"Amber hold still." Dolce said warningly as the small girl fidgeted on the stool she was standing on. "I mean it. If you can't keep still I won't hem this dress for you."

Amber gulped and became a statue. Forte looked over from where she was eating an apple in her kitchen and raised an eyebrow. "Not that I mind, but why are you hemming that dress again?"

"Because, Frey gave it to me!" Amber exclaimed happily, and then seeing the look Dolce gave her she once more stood motionless. Dolce gave a small huff of annoyance and began pinning the dress again.

"Apparently," Forte jumped as Pico appeared behind her, "Frey bought the dress awhile ago on accident and couldn't return it." Pico sat on the table and Forte gulped. "From what I gathered, Amber saw it, liked it and couldn't afford it, so Frey gave this to her!"

"Yeah, but because I'm small it needed to be stitched up!" Amber looked at Dolce who stared back at her for a moment, before she gave a small smile. "Wee!" Amber spun in a circle and dramatically posed for the two. "Doesn't the yellow look great on me?"

"It does, but that's not what I meant." Forte explained, trying to not look at the ghost in her way. "Why are you doing this in my house?"

Dolce coughed into her hand and Amber stopped moving. As she grabbed the dress, she explained. "Jones and Nancy have been busy attending to the soldiers Frey nearly killed. However, the Sech Soldiers are well enough to be moved and are being handed over to the capital today. Nancy kindly asked me not to be in the house while the officials are there." Dolce stopped sewing. "Aren't you supposed to be supervising?"

"…The move is tomorrow."

"Uh, Milady Forte?" Pico interjected. "It's today. Before I popped in here I was watching the officials arrive."

"UH!" Forte jumped up and raced over to her safe. "Oh no!"

"Calm down Forte!" Amber said watching the Knight curse as she put in the wrong combination. "I'm sure you aren't late yet. Wouldn't they need to meet with Frey and the others first?"

"It doesn't matter! If a Knight of Lady Ventuswill is not early, then she is late!" Forte pulled out a blue sword and dashed past. "I will return when this matter is finished, if Keil stops by please tell him the grocery list is on the shelf!" The door to the front of the house began to open as she looked over her shoulder at them. "Farwell- UH!"

Forte crashed into the person entering, who fell backwards down the steps. "Whoa!" there was a small crash and a very unenthused, "Ow."

"LEON!" Forte raced out the door and helped the former Priest inside. "Are you okay?"

"Yes… a little bruised but fine." He winked at her. "I see though that I've caught you as you are leaving… again." Forte blushed a bit and looked away from the man, causing Dolce to suspiciously glare at the both of them. "I supposed I will wait here for you to return then."

"It, uh… may be awhile."

"That's fine." Leon smiled at her calmly enough, but Forte stilled gulped. "I'll wait here with these lovely ladies."

"Hey Foxy?" Everyone turned to look at Amber, who was staring at Leon's shoulder. "Did you know you're bleeding."

Leon glanced at his back. "Oh, so I am. It must have happened when I fell on the steps outside."

"…Dolce with everything going on at the clinic, could you?"

"Yes." She said blandly, waving a hand dismissively.

"Thank you! Now I really must go. Farewell!"

"…Everything at the clinic?" Leon asked confused, turning towards the two other girls.

"Yes, the soldiers are being transferred into capital custody today, Forte needs to be there to oversee that the switch goes smoothly." She got up and pulled out a chair for Leon, who seemed to be thinking heavily on the matter.

"So she really is busy today?" He sat down and mulled that over. "Interesting."

"Today?" Pico asked curiously.

"…Yes. For the past few days Forte has been avoiding me on a matter I wish to settle."

"What happened?" Amber asked as she got down to help Dolce.

"We shared a passionate and confusing kiss full of raw emotion and meaning." As the girls stopped moving and stared at him in shock, he began laughed. "We got into an argument and I want to apologize."

