Board Fighters 2 Prequal  The Two Flames: Through the Rain - Chapter 7
Rain Check - Part 2 Written by Gouki  
 
 
-Kyoto Apartment Complex, Kyoto-

I wonder who stole the toilet seat… Jin thought as he glanced at the bowl, it looking naked without a seat or lid. It was probably Nat, he figured, wanting to make sure no one would do anything else to it. She was disturbingly adept with screwdrivers and such, and where did she hide it?

While Kushina turned on the sink to wash his hands, a quick reflection back on his prank on Natalie was enough to make him chuckle. Pumping soap out of the dispenser, Jin lathered both hands… only to notice they weren't lathering and that the substance had a chemical smell in addition to being sticky. He touched his index finger and thumb together experimentally. They stuck, and with wide eyes he barely got them apart.

"Dammit… glue."

==

The Two Flames
Chapter VII: Rain Check - Part 2

==

No doubt the culprit intended for him to get his hand stuck to the control knobs of the sink. Well, he could just rinse it off…

After holding his hands under the water, Jin tried touching his fingers together again. To his surprise and dismay, they stuck, and this time it hurt to pull them apart.

With a small grumble of frustration, Kushina awkwardly used his wrists to open the door. "Asta-"

To his surprise, an equally shocked-looking Natalie was suddenly falling towards him, courtesy of a shove from her brother. She yelped, arms reaching for him, and Jin instinctively caught her, hands on her sides just beneath her arms.

Golden eyes widened as he realized his mistake, then glared up at the pink-haired ass responsible.

"See Nat, I told you it was gonna be worth seeing. And the best part has yet to come…" David said as he quickly stepped around them while Jin tried, and failed, to removed his hands from Natalie's shirt and - unfortunately - skin.

The latter, though blushing, glared at her brother over Jin's shoulder, unaware of Jin's plight. "What the hell are you talking about?" Her hands, one on Jin's right shoulder and the other on his side, were suddenly snatched forward, pulling her flush against Jin's front.

Both stared in brief shock at each other, cheeks coloring…

Until they heard the clink-snap behind Jin's back.

Jin looked at Nat in confusion as he saw her eyes widen and felt her jerking her arms, only succeeding in roughly pulling him against her. She'd by now realized that Jin could not remove his hands.

"You… you bastard!!" she yelled at David as he stood to one side, grinning like a villain. "Where the hell did you get handcuffs??"

Jin blinked, then scowled at his friend. "You…"

"Now, now," David began, pulling something out of his jeans pocket. "I'm not going to leave you two here with no way out."

"What do you mean 'leave'?" Jin demanded.

"I have to go get this fixed." He gestured to his hair.

"So unlock the cuffs and undo whatever you did to Jin's hands!" Natalie growled, though by the light blush on her cheeks, it wasn't that she minded being close to Jin… she just didn't like being stuck for someone else's amusement.

"I'll leave that to you. Here Nat," he held up a small bottle with a red twist-top. "This is the solvent for the glue…"

When she opened her mouth to say something else, he promptly shoved the bottle in. "Don't drop it, or you'll have to figure out how to get it off the floor."

Both hers and Jin's faces tinged redder.

"Now wait a minute!" Jin started as Astaroth produced a second item from his pocket, this being a long chain with a key dangling from it.

"This," he explained with that same grin, "is the key to the handcuffs."

To Natalie's mortification and Jin's trepidation, David draped the necklace over Natalie's neck, letting the key slide down the front of her spaghetti-strap top. If both were blushing before, they had to be near to scarlet by now.

The trickster then pulled out his cellphone, snapped a couple of pictures, and headed for the door after a brief detour to shut off the bathroom sink. "Have fun!"

The thud of the door closing behind him was the only sound for several moments as the couple stared at each other, completely at a loss for what to do.

Maneuvering the plastic bottle to the right side of her mouth and clutching it with her teeth, Natalie stepped as far back from Jin as her bound wrists would allow. About two inches was the best she could do. Words slurred, she spoke timidly. "I… I think you're supposed to have this." Clearly, she meant the solvent.

Jin also had that distinct impression, but refused to take it. "If you can get your hands free, you can use it to free me."

