Time for the next chapter over a long wait period. I've gotten seriously busy with working my body back into shape now running eight miles, and benching 210.

Anyways, lets begin.

" A duel, ehh?" I asked a smirk appearing. I was cocky when it came to such fights, but this time I didn't feel the same amount. It was there but it might as well not be at all. Siphon's aura gave me a sense that he could hold is on against me.

" You seem so cocky, as if you could beat me," Siphon said, a big grin appearing behind his mask. He turned and exited the cave, entering a clearing. Trees of a thick and burly base and top surrounded the clearing meaning we wouldn't be interrupted.

" So, how do you want to do this Siphon?" He walked to the other end of the clearing, confident showing in each pace he took. He turned to me, confidence in his eyes.

"First one for a clean strike wins, so if I were you my friend, I would give it my all." I nodded, my grin growing bigger as he anticipation grew.

" I was about to say the same to you." I drew my blade, Siphon doing the same with both his katanas'. The only sound radiating was the blades as they slowly slid out their sheaths, finally falling in front of us.

A slight breeze passed between us, blowing the barren grasslands like the waves of the sea. My cloak flew with the wind, flapping slightly as it did so. Siphon's eyes bore into mine, both of us waiting for the slightest movement between the other.

I tensed my leg muscles, slightly leaning forward, not alerting Siphon's suspicion. Siphon quickly threw down a smoke pellet, the field soon covered, my sight now fully useless. I closed my eyes, only focusing on his aura.

Just like the day we met, he moved with power and speed. He closed in, five feet, four, three, two. He sidestepped left and swung his left blade down. I moved Obsidian, intercepting the blade, but quickly regretted it as his second blade swung the opposite direction, swinging easily towards my back. I quickly grabbed Siphon's first blade and swung over the second, the wind grazing under me by mere seconds.

At my highest ark I kicked Siphon in his chest, causing him to fall back sliding, but not losing his balance. The smoke disappeared leaving us to smile at each others powers.

" That was good thinking, but this time you really must watch your back," Siphon said before shooting down more smoke pellets. The smoke became denser, breathing becoming harder. He wanted to wear me down before delivering the winning blow." My mask insulates all hindrances to my breathing, you're out of luck my friend." I could only cough in response. I was limited on time, and limited on space. I could feel his aura grow closer and closer, faster than before. He was confident that he would get me this time.

In a matter of seconds he was in front of me, katana's propped to kill. I placed Obsidian in front of the blades, blocking the attack, but not the force, knocking me back an couple yards. I hit the ground hard, quickly rolling to get back on my feet just as Siphon stabbed at where I originally was. I swung the greatsword, Siphon having to leave drop his left blade to dodge, disappearing back into the dense cloud.

I had thirty seconds before I officially ran out of air. Siphon was catching his breath, giving me a good chance to think. I looked down at Obsidian, its thick width and length giving me a good idea. I prepped it like a bat and swung as hard as I could creating a small gust of air, clearing the cloud of smoke. As soon as it cleared I gasped for the long awaited oxygen, filling my lungs once again.

" Good thinking, but you've lost too much time."

Siphon ran at me in his last attempt to win, I doing the same. Siphon pulled his left blade back into his hand, jabbing his right at me. I parried the blade and stopped a mere inch in front of Siphon's throat. We froze mid action, the shot easily seen. I smiled triumphantly had won.

" Looks like I win." Siphon chuckled causing my grin to disappear, an arched brow of confusion appearing.

" Look again." I looked down to see his left katana right where my heart was placed. I began to laugh at that...actually laugh.

" Looks like its a tie, my friend." I said still chuckling at it. We relaxed sheathing our respective blades, shaking hands soon after.

" We must do this again," Siphon said, smiling himself. I nodded a smile of a rival filling my mind.

" Yeah, and I'll win for sure." He only laughed at it, nodding increasing his tight grip.

" We'll see."

We made our way back to camp, carefully making sure that we were not followed. As soon as we made sure we were clear we entered the premises of camp. Immediately, I was tackled to the ground, multiple giggles around me, filled my ears. I opened my eyes to see the six girls I loved so dearly atop me, each giggling like a school girl.

" Ha, ha, now can I stand," I said with a roll of the eyes and a small smirk. The girls obliged, standing, but the grins plastered on their face. I stood, dusting myself off. Five seconds back in camp and I'm huddled in giggles and tackles. I sighed, turning to begin a little R&R me-time.

