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The elevator ride down was most awkward. Lulu didn't let Raven run down on his own, so we were all cramped up in the small box going down. Jack and Lulu didn't seem to mind. They were closer than ever and neither wanted to back away. River only huffed at them and tried to be as far away from them as possible, whereas Raven and I were sulking in a corner. Why was Raven so... Depressed? I'm the one who can't spend the day with Iris... He's going to be with her the whole day!

We got to the ground floor and stepped out of the elevator. Raven stretched for a moment and faced Lulu, looking annoyed.

"So. I'm off to city-centre?"

Lulu only smiled a response. "Yes. But if you have patience, we can all-" Raven had already disappeared. The blonde mouse only smiled. Great. Raven ditched me here alone with these guys. Wonderful.

Hey. If they decide to gang up on you, I'll help ya out. Ok? Prothero laughed in the back of my head. He was starting to be friendlier to me and I begun to like him, even though his remarks sometimes were uncalled for.

We went outside, Jack holding Lulu close and River next to me. It was 10am and the city was already bustling with life! Shops were open, people were walking into them and laughing. Had they forgotten about yesterday? When the biggest technician building was burned down? Oh right. The news had told people that it was just an accident. Something to do with the gas-lines.

The buildings were tall! Even compared to the Council's Mirror, they were pretty big! I saw banners and lights. Must've been some festival earlier, because they were being taken down already. I looked down the street and noticed cars driving up and down the road. They all looked like they were in such a hurry. Why's that? The people in the streets didn't seem much better. They were all running up and down, left and right! Why is everyone rushing around?!

We walk and end up in a giant, open area. There are stalls everywhere, selling the strangest things. On one side, a shopkeeper was encouraging people to buy his chocolate muffins! (Note to self: Chocolate muffins. Must get some) And on the other, there was an old couple selling some weird-looking knives. It all seemed out of place, really. None of made any sense! River stops me for a moment. He speaks up, for the first time, since we left the hotel.

"Since you lost your swords, we should get you something more concrete, than your trust in the elements" He points at the old couple, selling knives. "Shay can teach you how to use those. Go and buy four, just in case. We'll meet you under the flag in five" He points towards the centre of the plaza and I see a giant flag. It has a weird cross on it. The cross has arrows on each end, and it's black. The area around the cross is pure white and there's five small flames surrounding the dark cross. Slightly disturbing but I don't mind. I nod at River and he hands me a few golden coins. Golden?! Three golden coins!

"Are you sure-"

"What? You don't think that's enough?" He grins at me and starts walking away. He waves at me with the back of his hand. "Four knives. Two longer ones and two short. That's easiest. Got it?"

"Yes sir!" I smile. His attitude towards me has changed dramatically. Why? Nah. No matter.

I walk up to the stall and wait for my turn. The older man notices me and greets me, smiling pleasantly.

"Welcome to Harley's Knife Boutique" He grins. Must be an inside joke. "What can I get 'cha?"

I look at the knives in the wall behind him. Wow. So many shapes! So many different options! And I have no clue which one I should get... "Uhm... River told me to get four knives. Two long ones and two shorter ones"

"I see. Did he tell you anything else?" He looks like he's already thinking hard. Is there really that much thinking required with knives?

"No. But I'm a beginner, if that helps at all?" I try to smile but I feel so stupid. I'm buying a weapon that I have no clue how to use, from a guy that might know everything about knives, for all I know.

"It does" He smiles. He vanishes under the desk for a moment and pops up with a set of knives. Really sharp looking ones! "Here! These should be good. Cheap ones, yes. But they can take lots of punishment" He whispers at me. "And they're perfect for dreichoons" He winks. Good. So now I have... What?! How did he know?!

"Excuse me?" I glare at the man. He puts his hands up and smiles.

"Nah. Just pointing out the obvious" He points at my tails. "Those ain't too common 'round here. So if you'll excuse me" He puts his hands back down and holds one in front of me. What does he wan- Duh... I drop the three coins on his hand. He looks at me, almost embarrassed. "Uuh... This is more than I need" He pops two coins back in my hand. "You can keep those. I'm no robber" He smiles and I thank him. Why did River give me so much money? Especially if he knew what I was getting?

I walk towards the flag. I step below it and wait around for a moment... Longer... Ten minutes later, nothing. Then, finally, Jack and Lulu appear in the crowd. Jack waves at me and I see the young technician from yesterday behind him. Shin.

They smile at me and Jack and Lulu both wander off, hand in hand. Probably to a room somewhere. Shin runs up to me. He's wearing a sleeveless white vest over a black tank top. The white vest is open and folded to the front on the neck, showing a yellow backside of the vest. He has dark blue jeans on and a pair of sneakers. Wow. Yesterday he looked so official! His hair is... Well. To be honest, I didn't really look at it before. But now... The young tiger's hair is all puffy and over his face. Looks kinda funny. It's a darker orange than his fur. Since he's not wearing any sleeves, I can see his dark stripes clearly. But what leaps out the most, is the fact that he has this childish grin on him. All the time!

