Chapter 14: Breaking in, and talking swords... oh boy. Part 1
I gave a few blinks, and I couldn't help, but to blush the closer his face got to mine. Zack blushed, too, when he noticed mine, but gave me a quick peck on the lips... much to an "awww" started by Amay-Anni. Jun aww-ed too, sitting there... facing the couch we were sitting on; just a few feet away. Upon hearing them, I felt my cheeks get pinker from the blush intensifying. I turned my face to the side-away from all three of them.
"What? A minute ago it was so cute! Now...it's all look this and that way!"
"Yeah, what Jun said. You twoz gotta lozzen up!" Amay chuckled with her words while
Jun grinned. I didn't respond... then I felt Zack's arms gently wrap around me around me, nervous. Jun's next words made me blink.
"I wish I had a camera..."
"How come?"
"Because, the 'twoz gotta lozzen up', a picture would be so cute!"
Amay chuckled, looking around for one; Jun started hunting for one, too.
"FOUND ONE!"
I looked up at Zack's face, and his eyes went wide while Amay squee'ed.
"Care to do the honors Amay?"
"I'm out of here. Buh-bye." I responded, trying to make way for the exit. No way was she
getting my picture. Sorry Zack, you take pictures, but not me. Apparently, Zack didn't like taking pictures either. He tried running out of there faster than me.
"Me too!"
"Nuuu! It can't be a Zackie and Asukie picture if there's no Zackie and no Asukie!" Jun shouted at us, trying to pull us both back. We squirmed, trying to get free while Amay blocked the exit. Jun threw Amay the camera, before pulling Zack and I back over to the couch. Zack continued to try and get away comically like a flailing squirrel or something. I almost laughed at him.
"LET ME GO! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" He complained.
"No, no, no! Not until we get a cute picture! NOW POSE FOR ONE YOU TWO!" Jun yelled back. We sat, but refused to do what she wanted. I crossed my arms, with a blank stare.
"NUUU! COME ON! It was sooo cute! Amay! Help meh!"
Amay sighed. "And do what?"
Jun was in the corner in a feedle position; sniffling. "All I wanted was a little tiny picture..."
Amay sighed pointing at us 'lovebirds'. "Youz two. Picture, now."
"No." I replied coldly, and Jun whined.
"So mean Sis..."
Zack sighed as Amay tried to force his face into a cute smile, trying to make us hug each other. I sighed, and frowned. Amay eventually gave up. Jun decided to give it another shot, so she sat in front of Zack with a puppy dog pout.
"Pwease? Just one picture? Pweety pwease?"
He looked at me as if saying 'it'll get them to leave us alone'... I was guessing Zack had a weakness for the puppy dog eyes. I sighed, unable to say no to him.
"Fine... One picture. ONE you hear me?!" Jun nodded.
"YAY!"
Zack sighed, nervously hugging me again.
"Look happy!" Amay commanded
I wrapped my arms around him, but kept my face the way it was.
"No. You want a picture so bad; you'll deal with my face the way it is." I said... again, coldly.
"Aww..."
Zack chuckled a bit.
"Please?"
"No. Or no picture at all."
"Fine, fine. Then Zackie, look happeh!"
Zack sighed. "I can't be forced to be happy Miss Jun."
"I said look, not be."
"That's what I meant. I can't force the 'Happeh'."
"Awww... Fine. Meanies." He sighed softly, leaning on me a bit. I stayed perfectly still,
and Jun snapped a shot of us.
"Squeee!"
"Alright, happy now?" Zack asked.
"HAI!"
"Good." He nodded...
He still leaned on me though while Jun skipped off to a corner happily. I sighed again, this time out of slight pity of the idiotic factor of my sister. I felt Zack rub my back ever so softly, and I couldn't help it... I smiled up at him. He smirked a bit and he kept his arms gently, but firmly around me. I embraced him tightly, and he smiled softly down at me. Ooo... his smile was so sweet, and he looked so adorable.
"Good thing Jun already got her picture."
"Ha-" I was cut off when suddenly, a flash went off and Jun grinned.
"I got a cuter one! You both were smiling!"
We blinked from the sudden flash, trying to clear our vision as I heard Amay snicker, Jun giggled as she spoke.
