Chapter 7: Guard Dog
Neck length sky blue hair. Golden eyes. Inexpressive facial expression. Intense gaze.
What was he doing here?
Last time, Rood recalled he was supposed to be with Lidusis's mother so why was he here?
Prior to Rood's reunion with Dio and Lidusis, the two had grew anxious and worried about their friend's long absence. It had been some time since Rood had left. Surely, it wouldn't have taken that long to get something for them to eat. Unless, something happened to the blond. Worried, the two went to search for their lost companion who had yet to return. During their search for Rood, they coincidentally met Lidusis's mother who was on her way to a business trip.
"I see you're here to enjoy the carnival with your friends." Lidusis's mother said to her son.
Dio felt his heart being pierced with an arrow at the word friend.
"But I don't see that other boy around?"
"Rood, kind of got lost so we're looking for him." Dio answered for the meek Idun.
"That's troublesome. It'd be problematic to let such young children wander around by themselves." Duchess Dayner was worried that one of the kids may end up getting kidnapped. Hopefully, it won't come to that, but just to be on the safe side. "Lispen, please watch over Lis and his friends for me."
"Yes, Dayner-nim."
That done. Duchess Dayner proceeded back to her carriage and went back to business.
"And that's what happened." Dio explained to Rood.
After hearing the full story behind Lispen's appearance, Rood understood the sequence of events leading to Lispen following them wherever they went.
Although Rood wasn't exactly comfortable with the sky blue haired man intensely staring at him, there wasn't much he could do if he was supposed to be watching over them.
He must still be suspicious of him after jumped out that window and Lispen caught him.
"On Dayner-nim's orders, I will be overseeing your actions for today to ensure your safety. You may ignore me and proceed on with your usual activities."
How can they?! It's pretty much impossible to ignore a grown man following their every movement.
From that wording, more than a bodyguard, he sounded more like a stalker.
Left with no choice but to let the sky blue haired magician stay, the three friends continued on with their trip around the carnival visiting stall from stall until they made their way to a goldfish scooping booth. There Rood and Lidusis proceeded to scoop up some fish. Dio too wanted to join them. But after five failed attempts, he stopped. He really had no luck or skill in this game. The fish were really avoiding him and swam towards Rood whenever Dio tried to catch one. And every time he was about to catch a fish, his scoop would break. It was really heart wrenching so he was just left to mope in a corner with Lispen while Rood and Lidusis were having better luck than him.
"What the hell are you doing here..."
.
.
.
.
.
"Traitor."
In an instant, the fun, cheerful atmosphere dissipated. Replaced with a heavy, dark air as Dio sends a malicious glare at Lispen. Instead of his usual bubbly attitude, a never before seen dark persona appears one that Dio had never shown before.
"That should be my question. You look even more pathetic than the last time I saw you. Has using a filthy human disguise reduced you to becoming one?"
"Like you're one to talk. I can you too are using a human form." Venom oozes out of Dio's words. "What the hell do you think you're trying to accomplish by mingling in with the humans like this..."
"That is none of your concern. Someone like you could not possibly begin to fathom anything with that tiny speck of dust you call your brain. Your current form perfectly matches your intellect."
"If only it weren't for the humans around, I would have crushed you like the annoying pest you are."
"Why should that even matter? Killing off one or two insects won't make a difference or has mingling with these ugly creatures reduced you to thinking like one."
A large red vein pops on Dio's head.
"You—"
"Dio!" A familiar voice snaps Dio out of his anger.
Rood? Dio was certain that was Rood's voice, but why was he calling out his name?
"Look out!"
Unfortunately, it was too late for Dio to heed Rood's warning as a herd of unsupervised sheep made their way to Dio effectively trampling over the inattentive Idun.
By the time, Rood and Lidusis rushed over to Dio's side the herd had fully passed by.
"What were you doing? I told you to look out." Rood said to his badly injured friend. "Where were you paying attention?"
"How mean Rood!" Dio whined to his heartless friend returning back to his immature, childish self. "I get trampled and this is how you treat me!"
"It's your own fault for daydreaming when a herd of sheep were charging at you. Just what were you doing while we were away?"
Dio's face turns blank for a moment.
"I was just thinking about something." Dio went back to usual self not wanting to tell Rood about the conversation between him and Lispen.
?!
Rood had a very interesting reaction. He looked completely and utterly shocked to hear Dio's words as if he was facing the end of the world.
Dio could even see some imaginary words hanging above Rood's head.
'You think?'
