Permanent Note: If you aren't keeping up with the Drabbles, you'll be lost on some things as the chapters progress~ Keep up with that ;D

Please remember, ( ) parenthesis are MY thoughts, italics are telepathic talk between me and Kairi

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Tales of Vesperia, Justin, or Caryn. I DO have permission to use Justin and Caryn though. I OWN myself, Kairi, and my work in this fic. That is all….


With a shout; soldiers, bandidos, and witches came running to the platform we were on, the four glowing green pillars appeared too. I knew fighting the small fries was pointless for now with the bridges up… but, "Go on, get out there, kill 'em! But don't damage the one with wings; she's worth a fortune! Catch her!"

"Just try to take her, I'm gonna take you thugs down," Yuri said seriously as he and Judith charged Barbos to fight him and keep him occupied.

"Give up and receive your due punishment, as the law demands!" Estelle shouted angrily too making me shrug a bit… does she really think the bad guy will just give up after hearing the words 'due punishment as the law demands'?

"I will put an end to your evil dreams," Judith said seriously as well as she kept getting him stun locked for Yuri to wail on him.

Barbos used Hammer Roll to get distance away from the two before scoffing, "You little punks are nothing to me. I'll squash you like bugs. Then I'll squash the Union, and rule the world!"

"That's a nice dream. I'll make sure it doesn't happen!" Yuri sassed making me chuckle as I took out a bandido with a really quick and hard Lariat to the throat.

"Even dreams need a little reality. Otherwise things just end bad," Raven said, which made me tilt my head as I began to evade a witches Wind Blade. I had to wonder of that was a double play, since he knows fully well what Alexei's ambitions are.

"We will stop you, no matter what!" Karol shouted, though he didn't engage enemies head on as he ran about using nice aid smash to help the group, but he did fight if they came too him. Repede just barked as if to agree with Karol's retort.

"Silence! Now know the true power of Barbos the Stormblast!" Barbos cried out, making me fake gag at how cliché that was.

I knocked out the witch who was on my ass with a hard sock to her gut, lifting her off the ground by about 5 inches with the sheer force. I looked and watched as another came running along the bridges…. We weren't going to get anywhere like this without the secret mission completion…but the others will wonder why I'm attacking a pillar and not the enemy…. I spotted another 2 bandidos running along the other bridge as Yuri took out two of them in exchange. (Fuck this…. I gotta take out those bridges…)

I ran to the nearest pillar that didn't have any enemies near it and began to wail on it all I could, earning a shout from Yuri, "Liana! What are you doing?!"

But I ignored, and continued to try taking it down, but come on, these knuckles of mine were no where near as powerful as the 550-700 damage Yuri can deal out regularly with his Blue Dragon sword… it was taking longer, so much longer that Barbos took notice, "Stop that woman! Don't let her destroy the bridge operations!"

"Bridge operations?!" Flynn said in realization and shock.

"I was wondering why these guys never seemed to end," Raven said a bit curiously.

"Then that leaves one option, take out the others!" Yuri shouted in a commanding tone as the others spread out to take out the other 4 making Barbos rather pissed off that he let that piece of info slip. Kairi came closer to keep enemies away from me pillar with her firebolt and Raven following behind her a bit wide eyed at watching her fight, but not in pure shock yet, making me wonder (Just why is Raven so protective of her so far. Is it because she's a 'beautiful lady', or… or did Alexei tell him to….).

Raven fired arrows to keep the mages at bay until he finally turned to give Kairi a good look before his eyes widened big time and he stopped firing to gape and ask a question I wasn't prepared to answer at all, "You…. Yer fightin' and usin' magic without a blastia?!"

Judith looked over as well making me stop punching the pillar to slap his back, "Less questions, more shooting! I'll answer that later!"

Though as I returned to dealing with the pillar, I began to sweat…. Just HOW was I going to explain this to Raven without telling him the truth?! As the pillar FINALLY went down, the gears retracted preventing further guild members from joining their boss, I was the last bridge as the others damage was way higher than mine…. I need better equips…and I need an excuse to tell Raven…

"Agh… Y-you'll never beat me!" Barbos said nervously, yet still angrily. Caryn kept firing arrows to get his attention stirred around, making him turn to her and…. Raging Snake Eyes!

The beam flew straight towards Caryn and Flynn quickly shoved her down to the ground to cover her, but I could hear her shout, "Why the fuck does he have a laser beam eye?!"

I could hear Square Enix's CEO president, Matsuda Yosuke from the FFXV CEO boss fight saying, 'Shachou desu kara!' and it made me chuckle a bit inwardly at the thought. Barbos wasn't so hard a boss, but his combo of Macabre Hammer and Hammer Roll were the worse as he'd catch Yuri in the Macabre Hammer and pull him in close for a good dose and taste of his Hammer Roll as well as all of us (Thank god for Estelle knowing Nurse!). Head Shock wasn't so powerful, but it could stun, same for his Jump Hammer….when he did it the first time I stopped and stared at this weirdly shaped, bulky man jump in the air a good 12-15 feet…

"He looks like he'd be heavier than me… just how the hell can he jump that high?" I basically asked myself, not paying attention to the splash damage range of his Jump Hammer, and I wound up getting stunned.

Our ace in the hole, was Kairi. Since he refused to hurt her, she was free to spam firebolt to her hearts content, and boy did she spam them with a lot of anger.

