Chapter 17, Lastation Complete: The Next Target is Decided

After several minutes of grumbling and denying to get up, a sweet smell invaded IF's nose. It twitched several times before; she finally pushed herself up, noticing the bedroom was empty and, a tray was sitting at the left side of the bed she was laying on.

It was a morning steak with a little note left beside it, picking it up she guessed it was Ragna's handwriting. It read, " So squirt, don't know when you're going to wake up but, Compa said it would be sometime soon. Left a fresh meal for when you wake up, meet us at Chian's diner to catch up on things."

Despite the use of her hated nickname, her face became a beet red, Ragna had made food, especially for her. Hugging the note to her chest, she squirmed for a moment; then, the memories returned from before she went monster. Steam rolled from her ears as she muttered out, " I admitted I loved him...multiple times i...in front of him."

"C..calm down IF yo...your an adult, and you can handle this sort of thi...thing." She did her best to swallow her embarrassment, not knowing that until Compa and, the others arrived, the reaper had all but been unconscious during her one vs. one against the killachine.

After taking a few moments to calm herself down, she promptly left the bed. Finding her balance, she undressed getting into her usual clothes, did her hair in front of the mirror, and, as she went to leave squealed into the closest pillow. Of course, while walking toward's, Chian's she ate the excellent breakfast steak left for her by Ragna.

(At Chian's diner)

After opening the door to Chian's diner, Neptune suddenly tackled into IF crying out, "Iffy! I've missed you so, so much!" Chian, who stood behind the counter, smiled and called out, "Well, look whose gone and, joined the land of the livin again, nice to see ya up!"

IF gave a small smile back, hugging Neptune back, saying, "Yeah, I'm glad to be up...from whatever happened." Noire commented, while seemingly resisting the urge to squeeze the life out of the small girl with her embrace, "So, like you don't remember what happened, like at all?"

"No," IF said that while peeling away from the touchy Neptune and continued, " I remember transforming at first before something happened...I think a deep voice had me agree to something or is that even right?"

Compa then walked over, embracing her friend said with a motherly tone, "It doesn't matter right now silly, we can go over the complicated stuff later, at the moment let's be happy, okay?" IF gave in to her friend's hug, turning her eyes to the one who hadn't said anything yet.

Ragna feeling the gazes of others on him, looked up at IF and somewhat dismissively commented, " Nice to see your up and about squirt." In seconds, everyone in the room refuted him, but, IF, Chian snickering out first, "Really mister, besides bathing and dressin her, let me handle everything else, and that's what ya got to say?!"

Secondly, Noire growled out, "After five goddamn days of ignoring us, you're not getting off by just saying that much, you spiky-haired bastard!" Following that, Neptune cheekily commenting, "Do I gotta bust out the photos of you spoon-feeding her, or maybe fluffing her pillows and, straightening the blankets after moving her to a different bed by carrying her in a princess style."

Finally, the onslaught finished with Compa giving him a hollow and, spine-chilling look accompanied by a smile similar to one he'd seen when Celica had gotten angry with him and, Jubei; she told him, "Now, Mr. Ragna you're going to say more than that right?"

"Tch," clicking his tongue Ragna got up from where he was sitting and, with his head turned while his face was blushing, he gave the smaller girl a hug saying, "look I'm thrilled you made it out okay, worried me to half-death and, I hope your feeling completely fine."

There was an awkward moment of silence afterward, Ragna had picked her up slightly during the hug making IF a pure red. The reaper's face was taking a similar red of his coat, while the rest of the girls giggled at the display. Ragna's left eyebrow twitched before he dropped IF and growled, "I think that's enough; after all, I've got a strange need to bat someone through a wall or two."

"You could have let me go a little more gently!" IF scowled out, while Ragna went toward Neptune, and she put her hands up in surrender with a cheeky grin. The group went on with casual banter for a short time, until IF remembered the necklace given to her by Ragna, more importantly, the gem that had let her transform in the first place.

IF asked with an urgent tone, "Ragna what happened to the necklace, you know the one that you gave me as an apology!" there was a moment of silence before Ragna could open his mouth Noire asked with an eyebrow cocked upward, "Like what do you mean by a necklace he gave you?"

"W..wait Ragna di...didn't tell you about it?" her cheeks became dusted pink while turning to Ragna who had laid back in the chair he was sitting in, having turned his head away, he commented, " I was too busy to get around to it,"

Neptune gained a sly grin and chuckled while saying, "Right busy Rags," Ragna narrowed his eyes at the girl growling out, "Neptune, you better drop that now before I drop you out cold." Nep just rolled her eyes, finishing what she was saying, " yeah, you were busy making sure your little princess Iffy was comfy. Fluffing her pillows, straightening blankets, feeding her freshly warmed soups and, petting her with the smallest smile conceivable on your face."

"Um, Mr. Ragna, please don't...eep!" Compa went to tell Ragna to calm down after he put his right hand over Neptune's face, only for him to completely disregard her. In the next second, Neptune had sailed past Compa's head, crashing through one of the storefront windows.

