Disclaimer: I do not, repeat, DO NOT own Ragnarok Online. This is the property of Master Lee-Myoung Jin and Gravity Corporation. pRO belongs to its publisher Level Up! HOWEVER I do own anything within my sorry account, which means my character, is seriously mine and the character names I will use here are actually real people in the Philippine Odin Server. I'll have to give credit to them later on and I might mention some guilds, which are very much famous in our locale.

Peh, sorry for the delayed update of this fic. Me had been very much busy with my real life. Besides, I haven't played much on pRO as of the latest. There is absolutely nothing new in it as of the time I am writing this, so why the heck should I spend at least 50 pesos and add to the incessant lagging already in the servers? Unless Juno patch arrives by at least early November, I have no plans whatsoever of returning to the world of Ragnarok Online. Period.

Again, sorry for the late update! Gomen nasai!

I'll be using my experience in a private server for the meantime, though in my opinion, servers like these (such as kRO, DarkWeiss, and NoNameRO) are not ILLEGAL. They make good experimenting grounds for hypothetical builds. Maybe SOME other people are just jealous that they have competition.

hint"B.C."hint.

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Chapter 9: Starting Again

Byakko intently watched his brother sparring off with a Wander man in the Glastheim Castle hall. His brother was nit in concentration as he was blocking off and retaliating every move that the old grandpa was dealing back.

There was something different between the two brothers, though identical in the most obvious of physique. One was gentle-mannered, kind and seemingly quiet and calm. The other was brute-tempered, hotheaded and very much frank and possessive of his sibling. Yet, they complemented very much each other's characters; like fire and ice.

Both had shared the same body for almost a quarter of their lifetimes and had known each other quite well enough. There were no hidden things between them, no secrets at all. Nothing to be ashamed of.

It was perfect confidence and trust between the brothers.

Byakko snapped back as his brother bid the undead swordsmen goodbye. Seems like they had finished their little dueling practice...

"Gee, thanks gramps! It was nice of you to spar with me for a while!" Byakko smiled, baring his fangs as the Wander man just gave a silent nod and replaced his Muramasa into the sheath of his scabbard. Byakko stood up, holding a towel for his brother, as the other retreated to where the former was sitting.

"Y'know Byakko...it's kinda hard if people would address us with the same name, don'tcha think?" He sat beneath him, looking up at his mild-mannered sibling as the other was attending to his wounds that he received from the duel.

"You're right...have you any suggestions as to what we can do about it?" Byakko quirked at him, as the other buried his face into the towel.

"Yeah, you keep the name. People can call me "Tiger". I'd like it that way." Tiger looked up at him from his position between the legs of his brother.

"Hmm...it does suit you." Byakko hugged his brother as the other closed his eyes, basking at the warmth and empathy the other was giving to him. Both had learned very much to depend upon each other, right from the start...

The candlelights around them suddenly dimmed as Dark Illusion came into the presence of the hallways, apparently searching for the two.

"Young masters...the Council wishes to speak with you...apparently concerning your future..." Dark Illusion bowed low as he silently retreated to the Council Hall.

"Let's go, Byakko..." Tiger stood up and offered his hand to his brother. Byakko just smiled and took the hand, letting himself be led by his brother; finally seeing him face to face for over a long time now.

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"Sons of Sohee Mistress..." Dark Lord addressed the two, who silently prostrated before the court. "In order to fulfill the role left by your mother, you have to complete the Rites as prescribed by the evil Lord Sakray..." Dark Lord began unfolding an ancient parchment from the folds of a Rideword.

"You must fufill a pilgrimage to the MVP's in the order of the triad from the Clock Capital, to the path of the city of the Frontiers, then to the watery graves of the Port capital, towards the mountains and to the highlands of the city of the descendant of the four Constellations. The journey must direct itself to the magic city for the last destination before finally returning here. By this time, all the relics of the former MVP must be at hand..."

