"What is this?"Amu screamed.
Hinata and her charas winced at the sheer volume.
"What do you mean?" Nadeshiko asked."Today's snacks are brownie, but-"
"I wuv Nadeshiko-chan's brownie!" Yaya exclaimed.
"No!" Amu protested."You told them I'd be a guardian, but why am I the Joker?"
"Don't you know what the Joker is?" Kukai asked."It's the trump card, and you have three guardian eggs, its' unreal. So you're the Joker. You're above average."
"Then what about me?" Hinata questioned."Why am I the White Joker?"
Kukai put his arm around her neck and brought her closer, grinning widely.
"The White Joker is a specal case!" he answered."Long ago, there used to be a White Joker and Black Joker, but both of them was lost and never found. Legend says, that the Black Joker turned evil, and the White Joker remained lost, and never found. The legend also says, that the White Joker will reappear again, when the Joker does."
"So you believe, that I'm the White Joker?"
"Exactly!" Yaya exclaimed.
"You two have so many charas,"Nadeshiko giggled."It's very rare that all of the guardian chairs are taken. But this year is different, because you two are here. In the six people who are here, the Joker and White Joker are considered more special."
"Special?" Amu and Hinata asked.
"A guardian has to look their best, and do their job," Yaya pouted."Like arranging official documents or signing papers."
"But the mission for the Joker and White Joker is easily handled," Kukai continued."Yeah, in fact, it's really easy."
"In other words~, arigatou for waiting!" Yaya exclaimed, taking out two red capes."A guardian cape, exclusively for Amu-chan and Hinata-chan!"
"It even has a guradian chara holder," Kukai added.
"Iie!" both of them protested.
"First Amu forced me to wear a skirt, which I don't even want to wear! Now I even have to wear a cape! No freaking way!" Hinata cried out, hiding behind Amu.
Kukai laughed and pulled Hinata out, from behind Amu. He pulled her close to him, both of their fore-heads touching again.
"Aww~, come on Hinata-chan. It's not that bad," he comforted."Besides. you look cute in a skirt, especially with your hair like that."
Hinata blushed and looked away, not bearing to look him in the eyes. Kukai blinked at her expression. He placed a hand over his face and turned away in embarassment, blushing also.
'Don't do that,' Kukai thought.'It makes me want to take advantage of you.'
He turned around when he felt someone glare at, but blinked in surprise. Nadeshiko was smiling at them "sweetly".
'Funny, I thought she just glared at me. Must be my imagination'
"It's alright Hinamori-san, Hyuuga-san," Tadase said."The cape is just a formality; you don't have to wear it."
"If that's the case.."
"She's floating away again," Miki said, sweatdropping.
"Funny how your crush, can make you turn into a baka," Taro yawned.
He leaned onto Miki's shoulder, snuggling into her. She said nothing but continued sketching. Ran, Suu, and Kaito exchanged glances.
"They like each other," Kaito snickered.
"Un," the two agreed.
"So, Hinamori-san, Hyuuga-san, let's try our best," Tadase said, smiling.
"O-ouji," Amu stuttered out.
"Ouji?" Tadase repeated darkly.
"Eh?" Hinata said, surprised.
"Ah," Nadeshiko gasped.
"Uh-oh." Yaya said.
"Did you just call me "Ouji"? I..I am....DON'T CALL ME AN OUJI!" Tadase shouted, flipping the table.
"NANI?!"
"You called him "Ouji", even though I told you not to," Nadeshiko proclaimed.
"It's like Tadase-kun's hand isn't attached!" Yaya laughed.
"You commoner!" Tadase declared, pointing at Kukai and Hinata."I am not a small thing, such as Ouji! I AM KING! And it's only appropiate that I, the King of Kings, find the embryo!"
'Embryo?' Hinata thought.'I'll just ask Amu later, I'm sure she knows what that is.'
"Ta-tadase-kun's dream coudn't be-"
"Of course!" Tadase laughed, evilly, I might add."To conquer the world!"
'He's a villian!' Hinata and Amu thought, shocked.
"I will be the King of the world!" Tadase laughed.
Hinata clutched onto Kukai, scared that Tadase might attack her, with his evil villain laugh. Kukai chuckled and let her hold him. Like I said, she was just too cute for him to resist her.
"Oh no~, it's been such a long time, my King," Kukai teased.
