Day: YATTA!!! New chapter is finished!!

Moon: Took us long enough.

Day: Well, we were kinda busy. Anyway, this will be a light, easy, silly, or whatever you wanna call it chapter before the serious business starts.

Ken: Oh joy.

Yohji: What happened to the story were I get to have Kenken?

Moon: Halt die Klappe!! (Shut up) We write what we feel like, you get that?

Day: Yeah, and SchuKen is our favorite pairing.

Ken: *snuggles Schu*

Schu: *grins wide at Yohji*

Yohji: *glares*

Schu: Oh… are you angry at me? Too bad you're dead ne?

Moon+Day: *watch the both of them bicker for a little bit*

Ken: *sniff* I miss my koi.

Schu: Sorry baby *kisses him*

Moon: Anyway!! On with the story now!

Day: Hai, hai!!!

~*~*~

Schuldig leaned against the wall, waiting for Ken to come out of the bathroom. The plane flight had gone over as usual, Ken huddled up in his seat, ignoring everything around him then leaving the 'death machine' as soon as the door was open.

This time though, Ken fled to the next best bathroom to be violently ill. Schuldig wondered what could have upset the man's stomach so much. It must have been his anxiety; he couldn't explain it any other way. Also the fact that the young man hadn't eaten anything might have caused him to feel ill.

--He really doesn't like flying, doesn't he?-- Keiran asked sounding almost sleepy.

--You _just_ figured that out?-- Schuldig asked his sword as he lit a cigarette.

--No, just thought I should state the fact.--

Schuldig snorted and then looked up when an extremely pale looking Ken came out of the bathroom.

"This was the _last_ time you got me on an airplane!" Chocolate eyes were ablaze with fury.

Schuldig just grinned. "Sure thing Ken, we just walk all the way to the Aztec temple."

The brunette nodded. "Sounds good to me."

The redhead gave Ken a mean look. "I don't think so."

"Damn…"

--Not to interrupt this joyful lovers spat, but I think you guys should start finding a hotel. It is getting late.--

--Lucien!-- Keiran screeched outraged. --That was _not_ a lovers spat! They have to be in a relationship to have one, and they aren't. They never _will_ be!--

--Stop being so up-tight Keiran. I think they'd make a great couple.--

--They are both men!-- The sword of darkness exclaimed.

Lucien sounded nonchalant. --And?—

--AND?! AND THAT'S JUST WRONG!—

Ken rolled his eyes, lifting his bag to his shoulders. "Okay, now what?"

"Well, as loathe as I am to admit it," Schuldig smirked, "but I think Lucien is right. We need to get a hotel room for the night."

The brunette nodded, indicating for Schuldig to take the lead. Since he liked being in charge, Schuldig did so, leading the younger man through the airport. As soon as they reached the outside, the redheaded German hailed a taxi.

"Where to?" the driver asked as Ken and Schuldig entered.

Taking the name of a nearby hotel from the driver's mind, Schuldig answered for them, "The Hyatt please."

Ken looked at the German in something resembling shock.

"What?"

"You said 'please.'"

Schuldig rolled his eyes, "Geeze, Ken, you act like I don't even know common courtesy."

"As far as I know, you don't!"

The German affected hurt indignation, eliciting a chuckle from each of the swords.

The taxi let them out, and Schuldig dropped a twenty in his hand, not stopping to wait for the change.

"C'mon, let's hurry up and get a room." Ken led the way to the front desk.

The lady there smiled warmly at them. "Welcome to the Hyatt. Can I help you sirs?"

Schuldig flashed the girl a charming smile. "Hello, my name is Alexander Schuldig. Me and my partner Mr. Hidaka here," he indicated towards Ken, "have been called to some very urgent business here in Chicago, but couldn't reserve a room before it was time to leave."

The lady made a dubious face. "Well, I'll see what I can do. But there is an anime convention going on this week. That's why all these guys are running around here." She waved a hand towards a group of people that were dressed in some strange outfits. "They take most of the rooms but you -might- be lucky."

Schuldig regarded the group of teens as the receptionist typed away on her terminal. He recognized one of the boys trying to look like Ryoga from Ranma ½ and a girl was dressed like Sakura from a very popular anime series call Card Captor Sakura.

