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Description
"Bye Maki!" called Jennifer. The young preteen chuckled, waving cheerily at the girl in question. The girl in question, a skinny brunette with hair down to her hips, nodded, waving cheerily back.

Pale skin, warm chocolate pupils, and a delicate body; to any ordinary person, she looked to be the perfect child, clad in a knee length skirt, and a long sleeved white blouse. She smiled, but it faded soon after Jennifer disappeared around the block. She lowered her head to the ground, giving a small light sigh as she started trudging down the street. Father is waiting for me at home…. She barely registered street corners. She bit her lip, closing her eyes as she started to think.

"Get back here you sunnuva-"

The roared taunt made Maki crouch, covering her head with a frightened whimper. N-No!!! she shouted in her head.

She felt someone brush right past her and raised her head, looking at the person curiously. A black hoodie covered his upper body, and he was wearing black jeans. A small red purse was in his hand as he ran.

Before Maki could even think of shouting, she felt someone jump on her shoulders, pushing off. She nearly lost her balance in response, but she saw a flash of silver hair, and an open blue jacket. The crowd thinned suddenly as this person raced up to the purse-snatcher, catching his wrist and jerking him back with a twist of his arm.

"Hey, you bitch!" the man shouted, trying to pull his arm away. Silver hair spun him easily, the boy's leg crashing into the thief's stomach chest and legs in rapid succession. He hardly gave the thief time to gasp, foot slamming into his chin before crashing back down. The man dropped the purse he'd been holding, reeling as he tried to cover his head with weakly quivering arms. Vision swimming, he could scarcely make out Silver's foot lashing out again, crashing against the side of his head thrice in a row. With a barely audible groan he staggered back, falling to the ground.

"Well, that wasn't too hard," Silver admitted, watching Hoodie fall limply. After a few moments, long enough for Hayate to ensure that the thug wasn't going to get back up, he crouched, picking up the purse. A brunette with long hair and crescent shaped earrings ran up behind him, the tubby woman panting from the exertion.

"Oh dear, are you OK Hayate?" she wondered. She gazed at him in concern as he held out the purse. Smiling carefully, Hayate replied with a thumbs up.

"Your concern is touching, but not necessary miss. After all, I am Hayate Maehara, the Scion of Justice!" Silver proclaimed, snapping a hand to his forehead. The woman chuckled, patting his shoulder before she shuffled off.

"Thank you Hayate, you're such a nice kid. Your mom must be proud of you!" she called over her shoulder.

Maki didn't miss the expression that clouded Silver's face: Sadness, anguish. A deep, grievous wound was etched on his psyche. For a moment, Maki could've sworn she'd seen a tear in his eye.

Is he… like me? she couldn't help but wonder.

"My thanks for your assistance on this matter miss. I might've lost him if you hadn't been standing here. How about coming with me for a bite to eat as my way of saying thanks? Ah, that reminds me. I am Hayate Maehara."

It took all of ten seconds for the girl to realize that Silver, or rather  Hayate, was regarding her with a grin. His black blazer was unzipped, exposing a clean white shirt underneath. Jean slacks covered his legs.

"Well mademoiselle?" he pressed.

Maki jumped, shocked as she glanced. Hayate nodded once Maki pointed at herself, still grinning. She hesitated for a moment before she gave in, nodding dumbly.

Hayate gave a small bow, smiling as Maki took his offered hand. It was subtle, but as she started to follow Hayate down the street, she could've sworn that the world seemed to brighten. Just a little.

           * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"So, tell me about yourself Maki," Hayate subtly queried, chewing on a mouthful of burger. The pair was sitting in a booth of a local fast food restaurant, Death Burger. Maki couldn't help but shiver, feeling the name quite appropriate: dim lighting, tables in the shape of coffins, and chairs shaped like tombstones. Even the employees had bone white face paint, and were covered in black hooded cloaks! Small wonder Maki had yet to touch her Murder Heart: a single patty burger with tomato, ketchup, lettuce, and buns as black as night.

She raised a brow at Hayate, who was already halfway through a Reaper:  a triple patty burger with jalapenos and bacon. "Well, I go to Marthana middle school. I'm in the seventh grade, and I like nagas…" she murmured, glaring balefully at her Murder Heart.

