Hola readers! I'm sorry for the mistakes in the last chapter. Apparently I have typed Clive instead of Cliff but I corrected that already. You see the assassin's name was originally Clive but we changed it to Cliff later for reasons you will know in this chapter. I gotta warn you this chapter is a bit green. Just a bit! So on with the story!
Title: So Deal with It!
Author: kafra343
Chapter4: Morning Surprises
The next morning, Fleigh awoke with a start, stiff in the neck with a creepy sensation around her waist and saw all her guildmates still sound asleep.
Safira was snuggled in the comforts of Keith the blacksmith's cart, although she had to move a few items to make more space which would explain the items scattered at the foot of the cart. Keith was fast asleep leaning on his cart.
The assassin was also asleep but was sitting, uprightly, arms crossed on his chest and his sakkat hiding his face with the huntress snuggled on his shoulders. Chris the hunter was peacefully leaning against a tree. Fleigh found herself sleepily curled on Fai's lap with his right arm encircling her waist.
"Oh, it's just the rogue's arm, I thought it was an Argiope." She said yawning and almost immediately did a double take. She stifled a scream. Horrified, she did the one thing she thought was most logical to do in this predicament. Before she knew it, her fist had landed hard on Fai's chin in the form of a very vicious uppercut.
The impact of the blow sent Fai backward with his lower lip bleeding. Relief fell over Fleigh when she saw that no one had witnessed what she had done.
"Ow! Safira! What was that for?" Fai yelled in frustration rubbing his sore chin. Instead of Safira, he found Fleigh standing a few feet away, her right hand closed in a fist. Fai's outburst caused the other guild mates to wake up.
"What? Whatever it is, I didn't eat the last of that fruitcake!" Safira burst out.
Keith the blacksmith awoke just in time to see Safira sitting lazily in his cart with all the other items scattered on the floor.
"What have you done to my cart?" Keith yelled.
"Oh that! Thanks for letting me use it. You know it wasn't exactly first class hotel service but it was definitely better than sleeping on a log." Safira responded nonchalantly.
"But I didn't let you use it. I never said anything about my cart being your bed!" Keith defended
"Well you didn't say I couldn't use it either." Safira shot back.
"Well next time, GET YOUR OWN CART!"
Straightening her priestess uniform, Fleigh greeted her guildmates "Good morning! Bickering in the bright and early sunshine, are we?"
Safira approached Fai and her eyes landed on his bleeding lip.
"New day, new wound I see." Safira said brightly.
"Yeah. Courtesy of the old hag." Fai said angrily.
Safira laughed hysterically.
"Doesn't seem fit to be in the public." Fleigh murmured loud enough for Fai to hear.
"If you've got something to say, say it to my face." Fai stood up.
Safira's laughter instantly stopped. She could tell Fai was being serious, and he was scary when he was being too provoked.
"Boy, she sure crossed the line this time." Kelly the huntress whispered.
"I've got no problem saying anything to you… that doesn't look anything like a face at all." Fleigh said outraged.
Knowing he couldn't do anything about it, Fai fought the urge to strangle the Priestess.
"CRABBY OLD HAG!" Fai shouted.
"FREAK OF NATURE!" Fleigh yelled back.
"BREAKFAST EVERYBODY!" Chris the hunter exclaimed in a loud voice to drown out Fleigh's and Fai's argument.
"We're having fruitcake today. I saved a whole bunch of them for us." Keith said, proudly.
Then Fai began singing in the most horrible and most morbid of voices.
"There's a fruitcake for everybody, there's a fruitcake for everyo—"
"Lex Divina!" Fai froze for a moment.
"You better shut up before those vultures come back!" Fleigh warned him as the last of the blue light faded.
"It's alright! Take a bit—" Fai continued when he was finally able to speak.
"I said shut up! Lex Divina!" A flash of blue light went straight to the rogue. Another vein pulsed furiously on her left temple.
Keith began searching his cart for the fruitcakes. But he emerged with a sad expression on his face.
"I can't find the fruitcakes."
"What?" the guildmates exclaimed in unison.
"What kind of monster would eat all our fruitcakes?" Safira demanded.