"I win."
"Jun, lemme see the pic." I heard Amay say, and Jun moved to show it to her. Amay snickered some more.
"We SOz gotta put that on a chrizmuz card."
"Yesh! They're so cute! And it's funny; Asuka has a real smile in the picture, not one of those fake ones she puts on when she tries to fool someone."
Amay nodded her agreement. "I knowz... Thiz one is more convincing than her fake one. She'z az bad as Zack-o."
Jun busted out in a fit of giggles. "I know!"
Amay giggled with her as Zack just stared. I pulled out of his gentle hold, and crossed the space between me and the other two females. I picked the camera right out of Jun's hands.
"HEY!"
"Didn't we agree to one picture?" I raised a brow, going through the camera menu. I quickly clicked a few buttons, deleted one, and handed it back. I sat back down next to Zack. I left the one Jun wanted: where we were smiling. I didn't know why I did, but I did. He smiled at me again, and I felt slightly weak in the knees. He then yawned, and I turned all my attention onto him.
"Sleepy?"
"Yes, just a bit."
"Then rest. I'll move if you want to use the couch to lie on."
"You don't have to," he replied.
"Are you sure? If you're tired, you should rest." I pressed on.
Zack nodded. "I'm sure; I wouldn't want to make you move."
I was just about to lean my head against Zack's shoulder... but Amay, out of the blue, yanked me from the couch and dragged me over to Jun.
"Hey!" I complained, and then blinked when Jun slapped her hand against my forehead. She then let her hand drop.
"A little warm, what do you think Amay?"
Amay gave Jun a few blinks, and then GENTLY felt my forehead. "Well now that you've smack it, yeah..."
"Oh..."
"What are you two doing?" I demanded in a stern tone, and my reply was:
"Seeing if yaz waz feelin okiez."
"I'm feeling fine..."
"Apparently."
"Can I sit back down now? Or are you two going to do something else to bother me?"
Amay shrugged. Zack had fallen asleep, but sitting up. I rolled my eyes, then walked back over to the couch. Sighing I laid him on the couch comfortably. I plopped myself self down on the floor, next to the couch quietly. I began to think...
Did... Zack really care for me? Love me? Or was I just... another piece of ass for him to play with; as Akio saw me? Was this… a one-sided love; unrequited love? Daemon... he seemed to really care... and he was so sweet towards me... a whole lot better than Akio ever was. I continued on with my train of thought... and before I knew it... I was asleep. Something hit my head, and I woke up and rubbed my head.
"OW!"
Zack turned with a start. I blinked when I looked up at him... he had marker all over his handsome face.
"You've got... whatever it is all over your face, Zack..."
"...So do you Asuka..."
I blinked some more. "Eh?" I got up, and went to look in the mirror. I face planted when I saw... and Zack sighed. I sat up, and looked up at him. Noticing an actual marker in his hand, my eyes narrowed. "Why do you have a marker in your hand?"
"I could as YOU the same question Asuka...though this one happens to be GLUED to my hand."
"Right..." I stood... there was a marker attached to my hand, too. I tried to shake the marker off. I could hear Jun and Amay have a laughing fit in the kitchen... those bastards had something to do with this. I'd get them later... but for now, it was time to make actual use of the damn marker. I pulled the cap off, then stood on my tipy toes in front of Zack... and started writing on his forehead. I wrote 'Asuka's pervert.' in quick, but readable print. When he saw it in the mirror, he laughed... then wrote something on my forehead. Oh great... I wanted to be unique. I glanced in the mirror to see... it was really small writing: 'Zack's Assassin Princess' or something like that; I could barely see it.
"How nice..."
"I didn't know what to write. I know it's stupid." He turned me around to face him by the shoulders gently.
"What's stupid?"
"My creativity."
"It's not."
Zack smiled a bit as I kissed his cheek... then I felt his arms wrap around me to hold me close. He was gentle, and sweet. Returning his loving embrace, I allowed my head to rest against his chest, and his fingers started combing through my hair. I gave him an affectionate nudge as I spoke,
"We should wash the marker off... before it gets stuck..."
