My Shadow Speaks the Truth
Disclaimer: I, xCluelessGal45x, do not, in any way, own SK, or any café with the name "Neko-koi" (I have no idea if anyone has a restaurant called that; if anyone DOES, then this disclaimer fits. If not, then...XD), though I wish I could, blah, blah, blah… Though I DO own Natsumi...
Hey guys! Sorry for the super-duper late update on this chapter… I just got a little twist in the story and all the schoolwork; you know what I mean…
…Dedicated also to my chapter 1 reviewers: Lui Nahtzi, kari tao (ren's little sister), Ellie, Mizi, nildzneedshelpasap25, marydls and Tyndz… (Hey! I checked:D)
Okay, enough with the disclaimer and thank yous, and on with the story, ne? R&R!
Chapter 2: Friend or Foe?
"Where is she, Asume?"
His voice is low, dangerous. She knew she couldn't lie.
"I…I…I do not know, Master…" she whispered fearfully, lowering her eyes.
"Well, well," he said slowly, snidely. He examined his fingernails lazily, prolonging her anxiety. "You know what that means, my dear."
She threw herself on the floor, whimpering. "P-please, Master, I beg your forgiveness…" She realized it was the wrong reply and changed it hastily. "I…I did not expect…Young Mistress was… She had…I…"
"Asume, Asume," he said leisurely, smirking. "It's too late to apologize." He raised his arm languidly.
Her scream pierced the still night, terror and despair resonating with every echo.
"NO!"
Natsumi woke up, breathless, in the middle of the night. She gazed around, the Spartan surroundings of her room gazing back comfortingly at her. 'I am with Hao-sama,' she thought, attempting to calm herself. 'I am with Hao-sama; I am safe. He can't get me here. He can't.'
"Something happen, Natsumi?" Hao asked calmly, striding into the bedroom, unperturbed by the scream.
"H-Hao-sama." She scrambled out from beneath her blanket, bowing hastily. "I…forgive me for disturbing your rest."
"Have a good forty winks; I have a job for you tomorrow morning…"
"Yes, Hao-sama." She nodded once and waited until he had left the room, then pulled the covers over her head.
'I am safe…'
Natsumi walked down the street, gazing steadily at each object or person she passed before turning her attention to a different subject.
'The city. Buildings. People. Streets.'
She looked up, the sun flashing into her eyes. She spotted a big, friendly signpost, the savory scents of breakfast wafting out from within the building.
"Neko-koi Café," she said softly, furrowing her brow slightly. "This is the place."
She went in. The motion resulted in a small tinkling; a bell. The inside of the restaurant was warm and homey, the jumbled-up tables and chairs adding to the image.
'Popular,' she mused, glancing at the crowd. 'If he's here, the job is going to be hard.'
She sat down on one of the many, patched-up chairs in the room, in front of a table that was almost the same height that her seat was. Uncomfortable, but bearable. She spotted a man in a black ponytail and checkered apron towering over her.
"May I take your order ma'am?"
"Order?"
"Yes, this is a café, you know," he said brightly, and more than a little unnecessarily. She rolled her eyes discreetly, peeking at his nametag.
Annoying. 'How you ever got this job is not so much of a mystery, Mr. Hello-my-name-is-Taro,' she thought. 'You're just as disturbing as the rest of the place.' Out loud, she said, just as brightly:
"Oh yes, er, I'll have a Grande sized cappuccino."
"Coming right up."
The bell gave another jingle. Someone entered. Natsumi didn't dare to glance, and turned her attention to her wristwatch. 8:33 am, exactly. If he was the one, then Hao-sama was right. Just as he always is.
She pulled out her knife from her cargo pants' pocket, the action unseen beneath the tablecloth. She flashed a smile at him, inviting him over to sit with her.
'Here it is,' she thought, swallowing in spite of herself. 'My first job after training.' She felt her grip on the hilt loosen; her target had smiled back. He was sweet-looking, with light-green hair and eyes, and with an—admittedly—adorable smile.
She closed her eyes tightly. Fear loomed within her.
'I…I can't…'
The knife fell, sliding out from under the tablecloth. The boy stood still. He had heard.
'Oh, shoot.'
The boy knelt down. He picked up the knife and faced her, still smiling. She stiffened, reddening.
"Excuse me, is this yours?" he asked, seemingly clueless about what Natsumi had intended to do.
She tried to smile back. "Oh, yes, thank you. I, uh, dropped it, ahah, obviously." She winced. It was supposed to be easy to lie. "Uh, y'see, it's my brother's. I, ahem, borrowed it from his…collection."
Her target laughed. "I see," he teased, handing it back. "Hopefully, he won't find out, hm?"
"Uh…you can sit down here; there're no more tables, anyway," she mumbled, looking at the blade. She slid it back into the sheath hidden in her pocket, more than a little surprised. No one she had just met had ever been so courteous to her, besides Hao-sama.
"Thank you," he said, inclining his head slightly. He sat down, twiddling his thumbs.
"Er, would you like to order?" she asked. "I'm sure Hello-my-name-is-Taro will come by sooner or later with the menu."
He chuckled appreciatively.
There was a moment of awkward silence, then he said,
"If I'm not mistaken, you're a shaman, aren't you?"
"Y—" She blinked. "Yeah."
"My name's Lyserg. Lyserg Diethyl. I'm here visiting my friends. What's your name?"
"Uh…M…Meira Okashi. Nice to meet you." She decided not to tell him her real name. There was no telling when she would have to continue her task.
