Yes, I stopped being lazy long enough to righ this!

Brago "Yay for you"

........note to self, get a new lock.

Stripes walks up "Are we starting yet?"

....yeah, as soon as you all GET OUT OF MY ROOM!

Olivia runs up and bops me "STOP YELLING!"

WHY?! YOU'RE YELLING!

Taylor "SHUT UP ALREADY!"

Gash appears "On with the story!"

Everyone "WHAT THE FLIP!"

Ch. 7

Unexpected Acquaintance

They walked nonstop all day, Stripes made an attempt to reason with Brago to stop for rest every once in a while, but he would just grunt in reply and she could've sworn that he mumbled something about her being weak every time. But Stripes wasn't worried about herself, she was perfectly fine with the hike and could probably keep it up for just as long as Brago, if she had shoes anyway. Every now and then, she would glance back at Sherry, who seemed to be lagging further and further behind with every passing minute. She didn't complain, but she looked completely exhausted, swaying from side to side as she forced herself to move forward.

"Ugh, how long have we been going?" Sherry thought to herself as she stared blankly at the ground. She looked up and noticed Stripes staring back at her with a worried expression, but she was too tired to tell. "Why is she looking at me? IS she planning something?" Her expression stiffened into a deep frown "Yes, I have her book. She's probably waiting for the best time to take it. I won't give her the chance" with that mind set, she up righted herself and walked as straight as possible, letting out a strong and demanding aura.

Stripes wasn't fooled by her sudden change, she could still see her slightly swaying as she walked. She turned to Brago, changing her worried look into a neutral one "Hey Brago, you think we could stop soon?"

Brago glanced at her with a menacing growl, which had no effect on the other "You've already asked that and I've already said no. You're supposed to be leading me to my book, remember"

"Yeah, I know, but we're not even close yet and…." She stopped there and glanced back worriedly.

Brago followed her gaze and looked back at Sherry, who was still walking strong, but visibly panting now, he grunted and continued forward "We're continuing"

"But Brago…" Stripes began to protest, but he immediately cut her off.

"No" he stated again and continued on, mumbling some form of insult as he went.

Stripes frowned at him before looking back at Sherry again as she fell back into a slumped position.

Sherry stared blankly at the ground as she continued to trudge forward "….man, how long have we been walking?" she asked herself again.

After a moment, she noticed a shadow besides her and looked over at its owner. Seeing that it was Stripes, she stiffened her expression and looked away, still oblivious to her concern.

"Is there a reason you're back here when you should be leading the way?" Sherry asked agitatedly as she turned to face the other once realizing that her cold treatment towards the other wasn't getting her anywhere.

Stripes ignored her tone and continued to look at her worriedly "Are you okay?"

Sherry looked forward "Of course I am. We do this all the time"

"Really?" Stripes asked in amazement. Not every human could keep up with a demons pace, especially someone like Brago.

Sherry up righted herself again, feeling a bit prideful from Stripes' response "Of course, sitting around won't end this battle any sooner"

She then tripped over her own foot and nearly fell over. She kept her gaze forward after that with a light blush on her cheeks. Not daring to look back at the grin that she could feel forming on Stripes' face.

She looked back at the ground and frowned, her blush fading as rage boiled up inside "I have to end this battle, as soon as possible" she thought to herself.

She was quickly pulled out of her thoughts when she felt herself being lifted off the ground. A quick glance down and she saw that Stripes had lifted her up onto her back.

"What are you doing?!" she asked a little flustered.

Once Stripes was comfortable with the extra weight and position of the other, she continued walking "I'm helping you"

"I don't need help. I can walk just fine" Sherry stated slightly annoyed.

Stripes turned her head a little and smiled at her "I know, but it's kinda my fault you're out here" she heard Brago grunt in disapproval, but ignored it and continued. "And you look like you could use a break. After all, you said you do this all the time"

Sherry, although grateful for the sudden relief, wasn't very willing to except her pity "That's right, I do, so you don't need to carry me" with that, she started to fidget in an attempt to get down.

Stripes held her tight and frowned "But, you're exhausted"

"I'm fine, now put me down" Sherry said in a sharp tone as she began to pull at the demons arms.

"Why are yoOW!" Stripes' was interrupted once Sherry started to physically harm her.

"Put me down!" she yelled as she pulled on the thick orange hair.

"Let go!" Stripes whined, still refusing to put the girl down.

"Put me down, now!"Sherry yelled again and pulled harder.

Stripes, who's head was forcibly pulled back, glared up at the human "What are you 3?! Let go!"

Sherry pulled harder "Once you put me down!"

"Fine!" Stripes yelled before dropping the girl on the floor and glaring at her with crossed arms.

Sherry slowing rose to her feet and glared back "Why'd you do that?!"

Stripes eased her glare into a slightly disapproving look "What are you talking about? You wanted me to put you down"

"I didn't want you to drop me!" Sherry whined.

"And now you're mad because I put you down?" Stripes asked with a raised brow.

"BECAUSE YOU DROPPED ME!" Sherry yelled furiously.

Stripes rolled her eyes "What's the big deal, you wanted down. It's not like you were that far from the ground anyway"

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!"

"Than what is the point?!"

Their argument was suddenly interrupted when Brago shoved Stripes to the side. Stripes stared at him puzzled as he walked up to his book owner, picked her up onto his shoulder and continued forward again.

Once the shock wore off, Sherry began to flail violently "Brago! Put me…"

"Shut up!" he yelled.

