Chapter 4: Kishin Eggs and Giraffes

Liz's arms hurt. Groaning, she set the shopping bags on the ground and stretched, Patty doing the same. She had spent longer than she meant to shopping, but she couldn't help herself from exploring every store, stand, and spa at the mall, the temptation and excitement too great for her and Patty to withstand. She had majorly splurged on spending, buying everything from nail polish, to all kinds of clothes and outfits. Patty had been insistent on getting matching outfits like Kid said, even forcing her to buy, of all things, a cowboy hat, although Liz had put her foot down when it came to the short shorts Patty had wanted. She was not exposing that much of herself to men like her mother did, instead settling on some skinny jeans with color similar to her sister's shorts. Sighing, she followed Patty to the bathroom to change. Well, I guess they're not that bad, she thought, looking herself over after she was done, adjusting her hat a little. The red half shirt actually flattered her figure, and the skinny jeans fitted quite well with her build, making her look a bit more attractive (in her opinion). Likewise for Patty; the red half shirt was more exposing than Liz would have liked for her little sister, but otherwise the shorts made her look more childish, as they were a bit too big for her and flared out around her thighs, giving her a innocent look that Liz thought she rather liked. The cowboy hats, which Liz futilely tried to talk her sister out of, actually didn't look that bad on them. In fact, it made Liz look a little more mature… in her own way. Liz smirked, giving herself another look over. Yes, this wasn't bad at all. Finally satisfied and giving Patty another look over, she left the bathroom, smirking to herself. I could use a shower too… she began to think, but before she could finish an ear-deafening crash filled the house from the living room, causing her and Patty to bolt downstairs. As they reached the living room, an extremely amusing site met them, causing Patty to erupt into gales of laughter. Underneath a large pile of bagged groceries from the Death City Mall laid a tremendously irritated looking Kid, who was currently faced down on the floor, cheek pressed against the skull patterned rug.

"Geez Kid…" Liz put a hand over her mouth, every part of her fighting to burst out laughing like Patty, "Having-" She let out a snort of laughter, unable to help herself, "Having a little trouble with groceries?"

Kid looked at her as if she had just asked him what two plus two was while tap-dancing,

"No, I decided to bury myself underneath this massive pile of woman's products for my amusement."

His eyebrow twitched and his tone became more pressured,

"Which I might add… is disgracefully asymmetrical!"

"Alright, alright, I'm getting you unburied!"

Liz hurried over at the threat of another one of his tantrums. She was tempted to leave the little brat buried there, but she really didn't feel like watching him throw another tantrum. It was a bit hard to get him out from underneath; Liz had to grab his hand and yank as hard as she could, which, when he was unstuck, she regretted rather badly.

"Ge… GET OFF ME PERVERT!"

She yelled, pushing him off with all her strength, resulting in him toppling onto his back beside her. He merely picked himself up, brushing off his suit and straightening it, before offering his hand to Liz, who, to her own surprise, was still lying on the ground.

"I… I can get up on my own!"

She said loudly, picking herself up crossly. Quit blushing damn you! Liz resisted the urge to slap herself in the face, glaring at Kid sourly,

"How'd you get buried in Patty and my stuff anyway?" She asked bitterly, "Were you going through it like last night?!"

Kid flushed lightly at "last night", causing Liz to doubt even more that her cigarettes (damn she wished she had one) had simply "fell out of her pockets". He gave her a sullen glare, his tone sparked with annoyance,

"I brushed up against it. I would have tried to make it symmetrical, but I'm afraid it was rather disagreeable on that point."

Liz was about to give a snarky comeback when her eyes flicked down and saw the things clutched in both Kid's hands, bringing on a new bout of snickering, and forgetting her annoyance and embarrassment,

"Kid… why are you holding a stuffed giraffe and a coloring book?"

Kid's face shifted from sullen, to surprised, as if he had forgotten they were there in his hands, his tone shifting to straight-forward and blunt,

"Ah, these? I told you that you needed a new hobby, so I got you this."

He held out the coloring book,

"I am correct in assuming humans do things such as this for recreation?"

