Lions, Tigers, and Leafe, Oh My!

Chapter 3: Things Get Even Worse for Our Poor Heroes

by: IMBSA

IMBSA: Hello (again).

Disclaimer: We all know God invented liquor to keep the Irish from ruling the world.

When we last left the Knights, Hayate was in quite a predicament. Sasame had asked--no, commanded--him to light the fire, and SOMEone had used up all the matches. He couldn't ask Sasame for his lighter because he (Sasame) would refuse. It was a dead cert. Not to mention, Himeno was laughing at him. And it was bugging the hell out of him. Finally, Hayate found two stones and tried striking them together. "How did I ever get talked into this?" He muttered to himself sarcastically. "Oh yeah, I wasn't talked into that van, I was fucking dragged!"

Both Mannen and Himeno were irritated. They were cold, they hungry, and they-were-BORED. The two of them had held whispered discussion about the "burnt matches" incident and agreed that it was Sasame. But the two dared not speak against him. His grim promise echoed in their ears and both winced at the thought. They grumbled in discontentment and sent dagger looks Sasame's way when he wasn't looking. Mannen sniffed. What he wouldn't give for some food at that moment. He caught Himeno's eye and knew that she was as well. They sighed, resigning themselves--and their stomachs--to a late dinner. It was gonna be a looooooooooooooooooong night.

Kei and Goh were talking on one side of the van, watching Hayate trying (and failing miserably) to produce a spark from the rocks. "Should I go help him?" Goh asked as Hayate cursed for the umpteenth time.

"No." Kei replied. "You saw what happened when Hajime and Shin asked around for a lighter to give to him." The two men looked into the backseat of the van. Hajime and Shin were still cowering there, even though Sasame was nowhere to be seen. The older Knights gazed sympathetically at the younger ones. What Sasame did to them must have been traumatizing. The two refused to leave the van, claiming it to be their sanctuary and that Sasame couldn't touch them because it was consecrated ground. Goh had a sneaking suspicion that whatever Sasame did had to do with "Highlander" because of those very claims. "I just can't comprehend how someone could use a whole pack of matches in the span of 2 hours. Especially him! He drove the whole way!"

"Yeah. How could he have--"

"Talking about me?" Sasame asked, face a fraction of an inch from Goh's.

"Wha- AH! Sasame!" Goh exclaimed, jumping several feet away, his limbs high in the air. All in all, he was in quite a ridiculous position. Sasame merely smiled his trademark smile. To Goh, his expression seemed to be akin to one a shark wears when surveying its prey. This served to freak Goh out even more. He stood in that uncomfortable position, sweat pouring from every orifice on his body. Sasame, meanwhile, just kept smiling. Then, nodding, moved on, allowing Goh to drop his absurd pose and sigh to himself in relief. Kei shook his head, smiling in a slightly amused fashion.

About an hour later, Sasame finally took pity on Hayate and gave him his lighter so he could finish his job. Truth be told though, it was only because he was starting to get cold as well. Not that he was complaining, or anything. He had the others to look out for as well, and they were looking a bit frostbitten.

Hayate was thankful when Sasame gave him the lighter, though he suspected ulterior motives for it. Hayate lit the fire in a hurry, desperately needing the warmth. Stretching in as the firelight played across his face, Hayate relished the fire...and his new lighter. Sasame hadn't come to claim it, and Hayate was a firm believer in "finders keepers; losers weepers"; It was now no longer Sasame's lighter, but Hayate's. He smiled. Maybe it would be a good trip after all.

It was right as this thought went through his mind that it started raining.

IMBSA: Hayate cannot win, can he? snickers

Hayate: Hey!

IMBSA: snickers again, but edges away from him. thinks for a second , then frowns I have a question. The voice actress for Himeno, Luci Christian, also plays Lycorice ("Sorcerer Stabber Orphen") and Kaname ("Full Metal Panic"), right? But the Lady Captain ("Full Metal Panic", dunno her name) sounds like Himeno as well. And I mean A LOT like Himeno. Meanwhile, Kaname sounds like Lycorice. Could some one please help me. I'm confused, and I don't like being confused. Please clear this up for me in your review. Thanks! Oh, and sorry with the Highlander references. It's amazing what I have to watch to survive up here. U

Keiluva: ::laughs MORE sinisterly ....:: Thanks for the review, though.

FeatherWings: Well, here's the next chapter! Hope you like it!