Curiosity Killed The Fox [OPEN]

[Aice]

Aice was a little surprised when Ume whipped out the small bag with some sorta of cookies inside of it. He hadn't even taken notice of the item until she pulled it out, thinking back he didn't even notice when or where she got it. As she explained to him that she had taken it from the shop Aice chuckled a little. Not too much different than Aice himself she was a natural born thief, if it hadn't been for all the commotion that had been going on in the shop with all the yelling, and falling objects he might have noticed. Even if Cazzin had noticed it's not like he could be any much madder than he was at the moment, what was he going to? Handing the small bag to Aice she apologized for what happened in the store, that it was an accident and she only really wanted the blanket.

Aice smiled slightly at her apology and the gift, not because he was laughing at her but because the whole situation was pretty funny to him. The girl had destroyed a whole shop just to get a soft blanket, out of all the ridiculous stories that he had never heard this one was in the top ten. Aice had been a little irrtiagted but he couldn't stay mad at Ume not when her fuzzy ears were shot up and her tail wagging, it warmed his hearth slightly to see her so apologetic over the matter.

"It's alright Ume no need for a apology, just next time... if you need help just ask me." Aice smiled, taking the small bag of cookies.

"And hey at least we didn't leave there without a free gift."

Aice couldn't remember the last time he had something as sweet as a cookie, sugar was pretty hard to come by here in the slums. Usually if you could find anyone selling sugar, it was way to expensive to even imagine buying. For the most part if someone wanted something sweet they'd eat a fruit or head into Rad city to steal something. Even though the gift was a very thoughtful one given the situation, Aice knew that they wouldn't last forever, especially considering he still had Winta too feed also. Winta was tough though, Aice was sure they could manage for a few days until he managed to scrap up enough trade goods to barter off.

Untieing the top of the bag Aice broke into the small container and pulled out the sweet crumbly cookie, already he could smell the sugar wafting off of it. Breaking it in half he tossed part of it into his mouth, resting it on his tongue he let the sweet taste float around in his mouth. Just from the taste alone Aice suddenly felt better, not physical but more alive, he had almost forgotten what sugar tasted like. Grinding the cookie against his teeth he slowly broke the cookie up making sure to enjoy the taste as long as he could, eventually there wasn't much else he could do other than swallow it.

"That was...amazing." Aice said to Ume.

"You have to try this." He said as he handed Ume the other half of the cookie.

Wheter or not Ume decide to take it or not was up to her, regardless Aice sat there for a while after thinking about the current situation he was in. Most likely would just have to steal up to the point were it was no longer necessary and he could trade for what he needed, being that few places took coins it could be a while. Aice was ok with stealing it made been a part of his life through most of it, and with each passing day he was better at it than the last. However Aice was not ok with the fact that all the jobs he had done for coins we're a waste of his time now, the coins he had on him were worth no more that the metal they were made from. It just seemed that all that time he had done on those jobs could have been spent on something more productive, maybe next time he would just accept trade goods instead. Sighing to himself he looked up at the bright orange sky; the sun was beginning to set over the horizon. Already the markets were almost completely empty, the few that hung around we're usually up to no good, best to leave before they get any ideas.

"Looks to be getting late Ume, I don't know...if you have a place to stay...but if you want-"Aice said awkwardly until he was cut short before he could finish his sentence.

"AICE!" Cazzin's voice called out.

"What the fuck?"

Aice glanced back over from where he had heard Cazzin's voice coming from, sure enough the man was angrily making his way down the street with a few guards in tow. Just from one look at the man Aice could already tell that whatever reason he was heading this way, it wasn't going to be good. Standing up in front of Ume he faced the direction Cazzin was coming from.

"Hey there Caz, what bring you out here this late?" Aice said causally.

Stopping a few feet away from the two, Cazzin looked madder than Aice had even seen him before.

"Aice, all the years we have done business together have had their up's and down's like any friendship, and like any good friendship you try to ignore the bad times and focus on the good. I've done my best to do that, but no more, we are finished FOR GOOD."

