**I am really excited for these next few chapters, because I'm really getting in to the habit of writing this. I have more time on my hands than usual, so this should be fun.

Enjoy Chapter 38! :)**

Chapter 38: Roses are Red, and So are Some Toad's

I took Karo to meet the others, and he seemed to become increasingly nervous as we approached them.

"Um Chihiro?" Said Kahn. "You are aware that there is a Lumina boy hiding behind you? At least I would hope so."

I sighed. "There's really no need to be so shy Karo, these guys are alright."

He stepped out a little bit. "Uh, h-hi. Well, I guess you know my name... So... yeah."

He hid back behind me again.

Wow, he really was shy.

"Karo isn't like the other Lumina, he's really kind and nice. Unlike the others we've met."

They all nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, they're all so stuck up!" Said Linn.

Karo stepped out a little further.

"They're all, Oh! We're all friendly perfect little angels! Look at me! Look how amazing my wings are, oh, your mom just died. Well you suck. I mean, what a bunch of uncultured floozies!"

Karo tried to contain his grin as he sat among the group.

Kuhn added on to that. "Yeah, I bet they drink tea out of wine cups and discuss politics with their pinkies lifted."

Karo started laughing. "Well, they might as well! I'm sure Karin would make a big meeting over the suggestion. I should totally bring that up, just so I can paint it! I'd hang it in my room, and laugh myself to sleep every night... Oh sorry, was that too much?"

Linn laughed. "Hey where'd you find this kid, Chihiro? He's great!"

"I found him in my house, defending my things." I said.

"Oh..." Said Linn. "You went out of your way to help her like that?"

Linn held out her hand. "Welcome to the group kid, make yourself at home."

He looked at her hand, and poked it.

Another Shisuta!?

"Uh, you're supposed to shake it." She said.

"Oh, sorry." He said. He grabbed her arm, and started shaking it about.

Linn pulled her hand back. "Wow you're a weird one!" She exclaimed.

He held his head down. "Sorry, I'm really sorry!"

Linn smacked her palm to her face.

"That doesn't mean I dislike you. You're just wierd. Weird isn't always a bad thing."

He looked up. "You mean you weren't shunning me just then?"

She sighed. "No. Damn Karo, how much crap have these jerks given you?"

He shook his head. "You have no idea."

Shisuta walked up and joined the group.

"Hello friends, how are... Who is this person? May I have an introduction?"

His face went a light red, and he walked up to her.

"Hi, I'm Karo, I'm a Lumina living... Well, not exactly like a Lumina, but- well, anyway I promise I'm not rude. Nice to meet you what's your name?"

She smiled and held out her hand.

"My name is Shisuta, and what may I... Oh yes that's right." She pulled her hand back.

"You have already given me your name Karo. That is how it works isn't it? Oh well, I detest this bothersome 'handshake' anyway."

He gave a sigh of relief. "Ugh, thank God! I'm not the only one..."

She smiled. "Well, I had better get back to my research."

She began to walk away. "Wait! Umm... What do you research?"

She stopped for a moment, then turned around practically beaming.

"Do you really want to know!? I could show you, if it is not too much trouble!"

He smiled. "Sure, I'd-"

She immediately dragged him off.

"Come with me! Come, and feast your eyes on the wonders of Alchemical SCIENCE!"

Linn couldn't stop laughing.

"Uh oh, I'd say he's in for a real treat." Said Kuhn.

Kahn laughed softly. "Yes, he may be sorry he asked."

I smiled. "Yeah, but I don't think he'll say anything. I think he likes her."

Kahn started full on laughing.

"Well, that's a shame. She's more oblivious than I am!"

He calmed himself, but was still smiling.

"He'd have to be blunt with her, and seeing how timid he is, well..."

Hmm... I wonder how long it would take before her ramblings drove him insane? Oh well, I guess we'll know soon enough.

...

"And this is how the red toad mixes with the glow snake at these proportions, and these one's, and these one's! All producing astoundingly different effects! Though you wouldn't want to mix them in those two proportions in the wrong order. It would cause a small explosion!"

Karo heard toad, and explosion.

He smiled. "I wonder if we could make a toad blow up on Karin's dinner plate...?"

"An exploding toad? I can't say I've tried it. Who is Karin? Someone you dislike?"

He sighed. "Yeah, I think she was the one you met earlier. The one who restrained... um, your friend."

"The horrid woman who had talked down to Chihiro!? Well then..."

She looked at him. "Karo, we will make a toad blow up in her dinner! It will get all over her face, and ruin her shiny tunic. THIS I promise!"

She handed him a red toad.

"And you're going to help me!"

