Chapter Seven

Let's Be Friends!

"It looks beautiful tonight…" Kyrie whispered, perched against the window seal. Her room was far from the ground and a guard tower blocked most of the view, but she enjoyed what little she could see. Black and violet patches of sky bordered the giant stone guard tower, illuminating the darkness with bright white stars. She could see the moon shrouded in red mist, peeking over the tower as it made it's way across the night sky.

It was the third day in a row Kyrie was having trouble falling asleep. She couldn't understand the abrupt spur of insomnia, the incident with Toki hadn't been that traumatic. Yes she had remained in her room since it had occurred, and yes she hadn't been helping in the kitchen; and yes she had been neglecting the deal with Pickles…but the situation didn't bother her that much, did it?

"Who am I kidding?" the girl sighed, turning away from the window. The situation did bother her a lot, and she wanted to fix it, she just didn't know how to.

Toki seemed very irrational; hating her at the birthday party, liking her later that day, and then hating her after he had ruined her bear. Kyrie frowned, remembering Alvin's text message that the ill-fated bear was not a gift from him, so where had it come from? Her eyes wandered to the corner of her room, where the remains of the bear had been swept into a neat pile.

A few knocks came to the door and Kyrie tensed up, afraid it might be Pickles again. "Hey Kyrie," the person said, she recognized Alvin's voice, "I just got back from Emily's."

Kyrie looked towards the closed door, "Did you have fun?"

"Uh, yea, we had a great time." he said, eager to chat, "Can I come in?"

"Actually, I'm not feeling very well." She responded, faking a cough. "It must be that bug that was going around."

"Oh…" he sounded disappointed, "Well, make sure you get some rest and drink plenty of water. See you tomorrow at practice!"

She let out a sigh, relieved it wasn't Pickles again. During the first two nights of her solitude he had pounded on the door, demanding liquor. When Kyrie refused to even answer him, he became infuriated. But Pickles hadn't been by this night, and it was starting to concern her. She knew alcohol withdrawal could drive a person crazy, and after three days maybe it was time to pay her teacher a visit.

Kyrie grabbed the 'emergency' bottle of rum she had hid in her closet, a precaution she had taken after learning the extent of Pickles' alcoholism. In her experience, whenever a person became intoxicated they adopted a cruel or reckless personality. Yet Pickles seemed to change from dark and brutal to cheerful and goofy. She liked the drunk version more than his sober alter ego, although drunk-Pickles didn't accomplish much and tended to be a little more 'hands-on' with her.

She waited a few minutes before heading to Pickles' room, not wanting to run into a worried Alvin. Kyrie had spent most of her life looking after herself, but since she had met Alvin he had taken it upon himself to look after her. It was nice to be around someone who cared, but his brotherly love could get annoying from time to time. When Kyrie finally poked her head into the hall she saw nothing but black, and gazed up the body of a very tall, very muscular Roadie.

"Hello?" she asked, surprised to see someone there. The Roadie said nothing, merely starred down at her. "Why are you standing here?" He responded with more silence. "Are you mute or something?"

He grunted, and Kyrie took it as a 'yes'.

"That's cool, I've never met a mute person before. " She said, closing the door behind her, "Well, uhm, it was nice meeting you, Mister Mute. I have to go see Pickles now."

As she proceeded down the hall, she could hear the man following a few steps behind her. "Why are you following me?"

Silence.

Kyrie turned towards the man, "Are you suppose to be following me?" the Roadie nodded, "How come?"

Silence.

"Mister Mute…" the girl huffed, growing irritated by the silence, "You really need to learn to talk." In her irritation she didn't hear her locket fall to the ground, or notice the Roadie pick it up.

"Which way was his room again…" she wondered aloud as they approached an intersection of halls.

The Roadie secured the silver trinket into his pocket and stepped towards the left hall, glancing back at her. Kyrie looked down the hall and back at the Roadie, then down the hall again. She was glad to be in the presence of someone who knew their way around.

