Chapter CVII: Into the depths of Atlantis Part VII

It was now late in the night, the lights were dimmed down as everyone was finally resting having finished their duties for that long day. However the glowing green torch hanging from the rocky and dark craggy roof continued to shine on, though fortunately with their own lights dimmed it wasn't bothering anyone too much.

"Come and get it!" Came a large shout that disturbed the quiet atmosphere, this noisy broadcast came from their expeditionary cook, Cookie.

He had a very heavy American Texan accent, and he was an older man with a beard and moustache. He wore a brown bowler hat with a red feather that stuck out at the side, he also wore a pale grey shirt and long blue dungarees which also somehow covered his boots. Which caused on a occasion people to wonder when on earth he ever managed to take his boots off?

Sitting around their usual spot Nozomi, Riku, Mickey and Milo were together as a simple lamp nearby gave them their only source of light. They all sat with a tray each on their laps as they waited for Cookie's... muck.

For honestly, though it managed in some bizarre way to give them the sustenance they needed to get through the day it unfortunately was not at all appetizing, gulping almost with a shudder Nozomi saw that Cookie was done with Sweet, Audrey and Mole's group as he was now heading in their direction.

Seeing him coming Nozomi whispered to Riku, "I hope this batch isn't going to be as gross as last night's!" As she remembered odd little lumps here and there in her 'meal' that made her very, very suspicious.

Hearing her Riku replied, "don't push your luck" as he imagined himself what was coming.
Listening to the two of them Mickey told them both, "aww c'mon now fella's at least yer gettin' somethin to eat you should think yerselves lucky!"

Seeing his usual optimistic nature though didn't really cheer up either keybladers as they both looked at the king with sullen faces, quiet as he looked at the two of them Mickey himself then felt very awkward himself as he sat quietly.

It was then Milo spoke up feeling the awkwardness as well himself, "yeah, well it's good I agree with you Mickey that we're getting to eat, but it doesn't get rid of the fact that it isn't-"

However he was cut off as suddenly, "here it is!" Cookie had arrived.

Still holding their trays looking as reluctant as ever he carried on," here ya go! Y'all will need 'em vitamins and minerals! The top there is in all of Texas!" With that he plopped each tray with a huge spatula of his special gruel, which he claimed consisted of beans, bacon whisky and lard. But with the amount of travel they'd done it seemed that all that was left of the four ingredients was lard.

Nozomi gulping again staring at the dreadful stuff replied almost wanting to hang her tongue with a yuck out of her mouth, "thanks..."

However Riku was simply silent as there was nothing good he could possibly say about this stuff. Mickey though the good and civilized king had to live up to his rules of etiquette as he replied with an awkward smile himself as he once again he too had to ingest this awful stuff, "yeah that looks... really nice Cookie."

Hearing the praise that he was receiving he smiled as he replied, "aww shucks ti weren't nothin!" Finally he turned his attentions to Milo as he said, "Here ya go Milo! Put some meat on them bones!" With that he poured a large gloop of his muck onto his tray.

Feeling just as awkward as everyone else was Milo though spoke up trying to be polite himself as he said, "thanks Cookie that looks... greasier than usual."

Receiving more praise delighted that his cooking was getting such great reactions he replied, "like it? Well ya'll can have some more!" With that he poured onto everyone's trays again, though not using a spatula this time as he used the whole pot and then as he finished he walked off as he spoke again, "yer all so skinny ya could all turn sideways and ya'd all look like zippers!"

Watching as he walked away with the horrible stuff dripping from her tray Nozomi repeated puzzled, "zippers?" As she wondered what the heck he meant by that?

Riku looking at his tray then looked to Milo as he told him, "well nice going there."

Milo hearing him looked blank for a moment but then he told him, "how was I supposed to know he'd do that! Don't blame me for this." Nozomi though was simply quiet as the two exchanged hard looks as she took her own spoon and started to literally dig in, though obviously with huge reluctance.

Meanwhile back at a certain distance, Audrey Sweet, Mole Mrs Packard and Vinny were too trying to ingest their own messy slops that were on their trays. Universally everyone was disgusted and Audrey looking at her own tray gacked as her tongue hung out of her mouth.

