"Ronin Warriors: The Final Victor"
By Onikage
Scroll Twenty-Five: Coming to An Understanding
Kento slid down the banister after Sai rang the gong for dinner. He wasn't about to be beaten to his favorite thing of all: shabu-shabu al la Torrent. At least that's what Sai liked to call it. He was very sensitive about naming his own recipes. Everything was named after him so that there would be no question as to who created such lovely and mouthwatering cuisines. Now that Kento thought about it, Sai was a little arrogant when it came to food. But he was good and knew it. "Lemme at it-huh?" Megami was all ready happily tasting Sai's ultimate dish. Kento's mouth dropped open. "H-heeey!" he sputtered. "That is SO not cool! That's my job, Megami!" he protested. Megami looked sheepish.
"Huh? Oh, sorry Kento-kun... Sai just wanted me to taste it to see if it needed anymore pepper. I don't think it does, but..." She went to feed Kento a saucer full of the warm shabu-shabu-y goodness. He frowned and turned away. "Aw, c'mon Kento-kun! Don't be a baby!" she pouted. "Pleeease?" Kento sighed and gave in to the dark, sad eyes of the smaller woman. She grinned happily as he tasted it. "... Yep, pepper."
Sai re-entered the kitchen to fetch the rest of the large dinner. "Well, Megami?"
"Kento-kun thinks it needs it," she replied.
"Well, Kento does have the palette of my culinary genius," Sai grinned. Kento rolled his eyes.
"I'm gonna go get the others," Megami said.
Tori yawned sleepily and stretched falling back against something warm. Something constricted around her gently. A strong hand against her shoulder turned to a large arm. She colored when she remembered that she had fallen asleep with Anubis. Oh, did I take the low road or what??? Tori swallowed hard and attempted to pull out of his hold. He held her firm, still in a deep sleep. She frowned. Dummy has the strength of a lion... she grumbled. The light of the fire bounced off his face and hair gently. Tori found herself actually admiring the almost god-like beauty of the former warlord. Features of his gentle and beautiful mother and the strength and noble air of his father were prominent. The pair must have had a love like no other to produce such a fine-looking creature, she concluded.
The fire popped loudly, stirring the sleeping half-demon gently. He opened his teal eyes slightly, then completely when he found her staring at him. She caught her breath and swallowed. "... Hey," he greeted and touched her hair. "Sleep okay?" he asked. Tori nodded with a blush. "How long have you been awake?" he asked suddenly with a superior smirk, knowing that look very well and what she was exactly doing. Knowing that, he felt quite confident and satisfied with himself. There was more to her than she cared to let on.
"Um, 'bout five minutes," she mumbled.
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
"... I didn't want to wake you. Mia said that you haven't been sleeping very well lately," she lied. Anubis raised an eyebrow.
"Or maybe you just wanted to cuddle, hm?" he purred. Tori frowned and attempted to sit up.
"Don't flatter yourself. You sound like Sekhmet: rude and perverted," she grumbled. Anubis held her down and smirked.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Now get off," she snapped.
"Hey! Dinner's ready, people!" Megami called upstairs. Her eyes caught Tori and Anubis on the couch in a very suggestive manner. Especially the amount of leg was exposed from the elaborate robe she wore. The front of it was also falling open. Both looked up at her like an animal caught in headlights. Frozen.
A thundering of footsteps pounded down the stairs: Ryo, Yuli, Rowen, Cale, and Sage. The girls followed more daintily behind them.
"Dais, take off a setting for Domo. She's still resting after earlier," Mia said.
"Do you know how she is doing? Cale tells me that they had a run in with Kurai himself..." Mia shook her head.
"She's still asleep... Sage said that Raiko bit her. I just hope that she strong enough to fend off the poison..."
"What about Anubis and Tori?" he asked.
"What about them?"
"Didn't you see them sleeping in the living room? They look quite content with each other," he smirked. "I think they'll be there for quite a while."
"Hm, maybe now we'll get some peace and quiet," she laughed.
"WHOA!" Rowen gasped.
"I thought you two hated each other?!" Ryo exclaimed.
"Get off of me you jerk!" Tori snapped.
"You're the one who wanted to be all cuddly! You get off of me!!" Anubis defended.
"I did not! Jesus! How much do you friggin' weigh?!" Tori groaned.
"Not as much as you!" Anubis spat. A loud slap was heard. "OW!"
Dais sighed heavily. "So much for peace and quiet..."
Kento glanced around the dinner table silently: Cale and Mia were attempting to feed Kiku carrots. Yuli was hiding his peas inside his mashed potato and gravy well when Mia wasn't looking. Rowen and Sai were conversing softly about the antics that had happened earlier in the living room. Dais was deep in thought, glancing at Mia every now and then. Ryo had gone to feed Whiteblaze. Megami, Sakura, and Nasake were giving Tori a hard time. Anubis was trying to eat and nurse his stinging cheek while ignoring the girls. He seemed to be muttering to himself about something unpleasant. As for Lady Kayura and Sekhmet, both were unusually quiet. Domo was gone too. Kento grinned to himself. Ha, ha... perfect opportunity, he chuckled to himself and quickly dropped a pea into the napkin in his lap. He searched the table again:
"Soo, was he all warm and cuddly, Tori?" Sakura giggled. Tori growled.
