Sorry for the long wait and short update. I'm so lazy. It's either that or I just come up with too many other ides. It's more of the first one. Well, here it is.

Disclaimer: Awwwww, come on, Santa. I've been good this year. I only threw that rabid raccoon at that one girl who said Mushra was gay. Other than that I've been a perfect little Hikari Tenshi, which means "light angel by the way, chubby. Why can't I own the rights to Shinzo? It's not like I'm asking for Rudolph again.

"Ahhh." Binka sighed. "Isn't this nice?"

"Mm hmm." Hikari moaned. She sank further into the steaming water and let out a pleasurable sigh.

"Yeah, you said it." Yakumo leaned back and let her head rest on the wall behind her.

The three girls were silent for a while as they appreciated the relaxing steam. Hikari sunk lower, eyes closed, and let the water cover the lower half of her face. It bubbled in front of her face as she let out another sigh underwater.

"Who would've guessed we'd find a hot spring." Binka continued with amazement.

"Yeah, you said it." Yakumo repeated in the same, almost exhausted voice.

"This is the best; no walking, no enemies, no worries!"

"Yeah, you said it."

"Don't you think, Hikari? Hikari?" She turned to the girl, who had yet to raise her head from the water. One, small bubble escaped her lips. She didn't move. "Hikari!" Yakumo jumped up, towards the girl. Their voices blended together, calling her name.

"Hikari, Hikari, HIKARI!"

"AAAGHHH!" Hikari screamed out.

She sat up instantly with a loud splash. Her wet hair flung forward and stuck to her damp face. Something lodged in her throat. She coughed up the bit of water, stinging her esophagus. She opened her eyes to see that she was in a bathtub. The small hotel shampoos had been knocked into the water and now floated around her bare legs. The nap in the steamy water had made her a bit groggy and she didn't realize why she was in a bathtub at first. As her senses sharpened, her mind registered that someone had been pounding on the bathroom door, calling her name. Whoever it was had stopped for the moment. She wiped the sleep from her tired eyes.

"I guess I didn't get enough sleep last night." As if to prove her point, a silent yawn forced its way through her jaws.

Suddenly there was a call of "I'm coming in!" and a loud crash. The door slammed opened. Saago stood at the door with a chair in his hands that he had used as a battering ram. He froze when their eyes met. His confused expression matched hers, but was quickly replaced by a blush and a dumbfounded look. Hikari suddenly remembered where she was, in a hot bathtub with no cover for her exposed body except her own arms. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment and anger in an instant.

"Saago is she okay-" Mushra and Binka looked in from the corner at Saago's still form, only to narrowly escape a bar of soap thrown at the wall.

"GET OUT, YOU PERVERT!!!" she shrieked in anger.

A bottle of conditioner thrown at his head knocked him backward a step. Hikari snatched a towel off the rack and held against her form as Saago regained his balance. He was immediately assaulted with complementary hotel toiletries.

"Get OUT!"

"I'm sorry!" He called as he stumbled out and slammed the door.

Hikari sighed and stepped out of the tub. She sat down on the edge and drained the water. She tried to calm herself. There was a knock on the door. She almost let out some smart remark, but decided to make sure who it was. Her mouth has gotten her into a few troubles now and then. They knocked again.

"Hikari? Are you okay?" It was Yakumo.

"Yes. I'm just startled."

"Oh, okay."

"Can I come in?" It was Binka's voice.

"Um, sure." The door opened and Binka walked in slowly. She shut it behind her and locked it.

"Are you sure you're okay? You wouldn't answer and we all thought you drowned."

"I almost did." Hikari thought to herself. She decided not to let that be known, though. "I guess I relaxed too much and fell asleep." She grinned sheepishly and let out a half-hearted chuckle. Binka shook her head like an adult would at a careless child.

"You need to be careful."

"I know." She sighed. "I'm a klutz when it comes to simple things. " She stood up, wrapping the towel properly around her form. She grabbed a comb and ran it through her hair, watching her movements in the foggy mirror. She stopped and stared at her other self. She used her hand to wipe away a circle of fog and leaned closer, inspecting a spot on her forehead with deep concentration.