Hayate eyed her carefully as he spoke, worry tinging his brow. "it may not be my place to ask, but why are you injured?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean, sir," Maki stated politely. She did her best to keep her nervousness from showing, reflexively bringing a hand up to her shoulder. Her sleeves were long: he couldn't know.

"In that case, sorry for asking," Hayate said, shrugging somewhat lazily. The pair lapsed into silence. When Hayate gave her a curt nod, Maki finally relented, hesitantly biting into her burger.

"It's… it's good…" she admitted, seeming surprised. Hayate chuckled, shaking his head as he leaned back. "Thanks…" she muttered before she started to eat rapidly, noticing how hungry she felt.

Hayate tapped his finger on the table top as Maki finished, standing up with a flourish. "All right! Lunch is over, so how about you come with me?" he asked, looking down at Maki. She cleaned her mouth off with a paper napkin, hurriedly following behind Hayate as they left the store. Her shoes clacked loudly on the wooden floor, her hand covering her eyes from the late afternoon sun. She couldn't help but giggle… even if it was only for a little bit, she could forget about... dad.

Maki looked away, chewing on her lip before she raised her head, looking at Hayate. "So, where are we going?" she stopped in her tracks, the question dying on her lips. A small butterfly with orange spots on its black wings had landed on Hayate's nose, slowly flapping its wings. "How did you do that, Hayate?" she asked him curiously. She giggled, Hayate gasping for breath desperately as the butterfly flew away.

"AAATCHOOOO!" Hayate gagged, rubbing his nose with a sigh. "It just takes some time. Stay calm and don't react and they'll come," Hayate explained with a sniffle. "Urgh… butterflies are delicate creatures. Excitement, nervousness, anger: these all set off little warnings in their heads." Hayate chuckled, gaze distant. He smiled wistfully, as if remembering happier times. "That's what sensei would say, anyway."

"Really?" Maki turned, rotating slowly as she watched the bug fly around her body. "They're that sensitive?" She  turned back to hayate as the insect flew away. "So, where are we going? It looks like we're headed to the woods, but isn't there a big monster in there?"

"Huh? Monster? Really? Is that what people are calling her?" Hayate murmured, shaking his head.

"Calling who?"

"Nothing."

           * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Hey Kara!" You around? Come on out!" Hayate called lightly, as though calling a kitten. Maki glanced around her surroundings as she waited for his friend to show up.

They were standing in the middle of aforest glade: green grass waved at them from underfoot. Small white flowers peeked up, shyly flirting with the girl. Maki wasn't a great judge of distance, but she guessed the glade to be about a hundred feet from end to end. Branches creaked and groaned in the faint wind.

"Here kitty kitty kitty! Come here girl!" hayate's tone shifted, becoming more sweet, as though laced with honey.

Maki stepped into the glade, the sheer natural beauty drawing her in. She crested a small hill, turning to watch the setting sun. "Hayate, I'm sorry. The view is real nice, but I really should get back home."

"I'll admit the view is good, but Hayate's a little busy right now," echoed a voice, right behind her.

The odd statement confused Maki. She turned, a retort dying on her lips with a faint whimper. Her eyes fairly bulged as they took in the sight: a wide, deep cavern, punctuated by reddish walls. Sharp white stalactites and stalagmites were arranged in rows, similar to teeth. A reddish carpet of fungus resembled a tongue. And inside the cave? Hayate, sitting rather calmly on that tongue looking thing.

"Hey maki! I want ya to meet a friend of mine! Her name is Kara, and she's real friendly!"

Maki slowly raised her head, gaze panning to take in the large lips. She noticed that the big girl's eyes were different colors: One gold, the other silver. Both pupils stared down at Maki, the lips closing in a lopsided grin.

How could I have not noticed her!? she wailed internally. Her gaze dropped to the floor, noting that the girl's hands had pushed up, lifting her. A white blouse and a green short skirt were all that clothed her frame: were she smaller, the big girl would've been able to pass herself as a very buxom, very beautiful girl. With cat ears. And a tail.

