SO SORRY! The past week has been SO busy, but the summer has finally come! Hopefully, the chapters can now be longer...
Mia checked her iPod touch. Yep, this was the hotel. She turned, looking for Yukine. "EEEEEEEEH!" Yukine tackled her and half-dragged, half-pushed her to a small stand near the hotel's driveway. An old lady smiled affectionately at Yukine and spread her hands out in a gentle gesture. On the table lay millions of small dolls with black buttons for eyes and small pursed lips. Yukine's quick red eyes instantly picked out a small white rabbit key chain wearing a traditional red kimono. She squealed again, forcing Mia to cover her ears. "PLEEEEEEEAAAAAASSSSEEEEEE?" she whined. Mia rolled her eyes and pulled out her wallet. "I suppose you can get one. For being good." The old lady stared at Mia. Never had she heard a girl with such a mature voice. Mia pulled out her wallet, found a dollar and handed it to the old lady, who bowed in thanks. Mia turned crisply on her heel and marched into the hotel, Yukine giggling and trailing her. The bellboy smiled at the two of them as they walked, one purposefully, the other whimsically. Mia glared at him and he quickly turned away.
They got on the elevator and rode it to Floor 7. Japanese capsule hotels had rooms about as big as a normal bathroom. Mia checked her iPod, looked up and walked up to the third capsule on the lowest row. "Chikage?" The capsule creaked open. A pale boy with short black hair and coal-black eyes glared through the crack. "Damn it! Won't you guys ever leave me alone? I told you, I'm not joining ANY family!" Mia's foot caught the door before it closes. "Fine. All we want is the package and your 'inheritance'." Chikage laughed humorlessly. "Take it. It's in the capsule above me." Mia rolled her eyes. "Only you would order TWO capsules." Chikage chuckled, a cold dark chuckle and tried to close his door. Yukine smiled cheerfully and scooted into the capsule before he could close it. She turned and blushed. Chikage wasn't wearing pants. Or underpants. Clearly he had been sleeping before they found him. He pulled a blanket up to his chest. Yukine quickly regained control of herself. "Hi! I'm Mia," she bounced cheerfully, "and this is my bunny, Usagi." Chikage snickered. "Whaaaat? It's cute," Mia defended, "and I got it from the nice old lady in front of the hotel." She pouted. Chikage just snickered even harder. "You named your rabbit 'Rabbit'?" up above, Mia grunted as she wrenched a giant box from the capsule. It crashed to the ground with a resounding thud. "That's my suitcase." Chikage told her. Mia nodded. Carrying a large brown box over her shoulder and dragging the suitcase behind her, she walked off. "Come on, Yukine!" she turned, smiling sweetly at the shocked Chikage. "I was reading One Piece before I came here. Turns out, reading manga CAN help you sometimes." Yukine bounded off after her. Chikage groaned, wrapped a blanket around himself and set off at a run as Mia raced away, carrying everything he owned in tow.
Letia turned around and stared into the dark corner of the street. She may have only been 26, but her eyes had seen more than anyone could ever imagine. "How long do you plan on standing there?" She pulled out a long, thin katana and got into the proper stance, ready to fight. Chela walked out calmly, her hands up and her face amused. "You're a lot smarter than I thought." "Comes with this kind of life." Letia said resentfully. Chela flicked her hand quickly, but Letia jumped out of the way quickly. Three small stiletto knives buried themselves into the ground. Letia smirked. "Girlie, you have a lot to learn." Chela glared. Her hands flick in rapid succession, but Letia, even in 4 inch heels, managed to dodge all of them. Chela growls and flicks them even faster, completely forgoing any attempt at subtlety. Letia jumped up, performed a flawless back flip in mid-air and landed right in front of Chela. Her arm came up as Chela's flawlessly manicured nails came at her face. Chela whirled, her knives glinting in the warm sunlight. The hilt of Letia's katana jammed into Chela's leg, but Chela flipped over proficiently, using the push as leverage to lift her up onto Letia's shoulders. Letia smirked and jumped backwards, crushing Chela underneath her. Letia smiled at the older woman, lifting her up and shoving her up against the wall. In a flash, she tied up Chela.
On the roof, a man in a black jacket chuckles and waves his hands quietly. 25 other men, each clad in an stiff immaculate suit and wearing bright red sunglasses. One by one, they slipped off the building and into the shadows of a nearby alley. Each pulled out a pair of large metallic gloves with knuckle-spikes. Each smiled a grim smile. And they walked out, single file, turned and rolled her eyes. "AGAIN?" she groaned. "You brought more," she smirked, "this time. Are you scared, dear Alfonso?" Alfonso glared angrily and clicked his fingers. The 25 members of the Bonmarito Honor Guard charged, fists primed. Letia's swords whirled, quickly knocking away the fists. Her spike-tipped heels buried into the arms of those who were getting too close. "You guys are such a joke," she snickered "you're pathetic. Did you know your name means 'good husband'?" Chela howled with laughter. Letia spun as the Honor Guard quickly backed off. Letia turned to Chela quietly. "Help me. I'm not at my best right now, because of our little...confrontation." Her katana made quick word of Chela's bonds and the two women made quick work of the honor guard. 20 knives and a couple hundred cuts (mostly on the Honor Guard) later, two dangerously fashionable women strode out of a small side alley and into the warm summer air.
The mall food court was unusually quiet. It could be because the huge sales in the department stores. However, most employees felt it was probably the resident of Table 4. He looked to be 21, with shoulder-length brown hair tied in a braid. He wore a white suit, with a deep red tie, white shoes, white gloves and white sunglasses. What terrified everyone was the smile. It wasn't real, anyone could see. His smile reminded most people of a demented jack-o-lantern. He looked rather like a maniac, grinning madly at everything. His name was Jinta Kurata. And he was crazy.
Gin smiled and watched as Minami tackled Kazu in the lobby. 2 weeks of living in cohabitation had made them a bit too close. And yet, somehow, he actually felt like he belonged. Normally, this feeling was reserved for his mother and father, but slowly, he found himself connecting with his family. No, not connecting. Though he still wouldn't admit it, he loved them, even in all their craziness. It was almost scary. Like fate somehow pulled them together. A family that was meant to be.