Tiger and Byakko already had a mental note on the order of the MVP's...from Lutie's Toy Factory was Stormy Knight and near it was queen Mistress, then Prontera's hidden temple is where Baphomet can be seen sometimes, down to Morroc is where king Osiris and the Pharaoh resided, to the Ant Hell of Phreeoni and queen Maya, then to the Ports of Alberta where captain Drake was staying, upwards to the mountains the location of Lord Eddga, then to Payon's Moonlight Flower, back to the culverts of Golden Thief Bug, then to the Orc villages of the Orc Lord and Orc Hero, then to the tower of Doppelganger, and finally back to Glastheim: Dark Lord...

"You may return when your journey is over, only then can Lord Sakray grant you your privileges. You must obtain a special relic from each MVP visited to give proof of your visit..."

Both the acolytes slowly stood up as a swirling black hole started to form under their feet.

"Go...and may you succeed..." Dark Lord swirled his hand as both acolytes fell to darkness.

May you succeed...

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"Ouch..."Byakko woke up, rubbing his head in pain. Both had awoken to a strange room filled with clock gears and floor gratings. Tiger soon followed to consciousness, eyeing the room carefully and observantly.

"It seems we've fallen into one of the floors of the Clock Tower..." Tiger had finally voiced out his observation. Byakko gave a nod in agreement as he stood up, wobbling a bit, feeling dizzy from the trip.

"Dark Lord had said that our journey would start in the land of eternal snow, Lutie." Tiger stood up, resilient of the dizziness his twin had experienced. "We could catch a ride with Father Christmas outside this tower."

Byakko gave a smile at him. "While we're still here, why don't we rest for a while? Dark Lord never said something about a time limit, did he?"

Tiger gave a sweatdrop at him, but then smiled back. "You're right...that's what I like about you..." Byakko looked at him. "...You're too carefree. It's that thing that what draws me the most to you."

Byakko stuck his tongue out. "And you're too stuck-up with yourself, brother. You only have fun when you battle. You never have time to do little things in life not worth your attention and effort."

"Like love?"

"Uhuh..."

"I already have to take care of you, Byakko. What's more to add?" Tiger shrugged his shoulders, much to the annoyance of Byakko. But nevertheless, both cannot deny that they only have themselves to depend on...

"You came into this world alone and you'll die alone"...this was what both had stood up for in their lives. But they came together, so it could only mean that it would be only them that they could depend on...

The brothers stood and decided to walk the length of the corridor. They had safely passed through the Alarms and Skeleton Archers down to the Punks and Clocks, although Tiger was irking his brother to let him take a bash at the faces of the Alarms.

"C'mon! I wanna kick that stupid Alarm's face! Just one, Byakko!" Tiger was pathetically begging Byakko, who gave a face of exasperation.

"You're gonna get us in trouble if people spy an acolyte beating the crap out an Alarm. You wouldn't want to be in the news do you? Or have you forgotten what had happened at the Sanctuary..." Byakko reminded him.

"WE were both furious at that time, no one can blame us. Our anger fueled our careless action, but nevertheless we got our mother's Wish..." Tiger stood up from his pathetic groveling to join up with walking down the hallway; bashing the head of any undead crap that tried shooting at him or Byakko.

"/..."

"Ok master, let's just get going." Tiger piffed at the word of Byakko. He might be an able fighter, but his weakness just lay straight at his brother.

"...you make me sick..." Byakko playfully chided at him, much to the amusement of the two. The hallways echoed with their laughter when sand and dust suddenly collected before them. Tiger stood in front of his brother, claws at the ready for any sudden moves from the cloud of powder. A woman clad in a traditional skirt of virgin holding a an old broom came into view...

Tiger relaxed his stance as Byakko peered over his shoulder. Both had recognized the face of the one before them...

"Flower Lady..."

She just smiled foolishly as she waved an open hand at them. "Hmph! Miss me?" Both boys ran into her, laughing and embracing the long-lost friend.

Flower Lady affectionately ruffled the hair of the two boys who clung at her. "My! Look at both of you! So, you've finally separated...I almost wondered when you'd finally do that..." She smiled warmly at both of them, who finally let go and faced her.

"I'm still Byakko. And this is Tiger, my older brother." Byakko introduced his brother's new name. "How did you know we shared one body?"

