Me: with my prelude now available on dA and (and recommended to read before this), we are making our official return! To any who have followed me long enough, or who are just curious enough to find the original of this; this is a rewrite of one of my more successful fanfiction series (and my second story might I add) Shinzo Date~ I am very excited to make a return to it, change it up, mature it, but have fun with it again!^^
Mushra: Run while you can.
Me: *rolls eyes* ignore him during this disclaimer; speaking of, I do not own any of the characters that belong to Shinzo/Mushrambo, only my own, nor do I intend to earn anything from this story, it is—
Mushra: *mocking* 'purely for fan enjoyment~'
Me: *tackles and then sits on* Like he said ^^ enjoy!

Chapter 1—A Date Is Set

"I can't…believe…you got us…into this!"

The accusation was sputtered as we were catching our breath among one of the rare close clump of trees in this forest, one of the few times thus far that we'd been able to. It was too much of a risk to stop for long though, and less possible to find a fitting collection of trees and limbs to hide us.

"Me?! You're as much…to blame…as me for this!" my friend attempted to correct my accusation, and though she was very right, I was not really caring to admit that right now. As she pushed up her glasses that had been bouncing too much in our escape, she looked around. "We lost them, for now. But we need to figure out some sort of strategy. We can't run forever."

I nodded, undoing my Viking Mohawk ponytail, fixing it and doing it up again, this time in a bun. "We're gonna have to get on the offensive. This IS our chance, isn't it?"

"It is. All or nothing, Jaden." Heather told me (lucky she had nice, short hair now, it was less of an in-the-face hazard, though I guess the glasses equaled out our misfortune).

I nodded in agreement, when suddenly; there was the sound of…a branch breaking?

"RUN!" we screamed out simultaneously.

And we did, not wasting time to even look to see who was after us now or how close. We were running faster than before, gaining some distance as we both seemed to be considering just exactly how we were going to fight our way out of this; we weren't trained fighters, though we've held our own once or twice. That was in normal circumstances, of course. But these weren't normal, now. Racing through trees, jumping or nearly tripping over stones and fallen tree limbs—this had to stop soon.

"This is it, let's do it!" Heather encouraged, and my stomach flipped, but I nodded as with a sudden halt of our feet (and near accidents), we then took our stances.

"Weapons, look around for one..!" I said, doing the same, but all we seemed to come up with were branches of varying thickness, Heathers thicker, but I had double. Best we could do.

We just waited then. There was nothing moving around us, other than the wind through leaves, and leaves through the air when their grasps couldn't hold any longer; their travel down would've been peaceful to watch, if we weren't on edge. And then I saw a streak of red and orange.

"He's getting closer..." I spat quickly, back to back with Heather then as we both watched.

"Question is…is he alone…?"

So suddenly, it was silent, as if everything but our breathing stopped. It was extremely unnerving, as if our position was even more obvious now, in this completely silence, our noise out and exposed and I knew, we had to be ready for anyt—

"INCOMING-GAAAH!"

We weren't ready for anything.

I felt Heather collided into my back, knocking me flat on my face with her rolling off of me to fight whatever had taken us down, but oh, she wasn't the only adversary; I was rolling and leaping after the two of them, aiming for whatever WASN'T Heather.

"We told you, we weren't gonna be under estimated!"

"Yeah, we'll hold our own, against any enemy!"

"BY YANKING THEIR HAI-AH-AAAH!? QUIT IT!"

Rolling around more with us, the black and orange clad Enterran was suddenly on top of me, keeping my hands and one of my legs down very well as I struggled, and Heather was latched onto his back like a human pack that was currently trying to tear purple strands from his head. And that grin on her face as she did so…I swear, sometimes she was scary…

"You give, Mushra?!" she challenged, and though he kept complaining about the tactic she was taking, he wasn't giving up—until suddenly my knee, in its struggle to be freed from his weight, shot straight up between his legs, and he rolled only his side.

Groaning, he was still struggling against Heather. He'd yanked her from his back and was struggling with her hand and hand now, trying to get a grasp on her hands and wrists, like he was just going to incapacitate her like he had just did momentarily with me, instead of fight her. Well, she wasn't having that. Stepping hard on his foot, she spun and was in a fighting stance. "Come on, Hot-Head! Stop holding back."

I moved to her side, branch in hand again. "Where's the weapon? You don't hold back for your enemies."

He stared us down, and I could see the reluctance. I just couldn't tell if it was for a reason we should be touched or feel offended by. Either way, he was being a little annoying. Finally, he pulled out his staff, twirling it as his eyes flicked back and forth before he settled his gaze on me and he launched. Gripping the branch in my hands, I moved sideways and swiped at him, only for him to block with his staff. It was frustrating, but I took another stance and aimed for what part of his arm I could hit that wasn't armored while I could just glimpse and recognize that Heather was flying a kick for his head. He blocked it, though I did hit part armor and part skin with my attack.

Favoring hand to hand combat, Heather was getting hit more than me, but it only spurred us on, because they were more shoves then they were actual hits; we knew he was holding back. Just as Heather was about to leap at him from a crouch, and I had my branch raised to whack him, I was suddenly yanked back, nearly tripping and twirling to prevent that trip before my back collided into a thick tree. And of course, all I saw in front of me at first was blue.

Sago had my weapon in his hand now, aimed at my face, with his own in his other hand….before it was gone. They were both going to get it for this pitiful attempt at a training exercise (yes, this was training). "You need to keep your guard up."

