Nick panted heavily as he stumbled into a town square. Ahead of him, people were dancing to a small band playing flutes and other interesting instruments. He looked around to see two blondes were sitting on a bench. One of them was about Nick's age; she had long blond hair that went a few inches past her shoulder blades and a few freckles on her nose. She wore a black tank top that showed off what little cleavage she had. She also wore short brown pants that went a little past her knee. She was drinking a small cup and talking to the kid next to her. The little kid was about ten years old and in comparison to her sister had short, dirty-blonde hair that stopped at her shoulders. She wore long blue pants that came down to her feet and a purple shirt. Nick noticed that they were both wearing rings and that the older one wore a necklace. He looked around to see that almost everyone had one or more accessories, so he figured it was style. Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out a mood ring. He slid in onto his right pinky and rushed up to the girls. Only to be grabbed by the collar by his girlfriend.
"Where are you going?" She spat out.
"Just going to get some information from those girls over there." Nick lied. 'I really wanted to dance with the older one.' "You wanna dance?"
"Not really, this isn't that good of music." She frowned. She let go of Nick and mumbled something about a crappy band. When she looked back, Nick had run off to the girls.
"Um…hello." Nick said as he walked up. His mood ring turned a bright blue and the older girl stared at it.
"Nice ÄRM, how does it change color?" The girl asked. Nick gave her a confused look.
"You mean my mood ring? It has a liquid in it that reacts to body heat." The girl got up and grabbed Nick's hand. The ring turned brown and she gasped.
"That's awesome!" The girl said. She let go of his hand and looked up to his eyes, he was about 3 inches taller than her. "What's your name?"
"Nick." Nick smiled and put his hand in his pocket.
"My name's Samantha!" Samantha smiled back and pointed to the younger girl on the bench. "And that over there is Catherine-chan!"
'-chan? They use Japanese suffixes here.' Nick caught on. "Nice to meet you Cat-chan!" He kneeled down and looked her in the eye. Catherine arched an eyebrow and looked away. Nick's vein bulged and he went to the other side of the bench to look at her. "You won't even say hi?" He said, holding back anger. Samantha tapped him on the shoulder and brought her lips to his ear.
"She's mute, she's been like that ever since our parents died." She explained. Nick nodded.
"I'm sorry Cat-chan. I didn't know!" Kira walked over with Rob next to her and looked angrily at Nick.
"You're hitting on TEN YEAR OLDS?!" Kira yelled. Nick blushed and got up.
"AM NOT!" Nick pointed to Samantha. "I WAS GOING TO ASK HER WHERE WE ARE!"
'Damn it! Why does no one in this friggin town ever ask me to dance?' Samantha pouted. "You're in Piko Town." She said. Nick raised his hand.
"I meant what world we're in. Apparently someone transported us from our world." Nick explained. Rob and Kira smacked their foreheads and then smacked Nick.
"Idiot! Now she thinks we're crazy!" Rob said.
"A Dimension ÄRM!" Samantha said. The three looked at her oddly. "Please tell me you know what an ÄRM is."
---
After a few drinks and much explaining
---
Nick nodded. "I get it now!" Samantha sighed.
"Finally!" She fell back on the bench. "Ok, since you're an idiot you owe me a drink…"
"Uh… other world remember? I got no cash…" Nick laughed. "You want a dance instead?" Samantha perked up and yelped in agreement.
"MY NICKY-KUN!" Kira hugged Nick protectively and glared at Samantha, who glared back at her.
"But no one ever asks me to dance!" Samantha complained. Kira didn't let up on the glare.
"Well, you could take Rob." Samantha looked behind Nick to see Rob searching his pockets.
"I LEFT MY NINTENDO DS IN THE CLASSROOM!" He yelled. Samantha arched an eyebrow and looked back.
"Uh… are you serious?" Nick laughed out loud and looked to Kira.
"I'm sorry Kira-hime, but I did say I would." Nick attempted to kiss her on the cheek but she moved it to the side. "Ok fine…" He said with an annoyed tone. "I'll dance with you after I dance with her ok?" Kira let go of him grudgingly and glared at Samantha again. Mouthing the words I'll-Kill-You to her. When Nick and Samantha got out of earshot, Samantha looked at Kira with a smirk and grabbed Nick's hand. Nick blushed a little and smiled politely.
