Lost Squirrel: This is going to be good! I swear!
Dragon fly: No, it's not! All your stories are weird and just run in circles with no point.
John: She is right…Wait a minute! What am I doing here!
Lost Squirrel: Budget Cuts called for a male if we were to keep the female audience. We need you for sex appeal.
Dragonfly: But remember ladies, he's only eye candy! Paws off or Rae'll go all hamster fist of fury on you!
Lost Squirrel: Sweat Drop Um, she means to say, "I hope you enjoy the story!"
John: I have a bad feeling about this…
Lost Squirrel: Aw, now you're just being mean to me!
Enjoy!
How it all began
"You know what? I still think you're too old for pigtails, though I have to admit you look so adorable little Rae!" The Aiko said to her best friend as they were walking. "I mean look!" She proceeded to tug on the left pig tail and make tiny squeak noises. Rae only twitched in pure annoyence. Their walk home was becoming quiet tiresome.
"OW! Aiko, That hurts!" Rae pulled her hair away from the strange girl. "And what is this about being little and adorable! I am only a tiny bit yonger than you!"
"Still 7 months makes you yonger than me! So I declare you The Adorable one!" Aiko poked Rae in the side, just to tease her a little more. "Besides, your even shorter than me!" Rae winced as if Aiko's pats on the head hurt.
"Well, I would return the favor of those hair pulls if you hadn't chopped off all that hair last week!" Rae reached up to pull on Aiko's horribly short hair. "I mean you can't even curl it when its only 3 inches!"
"It doesn't matter what I do with myself right? I just can't see how you girls go around with such long hair, I find it too bothersome." Aiko huffed and just stared at her bangs, a tiny bit of hurt in her eyes. The one thing that Rae knew Aiko hated was the thought that she wasn't right about something. And though she was extremely spontantious she would often regret almost all of her actions.
"Aiko, when was the meeting again?" Questioned Rae trying to change the subject, making Aiko angry or hurt wasn't really what she intended because even though Aiko tried not to show it, she got hurt easily.
"I don't know, but this meeting is going to be special!" Aiko winked at the releived girl. "Besides, I think I found another member who wishes to join…"
"Really? Great!" Rae smiled, but a look of thought soon came over her face. "They did come willingly this time right, Aiko? I don't want anymore cops to have to be 'Taken care of'"
"Rae! I would never do such a thing, besides, I think you'll find him quite the candidate to join, that's why I am making his induction into the club special." Aiko laughed and slung her backpack to her other shoulder. Then she turned off at a different street than usual.
"Where are you going, idiot! Your street's this way!" Rae pointed to the right of her.
"Just have to pick up something! Meet me at my house!" Aiko ran off before her best friend could protest.
"Ok…man, she runs when she has to!" Rae muttered as she turned to Aiko's street and started walking towards her house. The door was open as usual and no one was home. Aiko's father probably wouldn't be home for a few hours any way, so holding meetings here was less restricting than at Rae's house. Rae had trouble with her family accepting Aiko. It was not that Aiko was bad, but she usually got into affairs that shouldn't involve her. The people she tried to help in her life would end up hurting her. Rae's parents didn't wanther anywhere near Aiko. These meetings where the one thing that her parents didn't know about, but they only consisted of looking at pictures of their favorite cuties and watching anime. A game was throne in every now and then to make Aiko happy, but Rae did want to beat her when ever she challenged her at DDR or Halo.
Maybe John could join too…Rae shook the thought out of her head, but it did bring back that first question. Who was the new member? What would Aiko do to them on their first day? She felt sorry for the poor guy. She was about to search the fridge for chicken when there was a very loud bang on the front door.
"Coming, Aiko!" Rae rushed down to help her friend with the door. "Ok, what's in the bag? Please tell me it's not a dead body."
"Oh come on! I wouldn't do that! It's still alive!" Aiko poked the bag and let the thing inside shift in discomfort. "See! He's ok!"