"I would, if I wasn't distracted by the fact that you two are pitiful attempts at adversaries." I told him, before grasping the branch, yanking it to me as he still held it and my free hand swung straight for his face, only for him to dodge it, yanking the branch again with my hold tight on it and it spun me until my back was to him and I tried to steady myself and turn, but he'd already twisted the arm gripping the branch behind my back. With that, I quickly raised the other arm to elbow him in the face, and I did succeed in knocking him either in the nose or mouth before he caught that arm too, holding it behind my back.

"Am I pitiful now?" he challenged and I just laughed.

"…Yeah, you are."

I freed the arm that had been grasping the branch by releasing my hold completely, and as his hold wasn't firm enough, once his hold on my other arm had lessened enough for me breaking free, he took a palm to the nose. He was unsteady then, and I took advantage, taking up the branch and swiping at his stomach, and I just grazed him, mostly catching his cape, really…

"What kind of fight is this? You would have had your weapons out sooner against anyone else!" I stated as he watched me, glancing to Mushra and Heather as the purple-haired male was more blocking attacks then he was throwing them. Then he was back to me.

"You two haven't fought like this before—we're not going to make it too difficult your first try." Sago told me honestly, not even attempting a fight right now, and I held back a low level of fury at that. I just smiled at him instead.

"Be honest, have you even been trying?" I challenged, and went at him again, my aggression growing towards Heather's level, because if they were going to hold back and refrain from their usual battle tactics and skill level, then we were just going to have to go berserk just to push them (when they were supposed to be pushing us!).

It was when in frustration I shoved Sago into a tree, surprising him, that he finally stopped only avoid each attack of mine and matched my aggression, shoving back and knocking me on my rear near Heather and Mushra's scrap. I rolled to my hands and knees before standing again. Me and Heather were back to back again before we launched, tackling or throwing punches at our individual opponents, and our tactics just became less and less civil, more wild and almost childish just to throw them off and irritate them into actually trying—and we knew if they were or weren't trying. Not only from training with them for a little over half a year, but from also seeing and noticing their fighting styles and capabilities on TV (I'll get into that later).

I tried the arm twist on Sago when I caught his arm when he shoved me, and almost succeeded, but suddenly he swung me, us going in a half circle for a moment before I collided with Mushra and Heather. We were about to pop back to our feet when we heard a strange but still loud growl and turned to see the big mass of Kutaal running for us, with his young nephews and nieces, though older still smaller than us, and we about stumbled to race away.

"You called for a surprise threat!"

"Here we are!" Rei and Sen called, Este laughing and making a playful rawr as they were chasing us all down, the four of us running with Kutaal laughing cheerily behind us.

Well, the fighting ended there. I mean, we might have started back up, if our path hadn't turned towards the city and we hadn't made a nice little roll down the hill upon exiting the forest. But, after ending up in a pile of Enterran's and two humans, we decided we were done for the day. And Kutaal took it upon himself to invite us back to his apartment for a big meal he was preparing. Winter was already there waiting. With her boyfriend.

To think, me and Heather were the ones obsessing over Enterran males in our youth, and she's the first one to get her an Enterran boyfriend. Go figure.

Now might be the best time to explain that whole TV reference, for those tuning into our little story who may not exactly know what's going on. It's hard to grasp at first, especially LIVING it, but you get used to it.

So, rewind to where I, Jaden, my sister Winter, and our neighbor and friend Heather were wee little ones. My sister of the age of 6, and me and Heather the age of 8. Among many interests that children of those ages in those years of the 90's had, we had gotten into a show we'd come across on a few channels, and found fewer bits of merchandise for; Shinzo, or as it was called in its original airing (or publication if you count the manga), Mushrambo.

We had been greatly obsessed with that show specifically, doing very silly childhood costumes, mimicking the show and writing stories as well. We enjoyed it differently as we got older, writing more, but for years we believed it was possible it could be real, and we were determined to seek out its existence.

But that age hit when it all just stopped seeming possible. We decided that was just adult-hood coming along and bringing real life with it, the thing everyone told us we'd have to face one day or another. Anyways, we didn't believe anymore, and we looked back on it as that anime with iffy but still decent animation, okay lines, and pretty cool plot. Yet looking back on it, it was the most amazing thing we'd ever known.

It just faded out of our minds. Until we happened upon an old local urban legend that turned out to be true; a portal, to another world. How and why it brought us here…I still don't know. Honestly, I've been considering it for the year and a half that we've been traveling through that portal. The world was real, and the show and manga were just hints left for us, to prepare us? This world wasn't originally real, but properties of that portal or whatever it was we jumped through reached into our minds and made a world out of our memories and the emotions and fascination and belief tied to them (that seemed a little far-fetched, so I lean more toward the former)?

We had been careful in the beginning of course; with our knowledge of the world and people, and with learning of the true nature of this world. We kept our knowledge of the world, and a few specific inhabitants, a secret for the first handful of weeks traveling. We enjoyed the awe of seeing this world, formally just moving art on a TV screen, come to life to be something true and tangible. But the time came, and the suspicions had risen too high, and we decided to come clean. We had to invite the whole gang we'd be spending time with (evidently all the main cast of the show, which I even questioned the awesome coincidence of THAT) to our home to show the little merchandise we had of them, and then the episodes. They were extremely confused and a little bit freaked for a while. But with the faith of Binka, and the added optimism of Kutaal, they reasoned it was some act of fate. And I had to believe that, too, though whose hand was weaving such a fate, I could never say (I didn't really have any beliefs, religion wise, or at least nothing defined past a higher power).

