Baron set up a small table in the middle of the Trade Center's walkway, much to the annoyance of the general populace. Next to it was a large rolling cart filled with books that were old and decrepit, some with pages falling out, and some without pages at all. Each was marked with a tag. One of them in particular stood out because it was new, bright blue binding and the words "Water Magic" scribbled on the spine in bright green crayon. The tag on it read 5000 GP.

So, who's the lucky sucker... I mean, customer... for today?

Kira paused, eyeing the rather... interesting item being sold and grinned in private humor. Because the two of them were in disguise to keep their identities hidden in the root town- safer and because it was fun to play pretend sometimes- she didn't have to worry about being recognized by any of the Eventide Crescendo members... or those in the Army of Darkness. Reaching over and hefting the book in one hand, the currently pale blonde ponytail swung forward over a blue and white furred collar as she smiled at the boy behind the cart.

"How 'bout 5250 for this thing? Bit of extra for the trouble."

God was this going to be fun.

Baron, who happened to be wearing a pair of glasses low on the bridge of his nose, a patched old vest, and a cap, looked every bit like a old pawner sitting at his stool. How he loved to play around.

"I'm sorry, m'am, but with those rare markings on the side, I'd have to raise the bar to at least 5,500 GP. Of course, with a kiss from the pretty lady, I could be tempted to lower my prices a little more."

Unfortunately for Baron, he was currently a bleeding seal in the middle of a pool of sharks. As in; these were the exact kind of games that Kira liked to play and had all too much experience playing in.

With a heavy, almost melancholy sigh, mournful jewel colored eyes rested on the book before drifting up to the Twin Blade's face.

"You must have worked so hard for this, it's really a shame that I'm not able to afford that 500 you're asking for..."

She was going to win an award for best fucking actress ever.

The arctic blue clad woman shifted closer, leaning with both hands on the table, seemingly unaware of the way the garment parted in just the right way in the front.

"Lower it to 5,250 and I'd be more than willing to accommodate you, if you know what I mean."

She shrugged one shoulder flirtatiously, a coy wink adding to the suggestive comment.

There was no chance for the poor Twin Blade perched precariously on his stool behind the book stand. As soon as the woman leaned forward, he leaned back in shock, falling onto his back, slamming his head against the floor. No one bothered to look at the noise, simply because they were in the Trade Center. Odd things always happened there.

A moment later, Baron was back on his stool, irritated at the small bump on the back of his head. While the woman before him was stunning, no doubt, pulling moves like that was just going to make him dig in further. Resetting his glasses and restooping his back so that he resumed his role as a crotchety shopkeeper, he started again.

"You're not like most blondes, miss. I almost thought you had planned that in advance, but that might be giving you too much credit. However, between the rare volume there and my new medical bill, I might have to raise the price to 5,500 GP and the kiss."

Oh sure, blame the woman for the male's natural instinctive reaction. Kira thought with a mental roll of her eyes and smiled sweetly, disarmingly, and fluttered long dark lashes in his direction, angling herself to perch on the edge of the table and examined teal colored nails a moment.

"You'd blame lil ol' me for an unstable stool?"

A gratuitous amount of hurt and pout went into the incredulously asked question, tapping her fingernails in a careful, idle manner on the wood of the stand, she tried to look like she was thinking hard- when in all actuality she was ready to shove the bag of GP in a place where the sun didn't reach without encouragement- before a bright idea seemed to hit her a good thirty or so seconds later.

"Ooh, I know what I can do to make it worth your while!"

She gushed with... a somehow naughty sounding giggle at the end. One hand pressed to her mouth, as if she were trying to stifle the sound, before she removed it to speak and shifted her weight a little more. One foot gently perched on the far corner, exposing a length of shapely leg and revealing that there indeed was a slit on the side of that dress-like karate wrap she wore.

"I could... kiss your boo boos too in addition to the 5,250 I'd be more than willing to pay you."

She smiled coyly, looking demurely at him from half lowered lashes as she awaited his response.

Baron considered, peering over the rims of his glasses as he eyed the woman before him, glancing up and down to get an idea of exactly what his "reward" was going to be here. The woman was dressed in what was probably a purposefully seductive dress, and yet, he couldn't help but stare. It was the curse of being the better gender. The Twin-Blade-turned-shopkeeper knew he was taking it too far already, but though he knew exactly what was going on, he couldn't resist playing it a little bit further.

"Well, alright, m'dear, I guess that's fair. One little peck on the cheek should make all of my aches and pains go away, if you're so inclined."

Kira was going to kill him for this, but it was so worth it.

Peck on the cheek huh.

For a moment, Kira almost felt it was a damn cryin' shame that the kid wasn't able to feel anything about to happen. More because she liked playing with her fo-err-prey, yeah, that was it, her prey a little too much.

Ahh well, might as well give him something else to blush about. It'd be fun giving him hell about it later.

"Sounds like a good idea to me! Lean forward a bit pleaaaaaase." "

When had she had this much fun again? Oh yeah, not in a long freaking time.