Mole looking at her tray then spoke, "I wanted the escargot, " for when Cookie had been dishing out his yucky concoction he had given them each labels, for Sweet he had given him 'Caesar salad' Audrey, 'Escargot' and finally for Mole he had received, '

oriental spring rolls.'

Audrey though clearly didn't want her 'Escargot' and passed it over to Mole saying, "knock yourself out!" He took it greedily with his tongue hanging out of his mouth as he was incredibly delighted at his luck.

Sweet though taking his spoon in his hand moved to take a bite, but as he did he saw the 'outcasts' as Milo sat and ate with his friends and despite that the meal obviously was just as unpleasant for them, there was still laughter that could be heard in the air.

Seeing the smiles that were on their faces as they all joked and talked Sweet felt he wanted to know them all better and so then turned to his group as he said, "you know we've been pretty tough on those kids, why don't you say we cut them all some slack."

Audrey having got another tray on her lap heard Sweet say this and looked to the group herself and as she too saw the happy atmosphere as well. Though she still wasn't completely keen on Nozomi considering her few arguments with her and the rather idiotic things that she and the others did she decided to give them all the benefit of a doubt. So she replied to Sweet a smile on her face, "yeah sure why not? We might as well have a good laugh ourselves anyway!"

At that moment still chewing through her meal hard, Nozomi couldn't help but smile as Milo joked as he talked to the king trying to teach him how to speak Atlantian, though they both just sounded like they were saying gobble de gook to her. Even Riku who was chewing through his meal a spoon in his hand, he couldn't help but smile too as it was a fun little show to watch.

But suddenly interrupting this moment came a shout, "hey!"

Everyone turning then surprised not expecting anyone to shout saw it was Audrey as she waved out to them, "you guys why don't you all come and join us!"

Hearing this still chewing Nozomi stopped in her tracks, she was shocked! Audrey was inviting all of them to eat with her group? She simply stayed frozen in place but then suddenly Milo spoke up surprised but yet delighted, "what really us? You guys don't mind that?"

Nozomi turned again as she looked back at Milo, she finally swallowed as she thought to herself, 'he's going to agree that this that easily?'

In the distance she then heard Audrey call out again as she shouted out, "nah come on over here!"

Milo at once started to walk over but as he did Nozomi had got up and tapped him on his back making him turn around again as she asked him hurriedly, "Milo are you sure that this is a good idea?"

Hearing her ask this question he blinked confused as he replied, "sure? I mean why wouldn't it be?"

Really surprised at this Nozomi spoke again feeling dumb founded, "but what about all that stuff they put us through? You know with the nitroglycerin and those other pranks and stuff? Are you sure they won't do anything like that again?"

It was now really clear that Milo hadn't thought about this at all and paused as he put a hand to his chin, what would he do if something did happen again. Nozomi watching him was quiet, she felt a little guilty causing this doubt but she had to be honest, she didn't want Milo to get his feelings hurt again.

But then surprising her yet again Riku stood up as he finished his mouth full and moved to go over himself as he said, "let's just go over."

Nozomi and Milo were then both shocked, but it was Milo this time who spoke up his own doubts surfacing, "but, are you sure this'll be good, I mean like Nozomi said they might-"

It was the king's turn this time to interrupt gently as he said, "it'll be okay for us, besides Riku and me will chip in if anything happens, besides this a good chance to get to know everybody better, right?"

Hearing him say this Nozomi was silenced in seconds as then Milo became brightened himself in moments glad to know his back was being covered, "hey well that's good at least! Let's go and converse then." With that he started to head on over following Riku who had walked on ahead.

Mickey smiling as Milo walked past looked to Nozomi as he asked, "you coming now too Nozomi?"

Still silent for a moment she was unsure but then knowing that Riku and Mickey were both gonna be there and seeing Milo's positive response she felt her own positivity rise again and she smiled then finally as well as she responded, "... yeah, okay! Let's go!" With that she ran over and up with the king to catch up to Milo and Riku.

Milo was the first to arrive ahead of the keybladers and as he did he quickly spoke, "hey you know it's really great that you guys have invited all of us over like this, it's a real change of pace."

Hearing him say this Sweet responded as finally Riku, walked up behind their linguist and quickly sat himself down, "yeah it is, but you know it was really about time that we all got together and so why not now?"