"I hope Pickles is alright," she said as she skipped down the hall, holding the bottle of rum close to her body, "No alcohol three whole days….he was fretting before after only a few hours. Oh, and Toki! I wonder if he's still angry at me, it wasn't so bad, I mean, I should be the one yelling at him for ripping my toy!"

She looked up at the Roadie, who stared forward, eyes fixated on the path ahead. She huffed again, "Jeez, you could at least pretend to listen."

He suddenly stopped, and Kyrie checked to see why, noticing the door to Pickles' room. "That was fast! I usually have to wander around forever to find anything here."

The Roadie pulled a set of keys from his pocket and unlocked the door, motioning Kyrie to go inside. She looked into the room, seeing only darkness. "I—I can't…" she said, taking a few steps back. The Roadie motioned again, and she shook her head no. "It's too dark in there…"

The man took a small candle from a lighting fixture on the wall and handed it to the girl. She reluctantly accepted the candle, "Can't you come in too?" she asked in a small voice. The Roadie shook his head no, and stood against the wall as if he were guarding the room. Kyrie took a deep breath in an attempt to muster her courage, then slowly ventured into the pitch black room.

"P…Pickles?" she whispered, hoping he could hear her. "I brought something for you." She held out the candle in an attempt to brighten the room, but all she could see was the filth on the brown stone ground surrounding her.

The door suddenly shut behind Kyrie and she jumped, accidentally dropping the candle. "No, no, no!" she cried as she smothered the small fire. She sighed with relief once the flame was extinguished, but her mood quickly shifted to terrified. Her eyes widened and she clutched the bottle of rum. 'It's not too dark…this is…nothing…not afraid, not afraid…not afraid…'

"Pickles?" she desperately called out. She could see an alarm clock on the opposite side of the room, and audible snoring sounds resonating from what appeared to be the outline of a bed. She grew uneasy in the darkness, feeling fear consume her. "PICKLES?" she screamed.

"What?" he sleepily groaned, face buried in a pillow. "Why are you yelling? It's fucking five in the morning."

"Pickles turn on the light I'm scared!" she sniffled.

She heard a few cans fall to the floor as he felt around for the lamp switch. "What the hell're you doing in here at this hour?" Pickles asked, sitting up.

Kyrie turned around quickly, a soft pink blush covering her cheeks. "I just wanted to make sure you were alright. Why, uhm, are you in your underwear?"

"Never seen a guy in his underwear before?" he retorted, she shook her head no. "That's…ah, doesn't matter. How the hell did you get in here? I locked the door, I know I did."

"Mister Mute let me in."

"Mister what?" he asked confused.

"A Roadie let me in!" she peeked around her shoulder, still blushing, "I wanted to talk to you, can you cover yourself please?"

"Why should I?"

"Because…" she waved the bottle of rum in the air, "No alcohol if you don't do it."

"Can't hold that over me no more, Charles got the alcohol restriction taken off earlier today."

Kyrie frowned, looking sadly at the bottle. "Guess I'll go then…"

"Doesn't mean I don't want that too." he said, pulling a blanket over his lower body. "There, happy now?" she smiled, handing him the bottle and sitting at the edge of the bed.

"Where you been the past couple days?" he asked, "All that work we put into that party for you and not a damn bit of gratitude."

"I said thank you…a lot." She said, shocked by his abruptness. "I didn't mean to not answer you before when you came to my room. Me and Toki had a…fight, I guess, so I've been keeping to myself."

Pickles took a sip from the bottle, "He said somethin' about that, you really pissed him off taking his bear like that."

"His bear?" she snapped, "It's not even his, it's mine."

"Brown teddy bear, tan stomach, smiley face, long devil tail?" he asked, Kyrie nodded, "Yea, that's his."

The girl frowned, "I don't believe you…if it really is his then how did it get into my room? I mean, I didn't take it." he shrugged his shoulders, barely listening as she went on about how impossible it was for the bear to belong to Toki.