Maki's jaw dropped as Kara's throat bulged faintly, carrying Hayate down. 'Oh dear…'

Description
"Bye Maki!" called Jennifer. The young preteen chuckled, waving cheerily at the girl in question. The girl in question, a skinny brunette with hair down to her hips, nodded, waving cheerily back.

Pale skin, warm chocolate pupils, and a delicate body; to any ordinary person, she looked to be the perfect child, clad in a knee length skirt, and a long sleeved white blouse. She smiled, but it faded soon after Jennifer disappeared around the block. She lowered her head to the ground, giving a small light sigh as she started trudging down the street. Father is waiting for me at home…. She barely registered street corners. She bit her lip, closing her eyes as she started to think.

"Get back here you sunnuva-"

The roared taunt made Maki crouch, covering her head with a frightened whimper. N-No!!! she shouted in her head.

She felt someone brush right past her and raised her head, looking at the person curiously. A black hoodie covered his upper body, and he was wearing black jeans. A small red purse was in his hand as he ran.

Before Maki could even think of shouting, she felt someone jump on her shoulders, pushing off. She nearly lost her balance in response, but she saw a flash of silver hair, and an open blue jacket. The crowd thinned suddenly as this person raced up to the purse-snatcher, catching his wrist and jerking him back with a twist of his arm.

"Hey, you bitch!" the man shouted, trying to pull his arm away. Silver hair spun him easily, the boy's leg crashing into the thief's stomach chest and legs in rapid succession. He hardly gave the thief time to gasp, foot slamming into his chin before crashing back down. The man dropped the purse he'd been holding, reeling as he tried to cover his head with weakly quivering arms. Vision swimming, he could scarcely make out Silver's foot lashing out again, crashing against the side of his head thrice in a row. With a barely audible groan he staggered back, falling to the ground.

"Well, that wasn't too hard," Silver admitted, watching Hoodie fall limply. After a few moments, long enough for Hayate to ensure that the thug wasn't going to get back up, he crouched, picking up the purse. A brunette with long hair and crescent shaped earrings ran up behind him, the tubby woman panting from the exertion.

"Oh dear, are you OK Hayate?" she wondered. She gazed at him in concern as he held out the purse. Smiling carefully, Hayate replied with a thumbs up.

"Your concern is touching, but not necessary miss. After all, I am Hayate Maehara, the Scion of Justice!" Silver proclaimed, snapping a hand to his forehead. The woman chuckled, patting his shoulder before she shuffled off.

"Thank you Hayate, you're such a nice kid. Your mom must be proud of you!" she called over her shoulder.

Maki didn't miss the expression that clouded Silver's face: Sadness, anguish. A deep, grievous wound was etched on his psyche. For a moment, Maki could've sworn she'd seen a tear in his eye.

Is he… like me? she couldn't help but wonder.

"My thanks for your assistance on this matter miss. I might've lost him if you hadn't been standing here. How about coming with me for a bite to eat as my way of saying thanks? Ah, that reminds me. I am Hayate Maehara."

It took all of ten seconds for the girl to realize that Silver, or rather  Hayate, was regarding her with a grin. His black blazer was unzipped, exposing a clean white shirt underneath. Jean slacks covered his legs.

"Well mademoiselle?" he pressed.

Maki jumped, shocked as she glanced. Hayate nodded once Maki pointed at herself, still grinning. She hesitated for a moment before she gave in, nodding dumbly.

Hayate gave a small bow, smiling as Maki took his offered hand. It was subtle, but as she started to follow Hayate down the street, she could've sworn that the world seemed to brighten. Just a little.

           * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"So, tell me about yourself Maki," Hayate subtly queried, chewing on a mouthful of burger. The pair was sitting in a booth of a local fast food restaurant, Death Burger. Maki couldn't help but shiver, feeling the name quite appropriate: dim lighting, tables in the shape of coffins, and chairs shaped like tombstones. Even the employees had bone white face paint, and were covered in black hooded cloaks! Small wonder Maki had yet to touch her Murder Heart: a single patty burger with tomato, ketchup, lettuce, and buns as black as night.

She raised a brow at Hayate, who was already halfway through a Reaper:  a triple patty burger with jalapenos and bacon. "Well, I go to Marthana middle school. I'm in the seventh grade, and I like nagas…" she murmured, glaring balefully at her Murder Heart.

