Chapter 5

Man to Man

"Kanon! What the hell was that about?!" Brad yelled.

Kanon picked herself off the ground and shrugged. "He knew too much."

"He came to us for help," said Ashley. Brad pushed past the others towards the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Kanon demanded.

"I'm going to do my duty as a hero. I'm going to help him."

"Wait!" Ashley called. "I'm coming with you."

"Ashley," came Brad, barely above a whisper. "We're gonna need the Chateau if we want to help him. Talk to Kanon. If she won't come with us, at least try to get her to let us borrow her ship." Brad made a grab for Ashley's com. "I'll contact you when we're ready to come back." Ashley nodded as his friend ran off to the elevator.

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Steve stopped walking when he saw a beam of light come down from the ship. He was a ways away from the ship already, but still close enough to make out just who was coming out of the ship. Expecting to see Ashley and Marina on their return trip home, he was surprised when it was Brad's form that was running towards him.

"Steve . . . "

"Brad, you already made it quite clear that you weren't going to trust me when you pulled out your Bazooka."

"You had a sword to my friend's neck."

"Did you just come down to argue with me?" Brad sighed and sat down on a nearby boulder and motioned for Steve to do the same. The boy took a seat, but held a look that said 'Bring it on, it won't change a thing.'

"Steve, please don't judge us by Kanon. Ashley and I truly would like to help you. It's just that Kanon can be a little . . . "

"Excitable?" Steve finished. "Yeah, I noticed." The sarcasm in his voice was thick. Brad laughed at the comment. It was just so true.

"Well you seem to know Kanon's personality. You know, the first time we met her, she attacked . . . "

"She attacked while you were in that magical loop thing on that train." Brad had a look of utter disbelief. "She attacked you and you fought her off. And at no time did you have a friend' pointing a bazooka at your head." Brad winced at the last remark.

"Listen, I'm sorry about that. What can I do to make it up to you?"

"Nothing," Steve said, plainly.

"There is nothing any of us can do to make it up to you?"

"There is no need. I've already forgiven you." Brad now had a look of utter confusion across his face. He stumbled around for a minute to find an actual question to ask the boy, but he cut him off. "In all honesty, I don't get offended very easily. Back on my home world, I used to take a whole lot of shit."

"Why didn't you stand up for yourself?"

Steve stared at the adventurer before him, with one of those weren't you listening' looks. "I wasn't always the way I am now."

"Oh. Right."

"Anyway, I really only had one person that I could take my whole lot of shit' to. My cousin, Spencer. He taught me how to let things roll off, and not let it get to me. It's because of him that I have become pretty thick skinned. No, no. This whole thing with Kanon was just to prove a point. She needs to learn to trust people more."

"So you'll let us help you, then?" the older man Inquired.

"Why not? I got nothing better to do." Steve slid off the rock and began to head for the ship. Brad began to follow behind, but there was still something plaguing his mind.

"Steve?"

"Hmm?"

"How did you know all of this stuff?"

"Brad, let me give you an introduction to the wonderful world of video games. On my world . . ." as the two walked, Steve gave his friend a crash course in the technological wonders known as video games. They were only a small ways from the ship when he had finished.

"A game?" asked Brad in a disbelieving tone. "I'm sorry Steve, but our whole adventure in a game just doesn't seem possible."

Steve gave a chuckle. "Brad, I'm a fifteen year old, sword wielding, magic using, matchmaking, dimension hopping, dead guy. I think we passed the realm of possible a long time ago."

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Ashley and Marina stood on the bridge of the Chateau. Kanon was there with them, pacing across the room. "You jumped to conclusions," chided the blue haired adventurer. "You didn't even let him answer to your accusation." The dark haired exorcist just kept pacing. Her gaze never left the path she was walking. Kanon either wasn't paying attention, or didn't have an answer.

"Kanon, were you even listening to what he said?" asked Marina.

"When is Brad supposed to come back?"

"Whenever he can convince Steve to let us help him. After the damage that you did, it could take a while!" Ashley took a deep breath and calmed down. "Listen, Kanon. If you don't like him, that's your problem, and it's fine. We are going to help him. If you want to come with us, you can, but if not, we would like to ask to use the Chateau."

Beep beep! Beep beep!

Ashley picked up his communicator. "Brad? Okay. All right. No, still working on it. Fine." Ashley put the device away. "Brad and Steve are coming back. What's your answer about the Chateau."

Ashley heard a small growl in her voice as she gave her answer. "I go where the ship goes."