"Thanks for baking us some snacks for the trip, Mako-chan! They look yummy…" Usagi's hand was quickly smacked before she had a chance to steal a cookie or two.
"Ow! Rei-chan, I was only gonna take one!"
"Yeah right! I know you, if we let you have one now there won't be any for the trip. And *how* can you still be hungry? You just ate six pancakes, three slices of toast a bowl of cereal *AND* some strawberries! You are such a pig, odango atama." This caused yet another famous tongue war making it the fourth that morning. The other two girls present sweatdroped at their friend's show of maturity and quickly began the task of ignoring them.
"So…Its too bad Ami-chan has to work today, you'll tell her we said bye, right?"
"Of course. Anno…weren't you supposed to leave like, thirty minutes ago?" Minako blinked a couple of times before the realization set in.
"Your right! Usagi, onward and downward! We've got to get going."
Usagi blinked. "Onward and what?"
"No time for that now. Come on!" With that she proceeded to drag Usagi to the car and shove her in the passenger's seat, much to the amusement of the other two.
"Ow, Minako stop pushing, I don't *bend* that way! OW!" Finally after much shoving Usagi was in the car and Minako headed for the drivers seat.
"Don't forget to feed the cats Rei-chan."
"Don't worry, that's only you." Usagi stuck her head out the window and gave Rei one last raspberry as the car pulled away.
The raspberry was returned.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
"We should be there in a couple of minutes according to the map…I think."
"Could someone tell me *why* we had to wake up at two in the morning just to drive seven hours out into the woods? Hmm? Anyone?"
Yohji looked around the car to see if anyone was even listening. Nope. Not a one. Ken was busy trying to read the lines on the map, and not looking like he was doing to well. Aya's eye was beginning to twitch so he was going to leave him alone. And the kid…well the kid was currently trying (key word being *trying*) to sleep with his head hanging in a stoop near Yohji's lap, a bubble of drool dangerously close to dropping on his leather pants. He cringed and shoved the blonde to the other side, hoping the drool would go with him. The drool had a mind of its own however and snapped off, falling in a graceful spot on the beloved pants. This was not a good omen.
Then Ken had to open his mouth.
"Anno…oops? I think we made a wrong turn."
"WHAT!?"
"But don't worry! There's a turn coming up, we can take that and it will lead us to the manor."
"Are you sure?" Ken looked down at the map and then back at Aya before looking at the map again.
"Uh…I'm pretty sure?" Yohji groaned and looked out the window. He had to admit, the scenery was kinda peaceful and it would be nice not to deal with screaming fangirls everyday. But being lost was not his idea of fun. Besides, he had to go to the bathroom and Yohji Kudou does *not* pee on trees.
"Would you just get us there already? I need to piss." And you know what Aya did? He stopped the car.
"There's a tree. Use it."
"Forget it. I don't have to go that bad"
"You'd better not pee in my car."
"Yeah, yeah."
They hit a bump causing Omi to smack his head on the window.
"Owww…WOW! Is that the place? Its *huge*!"
"What…whoa!" The four of them stared in awe at the upcoming manor. It stood at three stories with balconies and turrets, and the front was a garden of fountains and flowers.
"This place doesn't look haunted at all."
"They said it was fixed and remodeled. They really did a number on it. Hey…those must be the guides. Nice car." They pulled up behind a small, sleek black Mustang and piled out. A tall blonde in a short dark green business skirt and white blouse walked up to them, clip board in hand.
"Hello. My names Kaly and that's my partner Rick. You all would be?"
"Omi Tsukiyono. Pleasure to meet you."
"Ken Hidaka, same"
"Aya Fujimiya."
"And I, beautiful, am Yohji Kudou. You aren't from around here are you? Your voice has a delicious accent."
"Rick and I are from America…and I'm gay. So kindly let go of my hand, thank you."
The other two snickered and Aya smirked as Kaly turned her back and walked over to a laughing Rick.
Yep, definitely bad omens.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
"Its really peaceful out here, ne chibi?" Schuldich took a drag from his cigarette and turned down a gravel road surrounded by trees. Nagi looked outside but made no move to answer him and behind them in the backseat Farfarello sat watching everything with a silent intent.
Schuldich sighed. "You two have been sitting there for the whole eight hours. Don't either one of you have something to say?"
"I wonder if anyone religious will be staying with us."
"I never should have said anything."
As they continued down the road the trees started to clear out and lush landscaping took their place. After driving past small gardens and large fountains they finally saw the manor. It towered before them, the morning sun giving the red bricks a bloody appearance. Despite the coloring the manor gave off a somewhat welcoming feel.
"Kinda cozy and creepy all at the same time, eh? Wait a second…is that Weiss? How ironic, to be stuck living with our foes. Well, at least this will be interesting."
"Hmm."
The three of them readied themselves for the oncoming meeting.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Kaly looked up from her clipboard as another car approached and people got out. She smirked faintly as her chestnut eyes glinted a faint pinkish color.
"This must be Shwartz."
"WHAT?!"
"Hello kitty cats. Didn't think you'd see us again did you?" Four heads snapped around to see the source of the voice. Schuldich smirked as Aya and the others got into a defensive stance.
"What the hell are you three doing here?"
"The same as you, I suppose. Earning a little money. You could always leave you know. There's two more coming so we'll be able to keep ourselves amused."
"There's no way we're leaving innocents alone with you three."
"Ouch, that hurt."
"Yeah right. You take pride in screwing with others minds."
"That I do kitty cat, that I do."
During this time Kaly and Rick watched with a sort of detached amusement as the two groups went at it verbally. After awhile Kaly got tired of it and stepped in between them turning her attention to Schuldich.
"Hello. I'm Kaly, that's Rick and you must be Schuldich. The other two are…?"
"Farfarello and Nagi. It's a pleasure to meet you." He took her hand and gently kissed her knuckles while trying to read her thoughts. She raised a brow and deftly took her hand back before walking back over to Rick. Schuldich stared after her in confusion. He couldn't read her thoughts. Not a single one. It was as if she had a concrete wall blocking everything from getting inside. He looked at the guy she was with and tried him.
Still nothing.
"What the fuck…" He knew it wasn't him; he could hear the Weiss kittens complaining about the turn of events.
So what were those two hiding?
~-~-~-~-~-~-~
"I swear we've passed that tree three times now. Are you sure you know where you're going?" Usagi looked at Minako and Minako looked at her before looking at the steering wheel and then flashing an award-winning smile.
"No clue. But how many giant, haunted manor's can there be out here? Were bound to came across it eventually!"
"What!? Mina-chan, I thought you knew what you were doing! We've been driving in these woods for the past two hours."
"Ooh, look. I don't think we've taken this road before." Usagi rolled her eyes and reached for another cookie but her hand met with an empty plate. She pouted.
"I hope we find this place soon, I'm starving."
"I think we just did. Its beautiful." The two girls stared open mouthed as the manor came into view.
"I think were the last ones here." Minako stopped the car and the two of them got out and walked over to the group.
"Glad you could finally make it Usagi, Minako. I'm Kaly, that's Rick and the rest of you can get acquainted later. Now that we're all here I've got a job to do. Follow me inside, we'll go over information, answer questions and then I have a few stories to tell you. By the way, welcome to Agony Manor." She and Rick pushed open the giant metal doors and walked inside leaving the rest of them to follow.