Chapter Eight: Dirt Road Romeo

Everyone was sitting in the living room. Having rolled down a hill, unsurprisingly Elsword's clothes were dirty and she had to change. Eve stood up and asked Raven and Elesis to help her load up the cars and the three would discuss who would ride with whom. Aisha, Rena, and Chung remained in the room. They just sat around, waiting.

"Man, Elsword's taking a while." Aisha said, leaning back in her seat.

"She's probably looking through her wardrobe for something comfortable. After all, it all changed right? She won't know where things are." Chung sighed.

"I'll go check on her."

"Uh, Chung I-Ahh!" Rena gasped as she saw Dizzy crawling on the top of the bookshelf, a fall from that height would definitely be painful. She quickly got up and ran over, "Dizzy! Get down from there!"

"Dwah?" Dizzy mewled in confusion, sitting down.

"Dizzy!" Aisha got up as well, not wanting the little guy to get hurt. Both were so preoccupied that neither noticed Chung had left the room and went upstairs.

Chung slowly walked down the hallway, hearing Rena and Aisha continuing to try get the troublesome Phoru off the book shelf. Elsword had been in her room for almost a half hour and still hadn't even come downstairs to ask for help. He approached the door and placed a hand on the handle.

"Hey Elsword?" Chung opened the door, simply walking in out of subconscious habit. He looked up, and ended up staring.

"Oh, I can't seem to find-" Elsword turned around from her wardrobe, fully naked and facing Chung head on. Their faces turned red, "Uh..."

"I..." Chung was speechless. Neither moved as they heard furious footfalls approaching.

"Chung!" The prince found himself gripped by the collar and thrown across the hallway at the wall. The door slammed shut, and Chung looked up in time to see Elesis pick him up by the collar and smack him against the wall, holding him tightly.

"Elesis I-"

"Shut up!" Elesis shoved him against the wall again, "Accident or no you peeped on my sister!" The crimsonette growled. Chung looked over her shoulder to see Elsword peeking her head out from the door, with teary eyes. Elesis grabbed his face and forced him to look at her, "Don't look at that fucking door." Elesis narrowed her eyes, "If I ever find you gazing at her like that again, I will kick your balls so hard they'll fly out your ears!"

"Elesis!" She did not avert her gaze as Aisha, Rena, and Raven ran in from downstairs. Rena had safely gotten Dizzy down and had him in her arms. Elsword saw the baby and couldn't help but run out of her room.

"Dizzy!"

"Gah!" Raven yelp and turned around, covering his eyes and distracting himself with different thoughts. Chung however saw her clearly run by.

"Oof!" Chung felt a stinging pain as Elesis drove her knee into his crotch. He fell down to his knees, holding his crotch in pain.

"Elesis!" Rena yelled, acquiring her attention, "What are you doing!?"

"He walked in on Elsword while she was naked!"

"Yeah, the same Elsword he's walked in on over a million times for several years as a dude!" Aisha retorted.

"Be that as it may it's no excuse."

"Be 'that' as it may," Rena replied coldly, "It's no excuse. Go help Eve pack the cars." Elesis glared as she went to leave, "On second thought, do it yourself."

"Whatever." Elesis was going to be in a sour mood after what happened.

"Sis..." She turned to Elsword, who was holding Dizzy tightly against her chest, "Please don't be so harsh...we're going on a trip for your birthday remember?"

"It's just that-"

"I was the dumb one sis." Elsword said, "I didn't lock the door out of habit. Please, can't you overlook this, at least this once?" Elsword mimicked Dizzy's cute baby face as best she could, both staring Elesis in the face, "Please~?" Elesis stared for a few seconds before sighing.

"Alright, but..." Elesis and Rena snapped at the same time.

"Will you get dressed?!"


After Elsword got dressed, having to borrow Rena's clothes as for some reason her entire wardrobe had vanished into thin air which Aisha pinned on the spell and that was the best, and only, possible or sensible conclusion, everyone met in the garage. Eve spoke up once everyone was listening.

