SPECIALS: GOING SHOPPING.

I wake up, feeling surprisingly okay. I yawn, then stand up.

"Time to go shopping."

I leave the cave, using my memory to reach the town's entrance. I enter, hoping not to draw any attention. Reaching few meters away from the entrance, I pause to look around.

"Hey! It's the kid! The one who killed the Peacobear!" A man shouts.

'Rrgh! Why? The hedgehog just had to shout it!'

I bend my head and begin walking slowly.

"Looks like he almost got hunted!" A woman shouts and laughs.

"Yeah. It seems like he's broke now. What a shame I was prepared to....."

".....Give him more!" Some of the town people shouts, cutting another man that was talking short.

The man laughs awkwardly. "How do you guys know?"

"Because you always say it, even though we all know it's a lie!" They chorus, causing me to chuckle.

I look up and see Aqua looking at me with a surprisingly blank expression.

"Aqua!" I shout and begin running towards her and drawing too much attention.

"Stay away from me!" She shouts, turns around and begins running away, surprising me to the core.

"Are you for real?!"

"You bet I am!" She shouts and increases her speed.

'Damn! she's fast!'

I increase my speed, but somehow she's still faster.

She turns around a corner and I follow, but she is gone.

"How'd she.....?! Rrgh! I thought she would happily forgive me and come back!" I shout in frustration and begin searching the place. "I mean, she helps me."

Something runs into my mind. 'Or maybe she doesn't want anything to do with me, but also don't want me to die. Could she be some sort of guardian Purple left for me?'

I search around, but she's still no where. I step into a puddle of water, causing the water to splash on me and groaning in frustration.

I sigh. "Why Aqua?! Why?!"

'Why am I acting so.... Desperate?!' I laugh. 'How ironic! Guess the table do turn!'

I sigh again before leaving the corner and entering another corner.

"Now, where am I going to get new clothes and shoes?" I mumble to myself, walking with my head bent and looking at my dirty bare feet.

I sigh and walk pass a boutique.

"Ooohhhh." I say as I turn back and walk back to the boutique, stopping in front of it and admiring all the cool clothes, shoes, bags and jewelleries behind it's glass front.

'Hey!' The voice in my head calls.

'Hey!' I say, feeling happy, but changing in an instant. 'Where the hell have you been?!'

'Looks like someone didn't miss me.'

'Why should I?' I ask, feeling surprise and irritation.

He laughs. 'You know we are bros, yo.'

'Yeah. Would have appreciated it, if it is a girl. She definitely wouldn't leave me!'

He gasps. 'How dare you!' He sighs. 'Trust me, no girl is better than me! And which girl is kind enough to stay in your head and advice you.' He says, a hint of pride and irritation in his voice and laughs.

'Well, Aqua is! At least she never abandons me.'

'Your new friend, right?'

'Yeah.'

'How about you put her in your empty head and see how much she'll stay with you. That is, if she doesn't die of trauma and boredom!'

'Ok. Ok. Fine. Sheesh.' I sigh. 'Where have you been though?'

'Much better. And that's none of your business.'

'My head isn't empty though! And it is my business.'

He smirks. 'You think?!'

'Yeah.'

'Ok. You're the boss.'

'Wow! You didn't argue.' I say in triumph.

'Well, I believe; wise people don't argue truths with fools.'

'Rrgh! You...'

I feel a light tap on my thighs and open my eyes.

I look down to see a little girl with black hair, staring at me with big green eyes. And is putting on a long blue gown.

"Mr drunkard. Are you okay?" She asks in a gentle little voice and I flinch.

'Drunkard?! I am no drunkard!'

I smile at her warmly. "Thank you, miss."

"Aerene!" A voice shouts and I flinch at the name.

"Aerene?!"

'Could it be?!'

I quickly look up to see a woman with green eyes and black hair, walking towards me. And is putting on a black gown.

She reaches me and hisses. "What are you doing with my Aerene darling, you good for nothing drunkard." She shouts, causing me to flinch more and grabbing her daughter's hand.