'She must really like that thing…or really like talking.' Pickles thought to himself, sipping more rum. The dim lamp in the room cast an eerie glow on the girl, making her eyes seem larger and darker. Her hair was loose, a style Pickles liked more than the childish pigtails she usually sported. Kyrie's white camisole was a little tight, making her breasts stand out, and she wore a pair of loose-fitting baby blue pajama bottoms which added to the innocent allure. The expression on her face seemed so determined, so positive that the teddy bear belonged to her. 'She looks kinda cu—er, nice...'

"You know what I mean?" she asked, turning her attention back to Pickles.

"Uh…yea, sure." He mumbled, not wanting to admit he hadn't been paying attention.

"And it really is Toki's? Like, you're way-way sure?"

"Pretty sure."

Kyrie sighed and slid off his bed, "That blows…but I guess I better get to work. Thanks Pickles, sorry for waking you!" She said with a smile, waving as she left the room.

As she made her way back to her own room, the Roadie followed closely behind, "I like talking to Pickles, Mister Mute. He's really nice, and isn't scary like the other guys. Don't you think?"

Silence.

"I bet you do too. What should I do to make Toki not hate me anymore? I was thinking I could make him something special…what does he like?" she looked up at the Roadie who stared forward. "Well, first I should probably fix the damage I've already caused….then I can do the other stuff."

Kyrie sighed, wishing the Roadie could speak to her. "I need some black thread, and a needle. Do you think you could get that for me?" the man nodded, "Oh! And maybe a little more stuffing too, please?"

He grunted a 'yes' and then left to seek out the requested material.

Kyrie pushed open the door to her room, scooping the tattered bits and pieces of the bear into her arms, eager to make things right.

x - x - x - x - x - x - x

After a few hours of tedious work, Kyrie held the toy out in her arms. "You look good as new Deddy!" she sleepily said. "Now to deliver you with breakfast."

Kyrie went to the hall to show the helpful Roadie her finished work, but he was nowhere to be found. "I guess he has other silent business to attend to." She giggled to herself. As she made her way to the kitchen, Kyrie could smell her perfume emanating from the bear. She had spritzed it a few times since the scent made her happy, and she thought that maybe it would have the same effect on Toki.

"I see you have decided to return! " Jean-Pierre said once she entered the kitchen, "I was beginning to think my sternness had frightened you away."

Kyrie smiled, "No way, I love being in here. Cooking is my passion!" she set down the bear and began washing dishes, "Sorry about not coming around, how were things without me?"

"Perhaps a little more boring without my assistant. My Masters have been complaining as well…" he said as he limped to a cupboard, "They seem to enjoy your commoner method of food preparation, you should feel honored."

Kyrie beamed proudly, "Really?! What do they like?"

The chef chuckled, "You excel at common dishes, but your gourmet meals need work…we cannot afford to have you making anyone else ill."

She laughed nervously, as the food poisoning incident came to mind. She hadn't understood the chef's directions, and had undercooked a special meal for the Roadies which resulted in 15 being sent to the emergency room. "Who's up for breakfast?"

"It was a very long night, my Masters were drinking heavily and most did not retire until very early in the morning…but I believe Master Toki is awake."

"I'll be right back!" she said excitedly, grabbing the bear off the counter and running to the dining hall.

At the main dining table Toki sat with a model plane in his hands, starring down at it sadly. Kyrie frowned, he seemed so depressed, 'Is it really because of this toy?' she looked down at the bear which seemed smiled innocently at her. She put the bear behind her, and cleared her throat.

"Good morning." she said, Toki looked up at her droopy eyed, "How're you?"

He looked back down at his plane sadly, "Just go away's."

"I'm sorry about the other day…" she said as she approached the table, and Toki ignored her the best he could, "I really am…I thought it was a birthday gift, but I guess I was wrong. I don't know how it got into my room, and I guess…I shouldn't of acted the way I did."

Kyrie held out the bear, "I want to make up for it, though."