"Oh, look it's Signal from Twin Signal!"

Schuldig blinked as a girl ran past them, flinging herself at some unsuspecting young man. She was wearing a typical sailor school uniform with cat ears clipped into her hair and a tail sticking out from under her skirt.

Ken blinked as the girl attached herself yet again to another guest, squealing 'Shuichi-kun' at the top of her lungs. He shook his head torn between laughing and feeling sorry for the poor boy when dark brown eyes suddenly fixed on him.

Ken gulped and looked at Schuldig. "Uh oh…"

The next second the girl was right in his face. "Ohmygod!Youaresocute!! Are you one of ACen's Japanese guests?! A singer? Are you a voice actor? Who did you voice and can I have your autograph pretty please?!?!"

Ken's eye twitched a little. ~Did she even breathe in between that?~

Schuldig raised an eyebrow. --I don't think she did…--

The girl meanwhile kept bouncing and talking. "Can I take your picture?! Can I be in it?! Oi neesan!! Take a picture with me and the Japanese guest!!"

Schuldig had a hard time not to burst out laughing. Poor Ken not only was he mistaken for a star of the anime industry, he was also bombarded with questions in a language he barely spoke. His amusement dissipated though when those brown eyes fixed on him.

"Who are you supposed to be? I mean, you don't look Japanese and your hair is orange. I don't know any orange haired characters that look like that… and I know a _LOT_ of characters. So who is it, you must like him a lot since you dyed your hair _and_ your eyebrows orange, because come on, who has hair like that in real life?"

Schuldig fought down the urge to strangle the girl in public. What did she mean who had hair like that? Next to him Ken was trying hard not to giggle.

"Day-chan! What did I tell you about scaring the other guests?" A girl emerged from the crowd eyeing the other girl evilly. Schuldig raised an eyebrow. What was an overly hyperactive girl doing with a freaky chick like the one that came up to them? If _anybody_ dyed their hair it was this girl…or rather, bleached it, since her hair was as white as Crawford's suit. The dress was typical goth, as was the make up and dark eyeshadow.

'Day-chan' giggled nervously. "Uhm…not to do it? But Moon! Look at him, isn't he so ca-yute? He looks _just like_ Hakkai from Saiyuki, ne?"

'Moon' rolled her eyes. "Just follow me, the panel on web comics is about to start."

"Web comics? Sugoi! Let's go then!" Day grabbed Moon's wrist and dragged her off in some random direction.

Ken blinked, taking a deep breath. "After we get our room, Schuldig, I suggest we _not_ leave it unless necessary."

Schuldig could only nod.

"Well it looks like you boys are in luck," the receptionist recaptured their attention. "We've got one room left. Hope you don't mind it."

The redhead jumped on the opportunity to get away from the lobby, "Anything!"

"Yeah, they are a bit much, aren't they?" The receptionist grinned, "Okay, you guys are on the top floor, in the Honeymoon suite."

Ken almost chocked on his own breath. "H-honeymoon?"

Schuldig nodded. "We take it."

He quickly gave the lady his card and as soon as everything was taken care of he dragged Ken away to the elevator. Once on the top floor he all but tossed Ken into the suit and slammed the door behind himself. "That, was the most frightening experience ever."

Ken looked at Schuldig. "You were frightened? I didn't even know what she was saying, for all I know she could have planed to gut me in front of the crowd. It… it was like the Koneko fangirls…. All smashed into one single person." A visible shudder ran through Ken.

"Actually she thought you were sexy. I have to say, she has a pretty good taste." Schuldig raised an eyebrow suggestively.

"Ewww! I didn't need to know that Schu!"

--But Ken, she was a female in her prime stage of life.-- Keiran said smugly. --She would have been the perfect partner.--

Ken all but glared at Schuldig's bag. "Perfect, but absolutely insane you mean. No way, I don't even like girls."

Schuldig patted Ken on the shoulder. "She's gone now. And I doubt we'll ever see her again."

Ken nodded. "That better be the case. Anyway, I need a soak now, I feel like that girl just took away ten years of my life."

The redhead chuckled. "Do that. I'll unpack in the meantime."