"Secret..." Flower Lady stuck her tongue out. "Really, I have my connections. I just came here to secure that you've finally arrived. You'll be seeing more of me in every city you pass, but for now, I must go. Wouldn't want risking my head to hunters here. So...see you later!" Flower Lady took off in her broom, bidding both of them a temporary farewell. Byakko and Tiger had continued walking towards the entrance of the clock tower.

"Ahhh, sunshine..." Both had squinted at the light after days of exposure to only darkness. Tiger suggested finding an inn for the meantime, while he would scour for supplies that would last their trip. Byakko agreed to this and in a few minutes found a suitable place for them.

While waiting for his brother, Byakko approached an NPC that was selling hot chocolate and coffee. Sparing a few zennys from his pocket, he ordered a cup of each for both of them. Minutes later, Tiger arrived and closed in on the other, who was sitting by the gutter; the cup of chocolate meant for him piping by.

"Here, I brought you a cup of chocolate." Byakko handed the cup to him, while slowly bringing his own to his lips. Tiger took the offer and sat down beside him, both looking out to the waters of the canals of Aldebaran.

"I brought ourselves a few concentration potions and emergency pots for when the time comes. Other than a few carrots and meat when we go hungry, I also bought this..." He handed to Byakko a rectangular thing wrapped in motley clothing and bandages. From the look of it, it would be a...

"You bought an unidentified book?" Byakko's voice dripped with sarcasm, either from fury of his brother's stupidity or from pity of it. /...

"Hey, it was a deal. Only 50k. C'mon, open it... The woman said it was special..." Tiger grinned foolishly at him. Byakko could only comply.

Using a magnifier, Byakko searched through the bindings until he found the mark that would release the book from its possession. Out of the trappings, a rather odd-looking black book fell through. It emanated some sort of cold, dark glow...

"What the...this is a book of Revelations! How the...from whom did you get it Tiger?!?!" Byakko was shocked at the find, much less envying his brother for his lucky catch.

"Told you it would be worth it..." Tiger just grinned, taking another sip from his cup. He then looked back to his brother, somehow amused at his initial reaction, only to see him embrace the book, tears starting to flow from his eyes.

"Thank you, Tiger..."

"..."

"You know, before we separated, it was hard for both of us to live...I mean, we somehow see glimpses of ourselves when we shuffle personalities, but this is much different...seeing you in front of me. Somehow, I don't feel as much alone as before..."

"..."

Byakko looked straight to those cerulean eyes of his own. "...But now that you're here, I'm really glad...that I knew I'm not alone anymore." He returned his gaze back to his cup of coffee, unsure of his brother's reaction.

He had only felt his brother's strong back lean against his own, as Tiger settled behind him casually. "Byakko...you say too many things for what you want others to know...I've always been behind you, and took over in times you felt threatened. I took care of you when you were asleep, and always looked back to check on you everytime I fight for our survival. There's no need for appreciation..."

A short pause.

"To know that you are safe by my side, to know that you need me...to know that you are well and good is all that I need as a thank you...because if I never knew I had you, I myself would have gone insane..."

Byakko leaned back to understand all what Tiger had to say.

"You just don't know how hard it would be for me if you would leave me...to be alone in this cruel world...to have no one to give my attention and care...to not have someone who truly trusts and understands me like you do...I would deliver my soul to Death himself if that would ever happen..."

Byakko brushed his brother's hand that lay beside him, giving a soft whisper as his reply.

"I would too, brother...because I also feel the same way for you..."

Both settled comfortably as they viewed the setting sun across the mountains. Tomorrow would be the start of their new journey, one that would determine fate in itself...

A few minutes later, they packed up, heading to the inn Byakko had directed. Night would be coming in fast, and they had to wake up early for the start of their journey.

Not realizing that two rather unfamiliar shadows lurked in the corner of a building...

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Ehm, pretty short for a comeback, isn't it? But really, I was just starting to break from writer's lag. Promise, I'll put some action into the next chapters or so...

Flower Lady has made a comeback, two shadows in a corner...what else could happen? Oh, please by the way, don't confuse brotherly love for yaoi here. might kick me out for misratings. I assure you! It is not yaoi! No yaoi here! If you want yaoi, go look at where I'm pointing...(points at Transgressions of Fate by ragnar-pendon)

(Gets slashed by Shadow's Sucsamad...waaah!)