"Alright, so this is the plan. Since we have a detour we'll be taking our time on the trip. First we'll be going on a hike in Bethma and then a nature walk in Altera." Everyone nodded, following along, "Since Elsword seems to have lost all her clothes, we'll go shopping in Feita." Everyone sighed. Feita was a certified region, but the city was so spread out. It was going to be a long day of driving around, "Then we'll relax at our room at the resort in Velder." Raven chose to say the next part.

"We sorted out who's riding with who. Ara's with Elesis, Aisha with Eve, and Rena will sit with me and Chung and Elsword will sit in the truck bed. Any objections?"

"No." Everyone said, Elesis however spoke more resentfully, casting a glare at Chung.

"Everyone have their personal belongings for the trip?" Everyone nodded. Aisha had her books, as did Chung and a small satchel. Ara no doubt was just planning on talking with Elesis to pass time, and Elsword pulled Dizzy out of her shirt and kissed his forehead.

"Let's get a move on then." Raven said, lowering the tailgate of his truck before opening the passenger door for Rena.

Rena quickly hopped into the side seat, taking out a little book about taking care of Phoru's to refresh her memory. Elsword and Chung climbed into the back of the truck and Raven brought out a fair sized cage.

"In case you guys both end up taking a nap you can make sure he doesn't go jumping off the truck." Raven said.

"Raven! Don't forget the rest!" Rena said from the seat. Raven leaned back down and put a small bowl in the cage along with a small furry pillow and a tiny blanket. He then placed a bag of food and some milk in the truck next to the cage.

"Thank you Raven~!" Elsword said sweetly. Everyone else got into their cars when Chung suddenly jumped out, "Chung where you going!?"

"Getting something for us to sit on!" Chung yelled back from inside the house. After a few minutes, and some loud clattering, Chung came back in with four pillows, two plain and two furry, and a thick furry blanket for them to lay on. He handed them to Elsword, and with the help of Oberon the truck bed was quickly set up comfortably. Chung hopped back in and set down the radio from the house, "Might as well listen to something."

"How thoughtful." Elsword said.

"We ready?" Raven asked.

"One sec." Elsword pulled Dizzy out and set him on the furry blanket. She pointed to the sides of the truck, "You stay away from these at all times, okay?"

"Mah!" Dizzy just began to crawl over to her.

"Dizzy." Elsword spoke with parental authority, "You will stay away from the sides of the truck, sit down if you understand." Dizzy pouted, and sat down. Elsword waited a moment before scooping him up and placing him back in her shirt in a second.

"Mahm!" Dizzy mewled.

"All set!" Elsword said.

"Alright!" Elesis fist pumped out the window of her car, "Vacation here we come!"

"Woot!" Everyone cheered, and drove out of the garage with Eve on point, Raven's truck in the center, and Elesis close behind and keeping a close eye on Chung.


"You've gotta be kidding me!" Elsword groaned as Dizzy rolled around on the bed of the truck. As it turned out, the gang weren't the only ones to choose today to leave for a trip. They had been stuck on the road heading for the intersection to Bethma for almost an hour, and Elsword, as well as Elesis given the sounds from her car, was losing her patience. She looked over at Chung, who was fast asleep. The radio played some country singer music, and Elsword silently hummed along to the chorus.

However, inside the truck Rena was whispering to Raven intently. She had been explaining Elsword's situation with Chung for a while.

"Hmmm, no doubt Elsword would want to make a move first." Raven sighed, gingerly inching the truck forward before stopping again, "Traffic's never been this bad before..." He muttered to himself.

"Yeah, but she won't with Elesis watching her. She'll think Chung is taking advantage of her even though he isn't that kind of boy." Rena sighed, Raven smiled.

"So..." Rena looked at him as Raven revved the engine and began to turn off the road, which had no railing, and onto the grass, "Let's give them a little opportunity to themselves huh?"

