Ep.30: The Kingdom of Coatlicue, Part 4

“Wow! So cool!” I exclaim with a bright smile. It is a majestic sight, seeing Coodray sent flying into some crates, causing them to break.

“Oh, no you don’t!” Anaea lands on the ground safely with a smirk. “Take this, you bully!” Anaea kicks Coodray in the stomach for good measure, adding purposeful insult to injury. “Alright,” Anaea concludes, then looks at me and smiles while waving. “Hey, Fukai! Did you miss me?!”

Without hesitation, I dash right past Anaea and grab the bread left on the ground. “Safe!” I begin to rub the bread on my face. “Oh, sweet and delicious bread! You’ll find a sweet home in my mouth!” I begin to shove the bread into my mouth. “So… grofd!”

“Don’t speak with your mouth full!” Ramsey rebukes as he slaps me upside the head.

“No fair, Fukai! Give me some!” Maka tries to reach for the bread.

I shove Maka away with my foot, my mouth full of bread. “You can’h hafe any, I foun’ ih firsh!”

“You know, you should really learn how to share,” Ramsey says.

I look down at the bread, and then look towards Maka. Maka looks like he’s dying from starvation. “Fine!” I break off a small corner-piece of the bread and flick it towards Maka. “Here.”

“Thank you, Fukai! Thank you!” Maka smiles and begins digging into the too-small piece.

“Hey, guys! Don’t go ignoring me!” Anaea walks up to us, a little upset.

“Oh. I almost forgot you were there, Anaea.” I say casually.

Ramsey slaps me upside the head again. “Stop being rude.” Ramsey walks up to Anaea and pats her on the forehead. “Thanks for saving us.”

Maka and I walk up to them, eating our bread.

“It was nothing, Coodray had it coming. But forget all that, welcome home, guys!” Anaea says warmly, reaching for all three of us and drawing us into a group hug. “I’m glad you guys made it home safe,” she says with a smile.

“Get off, this is embarrassing!” I insist, struggling to get away.

“I’m still hungry,” Maka moans.

“It’s good to see you today, Anaea.” Ramsey smiles.

“So, why are you here, Anaea?” I ask upon separating from them, taking another bite of my bread.

“Well, ummm… you see, I actually came here to warn you guys,” Anaea says while twirling her fingers.

I look at Anaea, a little confused. “Hmm… warn us of something?” Realizing what it could be, I light up with excitement and ask. “Let me guess, a bunch of hoodlums are waiting around the corner to ambush us?! Right? …Right?!” I gush while jumping with joy, a sparkle in my eyes.

“Huh? How the hell does that excite you?!” Ramsey asks with a disgusted look.

Maka looks over at the now unconscious Coodray. “Coodray did somehow meet us here, so, maybe Fukai’s right?”

“Umm… guys, that’s not it.” Anaea shakes her head.

“Hmmm… think, Fukai! Think!” I sit down and begin scratching my head, trying to figure out what could be waiting for us. “Hmm… maybe the kingdom heard about our grand adventure? No, that’s not it. Hmm…”

“Listen now, guys! I came here to give you a heads-up. You’re in trouble! There is a certain person looking for you,” Anaea says, seeming a little frustrated.

Being a little cocky, I shake my head in confidence. “Anaea, Anaea, Anaea. When you get to our level of awesomeness, there’s always a ton of people looking for you.”

Ramsey gives me a blank stare, “Idiot,” then looks at Anaea. “Look, I just hope it isn’t that person.” Ramsay looks up towards the palace, a worried look on his face. “I should’ve never listened to Fukai and his crazy ideas.”

“Look, guys! I’m sorry, but I couldn’t cover for you for that long!” Anaea looks away in a panic. “We better get out of here!” She then grabs me by the shoulders and starts shaking me. “I’m not sure if I was followed!”

“The definition of absence: the state of being away from a place or person. Example: The Three Stooges were noticeably absent in class today.” Gwyn says, walking up behind us without making a sound.

“I kind of feel sorry for those three stooges!” I say while laughing.

“Shut up, you idiot! He’s talking about us!” Ramsey shouts at me.

“Like always, Ramsey, you rise to the occasion.” Gwyn looks down at us with a smile. “So, please, do tell me of the adventures that kept you away from class?”