HSV Team 5 - Happy Nude Year (Pt. 2)

Everything seemed to move in slow motion although the drunken man picked up his pace as he drew closer. They saw the streaking Hade rushing towards them, pausing his trek and his song only briefly to lift his bottle in their general direction and wink. "H'ppy Nude Year!" he shouted before stumbling off in the opposite direction.


Fei bit back a chuckle. "Did he just say what I think he just said?"


"I'm afraid so." Tamiko muttered, her eyes still hidden behind Benkei's unmoving hand.


For a moment none of them spoke, but the silence filled with the renewed (and louder) song-styling of their former Seduction teacher as he launched into a whole new tune…

I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - Baby it's cold outside
This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice
My mother will start to worry - Beautiful, what's your hurry
My father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Put some music on while I pour

He sang both parts of the old-school duet; his voice raising then lowering in tone. The off-key notes hit the frigid air and fell flat, and even the fish in the pond seemed agitated by the volume of the liquor-fueled solo.


"Benkei!" Akiko squeaked, covering her ears and keeping her gaze glued to the ground. "D-do something!"


"Me do something? Why me?"


"You're a guy! It'll be a million times less awkward for you to deal with him than one of us."


"That's what you think! And what would you like me to do with him anyway?"


"Maybe you can talk him into going home?" Tamiko offered gently moving her boyfriend's hand but making certain not to look in the direction Hade had gone. "It's worth a shot."


"She's right," Fei added. "We need to do something. We can't let him wander around the village like that. Think of the children!"


"And think of the frostbite," Akiko said and bit her lower lip.


Benkei made a face. "Fine. We do need to do something…"


The members of Team Fei looked at one another, uncertain of what their course of action should entail. Already the man's singing was fading into the winter night, and they knew he was getting too far away. They needed to act fast before they lost track of him or the wrong person found him.


"Come on, team," Fei encouraged them. "You're all Chunin now. Yo- I mean we can handle this. He's just naked. No big deal."


Tamiko and Akiko glanced at each other. "Um, right," they said in unison, although they didn't sound entirely convinced. Benkei just shook his head.


They discussed potential strategies on the run. Despite his drunk and naked state, the tall man was quick on his feet and had gotten quite a distance from where they'd found him in the short time that they'd been trying to decide how to handle the situation. If he decided to stop his impromptu concert before they caught up, it would be much harder to find him.


"For the last time, I am not tackling him, Akiko!" Benkei grumbled.


"Just trying to help." She grinned.


"I have an idea!" Tamiko exclaimed as a flash of skin peeked through the trees not far ahead. "Gah!"


She dropped her eyes to the ground as they stopped to finalize their plan. Seconds later, Benkei slipped off his jacket; he and Fei ran full speed in order to get ahead of Hade. They stood on either side of the path with the coat stretched between them. Tamiko and Akiko used their respective elements to create a cloud of steam, hoping it would give sufficient cover until they managed to get the situation under wraps. Working with restricted vision seemed like a small sacrifice under the circumstances.


The singing stopped as the cloud encompassed the area. Tamiko and Akiko both started to slip off their coats as well.


Akiko looked at her friend and shook her head. "Use mine. It's a hand-me-down from my sister anyhow."


The girls heard some commotion from within the fog, and taking a deep breath, they moved ahead together with the coat held between them. They were grateful that a park light somewhere nearby offered them some visibility, but still, two pair of eyes stayed locked on the glimpses of deep blue through the mist; it seemed like the safest focal point.


"Yes, you look fabulous," the heard Fei saying as they closed in. "It's definitely your color."


It was awkward for the girls to get the jacket wrapped around Hade's waist while staring at the back of his head, but somehow they managed. They breathed a simultaneous sigh of relief as the last of their fog cleared away to reveal a somewhat properly censored Hade.


"Great job, guys," Fei said. "Now let's get him home."


Hade spun around to greet the new arrivals, his bottle held high. The sudden movement caused the two coats to slip and fall to the ground. "H'ppy Nude Year, everybody!" he exclaimed.


And a Happy Nude Year to all the members of Heartshrine from Team 5! We regret NOTHING!