He reluctantly pulled away from me, and I tilted my head to the side like a curious kitten.
"What?"
"Nothing."
He headed into the kitchen to wash up first, and I followed in suit. Zack handed me the soap and turned on the water, ignoring the laughing Amay and Jun. I, on the other hand, chose not to ignore them. I picked up the closest pan and flung it at them. I caught Amay right in the head, and Jun started laughing harder... that is... until a pan hit her in the face, too. I heard Zack chuckle, and Jun whined in pain. I tried to ignore it, turning to wash my face. She sniffled, and I shrugged her words off as I cleaned my face marker free.
"THAT HURT!! YOU BITCH!" '
I was about ready to hit her again, but instead, I left the kitchen when I was done, and sat on the couch. I heard muffled voices coming from the kitchen before Zack came out, and took a seat next to him. Again, I slipped my hand into his, and he laced out fingers and pulled my closer to wrap his other arm around me. I leaned my head against his shoulder, comfortable after a few minutes.
"What was the point of coming here?"
"I don't remember..."
"Okay..."
"We were after that...Rock thing Amay made us come along for." He said... after a good what, five minutes? A little longer maybe?
"Oh yeah..."
"Since its Amay-Anni's mission, I say she should be doing most of the work from now on." Zack leaned against me a bit.
"I doubt she will..."
"True..."
"We'll end up with the work... or most of it..."
"As usual?"
"Yup."
"But...tomorrow. It's getting late now."
"I like working at night."
"Really?" Zack raised an eyebrow. By the look on his face... was he thinking something perverted at that moment? I didn't mean it like that! The pervert! Oh well... he was the pervert I loved...
"Yes."
"Hm..." He thought about it. "Let's go in the day first... we still have to find where it is."
"Fine."
"I wonder if Amay finished cooking." He squeezed out, before letting out a small yawn. Ugh... don't yawn, I will, too!
"You can go check."
"Nah...too lazy and" Another yawn, "tired..."
"Then rest. I'll move." Zack shook his head, and said,
"Asuka...would you please stay?" I nodded... I would be there until he orders me away, and therefore, whatever he wanted for me, he would get it.
"Of course... long as you want me to."
Zack smiled gently, leaning some more on me, comfortably. I smiled down at him, allowing myself to serve as his temporary pillow. He held onto me as I rubbed his back, and his eye lids fell.
"Good night." I whispered lowly and sweetly so only he could hear me. I stayed up for sometime after Zack fell asleep. I don't remember my dream... I don't even think I had one... I do know that I kept a tight hold on him. I heard Jun's voice, and I opened an eye. She was being silly, by rolling back and fourth. I threw the closest thing I could get my hands on... it was a lamp. It hit.
"GAH! OWIE! OWIE!! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!" I shrugged and Jun whimpered. "Amay! Zack! She's picking on mesh!"
Amay gave a sigh and threw a book at me... it hit me on the head.
"Ow. What the hell!?"
"What, you started it." Amay replied as she shrugged. Jun grinned, and said,
"Haha Sis got hit!"
"Whatever..."
"Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah!" Jun got up and stuck her tongue out at me. In response to that, I was about to hit her with my fish, but Zack threw a shoe at her... it smacked her right in the face, and Jun retaliated by throwing a shoe back at him.
"Owie... WEH! Amay! Zackie's helping Asukie pick on me!"
Amay looked at her, then threw HER shoe at Zack; who promptly blocked it with a pillow. When he blocked Amay's shoe, Jun threw her shoe at him... and that one hit Zack square in the forehead. Jun laughed at him, and stuck her tongue out, too.
"Nyah nyah nyah nyah! I win!"
I got up and crossed the space between me and my sister... a moment or two, Jun was sitting on the floor with multiple anime bumps on her head. She sobbed.
"OW! That really hurt!"
Amay fell over laughing at her. And I smelled alcohol as I took my seat, next to Zack. Jun continued sobbing... she just wouldn't stop... so I her shoe and flung it back at her... it gave the woman another anime bump.
"Ow! WEH! Stop picking on me!!"