Liz didn't know whether to just stand there in disbelief, or give him another good one to the jaw. Finally, she settled on the former, before finding her voice again, dripping with sarcasm,

"A damn coloring book? Do I look five to you?"

Liz crossed her arms, giving Kid a look of utter incredulity. Kid merely looked slightly confused,

"Then I am incorrect in assuming this about humans?"

The way he looked, like an eight year old trying to comprehend advanced algebra, Liz couldn't help but let out another sniff of laughter,

"You really thought I'd use that?" The look on Kid's face told her the answer, and so Liz moved on before he could answer, "And what's with the giraffe? And if you say that's for me you'll be dead reaper meat."

She added threateningly, putting a small growl in to let him know she was serious, that even if she probably couldn't beat him to save her life, she'd give it her best shot. Kid looked at the giraffe, and held it up, saying sheepishly,

"Oh, this is for Patty, I thought she might like something to keep her busy too."

This time, he at least had the decency to look apologetic, even if it wasn't that much. Patty, however, had quite the opposite from the disbelieving look Liz had had, her laughter stopping immediately, giving way to a completely awed look,

"That's… for Patty?" She said it softly, as if dazed, "Like, a present?"

She looked at Kid as if he might disappear any second. Kid merely looked at it, and back to her, then nodded thoughtfully, as if just considering that possibility,

"Yes, I suppose it is rather like a present…"

He smiled slightly, like he was rather enjoying the idea. Patty just stared blankly,

"No one's ever given Patty a present before."

Kid's smile widened ever so much, it was barely noticeable, becoming a shade more genuine, before quickly switching back to the small smirk he usually had,

"Well, they have now. Please take it, my arm is getting tired."

He held it out farther, as Patty approached tentatively, still eyeing it as though it might disappear any second. She reached out, as if in a dream, quickly snatching the stuffed animal the way a small child would snatch a hamster, so as to not let it escape, pulling it close to her and rubbing it to her face.

"It's soft." She murmured, her voice muffled by the animal, then looking up at Kid with a hopeful expression, "Is it mine for realsies? Like I can name it and stuff?"

Kid nodded, the apologetic look gone and replaced by a look of confusion,

"That's not for me to decide. It's yours."

Patty stared for a second, wonder in her eyes, before giving a giant squeal of joy and running out of the room holding to giraffe by its front legs on her head, laughing and whooping. Liz watched the scene play out with a blank face, seeing Patty so ecstatic. No, ecstatic was an understatement. Human words couldn't even describe the look of complete happiness of Patty's face, receiving a gift when she never had before. For the first time, Liz felt a twinge of guilt in her gut for how she had responded to the coloring book. Sure, it was embarrassing, (and slightly degrading) but considering the giver wasn't even human, and the only humans he had probably been in contact with were probably ones getting their soul collected, (or whatever the hell reapers did with them), it did seem like a genuine attempt at thoughtfulness on his part. She heard a small rustle behind her, and was surprised to see Kid crouched down, organizing the groceries on each couch so that each bag was parallel to the other. Liz stared for a moment, and then, she did something that Elizabeth Thompson would never do under ordinary circumstances. She didn't even know why, she just felt as if she had to do it. She walked up to the massive pile of groceries, crouching down beside Kid and helping him, picking up the groceries the way he was doing it, and trying her best to get them symmetrical like he did. It took several minutes before she realized he had stopped, and was staring at her with an unreadable expression, the golden, two-toned eyes completely sealed over, as if he were purposely guarding his face from expression. Liz looked back at him and raised an eyebrow, saying the first word that came to mind,

"What?"

It came out snider than she actually meant it too, but the guy's face didn't change. He just stared at her as if he had never seen her before in his life.

"You're helping me."

His voice was blank, without any tone at all. Liz just rolled her eyes,

"So? I got nothing better to do. No one ever helped you before with this stuff or something?"

Kid blinked, before saying in the same voice,

"No."