"How rude?! I can too think! I have brain you know!" Dio felt so insulted to see Rood's cruel reaction. What was so wrong about him thinking?!
"Ugh, is this some kind of omen...?" Rood's face begins to turn blue with shock and his hand covering his mouth.
"What's that supposed to mean, Rood! You're nice to Lord Artian but not me! That's favoritism! Discrimination!"
Having enough of Dio's whining, Rood shoves his winnings at the goldfish booth in Dio's chest hoping that would shut him up. "You wanted this, right? You looked like you wanted to get some. I don't need them so you can have them."
"..." Dio stared in astonishment with his mouth hanging slightly. He was dreaming, right? Because there was no way Rood would actually treat him this nice.
Good at least that got him to shut up. Now Rood can finally have some peace and quiet.
As for Dio, various of thoughts pop into his head such as why was Rood being so nice to him, was this some kind of prank, were these fishes going to explode, and was he currently dreaming. In the whole time, he's known Rood not once had he shown him any form of kindness.
Could this be what they call the tsundere effect?! Has Dio's constant attacks of affections finally melted down the ice wall surrounding Rood's heart and opened up the hidden compassion locked inside his heart?
Unable to contain the tremors in his chest, Dio jumps at Rood.
If this was a dream, then he didn't want to wake up.
Unfortunately, reality was not so kind.
*WHAM*
Despite Rood's previous aggression towards him, it didn't put a downer on Dio's mood.
Rood on the other hand found the look on Dio's face to be more moronic than usual and annoying. He didn't get why he was grinning so much like an idiot. It was especially uncomfortable with him directing his smile at Rood.
"You know the show isn't going to start any sooner if you keep up that stupid look on your face." Rood deadpanned as he and his two friends plus Lidusis's bodyguard were lined up outside a large tent to see some animal performances.
"No need to be shy, I know you care about me." Dio misinterprets Rood's cold attitude towards him as one of those kids that act cold to get attention.
Rood looks at Dio with a face that says 'What-the-heck-are-you-talking-about?' as he considers sending Dio to therapy.
"Anyway, I can't wait to the show and all the animal tricks. It's going to be super amazing!"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the tent, a little blonde haired girl with pink tips couldn't help but gaze in glee at the sight of the creatures. Though, she did feel kind of sad that they were locked up in cages. She wanted to touch them so badly. The lions and tigers looked so fluffy. But if she did that, her naggy attendant would scold her even more.
"Princess, how many times have I told you. We can't be here. This is only for the staff. Think of your position if someone finds us here. We even took the trouble of coming here in secret. If your father knows about this, he won't let you out of the castle for a month!" Rom chided the young girl worried about the consequences that await them should they get caught.
Ignoring Rom's nagging, a cerulean haired woman handed the girl, Yuti, a basket of fruit to feed the animals with.
"Tessina, you shouldn't encourage the Princess. Don't forget your position. The two of us are supposed to look after the Princess. Her safety is our most highest priority."
"Boo. Boo." Yuti childishly pouted. She didn't appreciate Rom scolding the cerulean haired woman. "Rom, you nagger! Old bugger!"
Seated in the front row, Rood, Dio, and Lidusis were able to get a good view of the show. And no entertainment was complete without some popcorn. Plus, juice since the popcorn would make them thirsty.
"Dio, the show hasn't started yet. If you keep that up, you'll end up going to the restroom before it starts." Rood chided his gluttonous friend who was stuffing his face with popcorn and washing it down with the juice. "If you're going to keep that up, then at least use the restroom before the starts."
"Cut me some slack, Rood. I haven't eaten a thing since this morning, and I never a chance to eat while you were gone either."
"I'm just saying. Don't blame me if you end up having to leave in the middle of the show to use the restroom."
"Like that'll happen, I can so hang it in till the end of the show."
30 minutes later...
He so can't hang it in till the end of the show. He shouldn't have said those words. Ah, Dio really wanted to use the restroom so badly. He should have listened to Rood's warning. Though, it's too late for that now.
He can't tell Rood that he needs to use the restroom after what he said before, but he can't hold it in any longer. And he is definitely not going to let him pee his pants. He won't be able to live with himself he does. It's just like the first of school all over again. He really shouldn't have drunken that whole carton of juice before nap time.
He really, really needed to use the restroom, but if he tells this Rood who knows what kind of reaction he'll have towards him. But then again, his bladder was practically twisting around in places he's never felt before. It was as if his inner bowels were being set on fire.
Oh, forget pride. It's not like Rood can treat him any worse than he already does anyway.
