"He's got a death wish… I got snacks if anyone wants in on the show?" I asked, sitting down on the edge and grabbing my bag.
"Damn it, Jazz, this isn't the time for snacks!" Tegan yelled at me. I blinked up at her and sighed. Looking down at Bon as he walked closer to the Leaper. I swallowed slightly as he stopped in front of the giant amphibian.
"I'll be a real exorcist some day. And I'll defeat Satan!" Bon declared, standing in front of the creature. Tegan placed her foot down on the slope and slid down, staying by the wall as she watched.
"Ha! Did you hear that? He's going to defeat Satan? As if!" Izumo mocked. I glared at her, damn, why can't this bitch be the one almost eaten? Bon stood there frozen, still staring at the Leaper. His eyes must have faltered because the Leaper opened its sharp-toothed mouth and leaped at Bon.
"Move it!" I screamed, sliding down the wall. Tegan was already running forward.
"Bon, move your ass now!" She screamed as a shadow flew over us. I ran after Tegan as she skidded to a stop in front of Bon, scythe drawn. I grabbed Bon's arm, keeping him from moving forward as Rin landed in front of the frog, whose mouth bit around his body. Bon yelled in shock and stepped forward, shouting for Rin.
"Stay back!" Tegan yelled at him.
"Do as she says, trust me." I said, tugging his arm. Bon fell to the ground, seeing Rin standing there in the mouth of the Leaper. I patted his shoulder and went next to Tegan. "Alright, I think we're good." I said to her. Tegan put the scythe back, I'm sure she was disappointed in not being able to use it.
"Are you stupid are something?" Rin asked, putting a hand on the Leapers snout. "Listen up, here's the deal; I'm going to be the one to beat Satan! So stay out of my way!" Bon looked up at him, his eyes spinning at what had just occurred. Tegan pushed my arm, nodding to the ladder.
"Leave 'em, it just gets stupid from here." Tegan said, rolling her eyes.
"Can I hit 'em?"
"No, no you may not." Tegan said, shoving me forward. Behind us, Rin was demanding to know when Bon had decided to defeat Satan, while Bon was yelling back at how childish he was. Tegan climbed up the ladder behind me and stared off to one side of the arena. I blinked at her and followed her gaze to see a metal glint.
Yukio.
Tegan sighed and shook her head. "I'm tired and the teacher won't be back, I'm sure. Let's go." I looked between her and the others and followed behind, making our way to the locker room. "Oh, and don't you dare ask if you can go to the city tonight, because I will lock you in a steel box if you do." Tegan warned, removing her gym shirt.
"I wasn't gonna ask…" But inside I was steaming. I knew who would be in the city tonight, if only for a short time.
I sat on my desk, looking out at the blinking lights of the city in the distance. Tegan was at her desk, reading over her text books. "Hey, do you remember the prayer for protection? The first part." Tegan asked me, leaning back so she could look around the wall that separated out desks.
"Jesus, I will arise; Jesus do thou accompany me; Jesus, do thou lock my heart into thine, and let my body and soul be commended unto thee." I recited, placing my hand on the cold window. Tegan wrote down what I said and placed her pen down.
"Thanks, Jazz." She said, standing and putting her schoolbooks away. "You okay?" I let my head hit the window and I stared at some blinking lights. "In a few days, Jazz, he'll be here."
"Come on, whore, and wake up." Tegan growled, shaking me awake. I groaned and sat up, clothes askew.
"I'mupI'mupI'mupI'mup." I muttered quickly, swinging my legs out of bed and going to the closet. Tegan was already dressed in her men's uniform as she fiddled with the tie. I grabbed my white button up top and skirt (which I had successfully died black the night before) and a red tank top. "What's the plot today?"
"We'll see when Rin wakes up." Tegan answered, running her hands through her hair and smoothing it down from the nest it was this morning. I threw on my red tank top and white blouse, leaving it unbuttoned and then slipped into my dyed skirt.
"What shoes should I wear?" I asked, looking down at my collection of heels. Tegan looked over half interested and then at what was wearing.