Liz stared at him in disbelief. Where were this brat's servants? His parents! His friends! He was a rich kid; he was supposed to have all that! Now he was saying no one had ever helped him with cleaning up and organizing. That would be servant's work for a kid like him. Maybe he's not really that pampered after all… she looked up and found him still facing her direction, but his eyes weren't in the same place; they seemed more introverted now. Liz couldn't help herself. She stood up, every question that she had had about him poured out of her mouth like a broken dam,

"What the hell is wrong with you? Have you been completely isolated from society or something?! Do you even talk to humans aside from us?! Why the hell has no one helped you, you should have servants or something with all the damn cash you got!"

Liz wished she could take back the words, but she couldn't now. She didn't even know why she had asked them all like that, she wasn't even thinking anymore. Why should she even care? He's probably going to be pissed… Liz's imagination went into overdrive, although she stopped it. If he didn't want to answer them, he didn't need too, she had just asked, even if it was without thinking. Kid said nothing for a second, his expression no longer unreadable; he was wearing that strange look he had with Patty, although this time, she read something in his eyes, something that asked, Why do you care? Slowly, he opened his mouth, the words coming out blank and emotionless, although she swore she heard something in them she couldn't place,

"Nothing is wrong with me. I am free to go where I wish. I've spoken to my father's Death Scythe a few times, but other than that I prefer to keep to myself. I am in no need of help thank you, much less servants, and the money belongs to my father, and it is usually used in investigations involving bribing, infiltration, or any kind of consorting with humans. They can be easily swayed with anything really, so long as it holds some kind of value to them, no matter how pointless it really is." He smirked slightly, "Even if it is just paper."

Liz stiffened at the words. They were spoken in a bland, business-like voice, but she could hear the insult in them. Even if it is just paper. The words bit her pride as she silently glared at him. Did you steal money because you placed value on it, or because others did, the yellow eyes seemed to be asking. Because others did, of course, her response to herself was, but no, that wasn't it.

"I don't care who placed value on what." She growled, staring Kid in the face, "It kept Patty fed. That was all I needed to know."

The words had the desired result. Kid seemed lost for words, staring at Liz like she was a completely new species. Liz stared defiantly back, trying not to look away or blink. Finally, Kid spoke, his voice quiet, timid, like a shy child being introduced to someone for the first time,

"Why are you willing to sacrifice everything for her?"

Everything about his tone, the way he stared at the ground, told Liz that Kid was terrified of the answer. Getting gored, going on missions for his father… and he's scared of this? Why is that? Then Liz knew. She knew why he was so afraid to hear the answer. Her thoughts swept over his OCD, his fits, his need to create a perfect world… the way he looked at Patty. He was afraid of not understanding, and personally she couldn't blame him. He was supposed to be the future Grim Reaper, death incarnate, everything being exact, neat, and balanced. When something that he couldn't understand came along, he obviously didn't know how to deal with it, with his little fits, and that look he gave Patty. He couldn't understand why people would sacrifice things for other people. Wonder why that is… wait. Why was she thinking about that? Why should she care? What did she care if he didn't like the answer, she'd tell it to his face, whether he liked it or not,

"She's my sister Kid. I love her."

Her own voice surprised her. It wasn't snide, like the tone she used to mug people, or mock Kid, it wasn't angry, or resentful. It was strong, calm, and steady. The voice she reassured herself with when Patty was hungry, that she'd protect Patty until the end. And here she was, saying it out loud, the reason for everything she did. It felt good.

/\(/*\)/\

Kid didn't want to ask. He didn't want to know. It just forced its way out, not caring whether he didn't want to hear it, he just had to know. What made them so close? Patty was immature, happy all the time, and always optimistic, while Elizabeth was tough, hardened, and suspicious of any actual good luck that came her and her sister's way. Completely asymmetrical. Yet, they were somehow perfectly balanced. They fit together like two pieces in a puzzle. He couldn't understand why. And it scared him. He was the son of Death, the future Reaper, he had to understand! Then Liz said it.

"She's my sister Kid. I love her."

The answer he had dreaded. It wasn't just mutual need, or attachment, it was the strange human emotion of love. A pointless emotion that he had left to rot. He didn't love anyone because he didn't need too. Love just made one unbalanced, willing to risk their life for a pointless objective. For Shinigami's sake, he had lost her over love. He hadn't understood why. So he didn't think about it. Love made things un-orderly, so he abandoned it. He didn't need it. He didn't want it. Now, it was what made the pair so perfect, yet so asymmetrical. It made no sense.

