Chapter Fourteen

Not too much happened while they did the laundry, a few people coming in, quickly leaving. Isha let Rose play while he switched the laundry over. Soon after, they both headed back up to the apartment to take care of the laundry. Isha didn't mention what had happened, nor did he want to think of it.

Once the laundry was taken care of, Isha set the dishes from breakfast into the sink, going back out with Rose.

"Actually, hold on a moment." Isha led Rose back into the apartment and soon located his old coat, putting it on her. "And I don't have shoes to fit you…" He mumbled to himself.

"Oh, that's fine!" Rose replied, disappearing and then reappearing on his shoulders again. "We'll just do this again." She cheered. Isha nodded and proceeded out the door, locking it behind them.

They got down the stairs and headed outside. Isha continued to walk down the sidewalk, heading towards the center of town where the shops were. It would be about a forty-five minutes of walking, but Isha couldn't afford his own vehicle, or even a ride in a cab.

"What are those loud things by the way? I've been wondering for some time now… They appear to be everywhere." Rose furrowed her brow as she gestured a passing car. Isha smirked a bit.

"That's called a car. It's kind of like a horse and buggy? But no horse. It's run by a metal block called an engine. Hopefully I can get one someday, but till then we're walking. We could take a cab, but I don't have the money right now…" He sighed to himself.

Which was why the first stop would be his part-time job. Or rather his old one, as he was planning on quitting today and working with the old man as he had suggested yesterday.

"So, what did you do anyway?" Rose asked, looking around as Isha walked.

"I was a stocker at a supermarket. But we'll be getting your clothes from somewhere else." Isha answered her, staring straight ahead. Some people were curious about his hair, but luckily for him Rose stole most of the attention.

"Why not? She tilted her head and looked down at him.

"Simple. I have a grudge with the local owner. So while I'll gladly take money, I won't give any. I even go as far as to return collected cans and bottles there." He replied, a sly grin on his face.

"Cans and bottles?" She tilted her head. "Like the milk bottle? Oh that reminds me! The milk man didn't stop by? Is it because of the bigger containers?" She asked, mentioning the milk jug Isha used when making the pancakes. "Also how does that big box stay cool?" She added, going off on a tangent of questions.

Isha furrowed his brow a bit.

"How many people have lived in that apartment?" He asked her, looking up at her.

"Just you. I scared the rest off pretty easily. I didn't feel like scaring you off. You looked tasty afterall. Plus you were always focused on a book or the stupid black boxes. So even when I tried to freak you out you never noticed." She ended with a huff.

"Huh. Okay, and the fact you can't leave is why you know nothing?" She nodded to his words. Isha was silent for a bit as people passed by, then continued.

"So, if you're an arch demon, how were you trapped in that room?" He inquired to her, looking up. She crossed her arms and looked away.

"I don't need to answer that." Rose replied. "Anyways, the milk man, why didn't he deliver the milk?" She went back to her original question.

"Well, the milk man doesn't come anymore. That's why I bring milk in with the other groceries." Isha replied, turning right at the end of the block. He felt and confirmed his phone's presence in his pocket, continuing along.

"I thought you scheduled it or something. And the bottles and cans you return?" She asked, looking down at him again.

"Do you know what pop is?" Isha asked her. She shook her head. "What about carbonated water? Or tonic water?" She thought for a moment.

"I've heard of mother and father speak of carbonated water… I think I've seen them drink it on special occasions. Not sure about tonic water though." Rose replied to him. Isha nodded.

"Pop, or soda, is carbonated water with colorings and flavored syrup added. I drink it on occasion… it's bad for you though, so I don't make it a habit. Then again, being what I am now, it may not matter." He let a small laugh to himself.

"Anyway, I can return those cans for money. Or rather get the money back when returned. I also like to collect them from certain, clean places." Rose nodded as he finished. "I keep the bag under the kitchen sink." She nodded again.

"Can I try some?" She asked him. He nodded to her.

"Sure, after we cash my check we can go to a restaurant. A cheaper one of course, but I don't think it will matter much to you. Afterall, if you were that surprised this morning, it's a definite that your experiencing new foods." He stated half to himself.

The pair soon made it to the supermarket, heading to the workers area. The manager spotted Isha and tilted his head.

"You're early? Who's that? You're sister or something? Eh, whatever, get to work." The greasy ball of a man told him, the sound of his lips smacking as he stuffed sweets into his mouth. Isha grabbed the envelope with his name and turned towards the man.

"Actually, I'm quitting." The man looked like he'd gotten a snack stuck in his gullet for a second before gulping.

"This man reeks." Rose whispered to Isha, holding her nose.

"Wh-what did you just say? Leaving? You've been here two years!" Spit spewed from his mouth like a sprinkler as he spoke. Isha always made sure to keep a distance from him.

Just eat him

"Uh yeah, I'm leaving." Isha repeated, stepping back.

Just slice him up. Frog legs are a delicacy in some places.

Isha began towards the door holding his head. The fat man placed his greasy hand on the door, a wet mark forming around it.

"You can't leave, it's Christmas in a few weeks! We're already getting busy with the early shoppers!" The man coughed into his hand as sweat poured from his for head.

Look at that fat! It'll melt with the right temperature~

"I-I have to go." Isha replied, stepping away from the manager.