"Oh…" Dolce grabbed the wet cloth Pico had levitated over to her and began to clean the wound. "That does sound far more plausible."

"It does huh?" Leon smiled sadly and noticed Amber looking at him. "Yes?"

"I'm trying to figure out who fights more, Doug and Dylas or you and Forte." Leon blinked in surprised before smirking cheekily.

"Can anyone really as bad as Doug and Dylas?"

"Hmm… probably not. Besides," the girl continued as she spun round happily. "You and Forte do it when you're both mad at the other. I think the others do it just to do it."

"…That very well may be." Dolce finished putting on the bandage, and then turned to Amber. "Okay, back on the stool, and arms up this time. I need to take it in a little as well."

"Kay!"

"Psycho bitch!" The one soldier yelled loudly at Frey as Jones escorted him over the soldier waiting by the door. "You'll get what's coming to you! You and this entire town!"

Frey sighed as he was pulled out, and then sighed again as the other man shrank as far away from her as he could while being led out. Jones stared at the three men being loaded into the armored wagon, then looked at Frey amused. "It seems you made quite the impression on them."

"Well, the last two where the ones who were responsible for throwing Dylas off of a cliff."

"I had wondered about that." Jones gave a very reassuring pat on the back and moved over to talk to Nancy, while Frey watched Forte begin escorting the soldiers out of town.

"Miss Frey?" She looked over at Volkanon, who was watching her intently. "Are you alright?"

"Me, yeah I'm fine." She smiled and looked back out as the carriage disappeared from sight. "I'm just glad this is all over now." Frey walked out and Volkanon followed her.

"Miss Frey, where are you headed?"

"I'm going to the Lava Ruins. Bado is actually doing work and left a request on the board for a fire crystal, so I figured I would go get that."

"Before you go we should discuss your body guard arrangement."

"…I'm sorry, my what?"

Volkanon stood up even straighter and looked grandly at Frey. "What with this new threat out on you, and regarding the recent incident, it has been decided that we need to put a detail on you, so that no more attempts shall be made on your life."

Frey sputtered a little, and Volkanon pulled out a small book from his pocket. "Now then, today I believe Doug had offered to escort if needed. So you should stop by the general store and 'grab him' as you young ones say. Tomorrow, it seems that Margaret volunteered to assist you."

"Hold on!" Frey exclaimed, "How many people are on this detail?"

"Only those who already knew, and Vishnal, who still does not know of the continued threat, but wishes to better himself by guarding you."

"Volkanon, this is complete unreasonable!"

"Unreasonable? Miss Frey it is necessary! We do not know how many were employed to capture you by the radical group, nor do we know if they will retaliate solely based on the fact they're men were captured. Until we do know, it is vital we keep your safety as top priority!" Frey started to argue and Volkanon simply raised his hand to silence her. "Miss Frey, it would forever haunt me if anything happened to you. In many ways… though I shouldn't say this as your butler… in many ways you and Clorica are like my daughters.. and I don't wish to see you hurt."

"Mr. Volkanon…"

"So please, until we know more, do me a 'solid' and accept the body guards."

"… When you put it like that I can't really say no."

"Hence why I brought it up! Now then, report to Doug if you do need to leave!"

"…That was low."

Forte stared at her house, looking worriedly at the window in which she could see Leon in the Kitchen, obviously cooking something. She took a steadying breath and willed herself to move towards the door, with absolutely no results. Forte sighed and turned to leave when she heard, "So it must have been some fight you two had."

"Oh, hello Dolce…" Forte looked over at her friend watching her intently. "Did you finish the dress alright?"

"For the most part. I need to do some more stitching tonight, but it should be ready for Amber to wear around tomorrow." She looked up through the window at the Priest cooking. "Are you going to talk to him?"

"…"

"He told us you two got into a squabble. If I may," Dolce sat on the step and motioned for Forte to sit next to her. "What was it about?"