It took a while for the boys to be won over and I don't blame them. But they came around, and after attempting to test us, they re-welcomed us.

Now, it was a little while after that, when trust was just about secured in us, and we were getting the hang of being in their world (and they'd decided they were bored with ours), that we met Winter's would-be boyfriend; Xavier.

Some of us decided to go out on a trip to a town not far off from New Yora (sorry to interrupt the description, but this is worth mentioning—the town was actually ruins, not covers by sand or earth or plant life so much that it was uninhabitable, of New York! I noticed a few unmistakable landmarks only thanks to a school trip back on Earth); the boys checked in on it often, to see if any of the locals had any problems with violence or theft, if they were in need of any aid whatsoever. Kutaal and Sago stayed behind, while Mushra and Binka took us along.

And with Binka and Heather, plus a still not fully matured Mushra all mixed together (plus my habit of sitting back, uninvolved, just to enjoy a good show)? Let's just say, we got a little confused over who was a thief and who was a kindly citizen during our visit and some bazooka shots later, we eventually got everything settled, Winter tending to the helpful citizen and Mushra and Heather to the suspect in question. Turns out Xavier had been passing through when he got involved, and was a rolling stone sort of Enterran. That was, until he set eyes on Winter.

I don't believe in love at first sight, but what I saw grow so quickly between them had to be as close as it gets. He's a good man, even if a little introverted at times. But he cares a lot for my sister, and hasn't had much of any bad steps yet, so he was okay in my book. Plus, he got right along with Mushra and Sago, so he was even more welcomed into our fortunately formed group.

Carrying Este, who's just nearing that size where I couldn't carry her anymore, I walked with the rest of the group, Heather having stolen Mushra's hover board the moment he whistled for it (she clung to it like it was life until Mushra stopped trying to take it back) and poked and bugged Mushra and Sago, criticizing their fighting today, on about how they'd seen better fighting from the robots in Mechano City. Mushra looked like he was ready to shove Heather off the board, when I heard Este giggle.

"They're silly." She commented, looking over my shoulder at them as we walked behind her uncle.

I laughed, smiling to her, absentmindedly petting her fur, which she liked. "Heather and Mushra? Yeah, I feel like we should keep score on who wins their fights, since they're so constant."

"Nooo, Mushra and Sago." She corrected.

I raised a brow but nodded. "I agree, but how do you mean?"

"They think they're the only ones who can fight." She told me, and then stuck her tongue out in their direction, and I was sure I heard Mushra stick his tongue out behind me. "That they're the only ones who can protect."

"Don't I know it…" I rolled my eyes.

"They were just like that with Yakumo, but she showed them better, before…" her voice grew lower, and I looked her over. I knew she'd cared a lot for Yakumo, like a good friend, perhaps even a big sister or something of that like. I pet my fingers through the fur of her head. It was still sometimes a sore subject, for everyone. Hell, even for us 'fans', even though we'd never known her, and for half our fandom me and Heather were jealous of her and thought her approach of nonviolence was ridiculous. But…she was a good woman, a pure heart and soul that fought in what way was right at the very end. I almost wish I could have met her…

"Well…we'll just have to pick up where she left off and show them what us girls can REALLY do, won't we?"

Este rubbed her eye a bit, but looked to me and smiled, nodding. "Mhm!"

We'd entered the city by now, and with Mushra finally having enough of Heather stealing a ride on his hover board, there was a chase that led the rest of the way, Rei and Sen cheering Mushra and Heather on separately as they followed in a run after them. It wasn't long before we arrived outside the four-level apartment in between many others(first level is half an apartment, half a private restaurant simply because it had an extensive kitchen and all obviously Kutaals, second level for Binka, third of Sago, fourth for Mushra). Este leapt from my arms and straight for the door, beating even Rei and Sen and cheering out her victory over the boys who were too surprised to catch up.

The rest of us followed after, Mushra finally getting his board back as Heather raced inside, Kutaal practically pushing them through in a rush to get to his kitchen.

"This feast might be my greatest yet, I tell you now!" he called to us as he slipped into his kitchen, leaving us in the main room set with a couple of low tables that we sat cross-legged at.

"You said that about the last one, didn't you?" Sago countered, smiling and we laughed a bit.

"Ah, but it's true!"

We just agreed with him and went with it, conversing as we waited. I had to admit, whatever he was making smelt good. I think Heather agreed, because she tried to sneak a peak in on the progress only to be shooed out by the big and little felines.

"So, how'd the new training go?" Xavier asked, looking to the guys and us with Winter at his side, seeming just as eager to hear, though her eyes lingered on us like she had something on her mind.

"It went well enough for a first go." Sago began, but Heather laughed strangely to make a point. It was more a scoffing laugh.

"…I'm guessing it's debatable, then…?" he offered with a raised brow. I swear, him and Winter sitting together, they seemed to fit perfectly, like they accented one another; him adorned in a black jump-suit and dark green armor, a dark but earthy tone with brown hair and light brown eyes. Then there was Winter at his side, soft, light blue shirt, a skirt of dark green-blue, and jeans, blond hair, and bright blue green eyes. It's like they accented one another, just different enough, but similar.

"Very debatable." I nodded.

"They think we're sissies, so they won't properly fight us." Heather said outright, settling back down as she realized she wasn't going to be able to sneak into the kitchen.

"We were going easy only because it was your first time." Sago tried to argue, and I faced him.