"The black suede, it always goes best with the red." She answered, grabbing some hygienic stuff and leaving the room. I listened and slipped into the black suede wedges, tying the strings tightly so my ankle was secure before grabbing my bag of hygienic stuff and following her down the hall. She had already met up with Yukio who was washing his face.
"Good morning, Jazz-chan." Yukio said, putting his towel back. I nodded.
"Good morning to you too." I said, before brushing my teeth.
"Where's Rin?" Tegan asked, looking into the retractable mirror, stretching the sides of her eyes slightly.
"Still sleeping. I've tried to wake him three times already." Yukio answered, rubbing his neck in embarrassment.
"I can try, if you'd like." Tegan offered. I chortled slightly and spit out the foam, grabbing my cup and rinsing my mouth out. Tegan gave me a kick to the shin, nearly knocking my off balance in the heels. I sneered at her before opening my make-up caboodle and selecting the maroon eye shadow.
"How late does he normally sleep in?"
"If given the opportunity till noon sometimes. And he'll still act all tired." Yukio answered, putting his glasses back on.
"I can still make him wake up early. No one dares to disobey me, right Jazz?" She asked me. I looked to the mirror, raising my eyeliner pencil to the lid.
"Learned the hard way." I answered, drawing the lines along my eyelashes. "She's deadly." I smiled, having completed a perfect cat eye effect on my eye. Now I just needed the other side.
"I don't like being disobeyed, so it's either you obey or something happens to you while you sleep." Tegan shrugged.
"If it happens two more times you can work your magic." Yukio promised.
"What's for breakfast?" I asked, smearing some ruby red lipstick on my lips.
"Same as every day. Steamed rise, miso soup, natto, nori, Tamagoyaki, broiled fish and tsukemono." Yukio recited.
"You can have the tsukemono; I'm not a fan off it." I offered, applying some beige blush to my cheeks. "Teg, you should add some color to your face, maybe just a touch of Azalea's rose lip-gloss and some blush."
"That's not gonna happen, Jazz." She reminded me. I sighed and rolled my eyes, closing up the caboodle and turning to the kitchen. Tegan and Yukio continued to talk while I walked away. I entered the dining room and looked at the trays in front of me, all arranged on a single table. I yawned and walked around the table, stopping at one that lacked the tsukemono. The seaweed on the plate and one small piece shaped like a 'J', as if it was for me. I turned my gaze to the kitchen, which was still dark and smiled, bowing.
"Thank you, I hope I made no inconvenience." I said, sitting at that tray as Tegan and Yukio came in.
"Looks delicious." Tegan complimented, seating herself across from me, making Yukio sit next to me. I poured some of my rice into the miso soup and added the Natto to the remaining rice, along with some soy sauce.
"Never thought I'd be eating traditional Japanese food before." I said, stuffing my face happily.
"You've never had anything like this?" Yukio asked, trying to make conversation.
"Not really, Teg tried to get me to eat some but I was always nervous, especially cause I tend not to trust her around most things I'm about to ingest."
"Oh, Jazz, you know I'd never poison you! The autopsy report is very thorough these days I don't know if I'd be able to sneak past it." Tegan said, waging her chopsticks at me. I growled at her and ate faster.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! I OVER SLEPT!" Rin's voice echoed around the dorm. Tegan looked up to the ceiling, looking bored.
"There he is." She said, placing the last piece of rice on her tongue and chewing thoughtfully. Rin stormed into the dining room, glaring at us all.
"Why didn't you wake me?" He ordered, sitting down heavily.
"I tried, three separate times, but you wouldn't move." Yukio responded, placing his chopsticks down neatly.
"Try four times next time!" Rin growled, followed by a thank you for the meal and shoving the food in his mouth faster than I could. I finished shortly before him and placed my food down on the counter.
"Thanks for breakfast."
"Don't eat too fast, Rin, you'll pop." Yukio warned.
"What are you? My mom?"
"Well, I'm gonna start going, have a nice day ladies." He said, giving a bow. Tegan waved and I gave a half smile and a simple salute.
