Another unexpected meet up (LanceXRita)

Lance walked down the cold streets of Clover town now dressed in the cloths that Valentine had let him wear. Lance wasn't as cold as he was before seeing as he was in nothing but boxers before so he decided to look around town. He saw a mom and daughter playing in a field "I want a daughter one day..." Lance muttered to himself and he kept walking only to find a shop with a sword in its window. Lance stared at the sword in awe as it was huge and sharp. Lance remembered the sword that had appeared in his hand back at Rose Garden but shook it off and continued walking. His stomach growled and Lance sat down on the wall "I am bit.... hungry..." Lance said dosing off to sleep as the world around him went black and he was asleep on the sidewalk again.

Rita wound up in Clover again, She had gotten a lead that her backstabbing sister could be hiding out somewhere in the town. So far she hadn't found a single trace of Isoko. Now Rita found herself blindly wandering around Clover. Rita noted it was quite cold out and cloudy today she looked up as she walked to find that there were rain clouds in the sky. She sighed and continued her stroll. "Looks like its gonna  ra- She began to think, Suddenly tripping over something. Rita found herself face down in the sidewalk. "Ouch..." She mumbled  as she got back up to her feet looking back to see what had tripped her. "L-Lance?!" She stuttered in question.
"Why the hell are you in Clover?!"
"and your asleep- on the sidewalk?!?!"
"Aren't you supposed to be in Era?!?!?!
Rita asked freaking out comically in a little outburst at Lance.

Lance woke up when he felt someone trip over him "Eh....?" Lance said looking to se what or who it was and when he saw this he blinked a couple times "Rita?" Lance mumbled as he stood up and stared at her as she asked him question "I can ask you the same questions?" Lance said but then his stomach growled "Umm... Rita.... can I talk about the situation I am in over lunch?" Lance asked seeing as he was a bit hungry.

Lance got up seeming to be just as confused as Rita was. "I can ask you the same questions?" Lance asked before Rita heard a quiet rumbling coming from his stomach. A sweat drop trailed down her head at the inconvenience of this. "Umm... Rita.... can I talk about the situation I am in over lunch?" Rita sighed at this as she dusted herself off. "I'm not hungry, but seeing as your stomach is throwing a fit I'm guessing your starving. I owe you, find a place to eat and I'll pay." she decided. Suddenly began to pour buckets of rain as a strike of lightning lit up the sky followed by a roar of thunder. "Maybe we should get out of this rain, just an idea." she said as she gestured for Lance to follow ahead of her.

Lance nodded in appreciation as he hugged Rita gleefully and ran off, grabbing Rita's hand as he did. When he arrived at the first place he saw he walked in and saw that people were everywhere in there and he sort of got a bit excited as he sat down and ordered a steak and some water "So Rita, about those questions you asked me earlier..." Lance said as he sat forward in his seat "I am in Clover because I got off on the wrong stop on the train and I guess I sort of passed out on the street when I was supposed to try to be finding a way to get back to Era. I don't have enough jewels to go back by train but I have a week to get it all sorted out..." Lance said as his steak arrived and he smiled and thanked the man as he started to eat "So, why are you in Clover?" Lance asked between bites.

Rita suddenly found herself hugged by Lance before he ran off ahead dragging her by her hand behind him. Next thing she knew it she was led into a diner. The place was more crowded than she would expect from a small little place like Clover. Rita followed Lance into a booth where he ordered something to eat. "I am in Clover because I got off on the wrong stop on the train and I guess I sort of passed out on the street when I was supposed to try to be finding a way to get back to Era. I don't have enough jewels to go back by train but I have a week to get it all sorted out..."  Rita listened intently on his explanation sighing mentally at the fact that she might end up paying for his train fair in the end. "So, why are you in Clover?"  Rita thought about how she would word her response she couldn't just spit out "because my sister is on a massive killing spree." Rita took a minute mixing the words around watching Lance devour his food unusually quick. "Well... Somthing bad has been going on around here as of late and I've got a bone to pick with the one behind it."Rita took a minute to breath before saying something more in a harder tone "And if I can find her I'll make sure it stops for good!" Rita exclaimed bitterly slamming her fist down on the table remembering how much of a  mess Isoko made of her life.

Lance listened to Rita as he looked around and saw what kind of restaurant he took her to and blushed hard. There were older folks everywhere in fancy outfits and candles lit the area. The table had a white cloth covering all of them. "R..R...Rita" Lance stuttered as he turned around. Lance knew people were staring at him trying to be casual and he had to fit in somehow "You... uhm... You look beautiful today..." Lance muttered as the waiter looked at him and stared. The waiter was blonde and Lance recognized him. The waiter was a guy he had last seen working at a restaurant in Magnolia when he was with Sephiria. The waiter smirked at Lance and shook his head and Lance ignored him. The candle on the table glowed a dim light as it flickered.