"We've been training with y'all and your civilian students for months now, why would you not push what we've learned?" I challenged. "Or were you just teaching us for the fun of pushing us around and over exerting us physically?"

Sago looked taken aback by the accusation, in such a way that he almost seemed to flush briefly before he shook his head and averted eye contact. "We've been trying to teach you to protect yourself."

"Well, you're not doing a good job." I settled that, turning from him.

"Well, you girls are too picky!" Mushra accused then.

"And you two are sexist." I accused right back, and that finally shut them up (I'm sure I faintly heard a whistle of tension from Xavier as the silence drew on).

"DINNEEERRRR~ ….is served!" Kutaal finally exclaimed as the kittens and Binka brought in bowls full of an amazing smelling stew to each of us before settling with their own. Kutaal of course brought the whole pot and set it on the middle table expecting it not to go to waste. Of course, it wouldn't; really it was just a question of who would eat the most of it.

Conversation had stopped, for lack of subjects as well as preoccupation, so we just enjoyed the food, which if it weren't so hot to start with, I would have finished off quicker, but I still finished it off timely enough. His food was always good, and I have to admit, I still loved trying out their different meats and vegetables and so on. Some of it was similar to what we have but with this being an aged and evolved Earth, plus the addition of creatures we ourselves don't have at home, the variety of foods was a bit broader.

Winter and Xavier ended up leaving first, though they seemed like they were going to go say their goodnights (Xavier didn't live too far away, but he wasn't staying in the apartment as anything but company now and again). I was glad they took it outside though. I mean, I'm not one of those picky whiny people who would sass off couples for showing affection publically. I mean, as long as there's no feeling up or dry humping or extreme face sucking in public, feel free, you shouldn't have to confine your love. BUT, being the single person I was who hadn't ever really even gotten that far into any of my few previous relationship (at least, not far enough to enjoy as many kisses), seeing the intimacy did almost, almost make me wish for something like. I could ignore it, but thankfully, they saved me from having to put forth that extra effort.

The feasting group dwindled as everyone was finishing up, the kittens dragging Binka up to her room for some story-telling. Kutaal was still down with us finishing off what was left in the big pot, with happy noises of pride and pleasure.

"I think it was a tie, Mushra, come on—lets be real about this…" I heard Sago whispering to Mushra in the corner of the room where they'd sneakily scooted to, and I side glanced, taking a spoonful of soupy, meaty stew into my mouth as I watched them talk.

"If you'd had the maniac on your back half the time, you'd be saying different!" Mushra muttered. "You wanna be real about this? Then be a proper man and pay where payments due!"

"I am a proper man, thank you very much!"

"Then pay up—that was the bet!"

….Bet? Having to do with Heather? I was a little less sneaky with my staring then, looking sideways at them as they continue, and catching Heather's eyes so she'd listen in too, which she did, though still eating her stew where as I had to set mine down.

"They were evenly matched! Jaden and Heather were fighting very similarly, and got about as much damage in."

…What exactly had they bet on? I was turned completely to Sago's back by now, arms folded and a look on my face.

"The bet was on who would do the most damage, who would put up a bigger fight, and Heather did, like I told you she would, now pay up!"

Sago sat straight and proud, folding his arms. "I think you're a little too biased, Mushra."

"And you're not?" Mushra asked urgently under his breath.

It was by then I crawled up behind Sago, very sneaky like, and leaned to speak right by his ear. "Well, maybe you two just need a tie-breaking opinion." I nearly made the water Enterran leap onto Mushra. He did end up in the others' lap, though.

"Just how much did you two bet on us?" Heather asked then, crouched beside Mushra, who looked nervous as he laughed.

"B-bet, whaaaaaat?"

"You two should have taken it out of the room, you can't whisper for shit." I pointed out, sitting on my knees then. "How much?"

They were both silent, gathering together (I swear, for warriors, they got pretty scared when facing down an angry female—maybe it's just in their normal forms).

I look to my friend. "Heather?"

Suddenly, the most maniacal grin grew on her face, it was almost like that of a child about to play her favorite game, but still with enough mastermind-of-torture-and-insanity edge to it. She was about ready to launch when Mushra finally caved.

"Okay, okay, it was three hundred!"

"Mushra!"

"Three hundred?! We're worth more than that!"

"You were just getting angry at us betting on you and now you're made at our pricing?!"

"EXCUSE ME FOR NOTICING HOW STUPID YOU COULD FURTHER BE!"

Suddenly, I dove at Sago, surprising him and I was very happy to hear that surprise earned an almost unmanly yelp from him. Of course, there were more uncomfortable noises from him as I seemed to be patting him down (I had one objective, but I have to admit, absentmindedly, I think I had another motive for it…dang he had a nice body).

"What do you think you're doing?!" he asked, trying to stop my hands, but I managed to keep his arms out of the way and launched my other hand at his belt. By now, he was a little flushed, but I backed up, wearing my own devilish smirk as I held up…his money bag. "Hey!" he tried to grab it back, launching over me, but I landed half on my back, putting a foot to his chest to stop him, holding it out of his reach before tossing it to Heather, who caught it and had Mushra too freaked to move to steal back his friends bag.

Sago leaned off of me and he turned to Heather. "Give that back!"

"One sec, as we settle this bet for you two." I stated, and stood, going over to Heather as she opened the bag, going through the coins. "Whataya think, Heather? Who deserves the payment for our training results?"