"Hi Ryu. Feeling better?" He hops next to me. Geez. More energetic than Raven.

"Yeah. You?" I smile at him. It's rare to meet someone this happy.

"I'm good" He pauses for a moment, seemingly pondering some really serious matter. Then he locks eyes with me. "How 'bout Raven? How's he doing? He left the club so-"

"Wait. Club?" What's this tiger going on about? What club?

"Oh? You didn't know? Last night, Raven showed up at a club. I work there as a part time DJ" He smiles. "And he was really happy there! But I don't know how he's doing now... So?"

"He's fine too, as far as I can tell" I wasn't sure how to take this. As far as I knew, Raven had spent the night at the hotel.

"Good to know!" He smiles again. God! He's so blissful! "Oh! River wanted me to find you some clothes?" He looks at me.

"I guess so" I look down at my tank top and cargo pants. I must look pretty boring to people. I never minded about fashion or anything. As long as they felt comfortable, I didn't really care what they looked like.

"Well. From what I can see, you're pretty well off already. But you could use something over that" He pokes at the tank top. "If you're in a fight, it won't protect you much... And I'd hate to stitch you up, just because of fashion choices" He smiles. "And from what River told me, you'll need something that has lots of empty space in it... Whatever that means..."

River... He must've meant the Shadow? If elements need a source, like ice needs water... If I need a shadow to use the Shadow, that'd make sense. But how much did Shin know? I can't really tell him anything, can I?

"He knows what he's doing" I look down on the box, holding my new knives. I still haven't opened it, so I don't really know what they look like... I should've, before I bought them. Aargh! My head isn't letting my thoughts run clear!

"Yup" Shin smiles again and we start walking up to a clothes shop... Geez... Why are there so many options? Can't people just settle to one, simple choice? He practically drags me into the shop. We walk around the shop for a moment.

"See anything you like?" Shin asks, holding up a neon blue coat and admiring it.

"Not really..." I look around. Nothing. I run my hand along a rack full of over-coats. I pull out quickly. I forgot my claws! Shit! I almost ripped this- Hey!

"Found something?" Shin's voice is happy.

"Yea! I think so!" I pull the black fleece-coat from the rack. It's a plain, black fleece. No flashy markings, no obvious product-placement and most importantly, lots of space! I try it on. Definitely feels nice! The long sleeves go a bit too far. They cover up to my knuckles. That should be just fine. I close the zipper and a collar forms around my neck. Sure. Maybe this won't protect from a sword, but it might come in handy in a fist-fight. "I'm taking this"

"Yay! Let me pay that for you!" He jumps up and down like a child. I smile and speak up.

"No. I still have some money from River. He can pay this" I grin. Payback is sweet!

We walk up to the register and I pay up. Geez... This fleece is expensive... A whole golden coin, just for a piece of clothing? (Note to self: Clothes cost more than weapons. Don't buy anymore clothes)

We walk out and I put on the fleece. It's warm, so I leave it open. Looks cool to me. A few hours of wandering around, aimlessly, laughing at various people, Shin stops at a club.

"Is this where you work?" I ask.

"Yeah! You should come here sometime!" He hops again. I look at the name of the club: The Hipping Tiger... Yeh... Maybe not...

"Sure... Maybe someday" I smile awkwardly.

"Just don't drink too much" River's voice cuts in. He doesn't look too happy but he has a thin smile across his lips. Shin greets the shark and admires the piercings.

"Woooow... Cool! How many do you have?!" Shin smiles in pure admiration at the shark.

River smiles back. "Five on the fins, two on my back and another two on my tailfin" He lifts his tail. Funny. I didn't notice that earlier. He has two ring-like piercings, with small spikes on them, on both sides of his tailfin.

"I'm definitely getting some too!" The tiger pounces around us, attracting some unintentional attention to us, from bystanders. People start staring and River pats Shin on the shoulder.

"You do that. But now we need to meet up with the rest. Jack and Lulu... Mostly Lulu... Wanted to meet you, back at the plaza. Oh and Ryu" He turns to me. "Did you get the knives?"

"Yeah. The old man said that these should suit me great. I haven't looked at them though... And I don't know much about knives..." I hold out the box in front of River. He muses to himself.

"And what of the money?" He smiles after a moment.

"Uhm... I used a coin on this coat" I hold out my hands, showing the length of the sleeves on the fleece. "So I only have one coin left... Sorry" I smile at him. I laugh in my mind.

"Doesn't matter. That my gift to you. Three coins" He smiles back. "From now on, you're earning your own money" His grin widens. So... That was my money?!

Hahahaaa! Prothero's voice booms in my mind. He's happy... You used up two thirds of your own money, thinking that it was River's?! He keeps on laughing and I pay no attention to him.

