Luna Leviosa
Have at You
"NO"
"UH-UH"
"NOPE"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT."
On the one hand, the boys were all relieved that Marx returned to the club on a calm Sunday afternoon. They were extremely overjoyed at seeing Shizuka at his side again, this time in high spirits. It was when the subject came to Marx's mother.
"NO WAY"
"NEVER"
Kyo, Johnny, Brick, Tohru, The Twins and even Trax did agree on one thing. To Shizuka's curiosity they all seemed terrified of Marx's mother.
"You saw her?" asked Johnny with trembling lip. Shizuka looked to the others in Marx's gang who all shared the same panicked sentiment.
"No, Marx hid me" Shizuka was courted over to the small bed from the 'healing' episode but for once the boys were only talking. "Is...there something I should know about her?"
Brick was about to open his mouth but reconsidered hearing a heavy sigh from Marx.
"...Mum is not a bad woman, but....she's the one link that brings me back to Hell..." Marx folded his arms while settling down next to Shizuka. "...literally not in a figurative sense...I mean um...not THAT literally-but"
"...Rabbit said that you are a Prince." Shizuka replied. The mention of Rabbit's name sent a cold silence in the room. There was no music, and the sun could still be seen in some of the windows that were boarded shut. The only other noise was the traffic outside of the club's battered walls. "I'm guessing that's true..."
"It is." Marx bit his lip, anticipating a flood of more questions from Shizuka. Being a Prince of Hell, he must have had hands in certain customs and practices. But Shizuka was quiet. "Ironic, because students at school call me the same thing" He waited again for her to speak. She didn't. It was up to one of the boys to go on.
Tohru continued. "We have been following Marx loyally for years, most of us met him in Hell thru Academy standards or...other ways."
"For now Misses has been tending to Marx's affairs, but they're not that major...yet" said one of the Twins.
"...Yet...?" Shizuka repeated. Nervous glances were exchanged until the other Twin answered.
"For now Mephi is set to be the next King of Hell, I mean we know him but we can't say we're close either"
"..." Shizuka only curled into Marx's shoulder. For the first time she asked a question as bluntly as she could.
"Why did you come to Earth then? It sounds like you aren't supposed to be here..." Her voice was without stutter but straight and true.
Marx gave a long stare, part of him was glad at how she asked with no hesitation. She wasn't scared of him anymore and the Nightmare Pills have totally worn off. In fact, it could even be said that the ordeal strengthened their bond. Any other human, let alone a woman would have left Marx and his gang (and might have even tried to involve authorities at this rate) Of course on that first night, it was Shizuka who correctly identified the boys as demons, this time though she was preparing herself to at least learn of their nature.
Marx on the other hand was willing to bar Shizuka from the entire subject and was about to suggest to do just that until another voice interrupted the conversation entirely. "He's running away" It was Noriko, her trusty bag of voids on her back. She seems to have arrived on her own accord, for Brick looked just as surprised to see her. Recognizing her from Rika's gang, it was only natural that there was an initial hostel snarl from some of the group.
"Isn't she?"
"And why do I feel very uncomfortable with that bag?"
Before the chorus of unrest could go any further, Brick walked briskly over to Noriko and wrapped an arm around her. He faced the others and silently gave a declaration with her at his side. Eyes flashed a ruby red and fangs were bared in a threatening stance to his comrades. Noriko didn't flinch as she even took this as a sign that Brick was introducing her as a companion and not a threat. After this display that lasted 10 seconds, the only noise was a brief gulp of understanding from Johnny. Marx was generally regarded as the alpha male, but crossing Bricks normally calm nature would be a mistake in its own right.
From his seat, Marx dipped his head in a nod, his eyes briefly gave a gold glimmer in reply. At the same time, his lips formed a knowing pout as he was also acknowledging that Noriko knew a lot more than she should.
She was correct after all.
Noriko was at least familiar with courtesies such as this, and that Marx's pout was her sign to elaborate. The others finally lowered their guard as Brick remained by Noriko's side.
"I am not here to challenge you Marx" Noriko stated quite bluntly. To further display her non hostile intentions, she took off her backpack and laid it on the ground. She took several paces away from her bag and closer to the pack of incubi who eyed her cautiously. For the first time, she wasn't just some mousy lackey to Rika's haughty gang. All they could do was listen. "I did some research, you're the Missing Prince, kind of.. most of the Courts already know where you are, you are just constantly missing and only show up to really important gatherings or emergencies"
"Where did you get this information?" Tohru said in a low voice. "It's hard to believe this is something that you can gleam over on Google"
"I operate traditionally, its not easy but persuasion usually helps" Noriko turned her gaze over to Shizuka. "Usually, I would tell you to no longer associate yourself with him, and that should go double since he's a Prince but..." She turned pink and her initially serious face formed a most unusual grimace of affection and acknowledgement. It was aimed at Brick. "...let's just say that I'm not one to criticize...but at the same time, I will be keeping a close eye on you and I do mean that in more ways than one"
"Wha-" Shizuka's confusion was cut short by an offended snarl.
"We'll protect her from Hell!" for the first time, the outburst came from Trax. His eyes were uncharacteristically large and flared. But Noriko was just as quick.
"I need to protect her from ALL of YOU!" Noriko shrieked. Shizuka gulped and curled deeper into Marx. She thought back to that fateful first night. One could say that their first courtship was definitely not under conventional circumstance. Noriko bit her lip at the tense air and then sighed. "Apologies...Old habits die hard...BUT...She deserves to be informed of her potentially mortal life choices, and I'm more than willing to provide support in that regard"
"What are you implying?!" One of the Twins snapped back. Fangs were visible this time as his brother only glared daggers, echoing his sentiment.
