I am currently at a friend's house, and she has electricity, so I decided to post! Sorry to make you guys worry about me. At least we weren't hit by the eye wall of Rita! My house still doesn't have electricity, which means no tv, internet, air conditioning, cold beverages, etc. I'M LIVING LIKE A HARD CORE AMISH BITCH! HELL YA!
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. Unfortunately. I'm only borrowing. But SOME people don't give back what they're borrowing… (glares at sister)
Sis- FINE! HAVE YOUR SOCKS YOU VAMPIRE! (throws socks at DML)
DML- (catches socks) IT'S MY LUCKY PAIR! I WROTE IT ON THE BOTTOM IN BLUE SHARPIE! BAKA!
Sis- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
DML- (smirks) Wouldn't you like to know?
Sis- (grins evilly) Oh yes I would… (grabs frying pan)
DML- EEF! (starts running, Sis in pursuit)
AngerManagement5292- (watches with amusement) (turns to reader) the point is she doesn't own anything besides that pair of socks her sister stole and the computer she writes this on. Which is so pathetic. (starts laughing hysterically)
DML- WELL YOUR BROTHER'S IN COLLEGE!
AM- I KNOW! (rolls on ground laughing)
gundam gurl: you're in for some tough competition if you want Trowa: my friend's already claimed him. Actually, I modeled a character after her in this fic… weird part is… she bites people, too. Thanks for worrying about Hurricane Rita, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BURNING IN HELL! It turned east suddenly, so we got the clean side. Unfortunatly, I am going on my 4th night w/o AC, so it's hot in here. I'm at my friend's house right now, and she has electricity. Here's a snickerdoodle! I know you love them, so I tried my hand at a batch myself! I put in 2x as much sugar I was supposed to though… WHO CARES! Thanks for reviewing, my friend!
Kitten-KC: wow! A new reviewer! Thanks for worrying also. I don't think I have any other international reviewers, so I think that's awesome! What part of Canada do you live in?
ON WITH THE FIC!
Don't Mess with Fire
Part 7
Five boys walked into the dark hotel room, flicking the lights on as they went. The braided pilot cringed in mock horror. "AHH! THE LIGHT!"
"Shut up Maxwell," sneered an irritated, yet tired, Wufei, pushing past the Shinigami and stalking into the bedroom.
"Seesh. Guess I shudda gotten somethin other than a doubleshot for Wu-man…" muttered Duo, stuffing his hands in his pockets, ignoring the shout from the bedroom.
"SHUT UP!"
Trowa flopped down on the couch, running the events back through his mind. This place is just too weird. Which probably explains Duo… he thought, glancing at said pilot, who was currently annoying the hell out of a silently fuming Wufei, Heero and Quatre looking on. I've got to go help set up for the show tomorrow… we were to busy today… I wonder how they handled the lion. Catherine's going to kill me. Probably by feeding me some of her food… when I talked to her last, she said she would try her hand at lasagna. I fear for the ringmaster.
The silent clown grabbed a bag, and began folding and laying clothes into it. It was hard to describe what had happened two hours previous during dinner with the Pyronics leader and her council.
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"Yeah, so we're staying at a place called the St. Regis on the other side of the colony- are you okay?" Quatre asked Kaida, who had just choked on her burger on the words "St. Regis".
She swallowed and held up a hand, signaling she was fine. "Did you say the 'St. Regis'? That place is for rich people! Who's paying for it?" All the guys looked at the blonde that was sitting between Saki and Zach, eating the hamburger he had cut into fourths for smaller bites.
"Blondie, trust me, you have gotta check out. That place usurps all your money for horrible service."
Duo raised an eyebrow. "Then tell me, oh powerful one, where are we supposed to crash?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Kaida thought a minute, and voiced her statement. She was never one to ramble on when it came to replies. "Here." Everyone looked at the brunette in shock. Helen recovered first, expressing a comment that soon became obvious to the listeners.
"The gang will rebel. They won't allow outsiders to stay without them being part of the crew. They can't stay… unless they want to join, that is."