It was lunchtime now, and Tegan and I were sitting on one of the stone ledges that encircled a tree, eating out lunch. Tegan was enjoying some steak-tip meal she had purchased earlier and I was enjoying a nice sashimi sushi plate I found at a nearby sushi bar. A whole group of students was gathered around the outdoor cafeteria, trying to grab some lunch.
"When does our little demon prince show up?" I asked, a piece of salmon hanging from my mouth.
"Soon. Bon just showed up so it shouldn't be much longer." She said, eyes closed as she placed a steak tip in her mouth. I looked at her, eyes half closed from sleep before slurping my salmon in and chewing.
"We gonna do anything?"
"Nah, they don't fight so why bother?" She said, stirring the meat. I gave a weak half smile and rolled my eyes. "Problem?"
"I'm bored." I answered flatly.
"You sound like a certain green haired demon." She teased. I blushed and spun away from her, stuffing the salmon in my face angrily. "Come on, it's just a joke." Tegan laughed, poking my back with her foot.
"Don't tease me." I mumbled, looking over my shoulder dully.
"Incoming." Tegan said, turning her attention to a figure sprinting across the stone ground. I stood up, hopping back onto the ledge on my feet, crouching down on my heels. Rin burst through the crowd, running as fast as he could to get to the last sandwich. Tegan stood on the ledge, craning her neck to see what was happening. I could hear the yelling already from Bon and Rin.
"I'm getting a closer look." I said, nimbly stepping down and jogging to the action, Tegan grew bored of her perch and followed.
"A grudge between food can last seven generations; we need to nip this in the bud now, Konekomaru." Bon growled.
"Wow, your name is Konekomaru? That's a pretty cool name." Rin said happily, draping an arm over the small boys shoulder.
"Hey! I'm talkin' to you!"
"Boys are idiots…" Tegan groaned, eating the last tip and throwing the container away.
"They are, but sex makes up for it." I said, blankly staring ahead. Tegan shook her head at me and rubbed her temples. I looked past her to see Yukio a ways away from the crowd. "Four-eyes is here." I noted as three girls approached him. "Hey, you say I'm a whore but those girls are still going after him." I pointed out. Tegan looked over to Yukio and sighed.
"Poor guy." Tegan muttered. "Come on, we'll meet them in the mess hall." She said, making her way from the crowd. I looked back at the guys, taking notice of Shima staring right at Tegan's ass. I growled, I swear anyone standing near me could see the dark thundercloud forming overhead as I stomped away.
Tegan was leaning against the display case of food when I caught up to her. "Any minute now." She observed, scratching the back of her head. I looked around, seeing everyone getting his or her food and talking.
"So why are we here?" I asked.
"I wanna see Rin's face for myself when he knows how much the food is." She answered evilly.
"Sadist." I said bluntly, looking at the food choices. "No burgers…" I pouted.
"This is an expensive school; do you really think they'd have burgers?"
"One can hope." I said, tapping the glass as Yukio and Rin came in. "Hey, boys."
Yukio was still panting, but he raised a hand in acknowledgement. "Rin, he saved me… back at the lunch line…" Yukio panted.
"He's the one who bailed on the girls after they made him those lunches. What's the deal man?" Rin asked, looking over his shoulder.
"Think about it, Rin, I can't eat all three lunches and if I only ate one the others would get upset."
"Really?" Rin asked.
"Rin, come on, Jazz and I are both good cooks, if we made you lunch, but you could only eat one, which would you choose?" Tegan asked, crossing her arms while I pouted sweetly.
"Okay, I see your point…" Rin's eyes turned to the display case and widened. "Wow! Look at this spread! This school had lobster on the menu!" He said excitedly.
"Are you even listening?" Tegan and Yukio asked angrily.
"French, Chinese, Italian, they have it all!" Rin gushed, face pressed against the glass.
"True Cross Academy is a school for the privileged, Rin." Yukio pointed out.
"I wonder what I'll get." Rin was still in his own little world.
"You have to buy a food ticket first, Rin." Yukio said, annoyed at his older brother.
"Wonder what I'll get!" I slid next to the machine with Tegan and we both pointed at the prices, showing him.