Aice was taken back at what Cazzin had told him, they had always had fights in the past before but nothing ever as bad as this. He almost couldn't believe what he had been told, Aice thought he was pulling some kind of elaborate joke on him but one look at his burning eyes told his other wise.

"Come on Caz, you can't be serious! Most of those bad times we're caused by your creed, and poor planning. It wasn't my fault that those things happened, if it wasn't for me your store would have been empty years ago!"

"Regardless! You have been too much trouble for me in the past, and if I hope to continue my marketing plan I can't have you messing me up. It was fun while it lasted. I just came here to deliver this message in person, thought I owed you that much."

"What about all the guards?"

"Oh these? Never walk the street alone, I always keep two guards with me at all times."

"And the extra ones?"

"Oh don't you remember our little conversation in my now destroyed shop? I'm more than sure her tail would fetch me enough coin to build another shop."

"What did I tell you, if you wanted to get to her you have to-"

"I'm well aware of your words. You don't have to do the fighting if you can hire someone to do it. Good bye Aice."

Turning back towards the way he came the extra guards formed a wall behind him blocking any access to the Cazzin's. He could go straight around these men and take down Cazzin, but that would mean leaving Ume all by herself to face off against these brutes. Aice could not let that happen, he would never leave someone behind to defend for themselves not when he could make all the difference.

"Ume, they're coming after you. You can run and I'll take them on, find yourself a safe spot and I will find you later."

Aice had no knowledge of Ume's fighting skills and based off what he had seen she was a bit clumsy and naive he didn't want her getting hurt in a fight if it could be avoided. Ume could decide to stay and fight or go into hiding, but either way they would be facing off against four well built men with swords.

[Ume]

"It's alright Ume no need for a apology, just next time... if you need help just ask me."

"B-But I'm still sorry for what I did back there..!" Ume yelped, as she slowly released the back, as Aice took it. She still had remorse over her actions, and the slightest regrets of doing so. The furry had no intention of destroying a store, not even. All she wanted was the blanket, nothing else. It looked so soft and just enough for Ume to bury herself into, but she can't just blame it all on herself and forever remain in her guilty thoughts. The furry didn't even knew much to begin with, but at least try to have common scene and have someone help her out, one way or another, but here, Ume wanted to be the type who can do things on her own, one of those typical tough people who prefers to work alone and have no assistance. Apparently, that didn't even work for the furry at all.

"And hey at least we didn't leave there without a free gift."

Ume gave a smile when she heard those rules. Like another other fox, or from what the furry learned back at her home, she heard that foxes were the type of animals that likes to steal, in that matter. The furry really didn't believe it at first. She actually thought she just borrowed it instead. Her mind just likes to keep it clean like that. Ume didn't really knew what she just "borrowed", either. It looked good to her at first, so might as well take it! The furry wasn't really used to the snacks this planet has. For the fox, only insects were a snack to Ume. God knows how the furry finds insects delicious, but they just were. It was probably the blood inside that tasted so delicious, since it was a little salty, or salty Ume would like to call it.

The furry watched as Aice opening the bag, taking out a cookie, broke the cookie in half, and throwing one half in his mouth. "S-..So, how does it taste?" Ume asked, as she tilted her head, one ear up high sky, with the other one lying down with curiosity. Of course, these seemed to be sweets, so there is a possible chance it might taste good. The furry doesn't really know what these sweets, or sweets in general were made out of, so that left Ume clueless.

"That was...amazing."

Did the snack really tasted that good for Aice to use the word "amazing"? Wow... Is it really that good? Ume wondered. She never really tried earth snacks, so she wouldn't jump into conclusions as she was try to right away.

"You have to try this."

Should Ume really try this little snack? The furry wasn't really in the mood to consider it, after what she did at the store. She also had her meat, so she was okay. Ume would at least have Aice keep the rest, and maybe the furry ask for some of the snack later. "No thanks, I'm not really hungry right now." The furry spoke. She wasn't really hungry at all. Ume had her saved meat, so she was good for now.