"Well, do you guys want to hang with the gang?" Kaida asked, turning to the gundam pilots. She accented on the "ang" part of each word.
Keahi just shook her head. "You're pathetic."
"Thank you."
"Anyway, do you guys wanna join or not?" Keahi asked while her brunette friend stretched out her hand towards them, palm up. A flame burst to life in front of their eyes, the flare itself glowing with dark red energy.
"If you want to join, all you must do is touch the flame," she said in a strong, yet calming, voice, the fire dancing in her hands.
Duo reached out immediately, touching the crimson flame as it leapt between his fingers. Strangely and surprisingly, Trowa touched it soon after, little doubt etched in his face. Quatre, fearing burns, lightly rested his hand in the blaze, but, after realizing it didn't hurt him, relaxed. Wufei suspiciously looked around the room, glancing at everyone in turn, and coming to a rest on Heba, before he reached out to touch it.
Throughout the entire meeting, the Perfect Soldier had watched Kaida and her expression. Once she turned to him and met his eyes, she felt his distrust towards her and her intentions, but wiped that thought away quickly. He could see her go from calm and collected to confused, and then strength overcome her slightly shaken appearance. A credulous smile found itself on her lips, outstretching her palm towards Heero. Without breaking eye contact, he placed his hand into the flames, feeling them jump up and lick his fingers.
Once the final pilot had touched the blaze, the fire itself wound itself into an almost serpentine form, red eyes glistening. The dragon fire split into five, each winding themselves around a boy's arms and into their mouths. Only then did Heero break contact with the girl in front of him, peering about at his comrades.
They didn't look different; they didn't act different; they felt different. The warm feeling wound itself comfortably around their chests, as if settling into its new home, and slowly dimmed, becoming all but a small spark of its former self.
Kaida sat cross-legged, elbows on knees, head in hands. She looked physically, if not emotionally, drained. Duo looked at her worriedly. "Hey, K, maybe you should take a nap or something…"
"This is nothing sleep can cure," stated Keahi simply, looking over at her friend as well. "She-"
"OMG SHE'S GONNA DIE, ISN'T SHE! IT'S ALL OUR FAULT! MY FAULT! I KILLED HER!" Duo went on and on and on until finally the dark blonde threw a shoe at him.
"She's not dying, you idiot."
"Oh really? That's good."
"Yes it is. Now as I was saying… she doesn't need sleep. She just needs a little… recharge," she said, a broad grin on her face. She sat before her friend, who wearily looked up at her and smiled. "This I'll only take a minute, Kaida." After receiving a nod, she placed her hands on the brunette's shoulders, sending a river of flames into the barely conscious body. "It was idiotic of you to do that, you know."
Kaida sat up straight, stretching her arms above her head. "Yup. Don't care."
"You are mentally unstable, ya know that?"
"Hell ya. How else do you thing I lived this long?"
Suddenly a flash of brown launched itself out at the Pyronic leader, glomping around her shoulders. "SHE'S ALIVE!" yelled an ecstatic Duo, unaware of his friend trying to pry him off her.
He finally let go, ruffling her already messed up hair. "It's a good thing I calmed down Trowa over there. He thought you were gone for sure."
The clown whapped his friend over the head, raising an eyebrow at the Shinigami. "Pardon?"
"Heh, heh! Must not have been you…" Duo muttered, rubbing the back of his head. He turned back at Kaida, who was just smiling in amusement. "So when do we move in?"
Saki appeared out of nowhere, beaming cheek to cheek. "TONIGHT!"
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The guys arrived inside the warehouse, finding Helen waiting for them. Leading them through the labyrinth-like tunnels, they soon found themselves asking about their tour guide's past.
"Actually, the reason I have this accent is that I moved here from England, and my family and I are British. I'm sure I still have relatives on Earth, but it's difficult to let them know you're alive when you live in sewers." She looked down and laced her fingers together behind her, closing her eyes at the terrible memory. "A few months after we arrived, those horrible suits came to assassinate Mr. Michiyo. I and my brother made it out of the house alive, but he died with an infection before I was picked up by the whitesuits." Quatre put a comforting hand on her shoulder, telling her she didn't have to explain to them.