"Aiko, is this what I think it is?" Rae untied the top of the large bag.
"Yes, Say hello to our new member; John." Aiko hugged the dazed and confused boy when he finally was released from the cotton bag's inside.
"Is this the 'thing' you had to pick up? Why couldn't I just come with you? It's not like John and I don't know each other." Rae ripped the duck tape off John's mouth. "Next time you tie up my boyfriend let me know! Jeeze, Aiko I think you would at least be that nice!"
"Doesn't anyone care to explain what's going on? Why was I dragged here?" John said looking confused.
"Welcome, new member!" Aiko patted John on the back. "I called this meeting just for you! Rae, the reason I couldn't let you come was because of my 'other' stop… It could have put you in danger so I had to get this baby myself." Aiko held up a black book. It appeared to be tattered on the left side, but one could still make out the gold lettering.
"Adamina realms." Rae read. "What's this all about, Aiko?"
"Rae! I just want to do the initiation right!" Aiko flipped through the book's pages.
"Do you really think I want to be put into danger? I'm not going to do any magic with you. I don't care if you think it will help! It's most likely going to backfire on you!" Rae took the book from Aiko.
"Look, I just looked into this. John, please, you know I wouldn't put anyone in danger! This is perfectly safe." Aiko pleaded.
"Aiko, did you look at everything that could go wrong?" John turned back to Rae.
"This isn't a magic club! It's an anime club! I really don't know how you got ahold of this..." Rae looked at the back of the cover on it was strange markings, that seemed to be in Aiko's handwriting. "When did you get this? This doesn't make any sense the writing is old, but you said you just went and got it."
"Rae, I...well I have been doing more than you think in my spare time." Aiko looked down to the floor. "I have been trying to reach other dimensions. This is all I have been devoting research time to. That book was handed down from my mother, it was made for the use of family affairs, but I found a way to tap into the world of anime. I just wanted to share my first trip there with you, but there has to be a catch if I take more than one person."
"Aiko, I really know you mean no harm, but will we be safe?" Rae held John's hand.
Aiko walked up to Rae. "I just ask that you trust me. Please."
John looked up "Ok, I trust you."
Rae was quiet for a moment and smiled. "Sure, I'll go, but if you're wrong, you owe me a taco."
Aiko opened the book pulled out a bag and three ribbons. The ribbons were three different colors, red, pink and purple. Aiko held the small black bag in her hand; it had a draw string in its opening made of silver colored string.
"The catch of taking more than one person is that it has to involve one of the games in the book. I tried to pick the easiest game for the three of us." Aiko smiled and read the instructions of the game. "You each get one ribbon and I think I have to keep the bag with me. For the one wishing to gain access to another group hand the red ribbon to. For the one who wishes to have fun with friends and games hand the pink ribbon to. For the one that seeks to overcome the greatest feat of all, hand the purple ribbon to."
"Well, it's obvious who gets the red ribbon! Here, John." Rae said.
John grabbed the red ribbon out of her hand and tied it to his keychain. "Aiko that pink one sounds right up your alley with games. Here."
John tried to give it to Aiko, but when it came into contact with Aiko's skin it burned her left hand.
"Ow! Holy crap why didn't that happen with yours?" Aiko ran her hand under cold water and realized that as soon as the pain had come to her hand, it was gone. "Creepy, let me try something, Rae." Aiko placed the pink ribbon on Rae's hand and there was no pain. Rae was fine. "Strange, the ribbon seems to be picking who wears it." Aiko placed the final purple ribbon around her neck and posed. "How do I look?"
"Fine, now lets get to the rest of this so Rae and I can go out to eat." John shoved the book across the floor toward Aiko.
"Where are we going anyhow? Plus, John we should pack some food if we are going anywhere unusual. We don't know how long a game will be." Rae pulled out her backpack and headed toward the fridge. Aiko followed suite and packed her bags with needed items. John just sat and huffed about how he was dragged here without notice so he had no bag.
