Heirot

While Rai won her victory, the boys had 'slain' Sid, and ran around him while he lay very still on the ground. Soran's eyes drifted from Rai to him, and he suddenly started to stand up.

A hand caught his sleeve. "It's alright. He's not really hurt," the other man said quietly.

"Of course not," Soran said too firmly, and sat back down, flustered. Why had he worried just now?

He shook his head, and an impulse grabbed him. He'd get back at Sid for freaking him out in the middle of parents day. Smirking darkly at Mizuki, he got up from the table and went to stand over Sid.

"We got him, mistur Nightblade!" gloated the boys excitedly, gleeful that the rogue was joining the game.

"Your dragon's not dead yet," Soran criticized, crossing his arms. I hear they're not font of water.

Sid's eyes flashed open at Soran as if to say "You wouldn't."

"I would," Soran's smirk answered back as the kids ran off in a fit of laughter and filled theirs hats and cups with water from the river. A moment later, the kids had a very wet, alarmed dragon on their hands.

"Rarr!" Sid growled and stood up, holding his arms out at his sides and running at Soran.

"It's after mister Nightblade!" screamed one of the boys. Sid jumped up and tackled Soran unceremoniously, hanging on his back. The smaller man staggered under Sid's awkward weight, getting soaked with his wet clothes.

"He's ticklish," Soran offered the strategy flatly, and the kids jumped up onto Sid and started tickling him.

"So is he!" the dragon cried out in a fit of laughter, trying to climb up on Soran out of reach.

That was that. A moment later, both men wound up on the ground at the mercy of a crowd of children. The girls seemed to think this was awesome, and the two genders struck a fragile alliance to torment their new prisoners.

Around the barbecue, the parents stopped to stare in astonished amusement.

Mizuki laughed so hard that she fell out of her chair. it was absurd to see Soran and a man he had only awhile ago been uncomfortable with, being attacked by children.

"Rai!!" she called out, giggling still, "Save your father!" She'd go in there but...well....she didn't want to be dragged into that.

Rai ran to save her father, but the fat little boy Smily was mad about her twisting her arm and he grabbed her and through on the ground and sat on her and stuck his tongue out at her. Then he laughed.

"I can't breath with you onto of me!!"

"Okay kids, it looks like the dragons have had enough," the headmaster interceded between gasps of laughter. "If you'll all come over to the side yard, we have some prizes for you. Parents are welcome to stay here," he announced. The kids reluctantly let go of Soran and Sid, waved at them affectionately and ran off after the headmaster.

Soran and Sit sat on the ground recuperating and looked at each other. Soran had forgotten how many people were watching and put his pride on hold, and his face was leaking a very real smile. Sid could hardly believe that look was really coming from Rhen's face. "I've never seen you look so happy," Rhen teased, and Soran tilted his head a bit. "That's a good thing," Sid clarified.

Soran looked away toward Rai and saw her still being wrestled down by one of the boys. He climbed back to his feet, pulling his hair back into place, and walked over to the battle with arms crossed. "In this situation, you're supposed to uphold my honor," he criticized teasingly. "Or can't you beat him?"

Rai's eyes widened and then she narrowed her eyes. "I can beat him! He's just too fat! He's sucking my air out through his butt!" She squirmed then grinned, grabbing the little boys hand and pulling it down to her. She latched on like she was bobing for apples again. The boy squealed like a pig and rolled off of her, crying like a little baby.

"Heh! Got you off Smily!"

Mizuki shook her head and hoped the boy was alright. maybe later they should teach Rai how to use some restraint... the other parents were laughing and shaking their heads at the children. Mizuki got up and lifted Rai to her feet.

"Go get your prizes sweetie," Mizuki told her with a smile. The day was wearing on and now it was late midday. So far more than half the day was gone. Mizuki stared at the sky for a bit, daydreaming.

Rai ran and grabbed her prize and then ran back to her parents. She latched onto Soran's leg and laughed.

Soran dropped a hand lightly onto Rai's head as she grabbed him. "I said beat the kid, not utterly defeat him," he scolded quietly in a rather proud way. He realized he was still smiling, and found that very odd. As much as he'd begun to understand children, he still didn't like them that much with the exception of Rai - certainly he didn't like them enough to enjoy being trampled by them in front of a mass of onlookers. Today had shown him that he was growing better at interacting with people, but he hadn't changed that much. Was it because of Sid?

He hated that idea. He wanted to hate Sid. He knew that he didn't.

Speak of the devil, at that moment Sid came skulking back to them with a pretty tiara on his head that looked like it was about to snap on his large skull. "They said I deserved a prize too," he confided sulkily. He approached them willingly, but there was more open caution for Soran this time, and more hesitation in his movement. Soran looked at him, his smile fading. A long, awkward silence passed.

"Do I at least get some dry clothes?" Sid complained.

Soran glared. So he really was bent on being invited back to their house. He glanced at Mizuki and they held a silent mental conference with their eyes. "Your clothes are none of my concern. It does, however, seem unavoidable that we talk. After that, you leave. Understood?"

Sid managed not to look hurt. "Whatever you say, boss." The term held just a touch of contempt.

Rai looked up. "Does he have to go?!" Rai asked, watching Soran for a moment. She didn't understand what was wrong with Sid, had she truly forgotten what had happened the last time they befriended total strangers...

No... she still felt an ache in her body from healing Soran's wounds.

Soran set his hand on Rai's shoulder and turned her toward home, beginning to walk. "We both know people aren't always who they seem," he said to her a bit apologetically. Sid followed behind them, unable to hear what they said, but able to guess the jist of it.

"Hmm..." Rai said, looking back at Sid for a moment. She smiled, she had a good feeling about him though. It didn't take them long to get home and when they were Rai ran up the steps, and into the house, then up the steps into her room.

She quickly changed into her white cotton nightgown and ran back downstairs jumping onto the couch and curling up with her blanket she liked to curl up with. She wanted to curl up and go to sleep with Soran or Mizuki!

Mizuki smiled when entering the house. It had been a long day, a long and mentally exhausting day. She accompanied Rai on the couch and invited her to lay on her lap. She really felt like a mother now. Having Blade never really set the fact in, it was Rai's childlike behavior and dependence on her and Soran that really brought it in. She promised herself that when Blade came home she'd make up for their time lost.

While she held Rai in her lap, she watched Soran and Sid enter the house bringing their tension with them. She sighed, hoping that whatever they talked about didn't end up in a fight.

Rai giggled and curled up in Mizuki's lap, watching her father and his... friend. She didn't understand why they weren't getting along, Sid seemed very nice.

OOC: AHHHH what happened?!!!

OOC: I blame Soran. XD