'Oh. It's just a namesake.'

"No! It's not what you think! I am no...."

"Shush it drunkard!" She shouts, glaring at me and then turning to look at her daughter. "How many times have I warned you to stay away from drunkards! Especially the ones that look handsome, innocent and young! Don't you know they are the deadliest!" She shouts, before turning her attention to me and glaring at me.

For some reason, I feel flattered by the comment.

"But mum...."

"No buts!" She kneels with one of her leg. "You know I love you. And I wouldn't want anything to happen to you. If anything does..." Tears begins running down her face. "... I wouldn't forgive myself. Please don't let all our efforts be in vain." She says as she pulls out a hanky from her pocket and wipes her face dry.

"Yes mum."

"Good. Now let's go." She says and walks away with the girl.

'Sheesh. Talk about a family drama.' The voice in my head says and laughs aloud. 'Too bad, there was no popcorn.' He laughs more.

'I still don't get how I'm a drunkard!'

"Are you going to get some clothes and shoes or are you going to continue looking into the boutique with your eyes closed!" A masculine voice shouts and I turn around to see who it is.

"I'm getting some new clothes and shoes." I say, feeling embarrassed.

"Good. Let's go into my boutique then." He says and starts walking and I follow him behind. He stops and turns. "Wait! You a drunkard or a beggar?" He asks and I flinch.

"No sir. Why do you say so?"

"Well, your clothes and lack of shoes says so." He jokes and laughs. "Pardon me. It's rude to insult customers." He says with a warm smile, which I have a feeling it's fake. "Let's go." He says, turns around and continues walking, with me following him behind. He reaches the door and enters.

I follow him in and almost pass out at the site of the boutique's inside and it's elegance.

'God! This is a shopping paradise!'

'No kidding!' The voice in my head says.

"Look around and see your destined-to-be-with clothes, jewelleries bags and shoes!" The man shouts with pride.

"Yes sir!" I shout and begin running around the clothes and shoes section.

All the clothes and shoes are under different titles.

I continue walking around not knowing what to pick and beginning to feel tired and bored.

'Hey! Which clothes and shoes should I go for?!'

'I don't know. What do you take me for?! Your personal fashion advicer?!' He asks, a hint of irritation in his voice.

'Rrgh! What was I thinking?!'

'That I have a better taste at fashion than you?!' He asks in an obviously fake innocent tone and laughs.

'You wish! You....'

A light tap on the shoulder cuts me short. I open my eyes to see the man looking at me with an expression filled with worry and his hand on my shoulder.

"Are you sure you're okay, sir?" He asks a hint of irritation in his voice. "You seem to fall asleep while standing."

'Tch. Tch. Tch. It's a shame, but for someone like him, it's no surprise.' The voice in my head says and chuckles.

Feeling irritated but trying my best to hide it, I smile and say, "I'm sorry sir. I won't do it again."

"Good." He says with a tone filled with authority and walks away.

I obviously know he is a millionaire, if not, a billionaire. I mean, he and his boutique reeks of riches.

'Why do you close your eyes though?' The voice in my head asks.

'I don't know. I'm kinda used to it. I always close my eyes when thinking for long or talking to myself in my head.'

'Childish!'

'Say that again! And I'll....'

'Blow your head off?! Or send me packing out of it?!'

'Definitely not the first one!'

'Enough talking! Now go shop! When you're done, I'll be back.' He says and then there is silence.

I sigh and continue walking around, looking for good clothes and shoes.

Something runs into my mind. "My wallet!" I feel myself drain dry.

I quickly dip my hand into my pocket and luckily it is there. I sigh in relief and bring it out. I study the wallet well and surprisingly it is very dry. Infact, it doesn't look like it was touched by even a drop of water.

"That's strange. So Aqua was careful enough to search me before.... God! It can't be!" I gasp and cover my mouth. "She just washed me up with water and something nice, with my clothes on. I'm sure she didn't st... Ok. That's enough thinking." I say and laugh awkwardly.

