Leixia tossed the Davapra Yuga and down in the air, never failing to catch it in her dainty hand. It was very rare that she ever took it off, so rare that there was a tan line, a thick stripe around her neck which was significantly lighter than the rest of her skin.
And of course her travelling companions had teased her relentlessly just like they did with everything. She had ignored all their comments. She had been quite cold towards all of them lately, even when they were not teasing her. She didn't care stay up to sit around the camp fire with them and always chose to walk around town by herself. She had also been more quiet, almost silent sometimes and even she knew she was behaving out of character.
She knew it would take a couple of months to get over the fact that she would never see him again. She wasn't even sure where Patroklos had gone after he left her and the others to save his sister. He could be in any continent, country or city. No one bothered to ask where he was from let alone where he was going. With many warriors, talking about origins and past lives was not something enjoyable. No questions were asked. It was easier for everyone. After all, mysterious or tragic pasts were the reason why most of today's warriors were warriors in the first place. Either it be avenging dead parents or atoning for their sins, if someone had a sword in hand, they usually had a long, interesting story to tell.
She desperately wanted to know about his past. She wanted to know everything about him. Now she would never get the chance to discover his secrets. She would never got a chance to speak to him or even see his face. He could be dead for all she knew.
They thought made her shiver grimly and she shook her head quickly. 'He defeated Nightmare, he saved his sister and they're both living happily in some little cottage somewhere.' She smiled at the thought of him reuniting with his sister. She had not even seen his sister Pyrrha but she was almost certain she was blonde like her brother and certainly one of the better looking human beings...like her brother.
When she first set eyes on Patroklos she felt her chest tighten to point it actually cause her discomfort and her face went a colour that clashed with her soft blue outfit. Travelling the world, Leixia had seen so many handsome young men, but he was on another level of attractiveness, a league of his very own. Maxi had told her about hormones and how she was at that age when boys seemed so interesting and appealing but... it was definitely not just because of her age, she did not care what anyone said.
When he had beaten her in their 'Prove Yourself worthy' match, she acted nonchalant but inside she held nothing but admiration. The way he moved with his sword with such deadly grace and precision was amazing and she could not take her eyes off of him when he was fighting the others. That was why she had lost, she was so distracted by him.
"Subtle," Natsu had snorted one morning when they were travelling with him.
Leixia had felt extremely annoyed and frustrated with her after that, she was the one going up to him and making outright flirty remarks and innuendos. Despite herself she decided that letting a boy turn her against her best friend was outright pathetic and she was much better than that.
She changed her mind later that day when she saw the strawberry blonde ninja slyly kiss him on the cheek, plus he actually smiled! She refused to talk to her for three whole days and she must of known why because the older girl kept sending amused looks in her direction. It was all just a game to her but Leixia was sure she had fallen in love with him.
"Leixia! Leixia!" The shouts of her name brought her back to the present and she quickly look up to see the red clad teen running up to her with cheeks to match her costume and shallow breathes. "We gotta go! We're boarding the ship now!"
"Wha-!"
"Xiba's really pissed of the city guards, they're-"
"Say no more..." she sighed.
"Phew, thank god we got away in time," Xiba said twirling his staff idly. "I thought I was going to get locked up and forced to eat dirty prison food."
Leixia growled and walked over to the railing of Maxi's pride and joy (the ship). "You are stupid, Xiba."
"Hey, why-"
"You do realise we can't ever step foot in that city again, right?" she asked, angrily.
"That city was crappy anyway," he said dismissively. "Nothing to do there."
"It's fine," Maxi said, as he handled the wheel of the ship with experience. "We won't need to go there again. Although they do sell really good chicken fat ..."
"Ugh, the thought of you putting that stuff on your hair just turns my stomach," Natsu groaned, putting a hand to her tummy for emphasis.
"You're just jealous because you didn't think of it," he said. "Do ya' think I was born with hair like this? No ones that lucky."
Leixia watched them all with a fond smile, their banter was comforting in a sort of way. The three were her second family and she felt guilty for being so distant with them these days.
"My hair is waaay better than yours," Natsu announced proudly, sticking her hands on her hips and strutting towards him.
"Please..." Maxi snorted.
"It's a nicer colour for starters."
"Blonde hair is boring" he chuckled, knowing he would rile her up.
"No it isn't," Leixia said, suddenly. Everyone turned to look at her, surprised by her sudden outburst.
Natsu gave a satisfied nod and smiled. "Leixia knows."