"She's a little protective of you isn't she?" Kira was drilling a hole in the bench as she saw the two holding hands. Catherine stared at the current spectacle.
'Older kids are weird.' She thought to herself.
"Yeah, she's annoying sometimes, but she really is a princess in my eyes." Nick admitted. "So Sam-chan. It's just you and your sister right?" Nick grabbed Samantha's hips and she looked at him oddly. He looked around to see everyone else waltzing to the song.
"You don't know how to dance?" Samantha arched an eyebrow. 'I don't know why that girl likes him.' She sighed. (A/N: Samantha doesn't like him, she just likes to piss people off.)
"We uh…dance differently in my world." He sighed. Samantha followed suit and motioned to him. She brought her hand up and Nick interlaced his fingers with hers, she put his arm around her waist and she started turning in a circle. Nick turned with her and he quickly got the speed down.
"So, what's your world like?" She asked him with a slight smile.
"Crap…" He said harshly. Samantha giggled and looked at him carefully. She noted how his muscles were slight but noticeable, how his hair was barely past his shoulders and messy, and how his shirt had a skull with wings on it. Under the skull a royal flush was spread out with the words Born Lucky right above the number 13 that was on the skull. She also noticed how his pants were worn and light blue and barely went over the tongue of the black, flat-soled shoes.
"They have nice fashion sense." She noted. "But does everyone wear their hair like that?" She asked.
"Oh no, that's just me. I like it this way." Nick smiled. The song sped up and Samantha picked up the pace, Nick did the same. "If you're trying to mess me up, it won't work."
"I'm not." Samantha smiled. "Ya' know, you do look kind of cute with the long hair." She admitted.
"Ok, now you're hitting on me." Samantha raised her eyebrow. "It's a way of saying you're flirting with me."
"Am not."
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
"Don't deny it!"
"Shut up Nick-teme!"
"Never!" He yelled triumphantly. Samantha dug her nails into his side and he gritted his teeth.
"You're annoying." Samantha said.
"I'm sorry." Nick said with a smile. "By the way. Kira's gonna smash your sister's head in if we keep dancing, since the songs been over for a few minutes now." Samantha blushed and let go of him. She ran over and snatched her sister away from Kira, who looked at her oddly.
"What?" She asked. Nick came over and picked Kira up bridal style. She yelled at him and he put her down with a mischievous grin. She smiled as Nick grabbed her by the hand and took her to the dance floor.
---
"Are you sure it's ok?" Nick asked. Samantha nodded as they walked through the woods.
"Yeah, you guys can stay with us, you can use our parent's room." She said. Nick raised his hand.
"I call the bed!" Nick and Rob said at the same time. They blushed and looked at each other.
"Guy on guy?" Samantha said with a giggle. "I don't know, I guess with you two it'd be fun to watch." Nick whacked her across the head and cursed.
"Shut up!" He yelled. He clutched Kira's hand and they walked on.
---
Nick finished his soup with a gulp. "Thank you!" He yelled. Catherine smiled and sat down at the table.
"You finished already? Wow." Samantha said as she came into the room. "Catherine's a great cook isn't she?"
"Yeah! Thank you Cat-chan!" Nick yelled loudly. Catherine blushed a little and looked down. Suddenly, a loud rustle was heard from outside. Samantha raised her hand and a trident appeared in her hand. She rushed outside and a loud yell was heard. Nick ran out to see several large men with swords charging Samantha. Nick rushed through the group and punched one of them in the chest. The man reeled back and ran into another man, sending them both to the ground. Nick spun around and kicked another person in the head. They flew back and Nick grabbed a sword in mid-air. Samantha stared wide-eyed as Nick turned the blade around and knocked out the last bandit with a stroke to the neck.
Nick turned around just in time to see another bandit rush towards him. It was a long blonde haired man with a sword in hand. He has much older than Nick and wore a band around his head. (A/N: Since Nick came to MÄR about one year before the War Games, I'm going to assume that's when Nanashi was found.)
"Oh come on!" Nick mocked the blonde. He jumped over his head and charged.