Rita didn't feel nerved that they were in a classy restaurant. she glanced around eyeing the people with their pricey clothing. The place smelt of perfume and champagne. Rita rolled her eyes at this she had always been against upper class citizens. She smirked at the fact that she had walked in as casual as she pleased.  "R..R...Rita" Lance stuttered re gearing her attention. Rita rose a brow at the redness of Lances face.  "You... uhm... You look beautiful today..." Rita was foreign to the whole aspect of flirting and tilted her head at his complement. Rita wondered if Lance had a fever or something. "Lance...Are you feeling alright?"She asked concerned. "He's trying to hit on you" a voice hissed at her mentally. Rita whacked herself in the side of her head as nonchalant as she could knowing this 'conscience' of hers had only caused her trouble.

Lance was really embarrassed and things only got worse when the waiter that Lance had seen before walked over to their table "I am sorry your waiter has decided not to come to you're table any more... Oh Lance!" The guy said with a smile at the end "I didn't know you were here..." The guy started as he looked at Rita and had a mysterious grin on his face "and with a beautiful girl like her as well..." the guy said winking at Lance as he said it. "What the hell?!" Lance thought in his mind then coughed and smiled "Yup, I didn't know you were here either... and trying to mess with me and a beautiful girl..." Lance said with a forced but embarrassed smile as he tried to blush anymore.

"I am sorry your waiter has decided not to come to you're table any more... Oh Lance!" Rita scratched her head at how familiar the waiter was with Lance but shrugged it of awfully quick. "I didn't know you were here..." Rita suddenly noticed the creepiest grin on this guys face that made her sink back into her seat uncomfortably. "and with a beautiful girl like her as well..." the waiter said next Rita caught him give Lance a wink at this statement. "Uhh What the hell was that supposed to mean?!" Rita thought parallel to Lance at that gesture. "Yup, I didn't know you were here either... and trying to mess with me and a beautiful girl..." Lance responded followed by a forced smile. Rita rubbed her head trying not to feel nervous she knew something was up but she still hadn't quite figured out what it was. In response she just smiled and nodded. "I'm never going to get the time to investigate at this rate..."Rita growled mentally behind her smile.

Lance smiled when Rita smiled but in the back of his mind he thought "Crap... I would love to help Rita investigate what she is looking for but..." Lance said as he stood up and took Rita's hand "Well it looks like that will be all for tonight!" Lance said laughing nervously as he started to head for the door but the guy interrupted him by stepping in front of him "Man, I sure feel like dancing how about you two?" The guy said as his hand started to glow and Lance's eyes widened as he tried to shield Rita from the attack, but something strange happened.

Lance closed his eyes for a second as the room started to break apart and when he opened them he was in a ball room "WHAT THE HELL?!" Lance exclaimed as the waiter started to laugh a bit "That outfit doesn't fit this scene now does it..." he said as he snapped his fingers and a girl ran into the room in a maids outfit as she nodded and took Lance to a changing room. After Lance was done changing he walked out of the room in a tux and some dress shoes and pants "Fancy cloths..." Lance muttered under his breath as the waiter pushed Lance toward Rita "Now have some fun... dance a little." the waiter said as some fancy music started playing and he started to dance with the girl from before. "I am going to kill him when we get out..." Lance thought in his mind as he faced Rita "Umm... Rita... would you care to dance..." Lance said slowly, taking carful choices of his words.

Before Rita knew it Lance was dragging herself off to the exit. She was fine with it she wanted to leave the strange place as soon as possible little did she know the setting was about to get all the more strange. As they almost made it to the door there path was blocked by the blonde waiter that had came by before.  "Man, I sure feel like dancing how about you two?" The waiter said raising his palm that began to glow, Rita flinched at this preparing for the worst but the absolute last thing she had in mind occurred.

everything suddenly was bright her vision re adjusted and she now found herself in a ball room boxed in by marble flooring and pillars and stained glass windows that towered up like sky scrapers. her eyes widened in awe at the absolutely gorgeous stained glass murals."WHAT THE HELL?!" Lanced yelled breaking her train of thought. She turned back only to see him being dragged away by a woman dressed as a maid. Rita sighed at this as a sweat drop trailed down her head in a comedic fashion like before. Moments later Lance returned sporting a tuxedo. Rita held in a laugh at this. "Umm... Rita... would you care to dance..." "Is he serious?..." she thought confused turning back to Lance. Rita then looked down shyly "Uhh I don't know how to dance..." Rita mumbled digging her foot into the floor embarrassingly. She gulped hesitantly forcing a smile "B-But i'll give it a shot." She said shyly.