"A fight, huh?" Forte shook her head and sat down. "It's not quite that simple…" Dolce stared at her patiently and Forte gave a small huff. "He and I… well… when Frey and Dylas returned we did get into a fight of sorts. I told him he didn't care, and he… well… defended himself that he did. Then, er… I… told him he like Frey… he called me clueless and-"

"Ah, I see." Dolce shook her head at the girl. "You truly are though."

"What?"

"Clueless. You really should give him a chance you know."

"But, I, we…" Forte gulped and shook her head. "Yes… perhaps this is something we should work out together… Um… maybe I will go inside…"

"Alright." Dolce stood up and waved. "I hope you settle your disagreement." She began to walk off and Forte just stared.

"Sorry, Milady really is just as clueless."

"PICO!"

Pico giggled and stuck her tongue out at Forte. "Sorry, I couldn't help but to listen in… and Dolce is clueless if she thinks all you and Leon did was argue."

"Sh-she is?"

"Yup." The ghost sat cross legged in the air and looked at Forte seriously. "Dolly asked Leon what happened and he said it was a kiss, but neither Amber or Dolly believed him, so he said it was an argument… but he looked kind of sad neither one thought he was serious." Pico looked meaningfully at the Knight. "When you're as old as I am, and are aware of the years passing, you tend to pick up on the smaller things others miss."

"…"

"I get you two wanting to keep this between yourselves, if that is what you want, and I won't tell Dolly… but you really should talk to him." She began to float off in the direction of the clinic.

"Wait Pico!" The girl turned and looked at the Knight. "…Thank you."

"No problem!" She smiled widely, "So does this mean you won't jump when I'm around anymore?"

"I can't really make any such promise."

"Hehehe, I know!" Pico disappeared and Forte gulped. She never would get use to that ghost girl's habits. She took another long breath and looked at her door. Sighing, she got up and opened the door. "Hello Leon… we need to talk."

"Obviously." The man threw the towel he was using on the counter and motioned to the assortment of snacks he had prepared on the table. Forte gaped at the food and looked up at the man.

"How long did you think I would be gone?"

"I got bored… and I wasn't sure how long this discussion would take." He sat down and looked at Forte expectantly. She sighed and sat in the chair next to him. "You've been avoiding me."

"Yes."

"I assume the reason involves our kiss."

"Yes."

"Did you not enjoy it?"

Forte smacked him on the head. "Of all the things to ask first!"

"Well, did you?" Forte stopped and blushed bright red.

"…Yes."

"Yes what?"

"Yes I enjoyed it." Forte sighed. "It just complicates things though."

"How so?"

"Well… I er… I haven't really kissed anyone like that before…"

"Really?" Leon leaned in, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Well, there was one night I was hanging out at the restaurant and a visiting knight bought me drinks and we ended up kissing." Leon's face defaulted into a frown and Forte backtracked a little, "but besides that no. I haven't kissed someone… I truly like before." She looked at the table, obviously avoiding his gaze. "I've never truly liked anyone before… and that… that's distracting.

"I've been thinking over those kisses so much and what they could mean, and just today it caused me to slip up in my duties as a Knight. I can't afford to be distracted if I'm not sure exactly how I feel about the person… and I can't risk getting Keil hurt. He adores you… if this turns out to be nothing more than a flirting, he would dislike us both and wouldn't know what to do."

"I see." Leon leaned back and thought for a moment. "Well, I know I would not have kissed you, twice no less, unless I knew I loved you." Forte looked up in shock, but Leon held up his fan to keep her from interrupting him. "I care for you greatly, though if you are unsure about me, that does cause complications …And you are right. We cannot accidentally hurt Keil. In some ways…" Leon frowned a bit here, "he is like my brother. I would hate to lose that bond with him… but I would hate to lose his sister more."

"So what do you propose we do then?"

Leon smirked, "It's simple. We don't make things official. We see each other from time to time, maybe have a lunch here, a dinner there, we go on some outings outside of town together, and we test the waters of our relationship, before we make things public."