"WHAT THE HELL?! Please tell me those prices have an extra zero at the end!" Rin wailed.
"This is a school for rich kids…" Yukio said, face in hand.
Rin growled, pulling out Kurikara, "damn rich kids, when I'm done with you!" Yukio grabbed Rin around the arms while Tegan snatched Kurikara away from him.
"You want me to lower the prices for lunch?" Mephisto asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm afraid that won't be possible. To provide first rate cuisine we must purchase first rate ingredients, higher first rate chefs, et cetra et cetra."
"Why first rate? It's a student cafeteria?" Rin asked, annoyed beyond his limits.
"Dining is culture. A person's life is enriched by experiencing first rate cuisine." A chiming was heard from the cup on his desk. "Ah, finally." He said, removing the timer lid from his instant noodles and taking a big slurp of them. I poked the scythe on Tegan's belt hard enough for her to notice. When she looked at me and quickly glanced at Mephisto repeatedly. She shook her head and shrugged, equally saddened by the fact she could not kill him.
"At least give us an allowance!" Rin asked. I am sure he was still thinking of that succulent lobster back in the cafeteria.
"Uh-oh! How could I forget such an important detail? So sorry. You are the son of Satan, but even you need a little cash to get you through the day." Mephisto dug in his wallet, which looked something like faded alligator skin before holding up a piece of paper currency.
"A two thousand yen bill!"
"Those things are supposed to be supper rare! I can't believe he actually has one!" Rin snatched it from him and looked at it in complete shock.
"I can buy tons of yakisoba buns with this!"
"Oh, before I forget, you'll be paid on the tenth of every month." I could literally see their world shatter at his words.
"For the whole month? This? Both of us?"
"Correct."
"Are you out of your mind?!"
"Do I detect displeasure? You can have this hundred yen note if you prefer. It's obsolete but the portrait is my personal favorite."
"Like I care what your freakin favorites are." Rin growled, grabbing Kurikara. Tegan yanked the sword from him again as Yukio restrained the thrashing demon.
"Oh, before I forget." I looked back at him while Tegan and Yukio were busy with Rin. "Miss Calhoun, this is for you and Tegan. You will also be paid on the tenth of every month." He said, handing me some money. I held it and moved my fingers, causing four two thousand yen notes to fan out. "You will receive two notes and Miss Foley will receive two. Does that sound fair?"
"Yes, sir, perfectly." I said with a nod.
"Perfect! Now explain to me what happened to your skirt."
I blushed nervously and rubbed my arm with a nervous laugh, "it was pink…"
"Yes. And?"
"I don't like pink."
"But it was so glorious! Now it looks positively gothic!"
"I know. Bye!" I said, waving and running out of the room.
"Men shall not live by bread alone, that's what dad used to say, remember?" Yukio asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"He also said I should stop wearing heels, and did I listen?" I smirked, only for Tegan to hit my head.
"Dad's lectures aren't gonna fill our stomachs. Are you cool with this? Only getting two thousand yen a month?" Rin asked, before sending a glare at Tegan and me. He had overheard Mephisto on the grounds of our allowance.
"Well, I have my job as an instructor. And I get paid pretty well as an exorcist, so I'm good."
"You traitor!" Rin growled, getting Kurikara ready.
"Pull it out again and it's mine for good." Tegan warned loudly.
"Wait, I think I have a plan so Rin doesn't go hungry." Yukio spoke up, holding up his hand to stop Tegan.
"Do our own cooking?" Rin asked, looking around the store as he pushed the cart.
"I'll give you money for groceries and you can do the cooking, it'll help save some money." Yukio explained, placing a leek in the cart. "And, you know what they say; girls love guys who can cook."
"For real?!" Rin asked, face brightening.
"It's true, Rin, girls love it when they feel like they don't have to be the one feeding the other." Tegan told him, placing some tomatoes in the cart.
I giggled and latched onto his arm playfully, "a man who cooks? Be still my beating heart!"
"So… it does work? That well?" Rin asked, looking down at me.
"Men who cook make women's ovaries go boom." I said, detaching myself from him and grabbing some spices, which Tegan sorted through and put most back.