At these words Milo nodded again and at once Nozomi and Mickey too finally made their way over and as they did he spoke again while they sat down, "yeah definitely, I mean I just can't believe it! I mean it's such an honour for us to be included in your-"

There was then an enormous fart that sounded out, it was a huge watery raspberry sound, it became evident what had really caused it. For as Milo had gone to sit down Mole had placed a red whoopee cushion under him that had caused the eruption of sound. Mole then started to laugh madly as he rolled on the floor, completely in hysterics.

Everyone was completely annoyed as they looked at him mad and spoke out, "Mole!"

At once the French dirt obsessed digger put a hand to his forehead as he said, "ah forgive me I could not resist! " He finished with a seemingly innocent look in his eyes.

Nozomi then looked at him skeptically as she thought to herself rolling her eyes, 'yeah sure!' She then went back to try and and eating her food.

Everyone too was busy trying to do just the same but as Audrey paused for a moment she looked to Milo who was still looking into the 'Shepard's journal' and as he did she asked him, "hey Milo don't you ever close that book?"

At once interest was picked up again as the keybladers looked to Milo and as they watched quietly Sweet looked at his icky spoon as he spoke up too, "yeah you must have read it a dozen times by now."

Hearing this Nozomi and the others had seen Milo look at his book quite a lot of times but they never really thought much into it and now looking at his friend Mickey became curious, what was making him look at the book so much?

Milo then told them all his reasons as he continued to stare at a particular section of the journal, "yeah I know, but this doesn't make any sense?"

Now hearing this Mickey immediately put his tray down as he walked over and peaked over Milo's shoulder as he asked him, "what doesn't make any sense there?"

Looking at the mouse king for a moment Milo looked back to the journal as he continued to explain to him and everyone else using his spoon as the pointer, "well you see in this passage here, the Shepard seems to be leading up to something he calls it 'The Heart Of Atlantis'."

At these words Nozomi and Riku then almost thought at the same time as one another

'The Heart Of Atlantis?'

Milo continued on unaware of this keen interest, "it could be the power source that the legends refer to," he then used his spoon as he turned the page and showed what the problem was, "but, but then it just cuts off, its almost like there's a missing page."

This made Mickey completely suspicious as he looked at the book, but then he spoke to Milo saying, "well that's definitely strange there Milo... do you mind if I have a look for a minute or two?"

Hearing him ask Milo replied knowing that he could trust him, "sure, here you go." With that he handed the journal to Mickey.

Watching as Mickey took the journal Nozomi wondered what it was he was going to be looking for in it, but then she turned back to Milo as she asked him the question that Riku too wanted answers about, "Milo? What is' The Heart Of Atlantis'?"

Hearing this surprised Milo asked,"huh didn't I give a briefing about that?"

Nozomi shook her head but then Riku spoke instead for her, "we weren't there for the beginning meetings, we were called in at short notice."

At this quick explanation Nozomi was surprised but impressed as well, she was glad that he could think of something like that on the spot, Milo however unaware of these thoughts then said, "oh? Well... 'The Heart Of Atlantis' is one of the main reasons we're on this exploration, its said to be an enormous power of huge magnitude something so extraordinary that there are no words to describe it."

Hearing this magical description Nozomi was amazed but Riku though was not as dazzled as he wanted the simple down to earth facts, "but what do you believe it is?"

Milo hearing this was glad to see he thought in the same light he did this as he told him, "well I believe personally that it is a power source, one that is something beyond normal energy sources like fossil fuel or electricity."

Riku nodded as he replied, "I see."

Seeing that he agreed Milo asked him, "so do you think that it might be too?"

However the white haired keyblader gave only a single reply," can't say." For obviously he was no expert on the subject and so he couldn't really give his own point of view on it.

Milo seemed a little depressed at this as he replied, "oh..." and went quiet again.

Nozomi staring down at her tray with the horrid food thought to herself,''The Heart Of Atlantis'? An energy source?' For somewhere inside she thought it had to be more than just that... it just felt like more.

However Vinny staring at the newcomers as they all got so serious said to them in his same old monotone, "hey guys come on relax, we don't get paid overtime for this."

Nozomi blinked then as she was coaxed out of her own thoughts again as she repeated in her mind puzzled, 'overtime?'

