Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ Ivy, Shaman Runaway ❯ “Welcome to PatchDonald’s; Can I Take Your Order?” ( Chapter 2 )

 

“Welcome to PatchDonald's; Can I Take Your Order?”

I had by no means ever been allowed to go out in public without Hao before; he said it was too dangerous, and he didn't want to lose me. Something about the X-LAWS getting me. He said it as if he actually cared about me, so, of course, I figured he was lying. He could NEVER care about me. I was his little pet. A superfluous, expendable, tool; one of his possessions. Little did I know that I knew nothing of his true motives.

 

I just never saw the X-LAWS as a threat. `What would they want with me? I never killed anyone (on purpose).' So I wasn't worried as I headed off toward the shopping center area of the Patch village. Actually, I was rather excited.

 

Every previous time that I had run away I never got very far before Hao's men found me and drug me back to him, so I had never gotten a good look around the stores before I was again taken captive. Usually it was the Hanagumi, my “big sisters” that found me, but it wasn't so bad. They usually bought me something before they took me back to my little prison.

 

Do I even have to mention how totally psyched I was to escape from that little hut and go out on the town? I couldn't wait. Then I realized I was broke. Hao never gave me any money in case I decided to skip town. “Damn.” `Oh well. I'll find some other way to get what I want.'

 

As I walked down the city street I soon got lost and began to notice that every shop and store had `Patch' in the name. The whole village was a like an advertisement! “God, they must be poor.”

 

“Actually the tribe is very short on money right now.”

 

I jumped as I heard a strange male voice from right behind me. I didn't really think anyone would reply to my comment. I spun around and came face to face (more like face to mid-drift because of the height difference) with Silva, one of the ten overseers of the Shaman Fight. I only knew his name because he was Yoh's overseer, and Hao had let me tag along to watch Yoh's matches.

 

“Can I help you?” I asked innocently, hoping he didn't remember me as being with Hao.

 

“That's what I should be asking you. Would you like any refreshments Miss?” Silva asked cheerfully, and it was then that I noticed the Patchdonald's uniform he was wearing.

 

“Oh…no. No thank you. I'm not hungry.” I lied. In actuality I was starving, and my stomach would pick that moment to growl.

 

Silva raised an eyebrow at me and inquired yet again, “Are you sure you wouldn't like something to eat or drink Miss?”

 

*Sigh* Time to come clean. My gaze cast downward, I replied, “I'm starving, I ran away from my abusive group, I'm lost, and I'm broke.”

 

“Take this.” I glanced up at the object he held out to me. It was a Patchburger.

 

I starred at him for a moment before saying, “But I'm broke.” He simply shook his head at me, smiled, and forced the food and 100 Patchdollars in my hand.

 

I just stood there looking stupid, gapping at him. He continued smiling and bent down to whisper in my ear, “Good luck getting away from Hao, Ivy.”

 

“T-thank y-you…” I barely managed to spit out.

 

Silva's smile weakened a bit as he murmured, “You'll need luck. Yoh's group is staying almost on the other side of the village. It's a thirty minute walk from here. Take this map, and get going.”

 

And so I turned and started running. I wasn't really sure where I was running to, but I was making great time. After about five minutes straight of running, I was dog tired, so I pulled over at the Patch Café for a mocha and to look at my map.

 

I seated myself in a booth and got my mocha before pulling out the map. “Let's see. I'm here at the Patch Café, and I want to go… *tsk tsk tsk*” I clicked my tongue as I scoured the scroll for the Patch Inn that Yoh and his group were staying at. “Here!” I sprung straight up at this exclamation, and I got several strange stares because of my sudden outburst. I silently reminded myself that maybe it would be best if I kept a low profile. I sat down again and shrunk back into my window seat.

 

I had always loved to sit in window seat booths when at a restaurant. I could stare out windows for hours without getting sick of it. Nature was beautiful, and the people were fun to watch. I use to sit—no wait…it wasn't me; it was who I used to be. Judo Tao, the girl with a family and a life, she used to sit and pick certain people to watch in the park back in Funbari, not Ivy, the abandoned and abused damsel in distress of today. Judo loved to sit and make up the life stories of everyone she saw; Ivy sat and wished to have a life like everyone she saw. I had become a pathetic creature ever since Tao En had informed me that I wasn't really his child.

 

*Jingle* an annoying bell rang as the door of the café opened. I looked up from my map to see none other than: `Oh shoot! The Hanagumi! I gotta get out of here before—`

 

“Oi! You!” Kanna cut me off in mid thought. My whole body stiffened as I awaited my fate. “Waitress! Get me a tall mocha latté!”

 

`What the heck! She's ordering coffee when she's supposed to be looking for me! Doesn't she care about me at all?!' I know I should have been relieved that they hadn't noticed me yet, sure, but Kanna, Mari, and Macchi could at least act like they cared.

 

As the girls took a seat at the counter Macchi raised an eyebrow at the self-appointed, blue-haired, leader, “Uh…Kanna?”

 

*Humn*? Kanna grunted in response.

 

“Shouldn't we be looking for Ivy like Master Hao said? I'm worried about her; she's never been out alone for this long before. What if the X-LAWS found her!?” Macchi shot straight out of her seat, and bounced up and down, spazing out in a way totally unique to the hyperactive, orange-haired girl.

 

“Then I feel sorry for the X-LAWS; they don't stand a raindrop's chance in a raging volcano. That girl is capable of giving even Master Hao hell. She'll be fine; she's one of us after all.” I have to say that I was touched by the amount of confidence that Kanna showed in me.

 

“Mari tsumanai. Kanna should hurry up and help Macchi and Mari find Ivy, so they can go home.” Mari forever amazed me at her ability to continually speak in third person. I could never do that. It would involve too much thinking about not adding first or second person pronouns.

 

Macchi took this chance to try yet again to convince Kanna of the danger I was supposedly in, “Mari's right Kanna, we have to find her soon. She's been gone for almost an hour now…”

 

“Enough you two!” Kanna slammed her drink down on the counter top. “I told you she's fine. That girl is a master at almost all the forms of shaman there are, plus she has that weird power. The little hellcat can protect herself. Let's let her stay out for the day; she never gets to have any fun.”

 

`Will you look at that—Kanna really does care!'

 

Mari's foreboding, childlike voice broke the loving moment, “Kanna would be more worried if she knew what Opacho said to Mari.”

 

“And what did Opacho tell you, Mari?” Kanna's voice wavered slightly as she asked not knowing if she wanted to know the answer.

 

“Opacho said that Ivy was in such a hurry to leave, she forgot her beads, all her weapons, and her ghosts. She's out there somewhere completely defenseless, and what's worse; the baka probably hasn't even noticed.”

 

`Double damn. Nice going; good luck getting yourself out of this one, Ivy.'