Lance sort of took a deep breath and smiled as he saw Rita being shy "Hey, don't worry Rita..." Lance said taking a step back and extending his hand "I don't know how to either." He then said waiting for her to grab his hand and then started to follow what the waiter was doing. Lance waltzed around the room with is eyes full of glee as he danced that eventually he didn't even keep track of what the waiter was doing and just kept dancing. To Lance everything else just went away and it was only him dancing with Rita.

The waiter had stopped dancing and looked at Lance dancing and smirked "I think he finally found someone he truly likes..." He said in a calm but quiet voice as he leaned back in a chair that he had found.

Rita reached for Lance's arm that he had held out for her. She let out a breath reaching and taking his hand. The waltz began slow Rita noticed Lance looking over two others trying to mimic, while she was just having a difficult time trying to match him. It took her a few moments but Rita soon was able to pick up the pace to dance equal to Lance. She began to worry less and less about the time that was slipping by. Rita hadn't taken any time to enjoy herself in ages let alone spend it with someone else. "This is sorta 'fun' I've gotta admit , I haven't done anything fun like this in a while..." she said exchanging a grin as they continued the waltz. she hesitantly cleared her throat. "Are you sure you didn't know how to dance?" Rita asked implying that he wasn't doing half bad at the dance.

Lance kept dancing as he thought about Rita's question "Well, when I was younger I used to practice dancing with Melody or Griffon sometimes when I was younger but... one day they just disappeared from my life..." Lance muttered as he stopped dancing and blushed "I think that's enough dancing for today..." Lance said as the waiter got up and clapped his hands "Hey miss, with that face and the type of attitude Lance has toward you...." The waiter began to say looking at Rita with a smile "You would think he wants you to become his Shadow queen!" He said laughing as Lance glared at him, blushing hard "It's time to go." Lance said and the waiter pouted "That no fun, but fine if you really want to..." He said smiling as he touched Lance again with his hand being absorbed by light. Then everything spun around again.

Lance opened his eyes and found himself in a balcony with candles and the sky was beautiful with stars glistening in the sky. The table the table he was sitting at had a fancy white cloth. The waiter stood by them and smiled "Welcome to the balcony, we are so glad you chose us for your little date mademoiselle and monsieur." The waiter said in a French accent as he placed plates down at their tables.

The dance soon came to a pause Rita learning Lance must of had sibling that somehow are not around anymore much like Rita. She tried to think about what happened hopping they didn't kill each other while he bore wittiness like Rita had to. Soon enough the waiter that had stopped the two before came by to share an awful pun that Rita didn't even quite understand. Just as they were about to leave everything around them changed again.

suddenly they were out on a balcony lit with candles under a night sky. They were now sitting across one another at a table. "Welcome to the balcony, we are so glad you chose us for your little date mademoiselle and monsieur."  Rita now reminded herself that her sister could be causing more havoc at this moment and cringed sick of this guys little party games. She shot the waiter an angry look as she sat up forcefully approaching him obviously fed up. Rita grabbed him by the collar. "You think all of this is funny don't cha buddy?"Rita started in a bitter sweet tone before yanking him closer. "But I've got other plans and I don't have time to play." Rita growled in his face trying to keep a sain expression.

Lance closed his eyes and sighed a bit before having a kind of angry but calm expression on his face as he walked over to Rita and pulled her away before putting a hand on her shoulder and kicking the waiter "I think we need to go" Lance said in a slow but growled tone. The waiter was holding his stomach as he nodded and touched the both of them.

The balcony disappeared and they ended up in the restaurant like before. Lance got up and pulled Rita out onto the streets while the waiter stood in a dark corner putting a black coat on and some black gloves "Oh Lance there is a lot you don't know about me..." The waiter mumbled underneath his breath as he climbed a latter which led to the roof and started to follow Lance silently.

When they were outside Lance sighed as he stared at Rita with a smirk "I don't know what or who you are looking for, I don't intend to know because it is your business and it should stay that way." Lance said with a smile "But either way I wanna help a friend."

