AN: Some relaxation time for the gang. I think they need it, haha. Also, prank time! Tis' a silly prank, but a prank nonetheless. And sorry this took time to get out, I'm still working on original stuff too! I moved houses too, so I took a break for a couple of days. Hope you guys don't mind!

Chapter Twenty-Five – (Luka's POV)

I knew I had changed. I had to accept that I had changed, and had already partially managed to do so with my confession to Miku. It had not been just a confession of trust, and she had instinctively known that.

Which had led to the kiss.

It had replayed over and over in my mind when I had woken up, and the feelings it brought were now ones I could recognise.

Trust. Affection. Caring.

All feelings that I felt were new to me, but I knew that they were not. If I thought back to my childhood, they had been there towards my parents. I had trusted them as a child, longed for my own feelings of caring to be returned. They had done so, in their own way, but they had also taught me a valuable lesson of not placing my trust in someone blindly, even them.

Had I destroyed those teachings by placing my trust in Miku?

But that begged the question, did their teachings still stand after so many years of their absence? I did not know, but what I did know that everything I felt towards Miku fit, somehow, in a strange way.

When I found my parents in Nuriel, would they approve of her? Did that really matter to me as much as it once would have?

Not that it truly mattered, considering what I would have to do to them when I did finally meet them. A shiver ran up my spine, and I pushed those thoughts away.

Instead, I brought my mind to more important things, such as the howl I had heard last night while Miku had been asleep. Alongside the fact that it had been a full moon, that meant I knew very well what Sonika was. Why Kaito hadn't grasped the same before me was beyond me, especially since he held more power than I did. That small fact stung, just a little. The foolish man was probably blinded by infatuation.

I heard a stir from next to me, and turning over so I was lay on my side, I greeted Miku with a smile that, despite my previous thoughts, held true warmth. We had separated from our embrace during the night, but she soon came close to me once more, laying her head on my chest.

'Why must you insist on laying like that?'

'Comfy,' was all she said. I rolled my eyes.

'We must get up. We have a full day of travel if we wish to get to Land's End soon.'

'Don't want to.'

'You are such a child, Miku,' I said. 'I'm getting up whether you like it or not.'

'Wait,' she said, suddenly looking very sheepish. 'I wanted to ask you something. About last night.'

'Do you regret your decision?' I asked, quietly, but thankfully, she shook her head.

'I just wanted to ask… how many people have you kissed before?' she said, all in one rushed breath. Her face was reddening, and she was biting her lip.

'I am afraid I did not count.'

'Oh… well, you're only the second person I've kissed before, so I was just wondering,' she murmured.

'The second? Who was your first?'

'It was a boy who came to visit Willow Vale. I was curious, and I liked him, so I kind of just asked.'

'And I am assuming he was happy to comply?'

'Well, yes, I suppose, since he did kiss me. It didn't feel like what happened when we kissed, though.'

'That is good to know,' I said, and Miku laughed. 'And that is enough chatter, we must get up and face the day.'

'Alright, alright,' Miku said, and we both unravelled ourselves from the bedcovers and got dressed.

Miku and I were hand in hand as we left the room. As per my suspicion, Sonika looked particularly haggard that morning. Even Kaito had noticed, and was concerned that she was not eating her breakfast in her usual exuberant manner.

'Do you think we could get a boat to Land's End?' Kaito asked, coming over to greet us and leaving Sonika at the table staring morosely at her food. 'Sonika doesn't appear to be feeling well.'

'Not feeling well? Maybe because she is a werewolf?' I said. Miku and Kaito stared at me, mouths hanging open. 'Oh, do not be so dense, the pair of you. Miku, I understand you-'

'Hey!'

'But Kaito, you should have sensed something, at least.'

'Well… I did notice that something felt off, yes, but I ignored it. I thought I was just being paranoid.'

'You are a fool,' I said, shaking my head. 'All of you are insufferable fools.'

Miku pouted, and Kaito stared at Sonika, myself, and then Sonika again.

'Should we tell her that we know?' Kaito asked.

'Now would probably be the best time,' Miku said. 'We can catch her if she decides to run off.'

Decision made, we went over to the table, Kaito and Miku sitting down heavily on their chairs. Sonika looked up at us all, a frown creasing her face.

'What's with the long faces, everyone?'

'We know,' Miku said simply, but Sonika just looked nonplussed.

'Know what? Am I missing something?'

'We know that you're, well… not exactly human,' Kaito said.

'Oh,' she replied. 'That. Yeah.'

I was honestly not expecting her to give up the information so readily. Therefore, I surmised that I was truly was surrounded by idiots. But I thought it would be best to keep that information to myself. Miku would have been proud, indeed.

'Why didn't you tell us?' Kaito asked. 'You know mine and Luka's situation, so why not tell us yours in return?'

She cast her gaze down to her uneaten breakfast, knotting her hands together.