"Let me correct that. There's no fruitcake for everybody. There's no—" Fai continued singing until another round of silencing spell hit him.
"Lex Divina!" One more word and I swear my foot is going to hit you where it doesn't shine!" Fleigh said menacingly as another vein appeared on her right temple. Her hands were closed in balls of fists ready to hit the rogue squarely in the face.
"I know I had it in here. It was—" Keith convinced his guildmates when he remembered Safira's outburst.
"Why are you staring at me like that? You don't seriously think—" Safira's stammering were once again interrupted by the rest of Fai's song.
"It's not alright! Safira ate everything in one bite!" Fai warbled in a horrible monotony.
Everyone turned their gazes to Safira.
"Uh-oh!" Safira muttered.
Even Fai stopped singing… well that was after his stomach growled and said he didn't have the energy to sing anymore, to the priestess' great relief.
"It's alright I brought some fruits with me." Chris said to Safira's rescue showing the bananas, apples and sweet potatoes he brought.
Safira sighed in relief. "I thought I was going to be dead" she muttered.
Fai opened his mouth but before any sound could get out Fleigh shoved a considerably big sweet potato into his mouth.
"Don't you dare sing again!" Fleigh glared at him.
Fai choked on the sweet potato his eyes widened and tried frantically tried to get rid of the sweet potato. Safira laughed hysterically. She came over him and smacked his back. After a lot of coughs and smacking, with great effort Fai finally swallowed the whole sweet potato unpeeled and all.
Fai panted heavily not too mention excessively sweating.
"Oh my god Fai! You looked like you've just battled a nightmare! " Safira laughed.
"Well your friend is a nightmare!" He said still panting.
"Excuse me?" Fleigh arched an eyebrow.
"Geez Lady you're boyfriends must all have missing front teeth with the fabulous way how you feed them." He glared at Fleigh.
Fleigh grew red.
"You did have a boyfriend, didn't you?" Fai eyed her.
Fleigh turned redder. "Well I guess you're the expert in having a boyfriend. I should like very much to meet this Mr. Pochi! What a name!" Fleigh fired to cover her embarrassment. She was almost as red as her hair.
But instead of getting angry Fai snorted. "I should have known!" He grinned. "Why don't you take that freak assassin Ken for a boyfriend?" Fai taunted.
"No way!" Fleigh exclaimed.
"I guess that's what he'll say when you ask him. He'd rather die than be your boyfriend." Fai laughed.
"Stop bickering you two. It's time to go" Chris said standing up. "And Fai please do us a favor of not singing" he added wearily.
Fai faked a look of being stricken then he grinned suddenly eyeing the priestess.
" What?" Fleigh narrowed her eyes.
"Ok, let's ask boyfriend-less virgin to sing instead!"
"You pervert!" Fleigh turned scarlet.
"Well you are, aren't you, a virgin I mean since you're so fond of hitting men between the legs?" Fai smirked.
"Why? Do you want to be hit there?" Fleight threatened.
The two continued bickering until they reached the town of AL De Baran.
"Aaaaaahh! At last we've reached AL De Baran!" Safira sighed.
"I think we should take a rest first." Chris said.
"Right! So where's the Inn here?" Fai asked.
"Let's ask the town soldier" Kelly suggested.
"Great idea" Fleigh agreed.
They approached the town guard.
"Welcome to AL De Baran" He greeted them.
"Can you give us directions to the nearest Inn here?" Chris asked.
"I'm sorry sir, but there are no Inns here." The soldier said.
"What?" Safira exclaimed. "Then where are we supposed to stay?"
"Ahh… There are houses that you can rent." The soldier answered. "In fact you see that house there? Tha'ts available."
"Thanks a lot Mister!" Kelly smiled.
"Let's go!" Keith said.
The house had blue roof like every building in the town. It was a three roomed house if you include the bathroom. The first room simply had a round table for meals. The second room had one study table on the edge and three beds.
"There are only three beds and no couches" Fleigh said dully.
"Well I won't sleep on the floor!" Fai said as he jumped on one bed. "uhh…" he sighed.
"Neither will I!" Keith dashed into the other bed just in time as the assassin and the huntress sat on the last bed.
