Vague whispers in his mind.

So many were heard lately.

Shield? Counter?

"...Grave...?"

When Claus opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was his twin's powder blue eyes looking down at him. His expression was bashful and he was dressed in his outside clothes. Since Claus was just asked a question he didn't hear, he groggily asked,"what?"

"I'm sorry this is the first question of the morning... But I asked, 'can we go to the graves'?"

When he motioned to sit up, he winced and uttered a noise surprised at how achy his body became over night.

"A-ack..." His head had hurt the most, and it throbbed when the sun filtered in on them both. He sunk back into his bed and mumbled, "You can go...but be careful out there..." He then promptly covered his head.

Lucas frowned when he noticed the visible pain Claus was in. It also confused him because he was fine last night. He carefully peeled off enough of the blanket to not expose him to the sun light and placed his hand on his forehead. When he felt the sheer heat, he stated, "you have a fever." Bewildered, he tilted his head and asked, "were you feeling alright yesterday? You didn't push yourself anymore, did you?"

With his initial reply, he nodded 'no' and turned over to his side to try and get more comfortable. He was trying not to mix up the invasive words circling his mind with the words he wanted to speak to Lucas.

"I had this twice before. It doesn't last long," he informed and curled up enough that his knees pressed against his chest. "I know you find this hard to believe, but its true!" The temporarily ill twin added in defense. He couldn't say 'I hear voices' or that he saw strange colors when he closed his eyes during these fevers; it would have prolonged the complications and disbelief.

Lucas really wasn't convinced as theorized and asked, "how long?"

With a groan he answered, "literally like an hour or two." Not that he ever kept track.

Lucas poked his face and mumbled, "really?"

"Honest..." Claus grumbled and snuggled into his pillow that felt invitingly cold.

"...That doesn't make sense, but I'll take your word for it," Lucas replied and walked out of the room.

Claus sighed and grinded his forehead into the pillow that was getting as hot as he was to his displeasure. As he panted to cool off, he rolled the covers off of his head and back to try to make enduring this easier. He groaned, "why is this happening? Why does it even have to happen?" It wasn't so bad that he wanted to vomit, but he was incredibly irritated none the less. He hoped that Lucas went to go get something to cool him off with.

In the lower part of the house, Lucas spotted Kumatora sleeping on the couch and snoring to confirm that she was. Though it was unlikely that he would wake her, he tip toed past her into the kitchen for a clean rag. He picked up one of the newer ones that were still soft and fluffy and turned the handle for a stream of cool water. When the rag was cool enough, he wrung out the excess water and folded the rag the way he was taught to do so.

It was like he had a sixth sense for another ill person in the premises when he entered the main room of the house again. He slowly walked over to the pink haired girl and saw that she was breathing heavily and her brows weren't relaxed. With his free right hand, he carefully placed it on her forehead and felt that she too, was having an intense fever.

"Goodness!" He exclaimed but quickly shut his mouth afterward. To his relief, she didn't wake up but only groaned and shifted. He looked at the cold rag in his hand, then back to her; he couldn't leave her with a burning head like that. He placed it carefully right at the center of her head and hurried into the kitchen for another one. He still managed to keep quiet when going past Kumatora a second time and hurried to Claus who was face-front into a pillow. "Claus, you don't feel nauseous do you?" He asked with great concern and hurried to him.

"No," he muttered through the pillow. "Just really hot."

"Do you want me to place the towel across your back instead...?" He asked beginning to unfold the towel.

"Starting at the neck..." He requested. After his request, he hissed slightly when he felt the sudden cool towel on his neck and then shuddered when it was planted across his back. Once settled, he sighed, "thanks," and felt more at ease. Lucas did not leave his side however. "Didn't you want to go to the graves?" He wearily asked without turning to face Lucas.

"I'm worried about you two..." He murmured his reply.

"...'Two'?"

"Kumatora has the same problem as you. It's strange!" He explained. "Maybe you caught something from her?"

"No it's not contagious..." Claus explained and turned enough to look back at Lucas. "She said she had the magic too. I guess we get fevers." He saw his brother's adorably puckered lip and added, "I-it's okay! Good things come from these fevers!"

"Good things...?"

"Yeah, the last one I had... was when I was able to you know...do the lightning one. Before that I had a windy one. Now? I have no idea. I'm waiting to cool off first...it'll come to me then."

"Okay..." Lucas replied. He didn't totally understand, but he took what information he got.

"Seriously, Lucas, I'm already feeling better!" Claus urged with a smile. He really was feeling better when he thought about it. His eyes brightened up when it looked as if he realized something. "Oh!" He subconsciously exclaimed.