"Shut up!"
"Cute robe, Tori!" Megami chided.
"Cut it out!" Tori hissed.
"Stop it you three!" Mia snapped.
"Sorry, Mia."
No one had noticed. Now... who to pelt? Kento thought.
"Kiku!" Mia scolded, "Don't throw food!"
"But I don't like carrots!" she whined.
"Cale's eating them," Mia coaxed.
"Mmn, goood!" Cale smiled.
Kiku frowned. Kento armed his spoon.
Nah, Mia'll have a cow... Aha! He spotted Dais. ...Blind spots are cool... and launched a pea upside Dais' head.
"HEY!" Dais snapped and touched his head. He looked around angrily. No one looked probable.
"Anubis? Maybe you should let me look at that later," Kayura offered and reached for his cheek. Anubis swatted it away with a growl.
"Just leave me alone. It's fine..."
"Well! Excuuuse me for caring!"
"You're excused," he frowned and went back to grumbling.
"Sage? Would you mind bringing Domo a plate of food after dinner?" Mia asked. An obvious blush crept over Halo's cheeks as he nodded. "Kento, no more of those apple dumplings for you. Leave some for Domo," Mia added.
"I will, sheesh! I may be bottomless, but I'm not a pig!" he laughed.
"I think piggies are cute!" Megami defended. Kento blushed as several 'woos' erupted from around the table.
Dais frowned slightly and went back to thinking about what Cale and Sekhmet told him about Kurai. ... There has to be a clue in Lady Mia's files about Kurai. What if-
Another pea. It hit him on his left temple. So, anyone sitting to his right was out: Anubis, Rekka, Kayura, Torrent, or Halo was innocent. Dais glared at the people on his left, before going back to his thoughts. ... Someone wants to be funny...
"Dais?" Sakura began softly with a light blush. The older man to her was quite attractive, despite her feelings for Torrent however, slight; Dais still was very mysterious. He smiled softly, increasing the heat on her cheeks. "What is it, Suiko?"
"Is... is there something wrong with the food?" Dais glanced at Strata and Hardrock briefly. "No, nothing at all! It's exquisite! Especially the snow peas... I never knew that you were so talented. This flavor you've added packs quite a... punch," he smiled. Sakura's cheeks heated with praise.
"T-thank you, Dais!" she giggled.
Hardrock and Strata... Hmm... He glanced at Rowen's plate. No peas. Hardrock...
Fully loaded cannons. Dais caught a flash of metal duck underneath the tablecloth as Hardrock ate slowly, another convenience, as oddly disturbing as it was. Dais squinted his eyes at Hardrock's place setting. He smiled to himself. Fire away... Dais calmly went back to eating and waited for the fun to begin.
Kento waited until Dais looked the other way. Man. Is he on to me? ... Gotta be less obvious. He went to arm his spoon when the pea kept rolling off of the utensil. "Huh?" He tried again. The pea escaped. Kento frowned. Finally, impatient, he took an entire spoonful and covered it with his hand. Ha ha! He grinned in triumph.
"Kento. What the heck are you doin', man?" Ryo whispered as he returned from feeding Whiteblaze. Kento kept an eye on his hand and leaned over to him.
"My food's alive," he whispered.
"Alive? You mean like-"
"Like dust bunnies from central Venus alive!" he hissed softly. Ryo frowned.
"Dammit. That wasn't my fault. Rowen used bad milk in that batch of muffins."
"Whatever, man! My food's alive!" Kento argued.
"Sh'yeah, and monkeys might fly outta my butt," Ryo scoffed.
"Dude! Look..." Kento removed his hand slowly. The mound of peas was stationary. Ryo rolled his eyes.
"I think you've had too much saké, man," Ryo chuckled. Kento frowned with a sigh and opened his mouth to shovel the peas inside to eat.
The peas exploded off of his spoon sending Kento to the floor chair and all. "AH!! WHOOA!" He landed on his back with a thud.
"Kento!" Mia exclaimed. "Are you all right?!"
"Kento-kun fall down go boom!"
"Yes, Kiku," Cale laughed. Ryo leaned over the back of his chair in shock. Kento crossed his arms while still on his back, glaring up at Ryo.
"... I don't see monkeys, Ryo. Where are the butt monkeys!?!" A chorus of laughter erupted around the room as Ryo helped him up.
"The only monkey around here is you, Kento!" Sai laughed.
"Well, Hardrock," Dais began with a satisfied smirk and drank his saké, "I guess Suiko's dish knocked your socks off..." Kento glared at the older man as he set his chair upright and brushed off the peas.
"Holy cow! He ISN'T wearing socks!" Yuli exclaimed after looking up from underneath the table. Yuli began to shovel the entire well of peas, mashed, gravy and all.
"Kento-kun, you shouldn't play with your food," Megami giggled. Hardrock smirked as the conversation picked up at the table: Sekhmet and Lady Kayura were more talkative, and even Anubis had almost gotten over his little spat with Tori.
