Chapter 4:Know your allies
Everyone sits in the spacious garden behind Veronicas' house. It has one large tree near the back of the property and three beautiful flower beds with benches to sit on. A large hedge maze lies to the eastern side, but appears very well-kept.
Ruby runs about and appears to be enjoying herself until she disappears into the maze. Vikari wanders to the nearest bench and sits in the warm sun.
"It feels good doesn't it?" Kazuki says sitting down beside her.
"It feels amazing," Vikari replies smiling as she tilts her face toward the sun.
"Now where did that little nymph go?" Akabane mutters to himself as he passes them heading in the direction of the maze. Hope sees the tree and spreads her wings. She flies up into the sky before descending into the branches of the tree and the cool shade it offers. Ari sits on the low deck over-looking the gardens and watches everyone. Suddenly there is a cry from the maze.
"Oh no, somebody went in there didn't they?" Ginji asks looking around nervously.
"Where's Hope?" Ban asks
"She's in the tree," Ari replies "I believe she's the black shadow sitting right above Shido," She smiles as Hope readjusts her balance.
"Ruby went in there," Vikari calls to them.
"Oh great," Ginji says heading towards the maze.
"I'll come too," Akabane smiles "She is my room mate after all"
"Hey wait," Hisoka comes up to them "I'll help too," He says.
"Let's go," Ginji sighs and they go into the dense maze "Stay close together. Losing someone else in here wouldn't be good,"
A Little While Later…
"Ahh!" Ruby screams as she falls out of a hedge right onto Akabane. She's a mess of twigs and leaves.
"Good we can get out of here now," Ginji says as they stand up brushing themselves off.
"Yeah, but which way is out?" Hisoka asks looking behind them.
"The maze seems to have changed," Akabane smiles "Now that we've found what we were looking for," He looks at Ruby.
"Don't look at me like that!" Ruby exclaims attempting to smack him, but missing.
"Not very good are you?" Akabane asks grabbing her wrist which is still in mid-air.
"Let go," Ruby replies coldly as she tries to pull her arm away, but his grip is too strong.
"We can't lose you again now that you've been found," He smiles at her. Ruby blushes and growls, irritated as a rebuked child, but she doesn't try to pull away again.
"I've gotten lost in here before, but don't worry it isn't too hard to get out," Ginji reassures them as he leads the way.
Meanwhile…
"They've been in there a long time," Ari says her eyes never leaving the exit of the maze.
"It takes awhile to get out. Plus they have to find Ruby," Ban says. Suddenly there's a commotion by the tree. Ari looks over and starts laughing.
"Oww!" Hope says opening her eyes
"Ummm…excuse me," Shido says. Hope looks to see that she's accidentally fallen on top of him.
"O I'm so sorry," Hope says getting up "Balance was never my talent," She laughs holding out a hand to help him up. "That's not funny, Ari!" She calls to Ari who's laughing on the deck.
"No Hope, It's hilarious! You're such a klutz!" Ari calls back. Shido sits up and leans back against the tree. Hope sits beside him. "Are you alright?" She asks. He doesn't answer. "I don't bite," She smiles "I swear,"
"All creatures bite if provoked enough," Shido says looking at her.
"Then don't provoke me," Hope says trying to be serious, but coming off very coy. He turns away from her with a slight blush. She lays down on the grass. "I prefer the shade anyhow," She closes her eyes until a thought occurs to her "Don't you ever get lonely?" She asks propping herself up on her elbows and looking at him.
"No, I have the animals," Shido replies.
"I mean for human contact. For love?" Hope asks.
"Never been in love. So I guess I wouldn't know," He tells her.
"I don't even now why I'm asking you this," Hope says looking at her feet in front of her "It's so weird. How the hell did you do that?" She looks at him again.
In another part of the garden…
"You like?" Vikari asks as she turns fire into amazing shapes on a small patch of dirt. First flowers, then hearts, then a blazing forest…
"That's amazing," Kazuki says almost breathlessly. "How do you do that?" He asks as she sits back down
"I'm a fire kitsune I can manipulate fire," Vikari replies with a smile. "It took a lot of practice though," She adds.
"Looks like they finally got out of the maze," Kazuki says looking in the direction of the maze as Ruby, Hisoka, Ginji, and Akabane exit.
"Hey guys you missed it! Hope, the klutz fell on Shido!" Ari calls to them.
"Ari!" Hope calls back in a whiny tone. They all head back inside as the sun reaches the horizon.
"Ah good, dinner is ready," Veronica smiles at them.
"Veronica you should've warned them about the maze," Ginji says.
"Oops. I knew I forgot something," Veronica replies smiling weakly.
"Yeah well it wasn't that bad," Ruby tells her as they sit down at the table now laden with food. After dinner they all find their way to their rooms and go to bed.
The Next Morning…
Hope awakens to the sound of a scream from across the hall. She dashes into the room. Ruby is standing on one side of a bed while Akabane stands on the other side. Hisoka looks at them groggily from the other bed.
"What's the matter?" Hope asks confused.
"I wake up to see him in bed with me!" Ruby replies pointing to Akabane.
"Sorry about that," Hisoka says getting up. "I made him sleep on the floor. He was being weird. I should've moved,"
"I thought opposite-sex couples weren't allowed in the same bed?" Ruby asks. Hope grins sheepishly. "O my god Hope you didn't?"
"Well apparently Tsuzuki moves around a lot in his sleep so…" She replies. "I was fine. He didn't do anything," She adds quickly.
"Yeah well at least you know that," Ruby tells her.
"Yeah I think the next one to scream will be Ari," Vikari says coming into the room.
"Good morning," Veronica says from the hall "Was there a problem?" She asks.
"It's alright Veronica we got it," Vikari replies. Suddenly there's another scream and Ari dashes out of her room. "Told you," Vikari grins.
"Well at least we know this will be interesting," Veronica sighs