like friends. Not that that had ever been a problem or something such as this. It had been my own will. I hadn't needed any friends. Mammon had been an exception. It was a bit different. So how did this frog dare talked about him as if I hadn't known him at all?
I chased off this more or less emotional memory by a simple short sentence: The dead are dead, Bel.
That sentence always managed to get me back to my normal behavior. Simply said, it brought me back to being that asshole-prince I was to give people, like Fran, a hard time. But right now, I just wanted to land.
"When will we arrive?" I asked impatiently.
I wasn't up for the plane's noises, the blinding sun, the boredom and the sitting around. I was everything but a sportsperson, but this even went on the prince's nerves. Not just on our man of nature. Said one answered my question. Half-an-hour…
We left the plane half-an-hour later entering America. It was hot out here. Just like I remembered, although we weren't here in summer, like the last time.
I turned to Froggy, grinning, "Welcome to the land of opportunity, dear Froggy."
( Author's Notes:)
Hi guys Thanks to our beta-reader YourOfficialEditor
We´re Enjambement. Two girls from germany and we hope you liked the prologue. The next chapter will be a bit more introduction, but it gets really funny at chapter 2 and 3, so if you´re curious, we recomend on continuing this story.
Please check this site out, for further information:
.com/
and a big sorry to Ryki that we had to get another Beta-reader. I´m sorry. Seriously.
Enough said till now.
Enjambement