Zack chuckled a bit. In a bit of mockery, I stuck my tongue out at Jun, before smiling sweetly towards Zack. He cuddled me a bit as Amay burst out in a new wave of giggles. Drunk giggles. I cuddled, too and watched Jun get mad, and throw a pillow at Amay.
"You dumb drunk."
Amay fell over... in a NEW wave of giggles.
Jun blinked, then shrugged. "Ugh... Lazy ass is drunk... how are we supposed to finish the task if she's wasted?" She asked, and Zack sighed.
"We can't. How do we get her out of it?"
"Feed her something? I don't know..."
"Usually I just knock her out."
Soon as Zack mentioned knock out, Jun hit Amay in the back of the head with a frying pan. "Like that?" Amay slumped over. Zack sweat dropped.
"...Yeah..."
Jun grinned, and then shook Amay. "She's gonna be out for awhile. Asuka! Why you go and hit Amay with a frying pan?"
"Asuka did what?" I raised a brow, and I saw Zack give a few blinks.
"Zack hears what?"
"Jun says that Asuka hit Amay withy a frying pan! Or at least... That's who she's pinning it on"
"...Asuka says she's going to beat your ass if you do..."
"Jun says Nu-huh!"
"Zack says both of you need to calm down..."
"Jun says the Cutie needs to back out. Haruko sister sibling rivalry!"
"Asuka says... let Zack say whatever he wants..."
"Jun says make me!" I heard the joking tone in her voice... why were we speaking in third person? I had to ask...
"Asuka wants to know why we're speaking in third person..."
"'Cuz it's fun!"
Zack sighed, pulled away from me, and walked outside. I blinked, watching him leave. Did I do something wrong?
"OooOoOOOoo Asuka made the Cutie mad!" I frowned; pushing Jun's forehead with my index finger-Jun fell back on her butt-before following Zack. I saw him sitting on the second step from the bottom, so I leaned my back against the doorway to just watch. His head was in his hands, and I frowned again, I slapped myself in the forehead lightly before quietly walking just a little bit closer. He must've heard my footsteps. He gave a deep sigh, and didn't look up at me.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry... Are you okay?" I muttered stopping in my tracks... he just gave me a nod.
"Just...trying to think up a plan..."
I decided to slowly walk to his side, and I didn't sit. "For what?"
"For that... thing we have to get... but we need Amay and Jun knocked her out...and for a looming birthday. It's still not for a long time... but it haunts me."
I took to sitting next to him, and I wrapped an arm around his backside. "Sorry... I'm sure... you'll come up with something for both...?" I tired to sound reassuring... guess it didn't work. He put his arm around my shoulders.
"I don't know..."
I sighed. "You should have a little confidence in yourself..."
"How can I? I've failed thus far."
"Failed in what?"
"...everything."
"Not true..."
"...Yes it is."
"How is that true? You don't fail at EVERYTHING like you just stated..."
"I can't find a loophole in my Kingdom's laws... I can't figure out tactfully what to do on the mission now... and if I can't even handle a four-man mission, how can I expect to rule a country?"
Oh shit... I mentally slapped my forehead... that was hard to argue with when you had nothing to argue with. I might as well stop while I was ahead, before making him even more upset. I didn't say anything else... I was scared I'd only make matters worse. After a short silence, he broke it.
"...I'm sorry."
"For what...?"
"Being all depressed."
"That's not a reason to be sorry."
"I feel like it is."
I tried to smile warmly, wrapping my other arm around him, too; trying to comfort him to the best of my abilities... comforting wasn't exactly my thing.
"It's not. EVERYONE gets depressed at one point or another." Oh yeah... I know all about that... I get depressed way too often.
"Maybe... but... it's quite a rather helpless feeling."
"I know..." Zack replied, hugging me tightly.
"Just give yourself a little more time... I'm sure you'll think of something..."
"I hope so..." he said, and he pulled me closer.
"I know you will..." I hope...
I gave him a small affectionate nudge... I hated seeing him upset... I saw him smile, a small smile, but still a smile none the less. I leaned on him, sighing again. His embrace was nice, and I didn't want him to let go of me... ever. I wished we could stay like that... for as long as possible. It was sometime, but Amay walked out, and Jun skipped out behind her.
"Hey you too, let's get moving."
"Okay."