Do not ever display your identity; the Uemura clan is not safe in this world.
"Ah, well, then, Meira," he smiled, holding up a crystal pendulum. "This is my shaman, Morphin." The pendulum had a tiny, pink fairy in it.
"H…hello," she said cautiously, watching as the fairy zoomed around his—Lyserg's, head. "Um, ne, do you know anyone by the name 'Yoh Asakura', or anyplace called 'Funbari Onsen'?" She decided to change the plan somewhat. Better safe than sorry.
"Yoh?"
"Um, yes. Do you know him?"
"Certainly. I'm actually on their way to their place. My friend will pick me up. Do you want to go together?"
Then, the bell gave another jingle.
She tensed, sensing an aura that was similar to Hao-sama's, and, now, Lyserg's. 'Another shaman…?'
"That's a bad idea Lyserg." A boy said coldly, striding up to the table. He had dark purplish hair, and cruel, golden eyes.
"Bad idea?"
"The more acquaintances we have, the more problems we get. That stupid Horo's work enough already, and now you want to add in a girl." He scowled at her.
"But Ren—"
"Leave well alone. She's going to be a nuisance, and we don't even know her."
He sat still. Natsumi looked from one boy to the other, confused. Finally, she sighed.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to bother you. I'll leave this instant. Thank you." She stood up and placed the strap of her bag on her shoulder. 'My poor cappuccino. No matter; I didn't pay for it, anyway.' She walked pass the boy called Ren and made her way toward the door, when—
"No wait! You're coming even if Ren doesn't want you to."
Yoh yawned sleepily, sighed, and began his morning ritual, Anna's 'electric chair'.
"Yoh-kun! Anna-san!" Manta entered their backyard.
"Oh, hey Manta! I thought you'd be picking up Lyserg?"
"I was on my way when I passed Ren, and he said he'll do it himself." Manta chuckled. "Less work for me, then."
Yoh gave a chortle.
"Concentrate!" Anna shouted, cutting off their little chat. She pretended to check the time in her stopwatch, which, sadly for her fiancé, had not been started. At all.
"But for how long Anna?" Yoh whimpered. "Lyserg's coming over, and we have a lot to catch up on." He sniffled.
"Yoh-dono!" Amidamaru, his shaman, said worriedly.
"Don't worry about me Amidamaru," he replied bravely, sniffing. "I'm okay."
"Yoh-dono!"
Anna rolled her eyes. "Men."
Yoh's legs wiggled. He had been standing there for an hour and a half, and STILL Anna's stopwatch didn't beep. Sad thing was, Manta wasn't allowed to help, and could only watch. He couldn't take it anymore, and was just about to plop down, exhausted, when he sensed someone else coming.
"Hi Yoh!"
Ren, Lyserg and Natsumi entered the backyard.
"Hey, how's it going?" Manta greeted.
"Lyserg! Ren! Good to see ya!" Yoh squeaked, his legs nearly giving way.
"Nice to see you again. Guys, this is Meira. She's staying with us."
"…"
"Man, you have a girlfriend?"
"…"
They face-faulted.
"She's an acquaintance. Go on Anna, let her do your errands." Ren added. Lyserg shot a warning look at him. The future hostess of the Funbari Onsen promptly slammed the Chinese shaman in the face with a rock. "Hey! What was that for Anna! I wasn't the one who brought that hassle here!" Ren complained, holding his nose.
"Hassle? She doesn't seem like a hassle," Manta said, wincing and deciding to play it safe. No telling where Anna kept her artillery. "You're over-reacting."
"Women take care of the house and men run errands for them, am I right Meira?" Anna said, giving Ren abroom and dustpan. "Now go and sweep the leaves. They're all over the place."
'I could get used to this,' Natsumi thought, smiling in spite of herself.
Everyone sat down for dinner; Horo, Pirika and Tamao were already seated, waiting for them.
Yoh finished his bowl two minutes after sitting, sighed and leaned back. "The more people eating on the table, the merrier!"
"And the food yummier!" Horo added. "Hey, give that back, Ren!"
"Stupid dogs like you shouldn't eat this kind of food," Ren promptly replied, popping the rice cake into his mouth. He had a band-aid on his nose from the earlier skirmish with Anna. "You'll get a stomachache."
"Why you—"
The rest of the table laughed, including Natsumi.
'This is fun,' she thought, a bit surprised. '…I do hope Hao-sama doesn't expect me to finish this mission so early…'
"Hao-sama..."
"Yes Opacho, a good plan..."
"Giana, I'm counting on you in this mission."
"Yes Master, I'm honored to be a follower of the Uemura clan. The girl will be back on the island in a matter of days."
"Very well, how soon will you be prepared to leave?"
"Immediately, if you wish it so, Master."
"She'll be sorry she left. My poor Natsumi…"
In another room, Tsubame Uemura held her hands clasped together tightly, her eyes held shut. 'Please, Kami-sama,' she prayed. 'Keep my daughter safe.'
Man, that WHERE IS SHE thing reminds me of Where Are You… hehe. XD Well, I feel like this story is a bit predictable…bah. XP I guess I need more help on this…
Well, if you have any OC you want to be here in my story, put them in your reviews with their name, nickname, age, qualities, quotes, powers and stuff you wanna put, and I'll see if they can do a cameo or whatever.:D
I'll e-mail ya, or PM ya, if your OC gets in the, er, audition… Oh, and thanks to my cousin, Loser and to my good friend Lui Nahtzi, who edited this chapter, err… again… Read Lui's stories! They're really cool! Review please!
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