"I think I'm going to find other accommodations." Fleigh muttered.
"Don't be silly!" Safira grabbed her and to her horror led her to the bed where Fai was lying down.
"Make room stupid!"
"Oh no! I'm definitely not going to sleep with that freak of nature again!" Fleigh protested.
"Again?" Safira grinned. "Are you two hiding something from us?" She waggled her eyebrows.
"No way! What would we hide from all of you?" Fai frowned.
"I don't know! Why don't you tell us?" Safira grinned.
"There's nothing to tell!" Fai said in a dismissive voice standing up.
"Hey where are you going?" Safira asked.
"I'm going to a pub!" He answered.
"Owee! I wanna go with you!" Safira exclaimed dragging Fleigh with her.
"Hey! You're not taking me with you, are you?" Fleigh tugged her hand back but to no avail.
"Course I am!" Safira smiled cheerfully. "Come on we'll have fun." Safira continued dragging her.
"But I want to rest!" Fleigh protested now starting to panic. She could see Safira was serious and she can't get free, Safira is too strong for her.
"Oh, you'll rest there alright!" Safira grinned.
"B-but—"
"No buts!" Safira cut her protest.
"No please!" Fleigh cried. "I can't go to a pub! Nooo!"
"Fai, give me a hand here!" Safira said.
"Just leave her here" Fai frowned.
"Don't be selfish! We're going to have fun!" Safira said.
"Oh well" Fai sighed walking towards Fleigh.
"W-what are you g-go-going t-to do?" Fleigh stammered. Fai was grinning mischievously.
"G-get away from me!"
"I'm not going to do anything to you if you'll come without struggle." Fai said.
"A-alright!" Fleigh scowled threatened.
So they made their way towards the pub in town. They crossed a bridge and walked a little more when they finally arrived at the pub.
"I still think this is not right." Fleigh muttered.
"Don't be such a wet blanket." Safira chided.
They went inside the pub. It had dim lights. There were at least six round tables with three chairs each. On the left side of the entrance was the counter with the bartender behind it. There was a raised platform in the center and an old man standing in front of it. He grinned when he saw them enter.
"Hello I am the master here!" He greeted them.
Fleigh turned to her right but Safira wasn't there.
"Where's Safira" She whispered to Fai.
"Probably getting drinks." Fai answered.
The old man was now approaching them.
"The head quarters of Kafra warehouse is located here in AL De Baran. You hear that?" He grinned.
"Yes we still have perfect hearing." Fleigh muttered.
Either the Master didn't hear it or chose to ignore it. He continued. "Young Kafra ladies visit me from time to time. They are really delightful and funny."
"Really? Mind introducing me to them?" Fai grinned.
Fleigh elbowed him scowling.
"What? What's your problem?" Fai frowned.
"Oh I will!" The master answered. "We will check your favorite Girl Style here with 'Thank you, Master Time!' "
"Thank you master time? What the hell is that?" Fleigh frowned.
"Ah!Ah!Ah! Don't worry it doesn't matter what your gender is whether you're male or female!" He waggled his eyebrows at Fleigh who stared at him incredulously.
"Just usually when you look at a nice woman you think 'Wow! This chick!' 'That Babe!' 'What a hot babe!' choose one Kafra lady that makes you feel hot!"
"No way I'm not a pervert!" Fleigh burst out scandalized.
Fai on the other hand happily grinned. "Oh it turns me on!"
Fleigh stared at him outraged.
"Alright here you go! Your favorite Ladies! Take a look carefully! The classical blue haired lady candidate number 1! Pavianne!"
A blue haired climb the platform.
"Her graceful ponytail takes men's breathe away! Favorite Lady of young boys Candidate number 2 Blossom!"
A girl with black pony tailed hair stepped up and winked at them. Fai whistled. Fleigh could only stare shocked.
"Long and straight hair is her charming point. She is the silk of the East from Payon Candidate number 3 Jasmine!"
" She is a tomboy with a shortcut hair. Candidate number 4 Roxie!"
"She is intelligent and sophisticated . Luxurious glasses fits her well candidate number 5 Leilah! And last but not the least pretty and cute although she looks young and immature she's the best staff candidate number 6 Curly Sue!" The last Kafra a young blonde with two ponytails climbed the platform.
