A loud grumble broke them from their conversation. They both gaped, staring at Ruzo’s furry stomach and back at each other, before they broke into a thunderous laughter.

“I guess we should head back.” Tsugi stood to her feet.

“I didn’t even realize how late it was.” Lugo’s stomach let out a growl too. “And we haven’t eaten all day! I am famished.” He sighed.

“Come on.” Tsugi laughed. Ruzo quickly got to his feet and followed behind them. “We can stop by the market and pick up some things to cook.”

“What are we cooking?”

“We?” Tsugi cocked an eyebrow at Lugo.

“Yeah…we. I’ll help.”

“Okay. I was just going to make potato and bacon soup.”

Lugo’s stomach grumbled. “Mmmm, sounds delicious.” Tugi chuckled and shook her head.

***

“Peel the potatoes.” Tsugi handed Lugo a basket of potatoes and went to mince garlic, rosemary and oregano.

“So where’s this Ellie girl you were talking about?”

“She’s working with Master Lumes today. Hopefully she’ll be here by the time we are done making dinner.” Tsugi finished mincing the herbs and set it aside on a plate. “What are you doing?!” Tsugi ran over and grabbed the potatoes from Lugo. “You’re only supposed to peel the skin, not take off chunks of potato along with it! Look at this!” She pointed at the waste bin. “You’ve wasted so much!” She sighed, exasperated. “Go cut the bacon into little pieces.

“Okay…sheesh.” Lugo raised his hands in defense and went to pull the bacon out.

Tsugi peeled the potatoes and chucked them into the pot of boiling water, before frying the garlic and herbs in a thin layer of oil and tossing the bacon pieces in after it. “Mash the potatoes and return them to the pot with that jar of milk.”

Tsugi pulled out a chunk of meat and went to the back door to toss it at Ruzo before returning to the counter.

Lugo chuckled. “Still as bossy as ever.”

Tsugi pouted and narrowed her eyes at him.

“Well, you are.” Lugo muttered. Tsugi glared at him and he flinched ducking around the counter. She smirked at his response and turned her attention back to the sizzling bacon bits.

SPLAT

Tsugi’s mouth gaped open with a chunk of mashed potatoes stuck onto her cheek. She slowly turned her gaze across the counter to Lugo, who was grinning smugly and sucking the mashed potato off his fingers.

“Oh, you are so getting it.” Tsugi scooped up some mashed potatoes and chased Lugo around the counter, the table, through the living room and back. Mashed potatoes were splattered across the house and the once quiet abode is now filled with laughter. Tsugi dove after Lugo, and he leaped over her running in the opposite direction, pushing her to the ground. Her face met with the wall in a loud thud that left a red mark on her face, and a little blood dripping down her nose.

He smirked at her and continued to dodge her, running to the opposite end of the counter. She wiped the blood with the back of her hand and jumped up. Dashing toward him, she knocked him into the ground as they wrestle, putting each other in choke-holds and arm-bars.

SMACK SMACK

They both blinked wildly, astonished at the searing pain atop their heads. They both had each other in an ankle hold, with their legs intertwined, lying on the ground. Looking up, Ellie was standing and frowning down at them.

{Are you two still teenagers?! What are you doing?!} She signed angrily. {You trying to burn the house down?!}

“Crap!” Tsugi released Lugo and quickly ran to check on the bacon, but Ellie had already moved it off the fire. Some of the pieces were a little burnt, but most of it was fine.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

{Sorry.} Tsugi chuckled at Ellie who was still staring at her. {He threw mashed potatoes at me and then we just got carried away.}

Her face relaxed a little and she let out the breath she was holding. {At least move the food off the fire next time.} She scolded.

Lugo stood up from around the corner, his mouth gaped and he stared at Ellie. “So it’s a real girl.” His eyes wide.

Tsugi tilted his head and chuckled. “Of course she’s a real girl, you act like you’ve never seen a girl before. What did you think she was?”

“I just…I thought…” His eyes darted side to side. “Uh…never-mind.” He smiled. “You going to introduce us?” He stood tall and fixed his face into a pronounced polite expression.

{This is my friend Lugo.} Tsugi signed to Elllie.

“Lugo, this is Ellie. We were both training under Master Lumes.”

Lugo placed one hand behind his back and held out his other hand, bowing politely. “Nice to meet you, Lady Ellie.” Tsugi interpreted to her as Lugo took her hand and kissed her knuckle before releasing her hand.