Hinata clutched onto him tighter, glaring at him. Was he trying to get her killed? He chuckled, amused.
"It's alright Hinata-chan, Amu-chan, he'll turn back soon," Nadeshiko comforted.
"Th-the O-ouji," Amu stuttered, traumatized.
"Don't tell me you're going to grant Hotori-san's wishes?" Hinata asked, shocked.
"Of course, you'll look for the embryo, won't you?" Yaya asked.
"Na-nande?" Hinata and Amu questioned.
"Because it's fun," the guardians replied.
'The guardians, they're unbelievable!' the two sane people thought.
_
_
Hinata wached as Tadase slumped in a corner, depressed.
"Hey come on, Tadase-kun."
"It's fine, come on over here."
"I..I did a chara change to that degree," Tadase said quietly."You must be shocked, Hinamori-san, Hyuuga-san."
"It's not like that, Ou-Tadase-kun!" Amu comforted, laughing nervously.
"Yeah, it was more as if scared and traumatized, more than shocked," Hinata added.
She yelped when Amu elbowed her in the rib, like last time. She heard Kukai chuckle in amusement, and pouted.
"I....that kind of personality isn't suited for the King's chair," Tadase said.
"Yeah, yeah," Yaya agreed."The real Tadase-kun is shy!"
"And he hates speaking in front of crowds," Nadeshiko added.
"That's right," Tadae sighed."I wanted to become stronger, and I wanted a different personality. So the guardian egg was then borned."
'The Ouji too,' Amu thought, blushing.
"Hmph. Of course, I'm Tadase's "Would-be-self", what he wants to be," Kiseki said."That's what the guardian charas are."
"Hey, how long are you gonna be humiliated?" Kukai asked."We'll cheer you on, Novice King!"
"Today was a lot of fun too!" Yaya exclaimed.
'So it's not just me. They wanted to have "Would-be-self" personality too,' Amu cheerfully thought.'They sometimes lose heart, and over-stretch themselves.'
"You know," Amu began."I think I'll give it a try, being a Joker."
"I guess, if Amu-chan's doing it, so will I," Hinata sighed, but smiled none-the-less.
_
_
"Two girls who have three guardian eggs," a mysterious voice said."A formidable enemy, Utau."
"It doesn't matter," the blonde girl, named Utau, said.
"They can't perform the "Becoming Chara", Birdie-chan. So she's not an enemy."
"How many people have a gurdian chara, and use it, without knowing its' meaning?" Utau asked, brushing back her hair.
"Stubborn as usual," the mysterious person cackled."I leave it to you then, his excellency is waiting for the embryo."
"My, my, the easter company will be recieving work," another man said."And these are our terms of agreement."
"I understand," Utau said coldly, standing up.
She gripped two guardian eggs in her hand, one white, and one black. A young man then stepped up, you couldn't see hi face, due to the dark. Ikuto said nothing, but quietly watched.
"There is no need, to use the young girl's hands. Leave it to me, I will commence the first unarmed move," he said."Certainly, I'll get the embryo, for his excellency."
_
_
"Amu-chan," Hinata called out,"the bath is free."
"Ah, arigatou," Amu said.
"Bravo, Ami-chan!" Tsumugu congratulated.
"You look like Utau-chan~!" Midori squealed, snapping pictures.
"What the?" Amu asked.
"Oh, you two don't know?" Midori asked."Look, its' on the t.v."
Hinata and Amu gasped when they glanced at the t.v. It was that girl, the from the fruit tart incident.
"She's the new idol, Hoshina Utau," Midori informed."She was originally a model at age four-teen. Her debut song is number one on the charts!"
"Ami will be Utau in the future!" Ami declared.
"Utau-chan is falling behind Otou-chan's star!" Tsumugu squealed.
"Ami-chan, look over here!" Midori squealed.
Hinata and Amu sweatdropped.
"Amu-chan. you might want to take a bath now, before you have to share with Imouto," Hinata warned.
"Un, arigatou."
_
_
Hinata stripped off her jogging clothes and sighed in comfort, when she was wearing her boyshorts and bra only. She sighed in content again, when the cold air hit her skin. She grabbed the bottle of milk, from her clean desk, and walked out to her balcony. She dranked it happily, like an old man does after he finishes his bath.
