"A letter here for you," said the butler leaning forward, bowing his head, and holding out a silver tray with an envelope, "Miss."

"Sir," he corrected, "please, it's sir." The butler shrugged as Bridget plucked the letter from the serving tray. Straightening up and folding the tray under his arm, the butler exited the bedroom. "One more thing! When is Benji getting home?"

"Sir Benjamin is to arrive at the estate at four o'clock. Anything else before I take my leave, miss?"

"No. You're excused," Bridget whispered under his breath, sinking back into his seat. He tossed the letter onto the desk and his head hung back over the chair observing the room standing still. Their bedroom was lavish—stained oak furniture, vintage Egyptian cotton bed linens. Their family's wealth was exaggerated in every room. Before traveling to the Midnight Carnival, unnecessary luxury had been second nature. A glint of light shot from the chandelier and caught his eyes. It swirled about clinking against neighboring balls of crystal and sliding along slender strips of silver. "It's beautiful. Just left as it is… that's where I wanna be…."

"Where you want to be, you mean to say. Speak clearly Bridget. Let us prepare for your brother to arrive home," his mother interrupted. She'd been standing there only for a moment, unaware of how long Bridget had been dancing off in space.

"Mother, I… why can't I just wear my overalls?" he whined, stretching his neck.

"Not at all. You are not even wearing a blouse underneath and those overalls are far too short to welcome your older brother. You are getting older now; it just is not appropriate anymore."

"Mother, I get the short shorts and I can even understand wearing a shirt, but I'm not going to get dolled up just for Benji to come home," he exclaimed.

"Bridget, I am not going to argue with you about these issues anymore. This family is of a high social status and there are rules to the ways in which we live our lives. There are traditions… customs… I do not understand what has gotten into you. Your father and I have given you so much in life. You want for nothing, but you sit here dressed in filth with your back turned against the convent… against your parents. You've run away to do such unmentionable things. And for what? For money?" She lectured. "There are things that are far beyond you. A life that bleeds far deeper then you may reach. Know your place. You will prepare for your brother. We will have a reception and you shall attend. The maids are to arrive shortly…."

"I can dress myself!" he screamed, jumping up and throwing the chair to the floor. She turned away with flinching.

"Good then. The butler will call you to be announced," she said without feeling, slamming the door behind her.

"I'll look damn good too! Yeah, I said damn!!!" Bridget shouted through the door. These lectures occurred far too often. He bit his lip and threw open the closet doors. Each wall was filled with gorgeous dresses in every color, constructed by various designers from Villtania, all pre-dating Raimond's rebellion. He even owned a few pairs of rare shoes from the mountains of Zepp. He stood there surrounded by frill and velvet. Just breathe. She just wants to get her way. You're only here for Benji. A midnight blue dress hanging off to the side caught his eye. Lavender ribbons trimmed the bodice and wrapped the waist. A smile snuck its way onto his face, but again he bit his lip trying to suppress it. Habit jumped in and Bridget began preparing for Benjamin to be received. Dress. Stockings. Shoes. Perfume. He brushed his hair smooth and slipped a matching headband past his forehead. I'm one unique kind of guy, that's for sure.

The butler stood, upright at the stairway landing, arms folded below his back, face pointed towards the west wing. Soon Bridget arrived at the front of the hall, nodding to the butler his presence.

"Presenting Lady Bridget of Verdant."

Glaring at the butler, Bridget gently descended down the stairway as he had been taught so many years before. The reception had already begun, guests were scattered about entry hall, slowly trickling into the parlour. Some of the guests turned to watch Bridget enter the room, one in particular jumped to the occasion, clambering forward.

"Bridget! My sister!" Benji shouted in delight. He embraced Bridget just as he reached the bottom step. Their parents frowned at the spectacle, though quickly exchanged those looks for happy ones. They whispered apologies and nodded to their guests.

"It's brother, Brother," he whispered into Benji's ear before they pulled apart.

"Oh, yes, yes. My apologies, Sir Bridget. You look beautiful! It's been far too long. How are you?"

"Thank you. I'm well. Nice uniform."

"Haha, yes, well. They make us all look exactly the same at boarding school, you know."

The reception continued on in the usual stuffy manner of the elite. Even in the small town of Verdant Proper, the upper crust maintained its high level of superciliousness. Their parents schmoozed with the most influential of guests, while Bridget and Benji snuck off—attached at the hip to the bench swing hung behind the family garden.

"How long have you been back in Verdant?" Benji asked, loosening his tie.

"A few months now. I came back to see you, but you'd already started back at the boarding school, so I went back to the convent as per Mother's request. It's just not for me, though. So I parted," answered Bridget, tossing his headband into a rosebush.

"I always thought it was odd that they'd send you off so young. But of course… we know why now. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry about everything."

"Don't. You didn't do anything wrong. We were babies. Let's just talk. What are you studying?"

"Oh, um, I'm studying the classics mostly. They don't really let us choose," he went on, then rested his head on Bridget's shoulder, "We studied the Crusades of the early third millennium. It made me think of you. Since you battled against a real live Gear and all! I tried to tell a friend of mine, but he didn't believe me. Lame. So what have you been doing?"

"Me? Well, after I left here the second time, I took some odd bounty jobs, but it was hard for me to be taken seriously because I was so young. I sailed with some pirates for a bit to get home. I wanted to come back for a while. I just wanted to have a family again. Be a teenager. But I forgot what coming back home means for me. Mother and I have been at each other's throats and Father doesn't really speak to me. They were furious when I left the convent. They won't allow me to wear my habit anymore. It's just frustrating. I wish I could…."

