YOU PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA HOW PROUD I AM OF THIS CHAPTER It's over 2,000 WORDS 2000 PEOPLE 2000! So you'd better love it!

Heheh there are a few allusions to... outside works... in this chapter :D

Chapter 8

I didn't smell beer, or pasta for that matter, when I woke up. The table was clean, and I doubt I did it considering what I did last night. Joice was gone, and I stood up. It was past dawn; she probably went out.

Went out...

Yesterday's events came rushing back to me, and I swear I almost passed out. Luckily the table was there to catch me, or rather, I caught the table. Nothing was swirling, so I don't think I'm drunk still, but maybe just a little shocked. I regain my composure soon, and walk upstairs to the shower. It's a rather quick one.

Once I'm done and in new clothes, I go out the back door and lock it behind me. I need new... everything, so I walk down the street to the same shop I got my sword from so many years ago. It looks the same.

I've learned a little bit about swords since that time, and I think I should get one that suits me - like the way I fight, you know? So I choose a dao; a straight, long, double sided sword that's completely different from last time. And I did the one thing I thought I'd never do.

I looked at the price.

Well I can't afford it anyway so I just steal it and get outta there. The details aren't really important. Afterwards, I hook it up to my belt as always. The transmutation circle can come later. Right now... I have other things to worry about. For one, where was Joice? And secondly, the fridge is empty, damnit!

It takes a little bit, but I stopped by my house and pooled together all the money I had. I don't really know why I left again with money - I was just going to get food. But alas, I left, and went out again.

Getting food to eat was easy. I stocked up on everything, moving like someone else's shadow.

The next part was not, because it required going into the same jeweler's store I hit some time ago. I poked my head in gingerly, wondering if that same cashier was there. Hopefully not. And yet, just my luck - she was. She'd remember me, for sure. So I have to do something different.

I get pomegranates. The fruit stains really easily. Carefully, I cut them open and rub my hair in their juices, staining my ginger hair an even redder shade until it looks brown. Even my sideburns got covered. My...

My precious sideburns...

Anyway, moving on. I can't do anything about my eyes so I'll just hope she buys it. It's not like I'm going to steal anything, and I'm not wearing that watch - I sold it. So I walk in, looking at all the jewelery. Mostly gold stuff, with fancy diamonds. I don't need anything like that. I catch something rather... different.

It's a snake, a silver snake. But it's a ring, right? A ring that's crafted to look like a snake coiling around your finger. It even has a little head and everything. Again, I look at the price. It's just enough. Just barely enough! Ecstatic, I buy it. The cashier gives me a look as if she knows me - she does, but that's not the point - and smiles, telling me to have a nice day. Oh, I'll have a nice day, mind you. I run back home and wash my hair and wait.

And wait...

And wait...

Aw screw it! I get up and put the ring in a box that suits it just fine. Thank god it's not black; I think we'd both puke. Either way, I hide it in an empty drawer and then rethink. I'll hide it somewhere else... Oh!

I put it in Joice's room, under her pillow. I think I'm blushing, I dunno... The door opened. Yikes, that was close... I speed downstairs to meet her, sitting down at the table.

Thankfully it was not the ice cream man, it was none other than Joice Fairfax. Or should I call her Shadow? I don't really know anymore, but I better watch myself. I could end up dead any day now, right? Then I realized I was looking at her. I looked away promptly.

Surprisingly, she turned and went into her own room. Shoot, was she gonna find the ring? I'd hope not. In fact, my thoughts are kinda strange. I don't really know what I should do. Why'd I even waste money on her, eh? Wait.

Money.

I bought it with money!

She came back out with her gun. What is this, some kind of interrogation? I feel fear flashing across my face. Quickly though, I banish it, as Joice puts it in my hand. "Here." She says. I can feel my fingers closing around the handle. I could do it, you know. I could kill her. And rid myself of this mess. But why?! "Careful, it's loaded." She says. Hmph... I could care less, though I can feel my hold loosening a little. "What are you doing, Joice?" I asked, careful not to let my words carry my thoughts out. It's sad. We were able to talk normally just yesterday.

"Shoot me, if you want." Joice almost muttered. Dumbass. This isn't a soap opera. I'm not gonna kill you just because you killed other innocents for my benefit. How weak.

Is this really the girl I fell for? Surely not. She's better than that, yeah?

"Shoot me or accept me." She continued, "I told you the Shadow was dead. If you want, you can make it so. Shadow, shot by the man she broke out of prison. You'll be a hero."

A hero. A hero, she says! I'll be nothing but a murderer!

"Either I die or we both go on with our lives."

I stared at her, then at the gun, then back again. What is she going on about? After all this time in my house, she can't realize that I'm not gonna hurt a fly?!

I put the gun down, on the table. "I won't shoot you Joice. I'm not a killer."

I can't decide the reason I chose not to. It would be my choice had I been younger. Like, fifteen, sixteen. Back when I didn't really bother caring about people in the way I do now. But I also feel like I would have done it, if not for this weird feeling I feel down... somewhere in my stomach. "I apologize, Mr. Kay..." She muttered, almost making me strain my ears. "I should not have done that in front of you."