We start walking back to the plaza. After an hour of walking, I notice a familiar set of wings. Iris! I run up to her but keep my steps quiet. I'm determined to sneak up on her, sometime! I get two meters from her and smile from satisfaction. Then she whips around and hugs me. Hugs?

"Are you okay?" She smiles at me. Her eyes are red... She must've been worrying the whole time...

"I'm fine. You?" I try to smile back.

"I'm good" She puts on a smile and her eyes begin to shine. She steps back and stares at me for a moment. "Ooh! A coat! Looks... Original!" She smiles awkwardly. Great. So I pick out a coat that she doesn't like... Wonderful. But she, on the other hand, isn't wearing that robe from before. She has a plain white t-shirt on, matching her gray jeans. The shirt is a bit too tight, so her figure is well displayed, to say the least. A necklace? A rain-drop shaped, seemingly some kind of crystal one. It has a small closed eye in the middle. No. Inside it? Must be some craftsman.

I hear a pounce and look behind me. Raven had apparently got a new chain. Nice. But... He had wrapped it around Shin's legs and toppled him on the ground. They wrestle for a moment, until they notice that everyone is staring at them. Raven gets up and tries to look nonchalant. He helps Shin up and they start talking, like they had known for years. Raven's new chain looked like his earlier one had. Both ends of the chain had a six or seven inch point, making it look quite lethal, even from a distance. Raven's clothes had changed completely. He was wearing nothing over his lean torso, only wrapping the chain around it. He had long, baggy pants that only showed a little bit of his raptor-claws. Funny. Earlier he was sulking, but now he's back to his old, energetic self... Weird.

Lulu had the same, white robe. She walked up to me and had the same curious stare as Iris had, when observing me. Is she going to make a snappy comment about my dressing too?!

"This is good. The fabric is thick, so light won't pass through it. That will help, when using the Shadow. Very good, Ryu" She smiles. I huff. Safe... Nothing to complain about!

She walks off, holding Jack by the arm. Iris grabs my arm and we start walking. I must be blushing way too hard right now... I try to collect my thought, but the head ache isn't helping me at all.

"So... You went to the ruins?" I manage to speak out.

"Yeah! It was horrible, really... But! We found out lots of interesting stuff!" She seems so happy...

"Such as?"

"Well. First of all. Graverobber isn't working with the Seven Deadlies. He's working against them!" She smiles even brighter.

"How did you figure that out? And how does that help at all?" I can't put two and two together. How is it possible for this information to tell that?

"If he had been working with the Seven, he wouldn't have been alone. Also, all of the Seven Deadlies use passive magic, which means that they can't control it. Only direct it in one direction, not at a single target"

"So?"

"So? The only building that got damaged was the Zero Division's HQ. No other building got even scratched by the fire. That means that he was working alone. Besides, the Seven always go for maximum damage"

"I see..." It makes sense, yes. But why would the Graverobber leave River alive, if he thought that he was one of the Seven Virtues?

Lulu started walking and we all followed suit. She was happily chatting with Jack. Raven was blissful with Shin. River was more than content by himself and I was stuck, hand in hand with Iris, not capable of speaking a word out. Brilliant.

Eventually, Iris had to go to her place (Apparently she didn't live in the tower) Raven and Shin both disappeared and I was stuck returning to the hotel with Jack and Lulu. They offered to take the elevator with me upstairs, but I decided to walk. Watching them cuddle constantly isn't my cup of tea.

So eventually I got to our room. I didn't notice Jack or Lulu anymore and sighed. Finally... No more cutesy couples... I open the door and see Shay and Draco huddled up next to each other on the floor, laughing at some tv-show. Well... This isn't really cutesy, but enough for me. I greet them quickly and make my way to Raven's room. They barely notice me. Shay only responds with a happy grunt and Draco does the same. I open Raven's room door and notice posters... Must be from the previous tenant, maybe? The Hipping Tiger... Familiar... That's Shin on the poster?! Oh right. He was a DJ at that club...

I decided to sleep in a corner and made a quick bed, using an old mattress. That way, I won't disturb Raven, when he comes in. I took off my fleece and tank top and put them on a dresser next to the door. I'm still not used to these damn tails! They get in my way all the time! I removed the spiky collars around the tails, so that I wouldn't hurt myself in my sleep, and wrapped my tails around my legs. I pulled a blanket over me and started drifting away... Inevitably, I couldn't stop thinking about Iris... That hair... Smile... Eyes... Wings? Hah. I don't care about weird stuff anymore. Weird doesn't really mean anything to me anymore! I mean... I'm a half-snake-thing... Dreichoon? Whatever that meant.

After an hour of rolling around, thinking about everything I had seen, heard and felt, I finally fell asleep, with only one thing on my mind... I forgot to eat food... Damn, I'm hungry...