Though he only had a little over 45,000 hp, and Yuri was dishing out the damage with Kairi and the others. So I wasn't so worried as I fought him, my attention going elsewhere as I noticed a mage on the ground with the pile of unconscious guild members, despite that most the mages seemed to be women… this one was a GUY! I fumed a little inside, he made for a REALLY GOOD WOMAN, and it didn't seem he was even trying! He could make Drag Queens green with envy! Which meant…. He put me to shame big time and I was jealous and wanted his secrets! Though that distraction cost me some as he managed to stun me with a Head Shock and get me in a Hell Hammer, which is just an uppercut with his ball spiked arm, sending me flying a good ways back, "Gah!"

I rubbed my gut where he socked me and rubbed my head in pain as I hissed and glared at Barbos angrily. (Fucking bastard, taking advantage of my ADD!)

"Liana, stay focused!" I heard Yuri shout seriously just as Raven shot an arrow in the air that flew towards me, "Who loves ya baby!"

I blinked dumbly as I turned to Raven when the arrow hit my head, but there was no pain, only relief, "I dunno… who does love me?"

Raven blinked dumbly back as well, probably not seeing that coming before returning his focus to fighting Barbos again, "Come on wind, knock 'em around, and cut 'em down. Wind Blade!"

Rita used a Tractor Beam to catch Barbos in it and send him up, and plummeting right back down. (Ouch, for a heavy guy, that had to hurt!). He prepared to hit Yuri with a Macabre Hammer but Kairi hit him with another firebolt making him fall to his knees after the onslaught he'd faced, "Impossible…"

"Stay down," Yuri said seriously as he glared at Barbos.

"It's over. Accept your fate!" Estelle shouted angrily, yet again making me turn to her with a dumb look. (Seriously, what is this? This isn't a damn fairytale book where the villain accepts his fate, he'd rather make his own, and she'll soon find out.)

"Should I finish him off?" Rita asked mockingly, making Flynn shake his head at her to imply she not do that.

Yuri glared at Barbos as he spoke, "Your henchmen have run out on you… That's it, Barbos. It looks like you were the fool who didn't know when to give up."

Barbos got up slowly, clearly winded from that firebolt spamming, "Urk… Ha ha ha. Perhaps you are right."

"Then you'll surrender…" Estelle began to say in relief.

"I… I won't be humiliated any more than this," Barbos said to Estelle before turning to Yuri, "… Yuri, was it? You remind me of Whitehorse in his youth… You're his spitting image."

Yuri gave a smirk as he spoke sassily back, "Hope you're not saying I'm gonna end up like that old man. Not exactly something to look forward to."

I devilishly smirked as I turned to Yuri, "It ain't? I'd certainly hit that if ya were."

Yuri just gave me his signature silly grin as Kairi gave me a huge pout at my semi-flirting with him.

"Like the Don, sooner or later you will make great enemies in this world. …And then that world will consume you whole. Regret, sorrow, and despair will hound you all the way to hell, and I will be waiting there for you," Barbos got out as he stepped backwards to the edge of the platform, leaving Flynn, Yuri, and Estelle to realize what he was about to do and make a dash to try to apprehend him. But they were too late, as Barbos plummeted to his death in the very tower he created.

Estelle fell to her knees in regret that they couldn't catch him, that and witnessing another take their own life. It had to be a first for her certainly as it was for us all. And while it was horrible to even think of, I was both relieved and pissed off that he'd died a quick death, but I guess that's better than having a slow and painful one even though I think he deserves it… I was a twisted and complex human being…

Kairi carefully removed the aque blastia from the sword making it stop vibrating on the ground, catching everyone but Estelle's attention. Yuri was the first to respond, "Huh? Ah, the core. Is it okay?"

Kairi looked at the glowing stone in her hands carefully as she gently turned it and stroked it, "Y-Yeah. It doesn't have a scratch, so I think it's okay."

Raven then walked up despite Yuri heading over to take the aque blastia, "So… Can ya answer my question from before on how ya can use magic without a blastia?"

"I'm rather interested too. It's rather unusual and unheard of to be honest," Judith spoke up as well, both of them making Kairi nervous, "Eto… Ano…"

I sighed as I walked up, "I'll explain to Raven, Kairi, you explain to Judith."

"Huh?" Kairi turned to me with wide eyes, "I thought we weren't telling Raven anything. And is it okay to tell Judith?"

"I've had some time to think of a lie, I'll fill ya in on it once I tell him. Let the others know about my lie and why we have to lie around him, okay," I replied back with a nod.

"Alright, so what's the story," Raven said, a little bit eager to hear this 'story'.

"Easy. First, I need to tell Yuri something. Second… I'll tell you in the room downstairs where Kairi was held," I got out seriously as I walked over to Yuri.

"Huh? Well why can she tell Judith right here and now, yet we gotta do this in secret?" Raven said getting suspicious, though the group didn't look phased which made Raven a little more curious, "Does everyone else here know?"

"Basically, yes. Me and Kairi have told them except Judith and you, so either you accept the terms, or you'll just be left in the dark. This is a serious secret, Mr. R-a-v-e-n," I said turning to him seriously as I patted the area on my chest with each phoneme where Raven's heart blastia should be.

He stiffened up as he got my hidden meaning, but he quickly recovered and played it off with a huge slumping sigh, "Fine, I'll go with ya downstairs to the room."

"Alright, but first," I said as I turned to Yuri seriously, I beckoned with my finger for him to lend me his ear as I cupped my hands over it and whispered so only he could hear despite I knew Judith would hear it too, "If I don't come back first out of the elevator, or I'm not with him when he comes back, or I'm not back in 30 minutes… He's responsible for whatever happens to me…."

Yuri then turned to me with wide eyes and whispered right back with a dark tone, "What the hell are you saying?!"

"Just filling you in, and giving you a heads up in case this goes south…" I whispered back seriously.

