Subaru lifted herself from her seat. Her dress became a little wrinkled from telling her story to Kite. The heavy axeman bowed her head and left the pub. Kite walked back to where Balmung and Wiseman were on their third drink. Kite lifted his sake glass, which by now has lost some flavor, and drank it in one gulp. The twin blade sighed as a result of this new knowledge.
"'Bout time you returned." Balmung told Kite. The twin blade gave another sigh. "Anything wrong?" The blademaster asked. A head shaking was the only response he received.
"It's been nice speaking to you Balmung, but I must leave." Wiseman noted to the group. "Farewell: Balmung, Kite" as he logged out and dissolved from the World.
"Let's get going Kite," Balmung said to the twin blade "before I become drunk".
"How's that possible; you plan to role-play?" Kite asked with a sudden smile on his face.
Balmung grunted. "Let's return to the Chaos gate; I feel for a battle." Kite nodded and the two took off.
During their walk, Balmung wondered how Tsukasa was doing.
"We're getting along great." Kite responded to the blademaster's question. Balmung giggled and Kite placed his hand on the back of his neck. The two continued forward.
When the two reached the Chaos gate, Kite heard the crying of a young boy. The twin blade heard the noise come from the left corner. Kite walked towards the boy, held out his hand and asked him what was wrong. The boy lifted his head and it was the face of Tsukasa.
"Tsukasa, what's wrong?" Kite asked as Balmung walked closer to the crying boy.
"I was PKed." Tsukasa said through the tears dripping off his eyes.
"Did the player take anything?" Balmung rudely jumped in.
"It wasn't for items"
"Then what was it?" asked Kite. "Us." muttered Tsukasa as he hugged Kite for comfort.
"Us?" Kite asked prematurely.
"Someone saw us at the pub," Tsukasa stated "his name was Taki, but it was someone else who killed me; probably a follower of his. He told me he'll make it so I wouldn't return."
"Can you look into this matter, Balmung?" Kite said as he comforted Tsukasa.
"I don't really do PKs, why don't you ask Silver Knight?" was Balmung reply.
"I trust you more that Silver Knight;" Kite stated "besides, this is more than a PKing, this is a pure act of bias."
"Very well." Balmung said, enjoying the hint of flattery.
Balmung entered the Chaos gate to investigate the matter, while Kite and Tsukasa stayed behind. Kite held Tsukasa tightly in his arms as the wavemaster began to clam down. The flow of tears was stopped and Tsukasa just enjoyed the warm embrace of Kite. The wavemaster was all smiles again and forgot about Taki and just cuddled Kite on his chest. The twin blade pecked Tsukasa on the top of head, and the two boys just sat there.
Truth be told, Kite and Tsukasa were not the only couple of this matter. Despite the many other players in the World, the Legend of the Azure Sky had a boy to call his own.
"Reki!" Balmung said with seriousness in is voice. The young helper came to Balmung. The boy's blonde hair covered his large hazel eyes. The wavemaster's red uniform noted a sense of authority and style.
"Yes, Sir Balmung?" A statement which sang off the young boy's lips.
"I want you to help me investigate a PKing." The blademaster said.
"A PKing? Isn't that a little too low for your standards?" Reki commented
"It's really more that an PKing; it's an act of homophobia" Balmung stated
"Oh, okay" Reki agreed at Balmung's request.
Balmung, after a short moment, asked how Magi was doing.
"She's still depressed; Kamui never returned to the World after that incident." replied Reki. Suddenly a blue-haired girl appeared, no doubt it was Magi. Her head was looking towards her feet. She looked like she had just finished crying. Magi sniffed her nose and looked towards Reki and Balmung.
"Hello." Magi said with a sad tone.
"How are you feeling?" Reki asked.
"I'm feeling a little better, but I'm still sad that Kamui hasn't returned. I miss her so much; she was always kind to me and showed love in her heart." Magi said, remembering the good times the two females had together. "I just came to pick up my files"
"Over there; on top of the cabinet." Reki pointed towards the cabinet.
"Thank you." Magi said with a smile on her face. She walked towards the cabinet, picked up the files and left.
Reki looked towards Balmung as stared at him for a couple of seconds. The wavemaster turned to walk away but caught a glimpse of Balmung in the corner of his eye. Reki turned around and stared at his feet as he asked:
"Do you love me?"
Balmung walked towards the assistant and looked down upon him. "We've been together for so long," Reki started "and the fact no one ever imposed us being together must mean something.
"No one has imposed us because no one knows, and if the World did know, I'll be worried about you. I doubt anyone would impose me, but you're weak." Balmung said to the young wavemaster.
Reki just gave a small sigh.
"But if the World did find out, I'll protect you with all my might" Balmung said as he lifted Reki's head. Balmung stared into the young boy's eyes. Balmung leaned toward and pressed his lips again Reki's. Reki just dropped any feeling he had and enjoyed what the Legend of the Azure Sky gave to him. Balmung parted his lips and left the room. Reki just stood there, realizing Balmung never answered his question, although he believed there was little doubt between the two.