"I have to see the doctor, on account of my albinoism. We can't be late, so please?" Rose seemed to notice something wasn't right as Isha kept his hand on his head. The slime in human form sighed, the smell of sugar driven tooth rot coming from it.

"Fine, but I expect you to be back." The man sighed, going back to where he had ben seated.

C'mon, not like anyone will miss him. Not like you haven't thought of killing him before~ He looks like a pig before the slaughter~

Isha stumbled out. What was going in his mind was different than earlier. It wasn't a different 'him' but rather his psyche.

"Are you okay Isha?" Rose asked him with a concerned tone. Isha just nodded, trying to take the aisles with less people as he made his way out the store, stumbling a bit into the automatic door. He made sure Rose remained unarmed as he caught himself.

"Hey, you two alright?" A concerned bystander came over to check on them.

Yummy, look at that one. Looks like the right amount of fat! After we eat the heart, we can cook them up into a nice filet mignon~

Isha grit his teeth and stepped back from the person.

"I'm fine! I'm fine. Th-thank you." He the ran away. Luckily Rose was essentially weightless currently, letting him run for the most part with ease.

Isha was able to make it quickly to the bank, it not being to far away already. As the walked in, he quickly caught his breath while Rose looked around. She hadn't really said much, seeming either out of words, or not being sure what to say.

He opened the envelope and signed his name on the check, setting it on the desk.

"Twenty in savings, the rest in cash please." He stated as usual. They already knew him so didn't ask for his member number.

"That'll be right out." The bank teller nodded to him with a smile as she went to deposit and prepare the cash.

Such fine flesh, the room is filled with it. Imagine our teeth sinking in~ juicy, springy, tasty~! Raw or cooked, fried or baked, it's making me shiver and quake~!

Isha gulped, wiping the drool from his face and closing his eyes.

"Here you are Mr. Nin, all there." The teller told him, counting it out before handing it to him.

"Is that your sister by the way? She's cute but looks a little interesting. Was she bo-"

"Y-yeah, I gotta go, sorry bye." He cut her off, pocketing the money and hurrying out. What was happening. It wasn't like this with the guy in the laundry room. Nor the ones they passed on the sidewalk earlier.

"Can we eat now?" Rose asked, breaking her silent streak. Isha nodded as his mind went blank for a second, his stomach giving a growl.

"Y-yeah. We can do that… let's go." Isha replied, giving her a smile as he looked for a restaurant on his phone.

Maybe we can stumble on a black restaurant if we're lucky. But giving chase sounds kind of fun~

Isha spotted a Chinese restaurant across the street.

"W-will that do?" He asked Rose, nodding towards in. She rested her head upon his.

"Up to you, I don't know what any of these places even say." Isha furrowed his brow a moment before proceeding, checking the street. He began to sweat a bit but made his way into the place. It was an all you can eat buffet. And lucky for him, not many people were there at the moment.

"Oh yes! How many seat?��� A young looking waitress asked, standing behind her desk.

Oo I know what I want on my rice~

"T-two. Twenty and fourteen." Isha replied, using the age Rose looked. The waitress nodded.

"Come come." She told them, leading them to a seat in a corner. As they sat across from eachother, the waitress took her notepad out.

"What to drink?" She asked, holding the pen at the ready.

A nice warm sip of your-

"T-two cherry colas, and a hot tea" Isha replied, cutting the voice off. The waitress nodded and headed to get the drinks. He then quickly got up, leading Rose to the tables of food. He nearly forgot she didn't even have shoes. Good thing this place didn't seem to have a policy against it.

"So much food… it looks a little weird… but I can eat all of this?!" Rose exclaimed, drooling. Isha nodded a bit, a slight smile starting to form.

"Mhm, as much as you want. I'll help you choose." As Isha was helping Rose choose the food, he tried to pay close attention to what may or may not contain salt. Sadly, that took out a decent portion of the food, but it was a bit of a needed risk. He then spotted the waitress bring out the drinks, setting them on the table.

Minced, fried, and topped with rice and soy sauce~ Or maybe rolled up like this little spring roll!

Isha's mind felt blank again, until Rose tugged his shirt, bringing him back.

"C'mon, I'm hungry." Isha nodded at her words, following her to their seat. Isha started to slowly eat his food, speeding up a bit as he ate more. Rose however happily mowed down the food, her eyes widening the moment flavor hit her tongue.

"This is so good!" She exclaimed. Isha put her straw in her drink, causing her to cock her head.

"You suck out of this plastic tube." He replied to her quizzical look. Rose gave him a nod and took the cup, taking a sip. Her eyes widened.

"I-it's doing something weird on my tongue! Th-that's weird, it feels like it burns a bit?" She exclaimed to herself, drinking more. "But it tastes really good!"

Isha smiled as he watched her excitedly eat.

"You need refill?" The waitress came back out, asking them. Isha nodded and gave her Rose's now empty cup as he sipped some of the tea.

"Thank you." She nodded at him and headed to refill the cup. Isha's eyes widened a bit at the realization.

"It's gone…" He mumbled to himself, smiling a bit. He must have just been hungry, meaning he'd just have to keep it in check, perfect.

"What's gone?" Rose asked, tilting her head.

"Oh. Nothing!" Isha waved his hand, scratching his cheek with the other as the waitress came out with the refill.