"Quit complaining, we have enough for you in these two bags." Rae held up the back packs and threw them down next to her, with a quick peck on John's cheek to shut him up. "Ok, Aiko, back to where we were going."
"Oh that's a surprise! It's part of John's test! Well, that's what the book says. I can't divulge the information to you yet, but come on! Its anime! You'll be able to tell!" Aiko scrawled the words from the black book on to a piece of paper. "I am going to recite this and we will be transported to the new world, don't worry about me just be sure to hold on to each other;
We travel in our lives
Never truly understanding
Book, we send you these three
So that you may guide these souls
Help them to gain what they seek
Help them to learn
Show them the worlds they have yet to see
And even bend time with their wishes
Aiko threw the paper into the air and it burned before them. Rae gasped, held onto John with her bag on her shoulder before the scenery changed. Aiko laughed and grabbed her bag before it started vanishing. The only thing going through her head was What is the greatest feat of all? It doesn't matter I will be able to beat it.
John woke from his, well it seemed to be just a dizzy spell, it had Aiko and magic with duct tape…wait that was all real, darn… John tried to move his arms finding Rae to still be in them. She was sleeping. John nuzzled her on the head. "Um, time wake up…"
"Not yet, still sleepy." Rae cuddled closer to him and almost fell asleep again when she remembered what had just happened. "We're in another world, aren't we?"
"Yup," John got to his feet. "I don't see Aiko anywhere though."
"That's not good; she's the only one who knows where we are! Well, It's not like she could tell us either way..." Rae walked over to her bag and picked it up. "Everything else seems to be accounted for…OH NO! My ribbon's gone!"
"Mine too, but I don't think we should worry about it. She said this was all part of the test." Just when John said that a small paper fluttered down from the sky, resembling the paper Aiko had written on earlier to get here. When John folded it open, it read:
Well, it seems you have figured out that this is part of your test. I do trust that Rae is with you, due to the fact that you two were practically clinging to one another before we left. The only thing you must do now is find me. Here is a hint; "Before one finds a Bird-eating spider, one has to find the birds." Good Luck.
Much Love,
Aiko
"Oh Aiko! Why did I have to be friends with such a weird girl!" Rae read the letter again, being sure not to miss anything and threw it in the air. It burned like the other one did; only this time it attracted someone's attention.
"Mind explaining why you can just appear like that in my forest?" A man with a dark cloak stepped out from the trees.
"Aiko sent us here." Rae sputtered out. "I can't believe she sent us to see you, Hiei! I can't beleive we're here though!"
"How did you know my name?" Hiei asked the very embarrassed Rae. John stepped up and was ready to protect his girlfriend.
"That's not important. Though it's kind of cool to finally meet you! Have you seen a tall red headed girl around here?" John stood up to Hiei but was secretly shaking at the knees. "We have to find her."
"Why should I help?" Hiei turned away from them and jumped into the nearest tree. "Leave, you won't find anything here."
"Wait a minute!" Rae just realized that she was talking to THE Hiei; she wasn't going to miss this opportunity. "I need to have a word with you!" She was only met with silence. "Get down here now! I am not going to yell up a tree!" More silence followed by a movement of branches in the next tree. "Fine then! I'll tell Yukina myself that you're her brother! Seeing as you don't have the guts! Let's go John, I don't care if he is Hiei or not, he's being a jerk."
That got Hiei's attention. Not only did these stupid humans know his name, they also knew about his sister. The next thing Becca saw was a sword to her throat. "How did you know my name and about my sister, woman?" Hiei had a deadly glare in his eyes.
"Don't hurt Rae! She only found out because Aiko told her." John grabbed Rae and shielded her from Hiei. All this attention had gone to Rae's head and she fainted.
Speaking of the bird-eating spider, she was preoccupied with another red head. Aiko had been following a certain long red haired, green eyed boy.
