Soko's POV

{These humans are so strange.} I look to the small one, Xhi. {Very strange, indeed.} My gaze goes to Mag. She's going to answer the door. An all too familiar scent wafted in through the window and my eyes widened slightly. Xhi looked at my… um… concerned expression. "What is it? Is something wrong?", she asked. Without turning to her, I say, "I can't stay. There are bounty hunters outside the door. No doubt they've followed me here."

I look around for an escape. Xhi takes my wrist and leads me upstairs. "You can hide in Mag's room. There's a secret spot that only we know about.", Xhi says, pulling me into a bedroom (obviously Mag's). She goes over to a panel in the wall and removes it. Inside, there is a small room with beanbag chairs. I look at Xhi, not knowing if she was truly trying to help me or if she wanted the bounty for my head. She smiles and pushes me inside. "There's a way to lock it from the inside.", the shorter being said. She replaces the panel and leaves.

The lock system was simple, nothing I couldn't pick or break into. I locked the door and sat in one of the beanbag chairs. I looked around the place. It wasn't too fancy, just painted sky blue, a small table, and the two chairs. There were no windows, so it was dark, but not dark enough to blind me. My golden eyes closed. {I guess I'm stuck here.}

I fingered the chain at my neck. The small green gem at the end of the chain fell through my nimble fingers. I smiled. {Yoko…} There were footsteps outside and I opened my eyes. The footfalls were too heavy to belong to Xhi or Mag, so I knew it was one of the hunters searching the room. I slowed my breathing. My ki was already masked so that they wouldn't find me. I smirked. {Baka…}

The footsteps faded, indicating that the hunter had left. I waited for a few minutes before there was a knock on the panel. "Soko. Unlock the door, it's us.", Mag said. I get up and open the door. Xhi and Mag smile as I step out. My stomach growls. Xhiko laughs and leads Mag and I downstairs where the 'pizza' is waiting.

I opened a box and sniffed its contents. I heard giggles but ignored them. Mag gave me a plate. "Help yourself.", she said. I took the plate and pulled out a piece of the circular food item. I hesitantly took a bite. My eyes widened. {This is so good! How come Yoko never gave me some of this?}

I greedily ate the rest of my slice and took more. The two girls watched me eat while eating their own food. Once we had finished eating, I looked to Mag. "So what do you do for a living?", I asked, truly wanting to know. Mag answered, "I'm just a student. I don't really work yet." I nod. I get up and go sit in the window seat. The raid had let up and the sun was shining. A rainbow arched over the trees and buildings. I smiled. The last time I had seen a rainbow was with Yoko, and that was months ago. {I miss him.}

Hippo, Mag's cat, came up to me, quizzical. I stroked his long orange fur, still gazing out the window. Xhi and Mag walked over to me. "Wha'cha thinking about?", Xhi asked. "Yoko.", I say, not looking at them. "Who?", Mag asked. "Yoko. He's a very close friend of mine. Also part-time thieving partner. I'm sure you've heard of the great Yoko Kurama?", I say, turning to face them. Their eyes are wide. I laugh. "Yes. I, Soko Ikovan, know and work with the infamous Yoko Kurama." Again I fingered my necklace.

~*~

Xhiko's POV

I stand there, shocked out of my mental capability. {She… Yoko… but… how…?} "You… Yoko… but… how…?", I say out loud. "Very easily.", she replies. I glance over at Mag who was staring at Soko with a look of pure shock on her face. "Well, I see that made an interesting conversation starter.", Soko says sarcastically. "Okay.", I say. "I'm back now and if we're going to be friends-" "We are?", Soko asked. "Yes.", I reply. She stares at me like she couldn't believe a little pipsqueak is bossing her around and telling her we were going to be friends. "Anyway," I continue. "I think we should tell a little about ourselves. I'll start. I'm one decade and four years old, aka 14 years. I've lived on the streets since I was four because I got kicked out of the orphanage for being a pain and a nuisance. –Don't you dare laugh Mag. – And I met Mag when I was a decade old. I talk to myself on a regular basis and I'm a mechanical genius. Now thank you for flying Xhiko-is-odd Airlines. Please come again." Soko looked at Mag and said, "Is she always like this?" "Only when ten or more people make fun of her height." "Ah.", Soko says knowingly. "You've been short before?", I ask. "Nope, I just felt like trying to make you feel better." "Well, that's nice of you.", Mag said smiling. "Well, actually, I just wanted her to calm down." "I knew it," I sighed. "Anyway, onward! You're turn, Mag." "To what? Oh yeah. Sorry."

~*~

Mag's POV

Glancing around the room at nothing in particular, I try to find my voice. Xhi nudges my foot reassuringly. Soko smiles. Can I trust them? They seem nice enough, but I haven't even told Xhi some things. I look into Soko's eyes and try to tell whether or not I can trust her. She is, after all, a thief. My eyes are drawn to her necklace once again, making the rest of the world melt away. There is nothing else, only that silver and gold iridescent chain. A part of me wants to see the pendant which hangs from it so badly, I could do anything for it…I could kill… for it. This thought shocks and scares me. But, suddenly, I am ready to open the flood gates of my soul.

"Well," I say in my best one-of-the-girls voice. "My name is Magdalene O'Conolly. I like reading, writing and the oboe. I can play the harp, though I don't ever remember learning to." I glance around to see if this revelation had shocked anyone. It hasn't. "I hate science, small children and one day I plan to become a herbologist." I look to Soko, a little embarrassed of my previous thought. I wish I knew what she thought of me. Hippo jumps up onto my lap suddenly. A surge of pain rushes through my body. A voice booms through my head saying, "Wow. She must not know her true past. I bet she is one of the ones! Well, I like her well enough. That friend of hers, the sprite-in-denial is comical. I quite like these two!" Terrifyingly, the voice sounded much like Soko's… too much like Soko's.

I am swept by relief and drop my hands that have been stoking Hippo. I shake my head and blink five times before I am satisfied that all is somewhat normal. I just feel… powerful. Hippo leisurely jumps from my lap. Walking away, I swear he turned and winked at me. A shocking thought crosses my mind. Did I just read Soko's mind? Surely not. I look to Xhi who smiles and says "Your turn" to a very surprised Soko.

~*~