Chapter 2: Meeting Laice

[junkuroki]

Seiferfetish~

".... That's just a disaster waiting to happen. But go ahead, get your asses into small groups so we can get to the store. This shouldn't take any longer than it has to." Blaze said, gazing into the distance.

Gaiea sighed and shook her head, walking forward. "Speaking of asses, Blaze, why don't you take the stick out of yours? That goes for Stardust too." She looked around. "Not that she's in sight anymore. But both of you need to act like normal human beings."

So saying, she started up into a jog towards the city, leaving the large group behind.

"I agree with the tree-hugger," Kyou spoke up. "Get your head out of your ass. All of you." He looked at Rika and took ahold of her hand, pulling lightly to get her to go with him.

He caught up with Gaiea easily and they entered the city.

[junkuroki]

Spiffy Goddess of Death~

Xarin was off the aircraft and on his way to the city before anyone noticed, his bag slung over his shoulder. Truly, the others in his group were so slow. . . it was amazing that they had managed to make it this far already. At the rate they were bickering, none of the others would actually reach the designated store before nightfall, ~Gods, I don't know how I got stuck with such a group. If our enemies don't destroy them, then they'll kill each other!~

~Agreed, Human. These ones are amazingly inept, and so very quarrelsome,~ Anubis chimed in, his deep voice grating on Xarin's nerves. The man winced, but kept walking as if nothing were wrong. Passing Stardust and Gone, both he and Anubis sighed sadly.

"Are any of you coming, or shall I wait for you at the shop, since none of you can get past bickering?!?" He sneered as he continued to walk ahead, his eyes narrowed in the light. Blue hair shining, the pyro kept up his pace, glad to be walking alone for once, "Once you decide what to do, I'll be waiting for you all in the city."

[junkuroki]

GC~

Gone groaned as he felt Stardust’s foot connect with his jaw, he immediately ran his tongue over his teeth making sure none were missing. Thankfully none were.

“Geez, Jun, Stardust must be really scared of us. Since she’s running away like a lowlife, that’s the word she uses?” Gone said loud enough to be heard he hoped. He wasn’t too sure with the way the world was spinning. “Owie… That hurt, love.”

Gone lowered his voice slightly, wincing with pain and at how childish he sounded. “So Jun, love, I think all that did was knock the sense out of me and not into me. I’m sure she’ll come around.”

He stopped talking then, aware that he was babbling more than usual. His jaw really hurt, he was sure he’d have a shiner.

“Now she’s gotta kiss me better!” He shouted loudly laughing in a slightly hysterical way. Then he suddenly stopped and clutched his jaw. “Jun, love, got an icepack?”

[junkuroki]

QuistisTrepe002~

Colum trudged along the street behind everyone, keeping his eyes open, darting glances at passers by. The assasin in him was what kept him alert.

Dan strode quietly beside Xarin. He'd somehow found himself walking next to the blue-haired man.

I heard about Kat...I heard that he'd left his children... he thought. I guess I'm much the same, leaving Geni behind in order to fight this war.

His hands found his way inside his pockets, feeling for the ever-present box of cigarettes. Not now, he thought, Not when we're supposed to be undercover...

Dan's hands went back into their jean pockets, as he strode along. Tiredly, he thought over the plan he formulated earlier that day.

I hope that if I do go through with it, I'll be able to save Geni

[junkuroki]

Lily~

".... That's just a disaster waiting to happen. But go ahead, get your asses into small groups so we can get to the store. This shouldn't take any longer than it has to." Blaze snarled.

"Speaking of asses, Blaze, why don't you take the stick out of yours? That goes for Stardust too." The girl called Gaiea retorted her.

Ain't that the truth? Jun tried hard to conceal her smile, watching passively as Stardust dealt some real damage to various parts of Gone's face and body, and briskly strode away from them.

She really hates being around people, doesn't she? She pondered, unconsciously blocking out Gone's incessant chattering .

He laughed suddenly in a slightly hysterical way. Then he stopped and clutched his jaw. “Jun, love, got an icepack?”

She couldn't decide between laughing at him or sighing, so she did none.