"Be yourself. That's why I'm sorry, Bridget. And sorry for calling you my sister earlier. You are the best little brother anyone could ever ask for."

"Thank you, Benji."

After the reception, they retired to their bedroom, freshly tidied once again by the house staff. The room was a nearly a parody, with two of everything positioned in mirrored symmetry on either half—Bridget to the left; Benji to the right. They parted into their duplicated closets and changed into their night clothes.

"How long are you home for?"

"Only a month. School resumes again in the fall. But next year is my last year. Then I get to decide what I want to do. How long are you home for, Bridge?"

"Only as long as you are here. I can't really stand being here anymore. I'll pack away a few things and be on my way."

"What's that?" Benji noted, peering over at Bridget's desk. "That's a… a royal letter! From the Sacred Order! Are you serious?! Oh my bloody hell! You really are a world renowned bounty hunter! The Sacred Order of the Holy Knights wants to talk to my… get it… my s-brother! Sorry. Oh wow! Open it!!! The world needs you!"

"Benji. Calm down. It's probably just some notice about a bounty head or something. If I'm lucky, it's a cheque," he said, grabbing the letter and breaking the Royal Seal.

"Well? Read it!!!"

Dear Sir Bridget of Verdant,

It has come to the attention of the Sacred Order and the United Nations that multiple threats have struck the world order causing the level of caution to be set higher than it has been in the past ten years. These events are similar to those that occurred at the Midnight Carnival four years ago. It is in our records that you were one of the many brave citizens who fought alongside and/or in concordance with the goals of the Sacred Order of the Holy Knights and the International Police Force. Once again, issues have arisen with Gears and the Post-War Administration Bureau. Warriors, soldiers, freelancers, and bounty hunters involved in the events at the Midnight Carnival mentioned above are being asked to convene before the chief of the International Police Force, former commander of the Sacred Order of the Holy Knights, and possible heir to the next thrown of Illyuria, Commander Ky Kiske at the Court of the United Nations houses on the common ground outside of Paris in two weeks time. Air, land, and sea fares will be provided as needed. Compensation will be available for those who are selected for further instruction. Guests are not permitted.

Sacred Order of the Holy Knights

"Wow! You are so important, Bridge! So are you going?" Benji blurted, sprung up like a cat at the edge of the bed.

"I… I don't know. I came back to see you. When are we gonna see each other again?"

"Well, I don't think you can ignore the Sacred Order. Still, you should go. We'll just have the best two weeks ever! It's summer. You and me."

"Benji…" Bridget whispered, gritting his teeth. A few loose tears welled up, ready to fall. "I just… I don't know what to do."

"What's wrong? What aren't you telling me?"

"Well," he sniffed and wiped his face, "that Midnight Carnival they mentioned… I was there because someone gave me and other bounty hunters false bounty heads. I worked really hard to track them and I got them all. Problem was they all fell through."

"But you brought back so much money?"

"I know. I didn't really want to admit it, but all my bounty heads were fake, so technically I made no money that day. The bounty hunters and I were used to both track gears for a greater power and to keep us out of the way. I was ready to turn my bounty marks in, when Commander Ky Kiske told me what had happened. I sort of lost it and told him what happened to me. He listened to everything. He was so kind. Then he gave me a bag of money that nearly equaled all of my bounty marks! That was what I brought home that day."

"You still aren't telling me something. Bridget. What about him? Wait a second…," Benji sat next to Bridget on his bed.

"What? I just… um, I don't want to feel like I owe him and have to join the military or something. They wouldn't let me wear dresses anymore," he smiled, scooting away.

"Oh my GOD! You LIKE HIM! You do don't you!"

"Of course not! I was like twelve at the Midnight Carnival! What kind of nun do you think I am?"

"Bridget! You're not a nun. You quit before you left! You like him and you are nervous about seeing him again. Just admit it. Admit it or I'll tickle you," he gave Bridget the evil eye and poised his fingers menacingly over his stomach.

"We're not kids anymore. That's not going to work."

Benji pounced on Him and tickled him all over. Bridget squealed.

"No! NO! Okay. Okay. Yeah. I like him, okay! No tickling," he fell back onto the bed, rubbing his hands through his hair, "what am I supposed to do? You heard that letter. He might be King of Illyuria soon? What?! And I'm not as cute as I was back then."

"Hey, Bridge. We're twins. Watch what you say about our looks."

"Sorry. I just… Do I still look cute in a dress?"

"Wha?"

"Just answer."

"Well, yeah. I told you earlier you looked beautiful. You look a little more like a boy than you used to, but you still look very pretty in dresses," Benji answered, flopping back onto the bed.

"Thank you. You bet I look good in a dress. You think I should shine my yo-yos? Oh and Roger needs a wash. I think I'll wear my habit so everyone will recognize me."

"Um, but if you want this guy to like you, don't you think being a nun will make you seem off limits?"

"Well… maybe. But I think me being a guy and all is the obstacle here. Besides, if I'm going to appear before the court of the UN, I should be a little more serious about what's going on. This sounds like a big deal."

"Bridget's got a boyfriend!"

"BENJI!"

*Conitued...*

I'll only update with reviews, and since I'm in college and all, I have less time. Please give me that little nugget of motivation to continue. Thanks.