*leans over and sips on hot chocolate* Mm… life's good…
AAAH! *snaps head to right at the sound of warrior-like yelling* What the he-? *nearly gets kicked in face as a leg (and body) goes flying pass.
WHAT THE CRAP!? NAZO!!!
Nazo: Why. Aren't. You. Working. On. Bond. Of. Flame!?
Me: U-um… well, I'm currently working on RoF, but I'm working on urs too- *ducks as Nazo goes flying past again* *then hears cracking sound*
Me: NAZO! Did you seriously just bitch-slap my window!?
Nazo: Yes. Yes I did!
Me: Well… you did a good job.
Nazo: Zanku :3
Me: -_- *shoves Nazo down airduct* Sorry about that, she's in my bleach fanfic *which is currently on dA* so she keeps bugging me… Anyways, please enjoy the next chapte- Oh my god: she's climbing up the airduct!
Btw – this chapter takes place 4 days after the last chapter.
P.S. This is a filler chapter… with an IMPORTANT THING! :3
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"Faith!"
Faith moaned and rolled over onto her stomach, doing the best she could to block out the sound of a fist pounding against her door.
"Faith! Get that lazy-ass carcass of yours out of bed right now and come here!" Kesh glared at the door before screaming again. "Fai-"
Kesh was silenced as Faith ripped the door open and launched her fist at his face. It made harsh contact, causing Kesh to fall to the floor with a small trickle of blood coming out of his nose. Faith's, usually calm, green eyes were flashing as she stared down at Kesh. Kesh stared back up at her. Her hair shadowed her eyes to where the whites of her eyes were shining from the sunlight behind her. Her hair was also messed up and was spiked out everywhere, like millions of knives. And her hands were gripping onto the doorframe; she gripped it so hard to where her knuckles were white.
"Kesh…" She said slowly. Her voice seemed deeper than usual. "Can I ask you something?" When the boy didn't answer, she said, "Why the hell are you waking me up so early in the morning?"
Kesh stared up at her, feeling his blood drizzle down to his lips by now. "W-well… I…"
"You don't have a reason-" Faith leaned foreword "-do you?"
Kesh stood slowly, Faith's eyes not leaving his. "Well no… but…"
Kesh moaned again as Faith's leg darted out and pounded against his shin. He lifted his leg and gently rubbed it. "No reason?" Faith hissed. Yep, she was a demon of hell.
Kesh finally narrowed his eyes. "I had a reason: I was told to wake you up. How about that?"
Faith's expression instantly changed. "Really?" She said. Her voice was back to normal again. "Cool! Let's go downstairs, then!" She was about to go downstairs, when she realized what she was wearing. She was wearing a thin white t-shirt and baggy shorts that only went about two inches down her thigh. Her face instantly turned pink as she realized how long she'd been standing in front of Kesh like this.
The door closed with a slam before she quickly raced to change into her clothes, hoping that Kesh hadn't noticed…
After she was done, she walked out of her room, closing the door behind her. She turned to leave, when she noticed that Kesh was looking at her oddly. She turned back to face him. "What?"
"I thought you were going to wear the outfit that you were just wearing." Faith stared at him for a moment before Kesh asked, "Why are you blushing? It's no big deal."
Faith just wordlessly turned back around and walked down the stairs to the main floor. Kesh just sighed and rolled his eyes at her and followed.
"Good morning!" Jade said happily as she caught sight of Faith walking down the stairs. She ran up with a bowl of fruit in her hands.
Faith stared at the fruit hungrily before reaching over and plucking an apple slice out of it. She swallowed it before Jade could say anything. Dark green met light green as the two friends stared at each other. Faith just smiled and walked around her to get her own breakfast.
Jade stared after her before looking back to see Kesh stretching as he stepped off of the last step. Jade's curious aspects of how he looked were answered as Faith and Kesh had returned a few days ago from their search party. She had to admit that she imagined him differently, but he at least didn't look hideous…
"Don't mind if I do." Kesh said as he snatched an orange that was on top of the other fruits. Jade just silently glared at him before sighing.
"Do you just have to take my food?" She mumbled, watching as he got his own plate of food.
Kesh just grinned at her and said, "Yes. It's a hobby of mine… You should try it."
Jade forced herself to resist the urge to launch her bowl of fruit at him. "You'd better shut-up before I launch this bowl at your pretty face."
Kesh stared at her playfully. "Pretty? So you think I'm cute to-" He was cut off as he felt a playful punch hit his arm. He looked next to him to see Faith. "Would you two stop your flirting?" She said as she sat down.
Jade gave one last glare at Kesh before sitting down next to Faith. Kesh shrugged and sat next to the auburn-haired fox +anima.
