Words from the author: OK, so still getting used to the whole setup here on , so please bear with the formatting glitches that come up as a result. I kinda wonder if this thing is enjoying the mischief it's causing... oh well. Onto the story, and as always, please enjoy ^.^
"Well, who would've thought that the bounty had gone down so low?" The speaker said before his taller companion bashed him on top of the head. His hat took only some of the edge off the blow. "OW!"
"It's called 'Doin' yer research' and apparently you didn't do enough. Why'd you have to send us out on this wild goose chase anyway? He was a pipsqueak. A pint-sized puny runt of a demon with a tiny bounty," The basher sighed as he slipped his arms behind his Mohawk and started twirling his finger around the tie that held his mullet-like hair in twin tails. "Hardly worth our time, I'd say." A warm breeze played in his blue Mohawk.
"Right, but don'chya be knowin that there are fewer guys we can give a good beatin' to round these woods? They may be weaker'n us, but we need the cash." A certain red-haired demon said as he kicked a rock aside.
"On top of that, you keep drinking away what we DO make." The blonde demon added with contempt. The others often wondered about his preferences with all the flashy outfits he chose.
"Oh, right. Like your precious beauty products don't add to the tab? 'Oh, look at me in my be-yu-ti-ful make-up! I may look like a clown, but at least—' my foot ain't up yer arse and your rubber nose ain't down your throat. It's all that you'll get in meals next time I cook," Chu blurted out, spittle flying everywhere.
"With the way you cook, I don't think there's going to BE a next time," the floating midget said above Suzuka's shoulder. "I don't know about the rest of you, but being drunk from soup that's been cooking for hours is not the way I want to go to sleep. Hangovers aren't something I enjoy." A few murmers of agreement followed.
"How the heck do ye get hung over when ye barely touched the stuff? You called it garbage after one bite." Chu smiled at his memory of the food. "It was first rate cooking! There was nothin' wrong with the stuff." It's amazing that the mere memory of it was enough for his face to start flushing.
"Yeah, maybe for—" Touya paused, freezing in place. The others followed suit and shut up. The trees in the moderately forested area surrounded them, and distant leaves were heard moving. Each head turned to the sound. They readied for an encounter. Nothing good ever came from an upward attack. Jin gently floated just above the ground, and the others built a small aura around them.
Rina couldn't help it. She was starving, and they had so much that… she kinda ended up stealing a serving or three of the band's food. Roasted boar meat would be perfect with her latest batch of herbs. Thinking she'd gotten away without a hitch, she started back to the road only to discover that she was sorely mistaken.
"And where do you think you're going with our food?"
"Home, so I can try out a new recipe. I'm sure it'll be delicious," she added with a smile.
The lesser demon lunged at her while calling out, "I don't think so!"
She dodged easily enough by leaping up. She bounded even higher by using his head as a springboard and landed in the lowest branches of a nearby tree.
"Seeya guys!" She called as she waved goodbye before turning back toward the road and leaping from branch to branch. The other two members of the raided party came rushing after her screaming obscenities and throwing rocks at her. They haven't even mastered their basic energy spheres? Wow, they must be more minor than I thought. She rushed on ahead without hesitation and surefooted grace.
Jin's ears wiggled slightly as shouts reached his ears. "It's juss someone bein' chased again."
"Things never change, do they?" Touya commented.
The shouts grew closer before they decided to keep moving. They all froze again when a large crash and an even louder scream came from the same direction… Only this time, the scream landed in front of them with a muffled "Oooph!" and not one, but two thuds. Yup, Rina bounced when she landed, making impact just that much more painful. She recovered quickly enough to check for the food, discovering that the extra leg was at Chu's feet. As she reached for it, the shouts grew loud enough to make out.
"There she is! Now let's teach her not to mess with us."
"Yeah, nobody steals from us and gets away with it."
"Oh, brother," Rinku said when he caught sight of the pitiful excuse for demons. "You idiots left your stash to go running after her, didn't you?"
"Uh, well…" The leader seemed to stumble, sweat starting to run down his neck.
"Then you may have been stolen from already. And it's likely to be much worse than just a little bit of food."
"We've still got to teach her a lesson!" The one on the left said.
Rina held onto her food tight as she tried to hide behind Chu. He seemed about 6'6" so he should easily be able to hide her mere 5'6" self.
"Aw, see? Now you've really scared the little Shiela." He turned around to face her. "It's ok, I won't let them hurt a cute little thing like you." He winked. "Promise." He turned back around to find that the three demons were already beaten up pretty bad, one being dragged away by the other two. "See? I kept my word."
"Really, Chu. You didn't do anything," Touya said, a tone of disdain leading the words along.
"Well, thanks for saving me. I guess I should be going now, so—"
"What's the big hurry with ya now? Not like we're gonna gobble ye all up." Jin put on his best smile and even wiggled his ears to add effect. Rina smiled at his ears.
"So were you really stealing their food?" Shishiwakamaru said, his sandles flopping as he stepped around Suzuka to see. Nobody had noticed him shift form.
"Well, I was hungry and they had so much so…" She at least had the sense to look embarrassed and a little ashamed. "Besides, I wanted to try out a new recipe, and this would be perfect for it." She looked up suddenly, and idea flashing behind her dark brown eyes. "I know! How about I make this into a meal for you and me to share as thanks? What do you think?" Her bright smile spread across her whole face.
"I dunno. I mean… we just met and all, and…" Rinku stumbled.
"How do we know we can trust you," Suzuka cut to the chase.
"Well… I don't know. I do owe you guys though, so it's the least I can do."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Chu said with a huge grin on his face as he hunched over to wrap an arm around her shoulders.