Amay started filling us in on the plan... I sat there quietly... barely listening. Who needed plans anyway? It was more exciting to just wing it. I could tell Jun was thinking the same thing as me... she was being an airhead... on purpose. Amay tossed a sock at Jun… for lack of a shoe.
"HEY! What was that for?!"
"I waz bored."
"You weirdo... so... um... what's the plan again?"
"You distract the guards; we get inside, you then follow around the back way where we let you in. Got it so far?"
"Okies!"
"We all zet?" I nodded, but Jun answered with words.
"Hai! But... why can't Asuka distract them?"
"She'z not cute enough."
"True... okies! Let's get started!"
Amay and Zack chuckled a bit, getting to their feet. I sighed, getting up, too. Ugh... this was going to be annoying with Jun around.
"We're offz!" Amay declared walking ahead. Jun followed after her happily, and decided to draw attention to herself.
"We're off to see the Wizard! The wonderful Wizard of Oz!"
Zack gave a few confused blinks. I could tell by the look on his face that he didn't know what Jun was talking about. I decided to tell him.
"An old movie..."
"Zack-os! Asukas! Aniis! OH MY!"
"What's a...movie?"
I slapped her forehead when he said that... then I remembered... we weren't from the same place. We were of way different backgrounds... his home, how he was raised... seemed a little odd to me. I was of Asian and Hispanic heritage, and I was raised to kill... so... yeah... I pretty much was too different... much too different. "Um... how about I just show you later?"
"Um... ok..."
"Sorry?"
"No reason to be sorry."
"Oh, I had thought..." He started, "never mind."
"Thought what?"
"Just me being stupid," He replied while following Amay.
"Okay...?" I blinked... now I was the confused one. I followed behind him, and Zack still had the depressed cloud over him. I kind of noticed... and I picked up my pace, to walk beside him, instead of behind him. I looked up at his face, and I didn't like the look... I didn't like seeing him upset period. I gave his hand a firm squeeze, as if telling him that I was there to talk if he needed it. It was all I could offer for this matter... besides Jun. She always has the ability to cheer others up. Maybe it was her upbeat personality? Zack smiled a bit, holding my hand back; he understood what I meant. He kept a firm, but gentle hold on my hand. Amay soon led us the compound, taking another swig of her sake. Zack blinked at that, and asked,
"Where does she keep getting alcohol from?"
"I bet god doesn't even know..."
Zack nodded in agreement. "Probably not...Hey Miss Jun, where do YOU think she get's it all from?"
"Hmmm... I don't know! Maybe... she had like... a secret stash in a bag! And it looks tiny, but can hold EVERYTHING!"
"Like a...Stealz Bag?"
"Chea!"
"That's scary shit right there." Zack sighed, and shuddered.
"What's... a 'stealz bag'?" I blinked... what the hell they were talking about. Zack glanced down at me, and his face suddenly lighted as if telling a ghost story, telling about some cosmic deity named Blanca and her Stealz Bag. The story gave me the creeps.
"Sounds worse than getting your period." Jun started giggling.
"IT IS! Dun dun dun!"
Zack blinked. "Well...I've never had a period, so I wouldn't be able to compare..."
"Be glad. Shit hurts like a shoopuf kicking ya!"
"A shoopuf?" Jun... you talk too much...
"It's like... this BIG ass animal! I saw it kick its training before... I think he died..."
Zack grew pale in the face. "But...how can a period be like a 'shoopuf' kick if you aren't dead? Unless...you haven't hit puberty yet." He commented to Jun.
"Because! Having a period is killing! IT HURTS THAT MUCH! You feel like you're going to die from a shoopuf kick!"
"If you say so."
Jun grinned and Amay turned to us, sake still in hand.
"We're herez. Readiez?"
As usual, I just nodded while Jun gave an actual worded answer. "Yesh!"
"Well Jun, do yer thing."
Jun smiled. "Okies!" She skipped off close enough to get noticed by guards, and started
drawing attention to herself with cute winks and poses. The two male guards looked over, nudging each other and such, one making a wolf call and beckoning her over. Jun got a little bit closer, but not too close. She blew a kiss over with yet, another wink. "Mwah!"