Chapter Nine: Salvador and Fortuna
"Is it just me," Liz whispered to her Meister and sister as they boarded the early morning plane that would take them to Salvador, Brazil. "Or does Chris seem a little happier than usual?"
At that, the two other Shibusen students looked ahead that their companion; it seemed that Chris was indeed happier if she was happy to begin with. In fact, this morning she had been the first one up and had her bag, the same one that she had arrived with, stuffed with half of what the others would later bring, waiting at the door. Chris had been patient in allowing the others to eat after stating that she had already, though Kid and Liz were certain that there was no truth to that statement.
Even if she hadn't eaten, Chris was obviously careful not to show it. She was busily strolling happily, if it could be called that, in front of them with a small, almost unseen, smile on her face; the only thing that she was bringing on the plane with her was her bag since her sword had to be put in the cargo hold. Kid didn't know how she managed to get the giant sword past security, but knew better than to ask since the girl had been temporarily infuriated after clearing security.
"Maybe it's a place that she has always wanted to go," Patti suggested.
"With the traveling she has done," Kid said then, "I doubt that she hasn't been everywhere in the two continents."
"Then…" Patti thought for a brief moment before exclaiming a little too loudly. "A boyfriend?"
Both Kid and Liz had barely clapped a hand each over the younger Thompson sister's mouth before Chris turned to them, puzzled by the look on her face.
"What was that, Patti?" she asked curiously.
"Don't mind her, Chris," Liz said hurriedly, hoping to allow her sister to avoid a possible early death by an irritated Chris. "She's just spouting off nonsense again."
"Oh," was all that Chris said before turning around, allowing the tense weapon and meister to sigh in relief.
"Watch what you say around Chris, Patti," Liz hissed as a warning. "We don't know enough about her to be making assumptions. Besides, why would she even have a boyfriend? She seems like the type that a boy would rather avoid."
"Just thinking," Patti said with a big grin, earning a sigh from her older sister. "What do you think, Kid?"
"What?" Kid asked, clearly having not noticed Patti's question.
"Something wrong, Kid?" Liz asked concerned.
"Not really," the young shinigami said. "I just couldn't help but notice that one of Chris's ponytails is a little lower than the other."
"Kid!" Liz exclaimed. "This isn't the time for you to be concerned with Chris's symmetry!"
The older Thompson sister's face then went from shock to a sly grin.
"Oh, I get it," she said.
"You got what?" Patti asked curiously.
"Kid likes Chris," Liz whispered with glee.
"I most certainly do not," Kid said in defiance.
"Oh, don't deny it," Liz said, nudging her partner. "You've been acting a little normal ever since she came to live with us."
"Don't deny it," Patti echoed and began nudging Kid as well.
"Will you two just…" Kid said before something caught his attention. He glanced around, his concerned face not going unnoticed by his Weapons.
Chris, by the way that she had stopped suddenly and almost having Patti run into her, clearly had sensed whatever Kid had. She glanced around, trying to find the source of the soul that she had just sensed.
"What's wrong, you guys?" Patti asked.
"I might just be imagining," Kid dropped his voice to a bare whisper, "but I think we're being followed."
"Are you sure?" Liz asked in a whisper. "Is it a Kishin?"
"No, it's not," Chris said, "that much I'm certain of."
"Whatever it is," Kid said, "I can't say that it doesn't mean us any harm. Everyone keep your eyes open."
"Alright," Liz said as she glanced up at a board. "We better book it; our plane is going to start boarding soon."
With that the group continued on, unaware of the small figure lurking in the shadows of the crowd that was following in pursuit.
The flight lasted eight hours at most, though it had seemed much shorter for the four teens had slept most of the way through it. Chris had been the first to awaken and, with only a half an hour or so left of the flight, proceeded to awaken her more reluctant companions.
Kid, apparently, hadn't been really asleep and immediately woke upon Chris's first nudge; Liz needed a bit more encouraging and Patti…well, it was one experience that Chris didn't want to go through anytime soon.
"Your attention, please," the flight attendant's voice came from over the intercom. "We'll be arriving in Dep. Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport in approximately five minutes. Please fasten your seatbelts and thank you for riding Airline Estate."
The plane landed without a hitch several minutes later and, after collecting their luggage, the quad made their way out into the busy streets of Salvador.
"Do we even have any idea where this Kishin is?" Liz asked as they waited for a bus that would take them to their destination. "How do we know it's not even there anymore?"
"Kishin are like serial killers," Chris said, prompting the others to look at her in confusion. "They don't move around; they like to stay where they are comfortable."
"Sounds like you know a lot," Kid said with a slight scoff.
Chris was quiet in deep thought.
"How many Kishin have you fought, Chris-chan?" Patti asked.
"I really don't know," the white-haired girl said as she stared at the buildings across the road. "I never bothered with keeping track."
"Too bad you didn't have a partner," Kid said. "I'm certain that you'd have your ninety-nine souls that you'd need."
