A/N: Just so you know, from now on we're on plot with 'Blood Beast', but I won't be following it faithfully; after all, Aster has a separate life outside of the 'Demonata'. Plus, her 'power' is going to put a stir in the plot slightly. Main events will happen though, so I suggest if you haven't read 'Blood Beast' and onwards, you finish them before reading the rest of this fic (unless you don't mind spoilers that is.)

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Star Hunter

Nine

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// It's lunch time. I've been going to school for two and a half weeks now. Finally I'm used to attending a new school everyday. I even made a friend completely by myself! Her name is Harriet, but she get's ill a lot and isn't often in. Today for example is one of her off days. I had planned to find Bill-E and spend lunch with him, but Loch invited me to stay with them, and to be honest I don't like to refuse Loch – he's huge!

"What did Misery want?" Loch demands as Grubbs joins us. Grubbs was called to visit Mr Mauch (or Misery as everyone calls him), the school counsellor earlier today.

"The size of your brain," Grubbs responds seriously. "We wondered how small it was."

"Don't worry about the size of my brain," Loch snorts in retaliation. "My brain's fine. A lot healthier than your pea of a think-tank."

"How big is a brain?" Charlie asks. "I mean, does it fill the whole head?" Everyone laughs as he starts poking his own head, as if trying to figure out the answer.

"In your case, I doubt it. You've probably got enough empty space in there to hold a football," Loch jokes.

"I think Misery's sexy in an older-man kind of way," Mary comments, earning several jeers and catcalls. I turn to face her in surprise; she thinks Misery is sexy?

"You've got the hots for Mauch?" Leon gasps, dramatically faking a heart attack. I roll my eyes at his childish behaviour, half wishing that I had gone off to find Bill-E. I'm not really sure how to act in these sorts of situations. Sometimes I wish I could be better with people.

I sort of tune out after that. At some point Reni and Shannon turn up and everyone makes a big deal over Grubbs handing her a handkerchief; pretty childish if you ask me. Then again, we are kids, so maybe I should act more like one. It wouldn't hurt to join in, to embarrass Grubbs all the more.

I'm considering dragging myself from my silence when Bill-E turns up, a hopeful look across his face. Oh dear, things could get nasty now. I really do hate how cruel they are to the poor boy. If only they'd give him a chance…

"Hi Grubbs, hi Aster," Bill-E says hopefully.

"Hey Bill-E!" I greet the younger boy, smiling happily.

Grubbs simply grunts a 'hi'. Git, treating his little half brother like nothing just to keep up his rep in front of his friends.

"Hey, Bill-E! How's my man?" Loch exclaims, holding out a hand. I know this trick, and I also know Bill-E is going to fall for it. True to form, Bill-E sticks out his hand just to have Loch pull back his hand, raise his thumb to his nose, stick out his tongue and wiggle his fingers. "Sucker!"

"Idiot," I mumble so quietly that only Grubbs hears. Louder I say "hey, Bill-E, you busy tonight?" The boy shakes his head.

"Not really," he replies.

"Awesome, how about we do something?" I ignore the stares Grubbs and his friends send me. I'm only doing what Grubbs is too afraid to do himself. I know that my house mate wants to spent time with his half brother, but at the same time he doesn't want his friends to laugh at him. I think it's fairly small minded to think that he can't have both.

"Yeah," Bill-E agrees, smiling at me gratefully. "Coolio!" Bill-E then turns to Grubbs, his awkwardness returning. "Doing anything this weekend?"

"Not a lot. Maybe practising some wrestling moves with Loch."

"Oh. I was thinking of coming over to watch some movies… is that's OK…"

"Hell, you don't have to ask," Grubbs laughs uneasily. "You can drop in anytime you want. It's your house as much as mine." It seriously surprises me when I hear Bill-E talk about how close they used to be. Right now you could cut the tension with a knife. It's not right, but it's also none of my business.

"Coolio," Bill-E smiles. "You want to watch a movie with me? Aster too, if she wants."

"I'd love too," I answer instantly, shooting a dark look in Grubbs direction.

"Maybe," Grubbs gulps at my look. "I might have to go over to Loch's to practise, you know."