"Then I'm going with you! If you think telling him is so dangerous, just don't tell him! We'll back you up, so you don't have to-!" Yuri whispered angrily back, clearly not happy that I was putting myself in a dangerous situation without help. But I raised my hand to stop him and gave him my final message, "I gotta do this Yuri, or else he'll just eavesdrop whenever he feels like it, or try to weasel it out of the others. I promise I'll be back, but that's so long as he doesn't do anything funny, okay."

Yuri gave me a harsh gaze, but just took in a deep breath to try to cool himself off before turning to give Raven a side glare and just responded, "Okay, I got ya. But you better come back."

"We'll be back before ya know it," I responded as I walked over to Raven and motioned for him to follow me to the elevator.


The elevator ride went in silence, and as soon as we entered into the room, Raven gave me a harsh gaze as he spoke seriously as he gripped where his heart blastia is, "How do ya know?"

I turned to him with a serious gaze as well, I wasn't going to back down from this, "You want the truth. I'm telling ya the truth. But first, you should be warned; I informed Yuri that if you try to harm me or kill me here, or if I don't go back within 30 minutes, that you'll be the one responsible. That'd make your little operation to keep an eye on the princess and Kairi impossible if everyone is on guard of you, won't it?"

At the same time I spoke, I called Kairi to inform her on the lie, "Kairi. Get set to hear this lie. And after telling Judith about Earth, inform them all about the simplicity of the lie I'm about to spout…but nix the sensitive info I'll say."

"Got it!" Kairi replied back seriously.

He stiffened even more, "How?"

"You may not believe me, but… I'm psychic. I can see a bit into the future as well as the past when I'm near people. I learned more about you the further we've traveled together, even back at Caer Bocram. Your speech patterns gave it away; like I couldn't tell who I was talking to… and then I saw. I apologize, it's not like I mean to pry, it just happens. So I know about Raven, Schwann, and even Damuron…" I said with serious eyes making him pale, all the while repeating the same things to Kairi, leaving her to sort what to say and what not to say.

"That… can't be possible," Raven said shakily, not wanting to believe my lie, yet.

"It's how I knew about the bridge operations…and it's why I was wary of you. It's not beneath Schwann to silence those that'd interfere with Alexei, he's murdered officials before; however, I don't like trying to interfere with what should happen. It'd contradict the time line, so I try to let them figure things out, but… I want every one of my friends to live… so I'll do what I have to, even contradict the time line. But I also know those events are meant to shape who they become, so it's conflicting," I said as I rubbed the back of my head, hoping he could buy it so far.

"That doesn't explain Kairi though," Raven asked seriously now, not wanting to play around when I knew so much.

"I was getting to that! Sheesh, hold on. We're no where near 30 minutes," I said with a huge pout as I took a deep breath, hoping he'd buy this, "Thing is… Kairi, Caryn, and even my friend Justin, and Me… we all come from a hidden country that's been sealed off from Terca Lumireis for millennia under everyone's feet, it's called Errin. That Wonder Chef knew about it, and he almost let it slip…"

Raven's eyes widened as he looked in thought, "So that's why he said 'Ear', he was fixin' to say Errin, then ya stopped him."

I nodded, I was going with an 'Agartha' conspiracy theory as my lie, and it almost made me want to laugh at how stupid this lie sounded to me as an Earthling, "Yeah. It's not supposed to be known to topsiders. It's far below the crust, and even if ya dig to the center of the planet, ya won't find it. The ancient elders sealed it off and away with magic, so we could live our lives in peace, away from the quarrels of topsiders and their raids."

"Raids?" Raven asked, more curious to know more, which meant… he was buying it! Yes!

"Yes, rarely in our history before the seal was set, topsiders would make their way into Errin, to steal our wealth and knowledge, and plunge our peaceful existence into turmoil. It's only accessible to those who have special devices to enter… some of those ended up topside, so we're trying to find one so we can return home. One device was recovered when some topsiders found one and an entrance into Errin, they came to our town of Tir Chonaill, and then… they massacred everyone they could to take what they could… Kairi's mother was killed in the onslaught, and her father killed those men to take back the device," I said with a lowered head, feigning anger and fear.

"And somehow, you all ended up top here?" Raven asked curiously still.

I looked at him seriously, "Kairi's father is up top here; whether he's alive or dead, it's unknown. But he came to take back the devices that were left up top here years and years ago. The four of us were casually researching in Caryn's father's laboratory, when something went wrong; and it flung us up top. It threw Caryn at Flynn, Justin to the Fortune's Market guild, and me and Kairi in Yuri's cell. I'm certain my parents are worried sick… but they don't dare come up top here. It's up to us to return down there…and don't expect us to take any of you down there. There's extreme fear and prejudice towards top siders, they'd likely try to run you all out of towns or kill you even if the four of us vouch for you all."

"I see. That explains some of it, but still not quite how Kairi dear can use magic," Raven still asked with a stupid look.

"I'm unfortunate enough to have been cursed with being a psychic, I have no knack for magic nor the knowledge to perform it. Neither does Justin or Caryn. Kairi's just the only person in Errin that can use magic aside from her father. Her mother was deeply adept at it, but she couldn't teach Kairi much before she died. Though, under in Errin, we don't have aer, we have mana, so Kairi's not capable of dealing as much damage as she would back down in Errin. As to why she can use magic, that's not known, the elders don't speak much on it," I replied as I sighed deeply, "So does that answer it all. Or do you require a further explanation that isn't known?"

Raven shot his hands out in front of him, "No, no, that says enough."

"Anyways. We should head back up, before Yuri deems you a murderer," I smirked at him as I walked passed him with a pat on his shoulder.

He sighed deeply as well as he slumped over, "I almost forgot about that."

