Me: I apologize for the length, forewarning, in word, its about 24/25 pages ^^; to be fair, the events of this chapter and the former were originally (when this was Shinzo Date) jammed into a single chapter, so at least I separated it this time around!
Mushra: Just pray you don't put anyone to sleep. You already took long enough to write it!
Me: its called writers block, leave me alone! Why don't you try it some time!
Mushra: Alright, I will! *goes off to do so*
Me: well, while he's doing that, disclaiming ensues, I do not own the original story this stems from, nor its characters, I am merely responsible for my own characters plus character designs, so, there.
Mushra: ….. *can't pick anything to write about*
Me: Enjoy!
Chapter 2—What Comes Of It
"So, I was thinking, there's this really nice place where they serve outside, and it'd be really beautiful out, what do you think?" Winter was offering our plans and possibilities to Xavier as they walked arm in arm. Whether or not we were supposed to be listening, I don't think any of us were, properly. The awkward really hadn't left. Us four accompanying the love birds were cloaked in it.
Like, seriously. We weren't even really talking. Looking quickly to and away from each other. See, I would prefer clinging to this silence, and if I'd been brought into this situation a few years ago, I would have stayed in that place. But I wasn't standing for this…any longer than the ten minutes that had passed.
"You ever been on a date before?" why that was the question I decided to ask, I really don't know. I had so many ideas of just romance- and date-lacking subjects, but maybe some part of me trying to commit to this illusion of a date wanted to keep the vibe going? I don't know, with all the self and situational analyzing I do, sometimes I still didn't fully understand myself.
And I asked that particular question of my 'date', so it earned a sort of stunned look from Sago before he answered. "Yeah…a few…"
The churning that had been going on in my stomach seemed to get a bit frosted then. Never really thought of him even dating anyone else before, we'd never seen or heard of the guys having any romantic partners, other than Yakumo being a subject of admiration and love. I would consider if those few dates were even during the show or after, if I didn't decide to pull myself out of that pointless wondering. I just nodded to his answer.
"And you?" he asked, almost returning the favor of the question; he seemed glad I'd started some conversation. "Any uh…guys worth your time?"
"Dating, yes. Guys, no." I answered.
"O-oh. Girls?" he asked, taken aback. I realized, that had never come up, my Bi-Demi-sexual orientation (really, I haven't felt that become fully defined yet. Maybe its somewhere in between, some sexuality I don't know). Not like before it had been relevant, but still.
I just nodded. "Guys, I seemed to only really like. Never felt any of them would be worth that attempt of commitment, but there were a few…decent and amazing women. It never worked out, though."
He hesitated for a moment, seeming to process what I said by the look on his face, I just wasn't sure what part he was processing. But he finally spoke again, looking at me as he did. "Why didn't it, if you don't mind me asking?"
"…Because me." I shrugged. I didn't really know how to perfectly explain the why, and honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to. With him, at least. Just the thought made me think of how vulnerable I'd feel, double the feeling because its him.
"Just you?" he raised a brow, as if he didn't believe me.
I just nodded, sticking my hands in my pockets as I walked, before I looked to him. "What about you? The romancer you played yourself to be, I would've thought you'd have either more than just a few, or…just a single person." Nooo, Jaden, why are you going there…
"I REALLY want a boat ride, if we can convince the others…" I over-heard Winter's determined mutter to Xavier, and I looked to them before I was answered.
"Well, let's just say, I thought there had been the one, in this certain person, but…turns out I wasn't what they were looking for, or maybe I never was." He admitted to me and I was surprised myself, but just focused my gaze on him, watching him and listening. "So, from then on, I just…was in and out of relationships. I enjoyed the company, the flirting." He smiled a little but shrugged.
So, the romantic player was originally played. I wasn't regretting that question as much anymore.
"Now, seeing as I honestly answered you." He began, smirking at me.
Oh, that little shit, he did that on person. Never mind, I regret the question again.
I made a face, rolling my eyes. "You want me to go deeper than just me but you know what, that's all there really is."
"Really?"
"…" my mouth opened to respond, but nothing came, and before there could be any further attempts, Winter and Xavier had stopped walking in front of us and I turned to face them to see they were watching us. "…Yes?"
"What do you guys think?" Xavier asked.
"About what?" Heather asked behind us.
Winter sighed. "Y'all haven't been listening?"
"You haven't heard us in a conversation behind you?" I challenged her with her irritation.
She rolled her eyes. "Ok, I was thinking we could eat at the Lakeside Bistro. What do you guys think? We could eat outside, we could go on a boat ride before we head to the haunted house?"
"H-haunted…house?" Sago questioned, and I laughed under my breath, distinctly remembering that 'Nightmare Dream Center' episode of the second season and all the spooky rides that Sago was screaming at.
"Jaden's idea." Winter told him, as if it was a shameful idea she didn't want credit for.
I just kept smiling, not even looking at Sago, but I felt his eyes on me, considering if they were pleading or accusing.
"A boat ride..?" Heather questioned then, coming to my side. She didn't sound too enthusiastic.
Winter nodded, tucking some hair behind her ear sheepishly. "Yeah, I thought it could be…nice…maybe…?"
"Iiiiiiii dunno…." I bit my lip, not too keen on the idea either—there's only so much romantic implications I was going to be able to take on this endeavor.
Winter lowered her gaze, pouting, but she didn't argue. Maybe because she knew just how Heather and I felt. "Okay, well… We're still going on a walk! Through that field, you know the one? At least that! After the tour of the house!" she bargained.
I looked to Heather, my raised brow asking her opinion on such an offer, and rolling her head back and forth in considerable thought, she finally nodded. "I'm good with that."
"And how about you two?" I looked to Mushra and Sago then. "Nice dinner, a tour of a haunted house, and a semi-romantic-"
"It is romantic!"
"-walk in some wheat fields made all fairy-tail style with their different paths and destinations of varied scenery?" I finished.
Sago and Mushra looked to one another for a moment before shrugged.
"Harmless enough." Mushra commented, popping his neck and stretching his arms behind his head.
"So you think…" Heather whispered ominously, giving a 'mwuauahaha' as she continued walking ahead, just as our house was in sight; our only reason for returning being the cars we would need for travel. Even though I'd rather not use up the gas, bikes were not…the most comfortable option—too close and personal for my bearing of this situation.
Winter pulled Xavier along as she looked at our two cars—mine and Heathers; mine being a fandom-inspired (obviously) black 1967 Chevy Impala, and Heather's a grey Honda I always forget the make and model of because its NOT fandom related.
"We should use the biggest one—for space." Winter stated, looking to me then. "Is yours okay, Jaden?"
