Seems like i can't keep a promise ._. enjoy another base words chapter. Filled with humor and romance of course.

To Reviewers: Thanks to all! :D

"Tch. They won't just go away, won't they?"

Ace panted, clutching his twin swords, while Evelyne was frantically chanting Barriers upon Barriers. She tried to chant another, but her spellbook stopped glowing. Taking out her glasses, she charged her magic. "Looks like we have to go down the bad way, brother!" Her blond hairs began to flutter, dark power gathering in her hands. "Nothing to do but... THIS!" said Ace, focusing all his power on the swords. They glowed in a bright light, and he put them together, summoning a giant crystal sword. "To extreme danger... Extreme remedy! ASTRA!" He smashed the blade down, eradicating all the monsters surrounding them in a blinding flash. That done, he fell on his knees, then facefirst on the ground. His sister looked around to ensure safety, then knelt down to check on him. "Ace. You know to not use that too much. Astra requires a great amount of mana power, and you don't have it."

"I know, but it's heavy. You can't swing it..." he grinned. "Either you work out or leave the heavy work to me."

"There you are!" called Bestie, running to them. Her machine gun was smoking, and her clothes were in tatters. Her hairs were stained with monster blood, and she was panting heavily. "Ace! You idiot!" She ran to him. "What did he do? Evy!"

"He just exhausted himself. Meatshield down." ironized the woman. "We'll have to get ourselves out of this mess." She slung her brother on her shoulder and began running after Bestie, that was shooting like crazy at the monsters. Finally, they got away from the forest and back to the Adventurer's Prairie, where Evelyne threw Ace on the ground. "Fuck you. Eat less, meathead."

"They are all muscles sis..." he replied weakly. "Tend to yours sometime..."

"I'm getting some herbs. Tend to him, Bestie." said the dark mage, wobbling away. The gunner placed her machine gun down and sat at Ace's side, putting a hand on her chest to breathe better. "Looks like that was a tight spot."

"You bet..." ranted the warrior. "Astra requires all my power, and i am left weak and helpless. Evelyne can't use it, i do it just for her."

"Oh... So you protect her whith it?" said Bestie. "That's awfully caring of you..."

"If only she would see it..." whispered him. "She cares too much about me too." Bestie lowered her head, and stroke his face to clean it a bit from the blood. "That is a wonderful thing... I always wanted someone as her."

"If that is it, i care a lot about you too..." said Ace, grinning faintly. "Gah. My hairs look like a mess now."

"You are half dead and you care about your hairs!?" exclaimed Bestie, raising an eyebrow. Noticing her bloodstained clothes, she checked her hairs. "You are right though. I want to take a bath now..."

"Heh. Wait until Evy finishes to wash me in the backyard lake then." replied Ace. Bestie frowned. "What? You bathe together?"

"Is that a bad thing?" asked the warrior. "We did it since we were kids. And we don't do anything anyway. That is just... Ew." At that, Bestie took a breath of relief. "Thank whatever. I would suicide over and over again if that whas the case." Noticing Evelyne returning, she nodded at her, and slung Ace over her shoulder.

-At home-

"Gah. Don't scrub that hard. It hurts."

"Shut up, i need to get the bloodstains away."

"You don't need to flay me alive though." said Ace, huffing. His sister continued to scrub his chest, bloodstain after bloodstain. "Gah. You have good muscles, though. I like it." At that, Ace peeked at her. "Yeah. You have a good chest too. I bet your boyfriend will be a happy one." She blushed, covering herself and narrowing her eyes. "Think of yourself! I-i don't need those things to be happy."

"Then why did you write 'To my dearest' on your sandwich wrapping?" At those words, she became redder than a tomato, steam coming out of her face. "Ace! I'm going to drown you if you keep saying that. I swear it!"

Taking away her ear from the door, Bestie faintly smiled. "Huh. Guess they really have a strong bond. Hope i stand a chance..."

"What is it, young lass?" asked Oguro, Evelyne's unit. The gunner huffed. "You know what, Gramps..." Oguro closed his eyes. "Oh ho ho. Young love. A thing i once had too. In order to get him, you have to meddle with their bond... It won't be easy, i tell you. It could be, depending on the bond itself. If it's weak, you will have to break it with great cruelty and effort. If it's strong... You will bond with them both. Choose carefully, Bestie..."

-That evening-

"Ace, can you pass me my spelbook?"

"Sure, miss i don't shave in the south." said him, making Evelyne blush redder than the sun. "BAKA!" she shouted, throwing a crystal at him. "I-I told you! Not in front of them!"

"It's fine. I was meditating anyway..." said Oguro from the other room. Bestie that was chilling on the sofa was slightly pink too though. "Ace... I don't think it's appropriate..."

"We did worse." chirped Evelyne. "I still remember when i stole his clothes while he was showering." Ace huffed, pouting. The gunner giggled, looking at him flush. "Oh, Ace! You never told me of those things... You are so cute."

"Cute my ass. I... Gah. I didn't want to look weak." Bestie gasped. He... He is saying that in front of his sister... "Huh. That makes you look even stronger to me." Ace gasped. "Literally? I-i mean... Thanks." Evelyne smiled and left the room, winking at Bestie. That was the moment she knew what to do. "Ace... You and your sister... I see you are close. How close?"

"Heh. We are closer than real siblings. One day, i will probably tell you why... But for now, how about drinking some beer and watch a movie together?"

"I... I do!" stuttered Bestie, making the other tilt his head. "Uhhh... I am not sure if you understood the question, Bestie..."

"A-ah! Sorry!" the gunner covered her blushing face with her hat. "I-I am fine with it..."

Evy and Ace surely are close siblings. How will Bestie cope with it?

Find out in the third and final chapter.

Ps. The poll deciding the best fic will be posted on my profile on 15th august, aka the deadline for the challenge. Stay tuned folks!