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Adventures in Transdimentia
by Shala-chan
Part Two
"Dinner!" Sai yelled. People and cats came running from all directions. Penina started laughing and shook hands with Sai. Dinner wasn't ready yet. They just wanted someone to set the table.
Of course, the dark looks they received almost weren't worth it . . . but the look on Kento's face as he realized he'd have to go hungry for another fifteen minutes was priceless.
"I only see fourteen," Penina said to Shala.
"Er, yeah, well, Jing isn't here yet," Shala said. Everyone looked at her. "WHAT?" she asked defensively.
Ten minutes later, five minutes before dinner, Shala was talking to a sleepy-looking girl with long black hair when Rowen walked past, giving Laila "the tour."
While gesturing into the room, he noticed Jing, and stared, as Laila enthusiastically shouted her hellos and bounced around. Nobody really noticed the duct tape necklace around her throat.
"Oh yeah. Jing, I believe you know who this is," Shala said, pointing to Rowen.
"Well, yeah," Jing said, "hi Rowen. Where are the other guys?"
"Waiting for dinner. And now that's two of Shala's friends who knew who I am just by looking at me. Even I can't figure that one out."
"Trans-dimensional portal. I'll have to explain it to you sometime so you can tell Ryo," Shala said.
Rowen stumbled over the words.
"Trans-dimensional portal? Then all that stuff you talked about is true . . . I'm confused."
"I thought you never got confused," chorused the three girls.
"But there's no books about that! At least, not that I've been able to find . . ."
Shala grinned, fished her arm through to another side, and grabbed two items that she always knew the whereabouts of. (Considering her trans-dimensional abilities and scattered brain, this was amazing.) She handed Rowen a towel. And a book.
"This won't help at all," she said, "but you will be pleasantly confused. Read it after dinner."
She left, taking Jing with her. They immediately began to discuss whether the meaning of life was 13 or 42. It happened a lot.
"Well . . ." Rowen said hopelessly to Laila. She looked at him.
"They're friends of mine. Well, everyone Shala brought is. At least, I think so."
"Friends of yours? Think so?"
"C'mon, dinner'll be ready soon."
"So you mean to say," said Sage to Cole, "that lava lamps really, well, you know."
"I think so, yeah. Now back to girls . . ."
"I DON'T GET IT!" Ryo yelled. "Kento, why did you have to ask me this? Why did you have to let me hear?" Chuckles the duck quacked.
"Nobody would tell me," Kento explained patiently. "I thought you might know."
"Dinner!" Penina called quietly.
Stampede followed.
Somehow, there was a place for everyone at the table. Penina sat down, while Sai brought the remaining food to the table. Kento, of course, immediately began cramming food into his mouth.
Cole looked plaintively at Shala. She sighed, got up, went into the other room, and returned a moment later with something in her hand. She tossed it to Cole, who immediately began to eat the bagel. Poppyseed.
Sai looked a little injured. Penina glowered at Cole.
"What?" he asked. "I had a craving. Any peach spritzers around?" Laila slugged him.
"So who is everybody?" Mia asked.
Shala had forgotten that she'd forgotten to do all-around introductions. Oops.
"Charf scrunch mmf?" said Kento. Everyone looked at him. He swallowed. "I said, can we discuss this after dinner?"
"Yes, you produce-consuming biped," said Rowen.
"Ro," said Sai softly, "that was pathetic."
"Well, excuse me, but I had sugar."
"Me too!" Laila piped up. "Oh, thanks for the pixie stick, Rowen, by the way."
"Did you eat the whole thing?" Jing asked suspiciously. Laila nodded. "WHATEVER POSSESSED YOU TO DO A STUPID THING LIKE THAT?"
"I like sugar," Laila said defensively. "You guys never let me have enough of it." The four people she was addressing snorted. "Besides, we had fun with duct tape, too. Right, Rowen?"
"Oh, yes." Rowen smirked. The other Ronins gave each other worried looks. "It isn't that bad!" Rowen protested.
Everyone continued eating. There was little further conversation.