"What's wrong?" Binka asked confused. She watched Hikari's reflection glance at her from the mirror.

"Oh, nothing." She turned back to her. "I think I hit my head when Saago scared me." Then, leaning toward the young girl, she asked "You don't see a bruise do you?"

"No, it's clear." Standing up, she said "I just came to make sure you're okay."

"Thanks." Hikari said in gratitude as she reached for the mini hair dryer that most hotels have. She turned around suddenly and grabbed Binka's wrist. "Wait."

Binka looked at her, confusion written across her face.

"Tell Saago I'm sorry. He just startled me and I acted on impulse."

"I will, though he probably deserved it. What idiot barges into a room where he knows a girl is bathing?"

"The perverted kind." Hikari muttered under her breath. Binka laughed. The sound coaxed a wide grin from the older girl. "Thank you, thank you. Sarcasm is one of my many loveable talents. But seriously," her face suddenly turned very solemn and grave "watch out, Binka. I don't want anything happening to you."

"Don't worry. I can defend myself. I got a few tricks." Hikari smiled at the young girl and ruffled her hair.

"Save some for me, will ya? You and your bazooka can't have all the fun. Kay?"

"Okay. I promise."

"Good." Both girls laughed. Binka shut the door quietly behind her. Hikari turned back to the mirror and smiled softly. She ran the comb through her wet hair again, and grabbed the hair dryer from its wall holder. She turned it on and it started it's loud, steady hum.

OoOoOoOoO

Binka closed the door slowly behind her with a click. She smiled when she heard the loud hum of the hair dryer from inside.

"What happened?" Mushra asked. He and Kutall were playing a card game. Kutall was winning.

Yakumo sat by Saago, who had set his helmet to the side. She held his light-blue hair off his forehead as she put a band-aid on a slight cut.

"She was just startled. She says she's sorry, Saago."

He looked up at her with frown on his face, but shook his head and smiled. It's okay. I'll just have to not get on her bad side. That girl can throw!" He rubbed the band-aid and flinched slightly. He put his helmet back on and stood up.

"Who's ready for breakfast? I'm starving!"

A loud chorus of "Me!" echoed from the Kutall, Mushra, and the kittens.

"Alright, let's get some food downstairs." Yakumo opened the door and waited for the rest to empty out of the room. She looked back at Binka, who ran up to the bathroom door and knocked.

Binka heard the hairdryer shut off, before Hikari answered "Hmm?"

"We're going downstairs for breakfast. Meet us there when you're done."

"Sure. I'm almost done."

OoOoOoOoO

Hikari emerged from the hallway, refreshed, with a smile on her face. The others were gathered in the dining area getting breakfast.

"What is this?" Mushra asked in disbelief. He pointed toward a steaming machine on the counter that he squatted at, his head barley coming over the top. It opened like a clam and had four circles on the top and bottom of the inside. Rows of squares protruded from the circles.

"Obviously something to make breakfast with." Saago offered as he studied the strange machine.

"What's going on?" Hikari asked. She grabbed a plastic tray from the pile and put a plate and bowl on it.

"Good morning, Hikari." Rey and Sen greeted.

"Morning." She smiled in reply.

"But what does it make?" Mushra insisted.

"Well, considering the delicious-looking batter that sits near it, it must make some sort of pastry." Kutall mused. He smoothed a whisker as he thought to himself about the mysterious machine. "Hmm."

"Hey guys." Hikari greeted. She reached over Mushra's head and grabbed the pitcher of apple juice.

"Oh, hello, Hikari." Kutall replied automatically, still in deep thought.

"What's up?" She put the pitcher back down and grabbed the glass she just poured, setting it on her tray next to her plate of bacon.

"We're trying to figure out what this thing is." Saago informed her, pointing to said object.

"It's a waffle maker." she said very slowly with a look of amazement.

"What's a waffle?" Mushra asked from his spot on the floor.

Hikari looked at him, astonished. She suddenly turned her gaze downward, shielding her eyes with her hair and casting a shadow. Mushra looked up at her and raised a curious eyebrow.