I nodded. "Sure. Let me run in and get the keys." I said, and made my way, hearing footsteps coming after me and I glanced to see Heather coming with me while the boys decide to wait with Winter and Xavier. Opening the door (which we leave unlocked at times because no one around here really knows us or where we live, and our home is sort of remote accept for the abandoned houses and gas stations nearby), I go straight for the table near the door and I open the drawer, snatching up my keys, and I turn to have Heather right in my eye.
Her eyes are narrowed in some sort of determination unknown to me, so I hesitantly asked. "…Wuuuut?"
"Rock paper scissors for driver." She states swiftly.
"What? Why?"
"I can see it now…." She began dramatically, looking to the open door and back to me. "We all know Winter wants to sit shotgun snuggled into Xavier in that one seat. So that means one of us drives. And one of us sits with the guys in the back. I'm not sitting between those two."
I narrowed my eyes back at her then, with my own determination, unwilling to be back there with them either. "…You're on." You could practically hear the western music from our stare down.
We get our hands ready, and after I stuff my keys away after realizing slamming my fist with those clenched between might hurt, we began, slamming three times. I got scissors…she got rock. Dang, okay… I still have two tries, okay, keep it cool, Jaden. One, two, three—paper, rock. Yes! I got one!
This was the final try. One…two…three…
I got rock and she got scissoers, YES!
"Ha! Haha!" I fist pumped and she glared, muttering through a restrained (trying not to laugh) smile, "I hate you…"
Smirking, I made my way out first with her all-but stalking right behind me, and being the cruel friend I could be, I called out, "I'm driving!"
"Alright, we've got shot gun then!" Winter called out happily, smiling, before I saw a look of almost sudden fear on her face. It was only when she looked down right as I heard the noise of her distress. There were two—no, three snakes slithering out from under my car (one slithering off another). With a squealing of distress, she all but pushed back and jumped on Xavier.
One was slithering her way, the others seeming as if they noticed mine and heathers approach, slithering our way. I pulled off a boot, tore off my sock and grabbed the one slithering my way by the neck just below the jaw in a way where it wouldn't be able to open its jaws. It wriggled, but I had a decent enough hold, and then I went after the one slithering at Winter. I would've thought Xavier could have grabbed it, but I guess he was too busy trying to calm Winter. I tossed it, high and hard, it landing in the brush right at the edge of the trees, grabbing up Winter's and doing the same with it as Heather got the other.
"Weird, we never have many snakes around here." Heather commented as Winter whimpered until she calmed.
"Yeah, and I saw one earlier, in the bushes by the road to the mansion." I commented. "Guess we'll need to be on the lookout from here on out." I shrugged. My poppy had taught me enough when I was younger and we went on trips or to family reunions how to deal with them. We ran into a decent few snakes in that part of Georgia and me and Winter had learned how to handle them—though, Winter would rather I do it, so I got used to it. She would also almost rather I make sure there was no way they'd be a later threat at all, but, we both labor under the mindset that if an animal is not presenting an extreme present threat, then we do our best to shoo it away rather than kill it.
"Don't take their presence lightly.." Sago commented, and I was confused.
I shrugged. "They're just snakes—animals, as long as we don't bug them, they usually don't bug us."
"They're an omen for trouble from my experience." He commented, turning for the car, Mushra following him.
Of course. They'd had a few scuffles with some annoying Reptile Enterrans, so I guess I couldn't blame their attitudes. Didn't mean I'd worry the same. I mean, this was Earth. The only Enterrans here were the guys, there was no threat, so there was nothing to worry for.
With that done with, we all climbed in, the guys just taking a few seconds, but they settled in the back, Sago in the middle between Heather and Mushra as she advised them to buckle up. Xavier and Winter climbed in beside me as I settled in, buckled up, and got the car started.
"I hope this rides better than that train." Mushra said suddenly.
"What train?" Sago questioned.
"The one me and Kutaal crashed into the Queen Bee-ings hive."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Hot-Head." I rolled my eyes and began to drive, pulling forward out of the driveway and down the dirt road nice and slow for Mushra. That was, until I reached the road. It was a plus that there were no cars driving right now, cause that meant more speed.
"Can we pick some music or something? It's too quiet in here!" Heather complained and Winter leaned to start up the radio. Which blasted loudly, not having been turned down from the last time I was blaring a favorite song. And of course, I'd swerved in surprise briefly.
"Careful, huh?!" Mushra critiqued.
I rolled my eyes as a channel was settled on, just a current pop station; it was decent enough, even if a few of the songs were a bit too pop-y for my liking. But no one was complaining. Then again, half the company of this car didn't even know anything they were listening to, so.
I found myself glancing into the rear view mirror—I couldn't help but check on the three in the back. Mushra and Sago just seemed awkward, and I just caught Heather giving me the 'I'm watching you' look. There's no way she had any bad attitude about losing rock, paper, scissors, surely.
It was twenty minutes before the town was in sight, many houses to the right of us on the road, and some shops and buildings to our left near the lake.
"There it is! Oh, I hope they have a good table outside free…" Winter uttered.
"Just as long as its not the table on the creak-spot. You can't move without thinking you're gonna fall in the water any second." Heather stated.
"Well, we'll just have to see." I said, and as we pulled in, I noticed there were more cars here than we're used to. Today was a good say for Lakeside, it seemed. Suddenly, as I was only nearly parked, I heard creaking behind me. I glanced and saw Mushra opening the door. "What are you doing?!"
"Getting out." He answered simply.
"Not until I've stopped the car, you don't!"
He shut the door and raised his hands in surrender.
I shook my head and pulled in a spot a bit further from the entrance, but it wasn't too big of a problem. Once we were at a complete stop, I told Mushra 'Ok, now' and everyone began climbing out as I shut off and then locked the car, climbing out last and fixing my outfit and hair before joining the others in treading up to the Bistro, Winter leading the way with her hand constantly intertwined with Xaviers. She glanced back at me and gave me an excited smile and I would have taken it as a look of just that; excitement, and yay-ness. If her eyes hadn't shot to the male folk walking between me and Heather.
I hope she wasn't expecting the same constant hand-holding. I couldn't even walk close to Sago for long tonight; much less have any constant physical contact. Heather didn't seem too keen to that either, but she wasn't getting any eye from Winter; less of a sibling, less expectation.
A small family having entered ahead of us, we took seats at the entrance as we waited for another server to come take us to a table. I took out my wallet while we were waiting, checking that I had enough money and of course I did.
I heard someone shift to sit beside me and I almost panicked like a young girl with a crush before I looked up and saw it was my sister. I sighed in relief, not even caring for her narrowed, judging gaze she put upon me.
"Are you trying to avoid talking?" She leaned close to me to ask silently, nodding her head down at my wallet which I put away like the guiltiest suspect.