"Hey! Don't take the last of the pickles! I didn't get any yet!" Tori blocked Anubis' hand from the platter sticks with her set.
"Ow!" he hissed and then blocked hers and ate the last one
"Hey!"
"As you mortals say: 'you snooze you lose'!"
"Grr! Don't make me hit you again!"
"I'd like to see you try," he smiled smugly.
"Tori! Hey cool it," Ryo said gently trying to keep the younger girl from stabbing Anubis to death with a chopstick. Tori growled and sat back. "Here, take my pickles. I never really liked them a whole bunch," he said and handed her his bowl. Tori blushed softly.
"Uh, thank you, Ryo-kun.
"'Thank you, Ryo-kun!" Anubis mocked in a high voice. Tori threw a bean at him. "Ah! I hate beans!" he snapped.
Well, almost...
Domo hissed softly as she pulled away the bandaged around her neck. Fang marks deep into her skin were surrounded by dried blood, and swelling skin. A large bruise began to form around the undamaged area. Her body still felt heavy with some of the poison still remaining in her system. "... I HATE cats..." she muttered.
There was a soft knock at her door. "S'open." Sage peered inside and bowed slightly out of habit. "Hi, Sage," Domo greeted.
"H-hey. How are you feeling?" he asked and entered. He had a try of food for her and placed it on her lap.
"My neck hurts. Raiko gives on hell of a hickie, damn," she laughed.
"Lady Kayura thought it would be best to see how you would react to Raiko's poison before I healed your wound. You have Korin to protect you so there wasn't a real emergency."
"I think I'm getting better. I just feel really tired." She lifted the lid and stared at the tray in awe. "Is this all for me?!"
"Heh, yeah... It was hard to keep Kento away from the leftovers. Anubis and Tori fought over the last of the pickles so..." Domo rolled her eyes.
"Gimme, gimme never gets. She's always so picky about her food," Domo laughed before praying quickly then eating. "Go ahead and have some food too. I can't eat all this!"
"I all ready ate, thanks. I can hold my own, but I'm not like Kento!" he laughed. Domo sighed heavily and said nothing. Her sudden change in attitude was odd. "Domo-sama?"
"Huh? Oh... sorry... I... I had this weird dream a few moments ago. Kinda shook me up... Raiko-"
"He dead. Sekhmet crushed his skull."
"Hey I'm eating!" she laughed. Sage blushed.
"Sorry... you were saying?"
"Oh, well... It's nothing really I'm just..." She wrung her hands nervously. She was shaking and not because it was cold either.
"Domo? Hey, it's okay. He's gone."
"No, Sage. I felt him. He... was inside my head. I still feel like he's there," she whispered rubbing her temples.
"I think it's the poison." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial that Sekhmet had given to him. "I don't know how it'll taste, but Sekhmet says it'll cure you." Domo took the glass of red fluid cautiously before swallowing it. She coughed and made a face.
"Blahhh... B-bitter," she growled.
"It should take a few hours for it to work." He then reached over and covered her neck with his palm. She felt the warm of the Halo armor close the fang marks slowly.
"Thanks, Sage," she murmured. Halo blushed again heavily and smiled.
"Well, uh, I'll leave you alone-"
"You can stay, Sage. I need some company... if you're not busy, that is," Domo interrupted.
"Won't your guardian get mad?" he said.
"Her? I dunno what her deal is. I have a boyfriend all ready so there's nothing to worry about."
"Worry about?" Sage asked.
"She and I are kinda... one... so whatever I feel she feels. She's not a big fan of the love and fun in case you haven't all ready guessed." Sage nodded with an annoyed sighed.
"No fun in the sun with her, huh?" Domo shrugged.
"Who the hell cares? Now help me eat all this before Kento finds his way up here!" she smiled.
"Careful, Kiku! Don't drop it!" Cale warned as he handed her an empty plate from the stack he carried.
"Thank yooou," she smiled and pushed open the door to the kitchen. Tori and Anubis were stuck doing the dishes as punishment for their rude behavior at dinner. Tori had gone into the dining room to help Cale. Kiku held up the dish to Anubis. "Anubi-chan! Clean this too!" she smiled.
"Thank you, little one," he sighed and stacked it with the rest. Kiku tugged on the apron that he wore. "Anubi-chan? Do you hate my sister?"
"Wh-what?! No of course not!" he laughed nervously, not quite wanting to lie to the little toddler.
"Then you love her?"
"I-"
"Are you gonna marry her?!" she smiled excitedly. Tori re-entered the kitchen.
"Why would I marry 'that' doofus?" she asked her. Kiku blinked up at her sister as she sat her on the counter to clean her face.
"Cause you are friends!" she beamed. "And you share clothes! Mika's mama and papa share clothes! Remember?" Tori blushed.
"It's more complicated than that, Kiku. Have Cale-kun explain it to you." She turned to Cale. "You've been married before right?"
"H-huh? Uh... Well... Yes... but that was a looong time ago, Rekka," he replied.
