Miki felt her eyes widen.
"So soon? Shouldn't we be a bit farther from the village?" She questioned, taking a battle stance. Lance held Abby's weapon form in his hands.
"That's what I thought. Abby, prepare to go to Decoy Alpha." He muttered, spinning the pistol lightly. "Miki, use your senses. What do you hear?" Miki shut her eyes, focussing on her hearing.
"Heavy footsteps. Breakneck speed." She lifted her scythe in a dodge, just as sharp claws swiped at the spot where her head had been. "They're here. I hear more than one heartbeat." She whispered, attacking the creature in front of her, eyes still shut. "Lance! Behind you! You have Soul Perception, use it, dammit!" She shouted, opening her eyes, taking in the enemy in front of her.
"A yeti?" Jasper asked, hiding a laugh. "Really?"
"Jasper, first lesson of kishin-hunting. Never underestimate your opponent!" She yelled, slicing the first yeti in half, only to be attacked by another one. The creatures looked humanoid, with long, shaggy white fur, covered in patches of dried blood. They had sharp, yellow teeth, and sharp claws. Lance fired at them, Abby's frozen wavelength bullets taking the enemies down from the inside.
"Abby, use Decoy Alpha!" Lance ordered, throwing the pistol in the air. Image after image appeared from the weapon, until they seemingly surrounded the hoard of snow creatures. Abby's weapon form landed back into Lance's hands, but he never continued to shoot it.
"Lance, what are you doing? Shoot already!" Miki screamed, slicing through yet another snow kishin.
"Trust me, I've got the situation under control!" He shouted, dodging another hit from a yeti.
"At least get over by me, so I can watch your back!" His fellow technician responded, using a kishin's face as leverage for a blow. Miki watched from the corner of her eyes as Jasper was knocked from her hands, and far away from her reach.
"Miki! NO!" Jasper screamed, getting ready to transform and run to his technician's aid.
"Jasper! Stay in weapon form! One hit could kill you!" She yelled back, kicking a kishin in the face from her spot on the ground. She felt her leg explode in pain. Kuso! One got me. Taco sauce... She thought to herself. Last resort... She jumped to her feet, punching her opponent in the stomach, her fists glowing with coral pink electricity. "Thousand Blossom's Wrath: Misaki storm!" She yelled, a large burst of her wavelength hitting the kishin in the stomach, vaporizing it, along with a couple of its friends. She cried out in pain, both from her leg, and a white-hot burn in her chest.
"Snow Screen!" A voice yelled, a thick flurry of snowflakes blocking their vision. "Icy Bullet!" The sound of sharp objects slicing through the air filled Miki's ears next. Once her vision cleared, the image of Abby standing in front of her was presented. But... Abby's with Lance... She remembered he wouldn't shoot the gun in his hands. It was an image? The young witch in front of her raised her hands, chanting quietly to herself. The remainder of the snow-kishins turned into snowmen, before exploding, sending snow in all directions.
"T-thank you..." Miki whispered, and Abby turned, a cute smile on her face.
"Don't thank me, it's my job as a Death Scythe, and as your friend." She spotted her bleeding leg. "Mi-chan! You're hurt!" She exclaimed, kneeling to her fallen friend.
"Miki!" A now-human Jasper yelled, running towards his technician and kneeling at her side. Lance ran over to them, a worried expression on his face.
"Is anyone inj-" He choked on his breath when he saw Miki. "MIKI! Y-your soul! It-it's-!"
"I know Lance. Thousand Blossom's Wrath is a risk for me. My soul is too small, but powerful enough to use it. I use it as a last resort. I can't feel my leg..." She mumbled, rubbing her leg gently. Three, deep gashes bled through her black socks, making the fabric cling uncomfortably to her skin.
"Let's get her to the jet." Abby suggested, trying to pull the injured girl to her feet, only to have Jasper push her aside.
"I've got it." He said, kneeling with his back facing Miki. "Hop on, I'm not kneeling for my health, 'ya know." The girl giggled, excitedly climbing onto her weapon's back.
"Papa still gives me piggyback rides to this day. I guess I'm small enough for them." She says, fastening her arms around his neck, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"Yea, yea, Tiny, we all know you're itty-bitty, got something new?" Jasper remarked, holding onto the backs of her thighs, making sure she won't fall. "You okay up there?" He said, looking over his shoulder slightly, only to have warm lips press to his cheek.
"Thank you." She whispered, locking gazes with him. Jasper blushed profusely, turning away quickly, ignoring Abby's giggles and Lance's eyebrow raise.
"No problem." He praised himself for no stuttering. "N-Now" Oops, spoke too soon. "let's get to the jet, I'm freezing my ass off here."
Miki looked up at the sleeping Jasper. After he had dressed her wound, and fussed over her for about fifteen minutes, he finally sat down. He had pulled Miki into him, her back resting against his chest, legs tangling with his. She snuggled closer into his embrace, before falling into the deep clutches of slumber as well, her weapon's steady heartbeat acting as a lullaby. Abby – who had just walked down the aisle to use the restroom – smiled softly at the sight, before adjusting the blanket that covered both of them. Her eyes widened suddenly, and she bolted towards the bathroom, almost forgetting that she had to pee, badly.
Lance turned a page in his book, before slamming it shut, uninterested. Abby peeked her head in, seeing that she was done with her 'business'.
"Gee, Lancealot, what did that book ever do to you?" She joked, plopping down next to him. Lance glared at his weapon for a moment, before sighing, leaning back into his chair, running his hands through his dark blonde hair. He was suddenly grabbed by the shoulders, and found himself looking up at the face of his weapon, his head resting in the soft fabric of her jumper. His head was laying in Abby's lap.
"Abby?" He questioned, making himself comfortable.
"You're stressed, Lance, how many times do I have to do this?" Abby scolded, running her fingers through his silky hair, smoothing it and massaging his scalp. Lance hummed contently. She did this whenever he was seriously stressed about something, massaging his head, neck, and shoulders to calm him.
"I've never asked you to do this..." He answered, eyes shut, marveling at the feeling of her fingers on his skin. Abby sighed softly, continuing to massage his scalp, moving slowly down to his neck.
"I like doing this. I don't like seeing you stressed. You need to loosen up." She said, leaning dangerously close to his face. Lance opened his eyes, gold locking with brown. He reached up to twirl his fingers around her thick braids.
"I feel like I'm bothering you..." He whispered, closing his eyes, and dropping his hand, when Abby reached his shoulders, humming contently.
"I can't have my tech tense, now can I?" Abby said, giggling slightly. Lance suddenly sad up, turning with a playful smirk on his face.
"Your turn." He said simply, tugging down on her shoulders, making her head fall into his lap. Abby looked up wide-eyed. Lance never did this before. He leaned over her face, pulling her beanie off, and undoing her braids, running his fingers through the soft tresses. His eyes softened, his smirk fading into a fond smile.
"Lance?" The girl asked, looking up at him with those large brown eyes. He pressed a finger to her lips.
"Shh... You're always attending to my needs, now I get to attend to yours..." His finger was removed, and he leaned in closer, closer, closer...
"Hey guys, were here." Jasper said, peeking his head in to see Lance sitting up straight with an Abby in his lap. A smirk threatened to make itself known on his face.
"God dammit..."
A/N: HAHA! Didja like it? Didja? I hated the battle scene for this chapter T.T It's a good one for me though, but it sucks compared to others. Gaaaah! Anyhow, LOOK FOR DEM TACOS!