Standard disclaimer: I don't own the series.

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AN: Well, hehe. Be prepared for much fluffy-ness in this chapter. So, what does that mean? (giggles) It means my inner fangirl is clawing her way to the surface. So, hee. I do love reading stories that have 'snuggly' scenes in them. Not really lemons or whatnot, but 'snuggly' and 'cuddly' scenes. Hee!

(I'm gonna guess that my fellow rabid fangirls know what that means )

Be prepared for fluff, fluff, and rabid fangirls this chapter! (and no, I'm not on anything…)

And now for the reviews!

Rouge Kaiser: Yup. Its really weird, but he wasn't able to link properly with Fate and the system… for some reason. Oh yes. Jin has much pratice. Yuki was one hellion when she was a little kid. Yup. He's one of the destined. Oh ho! You have no idea! Imploding? Maybe (smilies) Maybe even Sari will join up?

Nina Windia: Ah, you are having trouble understanding?? What is that you want to know?? Glad you are liking it so far!!

Yes, you have it exactly right! (smiles)

Hee… that would be an interesting plot twist. Hee… I have a question for you… are you in cahoots with my flying monkeys? Just asking…

Glad you liked it

Oh, no problem! It really is a great fic. One I hope to read to the last chapter!! Hee, oh you will probably scream… about four or five hours… see, I actually planned the story about a year before actually writing it. But I am making up a lot as I go along. I usually plan the chapter a week in advance to writing it. (smilies) I have too much time a work to think… Haha! Just having people reviewing to my stories it good enough!!

Anime Monkey: Hee, thanks! Maybe. Ryu's an adult now and knows what's going on. Sorta! Six keys are mentioned, but seven are shown. I dunno. It might be an urban myth! Haha!

Enjoy the chapter!!

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Heart to Heart

Garr watched his unofficial wayward charge with concern. The man had shown up a couple of days ago, with the Sky Key, and told him to give it to Mina. Garr was suspicious as to who the man was and how he knew about Mina. Not even the Church of Ladon or the worshippers of Milliené knew about Mina. This had him concerned.

He never expected a Dragon to come to Angel Tower in broad daylight, let alone one that knew about Mina and the secret of Angel Tower. He didn't recognize this Dragon, however. Demus' Dragon form was a little smaller than this Brood and was more silver than black. Ryu's form was always red or gold.

And seeing that Ryu had been missing for years, he didn't exactly think this stranger was Ryu.

Garr thought the color scheme of the Dragon made him a Dark Dragon, but upon further examination, he realized that he was probably closer to that of a Light Dragon. The dark color scheme was just for cosmetics. He was trying to hide who he was.

Garr also realized that the man wasn't fully Brood. He was at least half. He figured the man was part Wing Clan by the way he was able to easily lift him up. Oh, and the almost invisible feathers attached to his draconic wings might have also clued him on.

The man had Garr concerned, though. What had chased him and put him in his current situation?

Garr was currently staring out the window of the side room that the man was currently staying in. The man had been unconscious ever since he reverted back to his human form and gave Garr the Goddess Key. Garr had convinced the Urkans that he was an unarmed man that had been attacked and injured by the Dragon that was seen flying overhead the other day.

Garr watched the man warily as he muttered incoherently in his sleep. Garr had watched over the man for the past two days, waiting for him to wake up. He wanted answers and he was going to get them, one way or another.

The man's body twitched slightly. Garr knew that it was a side affect to whatever had happened to him. Garr realized that whatever happened must have affected him from the inside, because when he had found the man, he didn't have any marks on his body to indicate that he was hurt.

The man suddenly screamed as his eyes snapped open. His body jerked wildly as he drew in a ragged breath. Garr was by his side in a moment and placed his large hands on the man's shoulders to keep him from rising up. The man grunted and tried to struggle against Garr, but finally gave up and lied back down.

The man moaned as he clutched his chest and continued to draw in ragged breaths. Garr watched the man in concern. What exactly had happened to this guy?

Finally, Garr cleared his throat. The man weakly turned his head in Garr's direction. No look of fear or surprise was on his feverish face. Garr found that slightly unnerving. The man was not afraid of him.

