o.0.o.0.o
Chapter Ten
Kaze glared at his opponent across from him, waiting for her to crumble under the pressure of his terrifying gaze. The glaceon, however, said nothing, simply stared back at him, refusing to let any panic she might have felt show.
She picked up the bishop and moved it three squares, then sat back.
"Check." she said simply, folding her hands. Kaze pursed his lips for a moment, then decided to get rid of the offending black bishop at the sacrifice of his knight.
"Where did you learn to play chess?" Kaze asked after he made his move. Qani blinked at him.
"The person I work for wanted his children to learn, and I, in turn, learned through watching." she stared at the board thoughtfully. "They never really picked up on it, but I find it to be great fun."
"Hm." Kaze mused. Playing chess had, in fact, not been his idea. When they reached the small hospital for Viridi and the doctors told them to wait, a little old sorrow came up and offered them some games, saying that "Young minds should be stimulated!". Most had been puzzles and such, and he assumed Saffron would take her time to do that and Qani would simply stand around like she had been. All in all, he had ignored the games. How could he concentrate on something so childish when he had missions to be updated, people to contact, and he had to listen to Saffron talk endlessly about how worried she was for her friend?
It was only after a chansey sorrow approached them and said Viridi would be fine after some healing and some rest, giving them confirmation to leave in a day or two, that he actually allowed his gaze to flick over the games.
Saffron had picked up a puzzle, deciding to humor herself on one of the coffee tables. Qani shifted through the boxes a bit, then looked up at him with a box.
"Do you know how to play?" she had asked, holding up the chess set.
Qani certainly was an odd young lady, and not simply by the way she dressed and spoke. Then again, he supposed it was wrong to judge people based on how they were dressed, given how most of the residents of Uhssi dressed. Sometimes, he swore he was the only one who looked half normal, and even then, he had dyed red bangs!
Anyways, while Qani acted refined and polite, she has shown evidence of being quite the fighter, and now, seemingly intelligent. Kaze has always regarded himself as a very intelligent person. He didn't need brute strength to beat his enemies, as all he needed was simple intelligence. As long as he was smarter than those around him, he would always have the upper hand. But now, with Qani, he was facing a new issue: A blank-faced, seemingly strong, seemingly intelligent woman, who he couldn't discern between being an enemy or a friend. She was a far contrast to the women in his guild, Saffron coming to mind, and that difference was as intriguing as it was annoying.
He's read of sorrows who would worm their way into friendships with guildmembers in an effort to get inside information to sell or whatever reason. Dark guilds, news reporters, whatever it was. That was why he very rarely trusted new recruits. He never knew if he could actually trust them. Usually, he could tell, but Qani was different all together. She specifically stated her reasoning for seeking out Three Spirit was to find Clamor, whom Saffron reminded him as being the loud guy who can't tone it down. He remembered the idiot, always shouting and causing chaos in the guild.
Why a woman of Qani's caliber was seeking him out was beyond his comprehension.
"Are you planning on joining Three Spirit?" Kaze asked. Usually, he didn't talk this much with other people, but Qani was such an anomaly to him that he had to find her motives.
"Perhaps." she mused. Kaze kept his irritation hidden. No matter what question was asked, Qani always answered with these vague answers. It was going from being interesting to being rather annoying. "Kaze," she said, glancing at him.
"What?" he asked.
"You're not going to find out anything that I don't want you to know." she said cryptically, moving her next chess piece. "Checkmate."
o.0.o.0.o
Today, Clamor realized, that Coren has officially figured out the reason why Graves is such an arrogant ass.
"Boys!" the luxray exclaimed, slamming his hand on the table they were sitting at. "I've figured out why Graves is such an arrogant ass!" he sat down smugly, crossing his arms and sitting back. Asher barely batted an eye, to busy admiring Koli with a faraway look on his face as she glanced over the job board.
Koli and Giselle had made it back to Three Spirit after about a week at their hometown. Reassured time and time again that Moon and Zap had everything under control, they finally left, their healed villagers sending them off with the rest of Team Evolution by their side. Oddly enough, the two sisters requested their gray guildmark be split in half, stamped on their hands in a way so that it completed a full mark should they place their hands together. About a week into guild life, and the two have already managed to complete their training mission and signed into Team Evolution.