"'Oh' what?" Lucas asked confused.

"Huh—oh uh... when I couldn't think straight with that headache, two words were at the tip of my tongue. But now with my headache gone and not being as hot as before... the words I was thinking of were 'shield' and 'counter'...But anyways, I feel better now!"

"Are you sure?" Lucas asked with a stern expression. Before his twin could protest, he placed his hand on his forehead and was amazed at how cool his forehead was. "Huh..."

"See! I told you!" He chuckled at Lucas's bemused expression. "Come on, let's go. We've waited too long."

"Well...I'm already ready, so I'll wait down stairs," he stated and left the room. He didn't see Kumatora on the couch and scratched his head. "Huh, where'd she go...?"

"Say, did ya make this bread?"

Lucas yelped in surprise when he heard her voice from behind him so suddenly. When he turned around, he saw Kumatora snacking on a roll of nutbread. It took him a moment to register, but she didn't mind with how good the roll tasted. She was taking large bites out of the entire roll. He answered, "n-no..."

"Where'd you get it from? This stuff's delicious!"

From what Lucas could tell, she was over that quick fever too. This was too much for him to absorb! Right when he was going to try to answer her question, Claus came by and demanded, "hey! Why are you eating our stuff?"

"'Cause I'm hungry, duh," Kumatora answered and stuck out her crumb covered tongue.

Lucas cringed, but Claus fumed and yelled, "at least ask first!"

"Sheesh, m'bad little dudes! I just grabbed the first thing I saw when my gut growled for somethin'," she explained and swallowed the last bite. "I need s'more, though. Since I'm about to hit the road to find that tall dude Duster!"

Lucas's attention was caught at the news of Duster and asked, "Duster went out of town?"

"Well, not like on a trip, but went missin'. While at Osohe we beat up these pig dudes, then we got this secret treasure they were after and fell into this cool trap that Wess had set up! While in this water pit thingy, we fought this killer giant pink snake thing and then washed down a stream. I don't remember the stream part because I passed out, but some kid named Fuel found us but didn't see Duster! Originally I was gonna go then, but then I saw that poor monkey gettin' banged up by that fat creep and rescued him. Then in the forest I met you and yeah. I really need to go find Duster! I'm worried about him."

The twins were surprised she had said such a mouth full and still looked like she had air to spare for more. The two of them looked at one another before Lucas said, "Um... Well, Caroline wouldn't mind making you food for your travels... Claus and I are on the way there anyways, so I can show you where she is..."

"Awesome! Thanks for all the help, really appreciated!" She beamed and hurried to their door.

"H-hey! K-Kumatora! I can't lead if I'm behind you!" Lucas cried and ran after her.

"Heh heh, don't be so slow!" She then shrieked, "yikes!" When Claus jabbed her side and sent a current of electricity up her spine.

"Don't be so fast, you mean," he stated while looking up into her glaring eyes. While her eyes threatened for a fight, his demanded that they go at his twin's pace or then they'll fight.

Lucas hadn't a clue that Claus had shocked Kumatora and thought that he just spooked her with a sudden touch. He laughed nervously, "I don't have it in me to run for very long or far, but I won't walk very slow either!"

Claus still had his pointed finger pressed against Kumatora's waist. He was still looking up at her with mischievously raised eyebrows. The older girl sneered at him in reply but forcefully chuckled, "sure, sure!" She saw the innocent one of the pair walk on ahead along with the dog he invited on their walk, and turned to Claus and snarled, "me and you, we're gonna fight the next act you pull."

He smirked and strolled on ahead of her.

.-.-.-.

Kumatora was disappointed to hear that it took time for breads to bake and pestered the twins to show her where Wess was because she had a monkey to pick up. Lucas didn't mind, but Claus protested,

"Hey, we have stuff to do too, you know!"

"When you take me there, I'll be out of your stuffy red hair!"

Claus growled, "you better be!" And this time, he took the lead and in a bit of a hurry.

Lucas was sheepish being in between them like this, but he did learn what Claus would be like if he met someone so absolutely similar to his personality. It was even a little on the eerie side that they both had magic as well, and on the funny side that she was a girl because Claus was so sour towards females as a whole. Though the fiery pair was ahead of him, he was still able to see Nan and her little girl Alle standing on the bridge. Lucas covered his mouth to suppress a chuckle because Alle liked Claus a lot, and she grew more and more fond of him the older she got. His twin must've not noticed he was about to come into contact with her any second.

"Yaaaay it's Claus!"

Lucas couldn't help but crack up and neither could Kumatora.

