The Dreamie Sweets shop was having it's grand opening, and Kaz and Chris were invited to sample the delectable new sweets by the shop's owner and Kaz's good friend, Cherry. The two boys got there pretty early, as they knew there would be a line if they waited too long. They weren't the first ones to arrive, but they were luckily towards the front of the line. The two conversed happily as they waited.
	“Thanks for inviting me out, Kaz! I do love me some sweets~” Chris exclaimed.
	“Ha, I know! And this shop is supposed to have some crazy flavor combos.” Kaz informed.
	“Hmm, can't wait to see~ Maybe I'll have to try something like … Chocolate and Kaz~” Chris teased.
	Kaz blushed, getting flustered. “You dork...”
	The two continued to banter with each other as the line began to slowly move along with the store's opening. Kaz was super excited and while Chris was as well, he couldn't shake a strange feeling he had. Chris felt like he was being watched … observed by a third party. Chris had been feeling this for a few months now, but always shrugged it off. He thought to himself 'That's ridiculous, I'm just buying candy', but the feeling persisted. As they reached the doors, Chris took another look around, but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.
	“Come on, Chris! It's our turn!” Kaz chided his friend.
	“Alright, alright! Keep your pants on!” Chris chuckled.
	For a moment, Chris' uneasiness subsided as they explored Dreamie Sweets. The place was HUGE, as if it was bigger on the inside from what it appeared on the outside. There were all kinds of different stations, serving different types of candies, sweets, cakes, and desserts. Kaz grabbed Chris' wrist and dragged him over to one of the cake stations to try the Triple Chocolate and Strawberry samples.
	“Whoa, calm down bud! You'll rip my arm off!” Chris jokingly complained.
	“Oh, sorry! I'm just DYING to try this!” Kaz replied apologetically.
	“If you like that, you should check out the 18+ section in the back~ We have many alcoholic varieties as well~” a voice cooed behind them.
	The boys turned around to see Cherry, sporting a bright pink and white striped outfit. It was skimpy to say the least, exposing a lot of his body. Both boys blushed brightly.
	“Haha, welcome boys! I'm glad you could make it!” Cherry smiled happily.
	“Wouldn't miss it for the world! I was getting in regardless of how long the line was!” Kaz exclaimed.
	“Oh, you could have called me! I would have go you in, VIP style! You are my wonderful guests after all~” Cherry winked.
	“It's alright, we're here now! Thanks again, Cherry!” Chris replied.
	“No worries, sugar~ Let me know if you need anything~” Cherry teased, patting Chris' cheek before retreating to greet other guests.
	“Wow, Cherry looks great.” Chris blurted out loud.
	“Cherry always looks good. Curse those alien genes of his. Aliens have it WAY better than us.” Kaz scoffed playfully.
	“Oh, don't be too hard on him. You could say it's perfect 'eye candy', right?” Chris chuckled.
	“You dork!” Kaz laughed.
	The two continued to sample all forms of treats and desserts. Everything was going great until Chris got the strange feeling of being watched again. He glanced around the shop, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary; just a full shop of eager candy enthusiasts. However, as if to confirm his suspicious, Cherry came up to Chris and gave him a big hug.
	“Whoa! Nice to see you too!” Chris blushed.
	“Listen, sugar,” Cherry whispered in Chris' ear. “There's been some … interesting folks following you around the store. I know of them, you should probably take Kaz and head home. I'll take care of it.”
	Releasing Chris from the hold, Cherry smiled sweetly and walked away. Chris briefly wondered if Cherry would be ok before shaking his head to focus. He found Kaz by the “Evolving Candy” stand.
	“Chris! OMG! This candy starts off as just a normal sugar drop, but CHANGES based off what you're craving! Isn't that INSANE?!” Kaz gushed.
	“Haha, yeah! Hey, uh, you mind if we head out for today? I forgot there was, uh, something I need to do today! I'm such a dummy!” Chris laughed nervously.
	Kaz raised an eyebrow, but then just shrugged and smiled. “Okie dokie. Not like the shops going anywhere.”