"K... C... knock it off... both of you" Marx said this in a whisper. The Twins both gave a sniff of disapproval before falling quiet again. Tohru only shook his head in hesitation. Another awkward silence. A minute passed and Marx resumed. "Noriko, I've heard of your family and I'm assuming you must have heard of mine"
"Not extensively, but I've heard enough"
"Likewise" Marx paused and reached over giving an affectionate peck to Shizuka's lips. The gesture was not only of loving care to Shizuka but also as a sign of confidence to his followers. Even in the face of a potentially deadly enemy, Marx still had time to snuggle with her. "...What do you think Shizuka?"
"Huh?" she turned pink once more as she could feel Marx's hands rubbing her thighs.
"You are smart and I only want what makes you happy" Marx cooed in a voice both charming and serious. "But part of that is no longer lumping you with rash choices..." Shizuka nodded with a small sigh, she knew that he was referring to many things including the talent show episode. "I want to hear what you think of all this, and you're word will decide what we do about HER."
"Hm" Brick made a short grunt showing that he agreed with Marx's reasoning. "She's nothing like Rika and her goons you guys, she's feisty but a good girl~"
"That does sound like a good idea" agreed Tohru. "Let's hear what Shizuka has to say about it, she's our Princess, which puts her on equal footing with Marx as far as we're concerned."
Everyone including Noriko seemed to be in fair agreement that Shizuka would be able to make a wise choice considering the arguments from both sides. Brick seemed more than willing to testify for Noriko's character as well and it was fair to say that Shizuka did deserve to be 'informed'. After the initial yammering, everyone fell silent looking to the Princess for her word.
"........Mmmmmmm...." Shizuka made a noise of concentration that came out in a long hum. Noriko noticed that the boys also turned pink. As if the sight of their Princess in such concentration was enough to send their hearts a flutter. A minute passed. Then Shizuka sat straight up after her meditation ceased. Her large glossy eyes were now sparked in determination as they set their sights on Noriko.
"?" The group (including Noriko) could do nothing now but watch in fascination as Shizuka set about adjusting her glasses with sharp focus. After that was done, she seemed to take a deep breath of preparation. It was rare to see Shizuka in such a fierce mood. Marx whistled in admiration as Shizuka then stood up and marched to Noriko. Small gasps of awe escaped the boys as Shizuka was seemingly not afraid of Noriko either.
The two girls were staring each other down face to face and even Brick stepped aside slightly to give them some room.
Noriko broke the silence first. "Look, I know we don't know each other from school very well. I mean yes I'm in your homeroom and believe me I didn't know this skill set of mine would be needed for the whole Marx fan thing..." She growled in frustation to herself. "...that detour was just me being a spineless coward... but THIS..." She gestured to the boys who only looked puzzled. "...this is a matter of not only your safety but of many other humans! OK?"
Shizuka didn't answer but seemed to be turning red in the face for some odd reason.
"I'm saying this to you as a concerned party, because technically we're not frie-MMPH!!!"
Before Noriko could finish her plea, Shizuka had already capped her lips onto hers. Shizuka might as well have dumped cold water on Noriko in that moment in time because Noriko turned immediately pale. Brick stumbled back, nearly tripping over himself in sheer shock. Everyone else remained frozen, as if they forgot how to scream in surprise.
"B...Babe?" Marx said timidly as he realized that Shizuka started inserting her tongue into her. "...Er..."
It was only thirty seconds, and immediately Shizuka withdrew just as quickly as she began. Noriko was reduced to a frazzled mess of confusion as she slowly sank to the ground. It was such a puzzling feat that even Brick was not sure whether he should intervene or not. Finally Shizuka announced her intention to everyone present, but particularly to Noriko.
"Have at you"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Huh? Why HER?" Robin, the least careful of the Princes was given a photo from one of his Goblin Messangers. The city night life was where Robin felt the most comfortable in the human world but his sky stroll was interrupted with a work order. "You sure, you got this right?"
The hooded goblin gave a toothy grin and bowed low to the youth. "My Lord, it is nothing a mighty Prince like yourself should have a problem with no?"
Robin sneered and sat in midair, twirling his tail to and fro. "That's not my point, of course I can do it, I can do it by sneezing if I wanted to! But..." His voice trailed off in hesitant wonder for the first time. The goblin only smiled wider in interest as the Robin then turned upside down, still sitting calmly as ever. Hovering a couple of feet from the ground Robin spoke up again.
"She doesn't have enough sin on her, is that OK?" Robin's long narrow ears wiggled with only slight worry.
"I daresay it is, His Majesty says that you are the most fun when it comes to games" the messenger said bowing low again. "It is true, My Lord"
In an instant Robin's doubt was cleared out of his head by boyish pride. "Damn straight I am! You can tell him that this Birthday Party of his will go down in the Records as the most BRUTAL~" The messenger gave a croaky laugh and watched. Without another word Robin started strolling along the tops of buildings and skyscrapers. And as he approached the residential areas, Robin could only whistle cheerily as he closed in on his target.
Authoress Notes:
AAAH!! It's 2015 and a new chapter emerges! Thanks so much for reading and for your godly amount of patience. For anyone new~ welcome to my longest story on record~ In interest for edits, I might make some edits to some names of the upcoming antagonists but otherwise everything else seems to be ...ACCORDING TO PLAN. (Gendo Ikari pose) Again thank you always for readers new and old for your encouragement, prodding and constructive criticism! Shizuka is back with a vengeance!