~*~*~

The next morning, Ken slept in. He didn't wake up until eight in the morning. By the time Schuldig woke, he had taken his shower, got dressed, and ordered breakfast through room service.

Schuldig got up early that morning. He woke up at ten. He ate his breakfast, took a shower, and was ready to leave by twelve thirty.

"So, where to first, Kenken?"

"Don't call me that. You're up early."

"Don't remind me. Anyways, now that we're both up and ready to go, where do you want to go?"

Ken shrugged, "It doesn't really matter to me. I've always wanted to go to the top of the Sears tower, and see Wrigley field, and go see Buckingham fountain, and Disney World, but that's in Florida, and-"

Schuldig chuckled, "Calm down, Ken. I don't think we'll manage to fit in Disney world today, but there's no reason we can't go fulfill the rest of your wish list."

The brunette grinned, shrugging his backpack onto his shoulders. "C'mon, let's go and get away from the convention girls, ne?"

Schuldig nodded, also lifting his bag. "So, to the Sears tower first, and then we'll see where we'll go from there."

"Sounds like a plan to me."

~*~*~

Schuldig looked around the lobby as he stepped through the double doors of the Sears tower. He blinked at the mass of people that was crowding the foyer. What they found so interesting in the top of the tower he really didn't know. It was just another skyscraper. Pretty much the only type of building existing in Tokyo.

Next to him Ken was busy looking around, his eyes never resting on one spot for longer than six seconds.

"You know we have to go to the 103rd floor, right?"

Ken looked at Schuldig with his chocolate eyes. "Yeah. So?"

"Ken, you're afraid of heights." Schuldig stated flatly.

The brunette's eyebrows furrowed. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

Schuldig gave Ken an incredulous look. "Who is cursing every time we have to go on a plane? Who is so afraid of flying that I actually had to knock him out on our first trip?"

Ken rolled his eyes. "I'm afraid of planes, Schuldig. Death machines, not heights."

The telepath just shook his head. "Whatever you say Ken."

"Let's just get in line."

Ten minutes later Schuldig was watching Ken as the younger man pressed his nose flat on the glass. "This is _so_ cool. Look Schuldig, they have a swimming pool on the roof of that building! Oh, Wrigley Field! Home of the Cubs."

"One sight less to go to." Schuldig grinned.

Ken made a face but then nodded. "We're still going to Buckingham Fountain though."

The redhead nodded. "Alright, and the Field Museum after that."

Ken grinned. "Deal."

Schuldig spent the rest of the time like he had before, watching Ken. The brunette seemed to have a good time, especially when he helped a little girl so she could use the telescope. Now they were waiting for the elevator to bring them back down.

"So to the Fountain next?"

The German nodded.

Ken grinned. "Cool. Now I'm glad we ca-…."

Schuldig frowned as Ken trailed off mid-sentence. --Ken? Is something wrong?--

The Japanese man nodded towards a group of men. ~Is it just me or are these guys acting strange?~

Schuldig frowned but nodded. --They are acting strange.--

The two assassins watched as a group of well-off looking businessmen pushed their way rather rudely through the crowd. They ignored the shouts and curses from the tourists and headed straight for the elevators, where Ken and Schuldig were.

--You are aware that those are shapeshifters, right?--

~I figured it was something along those lines, yes…~ Ken thought back at Schuldig. ~Damn. I so didn't want my one and only trip to Chicago to be ruined by demonic…uh…demons.~

Schuldig gave Ken a look. --Demonic demons? Isn't that a bit redundant? Besides, I don't think they've noticed us yet…if we could sneak out, I doubt our trip is going to be 'ruined'--

Ken nodded, and the pair casually made their way back to the elevator. They made it out of the building without incident.

~*~*~

--Ken, there are a little less than 3million people that live in this city, plus the unknown amount of commuters that travel here every day. Will you stop worrying about those demons finding us?-- Schuldig's mental voice sounded almost irritated.

~What makes you think I'm worried?~ Ken thought back at the telepath. His eyes mirrored irritation as well as apprehension.