We both got into the elevator and got set to go up when Raven had yet another question, "So. How far into the future have ya seen?"

I sighed big time, "So far, a lot of what I see isn't funny, I don't always like what I see… but… it's not like it can all come true. Yuri proved that to me back at Deidon Hold, but still..."

"He did? How?" Raven asked with wide eyes, curious now on what could've changed.

"I foresaw him grabbing the girl's doll, returning to the gate mere feet before it closes with an epic slide! Emerging unscathed on the other side… but the reality was… the gate was mere inches, he slid, he didn't make it…but, some magic sent him into the hold. And I knew… it had to have been Kairi unknowingly that pulled him in, she can't control it her magic very well when she gets emotional, the only other explanation is that it had to have been her father…but my money is on Kairi," I said with a sigh, "Seriously. That alone made my blood freeze. It also proves that not all I see is set in stone, but it's close enough and sometimes can change up to be derivative."

"Gotcha," Raven said with a casual tone.

"And another thing," I said as I turned to Raven, my normal gaze returning to all seriousness, "If you dare to tell Alexei anything about this, I'll inform the group about you, Alexei's plans, what I've seen, and your involvement in it; it'll seriously hamper your orders. Got it?!"

He gave me a serious gaze before sighing deeply, "Guess I don't have a choice. Alright, I'll keep silent…"

"You better, or else I'll slug ya to high heaven that it'll make the Don's beatings look merciful!" I pouted at him with a huge whine before sighing, this elevator was so slow, "Though… I'm hoping a bit of what I see can come true…. I'd really love it…"

"What's that?" Raven asked curiously.

I turned to him with a devilish smirk, "That's for you to hopefully find out."

"Let me guess… you get to bang the Don?" Raven asked with a silly smirk, making me punch his arm with a huge whine, "I WISH!"

He rubbed his arm, "Seriously, I can't believe ya said all that in front of him!"

I put my hands to my hips and gave him a determined look, "The heart wants what the heart wants! And so does the body…!"

He gave me a creeped out look before sighing, "Ya really are a weird girl…"

I fist bumped my chest, "And proud of it!"

The elevator doors opened to reveal the group, everyone set to board the elevator down.

"So, everything okay?" Yuri asked me once the doors closed and we headed down, the aque blastia in his hands.

I nodded, "Mhm, told him about me being psychic already and about Errin," I looked around to see acknowledgement on everyone's face, which meant Kairi told them already about the lie.

"Gotcha," Yuri said with a serious gaze before looking to Raven, "Old Man…"

"Hm? What's up?" Raven asked curiously as he turned to Yuri.

"… Don't go telling anyone about this. It could seriously put them in danger," Yuri said with a hard glare.

Raven slumped over a little, "I already promised the firecracker here I wouldn't say anything. So ease up on the scary looks."

"You didn't say promise though," I replied with a pout making Raven give me a pleading look as if to say 'back me up here'.

Yuri then turned away, "So long as I got your word."

The rest of the ride down we discussed the battle, how to improve, and about my unfocused nature, to which I had Kairi and Caryn to defend me with explaining my ADD…

"Attention Deficit Disorder, I think I've read about that before," Estelle said in amazement.

"So, what exactly is it?" Yuri asked as he turned to her.

"It's a chronic condition that includes attention difficulty, behavioral symptoms like; aggression, impulsivity, irritability, lack of restraint, and hyperactivity I think. But it also has brain issues like forgetfulness, short attention span, problems with paying attention, difficulty focusing, and absent-mindedness; and it can even lead to learning disabilities and depression," Estelle got out in a know it all way.

"That's about it, though the hyperactivity is more for ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; though that technically is a type of ADD…" Caryn said with a shrug.

"That explains so much though," Yuri said with a deep sigh as he looked to me.

"Hey, come on! I at least try to control my ADD and not let it control me!... Although more times than none, it does win…" I said with a pout making the others laugh at my puffed-up pouting cheeks.


The elevator stopped on the 12th floor, and we had to climb the stairs down the rest of the way… to which, I don't hate going down stairs… it's just that I've fallen going down stairs so many times my legs wobble going down them. So I have to take 1 step at a time while holing a the handrails or the balusters to get down. It made the others upset at having to wait for me to get to the bottom of a stair case once they'd already descended.

"Come on Liana, you can't fall behind," Yuri pouted up at me.

"Don't start messing with my trauma, Lowell! Or else!" I whined angrily as I slowly kept descending down the steps, sometimes trying to do one foot in front of the other as I held onto the handrails.

"I forget how many times she's fallen going down stairs or up them, that her body developed a reaction to going down them," Kairi said with a small smirk making me glare at her.

"She can fall going UP stairs? That takes talent," Raven mocked making me angrily pout. Though at least the others had stopped rushing me the entire way down.


Once we exited the door, I noticed Raven sneaking away, he did have the Don to report back too, and hopefully he'd keep his word, but even if he were to tell Alexei, it's all a lie, so Earth's existence is safe.

"I'm so glad the core is safe," Yuri said as he stared down at the core.

Estelle moved over to get a closer look and covered her mouth in surprise, "Wow, the aque blastia core is so small."

Karol looked so proud as he spoke up, "So, we've got your blastia core back. I guess that's case closed."

Though Estelle pouted sadly, "Yes, but we weren't able to take Barbos into custody…"

"Yes…" Flynn said sadly as well, "That is one point of regret."

Caryn sighed deeply but smiled at Flynn's reaction, and Rita just scoffed as she was about to say what was on my mind as well as her own, "What are you talking about? A creep like that is better off—" though Yuri gave her a mild shove with his fist to stop her from finishing, "Ow!"

