Chapter 8: Living alone
A few weeks after the incident, Joey had a lot of training with Jin. He has already successfully mastered all the weapon styles, also he know any martial art there is on earth and heaven. Now. He is sleeping on a Sunday morning running a little late.
As Joey wakes up and walks to the bathroom he notices his body is more buffed than he was like 2 months ago.
“How long has it been since we got here? Like a month or two?” Joey said to himself. As he looked into the mirror he suddenly thought of something. He thought of home, on earth.
“I wonder if their missing me there. After all I just vanished into thin air in the cafeteria.” He mumbled. As he was done washing himself without any interruptions of Tomoko, Joey headed to Krad.
“Hey Krad, what’s going on in earth? They miss me right?”Joey asked.
“They don't know you, as for they know, they never met a Joey” He replied.
“I see well then I’m headed to the- Wait a minute! They don't know me? Why?” Joey yelled all of a sudden.
“Well if you were to return after a few months all buffed up with weapons on you, things might get a little strange, so we had to delete your existence on earth” He said calmly.
“But still.. no one remembers me, that's kind of harsh” Joey sighed and left the room before Krad could say anything else. Joey headed for the Garden where he sat down in the flowers, he fell asleep and lost track of time.
In the meanwhile Nagisa was roaming around with Rose outside the castle.
“So what do you think about Avo?” Rose suddenly asked
“Avo? Oh Joey, well.. I don't know we don't have anything special together or something” Nagisa said blushing.
“Well you better hurry up then” Rose said
“Why? Did you start a dating service or something?” Nagisa asked
“No, but according to the tales of 200 years ago, you two were married!” Rose replied.
“I know, but I’m only sixteen you know, I have mixed feeling, and I think Tomoko like Joey as well, Actually I think a lot of women in the castle like him” Nagisa said.
“In the end, its up to you two, we cant make you marry, so you can date whomever you want to.” Rose said cheery. “I think he's cute, but Tomoko has already seen him naked so I wonder if I make a chance”
“What?! Tomoko has seen him naked?” Nagisa shouted blushing majorly
“Yes she did, I believe she was in a maid outfit when she saw him” Rose giggled. “Wait, I wasn’t suppose to tell you that”
“hmpf, I sleep in the same bed every night and he doesn’t say a thing to me then.” Nagisa mumbled with a jealous voice. “So Tomoko wants Joey does she, she'll see what a true tempter can do!”
as the twosome left for the castle Krad had summoned everyone for a meeting. In the great hall where everyone was gathered, Nagisa purposely sat close to Joey, on the other side, was Tomoko, blushing and being shy.
“You all may ask why I summoned you here, there is a good reason for that. Our Lord asked us a great matter and I want your opinions on it.” Krad said. “Our Lord wants us to be even closer than just having dinner together, he wants us to really know each other”.
“Get on with it Krad” Marcus said “We don't have all day”
“Very well then” Krad said. “He wants us to live together! In a house like a family”
a lot of mumbling came from the entire room after Krad said they needed to live together.
“What’s the problem people, it'll be fun!” Rose said out loud.
“Fun maybe” Said Jin “but what about our private things? How big is this house? Can we stay separate from rooms? Could our lord be a bit more precise?”
“don't worry Jin, he gave us 'orders' to do this, we must be a family he said, for us to work as a team.” Krad said.
The next few hours Joey, Nagisa, Marcus, Jin, Tomoko, Krad and Rose moved into a small house outside the castle walls. They split up the bedrooms for men and women.
“Okay so I live with a robed man who I know nothing about, a big bear who could kill me with one finger and a guy whose body has more weapons then the American army.” Joey mumbled to himself. As they finished unpacking Rose and Tomoko made lunch for that afternoon. As soon as they were finished they met up in the 'living room'.
“First things first, no boys allowed on the women side or you will get killed” Rose said. “furthermore, I hope you don't expect us to clean your trash so do it yourself!”
“Anything else?” Marcus said “I want to train the kid till he drops down and then have a drink” Joey was thinking of how everyone would be in their ordinary lives. Piece by piece he started to fantasize how tings would be. Marcus would be some old drunk guy who kept yelling for beer, Jin would be the man who was busy cleaning his weapons 24/7, he didn’t know much of Krad so he expected he'd build a shrine to God and sit there praying all day. For Rose he had this cheery role in the family in his mind, more something like the mother who couldn't shut up. For Tomoko he saw her as a maid of the house, that didn’t surprise him after the incident in his own room with her wearing the maid outfit. And last for Nagisa.. well he couldn't think much of her, for all he knows she is always mixing up potions and not getting trained in any way.
“So, its a family right? So who's going to do the cooking?” Joey asked. Everyone became quiet as he said that. Everyone look at everyone else for something to say.
“I cant cook” Joey said, “And I don't think any of the guys can cook either”
“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Marcus yelled “Is this because I’m the 'big sweaty bear? Or that Jin is an 'Assassin for hire' or that Krad is a pervert?!” everything became quiet as Marcus said Krad was a pervert.
“I euhm.. just like women a lot” Krad said “He stood up and went to the men side of the house and closed the door.
“For someone in Heaven.. Can you even be a pervert here?” Joey asked. “I mean isn't that a sin or something?”