--The fact that you've been scanning the crowd ever since we left that blasted tower. If you keep being that way they really _will_ ruin the trip for you… and me-- Schuldig sighed as his eyes traveled up the immobile form of the great Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton. --Just enjoy your time. We'll be heading out to the Aztec temple soon enough.--

~Excuse _me_ for being worried about our safety. Assuming you're safe when on a mission can be the cause of your death.~

--We're not on a mission.-- The telepath interrupted.

~The situation is close enough.~ Now Ken was becoming really annoyed. Why was Schuldig blowing his worries off like that?

--I am not blowing off your concerns, Ken. I just think you're over-reacting.--

~I thought you couldn't read my thoughts anymore.~

--Well, when you're practically broadcasting them….--

Ken rolled his eyes, and started moving away from the skeleton. To Schuldig's surprise, dinosaurs were never one of Ken's things.

"So what exhibit do you want to go see now, Kenken?"

Ken shrugged, "The Egyptian exhibit, I guess."

Schuldig nodded and consulted his map. "Alright…this way." The redheaded German led the way. Ken followed, still feeling a bit antsy.

They were just about to turn down the hallway, however, Keiran interrupted them. --Oi! Demons at eight o'clock!--

Both assassins spun, drawing their swords in the process. The people around them screamed at that, and yelled for security. However, the pair had eyes only for the demons in human guise, watching them from the middle of the hall.

Ken glared at Schuldig. "Stop worrying, huh?"

"Oh, shut up…" the German spat back, eyes scanning for anything useful. His eyes drifted upwards, where he saw the two demons standing directly beneath Sue the Rex's skull. A gem of a plan quickly crystallized.

Ken glanced at his partner warily.

"Was?" The redhead asked.

"That look means trouble. What are you going to do?"

The smirk evolved into a full-fledged grin. Without answering, the assassin shot a generic attack on the overhead supports for the dinosaur skeleton.

Eyes wide, Ken screeched at him. "SCHULDIG! You can't just _ruin_ a museum _artifact_ like that! You…you…careless-"

"Calm down, Kenken," the other assassin advised, watching the giant skull crush the demons and splattering their guts all over the museum floor.

"Calm down! CALM DOWN! You can't just DO that to MUSEUM property!"

Schuldig grabbed Ken's wrist and started dragging him out of the museum. "Look, we're going back in time, so it'll be okay, right?"

"It's the _principle_ of the thing! You just don't _get_ it, do you?"

"Actually, no I don't. Right now I'm debating who has the longer stick up his ass, you or Crawford." He ignored the enraged shouts from the security that was following them and pulled Ken further into the crowd that was present in front of the museum.

"You could at least show a little guilt over having destroyed an irreplaceable artifact." Ken glared at the telepath.

Schuldig sighed. "Alright, I'm sorry about having dropped the giant skull of the most complete T-Rex skeleton in the world on top of a group of shapeshifting demons so that we would be spared and thus enable us to complete our quest to go back in time. Better?"

"No," Ken's glare intensified, "you don't mean it so it's not an apology."

The redhead blinked as Ken walked away, not bothering to check if the German was following him. He shook his head and sighed. --Look, Ken, I'm sorry about the skeleton, but I had to do _something_.--

--And this way no innocent bystanders got hurt.-- Lucien came to Schuldig's defense.

Ken sighed. ~I guess… just… next time think before you act Schuldig.~

--Alright alright I will I pro- wait a minute. Are you implying I don't give thoughts to my actions?-- Schuldig frowned at the brunette as he came up next to him.

Ken grinned up at the telepath, eyes twinkling with mischief. "You haven't up till now Schu." And with that he took off, running down the bike-trail alongside Lake Shore Drive.

Two seconds later Schuldig was hot on his heels. "KEN!! Get _back_ here so I can beat that skinny ass of yours!"

~*~*~

"I told you to take the silver one… I bet it would have had air conditioning and a working heater." Ken said as he tried, in vain, to get the cars heating and cooling system to do something.

"How about just rolling down the window?"

Ken glared at the telepath. "I would have but it doesn't move. This is the crappiest car I've seen in my life."

Schuldig growled. "Ken, it's a car and it moves, so shut up."

"I'm hot Schu!" Ken complained.