"Hmmm…well, we both fought pretty hard against them." Heather began. "I was more direct with my attacks, less restrained, while you sort of calculated your attacks…" she was thinking, tapping her chin. By this point, I think Mushra and Sago were just waiting to see who was going to get the money; I could tell, because of the side glances they were giving each other.

"Mhm…then again, we didn't have the challenge we were expecting, so we just got messy with it. It really wasn't the best training." I reasoned and Heather nodded.

"Hey, we were—"

"Don't even." I cut them off.

Me and Heather were silent, until finally, she smirked. "I know just how to settle this." With that, she dug into Sago's bag, much to his displeasure (it was like we had his precious children hostage or something). Finally, she rummaged out a handful and suddenly plopped it in my hand. That had the guys confused, but she dug in again, and kept some for herself before throwing the bag at Sago.

"What th—that's my money!"

"Well, you see…" Heather began, counting through the money happily as I did the same, laughing as she continued. "When we do this sort of stuff on our world—like find people to teach us certain things, offer us a service, we usually have to pay them for it, 'cause nearly nothings free."

I was pretty sure I heard Mushra mutter how stupid that was and I could agree with him and debate all the stupidity, but kept it to myself as Heather went on.

"Soooo….taking from our worlds ways, let's just saying, we're getting a refund on poor service." Heather finished and I nodded to say I felt that was sound reasoning.

Mushra huffed, but Sago went on to complain. "That's my hard earn money, you can't just take it! How can you be so disrespectful and take it?"

"Because you two are so disrespectful as to think we're just damsels to protect." I said then and walk straight up to him, grabbed his hand and slapped my handful into his hand, staring him straight in the eyes. "Gender doesn't equal set levels of strength. So how about you respect us and our wishes to learn how to fight, like you two, and actually help us, instead of enable us?"

He said nothing, whether it was speechlessness or he was too annoyed, I didn't actually care at the moment. Yeah, I understand how they work; how they care and want to protect. But the simple fact is we need to and want to defend ourselves, and the friends they're supposed to be, they're not really doing a good job at being.

The longer I stared him down, though, I saw how those blue eyes were almost…studying me, or something. Looking at me in such a way that my skin was no longer flesh covering muscle and meat, but a receiver for many-a-feeling; currently, the feeling was a certain shiver. It went up my spin, and to hide the shiver that tried to show through, I turned away and went straight for the door, just as Winter came in.

"OH! Jaden, hey—Heather, you two leaving?" she asked us, and she seemed like she was impatient for us to come with her as she was backing back out the door.

Confused, I just nodded and followed her out and looked back to Heather as she passed by them both, giving the universal 'I'm watching you' gesture, and saying to Sago, "I'm keeping MY money, Water-Boy."

We exited then, with our thank you's to Kutaal, and suddenly Winter took us by the wrists and yanked us away from the front of the building, nearly making Heather drop the coins in her hand.

"Jeez, Winter, slow it, it's not like the portals closing!" I told her, pulling my wrist free as she released us both, looking to the building and then back to us excitedly, smiling widely, but also biting her lip nervously. "What happened to you?" I asked with a laugh.

"Ok, so, obviously, me and Xavier have been a couple for a little while now, right?" she started, brushing her hair behind her face as we nodded. "Ok, and we've spent time together and stuff, off and on, with everyone, but….never went on an official date."

I nodded along to what she was saying. "Ok…did one of you finally ask the other out?"

She flushed a bit, and cleared her throat. "Y-yeah. Xavier, he asked me before I left him at his place. He said he'd been meaning to for a while." She laughed, smiling with satisfaction at this fact, and I was withholding my big-sister teasing nature and just smiling with happiness for her. "Anyways, we were going to go out tomorrow, he says it's up to me what we do, though we both agreed maybe something on Earth—he wants to get to know my home world a little better."

I moved to hug her then, leaving it in a one arm hold as I smiled to her. "That's great, sissy!" I nuzzled her cheek a bit, laughing, my brand of excitement and she was bouncing on her feet, hugging me around me waist as she got a thumbs up from Heather before our friend asked, "So, what are you thinking of doing?"

"Actually…I was wanting y'alls help…for a few things." She admitted, biting her lip.

"I hope it's not date tips." Heather commented and I laughed, knowing I wouldn't have any better ones than her.

"You definitely don't need make out tips." I commented, turning her another shade of pinkish red. "So is it the activity? I mean, a dinner seems a good start—"

"That, yeah, but…also…"

"Alssoooo…?" I shook her shoulders a bit, wondering why she was hesitating so much to ask whatever it was. "Winter, what's up?"

"I was wondering if you two would mind going….with…? As in, you know, a triple date?" her face was on full sheepish pouty mode as she looked back and forth between the two of us. "Pleeeeeaassse?"

Me and Heather looked confused before she laughed and I shook my head, almost laughing too. "Triple date, why?"

"Because! I…look, I'm still a little dependent on y'alls company, is that so wrong?" she asked, looking down and I felt a little bad; we'd both shared that, that need for support everywhere you went, especially the supportive company you've had for an extended amount of time. I used to be like that, over my parents, but I and Winter grew past that. Though, now I was considering that maybe we didn't grow past it, but just traded in a new support group…

"And, I dunno…" she continued, "I thought it could be fun…?"

I wasn't laughing anymore, but I wasn't exactly enthusiastic. My gaze questioned, I looked from my sister to my friend and back. "Well…I mean, who would we even go with?"