"What's the mat-?" He was cut off by her muffled snickers. "Huh?

Hikari's snickers grew into laughter. She set her tray down on the counter and clutched her sides as she laughed harder.

"Um... what did I say?"

"Oh...I'm sor-sorry...Mushra." She said between laughter. "It's just... that was so... hilarious!"

After a moment, her laughter subsided into (horribly) controlled giggles. She grabbed her tray and sat down the table, across from Binka. She ate her breakfast between quiet giggles.

"What was so funny?" Binka questioned. After she finished off her toast and stopped giggling.

"I'm sorry." She took a sip of juice. "I just couldn't believe Mushra never had waffles. Seriously," She turned an expectant gaze to Mushra at his table.

"What?" He asked through a mouthful of bacon.

"You never had a waffle?!"

"Nope." He said it as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

She gawked, dumbfounded. Then, she pointed an accusing finger at Saago.

"I've had waffles before. The casinos let you order breakfast."

Kutall replied before she asked. "Of course. I'm a chef, aren't I?"

"Good."

She turned to Yakumo and Binka, who sat at the same table as her. She brought her head down and motioned them forward.

"Here's the plan." She whispered quickly. "Yakumo pours the batter into the machine and prepares the waffles. Binka, you will get the rope from the pack ready and hide it behind your back. When Yakumo gives the signal that they're ready, I'll blindfold Mushra and wrestle him to the ground. Binka will jump him and tie his hands behind his back. Then, we hold him down and force-"

"Umm . . . Hikari?" Yakumo interrupted.

"What? I'm on a roll over here."

"Can't we just ask him to try some?" She asked sweetly with laughter in her eyes.

"Oh..." She hung her head down. "Okay, I guess we'll go with that." she sniffled then mumbled to herself, "It was a good plan, too." Yakumo smiled at the girl's dramatic mourning.

"We can do that if my plan doesn't work." She offered.

"Really?!" Hikari instantly brightened up. Yakumo nodded in response. "Yay!"

OoOoOoOoO

"Oh. My. Gosh." Hikari stared, amazed at the empty plate in front of Mushra. He swallowed a mouthful of syrupy waffles and guzzled down another glass of milk. "I've never seen anyone eat ten waffles that fast."

"Thirteen." Esty corrected her quickly.

"Until now." Binka commented.

"That was delicious!" Mushra wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Too bad there's no more batter left." Everyone gawked.

"Are you even Enterran?!" Hikari demanded.

"What do you mean?" He asked, clueless of the fantastic feat he had performed. Sago sighed and shook his head slowly. "What?" he asked again.

"Forget it." Hikari picked up his empty plate and put it in the dish pile on the counter. "Were just lucky they don't charge extra for that."

"I guess those three will have to wash dishes if that's the case." Rey commented.

Saago turned around quickly. "But we" he motioned towards him and Kutall "didn't eat our weight in food"

"I guess that's something you'll have to figure out yourself." Binka smiled an overly sweet smile at him. "Hey, Hikari, Where are you going?" She caught Hikari as she was walking out the hotel doors.

"Job hunting."

"Can I come?" She put her hand on her backpack that hung from the back of the chair she had been sitting in.

"Sure. Just be sure to have everything you need ready. Your first event is today and we might not have time to some back." She glanced at the clock in the lobby for a moment.

"Already taken care of." She reassured her, patting her sack as she slipped the strap over her shoulder. She moved to the door and turned around once she reached Hikari. The guys had already gone upstairs to grab a few things. Yakumo waved at them as they walked out.

"See you later, don't miss the event." She smiled gently.

"Don't worry; I'll make sure she gets there." Hikari saluted with a serious expression. She burst into giggles as she turned an about face and walked out the door.

The sun shone brightly and warmed their faces. The noises of the town had already begun and blended together in a hum of laughter and gossip. Binka looked up at Hikari.

"Let's go find you a job."

"Aye aye, Captain!" She saluted again, but couldn't keep a straight face. Both girls laughed aloud as they walked the plaza.

Well there you are. Please review. I love them almost as much as much as Mushra, cake, and penguins combined. . . . almost.