"No? I just…don't have anything to talk about yet. Plus, I'm currently making sure I don't strike up the most amazing conversation right now of otherworldly proportions just to be interrupted by the server." I lied very sarcastically.
She sighed, but the look on her face said she hadn't expected anything different. Just then, a male server arrived, and I gave Winter a look that said 'told ya'.
Standing, everyone following my lead, I moved to the desk as the server asked, "All together..?"
"Yup. No need to split the bill either, I'm the one paying." I assured him, looking around the place. "Would we be able to be seated at big table?"
"Ah…sorry, but the family that came in before you got the last one But we have some two-person tables out on deck, if that would be acceptable?" he offered, pointing them out through the doors out to the deck. Just small enough for two people, circular and difficult to push together…great… I tried to look around for others, even if I'd be sad to miss the deck spots, when Winter answered before I could.
"Those are perfect!" She nodded to him, already making her way.
"B-bu…" I inwardly sighed as Sago passed me, nodding his head forward as if to tell me to come on. He seemed amused. Yeah, you go ahead and enjoy my misery, I'll get back at you when we get to the haunted house, scaredy cat.
I followed suit, glad to see at least the table with the creaking wood was taken. There was three triangularly spaced circle tables to the other corner, and Mushra hurried to take the one furthest from the edge of the water, and wanting to take opposite action of him, I turned my sights on the one nearest the edge and the water, nodding Sago to it. Only for Winter to completely not notice and take the spot with Xavier. Awesome. I just shrugged and took the one in the middle of the deck, just nearly reaching my seat before a hand pulled it back and I watched Sago walk around to his table.
Was that a gentlemanly pulling-out-of-a-chair, but respectful of letting me do the rest? Or was he just having fun playing the part right now, teasing? I decided to take the seat either way, scooting up and picking up the menu.
"Don't be disappointed if the flavorings not as good as Kutaal's." I stated to him as he picked up the menu, looking over it.
"…Whats a pepsi?" he asked.
I chuckled. "Good. You should get one." I myself will be getting Mountain Dew, that deliciously unhealthy beverage.
He nodded, and continued looking, his brow furrowed as he did so. I looked over his shoulder at his friend and mine, Mushra laid back in the chair recklessly and Heather trying to push the menu on him. Was he not going to eat? Maybe he was letting her pick. Either way, he almost fell flat on his back when Heather threw the menu right in his face. Smirking, she set down her own. I laughed to myself, and looked to Winter, who was helping Xavier with picking his food, and suddenly I felt bad; both Heather and Winter were sort of or completely helping their dates pick from this foreign-ish food, and I'm not at all. Well, they're big boys, they should be able to handle themselves.
"Do you drink wine?" Sago suddenly asked and drew my attention away from date-spying.
"Uh…not really. Never got a taste for it." I stated honestly, before adding, "Though, don't hesitate to order some if you'd like some."
He nodded.
I nibbled at the edge of my mouth. I already knew what I wanted (and was pretty sure what my sister and friend were getting, too, if they, like me, were sticking to usual's). The Chef's clam chowder. Heather would most likely get ribs, if she doesn't care for such messy food on a date and seeing as how she was probably using all her mental power to see this as anything BUT, I'm sure she'd still get them. Winter would probably get her favorite salad in a size small, and then the seafood stew. Question is, do we leave to boys to choose, or choose for them from our knowledge?
"So..anything look good to you?" I asked Sago then. His brows had calmed from their furrowing, so perhaps he had.
"Actually, yeah. Have you had the…sea scallops?" he asked, looking to me.
I nodded. "They're pretty good. Just make sure they add the buttered sauce, makes it a million times better."
He nodded with a small smile. "The sides..they go with, right?"
"Yeah. You almost always have to get some side—well, I mean, you could probably refuse and that would be fine, but its…" what word could work… "uh, customary you could say?" I laughed. "To pick a side."
He chuckled. "Alright. Theeeen…brussel sprouts sounds interesting…"
"Awesome, that's what I'm getting too. You getting that wine?" I asked to be sure, folding up my menu and setting it down, pulling out my droid phone and using the calculator in it to calculate the costs so far. Me, Heather, and Winter had all pitched on money last night to be sure we could pay for a meal out, so I was sure we'd have enough, I just had to make sure. The wine wasn't cheap, especially depending on your taste.
"I think I'll pass on it this time." He told me, and I was about to ask why he was passing, before I noticed he said this time, and wondered what he meant by that.
"I..uhm—okidoki." I nodded as he set down his menu.
Well, when our individual orders came in, I found I was half correct and half incorrect on the food. Winter got what I thought she would, and she got Xavier the same. Heather, however, seemed to have ordered samples of everything, her and Mushra's table nearly full of food, the only thing that table was devoid of was heavily potato-related foods. Well, I avoided the costs of the wine, and Heather made up for it. Perfect. I could only laugh.
Lady and the Tramp feeding-one-another going on at Winter's table, and Game of Foods going on at Heather's, I was just enjoying my clam chowder. Their clam chowder was always yummy, and it was perfectly warm and flavored. Sooo good. And with Mountain Dew as my beverage, my taste buds were happy. Sago seemed to be enjoying what he'd ordered as well. Realizing I hadn't had any in a while, and feeling a bit mischievous, I snatched some of his food, dipping it in the butter sauce, and nomming it away quickly.
Sago gave me a look. "We could have shared, you know." He chuckled.
I just shrugged, acting like it was nothing, for me to just take from his food. "Nah, just wanted a bite, thanks."
He watched me for a moment, amused. But his mouth seemed to curve, smirk-like. Suddenly, he took my spoon, took a scoop pretty quickly, popping the spoon in his mouth assuring he got it all from the spoon before plopping the spoon back in my bowl.
That was so a challenge. I would say, from the smirk that was almost…a strange tactic of flirting, but still laboring under the confusion over whether he was trying to make this a real date or making this more a teasing experience, I didn't wonder long and I just acted like that hadn't fazed me at all, as I took up the spoon and continued on eating.
We're the first to finish eating, of course, so I'm left to figure out some sort of conversation. By now, Winter had slipped over and snatched up some of Heather and Mushra's samples, to let Xavier try out more of our Earth food (old Enterra they might call it). So, at a loss for conversation, I try for something.
"…Was the food good?"
Stimulating.
He nodded to my question. "It was satisfying. Like you said, it wasn't nearly good as what Kutaal has spoiled us with, but it was nice." He stated, and he seemed as much at a loss for conversation or action as me.
I just nodded. I looked to see Heather and Mushra stacking some of what they had left to eat and suddenly remembered the episode where the boys were competing over who was the better part of Mushrambo, and there had been a glass-stacking attempt. Smiling a little to myself, letting parts of it play in my mind for a moment, I remember Sago and Kutaal's interpretations of their versions of the great warrior. And then I remember Sago's, how him speaking of his romantic side had me in a giddy pile of goo so long ago. Thankfully, there was no more gooey feeling, but there was still that turn, and as I glanced up at him, I suddenly felt nervous.