"My thoughts exactly." The man said as he pulled a similar move and got behind Nick. Nick spun around and dodged the impending stab. He moved to the left and leg sweeped him. The man caught himself with his hand and propelled himself into the air. "You're pretty good kid."
Nick shot up and sliced. The man blocked easily and spun to face him. "Same with you, what's your name?"
"Nanashi. What's yours?"
"Nick." Nick fell to the ground. He got in a fighters stance, but turned around to see Kira walking outside. Nanashi's face lit up and he rushed over to her.
"Why hello the-"
"BACK OFF!" Nick rushed off and kneed Nanashi in the face. He went flying back and rubbed his head.
"Ow I'm sorry, I didn't know she was taken." Nanashi apologized. "Anyways, you're a strong kid. Do you want to join the Bandit's Guild of Luberia?"
"HELL YEAH!" Nick yelled. Kira hit him on the head and he corrected himself. "No, sorry. But I need a drinking buddy!" Kira hit him again. "What? I can't have a drink?"
"You're underage!" She yelled.
"But Kira-channnnnnnn!" Nick whined. She growled at him and he sobbed quietly.
"Oh well! That's why I'm single!" Nanashi stuck his tongue out at Nick. Nick ran at him and Nanashi ran away quickly.
"Jeez, he makes friends quickly." Samantha commented as she walked up to the house. 'And he fights like an ÄRM master.'
"Don't know how he keeps 'em. He can be mean sometimes." Kira made a 'tsk' sound and walked back inside. Immediately Nick and Nanashi ran to the woods.
"WOOHOO! PARTY AT THE TAVERN!" Nick yelled. Kira went outside and yelled and Nick once she realized where he was going. She then looked over to see bandits running after them with sacks. Samantha went inside to see that all the pot and pans were stolen from the kitchen. Rob and Catherine were staring with a dumb look at the ravaged room.
"What the hell's with him?" Samantha yelled as she ran to the forest.
---
"Ok, every time Nanashi gets a girl to hug him, we take a shot." Nick announced to the table. The bandits laughed and agreed. A few moments later, Nick walked up to Nanashi with a wobble in his step.
"Hey Nanashi-san. Can you cut down on the hugging? I think I'm getting drunk." Nick asked.
"What are you talking about? I haven't hugged anyone!" Nick smacked his forehead and sat down next to Nanashi.
"Sorry, I like the drinks here I think." Nick smiled goofily.
"You drink like a man who wants to forget his troubles." Nanashi commented.
"Ya' think so?" Nick asked. "Huh, maybe. Anyways, tell me about this guild of yours." Nanashi went into a deep explanation about his guild and Nick's eyes brightened.
"So basically I'm second in command." Nanashi said. "You want to join? I could get Boss to let you in."
"I'd love to!" Nick yelled. At that moment, Kira and Samantha burst into the room. The bandits raised their weapons but Nick calmed them down. "Wass up?"
"YOU'RE DRUNK!" Kira pointed a finger at him. "YOU PROMISED ME YOU WOULDN'T DO SOMETHING STUPID LIKE THAT!"
"I'm not doing anything stupid though!" Nick complained. The bandits backed him up and Kira twitched a little.
"I still don't want you drinking ok?" She said. Nick nodded and walked over to her. He grabbed her hand and looked over to the bandits.
"Sorry you guys, I gotta leave! Nanashi-san! Talk to me about the guild tomorrow ok? Ask your boss about it." Nanashi smiled and waved him goodbye.
'He's drinking for some reason, he isn't just crazy about the drinks.' Nanashi frowned. Then he smiled goofily. 'Oh well! I got me a new pervert buddy!'
---
A/N: MarHeavenAngel gets full credit for giving me the idea of making Nanashi and Nick buddies! EHEHEHE! Pervert buddies!
Anyways, I have to put in a bunch of story arcs before I can stop the story. Because I need to go past Nick's birthday, then about half a year more, then he joins the chess pieces. So I figured, I'll give him a permanent alliance for the time being! Then with that I can branch out to anything I need to.
Don't worry, it will all tie in with the Cross Guard. I haven't forgotten everything I already wrote.