"Hang on, how am I gonna cook with no kitchen in our room?" Rin asked.
"You can use the main kitchen; we four are the only ones living there, so it won't be a problem."
Tegan stood next to Rin as he cooked, handing him any ingredients he needed while also doing some on her own. Tegan had been smart, going to the kitchen early and asking for safe passage into the kitchen. I sat on the counter, reading 'The Divine Comedy'. Yukio was on the other side of the counter, watching the two cook.
"You guys don't have to cook so late at night, you know." Yukio said.
"This is an easy way to do it." Tegan said, chopping some onions.
"Yeah, you cook it the night before, put it in the freezer and take it to class with you. It'll thaw and should be ready to eat by noon." Rin explained. I licked my finger and flipped the page, not looking up.
"If only he put this much energy into his studies." Yukio joked, laughing.
"Oh, go take a crap and go to bed!" Rin growled, pausing from stirring the pan.
"Whatever you say, goodnight guys." He said, waving to us.
"See you in the morning." Tegan called back.
"Night." I responded, eyes glued to the book.
"Is it good?" Tegan asked, still focused on the food.
"Amazing." I said, not looking up.
"Hey, if you guys want you can go to bed. I'm not forcing you to stay here." Rin said, adding some broth to a mixture.
"I'm fine; I don't have a set sleep time." Tegan said with a smile.
"I'm good with four hours of sleep, any more and I become lethargic." I answered, finally putting the book down and jumping off the counter, grabbing a slice of bell pepper and eating it.
"Yeah, but it's late, at least put your PJ's on." Tegan said. I stood there for a moment, waiting for her to realize what she said. "Never mind! Don't do that!" I laughed at her. I did not really have 'PJ's' I just slept in my panties and a sports bra I borrowed from her. Rin looked between us before deciding he did not want to know and continued to cook.
"Well, I'mma let you all do what you will; I've got some reading to do for class tomorrow." I said, cracking my knuckles and leaving the kitchen.
I rose out of bed at the same time Tegan did, getting dressed fairly quickly and packing my backpack. Tegan smoothed her hair down and felt it, apparently deciding she did not like its texture she left, saying she was going to the shower. "You-know-who's probably here, so be warned." I told her, slipping on my favorite turquoise tank top and best bra. I slipped on my skirt, then some fishnet stockings, followed by matching gloves. I glanced at Tegan's side of the room, noting that she had failed to bring her shirt and jacket. I folded them and placed them on my desk by my bag. I would run them down in a bit. I added a necklace made up of two handguns with their barrels crossed and matching earrings. I looked in the mirror and pouted playfully, admiring my make-up before heading to the showers. I passed the dorm sink where Yukio was washing his face, tossing him a 'good morning' and walking on, a silent count down in my head. When I hit zero, Rin charged Yukio and kicked him a good twenty feet.
"Hey, Tommie Girl?" I asked, walking into the shower.
"What?" Tegan asked, turning the shower off so she can hear me better.
"You left your shirt upstairs, I brought it down."
"Thanks, what's happening up there?"
"Rin just drop kicked Yukio." I said, placing her clothes down.
"I'll be out in a sec." She said before turning the water back on. "No looking!"
I snickered and walked out. Rin and Yukio were not in the hall so I headed to the dining room. Rin and Yukio were already seated, with a pleased Mephisto towering over them, bowls of strange, bubbling liquid in front of them.
"Ah, good morning, Miss Jazzmin, your breakfast is over there." He said, nodding to the normal breakfast.
"Why does she get the normal breakfast?!" Rin yelled.
"Oh, she and Tegan-kun were smart enough to request forgiveness for going into Ukobach's territory." Mephisto explained.
"How the hell did you know about Ukobach?" Rin demanded.
"Huh? I… juts got a weird feeling, so I just asked for forgiveness for going somewhere."
"Miss Jazzmin and Miss Tegan are quite right; to become exorcists you must be able to tell the difference between 'clean' places and ones where a demon may be lurking. Now, please, dig in." Mephisto said, nodding at the plates in front of the two boys.
"What is it?" Yukio asked nervously.