I stood then. "Um, if they come by with a black book, talking about the bill, just let me know, okay?" I told him, and walked over to the decks edge before he could say anything. I sat on the end, my feet hanging at the edge, just grazing over the water as I kicked now and again.
I know what you're thinking—could I just decide a mood already? Well, I don't know if its medical or just…attitudinal, personal, but my mood could tend to change too easily. Maybe it was from the few years dealing with depression, I'm more sensitive to mood change, but I've gained a bit of strength with age. I just needed some time to regain a good mood, or neutral at least. And at the moment, I didn't care if Winter saw and had a problem. She needed to chill it a bit, no matter what we promised.
I was thankful no one tried to come over while I sat there, and I was regaining some balance to my formerly shaken mood. I glanced back and it didn't seem as if the server had come yet. Everyone was still about their own business, though Mushra seemed to have caught the attention of some people who'd come over to point out his and Sago's outfits. He seemed to get attitude, until two of the kids began to show awe or fascination to their outfits, then he just started showing off; outfit, food on his mouth, and all.
I shook my head and looked back over the lake. The sun was just really setting, and it looked so beautiful. That would have been my final calming moment, if I hadn't heart splashing from the water at my feet. I hadn't felt like I'd kicked any of the water, so I looked down and saw..a little water dragon, long and slender, its muzzle opening as if to roar, but all the sound it made was a gurgle. I couldn't help but laugh, though I had to look and make sure no one saw, and no one did. But still, I looked back at Sago, as if to tell him with my eyes to stop. He was just smiling down at his glass not looking at me at all. Smiling, I looked back to the dragon as I heard Heather cheer out in the victory of finishing her food before Mushra, who claimed cheating had been involved. I leaned my hand to pet the top of the dragons head, and it swirled around my wrist, only to burst into water.
With that, I stood and went to rejoin the water Enterran who was still smiling proudly at his little show. I flicked the water on my hand at him and he laughed.
"Cute." I told him with a smile.
"You should see it when its bigger."
"Are we still talking about the dragon?" I asked before realizing what I'd just implied. See, if it was just me and some old guy friends, or with Heather and Winter, being goofs, it would have just been amusing innuendo. But, I think that comment had us both a bit red. Clearing my throat, I was extremely thankful when our server arrived with the check and I signed it and so on, slipping in the money and standing once again and looking to the others. "We, uh—we ready to go, guys?"
"You done?" Winter was asking Xavier, while (faces still a little covered) Mushra and Heather raced out ahead.
"I'm gonna go pay this." I walked quickly ahead of Sago, before he was completely out of his chair and handed over the small booklet with the money, everyone else going on ahead of me as I got the receipt and what change I had, and soon I was following after just behind Winter and Xavier. The parking spaces had barely thinned out, I noticed. I also noticed Heather, wiping what she could off her mouth, standing by the front door… Oh no, she wasn't.
I hurried to her then. She was NOT going to do this. "You're not about to—"
"Yes, I am. My turn to drive." She said confidently.
"No, I won, two to one!"
"And we agreed a year or so back, when and if we ever got into this sort of constant travel situation, that we would take turns with the responsibility of driving. I'm just being a good friend." She pointed out, her hand out for the keys.
"I'm not sitting in the back."
"Yes you are."
"You gonna make me?"
"If I have to."
"…You're not leaving this alone are you…"
"Nope!" she smiled proudly.
I groaned greatly, before fishing out the keys and plopping them into her hand. She unlocked the door, and then unlocked the rest as she settled in the front. I opened the back door and slipped my way in, realizing too late that Sago was sat in the middle still. Awesome. Just what I needed. Buckling up, I settled back as comfortably as I could.
Heather's driving gave a swift ride. And when I say swift, I mean she was driving past the speed limit and I was sure I heard chuckling under her breath. Mushra might've complained if he wasn't trying so hard to resist whimpering. I would be amused, but I was just as stiff. I hated it when my dad drove like this to bug me, I didn't like it any better now.
Though, the upside was that we arrived sooner than expected, parking just beside the dirt road, instead of going down it. Heather stopped and shut off the car as the guys began to voice their confusion.
"Where's this haunted house?" Sago asked.
"Yeah, we've already experienced the pitiful fear-factor of haunted forests, so I hope you weren't expecting to surprise us." Mushra crossed his arms.
"Oh no, of course not… The house is ahead…down the road…" Heather told them ominously and I had to bite my lip not to laugh.
"Then why aren't we driving down?!" Mushra complained.
"Too many accidents. The old residents like to stop visitors, and too many dare-driven teens have road in, completely oblivious to the fact that their cars were pretty much signs yelling 'Come get me, I'm here!' Arnold Schwarzenegger style."
"Who the hell is Swartzernugger?" Mushra asked, like her whole explanation was ridiculous. Winter laughed as she and Xavier got out of the car.
Me and Heather looked at each other, smirking, before I answered, "A great warrior who's skills consist of kicking ass epically, escaping epically and in full macho-style, and delivering cringe worthy puns."
Mushra rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure." He climbed out, Sago following suit and Heather tossed the keys back to me as we climbed out and made to follow the rest. That would have been what we did, if they had continued moving. Really, Mushra was the only one trying to walk any further.
The hesitance was delicious…we would have good victims tonight.
We took initiative, Heather leading, mainly because Mushra tried to lead ahead but, seeing as he didn't know the way, he had to be shown. And the scaredy cats filed behind me. I couldn't help smiling back at them. Well, at least Sago and Winter. Xavier, I couldn't really say whether or not he seemed scared. I really couldn't register many emotions from him often, unless they were towards my sister.
We hadn't walked far before we saw an old parked car, with a few tree limbs fallen around and on it, and another few limbs sprawled on the road. Mushra just scoffed.
"Please! That's supposed to convince me that there some sort of ghosts around here? I've done worse damage just climbing around!" Mushra went on.
"Keep it down, we have to be quiet on the road." Heather advised him, earning another scoff. "You think they do damage to cars to stop them? Wait until you see what they could do to us."
"Please! Let'em try!" he laughed.
"Shhh! You'll make'em angry!" Heather told him.
"Good, then we might have some fun! Come on, brush the dust off your old bones and show a guy a thing or two, eh?!" he called up into the trees.
"Mushra!" Sago complained, and I heard that freaked break in his voice, which just made me laughed. He sounded like he might've cleared his throat. Then laughing followed as there was a thump ahead of me.
Heather had tripped Mushra who, unsuspecting, fell flat on his face. Before stand swiftly and shoving her. "What was that for?!"