I sighed deeply, I could understand how Yuri, Flynn, and Estelle were feeling, but I also had to agree with Rita's thoughts, "For once I agree with her on something."

Caryn nodded, "Cruel as it may be to say, I only regret that he took his own life. Bastard got the cowards way out…"

"Caryn," Flynn said in surprise as he turned to her.

She turned to him with a serious look too, "What? Even if he had been taken into custody, what are the odds that he'd receive the death penalty? He'd have died either way, right? Why should the people pay to keep a guy like that in prison, when that money should go to their families."

Flynn lowered his head, unsure of how to respond to that as I chimed in, "I'm a complex human being, I can understand the beauty of allowing the law to handle someone like that, it's more…human…more orderly… but I'm also a twisted one that has no faith in its system either…I also agree with your thinking too Caryn…it was the cowards way, but I think he deserved it regardless…"

"Lian…" Caryn said a bit sadly, until she sighed, wondering just how something like this could trigger such a deep conversation… if anything, it'd make for some good debates in a classroom. It reminded me of a fictional case we had to read for my Education with Special Needs People class… where we had to decide if this 'disabled' person deserved the death penalty for his murderous crimes, why or why not… it had to be the hardest paper I ever had to write… and present.

"It's a little early to say the problem's solved," Flynn said, getting back on track after the moment of silence that ensued.

"Yeah. We have to make sure this thing still works," Yuri said aloud making Flynn look in thought, he was definitely thinking something else, it had to be about when Barbos said 'That man'.

"Blastia cores don't break all that easily," Rita assured Yuri who was gazing down at the blastia core in his hands with worry.

Karol looked in awe as he learned something new, and looked around when he mentioned the old man, "Huh. Bet you didn't know that, did ya Ra- … Raven?"

Rita now looked around, "Jeez, what is up with that guy… Just showing up whenever he wants."

"You're one to talk, Rita," Karol said almost boredly, making me pinch his cheek, "Yeow!"

"Behave now baby boy. My guess is Raven went to report to the Don, whether he keeps his word or not is up to him now. Even if he does tell, the information I gave him is a lie. So we should all be safe," I replied making everyone nod.

"It takes all kinds, I suppose," Judith spoke up.

Yuri just nodded as he replied, "Liana's right. He probably headed back to Dahngrest. I'm sure we can find him if we need to."

Flynn began to walk ahead, Caryn following behind him, "We also must head back ahead of you. I have to check on the work I left in my subordinates' hands," he then turned to Estelle, "Your Highness, please allow me to accompany you back."

Estelle looked at him in thought before responding a bit nervously, "Well… Would it be all right for me to stay with everyone else for just a little while longer?"

Flynn just shook his head at her for 'no', making Yuri sigh as he spoke up, "I guess I don't mind watching over an unreasonable princess a bit longer. Shouldn't that be easier for you, too? We'll make sure we get her back to Dahngrest."

Flynn looked in thought for a few seconds before giving Yuri a serious gaze, "…Understood. In exchange, I'm counting on you not to make any mistakes. And no detours, okay?"

"Got it, got it," Yuri replied cooly. Flynn just looked down at Estelle with soft eyes, "I will see you in Dahngrest then."

Estelle smiled at him happily, "Thank you."

I saw Caryn giving Estelle a glare out of the corner of her eye before pouting behind Flynn as he began to head out and taking a spot walking alongside him rather than behind after a short distance of walking. (The fact that he can't tell she's jealous means Flynn has no knowledge on Female Psychology as well…)

Estelle turned to Yuri who was staring at the top of the tower and her eyes immediately widened, "Why do you look so sad? Are you okay?"

I noticed Kairi was giving Yuri worried looks as well, even when he spoke, Kairi's gaze didn't lighten up, "I was just thinking, I still owe that creep Dedecchi a good beating."

Karol just pouted a little, "You got the blastia back isn't that enough? Why chase after some stupid thief?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right. If I ever cross paths with him though, he's in for a surprise," Yuri said mockingly, until he began to lowly mutter a bit frustrated, but Me, Kairi, and Estelle picked up on it, "…Waiting for me in hell, huh? Why'd he have to go and say that?"

Kairi gripped the back of his vest making him turn around to look at her, "Hm? What is it?" She opened her mouth, but nothing came out, her gaze conflicting and mixed with concern, sadness, determination, and frustration.

I waved my hand, "She probably just spasmed," I spoke up to Yuri to get Kairi out of her little scenario as she nodded and let go of his vest.

"Hey, come on already, let's get back to Dahngrest," Karol said as he walked ahead of us all.

"Well, I will take my leave from you here," Judith spoke up, making us all turn to her.

Yuri turned to her, "Off to meet up with your partner?"

"Partner? Who do you mean?" Estelle asked curiously.

Judith just clasped her hands behind her back and looked away, "We'll be operating individually from now on. That way we won't interfere with each other's work."

"I see. Well, see you later," Yuri said casually as he turned around, all of us following behind, but not far enough to hear Judith respond, "Yeah…"


As we walked back, Kairi kept rubbing her tummy, and that made me curious, "You okay there Kairi?"

She turned to me with wide eyes before blushing madly, "Y-Yeah…. I'm just…Guuuuuuu" She covered her tummy as it rumbled.

"Huh? You're hungry?" I replied stupidly and turned bright red when my own tummy responded.

"We hadn't eaten in a while. Even I'm starting to feel a bit faint," Estelle responded as her tummy now rumbled.

"Well, don't faint on us here. We're all starving, so it'd take everything to carry someone back," Yuri replied.

"We should eat the second we get back. I'm so hungry, I could eat a whole Don's Special!" Karol got out as his tummy roared.