"It isn't because he was handsome." Coren said, as if it were obvious, snapping the loudred from his revere. "Or powerful. Or how he somehow managed to con everyone into getting whatever he wanted."
"THAT-" Clamor clamped his mouth shut as a jolt of electricity caused his leg to jerk. Swallowing, he spoke in a quieter tone under Coren's intense look and the small sparks the crackled, almost unnoticeably, throughout his hair. "I dunno about you, but I think that's a decent reason to be an arrogant stuck-up prick."
"That's where you are wrong, my friend." Coren grinned. "For you see, it is not because of power or looks. It is because. simply, he lacks a woman in his life." Clamor furrowed his brow.
"I dunno…" he trailed off. "I think Graves is an ass because he's a narcissist, plain and simple."
"Trust me on this one, I know my friends!" Coren insisted. Clamor crossed his arms.
"What's in it for you?"
"What?" Coren exclaimed. "Why, Clamor, I'm shocked! You honestly think that I would take advantage of helping a friend?"
Clamor fixed him with a serious look.
"Ouch." Coren winced. "That's harsh, man."
"Whats in it for you?"
"Clamor-"
"What's in it for you?"
"I'd never-"
"WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUU?" Clamor shouted, nearly shattering the eardrums of all within hearing range. They caught a few odd stares, then everyone returned to their work.
"A date." Coren said smugly. "I made a bet with Fina."
"She made a bet with you?" Clamor cocked his head.
"The bet entailed that if I could find Graves a girl who wanted to date him, and the girl enjoyed the date, confessed her love to him, willingly, then she'd go on a date with me."
"And if you loose the bet?"
"I hand over three fourths of our savings."
"YOU WHAT?!"
"Volume, Clamor."
"YOU BET OUR SAVINGS! WE NEED THAT TO LIVE, DAMMIT! DO YOU EVEN REALIZE WHAT YOU JUST DID?! YOU MADE A BET YOU CAN'T WIN BECAUSE NO GIRL WOULD BE DESPERATE ENOUGH TO-"
"Shh!" Coren hissed, smacking a hand over his mouth. "There is a girl who would date Graves!"
"Who?!" Clamor exclaimed as Coren dropped his hand. Coren silently held up his finger near his smirking face, and pointed. Clamor slowly followed his gaze, eyes settling on a certain espeon sorrow. "I don't know, Coren." Clamor said doubtfully. "I'm seeing flaws with this already."
"Like what?"
"Like the fact that Koli nearly stabbed your eye out when you approached Giselle. And how Koli always following her. And how there's no way we can pull her from the team."
"And why is that?"
"One, I'm no good at this romantic stuff. You know that. Second, this guy," he pointed to Asher. "Is an idiot. Graves is to much of a prick, and Fina will roast you if you come within a twenty foot radius." Clamor crossed his arms. "Plus on top of that, I don't like the idea of fooling around with Giselle's emotions. What if something actually happens between her and Graves, and she finds out this was all a bet? Not only will it crush her, but her twin will find out and we're all good as dead. So what's your big bad plan now, hotshot?"
A smirk creeped onto Coren's face as Graves sat back down.
"Hey Graves," Coren said, resting his chin in his hand as he spoke. The dusknoir glanced at him.
"What?"
"Lets make a bet."
"No." Graves immediately answered. "I'm not wasting my time on you and your bets. They always end up ruining my reputation."
"Oh, what a shame then." Coren sighed woefully. "I guess this challenge is simply to much for the great, almighty Graves."
Graves snapped his gaze up at that. Slowly, he leaned back in his seat and smirked.
"Nothing is to hard for Graves Hallowell." he boldly declared.
"Nothing?" Coren teased.
"Nothing at all."
"So say if, maybe, I dunno, I said you couldn't get one particular girl to confess her love to you. What do you say to that?"
"Ha!" Graves laughed. "I can get any girl I want."
"Any girl?"
"Any girl." Graves confirmed.
"Fine then, here's the bet." Coren pointed to Graves. "You need to get one girl, of my choice, to confess her love to you."