"Ah~, I'm restricted to milk after bath," Hinata sighed."But I can't help it."
"Hinata-sama, you do know, your Otou-san is going to freak out, wondering where his milk is and why it's gone," Taro informed.
"Yeah, he can be a real pain the ass sometimes," Kaito snickered.
"I'm surprised Hoshina-san is a performer," Hinata said, ignoring what they said about her adoptive Otou-san."Is it possible that Tsukiyomi, is her boyfriend?"
"Nope," a voice above her said.
Hinata snapped her eyes opened, and squeaked in surprise when she saw Ikuto. She dropped her milk instantly, which Taro and Kaito both caught, luckily.
"Your chest sticks out, while you drink that," Ikuto commented.
"What are you doing here?" Hinata demanded, glaring at him.
He raised a brow at her choice of clothing, smirking. She saw him stare at her, and she glanced at herself. She blushed in embarassment once she realized what she was wearing, in front of a boy, too. She attempted to cover herself, but sadly failed.
"You said, you wanted to know what an embryo is, right?" Ikuto asked.
"...Yeah, so what?"
"The embryo," Ikuto said."Is something that grants your wish."
Hinata stood there, as a pregnant of silence engulfed them. Taro and Kaito exchanged silent glances, and sneaked back in her room, quietly. Ikuto then gave her a bag, which she took, confused. She looked inside to see crackers, pocky, and whatever.
"What are these?" Hinata asked, tilting her head cutely.
"It's a compensation," he answered.
"Nani? A compensation?"
"..You were making a snack like this?" he asked hesitently.
"Ah, no way! The tart..H-huh? It's totally different!"
"Uh, the snacks were for everyone, right?"
"Iie!"
"Well, it's not different," Ikuto said, turning away.
"It's different!" she disagreed.
'Could it be, he's trying to apologize?' she thought.
She giggled and smiled at him sweetly. She placed her hands on each side of his face, bringing him towards her. He stared at her, surprised.
"What are you-"
"Apology accepted," Hinata interrupted."And, arigatou for the snacks. I'm sure Amu-chan will love them, Tsukiyomi."
"Kawai," he breathed out.
Hinata blinked, wondering if her ears was damaged. Did she hear him call her "kawai"?
"Tsukiyomi, did you say something?"
"Iie, you must have hearing problems," he replied.
He moved away and turned around, so she wouldn't notice the blush on his face.
"By the way, getting the embryo is unavoidable," he informed."That easter guy has moved. If you're on that Kiddie King's side, and not ours, you're an enemy."
Ikuto jumped off the balcony, leaving Hinata alone, and confused. Hinata sighed and walked back into her room. She plopped onto her bed.
'Just when I thought he was nice,' she thought.
"Oyasumi, Hinata-sama," Kaito and Taro said.
"Oyasumi," Hinata yawned, falling asleep.
_
_
"You're excited for the new semester," Nadeshiko giggled.
"Not that much," Hinata and Amu replied.
"The sensei will be here soon," Nadeshiko informed.
"Alright everyone, take your seats."
"Why is the sensei, the same as our last year?" Amu asked.
"Umm, the new homeroom sensei, was riding on his bike and fell in the river. It looks like he'll be in the hospital for a week."
"Wow, what a klutz!"
"Seriously?!"
"That's so strange!" Nadeshiko laughed.
"Un!" Amu and Hinata agreed.
"Alright everyone, please open your text books," the sensei commanded.
"It looks like this class will be fun," Kaito shouted.
"All right!" Ran agreed.
Kaito wrapped his arm around her neck and grinned, devil-ishly.
"Let's make this the best time of our life!"
"Hai, Kaito-kun!"
Temari turned away from them, and sweatdropped when she saw Taro and Miki sitting there quietly, saying nothing to each other. She floated over to Suu.
"Do you think they'll ever confess?" she quietly asked.
"Nope, not at all," Suu happily replied.
Both of them glanced towards a girl, who looked very depressed.
_
_
"Ok, we'll start with the White Joker's initial task!" Kukai exclaimed."I'm in charge of teaching you, what a white object that goes "sparkle sparkle" is."
"Ah wait," Nadeshiko said."Before that, here Hinata-chan."
