Chapter 19: Surprising Events

Megumi woke up. She found herself in a cozy and calm room. It looks like one of those casual rooms with a dresser, cabinet and simple bedroom décor littered throughout. Right beside her on her left was a comic book left on a short cabinet.

Looking to her right she saw a light peeking from the covers of the window. She pulled herself up, smelling the calm scent of lavender in the air. on the floor in front of the bed was a nice blue rug that draped across the floor, filling half the room.

After a few more moments of looking around she finally realized that she was also wearing the same clothes from that night.

"Where am I?"

A door suddenly burst open and Cider came running in. 

"You're finally awake!" he exclaimed.

Cider quickly embraced her in a hug, She was taken aback by this sudden gesture of affection. "Cider..." She gently brought her hand around his back and allowed his hug to continue for another moment before prying him off her.

"What is going on? And where am I?"

Cider ignored her questions and quickly pointed back at the door. "He's not being fair! He cheated! I know he did!"

"Eh?"

Megumi looked up, and her eyes widened in utter shock. "W-what the- what are you doing here!?"

Before Megumi, leaning on the doorway with his arms crossed was Dino. The man that was made to kidnap Cider and kill Megumi herself. This time he wasn't wearing any collar. He wore a casual blue button down shirt and some cargo pants that looked military in nature.

"Leave it to the kid to not explain anything." he sighed.

Megumi quickly jumped on the bed in surprise, she was poorly posed as if expecting him to attack.

This only invoked a strong exhausted sigh from Dino as bags formed beneath his eyes.

Not long after, K had showed up. "I see that you're awake now. That good. for a moment, you had me concerned that we'd miss our window."

Megumi's face was plastered with absolute bewilderment by how calm everyone was. "Uhhh... What's going on?"

********

Shortly after they were all made to sit at the same table together. The Dining room looked like a casual home and it keenly reminded her of Eric's house diner that felt familial. Looking at the décor, she realized that some of it was actually ancient looking with some weapons hanging on the wall.

Despite the cozy calm atmosphere it entailed, Megumi couldn't help but be annoyed. As it turned out, the home they were in belonged to Liang of all people.

"I hope you found the room to your liking, Megumi~." Liang was smiling from ear to ear as he gave her some white rice and some thin slices of steak on the side with sauce drizzled on top.

"of all people, why did it have to be him?" She looked at the food given to her suspicious of the man.

"It's on the house," he said.

Megumi's suspicions didn't stop, making him involuntarily rub the back of his neck nervously.

"Don't worry Megumi, I am very well aware of what took place." K said. He took a spoonful of rice, eating it.

"I know about the attempted kidnapping, and the fight both you and that boy had to endure." K glanced over to Cider seeing that he was gobbling up the food on the plate. 

K sighed. "I'm even aware of the cheap tactics Liang had used on you to provoke you to fight."

A cold sweat ran down Liang's face as he chuckled nervously across the table. He sat himself down and began to eat himself alongside Dino who was slowly eating his fill.

"Needless to say, you did well holding on your own given the circumstances." 

"T-thank you… but uh…" Megumi finally looked at the plate of food. She took the spoon in hand before turning to Dino who was taking a bite from his food. "What is he doing here?"

Dino started to speak for himself. "I'm here on probation. So that kooky guy there has to look after me I guess." He pointed straight at Liang who was the only one eating noodles for some reason. "Wanna make sure I don't turn into a demon I guess…" 

Dino then plopped another spoonful of rice into his mouth, and stared at Megumi nonchalantly as he spoke with his mouth full. "M'names Dino Briar by the way. In case you're wondering."

"Okay, but why are you on this probation thing?"

"As you correctly surmised, Dino was under the influence of another demon…" Liang said. "Apparently this demon sent Dino to kidnap your friend Cider, the reason why is still unclear."

"Yes and it's most likely connected to the demons attacking as well…" K added. "We already know the name of the assailant behind this attack. An old friend of that boy apparently."

Cider's mood shifted ever so slightly, Megumi immediately took notice and watched as a bigger frown made its presence known. It looked as though he wanted to say something but immediately shut his mouth.

K continued. "In any case, this man before you was deemed just as much a victim because of it. But we'll keep our eyes on him just to be sure."

