Chapter 26: Desert Surprise

The mid-day sun seemed to have no effect on the denizens of the fort-city Morroc. Lei however, was far from oblivious to the heat, his mouth was dry and his sweat drenched shirt clung to his frame making him shift uncomfortably.

"I didn't think you were this heavy." Lei grunted. He shifted his gaze from his feet to the sleeping girl on his back. Rae snuggled up her cheeks against his shoulders and smiled. Lei felt drained, but he didn't really have a choice, he had to follow this… thief.

The girl in front of him came to a halt and turned around to face him. "Why the hell are you following me!" she half-asked half-shouted. She brushed aside the golden locks from her face and frowned.

"I need your help!" he pleaded.

"For a mage, your not very bright are you." She placed a hand on her hips, her sapphire like eyes meeting his. "Charity doesn't happen to be one of my virtues, so if you value your life—" she produced a dagger from thin air and shook it in Lei's direction. "—you will stop stalking me!"

Lei took a step closer, the look on his face full of resolve. "She's burning up!"

"Find someone else." she told him coldly.

Lei shook his head vigorously. " I cant speak Morrocian and no one will listen to me. I beg you." He knelt down on one knee. "I really really need you help, please."

The thief took in a deep breath and exhaled. She rubbed her temples. She would probably regret this later, but there was just something about him that she liked. No it wasn't his physique, nor his boyish face. Her last boyfriend didnt go as far as to just to help her… he seemed like a sweetheart, she bit her lip and thought. 'Why not?'

The thief crossed her arms and shot him a serious glance. "On one condition."

"Sure."

"You'll have to pay me."

Lei swallowed hard. "I-I'm sorry, but all I have are the clothes on my back!"

She turned her back towards him. "Then I suppose we have nothing else to discuss." She started walking away when he lunged forward grabbing her wrist. She was infuriated, how dare he touch her! She raised her hand into the air and was about to bring it down when she saw, tears?

"Please, Ill do anything…" he said in a strained voice.

The thief turned around to face him once more, she knelt down until both of them were at eye level. She lifted his chin. "Anything I desire? Anything I ask of you?" she asked him in all seriousness. Lei swallowed hard, maybe it was the heat or exhaustion, but he found himself gawking at her lithe figure. She was hot, but, certain areas needed to fill out more.

"Are you listening to me?" she growled.

Lei's eyes snapped open as his thoughts returned to the real world.

"You have my word." Lei breathed.

"How good is your word?"

"You can trust me."

The thief's azure eyes narrowed into two small slits. "You better be right about that." The girl put her dagger back into place. "Because if you aren't, I assure you, you're not the only one who's going to pay." she stared at Rae for a moments and walked back to her Guild's Headquarters.

"Follow me." She said with a strangely enticing voice.

"Her fever just died down, she'll be fine in a couple of days." the thief told Lei with a voice void of emotion.

"Now, we have to discuss our contract in the presence of my Guild Mistress." She stood up and opened the door leading to the thief guild's living quarters. She stepped out of the door and tapped her feet impatiently. "Are you coming?" she asked, irritated. She was wondering why he had to worry about the girl so much, he did tell her she wasn't his girlfriend. She shook her head, he could be lying.

Lei quickly joined her. Lei kept his head bowed. He was worried about Rae, worried about how they would get back. The thief suddenly cleared her throat, Lei blinked. "So tell me, what really brought you to Morroc?"

Lei blinked stupidly. He rubbed his chin and tried remembering the events that had led them to Morroc. "There was this train and—" she shot him a menacing glance. "I want the truth. Who do you think you'd fool with a half-assed lie like that?" she snapped.

"But it is the truth." Lei argued.

The two finally arrived in the Guild Mistresses's quarters, the thief sat down in one of the reception chairs and looked at Lei distastefully. "did I do something wrong?" he inqured.

The girl pushed him to the wall and prodded his chest with two fingers. "I don't like liars, so quit it." She hissed. The mage shook his head. "I'm telling you the truth!" he barked back. Frustrated the girl kicked his foot to the side causing him to fall flat on his back. "I've been nice with you, so I think I deserve a little honesty at the very least."

"I am telling you the truth!" Lei mumbled, eyes fluttering. She slapped his cheeks lightly. "Wake up! You can sleep after were done here."

Lei nodded half-heartedly. In truth, he was too exhausted to complain. Besides, for a thief she'd treated him nicely. He looked at the thief through half-hooded eyes. She resembled Yukino a lot.

"Larette, Is this the boy who you brought home with you?" a feminine voice said from behind the two of them. The two teenager turned around, a woman with midnight blue hair and a golden complexion bent down smiling at the two.

Larette's eyes widened, she pushed Lei back down on the floor and brushed off the dust on her pants. "S-Sister what are you insinuating!"

A wry smile formed upon the woman's lips. "Nothing dear, nothing." she replied in a playful tone. She approached Lei and looked at him as if she were sizing up his worth. "Cute, Big broad shoulders, a foreigner too." She licked her lips. "Don't you think he'll be a fine addition to my personal… attendants. What do you think Larette?"

Larette crossed her arms and stuck out her tongue. "Absolutely not! He owes me, not you." she mouthed. He older sister giggled softly and draped her arms around the now dumbfounded Lei. "So you like him in 'that' way?" came her sister's teasing question.

"No of course not!"

"In that case—" she began peeling off his clothes, Lei, although disturbed, was too exhausted to resist. Larette bolted backwards. "What the hell are you doing!"

Her sister grinned sadistically. "Since he's going to be freeloading, don't you think he should offer his services to us?"

"W-Wha!"