"So which of them?" The old man rubbed both his hands together.
"He's not taking anybody!" Fleigh scowled before the Rogue could answer. Fai was about to retort when Safira came back to them with drinks, grinning.
"Sorry grandpa but Fai here already has two exquisitely beautiful ladies!" Safira smiled batting her eyes.
"Really? where?" Fai looked left and right. This earned him a punch from Safira.
"Oh… you mean you and boyfriend-less virgin?" He said rubbing his head.
"Yeah! So come on stupid!" Safira walked towards an empty table.
The three of them sat down. Safira placed several bottles of beer on the table and smiled happily.
"Drinking time!" She said before taking a swig from a bottle.
"Here!" Fai shoved a bottle in Fleigh's hand.
"W-what! I'm not going to drink!" Fleigh said frowning.
"Of course you're going to. That's what you're here for! Or do you want to ramp there in the raised platform?" Fai grinned at her. "Hey come to think of it maybe you'll find a boyfriend by doing so." He laughed.
Fleigh grew bright red and took a swig from the bottle.
"Oh too bad! I would love to see you there on the platform!" Fai snickered.
Fleigh was about to retort when a dancer approached their table. "Hi handsome!" She batted her lashes at Fai.
"Hi beautiful" Fai looked at her appreciatively.
"Mind if I join you?" She smiled sitting down on Fai's lap. Fai's arm snaked around her waist. The dancer giggled.
Fleigh was greatly reminded of Fai's arm around her own waist when she woke up that morning. She clenched her hand somehow she wanted to give him another uppercut!
The dancer placed her arm around Fai's neck. Fleigh turned to look at Safira's reaction but the monk was busily emptying her bottle to her mouth.
She tried her best to ignore the Rogue and the Dancer. She took another swig of the beer. Soon enough empty bottles were lying in front of her. She looked up and saw the dancer kissing Fai. For some reasons this angered her. She wanted nothing more to do than to slap that dancer.
"You alrrrright?" Safira said slurred.
"Yeah." Fleigh answered. Her visions were starting to blur but she continued to drink anyway. Stupid Rogue! Stupid Dancer! Why am I angry anyway!
Your jealous! A tiny voice said.
No I'm not!
You are!
No I'm not…
You are…
After a few hours later three staggering figures got out of the pub swaying like drunken sailors. Well they are drunk alright but not sailors. One was a monk with her white robe gaping open and with strands of her hair hanging loose from her ponytail. A priestess with wrinkled robes with her hair seriously disheveled staggered right beside the monk. On her left side was a rogue his hair was wet. It seems like he had poured a bottle of beer on his head. The three of them staggered their way to their rented house.
The next day Fleigh woke up with her head painfully throbbing. Her throat was parched and her eyelids were heavy. She had a creepy feeling on her thigh. Why does she always have creepy feelings on her body when she wakes up! She opened her eyes and saw Safira snoring with her mouth open right beside her. Her white robe was lying on the floor. Fleigh turned to her right and almost screamed when she saw the rogue bare-chested. His red upper garment was nowhere in sight. She slowly looked down dreading what she will see. His hand was on her bare thigh! Where had here stockings gone to? She gulped and painstakingly tugged Fai's hand away. Fai shifted and squeezed her thigh. Fleigh froze and felt as if her navel was tugged from inside. She frantically tried to pull Fai's hand away and let out a cry.
"Shut up!" Safira muttered. Fleigh ducked just in time to avoid her fist. It went straight to Fai's face throwing him backwards into the blacksmith on his side. "Owww!" Fai moaned that sent the blacksmith yelling he wasn't Mr. Pochi scrambling away from the rogue waking the whole party.
"Of course you aren't you're far too hard and too big!" Fai muttered absently getting up.
"What!" Keith's eyes were actually bulging from their sockets. "You didn't…" He was growing red.
"Well I did squeeze something." Fai said teasing the foolish blacksmith. Fool! As if I would squeeze his privates! He really thinks I'm gay the fool!
"WHAT!" Keith grew purple.