"MY specialty, little demon flavored oatmeal, please, help yourself." They both stared down at the bowls before Rin gulped and grabbed his.
"Here goes!" Rin yelled, before gulping the liquid down. I watched, curious as steam erupted from his mouth and ears before he fell.
"Rin! Are you okay?!" Yukio asked, grabbing his brother.
"I can hear grandma calling me~" Rin said dreamily.
"We never met our grandma! Whoever she is, Rin, don't follow her into the light!" Yukio begged. I kneeled on the seat next to Rin and placed some rice in his mouth followed by some milk. Tegan came in as I fanned Rin's face, still looking up at Mephisto.
"Until Ukobach's mood, improves, I will cook all your meals."
"What if it doesn't?" Tegan asked, sitting by me and stirring her rice.
"Then I will become your owns personal chef for the duration of your school days." Mephisto said with a nonchalant shrug.
"Stupid boys should have asked permission and forgiveness." Tegan said, placing a scoop of rice and Natto in her mouth, purposefully giving out a delighted moan, "damn, best Natto ever!"
"Ukobach had taken a liking to you then, dearie." Mephisto said proudly.
"This Ukobach guy, I'm gonna kick his ass." Rin said, still half-dead.
"You will not kick the chef." Yukio groaned.
Tegan and Rin were busy putting everything back the way it was, being extra careful with their job. I sat in the corner, watching them work. Tegan said I was not allowed to help anymore because I kept putting things back in the wrong place. Tegan was drying off some pots and pans while Rin wiped down the metal island. "There! Everything is back just the way it was. Are you happy now?" He asked, looking around, only for a fork to narrowly miss his cheek; becoming stuck in the wood behind him. "Oh come on! I'm sorry now get over it or get out! You're not the only one who can cook here!" Rin yelled, followed by pots and pans flying at him.
"Rin!" Tegan said, jumping over to him.
"Where the hell are you!?" Rin yelled looking around. Outside, lightning cracked, illuminated the kitchen, and allowing us to see the small form in front of the window. Tegan and I blinked at it. It was maybe a foot tall, with a forked tail like a trident, large purple ears, and small brown horns on his head, a big red nose and an angry expression on its face. "So that's what you look like." The little creature just glared at him. "Tegan, Jazzmin, leave, this might get messy." Rin ordered.
"You can't be serious!" I yelled at him. Tegan patted his shoulder and grabbed my arm.
"He's right, it will get ugly, come on." She said, pulling me out. We stopped in the dining room, just by the door so we could still see Rin. As we stood there, Mephisto popped his head in, looking curiously at the kitchen.
"What's happening, girls?"
"Rin and Ukobach! Angry! Glaring! Lightning!" Tegan hit my head, making me fall to the ground.
"Rin was pissed at Ukobach, called him out and now they are—" Tegan was cut off by the sudden commotion in the kitchen.
"I see. You ladies stay here for your own safety; I will see what is going on." Mephisto said, strutting across the dining room and into the kitchen. "Next time he shows up, I'll do the talking." Tegan said, looking down at me. I rubbed my head and pouted. I really need to stop doing that…
Tegan and I stood where we were, watching whatever was going on in the kitchen. All we could see was Rin running back and forth and the loud banging of the pots and pans. "Should… we do something?" I asked.
"No, let them do their thing." It had been ten minutes since the noise began and it had not stopped, it had only gotten more intense. Tegan and I yelped as an explosion rocked the building.
"The hell was that!?" I screamed, holding the wall for support.
"I don't even know."
"What's going on?" Yukio asked, running into the room. Tegan opened her mouth to speak but a blue light from the kitchen interrupted her. Yukio ran to the kitchen door, Tegan behind while I jumped onto the tray return counter, landing on my hands and knees. Rin stood there across from Ukobach, panting as heavily as the small demon.
"Rin?" Tegan asked, looking between them. Mephisto was seated comfortably on a wooden shelf, clapping happily when the two cooks collapsed from exhaustion.
"Sir Pheles, what happened?"
"They fought bravely to within an inch of their lives!" He said, gesturing grandly. "Their powers were let loose, exploding through the kitchen!"
