A/N: It has been a long time hasn't it? Well, I've decided to keep going with my most "popular" series… but I think my story really needs to be brushed up. I learned a lot from writing "If I Only Had You", and from reading other quality fanfics I'm going to try and improve the quality of my fanfiction as well.
This is a continuation of my other story "If I Only Had You", but I'll try to make sure that you don't have to read that to understand this story.
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It's been only a short month ever since the adepts uncovered the mysteries surrounding the psyenergy vortexes. During this time, some adepts explored the world, other adepts explored one another (examples need not be named), and in general, peace had returned to the once turbulent world.
But Matthew felt detached to everything. Restless during the day and unable to sleep at night, he started wandering everywhere to attempt to restore some normality in his short but eventful life.
However, no matter where he traveled, he could not stop thinking about the fact that there was no "normality" within his life, and he could never forget that face, the girl with the green hair and deep, amethyst eyes…
That's why he came back every time. He had traveled as far as Prox once, without even realising that he had nearly walked across the entire continent. He considered staying there for a day, a week, even a month, but the thought of Karis crying, grabbing his filthy shirt and pulling his mouth into hers and screaming at him to never leave him again always surfaced.
This particular night, his insomnia dragged him outside onto the plateau overlooking the remains of Mount Aleph.
With half of his face covered in moonlight, Matthew stared into the distance, aware of the light footsteps that approached him from behind.
"… Matthew? It's past two in the morning. Come back inside," a voice mumbled, filled with fatigue and confusion.
Matthew turned around to face his angel, the green haired girl whose amethyst eyes, even at half-mast, seemed to captivate his soul entirely.
"Sorry Karis. It's just… these nights seem to drag on and on, never ending… and the only chance I can grab some sleep is whenever I'm physically exhausted."
Karis sat down next to Matthew, and involuntarily shivered due to the cold and bitter air of the night air. This motion wasn't missed by Matthew, and soon Karis had Matthew's scarf and jacket wrapped around her.
She took Matthew's hand in hers, and looked him directly in the eyes. "I think that there just may be confusion within your heart. Although you believe that your head is clear of troubles and problems, your heart instinctively knows something is wrong."
Matthew turned away, once again to face the moon, whose radiance seemed to engulf the entire plateau. "Then how do I face it? How to solve a problem that simply doesn't exist?"
Matthew's head swiveled to meet her… damn her adorable, wise eyes.
Unfortunately, Karis didn't seem to have any answers either.
The couple sat there on the plateau, held in one another's embrace, bathed in lunar light, and watched over by the moon.
###
"You kids really need to watch where you sleep. If it was Tyrell, I wouldn't be concerned as much, but…"
Matthew and Karis were roused by the quiet and deep voice of Isaac.
"Morning Dad." Matthew stretched and yawned as he greeted the new day.
"Try not sleeping outside again. I thought you'd be sick of it since your journey around the world. Jenna's making breakfast at the moment, might want to come in within five minutes or so." Isaac smiled at both of them, then headed around the Outlook, making sure everything was in order.
Matthew jumped up, and offered his hand to pull Karis up.
Karis graciously accepted it, and the two headed within the cabin.
###
After being slightly told off by Jenna, the two of them decided to head towards Patcher's Retreat for a day of rest and relaxation. No duties, just simple leisure time, spend by the two of them together.
However, once they reached the place…
"Oh! Good to see you two here! Here to join your friends over there?" Patcher greeted them as the two stepped into the fine establishment.
"Umm… our "friends" are here?" Matthew remembered the last time Karis and he had planned their first "date". It was hi-jacked and ambushed by their so-called "friends". [1]
"Yeah, they're over in the corner, shooting some pool. You should join them, you know. Any drinks that you two want?"
"I think I'll be fine for now. Matthew?" Karis was slightly concerned with Matthew's silence – after all, this wasn't the first time some quiet time for the two of them has been interrupted.
"Yeah, I'm okay." Matthew forced a smile onto his face, and with his girlfriend in hand, took them towards the corner of the bar, where Eoleo and Tyrell had cues in their hand.
"Long time no see! How have you two been?" The friendly, red-haired pirate greeted them with a sweep of his hand, as Tyrell focused and sunk a ball carefully. "Nice shot Tyrell."
"Thanks, Eoleo. How are you lovebirds? Have a cozy sleep together?" Tyrell had a smug grin on his face and he noticed Matthew avoiding eye contact and suddenly finding the corner of the room quite interesting, while Karis was furiously blushing, and staring at Tyrell in rage.
"Look, Tyrell didn't mean anything by it. Actually, I came around because I had to ask you two something." Eoleo quickly interjected, before they were forced out due to Tyrell's shenanigans.
Matthew was intrigued by Eoleo's last sentence. "Sure. Lead the way to the table, and we'll talk."
###
"Alright, I half came for a social visit, and the other half was because we may have some sort of trouble brewing in the town of Izumo." Putting down the ale he was drinking, Eoleo looked at Matthew in the eye. "To be more accurate, I have a fair suspicion they're after…"
"… They must be after Himi." Karis interjected. "Of course, her Third Eye abilities would grant the possessor a vision into the future…"
"We need to go protect her." Matthew and Tyrell stood up immediately, their chairs grinding against the floor.
"Eoleo, I'm assuming your ship is docked down in the harbour?" Matthew asked.
"Yes. I still need to stock up on some essentials, but as soon as I'm done we can set sail. The weather is shaping up to be quite decent this next week."
"Do you need any money or equipment that may not be acquired dockside?" Karis queried.
"I think I'm set. You three get ready, and just meet me down in the harbour tonight. We should be able to go then."
###
Jenna sighed as she saw the children leave on a journey once again, and wrapped herself around her husband's body.
"I just hope that they'll be okay, Isaac. They've been forced to do so much already," Jenna murmured.
"They'll be fine. After all, Matthew's going with them," Isaac reassured her.
The pair from Vale watched as the three children… no, they're not children anymore.
They're young adults.
### End Chapter 1 – Heart vs. Mind
[1] – Reference to my one of my one-shot drabbles.
A/N: So, as you've probably noticed I loathe to bring any OC's or any OoC's randomly in unless I've established the fact that it's an AU. This isn't an AU, and therefore will still be centered around Weyard (or the Weyard that's still slightly within my head).
Anyway, reviews would be highly welcome, even critical ones. To my fans, this one probably isn't going to go too much towards the humour side… but I'll see how it goes. This one is going to be a slightly more serious story, but expect a smattering of humour every now and then as my favourite shipping couple get into trouble. *Smirks*
Alright, see you guys next time