Change in Seasons

Crystaldaggerz

Chapter Four

A/N: Hello everyone!

''Sherry, he'll be okay won't he?''

Sherry parted her lips to speak but closed them. She watched silently as Brago slept in the bed his pale skin even paler and moist with fever. She dabbed his face with a cool wet towel and returned it to the bowl sitting on the nightstand beside her before wringing it out again.

Her mind was scrambled with all sorts of crazy thoughts and her heart had not ceased in racing madly in her chest. She watched him cringe once more in his sleep and she dabbed his forehead. Despite all of her uneasiness, she wanted him to wake up. She didn't even know why she was so out of order. He wasn't himself when he had looked at her like that. And he wouldn't be until they found a cure…now that Hiewa had accidently activated the potion. She sighed tiredly.

''Sherry...''

This time she turned to look at the small face leaning in over Brago. He was standing at the edge of the bed, his features revealing a mixture of both worry and fascination. He did not understand why Brago had fainted when he was drenched with water, but he felt guilty nevertheless. He was the one who had done it after all.

Dark eyes fastened on the dark mamodo's face, he knotted his brows together in concentration, the deep lines that formed as a result looking alien on the boy's usual serene face. Sherry let the towel rest upon her partner's forehead and stifled a yawn. As much as she hated to...all she could do now was wait...

Deciding that waiting at his be side would be a complete waste of time, she turned to Hiewa to ask if he was ready for breakfast. His face lit up and he laughed charmingly, though not because of the announcement of food.

He crawled unto the bed until he was on top of Brago. Sherry nearly fell over. What in the world was that child thinking?

''Hiewa! Get off of him, that's not such-''

''Brago! Wake up! Wake up! Don't be a baby, I saw you blink!''

Sherry moved to grab the boy but had reacted too late. Brago had already awakened and sat up, giving Hiewa a fierce glare. He was obviously not too pleased with the hyper active boy's antics. He made an attempt to push him off like an annoying insect, but Hiewa managed to keep his balance on top of him. The annoyed mamodo narrowed his eyes into mere crimson slits. ''What the hell are you doing foo-''

Hiewa's earlier shyness and fear of Brago seemed to be thrown out of the window. Before Brago could complete his sentence, the little boy threw his arms around the startled Brago's neck laughing gaily as he did so. This time Sherry did fall over. ''Don't worry Brago, you're still cool to me even though you fainted like a girl'' Hiewa responded cheerfully.

While Hiewa's expression was cheery and benevolent, Brago's was that of an enraged psychopath. He looked homicidal. ''Get off m--''

Again before he could finish Hiewa interrupted him. Though this time not with words, but by leaning over him to retrieve something from the night stand beside the bed. He picked it up and held it out for him to take. Hiewa gave another friendly smile.

''I know you didn't drink any last time 'cuz it fell so I fixed you another glass!''

Brago froze, his red eyes fixed on the glass as if it was a malevolent demon from hell. By this time Sherry recovered and immediately came between them to retrieve the glass from Hiewa. Ever so carefully, she pried it from his grasp and placed it on the floor under the bed. If it spilled, it would do no harm.

She leaned over the two again to speak to Hiewa as she lifted him from the bed and onto the floor.

He looked both thrilled and confused, the result giving him a look that she was quite certain she saw a puppy give her once.

''Why did you do that Sherry? I wanted to give him water...''

Sherry smile nervously as she looked from him to Brago. This was most definitely going to be a long day.

''He...he can't have any Hiewa...''

''Why?''

She thought for a moment. How in the world was she going to explain Brago's condition to this boy? Tell him that water would turn him into a lustful love struck slave of who ever gave him the potion created by the perverted potion maker Koi?

''He's—''

''I'm allergic''

Sherry looked over to him. He was now sitting at the edge of the bed his hand clutching his head and his feet dangling over the carpeted floor. His head was bowed, but she could tell by the tone of his voice that he was still in some sort of pain.

Hiewa blinked a few times in question before turning his head to Brago. ''Allergic to water? Nani?''