"Oh, no, it's fine," she replied quickly, placing a sad smile on her face. "Kaida and Keahi never cry, nor will I. It is a great weakness. Kaida hasn't cried sense she was first taken off the streets by Hookthorn. I don't know about Keahi." The blonde quickened her pace and waved for them to follow her. They turned another corner and set off down that tunnel.
Duo had been taken aback by her statement. Hasn't cried of eleven years? What was she, the Ironman Champion of Emotions? Hell, she could probably beat Heero.
He looked to the ceiling, a sad sigh escaping from his lips. Has it really been that long? eleven years? How time flies… pictures from his past flashed through his mind… finding Kaida, bringing her to Solo unconscious, teaching her how to steal and the alleyways of the colony, she telling him she'd be there that night… and she never coming. He shook his head quickly, earning a few odd stares from his peers. He couldn't bring himself to think of that night. He just couldn't.
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When the small group finally arrived at the sleeping quarters, they beheld a bizarre sight.
A curtain separator was up in flames, and an extremely flustered and busy Zach frantically trying to extinguish them. Every time he put out the flames on one side, a new blaze started on the other. Running back and forth, he iced over the fire, only for it to melt into an inferno once more.
Keahi, on the other hand, was laughing her ass off in the corner, literally rolling on the ground as she started new hot spots on the advisor's room separator. This game was obviously of her invent, it bringing her so much amusement.
Kaida stood between the two, glaring at the trouble maker angrily. Finally, Zach turned on his friend furiously, flames still incinerating the cloth. "KEAHI! WHY DID YOU SET MY DIVIDER AFIRE!"
Said criminal stopped laughing as best she could and put on an innocent face. "It's quite simple really. Payback."
"FOR WHAT!" questioned the gray eyed teen, who was nearly pulling his hair out in agitation.
"That brain freeze you gave me a night ago."
"FOR THAT!"
The dark blonde ignored the ranting lad (A/N: HAHA! LOVE THAT WORD) and turned to the leader. "Go ahead and laugh. I know you want to. It's completely obvious."
Heero and Trowa looked at each other. She won't laugh. She's completely serious. Then they looked towards a grinning Duo. Or maybe not…
A hysteric laugh split the air, echoing in the small dugout. A brunette was rolling on the floor next to her blonde friend, laughing as if she would die in the next minute.
Helen coughed, and Keahi and Kaida at last noticed the pilots and their messenger standing before them with odd looks on their faces. They stood up immediately, straightening themselves unconsciously.
They stood in different clothes than the guys had last seen them in, they being what they wore under the officials jackets. Kaida wore a red wrap-around tank, which exposed her stomach, and baggy black cargos. Keahi wore a black spaghetti strap top and grey cargos, a black belt holding them up. Their high-necked collars on their jackets hid the circular discs that hung from their necks on black leather thongs. The brunette's was of an orange, black, and red stone, the blonde's of white and blue.
The guys finally snapped out of the dazed state they were in when Kaida started talking. "So, um, over here is your room-thing, so FOLLOW ME!" she walked into a large, curtained area, with five pallets and blankets arranged on the floor. Saki presented each item as Keahi pointed them out, acting as if they were on the Wheel of Fortune.
Duo sweatdropped at her antics. "She's like the Energizer Bunny," he commented dryly.
Zach stalked into the room, making a beeline for a certain blonde who wasn't paying attention. WHACK "OW! DUDE, WHAT WAS THAT FOR!"
"FOR BURNING DOWN MY CURTAIN!"
"DUDE YOU STINK!"
"YOU STINK!"
"MY ASS!"
The gundam pilots watched the two go at each other, Zach coming up with horrible comebacks, Keahi cussing her head off. Kaida smiled, really smiled, at them.
"Boys, welcome to the Pyronics."
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FF TO NIGHT
A figure crept away from his four sleeping companions, quietly slipping away out of the sectioned area. He drew the curtains closed, turning to the sitting area, only to find what he least expected staring back at him. "Hey Kaida."