But Milo relaxing now wanting to let go of the serious mood he replied to Vinny as he still moved the spoon around in his hand as Mickey continued to look into the journal beside him," I know, I know, sometimes you just get carried away but hey? You know this is what this is all about right? I mean discovery, teamwork, adventure?" However unfortunately the blank looks on everyone's faces pointed to otherwise as Milo awkwardly asked, "unless maybe... you're just in it for the money?"

There was a slight silence before everyone answered now the rather most obvious of what it was going to be, "money, money, money, money, I'm gonna say money."

He then looked towards Mickey, Riku and Nozomi as he asked them sadly as they hadn't given a reply yet, "are you guys in this just for that too?"

"Huh?" Nozomi asked, why was she in it? Well, "um, ha ha, uh well I can say for me its definitely not for money."

Feeling relieved at this Milo sighed and then he turned to Riku, "and what about you Riku?"

Hearing a question that was being asked to him he answered, "well I can say too for sure it's not for money but... its a secret."

With these words said Nozomi was surprised that he used that single word 'secret' she wondered why he did? Milo too was also becoming curious but Mickey seeing that he was going to ask distracted him with his own answer," yeah and well for me here, I'm here for the same reasons as you Milo! I'm really interested to know more about the Atlantians!"

Glad feeling relived forgetting what he was about to ask Milo replied scratching the back of his neck with a smile , "well that's good, glad I'm not alone in my aims..."

Sweet noticing Milo and the way he was scratching it asked him as he walked over to have a closer inspection,"something wrong with your neck?"

Milo then answered still scratching away as he felt that nasty kink, "yeah I must have hurt-"

However he was cut off as suddenly Sweet caught Milo's head with both his hands, this made Nozomi and the others jump at this sudden action and it even surprised Milo but before he could say anything Sweet turned his head left, "agh! Ow!" Then finally right.

With that he let go of his head but as he did Mickey turned his attentions quickly to Milo as he asked him worriedly, "Milo! Hey are you all right? You're not hurt are you!"

Straightening his neck Milo felt a huge amount of relief as the pain he was suffering from was gone! He gasped as he said, "no, in fact I'm all better! This is..." he couldn't believe it at all.

As Sweet sat back in his seat Milo asked him amazed, "hey how did you do that?"

Nozomi still perplexed at what had happened asked as well, "yeah! What was that you did?"

Hearing the questions now being put to him, their medic gave them his answer, "I've been with an old medicine man."

Riku then asked unsure, "a medicine man?"

Sweet not hearing the questioning tone in his voice immediately answered, "yep, I was born and raised with him," with that he drew a photograph from his right vest pocket and showed it to everyone.

Getting closer to have a look they all saw an old black and white photograph with an image of a man and a woman standing hand in hand with a baby tied on the woman's back by a baby basket carrier of some sorts. The man was dressed to as a best description like a rancher with a cowboy like hat on his head and a black moustache under his nose, a scarf was tied around his neck and on his his hands were a pair of big gloves. The woman next to him had long dark pigtails reaching down past her chest and the dress she wore was white in colour from what could be seen from the photo, it almost tribal looking with its big bell sleeves.

Nozomi looking at the picture then saw the baby and looking at it she realised who they all were before Sweet even began to describe them, "my father was an army medic, he settled down in the Kansas territory after he met my mother."

As he put the photo away Nozomi smiled as she could feel the gentle warm from it and from the simple description that Sweet was giving, Milo then spoke again smiling himself, "no kidding?"

Sweet smiling replied, "nope," with that he reached into his shirt again and pulled out a certain little something he always wore around his neck," I got a sheep skin from Howard Yu and a bear skin from old iron claw," the thing that everyone saw there revealing more of Sweet's history was a necklace that had on it it a feather, some odd beads here and there and a spiky red object which everyone assumed to be the bear claw.

Sweet then put the necklace away and as he did he continued on with his history as he buttoned his shirt back up,"halfway through medical school I was drafted, one day I'm studying gross anatomy in the classroom and the next I'm sewin' up rough riders on sam one hill."

Nozomi thought at this point wondering, 'rough riders? Sam one hill?' But then Mickey spoke up as he was really impressed by Sweet's history and knowledge, "wow! That's an amazing past you've got there Sweet."

To which the medic replied happily, "well thanks."

