A/N

Wow, the updates are just popping up again and again! I was worried with a few weeks off I'd come back and be absolutely corroded (or rather, really rusty) with my writing and it would come out horrible, but some parts are actually getting better! Err, well, in my point of view. Anyway, here's another chapter!

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"Wow, he doesn't stink anymore." Jamie whispered to his furry friend. Julian wrinkled his nose.

"He still does a little."

"Why did you all run off?"

Julian and Jamie stood beside Kurt as they received their lecture. Warren was soaking wet, unable to stay in the water for another four hours. Arcane was leaning back on a chair, giving a nonchalant air.

"No offense, mein freund, but you stunk! We couldn't stay there any longer!"

"I am supposed to be watching you! You didn't even leave a note!"

"We're sorry." Jamie put on an innocent look. That always seemed to work. And he used that to his full advantage.

"I bet you are." Arcane commented lazily. His hat was tipped down to hide his expression.

"I am!" He shot a glare off in the man's direction before turning the charm on in front of Angel.  "We're really sorry and we'll never do it again, but we'll understand if you want to go back to the Institute, Mr. Warren." He tried not to look too hopeful.

"No, we'll stay. You seem sorry enough." Darn. The winged guy took it the wrong way.

"Oh thank you." He said with a certain lack of enthusiasm. It hadn't worked out the way he planned.

"Now, shall we go back to the woods?"

"Let's stay here, I mean, I don't think Mr. Arcane will mind." He said evilly. They all looked at Arcane, who seemed to be considering the offer.

"No."

"Why not?" Jamie asked innocently.

"I come here to specifically get away from people like you. What makes you think I want you to stay?"

"Please? You can't throw us out, we'll have nowhere to go! Our campsite still smells like skunk!"

"Tell me which part of that is my problem."

"Because if something happens to us, it'll be on your conscience for ever and ever and ever and ever—"

"If you keep this up, none of you will worry about anything again."

"How do you live with yourself? Threatening poor impressionable children like us, you should be ashamed!"

"I am. But the answer still is no."

"How do you get up in the morning?" Jamie demanded, acting outraged while the rest of them just stared.

"It's a continuous struggle."

"What will everyone think? When they hear about what you've done?"

"It's the woods. Fresh air is good for you."

"What will everyone at the institute say?"

"I can't say I care."

"Okay…"Jamie ran through a mental list of all that happened at the Institute in the last few months, then hit on something. "What would Danny say?"

"Are you looking to get shot, kid? Is this some bizarre way to commit assisted suicide?"

"I only want shelter and food, that is my only desire."

"If you shut up, leave me alone and don't wreck up this place, I'll let you stay." He growled. "But if we have another conversation like this, you can forget about ever leaving the woods."

"Oh thank you! You're our hero!" He stepped forward.

"Hug me and I swear I'll shoot you."

That stopped him in his tracks. But at least he didn't have to sleep outside.

That was a plus.

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Kurt sat by the window. There were three windows in this entire place, and it certainly wasn't the burger bomb or the Institute, but it didn't smell like skunks, so it was all good. Well, except for Warren's lingering trace of skunk smell. It was probably a good thing that this Arcane guy didn't have sensitive smell or Warren may have never gotten in.

It was interesting, he knew that Arcane was at the Institute before, but any real remembrance of the man was totally lost on him accept for this odd feeling of déjà vu. It must be part of his mutation.

As he stared out the window, something brown came streaking through the grass towards it. His eyes widened as the squirrel leapt right at his face and banged into the glass window, hanging there for a second before dropping into the grass, stunned.

"Vhat the…"

"That happens everyday."

Kurt whipped his head around to see Arcane sipping from a chipped coffee mug. "That's why I always keep that window closed."

"It just vruns into the window?"

"Yes. After awhile you don't notice it as much." He took another sip from the mug and turned to walk away. "If I was you, I wouldn't leave any coffee outside. It's not really worth it."

"Coffee?" Kurt wondered aloud. There was a loud thunk as the squirrel hit the glass again.

"What about coffee? What's with that squirrel?" Jamie asked as he and Julian walked in. Julian twitched his nose at the squirrel's odd antics.

"I think that squirrel may be senile. Or he's not old enough, maybe he's just crazy. I can't make out what he's saying."

"Arcane told me not to leave coffee outside, because it vasn't vorth it."

"Okay. What isn't?"

"He didn't say." He told Jamie. Jamie shrugged.

"How does he expect to keep us in line with that kind of reasoning?! We don't listen to Angel what makes him think that we'll listen to him?"

"Zhen vhat are we vaiting for? Coffee break!" It was stupid, really, to do something that a guy who cleans guns on a regular basis told you not to do, but he was curious about coffee. What would happen if you left it outside? And how did Arcane know this?

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"It's a good thing we closed all the windows."

"Ve may be here for a bit."

"Ouch. That must have hurt."

The squirrel that began it all, the kamikaze squirrel, had been he first to the cup of coffee they set out. He drank the entire cup. He was now bouncing around the outside of the house, ramming into windows and doors. It wasn't just one window now, it was all three in less than five seconds. And that was very good since they were all on different sides of the house.

"What part of not worth it didn't you people understand?" Arcane asked in passing as he moved to a different part of the house. Not that would drown out the thumping sounds as the squirrel hit the side of the house.

"You tell me these things and you don't expect me to try it out?" Kurt called after him.

"When's he gonna stop?" Jamie asked Julian. The furry boy shrugged.

"When he gets tired, I guess."

"When will that be?"

"I dunno."

"Wanna go play a game?"

"Like what?"

"How 'bout I Spy? You go first Kurt."

"I spy something brown."

THUNK!

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A/N

Ow. Funky squirrel.

Asteria: Heh, don't worry, I don't mind, I'm actually a fan of Trigun myself (have all the episodes!). Arcane really probably doesn't care. He usually has a handle on things around him. Glad you like Julian's questions! Hope you like the chapter!

Aicha:…Vor? Who's that? Eh. Hope this chapter is a bit longer for your tastes, I try my best to keep them a good length. Thank you very much!

Arain Ross/Anee: Yes. Poor Arcane. Heh. But it'll be fun watching what makes him tick, no? We all already know he doesn't care for horses, what else could ruffle his feathers? Hope you like the chapter!

Anon(girl): Well, another update, just like you asked. Hope you like it. Heh. Your 'dudes' are going to break something if they aren't careful. And it might be themselves. I'm glad you and Fishy like my work!

Kally will take the reviews today! Err, perhaps it would be best not to give her coffee, either…