Chapter 6

A Dye of Truth

"Not right at this moment… do I want to WHAT?!" Terra asked in reply to Chaud's question. It could have just been Terra's imagination but Terra almost swore she heard a record scratching when Chaud stated the words "do you want to ditch this place?"

"I asked you if you wanted to leave." Chaud repeated.

"You said ditch." Terra corrected.

"Well never mind what I said, do you want to go?" Chaud asked again.

"Huh?" Terra asked sounding as if she had just lost all touch with reality.

"I'll take your lack of answer as a yes, come on," Chaud said as he took Terra by the hand leading her out of the darkened room.

Many thoughts were racing through Terra's mind as Chaud led her out a side door and they were once again in the mall, the main one being, "Who is this person and what had they done with Chaud?"

"Now take this and buy another outfit and change." Chaud told Terra as he handed her a platinum card. Terra snapped herself out of her stupor as soon as the plastic hit her palm.

"Why?" Terra asked as she took it.

"Because once the guys notice that we're gone, they're going to be looking for us. If we both change it'll be a whole lot harder for them to find us. Meet me back here when you're done." Chaud stated as the turned and left.

Terra still felling like she was lost and caught in a world wind turned about her and took in her surroundings. She was currently in the middle of the food court just outside the arcade with a Starbucks in front of her, as she looked down at her watch she noticed that the 10 minutes for their laser tag game were up and that Lan and the rest of the gang would soon notice that she and Chaud were missing. She quickly slipped the credit card in her back pocket and headed off on the same direction Chaud had back toward the clothing stores.

Terra soon found herself surrounded by Aéropostal, Rave, American Eagle, and Wet Seal, after a few seconds she decided on Wet Seal. As she looked at the clothes she couldn't help but think how weird and strange this was, the word "skip" in any form shouldn't have been in Chaud's vocabulary, and spontaneousness shouldn't have been anywhere in his being. She was right in the middle of her thoughts and had just found a really cute top when a voice jolted her from her thoughts.

"What's up little sis?" Whisper's voice stated as she appeared in front of her, Terra jerked up at the sound.

"Sky you scared me," Terra said when she caught her breath, "what are you doing here anyway?"

"Shouldn't that be my question?" Whisper asked, "You're the one who disappeared in the middle of the laser tag game. The one you suggested we play."

"How'd you find me?" Terra asked, not even bothering to reply to the question that she saw in her sister's eyes. It was clear to her she already knew the answer.

"It wasn't very hard," Whisper replied when she noticed that Terra had caught on, "your mental scream was very clear and I heard everything after that, and since you're currently still in distress it was easy for me to find you. But don't worry I'm not going to tell anyone what's going on, from now on I'm a temple of cluelessness. I'm too curious to know what Chaud has planned for you; isn't this what you wanted?" Whisper asked. "Chaud normal?"

"Well yeah," Terra replied, "but I expected it to happen gradually, not all at once, this is freaking me out! I mean one second he's Chaud Blaze standing in the background, not really interacting just observing and the next he's tackling me out of the way of a laser and asking me to ditch everybody with him! I mean, is that normal?"

"Yeah that is pretty strange," Whisper agreed, " but you do know that it's more likely that he'd be normal around you than anyone else. After all you knew him before he became the Chaud Blaze that everyone else knows. In fact he's probably wanted to be more like his old self ever since you moved back. You probably brought back memories from when his life was happier. After all he's started to change already even Lan's noticed."

"I guess," Terra replied, "but it's still weird though."

"Well all weirdness aside your outfit was coming on nicely," Whisper commented as she took the shirt out of Terra's hands.

"Skyler I only have a shirt." Terra stated.

"But it's a very cute shirt," Whisper replied as she looked at it. "and I see some very cute things that would look good with it." Whisper continued as she looked around the store.

"Let me guess," Terra said as she turned around grabbing a ½ top and a dark washed pair of jeans, both in her size.

"Great minds think alike." Whisper said voicing her approval.

