Disclaimer: I am, in fact, female, therefore I cannot possibly be Tim Burton, who is clearly a boy. Therefore, I cannot possibly own TNBC.

Lock had been right. Three or so hours passed and she was still quite vexed, and still firm on steering clear of him when possible. He had dropped the 'poor me' attitude, but it didn't seem to make things any better. At least she allowed him to walk closer to her, about five feet or so. It wasn't much, but he'd rather be in a five feet range of his best friend than a ten feet range, even when she was pissed off at him. He learned his lesson last time, and didn't dare sneak up on her again. He looked around, noticing the elm trees curving a high tunnel around them. There was always something about trees that did that felt unnerving to him, despite the fact he lived in Halloween Town. Nervously, he curled his tail around his leg and quickened his pace. Sensing the difference in his footsteps, Shock turned around.

"What's your problem?" The mage asked him, raising her eyebrow.

Ending up stopping about a foot away from her, he replied, "Erm... nothing, but where are we going?"

"How should I know? We haven't been in this part of the human world before!" Shock snapped, spinning back around. Lock sighed and followed her again. A good ten or fifteen minutes passed of silence, before Lock noticed something. Shock had started to quietly sing to herself. He didn't recognize the song, but she hadn't sung with the boys present for many years now, and it was weird to hear how much her voice had changed. He unconsciously walked slower, listening to her singing until she stopped.

"You have a lovely voice," Lock noted out loud without thinking. She glanced back at him, before turning to face the front again, cheeks burning. She bowed her head and continued to walk.

A few seconds passed, before the devil boy quickened his pace so that he was walking right behind her, a little to the right. He reached out and gently but firmly grabbed her hand, making her stop like a deer in headlights. Seeing no other reaction from her, he tried to get her attention.

"Shock? I really need to talk to you." At that, she yanked her hand out of his grasp, but he wasn't going to take no for an answer this time. Lock grabbed her shoulders and pinned her to the nearest tree. Shock glared at him through a few loose strands of hair moodily. "Just hear me out, okay? You can't avoid me forever."

"...What do you want?" She whispered after a moment, looking down so that her hat cast a shadow over her face. He reached up and knocked her hat to the ground so he could look at her.

"Can I trust you enough to let go?" He asked, tilting her chin up. After her firm nod, he let go of her shoulder. Since she didn't make a move to escape, he continued talking. "Now, about yesterday..."

After three hours of nothing but walking, Barrel's feet were getting sore, not to mention a cut he got on his cheek was stinging. He yawned.

"What was I thinking? I don't even know where I'm going..." He murmured to himself, rubbing his eye tiredly. He froze as he saw a familiar figure in the distance. "Jack? What are you doing here?"

"You three have been missing for days. Where are Lock and Shock?" The Pumpkin King said, crossing his arms.

"I don't know. We got separated. I just hope they haven't killed anybody yet..."

"Are you being followed?" Jack asked, looking around.

"It feels like it, but... wait, how did you know that?" Barrel asked suspiciously. It was then he noticed there was something off about Jack. It was just too out of place that Jack would just happen to find him, and Jack's voice was off. "You're not Jack, are you?" He accused, pointing a finger at him.

Knowing she had been discovered, Edith shifted back into her regular form and laughed.

"You're smarter than I thought. No matter," She assured herself, taking a club out of her cloak. Before he could run, she struck him on the back of the head. Before he blacked out, he could hear an unwelcome voice praise the woman.

"I'm so glad I got a shapeshifter to help me!"

"Yeah, yeah, bug man, can I have my money now?"

"Not yet! Your job isn't done yet!"

Recognizing the second voice, Barrel managed to say one word before fainting.

"Oogie."

"What about yesterday?" Shock replied, staring him straight in the eyes.

"Why'd you kiss me?" Lock asked.

She sharply turned her head away, her curls flying in his face. She determinedly stared at the tree next to them. Knowing by her look she was planning to escape the conversation, he put his hands on her shoulders, pressing her back up to the tree. A hush came over the area, and a light breeze blew their hair to the side. Lock waited to see if she was going to answer before gently grabbing her chin and turning her face back to look at him. It was then he noticed that although her eyes had always looked gray, they were really quite purple.

"Shock..." He started, but she cut him off.

"It was just a show of kindness, okay?" She snapped, about to kick him, but he wrapped his tail around her leg, stopping her. Shock tried to get her leg out of his grip, but eventually gave up and resorted to scowling at him. "Let go of my leg. Now." She growled.

"If I do, you'll just kick me, so, no." He replied, straightening her thigh-high boot, noticing it was crooked, but all he earned was a sharp slap.

"Pervert!" She said.

"Well, excuse me for being a perfectionist," He replied, rolling his eyes. "Touchy." All she gave in return was sticking her tongue out at him. A sly grin spread across his face.

"What?" She asked cautiously, eyeing him.

"You like me, don't you?" He grinned toothily.

"I never said that!" She retorted irately.

"You implied it."

"Did not!"

"Did so!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"You implied it, why else would you have kissed me?"

"You're an idiot!"

"Ah, but you like me!"

"Do not!"

"Yes, you do!"

"No-" She started, but he took her lips in his, silencing her. She froze, eyes wide and cheeks scarlet.

He pulled away ever so slightly and retorted, "Shut up." He then tilted her chin up and gently kissed her again, not giving her a chance to get over the sudden kiss.

A/N: Aw... I feel so loved. ^^ And yes, I'm fine now, no more H1N1 for Inferno Shock! (I hope.)

So there, some LxS love for you. ^^ 3 Anyway, I'd love it if you could review! This time for those crescent shaped cookies you get on Christmas! (Sorry, I absolutely love those...) Or cupcakes, whatever you prefer.

~Inferno Shock