"Oi," she replied, a sad smile adorning her lips.
"Couldn't sleep, huh? Neither could I." he sat next to her on the overstuffed couch, not minding its condition. "We never really had a chance to talk before." He looked at her, slowly meeting her eyes. They told everything- she was shattered. They told her story of destruction, abuse, loneliness, love. No tears rimmed her eyes; no redness told of her sorrow. She was good with hiding her emotions, yes; just not to her friends. She once said for those who knew her, she had subtitles. There was no better way to explain it.
Duo placed a hand on her head, slightly ruffling her hair. For once it was not down and restrained by her red trademark bandana. Instead, it was pulled into an extremely loose ponytail at the nape of her neck, strands of hair tumbling in front of her face. "I know what's wrong."
Her blue eyes widened in surprise, looking at him innocently. "Nothing's wrong. Why'd you say that?"
The pilot's hand moved in soft circles through her hair, knowing she liked the way it felt. In ways she was like a dog: loyal, playful, trusting… yet her nature indicated her of being more of a wolf. She was free, proud, strong, stubborn… and loving. She loved her friends, hated her enemies. The longer you were her friend, the deeper you fell into her heart, the harder it hurt when you left each other.
He gently pulled her head unto his shoulder, still running his fingers through her hair. He fell hardest. Out of Solo and the others, he fell hardest when she didn't return that night. Eleven years ago. "I know today's when it happened. And I know I won't leave until you actually talk to me. Hell… it's been too long."
She quietly nodded. "Way too long. It's hard to believe how long." Kaida slowly wrapped her arms around his torso, inwardly relieved when he returned the gentle embrace.
"Twelve since my home blowing like popcorn, eleven since they took me." She chuckled sadly at her attempt at a joke, but Duo could feel her shiver against his chest.
"Kaida-"
"Why?" she looked up at him, eyes wet, lipid orbs begging for an answer. "Why did all this happen?"
"Because destiny is cruel," he replied, involuntarily adding a hint of bitterness to his voice. "Cruel to the world. Cruel to the people," he released a hand and cupped her cheek, "and cruel to the Little Dragon who lost everything." He pulled her back into a comfortable hug, placing his head in the crook of her neck. "I'm sorry."
"I'm not." He visibly faltered, and she chuckled, squeezing her eyes closed. "If fate wasn't cruel, I would have never met Keahi, Zach, Heba, Helen, Saki…" she whispered into his ear the last name. "…or you."
The God of Death pulled away from her warm presence, leaving one hand on his friend while the other dug through his pocket. He slowly withdrew its contents, handing them to the girl beside him. "Happy birthday."
Kaida nearly gaped at the gift. A pair of black, soft leather gloves lay in her hands; a black and red dragon embroidered the right hand piece. "Did you buy them?"
Duo shook his head, amused at her dazed expression. "Nope babe, why would I?" She eyed him firmly, smirk upon her lips.
"Thief's honor?"
"Thief's honor."
The girl pulled the giver into a warm hug. "This is my best present."
"The gloves?"
"Iie. You."
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Two figures watched the thieves from behind the curtains, occasionally glancing at each other with sinister smirks on their lips.
"It is unusual to find one as superior as myself when it comes to spying," the girl whispered slyly, dark blonde strands of hair fell into her face from her high slip bun.
The smirk broadened on the boy's face. "Compared to me, you are but a young grasshopper."
"I would be honored if you would teach me. In return, I shall show you the age-long art of blackmailing," Keahi chuckled, amused at their little game.
"I am enthralled with your offer." Trowa's green eyes glistened. He hadn't had this much fun in a long time. The two shook hands on their agreement.
AND SO THE ALLIANCE WAS FORMED
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Morning saw Trowa and Keahi enter a forest of colorful tents, walking through the maze of trailers and cages until they arrived at the largest of the canvas canopies. As they emerged, an energetic brunette walked over to the green eyed pilot and, to Keahi's surprise, began scolding him.
