Wakin' up just brings me down, down.
Cause every morning you are nowhere to be found, nowhere to be found...
And my bed is half empty not half full!
I'd rather live with broken bones...
Than lay here all on my own like a lovesick fool .

- Lovesick fool, The Cab

- Just thought this song would kinda... fit the atmosphere of the chapter. =)

Disclaimer: I don't own Grand Chase.

Chronicles of the Black Blood

x

Lass's POV

Three days.

Three whole damn days without the girl.

There was I, sitting idly in our Homeroom class. I didn't even felt like going to school today. Well, it's not because she's not around or the like, in case you get wrong thoughts… OH WHO AM I KIDDING?!

I want to see her.

I want to see her so bad right now. I want to know how she's doing. I want to know if she's being treated nicely, or if she's able to sleep properly at night…

These things are between you and me anyway.

So regardless of what Ronan and Exii told me about disobeying Tye's orders, I'll to search for her tonight.

A soft tap as a pink note landed on my desk, I look up and saw Amy staring at me, worry painted obviously on her face.

The note read, 'Are you okay? Do you… want to search for Arme? We've been planning these for a while now; Ryan, Lire, Jin, Elesis and I.'

They can't do that. If Exii found out they'll be in big trouble. If it's me I know I'll be okay… but them, I don't know.

So I covered my face with a scowl and shook my head gently mouthing the word, "Don't."

Although I know Amy saw through that. She resumed staring at the chalkboard as I turned to stare outside the window, my façade falling apart with each second that elapses.

Arme… come back already. You're making us worry... flash those klutzy smiles at us again. Please,

I'm beginning to miss you.

xx

Dinner took place lifelessly in the Grand Chase mansion. We all ate in silence; either too busy daydreaming, playing with their utensils, or filling their mouth with food to prevent any interrogation (that's Elesis for you).

And to that, Seighart questioned her manners when he walked in.

"Don't you know it's wrong to over full your mouth when you eat? It makes you look like a hungry pig!" he snorted and grinned at the redhead who only stared at him for moments and resumed eating. The lack of witty comebacks caused him to sigh in dismay.

It didn't take long for him to catch up to the atmosphere though, "Eh? What's wrong with you kids? Cat ate all of your tongues?"

"No."

"Or Elesis did?"

Sigh, "No."

"Well then give me a hint because I'm cool, but not a fortune teller!" he whined and plop down next to Jin.

After a while, someone spoke up.

"Guys… I want to search for Arme tonight." Lire began, as she took a sip of water. A sad face was plastered but her gaze was stuck on the cup she held. "It's been three days."

"I want so too." Elesis said after emptying her mouth with beverage. "I mean, sure, that shortcake may be a pain in the ass; all the time she goes around trying to help people while fake-smiling. But back at our first mission with her, she's right. She never did us wrong. And she's a part of us. You know we can't cast out our team mate." She paused, "No… our friend."

"You know we can't do that." Ronan spoke finally, "Exii, Tye, and Lori said so-"

"But what do you say, chump?" the gladiator's voice surprised us. He continued, "My, I didn't know the little mage affected the Grand Chase this much. Let alone El-pig."

Ronan look down, "Of course I side with you people. That girl kind of affected our lives now… Not every day we get to see someone that can openly worry Lass." He turned to me and smiled innocently.

I grunted in return, as if it was one of the most normal things in the world and replied, "Do you even know what kind of penalty those hags can give you?"

"Nope." Elesis sneered.

"I want to know!" Ryan cried.

"Tell us, tell us." Jin grinned. Then he chuckled, "So we're really doing this."

I stood up and gently slapped my forehead.

"Hey! You haven't answered our question yet!" Elesis called.

"I also don't know. That's why I was asking." I grumbled and decided to head to my room.

"Wait, Lassy boy." The man called as I stop dead on my tracks. "What?" I replied.

"If you kids really want to see the mage, she's deep in the weald."

"Weald?" Ryan and Elesis asked.

"That word is too deep for them," Jin teased with a smirk threatening to appear on his face.

"Well then what is weald, huh?" Elesis shot him a glare.

"She got carried deep into the forest!" the fighter said, "See, I know what wheeled means."

And Seighart banged his head on the table.

xx

Couple of more days passed.

She isn't here I tell you. She is nowhere in the forest. Slowly they began to lose hope for her, but I didn't. I couldn't lose hope on someone that had a clue on who I used to be and still accept me as I am. And I couldn't possibly lose hope on someone that I terribly like.

What?

What did I just claimed to myself? That I like that goddamn mage?

I look up to the starry sky and clenched my right fist, as the other slipped into my pocket. Yes, maybe a bit.

A sigh.

Okay, a lot.