“Not for Krad” Marcus and Jin said at the same time
“Being a pervert isn't really a sin, but Krad is a sin himself that perverted, he always has cameras on him” Marcus said. “But just leave him be, if you get to know him, he's an annoying pervert, but I'd never want to pick a fight with that guy, I’d be dead within the minute” Joey never really thought of Krad, surely he knows he must be strong, and he makes chats with God an all. But to be so powerful to beat Marcus in a minute? Then Krad must be strong. And a pervert according to Jin and Marcus.
“I'll cook” Nagisa said suddenly. “we were heading of topic, so I'll cook. don't like it, then its your bad” she said.
“Psst Nagisa, that's not really a way to tempt Avo huh?” Rose whispered in Nagisa's ear
“Shut up, let me do it my way okay?” She whispered back.
For the next few hours everyone did what they wanted to do. Krad was still in the room, Jin was doing just as Joey presumed he would do, he was cleaning his weapons. Only Marcus said as he would do, he was training Joey until he drops down on it. As a result of that, he couldn't see the girls and what they were doing. In the end of the day everyone was having a drink in the soul area where the dead people go. The town in heaven is always very quiet and peaceful. Also cheery when drinks are served in the local pub 'Holy Booze'.
“Hey waitress, give me another drink!” Marcus said, drunk as he could be.
“This is totally how I expected Marcus to be in a pub” Joey said
“Wait until you hear him snore” Jin said sipping his glass. Also the girls were here, they weren’t drunk like Marcus but had wine and had a good time, only Krad wasn’t in the pub. Joey didn’t drink because he knew that something in these drinks was bad, for anyone to get drunk on those things at night would be bad. So he left for the house. As he arrived in the house he saw Krad outside doing something he couldn't see.
“What are you doing Krad?” Joey asked.
“Putting up cameras now everyone is gone, Marcus is right I’m a pervert, but don't worry the cameras are only at the girls side” Krad said smiling. After that everyone came back and went to bed.
The next day would be a hard training day for Joey, since now Marcus and Jin have all the time in the world for Joey.
The day following after that Joey was training hard with Marcus and Jin, they were making him evade throwing knives and hit metal dummy's bare handed.
“don't you guys have a freaking Job or something? You must have something better to do then to bully me around all the time.” Joey said.
“No we have no lives if your referring to that!” Marcus said.
“And besides, you must be ready for unexpected attacks like that one night with Bahzaal remember? That could happen any time of the day now” Jin explained calmly. Suddenly Rose came outside.
“Have you guys seen Nagisa? Its time for her potion lessons now her old teachers are in the castle, I'm going to teach her.” Rose said.
“I think she went to the market to get some stuff.” Joey said while hitting metal dummy's and evading flying knives. “Why isn't she learning any techniques, or building up her muscles just like me? I'm doing all the hard work in here!”
“well you were a lot stronger than she was 200 years ago, so she trains less than you.” Jin said. :its only natural that your the stronger one and that she is only there to support you with potions and that sort of stuff”
“but still, while she is grinding up a few leaves I am getting- Argh!” As Joey was trying to finish his line, a knife flew into his ribs leaving him bleeding.
“that's what I mean!” Joey said “The only dangerous thing that can happen to her is that she might mix a potion up wrong and there will be a small explosion. But I get a freaking knife in my ribs damn it.” as Joey pulled the knife out Krad came walking out towards the group.
"I think it is time for you to develop magical powers..” Krad said calmly. “Too much training of the same kind is wrong for someone with your status, it will be a whole challenge to switch over from brutal strength to inner peace though”. Krad was right, all he has been doing so far was to build up his muscles and learn fighting techniques. Joey had no idea what he was supposed to expect now, after all, he was training with Rose if he were to practice magic.
“Well then Rose, it seems were stuck together for a few months.” Joey said while getting healed by Tomoko. As he stood up Rose seemed happier than usual.
“Oh I'm so happy Avo! I finally get to train you! This is so exiting!” Rose said while making a small joy jump. “You go to your room and I will take care of some robes you need for my training! don't worry! I wont make them pink,” Rose hurried out to the market in heaven without saying anything else.
“It seem you got some time off” Krad said. “I suggest you use it wisely and freshen up a little bit before beginning your training in magical arts.” That was a good idea, Joey went into the house and took a shower, as he came out he was surprised he didn’t see anyone naked yet for three weeks. Although he did suspect that someone would stumble upon him looking at the different incidents with coming out of showers. Joey got dressed and looked for a peaceful spot in the gardens and started meditating.
Within the next hour Rose came back from hopping for Joey's robes. She saw him meditating and smiled.
“Hey there! I got you something!” Rose said cheery. Joey opened his eyes totally calm. When he saw Rose's face he couldn't remember how long he had been meditating, he was totally relaxed. He stood up and took the bag from Rose. He looked inside and here were some white colored robes in there. Joey smiles and took them into the house to change. As Joey came out wearing the robes Rose started giggling.
“Hey Tomoko! Look at this” Rose said. Tomoko came to Rose and saw Joey. She suddenly started blushing majorly. She whispered something into Rose's ear which Joey could barely hear.
“He looks cute in them right?” Rose said without embarrassment.
“Your quick in saying such kind of things” Joey said. “But were not here for a fashion show, I’m ready to train Rose. Joey made a bow towards Rose and she looked serious, which is a rare sight.
“First you need to create Magic, this is the hardest thing of your entire training, because magic is in your heart. Magic will change your whole soul once you find it.” Rose said. “Purity or corruption.. which choice has your soul for you? Meditate and look for the answer.”
Joey sat down closed his eyes and started thinking.. about his journey for magical powers.