"It's not like I plan on doing anything anyways." Dino still spoke with his mouth full. "But I'd be lying if I said that now the situation makes things less complicated for me. But that's my own problem…"

"Alright. I'll believe you for now…. But I'll have my eye on you two." Megumi gestured, bringing her two fingers from her eyes to his eyes, looking determined as she did. All the while Dino could only look at her like she was stupid.

"Now on to more important matters," K said.

Megumi's attention quickly shifted. "What is it?"

"Do you remember how I told you that the city of Gondola moves throughout purgatory?"

"Uhh,,. Vaguely I guess. Yeah?"

K gave out a long sigh. "Because of this invasion the city won't be moving due to all the repairs that have to be made to the buildings, and that will take over a week. In layman's terms, in time we don't have."

"What do you mean? Shouldn't we have a few weeks or something?"

"Unfortunately not. You've been asleep for over two weeks."

"W-what!!??? Two weeks!!?" Megumi jumped up in surprise as Dino and Cider looked at her a little confused.

"So this leaves us with only a week to get you to Arc if you wanted to join."

Megumi slouched herself back in her chair, and stared at the ceiling in defeat. "And when was it again? In five hundred years?"

"Is there something I'm missing?" Dino questioned.

"Yeah, What 's wrong," Cider asked. He looked at Megumi, more concerned.

Megumi brought her head back down, glancing back at Cider. "Oh, yeah. I didn't tell you, did I?"

"Tell me what?"

"Umm… Well…" Megumi scratched the side of her face nervously. "You see…"

Everyone listened intently as Megumi told her true goals for when she reaches Arc. Dino raised a brow, Cider seemed to grow excited, while both K and Liang looked on, unsurprised.

"So you want to join them, huh?" Dino took another bite of his meal. "Well to each their own."

"Oh that's so cool, can I join!?" Cider asked excitedly

"That's a no.>" K said. " Demons are barred from joining."

Cider pouted "Booo.:."

"Don't act surprised, Demons like yourself are unpredictable and unstable."

"Well, I'm glad that experience won't be going to waste it seems." Liang gave a laugh before being hung upside down by K's bone tentacle. "Oh…"

Megumi could only glare at Liang, unamused. "You threaten to extort me for money."

"And it worked like a charm."

"You're shameless." she finally bit into a spoonful of rice.

K promptly released Liang from the bone tentacles he conjured. Megumi was disappointed to see Liang land on his feet however.

She sighed. "What are we supposed to do now?" Megumi began to play with her food a little, shifting around the rice in her plate.

"The plan stays the same." K said. He took another bite of his food enjoying the simple taste of rice. "In two days we'll be departing along with a group of other people who planned on heading to Arc too. As it turns out, some of them are in a hurry to get to Arc like you."

"Really? But will we get there in time?" Megumi continued eating along with everyone else. "The last thing I want is to wait five hundred years to actually join."

"It's actually fifty years, but I understand your concern. But there is a way we could get to Arc fast, but it'll be risky. And because of that, I'll leave this choice up to you."

Megumi's face became a little more flushed, averting her eyes from everyone at the table. "T-the sooner I join the sooner I can see Eric… So I don't care if its risky… I'll take that risk."

"Eric?" Dino raised a brow.

"He's someone she harbors deep feelings for, and we'll keep it at that."

"K!!!" Megumi reflexively jumped to her feet, embarrassed that he would say anything.

"Is he in Arc too?" Cider asked.

Megumi turned to Cider, reluctant to answer. "N…No… He's not…"

"H-he's… not in purgatory…"

There was a sudden silence of understanding.

K broke the long silence between everyone. "So it's decided then... for today, you should rest up. and tomorrow we'll gather some extra supplies for ourselves for the trip ahead."

Megumi slowly sat herself down and agreed. After a few moments, Liang suggested that everyone finish their meals.

Everyone around, agreed to this and ate and awkward silence hung between all of them. Megumi slowly ate her rice, her mind still a blur with thoughts of Eric now lingering in her mind.

Cider took notice of Megumi's somber expression. Using the opportunity Cider offered his share of steak to Megumi to cheer her up. 

She quickly declined the offer, forcing Cider continued to watch her look on with the same expression as she ate.

Suddenly, a naughty idea came to mind. He looked at Dino's plate, finding that he wasn't even paying attention to it. He curled a playful smile seeing this.