"ANYway," Anubis spat, "your sister is far too... too-"
"Watch it, Red. I can still stab you to death with a chopstick if I have to."
"Why don't you just shut up and help me out here instead of running your mouth!!" Anubis snapped. Tori growled.
"Cale-kun!! Make them stoooop!" Kiku exclaimed.
"Stop bickering! You all ready sound like you're married!" Tori and Anubis flushed heavily.
"But they're not," Kiku said. "I confused!" she pouted. Cale kissed her forehead gently.
"You're not the only one, sweetheart," he laughed.
"Cale-kun, when I grow up, can I marry you?" Kiku asked. A deep blush stained Cale's cheeks.
"I..." He sighed heavily and smiled. "Yes, Kiku, when you get older, okay? Come on, it's bath time, okay?"
"Can Captain Bubblehead come too?"
"That's Captain Bubble MAN, Kiku."
Tori watched her sister and Cale leave and smiled sweetly. "He really loves her, huh?" she asked. Anubis busied himself with the dishes.
"Yes. I've known Cale a long time. I've never seen him this happy before now," Anubis replied. The civil tone in his voice surprised her.
"Wow, now yer all polite and crap. What gives?" Anubis released an annoyed groan.
"Unlike you, little one, I can let things go."
"... Whatever," Tori mumbled and began to dry the dishes he cleaned. She stared down at the robe she was still wearing. "Red?"
"Hm?"
"Where did you get this robe?" Anubis fell silent for a moment and didn't answer right away.
"It... was a gift... From Zeal when I knew her a long time ago," he replied. "I don't know why I still have it..."
"Maybe it's because you still love her," she said. His whole body stiffened with her comment. Tori bit her lip. "Sorry..."
"... I don't know what I feel. She... is evil now. She's all ready tried killing you twice."
"Twice?!"
"Once was when those dark creatures attacked you. The other time was when I was still chained up..."
"Why me?!"
"About four years ago, something happened to her. I don't know what, but I think Talpa put a false notion into her head. It somehow involves you, or at least looks like you."
"Jealousy?? She thinks... ohhhhhhh..."
"I would be angry too if I had competition. She's very intimidated by beautiful women. She's killed off several of the other girls that I... 'met with' because of their beauty." Tori's face heated at the indirect compliment.
"...T-thanks," she mumbled. Maybe he isn't such a doofus... Anubis splashed her with suds.
"Hey, just be very careful when you fight. She's very dangerous," he warned softly.
"Are you... worried about me, Red?" she giggled.
"Hey, someone has to watch you. You're such a klutz!" he laughed.
"I am not!" Tori spat.
Sekhmet pushed his way into the kitchen and stopped as he witnessed a soap fight between Anubis and Tori. "Ack! Stop! You'll ruin your robe!" Tori squeaked.
"It's just soap-" Anubis released her and straightened. He and Sekhmet hadn't spoken since earlier that day. Anubis could still feel the claws constricting his neck. Sekhmet glared at him silently. The silence between the two was deadly. Tori frowned.
"Cool it, you two," she snapped. "I'm sick of you two fighting about something that happened almost half a millennia ago!"
"This does not concern you, Rekka," Sekhmet snarled, feeling his claws extend slowly. Anubis didn't say anything. Tori exploded.
"This does too concern me, Sekhmet!!" she yelled. "Yeah, it was wrong of Anubis to destroy your home and family, but he couldn't help it! Talpa poisoned his mind with all these terrible things and he couldn't control himself!!" Sekhmet pounded on the marble countertop angrily causing Tori to jump.
"What do you know, brat?! You weren't there!! You don't have any idea what he did!!!"
"That doesn't give you any right to be angry!! You did the same things he did after Talpa turned you!! You were just as bad as he was!!!" Sekhmet snarled and lunged at her, lifting his arm to slash her. In an instant, Anubis took the blow against his arm as he shielded her. Sekhmet's claw tore four treads into Anubis flesh. He shot back in shock with Anubis' actions and his own. Anubis grimaced. "Sekhmet! Calm down! Look what you almost did!" Anubis snapped.
Tori felt tears of anger burn in her eyes. She lunged back at Sekhmet, Anubis holding her back. "YOU KILLED MY PARENTS! ALL OF YOU DID!!" she screamed. "You, Dais, Cale, Anubis, AND Talpa!! You all killed my family, but I know better!! I know that you were just mere puppets that you didn't know what you were doing... I don't blame you or anyone else for what happened! But since you've decided to not bury the hatchet, maybe I shouldn't either!!!!" she cried. Sekhmet felt the heat of shame on his face. "... I'm not asking you to completely forgive Anubis, but... at least TRY to find some peace with each other! PLEASE!" she cried.
Sekhmet lowered his eyes before turning on his heel and running out of the room. Tori sniffled loudly and dried her eyes before returning to the sink and turning the water on. Anubis turned back to her. "You... didn't have to do that," Anubis said softly. Tori's eyes were hard and full of pain. She silently pulled him to the sink and began to unbutton his shirt to clean his wound.