"Yeah, I know," Bill-E agrees sadly.

Just then the bell rings.

"I'll definitely watch a movie with you this weekend if you'd like," I tell Bill-E as I grab my stuff together. "Hey, meet me at the gates after school? We can get ice cream or something, okay? My treat."

"Sure," Bill-E smiles happily. Despite his smile, I know he's still feeling down about Grubbs. My business or not, I think I'm going to have to have a word with the boy; it's not fair on Bill-E for Grubbs to treat him like this.

Grubbs and me watch Bill-E walk away, looking completely alone.

"You and me are having words tonight," I forewarn the boy, before turning and walking to class.

// Bill-E is waiting by the time I reach the gates. I smile warmly at him and rush forward, linking my arm through his. I wouldn't usually behave like this, but when Bill-E is concerned I put in the extra effort to make him feel liked and involved. I know what it's like to be disliked, and someone as kind hearted as Bill-E definitely does not deserve it.

"So, you wanna grab ice cream, or do something else?" I ask the boy as we make our way to town.

"Ice creams good," he replies cheerfully. "But I can't stay too long." Bill-E lives with his Grandparents, and they can be pretty stricked. I've only met them once, but apparently I made a good impression; they've allowed Bill-E to stay late after school without telling them beforehand if it's me he's with (mainly because I phone them up and make sure its okay – you can never be too careful!).

"No worries," I say. We reach the café that sells ice creams and I buy us each a double chocolate fudge one – yum!

"Aster," Bill-E starts, sounding troubled.

"Hmm?"

Bill-E hesitates before saying "never mind."

"Don't worry, I'll speak to Grubbs for you," I say, knowing that that was what he was going to ask. It must be tough on him; Grubbs was a good friend but pushed him aside the moment he found someone else. Usually I wouldn't want to have anything to do with that kind of person, but I know Grubbs is a good guy. He's just a bit messed up.

"Thanks," Bill-E smiles, tucking into his ice cream sundae.

// Grubbs looks really guilty when I get in later, as if he really regrets how distant he was with Bill-E.

"Did you and Billy have fun?" Dervish asks.

"Yup!"

"That's good," Dervish smiles. I can tell he's grateful to me for looking out for Bill-E. Dervish knows something's up between his two nephews, but he won't intervene. I think he's hoping that they can sort it out alone, and I'm sure they could, eventually. Still, a little encouragement wouldn't harm.

I go to my room and eye my sketchbook sceptically before picking up a book and reading for a while. At about eight, a gentle knock sounds on my door. I know it's Grubbs even before I open it.

"Hey," he says, smiling weakly.

"Hi Grubbs, want to come in?" I ask, stepping aside and letting the much taller boy enter my room. Grubbs walks over to my bed and sits down, looking guiltily at his hands. "You look like you've come to confess to robbing a bank," I laugh, shutting the door.

"I wish," Grubbs says with a smile. "Listen, thanks for looking out for Bill-E."

"It should be your job," I say firmly, walking over and sitting down next to Grubbs.

"I know, but…"

"If they are truly your friends it wouldn't matter to them if you want to hang out with Bill-E," I point out. "Besides, he's your brother, right? You shouldn't care what other people think; what you think is what's important."

"It's not that," Grubbs argues. "I'm not blind to how Loch treats Bill-E you know, but what can I say about teasing? If he ever hurt Bill-E, then sure, he's have me to answer to, but it's just teasing right?"

"I'm guessing you've never been bullied," I say quietly. "Teasing comments hurt just as much as physical pain, more sometimes."

"Bill-E should feel grateful that all he has to put up with is some stupid comments!" Grubbs snaps before he can stop himself. Guilt crosses his face.

"This has something to do with demons right?" I ask softly. "Bill-E's had to face them too you know. Sure, he's definitely not had it as bad as you, but that's no reason to stand by and watch him be bullied."

"I know that," Grubbs sighs. "But I can't protect him from everything. If I step into his defence anytime Loch or anyone says anything, they're going to see him as a weakling who can't defend himself."

"I don't think he cares what they think about him, Grubbs," I say gently. "I think he cares what you think about him."