Disclaimer: Tales of the Abyss is not mine.

It's recap time, kiddies! In the last chapter, a wonderful dinner was interrupted before it could begin because some jerks decided to hold up a restaurant. Noelle and Jade are far from happy. No one interrupts their bets. No one! This particular chapter has more severe language than other chapters, as well as threats of rape, so I'm rating this one M to be safe. For the record, it is indeed THAT Oersted family.

Chapter 4: The Necromancer and the Fledgling Swallow

All of the customers in Kuchinawa's were dead silent, all eyes on the three with the firearms. No one wants to risk interrupting the guys with the firearms. One man stood out from the rest. He was, in a word, large, his muscular physique draped in a tattered midnight blue cloak. He had the eyes of a predator, and gave off an aura of a bloodthirst maniac. The gun pointed at a hostess' chin did not help his image. He spoke with a voice as pleasant to listen to as aluminum foil rubbing a shark. "It'd be a shame ta put a hole in this pretty head. Tell me where you keep your money and you live." Jade's brows furrowed as this depressing scene went on in front of him. He looked to his right to keep Noelle calm, but she had already slipped away. "I suppose there is no shame in hiding. She is a civilian, after all." He thought to himself. When he turned back, the other two rifles were aimed at him. The ringleader took her attention away from the hostages for a moment after Jade was subdued.

"Aren't you the legendary Jade the Necromancer?" Jade calmly replied, no hint of fear in his voice. "That is what those that fear me call me, yes." That annoyed the ringleader greatly, tempting him to unload a bullet or two as a lesson in respect. "The name's Komodo. Feel honored that you get to hear my name, geezer." "Of course", he retorted, "I know very well the amount of respect that arrogant punks deserve, especially when they can speak well enough to introduce themselves. Would you like a cookie?" Jade's smart mouth earned him a rifle butt to the stomach. If he didn't find a time to strike back soon, things would end badly. He sincerely hoped that Noelle was faring better. "Ay, boss. I need to take a whiz" announced the smallest and seemingly most idiotic bandit. Komodo scratched his temple in frustration and bellowed at him. "Thanks, dumbfuck! Announce to the world that you need to go take a piss! Take care of it and get back out here!" One out of the way, two to go.

On the way to the restroom to take care of his business, the thug with the bloated bladder found out where Noelle was. Her location wasn't getting back to the others, though. She wasn't allowing it. "Hey, what do you th-"was the last thing he said clearly before being caught in a sleeper hold. Noelle whispered maliciously into his ear to go to sleep. "Interrupt our dinner, will you? Now you get hurt…" she thought to herself. Noelle's only regret was that tonight was the night that she was stuck in the dress. She slipped back to the front to see Jade tied up and seemingly unarmed. Still, this is Jade. Why would he sandbag like this? "What the fuck is taking that runt so long?!" Komodo bellowed. He counted the money that a hostess had brought back and was very displeased. "Look, woman. I don't like being toyed with. Just hand over every bit of gald in here and I won't tear this place up. Why do you have to bullshit me like this?" He slapped the poor lady into a wall and ripped at the skirt of her uniform. "Ok, the stakes apparently aren't high enough for you fuckers, so listen up! If I don't have the money from this restaurant and from every customer in here in two minutes, I will rape this bitch in front of you! Clock's tickin'." There was no way that so many people could empty their pockets; Jade and Noelle knew that. Sandbagging and espionage were no longer on the list of ways to deal with the situation. Noelle stuck her head out from under a table and mouthed to be ready for some pain and to stop letting them hold him. What she was going to do, Jade had no idea. Whatever she had planned, he had to trust her. As they said in an old, extremely horrid cartoon series, it's Kombat time.

Jade moved for the front door and focused, uttering the incantation for one of his favorite spells. "O darkened storm clouds, loose thy blade and…" Komodo and his remaining henchman aimed their guns directly for Jade. This was the opening Noelle needed. Now that they were distracted, she could make her move. She moved as fast as her somewhat slutty high heels would allow. With a shout, she thrust her left hand forward and palmed the area between the two thugs. An image of a lion's head blasted them through the front door. Jade had to fall flat on his back to avoid getting crushed under them, but he was impressed. He'd have to ask where she learned how to fight later. Noelle untied him and helped him to his feet. "You could have taken all three of them out without any effort. Why were you letting them do that to you and the others?" Jade smiled, almost ashamed of his reason. "I was constructing a plan to get them outside. If I crushed them inside, we wouldn't be able to have dinner." His date thought more of him for that. He was thinking of everyone else the whole time. How sweet, she thought. Sadly, there was no time for happy thoughts. Though the minor goon lost consciousness, Komodo was awake and angry.

