Chapter IV – Just the other freak in the corner

An hour had passed since Nicole received her new room. Just enough time to check it out, take a very cold shower, change clothes and go outside. And it haven't even passed a whole hour! There still was plenty of time for a nice siesta under a tree. It seemed all that chocolate cereal gave the girl a sugar rush… but hopefully it didn't last that long. She already was somewhere in the little forest or park thing the farm was next to, up in a tree all relaxed and with a lollipop in her mouth. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and a slight splash of water could've been heard from a near by river. Too bad the maniac had her headphones digged deep in her ears and big sunglasses on her nose. She missed all the fun and she didn't seem to care about that. Behind her sunglasses her eyes were closed as she flipped the lollipop from a side to the other inside her mouth. Also, a normal persons ears would have bled if they were exposed to such a high volume of rap music.

Finally she made a move. A long yawn.

Too bad she didn't even put her hand to her mouth. The teen ended up almost swallowing a bug or a leaf. "Bleah!" she coughed out the 'intruder'. It seemed it was an innocent ladybug whom had flew away as soon as she was freed.

Opening her eyes wide, she took off her sunglasses and placed them careless on top of her head. With a grunt and a glare she swore under her breath. "Stupid nature…!" but it seemed with all that music bombarding her ears she didn't knew how load the words came out. It was almost a yell, just like Tarzan's. A female, rap-rock, dancing and very vulgar Tarzan. Nicole slapped herself for real this time. Nature was doing her no good after all…

There goes her almost perfect siesta.

Nicky sighed as she launched herself from the tree down on the grass. Hopefully she wasn't too high, and thanks to toad and his parkour lessons she learned how to do a lading without hurting her kneels too much.

'Landing.'

The mere word brought her again the memory of the last rehearsal of the maniac's dance.

"Goddamit!" she shouted less loudly then last time, since by this time one of the headphones got out of her ear. But still loud enough Tarzan had an new arch nemesis. After one or two kicks into the air and in the dirt, Nicky collapsed under the tree eyes closed and with no music or sunglasses on. She had to think of something else…

Yes, the sun was shining, the birds were singing and the slight splash of water from a near by river could've been heard. As she concentrated on the sound around her, Nicole heard a voice. It was faint but certainly it was a voice…

"This way Hagi. I believe it came from this place."

Her eyes went wide open as she got up incredibly fast and climbed the tree as fast as she could. Once up there, she hanged herself on a few branches higher then first time she went up and hid herself from whoever came that way. Reaching into her pocket, she grabbed the penknife tight and was ready to take it out as quickly as possible. The sound of footsteps was heard along with several leaves and bushes being disturbed from their static position. Nicole was sure someone was coming her way, but then she noticing something that she didn't. The voice said 'Hagi'.

"Hagi?" she questioned herself as she bent down, curious to see if the one coming towards her was indeed the servant(she still believed he was one). Anyway, she made the mistake to step on a thin branch which was most likely to crack under her weight any time.

Nicole remained on her position as she watched the two persons that came in the view; a man and a girl.

It was more then clear that the man was the one named Hagi, the servant who opened her the door last night and let her inside the house. Here in the sunlight, the teen could've seen his features a lot better, so she examined him as closely as possible and staying as motionless as she could. He wore the very same jacket and his hair was tied up in the same way. Hagi had the same elegant and manly posture, it almost made the girl shiver at his perfection. Was that even possible for a man to be so… unrealistically perfect?! The only thing different about him was a large metallic case he carried on his left shoulder. It had a nice gothic or maybe Victorian silver design and it seemed to have the shape of a coffin suitable for a 7 year old child. Nciole shivered at the thought. A coffin for a kid?! Really, her imagination was far to wild.

The other person was a girl. She seemed to be the very same age as herself and her appearance resembled Hagi's pretty well. She wore a purple jacket and watching boots. Nicole couldn't have told what she wore underneath, but she was sure as hell this girl was really hot under that jacket… really, it was summer after all! The teenager however liked her haircut and hair color. From a certain angle, it resembled Anna's hairstyle only this girl's hair was slightly shorter and less messier.

"Do you see anyone?" she asked as she got near the tree Nicky was hiding in. "I could've swore I heard a scream from over here."