I walk pass a collection of unfashionable looking clothes and shoes with the title; 'YOUR ORDINARY CLOTHES AND SHOES.' Boldly embedded on the metal title board above it. I quickly turn around and walk back, stopping some meters away from them and looking at it more intently.

'Something is wrong here.'

The title, instantly changes to; 'DRIP IN FLYING COLOURS WITH THE CLOUDS.' And the clothes and shoes change.

I stare at the sight with my mouth open and my heart beating fast.

"I think I'm in love with fashion!"

I look at the clothes and shoes before me and want- No! Need them all!

I move closer, till I am in front of the collection and look at the seven clothes and shoes in awe.

All the clothes are; black short sleeves shirts and a little bit baggy joggers, with a black cloak with short hands that reach the end of the shoulders, in width. Each shirts, trousers and cloaks have cool looking clouds almost all over them. The clouds on each clothes are different colours..... Actually the seven colours of the rainbow. (Just guessing though). And the joggers all have chains matching with the colours of the clouds on them, at each pocket. And each shoes are black, with the same clouds with different colours design, and are below the clothes with the same matching colour clouds.

"I am definitely going for these!" I say in a calm but excited tone.

"Yeah, go for them." A familiar voice says behind me.

"Aqua?!" I say and turn around, but find no one behind me. "I guess I'm hearing things?" I say, feeling disappointment and turning back to look at the clothes and shoes before me.

"Are these what you want sir?!" A voice asks.

I turn left to look at the man walking towards me with a blank face.

"Yes, sir. All."

He reaches me. "All?!" He asks with a hint of surprise in his tone and on his facial expression. "Are you sure?! Look again!"

"Yes, I am. I want all!"

"Perfect! But.... Err.... Have you seen the price? And are you sure you want them?"

"Yes, I want them. And... No. How expensive can they be?" I say and look at the price tags and instantly my smile dies.

'Ten thousand magians for each of the clothes! And five thousand magians for each of the shoes! What is this?! A drain them dry operation?!'

I look back at the man who is looking at me with a weird grin, obviously thinking, 'Bro, is shocked.' And laughing deep inside his head.

I smile awkwardly. "Aren't they too high?" I ask, feeling disappointment.

"Nope. They're actually cheap, considering their benefits."

"Which is....?"

"You see, these hear aren't ordinary clothes. They were made by a powerful God level magic, known as Tom. Tom was very powerful in the fashion world and was famous for his 'fashion magic'."

'Ooohhhh!'

"He was good at creating powerful clothes, bags, shoes and other fashion stuffs with unique abilities and different tier; ranging from low to average to high. He was truly exceptional and unique and was known all over." He sighs. "But old age caught up to him and due to his fear of death, he decided to create these clothes and shoes, before he dies. You see, it took him a whole damn year! To make them!" He laughs aloud. "The old man was inside through out, with me taking care of him and him resting all day or working on the clothes and shoes. After the one year, he was done." His expression changes a little. "A year after the clothes and shoes creation, he called me and said his time was up and he is glad he finished. He said I should take them or sell all the clothes and shoes to the one person who sees through my cover magic, which I thought was impossible, but here you are; a non-magic! I guess old age is catching up with me." He sighs. "He also said the person must buy them all." He laughs. "And then, he says I should sell each clothes for five thousand magians and shoes for two thousand magians! Who does that?! But I said ok anyway." Tears begins sliding down his face slowly. "And then, he went away." The flow of tears stops and he wipes his face dry, with a hanky.

I feel bad for him, but what I am thinking now is; 'Why the hell did he increase the price?'

"Can't you sell it the price he said you should sell it?" I mumble.

He begins thinking, then stops. "Well, if you can buy them all. Then, that's fine with me. Besides it holds too many memories and it has been here for five years now! It's like nobody wants them."

"Well, that isn't long. And you covered them."

"True. But still...! It has been around for seven years now!"