"Yeah, I did..." she said sadly.
By Onikage
Scroll Twenty-Five: Coming to An Understanding
Kento slid down the banister after Sai rang the gong for dinner. He wasn't about to be beaten to his favorite thing of all: shabu-shabu al la Torrent. At least that's what Sai liked to call it. He was very sensitive about naming his own recipes. Everything was named after him so that there would be no question as to who created such lovely and mouthwatering cuisines. Now that Kento thought about it, Sai was a little arrogant when it came to food. But he was good and knew it. "Lemme at it-huh?" Megami was all ready happily tasting Sai's ultimate dish. Kento's mouth dropped open. "H-heeey!" he sputtered. "That is SO not cool! That's my job, Megami!" he protested. Megami looked sheepish.
"Huh? Oh, sorry Kento-kun... Sai just wanted me to taste it to see if it needed anymore pepper. I don't think it does, but..." She went to feed Kento a saucer full of the warm shabu-shabu-y goodness. He frowned and turned away. "Aw, c'mon Kento-kun! Don't be a baby!" she pouted. "Pleeease?" Kento sighed and gave in to the dark, sad eyes of the smaller woman. She grinned happily as he tasted it. "... Yep, pepper."
Sai re-entered the kitchen to fetch the rest of the large dinner. "Well, Megami?"
"Kento-kun thinks it needs it," she replied.
"Well, Kento does have the palette of my culinary genius," Sai grinned. Kento rolled his eyes.
"I'm gonna go get the others," Megami said.
Tori yawned sleepily and stretched falling back against something warm. Something constricted around her gently. A strong hand against her shoulder turned to a large arm. She colored when she remembered that she had fallen asleep with Anubis. Oh, did I take the low road or what??? Tori swallowed hard and attempted to pull out of his hold. He held her firm, still in a deep sleep. She frowned. Dummy has the strength of a lion... she grumbled. The light of the fire bounced off his face and hair gently. Tori found herself actually admiring the almost god-like beauty of the former warlord. Features of his gentle and beautiful mother and the strength and noble air of his father were prominent. The pair must have had a love like no other to produce such a fine-looking creature, she concluded.
The fire popped loudly, stirring the sleeping half-demon gently. He opened his teal eyes slightly, then completely when he found her staring at him. She caught her breath and swallowed. "... Hey," he greeted and touched her hair. "Sleep okay?" he asked. Tori nodded with a blush. "How long have you been awake?" he asked suddenly with a superior smirk, knowing that look very well and what she was exactly doing. Knowing that, he felt quite confident and satisfied with himself. There was more to her than she cared to let on.
"Um, 'bout five minutes," she mumbled.
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
"... I didn't want to wake you. Mia said that you haven't been sleeping very well lately," she lied. Anubis raised an eyebrow.
"Or maybe you just wanted to cuddle, hm?" he purred. Tori frowned and attempted to sit up.
"Don't flatter yourself. You sound like Sekhmet: rude and perverted," she grumbled. Anubis held her down and smirked.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Now get off," she snapped.
"Hey! Dinner's ready, people!" Megami called upstairs. Her eyes caught Tori and Anubis on the couch in a very suggestive manner. Especially the amount of leg was exposed from the elaborate robe she wore. The front of it was also falling open. Both looked up at her like an animal caught in headlights. Frozen.
A thundering of footsteps pounded down the stairs: Ryo, Yuli, Rowen, Cale, and Sage. The girls followed more daintily behind them.
"Dais, take off a setting for Domo. She's still resting after earlier," Mia said.
"Do you know how she is doing? Cale tells me that they had a run in with Kurai himself..." Mia shook her head.
"She's still asleep... Sage said that Raiko bit her. I just hope that she strong enough to fend off the poison..."
"What about Anubis and Tori?" he asked.
"What about them?"
"Didn't you see them sleeping in the living room? They look quite content with each other," he smirked. "I think they'll be there for quite a while."
"Hm, maybe now we'll get some peace and quiet," she laughed.
"WHOA!" Rowen gasped.
"I thought you two hated each other?!" Ryo exclaimed.
"Get off of me you jerk!" Tori snapped.
"You're the one who wanted to be all cuddly! You get off of me!!" Anubis defended.
"I did not! Jesus! How much do you friggin' weigh?!" Tori groaned.
"Not as much as you!" Anubis spat. A loud slap was heard. "OW!"
Dais sighed heavily. "So much for peace and quiet..."
Kento glanced around the dinner table silently: Cale and Mia were attempting to feed Kiku carrots. Yuli was hiding his peas inside his mashed potato and gravy well when Mia wasn't looking. Rowen and Sai were conversing softly about the antics that had happened earlier in the living room. Dais was deep in thought, glancing at Mia every now and then. Ryo had gone to feed Whiteblaze. Megami, Sakura, and Nasake were giving Tori a hard time. Anubis was trying to eat and nurse his stinging cheek while ignoring the girls. He seemed to be muttering to himself about something unpleasant. As for Lady Kayura and Sekhmet, both were unusually quiet. Domo was gone too. Kento grinned to himself. Ha, ha... perfect opportunity, he chuckled to himself and quickly dropped a pea into the napkin in his lap. He searched the table again:
"Soo, was he all warm and cuddly, Tori?" Sakura giggled. Tori growled.