Ragna sighed because immediately, afterward, Noire began trying to reprimand the reaper for tossing Neptune. Compa had a sweat drop running down her forehead as Chian came over and answered the question for IF, " Well, when they first brought ya back, it seemed to have disappeared, but when I took ya in for a quick shower, I found the gem at least."

"Where is it then? We need to break it before I transform or hear that wicked voice." Chian gave an awkward look at her while Ragna rubbed the back of his head. IF's look gained a fusion of worry and, dislike responding, "I don't like that reaction at all."

Ragna gave a grumble of resignation, telling her, "Here's the thing squirt; it's fused inside of you." IF's eyes went wide and went to say something but, Ragna continued with, " Before you go asking how we know, Chian's equipment picked it up. Guess there's a faint energy source resembling it buried in your chest area or somethin."

"I...I see, well, I'll tell you guys if anything weird starts happening, okay?" Ragna, Compa and, Neptune nodded while Noire replied with, "Like, I'm not coming along but, I'll like hope you don't end up hurting Ne...I mean, everyone."

Neptune, who had returned with a few shards of glass dusting her hair, looked in surprise, asking, "Whaaa? Noire you're not coming along?" while IF saw the perfect chance to take a little revenge for all the teasing she'd been dealt for liking Ragna, commenting, "What was that Noire about not hurting Ne? Did you mean Neptune by any chance?"

"N..no. Not at all, I...I would never fall in love with that idiot!" IF gained a dominant smirk replying, " And who said anything about you loving her?" Before this could escalate further, Ragna coughed to reel in their attention.

Ragna then went on to respond, "Anyways, ribbons isn't coming along cause she's got shit to get done here and, we've got more places to be." Noire nodded in agreement, remarking, "That's right, I've only recently regained control of my own Basilicom, and there's so much that I need to fix."

"Awww, but without us, you're going to be a friendless bum again, Noire," Neptune whined out, still wearing that cheeky grin. The two girls immediately ended up in an argument, making Compa giggle while saying, "I'm happy at how good of friends they are, hehe."

IF then asked, "So, first, we head back to Compa's to plan out our next move, right?" Ragna stood up while saying," Sounds good to me, you girls fine with it?"

"Yeppers, I think it's a good idea since I can prepare some snacks and items for us." Compa agreed with a smile, though Neptune kept being difficult, whining, "Eh? But, wanna bring Noire though! She's the new friendless party member whose supposed to be the love interest with one-sided feelings were missing!"

Compa got into her lecturing mode, "Now, Nep-Nep, it isn't right to bother busy people," she then started playing with her fingers, " and if your a good girl Nep-Nep you can have some pudding when we get back."

"Pu..pudding? Yes, a million times, yes! Bye Noire, I'll be waiting at the station for you guys!" Neptune bolted at the first mention of pudding, as Ragna sighed at the idiocy of the girl he was charged with protecting.

(Back at Compa's)

The moment they returned, Neptune crashed onto one of Compa's bean bags, IF took to a desk opening several of her phones on it and typing in multiple contact numbers. Ragna himself had shown his ability to relax around the girls, sitting Bloodscythe by the door, and throwing his jacket off, resting on an open windowsill.

Compa blinked at them, before giving a small smile. She was more than happy for the group to get comfortable like this, especially when it came to Ragna.

"Alright," IF said, "Looks like we have two choices, Lowee or Leanbox." She then looked to Neptune, asking, "Hey Neps, while I was out cold, did any of your memories come back, like anything about being a goddess, so we know if they'll want to kill us or not?"

The question caught Neptune off-guard and, Compa seemed surprised as well, asking, "Eh? Iffy, how did you know that Neptune was a goddess?" Neptune followed that up with, "Yeah, you were out cold when that shocked everyone, even myself!"

"I was not shocked, hell I figured you were one this whole time." Ragna commented while IF shrugged, responding, "Well, after seeing both Neps and, Noire transformed together, they looked too alike for it to be a coincidence."

Neptune then started whining, "Are you kidding me? I wanted to see Iffy all cute and shocked that I was a goddess." IF rolled her eyes while Ragna asked, "So, what are the other two nations like?"

"Well," IF said, "Lowee is always covered in snow and..." Ragna instantly told her, "We're going to Leanbox." IF blinked at the reaper who stared at her intensely while she sighed, grumbling, "We'll end up having to go overseas for that, Lowee is an easier trip over.."

Once again, Ragna cut her off, growling, "We're going to Leanbox first." IF rolled her eyes, going to complain to Ragna, while Compa just smiled, preparing for the trip while humming happily.

Chapter 17 end

Reviews-

JBLO104 - Nice to see your happy at this fic's revival of sorts.

Felipexza - I'm glad you like the idea, there will be more of them rest assured.

RedBurningDragon - Nah didn't have her animal features but, there will be a few things personality/habit wise that'll be shown of later.