"I don't have the key…"

Jin glanced uncomfortably at her chest. "Technically, you do…"

She scowled. "You know what I mean."

"Well… try melting the cuffs."

"Okay…"

A moment later, Jin was squirming uncomfortably as the hot metal against his back threatened to burn him. Natalie tried stepping closer to hold her hands out away from him, but her own wrists felt the heat as well and she had to stop.

"It's no use," she said. "I can almost get it but it gets too hot."

Jin sighed. "I can try to pull my hands free."

"Go ahead," she replied.

He did, and for a moment it looked like it might work… until Natalie began wincing. "Stop! You're going to tear my skin with it!"

Jin complied, letting his hands relax. It was too bad her top dipped so low beneath her arms that his thumb and first two fingers were stuck to nothing but her skin on each side. "Kuso," he cursed softly in Japanese, which to his surprise made Natalie break into a small smile and giggle.

That wry smile she liked so much almost made an appearance. "I take it you know what that one means…"

"Yep. And I think 'kusoyaro' applies to my brother."

Jin's wry smile did appear then. "I'm inclined to agree."

"You'll have to teach me some more names for him later."

"If you don't already know them all."

She sighed and slouched against him, for a time drawing Jin out of any frustration to let him notice the small tingles that coursed through him when she let her body relax against his. Her words pulled him out of such thoughts and shoved him into others. "I'm tired of holding this in my mouth…"

He blinked, then glanced to the sofa in the living room. "We can… get to the couch. You can drop it on the end table and maybe I can pick it up."

Natalie blinked and nodded. In a coordinated effort, both side-stepped their way into the living room and to the sofa only to realize they couldn't maneuver well enough to sit side by side. The cuffs on Natalie's hands kept them too close.

"Try getting your arm over my head," Jin suggested.

She did, with much wiggling on both sides, only to discover it did them no good because she couldn't twist enough to get to hands to her mouth while his arm was still in the way. Finally, she slid her arm back over his head for comfort, both of them left a little more frustrated. Well, he could just take the stuff from my mouth, Natalie thought but didn't voice.

"Well, you sit down and I'll just…" she started, but Jin gave her a slightly incredulous look. Rolling her eyes with exasperation, she simply backed him up to the couch, forcing him to sit down, and naturally tumbled to sit astride his lap.

Blush returned, Jin stared up at Natalie as she adjusted the bottle in her mouth.

"Open your mouth," she said.

"Wh-what?" He didn't intend for it to come out so uncertain, but...

"Just do it. Or do you like sitting like this so much?" He could tell she would be grinning if not for the bottle, though her cheeks were rosy as well.

What happened to his plan of dropping it on the table? He opened his mouth to suggest it again, only to find the opposite end of the bottle in his mouth and Natalie face close enough for their noses to touch. Those tingles returned, much sharper than before.

Slowly, his teeth clamped down on the top of the bottle. Wide, golden-brown eyes stared, fixated on hers that appeared to have darkened to near sapphire. He noticed how long her lashes were, how there were tiny strands of green and gray in her irises.

For a moment, Natalie was just as entranced, but slowly she worked her lips to grab the side of the bottle, turning it in his mouth. He had the cap end; he'd have to have the other to have any hope of using it, plus she had to work the top off. Jin caught on, taking the other side in his teeth.

Their lips brushed together.

They almost dropped the bottle.

Slowly, they managed to get it turned so that he had the right end. Natalie pulled back with a giggle. "Why're you so shy?"

"I'm not shy…" Jin openly lied, words muffled around the bottle.

"Yes you are," she said through another giggle. "Hold onto it, I have to twist the top off. Keep it tilted back or you'll get it in my mouth." She felt almost dirty saying that, but didn't let it deter her. After several moments of awkwardly twisting with her teeth around the cap, she pulled away and spit it out.

"There, now get it on your hands."

Jin blinked and looked down. The look in his eyes prompted Natalie to look down to see what was the matter. Oh…

To get to his hand, she had to move her arm over as far as she could. She did… but as she leaned back and he bent down, it was clear that between her arms cuffed around him and her right breast, it simply wasn't happening.

"Okay," she said, blushing deeply. "Turn me so I'm laying on the couch, then you can scoot down a little farther."