But suddenly interrupting,"main course!" It was Cookie and at once everyone refused politely as they all made their excuses of not wanting anymore, however Cookie simply smiled and laughed as he said, "well don't you worry! It'll keep and keep and keep."

Glad that they were all not going to get anymore they all looked on with the same grimace and then Mrs Packard taking another huge breathe on her cigarette spoke in her monotone, "thank god I lost my sense of taste years ago," with that she twisted her wispy item into the yucky substance as she and everyone else poured their mucks into the fire as it all put it out with a sickeningly brown puff as though even it couldn't stand it.

Nozomi grimaced as she spoke aloud, "I wish I had some watermelon to eat!"

To which Riku looked at her and replied dryly unsurprised entirely, "you always want watermelon to eat."

It was now later in the evening and everyone was busy pitching up their tents, in the arrangements that they'd all had so far Nozomi, Milo, Riku and Mickey would all sleep between two tents between them, Milo and Riku would sleep in one and then Mickey would spend the other with Nozomi.

It was very rare when they swapped over, but tonight Mickey had said he needed to talk about something with Milo and so Nozomi and Riku had to spend the night together. Though this wasn't really that big of a deal to anyone at that moment.

Busy as he helped Nozomi pitch up Riku had just finished as she did the finishing touches straightening out the creases here and there. But Riku looking over saw that Milo and Mickey were having a few problems and as they struggled he asked, "have you guys finished yet?"

To which Milo replied to him, "well yeah but..." however the end result was clearly unsatisfactory as it looked more like a mess than a tent.

Seeing this Riku sighed as he walked over and said,"here let me handle this." With that he make the correct adjustments while Nozomi watched from their own tent finally finishing on her end.

Mickey feeling awkward knowing that he should have done better told him, "yeah thanks there Riku, sorry about this I just haven't done anything like this in a long time."

Hearing this from where she was Nozomi was surprised but then again thinking about it, it would be rare for a king to even need to go camping however Riku replied, "it's no big deal your mickey, besides its not the hardest thing in the world."

Milo nodded as he watched Riku finishing as he said, "yeah that's true, I mean I'm the same I haven't gone camping since... since the last time my grandfather took me."

Hearing the mention of his grandfather as she started to pull out the sleeping matts Nozomi was intrigued, but then she'd never asked Milo about his family at all.

Audrey too was interested as she asked pulling and finishing with a single rope on her own tent, "I never got to meet your grandfather what was he like?"

Rolling out his own matt Milo smiled as the king rolled out his own next to him as he relayed his memories, "where do you start? He was like a father to me really, my parents died when I was a little kid and he took me in."

Nozomi's eyes widened as she now lay on her own matt as she said, "the same."

Hearing her Milo asked, "what?"

Realizing she had spoken out loud Nozomi gasped, "ah! Um?" She laughed awkwardly then as she said, "ah, sorry I just, you sound very similar to my past too."

Listening to this Milo asked surprised,"really?"

Nozomi nodded as she became ever so saddened a little, "yeah... my parents died when I was young too, my papa... he died before I was born, in a battle of some kind or something and my mama... she died when I was three years old."

Hearing this really surprised herself Audrey replied feeling saddened herself, "I'm sorry to hear that."

Nozomi shook her head as she said, "its okay, besides I can always see her whenever I want to," with that she pulled off her crescent moon necklace and with it she opened it up and then held it out and as she did Audrey walked over and had a look at the woman in the picture.

Audrey could definitely see a strong resemblance between the two and she smiled as she saw the gentleness in the woman's smile as she held her baby, "she looks very beautiful... and happy there."

Nozomi nodded as she spoke on, "yeah, my master was the one who took the picture, he was there to comfort mama after papa died and he kept her going and after my mama died from her illness my master took me in and raised me himself, he was the one who taught me to be strong no matter what and to be reliable and its my dream to be like him someday."

Audrey then showed Milo the picture and then everyone else and as she finished she handed it back to her, "well that's a nice dream you've got." Nozomi nodded again as she replied, "thanks." With that she slipped her necklace back on.

Milo then asked her, "so how is your master now? Is he the one made you came on this exploration?"

Nozomi was caught off guard slightly as she replied, "something like that... he went on a journey a long time ago and... I have heard from him since."

Surprised then Milo made his deduction quickly, "so... have you been journeying so that you can find him again?"