"Kid."

He looked up at Elizabeth's voice, staring her in the face. She was scrutinizing him, trying to read him. He wouldn't let that happen. He forced himself into the mask he wore so well, the perfect symmetrical face that he had grown accustomed too. Liz spoke as he looked up; he heard utter disbelief in her voice,

"You tellin' me got nobody? Rich kid like you, you gotta' have friends or something!" She stared at him for a moment, as if trying to stare him into telling, "At least you know your parents, they hate you or crap?"

Kid stared at her, a weary feeling weighing his chest down. Why was he feeling that? She was saying the truth. He had no one, Death walked alone, and he was to be Death's heir. That was the truth, so that's what he would tell her.

"Death walks alone. I am Death's heir. I need no one."

"Then why'd you pick us? Out of all the damn girls probably falling over themselves to be your hands or what, why us, huh? And don't tell me it was an act of charity, brat, you're up to something."

That question pulled him up short. Elizabeth's voice sounded suspicious and mocking, but he barely heard it. I needed weapons to be my right and left hand, he wanted with all his heart to say, but something stopped him.

"Is that really the only reason Kid?"

That tiny voice that plagued him. He had been able to ignore it for so long, why was he hearing it now?

"Do you really need no one?"

He shut it out, smothering it under thoughts of all he went through to achieve balance. Death felt nothing. It claimed its victims and moved on. That was the way of life, and that's how it would stay. Even his father, ever cheerful, didn't hesitate when it came to his duties, even if it did cause him pain. Outbursts, like the one the night before, were pointless. He had to be better. He wouldn't feel pain. Finally, he found his voice, forcing himself to sound calm and collected,

"I chose you two because you had the best capability to be my weapons." He saw Elizabeth open her mouth with an indignant look on her face, so he quickly continued in a curt voice, "Please get your sister. I have selected a first level Kishin we will be able to practice combat on. Should something go wrong, I can handle it with Death God Martial Arts. Please hurry."

Elizabeth didn't say anything as he walked out, for which he was thankful.

"Hey Kid."

He stiffened. Something about Elizabeth's voice was different. It was almost… threatening.

"Patty likes you. She thinks you're really something doing this for us." She paused, growling after a second, "If you let her down…"

She didn't finish the sentence, letting the threat hang in the air. Kid didn't know what she would do, and he had a feeling she didn't either. It was this or going back to living on the streets. There was no decision to make. Kid's shoulders tensed, forcing out a question that had been on his mind since Elizabeth had entered the mansion,

"How about you Elizabeth?"

He felt her tense behind him. He couldn't read her thoughts, but the long pause told him she was thinking about it. That was good; at least it was some progress.

"I think you're a creepy, screwed up head case who thinks he's something real special."

Kid blinked. He wasn't necessarily surprised, he had actually been expecting much worse, but her tone suggested… teasing? Was she making fun of him, or being completely honest? Forcing himself to be calm, he turned and looked Elizabeth straight in the eyes. She had a practically evil smirk on, but her eyes seemed uncertain, withdrawn, as if she didn't really know the validity of her own words. He hadn't noticed before, but they were a deep azure blue. Like Patty's, except clearer, more focused. Something real special… that's what I am, isn't it? He mused in his head, I am the only son of Lord Death and future Death himself. I should be flattered… However, for some reason, he felt a touch of irritation in his chest, determined not to let it show.

"Elizabeth Thompson, I'm the Grim Reaper's son," he said bluntly, focusing his yellow eyes on her in a piercing gaze, "I am something special."

With that, he turned, ignoring the teenage girl's death-glare. Well, I'm just giving her the facts, aren't I? Was his only thought as he strolled down the hallway, opening the door to wait outside for the two girls.