"Shut up!"
"Cute robe, Tori!" Megami chided.
"Cut it out!" Tori hissed.
"Stop it you three!" Mia snapped.
"Sorry, Mia."
No one had noticed. Now... who to pelt? Kento thought.
"Kiku!" Mia scolded, "Don't throw food!"
"But I don't like carrots!" she whined.
"Cale's eating them," Mia coaxed.
"Mmn, goood!" Cale smiled.
Kiku frowned. Kento armed his spoon.
Nah, Mia'll have a cow... Aha! He spotted Dais. ...Blind spots are cool... and launched a pea upside Dais' head.
"HEY!" Dais snapped and touched his head. He looked around angrily. No one looked probable.
"Anubis? Maybe you should let me look at that later," Kayura offered and reached for his cheek. Anubis swatted it away with a growl.
"Just leave me alone. It's fine..."
"Well! Excuuuse me for caring!"
"You're excused," he frowned and went back to grumbling.
"Sage? Would you mind bringing Domo a plate of food after dinner?" Mia asked. An obvious blush crept over Halo's cheeks as he nodded. "Kento, no more of those apple dumplings for you. Leave some for Domo," Mia added.
"I will, sheesh! I may be bottomless, but I'm not a pig!" he laughed.
"I think piggies are cute!" Megami defended. Kento blushed as several 'woos' erupted from around the table.
Dais frowned slightly and went back to thinking about what Cale and Sekhmet told him about Kurai. ... There has to be a clue in Lady Mia's files about Kurai. What if-
Another pea. It hit him on his left temple. So, anyone sitting to his right was out: Anubis, Rekka, Kayura, Torrent, or Halo was innocent. Dais glared at the people on his left, before going back to his thoughts. ... Someone wants to be funny...
"Dais?" Sakura began softly with a light blush. The older man to her was quite attractive, despite her feelings for Torrent however, slight; Dais still was very mysterious. He smiled softly, increasing the heat on her cheeks. "What is it, Suiko?"
"Is... is there something wrong with the food?" Dais glanced at Strata and Hardrock briefly. "No, nothing at all! It's exquisite! Especially the snow peas... I never knew that you were so talented. This flavor you've added packs quite a... punch," he smiled. Sakura's cheeks heated with praise.
"T-thank you, Dais!" she giggled.
Hardrock and Strata... Hmm... He glanced at Rowen's plate. No peas. Hardrock...
Fully loaded cannons. Dais caught a flash of metal duck underneath the tablecloth as Hardrock ate slowly, another convenience, as oddly disturbing as it was. Dais squinted his eyes at Hardrock's place setting. He smiled to himself. Fire away... Dais calmly went back to eating and waited for the fun to begin.
Kento waited until Dais looked the other way. Man. Is he on to me? ... Gotta be less obvious. He went to arm his spoon when the pea kept rolling off of the utensil. "Huh?" He tried again. The pea escaped. Kento frowned. Finally, impatient, he took an entire spoonful and covered it with his hand. Ha ha! He grinned in triumph.
"Kento. What the heck are you doin', man?" Ryo whispered as he returned from feeding Whiteblaze. Kento kept an eye on his hand and leaned over to him.
"My food's alive," he whispered.
"Alive? You mean like-"
"Like dust bunnies from central Venus alive!" he hissed softly. Ryo frowned.
"Dammit. That wasn't my fault. Rowen used bad milk in that batch of muffins."
"Whatever, man! My food's alive!" Kento argued.
"Sh'yeah, and monkeys might fly outta my butt," Ryo scoffed.
"Dude! Look..." Kento removed his hand slowly. The mound of peas was stationary. Ryo rolled his eyes.
"I think you've had too much saké, man," Ryo chuckled. Kento frowned with a sigh and opened his mouth to shovel the peas inside to eat.
The peas exploded off of his spoon sending Kento to the floor chair and all. "AH!! WHOOA!" He landed on his back with a thud.
"Kento!" Mia exclaimed. "Are you all right?!"
"Kento-kun fall down go boom!"
"Yes, Kiku," Cale laughed. Ryo leaned over the back of his chair in shock. Kento crossed his arms while still on his back, glaring up at Ryo.
"... I don't see monkeys, Ryo. Where are the butt monkeys!?!" A chorus of laughter erupted around the room as Ryo helped him up.
"The only monkey around here is you, Kento!" Sai laughed.
"Well, Hardrock," Dais began with a satisfied smirk and drank his saké, "I guess Suiko's dish knocked your socks off..." Kento glared at the older man as he set his chair upright and brushed off the peas.
"Holy cow! He ISN'T wearing socks!" Yuli exclaimed after looking up from underneath the table. Yuli began to shovel the entire well of peas, mashed, gravy and all.
"Kento-kun, you shouldn't play with your food," Megami giggled. Hardrock smirked as the conversation picked up at the table: Sekhmet and Lady Kayura were more talkative, and even Anubis had almost gotten over his little spat with Tori.