"You mean twin minds think alike," Terra said as she took back the shirt and then going to the counter to pay for the clothes, "the only thing different in our fashion sense is that I like boots more than you do and you have a thing for skirts. Not to mention I favor keeping my hair up." Terra said as she finished paying and grabbed her bag and heading out with her older sister right behind.

"Well now the only thing felt for you to get are a pair of shoes and something for the LA nightlife." Whisper said as she and Terra steeped out into the hall.

"Nightlife?" Terra asked.

"Yeah," Whisper replied, "What if Chaud takes you to a club?"

"Ok, are we still talking about the same guy here?" Terra asked, "you know Chaud Blaze, as in not the club hopping type?"

"It's not Chaud's MO to take vacations and ask to ditch either." Whisper pointed out.

"But don't you think that going to a club is a little out there? Even with the change he has shown?" Terra asked.

"Maybe, maybe not, you never know, it would just be better to be prepared than to have to wear your day clothes, even as cute as they are they're not club clothes."

"Fine," Terra said in mock surrender, "I'll look for shoes and you can look for club clothes, thought I doubt I'll need 'em."

"Chaud might surprise you."

"What do you know?" Terra inquired, curious as to why Whisper insisted to keep this aspect of their conversation up.

"Nothing I swear!" Whisper replied, "You jut need to be prepared."

"Ok where do you suggest we look for shoes and club clothes."

"How about Target?"

"This mall has a Target?" Terra asked.

"This mall has everything," Whisper replied, "There's a Wal-Mart on the other end."

"Well ok then lets go and get this over with." Terra said as she and her sister headed off in the direction of the store. "Humm, I wonder what Tasha's doing right now?" Terra thought to herself as she walked on.

Tahsa layed on her back, feet under her on a couch and stared at the celing, she couldn't believe she was having to sacrifice her first days of summer vacation for this. She looked at the door her parents were currently behind and read what it said for the millionth time, "Tray Johnson: Divorce Law." As she listened she noticed that it had actually gotten quiet. Maybe they were actually getting somewhere and they could leave soon! But her hope was short lived when she heard her mother voice.

"You've got to be kidding me!" she suddenly yelled out.

Tasha sank deeper into the sofa. She was going to be here a while.

Terra walked down another isle of shoes in her size looking at the sneakers. When she and Whisper had arrived they had separated to opposite sides of the store, Terra to shoes and Whisper to the juniors department. After a few seconds Terra found the pair that she wanted and pulled out a pair of light blue and dark purple Xhilaration that had four stripes stretching from the heal to the front spreading and flaring out as they reached to toe. After trying them on she picked up the box and headed toward the other side of the store a little fearful of what she would find, when her sister had headed off she had looked a little too excited. Terra never made it to the department however because as she was heading that way she noticed Whisper walking in her direction.

"Hey I was just looking for you," Whisper said once she saw Terra. "You found your shoes?"

"Yep," Terra replied as she held up the box, "You find the club clothes that I won't be needing?"

"Si," Whisper replied, "and I've already paid for them and you're not going to see them until tonight. I want them to be a surprise."

"That's if I need them," Terra stated, "and what if I hate what you picked out? What would I do then?"

"You won't hate the outfit trust me," Whisper replied, "and how much do you want to bet that you'll be wearing it tonight?"

"You serious or are you joking?" Terra asked.

"Oh I'm serious," Whisper replied, "I for one am not going to underestimate what Chaud has up his sleeve."

"Well how about this then," Terra said after she though about it for a minute, "if I win and Chaud takes me somewhere else, or if we met you guys before tonight even gets here, you have to kiss Proto on the lips in front of everyone. And you would have make sure his shades are off when you do it."

"And if you lose?" Whisper asked raising her right eyebrow.

"I'll kiss Chaud."

"That's some pretty high stakes you've put up for yourself," Whisper replied, "especially since you keep saying you don't like Chaud that way."