"Mushra, should you really be harming a girl like that?" Xavier said and I rolled my eyes. Him too, he had that mindset.. Had he not just seen Heather trip him?
Of course, the two hot-heads ignored it as Heather responded. "To shut your big mouth, what do you think? Now come on, onward!" she screams out…yeah, that's a way to prove your point, scream after tripping someone to make them stop screaming. Shoving Mushra briefly, she raced in, which of course only spurred him to race after her as the front doors were hanging open, half off the hinges.
I waited at the doors, waving the others in. Winter and Xavier went in next, Winter holding his arm. I waited for Sago to go, and he watched me with suspicion. "What?"
"What are you doing?" he asked, straight out.
I shrugged. "I'm taking up the rear of our 'tour' through the house, what else?"
"Exactly. What else..?" he crossed his arms.
I tried not to smirk. "Nothing. Me and Heather just know this place better, so we know what to watch for. So, obviously, one of us should take the lead while the other takes the rear. Now you better hurry up before we get left behind. Groups are always better against the spirits."
"I'm watching you.." he warned, but went on ahead to join the others. I could only laugh as I followed behind.
"You said the spirits of this place protect it, they're the former owners I assume; my question is, was this place only ever owned by one family?" Xavier asked then, as he looked around in curiosity.
"The original family has the most power, but there were just a few other owners. Too many accidents happened that caused trouble, though, and this place went off the market as 'defective' and 'unrepairable'. Of course, that just means no one wants to work on a house full of angry spirits that might shove you off a ladder or club you with your own hammer." Heather told him.
Winter shook her head. "None of those accidents were ever confirmed, though."
"Of course they weren't; the only ones available to give the first official reports of what happened, were the only sources. No one would come back."
"If this place is so dangerous, then why are we here?" Winter questioned then, leaning too much to logic and her need to disprove the presence of ghosts (not that she didn't believe in ghosts, she was simply one of those people who had to see the ghost to believe it).
Heather turned around and winked back to me as she answered. "To have to fun, of course."
I took that as my cue. We'd done this once or twice, after our first few trips here by ourselves, so not only did we know the home, we knew just what tactics to take for some good scares. As I turned the corner from the entrance hall into the gathering room, Heather took that moment, causing herself to trip in her backwards walk.
I hurried, as silently as I could, to slip through this little room to the kitchen entrance that was on the other side of the room. This entertainment room (one of those old-fashion sorts that were more for tea and sandwich gatherings) was long, and had an entrance near the front door of the home, and then another entrance further in the room, that connected to the entrance hall that the others were walking in, both those doors to the right wall. But at the furthest wall, there was a door that would lead to the kitchen, a kitchen big enough that it extended to half the end of the entrance hall, a door sitting there, just beside the door that would lead out to the backyard deck.
I slipped in the kitchen, and tip-toed to the door that would open to the entrance hall as Winter asked if Heather was alright. I heard her reassure them, told them she should have watched where she was going. And then she asked where I was, and everyone sounded as if they were looking.
That's when I turned the door knob and shoved it open and hurried back into the entertainment room as they were distracted by the door.
"This isn't funny!" I heard winter call, and instead of taking to door out of this room that I'd entered before, I took the other as I knew it was closer to the group.
"Was it the ghost?" Xavier asked, and I heard the kitchen door creaking, and Winter whispering my name loudly.
Mushra scoffed, "Oh please, this is piti-"
I busted through the door, and it made a pleasingly loud noise, which resulted in the perfect roar of yells of fear or surprise. Winter and Sago in fear, Xavier in surprise, and I found Mushra had fallen over this time. Me and Heather broke into giggles that were uncontrollable. She even fell down laughing and I found myself against the wall, my own legs weak from laughter.
"Oh…that…was…classic!" I laughed.
"You bet it was!" Heather agreed.
"Oh yeah, you two are so clever!" Mushra remarked. "You're gonna pay for that."
"Is that a promise?" Heather asked, still laughing so hard, and I thought I even heard a little chuckle from Xavier as he made sure Winter was fine, but of course her annoyance outweighed her previous fear.
"Shall we continue?" I asked, regaining my composure.
"Yeah, we should. But we lead." Sago said, and then he turned to his friend. "Mushra, you take lead."
He smirked at that, pleased, and he made for the kitchen then. "This place have any lights?" he called, before we followed him in, me and Heather keeping close, smiles constant on our faces as. Everyone spread out through the room only lit by what little night light came in through windows. Until suddenly Heather switched a light switch, and after a noise of surprising and pain to the eyes, everyone looked to us like we were suspects.
I bit my lip, trying not to laugh as Heather said, "Found it."
"Nope, we have to split up. These two are too dangerous together." Winter said suddenly.
Aw, she thought that would help. Knowing it wouldn't, I played along. "Whaaat? Come on, it's just good fun!"
"I agree." Sago stated, and I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Well, how do you expect us to split up, in twos or threes?" Heather asked.
"Twos; more of us together, but you two apart." Winter stated. "I say...Me, you, and Xavier together. Heather, Mushra, and Sago."
"A-are you sure we can't, you know, switch?" Sago tried to object.
I smiled. "I agree." He stuck his tongue out to mimic as I did him.
I almost expected Heather to object too, but I think the fact that both the guys were reluctant gave her incentive to have fun with it.
"Come on, lets go check out the basement!" She pushed the boys along. Good, I'd rather take the attic.
"Up we go?" I asked Winter and she nodded.
I lead them up the stairs then. It wasn't much of a venture up but there were a decent few rooms, and I lead them in each, telling them what I knew about them, which was only a bit about just a few rooms, like who's was which. Half the rooms were empty, though some of them still held some furniture, some even had abandoned beds.
"No one ever knew who slept in this room, though." I pointed to the room closest to the attic latch, waving at it, instead of entering as I had every other. "To be honest, I'm worried about what dwelled here. It's always left me uneasy, being around it. I haven't went in since my first time.." that was honesty. Yes, I do believe there actually are spirits here. But most of them are nice, even some playful, which saddens me a little, as they were most likely children. There was only ever one negative one, and it was usually dormant in that room. The worst it had ever done to me or Heather was throw things around. But you had to really anger it.
"So, do these ghosts…spirits, hold power?" Xavier asked curiously.
"A bit, but it depends on the spirit. It's usually linked to the spirits emotions or intentions, though. Attic, anyone?" I invited, jumped and catching the short rope, pulling down the door, which had a ladder extending from it.
Xavier was the first to go up, seeming very excited and curious. Winter seemed to take courage from it, but I could tell she was still freaked. Ah, I had to take some pity on her. I'd be gentle with any more scares around her.
There wasn't much opportunity up here, though. No place to hide, we hadn't set up any trip jump-scares, so really all this place provided was an ominous story. Other than that, it was just a little junk here and there, little piles of books, old photos or art, a few trinkets, and windows on either end.