"Hey! Don't take the last of the pickles! I didn't get any yet!" Tori blocked Anubis' hand from the platter sticks with her set.
"Ow!" he hissed and then blocked hers and ate the last one
"Hey!"
"As you mortals say: 'you snooze you lose'!"
"Grr! Don't make me hit you again!"
"I'd like to see you try," he smiled smugly.
"Tori! Hey cool it," Ryo said gently trying to keep the younger girl from stabbing Anubis to death with a chopstick. Tori growled and sat back. "Here, take my pickles. I never really liked them a whole bunch," he said and handed her his bowl. Tori blushed softly.
"Uh, thank you, Ryo-kun.
"'Thank you, Ryo-kun!" Anubis mocked in a high voice. Tori threw a bean at him. "Ah! I hate beans!" he snapped.
Well, almost...
Domo hissed softly as she pulled away the bandaged around her neck. Fang marks deep into her skin were surrounded by dried blood, and swelling skin. A large bruise began to form around the undamaged area. Her body still felt heavy with some of the poison still remaining in her system. "... I HATE cats..." she muttered.
There was a soft knock at her door. "S'open." Sage peered inside and bowed slightly out of habit. "Hi, Sage," Domo greeted.
"H-hey. How are you feeling?" he asked and entered. He had a try of food for her and placed it on her lap.
"My neck hurts. Raiko gives on hell of a hickie, damn," she laughed.
"Lady Kayura thought it would be best to see how you would react to Raiko's poison before I healed your wound. You have Korin to protect you so there wasn't a real emergency."
"I think I'm getting better. I just feel really tired." She lifted the lid and stared at the tray in awe. "Is this all for me?!"
"Heh, yeah... It was hard to keep Kento away from the leftovers. Anubis and Tori fought over the last of the pickles so..." Domo rolled her eyes.
"Gimme, gimme never gets. She's always so picky about her food," Domo laughed before praying quickly then eating. "Go ahead and have some food too. I can't eat all this!"
"I all ready ate, thanks. I can hold my own, but I'm not like Kento!" he laughed. Domo sighed heavily and said nothing. Her sudden change in attitude was odd. "Domo-sama?"
"Huh? Oh... sorry... I... I had this weird dream a few moments ago. Kinda shook me up... Raiko-"
"He dead. Sekhmet crushed his skull."
"Hey I'm eating!" she laughed. Sage blushed.
"Sorry... you were saying?"
"Oh, well... It's nothing really I'm just..." She wrung her hands nervously. She was shaking and not because it was cold either.
"Domo? Hey, it's okay. He's gone."
"No, Sage. I felt him. He... was inside my head. I still feel like he's there," she whispered rubbing her temples.
"I think it's the poison." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial that Sekhmet had given to him. "I don't know how it'll taste, but Sekhmet says it'll cure you." Domo took the glass of red fluid cautiously before swallowing it. She coughed and made a face.
"Blahhh... B-bitter," she growled.
"It should take a few hours for it to work." He then reached over and covered her neck with his palm. She felt the warm of the Halo armor close the fang marks slowly.
"Thanks, Sage," she murmured. Halo blushed again heavily and smiled.
"Well, uh, I'll leave you alone-"
"You can stay, Sage. I need some company... if you're not busy, that is," Domo interrupted.
"Won't your guardian get mad?" he said.
"Her? I dunno what her deal is. I have a boyfriend all ready so there's nothing to worry about."
"Worry about?" Sage asked.
"She and I are kinda... one... so whatever I feel she feels. She's not a big fan of the love and fun in case you haven't all ready guessed." Sage nodded with an annoyed sighed.
"No fun in the sun with her, huh?" Domo shrugged.
"Who the hell cares? Now help me eat all this before Kento finds his way up here!" she smiled.
"Careful, Kiku! Don't drop it!" Cale warned as he handed her an empty plate from the stack he carried.
"Thank yooou," she smiled and pushed open the door to the kitchen. Tori and Anubis were stuck doing the dishes as punishment for their rude behavior at dinner. Tori had gone into the dining room to help Cale. Kiku held up the dish to Anubis. "Anubi-chan! Clean this too!" she smiled.
"Thank you, little one," he sighed and stacked it with the rest. Kiku tugged on the apron that he wore. "Anubi-chan? Do you hate my sister?"
"Wh-what?! No of course not!" he laughed nervously, not quite wanting to lie to the little toddler.
"Then you love her?"
"I-"
"Are you gonna marry her?!" she smiled excitedly. Tori re-entered the kitchen.
"Why would I marry 'that' doofus?" she asked her. Kiku blinked up at her sister as she sat her on the counter to clean her face.
"Cause you are friends!" she beamed. "And you share clothes! Mika's mama and papa share clothes! Remember?" Tori blushed.
"It's more complicated than that, Kiku. Have Cale-kun explain it to you." She turned to Cale. "You've been married before right?"
"H-huh? Uh... Well... Yes... but that was a looong time ago, Rekka," he replied.
