A/N:
"animefreak1980 -is it weird that at first ene reminded me of some badass serial killer or is it just thugkane getting to me... and i can see them later teaming up to beat shuuya and it having something to do with his big sister complex... like takane dressing up as ayano or something to deceive the deceiver... well either way great chappie"
Wrath: Hope you'll enjoy this one!
AwesomeMango: THUGKANE IS MY GOD- joke, joke. Thanks for your thoughts and review! We're happy that you like it. ^^
"Hm. . . Body approved." Gilbert mused, nodding in approval.
Ene shot him a glare. Then she turned her attention to her fairy. "Lily, apologize!"
"Sorry." Lily apologized with no meaning to it at all. Her voice was monotone, as if she didn't care one bit. Shintaro felt a little offended, but considering she managed to chuck something big at him. . . Well, he won't complain.
Gilbert looked at each of them in turn. "Well, I'll be taking my leave then," he said before disappearing into thin air.
. . .
The three walked through the town, occasionally stopping by shops to purchase some goods. Apparently, you still needed to eat in this world so they stocked up on food. They got other things such as armor and healing pills, too. The items peaked Shintaro's interest, considering that some were in the form of a card.
"They're temporary," Ene explained. "You bring the cards out, say some things, and poof! They're suddenly there. Your fairy'll probably teach ya."
"Hey, what's that shop, Ene?" Shintaro pointed to a shop with only masks inside. The masks were displayed proudly, despite not having an designs. They were just a plain full mask. He wonders how much they'd cost, considering how boring they looked.
"That's a shop where you can buy a mask or have a pill made." Ene paused for a moment. "You can also change your appearance there using the masks."
"What do you mean change your appearance?"
"Uh, ya know. . . Change your appearance. When you wear one of those masks, you can look like however you want. Blue hair, pink hair, green hair. . . Gold eyes, purples eyes, gray eyes. . . Tanned skin, light skin. . . Just write what you want on the mask and you'll get it."
Shintaro shivered at the thought of changing your whole appearance. "How long does it last?"
"As long as you want it to last," Lily replied.
"You know you're acting different today. . ." Ene said. "You're usually so happy and lively."
Lily just smiled in reply.
"How long have you been here anyway?" Shintaro asked.
Lily sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This is one curious brat. You sure you don't want to kill him?"
"No. Not yet at the least." Ene replied. She seemed as annoyed as her fairy. "Oh, and I've been here for a week."
Shintaro's jaw dropped. "A week?! How are your parents reacting to this?"
"It's a bit complicated, but I'll explain it easiest as possible. Earth time and Commentum time are different. A week here is half an hour. Two weeks is one hour, and so forth." Ene paused, letting that information sink in. "While your soul is here, your body is acting on its own. It will refuse on going outside, and while it is alone, you'll seem to be sleeping."
Shintaro's mind dozed off thinking of what his soulless body would be doing. Surfing the net? Sleeping? The possibilities were endless.
He jumped back into reality when he heard his stomach growl. He hid his face in embarrassment.
"That sounded like a whale giving birth to an adult Tyrannosaurus Rex." Lily teased.
"Lily don't say that!" Ene shot her look of warning.
Shintaro's face lit up. She was defending him! "Yeah—"
"The truth hurts."
"You're supposed to be on my side!"
"Shut up, Shitnaro."
"Sh-Shitnaro. . . ?"
"I'll buy the food. It's on me." Lily said. "So what do you prefer, cow udder seasoned with salt, pepper, dragon scales, and ground pig tongue, or crocodile embryo swimming with live tadpoles?"
The two teens visibly turned green at the two choices.
"I think I should pass. . ." Shintaro muttered.
Lily raised her eyebrows. "Do I look rich to you?"
The two nodded.
"Anyway, I was kidding. I'll just buy some hot dog sandwiches." With that, Lily ventured to the hotdog stand.
Shintaro, finding an opportunity, asked: "Who is the person you want to revive?"
Ene seemed to hesitate on answering, but did nonetheless. "It's… someone I love… I was just too late to realize my feelings and he died because of his illness, and it's my fault that he died of his disease." Her voice was soft. It was as if she were to burst into tears.
I'm sorry Haruka, she thought, if I just wasn't selfish. . .
"H-Hey. . . cheer up. I. . . I don't know what you've been through, but. . . but I've lost someone important too. . . And it was my fault she died. If only I had approached her that day. . ." Shintaro's voice drifted off. He took a sharp intake of breath and forced a smile. "A-Anyways, what I'm trying to say is that. . . you're not alone."
Ene, for a moment, stared at him. Her eyes were wide with disbelief and he mouth hung open. His reply must have caught her off guard.
"Idiot!" Ene puffed up her cheeks. "You're not allowed to look cool!"
"W-What?!"
"I'm back." Lily greeted, popping up behind the two. Shintaro jumped, surprised, but the Ene didn't look fazed at all.
Ene grinned. "Ah, food!"
"Here. I didn't know if you guys wanted ketchup or mustard, so I had them give me both sauces in the packet." Lily gave the two their snack and attended to her own.
I don't think I can imagine Ene killing somebody though, Shintaro thought. He stared at the girl as he ate his food. She looked like she was enjoying herself, stuffing big bites into her mouth.
Yeah. He definitely can't imagine it.
. . .
"That was good." Ene said, satisfaction on her face.
After resting, the group walked, finding the meeting place Gilbert had requested to pick him up at. It was at the next town, which wasn't that much of a hassle going to. It was only a twenty minute walk away.
"My legs feel a little heavy. I can't seem to walk properly." Shintaro said. Ene nodded, a sign that she agreed.
"The drug has finally kicked in," Lily said.
"DRUG?!" Ene and Shintaro shouted in unison, just as the fairy turned to face them.
"I think I should introduce myself." Lily smiled—a smug, arrogant smile that didn't fit her face.
"W-What do you mean?" Ene's legs felt like jelly. They refused to support her weight any longer. She fell to the ground.
Lily waved her hand in front of her face. 'She' became a whole new person. A boy.
"Nice to meet you two~" he said, his voice all sing-song. "My name is Masked Deceiver."
"Masked. . . Deceiver?" Shintaro parroted. His vision was all blurry, but he could make out the pale blonde hair and cat-like eyes.
Ene glared at him. "Why did you drug our food?"
The smile on Masked Deceiver's face fell. He stared down at Ene, a stare so cold it brought goosebumps to Shintaro's arms. In a voice as hard as diamonds, he said:
"To avenge my sister."
Ene seemed confused at first. She stared at him a moment before realization washed over her face. "No way, you're Girl on Fire's brother?!"
"Bingo." Masked Deceiver grinned. He brought out a scythe, which glistened sinisterly in the sunlight. "Bye bye~"
Then he charged at Ene.