" I'll be back, I'm taking a quick walk." I only took one step before I was immediately tackled again, though this time the impact was filled with giggles, but pleads not to go. I could feel tears staining the back of my trench coat.

" Please don't," Sasha pleaded first.

" Not again Dezmin," Kirara sobbed. The other girls would repeat the same requests of me staying. I stood, finally, and turned to them a big grin on my face.

" Gotcha," I said, before letting out a small laugh. The girls fumed, but couldn't keep their faces before finally just sighing in defeat.

" Dezmin, that isn't funny," Blaze whined. In a miraculous stretch, I wrapped my arms around of all six of them, bringing them in a soft embrace.

" Look, you girls gotta take it easy, I'm fine as you can see, I'll have Obsidian this time, I'll be okay." The girls glared at me, anger filling their eyes. I released them and they left, each in their angry moods." I'm fine, but they seem so angry," I said slightly confused, slightly irritated. Siphon placed a hand on my shoulder.

" Listen Dezmin, when you disappeared the girls were devastated. Each one of them blamed themselves, even now they still hate their own guts for almost losing you.

" When they saw you in that heap, weak and almost lifeless, they nearly lost it and destroyed half this forest." I looked back truly shocked by that, Siphon only nodding in confirmation." Its not a joking matter to them, you might want to visit them, individually."

I nodded, before immediately heading off to find the first of the six, Asuna.

-XOXOXOXOX-

It took some time, but after a while I found her looking at her reflection in the lake. Her hair flowed with the breeze, waving softly, emitting tiny sparks every now and then, she was pissed.

" Asuna," I said hesitantly. She turned slowly, her cheeks stained with tears, her eyes red, but not that puffy so it was still early. I walked up and wrapped my arms under hers, wrapping her in a hug. She folded her arms, her sparks becoming more violent.

" What do you want?" The anger in her voice was at an all new high.

" Im sorry, I didnt know it was a delicate subject." She shot around in my arms, placing her soft, furry lips against mine, pulling back just as fast.

" You idiot, I almost lost you to that bitch of a Toxicroak, and you want to sit around joking about it?" She placed her lips against mine again. It was my turn to break it, I looked at her with the most seriousness I could muster behind my weak stature.

" Im sorry, and I won't joke about it again, promise." She looked at me, still slightly mad, but they softened and her arms slowly wrapped around me.

" You're lucky I love you." I smiled before kissing her one last time, and standing taking off.

Next was Dialga, or Dia, as she liked to be called now. I found her hiding atop a tree, eating an apple offley mad, if possible. She was the most swayed if sex was promised.

" Dia, I know you're up there, please come down."

Reluctantly, she did, but her face was madder than I ever seen, which was a rarity. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close and bringing my lips to her ear, my breath just grazing it causing her to shudder and loosen.

" Im sorry, but I'll make it up to you later, promise." Her attitude did a full 180, her smile returning. She grabbed my ass, squeezing tightly. She pressed her lips against mine, slipping her forked tongue inside, wrapping it around, breaking it leaving a thin line of saliva.

" Promise," she said before going off her merily way.

I would have to to talk to Sasha, and Blaze together if I was to get this done. I found them in their tent, both meditating. I coughed just loud enough for them to turn to me before closing their eyes again, focusing on meditating. I entered, sitting next to them, trying to think my way through this. No matter what, if I could convince on, the other could counteract it, I would have to think carefully.

" Girls, Im sorry, but it was a joke. I didnt know it was that delicate of a subject, Sasha, you could read my mind, you know I would never hurt you. Blaze, you know how my heart burns for your love, I wouldn't hurt you either." The girls turned, the shoulders slouching, their smiles returning.

" Dezmin, I can read your mind yes, but, it still hurts, reliving the painful memories, everyday worrying if you were dead or alive." Sasha said, a tear passing through her closed eye.

" Dezmin, I could feel your hearts flame, but just as Sasha said, reliving those memories brings up way too much pain. Its something we dont take delicate to. We love you too much to allow you to hurt yourself again." I nodded, it hurt them, I understood that perfectly, and it seemed no matter how hard I tried, I would never win against them.