Looking up at her uncertainly (and swearing to have his friend's head for this) Jin complied. She was right, he could get closer to his hand, but…

"Oh hell…" she heard him say before he simply went for it, head sandwiched between her right breast and arm as he squeezed the solvent onto his fingers.

Though a little embarrassed, Natalie couldn't help giggling. "Well," she said, "At least I'm not any bigger. That's a good thing for once…"

She got no reply other than a quiet grunt as Jin nearly dropped the bottle, but managed to save it.

Within moments, his hand was no longer stuck to her skin and her shirt ripped a little in his haste to get the rest of it free.

"Hey! I like this shirt…" she said in disappointment. "You ruin all my clothes," she added with a scowl.

"Sorry," he replied with visible relief as he grabbed the bottle in his free hand. A moment later, he was completely loose to slip out of her arms. Natalie jerked the chain from her neck and handed Jin the key. Her wrists were free of the cuffs the next minute, and both leaned tiredly against the sofa.

"How're we going to get him back?" Jin asked with eyes narrowed at no spot in particular.

Natalie thought for a moment, and when he glanced over, Jin could almost see the gears of her evil imagination turning.

"I have an idea. Grab the whip-cream, the cheese-spread, and the icecream. Let's go upstairs…"

If it had been any other day, Jin would've done a double-take and thought he heard her wrong. As it was, in their little war, he was quickly of the same mind as her.


==


"You guys free yet?" Astaroth inquired, slowly pushing his door open without stepping in. When nothing fell or leapt out at him and he didn't see the pair, he carefully ventured inside, now sporting his usual black locks, courtesy a good dye-job.

"Nat? Jin?" Maybe the couch…

Nope, not there. Ice-blue eyes blinked as he noticed music coming from upstairs. "They didn't…!"

Rushing up in spite of dread at what he might find, David flung his bedroom door open wide. Whatever he'd been expecting, nothing could have prepared him for what he found.

He couldn't even say anything as he stepped, looking around in abject horror.

His bed - with his expensive sheets - was covered in yellow and white strands, which he belatedly realized were food products. So were his curtains, the ceiling fan… his dresser with all the drawers open!

He glanced at his window. "Oh my God…"

Condoms. His entire f-king stash of condoms were glued to the panes, some still in the packages, many not. And they were centered around a centerfold pin-up, facing out to the street for all the world to see.

The song playing was Liz Phair's "Flower", which he didn't even recall owning, and it was blaring through the cracked window to the street below. So that was why he'd heard music coming into the building.

"Every time I see your face
I think of things not pure and chaste
I want to f--- you like a dog
I'll take you home and make you like it-"

In less than a second he was yanking the cord from the stereo, killing the feminine, lullaby-like filth.

"You little sh-ts…" he growled.

"Just thought we'd show the world what a pervert you really are."

He spun at his sister's voice, too late as she and Jin burst from the closet with cans in hand.

Before he could backpedal, David received a blinding face-full of whip cream and cheap cheese spread.

"What the-" He had no chance to finish as his face was covered, and suddenly he felt himself being knocked to his back and held down.

"Kuso gaki! Baka-"

"This'll shut you up," Jin said, smirking as he held out a bottle of extreme hot-sauce for Natalie to unscrew the top. Both held David down as Jin shoved half the bottle's neck into his mouth when the curses came spewing out again. Choking and coughing as liquid fire slid down his throat, Astaroth failed to say anything that came to mind as he spit the bottle out and finally yanked his arm away from his sister. Before he could blindly swing it at Jin, the latter was gone.

"Ice cream, now!" Natalie said as her brother wiped at his face and staggered to his feet. Natalie's eyes widened as she saw the look of fury in her sibling's, just before a tub of melted strawberry ice cream was dumped onto his head.

"Go go go!" Jin said, stepping around Astaroth and shoving Nat out the door. She giggled uncontrollably, joined by Jin's snickering as they slammed the door behind them and bolted down the stairs to avoid any immediate retaliation.

Standing in the middle of his room, still dripping ice cream down his body, David slowly pulled the tub off his head and wiped his eyes. He walked calmly to the window and tore the picture off.