/\(/*\)/\

Patty ran throughout the house, adrenaline and joy flooding through her. That boy had given her a present! She clung to the fluffy thing as she ran throughout the house. Was he being nice to her? The thought stopped her, and she stared at the beady black sewn on eyes of the animal. It had a big long neck, with spots all over it, with a goofy long face and funny things on its head. It was funny looking, yet completely adorable. Just like Kid-kun, she thought, as she ran over his image in her head. Those white stripes on half his head were funny, yet she didn't really find it unattractive, like he seemed to think they were. If she had to say anything, they looked just fine on him. Then there were his bright, double colored eyes. While any sane human would find them unnatural, she didn't think much of them. They were an eye color. What bothered her about them was that they were… not right. They looked like… almost like Sissy's, kind of cracked. She had seen the cracked windows of the run down motels Sissy and her stayed in sometimes, when they were really lucky, except Kid's were different. Sissy's eyes looked broken, she seemed like she had given up on hope. Kid'll make her better, she smiled and looked at the gift. Yes, Kid would make Sissy happy, and Patty would see her smile. She had seen the halfhearted smiles she gave Patty on the streets, but Patty didn't want those anymore. She wanted Sissy to really look happy, the actually look Patty in the face and for Patty to honestly say that they were both happy now. That would happen, she knew her sister. Sissy would warm right up to Kid when the time was right, Patty could just feel it. Then there was only Kid for Patty to worry about. He didn't look like Sissy, his eyes weren't broken and hopeless, suspicious and always on the look-out. The only way Patty could describe them… TAPED! The word zipped through her mind, and she felt an unnecessary sense of over-accomplishment she got whenever she got something right, mentally patting herself on the back before going back to musing. Kid's eyes didn't look the way they should've for a boy of his age; just like Sissy, it was obvious he had grown up too fast. Maybe faster than Sissy. They looked like someone had broken a window, shattered it to a million pieces, then precisely and exactly taped them neatly back together. Somehow that was worse than flat out broken. Patty had remembered that while the tape fixed the window in the motel, the cracks were clear as day. There were times when Patty had felt like an animal in the streets, hunting, sleeping wherever, but no longer. I can be a little girl again… the prospect dazzled her, almost making her feel light headed. She could fill it all in. The childhood she had always dreamed off… coloring, having stuffed animals… she was Kid's weapon, yes, but that seemed small, tiny compared to what they were being offered. A home, as many meals as they liked, a warm bed, and maybe… Patty's chest spontaneously swelled and shrunk at the same time, the possibility seeming stupid and ridiculous, yet exciting and new… a brother? A touch of guilt made the excitement go away, We'll never be able to repay him for this... the least I can do is give him a family. Yeah, he's our brother now! She was at first ecstatic and then she flashed back to Sissy's suspicious glare… Well, mine anyway… she shrugged, I bet Sissy'll learn to see him like that, all she needs is some time. Her optimistic thoughts flashed back to Kid, with his taped window eyes and mask of a face. An idea came to her head, a wild and crazy one, but this was Patty's head. I'll get them both to get along! Her chest puffed up; Sissy gave her love and kept her from starving, Kid gave them both a home and the first good fortune both of them had in years. I'll give them happiness, she thought, satisfied.

"PATYY! KID WANTS US!"

Patty turned her head at the voice of her sister, saying in the happiest voice she could,

"OKY DOKY SISSY!"

A rush of satisfaction filled her as she said those words. Yes, her childhood could be hers again, and she definitely wasn't going to waste the chance, she thought, as Sissy stared at her which bemusement.