"This is where that girl jump from, isn't it…" I heard Winter ask, turning to see her standing at one window.
She had her hand resting on it, as she looked outside of it. It was one of those circular windows, but it could open.
"Yeah." I answered after a pause, carefully walking over.
"What girl? Why would she jump..?" Xavier asked, confused, but he was at Winters side sooner than me.
"A young woman, in the middle of her teens, was being forced to marry a son of a banker, who happened to be the son of her fathers' boss." I began telling the story, to keep Winter from having to. She was such a romantic, it saddened her. "They forced it to please said boss, but mainly it was because her parents didn't approve of the man she was actually in love with… She argued constantly against marrying him, and when she realized she wouldn't win the freedom of her heart…she decided she'd stop it beating."
"That's terrible.." he stated, his hand on Winter's shoulder before she turned to lay her head to his chest.
"Yeah.." I made to give Winter a hug, when I heard not only the scream of Sago, but of Mushra AND Heather. "..What the hell?" I hurried down the ladder, the others following after as we made for the stairs.
"Can't wait to see what they have waiting next." Winter said sarcastically, but I wasn't sure if Heather was doing anything. Why would she be screaming too?
"Code Key Master, CODE KEY MASTERRR!"
Oh. That's why.
"Not good, come on, hurry!" I urged them on. "Get out the door and fast!" I urged them.
"Jaden this isn't funny!"
"I know it isn't!" I told her as I reached to bottom of the stairs and turned to the couple. "Look, we've been playing scare pranks, yes, but I promise this isn't one! That's one of mine and Heather's codes that it's one of the spirits. Specifically the spirit who stayed in that last room! So out, now!"
Winter didn't hesitate, too scared to stay long and she hurried out, Xavier waiting at the door as I went for the basement, just as the other three busted through the door. I helped Sago up, whom Heather and Mushra had knocked over and we all raced out as I heard rattling behind us.
"Don't look back, just run!"
We ran, hard and fast, reaching the car with the sound of glass shattering behind us. Man, the ghost must have been really angry. Everyone piled into the car like it was a safe room, and I hurried to start it up, kicking up dirt as I swerved away and back on the road.
Silence was all I heard, apart from the car as I was driving nearly at the same speed as Heather had been. I knew we were safe, now, but that had been one of our more wild experiences. It would definitely be a little while until we could return. 'We', being me and Heather, naturally.
Still keeping in mind our last destination which would either prove to help or worsen that little trip, I looked to every in a quick swipe of my gaze.
"Everyone okay?"
There was no answer. Though, there was laughter building behind me, and soon I recognized it as Mushra's. Why was he laughing? My heart was still pounding. Then followed Heather's laughed, and then Sago's. Xavier followed suit, as did Winter. I shook my head, before suddenly I felt that adrenaline bubbling forth into laughter as well.
Soon enough, we arrived at our final outing, everyone filing out slowly, and me last. As I had completely calmed and considered our last activity, I realized I wasn't really up for this. I also just realized, pulling up by the wheat field that the reason I'd suggested the house was to make this as much less of a date as I could. Hard to be romantic when you're screaming your head off.
"Jaden, come on." Winter stopped by the window then, opening my door. "Aren't you going in the field?"
"..I don't know. I'm thinking of sitting in the car, ready for any need for a quick getaway if we anger any other negative power." I told her.
"Jaden, it won't kill you. And you promised, didn't you?"
"Look, you could always push Mushra and Sago to go in together, I'm sure Heather wouldn't argue."
"What are you so scared of?" Winter asked then.
I took a breath, and instead of answering, I just sighed and got out of the car. Everyone else was waiting, Sago just had to be watching me. I avoided his gaze, wondering if I was confusing him with my moods, but right now I couldn't care.
"Alright, I choose…the middle one!" Winter called then, pointing at the middle path through the towering wheat, among three paths. The middle one led to a sweet, romantic little gazebo which offered nice mood-setting scenery for kissing. While the path to the right lead to a flower maze (ankle high) and then the other to the top of a short hill, where couples like to picnic, and less likely to be romantic.
I was just about to call it, when Heather suddenly elbowed Mushra. "Can't catch me." She challenged, and raced right for the left path I was going to claim, Mushra of course following after her, laughing.
Jeez, I was slow tonight. I groaned under my breath as Winter lead Xavier into the middle path, and I was left with the right path. And I hesitated. Too long, as right as I was about to try and speak, Sago did it for me.
"Do you remember what you said? That this didn't have to be anything other than just another hang out?" he said.
I shrugged, arms crossed. "Of course."
"Then why are you avoiding me?"
"…I don't know. It's just weird, I guess?" More like uncomfortable, but I'm not going to say it out loud.
"How? If we were supposed to go into this like it was just another hang out, why would it be weird?"
"Well, it's hard to think about it as anything but a date when its referred to as a date." I tried to say. "And with dates, comes certain…moods and implications that I just wanted to avoid since this isn't actually an official date."
"Well then we should deal with it on mutual ground. It's not a real date, so we're not looking for romance."
I just nodded, wondering where he was going with this.
"But, it can still be an enjoyable time, right? No picking, or pushing away. We could even get to know each other better. Perhaps, in place of the romance, we just share kindness." He offered with a small smile. "Like telling each other what we like about each other?"
I considered it for a moment. It seemed like decent mutual ground of both stopping the avoidance and keeping the good mood of the romance without actually having romance. I nodded then, folding my arms behind me. "That…sounds perfect." I managed a small smile, as he waved me to the path.
"Ladies first."
I laughed, and walked forward, taking it slow through the path, as I did enjoy walking it. It gave me a sense of mystery.
"I think you should start." He said then, beside me, smirking as he must've known that would irk me.
"Of course." I rolled my eyes and thought for a moment. "Hmm…that mischievous nature you try and act like we don't share. It makes for some good fun, usually."
He chuckled. "Maybe we should team up then, like you and Heather do."
"Yes, yes we should. Your turn."
"Though it may surprise you from how I've handle it in the past…I like that strength and independence you hold about you. It's something I haven't seen in many people, women especially, in my life. Binka stands out, but of course anyone with a bazooka would."
I laughed too, but couldn't help but smile to myself as I nodded and thought of another. "Aaah… Your intellect. I've always admired the intuition you've held in situations. Though of course I only ever saw it through a TV screen, but.." I shrugged.
He nodded. "Thank you. And yes, I'm…still not over that little aspect of your world…"
"Try being me in the situation."
He nodded. "Hmm...how you handle yourself. You tend to be…balanced when your sister and friend need it."