"Yeah, I still got some spare clothes to pick up at the tailor too," I replied as I tried to push away the thoughts of food.

"Spare clothes?" Yuri asked curiously.

"Oh right! I almost forgot about that, I can't wait to see what you picked Liana!" Estelle said with sparkles in her eyes, though they faded the moment her tummy roared at her.

"Lets just save our energy till we eat. No talking unless necessary," Rita got out as her own stomach rumbled, though she was handling it really good like Yuri. Curse these solitary types and their stereotypical 'not hungry' vibes!


As we finished crossing the bridge, a huge mass of knights was in view. Karol the first to point out the obvious, "Look, the Knights have come back."

Though despite the huge mass of knights, the sight of Ragou being restrained with two halberds at his throat was HIGHLY satisfying (Just wish they'd close those halberds like scissors and take his head off!) as he squirmed and squealed in their grip, "I'm innocent, I tell you! This is a plot by the Knights to destroy the Council!"

Rita put her hands to her hips in irritation as we watched Ragou spout excuse after excuse, "He doesn't know when to quit, does he?"

"Where's Flynn…?" Estelle asked as she looked around, though a mop of blonde or even orange wasn't in sight.

"I can't make him out from here," Yuri said as he peered around too.

"Then let's go watch the carnage right fast, then go chow down!" I said with a slow fist pump due to my lack of energy.

We ran up to the front of the mob to get a better view, as Ragou kept spouting crap to the people, "You must not be taken in by the Knights! They only plan to crush this town once you've all ben lured into a false sense of safety!"

"On the honor of the Imperial Knights, I swear that we would never perpetrate such disloyalty."

We looked over to see a familiar blonde haired, baby-blue eyed knight walk forward to face Ragou.

"You're… Flynn Scifo!" Ragou said in surprise; seriously, didn't he get the memo that Flynn was in town?

"The empire and the Union have joined in a treaty of friendship," Flynn brought up making Ragou's eyes widen, "What? Impossible…"

Flynn continued to add on, his formal expression never wavering or changing once, "At this moment, Don Whitehorse and His Highness Ioder are in council together. It's only a matter of time until it's made official."

Ragou lowed his head in thought, "But how…? I thought that cursed Alexei was tied up in other matters."

Flynn nodded slightly, "Yes. It is true that our Commandant could only make a brief appearance before returning to the capital."

That made me tilt my head, if Alexei was back in the capital, then how does he arrive here tomorrow to bring Heracles?... Come to think of it, how did Heracles even come from so fast to deal with Phaeroh?

"Then… on whose authority…?" Ragou asked, but his gaze soon landed on Flynn and he pieced together the puzzle, "…No! This can't mean my plans have been ruined by this… this boy!"

Flynn then gave signal for the knights to move out, and they began to basically parade Ragou down the street to take to a cell. Estelle watched and spoke happily as she watched Ragou being taken away, "This will put an end to the suffering of the people of Capua Nor as well."

"Here's hoping the next magistrate they get is more of a stand up guy," Yuri threw in after hearing Estelle speak.

Estelle closed her eyes for a moment as she turned to Yuri before opening them and responding, "I will do what I can to make sure a worthy person is chosen when I get back to the castle."

Karol turned to her with wide eyes, "To the castle… You mean, you're going back to the capital, Estelle?"

Estelle looked back up and over at Flynn before responding, "…Yes. With Ragou gone, the rest of the castle should have returned to normal."

Yuri looked over at Estelle, watching her expression before responding, "But you don't really want to go back."

Estelle turned to him with wide eyes, "What do you mean?"

"I can see it in your face," Yuri replied casually. Though as I looked at Estelle, at first she looked determined to go back, but it was obvious, she only wanted to go back so Flynn wouldn't worry… she really wanted to stick with all of us in reality.

Her gaze saddened as she tried to reply, "No… I-I…"

Yuri turned away before continuing, "Well, you should do what suits you best. You've made up your own mind, right?"

Estelle turned to look back at Flynn and instantly responded in a low voice, "…I will go back. I don't want Flynn or anyone else to have to worry about me anymore…"

Flynn turned to give Yuri a thumbs up and Yuri just gave that point as if to say, 'Mah bro!'

Though what came next was expected, but it still didn't hurt any less for either me or Kairi as Yuri spoke low enough for the two of us to hear, "It's going to be lonely without her, won't it, Repede?"

Kairi turned away, it was obvious that the quote hurt on more levels than just one. It wasn't only a Yustelle hint, he was saying no one else counted as companions, again…

I'm pretty sure Estelle didn't completely hear, but she could hear Yuri mumbling so she turned just in time to see me walk in front of Yuri and slam two fists into the sides of his head, pinning his head between them as I noogied him as hard as I could.

"Ow ow ow! Liana!" Yuri shouted as he tried to pull my hands off, but my last bits of adrenaline were kicking in as I held them in place.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, LONELY?! YOU GOT ME AND KAIRI, OR DON'T WE COUNT! YOU FUCKING LITTLE PIECE OF SHIT!" I shouted venomously making Yuri stiffen up and sweat at how angry I was, but he still tried to get out of this, "I didn't mean it like that! I swear!"

"THEN HOW DID YOU MEAN IT YURI FUCKING LOWELL?!" I shouted angrily, Estelle and the others not daring to step up to me right now as a blazing fire was practically in my eyes. I know he's meant to say that, but come on! We're a part of this story now or are we not?! I'm getting so tired of being treated at times like I don't exist!