"With the kind of girls you date, this should be easy." Graves smirked. "What are the rules?"
"You can't force her to say it. She has to do so willingly."
"Fine."
"You can't pay her off or anything like that. Gotta use that good old fashioned charm of yours, buddy."
"Easy." Graves said, waving his hand flippantly. "Who's the girl?"
"You honestly can't miss her." grinned Coren. "Purple hair, espeon ears, homicidal twin…" he trailed off. "What was her name again? Giselle?"
Graves visible eye shot to the espeon sorrow, then to her domineering and dangerous twin.
"So I essentially have to get Stutter over there to confess her undying love for me." Graves mused thoughtfully. "If I can get rid of her twin, this will be easier than I originally thought. And if I do, you, Coren, aren't allowed to flirt with random sorrows you pick up off the street. For three months. It's bad for the image, you know."
Coren grinned. He knew that Graves was way to prideful and arrogant to refuse the bet.
"And if she doesn't," Coren said, crossing his arms. "You, King Dipshit, have to announce to the entire guild that you are secretly very insecure about yourself because your mommy made you take ballet lessons when you were a little kid, and your attitude is a simply an act to cover up the fact that you're still a warped little boy who still likes to dance across the stage in a pink tutu on his tippy toes."
Graves swallowed uncomfortably.
"They weren't ballet lessons." Graves muttered. "Fine, I accept your bet. Say goodbye to your one-night stands."
"Can't wait to see your tutu." Coren grinned, shaking his hand. Graves grabbed Asher by the back of his shirt.
"I need you for a second." Graves said, dragging him out the door. Coren wasn't quite sure what he was planning, but he was satisfied with this outcome.
"What's with that smug smirk?" Clamor grumbled. "You're in a loose-loose situation with two bets. Loose against Graves, you loose against Fina, and thus we loose our money. What with the add on that Graves burdened us with, you can't even flirt money out of random sorrows."
"As if I'd sink so low." Coren scoffed. "I've got some class."
Clamor fixed him with a judgmental look.
"What is it with you today?!" Coren exclaimed. Calming down after a moment, Coren smiled. "He said random sorrows."
"So?"
"So," Coren grinned mischievously. "I can still flirt with Team Evolution, and thus, Fina."
Clamor sighed, head thumping against the table in frustration.
"That's the least of our worries, Coren."
o.0.o.0.o
"You're sure you're heading out again?" Moon asked as Zap gathered his few belongings. He mutely nodded, glancing up at her while Launa sat on a chair, swinging her legs back and forth.
"I don't think that attack on your village was random." he murmured. "I think there's something going on."
"Even I could've said that." Moon responded, shaking her head. "How would the Elder have gotten into debt with a dark guild to begin with? I don't understand that part at all…"
Zap simply shrugged, hefting his bag over his shoulder.
"I'll… keep in contact." he stated simply, walking towards the door. "Stay safe." he abruptly added. The ninetails watched as he shut the door behind him, completely used to his abrupt coming and goings.
"So what's it with you two?" Launa finally asked, hopping up from the couch. Moon blinked.
"I'm not sure I understand what you're asking."
"Well, he's cute." Launa shrugged casually. "His voice is a little scary, but if he's as quiet as he is all the time, I'd be able to get over it."
"He's eighteen." Moon said, finding her voice clipped.
"So?"
"Aren't you, like, twelve?"
"Objection!" Launa said, pointing at her. "Add three to that!"
"You're fifteen." Moon stated.
"Yep!" Launa grinned. "You jealous? I wouldn't be surprised." her playful tone took on a arrogant hint as she continued to tease the ninetails sorrow. "I mean, a milotic, known for their beauty? It's not surprising."
Moon decided to ignore her. She suddenly smacked her on her shoulder, grinning.
"I'm kidding, Moon." she said. "So what're your plans next?"
Moon sighed at that.
"I don't want to stick around here much longer. The villagers are well and order is established again. I don't think I'm needed. But…"
"But?"
"I don't want to go back to Amazee and deal with the border war." she sighed. "I love the guild with all my heart, but I'm tired of the trivial fights. It's like, if we run into a single Warlord Crusader guildmember, it's an instant fight." Launa sat thoughtfully for a moment.