Repairing the damage done to his room would take a few hours. Repairing his reputation with the neighbors… well, that would take considerably longer…


==


Back downstairs Natalie couldn't stop laughing, sprawled on the couch trying to catch her breath. "That… was hysterical…"

Grinning, Jin sat next to her, sipping a glass of water. "Yeah, I have to say that went better than I planned…"

She blinked once, her chuckles trailing off. Nah, he couldn't be taking all the credit. He just wouldn't. "Yeah, your hot sauce idea was a nice touch!"

Jin simply took another sip of his water and said casually, "Oh, yeah. But I meant the whole thing."

Natalie looked at him incredulously. "Wait, you know that was my idea, right?"

"Only some of it."

"Only most of it," she countered with narrow eyes.

"Well, you needed my input and help," Jin said with a sidelong look, all matter-of-factly.

"And you could have done it, even thought of it, without mine?" Natalie asked, amazed at his gall. How arrogant could he be?

"Mostly, yes. I'll admit the music was a nice touch on your part, though." But how did you know of such a dirty song? his mind couldn't help but wonder.

"I can't believe you're taking credit for my ideas!"

"Not the song, no. That was yours," he defended calmly.

Fuming, Natalie stood up. "Well, see if I share any ideas with you again!"

As he watched her stomp off, Jin gave a slight shrug and finished his water, uncaring of the consequences of making her mad. After that prank, he was in a fairly confident mood. Besides, what was the worst she could do?


==


One hour later…

The plan was perfect.

As Natalie put the last screw into the back of the remote control, she set it on the armrest of the couch at the end where Jin always sat. Then, she retreated to the kitchen, taking with her the superglue, screwdriver and tape.

And she waited.

-*-

Astaroth sat down at his kitchen table, casting furtive glances at the other occupants of the apartment. Jin was coming out of the bathroom, rather carefully looking around as if he expected something to fall on him or otherwise go wrong, and Natalie was getting a glass of water from the tap. Hmm. Now might be a good time to get some work done on the computer, he thought. Opening his laptop, he ran his finger over the touchpad to bring it out of sleep mode…

…and what he saw would haunt him for the rest of his miserable days. Oh, yes, nightmares would come of this.

To his abject horror and eternal resentment, instead of seeing his stylish desktop background, what Astaroth saw made him scream. Like an eight-year-old girl.

"Oh my God in heaven Natalie, what the living f-k have you done to my computer?!"

Jin, sitting on the couch now, chuckled as he heard much clicking of keys and many sounds of nauseated pain, with a background of Natalie's mischievous giggling.

"How do you know I did anything?" she inquired with such an innocent voice.

"Because Jin could never do something like this!!"

As he picked up the TV remote, Jin craned his neck to look over the back of the sofa. "So what'd she do?" At the very same second, he pushed the button to turn the TV on.

And saw for himself.

He hadn't noticed the DVD played already on, and he couldn't have predicted that the DVD playing was ripped from David's computer, an exact copy of what Natalie had rigged to loop on the precious machine.

"Oh… unf… Ah! OH!! Oh HELL YES!!"

There was too much shock in Jin to emit a shriek like Astaroth's unmanly sound. Instead, his jaw hung in slack anticipation of imminent nausea as hard-core gay porn footage rolled before his eyes.

On Astaroth's laptop, button mashing had failed to shut down the program running, so he instead shut it down and all but slammed the notebook closed… only to still hear the sounds of two men screwing like rabid monkeys. He bolted to the living room to find his unfortunate television victimized as well, with Jin beating the remote desperately on the arm of the couch.

"Turn that sh-t off!" David said, leaping over the sofa to try and get the remote to do so himself. He heard his sister cackling like a madwoman behind them.

"I'm trying! The damn button doesn't work!"

Dashing to the TV and doing his damnedest to ignore the glaring close-up images on the screen as he pounded his index finger against the power button.
Nothing. The porn rolled on, and what little he'd eaten was threatening to return on him.

He tried turning off the DVD player, hitting the eject button, yet the result was the same.

"Natalie! What the hell did you do??"

"FEEL THE PAIN OF MY VICTORY!!" she crowed shortly before doubling over in laughter yet again.