"U-Uhm, R-Rood..."
"I told you to go before the show started." Rood deadpanned. "Hurry up before you make an embarrassment out of yourself. I don't want what happened on your first day at Helios to happen here."
"I told you that was just juice!" Dio cried before departing to use the restroom.
Weaving his way through the stands, Dio embarked on his journey to the restroom before the unimaginable takes place. His desperate search for the restroom was not in vain as he had successfully managed to find the toilets before his bladder exploded or worse repeat the tragedy that make him the laughing stock of the school for a month. Fortunately for him, the rumors and ridicules died out by the time Rood came in. Though, he should have probably kept his mouth shut about the incident. He didn't think the kid would have deduced that it was him. That's the last time he'll ever speak of that again.
And another thing, why is this little girl following him? After Dio had finished using the restroom and was on his way back to watch the animal show with Rood and Lidusis, he ran into a blonde girl with pink tips around his age who for some reason was following him.
While Dio was deep in thought about why a random girl was following him, said girl was watching the small bag of fish in Dio's possession with fascination. Yuti wondered where he got them. She wanted to get some of her own. Maybe if she asks him, he'll take her there.
Nah, it must be his imagination was what Dio thought. It was probably just coincidence that the girl was trailing behind him. She was probably just heading the same direction as him. Yeah, like him, she too was here to see the animal show but got sidetracked by something else. There were a lot of people in the stands. Plus, most kids love animals and would definitely want to see all the neat tricks. That's it. That's got to be it. After all, there was no reason for a random girl to be following him. It's not like he was Mr. Popular much to his chagrin.
Okay, now that got him seriously depressed.
He really shouldn't have thought that.
In the middle of his depression, Dio had failed to notice the stampeding herd of animals charging at him.
"Kyyyaaa, the animals are loose!"
"Hey, who was the idiot that left the cages to the gorillas and giraffes unlocked?!"
"It wasn't me! Last time, I checked it was locked!"
"Me too!"
"Hello? Isn't anyone going to do something about the rampaging animals?"
Trampled by a herd of loose animals, Dio questioned his luck and wondered if God hated him or something. Miraculously, he survived the terrible experience. But what concerned him the most was not his battered body but the precious item he received from Rood which was no longer in his possession. He didn't see any wet stains or flailing fish on the ground.
If it wasn't on the ground, then it had to be...
There!
He was right. When the animals collided into him, the bag of fish he got from Rood had been flung into the air from the force of the collision and still currently flying through the air until it safely landed on someone's hand.
Whew~
Dio was relieved to see that his present was safe. It was a rare gift from Rood one that he wanted to treasure.
"Tha—"
However he let a breath of relief too soon when he got up to thank the person who caught his precious keepsake. He froze once he got a good look at his fishes' savior.
To think of all people, the bag just had to land on Shicmuon's hand.
Shicmuon of all people!
What should he do? He can't do something careless unless he had a death wish. This guy was the same guy who went bonkers when Dio last saw him with Rood. Seriously, who goes around threatening to kill people?! He also muttered some random things about some [day] and showing him fear. He really didn't get what that nutjob was going on about. It's no wonder Rood reacted the way he did when they last talked about him in Rood's house.
Come to think of it, he probably doesn't know that he's related to Rood in some way. After all, Dio did get to see Shicmuon, but he doubts Shicmuon got to see him not with all that smoke in the air when he tried to attack Rood. Not to mention, he was probably more focused on Rood than him anyway.
"You were from before, weren't you?"
So much for that hope. God really does love to crush his hopes and dreams, doesn't he...
"Where is he..."
More so than a question, it sounded more like a command.
A command that Dio did not want to obey for the sake of his poor friend who had to deal with this psycho.
Not wasting a moment, also fearing for his life at the same time, Dio snatched the bag of fishes from Shicmuon's hand and ran like he's never ran before as if he were running from Death itself which in a way wasn't technically wrong considering that he was currently on the run from a certain deranged redhead who was hellbent on chasing after his poor friend.
"Wait..."
And to make matters worse for Dio, Shicmuon chased after Dio still wanting answers.
"Stop or I'll kill you..."
Like that was reassuring at all! Who in their right mind would stop if they were being threatened to be killed? That'd just make things worse.
Now Dio knows how a defenseless creature feels in front of a predator. If this is what Rood has to deal with on a daily basis, he took back what he said about God hating him. There was no one more unfortunate than Rood who was constantly having his life targeted by some wild maniac.