Sherry stopped her protests and hung limply over his shoulder but felt something odd. She looked up and saw Stripes walking close behind with a big smile.

"Shouldn't you be leading the way" Sherry said through gritted teeth.

Stripes' smile just grew "No, I can tell which way to go just fine from here" at this, Sherry looked away completely flustered and Stripes chuckled lightly.

Brago inwardly rolled his eyes "Stupid hu…..girls"

They continued to walk and Brago eventually put Sherry down again once her persisting reached a new level of annoying. Of course, he wasn't any easier on her than Stripes had been and they started a fierce argument that scared Stripes to a fare distance ahead of them.

"All I'm saying is that you didn't have to drop me!" Sherry persisted.

Brago growled loudly and glared at her "If you were strong, it wouldn't have mattered!" Sherry opened her mouth to retort, but Brago changed the subject "Why are you stopping?"

Sherry looked ahead at Stripes, who was staring up into the sky.

Stripes turned her attention to them, assuming that he was talking to her since Sherry didn't respond, with a puzzled look on her face "Maybe we should stop now"

"Why" Brago asked plainly.

"It's dark" She responded.

Sherry placed a hand on her waist and leaned slightly to the side, an amused look appearing on her face "Yes, that tends to happen every day around this time" Brago briefly smirked at this.

Stripes shook her head, ignoring her comment "But it was day a few moments ago" she looked back up at the sky "And now it's almost pitch black"

At this, Sherry and Brago looked up into the sky. They hadn't noticed the sudden change while they were arguing, but now they could feel the cold wind and see streaks of lightening swirling around in the thick dark clouds over head"

"Come to think of it, there were reports of a bad storm hitting" Sherry mused aloud.

Brago glanced at her "For how long?"

Sherry looked at him "A few days, but it's supposed to be on and off"

Brago grunted before continuing "Let's go"

"Brago…" Sherry began to protest.

"There's no point in stopping if it'll just stop soon" he quickly added.

Sherry just sighed "Of course. He'll never change" she left it at that and followed after him, with Stripes now in back.

Within a few minutes, it had started to rain, which quickly turned into a downpour, quickly soaking the three of them. Stripes didn't really mind too much, at least not compared to Brago, who was furious over his soaked hair falling over his eyes, and Sherry, who had started to shiver.

After a few more minutes, Brago caved and began looking for a place for them to stop. When he spotted something, he changed direction and led the others to a small cave opening, well hidden behind a few trees. They quickly went inside to wait out the storm.

Sherry gathered up her hair and began to wring out the water "Well, that could've been worse" her attempt to dry off was in vain as the demons on either side of her shook madly to get the water out of their hair, soaking her all over again.

Sherry quietly grumbled as she started again, while Brago removed his cloak and tossing it a few feet away before leaning back against the wall in his usual sitting position. Stripes, once she had slightly smoothed out her hair, also leaned back against the wall with one leg bent beneath the other. She flexed her feet, which Sherry couldn't help but stare at since she had five toes on each now.

Stripes noticed her blank stare and looked over at her concerned "Is something wrong?"

Sherry quickly snapped out of her thoughts and waved her hands frantically in front of her with a panicked smile "N-No, it's nothing. I just….."

"She was probably thinking about your earlier transformation" Brago stated, gaining both their attention. He looked at Stripes and smirked "You could almost be two different people"

"Transformation?" Stripes said with her head tilted slightly in confusion.

His smirk faded "Odd how you wouldn't know about your own ability, but then you wouldn't be The Berserker if you did"

Stripes frowned "You called me that earlier too, what are you talking about?"

Brago grunted and closed his eyes "You don't even know the rumors"

"What rumors, what are you talking about?" Stripes asked a little agitated by his lack of answers.

Brago looked back up at her "Don't worry about it" they stared at each other in a silent battle for dominance while Sherry sat back and watched.

She looked back and forth between them a few times, waiting for one to cave in and turn away, but neither was willing to, so she changed the subject. "So, how did you and Olivia meet?" at this, both turned to look at her.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Brago asked, a little annoyed by her interruption. He wanted to win.

Sherry glanced at him "Well it's not like your conversation was going anywhere" the demons exchanged looks before Brago went back to his position against the wall. Once he settled down, she turned back to look at Stripes "So?"

Stripes sat back as well, but kept her eyes focused on Sherry and shrugged "As unexpected as any other pairing I guess"

"Yeah, but no one meets the same" Sherry stated with inquiring eyes. "So, how'd you meet?" Stripes leaned her head back and thought back to when it all started, a small smile creeping onto her face as she did.

Elsewhere, Taylor and Olivia were in a mall looking out one of the many glass door exits into the pouring rain. The mall was pretty large, and packed with people do to the weather.

Olivia voiced her thoughts with a loud groan "Great, perfect to go with my mood"

Taylor patted her sister's shoulder with a reassuring smile "Hey, it's just rain. It'll pass"

Olivia glanced over briefly before sighing and looking back out at the rain "I hope that idiot isn't out there right now"

Taylor frowned and removed her hand "I don't get it. You've told me great things about her and you're clearly worried, but why do you call her names like that?"

Olivia glanced at her "Because she is one" she chuckled to herself and shrugged "That's just the impression she left when we met"

Taylor crossed her arms "And what happened that has permanently tagged her as an idiot?"

Olivia turned to completely face her, a grin quickly stretching onto her face.

And cliff hanger until I type out the rest^^ R&R please and thanks for reading, hope you liked.