So when he leaned in, Kira had to resist the utter temptation to revert to her normal, more than dominating self, and grab him by the collar to drag him closer. Part of her wanted his reaction if he really did go through with it. The rest of her? Was grinning her ass off wondering how far he was going to play the game.

Baron paled, wondering what Kira was planning as she leaned forward. Was she really going to go through with this? The Twin Blade was sure that she had recognized him by now, and yet she was playing her part too well. Maybe it wasn't Kira? Maybe it was just a mistake? No, that wasn't it. Kira was planning something, that was more than clear. But if she was going to get him for this, then Baron was going to make his move first.

As Kira leaned forward, Baron did as well, turning his head to present one cheek. The female Long Arm pressed her lips against him, making him long for such an event in the real world, where he'd be able to actually experience, but Baron was surprised at Kira's finesse. He had thought she was all warrior, no woman. Well, aside from her appearance. Still, she was very remarkable, skilled in her technique. Baron couldn't resist one last dig. He leaned a bit closer, breaking the contact between them, and whispered in Kira's ear, so that only she could hear.

"You're very good at this, Kira. You must have had a lot of experience with a special someone, hm? And here I thought you had a heart of ice."

Well, on one hand? She was pretty damn impressed with the kid for actually going through to it. On the other? Never again would she do that with someone not in "The World"; it was just spine shivering; and not in the pleasant way either. There wasn't a name for the feeling either, like they were there but not at the same time. Definitely on the side of creepy feeling.

After drawing back, fluttering her eyelashes and about to make a shy, silly comment, when she heard the comment. Son of a bitch, he'd figured it out had he? Well, she was gonna give him some serious shit about it.... right after she made him feel like a complete and total dumbass.

Hurt and an angry flush immediately covered her features as she made to slap him, open palmed, across the face with an indignant huff.

"You dare?! You- you big jerk! I offer to be nice and everything and you just, just,"

The blonde haired woman buried her face in her hands and proceeded to burst into loud tears.

"You call me by another woman's name and have the nerve to say I've done things with others?! JERK! Meanie!"

Baron winced as soon as he saw Kira draw back, surprised for even a moment. Had he actually hit upon something there, by sheer luck? That was a bit of a problem. Of course, he knew he was on thin ice, and it was about time to fall through. It was sink-or-swim time. As Kira made to slap at him, the Twin Blade deftly caught the wrist, not wanting to be hurled halfway across the Trade Center. He knew what Kira could do. He tried sweet-talking his way out of the scene that was being made.

"Pardon me, miss, but I believe it's simply a case of mistaken identity. You remind me of a friend. As for the other remark, I was complimenting you on how well you kissed, since it was so natural and well done it seemed like you were experienced. I deeply regret my mistake, but that's no reason to attack the shopkeeper. Keep up this naughty attitude and I'll have to raise prices again. Now, we've decided to settle at 5,500 GP. Let's end this little transaction, shall we?"

Like hell he was getting the full amount he wanted.

She sniffled, glowering at him suspiciously as she wiped at her eyes with a corner of her dress, revealing more leg than should be considered proper as she replied.

"You're not a nice person if you would say something like that, especially if it's to another girl."

More sniffles as she tugged her wrist free and cradled it like he'd hurt her, shoulder slumped and her lips settled into a hurt pout as she shook her head.

"For being a big meanie, I'm only going to say 5,350. No more."

Baron stood up from his stool, walking around the side of his desk to approach Kira. She wanted to play this game, did she? Well then, he'd play his part too. Maybe in the end, he'd make a profit. Grasping her free hand in his own with a light grasp, he raised it up to his lips and lightly kissed the back of it.

"I'm sorry, young lady, if I made you upset or offended you in any way. Please accept my sincerest apologies for anything I have said and done. I meant no harm, and I hope you can see it that way. How about I let the price stand at 5,500 GP, and then I'll see you out, at very least? Does that sound reasonable, to begin to show the depths of my sorrow at causing tears to flow down your beautiful face?"

Oh, there would be hell to pay, but at the same time Baron couldn't ever remember enjoying himself so much.

Kira made a mental note never to let him near any of the women she knew; and definitely nowhere near Sekai if he was going to pull this kind of crap. Sniffling and quite clearly still pulling off the 'I'm very insulted and mad at you" attitude most blondes she'd seen were more than proficient at, she narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the rather gentlemanly gesture.

"Even if you escort me out, you really hurt my feelings and were a big meanie. If I wasn't so low leveled, I'd teach you how you should, like, really teach a lady!"

She seemed to think for a very, very long moment before sighing, slipping into a sulking pout of a stubborn girl probably more around the age of 13 or 14 than, well, whatever Kira was.

"5400. Not a GP more."

Had she mentioned she was actually rather good at playing different roles?

Baron nodded at the proferred price, knowing that Kira was likely digging her heels in at this point, and wouldn't go any higher. Handing the Water Magic to Kira after recieving the money, he bowed once.

Well, that hadn't gone too badly.