Schuldig grinned at Ken. "I am aware of that." A wink followed the statement. "However, I am not turning around to get the silver car, especially since we're about an hour away from there, anyways."

Ken rolled his eyes. "I didn't say you have to go back. I'm saying get a different car. Preferably one with AC… and silver."

"What is it with you and silver cars?" Schuldig asked.

The Japanese man shrugged. "No clue really, I think they just look cool."

"Ri~ight…Moving on…"

"Ooh! Or we could get bikes!"

The German raised an eyebrow. "Bikes? As in motorcycles?"

Ken nodded, "Hai! That would work out really well, I think."

"I don't think I trust you on a bike."

The brunette pouted and stared resolutely out of his window. They passed the time in silence, listening to some CDs that had been left in the car.

"OH! Schuldig!"

The German nearly jumped out of the seat. "DON'T DO THAT!!! What now, Ken?"

"Let's go to the fair!" Ken pointed out his window at a sign advertising the Marion County Fair.

"You're not serious…are you?" the German glanced over at the other, seeing that he was, indeed, quite serious. And pouting in that irresistibly adorable way of his. "….fine. I'll take you to the damn fair."

"Yatta!" Ken grinned, beaming. "This'll be fun!"

Schuldig rolled his eyes, "If you say so, Kitten, but I won't hold my breath."

Following the directional signs, the pair pulled up into the parking lot. Ken was out of the car like lightning, trying to see everything at once.

"Calm down, Hidaka! It's not going anywhere! Get BACK here I don't want to be chasing your skinny ass all over the place!"

Ken paused, waiting for Schuldig to catch up with him. "You're so slow, Schuldig. Come on, let's go see the horses and go on the rides and then we can go to the exhibitors hall and also to see the alligator I saw signs for and then-"

"Take a breath so you don't pass out." The German smirked, "You are _such_ a kid sometimes."

Ken glared at Schuldig. "Just for that, you're buying me whatever I want!"

"Deal. Now let's go see these horses you're all excited about, ne?"

The brunette just nodded, leading Schuldig to the horse exhibit. Leaning over the fence, Ken watched in rapt fascination as the horses were shown.

"They are so cool, aren't they?"

Schuldig restrained his desire to roll his eyes, "Much better than staring at cows or chickens, I guess."

Ken rolled his eyes. "Of course, horses are great animals. Most of them have very even tempers and they have just so much natural grace."

"Unlike clumsy you?" Schuldig asked as they climbed the bleachers, trying to find a seat in the shade.

"Hey! I am -not- clumsy!" Ken exclaimed loudly. Glaring at the German he didn't see the ice on a step that someone must have spilled earlier. Taking the step the inevitable happened; he slipped and barely caught himself before he could cut his forehead open on the metal steps.

Schuldig raised an eyebrow. "You were saying?"

Ken muttered to himself and brushed some dust off his pants. "Just shut up Schuldig."

The telepath just grinned and kept walking up the steps, with Ken right behind him. "I meant to do that."

"Sure you did Ken." The amusement in Schuldig's voice was impossible to miss.

~*~*~

"Now this is what America is all about…advertising." Schuldig said, staring at the exhibitors hall. "Ne, Ken? Ken?"

Looking around, the German found the brunette had already approached a booth and had received a balloon from the vendor. And then he was off to the next booth to get another balloon.

"Oi! Kenken! Wait up a second, okay?"

Ken turned and rolled his eyes at Schuldig. "Quit taking so long, and I might! Now hurry up, they've got red and purple balloons over at that booth."

"….right. Let's go then."

Brown eyes blinked, "Schuldig? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it."

--Didn't you say that someone you two knew had red hair and purple eyes?-- Lucien asked Ken in private.

Ken's eyes widened. He hadn't even thought about that, it had been so long since he had had the time to think about his team-mates, even if he used to have a crush on one of them. He glanced at the telepath again and asked the man for a red balloon.

"Thank you." He smiled at the white haired man. "And, could you do me a favor and give that man over there one too?" He pointed at Schuldig. "He could use some cheering up."

The man smiled kindly and nodded and Ken walked away humming.

Five minutes later Schuldig appeared next to him, tugging on a strand of his hair. "What was that all about, setting the poor man up to give me a balloon?"