Abruptly, the screen went black, much to David's relief and confusion. He peered around the side of the TV, seeing Jin holding the severed power cord in one hand.

Ice-blue eyes widened in shock. "What have you done to my television?!"

"A mercy killing," Jin replied and then pointed to the plug. "I couldn't take out the plug."

Accepting what had already been done (and praying that somehow it could be fixed) David sighed and then turned glaring eyes upon his sister, still chortling at them. Jin followed, and for the first time, Natalie saw what her brother had described as Jin's glare of doom. It had to be, because a look like that could only imply doom.

Her chuckles faded as she slowly backed away. "What? It's not like you guys wouldn't have done something like that if you could have thought of it…"

Both took a step forward, just as the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!!" Natalie volunteered and rushed to the door.

On the other side, she found a short, elderly Japanese woman… who looked rather pissed off. Natalie recognized the outraged face of Minako-san, David's next-door neighbor.

Immediately, the woman began ranting in Japanese.

"Uh… nice to see you Minako-san… but I can't understand what the heck you're saying," Natalie replied.

Taking a breath, Minako switched languages, thankfully able to speak a good bit of English. "I said, 'it isn't enough that your brother is a playboy who places his filth in the window for all to see, but he also enjoys other men, too?'" She peered past Natalie to look at the dumbstruck males in the room. Minako then gestured for Natalie to step aside, which the girl was more than gleeful to do.

"Hmph. Well I see you got your clothes on fast enough. And to think, your poor, innocent young sister has to endure staying in an apartment full of perverts!"

Shocked, but not beyond his ability to speak, Astaroth spoke up, "Uh, Minako-san, I can explain…" But he was cut off by his sister.

"Oh no, ma'am! It isn't like that at all!" Natalie said, and both Jin and Astaroth felt the relief of vindication coming on.

Then, it was horribly, horribly dashed.

"I don't mind their actions at all! In fact, I encourage my brother and his 'special friend' to be open about their relationship!" The bright-eyed girl smiled at the old woman, "Don't you think it's just a little romantic? They look so cute together!"

Both men appeared to visibly dry-heave.

Minako was not of the same mind as Natalie pretended to be. She scolded the two more, although this time in Japanese, before leaving, fussing all the way back to her apartment.

Natalie, tickled beyond description that not only had she grossed the two out, but that anyone within hearing or gossiping distance would now make assumptions on their sexual preference, began laughing again.

At least, until she caught two sets of eyes glaring at her.

"You'll regret that," Jin stated in an ominous tone.

Both men were red in the face, Astaroth so much so that Natalie thought he might explode. And he fully intended to, in a way.

"You," he started, jabbing a finger in her direction. "… are so dead!!"

He lunged at her, clearing fifteen feet in less than a second as his sister screamed and darted around the room faster than a gazelle. Instantly Jin was in front of her, though much to his surprise she struck out in self-preservation just as he moved to grab her.

Apparently, the "low-blow" was alive and well in her arsenal of self-defense moves. Jin crumpled like a cheap folding chair, letting Natalie leap over him and rush for the bathroom door… only to be blocked by her brother.

Skidding to a hard stop, she turned and tried to run upstairs, but was yanked painfully back by the only thing David could reach; her hair. With her foot on the first step, Natalie yelped in pain as her head snapped back and her back thudded against the floor. Astaroth was on her the next second, trying to subdue the struggling wildcat as she kicked, growled and tried to get free. Soon, Jin recovered enough to help, and when Natalie saw the look on his face she all but screamed.

With her brother doing everything in his power to hold her wrists and Jin going for her ankles, Natalie did the only thing she could. She latched onto Astaroth with her teeth, catching him on the forearm and eliciting a suppressed shriek of pain as she gnawed like a possessed piranha. He let go of her wrists in favor of prying her off his arm, but the hell-+%#%# refused to let go!

At her feet, Jin was having a hard enough time grabbing both, but was thankful he wasn't on the receiving end of her teeth and fingernails. That thought came about a second before her free foot squared him between the legs… again.

This time, he gritted his teeth against the pain and did the only thing he thought might actually hinder her flailing. Hurling his full weight against her, Jin prostrated himself atop her and glared down at her angrily.