"Got you in my sights, love." She said in a small British accent. She pulled out a tiny spirit sticker. These stickers would only come off if the person who put them on removed them, very handy for this situation. Aiko quickly drew on it. She would only have one chance. She sat atop the light post. There it was, his figure coming down the street. She would have to tag him and run. There was no other way to go about it. When he finally came closer she jumped to the ground. She couldn't have the distance allow him to get away. She ducked in the corner and began to sniffle. Footsteps drew nearer to her. She started crying full out. The red head stopped and stared at Aiko squatting down on the ground. He leaned down to her and patted her head.
"Are you alright?" He asked gently. He didn't get an answer, besides more sobbing. He quickly formed a tiny pink rose behind his back and offered it. "Here, don't cry anymore."
"Ok…" Aiko sniffed and tried to hug her face to her knees in an effort to draw him closer for the strike. She saw him smile, that was her cue to act. She got him into a hug and thanked him for the rose. "Oh and by the way, there are 4 more birds, be sure to tell them that."Aiko slapped the spirit sticker on his back and ran off. He was so taken aback by her strange actions that he didn't notice that she left him a little present too.
"John, I don't think we should tell Hiei anymore about Aiko." Rae muttered to her companion. "I heard him muttering ways to kill her earlier when I was out."
"You think we shouldn't have told him that it was Aiko who told us?" John asked. Rae nodded her head. John only poked the fire in front of them a little; Hiei had started it and told them to stay there to stay there while he tried to find this girl himself. With the fire they could stay camping there for the night.
"She is controlling this moving, I think she can fend for herself here." John leaned to Rae.
Rae sighed, sometimes it was best if she didn't think about it, but Aiko had a way of biting off more than she could chew. Rae knew Aiko would never ask for help. It just wasn't how she would present herself to other people.
"At least that got him to agree to help find her." John finished.
"And do what? Kill her?" Rae finished her sentence as a small black figure flitted into view.
"Only if I don't think she has anymore information for me." Hiei sat near the fire as it started to die down. "You should get to sleep. Kurama wouldn't want to see that I had been torturing humans and looking to kill one."
"Oh, we're going to see 'Mullet boy'?" Rae laughed and John tried to explain to Hiei what a mullet was.
"Stupid humans, wasting energy on naming hair." Hiei jumped into a tree and leaned back. "I don't care where you sleep, but I wouldn't trust the ground to shield you from any attacks."
"We'll be fine!" Rae smiled in Hiei's direction, only to be met with a sleeping fire demon. "He must have gone pretty far to be that tired… He may seem like a jerk, but he did build a fire for us, he could have just killed us. Though I can only guess if Aiko had though of that. I wonder where in this world she could be."
"Let's save that for tomorrow." John kissed Rae on the forehead and held her in his arms. "Just know that I am here, it's going to be ok."
Hiei waited for them to fall asleep, Couldn't have them finding out where Kurama lives…He grabbed them by the collars and they remained asleep…holding on to one another. Hiei sweat dropped a little. Do all humans do this? Never knew Yusuke to hold Keiko like that.
He dropped his load on the window sill of Kurama's room. "Wake-up, fox!" To his surprise the window didn't open immediately. He knocked on it. That did the trick.
"What is it, Hiei?" Kurama opened the window to the little fire demon and gave a queer look when he noticed the two bodies still on the window sill. "Don't tell me you ran out of hiding places for the other dead bodies…" Kurama laughed at Hiei's angry look.
"You know they aren't dead." Hiei kicked John in the side.
"Ow! Hey that hurt Hie- Where are we?" John bolted up and left Rae on the sill groggily waking up. "Couldn't this have waited until morning Hiei? We already knew who Kurama was."
"We get to meet mullet boy!" Rae got up and went to shake his hand.
"Mullet boy?" Kurama was getting annoyed with his late night "guests".