Ken smiled. "You looked like you needed to be cheered up, is all."

"Huh?"

"Oh Schuldig look. Look! Those balloons are big!" Ken bounced on his feet and pointed at a both a little behind Schuldig. "I want one!"

The German turned a bit and saw the balloons that Ken must've been talking about. Giant red balloons with yellow words that said 'Young Plumbing' were being passed out by a couple girls in red shirts.

Ken approached the pair, smiling his most charming smile at them. "Can I have one?"

"Sure thing, cutie!" one of the girls chirped, handing him a balloon, "Would your friend like one as well?" she handed a second balloon to Schuldig.

"Thank you!"

The German took it patiently, wondering when Ken would be done with his balloon collecting – the brunette had about thirty or forty of them already! What exactly was he planning on doing with them all?

The pair made their rounds in the exhibition hall and returned to the outside. They spent some time at the games, both of them winning more stuffed animals than they could carry, and giving them to the children (at Ken's insistence, of course).

"It's getting late, Ken," Schuldig said, watching the crowd around him, "We probably ought to see about finding a hotel or something."

Ken nodded, "Yeah, but you still owe me a treat, you know."

"Hai, hai. Pick out whatever you want, Kitten."

Ken merely nodded and began to stroll through the various food booths. He noticed one little girl staring at his rather large collection of treats.

"Hey there, sweetie! You like balloons?"

The little girl nodded, strawberry curls bouncing.

"Well, me and my friend are getting ready to leave, and I can't fit them all into my car. Would you like them?"

Her face broke into a wide grin and she nodded enthusiastically, holding out her hand to receive the bouquet of helium.

Ken smiled, handing her the bundle. "Hey, what's that you're eating?"

"It's a chocolate covered 'nana," she replied cutely, "It's very good."

"Susan! Susan, come on!" a woman called, and the little girl looked over at her.

"I gotta go. Momma's callin' me!"

Ken smiled, waving as the little girl ran off to her mother with thirty balloons.

"You really like the rugrats, don't you?" Schuldig asked, having watched the display.

The brunette nodded, "Yeah. Kids are great."

The German blinked, "I guess…so how about that chocolate covered banana?"

Ken smiled up at his partner, "Hai!"

~*~*~

Schuldig was beginning to regret ever buying Ken the treat, while at the same time wishing he had an endless supply of the bananas. Ken's preferred method for eating them was to suck the chocolate off before biting down. Unfortunately, this method was making Schuldig's pants just a wee bit too tight.

"Schuldig, are you coming or what?" Ken asked, already waiting by the car.

~I wish I was, I really do.~ The telepath though but answered. "Hang on Ken, my shoelace came undone."

Yeah, so it was a lame excuse, but it gave him a minute to get his raging hormones under control. He had never been -that- attracted to another person, male or female. This situation was slowly getting out of hand. But what could he do about it?

"Guess who's going to be taking a lot of cold showers in the next few weeks." The telepath mumbled to himself and got back up.

"Alright Ken, there should be a Holiday Inn somewhere down that road."

Ken nodded. "Sleep first, then a new, -better- car in the morning, and off to Mexico we are."

Schuldig nodded, "Sounds like a plan to me."

~*~*~

Brad: You had a cameo in your own story?

Moon: Got a problem with that?

Brad: It seems weird…

Day: But it was fun ^__^

Schu: At least they pretty much made their story selves act the same way they would in real life.

Day: Of course, otherwise it would be Mary-Sue *shudders*

Moon: Now now Day-chan, keep your mind off of M-Sue's or you'll have an ulcer.

Day: *nods and shakes of the shuddery feeling*

Ken: Will we have a better car in the next chapter?

Day: *looks shocked* You don't like my car?

Ken:…… that's your car Day?

Moon: Yeah… no AC and the windows won't roll down? That's Day-chan's car alright.

Day: At least it moves.

Omi: That is important, true.

Ken:…… get a new car Day.

Day: I'm a college student! I don't have money to buy cars!

Moon: *patpat* Calm down Day, like you said, it moves and that's what counts. Anyway *looks to the readers* We'll be seeing you soon with the next chapter and the true beginning of the quest, till then…. JA!! *waves*