Lance Dragged Rita away from the blonde trickster before landing a kick on him for her. Soon enough they were aloud back into the their previous setting. Lance didn't say another word to that guy before he dragged Rita out of the building again. Rita grinned at the fact that she had gotten out of there without paying.  "I don't know what or who you are looking for, I don't intend to know because it is your business and it should stay that way. But either way I wanna help a friend." Lance said turning back to her.  "Uhm... I really would prefer you not to get involved in this one..." Rita said regarding that her revenge had been her own goal for ages. "But If you want to help that bad you can help me pinpoint our suspect." Rita said turning an uncertain look into a smile. Rita noted that Lance was still practically Dragging her by the arm even though they were far gone from that place now. Rita gave a quick and quiet lance before lightly tugging her arm "Lance... You can let go now." She told him. Having ownership of her arm again she continued what she was saying walking beside him. "Anyway...Like I said in there before you know, Some bad things are happening here." Rita began. "She is here, I know It, People are showing up dead." Rita said turning back to Lance giving him a serious look that she hadn't worn around Him before.

Lance blushed as Rita mentioned letting go of her am and stayed quiet as he followed Rita. When he saw dead people coming up Lance grimaced and stared at Rita with a more serious expression "You shouldn't have to fight battles alone..." Lance muttered then looking up and Rita with determination in his yes "If you ever need help with anything just know that you can count on me to help you!" Lance smiled as he said it and grimaced at the bodies "Although this is weird..." Lance muttered as he looked around at the strangely deserted streets and grimaced "Usually these streets are pretty crowded..." Lance mumbled as he shook it off and walked beside Rita "You know why I don't want you to fight your battles alone right?" Lance said as he looked at Rita with a warm smile "Its because if I lost you... I don't know what I would do Rita..." Lance said smiling as he looked up at the sky "So please, don't die..."

Rita never would of thought Lance had all that much to say.  His reason why out of all the words he said struck her the most "Its because if I lost you... I don't know what I would do Rita..." "What does he mean?" Rita thought to herself. She really didn't get the concept of someone caring for her ither she was adapted to the fact that everyone wanted her dead and the opposite of that made Rita happy. She tried not to show any reaction to it but she slipped out a smile before refocusing. "I'll be fine. I'm not going to get myself killed that easily you know...I know who we are dea-" She began only to suddenly throw herself to the ground to avoid something. where Rita was standing a tranquilizer dart now pierced through the wall. Rita quickly  staggered to her feet to identify it only to have it turn into a vapor when she touched it. "Knew it..." Rita lowly said turning in the direction the projectile was fired from only to witness a hooded apparition Run away to the next rooftop. Rita turned back to Lance before demanding something. "Just- Don't follow me. I don't need the help."

Rita ran up to the building leaping onto a dumpster in the alley to boost herself up before shimmying her way u a pipe to the roof. Rita looked around in each direction before spotting her target making there way away. "Not so fast Isoko!!!" Rita yelled chasing after them.  The figure stopped in there tracks reaching a hand outward In Rita's direction. Rita smirked and stopped doing the same.
In a matter of seconds the rooftops became a battlefield as Rita's projected attack fired at her Sister and Isoko's attack fired at her "Is that all you have?". Isoko was able to avoid the darts that came at her with  ease for she had taught Rita how to use these attacks. Rita on he other hand was at a disadvantage for the attack that came for her was allot stronger. Rita partially  moved out of the way but not enough. She was  pinned by a handful of the projectiles that disbursed before leaving there toll on Rita. It had only just occurred to Her that her sister's magic was a combination of both the elements of vapor...and poison. As a result Rita became  unsturdy now unable to see and move clearly. Rita wasn't going to let this pass her by though.  Rita drew her blade from its sheath and ran towards her enemy. In a second Isoko had drawn her weapon two and locked blades with her. "What the hell do you think your doing..." Rita growled. "What I'm supposed to."

Lance saw Rita walk away a bit suspiciously but waved it off as he turned around and was about to head back when suddenly a voice appeared in his head "You may want to check up on the girl... Thank me later..." The voice said and Lance turned around to see Rita was gone. Lance looked around and started to run in the direction Rita went but all of a sudden Van and a group of four others came out of the shadows. "Haha it is I Van!" Van said with a smile as he got scared when he looked at Lance running towards him "GET OUT OF THE WAY!" he yelled as a sword appeared behind him and shot out then split into five and blasted the whole group away including Van. Van rubbed his head then grumbled the walked away.

Lance neared the spot that Rita was at and saw some spells being cast so he hid behind a wall "I have to find a way to help her..." he thought as he stayed hidden. The waiter who had followed Rita to the area decided now was the time to jump down "This may help..." he said as he touched the ground and the area turned into a big dark room the waiter then disappeared.