"You bastards! Do you have any idea who you just fucked with?!" He seemed a bit less threatening now that his gun was useless. Noelle wanted to rush him, but Jade held his hand out. "Now, now. You've had your fun." With a smirk, he stepped forward, not fearing the firearm at all. Komodo laughed at him and prepared to fire. "You had to have your woman rescue you, and now you're going to come at me alone and unarmed? You're a bigger dumbfuck than I thought." The colorful language was starting to irritate Jade, and it was high time that he punished the thug for it. "Call me what you will. Oh, before you go under, remember that only novices need to recite incantations." Before any questions could be asked, a violet sword composed of lightning fell from the heavens, putting an end to the petty theft. Jade fixed his glasses and headed back inside, where he and Noelle were greeted with thunderous applause. The hostess that was being held hostage hugged the both of them tightly. "Thank you so much for helping us. Free meals for you both, but if you don't like it I'll expect you to pay for the door." When asked how she could do that, she explained that she was the manager of Kuchinawa's and just enjoyed working in the front with the other ladies. There was no need to question it further, they just got free food.

Jade and Noelle were shown to a table close to the back so that they could have some privacy. Noelle marveled at the interior now that there was time to look at it. The dominating color of Kuchinawa's was red, though it was difficult to tell what shade due to the low lighting. Tatami mats lined the floor, and almost every surface seemed to have a purple cushion on it. This place was meant for letting loose, for getting into a tranquil mood and falling into a dreamy state. This place screamed "Emperor Peony" to Jade.

"Now that we have time, may I ask where you learned to fight? 'Beast' isn't something you just pick up." Jade rested his chin on his hands and gazed at Noelle while she explained. Apparently the flight academy she attended had a club for people that wanted to learn self defense. Noelle was happy that she could talk about the days before meeting them. It had been a long time since she had been able to share dinner and memories with anyone. "Yeah, Ms. Oersted was a real sweetheart. She was always there for me and didn't laugh at me when I busted my ass trying to learn Swallow Dance." Noelle laughed when she remembered the many times she failed to defy the laws of physics. Jade laughed along with her, being greatly amused by the image of her falling over. "I'm sure she didn't worry. Falling on that rear of yours is most likely the safest thing you could do." With a gasp, Noelle kicked Jade under the table. She wasn't trying very hard to hide the fact that she was flattered, but he still deserved that kick. "You know that checking me out is off limits if you want to win this bet, right?" Jade bent down to rub his shin and to take a quick peek at Noelle's legs. Shhh, don't tell anyone. "Just because I pointed out that your butt was well toned does not mean I was ogling. Fitness coaches do the same thing often."

After they shared a very large plate of steamed dumplings, Jade and Noelle left to find another venue. Their curiosity guided them to a small building made entirely of white brick. A marquis showed Grand Chokmah that the place was known as 'Tingle'. When they entered, they learned that it was a jazz club. Noelle cooed when they found seats. "We go from a moody restaurant to a club playing the sexiest music humans could ever hope to create. What are you after hm?" Noelle grabbed his arm and pressed herself against him just to mess with him. It was working, but Jade was determined not to show it. There was a wager to win, after all. "I'm after entertainment as always. What are you after, madam?" She didn't answer him; she just hung onto him and kept her head forward. It didn't take long to understand why this place was called Tingle. The tune was low and heavy, carrying a feeling of longing. Every note seemed to be targeted at the audience's clandestine thoughts. Noelle shivered and tightened her grip on Jade's arm. He wasn't the pillar of strength that she expected. In fact, he was quivering almost as much as she was. She looked up at him, her face becoming flushed. Jade's passion-heated crimson eyes gazed into the blue drowning pools belonging to the woman clinging to him. Within moments, there was no more sight, only the sensation of lips coming into contact. Jade's hand stroked her face, bringing a slight moan out of her. They understood what people meant when they mentioned the fireworks that come after one's first kiss. It was quick, chaste, but it said so much that words couldn't express at the moment. When Noelle could speak again, she whispered "So, would you like me to come up with your penalty now, or wait until we leave?"

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Well, well. Leave it to jazz to steam things up. What will Noelle come up with, and will Jade go through with it? We'll find out soon.