"Looks to be getting late Ume, I don't know...if you have a place to stay...but if you want-"

The markets did then slowly became empty each minute, as the sun in the sky slowly faded off. Looks like it's getting late.. Ume thought The furry didn't also had a place to say. The outside was her bedroom. Was Aice trying to suggest for her for a place to stay for the night with him? Or just for the furry? Just when Aice was about to finish his sentence, he was then interrupted by a voice. It was that guy from the store, who appears to be the store owner, and he didn't look so happy either. More, could be like it, as then, they both started to throw words at each other.

Ume was just lost at the bickering these two were having. Her head still in the same confused position she made before, when Aice tried out the snacks. It was probably of course the young fox just spacing out as she always would. But, what caught her attention was the sentence: "her tail would fetch me enough coin to build another shop." "Wait, what?" Ume yelped in the conversation, as she broke off from her spaced out state, but it seems like it was too late for Ume to butt in and have a say for this, and with that, the man already left.

With Aice turning back to Ume,

"Ume, they're coming after you. You can run and I'll take them on, find yourself a safe spot and I will find you later."

Ume wasn't really the brightest in hide and seek. Not only that, but with her fox tails and ears, she instead wanted to help. "N-No! I want to help you!" She blurted out, with an anxious smile. Those weren't really the exact words the furry intended to speak. She found this little up coming battle to repay Aice for what she did back at the store, and getting him banned from it and all, but Ume didn't really know if she could put herself up with the test. The furry didn't really look that confident when she said those words all of a sudden, but it would be worth a shot to help out, instead of hiding off like a coward.

[Aice]

Aice cocked his head around to look at Ume at her refusal to leave him alone to fight the men, he was surprised that she would stay with him. It wasn't so much as the fact that he thought she might have been a coward but he had no idea what kind of fighting experience she had if any. The look on her face told Aice that she wouldn't not leave his side, if she believed that she was capable  of fighting them then that was enough for Aice. Even though he had vowed to protect her from the men he was glad that she had stood by his side, loyalty was something that was difficult to find in people now a days. Most people would have left at the first sight of trouble, out of the many people he had met through out his adventures he had only known a few in which he could really rely on, and it seem that Ume was one of them.

"Glad to see that your sticking around!" Aice smiled at Ume.

"Are you done having your little moment?" One of the guards said, the tone of his voice growing impatient.

"Oh I'm sorry, are you waiting for us to finish? Have a important date?" Aice said mocking the man.

"Alright boys, I'll take him and you get the girl, remember the one that gets the tail get the bonus." The man flashed a evil smile at Ume.

"Over my dead and mangled body." Aice glared at the man.

Drawing their swords the men began to approached Aice and Ume, however Aice had plans for the man that tauted Ume. Jetting forward with all the speed he could muster Aice slammed in fist into the gut of the man. With the unexpected speed of Aice the man had no idea of the coming attack, knocking the air out of him the man collapsed onto his knees. Noticing that he had loosened the grip of his weapon Aice povited on his right leg, picking up his left leg he swung it at the man weakened grip. Normally the attack would have failed being that Aice was not physical the strongest but with the weakened grip and the foot pivot he was able to knock the sword from his hand. The sudden impact of the disarm caused sword to flip uncontrollably in to the guard standing next to him. Though not enough to fatally injury the strike was enough to make him cry out in pain, as blood dripped down from his arm. With his right leg still pivoted on the ground he used it to jump back to where Ume was at, kicking up dust as he did so.

The fight wasn't any where near over, even though Aice hits were direct they weren't strong enough to take the two men down. However, they were indeed wounded as the blood ran down the mans arm, quickly falling into the dusty ground. The guard he had struck in the stomach stood back up with a pained look on his face.

"Not so cocky are you now?" Aice taunted the man.

Things would be a bit more difficult from this point on ward, not knowing what he was capable of the men had lowered there defenses; a poor move on there end. Now that they had seen what he could do they were ready for his next attack, and with men there size it would take much more than what he had done to take them down completely.