The mansion came to my view shortly when I resumed my pace. Turning to my heels, I searched for the door and entered quietly.

Why the heck is that there are blood trails over here? To my curiosity I followed it and ended up in the living room, I raised my gaze and saw Ronan, Lire and Elesis, all staring at me with panicking faces.

"Lass!" Lire cried, motioning me to come closer, "It's Arme!"

And at that moment… I can't exactly explain how I felt. I sprinted my way over to the couch where I assumed she was and found her there. I was excited and terrified at the same time to see how she was doing.

And when I saw her… and when I saw her it was as if I was about to break down. I reached out and crouched next to her but I stopped my hand midway and use it to cover my face instead.

"A-Arme?" I said and frowned. "Arme…" I said her name again. "Arme!" I cried this time, desperately asking her to stare at me.

She was… She was dying. She was literally on the verge of her own death. Her face is bruised, her eyes turned bloodshot and half-lidded. Dried trails of tears mixed with her own blood, trickling down to the other side of her face. The Violet Magician uniform she wore was torn and dirty, and the wounds that ran across her once doll-like appearance were evidence that she wasn't treated well. There were myriad of cuts that was on her legs and no footwear covered her toes; just a pair of red-violet feet.

"Arme…" I called once more, begging her to respond. "Oh god, please Arme say something."

I could hear Lire sob in the background, and then the voices of Amy, Ryan and Jin as they saw what was going on. None of them spoke, and all that I could hear were sobs that were either held back or let go.

"Everyone…" I shot my gaze at her face again and saw her weakly smiling. She raised her hand trying to reach out for something. "Lass…" she uttered my name as her hand caressed my right cheek, "I'm back." She said and attempted to sit up, salty liquid poured out of her eyes. When she fell back on the couch I clenched my fist. Suppressed sobs was heard again,

"Stop moving." I ordered her. But she tried to sit up again, "Shorty stop moving, you're badly injured!" But she still continued. "Stop moving!" I shouted. "God, Arme why do you have to stay so stubborn?!"

"I want to hug you!" she shouted in return which quickly silenced me. "I want to hug you so bad. You don't know how much I wanted to see you… You don't know how much I wanted to leave that shithole!" She held a sob, "Lass, regardless of what they kept telling me I still accept you as you are, I won't leave you, I will never leave you! I don't care if you end up hating me because of that. But please, just this once, let me hug you."

What… did they told her exactly? What did they say to make Arme feel this way toward me?

But I don't care anymore. I helped her sit up and sat next to her, gently wrapping my right arm around her and brought her closer to me, she cringe once in a while. When I felt that she was already comfortable, I wrapped my other arm around her and said, "You're still stupid as ever Shorty." I paused and rested my chin over her head, "I could never bring myself to hate you." She sobbed again. "I'm sorry."

Click!

I turned and saw Amy holding up a camera, her face bathing with tears, sniffing.

"H-hey!" I cried, questioning her move.

"I know this is sad and all-"she sniffed, "-but I felt like I still need to do this-"sniff, "-go on, continue."

I looked away, blush threatening to appear on my face but I quickly prevented it.

At least I tried.

We all lightened up after a while because of Amy who was still busy crying her eyes out. Muttering something about her sister… and that her sister had already grown up.

"Lass," Ronan called as I turned to him. "Can you carry Arme to the infirmary? We can see we can do to heal her."

I nodded and released her, trying my best not to let her get hurt. I slipped my right arm around her shoulder, then the other under her knee. "Oww." She said in a hush voice as she clutched my shirt. "Sorry…" I coaxed and we began our way to the infirmary.

I left her lay on the bed she used when she first came here. And then I leaned on the wall.

Ronan, Ryan, Lire and Amy were discussing things to each other, and I didn't bother to listen. I turned and saw Elesis by the door frame, either shy or afraid to step inside. Jin was next to her, but he's a step farther inside than the sword wielder.

When she first came here… none of us really knew that she would up like us, that she would be very important to all of us. And now that she's back I don't know.

I'm just glad that she's finally back.

"LASSY!"

Eh?

I turned and saw Amy shouting at me. I glared in return, "What?"

"We're changing Arme's clothes." Then a grin crept her face, "I know you two would end up in that basis anyway but for now get out."

I felt my face turn hot when I realized what she meant, "The hell!" I exclaimed and turned my back to head to the door, "And for the enth-Pete's sake, its Lass, not Lassy!"

XD I just find everyone in this dang ff so adorable.

Anyway, I will take approximately 2 days to come up with the next Chapter, as I have to max my loli in Dragon Nest since my friends and I are going to have an FFA match (kinda like survival in Grand Chase), and they are really, really, determined to end my loli's life this time.

Really.

'Til next time though, xhAna.

Oh, and expect a Special Chapter coming your way! Toodles!