"What!? Well, I don't know how to make frogs explode!" He exclaimed.

"They're toads, Karo. Toads." She thought for a moment.

"How good are you at cooking?" She asked.

"I'd say I'm quite excellent at it?" He answered. "Why do you ask?"

She grinned. "Because I want you to make it look and smell so delicious, that she salavates before it explodes in her face!"

He smiled mischievously. "I like the way you think!"

She laughed. "Oh, but you should make it taste horrible, so she screams when it goes flying into her mouth!"

He busted out laughing. "Okay, okay! I'll see what I can do!"

He cooked the toad to near perfection, sizzling as it's wonderful aroma filled the room. He felt almost bad about using this scentless bitter chemical. It would completely ruin his meal! Then he remembered... it wasn't his meal, it was Karin's. He gave the toad a tripple dosing of nasty, and handed it to Shisuta.

"One deliciously appearing, horrible tasting toad, as ordered."

She smiled. "Your timing is excellent, I have just finished the formula."

She injected this clear, scentless substance into the toad.

"This will not react with the toads chemicals, but will explode when in contact with saliva."

She injected another substance deeper into the toad's tissues. It was glowing blue and green in the vial, but was well concealed in the toad. It also left the meal unmarked.

"This one is going to be a fun surprise." She said with a smirk.

He didn't know what she had planned, but he couldn't wait to find out.

He prepared an equally appealing and nasty salad side. The plate had to look complete after all.

Karo and Shisuta walked out, their plate loaded with Karin's nasty surprise.

...

I saw Karo and Shisuta walking up to that female Lumina carrying...

...was that food!?

"Hey guys, I think those kids are up to something..."

Kahn looked over at them.

"Shisuta. I can guarantee Alchemy has some part in this."

Kuhn looked. "Well, they're handing her food... so-"

Linn practically jumped over Kuhn.

"I've got to see this!"

They all kept a safe distance away from the scene.

The female Lumina stared hungrily over her plate. She was drooling all over it.

Then, before she could take her first bite...

...Something wonderful happened.

The food exploded and landed all over her face and upper body.

She began gagging and choking. Karo and Shisuta were rolling around on the ground, laughing up a storm. Karo laughed louder when her face began to glow, emitting horrible smells with every ray of light.

"Ack! That's horrible! What am I tasting!?"

"Revenge!" He laughed. "Sweet revenge! Now every time you open your mouth, it will be like a smelly flashlight!"

I started laughing, and so did everyone else. Well, Linn started laughing when her food exploded. Oh well, it was all pretty hilarious.

"What is the meaning of this Karo!?" She snapped.

He smirked. "Well, for you it means mouthwash, and a pond full of soap!"

She grabbed him by the neck of his shirt, and held him there.

"Have these newcomers caused you to forget your place?"

"I'm warning you." He said, his expression dark. "You might want to let go of me."

She laughed. "Look at this worm! Thinking he can push me around... You are nothing more than a piece of the past, because your poor little daddy was murdered. You're just a-!"

"I warned you!" He yelled.

He shoved her off, and a warhammer appeared in his hands. He knocked her in the gut with it's hilt, sending her to her knees.

"Karin, I would suggest that you shut the hell up. For once."

Boh ran up to us. He had been playing in the field, looking for wildlife.

"Guys! So I found this really cool bear! It was so cute! And... Woah..."

Boh continued to stare at the thirteen year old boy, Karo. He stared in wonder at the scene before him.

"Hey, did you knock down that mean girl with that awesome hammer!?"

She marched away angrily, the other Lumina giving her a wide girth. I didn't blame them, she was pretty ransid.

He smiled. "Yep, I just knocked her down though. She's not really a threat. That wasn't the best demonstration of my skills, but-"

"Can you please teach me how to use an axe?" Boh asked.

"I know it's not the same as a hammer, but please?"

He looked at Boh. "Well, you're young, but that never stopped me."

He gave a sly grin. "And with your size you've got to be strong, right? I bet you could wield both an axe AND a hammer. With my training if course."

I had to roll my eyes at that. I didn't doubt he was serious, but wow, what a show off.

"You mean at the same time!?"

He ran up to Karo and suffocated him in a hug.

"Yay! Thank you thank you thank you! Um... what's your name?"

"K-Ka...Karo! P-Please... put me down!"

"Oh sorry, I get a little carried away sometimes..."

We laughed as Karo dramatically gasped in for air.

Oh well, so he's a show off sometimes... he seemed to make Boh pretty happy.

It was so nice to be laughing about something again. I wish that everyone were here with us, so they could be laughing with us too.

I looked up at the sky, and smiled.

Who knows? For all we know, they could be laughing with us right now.