Ch. 2: Getting to Know You

It was morning, and Kage awoke. He looked about the hotel room and got up.

"I wonder if I'll see her again today," he said to himself as he hopped into the shower.

----

Vexus awoke and arose from bed. She yawned, and brushed back her emerald-green hair that touched her shoulders. She went to her closet and found her outfit - several copies of it. She sighed as she looked at each individual one, noticing that her fashion sense left a lot to be desired. She picked one out, and went to the bathroom, where she took a quick acid shower and prepared for the rest of the day.

"I think I'll take a walk," she said to herself as she donned her crown and headed towards the elevator.

----

Some time later, Kage ventured around the city streets, observing every feature of the splendid city. Towers loomed, cars sped by, and stores bustled with economic activity. It was pleasant, with robots and humans coexisting peacefully.

As he continued walking around, he came upon an alleyway. "Oops," he said, beginning to turn around. However, he bumped into something big and then felt a hand tighten around his neck.

"Gimme your wallet, pal," a tall robot said, readying a knife.

Kage smirked at him. "Buddy, I'd put me down this instant if I were you."

"Or else what?"

"I'll do this." Kage clapped his hands together and then placed his left upon his right. His hand became a blade, which he used to knock the knife out of the mugger's hand. Following that, he delivered a kick to the stomach and sent the robot flying into a wall. The latter fell unconscious upon impact.

Grinning, Kage returned his metallic hand to normal and continued walking around.

----

Vexus looked around at the inhabitants of her planet. Smiling at each one that passed by, she continued her outing normally until she bumped into someone and fell down.

Regaining her composure, she got up and saw the man she had bumped into. She gasped as she recognized Kage from yesterday.

"It's you," she stated. "Fancy meeting you here."

His face went red, like before. "I'm sorry, your majesty, I wasn't paying attention and I-"

She put a finger to her lips. "Don't worry about it. And please, call me Vexus."

He slowly nodded. "O-Okay...Vexus. Well, since I'm here, and you are too...would you like to get...coffee, or something?"

This time, her cheeks went red. "I...I suppose so. It'd be a pleasure."

The two walked off to a nearby coffee shop.

----

"So, it seems you've led an interesting life," Kage said to Vexus, who sat across the table from him.

She sipped on green tea. "Hm? Oh, thank you. And you're rather intriguing yourself."

"Thanks." He rested his chin upon the backs of his hands. "Vexus, if you're not exceptionally busy this week...would you like to get together and do something?"

Her eyes grew wide. "Oh...well, I suppose so..."

He grinned. "Great! I'll give you the name of the hotel I'm staying at." He wrote it down and handed her a piece of paper. "I think I should be going now. Hopefully I'll see you tomorrow."

She nodded. "Very well. Goodbye, Kage."

He walked out of the shop and waved.

----

At the palace, Vexus laid on her bed, thinking about Kage.

That man...does he...love me?