It took some gathering of courage, but she managed to force herself to move over to his side and lift his chin up, allowing her to place the back of her hand on his forehead. The heat from his skin was fierce and she furrowed her brows in concern. ''Brago, you're still burning up, you need to lie down!''

His response was a low cold growl. He slapped her hand away and stood shakily to his feet.

''I'm fine Sherry, just…just listen carefully: The boy is only present so that he can lead us to that mamodo that ran from us in our last battle. Why do you think I allowed him to stay? A fever is not going to stop me, I'm not human'' he growled, spitting out the word "human" with enormous distaste.

With that said, he made his way into the bathroom wobbly at first, but more steadily as he got closer to his destination. Hiewa put his hands on his hips and shook his head comically. ''He's grumpy. And why is he even in the bathroom if he can't bathe or wash his hands?''

Sherry looked at her hand still warm from the heat of his moist skin. Normally she would have become enraged at his little "speech", but she expected him to be more then a little cross now that the potion was affecting him. She had never felt so helpless before when it came to her partner and she didn't know what to do.

What was running through that man's mind?

''Damn!''

Brago cursed out loud, barely resisting the urge to punch a hole in the wall.

''Damndamndamn!''

Taking a deep shaky breath, he leaned over the sink, hands resting on both sides. He glared ferociously at his reflection, frustrated far more than he had ever been before in his entire life. What the hell was wrong with him? Could he not control any of his thoughts now? If that damn fool Hiewa hadn't spilled that water...why the hell was this happening to him?!

When Sherry had come over to check on him, when she had touched him, God he hated himself for those thoughts...he had wanted nothing more than to grab her and kiss those soft pink lips of hers. Since when did they look so freaking…and when in the hell did he start thinking like that?!

And the worst part was that all of the pain that he had been feeling, all of the dizziness, seemed to disappear for that small moment when he thought about kissing her senseless. He could still remember the scent of her, lavender, invading and taking over all of his reasonable senses. And her warm breath on his face...

''Damn!'' he cursed again feeling the proverbial agony return as he tried to stop those thoughts from further entering and controlling his mind. This was wrong. He was not supposed to be thinking such things about his partner, a human, about Sherry!

He took deep slow breaths. He needed to clear his head. A clouded mind in the mist of battle will not bode well for him, the outcome would most likely, even with his power, end in defeat. The same applied for this situation.

The dizzying pain was still present throughout him, but it was a small price to pay for the alternative. He would rather feel like his head was going to split in two then to have it full of her... just her. Though in all honesty, he would rather just feel her...

Damn!

He gave another growl in irritation. Damn that potion to the seven gates of hell! Was this going to happen all of the freaking time? What kind of mamodo king couldn't even keep control of their own thoughts?!

You don't need potion to admit that Sherry is taking effect on you.

He froze.

Great. Now he was hearing voices too.

''Shut up'' he growled heatedly to technically no one in particular. His reflection smiled at him.

You have hormones too, you know.

Brago cursed once more and ignored the grin mocking him from the mirror. If he was going to clear his mind it wasn't going to be in here. Although he hated to admit it, he was going to have to deal with this until he squeezed a cure from that horny bastard Takashi Koi. In the meantime he'd have to find a way to be in control...

A cure for what? These feelings aren't curable you fool.

Sighing, the dark mamodo splashed his face with cold water and stalked out of the bathroom and into the empty room.

Waiting for him at the front of the building was both Sherry and Hiewa. Hiewa was trying to keep his balance on a line of logs running along the sidewalk for decoration. Sherry was in front of him, arms crossed and sapphire eyes narrowed as she looked off in space thinking intensely on something. She had changed from her tattered purple dress and was now wearing a ruffled green one. When she looked up at the sound of the metal doors closing and found Brago, she laughed nervously. ''You were in there for quite a long time Brago...are you alright?''

Brago gave her a ferocious glare and ferociously squashed down the feeling of joy that erupted in him at the sight of her.

You see? You're happy just to see her! How cute...

He snarled and balled his hand into a tight fist. It's just the potion...he told himself fiercely. Just the potion.

''Brago was doing number two! That's why he took so long!'' Hiewa said aloud looking behind himself smiling. He pointed an accusing finger at Brago's aggravated expression. ''You went poo!''