He looked at me with nervous eyes, nothing coming to mind as he thought of what to say. And I realized he wasn't about to take back what he said, nor would he apologize for it anyways, so I just sighed and shoved him back before mumbling angrily, "Fuck it. If we're not anything to you, just say it, dumb ass…" I walked ahead towards the bar, not caring if anyone would stop me or not.


I slammed my beer as I scarfed down my 2nd bowl of Mabo Curry. Not gonna lie…. This is the stuff! I could see why most Tales characters loved Mabo Curry.

"Easy on the drinkin', darlin'," I heard the familiar voice of my favorite old man.

I slammed down my mug before looking at him, "Can't blame me after how bad Yuri pissed me off. Hey! Let me get another Beer and Mabo Curry over here!"

"Roger! Another Mabo Curry, third beer coming up!" The waiter shouted as he ran back to set the order.

"Hmph," I huffed out as I sat with my head held up by my hands on the table.

"Ya really are fightin' mad! Just what did he do?" Raven asked both curiously and concerned… for Yuri.

I looked over at Raven and considered telling him, meh not like it's kill anyone, "The bastard basically said he'd be lonely without Estelle! Like Kairi and I don't count!... AGAIN!"

Raven nodded, "Ah, probably just a spur of the moment. I don't think he meant that."

I glared at Raven, "It's not the first time that asshole has basically said something along those lines! I know we don't belong here, but cut us some slack! IT'S NOT LIKE WE ASKED TO BE HERE! I EXIST TOO DAMNIT! AND SO DOES KAIRI!"

Raven waved his hands wildly as he flailed nervously, "Darlin'! Your voice! Calm down!"

"I'll be pissed off all I want too damn it!" I shouted angrily, I turned my head a little, and the sight of the dark haired swordsman hiding behind me in the distance near the wall came into view. The asshole had been spying on me! I threw my empty mug at him, hitting Yuri square on the forehead, "ASDFGHJKL!"

Raven slapped his hand on his forehead as Yuri rubbed his forehead where my mug had hit him, "I told ya to lay low while I try to wind her down…"

"Sorry, there aren't really any places to hide around here," Yuri said as he kept rubbing his forehead.

I fumed angrily, but huffed as I turned away from him. If I kept staring at him, odds are I'd start a brawl with him… but…

Yuri sat besides me making me fidget with anger, "So that's what's got you steamed up," I shook with repressed anger as Yuri kept talking, "I told you, it wasn't like that. I just said the first thing that came to mind is all."

"Yuri Lowell…" I trembled and said almost silently making him turn to me and making him freeze up as I turned to him with a murderous gaze as the waiter set my beer and Mabo Curry before me. I quickly grabbed my beer and slammed it as fast as I could before I turned to him and cracked my knuckles, "Prepare your anus…"

Yuri paled as he backed up with wide eyes, "Prepare my what?!"

"RAAAAWWRRRR!" I tackled him to the ground and proceeded to utilize the one weakness he's shown to have in the First Strikes, getting put in holds… how to describe what was happening… stuff went flying, people began betting on which of us would win as we basically were having a wrestling match in the middle of the bar, some recognized me from my wanted poster, others didn't, and I'm pretty sure anyone walking in could hear cats screeching angrily.

"GRAAAA! I GOT YOU YURI LOWELL!" I shouted triumphantly as I sat on Yuri's tailbone and with my two hands clasped together, I linked and grabbed under his chin and was yanking upwards, almost making him bend his back backwards.

Yuri tapped the floor as he attempted to speak, "Give! Give! Look, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! Ghhhh! Hurt you or Kairi's feelings!"

"So he was in a square relationship, not a triangle?!" I heard one guy speak up.

"The lady said he had a thing for this Estelle chic, but that she and some other chic didn't count," Another guy said as if to clarify.

"He's an even worse player than Raven," I heard one lady huff out, "Cheating on not only one, but three women at once! That animal!"

"I wasn't cheating! Gah! I wasn't even dating any of them!" Yuri shouted nervously as he heard the rumors flying left and right.

I turned to everyone with a disgusted look, "This guy ain't my type! If anything, he's locked in a triangle with the other two! I still want to bang the Don!"

Raven stared at me with wide eyes at the fact that I had the gall to say that aloud.

"Bang the Don?!" Some guy said incredulously before he whistled and spoke more creepily, "She's got good tastes Ehehehe!"

"Of course, she does! Who in their right mind wouldn't want all that MAN," Another woman swooned at the mere imagery in her mind.

"Finally! Someone gets it!" I shouted out happily as I let go of Yuri. My focus now on a cheerful, dirty conversation with the locals on 'sex' with the Don.

Yuri coughed for air as some guy kneeled in front of him, "Don't worry. Just because she made you her bitch don't mean you're not man enough."

"Not helping," Yuri said with a pout as he finally got his breath back.

I ignored him to converse with the people until I realized it was getting late, and I needed to go pick up my Assassin's uniform and my regular clothes from the tailor and blacksmith, "I gotta get going before the tailor closes down, gotta go get my new clothes."

"Awww, well if you're ever in town, just come by here," A lady said with a frown.

"Yeah, we come here just about every day at this hour! So you won't miss us!" A guy said to me, and I smiled with teary eyes, for once since I'd gotten to this world…. I felt welcome and wanted.


"Hello! I'm here to pick up my order, the name should be Miss Banda!" I shouted out as no one was at the front desk of the tailor's shop.

The woman came out with two bags, "Ah, just in time. I just finished the hood on your other outfit. I do hope you enjoy them!"

I gave her a thumbs up, "I bet I'll love 'em so much, I'll be recommending this place everywhere I go!"

The woman smiled and nodded, "Free advertisement is always well received, thank you for your business."

"You're welcome, and thank you," I cheerfully whistled as I then ran over to the blacksmith's compartment, "How's the hidden blade coming along?"