Hayate eyed her carefully as he spoke, worry tinging his brow. "it may not be my place to ask, but why are you injured?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean, sir," Maki stated politely. She did her best to keep her nervousness from showing, reflexively bringing a hand up to her shoulder. Her sleeves were long: he couldn't know.

"In that case, sorry for asking," Hayate said, shrugging somewhat lazily. The pair lapsed into silence. When Hayate gave her a curt nod, Maki finally relented, hesitantly biting into her burger.

"It's… it's good…" she admitted, seeming surprised. Hayate chuckled, shaking his head as he leaned back. "Thanks…" she muttered before she started to eat rapidly, noticing how hungry she felt.

Hayate tapped his finger on the table top as Maki finished, standing up with a flourish. "All right! Lunch is over, so how about you come with me?" he asked, looking down at Maki. She cleaned her mouth off with a paper napkin, hurriedly following behind Hayate as they left the store. Her shoes clacked loudly on the wooden floor, her hand covering her eyes from the late afternoon sun. She couldn't help but giggle… even if it was only for a little bit, she could forget about... dad.

Maki looked away, chewing on her lip before she raised her head, looking at Hayate. "So, where are we going?" she stopped in her tracks, the question dying on her lips. A small butterfly with orange spots on its black wings had landed on Hayate's nose, slowly flapping its wings. "How did you do that, Hayate?" she asked him curiously. She giggled, Hayate gasping for breath desperately as the butterfly flew away.

"AAATCHOOOO!" Hayate gagged, rubbing his nose with a sigh. "It just takes some time. Stay calm and don't react and they'll come," Hayate explained with a sniffle. "Urgh… butterflies are delicate creatures. Excitement, nervousness, anger: these all set off little warnings in their heads." Hayate chuckled, gaze distant. He smiled wistfully, as if remembering happier times. "That's what sensei would say, anyway."

"Really?" Maki turned, rotating slowly as she watched the bug fly around her body. "They're that sensitive?" She  turned back to hayate as the insect flew away. "So, where are we going? It looks like we're headed to the woods, but isn't there a big monster in there?"

"Huh? Monster? Really? Is that what people are calling her?" Hayate murmured, shaking his head.

"Calling who?"

"Nothing."

           * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Hey Kara!" You around? Come on out!" Hayate called lightly, as though calling a kitten. Maki glanced around her surroundings as she waited for his friend to show up.

They were standing in the middle of aforest glade: green grass waved at them from underfoot. Small white flowers peeked up, shyly flirting with the girl. Maki wasn't a great judge of distance, but she guessed the glade to be about a hundred feet from end to end. Branches creaked and groaned in the faint wind.

"Here kitty kitty kitty! Come here girl!" hayate's tone shifted, becoming more sweet, as though laced with honey.

Maki stepped into the glade, the sheer natural beauty drawing her in. She crested a small hill, turning to watch the setting sun. "Hayate, I'm sorry. The view is real nice, but I really should get back home."

"I'll admit the view is good, but Hayate's a little busy right now," echoed a voice, right behind her.

The odd statement confused Maki. She turned, a retort dying on her lips with a faint whimper. Her eyes fairly bulged as they took in the sight: a wide, deep cavern, punctuated by reddish walls. Sharp white stalactites and stalagmites were arranged in rows, similar to teeth. A reddish carpet of fungus resembled a tongue. And inside the cave? Hayate, sitting rather calmly on that tongue looking thing.

"Hey maki! I want ya to meet a friend of mine! Her name is Kara, and she's real friendly!"

Maki slowly raised her head, gaze panning to take in the large lips. She noticed that the big girl's eyes were different colors: One gold, the other silver. Both pupils stared down at Maki, the lips closing in a lopsided grin.

How could I have not noticed her!? she wailed internally. Her gaze dropped to the floor, noting that the girl's hands had pushed up, lifting her. A white blouse and a green short skirt were all that clothed her frame: were she smaller, the big girl would've been able to pass herself as a very buxom, very beautiful girl. With cat ears. And a tail.

Maki's jaw dropped as Kara's throat bulged faintly, carrying Hayate down. 'Oh dear…'