"They… had a cooking battle?" Yukio asked, looking down at the two of them.
"BY flexing their culinary muscles they discovered each other's talents. Behold, a new friendship is born!"
"You're fried rice was so awesome, dude." Rin said, eyes closed and tummy fat. Ukobach made a chattering like sound, which Rin was able to interpret. "Did you just call my katsubo exceptional?" Rin stood up, grasping the hand of the small demon. "Let's do it! We'll make the best lunch ever!" Ukobach made a sound of agreement.
"That's my brother… defying logic in all kinds of ways." Yukio said, hunched over in defeat.
"This boy ain't right…" I said, face emotionless.
"Agreed." Tegan said.
"Rin's losing points with the girls." Tegan observed, watching the half demon from across the grassy field.
"Yeah, that's great." I said, sending a smirk to a cute guy close by. He blushed and pointed to himself sheepishly. I giggled and winked at him, sending an air kiss his way. He looked like someone just knocked the wind out of him.
"Are you even listening?" Tegan asked, turning to me. When she saw what I was doing, she scooted away from me. "Seriously? Go be a whore somewhere else." She said, eating the food Rin and Ukobach had made last night. I sighed when the boy's friends pulled him along, going to their next class.
"OK, so you were saying?" I asked, turning my attention to her. Tegan hit me square in the face, sending me flat on my back with a red welt growing on my forehead. "O-ow…"
"Rin's failing at attracting the girls." She relayed. I sat up, rubbing my head angrily.
"Didn't have to hit me."
"I didn't have to put arsenic in your food either." She said, slurping up some noodles. I stared at my food as if it had just talked to me and sealed it up.
"Not hungry…"
"I hate that freakin' class…" I growled, rubbing my head where Tegan had hit me earlier. I had to write a damned essay and I detested essays. I understood the book perfectly well, I just could not explain in writing how everything played a role in what the characters did. I walked grudgingly across the stone bridge leading to my dorm when three girls caught my eye. They were hiding behind one of the lampposts. They were watching the building closely and when I looked, I saw Shiemi walk into the building behind Rin. I blinked, looking at the girls. Yukio's stalkers, huh? They were not so cute. I hopped onto the cement railing of the bridge and walked towards them, watching their movements. They still had not noticed me when I stood directly behind them. I sighed in annoyance, standing to my full height, puffing my chest out some.
"Oi, there a reason you're here?" I asked loudly. The girls yelped and jumped back.
"Who are you supposed to be?" The girl with caramel colored hair asked, angry to see me.
I tilted my head and looked down at them, "I'm Jazzmin, I live here, and now who are you?"
"Y-You live here? With Yukio?" The one with short purple asked, blushing.
"Yeah, what of it?"
"Are you the one who's been cooking all those meals for him?!" The demanded, pointing at me angrily. I blinked and stared at them.
"The hell? Cooking for Yukio? Nah, cook for myself, not for anyone." This seemed to calm them down. "But when I do cook it's usually using the flesh of annoying creatures that come into my territory." I said, eyes widening and a twisted smile on my face. The girls froze, staring up at me. "I just do the cooking, but my good friend Tegan prepares the meat… would you like to see my basement?" I asked, giggling slightly. This sent the girls running away like scared mice. I shrugged and jumped down, walking to the door where Tegan stood, looking at where the girls had just gone.
"What happened to them?"
"I don't know… I just asked if they'd like to see my basement… they must not be fans of jigsaw puzzles and model boats…"
"You hungry?" Tegan asked, looking up from her book. I shook my head, finishing a math problem. "I'm gonna go see if Ukobach's done with dinner." She said, closing her book and getting up.
"He was peeling potatoes when I came up." I said, placing my work in a folder and grabbing a book and opening it. "I'll come down when I hear screaming."
"Are you just not going down because Shiemi's down there?" She asked.
"She annoys me." I growled, not looking up at her.
"Get over it. She annoys me too but at least I'm trying." She said, slipping on her shoes.
"I'm not the trying type." I said, flipping the page. She shook her head and walked out.
