AA: Hahah, this has taken me a while, hasn't it? Sorry about that. X3
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Not again… She groaned, not even bothering to look up from her newspaper. She could tell, just from the voices in the hallway it was going to be another unbearable evening. Why couldn't they just go out like normal people? Why did they have to stay home and drive her completely round the bend! She was sick of it…
"Baiken! We're hooome! Get us some drinks or something…"
Two people began to laugh. The woman resisted the urge to stamp right out there and strangle the pair of them there and then and clutched the newspaper even tighter, nails ripping through a few pages. "Get it yourselves… Lazy bastards…" She muttered in response, staring straight ahead at the page. Oh, look at that. Wild iguana saves five babies and hamster mascot in nursery fire.
"Oooh, wild iguana saves five kids in a fire!" Chipp leant over her shoulder, hands on his hips, reading it out loud. "Fancy that."
"Get. Away. From. Me." She snarled turning to narrow her eyes at the ninja threateningly.
He backed up nervously, hands up. "Sorry! Geeze…" He crossed his arms over his chest, one eyebrow arched, a little confidence coming back when he saw her relax again. "Let's hope if there's ever a fire here there aren't any plucky iguanas to rescue you"
"That's IT! I'll kill you, you little-"
"ANJI SHE'S TRYING TO KILL ME!" Chipp dodged her fist and darted into the kitchen, grabbing hold of Anji's sleeve.
Anji blinked, "Er, Chipp? What did-"
Baiken stormed into the kitchen, making for Chipp, "GET HERE NOW!" She shrieked, shoving Anji out of her way.
Her target ducked behind him again, sticking his tongue out before pouting, "Anji, she just came at me! I didn't do anything! I swear she's crazy!"
The dancer laughed, putting an arm around him gently, "Now, now, Baiken… We had words about this…"
Baiken took a deep breath, then sighed, shaking her head. "Whatever." She managed through gritted teeth, stomping back into the living room, hands fist. Stupid bastard, always picking HIS side, I'll kill 'im one day…But not any day soon unfortunately. For several reasons. Firstly, she was not about to go down with murder. She and Anji had been lying low for a while now and they'd been doing well hiding their heritage and one annoying little brat wasn't going to expose her. Or Anji, who was the other reason.
As much as she hated to admit it, she was quite fond of him. Well… A little more than…
Urgh. There she was getting all soppy again. Frowning, the woman slumped back down in her chair. Anji seemed to have a similar affect on Chipp too. The usually moody, stubborn ninja was giggly and chatty. Annoying as hell. Just watching him in the kitchen got to her. He was cuddled against Anji's arm, nuzzling his shoulder happily.
Anji ruffled his hair, then blinked, "Hey that's new." He commented, giving the crimson piece of material around his throat a little tug.
Chipp shrugged, "Eh. Yeah. Axl left it at my house."
"Oh?"
"No! It's not like that… He stayed over the day before yesterday night. It was stormy, remember? He missed the trains back so I left him stay. I've been meaning to give it back but I haven't seen him recently." He explained, trying to push the events of said night into the corners of his mind, but it was hard; the soft fabric still smelt strongly of his hair.
But as much Baiken wanted to just hold on… She got to her feet and stamped out of the flat, slamming the door behind her so hard loose plaster fell from the ceiling.
--
Axl touched the top of his head. Something was missing… Oh. Yeah. He mumbled gloomily, leaving the house as he was. He felt so… different without his bandana. A nonidentity. Running a hand through his hair, the Brit made his way down the almost deserted street. It was a particularly grey day, even after the storms.
"How could you ever think he could like you, stupid?"
Baiken clenched her fists harder. "How could he ever like that stupid brat!"
"Why can't he like me?" He rounded the corner.
"Why can't he go away!" She rounded the other corner.
"All I want is…" He fell back against the lamp post with a sigh.
"All I want is…" She fell back against the lamp post with a sigh.
"Chipp…"
"Anji…"
Axl paused. Baiken paused.
He glanced round, meeting her gaze straight away.
"You!" They both said simultaneously, jumping back in surprise. The samurai started to tell him where to get off, then stopped. She folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. "You… like Chipp?" She ventured.
He nodded, momentarily dumbstruck. "Um… Yeah… I…" He shook his head and thought back ten seconds, "… And you like Anji?"
Rage (and embarrassment?) flashed across her face for an instant and she thwacked him hard across the head. "Shut up!" She snapped, blushing furiously.
Axl clutched his head, "Oww… Sorry… I… er…" He mumbled through winces, "… I mean… You don't like Chipp?"
Baiken nodded silently in response, still pink.
He stood up straight, smiled almost craftily and put his hands on his hips. "In that case… I feel an alliance is in order."
She thought about it, then smiled back, grimly. "I think it is."