"Who are you?" Garr asked the man. "What happened to you?"

The man grunted and opened his mouth to speak. "Key…"

"Yes, the key that you gave me was given to the one that you requested it to be given to."

"…good…" the man said in a raspy voice. "…need to go… now…"

The man tried to sit back up, by a spasm suddenly wracked his body and he was forced to lie down again.

"You are Brood," Garr said flatly. "What is a Brood doing with the Sky Key?"

"…protect… Wyndia… king… orders… save…" the man mumbled incoherently.

"Your king ordered you to take the key and give it to Mina in order to protect Wyndia?" Garr asked.

The man nodded weakly. Another spasm wracked his body, causing him to scream. "…no protect… Zaccheus… attack any…way… king die… sister… in danger…"

"Sister…?" Garr asked.

The man looked like he was about to answer, but another spasm kept him from answering. The man moaned as his eyes rolled up in his head and he lost consciousness again.

Garr could only sigh in frustration. This was getting him nowhere. He glanced back down at the man and shook his head. He turned to leave, but he stopped when he heard the young man grunt once again. Garr turned around and saw that the man was forcing himself to sit up.

The man finally managed to get himself into a sitting position, both hands behind him trying to support his full weight. Garr walked back over to him and looked at him with concern.

The man drew in a ragged breath and shook his head. "Transell… will come here when he finds out… that the key was not at the temple in Wyndia…" the man grunted and drew in another breath. "Keeper of the key… Avatar of Milliené… will be in danger… keep safe… they… will come soon… be ready…"

"Who will come soon?" Garr demanded.

"Destined… will come… will protect…"

"The Destined… you mean Ryu?! He's not dead?!" Garr snapped. Could it be possible that Ryu was alive?

"Sister… come… another will come… protect her…"

"What are you talking about? I don't understand," Garr muttered darkly.

"Overseers… will be with them… don't kill the wind… there against her will…"

And with that, the man collapsed back onto the bed, unconscious. Garr was felt trying to figure out what the man was mumbling about. The only thing that he did understand was that the Destined Ones were going to come to Angel Tower… and so was the ones that were seeking the Goddess Keys.

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Crete was a large city in comparison to most of the smaller, more rural farm towns in the Ceres Region. Compared to Rosethrone, however, Crete was small. The capitol of the Ceres Region, Rosethrone was easily the largest city in the Region. It was also among one of the largest cities in the world, right up there with the likes of Dragnier and Wyndia. Well, before Wyndia was attacked.

Rosethrone was founded shortly the defeat of the Goddess Myria, almost 500 years ago. Most of the fertile lands were in the Wyndian Region and smaller areas of the Yraall and Rhalpha Regions. Ceres had once been the world's supplier in farming and agriculture, but for some reason, after the fall of Caer Xhan and the third advent of the Goddess, the lands started to dry up.

Some wondered if it was anger on Namanda's part that was causing the lands to dry up. Most people had turned their focus from the Earth Mother to the Goddess during the time of the Dragon Wars. The remaining worshipers of Namanda blamed the Goddess for the travesty that was wrecked upon their lands.

It was only after the death of the Goddess and the return of the worship of Ladon, the Dragon God, that the lands started to give crops again. Most saw it as a miracle on Ladon's part that they were able to grow crops again.

What most people don't know is that it was actually a sproutling of the Yggdrasil planting itself in the Desert of Death that allowed life to return to the barren lands. Most of the nodes for Yggdrasil had withered away by the time of Myria's death. With the sproutling's move, it was able to revitalize the nodes across the world and start again.

Soon, the "Earth Clans" that migrated to the region when the land became fertile again founded Rosethrone. When the capitol was established, it was able to round up the various small farming villages and create a nation that was devoted to Ladon and Namanda.

Rosethrone was ruled by a queen that was also known as the High Priestess of Namanda. It was she who allowed people permission to even see the Avatar of Namanda, Harmony.

It was Queen Estuary la Fair that Ryu and his companions would be speaking with in order to be granted an audience with the young girl.