Well, that earned a face of such a powerful 'nah duh'/'are you serious' nature that I almost felt stupid for asking, and even more so because the options she'd thought up weren't immediately on my mind.

"Uh….really? I don't know, maybe the Princes of fandoms past?" she smirked a bit, laughing.

She meant Sago for me, and Mushra for Heather, because our childhood fascination and crushes on them… Well, of course, that brought forth that same rush of nervous, butterfly emotions reminiscent of my younger years, though feeling strangely different and mixed up now, the same rush I'd felt when we'd met them in this world our first time here. I'd sort of….well, not grown past it, but I'd surely buried most of it, if not just closed it behind a door that my sister just cracked open. We'd become friends, sort of got some kind of relationship going where I tried to keep that the furthest thing from my mind. I'd come to know him as a three dimensional, true version of that guy I'd liked on the screen; mischievous, intuitive, sometimes smooth when not being a total dork and a bit of a scaredy cat. Sensitive and empathetic to some things while clueless to others. Chivalrous in a certain situation while competitive in another. I tried to appreciate those traits, and him, as just a good friend I'm blessed to have. But, THANKS WINTER, I will now be watching that face differently, that person in a familiar yet new light. Not really looking forward to it, honestly…

Heather busted out laugh then though. Like, keeled over, holding her stomach laughing, drawn out (I nearly timed it), standing straight and wiping her watery eyes under her glasses sort of laugh. Then only silence passed. And then her face fell. "You're serious."

Winter just nodded, looking between us. "Come on, like you two haven't thought about it since we've been here with them. Surely y'all haven't COMPLETELY gotten over that—hell, I haven't completely gotten over Tuxedo Mask."

She took our silence as an answer, and as I let go of her shoulder, she let go of me and folded her arms. "I…well, I thought it might be a good idea… I understand if..thats not an option, I guess."

"I don't know, Winter." was my only answer to her, because I really didn't know what to say. I didn't want her to have to go without us and be nervous the entire date and not enjoy herself, but…I couldn't even imagine trying to go on a date with Sago, if he'd even say yes—well, I could imagine it, but I mean imagine it as reasonable reality.

"Are you sure we wouldn't just cramp the date…?" Heather tried to joke, and it was a good point, when I thought about it. Especially after today.

"Yeah, just… Forget about it, it's alright." She shook her head, rubbing her arm, but her shoulders and head were low and I took that as her being disappointed and I hated seeing her like that. "I wasn't thinking, too excited I guess." She laughed weakly.

Suddenly, I let out a great, dramatic sigh that I'm sure people in their homes nearby heard. Both of them looking at me, I considered them for a moment before setting my gaze on my sister. "Alright, for you…I can try and do this. I can't promise… I don't know, I can't promise it will be much of anything but company on our end, but I want you to be able to enjoy yourself.. And if you need us around, then I'll be there."

She was lit up then, hugging my arm then and shaking it. She looked to Heather, who made a face and slumped her shoulders.

"Uggghhh, do I have to…?" she whined, before rolling her eyes standing straight. "No, I know I don't have to…but I will. But I'm not wearing make-up."

Winter laughed, but nodded. "Y'all don't have to put on an act or try too hard, just…as long as y'all are there with me, but still enjoying yourselves, I'll be happy." She told us honestly, hugging my arm tighter. We nodded and she made an excited noise and hugged us both nice and tight before releasing us and staring us down. "Alright, now that we got that decided! Go ask the boys out, and we'll head up and decide what we'll be doing!"

"WHAT?!"

After much pushing and urging, and then slight sweet, sneaky guilting now that we'd already promised, Winter convinced us to go do the deed. The boys were no longer in the dining room and all we heard was Kutaal taking stock in the kitchen and realized the guys must have went to their rooms.

"Good luck…? Try not to smack them for lau—nah, smack them if they laugh." Heather offered, her words and her hand, which I took and shook.

"Sounds like a plan." I lead the way, since we'd reach Sago's place first on the third level. We greeted the kittens, who were all curled up and comfy, and it sounded like they were all taking turns making up stories, which Binka seemed to enjoy.

Back up another swirl of steps, we reached the third level and I looked to Sago's door, seeing through the paper walls (the apartment was built like any other, though the walls separating rooms and such, unless they were the kitchen, were all set with the paper walls and sliding doors. Not a very silent house). He seemed to be sitting cross-legged on the floor. Doing what, I couldn't tell. I got a pat on the back from Heather, though, to push me on. I nodded, and looked back to her.

"Good luck with hot-head."

"Good luck with water-boy."

I know; we're so touching.

She headed up the rest of the stairs and I was sort of taking my time to make it to his door. The light in the room was from a candle or two, I could tell. I wondered if he was meditating or something… Finally, I took a breath, and tapped on the wooden edge of the door.

"Who is it?"

"…Jaden. I uh…can I talk to you?" I asked.

"…Yeah, sure. Come on in."

I did as he said, sliding open the door and entering, seeing yes, he was cross legged on the floor, though he relaxed a bit as he turned to me and the look on his face, still a studying look, and some sort of reluctance, I suddenly felt idiotic being here. After that little talking we gave them down there? Maybe I should just go tell Winter sorry, couldn't be done. I'd write it down, say I lost my voice, wasn't going to happen. "Uh…Nevermind, I—" I turned to leave and I heard him stand.

"Jaden, wait, please."