Then, he got a revelation. "Eeeew. You didn't wash your hands!"

Successfully suppressing the urge to hit him hard on the head, Brago instead walked over to where Hiewa was playing and lifted him off his feet by picking him up by the back of his collar. The mamodo held the boy away from his body in a way as to avoid his frantic kicks.

Sherry glared at her partner blue eyes flashing with disapproval. ''Set him down! What in the world is wrong with you?''

Brago did not turn to look at her. Instead, he gave Hiewa a coy look. ''To begin with, I think you know perfectly well what's wrong with me Sherry'' he answered coolly. Sherry quickly looked away.

''Before we get this boy to lead us to those mamodo from before, I need to speak with that old man about the cure, which we will do now, regardless of what you might have against it'' Fuck waiting. He was going to collect the cure today.

This time he did turn his head to look at her sending a cold chill down her spine. What's with that look? she thought weakly. It's been a while since he looked at her like that.

''Put me down! No fair!'' Hiewa finally ceased his struggle when he accepted the fact he was going no where like that. He contented himself with sticking his tongue out at Brago. Satisfied, the boy crossed his arms in defeat. ''Big headed meanie...'' he mumbled sulkily. Brago gave him a look none too friendly.

''I will no longer restrain myself from you if you continue to act ignorant'' he hissed, his tone of voice colder than frost. Hiewa gulped. With that said, Brago released him.

Sherry went over to the two of them and took Hiewa's hand in hers avoiding looking directly at Brago. He was behaving ignorant himself, even if it was the potion...she couldn't stand it and she would not have anything to do with him until he tried to get his act together.

Without a word, she followed Brago holding on tightly to Hiewa's hand. For him, the entire way back to the diner was extremely awkward. He could feel the tension, like a thick choking cloud.

Sherry was angry. Partially because Brago was behaving so much like an asshole, and partially because she really couldn't do anything about it.

Brago was usually impatient, but he was a strong man. He could take a whole lot before he actually acted. However, his mind was in overdrive and the fact that the potion was driving him crazy did not help matters.

His glare did not leave his face nor did his knotted brows relax. His gaze was fastened to the sidewalk, not daring to look up to see Sherry walking there before him. He was battling thoughts of her which was filling his mind like water in a glass. He could feel her presence there and not looking at her wasn't helping him in the slightest; for one he could still smell her. He had never hated his acute sense of smell, but he did right then. And then there was that voice in his head…

His plan was to continue upsetting her. If he could just keep her hating him and avoiding him, he wouldn't have to worry about battling his thoughts and doing something incredibly stupid later.

You know you'll get gray hair trying to stop thinking about her Brago.

Shut up

Hey now! I'm just trying to help you out! If it makes you feel any better, it's normal for a man to have explicit thoughts of a beautiful woman. Or more then one. But in your case, I'll say that's pushing it…

Shut up!

Don't be so snippy. You're the one having these thoughts, not me

Similar arguments as this did not help in making Brago calm down; in fact, it did the exact opposite. He was tense and beyond himself with resentment, arguing with himself in a way that some would have described as ''insane''. By the time the group made it to Takahashi's Diner, both Sherry and Brago were emotionally drained. Hiewa, who had tired of trying to spark up conversation between them was elated to have finally made it to their destination. Laughing, he ran inside.

Sherry gave an exasperated sigh and followed him in. To her surprise, the diner was especially empty and clean—in such a way that it scared her. Hiewa was already in the back speaking animatedly to someone. The other speaker's face was obscured by the leaves of a potted synthetic plant, but she was able to recognize the man almost immediately.

''Koi san!'' she cried happily, the cure on her mind.

She rushed over to him. He smiled at her and took her hand immediately, his bald head almost blinding her. It seemed to be trying to outshine the rest of the small diner's polished furniture. Sherry looked deeply confused as he kissed her hand.

''Darling, my heart rejoices in being in you're glorious presence. I hope now that our love can escalate to the heavens without the aid of blasted potions and the butting in of that wretched creature that travels with you"

Sherry blinked her eyes a few times incomprehensively. Before she could reply and snatch her hand away, Brago was beside her. He knocked Koi's hand away in pure disgust. She hadn't heard him move at all.