"Psst… Megumi" Cider whispered.

Megumi glanced over and watched as Cider tip-toed his fingers towards Dino's plate.

Both Liang and K were too focused on their meal to notice while Dino was simply ignoring everyone in the room.

Cider could only snicker and hold back his laughter as he outstretched his hands to an inhumane level.

Megumi watched, anticipating for Dino to actually take notice, but when Cider reached his target, he grabbed a slice of his steak, and recalled back to himself. He quickly gobbled it up without a second thought.

Megumi giggled, surprised that Cider's plan actually worked!

Despite this small victory, Cider wasn't satisfied yet. He went in for seconds.

Slowly he did the same thing, inching his fingers to Dino's last piece, closer and closer.

Megumi, in deep anticipation, brought her eye level to the table watching in anticipation to see if Cider would actually get caught this time, He grabbed the steak, and like before he threw it straight in his mouth! all while being undetected.

Megumi blurted out a laugh attracting the attention of Dino who saw her tucking her head down to the table.

"What's so funny?"

He drove his spoon into the rice where the two pieces of steak once laid. "Hmm?"

Dino glanced at his plate, finding the two pieces of steak vanished. "What the hell- Where'd my steak go!?"

Dino quickly glanced around his plate and then the table, finding that Cider had the tangy sauce, that was drizzled on their steak, on his face. Not only that, but he still had his two pieces his slices of steak left.

Dino could clearly see Cider holding back his laughter. And with that, it didn't take long to surmise who the thief was.

Dino stamped his feet on the table disrupting the once silent meal. He curled his sleeve and glared angrily at Cider. "You twerp! You stole my food! Didn't you?"

Cider stuck his tongue out mockingly. "Nyaaa. Not saying."

"Why you little."

Dino Jumped in to attack and Cider welcomed it.

To Megumi's shock they began to wrestle each other out. It went back and forth as Dino had the upper hand, then Cider had the advantage and the cycle continued on. Liang simply laughed watching them and K simply ignored the two.

The table suddenly broke due to their outburst. Her food along with K's and Liang's were saved by K's bone tentacles just in time.

Not long after, Liang for some inexplicable reason joined into the fray turning it into a free for all.

Megumi then came to a realization and looked back to K. "Wait a minute. Why isn't he stopping this?"

"What are you looking at me for? You're missing the show Megumi," K said. "You should be enjoying yourself."

Megumi was silent for a moment, but quickly fell into laughter as she watched.

K watched the wrestling between the three and formed a bit of a smile with his boney teeth. "I bet this Dino man will beat that kid, Megumi. What do you say?"

"No way." Megumi retorted. "I bet Cider will kick his butt!"

"Hey, what about me?" Liang pointed to himself as he continued the three way fight.

Megumi scowled. "What about you?"

Liang was left surprised by her bitter response, leading to him getting punched by Cider and Dino. but for some reason the damage reflected back to them.

The two were left reeling from the pain of their own punches.

"Cheater!" Cider called out.

Soon after the fight became more rowdy and chaotic.

Just outside the door, the two reapers guarded the door in the bright white hall. Hearing the noisy fight inside they were tempted to look inside, Arnold especially. He thought about joining to simply kick Ciders butt for calling him lame again, just the other day.

An old looking man came into view of Arnold and he quickly fixed his composure. 

"H-Harold. What brings you here?"

Standing before Arnold was Harold Truman, an older looking fellow that Cider had fought with when he first arrived in Gondola.

He struck his chin, listening to the chaos inside. "Fighting again, eh?"

"Y-yes. By the way, I've been meaning to ask you, but do I really have to be here? Should a Grimm like doing more important stuff?"

"Oh, but this is important. That demon child inside is the prime reason for this invasion. This is not mentioning the fact that the woman inside was specifically targeted by a demon woman named Annabelle. We believe that she might be a new General for a sins army."

Harold glanced back at the door. "I was planning on checking in on them but it seems my timing was very poor by the look of things. Oh well. It's better to let them enjoy their time for now. Wouldn't want to get that old fossil inside mad."

Harold laughed to himself as he departed leaving Arnold a little puzzled. He sighed and continued to guard alongside the other reaper by his side that looked like he was going to poop himself.

"Yeah… His aura sure is strong… But that's the ruler of Gondola for you…"