Again, Chris didn't say anything and, as if she had built-in radar, stood up and said, "The bus is coming." Sure enough, the old bus appeared and, with hardly anyone on board, it was easy for the group to take their seats with luggage.
"Para onde? 1" the bus driver asked.
"Barra, por favor.2" Chris said as the bus began to roll away.
"I didn't know you spoke Spanish, Chris," Liz said with amazement.
"It's Portuguese, actually," Chris said. "But I do know Spanish, as well as French, Latin, and Japanese. I know a little Mandarin Chinese and some Italian and Greek."
Liz whistled in admiration. "Who taught you all that? Some mutli-language proffessor?"
"Iki-san did," Chris blurted out before she could stop herself. They weren't suppose to hear that!
"Iki-san," Patti said, spreading out the pronunciation. "Who's that?"
"Just a good friend," Chris said, trying to hide the panic in her voice. Iki-san would possibly never forgive her if his name reached Shinigami-sama's ears; she prayed that the trio had a bad short term memory. Then again, Iki-san had never really bothered to tell her his real name, so maybe she was safe, for now.
Kid, however, noticed the tenseness of Chris's body as she spoke that sentence. Apparently, this Iki-san person was someone that she either feared greatly or had a lot of respect for. He'd have to ask Chris more about this person later.
The trip on the bus lasted thirty minutes and, at the last stop, the group found themselves in front of a café-like place called Leãozinho. The sound of people came from through the doors and, from what could be heard, it wasn't at all pretty.
"What are we doing here?" Liz asked. "We're suppose to be looking for the Kishin."
"We are," Chris said. "This is one of the most visited pubs in the area, so I'm sure someone will know something."
"And you know that why?" Liz asked.
A small smile graced Chris's face. "You'll find out soon enough," she said before heading over to the door.
Inside, the place was lighted with red lights with the sound of Portuguese music coming softly from speakers. Nearly all the tables were occupied, either by groups playing card games or the occasional loner with a cigarette in hand.
Chris, clearly undaunted by the activity around her, approached the table where the bartender, a woman of her forties with a no nonsense look, sat busily wiping the mugs. The trio stayed behind near the wall, waryingly watching the occupants of the building.
"É Madame Fortuna em? 3" Chris asked as she took a seat at the bar.
"Quem quer saber? 4" The bartender said before looking up and her brown eyes becoming big like saucers. "Christine perca! Quando você voltou? 5"
"É bom ver você também, Ezra. 6" Chris said with a smile, telling the others that the two apparently know each other.
"Apenas um momento, Madame Fortuna foi para atender uma chamada. Vou ver se ela está acabado. 7" Ezra said, dissappearing from behind a curtain that clearly lead to the back of the building.
"Who was that?" Liz asked, the three walking forward to join their partner.
"Ezra," Chris said. "She's been working for Aunt Fortuna for many years and is considered by most to be her bodyguard of sorts."
"So you know these guys?" Kid asked.
"Of course," Chris said, her lips tilted up slightly. "I practically lived here before heading for Shibusen."
At that, Kid felt that he was close to finding out who it was that taught Chris how to fight the way she did. Maybe he could possibly find out more from this Fortuna woman.
A short time later, a much older woman than Ezra came out from the curtain. Her skin was such a tan and riddled with age spots that the three Shibusen students immediately thought of the type of woman who dabbled in talking with spirits. She was dress in a simple dress with a red and violet shash drapped over her shoulders; her arms were covered in braclets that jingled as she made her way to the counter.
Upon seeing Chris, the woman's face light up with joy. "Chris, é tão bom ver você de novo, espero que suas viagens foram bem.8" the woman said.
"Bem, tia Fortuna. 9" Chris said, taking the woman's outstrecthed and wrinkled hands with her unblemished ones.
"Quem é seu amigo? 10" Madame Fortuna looked over at the trio, her dark eyes seemingly searching for a reason to throw them out.
"Pessoas de Shibusen, você pode confiar neles. 11" Chris said, her eyes also knowing the look of the much older woman's.
"Welcome then, friends of Chris," Fortuna said with a thick accent. "I'd gladly offer you a drink, but I'm afraid that you look underage for that." She laughed and even Chris had an amused look.
"Come, come," Fortuna said, beckoning to the curtain. "It's much to crowded here. Let's talk in the back; I want to hear about what happened after you left, Chris."
1Where to?
2Bara please.
3Is Madame Fortuna in?
4Who wants to know?
5Miss Christine! When did you get back?
6It's good to see you too, Ezra.
7Just a moment, Madame Fortuna went to take a call. I'll see if she's finished.
8Chris, it's so good to see you again; I trust that your travels were well.
9Quite, Aunt Fortuna.
10Who's your friends?
11People from Shibusen; you can trust them.
Epp! Sorry that it took forever to get this updated. I've suffered a major case of writer's block and then my laptop had to be taken to the shop and I barely got it back.
I hope I got the translation right (you really can't tell with Google) so if there is any mistakes, please let me know.
Also check out my other works and review are appreciated.