"Did you guys hear about how there's supposed to be a festival today?" Jade asked as she took a bite out of her apple.
Faith shook her head. "No. I didn't hear about it… What's a festival like?" She said, folding her legs to where she was sitting cross-legged in her chair. Jade looked at her for a while before leaning back in her chair.
"I don't know. I've never been to one either." She giggled slightly before leaning foreword again. "I've heard that they're fun, though."
Faith turned to Kesh, who was eating silently as they talked. "What about you, Kesh?" She asked. He looked up at her before answering. "I've been to a few before, but I don't know what this one will be like."
"Well, at least it will be a surprise for the three of us." Jade said, standing. "It should start soon, from what I hear." She turned around before saying that she was going to change. She then walked upstairs, leaving her food behind.
Kesh just sighed and closed his eyes, rubbing them with the palms of his hands. Faith looked over at him. "Are you rubbing your face because of how I punched you?" Faith bit her lower lip. "Ok, I'm sorry about that. You were just pissing me off in the early morning… which is not a good time… so I'm sorry!"
Kesh glanced up at her, his eyebrow cocked. "What? No. It's not that. And, besides, you were tired. Perfectly understandable." He leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed once again.
Faith stared at him before asking, "Well, is it because you're tired?"
"No." A moan-like reply came from the boy. He leaned foreword again, stretching his arms above his head.
Faith opened her mouth to ask another question before she heard the inn-keeper's voice. "Good morning!" She said happily as she walked over to the two friends. Faith glanced up at Mrs. Hogart before smiling. "Good morning!" She said in response.
Mrs. Hogart's smile widened as she asked, "So, are you two going to the festival?"
Faith nodded, excitement rushing through her at the mention of the event. "Yes ma'am!" She said happily. "Erm… what's the festival for?"
"No reason. It's just a festival that we have once every year." She turned her head at the sound of customers before walking towards them, leaving the two behind.
A festival for no apparent reason? That's weird… Faith thought as she watched Mrs. Hogart walk off.
"So, when do we leave?" A happy voice said. Faith looked over to see Jade standing next to the table with her hands on its brown surface. She was wearing her casual outfit: black pants with a black tank top, along with a pair of black arm-socks that covered most of her arms.
"You guys can leave now!" Mrs. Hogart called as she listened in on their conversation. Faith stared at her, wondering if maybe Mrs. Hogart was part bat…
"Great!" Jade said happily, she instantly dashed to the door. She tapped her foot impatiently as she noticed Kesh and Faith's tired expressions. "Come on you lazy tards! Let's go!" Without further ado, she shoved the door open and walked out into the sunlight.
Faith narrowed her eyes in hurried towards the door, glancing back to see Kesh matching her pace. She smirked before opening the door and stepping outside.
"Whoa." She said quietly. The town didn't look like its normal self, it looked so alien. The shops were decorated with colorful banners announcing the festival, rainbow streamers, and different signs. Some tables had been set up and were selling goods to most people that walked past, while some were just there for show.
"Imagine what the town would be like if it looked like this everyday!" Jade said with wonder as she gazed around.
"Well, good morning you three!" The three friends turned to see Mr. Barnet walking over with a basket of books in his hand.
The three welcomed him back before Faith asked, "What are the books for?"
Mr. Barnet grinned and replied, "Well, I have a few people that I need to deliver stuff to. Can you believe it? They need books delivered on the day of the festival!" He smiled and shook his head, in a good mood as always. "But, no matter! I will not rest until my customers are pleased!"
Faith smiled at him, his joyous aura affecting her. "That's a good motto… but would you rather us deliver it?" She could swear that she heard Jade growl in the background, and perhaps Kesh shift his feet uncomfortably.
"Oh no, that's alright. I need the exercise anyways. And besides, this is your first time attending our yearly festival!" Mr. Barnet said, shifting the basket to his other arm.
"Are you sure?" Faith asked. Okay, now she could clearly hear Jade hissing a complaint under her breath.
"Yes, yes, I'm sure." Mr. Barnet walked forwards, past the trio. "You kids have fun!" He called back, before making his way through the hazardous crowd that seemed to have doubled in size.
Faith watched him go, before turning back to her friends. Jade was glaring at her, dark emerald eyes lit with fury. "Are you crazy?" She said sharply. "You could've spoiled our chances of seeing the festival!"
Faith cocked an eyebrow. "Wow, Jade, I thought that you liked helping Old Man Barnet." She shrugged. "Guess not…"
Jade just huffed out a breath and turned back to the crowd. "Whatever, let's just see what the festival's like!"
Faith just rolled her eyes when Jade wasn't looking and followed her black-haired friend as she proceeded into the crowd. Word to the wise: Never. Walk into a large crowd that's in a festival. You will most likely get either a) trampled, or b) killed, whichever you prefer.