Hinata stared at the white egg Nadeshiko was holding, and took it carefully. She opened it slowly, and gasped in surprise, when saw the sparkly object. She picked it up, and ran her fingers over the object. It was a lock, shaped into an egg, with black and white diamonds.
"It's beautiful," Hinata breathed out.
"This was left behind, by the founding King," Nadeshiko informed.
"Is there a key?" Hinata asked.
"Hmm, I'm not sure," Nadeshiko replied."We only recieved this lock. "If the White Joker ever appears with three guardians, give them this". Those are the words, of the founding King. Hinata-chan, this lock is yours."
'Three guardian eggs,' Hinata thought.'But my last eggs hasn't even hatched.'
"This chain will make sure you don't lose it. Please take care of it."
Hinata nodded and wrapped the lock around her neck. She squeaked in surprise when Kukai yelled her name out loud. Kukai grabbed her arms and started to dash forward.
"We have to start quickly!" he exclaimed.
"Ch-chotto! Why are we running?" Hinata asked."And what do I have to do?"
"The White Joker's (and Joker's) duties, are to hunt for X eggs," Kukai answered, grinning.
"X..eggs," Hinata repeated.
"Anyone who has an egg in their heart, doesn't keep it when they become an adult. But bad eggs can be kept. There are two patterns, to be exact. When a guardian egg is born, it makes a guardian chara; but when an X egg is born, it makes and X chara."
"X chara?"
"Eggs are born in the people who have trouble in their hearts. X eggs and X chara are a mutation of this. If an X chara run wild, the owner will suffer. The White Joker's and Joker's job, is to find and seal away X eggs, and capture the X chara. In the worst case, the eggs gets broken-"
"What is the feeling inside?" Hinata interrupted."The eggs om your heart. Can it be, both X and O?"
'Huh?'
_
_
"Guardians? They're like children playing house," the young man laughed."Now my little sheep-chan, show me the egg in you."
The girl that sat alone in Hinata's class, gasped, as an X egg started to appear in front of her.
_
_
"Well, listen closely, there isn't a X egg yet," Kukai said.
"Nani? Then why are we running?" Hinata asked.
"Because I felt like it," Kukai laughed.
"Huh? When will the X egg appear?" It's fine but-"
They stopped in surprise, and stared in shock, when an X egg suddenly popped out.
'There it is!' they both thought.
"No way! That's so sudden!" Hinata exclaimed.
"Anyway, let's capture it! Daichi, chara change, let's go!" Kukai commanded.
"Ok!"
"Hinata-sama, us too!" Taro said.
"Hai!"
"Fly!"
'What's happening to me?!'
She gasped when her uniform disappeared. It was instead, replaced with a Hinata, who had an angel-like appearance. (Go to my profile and click on the link that's labeled "Taro", to see her chara change. Cause I can't explain what she wears very well.) Hinata stared at Kukai, with a petrified expression.
"This is so embarrassing!" she screamed.
'She's drawing out 120% of the guardian chara's power,' Kukai thought, shocked.
"That's the becoming chara," Kukai murmured.
"Kukai-kun! This skirt is really short!" Hinata complained, blushing, and trying to tug the dress down.
"It's not that short, Hinata-sama. Besides, you wear boyshorts when you sleep, and that's shorter," Taro retorted.
"But that's because no one, except my family, can see me!"
"Catch the X egg, Hinata-sama!" Kaito shouted.
"Ah, that's right!"
"Fly!" Taro commanded.
Hinata felt the wings on her black, twitching anxiously. She sighed, there was no turning back now. She flapped her wings and flew towards the X egg, trying to catch it.
"To go so high," Kukai said in awe,"amazing."
"Kukai! Let's go too!" Daichi exclaimed.
"Right!"
"Kick, stack!"
"The X egg's over there, Hinata-sama!"
Hinata nodded and dashed towards the X egg and swiped her staff down, which the X egg completely dodged. She growled in aggravation, and transformed her golden staff into a bow. She grabbed the string, and pulled the it back tightly. She waited, as Kukai shot the X egg towards her, by kicking it, and let the string go. She and Kukai watched as the brght light blue arrow, went straight into the X egg. She gasped when the X egg suddenly disappeared.
"Nani? Where did it go?" Hinata asked.
"It must have ran away," Kaito growled.
"But still, nothing less from the White Joker," Kukai said, impressed."No one else in the guardians, can do the "Becoming Chara". I guess you can do it after all."