/\(/*\)/\

Liz thought about it as they flew. Oky doky? Why would Patty say that? And so cheerfully! While Liz held herself a bit back from the resonance, even when she felt the tug, and the fact that all three of their souls were in tune, she could feel Patty trying her all to resonate and be in tune, to the point where Liz felt that Patty was almost right next to her, despite being separate. Liz didn't know why she held herself back a bit. Was she afraid? Did she just not want to give Kid the satisfaction? She didn't really know, but it took all her willpower not to allow the full tuning. But, even if she held herself back, she could still feel it. Patty's happiness, her hope, everything. All she had felt off her in the streets was hunger and malice, but now Patty's soul seemed to have swelled. Liz didn't feel her soul swell, or grow in power. It must have been the resonance, strengthening Patty and putting her in tune with Kid. Patty's happiness and quickness to warm to Kid must have been the explanation for that. So what about me? Why am I able to be in tune with Kid? Not fully in tune, but like… we're the same… she felt her soul jolt in surprise. In her thoughts, she had unconsciously allowed herself to slip into the connection. She was able to hear Kid and Patty's thoughts. Kid was thinking the same thing. She felt his surprise as he realized she had slipped into the connection, and she felt the jolt of the connection to him being severed momentarily, feeling it carefully coming back, but she couldn't hear his thoughts anymore; they were sort of muffled. Hey, this is sort of cool… Turning, she focused her attention on Patty, who was talking to Kid through her thoughts as well, and Liz heard her. Patty was happy because… she would be able to make up for her lost childhood? Was that what she was so happy about? Did Kid give her that chance? Another thought surprised Liz. Patty wanted to help Kid? With what? Patty heard her thoughts; she turned and smiled at Liz. Patty's soul was bright pink, a healthy color, and she turned back and started talking to Kid again, who, while she couldn't hear his soul, she felt a muted emotion of surprise coming off him, and had a feeling he might have been talking to Patty. Patty stopped talking, smiling at Kid, and it was obvious after a bit that Kid had fallen silent. It took her a while to realize that she had slipped deeper into the connection, and she was now right next to Patty. She suddenly felt panicked, trying to do what Kid did, but before she could, Patty turned to her and smiled, speaking to her through thought,

"I asked Kid if he was surprised you came in. He said yeah." She laughed a little and continued, "He thinks you don't like him much. He thought it'd take a while to get you to actually let yourself slip in."

"Yeah, well tell him that it was an accident anyway. I spaced out."

Liz thought grudgingly. Patty only laughed, answering cheerfully,

"Kid can hear you Sissy. He got embarrassed cause you two can relate."

Liz blinked, surprise, then irritation coursing through her soul, addressing Kid, in the case that what Patty said was true,

"HEY JERK, IF YOU'RE GOING TO READ MY DAMN THOUGHTS THAN LET ME READ YOURS YOU DAMN SNOOP!"

She snapped, feeling the connection jolt slightly at her outburst of irritation. She felt Kid's soul hesitate slightly, then reluctantly let himself back into the connection.

"What were you saying to Patty?!"

She demanded heatedly. How was he willing to admit that she and him could relate?!

"I was telling her she needed to mind her own business."

Was his curt response; he was talking out loud now. Liz felt like smacking him, but considering the limited space on the board, that might not have been the best of ideas.

"About what?"

She demanded. Kid raised an eyebrow, speaking in the same curt tone,

"I refer you to my first answer."

It was strange how Liz reacted, it was an emotion she had never felt before; an urge to strangle him, mixed with a bizarre urge to laugh, and they clashed in Liz's chest, resulting in her merely sniffing and debating in her mind whether to punch him when they got down. Her thoughts were interrupted by Kid's voice, which was tense; his soul had noticeably braced as well.

"We're heading down. Stay in gun form, and stay in the connection. I'll try to channel my soul wavelength into yours. Should something go wrong, I'll make sure you're safe." He turned to look at both of them, eyes narrowed, "Whatever you do, stay in weapon form."

His tone was different somehow. It was tense with anticipation, and he looked like an alley cat about to spring. As they headed down, she realized that the place they were at was not her ideal location. It was all rock, no moss, just rock, and thick mist gathered everywhere like a blanket of clouds.

"Don't tell me the Kishon is here…"

"It might be hard to fight without knowing where the Kishin is… and it's pronounced Ki-shin, Elizabeth."

"Do reapers have a magic ability or whatever that lets them see through fog or something?"

She inquired further, nervousness taking a slight hold on her, causing the connection to waver slightly. Patty merely laughed,

"Sissy's scared!"

She laughed again, causing Liz to get a spark of irritation, biting back a sharp retort in her head.

"I will not let any harm come to you or your sister, I told you before, I can defeat it if something goes wrong. I have faced worse you know."

"Like wasp witches?"

"Shut up."

