A/N: Here's a chapter to show that I'm still alive. :D Enjoy my lovely readers! (And thank you for the reviews! I love them with all my hypothalamus! Lol. Lame joke, I know. )

And so here's chapter 3.

Under the Hood

-Chapter 3-

I looked up from the money I was oh-so-happily counting to see Luce standing in front of me with an expectant look on her face. Next to her was the Chinese. He looked the same the last time I saw him, only this time he was wearing green.

I raised my brows at Luce and turned my attention to...Fong, not hiding that fact that I was openly staring at him. The bland look I was giving him, despite half my face being covered by my hood, probably made him uncomfortable, if the almost unnoticeable twitching of his eye was anything to go by. What can I say? I have an eye for small details. It's one talent I'm quite proud of, and it helps in easily conning...preys.

I finally opened my mouth to speak. I figured I let them wait in silence long enough.

"Who are you again?"

Cue widened eyes and spluttering. Well, Luce at least. The damn Chinese only stared at me as if expecting that with an all knowing smile.

I held back a growl. Jerk.

Luce gaped at me. "You can't possibly have forgotten him? You just met yesterday!" She jutted her thumb towards Fong's face, momentarily forgetting the rules of courtesy and good conduct (rules I've never bothered to learn), and if not for his quick evasion skills she just might have poked out his eye.

I commend his ninja moves.

Well, that certainly was amusing. I swear my lips turned up a bit. Good thing I caught them just in time. It wouldn't do well for Luce to learn that I'm just playing her.

"Doesn't ring a bell." I drawled. I looked away from both of them and turned my attention back to the money I was counting before getting interrupted. I muttered a silent curse realizing that I couldn't remember where I left off. Well damn. Why do I always get disturbed when I'm counting my precious money? Why can't people disturb me when I'm looking less busy, or not disturb me at all?

Personally, I'd prefer the latter.

Again. Stupid humans.

"You're just being difficult."

No. I'm being extremely difficult.

Luce sighed exasperatedly. I'm not so sure if that's how an exasperated sigh sounds like, but it fitted the atmosphere. So that's how I'll call it. An exasperated sigh.

"Mammon..." Ah, she said my name now, so I turned to look at her. Her aquamarine eyes bore into mine. "You two are in the same class with the rest of us. Together. He started today. He was introduced by the teacher. He now sits beside you, remember?"

Her eyes glinted dangerously, and I'm pretty sure I'd be screwed if I said otherwise.

Luce is scary as hell when she's even mildly pissed.

And so the cowardly me answered her in a soft voice. "Maybe."

She beamed at me. That was the closest thing to an affirmative she could get from me.

The Chinese bastard looked amused, so I glared at him. Hard.

Let me get this straight. I can butt heads with anybody. I can stand my ground butting heads with Reborn. I'm hardly a coward. Luce just... let's just say Luce's an exception.

And she was right. As much as I want to deny the fact, the seven of us are all in the same classroom. Talk about coincidence. I could hardly stand all the noise they make so I've made it a point to tune them out, especially coupled with the incessant giggling of girls. The noise is enough to drive me mad.

That was why that's exactly what I did when he walked into the room and the teacher started introductions. It's just sheer bad luck on my part that the only available seat was the one beside me (as people tend to keep away). But I ignored him all the same.

I guess I couldn't pretend he doesn't exist forever. Too bad.

When I turned to look at Luce again, she has that expectant look on her face once more. I looked at her suspiciously.

"What do you want?"

The tone of my voice did nothing to deter her, unfortunately, and she cut straight to the chase.

Her voice was sweet, but made no room for arguments. "Can you show Fong around town?"

As a long time acquaintance, I deemed it only right to answer her with all the honesty and bluntness I could muster so there would be no misunderstandings.

"No."

And she could have left it at that and left me alone to continue with whatever it is I was doing but noooo.

She all but tackled me to the ground.

Luce dragged me a few short walks away from Fong until we were out of the Chinese's hearing range. I noticed that the guy was as clueless as I am from the corner of my eye. And he looked curious enough, probably as to what warranted such an act from Luce.

Luce drew close and whispered conspiratorially to my ear. "Just keep him occupied for a few hours at least. The others and I are planning on holding him a welcome party." She looked towards Fong quite a few times. Obvious much. The idiot didn't seem to notice though so I guess all's fine.

I looked at her pointedly and didn't bother lowering my voice. "That doesn't have anything to do with me."

The indigo-haired teen looked at me pleadingly. "Please? Just a couple of hours?"

I stared at her for a full minute before the puppy eyes got to me. I let out a sigh. "Why don't you distract him then? I'm pretty sure the others would do fine with the preparations even without you."

At this, Luce smiled. "I can't. I'm doing the cooking."

"Colonello then."

"He's doing the shopping along with Lal."

"Skull..."

"He's decorating the room with Verde."

My eyes almost bulged out. "Really? You got Verde to help you?"

Luce chuckled, her pretty face lighting up. It looked eerie for some reason.

"Oh, I just had a small talk with him and he was pretty willing to help afterwards."

Something told me I don't want to know what that 'talk' was about.

"Have Reborn do it then. I doubt he'd help with the menial labor."

"He's doing supervising work and something else. Says it's a surprise."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "You got it all planned out, don't you?"

Luce only smiled. I'm pretty sure there's something sinister that promises pain behind that smile.

And because I worried for my life, I grudgingly conceded.

"All right. Fine. But you owe me."

Luce looked happy as she pranced (gracefully I might add) back to Fong and told him all about the arrangements. Fong nodded his head and smiled at me from where he was at. I only hope I wouldn't regret my decision too soon.

There goes my free time again.

A/N: Lol. Were you disappointed? XD More FongxMammon in the next chapter. (The latest manga chapter gave me inspiration. OvO) Ohohoho~ Oh and, I'm thinking of changing the title. Can anyone suggest a good one? I suck at making them. ^^'

The story is starting out slowly, isn't it? Well, it might get better soon. :P

Reviews are still lovely and they forever shall be. :D