"A-ah, arigatou," Hinata said shyly.
She tugged the bottom of the dress down, blushing wildly. Kukai saw this and grinned. He flew towards her, and wrapped his arms around her petite waist. He pulled her towards him tightly, and buried his head in her neck. He noticed how she smelled like lavender and smiled, it was nice. He also noticed, how she fit in his arms, just perfectly.
"So, you wear boyshorts?" Kukai asked teasingly.
"Only when I go to sleep," Hinata replied softly, embarassed.
"That's nice to know," he said, imagining her in only boyshorts, and blushed (like a pervert)."By the way, you look beautiful."
"A-arigatou Kukai-kun," Hinata giggled.
He brushed a piece of hair behind her ear, and nibbled her neck teasingly. She blushed at his soft, yet gentle and playful, touch.
'What's happening to me?' she thought.
_
_
"Yuki-chan," the girl's Okaa-san called out.
The girl with the X chara, named Yuki, turned towards her Okaa-san. She held stacks of books in her hands.
"You're still at it? Are you packing properly?"
"I'm doing it," Yuki replied.
"Really? That was Otou-chan on the phone a bit ago. He went to inspect the elementary school you'll be attending, in America. You should pratice introducing yourself in English. Yuki-chan, you're smart, so you're very capable of handling it yourself."
"I honestly-"
"On the phone! Geez, we're so busy," the Okaa-san sighed.
Outside of the window, layrf a X egg that was cracked in half.
_
_
"Ah," Hinata sighed."The X egg got away."
"Are you okay, Hinata-sama?" Taro asked, concerned.
"You're so tired, what happened?" Kaito asked, also concerned.
"It's nothing, but I just can't believe the X egg got away."
"It was very fun though," Taro said blankly.
"It's my turn next though!" Kaito exclaimed.
CRACK
"Eh?!"
They turned towards Hinata's last guardian egg, and gasped in surprise when it hatched open. A male chara popped out again. It had flaming red hair, and gold colored eyes. It had fox ears coming out from the top, and a fox tail coming above from the....well you know where! He grinned at Hinata and the other two charas.
"Yo, my name's Taki! Nice to meet you all, and I'm Hinata-sama's chara!"
"Oh, nice to meet you Taki," Hinata greeted.
"I'm Taro," Taro greeted politely.
"What's up, I'm Kaito," Kaito greeted, a bit care-free I might add.
"Amu-chan!" Hinata shouted.
Amu opened the door between them, and arched a brow in interest.
"Nani?"
"My last guardian egg hatched," Hinata informed."You should bring your charas over, so they could meet each other."
"Ohh.....Ran, Miki, Suu! Come over here! Hinata-chan's last guardian egg hatched!" Amu exclaimed.
Amu rushed over to Taki, just as Ran, Miki, and Suu rushed in. Amu sweatdropped as she poked, an agitated, Taki.
"Hinata-chan, did you really wish for a devil-ish, and sneaky, personality?" Amu asked.
"Uhhhh....well, seeing as how there's Kaito and Taki, I guess I did wish for a personality like that," Hinata replied, sweatdropping.
"Yup!" Taki agreed."I'm one of Hinata-sama's rebelling personality, like Kaito, also. Hinata-sama never thinks of herself that much, and always put others before herself. So I was made from her wish, so she could be a little be selfish sometimes!"
"That's so true!" Amu gasped.
"Ah, I never thought about it before," Hinata murmured.
"Another question, why do you guys prefer to Hinata-chan, "Hinata-sama"?" Amu asked again."And why are you guys all boys, when Hinata-chan is a girl?"
"We call Hinata-sama, that, because we respect her. We're her guardian charas, without her, we wouldn't be here now," Taro answered blankly.
"As for why we're boys..." Kaito said."Hinata-sama must have thought that boys' were less painful too handle!"
'Hinata-chan, I never knew you thought us girls, as troublesome.'
"Anyway, these are my charas: Ran, Miki, and Suu!" Amu exclaimed, pointing to each one of her chara.
Taki immediatly laid his eyes on Suu, and licked his lips unconciously. He flew towards her, circling around her like a predator.
"Oh my," he purred."Aren't you a beauty!"
"Arigatou, Taki-kun! You're very handsome, if I do say so myself!" Suu giggled, oblivious that he was flirting with her.