Ryu had to hand it to Jin Uzuki. When Jin had said that he could get them a meeting with the Avatar, he wasn't joking. Unfortunately, this also meant that they would have to be granted permission from Queen Estuary first.

How Jin was able to even get a meeting with the queen with no questions asked was beyond him. Though, he did mention something about being a doctor to young Harmony. Ryu thought that Jin was merely exaggerating. Apparently, he was not.

Ryu personally enjoyed being out in nature once again. Granted, Rosethrone was massive even when compared to Crete, but one still could not shake the feeling of the great outdoors from the place.

For one, Rosethrone was true to its name. Everywhere they looked, large rosebushes were growing. Not just rosebushes, but a large variety of plants and flowers were planted all around the city. It seemed like there were trees and gardens on every street and in every yard. It was almost like every building in the city housed a small shrine to Namanda.

The city was pretty well advanced as well. Ryu was glad to note that there was no smog or other air pollutants either. The people in this region truly did live in harmony with nature.

Ryu's mind drifted back to why they were there in the first place. They had a meeting with the queen the next day and were going to ask for permission to meet with the Avatar of Namanda. And hopefully the girl would have the Earth Key. At least that was the game plan.

Fate was being particularly fickle as of late and he didn't know what was going to happen next.

Jin had told the group that he would accompany them to the capitol and to the Shrine of Namanda to speak with Harmony, but after that, he had to return back to Crete. He did have a family to take care of, after all. Jin had told the party to seek out others that could help them in their quest after they were done at Rosethrone. He suggested the Sea of Trees next on their list.

That meant that Ryu was going to have to seek out the aid of Bunyan… his foster father. That idea didn't exactly settle well with him on the sole fact that it was because of Ryu himself that the older man had almost lost his life.

If Sari wasn't able to revive him…

Ryu clenched his eyes shut, trying not to think about what could have been. Sari did not always have control over her powers of rejection. The poor woman had tried to reject the events in Wyndia, but it was to no avail. She was not able to revive those that had died. Ryu had watched the hope drain from Nina's face when she found out that Sari could not revive her dead father.

As it stood, the fivesome had some time to kill before going back to the hotel that they were staying in that night. Ryu's earlier guess about Jin being loaded wasn't that far off. The doctor had arranged for them to stay at one of Rosethrone's more fancy hotels.

Ryu didn't know whether to be impressed or what. Jin never did seem like the kind of person to take pleasure in material things. Ryu had always viewed the man as more of a spiritual person… or at least someone that valued knowledge more than money.

Ryu grinned slightly as he watched Yuki banter back and forth with her older brother. He frowned slightly when he thought of his own brother. Demus… Leon was trying to set things right, but Ryu had to wonder if it was more out of guilt than anything else. Ryu had avoided the man like the plague when they were in Shevat.

Ryu was pulled out of his musing when Wyatt yelled at Yuki for asking him if he liked strawberry shortcake.

"Oh, but it's really good!" Yuki giggled.

"I am going to pop a can in yor ass if you don't shut the fuck up!" Wyatt snapped.

"Children, behave," Jin muttered under his breath. The man had changed into an outfit more suited for traveling. At least that's what Jin thought. The man was currently wearing a green and white long, robe like traditional outfit, a pair of white, grayish pants and a pair of black and brown boots. All eyes turned to him. Jin blinked and cleared his throat. "We have some time before nightfall. I suggest that you all get in a little sightseeing before we turn in for the night."

Yuki nodded. She eyed Nina's black attire and then grabbed the princess by the arm. "Okay!" Yuki started to pull Nina off in the direction of the clothing stores, but the girl jerked back.

"What… what are you doing?" Nina sputtered.

"Going shopping!" and with that, Yuki dragged Nina off.

Wyatt, Ryu, and Jin merely stared at each other. Jin nodded. "Okay, well if you will excuse me, I have some business to take care of." Wyatt and Ryu told Jin bye as he walked off in the opposite direction of the girls.

Wyatt and Ryu looked at each other. "So, now what?" Wyatt asked.

"Ah… gun shop?" Ryu asked. He really couldn't think of anything the boy would want to do that Ryu himself would be interested in. Wyatt was too young to go bar hopping.