"No, I don't. But this is much better than an icepack." She handed him a small bottle that contained the traditional herbal balm she always kept with her.

"Do you know why I wanted us to go in groups, besides that reason I said?" She said to Gone, and continued without waiting for a reply.

"In case things don't go according to plan, touch wood, there'll be lesser chances of an individual committing rash acts and endangering the lives of not only the contact, but themself as well. They didn't say 'strength comes in numbers' for nothing."

And to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.

She started walking towards the brightly lit Deling as well.

"Follow me if you want, but we have to be fast. Enough time has been wasted as it is..."

She threw a look at Blaze as she passed.
"Planning to leave anytime soon?"

[junkuroki]

GC~

Gone took the small bottle from Jun, and slowly opened the lid. Before putting it on his jaw he smelt it, it smelt like the tea his mother used to make. Gone put some on his jaw, it made it feel a bit better. He hoped he didn’t smell like a teabag though.

“Thanks, love.” Gone said handing the bottle back to Jun.

"Do you know why I wanted us to go in groups, besides that reason I said?" She said to Gone, and then continued without letting him say anything. "In case things don't go according to plan, touch wood, there'll be lesser chances of an individual committing rash acts and endangering the lives of not only the contact, but themself as well. They didn't say 'strength comes in numbers' for nothing."

"Follow me if you want, but we have to be fast. Enough time has been wasted as it is..." Jun said as she started to leave.

“Hey wait up! Yeesh, woman why do you treat me like an annoying little brother?” Gone asked as he caught up with Jun.

The two entered Deling and began to wander around the shopping district looking for ‘Something Stylish’.

[junkuroki]

Lily~

Jun took the bottle back from Gone, acknowledging his thanks with a brief nod, and headed briskly for Deling again.

“Hey wait up! Yeesh, woman why do you treat me like an annoying little brother?” Gone asked as he caught up with Jun.

"Because you act like one?" Jun said with a smirk, and entered the busy shopping district.

They wandered around the street, attempting to locate "Something Stylish" among the numerous dazzling shop signs along the sretch, to no avail.

"Why don't we..." Jun was about to ask Gone a question, when she was interrupted by someone.

"GONE!" A short-haired guy called out towards their direction.

"...Who's that?" She looked at Gone, then back at the guy, but received no reply from the staring Gone.

"Gone?"

[junkuroki]

GC~

"...Who's that?" Jun asked. "Gone?"

Gone looked over at who was calling his name. It was Pace. Gone grabbed Jun and dragged her over to Pace. “Jun, love, this is my little brother Pace. Pace this Jun.”

“Nice to meet you, Jun. She give you that bruise?” Pace asked. Gone shook his head. “What are doing here, Gone?”

“Work. Do you know where ‘Something Stylish’ is?” Gone asked. Pace nodded and gave them directions to the store. “Thanks Pace. You might want to hole up some place, things might get dicey.”

“When don’t they when you’re around.” Pace muttered as Gone dragged Jun off to find the store.

Gone found the store following the directions and dragged Jun inside to wait.

“I hope we’re first.”

[junkuroki]

Auria~

Reese made his way down the street, a certain confidence in his steps. He made a quick right at the corner of the sidewalk and crossed the street. He knew exactly where Something Stylish was. Let the little lambs wander the city. he thought, disgusted. See how many times their dysfuction slows them before they actually arrive...

He suddenly swirved his stride into an alley and thrust his hand into his coat pocket, then extracted a small black cellphone. He glanced around apprehensively, then punched in some numbers. He pressed the tiny phone to his right ear. Someone picked up on the other end. He pressed his back against the cold brick wall of the building behind him. "This is Amaerick...seems Little Semie works with Xu...yeah...no I can't take care of it you handle the problem damnit...alright, sounds good, just get the timing right." he pressed the red 'end' button and slid the cellphone back into his inner pocket, then strode back out onto the sidewalk

[junkuroki]

Bunny~

"Hey, wait up!"

Tomoe glanced over her shoulder and saw Wolfe jogging up to her. Automatically she held out a hand, and he took it in his, an old habit that never died, something that had started long ago, when they were children.

Wolfe grinned at her. "So, know where this Something Stylish store is?" he asked as they continued walking down the street.