"It wasn't your... unmentionable he squeezed it was my thigh!" Fleigh muttered to the blacksmith's great relief and to the rogue's great interest.
"Really?" Fai stared at Fleigh's bare creamy white legs. "Nice legs." He whistled.
"Why aren't you wearing your stockings?" he asked.
"You tell me that!" Fleigh stared pointedly at his hand wearing one of her stockings. The other one was on Safira's hand.
"Oh! How did this get here?" Fai smiled.
"Stop smiling there and give me back my stockings!" Fleigh screamed.
"Oh no you look better that way." Fai grinned staring at her exposed legs through her robe's long slits.
"You're such a pervert!" Fleigh shouted.
"Hey tone it down!" Safira muttered getting up. She picked up her white robe on the floor and Fai's upper garment.
"Who's in the bathroom?" Safira asked.
"Kelly" Chris answered.
Safira nodded. "I'll just go and breathe some fresh air." She said going out of the cottage.
"So Fai how did you get those kiss marks?" Chris asked staring at the rogue's cheeks and neck. The hunters gaze went to Fleigh's smudged lipstick.
"I didn't get it from the Virgin Priestess if that's what you're asking." Fai answered to Fleigh's relief. "I got it from a lovely dancer." He grinned.
"I though it was Mr. Pochi" Keith muttered still avoiding the rogue.
"Mr. Pochi doesn't wear lipstick!" Fai growled.
"Cool down!" Chris said just as Kelly got out of the bathroom. Fai strode towards the bathroom immediately.
"C'mon Fleigh let's take a bath" Safira tugged at the priestess when she came back.
"Oh alright!" The Priestess got up. The both of them got extra clothes from their pack. They got inside the bathroom. It had a toilet a bathtub that was still filled with bubbles and a shower separated by a shower curtain. They chose the shower and drew the shower curtain close. They had stripped to their under garments and turned on the shower.
Meanwhile…
Fai emerged from the bathtub. The tub was big enough for him to completely submerge underneath. He heard the shower flowing. He frowned. Why is the shower on? He got out of the tub and unceremoniously shoved the shower curtain open. Two ladies were standing in front of him not to mention they were only wearing their undies. Fai froze. The Priestess' back was on him while Safira merely smiled at him. He could feel his pulse quicken and his heart pound against his chest. He gulped. The Priestess was wearing lacy black undies while Safira wore plain black.
"Why did you open the curtain Safira?" Fleigh asked still oblivious of the man behind her.
"I didn't" Safira answered.
"What are you talking about" Fleigh said turning around. "I'm positive I heard the curtain… open" She stared at Fai. They stared at each other stunned.
"Well I guess you're not wearing strawberry patterned panty anymore" Fai grinned cockily after a while.
S M A S H!
The bathroom room door burst spitting out a rogue with bruises along with Fleigh's outraged scream PERVERT!. "Damn it!" He muttered getting up and dressed. His guildmates had already gone out of the house.
"That pervert!" Fleigh was practically steaming. Safira merely laughed. "Why are you taking this too lightly?" Fleigh demanded.
"Fai really looked stricken when he opened the curtain." She laughed.
"Aren't you even scandalized?" Fleigh stared at her outraged.
"Well it's not as if Fai hadn't seen females without clothes, completely naked even." Safira said offhandedly. When Fleigh eyes widened even more Safira added. "Oh come on just imagine you were wearing a dancer's garment when he saw you!"
Fleigh was reminded of the dancer kissing Fai. "He's not a gay." Fleigh said. It was statement. Safira smiled. "So what if he isn't? It doesn't make any difference, does it? He still saw you." Safira grinned.
"Safira!"
They stood outside the clock tower. Fleigh was still extremely blushing Fai didn't show any sign that anything happened. Fleigh threw him dirty looks every now and then but he completely ignored her.
"Ok let's get in." Chris said.
They got inside. They had been told that this tower is connected by a certain device. That is a device called Warp Gear. They were also warned that there were random warps that transport you into unknown spots.
They entered the first level. They hadn't gotten any further when an alchemist came running towards them. "Help!" She screamed.
An army of Skeleton archers came after her. The alchemist barely reached them when Kelly and Chris both released nine silver arrows each.
