Author's Notes: This chapter goes slightly off topic, and instead is basically focused around Skunk, how he acts, how the others acknowledge him, and so forth. My apologies, for it is rather short. The next chapter will be up in about a week. Thanks to Hell Hound, Anonymous One, Aeryn, rockofmarduk, and LLJade for the awesome reviews! I love you guys! Ja ne!

Disclaimer: Again, I'm a cheap bastard. I don't own anything. You can relax now.

Skunk

Skunk was the one Denkou found herself spending the most time with. Not because he was fun to be around or was nicer to her than Nooj or Raff, but because she felt that behind his hot headed temper and uncontrollable mouth, he was just lonely.

Nooj and Raff found his bad attitude very aggravating at times and completely shunned and ignored him when he got that way. But, Denkou knew what it felt like to be left out, to feel alone and unwanted. She felt like that a lot at school. That's why whenever Skunk was upset or having one of his usual tantrums, Denkou would be the one to talk to him. About anything really. School, friends, life, or as Skunk called it, shit that nobody cares about.

It was true, Skunk would get mad, defensive even, when Denkou tried to talk to him. Maybe it made him feel weak, talking to a little girl, a robot even, she never knew. At first, Denkou got nervous and frightened when Skunk yelled at her. Skunk was scary when he was mad. But now, she would just laugh it off. That was who Skunk was. It's not like he enjoyed making her feel small and self conscious when he said stuff like, you're such a runt! or will you ever grow up? These words, as hurtful as they were, came from a part deep, deep inside him that he never wanted to expose again, a part of him that he shut off, locked away, barricaded. And Denkou was certain that one day, she would pick that lock and finally open up the door to his heart.

She understood now. She understood that the Skunk she sees everyday isn't the real Skunk. However, she had begun to realize just a little bit more of him shinning through each time she and him would talk. If she nagged and persuaded enough, sometimes she would get a full fledged conversation out of him. He would talk. She would listen. And when she listened, he would just keep on talking. It was a strenuously long commitment, but worth every minute. This was the side of Skunk that was enigmatic, the side Denkou loved to be exposed to, but was rarely given the opportunity. And though he would never admit it, Denkou got the feeling talking with her made him feel so much better.

One night while washing the dishes, Denkou had an interesting talk with Raff. Well, any talk with Raff is interesting, considering the fact he barely ever talks, unless he has something worth saying.
Oh, and thanks... Raff said, completely out of the blue. Denkou jumped about three feet, startled by his voice and startled by the fact that......well, he was talking.
Oh, about what? she asked, looking over at him from where she was at the sink. He was reading a book. She couldn't see the title.
Raff said, placing his book down, ever since you came here, Skunk's been a little easier to deal with.
Denkou looked into the sink.
I mean, he still has his moments, but over all....I dunno. He just seems different. He's changed. Not sure how... Nooj picked up his book again and began flipping through it. He used to wanna fight everyone, always mad. And it was serious! I know Nooj an' him still fight, but it's more verbal now, less physical. He tucked the book in his back pocket as he stood up from the table. he added, When they throw insults back an' forth like that, it's quite a funny show for us audience. He gave her a wink, and with that, he walked out the door, down the street, and was gone.
Denkou sighed and looked out the window over the sink. It wasn't a very nice view. Nothing but cars and smoke and trash cans. She knew what Raff was talking about.

Skunk had always been.....well, a little odd. It didn't develop over time either, Denkou realized, he must have been born like that. Some people are just born crazy. Skunk was one of them. He'd go from happy to raging in a second flat. Sometimes he would become manic, getting an idea in his head so far fetched and reckless, nothing Nooj or Raff or Denkou said could talk him out of it. And you know that when Skunk got an idea in his head, that idea wouldn't leave until he followed through on it. Some people would call it stubborn. Denkou would call it amazing.
Sometimes he would go on mad cleaning sprees, going crazy or over reacting if Nooj or Raff so much as got a little of their cigarette ashes on the floor. Denkou got a break when this happened, watching T.V or reading a book as Skunk scrubbed and washed the floor. This only lasted a day or so, then Denkou was back to being their personal house cleaner.

Despite Skunk's somewhat qualities at times, when serious came to serious, Skunk knew what he wanted. He was smart, clever, and damn sneaky. This annoyed Nooj and Raff to no end, but Denkou thought it was great. Skunk was so fast and quick with his hands, and sometimes walking down the street he would steal a piece of candy from a concession stand and give it to her. No one ever knew he did this, except for Denkou, when he would slip it into her hand while walking back to the house. He did that about once or twice a week, and after the third week, Denkou went into his room at night to thank him. He was laying on his back, staring at the ceiling.
Shut up, he said, after she had thanked him. Don't be stupid.

Skunk was just a little crazy.

She heard the bell ring for the start of school about two blocks away. She ran.