Shutting my eyes with my hand balled up against the door, I sighed and turned. So close…

The studying look and reluctance on his face were gone now, replaced by…guilt? "Look…about training today…"

"Don't, its—"

"It's not fine, and you were right." He cut me off before I could stop him from this. He went on, and his eyes were earnest as he made a step forward. "We were underestimating you, even if we do have good reason to take the training slow." He pointed out, and I gave a slow nod as he continued. "But...we're so used to protecting others, I guess we forget that we're not the only ones with strength. And, sometimes we're worried the moment we stop being the protectors, our friends might get hurt or…"

Or worse, I know that was where he was getting. I nodded. "I understand. And, I forgive you two. As long as this means you two will think better of us next time."

He chuckled and nodded, the smile staying on his lips (damn it, Winter had put those affectionate goggles back on my eyes where you see all these simple things as too amazing when they're not, THE MUSCLES IN SOMEONES FACE FORMING A SMILE SHOULD NOT MAKE MY BODY DO WEIRD THINGS). "So…what did you need?"

I laughed then, like I'd just remember some joke or something hilariously ridiculous. And then I realized I'd just sounded ridiculous and nervous, what even WAS that? "I uh… Well, first, I gotta explain. Winter and Xavier are going on a date tomorrow."

"Well, finally." He laughed, folding his arms over his chest.

"Yeah, I know… And uh, Winter's really excited, she really wants to do this." I went on, him nodding as I did. "And, she's nervous. She feels like she needs support…. Company, you know? Uh…me and Heather."

He looked confused. "I guess…I can understand, but how's she going to have you two along on what's supposed to be a date?" he questioned, and it came to him faster than I expected. "…Oh. Oooh…."

I took a breath and sighed then. "Sago, would you go with me on a triple date?"

Once I actually asked it, he seemed almost taken aback. Was it because he'd never been asked out rather than be the one asking? Or was it because it was me asking? Questions I'd love an answer to but I couldn't exactly ask. I could only wait for an answer, which it took too long to get.

"…You want me to be your date?" he finally responded.

"No, I just thought I'd ask your cape out, it's really appealing to the eyes and probably provide decent warmth." I stated sarcastically, ignoring the flush coming to my neck and I really hoped not but maybe my cheeks. "Yes, Sago… Only if you want to. See, that's the purpose of asking, otherwise I'd just pull you along with me tomorrow."

He laughed, but it was a little awkward. "Ah, sorry, um…"

"It's for Winter, don't think too much about it okay?" I added, to try and sooth his seemingly difficult decision. "It'll just be like any other time we're hanging out, telling stories, taking trips, whatever. Just as long as we keep it civil enough for the love birds to continue being love birds, y'know?"

He nodded. "Yeah, of course. Yeah."

I just nodded, waiting. And then he repeated himself. And then I realized his answer

"Yes."

That fucking flutter in my stomach. I looked him in the eyes. He was…smiling? Why was he smiling? Was I starting to smile too—stop that! I just nodded then. "Alright, good, cool." I tried to say, but might have spoken too quickly. "Thanks. Um, I guess you should talk to Xavier about where to meet, the planning is between him and Winter."

"Will do." He nodded, glancing to the ground, then back up to me.

"Yeah, uh… I'm gonna go wait for Heather then. See you tomorrow..?" I said, heading for the door, and so perfectly and comically bumping into the wall on my way, and I mentally slapped myself for that one.

He nodded, laughing a bit before settling back on the floor and I quickly slipped out the door and sighed, heading for the stairs and listening at the bottom for how it might be going with Heather and Mushra. That's when I heard the noise of crashing and so on, and I raced up the stairs to find them rolling just outside Mushra's door.

"What the heck are y'all doing?!"

"That's! Supposed! To be! MY MONEY, GIV'IT!" Mushra muttered as he had Heather from behind, but she hand many clanging coins still tight in her clutches, though a few were falling, which they were both scrambling to either pick up or knock across the room out of reach. There were many coins across the little amount of room here in this semi-hallway.

"NO, MINE NOW, GET OFF!"

"Heather, you came up here for a reason." I called over their grumbling and yelps of struggle to remind her.

She seemed to ignore me, as she was suddenly wiggling like a spaz and almost head-butted Mushra in the chin. It was getting to a point where I was just going to watch them for entertainment rather than stop them. "Mushra, you've got so many more feet on you, how can you NOT get the upper hand more often?"

"Because, she's e demoAAH! She BIT me!" he yelped, moving his hand away from her face completely. He decided to roll off of her then, racing to pick up a few of the coins and he only got a few before there was battle cry from Heather as she raced as if she intended to leap on his back again, and I swear I think I saw his life flash before his eyes before I spoke up.

"Heather wants you to go on a triple date with her!"

Heather almost slipped and fell flat on her face with that, and looking between the two of us, she made a snap decision. To run for it. Which she did, very quickly I might add. Now, with her gone, of course the rest of it was up to me. I looked back at Mushra, who was a mess, but hilariously so. Laughing, I walked over, tossing a few coins to him.

"You did that to save me, didn't you? You weren't…serious?" he asked.

"Actually, I am. She was supposed to come up here and ask you. 'Cause I just...finished asking Sago." I told him, and he just became very amused, a little giggle growing from him, its timing almost similar to Heather's cackle from before, and of course he stopped short just the same.

"Seriously..?"

"You don't have to. But it's for Winter. She wants me and Heather with on the date she's going on with Xavier tomorrow, but it'd be awkward if we tagged along by ourselves, so. If nothing else, it'll just be a fun time out."