"Works for me! Let's go!"

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"Please… oh please tell me you are kidding!" Nina muttered as she looked at herself in the large vanity mirrors that were up against the far wall.

"You look like some sort of video game character in that getup of yours," Yuki pointed out. "Besides, don't you want to look pretty for Ryu?"

Nina blushed slightly. "Ah… what does that have to do with anything?"

"Eh, you look kinda imposing in your other outfit. This is much, much more girly," Yuki said as she gestured towards Nina's current outfit.

"And pink…" Nina said.

The outfit in question was a pink-redish top that was tied around the neck and a light pink and white mutli-tiered skirt that fell to her knees. Nina also had her long blond locks tied up in a ponytail that was held in place by a pink ribbon.

Nina pulled at the skirt-like flowing top and turned her attention back to Yuki. "This outfit does not seem very good for hand to hand combat."

"Of course not!" Yuki said. "You are a battle mage! You should look like you are about to fling a bunch of fireballs, not about to kick someone upside the head!"

"That doesn't make much sense," Nina pointed out as she and Yuki gathered up their things and walked to the cashier.

Yuki put down the full amount for the dress and the two walked out of the department store. "Of course not," Yuki said. "Since when did anything I say make sense?"

"I rest my case," Nina said quietly.

Yuki only made a small noise to acknowledge Nina. Ever since Wyndia, the princess had been withdrawn and melancholy. Yuki herself could understand that. She knew what it was like to see someone you love dead in front of you. When they had thought Ryu dead, Yuki herself had cried for days on end. It was then that Yuki realized that Ryu was more than just a random friend. He was like a brother to her. Contrary to popular belief, Yuki was not in love with Ryu. Never had been, never will be.

It had been Jin that told Yuki that losing those they cared about was part of life. Of course, Yuki had argued with Jin and screamed at him that he didn't understand anything. It was only then that Jin looked at Yuki and told her some things about his past… things that he wasn't exactly proud of.

Things that changed the way the girl had looked at her brother. He had told her about some of the things he had been involved in; some of those things had indeed involved the Church of Ladon, but not in the ways that one would think. What he had explained, how he knew Bunyan, his connection with the goddess Deis, it was all too huge for her twelve year old mind to wrap around.

He then told her about what happened in Lahan. At least, what he was able to get out of Aaron at the time. There was still too many factors that they didn't know about.

That gave Yuki an odd idea. She gently placed her hand on Nina's shoulder, causing the girl to turn around. Nina gave her a confused and questioning look.

"Nina," Yuki began. "I…"

Nina flinched. She had a feeling where this was headed.

"I'm not going to tell you what to do, or how to feel," Yuki said. "I…" Yuki paused to consider her words. She just couldn't tell Nina to get over it and move on with her life. She would have punched the person that told her to do that. So, Yuki tried a different approach.

"We have so little time in this life. We don't know what will happen from one moment to the next."

The words she spoke, they had been words that Jin had told her when she had finally broke down and started crying. He had spoken the words even as he had held her and she had cried into his shoulder.

"And even now," these words… these words were all Yuki's. "With all of the chaos and destruction raining down upon us…" Yuki paused, then continued. "We don't know when our time will come. We don't know who we will lose next… but Nina…"

Nina merely looked at Yuki with blank eyes, devoid of any emotion. Yuki knew, however, of the war of emotions that were raging inside of Nina. She knew that the girl didn't know whether to scream, cry, or die.

"We might not even have a tomorrow… all we have is here and now… we need to make the most of it… you know?"

Nina merely nodded. She knew what Yuki was saying.

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The party had returned to the hotel had had checked in for the night. Yuki and Nina were sharing a room, and so were Wyatt and Ryu. Jin, the lucky bastard, had a room all to his self.

Nina found sleep eluding her. She sighed as she looked at the digital alarm clock on the nightstand. 12:40 a.m. Nina turned onto her back and let loose a small sigh again. She turned her head and looked at Yuki's hunched form, lying in the bed across the room.