Because Lucas, Nan, and Kumatora were all laughing at him, the encounter flustered him greatly. He had no idea why he garnered this kind of attention so often, but the little six year old wasn't Ritchie at least and she was nice. He was in a rush to get rid of that other one, though. He wondered what to do...

"Claus! Claus it's been awhile since I saw you!" Such a bind! She was so giddy and was just glowing with joy that Claus was so close.

Claus laughed nervously, "Y-yeah, I've been very busy!"

She frowned and said in reply, "but not anyone else like Angie or Nichol!"

"Well...things are different now," Claus tried to explain without having to be too literal by mentioning certain things involving his and Lucas's situation. "In fact, I'm still pretty busy, Alle!"

"But can't you just stay for a few minutes, Claus? Please!" She geared up the Bambi eyes and squeaked, "Please, please, please?"

Claus was horrified because he genuinely felt stuck in those large, round, uniquely colored eyes. Someone other than Lucas actually managed to make him feel bad. He didn't want to make her feel bad by telling her no, but he didn't want to be here in this awkward situation either!

Lucas chimed in, "sure he can!" And dragged Kumatora across the bridge. In the distance, he could hear a joyous squeal.

.-.-.-.

It appeared that Caroline wasn't finished with her baking because she had other orders to fill. Lucas didn't mind, it just meant more time walking around with his new friend. Kumatora was easy going and didn't mind it either. She was certainly having fun playing around with the twins and looking around a highly populated area she wasn't used to.

"What were you guys going to do again?" She asked as she scratched her messy hair. Shortly afterward, the little monkey sat on top of her head.

"We were going to go visit out parents," Lucas answered. He was pleasantly surprised that he didn't feel that dread he felt earlier in the morning. He actually felt a little warm at the idea he was able to tell them today was a fun and bright day; feeling like the old days.

"Oh huh, really?"

"They're at the cemetery," Claus added in case she didn't notice. With Kumatora, he wasn't so sure because she was too literal from what he could see.

"Oh." She didn't realize that they were dead until Claus had mentioned that. She had no idea what it was like being around dead people or knowing anyone that was dead. She didn't consider the Osohe ghost as 'dead' but some of the most lively folk she interacted with. "You don't mind if I come along do ya?"

"No," the two of them answered. Claus did mind, but he was sure that Lucas would let her come along and just went along with it. As the three walked the path of the clay-like ground of the cemetery, there was still odd markings and damage around the place. Luckily for the three, they didn't get to see how injured poor Nippolyte was. The sight to their parents was much shorter than Lucas had recalled it being, and now instead of one, there were two. Claus exhaled albeit heavily at the sight of the second grave; he hadn't visit him until now.

Lucas was the first to approach the pair of marble stones and sat with them. As he talked to them, Kumatora looked over at Claus who was silent and had an unreadable expression. She tilted her head and gave him a bit of a push with her left hand. She watched him try to catch his balance as he involuntarily 'skipped' on ahead to where Lucas was. He didn't look back and was slightly thankful for that push. He too, sat down with Lucas but remained silent.

Kumatora then felt something grow within her heart.

.-.-.-.

The trio had several more detours before they went and picked up Kumatora's traveling supplies. The entire day Lucas had a big grin on his face. After awhile, Claus learned to smile again with Lucas. Even with Kumatora just about ready to go, Lucas felt the most uplifted he had felt in a long while.

"Alright," the perky girl began as she slung a bag over her shoulder. "Thanks for the help once again! I'm gonna head out!"

"Kumatora, come back to visit us as soon as you find Duster again!" Lucas requested. "Today was fun and it was great to get to know you!"

"You too!" She chuckled and then turned to Claus. "You, you better get stronger!"

"I will!" Claus immediately replied in a challenging manner.

"And remember, don't tucker yourself out! If you really want to shield him, you can't counter if you're too tired and weakened right?" She smirked at his surprised eyes. She was sure he knew that she had an idea what his fever was about. He was still learning about his PSI and sharpening his new senses. "Also get taller so I can punch you in your jaw next time!" She cackled at his angry expression and ran off.

A/N: The first part of this novel adaption is almost over! I predict this will end around the mid thirties before the second part of the adaption begins. The in-game chapter four and beyond parts! I decided to keep the younger saga here and then make the older saga it's own set. I felt the chapter count would be way too high combined under one title and thought the thirties was a perfect break off. Until then, I'll keep pressing forward (: Also I'd like to know if people are cool with how I wrote Kumatora and her casual accent? For future reference when she comes back and stuff and for consistency's sake. Your feedback will be appreciated! See you next chapter, everyone!