"I heart it as well, but I don't really see anyone." Hagi replied as he scanned the area slightly.

From her hideout up in the tree, Nicky had smirked to herself. They made this game far too easy. She was about to made a move a la Toad to express her victory, but just then, because of the sudden motion a small crack was heard. It was the branch under her feet. Grabbing some others, Nicky clenched her teeth and mentally swore.

That little move was enough for him. Hagi pinned his eyes to the upper part of the tree. "Saya." He said monotone as the girl also looked up with a slight "hm?". As she grabbed tighter onto the branches Nicky rolled her eyes. 'Well, at least I know this is the Saya the old man was talking about earlier.' The branch cracked some more. Nicky grunted a 'oh shit!"

Saya's eyes went on her companion slightly narrowed. "Hagi." She simply called to him as the man gave her a nod and disappeared just like that. Nicole had her own things to worry about so she wasn't paying any attention to the two under the branches. Another crack. By this time she was sure it wasn't safe is she remained up on that one, so she grabbed as tight as she could on the branches she caught on earlier and swung her body until her feet touched what seemed to be a secure one, but before she could've put all her weight on it, it broke. Nicky let out a small yell. Ok, she didn't care if she was seen, she needed help for real this time.

"Someone there!" she shouted as she shot a look down. "I could use a little help please!"

Without her knowing it, Hagi used his inhuman speed until he went up near Nicole, but despite her he knew how to keep himself hidden. Watching how she made a total fool out of herself, but also noticing the fact that she was in real danger to fall and broke a leg arm or even neck, he made his way quickly back on secure earth. For the hanging girl, his rapid moves were nothing more but a breeze. When he was back on safe land, Hagi was careful enough to tell Saya "No chiropterans. Its just the new orphan."

Only after this, the two of them heard Nicole's shouts for help. "Hagi!" the girl called panicked when she saw that she couldn't hang in there for long. Yet again, with a nod he positioned himself right where Nicole would've land if she fell.

"Lets yourself go!" Saya yelled. It seemed Nicole had heard her.

"Are you CRAZY?!" she yelled back as she felt her fingers slipping away.

"Just do it!"

Gulping the excess of saliva in her mouth, the teenager already made her opinion of Saya. She WAS crazy. But still, with each passing second her fingers were slipping away, so she was to fall sooner or later. Closing her eyes tight, she let go of the wood.

"AAAAAAAHH!" Nicole yelled as gravity brought her closer and closer to earth. She had enough time to crawl up in a tight ball, clench her teeth and shut her eyes closed in the process. Before she knew it, her falling body met some kind of branches? She stopped her yell and gasped for air as she realized it was true. She wasn't falling anymore. Opening only one eye, she had the surprise to find herself hanging off the ground. Opening both eyes, she had another bigger surprise to find out that Hagi was holding her just like he would've help a basketball.

Saya ran to them. "Are you alright?" she asked Nicole with oblivious concern in her voice.

But the victim was not alright. Inwardly she started to laugh like a retard while pointing towards Hagi and the tree a couple of times.

"I.." a laugh. "…fell down.." another laugh. "And he caught me…" by this time she was in a whole giggle session. Hagi exchanged with Saya confused looks.

"Um..you must be the new orphan?" Saya questioned as she tried to change the subject.. Also, she made a quick nod towards her companion which meant it was ok if he would put her down, thing which the man done a second later.

Panting for air, Nicole still had a slight problem with her re-gaining her balance, so she found the black dressed man, because he was so tall and all, was a great replacement for a wall or pole she could lend on. The teenager slap her forehead and sighed at Saya question.

"Yeah… I'm the new one." She said between pants as she tried to get her heart beat to run at its normal rate. "You must be Saya, right?"

The girl couldn't help but nod at her question. Hagi just remained silent as he always did. Because she was looking at her, Nicky didn't knew her answer, but she was already sure enough she was the one. After all, Hagi called her that way. Turning her head a little to face her and freeing Hagi from his 'supporting wall' role, Nicole shot Saya with the most serious look she had in store. The slayer flinched a little.

"Well, mind if we talk a little?"

TO BE CONTINUED…