"I'm confident I'm not going to lose." Terra said as she walked over to a clear cashier to pay for her shoes. "So how's you manage to pay anyway?"

"Lifted the number from your subconscious," Whisper replied simply. After she said that though both she and Terra looked up at the cashier and noticed she was looking at them funny.

"It's a twin thing," Terra commented as she took the bag and left with Whisper close behind.

"So are you ready for your first date?" Whisper asked as she looked at herself in the mirror. She and Terra were currently in a restroom and Terra was changing her clothes.

"Sky, let it go." Terra stated as she came out of one of the stalls, "how many times do I have to tell you that this isn't a date. I don't even know what this is. And I don't even know where I'm going, all I know is that Chaud asked me to ditch with him." Terra was fully exasperated, ever since she had started changing Skyler had insisted that this was a date of some sort and had repeated her opinion over and over.

"Well if you don't know what this, how are you so sure what it isn't?" Whisper inquired as she looked at Terra just in time to see her roll her eyes, "in any case you look cute." Whisper continued as she looked over her little sister's outfit which consisted of a long slightly flared sleeved holographic top, that had a sort of a watercolor tiger strip pattern to it that would change from purple to blue violet. Layered over that she had a periwinkle ¾ length sleeved ½ shirt that had a deep V and buttons going up one side. Along with that she had on a pair of dark-washed flared blue jeans that draped over her dark purple and light blue sneakers. "Like an American girl."

"Technically we are American, Sky." Terra replied.

"I mean you look like you were born and bread here, not that you have citizenship due to our parants. Yep you look cute…perfect for your first date."

"Sky, for the last time this…is…not…a…date seriously, you sound like Chloe off of that first season episode of Smallville.

"Ok, ok, I'll stop," Whisper said as she put her hands up in surrender. "I'm just getting in the big sister time I missed."

"And I appreciate it." Terra said as she stared walking toward the door.

"Hey you can't leave yet!" Whisper said calling her back.

"And why's that?" Terra asked.

"Your hair's not fixed yet." Whisper replied, "it's the biggest beacon you carry as to your identity next to your locket and I know your not going to take that off. Sit up here and I'll fix it." Whisper said motioning to one of her spaces between the sinks.

"Fine," Terra replied as she climbed up on the counter top and faced the mirror. After she got still Whisper reached up and pulled the clip from Terra's hair letting it fall down her back and frame her face. She then took her highlight clips from her hair. Terra smiled as she watched and some old memories flooded back. "I missed this." She stated.

"Me too," Whisper replied with a smile.

"Ok, I have been all over this mall, I can't find Terra and Chaud anywhere." Lan exclaimed as he, Maylu, Roll. Mega, and Proto met back up. They had finished their lazer tag game only to find that the two had vanished.

"I can't find them either." Proto stated.

"And now Whisper's missing," Maylu added, addressing the second girls absence.

"Can you sense where Chaud is?" Mega asked Proto.

"No," Proto replied, "the only link I have with him is the one the PET made and it's not that strong. I can sense if he all right or not, but not where he is."

"Well then I guess we're stuck." Mega commented. "I don't know what else to do, they won't answer their PETs and they turned off their GPS."

"It's almost like they don't want to be found." Maylu added.

"I'm done, you can open your eyes now." Whisper stated as she finished, she had made Terra close her eyes when she started styling her hair.

Terra opened her eyes and gazed at her reflection. Her hair was now pin strait, the natural wave and curl had been removed so it appeared longer than before. Her hair was currently down save the top half which had been twisted and placed in a small clip and hung down like before. Taking a closer look at her face she noticed that Whisper had even gone as far as removing her thin black eyeliner from her bottom lid and had replaced it with a brilliant and bright purple. Terra smiled, "How'd you get my hair so strait?" she asked as she fingered it.

"Striating iron," Whisper said as one appeared in her hand. "You know that materialization program comes in very handy."

"I know," Terra replied as she took the striating iron from Whisper and gave it a look over seeing that it was fully functional. "We may never have to shop again."