"Heh…I mean er..." Rae looked around the room, which was too neat for her standards. "Sorry, it's a stuck nickname for you."
"Hiei, why are they here?" Kurama just ignored the comments John had on the nickname and turned to the annoyed Hiei.
"They know too much. They knew about Yukina, you and me." Hiei walked over to the window sill. "Should we just kill them or should I report them?"
"Hey!" Rae got up and stormed over to Hiei. "You were supposed to help us find Aiko, not kill us! We came all the way here because of Aiko to meet you and you just want to kill us!"
"Aiko?" Kurama had put the communicator back into his pocket. No need to ship them off if the questions could be answered here. "Who is Aiko?"
"Oh god, I don't even think Aiko knows the answer to that question!" Rae laughed at the thought of her friend's confusing ways. "Well, she's about 5' 8" with red hair, cut really short. She has blue eyes and does strange acts in public. Most of the time they are not illegal, but sometimes I have to bail her out."
"Human, correct?" Hiei said noticing that Rae and John seemed to have human energies.
"Oh, yeah, for all the unusual things she does she is still human." Rae looked at Kurama questioningly. "Have you seen her?"
Kurama recalled the strange girl who stuck a sticker on his back. She did fit the description very well. "Do you have any clue as how to find her?"
"Yeah, she said 'Before one finds a Bird-eating spider, one has to find the birds.'" John was lost when it came to the quote. "That's about it though."
"Yes, I think I have seen her." Kurama pulled a tiny box off of his dresser. "She left you a message, one written and one I am supposed to give you."
"And?" Rae opened the box while John waited for his answer.
Kurama showed John the shirt his was wearing earlier. "I think I may be the first 'bird' Aiko wanted you to find. There are 4 more." The sticker on the back of the shirt was glowing in a strange way with the picture of a bird on it.
John shifted uneasily; he didn't think the birds would be people. With his luck this was only the beginning of the strange people she would tag with those stupid stickers.
Rae read the noted aloud:
Dearest Rae and John,
Congrats! You have found the first bird! Don't stop now, or you'll never catch me! Seeing as how you now know that we are in a very strange world I have appointed two guides to you! Kurama and Hiei are it for this trip and I hope they help you solve my little riddles too. If they refuse, do remind them that I know too much to be left alone! I could be a real b& and let out little Hiei's secret to Yukina, or even Kurama's to his mother. The first bird was easy, but don't expect the second to be that way!
Much Love,
Aiko
Your riddle:
From wood it's made,
From string it's made,
It floats upon the wind.
It's made by one,
It's made by many,
From hands and mouths it spins.
A score without a game.
A staff not for the lame.
With seven letters tamed.
With five letters named
"Well, that helped." John tossed the note into the air. He watched it burn and noticed a very angry looking two demons in front of him.
"That idiot threatens me?" Hiei glared at the letter's ashes.
"Now now, no need to get overly angry. Just have to find her before she does anything dangerous." Kurama replied.
John looked over to Rae. "What are the chances of that?"
"Um, slim to none." Rae smiled. "So let's try and find her before we have no hope."
Kurama sighed. "The riddle she gave was quite easy so let's just start at what clue it left us."
"Sometimes Kurama, I do hate you as a character." John remarked flatly. "Not all of us know what that stupid poem means, care to elaborate?"
"Music. A score without a game. A musical score. A staff not for the lame. Musical Staff with seven notes." Kurama pulled out a map.
"Do you know where they may keep any music around here? Opera houses or Musical Theatres?" Rae leaned over the map and noticed that it was brand new.
"Here it is, the town's center hall. All musical concerts are held there." Kurama handed the map to Hiei. "Do you think you could inspect the area for any signs of a trap she could have set for us?"
"I could just let the humans walk strait into them for you and see if she comes to help her friends." Hiei smirked.
"No." All three of them said to Hiei.
"Well, it was worth a try." He said as he flitted away.