''That wretched creature is here to collect that cure'' he growled icily. Sherry stepped back, giving them both room.

Could he possibly be jealous? She thought wonderingly. The thought was foreign yet amusing—Brago getting jealous of an elderly man and over her besides…even though it was the potion causing him to act like that. She didn't know exactly how that made her feel, but her partner's reaction was definitely amusing

Koi burst into a fit of nervous laughter and patted Brago on the shoulder as if the two were old friends. ''Ha ha! Funny thing about that, you see what had happened was...''

Sherry quickly caught Hiewa's attention and gestured him to come over and stand next to her... this didn't appear as if it would bode well.

Brago grabbed him by his shirt front in a blink of an eye and gave him an immensely intolerant look. The events of their last encounter came flooding back into the older man's mind. He raised his hands up in defense. ''I have it, I have it! I was just joking! Just come follow me'' he responded nervously. Geez, he thought. Just no sense of humor, huh?

With a grunt Brago reluctantly released him, his eyes still coldly fastened onto his moist face. Koi straightened himself out and turned away from the intensity of his stare.

''Follow me'' he said.

He quietly obeyed and left both Sherry and Hiewa who stayed behind, and followed him to the very back of the diner to what appeared to be his office. Not surprising was the fact that it was crowded and junky when Koi unlocked and opened the door allowing them entrance.

Papers, notes and folders obscured the surface of the desks which they were carelessly strewn on. The chairs that weren't covered with clothes and boxes lied in pieces on the floor. The elderly man led him to a table littered with bottles and jars, some filled with bizarre liquids in appearance. He expertly stepped about and avoided crushing anything as he stepped over the scattered odds and ends on the floor with great skill, clearing a path for them as he walked.

Turning on a small table lamp resting on the corner of his desk, he finally turned to face Brago, the light illuminating the rare serious expression on his face.

For one of the few occasions in his life, Brago was taken aback. If even this loony crazed elderly man was serious, his news would not be at all appealing. Barely able to push thoughts of doubt aside, he swallowed and cleared his throat.

''Well?''

Koi sighed and pulled out a file stuffed with paper from a drawer in his desk and sat it down.

''Well…I don't I can find a cure...'' he whispered.

Brago froze. An image of Sherry leaked into his mind despite of his concentration to keep thoughts of her at bay.

''What do you mean?'' He tried to control his anger without much success. There had to be a cure! "You said you had a cure"

Koi leafed through one of his plethora of notebooks as he spoke. ''I have been made aware of the mistakes in that potion...I'm not sure how, when I had made sure to look over everything'' he hit the pile of papers before him in emphasis. ''The only way that it would stop working now is if it wore out completely, which I sincerely doubt''

He paused and looked up to observe how the younger man was taking this. He looked completely and utterly enraged. He was gripping the table hard—so hard in fact, that the edge of it was breaking and the wood splintering. Coughing fearfully, the older man continued. He hated to do this though...

''I can look over these notes once more and try to make another potion—minus the mistakes. And with opposite effects and for free of course''

He looked in the corner of his eye to see what he thought of this. His red eyes were cast down, but he nodded slightly. He wasn't sure, but he thought he saw a look of hope in them. Hope and doubt.

''I will return old man'' he answered simply.

No threats.

No glares of hatred.

Koi didn't escort him out, he was not going to try his luck and see if the man would stay as calm as he had been. Instead, he waited patiently for him to exit his small crowded office before he sat down in a wooden seat after brushing off its contents to the floor.

He bent over his desk and continued leafing through the notes he had taken, his eyes quickly scanning up and down the pages. He to have made a mistake that would somehow help him out somehow right now. He felt incredibly guilty for what he had done...though he hated to admit it now, he shouldn't have made the dreaded potion to begin with.

Reaching for a glass of water, he noticed something he hadn't before. He searched through his book of spells stationed at his desk in which he had found the love potion. The elderly man frantically flew through the many yellow crinkled pages until he located the page that had caused all of the past unfortunate things to occur.

''Oh my...''

A/N: Review please :D