"Or pack, the dematerialization program comes in handy too," Whisper said back as she ran Terra's PET over her folded clothes she had changed out of and over the mysterious club out fit. Terra caught a flash of black, silver and teal before it phased out and the iron with it. "Well now that all that's done with you can meet Chaud for your…" Whisper started to say with a smile but trailed off as she caught a death glare from Terra, "whatever it is."

A couple of minuets later Terra found herself back in the same spot she had been in not to long ago, just outside the arcade and a Starbucks in front of her, only this time looking fully Americanized and she had a frappe in her hand. Not to mention she was a little bit calmer. She and Whisper had split up, she had headed toward "ground zero" and Whisper had headed back to the group that was currently looking for her.

Terra periodically looked around in the crowd but couldn't spot Chaud anywhere, and to tell you the truth she was surprised her wasn't there already. After a while longer a tap on the shoulder and a soft, "Hey," interrupted her thoughts. Terra quickly looked around, smiled at the boy behind her and turned back around, she really wasn't in the mood to deal with some random boy hitting on her. But once the image solidified in her mind and she remembered seeing a pair of intense sapphire eyes she turned back around and found Chaud standing there.

Chaud was now wearing a dark blue button up shirt that was rolled up at the elbows and unbuttoned reveling the long sleeved white shirt that was underneath, he also had on a pair of dark faded out jeans that fell over a pair of white and dark blue K-Swiss, but that wasn't the change that Terra noticed, what she noticed was what must have taken him so long and had caused her not to recognize him at first. His hair was fully jet-black, there wasn't a single white strand anywhere.

"Wh-wh-wh" Terra stuttered.

"Don't worry it's not permanent." Chaud assured her.

"Wh-what did you do to your hair?!" Terra exclaimed finally getting the words out, even if she was a little bit late.

"Terra it's henna, and it's not permanent it'll wash out. Besides you shouldn't be so shocked, my hair use to look like this before you gave me a dye job."

"Hey that was an accident," Terra replied defending herself, " I didn't mean to knock your mom's bleach gel on your head. Plus I washed it out."

"My hair still turned white by the end of the day."

"Chaud we were only six years old how was I suppose to know you had to wash the stuff out with some weird mixture to deactivate the bleach. Besides you're the one who liked it; you've bleached your hair ever since then to keep it like that." Terra said back to Chaud catching his familiar smirk. "You tricked me."

"Of course I did, how else was I suppose to get you back to normal?" Chaud replied. "So are you ready to get out of here or not?" he asked.

"Sure," Terra replied as she looked up, "but not now," she added suddenly.

"Why, what wrong?" Chaud asked.

"The rest of the crew is currently at 12:00 and headed this way." Terra said as she looked at Lan, Mega, Proto, Roll, Maylu and her sister all the while getting nearer. She shot a look at Sky who was currently at the back of the group and looking at her. Sky returned the look with one of her own that said that she had no say on the direction that the group had chosen to take.

"Don't worry about it." Chaud stated.

"Why?" Terra managed to get out right before the group started to pass right by them.

"Why are we going this way? We've covered this area already." Lan asked as he and the group started to pass.

"Maybe because they could be here now, you may have just missed them before." Mega replied as they continued on.

"Well to tell you the truth I don't know why we're even looking for them anyway." Lan added, "they're the ones who ditched us…" Lan continued to say as his voiced faded out and mixed with everyone else's who was speaking.

'Just missed is an understatement.' Terra thought to herself as she turned and watched them disappear into the crowd just in time to catch Whisper turn around and flash a huge smile and mouth the words "have fun on you date" once again. Terra decided not to retaliate. It wasn't worth the effort.

"Told you not to worry," Chaud stated as Terra turned around, "you ready to get out of here?"

"Sure," Terra replied, the confusion showing clearly in her voice.

Chaud smiled, "Great, then let's go," he said as he replied and took Terra once again by the hand leading her out of the mall and into the California sun.

TBC