So surprised was she to have the object of her interest lying on top of her, Natalie let got of her brother's arm and blinked up at Jin in blushing shock. Astaroth retreated instantly, lest her senses return, but Jin was having none of that. Just as her expression started to change into aggression again, Jin used his thumb to strike a nerve in her neck, much as he had more than a year passed.

The result was the same, and Natalie lost consciousness.

Panting from anger, pain and exertion, Jin glared down at the evil girl just to be sure she was really out.

Checking the teeth imprints all over his arm, David leaned tiredly against the wall and quirked a brow at Jin. "You done? Or are you giving 'missionary' a test run?"

With a flat look to his friend, Jin rolled off Natalie and came to a sitting position next to her, warily watching as if she might wake up and terrorize them again. "Your sister… is insane."

David couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah… but you have to admit, that was a damn creative-if-evil prank."

"I'd rather she just done something normal. Like shave your head."

"Or wax your eyebrows."

"Or dye your teeth."

"… you were gonna do that, weren't you?"

"All I can say is don't brush your teeth with the same toothpaste."

"Heh, not bad." David smirked as he looked down at his sister. "Not much of a way to top the gay porn though…"

At the mention, it took a moment for both men to recover from a case of disgusted shudders, followed by Jin sighing. "Yeah, I don't think I want to be that creative."

"How are we gonna get her back?" Astaroth found himself asking. "Aside from wrestling her down and knocking her unconscious…"

"Using a pressure point, actually," Jin corrected. "And I don't know, but it has to be something horrible. So what does she hate?"

Looking down at the subject of their discussion as she lay in blissful ignorance, David let a slow smile spread across his face. "I have an idea…"


==


She awoke to the awareness that she was cold and wet, and beyond that, that she was laying on something hard and equally chilly. Her skin was bare. With a soft groan, Natalie stirred, feeling as if she were under the gentle sprinkle of a shower.

She was, as it turned out. A completely natural shower. Turquoise eyes opened to stare up at the rainy overcast sky, outlined by the tops of the buildings surrounding her.

Oh… oh sh-t! went through her head as she sat up immediately with alarm sketched plainly on her face. That same visage turned from surprise to outright horror when she looked down to discover that she was, indeed, naked for the world to see on David's tiny balcony. Nothing to hide behind… just her and the potted plant.

The screech that followed was music to the ears listening from inside the apartment. With the curtain closed (because Natalie being naked was still something that overloaded Jin's senses and caused her brother paranoia: it took them forever to get her undressed between the closed-eyes and the arguing) David called out to confirm her suspicions. "I recall you saying 'payback's a +%#%#' little sister…"

"I AM GOING TO F-KING KILL YOU!"

"While you're out there? Doubtful. Watch out for the neighbors. There are some teenage boys in the building that are notorious for spying on girls…"

Another shriek was heard along with profanities being yelled, and young male voices cheering her unintended exhibitionism on. This was soon followed by the sound of shattering ceramic. David sighed. "Well, there goes the hibiscus."

"It's worth a few sacrifices," Jin said in an amused tone as he listened to Natalie swear to their deaths in several inventive ways.

"I'm surprised you went along with this," Astaroth said to him as Natalie demanded they open the door. "Not until you apologize!" he shouted back at her.

"And vow to make amends!" Jin added to the demand before asking, "Why?" to David.

"Because… you know. She's out there for every passing male to see an' all," he replied before calling back to his raving sister. "And you have to explain the truth to Minako-san!"

"And cook dinner, without contaminating it!" Jin added again, shrugging when David looked at him. "You can come up with something better? And to answer you, I would think that you, being her protective brother, would be more concerned for your sister's honor than you are."

"That was before she pulled out the gay porn."

"Yeah, well same here."

"LET ME IN OR I SWEAR I WILL SHATTER THIS DOOR!" Natalie screamed again, unknowingly drawing more attention to her. Several adjacent balconies were now crowded, as were a few across the street.

Keeping the curtain closed, David smarted back, "Do it, and I'll throw you right back out there."

