I am finally bumbed up to being a first-stringer but Joker says I need to wait a bit for my tent. We have stayed in this location for a little over a week so now it is time to move on. Everyone packs their stuff onto the carts and then we begin to pack up the bigger items. I attempt to pick up a large box, but I under-estimated how heavy it was. I am very obviously struggling with the box and am taking little baby steps as I try to carry it to the cart. I try to lift the box up but fail epically and instead of the cart the box chooses to lands on my ankle. A sharp pain rings in my ankle but I move the box off of me and take my stance. I do not want to cause any trouble for everyone so I am lucky that no one saw my little mishap. I somehow lug the box on the cart and go to get more items. I am trying to hide my pain and am somehow managing to not limb. After about an hour we are all done with packing and are ready to depart. Suddenly I am lifted off my feet and am being held.

"Ye thought ye could hide it?" Joker scolds and begins walking past everyone. "Ye need to be checked out by the doc."

"I can walk by myself." I protest and try to push myself off.

"Ye will just hurt ye self more. So shush and be a good lil' gal." I pout and lay limp in his arms. I am hoping that if I become dead weight it will be more difficult for Joker to carry me. It probably does not work because I am so little. A loud hiss appears above my head a Joker stops.

"What are you doing!...says Wilde" Wilde is face level with Joker and is maintaining a constant,low hiss.

"She is hurt. Just taking the gal to the doc." Joker sighed

"Hurt?...says Emily" Snake is looking over at me, who looks perfectly fine, with concern.

"I am fine Snake. I just hurt my ankle a bit." I try to laugh off the pain but Snake does not look convinced. Someone starts yelling for Joker, something is happening and they need his help.

"Well then. Snake! Ye take 'er to the doc. And only the doc ye hear? No dirty buisness with 'er." Joker practically tosses me into Snake's arms and Wilde curls up on my stomach. I automatically know what that pervert meant but Snake, luckily, is utterly clueless. I clutch my chest. I am so embarassed to be in Snake's arms as he carries me off to this man in a wheelchair. This is the first time seeing this man, but I don't like him. He states that I have an extremely bad fracture in my ankle and should be off it for a while. He wants me to use a crutch for about two weeks but I don't want to. I just got my rank up and now I am injured and unable to practice, I refuse.

"You should really take it easy... says Bronte."

"Snake... Do you not want me to perform with you?" I tear up a bit and accept the crutch. With this the man in the wheelchair is satisfied and takes his leave. It is now just me and Snake in the area.

"N-n-no! That is not what I meant! says Bronte" Snake is waving his hands and looking flustered.

"But.. I can't practice like this! Two weeks is a long time Snake! I want to be useful to you!" I blush a bit and think about my words. "And everyone else." I quickly add in an attempt to make the situation less awkward for me. Suddenly Snake takes my hand and kissed it.

"Knight." he says as his face turns red. At that he scurries off while he hides his face behind his hands. He manages to run into multiple trees before he is out of sight. He must be very flustered because he forgot Wilde in my lap. I tap the snake a little to get his attention. "Your friend is weird isn't her?" The snake nods its head and coils around my arm. I grab the crutch and go on my way to find Joker. He is with the other first stringers and I approach from behind Wendy and Peter quietly, as I do not want to disturb their conversation. Joker takes notice of me and says something strange to the others.

"So, have ye noticed anything about Snake and Feather lately?"

"YES!" shouts Freckles. He is a boy I have gotten quite chummy with, it was strange he is with the first stringers, but I do not care much about it. "They look so cute together! Ye know, the other day 'e asked how knights kiss princesses!" He giggles.

"Oh? How'd ye respond?" Joker laughes.

"Oh, 'ell I told 'em they kiss their hand and some cheesy stuff like that." Wendy giggles.

"SO YOU'RE THE REASON!?" I shout and shock everyone. I apparently did not cause enough of a shock though because almost everyone questions what I mean. I blush and try to hobble away with my crutch, but they do not allow it. They continue to tease me for a long while before I finally escape.

~Time Skip~

I am not allowed to help set up at the new location so I just sit on a stump while everyone does their work. Eventually Joker comes to lead me to my new tent, which is ironically located right next to Snake's. Now almost everyone knows I have feelings for Snake, or so it seems. I hope that is what it is. I sometimes think I might just be fascinated, like a child that found something they have never seen before. I have never been in love, nor have I ever really thought about it. I feel guilty that I do not even know my own feelings towards this man. I mean I can feel my heart hurting when I think about him. Why must I be like one of those annoying boy obsessed girls. Snake comes out of his tent, he has just finished making his friends comfortable. He is more open with me lately, his normally cold face instantly brightens when he sees me. I avoid him and retreat into my tent, I can not face him when I am having such thoughts. I lay on my bed for a while before I limp out to go on a walk or find something interesting. I freeze. Snake is sitting outside my tent enterance with a miserable look on his face. It looks like I kicked a puppy.

"Did I upset you?...says Emily." Now I really feel bad.

"No no no! I just..." I do not know how to explain. He looks up at me, a frown on his face. "Can I ask a favor?"

"Yes." We are at the point that Snake answers one word responses by himself.

"Can I feel you? I mean. I need to?" He is taken aback. He can not even respond. "I mean your scales. I want to feel them." After a while he agrees my nodding his head. I can tell he is extremely afraid of rejection. I softly touch all the exposed scales on him, which mostly consists on his face and chest. With this I now know that it isn't just fascination. I do not think I could feel like this if it was just fascination. I laugh to myself, at my stupidity. I feel Snake flinch away at this and I notice his eyes are squeezed shut. "Snake." He slowly opens his eyes, the fear clearly evident. "You want to know what I think?" he shakes his head side to side rapidly. "I think-" suddnly the snakes are hissing at me. "I think you are perfect." Silence.

"What?"

"You are perfect."

"What do you mean? Lies! Look at me. I'm a freak! says Bronte." Snake recoils.

"You do not have to be perfect to anyone but me Snake. Thank you so much for helping me out." Snake starts tearing up a little which is quickly interupted by Joker.

"So to disturb such a touching moment, but I am introducing the new member! Meet Suit! 'e is amazing!" I flinch away. This man has a unique color eye, and because of some past experiences I know. He is a shinigami.