"Oh."

"Exactly!"

"Okk....? Thank you! I shall buy them all then." I say with a wide smile, which he returns. "But, why don't you want them?"

"I don't need them, too many memories. And I don't need them when I've got money."

"That's true." I nod my head in agreement.

"Oh! There is three more!"

"Really?!" I ask in shock.

"Yeah." He says and walks away.

After some minutes, he comes back with the same black clothes and shoes, but in one; all the clouds colours are gold, another; white, while the last; silver.

"So.... These three bad boys. Are times two the price. And remember, you must buy them all." He says with a wide grin. "Besides, they're gold, white and silver."

"I wonder if it was the old man that said that."

He glares at me for some seconds, then smiles. "Yep. You can bet your money it's him." He says and laughs.

"Fine. So how much?" I ask and sigh.

"That will be.... Ninety-four thousand magians." He says quickly.

"Hmmm. I guess that's fair." I say and bring out the wallet. "What are the benefits of these clothes and shoes anyway? What are their ranks?"

"Well, for ranks; I don't know.... Maybe average or low or high." He shrugs. "And for abilities; I don't know too. Maybe some boosts or shield..."

"Is that all?"

He looks up, thinking and then looks back at me. "Well, I think he said; they have very high durability or endurance, they never stay dirty, they have regenerative properties and they have some boosts or protection something, and I think they're average. I can't remember though." He raises his hands in defence. "So, don't come back here if it isn't what I said."

"Ok." I sigh.

Somehow I think I am making a mistake by purchasing them, but somehow, I want- No! Need them badly. It's like it's calling unto me. "Any other ones?" I ask.

"Huh?"

"Any other creations of the man?"

"Nope. Why you asking?"

"Well, I'm a non-magic. I might need some of them for protection."

"I know you're a non-magic. You reek of powerlessness." He smiles and I imagine; drowning him. "Too bad though." He says and shakes his head. "A group of dark magics known as 'Dominant light' destroyed all his creation. How they managed to find and destroy them all? I don't know. These here are his only creation left or the ones I know of."

"How did these ones survive?"

He looks at me in disbelief. "Just like I said before, I am a cover magic, who can cover things and keep them hidden or changed even in sight, with magic. As these were the only things I had, they were all I could cover." He looks at me intensely. "By the way, how did you see through my magic?!"

I laugh awkwardly. "I don't know. I just walked past them and felt something odd. And before I knew it, everything changed."

"Hmmm? That's strange. No one has ever seen through my cover magic before." He says, a look of suspicion on his face.

"Okkk....? So, where are these dark magics? And why did they destroy all the creations?" I ask, feeling my temper rise a little and wishing never to encounter them.

"Well, no one knows of their whereabouts. They left after destroying all the creations." He laughs. "They are a bunch of powerful fools, who think we don't deserve such creations and that we might start a war with them! Like we are that stupid!" He laughs more. "They say they would be back, to dominate us with their light."

"Well, who are they?"

"Look, are you some sort of spy?!" He asks, narrowing his eyes.

I flinch and laugh awkwardly. "No. No."

"Then why all the questions?!"

I shrug. "I'm just curious."

"Fine. I guess I'll give you some customer bonus then." He says and sighs. "No one actually knows anything about them, although some claim to know some of them. But there is a rumour that; they were a group of suffering children who learnt and mastered different dark magic, making them powerful.

"Are some of the creations powerful enough to defeat them?"

"Well, the highest he created matched with a God level magic."

"Woah. That's insane."

He nods in agreement. "Yes. Indeed, 'The ultimate armour' was insane. But now it's gone too." He grins. 'He was a great God level magic." He nods again.

"How where they destroyed then?"

"One of them have a powerful dark magic that erases things."

"Whoa! That's bad!"

"Yup."

I look at the clothes and shoes and smile in satisfaction. "So, these might have special abilities."

"No." He replies bluntly, killing my smile. "Like I said, yours are the types that provides boosts or protection."

"How do you know?!"