"ANYway," Anubis spat, "your sister is far too... too-"
"Watch it, Red. I can still stab you to death with a chopstick if I have to."
"Why don't you just shut up and help me out here instead of running your mouth!!" Anubis snapped. Tori growled.
"Cale-kun!! Make them stoooop!" Kiku exclaimed.
"Stop bickering! You all ready sound like you're married!" Tori and Anubis flushed heavily.
"But they're not," Kiku said. "I confused!" she pouted. Cale kissed her forehead gently.
"You're not the only one, sweetheart," he laughed.
"Cale-kun, when I grow up, can I marry you?" Kiku asked. A deep blush stained Cale's cheeks.
"I..." He sighed heavily and smiled. "Yes, Kiku, when you get older, okay? Come on, it's bath time, okay?"
"Can Captain Bubblehead come too?"
"That's Captain Bubble MAN, Kiku."
Tori watched her sister and Cale leave and smiled sweetly. "He really loves her, huh?" she asked. Anubis busied himself with the dishes.
"Yes. I've known Cale a long time. I've never seen him this happy before now," Anubis replied. The civil tone in his voice surprised her.
"Wow, now yer all polite and crap. What gives?" Anubis released an annoyed groan.
"Unlike you, little one, I can let things go."
"... Whatever," Tori mumbled and began to dry the dishes he cleaned. She stared down at the robe she was still wearing. "Red?"
"Hm?"
"Where did you get this robe?" Anubis fell silent for a moment and didn't answer right away.
"It... was a gift... From Zeal when I knew her a long time ago," he replied. "I don't know why I still have it..."
"Maybe it's because you still love her," she said. His whole body stiffened with her comment. Tori bit her lip. "Sorry..."
"... I don't know what I feel. She... is evil now. She's all ready tried killing you twice."
"Twice?!"
"Once was when those dark creatures attacked you. The other time was when I was still chained up..."
"Why me?!"
"About four years ago, something happened to her. I don't know what, but I think Talpa put a false notion into her head. It somehow involves you, or at least looks like you."
"Jealousy?? She thinks... ohhhhhhh..."
"I would be angry too if I had competition. She's very intimidated by beautiful women. She's killed off several of the other girls that I... 'met with' because of their beauty." Tori's face heated at the indirect compliment.
"...T-thanks," she mumbled. Maybe he isn't such a doofus... Anubis splashed her with suds.
"Hey, just be very careful when you fight. She's very dangerous," he warned softly.
"Are you... worried about me, Red?" she giggled.
"Hey, someone has to watch you. You're such a klutz!" he laughed.
"I am not!" Tori spat.
Sekhmet pushed his way into the kitchen and stopped as he witnessed a soap fight between Anubis and Tori. "Ack! Stop! You'll ruin your robe!" Tori squeaked.
"It's just soap-" Anubis released her and straightened. He and Sekhmet hadn't spoken since earlier that day. Anubis could still feel the claws constricting his neck. Sekhmet glared at him silently. The silence between the two was deadly. Tori frowned.
"Cool it, you two," she snapped. "I'm sick of you two fighting about something that happened almost half a millennia ago!"
"This does not concern you, Rekka," Sekhmet snarled, feeling his claws extend slowly. Anubis didn't say anything. Tori exploded.
"This does too concern me, Sekhmet!!" she yelled. "Yeah, it was wrong of Anubis to destroy your home and family, but he couldn't help it! Talpa poisoned his mind with all these terrible things and he couldn't control himself!!" Sekhmet pounded on the marble countertop angrily causing Tori to jump.
"What do you know, brat?! You weren't there!! You don't have any idea what he did!!!"
"That doesn't give you any right to be angry!! You did the same things he did after Talpa turned you!! You were just as bad as he was!!!" Sekhmet snarled and lunged at her, lifting his arm to slash her. In an instant, Anubis took the blow against his arm as he shielded her. Sekhmet's claw tore four treads into Anubis flesh. He shot back in shock with Anubis' actions and his own. Anubis grimaced. "Sekhmet! Calm down! Look what you almost did!" Anubis snapped.
Tori felt tears of anger burn in her eyes. She lunged back at Sekhmet, Anubis holding her back. "YOU KILLED MY PARENTS! ALL OF YOU DID!!" she screamed. "You, Dais, Cale, Anubis, AND Talpa!! You all killed my family, but I know better!! I know that you were just mere puppets that you didn't know what you were doing... I don't blame you or anyone else for what happened! But since you've decided to not bury the hatchet, maybe I shouldn't either!!!!" she cried. Sekhmet felt the heat of shame on his face. "... I'm not asking you to completely forgive Anubis, but... at least TRY to find some peace with each other! PLEASE!" she cried.
Sekhmet lowered his eyes before turning on his heel and running out of the room. Tori sniffled loudly and dried her eyes before returning to the sink and turning the water on. Anubis turned back to her. "You... didn't have to do that," Anubis said softly. Tori's eyes were hard and full of pain. She silently pulled him to the sink and began to unbutton his shirt to clean his wound.
"Yeah, I did..." she said sadly.