"Deddy?!" Toki shouted, jumping up and snatching the bear from her. He checked it over, front and back, and then hugged it tightly. Kyrie couldn't help but laugh, it was the first time she had ever seen a grown man so emotional over a teddy bear.

Kyrie held out her hand, "Can we try the whole friends thing again? I promise not to break your things this time!"

Toki looked suspiciously at her hand, and then up at Kyrie. She was gesturing for a friendly handshake, and was surprised when Toki leapt over the table and hugged her. "You fixed Deddy, good as new. Wowie! It's the best ever!" She felt overwhelmed with joy, and happily returned the hug.

"What the hell are you douche bag's doing?" Murderface hissed as he entered the dining room, surprised to see them so close together.

The two quickly separated, "I fixed stuff with Toki, we are friends now!" Kyrie cheered. Toki felt nervous, knowing Murderface would disapprove of the friendship and afraid of what he might say to the girl.

"I thought you hated her." was all he said.

"She fixed Deddy!" Toki said, holding out the bear towards Murderface and hoping that would be explanation enough. "Don't he look good's as new?"

Murderface eyed the bear, then Kyrie. "Demon spawn." He spat.

Kyrie blinked, confused. "Ok …so uh, what would you like for breakfast Toki?"

"Chocolate cereal's!" Toki said, sitting back at the table with Deddy at his side.

She pulled out a notepad, noting cereal for Toki. "What about you, William?"

Murderface seemed pained hearing her address him by his first name. "Eggs...and bacon…"

Kyrie nodded as she wrote it down, and happily bounced back to the kitchen. Once they were alone Murderface glanced over at Toki, who seemed happy with the situation and his newly fixed teddy bear.'Never gonna get rid of her at this rate.' The bass player angrily thought to himself.

x - x - x - x - x - x - x

"I bet I can beat you at Space Invaders III!" Kyrie playfully challenged as she and Toki raced through the main room.

"No ways, I beats you!" Toki shouted back to her, slowing his running pace so she could keep up with him.

From the hot tub, the rest of Dethklok seemed irritated. "Hey, it's slippery in here, stop running!" Pickles scolded, as if he were talking to children. The youths ignored him, and began running faster.

"NO RUNNING." Nathan shouted. Kyrie and Toki couldn't help but giggle, thrilled to get a rise out of the lead singer. They proceeded to the games walking at a fast pace, whispering excitedly to each other. It disgusted the band.

"I thought they hated each other." Pickles muttered, taking a gulp of his umbrella drink.

Skwisgaar toyed with his guitar under the water, "Yea, wells, it's simple, the man's rely on the womans, and when she helps him they gets' closer. You's knows how 'de woman's fix the stuff for 'de man like, his pants button break and she puts it back on with needle." They starred at him confused, so Skwisgaar tried another example. "Ok's like, when you's little kid, and you break's you wooden horse toy, and your friend fixes it…and then you's two get close." He scowled, they still didn't understand what he was trying to say. "Nevermind's...but it's nice to see Toki's finally accepting his little girlfriend."

"What? Now you like her too?" Murderface complained.

"I's not say that, you's jump to conclusions." Skwisgaar grumbled. "I'm just sayings' that maybe's she is not's so bad."

Murderface clenched his fists. "Why are you guys letting her trick you? She's nothing but a evil little soul murderer."

"It's not a trick dude, look at Toki." Pickles said, "C'mon Murderface, look how happy he is." Murderface refused to look.

"Fine then, but don't come crying to me when you wake up and that succubus is sucking all the life out of you."

Nathan paid no attention to the comment, and checked the time on a suspended television, "Alright Toki and Zoom Zoom stop horsing around, we have to get back to rehearsal in like…5, 10 minutes."

"Aww!" the girl whined, clinging onto Toki's arm, "But we just got here, can't we play a little longer?"

"No." the band unanimously grunted.

"Ya see Kyrie, Toki actually needs to practice for the tour." Pickles said, she scowled at him.