He was silent, considering it, almost seeming to be waiting for me to say kidding before he realized I wasn't going to and rubbed the back of his head, like it was all very confusing. "..I could…sure. I mean, as long as she can refrain from trying to murder me, it should be fun."

"I'll try to keep her calm." I gave him a smile, nodding. "We'll see you two tomorrow I guess then."

He nodded, and his neck rubbing seemed less nervous as it had before and seemed more like an attempt to relieve the pain from his and Heather's exertions. With that handled, I made my way down each level and out the apartment to find Heather and Winter waiting, Heather's face on Winter's shoulder as she muttered about failing miserably, trying to say she wouldn't be able to make it. Winter looked to me as I shook my head smirking.

"Mushra's all for it. So is Sago. So, guess we all have a date."

"What?!" Heather looked at me, and handing her glasses over to Winter, she dropped to her knees for a little dramatics before standing and taking back her glasses and making her way for the edge of the city. I laughed and hooked my arm with my sisters as we followed after her, Winter then launching into all her ideas of what we could possibly do, going from a classic Earth date of going to see a movie, to a romantic walk, to even going so far as to try and figure out some way to muster up some boats for a romantic boat ride. She went into plenty detail of the pros and cons of each option, until we made it to the portal (I never enjoyed the jump, but I did my best to ignore the feeling).

After exiting the old mansion, and with a bike ride later, we were at home again, Heather racing off for a shower as Winter finally asked me my opinion on what we should do. And I actually had an idea, but nothing she'd suggested. I suggested a little haunted house trip. It would offer the fun and the moments for closeness enough on either end (me and Heather could have fun scaring, Winter and Xavier could cling to one another) and after we could have some sort of romantic walk. Winter was iffy about it, but I think the pros were too good for her to pass up, and I think she understood that the other options were a little too romantic for the four children she'd be bringing with her on her date. Heather was all for it, of course, so with that settled and we went to bed pretty early.

I wish we hadn't. Because I woke up too early, felt way too nervous as the hours were getting closer. I showered, trying to make sure I was ready in every way thinkable. I was going let my hair hang to one side instead of tie or braid it back. I decided on an outfit, too. I didn't think I needed to dress up much, and I wasn't too much of a fancy dresser anyways. I just settled with some nice black jeans, a purple long sleeved shirt that could sometimes hang off the shoulder, and boots without heels. I was the in between on the make-up, as I knew Winter would make sure all her many perfections of her face would be accented, and Heather felt zero make-up was better, I just put on some eye-liner, accenting my eyes in black but nothing else. It brought out the deep green of my eyes, which was pleasing enough.

Winter was dressed in a very frilly, flowing skirt she herself had made; blue with glitter shimmering in spots and streaks, and a high neck neckline shirt, a nice snow-flake design around the collar of it. Heather was dressed in jeans, a Hetalia UK shirt, and a jacket. And she decided to start off without glasses. I had a feeling she might don them again later.

We were already ready, an hour and a half before we were supposed to go meet the boys, and I think I was more nervous than when I was applying for my first job and I'll tell YOU, that was extreme nervousness. Though, I was proud of myself, I felt I was holding it together really well.

"Jaden, there's a bush over there if you need to barf."

"Nah I'm good."

We were making our way to the portal now, already having discarded our bikes and heading for the abandoned mansion, just beside the road and the trees, when we heard laughing ahead. Were they already here? That was surprising; I thought we might have a dragging moment with at least Mushra, if not Sago too, to get them here. But as we were just nearing the dirt road that turned off to the mansion, we stopped and looked ahead, me hiding behind Winter and Heather behind me.

"I wonder how long they've been waiting…" Winter wondered aloud.

They of course weren't really dressed any different, accept Sago was wearing his cape more as a wrap around his torso now, and the other two seemed to have mustered up some sort of outfits. Mushra had his boots still, and his gloves, but his get up lacked his usual armor, and it was mostly black, with shades of red and mostly orange lining designs on his outfit. Xavier had something black and green; a shirt that seemed to latch up the front, and somewhat baggy pants. For their world, it was decent and cool attire. For here, I knew if we were to cross others, it would seem to be some cosplay craziness to them.

My observation was pulled away briefly, as I thought I heard something…moving…and then I heard a hiss. A snake? Curious but cautious, I looked around. I didn't see any, but just to be safe, I stepped further away from the trees. I would have told the girls what I heard, but I didn't want to freak Winter out (she hated snakes).

"Ok, let's do this."

With that, we made our way down the dirt road, the sun already near setting (I couldn't wait for the moon to be out; that would make the scares latter even better). The boys conversing, Sago flipping his coin to himself, they turned their attention to us as Winter called to them in greeting.

Of course, Mushra and Sago's eyes immediately went to us two. They both seemed a little surprised, which was sort of amusing as long as I tried to tell myself it wasn't an offensive surprise. Winter was already hugging on Xavier, telling him their plans as we were all finally grouped together.

"…Hey." Sago said in greeting, and I returned with a witty, "Hi." with Mushra and Heather following up with identical "Heya's". And then silence. Such…painfully awkward…silence…

This was going to be a longer night than I considered before, I think.

Me: and there you have it! It has begun!
Mushra: why am I so abused? Do I really deserve this pain?
Sago: Like you've never dished it out, shrimp.
Mushra: I'M NOT A SHRIMP ANYMORE, READ THE PRELUDE, I'M TALLER.
Sago: *cocky* Not taller than me.
*they stare each other down in the background*
Me: comment if you'd like, and keep tuned for following chapters!