"What you get for number 9?" I asked, leaning back and looking over at Tegan. She laid on her bed reading some manga she had picked up a few days back.
"Holy Wine."
"There's a wine that's holy?" I asked, looking back at my papers.
"Anything the church touches is holy." Tegan said with a groan. I cracked my jaw and wrote it down.
"And number 13?"
"Steel Sand." Tegan recited, getting up.
"Hmm? What's up?"
"It's nearly midnight. I'm going to the kitchen." She said, slipping into a hoodie. I looked at the clock on the wall and rose as well.
"Don't forget me. I gotta be there when something happens." I said, slipping my feet into some boots. Tegan left the room with me in pursuit. We could faintly hear someone rummaging downstairs. "They're here?" I asked aloud, looking over the banister to the stairs.
"Come on, let's move." She said, going down faster than I could keep up. When we reached the landing, we heard the girls' scream echo through the halls. "I thought you scared them off?"
"They must have come back!" I said running down the hall with her. Behind us, we could hear Yukio and Rin following us.
"What's going on?" Rin called.
"It's coming from the kitchen." Tegan shouted over her shoulder, turning into the dining room and heading straight for the door. She slammed the door open and walked in far enough where the others could come in as well. In front of us was Ukobach, at least, it was. He had grown to nearly 10 feet tall and was no longer scrawny, having large muscles now.
"Ukobach? You are Ukobach… right?" Rin asked, stepping closer. Ukobach tuned and roared angrily at Rin before going back to the stove. "What's going on Ukobach?" Rin asked, until he saw the demon lift a large pot onto the stove. The three girls were in it.
"Holy…" Tegan started.
"Shit." Rin finished. I shivered slightly, still creeped out by everything.
"Those are my classmates… I think I know what happened but I still can't believe it…"
Ukobach had turned on the stove and was now adding spices into it. "Guys... he's starting to cook!" I warned them.
"This is bad." Yukio gulped.
"Yeah, I know, if he's making a stew he has to throw in some ginger and bay leaves to get rid of that meaty smell. It's a basic rule of cooking. I can't believe he's forgotten about it." Rin took another step forward. "Hey, pal!" Instead of giving Rin a warning roar, Ukobach turned and slammed a fist into him, sending Rin flying back against a shelf. Yukio drew his gun and pointed it at Ukobach. "Remember what you said, a little while ago… if someone enjoyed your food and said thank you, that was enough for you. Well you're right. Cooking is about making something happy, and seeing people enjoy what I make is enough for me. I love to cook, and when I do, I want to make something even better. Take a look at what you're cooking now! You think anyone will eat that and say it's delicious?!" Ukobach roared in anger, dropping the spoon and turning the heat off.
"Why… why won't you eat it?"
"He, he said something!" Yukio said, shocked.
"No, that wasn't him." Tegan said, looking at the pot.
"We worked so hard to make those lunches for you…"
"We wanted you to eat them, that was all Yukio…"
"I get it, they were angry I wouldn't eat their food and felt slighted…"
"Which means it's your fault, ya jackass!" Rin yelled hitting his brother on the head. I handed Tegan one of the meals and Rin grabbed another. The three of us held them up to Yukio, angry looks on our faces.
"Now eat 'em, Yukio." Tegan said.
"You got us into this." I followed.
"It's nice and salty, just the way you like it." Rin smirked.
"Why… why is this happening to meeeee?" Yukio wailed, clutching his head.
"Dude… just eat it." Tegan and I deadpanned.
"How's our little hero?" I asked, walking into his room. Tegan was already there, keeping him company and reading a manga.
"Better, thank you." He said smiling.
"Such a weakling if you couldn't eat all those lunches." I commented as Rin came in, Ukobach on his shoulder.
"Hey, we made you something." He said happily, placing a lunch box on Yukio's bed. "Me and Ukobach whipped it up. We call it the stamina lunch!" Rin unveiled it, showing us that it was filled with grilled meats, mushrooms, sausages and some kind of rolled meet. "Dig in!" Rin cheered, Ukobach chittering happily.
"I hate lunch…" Yukio whined.