In front of me. I'm some kind of authority figure now, yeah? Is that against the rules, to kill in cold blood to save someone's dirty ass?

"You shouldn't have done it at all." I said, and silence followed.

Awkward, a little bit awkward.

"I was going to kill you when I first met you, you know." Oh, that helps, Joice, really helps. That's just what I needed to calm myself.

"Yeah, I figured." I answered, sighing a bit. "Now though," She started again, "I don't think I want to. The thought of hurting you just makes me sick."

Uh huh. Keep going.

Jeez, women are so complicated. The thought of hurting you just makes me sick, she says. Can't she make up her mind? Why can't things be simple, yeah? I'm just another person. It doesn't matter if I crush on her or whatever, if she was a killer like she thought she was then why doesn't she just kill me and get over it? It's so confusing, yeesh... Why would she...

"Oh..." I think I know the answer now, but let's see. "Why?" I ask, not really knowing which why I'm referring to at this point.

"I don't know."

Of course you don't.

"Whatever..." I sighed and turned away. It's hard to sort my feelings out when the source of my confusion is staring me in the face. I can hear her walk away, but I don't think she actually picked up her gun.

She didn't. She just went upstairs.

I left immediately, leaving my sword but taking Joice's gun - It just didn't seem right to leave her own possessions unguarded. I can't do this. I need to relax. Alcohol's good in small amounts, it regulates organs or whatever, but I can't constantly get drunk like yesterday. Smoking's out. There's only one thing left to do.

You didn't think I was the only thief out there, did you? Hopefully not. Central's full of them. I know where they hang out, too - It's been years since I went to this place; it was just an old parlor. Seemed like a normal restaurant from the outside.

The reason I don't stay there is because they all suck. Your stereotypical smoking, constantly drunk, sexually driven idiots. The only reason I'm coming here today is the fact that tonight's the rumble - when we all just sit down and talk. Usually it doesn't take but three seconds for the whole place to explode into violence.

"Hey." One of them slurs, "It's him." He pointed the tip of his beer bottle at me. "Mr. Can't Kill a Fly, yeah?" He looks vaguely familiar, and there's a scar on his arm that branches out...

As if...

As if he was struck by...

lightning.

"You wanna talk 'bout your feelings?" He laughed, gaining an applause from the rest of them - maybe seven or eight. Their numbers have dwindled. Wonder why. "No." I shrugged, patting my pocket. I had to make sure Joice's gun was still there. I guess he noticed me... "Yo, you gone and killed someone, haven't ya! Hooray for you." He took another swig of his beer. "Y'know I seen a gun like that before. A couple a weeks ago or so, some girl. I was drunk, see?" He smirked.

Some girl and a gun. "Yeah, I know her. I was the one who gave you that scar." I nearly monotoned. "You were too drunk to remember anything."

"Yous the one who ruined my arm!" He flung the bottle back, causing me to wince as it shattered. He ran at me in a blind rage. "You let that chick go!"

I dodged. "No jazz before the rumble." I nodded. "You're not all here yet, so the 'rumble' can't have started." I rolled my eyes at him and let him stare, dumbfounded. "Oh no way..." He reached toward me, and downward, until I realized he was reaching for Joice's gun.

Fuck no.

I caught his hand, my own knuckles turning white. "I said no jazz before the rumble. You know what that means. It means no fighting till you're all here." I growled. I'm not sure why I'm angry, but I didn't want him to lay a finger on that gun.

"And if you even think about following me, I'll skin you. Just 'cause I don't talk like you guys anymore doesn't mean I can't beat the shit out of you. You guys ain't got nuthin' to live for, yeah?! Well I do! So can it, douches! I can smell the beer on your breath, and it's not what's stinkin'!" I huffed, the twang in my voice returning for a little bit. I must be really angry. What's making me angry?

The guy just laughs. "I ain't scared of you. You don't got your sword on you. Without that, you're nothing. You got nothing."

I didn't let him finish. I had punched him, in the jaw, and watched as he stumbled back into the chair. "Why'd you come back if you ain't got nuthin?" He smirked.

"Yous is the ones with nuthin'!" I roared, "I got something to keep myself goin' for, yeah?! All yous got is smoke and booze! I got somethin'! I've got someone!"

Someone, huh? I'm done, smiling grimly.

I walk away, and they let me. When I get home, I put Joice's gun on the table where she left it and sit down, holding my head. I just had a blast from the past, huh? I haven't spoken like that in ages. Well... at least my head's clear now. Maybe a rumble was the answer. Good thing I didn't get hurt.

Joice comes back half an hour later. "What've you been up to?" I ask, and I regret it - It sounded like an accusation.

"I met some freaks." She said.

Oh, me too. How interesting.

Either way, I think I'm back on track now. I don't feel like doing anything stupid, so I spend the time recarving the transmutation circle on the hilt of my sword.

At least I learned something, yeah?