'I guess I thought you'd try to kill me, or something. I know you're not those kinds of people, but I've run into so many other travellers on my journey from Lakestead that have turned on me I thought it would be the best to just keep quiet.'

'Is that why you left home?' Kaito asked. 'Because you were bitten?'

'No. It's a family curse. We have a basement where we stay on full moons. But I thought that I might try to look and see if I could find anyone who might break it. Dad's looked, in his younger days, but couldn't find anybody. I don't think there's anyone on Mirren who can do it.'

'Why don't you try and come to Nuriel with us?' Miku asked. 'Luka, you had to come here on a boat. How long did it take?'

'I am afraid I was not aware of how many days it took. I was in the midst of fleeing from a witch, I did not care how or where the boat took me, as long as it was away from Nuriel.'

'Well, we can always ask Sven, when we meet him,' Miku said, smiling. 'I'm sure it can't be too long.'

'Are you sure,' Sonika asked. 'I wouldn't be a problem for you all?'

'Of course not,' Kaito said. 'If anything, you'd help us. We need someone with your magical abilities on our side.'

I almost disagreed with his words, but realised she would be a help, even when it came to a full moon. We could just send her into whatever awful place we needed to conquer along the way to my castle and wait for her to demolish the horrors inside without any harm to ourselves. Satisfied with my plan, I nodded, and Sonika's eyes looked full of hope.

'I'm so glad I found you all. Y'know, a journey with you is going to be so much more fun than being all by myself. I was starting to get a bit stir-crazy.'

Kaito smiled at her, so full of adoration that even a blind man would notice, but then I realised that it was Sonika, and she was even more dense than even Miku when it came to romantic interest. Although… I did wonder what possibilities were going through Miku's mind.

'Then it's settled,' Miku said. 'We're all off to Nuriel. Together.'

'Together,' Kaito and Sonika replied, and the latter began happily devouring her breakfast.

Before we could set off to Land's End, however, we went looking for a sword for myself. As much as I did not want to use one, let alone own one, Miku was obstinately set on the idea, and there would be no argument with her. We first needed to go to the clothing shop, as she also insisted that I needed more practical clothing.

'You can't go swinging a sword around in a dress,' she said, as we went in.

'I cannot believe you are making me do this. You have stolen every last ounce of my dignity,' I said, but Miku just grinned.

'Here,' she said, passing me a bundle of clothes. 'These should all fit.'

Grumbling to myself, I went and changed, and I had to admit to myself in the small mirror that I looked good, despite my prominent scar. I had never been a vain woman, not really, but I let myself admire my reflection for a moment. The shirt was tucked into leather trousers, and they were tucked into hard wearing boots. Stepping out from behind the curtain, I spoke.

'I believe that these shall do.' Miku nodded slowly, mouth slightly open. Sonika let out a low whistle, and even Kaito looked impressed.

'You really suit it,' Miku said, and I smirked. 'Let's get you a weapon, then.'

When we got to the blacksmiths, the woman behind the counter watched us with amusement as I was forced to see how natural the sword itself felt in my grip.

'You do realise that this is entirely useless. I will not find any of this natural because I am not a warrior by nature.'

'But you need something,' Miku said. 'Let's just get you a sword and shield, and we can practice later. You'll have to get used to carrying it around. We'll get you some light armour, too.'

'Fine,' I grumbled. 'But I do not like this.'

Miku just shook her head, and we waited as the armour was tailored to fit me properly. Once it was finished, I pulled it on, ruining the effect the clothes had given me, and we set off out to the open road.

The road to Land's End began with us heading out into the densely packed forest once more, covering up the beautiful day that lay on the horizon. However, it soon opened up on to a coastal path, and Miku, Kaito, and Sonika were introduced to the beach for the first time. The seagulls were cawing overhead, searching for scraps, and the sound of the rolling waves brought a calmness to my heart, as it always tended to do. Secretly, I was also glad of the respite found here, but thinking of that made my mind flicker back to that moment in the mine, of blinding pain and screaming in the darkness. Miku brought me back to reality with a simple hand to the shoulder, and I smiled down at her. She returned it with a ridiculously full beam.

'Come on, let's enjoy this while we can!' She bent down to take off her boots and socks, and the others followed suit.

I watched as they waded out into the sea, Miku jumping up and down while begging me to join her. Inevitably, a wave bigger than they first realised came up to them, and they all desperately tried to run away, the water hindering their progress and dooming them to a soggy fate.

'That,' I said, as Miku slumped over to me, 'is why I shall not join you.'

'Oh well,' Miku said with a shrug. 'I'm going to strip and go in properly.'

She proceeded to do exactly that, and Sonika followed suit after she saw what Miku was doing. I could not help but watch as she struggled first out of her armour, and then out of her regular clothes into just her undergarments.