Balanced? After tonight, he could actually say that. I just shrugged to that one. Silence went on as we walked, and as I thought over other attributes about him that I liked. To many of them seemed romantic, so I tried to abandoned as much memory of my show-interpretation of him and my feelings of that time, and focused on what I'd experienced of him over the past year or so. "I guess…how you hold yourself. You just…give off an interesting persona. A decent man, but not someone to cross." That was pitiful.
"I could say the same about you." He told me.
"Ah, now, that's cheating, you gotta come up with your own descriptions." I teased, just as we arrived. And romantic implications aside, this place was very pretty and peaceful. There was sort of a maze path through the flowers, so you could observe them without stepping on them. Looking over the flowers, and glancing to Sago, I got an idea and took my own path. Two flowers came to mind, and both I'd only ever seen on Shinzo. The dark blue rose Sago could be seen with, and the Enterra flower seen with Yakumo. I doubted I'd find anything like the rose, but I could have sworn on some driving trips, I'd spotted flowers like Yakumo's.
We walked the whole garden in silence. I barely even realized as I was too focused. I hadn't spotted either yet, though some pink and purple flowers kept getting my hopes up. My path took me through the middle and then around the outside of the circle of the flowers. I walked just at the gardens edge when suddenly, I spotted it. The flowers like Yakumo's, they look just about exactly like the ones from the show! A deeper shade, and of course with the originals being anime, it wasn't going to have that same beautiful glimmer, but they were still beautiful, and perfect!
I raced over to them, there were only a few, about three. I picked one, sniffing at it lightly. The scent was light, but still pleasing. I ran a finger around the petals, they were so soft.
"Find some you like?" Sago asked, standing over me then.
"Y-yeah, uh…I always wanted some like these, and…" I would have explained the source of the reason, but, with the subject of Yakumo being involved, I felt it might not be the best idea. I cleared my throat. "And every time I see them is usually on the side of the road when I'm driving, so.."
He nodded, and then with a smile, he knelt down and picked the other two, and handed them to me.
I was caught off guard, for a reason I couldn't explain, but eventually I took the other two with a short smile that really didn't last.
"You okay..?" he asked, but I just stood and nodded, heading back around the garden towards the path out.
"We should see if the others have gotten back, I think." I told him without waiting for an answer. I had the flowers clasped to my chest, though, as I made sure to walk ahead of him. I bet he was regretting that balanced comment now.
We made it out to find the others actually waiting, which surprised me before I remembered, we did delay entering, to talk outside of the field, so it made sense they made it out sooner.
"We all made it back in one piece!" I joked, and wished I'd stayed quiet because I sounded so awkward, and then everyone was looking at me. And I felt like they were staring at the flowers in my hand. "Well, uh, we…we ready to go?"
"We had our fun." Winter said, smirking to Xavier, who chuckled, almost seemed embarrassed. Cute.
"Seems we all did." Sago commented, laughing at Mushra and Heather, who were a little covered in dirt and grass.
"You rolled down the hill, didn't you?" I asked.
"Well, I was going to anyway, but someone pushed me, and got pulled down as a result." She answered, shooting a glare to Mushra who seemed extremely proud. Heather raised her hand then. "My turn again?"
"Yeah, yeah." I fished the keys out again and tossed them to her as everyone else made their way to the car. I tried not to seem as awkward as I felt, settling back in the car, but with three flowers still clutched carefully in my hand, I couldn't help but feel weird. Not only because I was against this all feeling like a date, but I…I didn't get flowers, I wasn't that girl. No, I was the girl to GIVE flowers to other girls.
Then I realized why I'd felt so awkward receiving flowers from Sago. You know that young, infatuated part of me I keep implying is dead and gone? Yeah, that little girl used to draw pictures of the guy sitting beside me, handing me blue roses. So, I guess it was weird, but subconsciously, I was viewed as a dream come true. Accept, kind of not.
I didn't realize how long I'd committed myself to just my thoughts (which were growing to many), until I felt the car come to a complete stop. We were already home? I looked at everyone, as if asking them with my eyes if we were really back already.
Sago looked to me with a small smile, and I felt bad. Yeah, I sure made this experience eventful. Sighing, I climbed out of the car and went straight for the house, not even waiting for any goodnights or goodbyes, or even Heather to give me my keys back.
Bursting through the front door, I went for the kitchen. Flowers still carefully held between my fingers, I began looking for a proper make-do vase. One of our taller glasses we bought because it looked cool? Perfect. Filling it halfway with water, I set each flower in carefully. I brought them back to the main room, setting them down on the desk right by the door. Watching them, I could help but smile a little. They were so pretty, and perfect.
Heather entered then, looking from the flowers to me as she picked some leaves from her hair. "Weren't those sweet of him?" she asked, wiggling her brows.
"I picked one for myself, actually…he just, picked the rest for me." I shrugged. I took a breath and sighed, then looked to her. "…Did you have fun?"
She hesitated for a moment, before answering with a sure nod. "Yeah, I did. Of course, I really wasn't acting any different, so, of course I was having my usual awesome fun."
I gave a weak smile. "That's good."
"What about you?"
"…Yeah, what about me… Is something wrong with me? Something that made this so…weird, and at times uncomfortable?" I asked her.
She didn't seem sure she'd have an answer, running a hand through her short hair. "Not wrong…just…confused? I mean, I know I get confused, too. I just handle it differently, which works out because I can still be myself without feeling like I have to hold anything back."
That's what I was doing. Holding back emotions. In denial of them most the time, really. I needed to fix this, or else Heather and Winter would be going to Enterra without me from now on. Speaking of Winter, she hadn't come in yet.
As I looked through the crack in the door Heather must have guessed why. "She's walking Xavier to the portal, she'll be back soon."
I nodded, and then gave a bit of a laugh. "She's going to give me a talking to, isn't she?"
"Probably, but she can suck it up. Though speaking of Winter, that scare was PRICELESS." Heather raised her fist for a bro-fist, which I gave, smiling nearly as evilly as her.
"Oh, I loved that. That felt good. I swear, she and Sago looked like ghosts themselves." I giggled. Then I thought of the rest of that visit. "Though…what happened down in the basement?"
"Oh, we knocked something over by accident, and it sort of had a short domino crash affect. I'm guessing we disturbed Mr./Mrs. Negaspirit. That, or whatever we broke was precious to them. I heard its usual dragging of its feet before the guys saw things moving and I knew we had to get out. You would've loved to have seen Sago's face THEN." She smirked.
"Yes, yes I would have. Though I may have ended up looking the same, despite all the scaring you and I do. I hate basements."
She smirked again, as if she knew that, and I suspected if she hadn't been worried about Negaspirit, she might have convinced me down for a betrayal-scare. "Alright, well, I'm gonna head up for a quick shower, be back down in a bit." She told me, tossing me my keys before skipping off. I put them away, going up to my room to put by wallet away and to change into something more night-time comfortable, which just meant my brown wife-beater and some sweat pants before I made my way back down, plopping on the couch and considering watching options, only to find myself staring at the flowers off and on.