"Trowa! You were supposed to be here last night to help move the lion out of the trailer! The only person who can touch it, let alone go near it, was missing, and it FREAKED OUT! IT SWIPED RINGMASTER'S HAT FROM RIGHT OFF HIS HEAD!" she had began shaking him from around the shoulders. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL WEEK! YOU KNOW I GET WORRIED! And who's this?" she stopped shaking Trowa to look at the stunned blonde next to him, voice quieting to an almost motherly tone.
The clown brushed the newcomer's hands off his shoulders, waving to his companion. "Catherine, this is Keahi. Keahi, this is my sister Catherine."
The brunette smiled and offered her hand. "Nice to meet you. Any friend of Trowa's is a friend of mine.
The dark blonde shook her hand, returning the grin. "Likewise. I didn't know Clowny here had a sister."
Trowa rolled his eyes at his new nickname. Clowny. Great. She came up with it before Duo. "We're not actually related."
Suddenly Catherine's eyes brightened. "I just remembered! I made some soup!" Then her face fell, jaw dropping. "OH NO! I LEFT THE STOVE ON!" she ran away from the two, mentally berating herself for her stupidity.
"Mmmm… soup sounds good…" the Pyronic started forward before being stopped by the pilot next to her.
"Not if you value your life."
Keahi arched an eyebrow. "It can't be that bad… can it?"
"She burned a hole through the pot last month." The blonde checked his expression.
Wow… he's completely serious… creepy… "Ok then. New subject…" she blew at the strands of hair that fell out of her ponytail and into her face. "What needs to be set up?"
Trowa searched the tent, smirking at their new job. "Well, it seems they've left the tight wire to me. As if I don't have enough time with it anyways."
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They secured the final knot, standing on the small platform that stood on the side of the wire. "Done!" Keahi said triumphantly, giving the rope a small twang.
Trowa walked unto the thin wire, hands in pockets, eyes closed, as if going for a stroll down the sidewalk. Noticing him stop and gesture towards the identical platform on the other side, the blonde looked down, not seeing a safety net below them.
"The ladder is on the other side, Keahi. Come on. Or are you," Trowa raised a taunting eyebrow. "…afraid?"
The Pyronic scoffed. "You'll find I'm no scaredy-cat." She flipped over the wire, rotating several times before setting down gracefully on the far side of the brunette. She looked behind her, mischief evident in her dark brown eyes. "…but I always land on my feet." She walked away, not catching the smirk the clown sent her way.
"We'll see how good you are with cats in a moment."
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Duo stretched, walking out into the main area where everyone, with the exception of Trowa and Keahi, was lounging around. "Hey, where's Clown-boy and Anger-Management?"
Kaida looked up from her cereal bar. "Went to set up at the circus, why?"
Duo groaned. "I wanted to help. I love that place!"
Wufei walked by, eyes trained on the newspaper he was holding. "I bet you do."
The Shinigami just glared at him, "I bet Catherine's feeding them her delicious food…"
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"Come on! It's good for you!" Catherine said, trying to force a spoonful of broccoli and cream soup into Keahi's mouth. The blonde struggled.
"THERE'S NO FUCKIN WAY YOU'RE GETTING THAT IN MY MOUTH! YOU'RE TRYING TO POISON ME! TROWA! HELP ME! WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU!"
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"…and hangin' out with the other clowns…"
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"BASTARDS! YOU ALL CHEAT! CHEATCHEATCHEAT!"
One of the clowns raised an eyebrow. "We're playing go-fish… how can we cheat?"
"WHY DON'T YOU ASK YOUR FRIEND THERE!"
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"…and playin' with the elephants…"
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"HOLY SHIT! THIS STUFF SMELLS!"
"Well, yeah… we're cleaning out their cages…"
"WHICH SMELL LIKE SHIT!"
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"…and having a HORRIBLE time… I laugh at them!"
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"This place is freaking awesome! I always loved the circus! Sucks for the others who stayed home… I laugh at them! HAHAHA!"
Trowa just shook his head. "You have problems."
"Yes, I do, just not as many as Kaida. Damn, she's like mentally unstable I tell ya."