Gritting her teeth as rage coursed through her veins, Natalie decided to get rid of the one thing allowing them to continue their stupid prank. "I will burn your f-king curtain down…"

"You can't-" David started before the fabric directly in front of his shocked face burst into blue flames. As it turned out, she didn't need the direct contact he'd always thought she did.

"… apparently she can," Jin finished for him, both blinking. Astaroth patted furiously at the flames, but they spread enough that he had to rip the curtain down and run to the sink to douse it before it got worse. Jin was left blinking at the infuriated, naked girl trying to cover herself with her hands.

"Let. Me. In," she hissed, barely heard through the glass door but clearly understood.

"No. You brought this on yourself," Jin answered matter-of-factly, staring studiously at her face.

Though partially covered by her long hair draping over her body, Natalie summoned enough heat from her flames to turn the rain on her skin into steam, helping to hide her from view. She then pressed her palms against the window to further her threat. "Do it, or I swear I'll make you both eat your testicles!!"

"That's if Jin has any left after earlier," both heard David call from the kitchen.

Kushina scowled at that comment and started to retort something back before Natalie beat against the glass with the flat of her hand. "Was this your idea?? I swear Jin, you're the biggest pervert-"

He came back instantly with, "Me? You're the one who tried to make me come out of the bathroom naked!"

"So?" she shot back. "Nothing I haven't seen before!"

"Likewise!" her almost-boyfriend replied, one hand pressed to the glass like she did. It was the most he'd shown irritation or anger in years, and with the least violent consequences. As both semi-flushed faces glared at each other through the glass, David's voice spoke from behind Jin.

"Oh really? Just what have you two been doing while I'm out of the house?"

Jin blinked and looked behind him, realizing they'd been heard. "… nothing."

Natalie was too angry to care, especially with people leering at her from other balconies and even the street below, though those people could hardly see anything. "Let me in, this is your last warning!!"

"Hold on, I can understand how you saw her since this morning, but how'd she see you? I wanna know, have you two been going at it or not?"

"No!" Jin snapped.

"That's it!" Natalie growled, turning to yell towards the balcony to her left. "MINAKO-SAN!!!"

Astaroth blinked. No, no no no, this was against the rules! Or something like that. Either way, he had to stop her from getting his neighbor more involved than she had already been… and tarnish his reputation even more. "Let her in," he sighed.

Warily, Jin flipped the latch and backed away from the door.

With a rush of steam accompanying her, Natalie slid the door open so hard it almost came off its track. David was thankfully facing away from her, and she rushed past Jin in a blur to grab a rolled up blanket from the corner where her and Jin's futons were stored. Wrapping this around her, she spun and glared at them.

They remained in a staring contest for a long moment, then Astaroth spoke up. "So, what now?"

Natalie opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by Jin.

"Maybe we should stop here," Jin suggested, a little worried where things might go if Nat was allowed to get revenge.

She started to object, but was again interrupted.

"He's right. Besides, it's not like you can top what we just did…"

Jin almost swore he saw hot sparks in her eyes. "Um, you're not helping, you know," he told David.

"See if I ever take it easy on you two again! Next time I'll make sure your brains are saturated with enough bad images that you have waking nightmares for the rest of your lives!"

Jin winced and muttered, "Damage done…"

Astaroth mirrored the expression. "Look, sister, if we keep going this will get out of hand. Let's all call it even since you started it and you were the last to get pranked."

"True," Jin chimed in. "Now it's sorta full circle."

"Um, you're not helping, you know," David spoke with a deliberate mock-tone as he stared at Jin, whilst Natalie's glare became more intense. Before she could say something, Astaroth turned to her. "Listen, we'll call a truce and then we'll all be even, okay?"

"Done," Jin agreed readily.

A tense moment passed when it looked like Natalie wouldn't agree… then she sighed in exasperation. "Alright then, truce?" she asked, extending her hand.

Jin was the next to extend his hand, where he placed it over Natalie's. David then followed suit, putting his on top of Jin's.

"Okay on three, we say 'truce'," David began. "One, two, three…"

As the three of them then bellowed in unison, a flash of lightning streaked across the evening sky, which briefly illuminated the room. Had there been a fourth person in the room, they would've been sure in their mind that within that split-second flash, instead of the trio, there were only three dark smiles, as if to say that things weren't really over.