He sweatdropped, but smirked none-the-less. It seems as if Suu was a very interesting chara too him.
'Ahh, that's fine. It just makes the game much better,' Taki thought.
'What a flirt!' everyone thought.
"Hinata-chan, masaka...you didn't also wish for a flirtatious personality?"
"I honestly don't know what I wished for," Hinata nervously replied.
'I think,' Hinata added in her mind.
_
_
"Ah, Hinata-chan! Look at this newspaper!" Amu exclaimed.
She shoved the Guardian Newspaper in Hinata's hand. Hinata stared at it, shocked and absolutely embarassed. It had pictures of her and Kukai, three pictures to be exact. One of them was when she bumped into him, and accidently ended up straddled him. The second one, was a picture of Kukai hugging Hinata, from the time he teased her, because she wore the boys' uniform. Both of them were so close, that it looked as if they were kissing. The third one, was when she ended up crying, and Kukai comforted her. You know, where she was sitting in his lap, and he had his arm wrapped around her, in order to comfort her.
White Joker and Jack In Love!
We have tons of evidence that the White Joker, our beloved Hyuuga Hinata-hime, and the Jack, Pride of the Seiyou Soccer's team Souma Kukai, are definetly in love. The first one is when Hyuuga-hime confesses her love to him, and Souma-san replies back (very enthusiatic I might say). The third one, is when we find our Jack, kissing our Hime. It was such an adorable sight. The last one, is when we were most likely, surprised. Souma-san, was comforting our Hyuuga-hime, when she was upset. We don't know why she was upset, but we were excited to find our dear Souma-san, comforting our Hime. If these pictures don't prove their beautiful relationship, I don't know what will. So, do you accept their relationship?
"You've got to be kidding me?" Hinata muttered to herself, blushing like a tomatoe.
"But you gotta admit, you guys look kawaii together!" Amu squealed.
Hinata's blush darkened, as she got tons of admiring stares from the girls and boys. Hinata hid behind Amu, embarassed.
"Wah! White Joker is so amazing!"
"Hyuuga-sempai is so kawaii also!"
"Souma-sempai and Hyuuga-chan looks so kawaii together!"
"Told you so," Amu bragged.
"Urusai Amu-chan," Hinata pouted.
"Is it true Yuki-chan?! Are you really going to transfer?!"
"And to a foreign country?!"
"Uh, yeah," Yuki replied nervously.
'Hatoba Yuki-san...that girl was in my class last year,' Hinata and Amu thought.
"Even though you're leaving, we'll still be best friends! That'll never change!"
"Chara change!" an unknown voice exclaimed.
Yuki's eyes suddenly widened in anger, and she threw her pencil case to the ground angrily.
"LIAR! IT'LL DEFINETLY CHANGE!" she screamed."YOU'LL ALL FORGET ABOUT ME!"
"Yuki-chan...we would never-"
"That's so mean! What are you thinking?!"
"Yuki-chan, why are you acting like this?! It's like we don't even know you!"
'It couldn't be,' Hinata and Amu thought, shocked.
Yuki ran out of the room. Amu and Hinata ran after her, but they both bumped into an unknown person. Hinata groaned and ushered Amu to hurry up and follow her, which Amu did. Hinata opened her eyes and blinked in surprise. The man before her, looked fairly young. He had brown curly hair, green eyes, and some clear round glasses in front of his eyes.
"Ah, gomenesai!" Hinata apologized.
She picked up all of the books, that were piled on him. He sat up, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
"Gomen gomen," he apologized."I couldn't see because the books were in my way."
"Iie! It was my fault! I bumped into you first!"
He laughed nervously and took all of the books from Hinata's hands.
"Arigatou..ano?"
"Hyuuga Hinata," Hinata replied.
"Arigatou, Hyuuga-san!"
'Please find her, Amu-chan,' Hinata thought worriedly.
_
_
Akuma: Ok, so I'm probably gonna focus on this fic more than my other ones. Actually, I'm probably gonna update my other ones till it reaches to chapter 8, like Haruhi Cousin. So I'm probably gonna be neglecting Haruhi Cousin more. Sorry, for those who love Haruhi Cousin. But I want to catch up with my other fics. And for those who read this, PLEASE REVIEW! I do not like people who don't review. Because reviews keep me going.