"Are you sure about this?" Rena asked.

"From what you said, seems like Ara is on Chung's side. She'll keep Elesis on the road." Raven said. As he pulled off the highway and onto a rugged dirt road leading off into the trees the back window opened.

"Raven! Where are we going?" Chung asked.

"Short cut. Thought I'd show you two what a dirt road is like." Raven said, and Rena forced the window shut and locked it. Outside the two heard her giggling as they rolled up the windows.

"Weird." Was all Elsword said as she looked out into the trees as they flew past. The truck wheels kicked up dirt and a cloud was behind them. We're free from Elesis...I should ask him! Elsword slowly looked at Chung, who was laying on his chest and staring at Dizzy, and he stared right back, both refusing to blink, "Chung?"

"Hmm?" Chung didn't look away from Dizzy.

"Mind if we chat?" Elsword said, picking Dizzy up and ending the game. Chung smiled as he sat upright, and Elsword put some food in the cage and set Dizzy inside before closing its door.

"What about?" Chung asked, leaning against the back of the truck.

"Umm..." Come on, think of something! "Anything I guess." You idiot!

"Well, I guess we did never really talk much. After all, 'someone' was too busy training all the time." Elsword punched Chung's arm, both laughing.

"Well, what's something you like to do?" Elsword asked.

"Hmm...Well..." Chung pulled out the book he brought and handed it to her, "See for yourself."

Elsword raised an eyebrow as she flipped open the book. She stopped short. On the very first page, was an intricate drawing of the entire group sitting together around a fire. Elsword knew this moment.

"Chung, did you-"

"You remember that time?" Elsword nodded.

"Of course. It was the first time when we all met and we celebrated the festival." Elsword flipped the pages slowly. After the group sketch were individual drawings of each person. Elsword blushed when she saw her picture, as a boy, on the page, "You draw really good." Elsword complimented, the drawings were almost lifelike. Chung reached for the book.

"Well, I do have to redraw you." Chung said, taking out some pencils, "What do you like to do?"

"Well..." Elsword perked up at a new song that came on to the radio, "Oh! I love this song!"

"What is-" Chung stopped talking, as Elsword began to sing.

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Uh oh, uh oh

Chung was struck dumb. Elsword's voice was serene and soft, like a group of birds singing. Taking the moment, Chung began to draw her on a fresh page.

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh,
And life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life, oh well
I've had just enough time

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life, oh well
I've had just enough time

And I'll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger,
I've never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holdin' my hand,
There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever,
Who would have thought forever could be severed by...

...the sharp knife of a short life, oh well?
I've had just enough time

Elsword had her eyes gently closed, her hands moving in a lovely rhythmic motion to the instrumental before she sung again.

So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh, no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'

At this, Chung noticed a single tear drop from Elsword's eye. Elsword began again, and Chung remained silent.

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Uh oh (uh, oh)
The ballad of a dove (oh, uh)
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save 'em for a time when you're really gonna need 'em, oh

The sharp knife of a short life, oh well
I've had just enough time

So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearls.

Elsword suddenly jolted, as if she had been in a trance. She blushed and pulled in her knees and buried her face in them.

"Elsword, that was beautiful." Chung said.

"R-Really?"

"Yeah. I couldn't tell the difference between you and the singer." Elsword turned slightly more red.

"T-Thank you..." Chung looked up at the sky, it was getting late.

"Well, I'm going to take a nap."

"Yeah, me too." Elsword laid down and pointed at Dizzy, "Time for bed young man."

"Mah!" Dizzy protested, but Elsword frowned. She took off the jacket she was wearing, thanks to Rena, and covered the cage. Elsword know that soon Dizzy would end up going to sleep since he was unable to see.

"Night." Elsword muttered, slumber grasping her eyes.

"Night..." Chung murmured before he fell asleep. Raven drove on, he and Rena feeling quite happy with themselves but both let down. Elsword hadn't confessed.