{Oh, he’s so polite, and handsome! I see why you like him.}

Tsugi blanched. {What?! I don’t like him! Not like that! He’s just…a friend.}

Ellie gave her a wry look and raised an eyebrow at her, making Tsugi flush. Although, Tsugi couldn’t understand why she was feeling uncomfortably bashful. They really were just friends after all.

“Can she not talk?” Lugo glanced between the two of them, with a puzzled expression.

“Oh, sorry. Yeah, she’s deaf and mute. She can’t hear or talk.”

“Oh! Okay.” He nodded in acknowledgement.

{What?} Ellie asked Tsugi, and she explained to Ellie what Lugo was asking about.

{Did you need help with cooking?} Ellie stared at the food on the stove.

{No, it’s almost done.} Tsugi turned her attention to the food and mixed everything together with what’s left of the mashed potatoes. She poured in the milk and allowed it to heat up on the stove on low heat. While it warmed, they went around the house and cleaned up the mess of mashed potatoes that were speckled across the surfaces.

{Did you two revert to being teenagers or something? Why are you two having a food fight all over the house?} Ellie chuckled.

{He started it! I didn’t even do anything. I was just cooking and then he flung mashed potatoes at me.} Tsugi pointed to what was left of the mashed potatoes on her cheek.

{You also have it all over your hair.} She laughed. Tsugi ran her fingers through her hair and combed out little chunks of potato. {I’d have to say that I’ve never seen you behave like this. Not even when we were younger. I’ve never seen you get this playful and laugh that much before.}

Tsugi blushed. {Is that a bad thing?}

{No! Not at all! It’s a good thing! It’s nice to see you like this. It’s just a little weird seeing two grown-ups act like teenagers.} She chuckled.

{You know, I’m surprised he hasn’t hit on you yet.} Tsugi glanced at Lugo, who was wiping mashed potato residue off the ceiling. {He used to hit on every girl we met when we were younger.}

She rolled her eyes. {Probably because he can’t communicate with me.}

{Oh right! I’m so used to it, it’s just second nature and I keep forgetting.} Tsugi shook her head, in disbelief of herself.

Ellie glanced at Lugo. {He is really handsome, and lean, look at his muscles!} She fanned herself dramatically as her cheeks turned a bright pink.

{Oh my goodness Ellie. You have drool dripping down your chin.} Tsugi chuckled and shook her head. Tsugi glanced at Lugo and she too noticed how handsome and alluring he was. His long beautiful silver hair that was slightly spiked, yet tickled his forehead; his perfectly symmetrical face that was beguiling; his masterfully honed body that popped veins out of his arms; his abs that popped out of his tight shirt and his toned buttocks and legs that tightened as he tiptoed to reach the ceiling.

The clearing of Ellie’s throat brought Tsugi out of her reverie and she could feel heat rising up her neck and to the tips of her ears. {Speaking of drool, you have a puddle by your feet.} She cocked her eyebrow and laughed loudly before returning to the kitchen.

Tsugi knew that Ellie was joking, but just in case, Tsugi wiped her mouth and looked toward her feet.

Good lord, Tsugi’s lost her mind. What the hell is wrong with her? Gawking and blushing?

Tsugi tilted her head in confusion and followed Ellie into the kitchen to check on the food.

***

“So have you two been together the whole time since you left?” Lugo put a spoonful of soup in his mouth.

“Yeah, she was there way before I was. According to Master Lumes, she’s a prodigy.” Tsugi blew at her bowl of hot soup. “Did you meet anyone on your journey?”

“No, no one that joined us for a length of time anyways. We only met people when we stopped briefly at villages en-route.”

“Are you okay?” Tsugi tilted her head and stared curiously at Lugo. “You’re usually the first to hit on women, so this doesn’t seem like you. You’ve also gotten quiet since she’s gotten here.” Tsugi smirked. “Let me guess, you’re shocked by her beauty right?” She chuckled.

“No!” Lugo’s cheeks flushed. “I just…I just don’t know what to say to her.” He pouted.

Tsugi broke into a thunderous laughter at this new flustered Lugo. “You must really like her. I have never seen you act like this before.”

“No!” He pouted and ate his food vigorously.

{He even looks adorable when he’s upset.} Ellie chuckled.

{It’s funny because I have never seen him get flustered before. He’s always so brazen, it is odd to see him like this.} Tsugi laughed and shook her head.

“What are you two talking about?” He glowered.

“Nothing.” Tsugi quickly shook her head and ate her food.

Lugo narrowed his eyes and quickly finished his food. “Well, it’s late. I’m going to bed.” He stood up and washed his dish before retiring to his bedroom.

{Testy.} Ellie smirked and they both broke into a roaring laughter.