How the girl could sleep was beyond her. She herself had not been able to sleep for over a week. She kept having dreams about her city burning, her people dying…

Nina realized that she had sat up without knowing it and was dangerously close to crying. She stood up and clad in nothing but her pajama's, walked quietly out of the room. She slowly walked to the room that Wyatt and Ryu were staying in, and after swallowing nervously, opened the door.

She expected them to be asleep, she didn't expect them both to be sitting up in their beds, staring at her. Nina nervously glanced over at Wyatt, then Ryu. Wyatt gave Ryu a look, a smile, then stood up. The boy was clad in nothing but a tang top and a pair of boxers. He gave Nina a small wave as he walked past her and out the door.

She looked at Ryu, who merely waved her in. Nina walked over to Ryu and played with the hem of her nightshirt.

"Um… I couldn't sleep…" Nina mumbled quietly. "I… I really don't know why I'm even here right now…" this was a lie. Nina's being in Ryu's room at that time of night had something to do with the talk that Yuki had given her earlier that day.

Ryu, who was just clad in a pair of pants smiled up at her and extended his hand to Nina. Nina blinked once and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Ryu… I…" she knew what words she wanted to say, but for some reason, they would just not come.

Nina choked back a sob as she barely registered Ryu putting his arms around her shoulders and pulling her close to him. Ryu placed his chin on top of Nina's head and just held her. Nina looked up and saw Ryu's good eye looking down at her with a look of what she thought might have been sympathy… and something else.

The look said that he wanted her. He wanted every part of her. Nina almost shrank under that gaze, but then she noticed something else in that look. It was an almost gentle, innocent look. That look was the first expression that Nina had seen on Ryu's face all those years ago, back when they first met.

Her Ryu was back and he was saying with that one look that he would never leave her again. Ryu gave Nina a small smile. Nina shook her head and started to cry. She grabbed onto Ryu and cried out her rage, anguish, pain, anger… She cried until her voice was sore and she didn't think she didn't even have tears to cry anymore.

Ryu merely responded by holding her closer to him. He gently rocked Nina back and forth while he held her. Ryu said nothing, lest he disturb the silence between the two. He loved Nina and hated to see her in pain, but he was not the pervert that people thought Siegfried was. He would never do anything to Nina like that. He loved her and had too much respect for her to defile and humiliate her like that.

Nina finally shifted and Ryu gently released her. She looked up at him and wiped her eyes on the back of her sleeve.

"Um… thanks…" Nina sniffed.

"I understand," Ryu smiled. "Would you like me to walk you back to your room, or…"

"Um… I was wondering if I could sleep here, tonight?" Nina asked, the fear and hesitance evident in her voice.

Ryu responded by pulling her close to him as he gently positioned them into a lying position. Nina lied down next to him and laid her head against his chest as he pulled the blankets back up over them.

Nina sighed slightly as she listened to Ryu's heartbeat. She felt Ryu wrap an arm around her shoulders and his hand gently wrapped itself in her long blond hair. Ryu sighed and closed his eyes. Nina leaned in closer to Ryu's body. She had never been this close to the dragon. He was so hard bodied, she realized.

The final thought that raced through her mind before she drifted off was how much she cared about this man and that he loved her just as much…

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Wyatt grinned as he peaked at the two from his vantage-point outside the door. Yuki grinned like a madwoman as she looked over Wyatt's shoulder. She was dressed in nothing more than a large flannel shirt and a pair of panties. Her hair was pulled into a sloppy bun. Not that she cared.

The two would be spied grinned like maniacs. Their plan had worked. Now maybe Nina could let go and move on. All were worried about her current mental state. Yuki had voiced concern about Nina. What if they went into battle, only to have Nina freeze up? Then what? Nina was a sitting duck.

A shadow loomed over the two suddenly. The two jumped and turned around, only to be confronted by a really tired looking Jin, clad in a pair of pajamas. His hair was down, a contrast to the usual braid or ponytail that he usually wore it in. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at the two with a blank look on his face.

"Are we done here?" Jin quietly asked the two.

The two nodded and without a second glance, bolted back to Yuki's room. Jin grinned to himself as he looked in on Nina and Ryu. At least the girl was sleeping soundly. He nodded to himself and closed the door behind him.

To be continued…