Hearing this Riku who was now walking back stopped as he looked at her as well as the king and as they stared Nozomi made her reply as she said with a hopeful smile, "yeah, something like that, rather obvious huh?"

Her two companions were stunned! They'd never even thought that that might have been on her mind while they journeyed but then Nozomi spoke again, "besides I'm always connected to him since I have this which he gave me," with this she pointed to her Sakura flower hair brooch and said, "as long as I have this along with my necklace I'll always be connected to them both."

Milo hearing this felt warmed inside and as he did he spoke again as a smile appeared on his face, "I see..." he then giggled a little at something.

Seeing him do this Nozomi was confused but amused herself, "what is it?"

Milo then told her, "it's just I can..." he then scratched his head as he relayed another old memory of his," one time when I was eight, my grandpa and I were hiking along this stream and I saw something shining in the water."

Curious at what it was Audrey asked, "what was it?"

He then answered holding it imaginatively in his left hand, "it was a genuine arrowhead."

Mickey then replied, "wow that must have been an amazing find?"

Milo replied to him still smiling, "yeah it was and you'd think that I would have discovered a lost civilisation the way grandpa carried on about it."

Riku finally sitting down himself next to Nozomi just listened quietly though he was clearly enjoying this discussion on old memories as a smile decorated his features.

However Milo went on, "it wasn't until I was older that I realised the arrowhead was just some compressed shell mixed with Zinc pirate that had fractioned into an isosceles triangulate ."

Not quite getting what Milo had said but understanding that it meant it wasn't an arrowhead Nozomi nodded, but then Mole walking past hugged a strange bat teddy to himself as he said in his white blue and red striped pyjama's, "that is so cute!"Nozomi couldn't help but feel that it was kind of weird coming from him.

Glad at these memories Milo then asked something else, "say Audrey, no, no offence but how did a teenager become the chief mechanic of a multi-million dollar expedition?"

Hearing this question it was a valid one to ask, so with interest Nozomi and the others listened quietly as Audrey gave her answer as she took off her boots and socks, "well I took this job after my dad retired, but the funny thing is he always wanted sons right?" As she said this she lifted her rolled bed matt as she then described the roles her father wanted,"one to run his machine shop," with that she held the matt like some enormous part of some kind with just one hand representing the business she was was to run," and the other to be middle weight boxing champion," with that she then punched into the bag a couple of times hard with her free left hand. She then finished as she lowered the matt again and rolled it into her tent saying,"but he got my sister and me instead," with that she crawled into her tent.

Listening to this explanation everyone was quiet, but then Milo asked curious, "so what happened to your sister?'

Audrey then popped her head out of the tent as she answered with a smile, "she's twenty four in Nov, with a shot at the title next month." She then lay herself down happily as she finished saying, "anyway I'm saving up so my pappy and I can open up another shop."

Thinking that was nice Mickey then spoke up, "well that's a really sweet thing for ya to do Audrey."

She smiled and replied, "thanks, and by the way, " with that she focused her attention onto Mickey as she stared at him for a moment as he looked back perplexed slightly until she settled her gaze on Riku.

Seeing that she'd turn her sights to him he asked, "...what? Why're you looking at us both?"

Audrey then spoke her mind, "nah, well nothing in particular, I was just curious as to what kind of families you guys have?"

At this question this was something that hadn't even crossed Nozomi's mind to ask as she thought to herself, 'Riku and Mickey's families?'

Hearing this being put to him Riku was silently perplexed as Milo asked him, "yeah actually, what families do you both have?"

Quiet for a moment hearing their linguist ask this Riku was unsure of how to answer but then looking to his left he saw Nozomi looking at him eagerly almost like a puppy, he then thought to himself, 'what even she wants to know?' But however seeing that everyone else was looking to him it was clear he would have to be the first to answer, so sighing he spoke, "well... of you all really want to know, my family isn't all that exciting, it just consists of me, my mom and my dad, they're both hard workers and most of the time I don't see them till the evening which leaves me time to go out and hang with my friends and... there's not much else to it then that."

Hearing that he was an only child Nozomi replied,"oh?" As she thought that might have been the case.

Nodding hearing this Audrey replied, "okay, well its no wonder then that you're kind of plain."

At this Riku wondered where that comment had come from as he asked, "what's that mean, " however next to him Nozomi giggled at his reaction making him look at her annoyed with embarrassment.