"Alright, enough games, get them boys!" The man called out.

Taking lead the rest of the men followed behind him, with such a short distant between them it would only be a matter second before they reached the two. Luckly for Aice and Ume the men where much slower than they were strong, if they could just keep light on there feet the match would be much in there advantage. However they couldn't keep up with the men they would most likely have to disarm them and fight hand to hand.

"I got your back Ume." Aice grinned at the fox girl, charged balls of energy in his hands.

Aice was sure he could take down the men with his sonic boom but with Ume being so close he didn't want to risk the chance of hurting her. Especially with her ears being much larger than a normal humans, he had no idea of what might happen if he did the technique. Aice could however electrify them all but at the same note he was curious about what Ume could really do, having never seen her fighting style before.

"I'll hold back a bit and she want Ume is capable of, but if it comes down to her getting injured I'll jump in."

[Ume]

"Glad to see that your sticking around!"

"I'm glad I'm sticking around too!" Ume barked. Of course, the furry could use this time to test out her battle skills. There would be a likely chance the furry wasn't really going to survive in this fight longer as she would expect, but that was part of her negative thoughts coming, but it wouldn't be too safe to stay more confident on it instead. Either way, Ume was glad to help out Aice, instead of just hiding, but the furry did have some thoughts when she was thinking of the choice to hide. They wouldn't really work out.

"Alright boys, I'll take him and you get the girl, remember the one that gets the tail get the bonus."

My.. Tail..? Ume's mind went, as she grabbed onto her own tail. What would they possibly want with her tail? Why would they want my tail for..? The furry wondered for a moment. The furry would appreciate it if any of her special traits would be left out of this. Ume understands for the fact that she just destroyed a shop, but why was her tail brought into this? The furry was more surprised that she wasn't called out or at least was known as a threat, a little like the last time the furry was brought up to this planet.

"Over my dead and mangled body."

With those words that came out from Aice, the men then drew out their swords, then charged at both Ume and Aice, but the kid then went for one of the men that touted the furry, which had the fox girl left with the other men for a short moment. I think I can this.. The furry said in her mind.

Ume jumped into action, as she got up to her two feet, then dashed to one of the men. It seems that the furry was a little quicker then the men judging by their size, but not actually fast enough. Bolting around, then behind the men, the furry leaped into the air, landing herself on one of the mens' back. With Ume behind, she opened up her jaw, showing her little canine teeth, her teethes snapped at the man's back she was currently on's neck. This wasn't really one of Ume's best moves to show in this battle, but she was saving one of her actual attacks for later, just in case.

[Aice]

Having jumped back from the large man Aice had a front row seat of when Ume jumped into the fight, Aice was excited to see exactly what Ume was capable of doing. Watching her with great insight Aice laughed slightly when she sunk her teeth in one the mans neck, it was quite unexpected for Aice but given her nature it was something that she probably did quite often.

"Wouldn't call it fighting so much, but whatever it works."

Movement from the side of Aice caused his attention to snap back to the rest of the fight, just in time as a sword came swinging down towards Aice. Being as quick as he was Aice was able to slide to the left, with the sword coming down where he just was. Smacking the man's arm with a open palm, he sent the weapon off to the right dragged it's owner along with it, having not expected the sudden counter the man's stance was now off balance. Falling in towards his striking weapon he drew in closer towards Aice, seeing his chance Aice brought up his other arm over his already extended one and punched the man in the face. Not being the strongest person on the block his attack wouldn't be enough to send the man sprawling on his back, but still enough too cause his vision to blur as he fell forward. Not waiting to be captured under such a great weight of the man Aice slid off to the side again to avoid the falling man. Landing on the ground next to Aice the man was on all four clinching his face where he had been struck.

"He's down but I better take him out."

Being that he was standing right next to the fallen man Aice had a prefect position for his next attack, bring his leg up over the man's he brought it back down heel first onto his neck. There was a slight groan that came from the man before he collapsed onto the dirt covered ground. Turning his attention back to the remaining three men they seem to be preoccupied trying to grab Ume off one of the men's back. Having little luck as the girl was locked in against the man's neck as he yelled out in pain, they pulled at her waist trying to loosen her grip.