It was the first time I'd seen her in such a state, as we had liked to keep our privacy while getting changed at both morning and night. Somehow, it made her look infinitely older, as it was not all baby fat and roundness in the way I had expected. Much the same way as our journey had weathered her face, it had formed her body as well. She was all defined muscle, and looked ready to beat me easily in a fist fight despite the armour I was now wearing.

'You have no shame or dignity,' I said, and Miku grinned.

'You're not joining me?'

'I think not. I shall simply watch you parade around in such a ridiculous manner.'

'You love it really,' Miku winked, and with that, she and Sonika both ran back out into the sea.

Kaito came up to me as I watched them splash around, seemingly having the time of their lives.

'You are not joining them?' I asked.

'That would be far too embarrassing,' he replied, shaking his head. 'I wanted to ask you something, anyway, if you don't mind. You and Miku… I noticed you were holding hands this morning.'

I kept silent, wanting to know if his deductions would be correct, since I could not judge so from his expression, which was remarkably closed off.

'You two have been building up to that moment for a long time,' he said, and I nodded. 'Maybe Miku didn't realise as quickly as she should have done, but I would bet she's never really had those kinds of feelings before.'

'I believe you are correct.'

'I just wanted to ask you to look after her,' he said, and I tilted my head. 'I think I know you a little better now, and as it said in the letter from Miku's dad, I know you've still got some secrets. I don't know how big, but… just tell her before it's too late, okay?'

He made it sound so simple. Like I could just go up to her and tell her that I had been Nuriel's ruler for so many years and still expected to rule once more, preferably with her at my side. Not that she would want to be, but I would tackle that when we came to it. Perhaps she would stand by me because she had fallen in love. She would be the kind of person to have those sorts of feelings, whereas I was not sure if I was capable of such things anymore. So yet again, I had to lie.

'I will do my best,' I said, and Kaito nodded, his gaze drifting back to the two women dancing in the waves.

Once they had had their fun, both of them completely exhausted, we found a place to lie down while their underclothes dried off. Miku nestled in a hollow dip in the sand, and soon, she was fast asleep.

I saw my chance.

She would regret trusting me so easily.

'Did you sleep well?' I asked mildly, as Miku yawned, eyes still closed.

'Yes. I had the strangest dream though. Like I was being flattened.'

'Oh? I cannot imagine why you would have had such a dream.'

Suddenly, she wiggled, obviously attempting to move her limbs that I had successfully buried. I heard a snigger from behind me as both Kaito and Sonika witnessed Miku's eyes snapping open, glaring at me.

'Luka,' she said calmly. 'What have you done? Because for some reason, I can't seem to move.'

'I think you know perfectly well what I have done,' I said, trying to hold back the errant laughter that was bubbling up my throat.

'Let me out,' she said, and I shook my head. 'Please?'

'I am afraid that you shall be left here, bereft as the tide closes in,'

'This is not funny,' she pouted.

'It really is,' I heard Sonika say as she dissolved into laughter.

'And did you seriously have to put breasts on it?'

It was too much, her pouting face, stuck in the sand, I could not last. I delved into peals of laughter, my body shaking as I tried in vain to catch my breath. My scar hurt, but it was no use, I could not stop laughing like a madwoman. Once I managed to compose myself, I saw her looking at me strangely.

'What is it?' I asked, still a little out of breath.

'That's the first time you've ever laughed in front of me like that,' she said. 'That felt amazing.'

'You were not the one laughing,' I said.

'But I could feel it. Your happiness, as soppy as that sounds. I'd like to hear it again,' she said. 'Now get me out of this sand prison.'

We complied, helping dig away the sand until she was able to wriggle out of it like a butterfly from a cocoon. When she was truly free, she jumped up and planted a kiss on my forehead.

'I knew it!' Sonika cried. 'I knew you two were a couple!' The three of us nodded, and Sonika looked a little defeated. 'Was I the last to know?'

'Yes, yes you were,' Kaito said, laughing. 'Come on. Let's all get dressed and head for Land's End. It should just be around the corner.'

We arrived at the small port village not long afterwards, greeted by the shape of a ship far too big for such a small place. A man, who I presumed was fisherwoman's ex-husband, Sven, waved us over to the dock as we came into his line of sight.

'You lot are travellers, am I right?' he said. Miku nodded. 'I assume you want to go to Nuriel. Nothing else in this godsforsaken village. Who told you about my Dancer anyway?'

'It was your ex-wife, actually,' Miku said, and Sven laughed.

'Bet she told you all sorts of things about me. None of it is true, none of it. Anyway, I'm just a trading ship, but I've got room for all four of you, if you want to take the journey. It's three weeks.'

Miku looked at me and smiled.

'We do. Is that alright with everybody else?'

'Yes,' everyone, including Sonika, said. It would be cutting it close, what with her werewolf tendencies, but I thought that we would be fine. Three weeks without bandits would be like a dream.

'Then let's get you all to Nuriel!' Sven said. 'Welcome aboard. Hope you've all got your sea legs.'