The man was working on something else, but he wheeled his chair right along over to some other area and grabbed some boxes before wheeling over to me. He lifted the welding mask he had to reveal his face smudged in soot everywhere, as he spoke he lit up and practically coughed up black rings of smoke, "I go' 'em finished faster than a speedin bullet! They're right beauties they are! It wa' a challenge ta get the blades not to pop out and chop off a finger… bu' I did it!"

"Oh! Nice!" I said with sparkles in my eyes as he opened the box to show me them.

"First things first. The spring mechanism is delicate work, don' go slammin' this on somethin' rock solid or somethin'! To get it ta pop on out, ya jus' go' to use yer wrist ta press this wee little button in there. Give it a go!" He explained as stars were in his eyes, I feel like Winry Rockbell was now possessing this man….

I placed on the bracers and flicked my wrists and out came the blades, I shivered in nostalgia and amazement, "THESE ARE WICKED! THANK YOU SO MUCH!"

"They're beautiful lassies ain' they?! I even sharpened them so much, just one little movement can slice through paper!" The man replied with sparkling eyes.

The two of us just gushed on them for a while, testing the blades on different materials, except other metals…I didn't want to break the blades before they'd get used. He even showed me how to care, clean, and sharpen the blades should they get dull or dirty with 'monster' blood. All of this epicness and knowledge… for free! Just how I liked it!

"Thank you so much! I'll definitely recommend you for some interesting builds!" I shouted as I waved goodbye to him, my daggers, and hidden blade bracers in their respected boxes in my bags.


I looked up at the sky and saw the afternoon sky was now black… I didn't know if Yuri had left out already, I needed to hurry and change! I ran into our room in the inn, because Yuri always sets our room under his last name. And I saw NO ONE was there… not even Kairi, which made me wonder where she ran off too…but right now wasn't the time to search!

I quickly whipped off my clothes and donned on my new Eizen Cosplay with an added 'Assassin's Creed' style hoodie! Threw on my hidden blade bracers, and I was set! I ran quickly and as sneakily as I could through the quiet town towards the bridge… I needed a place to hide so I could observe if Yuri was coming or not. It was pitch black, so despite being out in the open, I turned away somewhat with my hands crossed before me near the dark wood railing of a house in plain sight next to the bridge. My black hair, black hood, black clothes camouflaged well in the very dark night that coated the area.

I saw a bandido run away with a pouch of gald that was given to him by Ragou. Ragou just scratched his beard in thought; considering the bandido looked at me straight on, he ran past, I doubt he even noticed me with my camouflage. I kept my eyes on Ragou, in a few moments, Yuri should arrive to take out that bodyguard with him… but did Yuri kill that guy or knock him out? I didn't know, so I kept my eyes peeled.

Then in almost the blink of an eye, a darker figure than the darkness of the night rushed through and slashed the bodyguard's stomach really hard, sending him flying over the rails of the bridge without letting him see the perpetrator, "Aah…!"

I slightly trembled, there was no way that guy was surviving that…

Yuri Lowell in all his glory was standing there on the bridge, Knight Sword in hand glaring at Ragou. (Guess he didn't want his brand-new Blue Dragon Sword to get stained…). I watched as Ragou cowered and backed up, he tried to run but Yuri slashed at his back, the blood spilling on the bridge as Ragou tried to speak more. I already knew what he was saying even though they were a bit too far for me to hear.

I prepared to walk off… but I noticed one thing wrong, Ragou wasn't getting near the rail, nor did he give that final death screech. Instead… HE RAN! I blinked dumbly and quickly ran towards him, he prepared to open his mouth to scream, possibly for help, but before he could get off the bridge… I flicked my wrist, slammed my fist hard into his upper chest, driving the blade in deep into the cavity of his chest with such force that he moved backwards and took some steps back as some blood spilled on the ground and some drops even landed on my face, the rest dripped down my blade.

"W-Who?!... Ghhh! Y-You?!" He stared into my eyes with wide eyes as blood spewed from his mouth, it made me dizzy and disorientated to stare into them, I couldn't believe I'd done this…

His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he threw his head back, and finally let out that death screech he does in the game. I quickly shoved him hard off my blade and off the bridge, blood splattering out on the ground, on my face, arms… just on me! I watched as he fell into the water with a huge splash… I was inwardly trembling in fear despite the cool, uncaring front I was putting up.

I had taken a human life…I couldn't escape that fact no matter how monstrous I told myself he was. I inwardly laughed at myself (And I want to be a kindergarten art teacher… hehehe… that sounds so laughable now…).

"Who are you?" I heard Yuri say darkly, the sound of his sword chinking from his tightened grip made me raise my head from it's view over the bridge.

I tilted as I looked over at him with a slight chuckle due to my mental state right now, "Geez Yuri… if you want to go vigilante… at least make sure you get the target in one go before they try to call for help. What would you have done if he had managed to shout for it? And what if he'd gotten it?"

Yuri's eyes widened as he lowered his sword, staring at me incredulously, but he barely managed to breath out my name in shock, "… Liana…."


Dead MoFo!

Caryn: Huzzah! Now my Flynn time!

… Actually…. Just one more chapter, THEN, I'll give you those drabbles.

Caryn: You whore! You promised D:

I know I did! But I need to wrap up this whole murder scenario!

Caryn: *puffy cheeks* Fine! But then you better do them!

I will, and I'll create Operation: Code Lemons too for all the 'adult' content while I'm at it.

~Translations~

Shachou desu kara! = Because I'm the president/boss!

Next time: Brave Vesperia and the Flying Fat Turkey! Happy Thanksgiving to all!