I was glad Winter burst in eventually, shutting the door behind her and leaning back against it with a classic happy sigh of a spirit in love. "Was the goodnight smooch good?"
"Yes, it was, thank you." She couldn't help smiling, even if she blushed a bit. "I'm guessing nothing happened with you or Heather..?" she questioned.
"Oh, well, nothing like that one time when she cleaned out the closet she then busted out from, but-"
"You know I meant with your guys and not each other."
"They're not our guys." I corrected. "And no."
"Well, even if you don't seem to have totally enjoyed it, Sago told me to tell you he did." She said then.
He was being nice. How could he even enjoyed that, between getting his pants scared off and dealing with a flip-flopping not-date date? "Alright.."
Winter sighed, like I was being so complicated, and of course I was being, that's what big sisters were for.
There was a sudden shattering that caught my attention and I looked to Winter and then the glass, wondering if she'd broken it. And SHE hadn't. The culprit, actually, set her on edge and she came hurrying over to me.
"Jadeeen, get rid of them, oh my GOD, what are they doing in the house?!" Winter complained, as there were snakes on the freaking desk. One of them seemed to have constricted the glass until it broke, cutting at some of the stems of the flowers, slithering over and messing up the petals. Not that I was as freaked as my sister, but it was unsettling that they got inside. We didn't need to be worrying about snakes slipping in the house and becoming a threat to us in our sleep or if we unsuspectingly surprise them into biting us.
I hurried into the kitchen to grab a pot and a stove glove before I came back into the living room that extended from the entrance hall, just as Heather came running down. "Did something break?"
"Snakes broke the flower glass. I got it." I assured them, going over carefully, lucky to grab two at a time without provoking the third. I tossed them in the pot, and grabbed for the other as Heather opened the door for me. I made my way swiftly as I could without running towards the trees before I tossed them towards the trees like the ones before, which might have actually been these three.
Returning inside, I put the pot in the sink and sighed, going to help Winter who started picking up the glass.
"They ruined my flowers…" I complained, leaving them on the desk as I picked the shards of glass and placed them carefully in my hand. We made sure to get every piece before throwing them away, Winter drying the water as I shut and locked the door.
"We wanna veg a bit before bed..?" Heather offered.
"I'm tired, actually." Winter said making for the stairs. "I'll see you guys in the morning? Night!" she yawned, stretched as she ascending the stairs.
Heather turned her attention to me and I gave her a sheepish look. "I'm a bit tired, too. Unless you want company?"
"Nah, I think I actually tired myself out." She laughed, and I nodded.
I went over and gave her a hug before letting her go ahead of me. I made sure the back door was locked and the downstairs lights were off before I followed after them up to my room. The bed was calling to me, and I leapt into its cozy arms, wrapping myself in the covers very sloppy-like, but cozying up for sleep nonetheless.
And apart from a few night time wanderings, sleep found me eventually. I was thankful when it did, as it cut off my thoughts on the whole experience of today.
Though after, I was less thankful…
I was met with a nightmare, and one of the worst (and that's saying something for me, as my dreams can be pretty screwed up). New Yora was on fire. The malls, the cafeterias, even the gangs home, all of it, destroyed and crumbling and burning. I couldn't move anything but my head, to observe what was around me, and when I looked down I realized why—a snake, thicker than my leg, was constricting me. It was getting harder to breath, with it around me, and the smoke making it worse. I looked right in front of me, and it was as if I hadn't looked there before. I couldn't have, because I only just now saw the devastation before me.
Kutaal was at the bottom, his fur torn and red and messy, his niece and nephews underneath him. Binka was on top of him, tears streaming from her dying eyes. Xavier on top of her, face bloody, and Mushra and Sago atop him, both scarred and scrapped with blood staining them, almost painting them, it was horrific.
I could breath, I couldn't speak, I could only stare.
And then I saw him atop the mound of my friends… Ryuma…? The Lord of the Reptiles of Enterra… He was smiling that huge, chilling smile, his eyes glowing amidst all the red and fire. He was laughing, the laughter growing and growing, until he unsheathed his sword, and taking it in both hands, he stabbed down through every one of them, straight through their cards until they were all surely and completely gone, and his laughter was deafening until I couldn't take it anymore.
"NOOOOOOOO!"
I found myself screaming, but the scream turned into a roar that tore me awake.
Or was that even me…?
Gasping and sweating, I looked around the room, tearing the covers off, as suddenly before I could question my sanity over what I'd heard, the house shook.
An earth-quack? Something about my dream made me too paranoid to settle with just that...
I raced out of my room, nearly running into Heather, as I heard the door open down stairs.
"Winter!" I nearly tripped down the stairs, leaping the last few and racing after my sister. She ran out into the yard, turned towards the same trees I'd tossed the snakes into, and she seemed to be gasping as much as me. And the roar sounded again, it was just as deafening as the laughter…which I suddenly heard.
My stomach dropping, I looked to see…what was so unreal. A purple-ish blue dragon, marked in normal and battle markings, on its front and hind legs, wings pull in…and its three heads watching each of us. My heart was pounding. This couldn't be…what am I talking about, of course it could be! But why was it here?
"Why, you wonder…"
That voice sent a shiver down my spine. It sounded worse than it had on the show. The middle head lowered, and then we saw him. Ryuma, but he was different from my dream, from the show. Older, a bit. His outfit was similar in color, though his tunic was more a layered robe now, though similar shoes and pants. The collar to his torso, and his sleeves were silver now, though his stone still red, and his side cape still there. He'd matured a bit in the face, looking less like a boy and more like a man. He was taller, even, and with a few braids in his blond hair. But those eyes were still piercing and that mouth freakishly big.
"Come now, you all received my warning in slumber, did you not?"
…The dream. I looked to the other two. Had they had the same dream?
"Let us not waste time wondering, my dears. We must be going." He told us, sounding confident in his plans.
"We're not going anywhere with you, you worm!" Heather yelled defiantly.
He only chuckled. "And I thought the dream was warning enough of what might come. I'd hoped you three would be smarter than to fight. You want me to make those dreams come true…?"
The nightmare flashed through my mind again, almost as if he made it, and I had to hold back tears from the images that flowed in my mind. Winter whimpered, "No!"
"Then it is settled! You are coming with me, darlings..."
Mushra: HAHA! I wrote something, here! *hands over a fic all about him*
Me: …Ryuma returns for revenge, and all you can think about is this?
Mushra: Oh, we'll get rid of him, we've done it already—twice if you can't your original story. Orrr-*clamps hand on his mouth*
Me: stay tuned for the next chapter! Review if you'd like!