Chapter 3

Fire and Ice

13th City, Kagutsuchi, Litchi's Clinic – Jacky, Noel, Carl, and Jin

It took Jacky and Noel quite a bit longer to get back to the clinic, or at least, it felt longer, considering they weren't occupied by conversation this time. When they arrived, the air inside the clinic had grown colder, even though it was much hotter outside.

Litchi had come in to greet the two upon their return. "Why is it so cold in here, Doc?" Jacky demanded. She led Jacky and Noel to the room where Carl was resting and found Jin sleeping in a bed next Carl's. Both of them were fast asleep, Carl's doll was stood right by his side.

"Oh god, it's the icy dimwit. I was hoping to see Ragna first, but, of course, god hates me," Jacky groaned in despair. He sat down in a chair at the other side of the room.

Jacky looked over at Noel and noticed that she was avoiding Litchi. "Noel, what are you doing?" She jumped and turned to look at Jacky and then, hesitantly, at Litchi. "N-nothing at all."

However, when Litchi wasn't looking, she began to grope at her chest again. Jacky looked between her and Miss Litchi for about ten seconds before he understood. He burst into laughter that Noel was jealous. "Don't worry Noel, they'll grow out one day," he said.

Jacky's laughing was interrupted by a sneeze. The cold atmosphere that Jin was unknowingly creating was aggravating him. No surprise there.

Jacky began to give off a fierce heat which warmed the room back to a moderate temperature. The sudden change in heat, however, didn't go unnoticed, and Jin woke up.

"Why is it so hot in here?"

His eyes landed on Jacky and he grabbed Yukianesa immediately. "You!"

Jacky laughed, "Just my luck, the only one who remembers me is the Frostbitten Freakshow." He drew Drakos from nothing just in time to block Yukianesa. "Just as feisty as ever, I see. You haven't changed one bit, Jin."

Jin managed to calm himself and sheathed his sword, while Jacky followed suit. "So, it's been a while, hasn't it, eh, Jin?"

Jin stared at him with a hostile glare. "Aw, what's with the face, Jinny boy? Didn't ya miss me? I certainly missed you." Jacky was beginning to grate Jin's nerves again.

He forced himself to sit down and release his firm grip on Yukianesa. "It's been years since we've seen each other, Ray," he said. "A few, yeah, and yet you still call me by my last name. You really know how to make someone feel special, Frosty."

There were sparks flying between the two swordsmen. No one wanted to get in the middle of them, else they risk their lives.

"So what are you doing all the way in Orient Town, Jin?"

"Looking for someone who's searching for information, someone who's been desolating Library branches to do it, too and after he's done, he burns them down to the ground."

Jacky realizes that the one Jin is looking for is himself. Jin shoots Jacky a knowing glance, showing that he knows. "I guess showing you Drakos was a bad idea, right?"

Jin nodded his head. "Well, it would be a bad idea if I had wanted to hide it, eh?"

"S-so you weren't intent on-!" Noel began.

"On hiding it? No, of course not. I don't care as long as you don't go telling anyone more powerful than me." That last part wasn't very smart of him to say.

"Are trying to say that I'm weaker than you?" Jin once again reached for Yukianesa. Jacky smiled at his old Frie-enemy. "Yeah, that's what I'm saying. You got a problem with that, Icicle?"

Jin drew his sword from its sheath, cold air steaming from the sword as it came out. Jacky just stood there, smiling at him smugly. "Go ahead and try it, Frosty."

Jacky's skin hardened and scaled sprouted from his flesh once more, his skin began to turn rusty red. He was confident that Jin wouldn't even be able to hit him, but it's better to be safe than dead. His scales were a powerful safety precaution.

Jin thrust his sword into the floor and a sheet of ice began covering it, but by the sheet of ice never reached Jacky, in fact, the moment it got too close, the ice began to melt. "That's what happens when you put ice next to fire, Jin. It melts. Every time. Little science lesson for you, there. Are we done?"

Jin threw a few ice shards at him, but every single one melted and Jacky just stayed in that spot, smiling like a goof. Jacky crossed his arms and waited for Jin to make his next move.

Jin charged in, ready to cut him into tiny ice cubes. Next thing he knew, Yukianesa was flung out of his hand. Jacky looked just as surprised as he did. They both turned toward Noel and saw the smoking barrels of Bolverk. "That's enough, you two!"

Jin growled and stormed toward her.

Finally, Jacky moved his feet and stepped between him and Noel. "Hold it right there, buddy, she's just trying to keep things peaceful. I admit, it's boring, but there's no need to make something of it."

Jin punched Jacky and left a sheet of ice on his left cheek, although it melted away almost immediately. "Now that wasn't nice, Jinny boy. I thought you didn't like cheap shots."

"Only when they're delivered by someone else," he replied. Jacky popped a vein and butted heads with Jin.

"Is that so, little miss snowstorm?"

"Yeah, do you have a problem with it, you scaly eyesore?"

"Yeah, I got a problem with it, you stupid snow-bitch!"

Litchi and Noel just stood there viewing the quarrel. Even Carl had finally woken up from his slumber to view the spectacle.

"Sh-shouldn't we stop them?" the doctor asked. Noel just shook her head, "No, just leave them to it. They'll tire out eventually."

It was going to be a long night.

Note: Hey everyone, Reploid7 here! Sorry this chapter isn't as long. I didn't have much time to work on this chapter.

And don't worry about Ragna and Tao, we'll be getting back to them soon enough.

This is Reploid7,

Signing off!