"I have an idea!" she grinned, standing on her toes to place her hands on Moon's shoulders. "Lets follow Zap."
"… What?"
"Lets follow Zap, see what he's up too!" Launa insisted. "He's an information broker, right? He must go on tons of fun adventures! Imagine the fun! We could be like spies!"
"… Launa, if Zap wanted us to follow him, he would have asked. He's very good at what he does, I'm pretty sure that if he wanted us to follow him, he'd have invited us."
"He's just anti-social." Launa said flippantly. "Come oooooooooon, Moon. Haven't you always wondered what that guy does when he's not around?"
Moon didn't say anything to that. Sure, she was curious and all, but if Zap…
"Come oooooooon, Moon! We'll just follow him and see what he's doing, nothing more, nothing less! Aren't you worried? Curious? Anything? You know it's not safe to go on missions alone, and from what I know, Zap's not even in a guild! What's going to happen if he gets hurt?"
Moon contemplated her words for a moment. That was the difference between her and Zap. If she got in trouble or hurt, all she had to do was put up an alert signal on her badge and not only would nearby guildmembers be alerted, but so would the guildmaster of her guild and Central themselves. If Zap was in trouble… what would become of him?
"… Let me pack a bag." Moon finally said. Launa's face lit up as she squealed, beginning to babble about how exciting the expedition would be. As Moon climbed the stairs to her room, beginning to pack a small amount of items, she wondered, briefly, what she had gotten herself into.
o.0.o.0.o
"Why," Kaze growled out as he continued walking along the path. "Are you following me?"
He glared at an utterly cheeky Viridi, a placid-faced Qani, and an annoyed Saffron. He could understand Qani and Saffron, sure. Qani was looking for Clamor at Three Spirit and Saffron was heading back to the guild. They were easy to ignore, what with the former being quiet and serious, much like him, and the other being so short he could scare her into silence simply with his height.
But Viridi was much like the women at his guild: loud, annoying, incomprehensibly stupid and reckless, and who, since being healed, decided to latch into him and follow him like a lost child would her mother.
At first, he simply ignored her, and that worked. But then she started pulling at his hair, or trying to pluck the feathers from his wings, or poke his cheek. He attempted to fly away from her, only to realize she's somehow managed to steal some miscellaneous item on his person and he had to go retrieve it. Realizing his attempt to fly away was useless, he pulled on his trench coat so she wouldn't touch his wings anymore. When she no longer found entertainment in poking and prodding at him, she fell silent, much to his relief.
Then she began her incessant chattering, eventually telling him every bit of useless information he had absolutely no need for, like the time she climbed a tree and got stuck, or how she liked to eat the pink crayons, specifically the pink one's, when she was four. It was like one thing lead to another, and in one single sentence, she managed to go from one topic to three different topics then back to the original topic, all in a single breath of air.
Qani was no help whatsoever. Like him, he supposed, she was much to mission oriented to care wether or not Viridi's talking bothered her. After all, it wasn't she the leafeon was trying to irritate, so what would she care? And Saffron? The little weakling seemed to be enjoying his hidden suffering. An yet Viridi kept talking. And talking. And talking. And talking. While Qani annoyed him, it wasn't same way Viridi was annoying him. Qani was just a stark difference to what he was used to, and he, in turn, found her intriguing. But Viridi?
She was driving him utterly mad.
Finally, at some point, his brain snapped and he just gave up, listening to her talk and talk and talk until she finally stopped talking, giving him an opening for the question.
And she gave him the worst possible answer.
"I'm following you to join your guild! The way Saffron described it made it sound amazing, and I think it's about time I gave up the life of hiding and thievery!"
…
…
…
He was going to murder that damned breloom.
o.0.o.0.o
Whelp, no new OCs in this chapter. I guess this is kind of a filler, some anticipation for the next part of the story and all. Thanks to you all for the 103 reviews! This is the largest amount of reviews I managed to rake in before chapter ten, and i couldn't be happier.
Now, anyways, I'm going to say right here and now that I have thought up some shippings for the OCs. If anyone does NOT want their character in a relationship, please tell me and I will cross their name off the available roster. Thank you!
Amy47101 signing off! ^.^