Suddenly everything around them grew dark. Rita smirked at his because she could still see just fine thanks to her abilities as a shadow wizard, abilities that Isoko didn't have. "Cute... you need your friends to help you with this little problem..." Isoko muttered to her rather dully." Rita let off a grimace bringing her blade in front of her as she lunged at Isoko. Isoko let out a 'tch' avoiding Rita by sliding over. "You cant see?! H-How did you?!" Rita stammered surprised when she missed Isoko.  

A quick red glint came from Isoko's eyes beneath her shawl."True, but you've got your strong points and I've got mine..." Isoko muttered before springing back up where she wen't to kick Rita. Unable to evade her quickness Rita took a crushing kick to the skull getting slammed into the ground. Rita didn't know if it was that kick she just took or what but she began seeing things unclear blurry and fuzzy almost. "That poison is getting to you isn't it?" Isoko started with a smug look spinning her blade. Rita sat up off the floor holding her head that was now bleeding.

"Why the hell are you doing this?..." Rita demanded. A dull glint passed through Isoko's eyes upon answering. "Because I'm supposed to follow orders..." Rita reached for her blade that had slipped out of her grip upon taking the head crushing kick. Isoko must of not like this because she stomped on her arm. "I'm supposed to bring you back with me, but I wasn't told I had to bring you back alive." Isoko said as she sparked a devilish smirk raising her blade on Rita.

(Okay Lance you know the protocol- Save her!!! ._.)

Lance hid behind a wall as he heard what was going on but waited until the area became pitch black to run out and fight "Rita, There is no reason to hide something like this from me!" Lance said as he unsheathed his claws and the waiter walked beside Lance "Whenever you to are ready I am ready to assist..." he said with a smirk under his hood as his hands glowed white. Lance slid his foot backwards ready to attack when Rita gave the signal " Whenever your ready." Lance said as he looked at Rita and smiled. In reply to the lady Rita was fighting he glared at her "At least she has friends who care..." Lance growled as he was about ready to jump but the waiter cast a spell and put the lady in a hard cage that even the she couldn't break and Lance grabbed Rita by the hand and made his escape

Rita knew it was all over when  she was down and Isoko rose weapon on her. She cringed, shutting her eyes preparing for the worst. Instead she heard an unexpected 'clank'. She opened her eyes to see Isoko had hit her weapon on a bar. w-what the? Rita thought now realizing that Isoko was caged. She was suddenly grabbed by the hand by Lance. "I-I said not to interfere!" Rita growled digging her feet in the ground. Rita looked back to the caged Isoko bitterly.

"Think this is enough to trap me?" Isoko hissed at the blonde man from beneath her shawl. "I'll just have to come back another day," She looked back to Rita who was being dragged off by Lance. "Until next time...."Isoko said towards Rita splitting a sneer at her"Mist form..." She muttered before dissolving into vapor that blew through the bars and scattered away like smoke.

Rita looked back to Lance feeling pretty pissed off. She pulled his hand away angrily. "She got away..." Rita grumbled looking at the ground clenching up her fist. "I-I almost had her..." Rita looked up at Lance angrily.  "...If only you would of listened-" she growled at him intensely.  "I-I even told you I didn't need your help!" Rita yelled at him, and ran off the building hopping over to the next running away from him

Lance's face went from an annoyed look to a scowl as soon as Rita started yelling at him "You would have died if I hadn't had come!" Lance yelled back as he clenched his fists. She had pissed off Lance and it wasn't going to end well. Lance felt like going evil but stopped himself because then she really would get hurt so instead he kept yelling at her. "You know that if you died back there I would have blamed myself right?!" he yelled as Rita jumped away from him and ran and feeling pretty pissed off, Lance turned around and left the scene.

Lance ran through the streets and into an ally way where he stood, leaning against the wall so he could be alone. Rita really had made him mad and it was pretty hard for Lance to get over it. Although Lance wanted to be alone, fate did not. All of a sudden Van and his group jumped down from the roofs and surrounded him, grabbed him and tied both his hands together so he couldn't use any spells. "That was a pretty bad beating you gave us back there boy, you should be proud of your self!" Van said with an evil grin "But luck is not on your side..." Van mumbled as he pulled out a knife and put it to Lance's throat "MY old orders were to bring you back alive, but the boss is sick of waiting and said that we can bring you back dead or alive. The choice is yours Lance... Dead or Alive?" he said with a large, toothy grin. "Alive..." Lance growled and Van laughed "Very good!" Van laughed hysterically.