" Yes though, we forgive you," they said in unison. I shot my head up, a big smile appearing on my face. I kissed both of them on the cheek before running out the tent to find Arial and Kirara, the last two. And boy, they didn't forgive so easily.

It took some tracking, but I found Arial at the top of the waterfall, training. She was punching a tree, crying, anger radiated in her eyes. She hit the tree with so much force, it snapped like a twig, toppling to the ground, dust kicking up. I slowly made my way over to her, careful not to get the full force of the attack.

I was one foot behind her when she swung blindly. I dodged, grabbing her paw and setting it down.

" What is it?" She asked, infuriated. I didn't say anything, just looking at her, my eyes focused on hers. Her aura was like a giant fire, raging, and her eyes were blinded with rage…and sadness. I pulled her in for a hug, careful of her spike, pulling her tight. Her tension slowly lowering, her fists loosening, finally falling to her sides limp.

" Thats nothing to joke about," she said, her words closely lost in the tears that began to stain my shoulder. I hushed her, slowly whispering nothings to her, attempting to calm her down.

" Me and Kirara looked for you, non-stop, trying to find you, the girls leading us the best we could. When we found you, you were so worn out, and beaten we thought you'd never be the same, yet here you are, joking about the situation." I planted my lips to hers, ceasing her sobs, stopping all the problems from flooding again. I broke it, her whimpering saying she didn't want it to.

" I know all this now, and I dont want to hurt any of you anymore. Please, forgive me, I wasn't thinking-" It was her turn to kiss me, I immediately accepted it, returning the action. She broke it, now smiling, now crying tears of joy.

" You're just lucky I love you." I chuckled at that, wrapping my arms around her hips, tightening my grip, bringing her closer.

" So I've been told," I said, smiling and kissing her one last time, soft and quick, but still loving." Where is Kirara?" Arial's smile disappeared, one of fear replacing it.

" Farther up, but I'd be careful." I nodded before beginning my trek up.

I reached the next level of the cliff, the image surprising me, greatly.

Trees were hacked apart, the grass cinged, bark scattering the dirt like spikes. The trees that weren't destroyed, were either burned, or barely standing.

I trekked further into it, the destruction getting worst. More trees fallen or burned, the bark pieces increasing, snapping under my shoes.

I began to hear growling, the heat increasing, a loud thud, then a crack that made me wince slightly. I grew closer, with each step becoming slower.

Finally, I found Kirara, mid rampage. She lifted the tree, tossing it my way. I didn't flinch as it soared just a mere inch by my face. Kirara stood there, panting heavily, her eyes half lidded, tired and out of energy. I shook my head before making my way over to her, lifting her up bridal style. She pounded her fist on my chest in an attempt to have me put her down, but she was took weak to do so.

" I can handle myself. Let go," she yelled meaninglessly. I gripped her tighter as she did her best to squirm.

" Now, who's being a hypocrite?" I asked, looking down at her out the corner of my eyes. Her yelling stopped, along with her beating as she stared at me.

" You didn't want me going off on my own, even at full strength with Obsidian. What makes you think I'd let you 'handle' yourself in this state." Her eyes drifted away, guilt forming into tears." It's not your fault, any of y'all's, it was mine. Siphon told me what happened, I'm touched, but their are limits you go to, and you've finally reached yours. I'm asking you, please, forgive me, and rest."

Kirara opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She nodded, before drifting into sleep. I kissed her forehead and continued the long trek back.

After we got back, and I set Kirara down on our sleeping bag, Siphon walked in, Dia soon after.

" Dezmin, there is someone to see you," Siphon said quickly. I arched an eyebrow, turning to Dia for some answers. She was furious but it wasn't targeted towards me.

I exited the tent, looking around. Nothing.

A tap to the shoulder surprised me. I grabbed the wrist, flinging the creature over my shoulder, unsheathing Obsidian, placing it against the creatures throat.

The creature was a pink armored dragon. Her eyes were a fierce red, matching her sisters. Her pink hair stretching past her hips, her claws sharp her teeth a pearl white. She must have been 5' 11", but her muscles made up for it.

Palkia.

" Hello cutie, you must be Dezmin."

Well, how's that.

I hope it'll satisfy you guys for a while.

It's great to be writing again, but remember Varsity football comes first.

But, Storm, where do you go from here?

Welp, that's up to Sega, and I'll write, hopefully faster than I can read.

Later

-stormgreywolf