Liz laughed. It was short, and more of a sniff, but she enjoyed the feeling all the same. She didn't know why, but at that second, she felt unexplainable warmth in her, like she was actually being welcomed for once. It faded quickly, but she didn't let go of the feeling of it. Much like getting an annoying song stuck in one's head, she couldn't let go of it, even though she partially wanted too. This boy, blessed by birth, and her and her sister, cursed by birth… she looked up, and was quick enough to see the corner of Kid's mouth twitch; this time, it definitely wasn't her imagination. She couldn't even deny it; she had felt the warm feeling in Kid's soul too, even if it had gone even quicker than hers, not faded, but stomped, as if Kid purposely snuffed it out.

"Death walks alone. I am Death's heir. I need nobody."

The chilled words ran through her head again. Geez, at least I had Patty…

"I need no pity."

Pity?! Was he getting that? Am I feeling pity for him? … Liz winced, but at the same time, an idea struck her, and she allowed herself as deep into the connection as she could go, searching Kid's soul. She sensed confusion at her actions, annoyance at her reluctance to fully connect… then… something unexpected happened. Something flashed before her eyes, an image, but before she could take it in she felt a huge jolt as she was shoved out of Kid's soul. She expected anger or at least annoyance, instead she got coldness,

"I have had the decency so far to keep out of your soul. I know this doesn't come naturally to you, but please mind your own space."

Liz felt like she'd been punched in the gut. She didn't know why, but something in that remark made her soul shudder; perhaps it was how cold he had sounded, paired with the seeming emotionlessness of his soul. Something told her, that beyond the soul's barrier, she had really made him mad. She had only meant to push his buttons a little, maybe find something embarrassing to get back at him with, but she had overshot, and crossed some kind of line that she could tell even Kid didn't go too.

"He's hurting real bad."

Those four words uttered from Patty rang through her head again. Something had happened there, she thought as she looked at Kid. He looked almost sick to his stomach as he landed that skateboard… Belzabuub or whatever he called it. I'll think on this later… she thought, looking at Kid. She didn't know why, but she instinctively changed the subject,

"So… where is the… Kishin?"

"Close. Ready yourselves…"

Liz saw the barrier around Kid's soul go down slightly, letting her read his emotions again, although not as clearly. She got something like unease, although it was hard to read through the tension. Warily, Kid stepped off the skateboard, stepping lightly. Even Patty, she could tell, was tensed, flashing her reflection in the gun to keep a lookout. Liz tried to keep the connection, remembering how serious Kid sounded when he told them too. Liz hoped their lives didn't depend on it… her concerns cut off as Kid tensed, sending a message to both of them through his mind. It's here. Liz stiffened, looking at where Kid was, and she let out a gasp, Patty gaping beside her. The… thing, looked almost like a normal man, dressed in clothes, the build roughly the same, but the comparison stopped there. He was huge and not just tall human huge. At least ten feet tall, with a gigantic metal bar in his hand and a metal mask on his face, he was everything Liz pictured as those crazy serial killers she had heard about. Wait a minute… that… that's no mask! DAMN IT THAT'S HIS FACE! She half panicked, the connection weakening noticeably.

"Keep calm Elizabeth. I will not let any harm come to you or your sister."

She didn't know why, but Kid's voice steadied her; it sounded more confident than normal. She didn't have time to think about it; whatever it was calmed them with a guttural growl, bar raised. Next thing she knew, she felt a spinning sensation, and they were behind the creature, Kid kicking the thing to the ground and raising the two while it was slightly dazed.

"Elizabeth. Patty. I'm going to try to channel my wavelength through you. I need both your cooperation."

"'Kay!"

She felt Patty attempting to resonate with Kid, and, after hesitating, she reluctantly let the wavelength be channeled through her. She didn't like it, but she'd rather not wind up flattened. She felt something like a shock go through her as Kid pulled the trigger, gasping. The wavelength shot from her dispersed; she had not been able to compress it from the shock of the feeling. Patty's shot looked like a bullet, knocking the thing back, but not doing much damage. She was about to brace herself, when she noticed something…

"Kid! You don't pull the trigger with your pinkies, dummy!"

She yelled irately. Kid's reaction was merely indifference,

"It's more comfortable this way."

Liz was about to snap for him to hold her and Patty right when she noticed it charging them again, yelling out,

"Whatever, I'll show you how when we get back!"