As soon as they made it to the center where food was being served, Faith's feet were already sore. "Man, who knew that walking around for only a few minutes could tire you out." She glanced over and narrowed her eyes sharply as she noticed that Jade looked perfectly fine. In fact, she looked hyper and full of energy.
Jade noticed this and looked back over at Faith. "What?" She asked. Kesh walked up to them, hands in his pockets. As soon as he noticed the tension around them, he sighed and said, "If you guys are going to fight, then can you please move. I'm starving!"
Faith glanced up at him. His expression hadn't changed since that morning. He seemed as if he wasn't paying attention to anything around him, just letting himself drift along with everyone else.
"Hey, are you sure you're alright?" Faith asked, staring at Kesh intently. Kesh turned and looked at her.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He said. Faith opened her mouth to say something else, so Kesh instantly cut her off by asking, "So, is anyone else hungry besides me?"
Jade shook her head. "No, I'm good. What I really want to do is try out some of the games here!" She walked around Kesh to Faith before grabbing her hand. "How about it, Faith? Want to go play something?"
Faith shrugged. "Sure, ok." She glanced over at Kesh, still curious about his behavior, before allowing Jade to drag her back through the hectic crowd. She was slightly shocked to find out that Jade could slip through the crowd with ease, while Faith stumbled and tripped behind her. Her hand had slipped out of hers numerous times before Jade finally agreed to match Faith's pace. This only took longer…
"We made it!" Jade said happily as they found themselves standing in front of a row of tables. They were lined up, side-by-side, and each one had some type of game on it. Faith would've shared in the enthusiasm, if there weren't so many people lined up.
"Um… yeah." Faith said slowly. Before she could even share her thoughts, Jade had already taken off towards one of the tables.
Faith sighed as she heard her elbowing her way through the crowd. Today was going to be a long day…
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"Wasn't that the greatest day ever?" Jade squealed happily as they walked back towards the inn. She had managed to win herself a large stuffed bear in one of the games, and had paraded around with it instantly.
Faith and Kesh just groaned, too tired to argue with the tan-skinned girl. Where the hell did she get so much energy, anyway?
Jade sighed, noticing their attitudes. "Well, I thought it was." She said, squeezing her bear harder. "I don't get how you guys couldn't get through the crowds like I could. I mean, it was child's-play for me."
"Yeah, well not for us." Kesh muttered, looking over at Jade. "Where did you learn to do that anyway?"
Jade's face instantly went blank. Not in a confused way, but more of a, "I don't want to say it…" looks. Faith instantly noticed and asked, only to be silenced as Jade looked back at her. "Um… well…" She said slowly. She then began to walk forward, much faster than Kesh and Faith. "I-I'm going to go back to the inn, ok guys?" She brought her leg back behind her, in preparation to dash off, only to have her arm grabbed.
She twisted her head and glared at Faith, whom wasn't letting go. "You don't have to run off. What is it?"
"I said: I don't want to talk about it!" Jade snapped. Faith's curiosity was only aroused even more at how hard she was trying to protect her secret.
But she sighed, deciding it was useless. "Alright, fine…"
Jade just slowly brought her arm back to her side, rubbing the black sleeves that covered them. Faith's eyes were soon drawn to her movements, just watching the fabric scrunch up and slide back in boredom. She was about to look away, when she thought she saw something darker. Something… black.
"Hey, could you roll your arm-sleeves up?" Faith said. She never knew what to call them.
Jade looked at her oddly. "What?"
"I just, I thought I saw something on your arm…" Faith said slowly. Jade stared at her hard. Was that fear in her eyes?
"There's nothing there! Absolutely no-" She was silenced as Faith yanked her arm up and shoved the arm sleeve down to her wrist. She gasped as her eyes took in the image of black stripes twisting along her arms in a cat-like fashion.
She glanced up at Jade and said, "You're a +anima?" Those words instantly brought Kesh to attention. He leaned over Faith's leaning form and stared down at the stripes.
Jade grew hot under their eyes. "Yeah well…" She snatched her arm away. "It doesn't matter, anyways!" Before Faith or Kesh could say anything else, Jade had already taken off; clutching her prize like it was her lifeline.
Faith sighed and looked over at Kesh, whom looked back. "Should we tell her?"
Kesh smirked. "Why not? After all, we're all the 'same'." He playfully punched Faith in the arm before racing back to the inn, Faith chasing after him in earnest.
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END OF CHAPTER 9
Yes! Now we have officially found out that Jade is a +anima. We shall see how she reacts, when Kesh and Faith reveal themselves in the next chapter!
I got lazy on the end btw… -.- sorry.