Milo smiling himself then looked to the king as he asked, "so Mickey, what about you? Do you have a family?'

Now his turn to answer Mickey proceeded to do just that, "well I don't have parents anymore like you and Nozomi... but I am married and I have a whole lotta of friends and like anyone else I like to go on big trips now and again which is what's led me here."

Hearing of his marital status Nozomi gasped, "you're married your majesty?"

Riku froze as well as Mickey, he couldn't believe she'd said that and Milo plus Audrey looked at her perplexed as the female mechanic repeated, "your majesty?"

Realising her idiotic error Nozomi froze as she then started to laugh awkwardly scratching the side of her head as she said feeling dumb, "uh it's nothing! Just um... yeah..." with that she bowed her head down feeling stupid.

Riku just shook his head in disbelief as he put a hand to his forehead as he said, "idiot."

Not getting why she was behaving like this Milo looked at her puzzled but then suddenly a certain someone walked past them all and seeing her he smiled up as he asked, "forget your jammy's Mrs Packard?"

Their announcer and expert listener walked by as she was dressed in a brown dressing gown, her hair in curlers with green beauty cream rubbed all over her face with a pillow hanging from her left hand and a magazine in her right. Walking in her white socks and pink fluffy slippers she replied to his question, "I sleep in the nude."

At once everyone unaware of this info all looked uncomfortably shaken, and then suddenly each of them were thrown something as Sweet added, "you'll all wanna pair of those, she sleep walks." And it was revealed that these things were all black eye caps and Riku taking one of these in his hands thought to himself, 'well I'm not taking this off tonight!'

Vinny in the meantime being the only one who hadn't added to the conversation spoke up as he lay on his matt with his own eye cap on, "well as far as me goes, I just like to blow things up."

Nozomi hearing this couldn't help but roll her eyes as she said, "why am I not surprised."

But then Sweet walked over as he pulled the black eye covering device as he told their demolitions expert, "c'mon Vinny! Tell these kids the truth!" With that he released the eye cap as it slapped back into his face.

As he walked away Vinny looked at him annoyed but then he too finally started to relay his family history too pulling the cap off again as he spoke, "my family owned a flower shop, we would sell roses, carnations, poppies and you name it."

Hearing this it was a surprise Vinny had worked in a business that was so completely parallel to his normal preferred line that everyone couldn't help but be amused and even slightly charmed by this tale.

Vinny in the meantime carried on, "one day I'm making about three dozen crochetings for this prom, you know? The one they put on their wrist and everybody they're coming, where is it? We needs it, does it match my dress? It's a nightmare." He finished as he covered his eyes with one of his gloved hands.

Listening to this Nozomi unexpectedly couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Vinny but then she listened quietly as he continued on, "anyway I guess there was this leak next door with gas or what, BOOM! No more chinese laundry." Vinny then turned over as he lay down and said,"blew me right through the front window, it was like a sign from God I had found myself with that boom." He finished as he lit a match showing the significance of that soul changing day.

Hearing his life story Riku thought to himself, 'well that's certainly a way to discover a living,' but then as the thought occurred next to Vinny Mole was busy digging himself into a hole as he nestled himself into mother nature's earthly bosom as he giggled with delight his light shining upward as he quickly turned it off.

Feeling a little uneased by this he asked, "by the way about Mole... um, " but then he just couldn't or actually he didn't even want to ask the question.

However Milo did it for him anyway," yeah what's his story?"

Quickly though Sweet told everyone, "trust me on this you all don't wanna know" then looking to their mechanic he told her," Audrey don't tell them, you shouldn't have told me but you did and now I'm tellin' you all! You don't wanna know!" With that he blew out the lamp as now it was time for sleep.

Glad the conversation was over Riku spoke quietly putting the eye cap on, "good now we can get some sleep, and I'm so glad he didn't tell me... I really never want to know about Mole's past!"

Nozomi nodded, but then before she rolled over she pulled Cait sith over as she held him over herself and asked in a whisper, "Cait sith... I hope you're gonna wake up soon... Oralee's gonna be be upset if you stay like this forever..." Feeling the sad thought pass as she held Cait sith to her chest she then thought happily before putting her own cap on and falling into the recesses of deep sleep, 'tonight was fun...'