	Chris took Kaz by the hand, which Kaz blushed at, as he hurried them out of the store. Kaz grabbed a multi-colored lollipop before leaving, knowing Cherry wouldn't mind.
	“This one is supposed be INCREDIBLY long lasting!” Kaz said excitedly.
	Chris faked a laugh and kept pressing on. If Cherry knew who was following him and didn't elaborate on who, it was probably bad. He absentmindedly wondered if it was some other aliens when the weird feeling hit him again. They're still following?! Was Cherry ok? Chris took a quick turn around a corner into a nearby alley, dragging Kaz with him.
	“Whoa! Hey, where are we going?” Kaz questioned curiously.
	Without a word, Chris flashed a bright light, blinding Kaz for a moment before it had appeared Chris vanished.
	“Chris?! Hey, where are--” Kaz began.
	“Down here!” Chris yelled.
	Kaz looked down to see a very tiny Chris. Kaz sighed, picking up his now miniature friend.
	“What's going on, Chris? Was this all about your … powers or whatever?” Kaz asked hesitantly.
	Chris had told Kaz about his 'strange powers' after an incident between them a few months ago where Chris had eaten Kaz through weird circumstances and somehow brought him back with no memory of it happening. Kaz was no stranger to people with powers, hell he was practically surrounded by people with insane abilities. However, it felt different with Chris somehow. Chris could see the apprehension on Kaz's face.
	“Hey bud, I'm sorry. I know I said I'd cool it with my powers, but this is a bit of an emergency. I think I'm being followed. I don't wanna risk using my powers to fight if I have to, so I just need you to hide me!” Chris explained quickly.
	“Huh?! Being followed?! By who? Chris, what--” Kaz started, before hearing footsteps around the corner.
	Without thinking or hesitating, Kaz lifted his hands to his mouth and shoved Chris inside. Chris yelped, shocked that he wound up in his friend's mouth. He figured Kaz would just put him in his pocket.
	“ACK, KAZ!” Chris grunted.
	Kaz shoved Chris into his cheek as two figures rounded the corner into the alley they were in. Chris grunted at the now cramped space, getting drenched in warm, thick saliva.
	“Ugh … Damnit Kaz!” Chris complained.
	The two strangers before Kaz were dressed in brown and black trench coats, one a tall blue and white dragon and the other a short black cat. The two looked around momentarily before acknowledging Kaz.
	“Greetings, good sir.” The cat spoke, his voice light and friendly.
	“H-Hullo ...” Kaz spoke, talking around Chris.
	“We're sorry to trouble you, but we are looking for … a friend of ours. His name is Chris, and we heard he was traveling with you today.” the cat smiled politely, something oozing behind the surface of the statement Kaz couldn't quite pin.
	The dragon remained silent, arms crossed and only watching with a stone, stoic gaze. Kaz backed up instinctively, his back touching the wall behind him. The cat stepped forward, his smile not wavering.
	“I uh … I haven't seen him since we left the candy shop. He had to go somewhere … in a hurry.” Kaz replied.
	The cat's smiled stayed plastered on as he spoke again. “How was the candy shop, by the way? Cherry is also an old friend of ours. We heard his candy was, quite literally, out of this world, haha. What kind of candy are you currently eating, I wonder?”
	Kaz froze, panic clear on his face. He composed himself quickly and tried to play it cool.
	“I-It tastes great! C-Cherry is really good at making treats, haha.” Kaz replied nervously.
	“Really? Let me take a look then~” the cat spoke smugly as his smiled widened a little, grabbing Kaz's lower jaw to open it.
	Without even thinking, Kaz swallowed nervously. Chris who was being thrown around as they spoke felt himself be sucked down into Kaz's throat.
	“KAZ?! WA--” Chris cried out as he was swallowed down.
	The lump that was Chris traveled down Kaz's throat quickly, disappearing into his chest. The cat opened Kaz's mouth a second too late, looking around at the empty maw.
	“Was is that good? We will have to check it out more ourselves, won't we partner?” the cat glanced over at his dragon companion.