She was cut off when the thing swung at them from the side, expecting Kid to be knocked aside like a fly, but instead she felt herself in Kid's grasp, leaping backward while shooting. Liz barely had time to brace herself before the wavelength jolted through her, desperately pitching it at that… whatever it was the way she did whenever Patty was firing her; anything to kill that damn thing! This time, the wavelength stayed compressed, Patty's alongside it. They both hit that… metal-head square in the chest, this time making it stumble slightly, even though Liz's wavelength was noticeably much weaker than Patty's. She couldn't help but feel a little sense of pride at being able to compress the wavelength, smirking slightly, Patty grinning like a maniac, shouting,

"YEAH, YEAH, DIE YA STUPID GIANT THING!"

She felt the wavelengths being shot through her, one after the other, and she felt herself quickly getting used to the feeling, although she couldn't always keep them all decently compressed what with how fast that guy was firing. She had to admit, he was quite a good shot, even with his weird way of holding them upside-down. Kid landed, skidding backwards slightly and dodging remarkably quickly, with seemingly no effort at all. I can see how he beat those goons so fast… she thought as he jammed both Patty and her at its throat, forcing its head up.

"Give it all you got on this one."

Liz didn't necessarily like being ordered, but there was no better opportunity for a kill shot, and she didn't feel like looking at that thing any longer. She felt his wavelength go through her, and she forced it out through her as hard as she could, feeling Patty doing the same. This time, the jolt didn't hurt, it felt like more of a quick shudder, and a feeling of accomplishment rushed through her without her permission as the thing's head exploded. Liz expected to see a gush of blood, but instead, its head exploded in a shadowy energy, the rest of it almost looking like it was unraveling. As the shadowy tendrils unwound and dissipated, a small red floating ball came into view, floating at eye-level of Kid.

"Kid? What's that red thingy? Do we play with it?"

Came Patty's cheerful voice. Liz looked up, and was slightly surprised to see a small smile on Kid's face as well, a satisfied smile. He spoke out loud,

"It's a Kishin Egg. You and Liz did well; I didn't expect you two to channel my wavelength so easily…"

He seemed to be speaking to Liz more than Patty. Liz merely huffed, going back to her moody self, even though she still couldn't keep that little feeling of pride from entering her chest,

"You act like we've never shot each other before… you saw us shoot yourself didn't you?"

"Firsthand."

Liz chuckled. She couldn't help herself; she was starting to feel light-headed with relief and giddiness, half from finally killing that thing, half because she was just plain dazed from the effort it took to pitch that kid's wavelengths.

"Sissy's tired."

Patty giggled weakly, giving birth to a yawn; she looked just as tuckered out as Liz.

"You both, I'll fly you back to the mansion. Get some rest; we'll try at a soul link when you're ready…"

"Desperation does wonders on how much of a jerk I think you are."

Liz mumbled, sighing and relaxing into the link. She didn't really care about not showing weakness or any of that crap; she felt like she wanted to pass out. Patty seemed to feel the same way, sighing and merging their souls into the full connection just for support. If Kid was tired, he didn't show it; he was tense throughout the full ride to his mansion.

"No."

Liz's soul woke up slightly, listening to Kid's thought,

"Huh?"

"It's your home now, should you decide to stay. It's not just mine anymore."

"Huh. You take a friendly pill or something brat?"

Liz wasn't really in the mood to talk, but it was weird at the spoiled brat's attitude change.

"I'm not being friendly. I'm stating a fact."

Liz was too tired to be surprised, but she smiled a little. Patty and I have a home now huh?

"Should you decide to stay…"

So he had guessed. Was she really that readable? She had been sure that she was leaving, but now she wondered. Patty seems so happy with Kid… she wants to help him… whatever he needs help with… she stared at Kid, who's eyes were fixed ahead. She and Patty weren't homeless anymore, she realized. It had crossed her mind, but she had figured she would make off with what she could and never see the brat again. Then what? Back to poverty? Stolen money wouldn't last them forever, it wouldn't pay rent constantly. The home was theirs, he said. Patty was happy. Patty was happy, she had somewhere to live, and she didn't seem intent on leaving at all. Did that mean Liz was staying too? To have an actual home…

To be… happy?