Not for the first time that day, the brunette smiled. I've been smiling a lot more since we came here… he looked over to Keahi, who was currently seeing how long she could stand on one foot. I wonder why… he was broken out of his thoughts when the ringmaster tapped his shoulder.
"Trowa, we need help with the lion," he tugged at his dark beard. "He won't let anyone near the cage to feed him. And I'm not going near him ever again," he pulled something from behind his back. "Look what he did to my hat!" the hat lay in shreds.
Keahi looked at it strangely. "It looks like it got in a fight with a weed-whacker."
Trowa pulled the blonde away from the confused, and slightly disturbed, ringmaster. "Come on, let's go feed the lion."
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"Just be cautious. He usually doesn't like strangers." The brunette had been lecturing Keahi since they arrived in the animal tent on how to approach the lion.
She rolled her eyes. "Dude. Trust me. You don't have to tell me how to pet a damn cat."
They arrived a few yards from a cage. The containments growled, but stopped when Trowa approached the metal bars. He gave the lion a quick rub behind the ears before throwing in a steak from the bucket he had been carrying. While the big cat attacked the meat, the pilot waved Keahi over from where she was standing.
In a flash she was by his side, fascination etched into her features. Trowa couldn't help but notice that she didn't even discern the tresses of hair falling into her face. Her lips curved into a gentle smile, and her eyes were… like the lion's. Proud… gentle… sharp… knowing… beautiful…almost glowing… the clown cleared his head immediately of such thoughts. What is happening to me?
The lion finally looked up from his dinner, observing the pair outside his cage. One was familiar but the other wasn't… yet comfortable. It lumbered over to the newcomer, who put forth her hand for inspection immediately. Trowa froze up… until the lion licked her hand. Well that's a change in attitude… She rubbed beneath the cat's chin, coaxing out a soft chuff from the animal. Keahi turned to the stunned clown, smile lighting up her face.
"I've always been good with cats. Some of my friends even say I act like one," she said in a hushed voice, not wanting to disturb the lion that was greatly enjoying its massage session.
"I can tell," Trowa replied. Looking up, he suddenly realized how close they were, and stood up from his kneeling position. "Do you want to go in?"
"Am I allowed to?"
"No," he said with a small smile. "But I do all the time."
"Ok. I think I might just take up that offer," the blonde purred, lightly brushing past the pilot on her way to the cage door.
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The two beheld a… strange… scene when they arrived back at the sleeping quarters.
Kaida and Duo lay on opposite ends of the couch, looking fit to burst, groaning on how they could "see the light". Cereal bar wrappers lay around them, tauntingly flashing the words "Special K" in red at the stuffed teens.
Keahi sweatdropped. "I'm not even gonna ask what happened here."
"They had an eating competition. Kaida won," Heba said from the other side of the room.
The overfed Pyronic looked over to her best friend, giving her a smirk and thumbs up. "Let's just say I'm Special. K?" she then fell back with a groan, nearly passing out.
"Watching them…" Trowa turned his attention to the corner, where Wufei lay, curled into the fetal position, eyes wide. "…it was… disgusting…"
A/N: Hello again! I'm so sorry this came out so late. First my computer almost crashed, but when I fixed it, I had lost half of the effin chapter! I was like "NOOOOOOOOOO!" but I was in my school hallway at the time so people just looked at me really weirdly. I don't blame them. I scare myself. Anyway, then Hurricane Rita came and RUINED THIS WHOLE SYSTEM THAT I HAD SET UP! I should have warned ya: 7's my unlucky number. Next fic I write, I'm skipping from chapter 6 to chapter 8. No number 7. 7 will burn in hell. On a happier note, I hope you liked the chapter! The last part focused mostly on Keahi and Trowa, which I personally think are a good pair. Don't know if I'll make them a couple, though. What do you think? PLEASE TELL ME! Oh, and Saruwatari finally came back from the vet. (rubs flaming wolf's head affectionately, wolf growling in pleasure) turns out she ate a frying pan. My dad was wondering where it had gone. Anyway, thank you for reading! TTYS I hope!
--DML