But Natsu's locks were not what she had in mind, the hair she had in mind was a couple shades lighter and much shorter then the pretty ninja's flowing tresses for that matter.
"Guys, what about me?" Xiba said, bouncing towards them like a puppy. "My hairs red! Not ginger, actually red! Like an apple! I think that's better than blonde or black or brown! I have the superior hair!"
Leixia could not hold back any more and she decided to give her input. "I think my hair is pretty cool when it comes to style. Not many girls have their hair like this," she said, pulling on the silky tendrils hanging in front of her face and then flicking one of the braided loops on her head.
"Not many girls know how to put their hair like that, especially not in Europe," Maxi said with a chuckle. "Maybe you win when it comes to originality."
The four all continued to have their strange discussion before it was concluded they did all have pretty impressive hair.
"Man, what a couple of losers, arguing about hair," Natsu chuckled as she stretched her arms skywards.
"Hey Maxi, you haven't even told us where we're going?" Xiba said. "There better be good stuff to eat."
Maxi smirked slightly. "You're in luck. We're going to the Athens."
"It's hot."
"So perceptive, Xiba," Leixia sighed as she too was having trouble adjusting to the sweltering heat. "If you don't have anything worth saying don't say anything at all."
Maxi raised his brows, Natsu bit her lip and narrowed her eyes while Xiba's normally cheerful expression had fallen into a sulking frown.
"I'm sorry," she sighed, guiltily. "I guess the just heats getting to me... Xiba?"
Xiba's face slowly settled into a small grin. "I think your just PMS-ing..."
All three of them sniggered as her face flushed red. "I guess I asked for that... I really should stop taking my moods out on them. If I carry on, it won't be long until they tell me I have to go."
"So where to first?" Natsu asked when they had stopped laughing.
Maxi looked around. They seemed to be in front of a marketplace. There were colourful stalls selling fruit, clothes, random trinkets that no one would ever need. There was also an array of shops lining the streets.
"Actually, I kinda need to go somewhere," Natsu announced.
Maxi raised his eyebrows. "Oh? Where?"
"The blacksmiths," she said pointing her thumb towards a shop behind her with Blacksmiths carved crudely into a wooden sign. "My swords are a bit out of shape."
"Do you want us to come with you?" Leixia asked.
"Nah. You don't have to. I'll be 10 minutes at the most."
Maxi turned to the the other two. "Shall we go check out the town?"
They nodded.
"And-"
"Yeah, we'll get some food too," Maxi said, cutting Xiba off with a smirk. Xiba smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his neck.
"Well, see you later then," Natsu said, turning on her heels and walking in the other direction.
"Don't you want to meet up somewhere, Nat?" Maxi called.
"Nah, I'll come and find you..."
"But... You won't be able to..." Maxi sighed and shook his head as he watched her walk off. "Boy, would it hurt her to wait a second? She never thinks things through."
Xiba cocked his head to the side curiously. "She's so quick to get away from us..."
Natsu whistled a song to herself as she walked into the shop. She smiled slightly and sniffed the air. She could smell metal and smoke and it was surprisingly nice and rustic. She looked around and saw that the shop seemed to be empty. "Hello...?" she called out loudly. She shrugged when there was no reply and made her way towards a glass cabinet. It was lined with red velvet and on display were impressively made weapons, a rapier, a katana, a pair of wind blades and a claw glove.
"They're not for sale..."
Natsu nearly burst out of her skin as she spun around to see a young women with short dark blue hair dressed in a peasant dress.
"I wasn't looking to buy," she grumbled. She thrust her sheathed blades into the women's hands abruptly.
She unsheathed the twin daggers and examined them. "Bent out of shape and too blunt to even cut a ribbon in half..." she observed, as she turned the twin blades in her hand. "What in the name of the Gods have you been doing with them?"
Natsu didn't like the way the women eyed her up as she talked to her, like she was suspicious or something. She rolled her eyes at the unusually coloured haired women and stuck her hip out. "I've been using them as knitting needles..." she bit out with bitter sarcasm. "What do you think I've been using 'em for?"
The women stared at her blankly, a hundred and one thoughts of flooring, punching or slapping the girl went through her head. She suppressed them quickly and stuck her chin in the air with a steely gaze. "You want em' touched up?"
Natsu nodded slowly in a patronizing manor. The women glared before slowly tearing her gaze away and walking around the corner out of sight. "Pat!" she shouted, loudly. "You've got more work to do!"
Natsu knew she should probably stay put but she was curious, she had never seen an actual blacksmiths before. She followed the women quietly around the corner and found herself in the workshop part of the shop. The other part must be for buying and selling weapons, she concluded.
