Hello there! I exist! XD It's been so long since I posted a story... But here's a new one! :D It's my first RF story, and the premise basically stems from something that happens during the RF4 event "A Day In Leon's Life" where Kiel asks how he can be more like Leon. The 'Kiel almost walked out of the house shirtless' thing is actually part of the event (for those who haven't played and/or encountered the event yet) but from there it's all my own ideas. Like this. Anyways, there will be more chapters to this story (most likely), as well as more RF stories to come. I just started thinking of all the different ways Kiel could try to emulate Leon and ended up with this chapter (and probably more, as I said.) So I hope you enjoy, and without further ado, here's 'Emulation'! =)

"Forte, calm down," suggested Frey as she rubbed her neck a little sheepishly. "It's not that bad…"

"According to you! You're his girlfriend, you're supposed to say that! Can't you keep him out of trouble?" Forte huffed as she tapped the hilt of her sword impatiently, arms crossed. "Seriously! Kiel almost walked out the door shirtless this morning in an attempt to emulate him!"

Frey almost started laughing, but caught herself as she became acutely aware of the knight's exasperation. "Well, what am I supposed to do about it? A-"

"After all, you can't blame me for being an excellent role model." Both girls jumped at the sudden interruption as the owner of the voice sauntered up to them, ears pricked.

"Leon! Where-"

"Leon! Do you have any idea what Kiel tried to do today thanks to you?"

Leon just laughed. "I heard. I'll admit, I'm rather surprised." He grinned as his tail flicked in amusement. "Makes me wonder what else I could get him to do…"

Forte's eyes narrowed further as her hand closed around her hilt. "Don't you dare go filling my brother's head with such indecent thoughts as yours!"

She watched the Dragon Priest like a hawk as he lazily wrapped his arms around Frey's waist and settled his head on her shoulder from behind, making her flush softly. "Indecent thoughts? Me? What ever gave you that idea?" He blinked at Forte innocently, then turned his head so his lips were gently against the Earthmate's ear. "Love, what exactly were you telling our lady knight here, hmm~?"

Frey's whole body flushed as she got the suggestion of his words and he jumped back, laughing, before she could shove him away in embarrassment. "L-Leon!" she sputtered indignantly as hues of rose painted her cheeks.

He just chuckled. "I didn't know I'd walked up on that kind of conversation. Pardon me for interrupting~"

"Y-You salacious-!" Forte's face flamed brighter than her companion's as the male simply walked off, satisfied with the mischief he'd caused. Frey simply shifted from foot to foot before decidedly running after him, mercifully sparing both herself and Forte from any further awkwardness. The knight stood there for a long moment before turning on her heel and walking briskly off to continue her patrol.

Meanwhile, a certain impressionable young blonde had been watching this exchange from the window of the castle where he sat sipping tea and talking with Volkanon, whom he had been asking about the many books he'd written. Of course, he hadn't heard any of the exchange, but he'd seen it- well, most of it anyhow. Once Volkanon had gotten up to check on Vishnal (who was cooking unattended, which was a bit of a scary thought), Kiel had been left with nothing to do aside from perhaps flip through the volumes on the table between him and the butler's empty seat, which he'd already done before- the books were far too thick to begin reading on a whim like that. One must have the right resolve before one tackles such a challenge. So instead, he looked out the window to his left where bright sunlight filtered in. What caught his eye was the scene of his sister, Leon and Frey talking in the middle of the town square. He watched as the three talked a bit, then Leon wrapped his arms around the green-haired 'princess', resting his head against hers before turning to whisper intimately in her ear. Kiel watched in spellbound silence as Leon leapt away laughing, Frey's face a bright red, and as Leon walked off with a grin on his face, Frey ran after him, grabbing his hand as she caught up.

"Wow…" breathed Kiel. "Maybe that's what it takes… To be like him, maybe I…" He swallowed and his face felt hot. His heartbeat quickened and he hopped out of his chair, forgetting about his conversation with Volkanon and his tea growing cold on the table and instead hurrying home. He had an idea.

Forte came home from her evening patrol just as the sun was setting. The female knight wiped sweat from her brow as she removed her visor and stared up at the sky for a moment. Streaks of orange, red, and gold painted the darkening sky and served as a perfect backdrop to the blossoming cerezo trees. Spring was in full bloom.

The door to her house opened with a soft creak, and Forte found the lamp by the door lit, as well as the door to Kiel's room closed. 'That's odd. Kiel's door is always open,' she thought. She knocked softly, wondering if her brother was even in there at all. She hadn't seen him around town for a few hours, though.

There was a small thud and a sudden scrabbling, as though something had fallen on the floor and was now being picked up. The sound of a book closing, and a cover sliding on a hardwood floor. "C-Come in!"

Forte opened the door to the boy's room, a perplexed expression on her face. "Kiel? Are you alright?" she asked, walking in and looking around. Nothing was broken or out of place. However, a corner of a book was peeking out from under her brother's bed. The word "Heart" peeked out at her from the cover, and she was about to say something when Kiel spoke.

"Um, actually, I-I have a question, sis…" Kiel sat on the edge of his bed, swinging his legs and looking out the window across from him. His face was a little red but other than that Forte could find nothing wrong with him. "W-Well… How do I put this, uh…" He looked straight at her and rubbed his neck with a sheepish little grin. "How do I get a girlfriend?"

Forte stared at him gape-mouthed in horror, a flush coming to her face as the topic she was most averse to was broached. "K-Kiel!" She swallowed and summoned all her willpower to keep herself from running to her own room in retreat. She could flee the scene in any other situation, but this was her brother. She had to make an exception for him. "Wha… What makes you ask that? Why the sudden interest?" she asked instead, staying surprisingly calm despite her inner turmoil.

"Weeeell…" He swallowed but kept his little smile. She hadn't reacted too well to this morning's shirtlessness fiasco, so how would she react when she found out this was for the same reason? "I… Wanna know what love is, and I figured the best way to do that is to have a significant other…" He hoped she would accept that answer alone.

But it was not to be, as Forte wouldn't let it rest there. "And why do you want to know what love is?" she asked, getting a little less nervous and a little more irate as she started to have an inkling as to the driving force behind her brother's sudden curiosity.

He sighed a little, but his smile got a bit wider as he replied earnestly, "So I can be more like Leon!"

Forte crossed her arms and let out an irked growl, all awkwardness vanishing. "That man…!" Now she permitted herself to leave, and turned away, closing her brother's door without another word. Retreating to her room, she began to strip off her armor and prepare herself for bed. "Honestly, what on earth does he see worth emulating in that man?" she huffed in irritation as she let her hair down and ran her fingers through it.

Kiel just blinked at the closed door in slight surprise before sighing to himself and laying back on his bed. "I guess it won't be that easy…" Then he hit upon another idea and just smiled, pleased with himself. "I'll just ask Leon and Frey about it tomorrow! I'm sure they can tell me!"