"You guys are just mean." Kyrie huffed. Toki smiled down at her, it was refreshing to have someone so different in the house.

From behind a black set of curtains, Leo took a final picture and then slipped out of the main room and into the hallway. "I can't believe they didn't see me." He whispered, pulling the map from General Crozier out of his pocket. He had learned it was easy to get the basic information about the bands lifestyle, but it was proving to be very difficult to figure out which recording studio held the information he needed.

Mordhaus was a labyrinth, many halls lead to no where and some rooms were not rooms at all, they were designed to be deadly traps.'Ofdensen really doesn't want people snooping around.' Leo thought to himself. The day before his head was almost chopped off by a motion activated robot clad in Viking attire, it took Leo hours to finally escape from the metallic monster. Of the thirteen recording studio's indicated on the map, he had only explored four. Today's target studio was just a little farther ahead.

"Here we go." Leo said, unlocking the door with the skeleton key Crozier had provided.

The room was sparsely lit with red, glowing circular decorations. Leo quickly located the light switch and flipped it on, noticing atop of a panel of flashing lights a folder with 'Dethcapade' written in black Sharpe. 'This is too easy!' he grinned. As he approached the folder he could feel his heart begin to pound, this may have been the only thing he needed to achieve fame.

"Hey! What are you doing in here?!" Leo turned around quickly, a Roadie stood poised to attack.

"Nothin, just looking around." Leo said smoothly, trying to mask his fear and frustration of being caught. "It's lots of expensive stuff in here, you know? I just wanna see how the big boys do their recording."

"No one, with the exception of my Lords, is permitted in this room. Leave. Now."

"Alright, alright." Leo said, "Total mistake, I didn't realize you guys were so serious about this."

The Roadie said nothing more, watching Leo intently as he headed down the hall. Once the boy was out of sight, the Roadie raised a communicator to his face, "My lord, it was just as you had suspected."

Inside of his office in Mordhaus, Charles nodded to himself. "He took the bait?" he spoke into the communicator.

"Yes sir."

"Very well then, keep an eye on him and report back to me if he engages in any more suspicious activities." Charles set down the communicator, sitting back into his chair.

He had suspected the opening act was up to something the moment he saw the girl with them, and now it seemed the pieces were starting to fall into place. He had assigned a Roadie to each member, keeping tabs on their activities and reporting back every 24 hours. It was time consuming precaution, but the manager felt he was taking appropriate measures to secure Dethklok.

Charles looked through the report from # 317. "It says here that the girl was alone with Pickles for about fifteen minutes?"

The very tall, very muscular Roadie nodded.

"A lot can happen in fifteen minutes…were any noises coming from the room?"

The Roadie said nothing. Charles had known the man didn't speak, but since he hadn't made any sort of motions the manager assumed the question had confused him.

"Were they having sex?"

#317 shook his head no.

"Very well then, continue keeping an eye on the girl. You are dismissed." Charles said, looking through each report again. Out of the band, Alvin appeared to be the only one not breaching the terms of the contract. Charles was finally on legal grounds to send the Barbed Brothers home, but he decided to wait. "I want to know exactly what these kids are up to."

School wise I finally have things under control! I think I got most of the errors in this chapter. My goal with this story is for Kyrie to gain the acceptance of Dethklok, so I wanna make it as difficult as possible for her. :D This was a little hard for me to write for some reason. I think the issue is that I've planned out so many chapters, I'm like planning chapter 12 and still haven't completely written chapter 7... wtf :(

Thankies Luna (I couldn't make them stay mad at eachother ;o; ), Dick (Stuff ish osm!), Marner (thanks for the happy b-day xD 'n make sure you update soon I heart yer fic!) , Lynza (Character deaths keeps things interesting --ebil laugh--!), firefly (xD Thankies ) AND Domi (I'm glad you came here! I want to recruit as many people as possible to come here, we need more Metalocalypse fanfics!) if anyone else read and did not review...THANKS TO YOU TOO