"And what of it distracting me?"

"You see, I rather enjoy that part." Forte gasped in shock, then growled angrily and grabbed a sandwich close to her and threw it at him. "Hey!" he picked the food from off of his lap and grinned evilly. "I'm sorry; I thought you were a Knight of the Scared Dragon. Can't you overcome distraction?"

"Don't use that line against me!"

"Don't try and hide behind that line then." Leon calmly reached over and smushed the remainder of the sandwich in her face. "And don't waste food."

"You realize I must end your life now."

"With Ongiri?"

"Indeed."

"…" Dylas stared at his girlfriend as she looked at her menu intently. He opened his mouth to ask her a question when he was interrupted.

"Yo, horse face! Why did you think this was a romantic date?"

"… Why did you bring pint-sized exactly?"

"Apparently he feels like this is his fault and is going a little overboard on his protection detail." Frey answered shortly. "I told him I wouldn't leave town after dinner, but he doesn't believe me.

"Nah, it's not that." Doug said from the table next to them. "It's more of that I don't trust Dylas to keep you safe."

"WHAT!"

Doug smirked as Dylas whipped around in his seat to face him, and then sobered up a little. "And... I don't think, I know." Frey looked up at him concerned. "If I hadn't blindly followed what the Sech's empire had told me, then I wouldn't have become a spy, Ventuswill would still be here, and Frey… you wouldn't have a price on your head." Doug smiled a little begrudgingly. "You can't tell me that's not true, because I know it is…"

"Doug…" "…"

"Heyyo!"

"Oh, hello Xiao Pai!" Frey smiled at the girl, but nervously glanced over at the dwarf sulking at his table. "Are you here to pick up dinner?"

"yes, yes! Proco is making stew for us tonight!" She smiled happily at the two. "You are on a date, yes?"

"Uh-huh!" Frey replied happily and Dylas gave a small forced smile.

"We're trying to be."

"You are going to feed each other like last time you were here, yes?" Frey blushed and Dylas hid his head in his hands. "You two are cute! … I hope one day to have a lover as well."

"I'm sure you will!" Frey said, glancing over at Dylas, who was still groaning into his hands.

"Feed each other huh?"

"…Shut it dwarf."

"Oh! Herro Doug!" Xiao Pai smiled widely at him. "Are you enjoying dinner as well, yes? Would you like some company?"

"Um… I well, I,"

"Doug would actually." Frey said smiling. "He seems to be in a bad mood, and could use someone as happy as you to talk to!"

"But... if happy is what he needs should I not get Amber?"

"No." Frey smiled a little harder than necessary. "I think someone as nice and happy and understanding as you would be good for him." Doug stared at Frey accusingly, but when Xiao Pai looked at him he blushed and cleared his throat.

"If you want… I guess I wouldn't… mind."

"Oh, yes, yes! I would enjoy that!" Xiao Pai smiled widely at the boy and Doug sighed and glared over at Frey, who stuck her tongue out at him in return. Then she pulled Dylas up to the counter so they could order.

"…So," he said looking down at her. "What was that about?"

"What?" Frey asked innocently.

"Seriously? You could have been more obvious, but it would have been hard."

"What can I say? I ship it." She giggled as Dylas groaned and told Porco his order. "Plus, I happen to know they both like each other a lot, so I thought I'd give them a little push."

"Wait, those two?"

"Yep!" Frey beamed as they made their way back to the table. "Remember passing them on the way to the lake during the Firefly festival this year? And on white day he gave her cookies," Frey winked at him as they sat down. "Purely as friends though."

"Heh, I see." Dylas smiled at Frey as she sipped on her glass of juice. "I still don't see it though."

"Oh, you will." She smiled more as Porco sat down their plates and waved encouragingly at Dylas, who in turned glared at him. "Do you want to try a bite?"

"… The feeding thing is tradition now, isn't it?"

Frey blushed happily as she held out her fork for him. "There's no getting out of it Pony-boy."