Slowly, she peaked round the corner. She saw the women walk through a door which left two young looking men. One was a ginger with hair that hung in his eyes, dressed in a brown shirt which hung on his scrawny body, with matching trousers, boots and gloves. The other had his back turned and was leant over an anvil hammering away without stopping. He was wearing similar clothes to the ginger but he was more built and muscular so the clothes fitted on him rather than hung on him. His hair was tousled, curly and blonde. She felt her heart speed up (even though she hadn't even seen his face)
"Excuse me?" she spoke out, not being able to stop herself.
Shit, why did I do that!?
The two boys flinched and quickly turned to look at her. "You're not aloud here, miss..." the ginger boy said, shyly.
She paid no attention to him, she only stared at the boy she now identified to be Patroklos. He stared back in confusion before a small weary smile came to his lips. She was too shocked for words but managed to wave and let out a giggle.
The ginger boy looked at Patroklos and then at the young women. "You've got another girlfriend?"
"No... And what do you mean another-"
Natsu squealed in delight and attached herself to him in a tight embrace. Her arms circled around his middle and he stared down at her, feeling little baffled. She slowly pulled back to look at him and smiled brightly. "I thought I'd never see you again!"
"I... thought the same, It is nice to see you Natsu."
Natsu placed a hand on his arm. "The others are here too! You have to come and see them!"
"I've got work to do..." he said, gesturing to her own swords. "These are your swords aren't they?"
"Ohh, how long would it take to finish them?"
He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by an angry women. "What the hell are you doing in here?" Natsu head shot to the side to see the girl from earlier marching towards her. "Customers are not aloud in here! I'll get you arrested for trespasing! What's your name?!"
Natsu looked to Patroklos for help and gave her a quick nod. "It's alright, Adara...She's..." He sighed gently to himself. "She's my girlfriend..."
"But you said-"
Patroklos pinched the ginger boy discreetly and he yelped like a dog, rubbing his arm and glared at him with malice.
"Dekel? Is he telling the truth?" she questioned, persistently.
"...Yes," he grumbled as he rubbed his arm.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Whatever... But you're still not allowed in here, so get out-"
"Oh, can't I just wait for him to finish?" Natsu pleaded. "Please, I'll just stand here... I won't cause any trouble..."
Adara looked to Patroklos with sceptical eyes, he shrugged. "Fine... You don't talk to him, you don't move a muscle and you certainly do not touch anything! I'll make you pay ten times the amount for anything you damage, understand?"
"Of course," she smiled.
"Natsu's been more then 10 minutes," Xiba pointed out. "Maxi?"
Maxi was not listening as he bit into his food. A plate of seafood which should of cost a lot but cost but 1 silver coin. Good food for a cheap price, the thought made him smile warmly. Leixia watched him from across the table, she was sat next to Xiba who was also eating. After a 5 minute argument, Leixia had persuaded Maxi that she was not hungry and did not need any food but now she wished she had let him buy her something now. It did look appetising...
"Maxi? Natsu's not back yet, it's been like an hour," Xiba continued, with his mouth stuffed with food.
Maxi swallowed his mouthful and nodded. "She must of missed our message and got lost..." Being the resourceful and clever man he was, the raven haired man had pinned a piece of paper saying, Meet us at Neptune's seafood place on a post just outside the blacksmiths.
"I bet she's met some boy," Leixia grumbled. "Again..."
"Leixia," Maxi started. "Are you implying that Natsu is a... whore?"
"Lord Maxi," she replied nonchalantly. "Please, don't put words into my mouth..."
He cocked a thick, weirdly shaped eyebrow at the words 'Lord Maxi'. He hadn't heard it in a while. They were long past formalities like that and the fact that she was referring to him as that once again after so long only emphasised how stuck up and cold she was being. It was like she had completely disregarded their friendship built up over the past year and put them back on square one.
"I wasn't."
"You was."
Maxi had never gotten into a real argument with Leixia and he did not care start now. The girl was like 12. He just shot her a smirk to show he was not taking her seriously and she growled softly.
"I think we should go look for her guys," Xiba said trying to change the subject. "She's probably lost-"
"Lost? Really Xiba!?" Natsu appeared in front of them and she was not alone. "Ninja's don't get lost. Especially with a local at their side."
Leixia's eyes rounded and she swallowed. She was on the verge of fainting. Natsu was right in front of their table, clinging on to the arm of none other than-
"Patroklos!?" Maxi exclaimed loudly.