	The dragon still said nothing, only letting out a huff through his nose.
	“Ever charming, aren't you?” The cat chided before returning his gaze to Kaz and letting go of Kaz's jaw. “Well, if you happen to see Chris, would you give us a call? We would greatly appreciate it.”
	The cat handed Kaz a shimmering card, with strange letters he didn't know and a phone number below that. Kaz simply nodded in silence.
	“Then we bid you adieu~” The cat cooed before turning to leave with the dragon in tow.
	Kaz stood in the alley, frozen for about a minute before calming down enough to realize what just happened.
	“OMG I ATE CHRIS?!” Kaz cried out.
	Kaz quickly began running home as fast as he could, not intending to jostle Chris around in his gut.
	“OH COME ON! THERE IS CANDY IN HERE TOO YOU KNOW!” Chris complained.
	Kaz's belly gurgled and groaned around the candy and Chris, hungry to dissolve it. Kaz couldn't contain a few belches as he continued to run.
	“Urp … Guh, I had way too much candy … BURRRRRP”
	Kaz got home and ran to the bathroom. He put his head down towards the sink and braced himself.
	“Oh god this is going to suck, ugh.” Kaz groaned.
	After a few terrible minutes, Kaz successfully coughed up his friend. Chris was still conscious, which was good, but his face was turned into a grimace, which was not good. He was completely drenched in stomach slime, with a mix of candy coloring thrown in. He wiped his face clean before speaking.
	“You just had to swallow, huh?” Chris grumbled, shaking his hand to the side to flick off more gunk.
	“I'm sorry, I panicked! Those guys were TERRIFYING.” Kaz cried.
	“It's fine, all things considered. You did help me out, so thanks.” Chris sighed. “But if you don't mind, I'mma clean up now.”
	“O-Oh, of course!” Kaz replied and hurried out of the bathroom.
	Kaz waited outside as Chris showered off, appearing in the doorway back to his normal size.
	“Showers are so nice. Feeling fresh is feeling best.” Chris said offhandedly.
	“Yeah, I'm glad all of that is over and done with.” Kaz sighed in relief.
	“Weeeell, not quite.” Chris smirked, snapping his fingers.
	Suddenly, Kaz's size reduced down to the size of paper clip. After recovering from the disorientation, Kaz looked up at the now mountainous Chris.
	“WHAT THE HECK?!” Kaz yelled.
	“Well, even though you DID help me out, you also DID swallow me sooo …” Chris chuckled, plucking up Kaz between his fingers. “I think it's fair to do the same to you~ You know what they say, 'an eye for an eye'! Or rather in this case, a gulp for a gulp!”
	Chris lifted Kaz over his face, opening up wide to reveal the inside of his mouth. Kaz blush, but squirmed all the same.
	“CHRIS, NO DON'T!” Kaz pleaded.
	“Don't worry! I'll reform ya like last time!” Chris replied, dropping him.
	Kaz fell quickly, splatting on the wet and warm tongue. He slid down like a water slide into Chris throat, which happily accepted him with a loud GULP. The bulge trailed down Chris' neck and slowly disappeared into his chest, Chris sighing out in pleasure.
	“Ahhh, that always feel so good. I just love swallowing you, Kaz~” Chris remarked smugly.
	Chris rubbed his belly, letting out a loud belch and licking his lips.
	“Of course, I didn't say how long I'd keep ya, haha. Enjoy being me for a bit~”
	
~*~

	Tick yawned widely, the cat putting his foot up on his desk. Tock, however, stood stoic at the door, the dragon not looking pleased.
	“Lighten up, big guy. We'll get him eventually. He can't run forever.” Tick glanced at his partner with one eye open.
	“He completely disappeared from our scanners. You know where he was hiding.” Tock grunted in a gruff voice.
	“What did you want to do, rip him out? You know we can't harm that one.” Tick replied, serious for once.
	Tock just groaned, leaving the room. Tick sighed, pulling out his communicator and beginning to type his report. Lord Tempus was not going to be pleased.