"Hello?" Hope says into her cell phone. "Hey Veronica can we come stay at your place?" A pause "My home was just destroyed by Ruscelia," Another pause "Yes Ruscelia is back. Yeah we're fine staying with other people. Ok we'll be there soon," She hangs up.
"What's up?" Ruby asks.
"Well apparently Veronica has some people staying at her place already. We'll have to stay with them as well," Hope explains.
"Alright," Vikari says.
"As long as they're nice," Ruby says.
"I'm sure they are. Are you okay with that?" Hope turns to Tsuzuki and Hisoka.
"That's fine," Tsuzuki says.
"Alright to Veronicas we go then," Hope says leading the way through the night as the sky begins to lighten. They reach Veronicas after the daybreak.
"Hello, everyone," A lovely teenage girl answers the door. She has long brown hair, hazel eyes, and purple angel wings. She wears a pair of torn jeans, a yellow tank top, silver bracelets, and black sandals. "Come in," She leads them inside. "Do pardon the mess," She laughs as they enter the very very large kitchen. "Alright introductions," She turns to face them.
"Of course," Hope says noticing the five young men scattered around the room. The first one she notices is sitting at the table having a conversation with another one. The first has spiky blonde hair and brown eyes and the other has even spikier brown hair and sapphire blue eyes. Her eyes then wander to the one leaning against the counter holding a glass of water. He has long brown hair tied back with bells in it and brown eyes. Way to his left in a shadowy corner is another with long black hair and eyes. The last is standing against the wall nearest them. He has spiky brown hair held up by a white cloth and dark eyes. "Well, Veronica, this is Tsuzuki and Hisoka," Hope introduces them.
"Nice to meet you," Veronica smiles.
"Ummm…Veronica who are your guests?" Vikari asks glancing around the room. However before Veronica has a chance to answer Ruby approaches the man in the shadowy corner.
"Get those rocks out of your pocket," She says icily. He seems surprised by her. "They are from my forest therefore they belong to me."
"Oh really?" He replies with a smile "You're a forest nymph then?" He asks. Ruby looks taken aback.
"Yes I-I am," She finally manages to reply.
"Cute little thing you are," He says. She blushes slightly.
"Get those rocks out of your pocket!" She screams. The entire room falls silent.
"I will," He says leaning down to her level "For a price," He kisses her then takes the rocks out of his pocket and gives them to her, "Nice doing business with you," He grins. Ruby goes and stands beside Veronica.
"Well anyway uh," Veronica starts everyone. looks at her, "This is Ginji," She indicates the blonde "Ban," The man sitting across from Ginji, "Kazuki," The one leaning on the counter, "Shido," The one leaning on the wall, "And Ruby has already met Akabane," She introduces them. "Guys these are my friends, Ruby," she moves aside a little, "Vikari," Vik waves to them, "And Hope,"
"Hello," Hope says.
"Do you mind if I get something to drink?" Vikari asks Veronica.
"Not at all," Veronica replies, "Kazuki could you get Vik a cup please?" Ruby takes a seat on the counter as Kazuki hands Vikari a glass blushing furiously.
"Are the ears natural or fake?" He asks her.
"Oh they're real," Vikari replies "I'm a fire kitsune demon," She says filling her glass with water. "I have a tail as well," She wags her tail gently. "What do the bells do?" She asks him.
Meanwhile Hope is speaking casually to Veronica until she sees Shido staring at her.
"Are you checking me out?" She turns to face him. He turns away. "You can look all you want," She smiles "Just don't get the wrong idea," She warns him. He looks at her again.
"You're a dragon-demon?" He asks her.
"Well, half," she replies "And half human."
"But you're still part beast," He smiles slightly.
"What is he smiling about?" Hope asks.
"Uh yeah should've told you that beforehand," Veronica says scratching her head. "Shido is a beast master," She explains.
"That's what I mean about getting the wrong idea!" Hope exclaims. "Where is Ari?" She asks looking around.
"Oh she's still in bed. I'll go get her," Ban says getting up and going up the stairs. He goes into a small room at the end of the hall nearest the stairs. In the large bed lays a beautiful teenage girl with long brown hair. "C'mon Ari, time to get up," Ban says poking her shoulder.
"Mmmm…Ice Cream!" She says in her sleep and pulls Ban onto the bed with her. "Ice cream is yummy." She sighs before opening her eyes. There's a moment of complete silence. Down in the kitchen all they hear is a scream and then Ari nearly flies down the stairs screaming "There's a pervert in my bedroom!"
"Awww…C'mon Ari I was just waking you," Ban says coming down after her.
"Yeah and you got in next to me to wake me up. Okay," Ari snaps back at him.
"Ari, you were still dreaming when you pulled me down," Ban tries to explain.
"Yeah whatever," Ari says finally rolling her turquoise blue eyes. She wears a denim skirt, a black halter top, and knee-high black boots.
"Well uh, Tsuzuki. Hisoka this is our friend, Arisusa, but we just call her Ari," Hope says.
"Hi. Nice to meet you," Ari greets them with a smile.
"Well, this going to be interesting," Hisoka sighs looking around the room. "How many bedrooms are in this place?"
"Well there are six, but I usually only use four," Veronica replies. "With twelve of us we might have to use five,"
"Then who sleeps where?" Vikari asks.
"I guess it will be chance," Veronica replies taking a small earthen bowl off the counter. They all look at her as if she's crazy. "Don't worry there are two beds in each room and no opposite gender couples in the same bed or else," She reassures them.
"I guess we all put our names in the bowl?" Ruby asks.
"No you will pick a number out of the bowl. I've numbered each room. After everyone has chosen we will see who sleeps where," They each take a number out of the bowl.
"Okay who got number one?" Veronica asks.
"I did," Vikari and Kazuki say in unison. They both blush.
"Alright number two?" Veronica says.
"That would be me," Akabane smiles
"And me," Ruby says looking at him nervously.
"Me too," Hisoka says. Ruby looks a little relieved by this.
"Number three?" Veronica asks.
"I did," Shido replies. Hope turns red.
"So did I," Hope says
"And me," Tsuzuki says
"Number four?" Veronica asks
"That's me," Ari says smiling.
"Me too," Ban says. Ari looks at him disdainfully.
"Well I can guess who I'm sharing a room with," Veronica says looking at Ginji.
"You bet," Ginji smiles.
"Well it could be worse," Hope smiles weakly and looks at Ruby. "Look at the bright side at least you're not alone with him," Ruby nods.
"Yeah well neither are you," She reminds Hope. Hope smiles.
"I guess we'll skip the fighting for tonight and just relax," Tsuzuki says.
"Yes, that sounds very good," Hope agrees. "We haven't slept yet today anyway,"
"What's for lunch?" Ari asks.
"Oh I haven't thought of that!" Veronica exclaims. "Are you all ok entertaining yourselves while I make dinner then?" She asks them.
They all nod.
"It would probably be a good idea to get used to our new room mates since we don't know how long the mission will take anyhow," Kazuki says. Hope and Ruby look at him like he's nuts.
"Yeah that's a good idea," Vikari says "Can't sleep well with a stranger in the room,"