Tomoe shot him a look. "Do you think I would be the type of person to know where some dress store might be?"

Wolfe sighed. "You're right. So basically, we're lost."

"Oh, shut up, I know exactly where we are."

"And where would that be?"

"Someplace that definitely isn't near Something Stylish."

Wolfe sighed again. "Crap."

[junkuroki]

ShadowFoxBlight~

Alaxia watched clumps of people leave. I'm better off going on my own. No seems to want to help one another. So I guess I'm better off leaving. Alaxia threw her bag over her backed and head towards the city.

Alaxzander raced after his sister with a smile on he's face.

"What's wrong Alaxia?"

"We are behind dum ass."

"No were not look we are in the city already"

"Yeah but I don't see anyone." Alaxia looked around the city for another one of her team mates. "Alaxzander, Is that I believe her name is Tomoe" Alaxzander glanced around and noticed the girl who she was talking about who happened to be with anther SeeD.

"I,,, don't know?"

"Well lets go ask and see if they know were we are supposed to go"

Alaxia approached The black haired female.

" Excuse me, Your name is Tomoe right. I don't mean to be rude or anything but do you know were we are supposed to be?"

[junkuroki]

GC~

“Man... When’s everyone gonna get here?” Gone groaned.

He’d only been in there five minutes but already he was bored. He sighed as he idly glanced around the store. Hoping to see one of his teammates. No such luck, only him and Jun were there. If he wasn’t supposed to stay in the store, he would have gone looking for them. He pulled a rather worn deck of cards from his pocket and began to idly shuffle them.

It was a hard to find store, out of the way and off the main drag. Yeesh, why weren’t they given directions to the store?

“So Jun, love, want to play go fish?” Gone asked and then without waiting for a reply, he dealt the cards. It would pass time. “I know it doesn’t work well with just two people, but meh.” He shrugged.

[junkuroki]

Lily~

Gone found the store following Pace's directions and dragged Jun inside.

“I hope we’re first.”

Jun looked around the store for the rest of the group, and most importantly, for the contact, but found neither.

"Well, looks like you got your wish." She muttered softly, pretending to look at the racks of clothes, when they were the last thing on her mind right then.

Five minutes later, there was still no sign of anybody.

Well, they didn't have an unfair advantage in the form of a brother.

{Yes, or else you would have been floundering in the streets in search of the store like them.}

So Mr High-and-Mighty GF finally decides to speak!

{Unlike you, I was concentrating on the mission. Not wasting my time fooling around!}

I wasn't--

“So Jun, love, want to play go fish?” Gone asked and then without waiting for a reply, he dealt the cards. “I know it doesn’t work well with just two people, but meh.” He shrugged.

Jun stopped rifling through the clothes and turned, trying not to show her disbelief.

Does he actually know what he's here for?!!!

She walked towards him and twisted his ear, mindful of checking the stength of her action lest he lost one side of his hearing.

"Gone, darling, I asked you here to help me carry the bags, not to play cards!" She hissed at him, slapping the cards away, only to hear footsteps heading towards them.

She looked up and saw someone familiar entering.

[junkuroki]

Ash~

"Speaking of asses, Blaze, why don't you take the stick out of yours? That goes for Stardust too." Gaiea had said to Blaze right before Blaze decided to storm off alone.

Forget about the 'small groups' I can find this place on my own. Maybe when the stick does come out my ass, I'll smack you upside the head with it and watch the blood pool around my feet. She thought nastily, glancing back at Gaeia.

Finding the store easily, Blaze walked inside. The store had a lot of pink, it made her shudder. She saw Jun look up from slapping Gone's cards away.

"We're the only ones here?" This can't be right. I'm always the last to arrive. "The others must have gotten pretty lost if I'm here already and they aren't." She said to Jun and Gone.

[junkuroki]

Auria~

The door opened, and a small girl with pigtails walked in, followed by Zacke. He knelt down and handed her a lollipop, then straightened and looked around. He saw Jun, Gone, and Blaze standing together, and headed over to them.

"Okay, here--" he was interrupted by Reese, who had just stepped up to the group.

"Alright, how many are we missing?" he said, looking around.