Getting a running start Aice lunged at the man who previously been stuck with another sword, the wound was still bleeding from all the movement he had been doing. Hitting him at the waist Aice wrapped his hands around the man's waist tackling him to the ground, creating a cloud of dust around the two.

[Ume]

Ume still continued to have her teeth remaining gripped on the one of the mens' neck. This wasn't her best, or smartest move yet for this battle, but it was better than to use her actual attacks. It was probably just one of the furry's little signature attacks. Either that, or her little canine senses came to her. The taste of the man's neck wasn't so good either.

She then had her waist gripped by the two men, as they tried to pull her off. Successfully, Ume released her clutch on the man's neck, and was no pulled away. Childishly, the furry started swinging her hands around violently, with her fingers all curled out. Ume did had some sharp nails, but weren't quite long.

"Let go! Let go! Let go!" Were the same two words Ume kept repeating, as she kept on swinging her little nails around, trying to land a hit on one of the men. Her battle position right now wasn't all profession or even amateur looking, but it can do some good, right?

[OOC: So sorry for this short post. Trying to get some muse juice up and running.]

[Aice]

Recovering from the tackling the man the cloud of dust they had kicked up when they slammed into the ground began to settle around them, unfortunately Aice had put too much effort into the tackle and sent them quite a few feet away from the others. Looking back he could see the men stuggling to get Ume off the back of one of them it would have been amusing if not for the fact that there lives were in danger. Finally the men were able to yank the young fox girl off the man, Aice could see the blood dripped from the neck of one of them. Even though her attack hadn't been fatal she had dug in pretty deep on the man, as blood ran down the length of his back. Finally getting a grip on Ume one of the men wrap his hand's around her arm getting a tight grip onto them, after all the work he had done to get her he wasn't about to let her go that easily. With her arms bound in the man's grip there wasn't much else she could do other than kick her feet and wiggle in the man's grip, even as larger as the man was, it was taking all his strength to hold on to her.

"Ah! She fucking bit me!"

"It's not that bad. now hurry up and lets get that tail of hers!" The two men yelled at each other.

Aice's eyes widen as he was the man drew the sword from his sheeth making a scrapping sound against the leather casing, glinting in the setting light on the slums. Trying to move forward Aice tripped face first into the ground, being pulled by the leg he was lifted high into the air. While paying attention to what was happening to Ume he had forgotten about the man he had just knocked to the ground, giving him enough time he was back on his feet holding Aice up side down from his leg. Being off the ground was something that Aice would have difficulty with, having nothing to get friction with he was pretty much a hanging rag doll. Aice lacked the physical strength to break free from the grip of the man, he would be albe to wiggle around like Ume was doing but it would have been a useless action. Hanging there with little to no defense the man took his fist and slammed it into Aice's gut caused him to wheeze out in pain, coughing for air he spat at the man.

"Is that all you got? I've been hit harder by a falling lamp!" Aice gasped for air.

"Hold on Ume, I'll be there soon."

[Ume]

Ume's little jaw attacked seemed to leave some damage on one of the men's neck, but her attempt of wiggling herself out of the men's grasp. I-I can't get out like this! Her mind panicked. There wasn't much ideas as the furry had in mind, or at least, anything battle-wise. This was pretty much her first battle ever, so she is quite lost on what to do. As much as she's very concerned for Aice's current condition, Ume had bigger problems to worry about, and the first problem on her list was her tail almost getting cut off. Think Ume, think! What do I do?! What do I do?! Her mind continued to panic more, as she was worried for her tail, and that's, where an idea struck first in her little animal head.

I got it! Her head cheered. Pulling forward her right foot up to her chest, she then swung it back, attempting to hit the man's "manliness" area. Hopefully, it would do good, but if not, there's only one more trick up on her sleeve she can use. It might be risky, considering she's already gripped on so close, but it might be worth it. If not, then let her tail forever rest in peace.