[1993/6/13]

[4 hours before sunset.]

Martin was pouring sweat as we walked out of the old arcade “why is that the older a game is. The harder it is to beat?”

I laughed “guess we should have started out on a lower setting.”

“I played that game constantly at home. DDEX was my shit.”

“Use to be.” I laughed “I could have let you won.”

He went bright red and puffed his cheeks “you didn’t even take it easy on me!”

Shaking my head, I smiled as big as I could “couldn’t take it easy on you on your first day!"

“You two are insane.” Emily took a big swig from Yusuke’s drink and laughed “Maybe she is your long lost twin. Knew I was adopted!”

“Maybe.” Yusuke leaned in “the resemblance is uncanny.” He pulled on the side of his eyes “my sister.”

I slapped him in the arm and laughed “that’s a little racist.”

“How is it racist?!” He laughed “We're twins now.” He looked at my hair “I’ll just have to change my hair. I think I would look good with dark hair.”

“I don’t think so. I like your strawberry hair. Ichigo.”

He blushed again “what?”

“That’s what we’ll call you!” Yusuke proclaimed “Ichigo. Well, a white Ichigo.”

“Strawberry?” Martin laughed “why?”

I ran my hand through his sweaty hair “I wonder...”

“Getting nicknames alright.” Emily giggled “wonder when I will get one.”

“When you start being nicer.” Yusuke got a big dumb smile on his face.

I turned to Martin as Emily started swinging at Yusuke “are you ok with that?”

“Having a nickname.” He shrugged “never had one before.”

“It’s a fitting nickname.” I squeezed his cheeks “you keep going so red and that mop of a mess on your head. Ichigo.”

“S-stop.” He was blushing again “I guess I’ll be Ichigo then.”

“Fine. Fine.” Yusuke laughed between Emily’s punches “I’ll give you a nickname.”

“Fine.” She lowered her arms “better be something cute!”

Yusuke put his finger on his chin. “Hum-” He took a deep breath “Tora!”

“What’s that?”

I snickered and nodded “fitting. I second that!”

“You attack like one so I agree.” Martin was laughing.

“What does that mean? It means something bad doesn’t it! Are you calling me ugly Yu!”

Yusuke blushed. She had already given shortened his name “no. It means.” He turned to Martin “English?”

“Tiger.”

Emily blushed bright red “T-tora?”

Yusuke nodded “so what about it, Tiger?”

“You’re English is terrible,” Martin said patting him on the back. “Stick with Japanese.”

Yusuke puffed his cheeks and we all laughed.

It was an amazing feeling to have become such close friends in such a short amount of time. I thought to myself. I never thought I would have been friends with any foreigners or have this much fun in this town.

Martin took my hand snapping me back into reality “so ice cream?”

I turned to Yusuke pulling my hand away “you put him up to this!”

He shrugged “no idea what you are talking about.”

“He’s can’t have ice cream.” I said turning to Martin “it doesn’t agree with him. But he won’t leave it alone.” I turned back to Yusuke “what did the doctor say?”

He shrugged again “I don’t remember.”

“OH come on!” Martin said grabbing my hand again “a little can’t hurt. Plus we can get strawberry flavored to celebrate my new name.”

“Isn’t that cannibalism?” Emily snickered.

“Oh shit!” Yusuke pointed at Martin “I knew were hiding something.”

“Hit him with a level five black magic spell before he eats us too!” Emily shouted.

“Kee-maa-do-shi-ma-ri-ko-ko.”

Martin winked and me and grabbed at his chest “No! You can’t defeat me so easily. When I’m so hungry!’

Yusuke went ghostly “it’s not working Tora-chan!”

“He’s cannibalism powers must be too powerful for a level five!” Emily grabbed Yusuke’s hand which must have taken him by surprise because he jumped “use some of my ki.”

“U-uh.” Yusuke was staring at her hand in his “R-right! Kee-maa-do-shi-ma-ri-ko-ko!”

“AAAH!” Martin grabbed his chest tighter.

I slapped him in the stomach “stop playing into their eight-graders syndrome!”

“G-give me. M-more power.” He was still holding my hand with other and he brought it up to his mouth and kissed it.

Heat erupted from my face and I jerked my hand back “i-idoit!”

He smiled as I was about to die “fresh ki!”

“Cannibal ki sucking ability!” Emily shouted, “level six black magic now!”

“It will have no effect on me!” Martin stood up “your magic is no use here daughter of Kushinadahime.”

Emily pursed her lips “Yu! Try summoning Komijiari.”

“What?”

“Summon Komijiari before he eats us!” Emily shouted.

“Too late!” Martin at both of them “cannibal attack six. Devour!”

Emily screamed as though she was being murdered and took off running toward the middle of town dragging Yusuke behind her. Martin ran behind the two of them making animal noises and I was left blood red and laughing at how funny this scene was.

“Beware.” A figure appeared in the darkened door of the arcade “it’s coming.”

I turned to the figure “excuse me?”

It laughed softly. “It’s coming.” I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman speaking.

“What?”

A soft chime of a bell “they heard you that day and they are coming.” The figure looked toward the forest “they never forget.”

“Who?”

“You know who.” The figure began to walk into the arcade with its hand raised “shouldn’t have called out to them.” Another soft chime of a bell “but I have faith in you little lamb.”

I watched the figure disappear into the darkness of the arcade. “What in the hell was that?” I asked out loud “this town gets crazier and crazier each day.” I turned to join the others who were starting to get out of my line of sight. Another chime of a bell but this time I decided not to look back at that figure and just walk on. “These fae stories are getting old.” I hissed before running.

“We all have faith in you. Never forget that.” Another chime.