"Arrow Shower!" They shouted simultaneously.
The army of skeleton archers fell back a little. Then the rogue and the assassin charged at them.
"Kyrei Eleison!" Fleigh shouted casting a barrier around Cliff and Fai so that the arrows of the skeleton archers didn't hit them. It was a matter of seconds before the skeleton archers were reduced into mere bones.
"Wow!" The Alchemist exclaimed. Her eyes were round as saucers.
"Thanks!" Fai muttered at Fleigh. Fleigh only nodded. The alchemist was staring at Cliff.
"Cliff?" She asked hesitantly.
All of them fixed their eyes on the alchemist even Cliff did. "It's you!" The alchemist hugged him.
Kelly scowled dangerously! There were fires in her eyes. Clearly she disapproved of the alchemist hugging the assassin. To her chagrin Cliff recognized the alchemist.
"Chatrin?" Cliff tipped his head on one side.
"Yes it's me!" The alchemist smiled brightly.
"What are you doing here?" Cliff said. The huntress narrowed her eyes.
"Ohlalala someone's jealous." Safira whispered in a sing song voice. Fai laughed. They were walking once again towards the other level. They were right behind the alchemist. Safira picked an apple from the alchemists cart and without hesitation ate it. Fleigh was about to protest when Saira shoved a grape juice straight into her mouth. Fai laughed again getting another apple and bit into it. Just then the alchemist turned around causing Fai to swallow whole the fruit. The apple to Fleigh's amusement practically took shape in his throat.
"What's wrong with your throat?" The alchemist frowned.
"Oh it's just his Adam's apple." Safira chortled.
They arrived at the next level and Fai had finally gotten the apple out his throat with much effort of course. There was something really weird to the people in front of them. One by one their head gears went flying out of their heads.
"What the!" Fleigh muttered when the alchemist's dumpling decoration was taken off her head. Chatrin let out a cry of rage.
The culprit materialized in front of them. It was a young rogue just about their age. She had black hair and was wearing a deviruchi hat. She took off her hat and placed the dumpling decoration on her head. She smiled in satisfaction.
"Doesn't she look familiar?" Safira said to Fai.
"Yeah I'm sure I know those blue green eyes and that aristocratic nose." Fai answered. Suddenly the rogue took of Cliff's sakkat. The smile on her face vanished.
She genuinely looked stricken. She placed a hand at her chest and one at her lips. "Bro-brother!" She was delighted and moved to embrace him but at the last second her delighted expression twisted into rage and instead of embracing him strangled Cliff.
"You baka! You left me there in Glast Heim! I almost died!"
"Uh… Are you seeing what I'm seeing." Safira muttered to Fai dot eyed.
"Yeah a mad rogue is strangling Cliff" Fai nodded.
"Did she say brother?" Fleigh frowned.
"I never knew Cliff had a sister. But that would explain why she looked so familiar she looked exactly like Cliff as if they were twins except that she had black hair instead of silver." Fai observed.
"U-uh… aren't we going to stop them?" Fleigh turned to her guildmates.
"Leave them alone. Nothing would stop those two." The alchemist said.
"Do you know the young rogue?" Kelly asked growing concerned.
"Yeah! She's Cliff's younger sister. Last time I saw them together was when they left for training in Glast Heim both of them had been thieves then. Though Cliff was about to become an assassin. I reckon he left her there." Chatrin the alchemist answered.
Cliff managed to free himself from his younger sister now and was holding her at bay.
"I almost died there!" His younger sister was screaming.
"Will you calm down! I almost wish you did!" Cliff said frowning. This caused his younger sister to thrash at him some more. "I hate you! I hate you!" she screamed.
"If not for the looks I wouldn't have believed she's Cliff's sister." Chris said.
"I know what you mean. They are complete opposites." Chatrin grinned. "While Cliff is calm and silent Xelda is impulsive, rash and reckless."
"Xelda so that's her name?" The blacksmith asked.
"Yup!" Chatrin smirked.
A.N. Sigh! This chapter was quite long! I would've saved Xelda for the next chapter but I promised my friend that her character will come out in this chapter. So there! Reviews please! You've already read it so you might as well review!