"Because.... I think he said so!"

"But you aren't sure."

"I know...." He sighs in frustration. "Well, you'll watch and see then."

I look at all of them and frown. "Then I need only one." I say in slight irritation.

He shakes his head. "Rules; are that you need them all."

'This guy!'

"Fine." I open the wallet and almost faint.

'How am I going to count the money?!'

I look into the wallet in dread, but finally notice all the ones I'm seeing are a thousand magian note. I sigh in relief and after some while of pulling and counting, I finally get the amount to pay him.

I stretch my hand and look up with a smile that suddenly dies the moment I see how shocked he is.

"What?" I ask, feeling alarmed.

"That's one of his creation; 'The infinity wallet'. How did you get it?"

"A customer of mine." I say with a shrug.

"Does it mean some of the creation still exists?!"

"Well, I don't know. Why? You want them?"

"Nope. To sell them." He says with a wide grin and collects the money from me.

"You said they destroyed all of his creations, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, what harm can things like this 'Infinity wallet' cause?"

"Well, money is power." He laughs. "And besides, I am sure there are powerful magics that will need a wallet that can swallow up tons of money."

"Hmm. I guess that makes sense."

"Do you need any other thing?"

"Yeah."

"I assume it's underwear then."

I narrow my eyes and furrow my brows. "Yeah. How did you know?"

"Well, your outsides aren't looking good. So, your insides wouldn't be better." He says and smirks.

I could feel my anger boiling, but I manage to control it.

"Follow me then." He says and begins walking away, with me following him behind. He steps on water and slips, almost falling and i wonder why he didn't fall. "Come clean this up." He says in an irritated tone and in an instant a boy is mopping the floor and we continue walking. "We have arrive." He says, the moment we reach and leaves.

After looking around and being traumatized by all the sights. I finally get ten each, for the price of one hundred magians each.

'Sheesh! This boutique is truly for the rich!'

The man finally comes back. "You done?"

"Yeah." I sigh. "You don't happen to know a bathroom around here, do you?" I ask, feeling uncomfortable.

He grins wide and stretches his hand. "That would be one thousand magians." He says.

"Wait! You have a bathroom?!"

"Yup. That's business." He says and nods his head proudly. "Ninety-seven thousand magians! I am impressed." He grins. "You might be powerless in abilities, but you are powerful in money. And besides where did you get such money, when you're looking this tattered?"

'No kidding! I feel like I am wasting money.'

"I worked for the money."

I sigh and pay him; both for the underwears and for the bathroom.

He takes me to the bathroom and God is it awesome! It looks like a place that one only sees in their imagination. He shows me how to use everything in the bathroom and then leaves.

I grab every single liquid soap and fragrance and pour some into the bathtub, before closing the drain hole and filling it with water.

I undress and enter, exhaling in satisfaction. "Ahhhhh. This is life."

After some minutes of relaxation and bathing, I open the drain hole and watch the water drain off the bathtub.

I try out my new underwear. The singlet and boxer fits perfectly.

"I see you're done." The familiar voice says behind me, startling me.

I turn around sharply. "You... You just barged in! How long have you been here?!" I ask, feeling embarrassed.

"Chill. I just entered and we're both men. I don't see the need of you hiding anything." He says bluntly and I cringe.

'He is right though. Besides, I'm putting on underwear.'

"So, which one do you wish to wear?" He asks in a calm tone.

"I guess red?"

"Ok." He says and leaves, then comes back with the one with the red clouds, while some teen boys help to carry the remaining. "You may go." He says and in an instant they're all gone.

I stretch my hand to take them, but he shakes his head, stopping me.

He begins chanting in magic-language; a language in which some magics use for certain magics, a language which I hate cos it sounds like blabbing.

After some painful seconds of listening to the language, all the clothes and shoes vanish.

"What the.....?!" I shout as I jump back in fear.

He sighs and smiles warmly. "Did I mention you won't wear them. Rather, you will fuse with them." He says calmly.