Still holding their position, Kite and Tsukasa embraced each other in the corner. Their warm cuddling came to an end when Blackrose interrupted them.
"So, how are you two?" Blackrose commented on their hugging; her sword resting on her shoulders. Her personality not changing one bit and being as nosy as usual.
"Ahh… we're great Blackrose." Kite responded having a sweat drop drip down his forehead. Tsukasa just smiled.
"It's been a while, Tsukasa" A mysterious voice spoke. Just then Crim entered through the shadows and placed his arm around Blackrose. Crim was showing his soft and sweet side.
"Tsukasa smiled again and nodded his head stating everything was well. Kite just giggled at the two.
"So you two are together; that's so cute" Kite said holding another giggle under his breath.
"You're one to talk, mister twin blade." Blackrose responded, defending herself by her usual means "you and that wavemaster were cuddling like there was no tomorrow. Although it was adorable, you're not really one to giggle towards relationships."
Kite just stared and blinked at Blackrose.
"You may be a hero, but you still act like a newbie at times." Blackrose stated. The heavy blade looked at the long arm, smiled, and faced Tsukasa and Kite. "How would you two like to double date with us?"
"Double date…?" Kite just muttered under his breath. Tsukasa was actually a little nervous about the idea; he feared someone like Taki, or Taki himself, may see him.
"C'mon you two, it'll be fun." Blackrose said and she and Crim began to walk away. Kite, knowing he had no matter in the choice, unless he wanted to feel the wraith of Blackrose in the future, decided he and Tsukasa had to tag along with her. Kite grabbed Tsukasa, who was still a little nervous, by the hand, and walked along side Blackrose and Crim.
The four walked along the waters of Mac Anu. The river was as clear as the ever-blue city sky. The area was growing in density as the first peak hour dawned upon the World. Players gathered around the blue waters as they plan their next mission. Blackrose and Crim held hands as they walked along the water, while Kite and Tsukasa cuddled each other's shoulder. Crim had some thoughts on his mind and wanted a reply for it.
"So, you two are really a couple?" The long blade questioning the obvious.
"Hmm Hmm." The two boys hummed together as they nodded their
heads.
"So how did you two come together?" Crim asked the two boys.
"Thoughts and feelings, latent emotions, stuff like that." Kite answering on behalf of Tsukasa.
"So who's the one to cave in first?" Crim becoming a ruder with his questions.
Tsukasa lifted his staff, noting he was the one who caved.
"I like how you two could be so open," The long blade began to say "if I were you two, I'll be scared to be lovey-dovey in the public. There are people on the World who oppress that kind of stuff. Be careful of the characters out there; they may want you out of this World." Tsukasa looked down at his feet having experienced one of those oppressions first-hand.
Blackrose wrapped her arms around Crim's body. "I'm thirsty." Blackrose moaned to the long blade. Crim suggested they go to a bar. Kite, becoming somewhat sick of same bar by now, but hiding that feeling, agreed to the suggestion. Tsukasa smiled and the four walked towards the bar right near the water.
The two couples reached their destination and entered the bar. Kite, knowing this place all too well from being here three time in the last sixteen hours, sighed from the lack of taverns in the World. The four looked around for a place to sit; Tsukasa suggested the booth where he kissed Kite. The four sat down and the bartender came the tend them.
"Wow, from two to three, and one of them is a female; you really know how to work it. The annoying, wiseass bartender said, directed towards the Kite. Blackrose and Crim were just as puzzled as Tsukasa.
"Fuck off." Kite wanted to tell the bartender straight to his face, but Kite choice the more socially respectful comment "Don't you have more important things to do?".
"Fine…" The bartender said, dragging his voice "what you sirs and madam like?".
"Sake." Tsukasa said cheerfully.
"Same." Kite spoke in monotone.
"Strawberry margarita" Blackrose said.
"Cranberry Schnapps" Crim told the bartender.
"Grand choices." The bartender told the four as he went to make the drinks. When the bartender left, Tsukasa looked around the bar for and eerie characters; Tsukasa concluded there were none and rest his head on Kite's shoulders. Blackrose giggled and Crim had a smirk on his face.
As Tsukasa cuddled his shoulder, Kite and Tsukasa looked towards the front of the bar. The walls of the tavern were a dull brown and looked dirty. The two figured they could talk to the bartender about cleaning the walls, but then remembered the walls were part of a game and probably could not be cleaned through normal methods, if they could even be cleaned.
A person then entered the tavern. He looked like a young wavemaster. He wore a purple uniform and had dark purple hair. Tsukasa gripped Kite's arm tightly to the point where blood had trouble circulating.
"Tsukasa, can you please let go of my arm?" Kite asked the wavemaster, expecting him to let go.
"That's him." Tsukasa said through his nerves "That's Taki.". Kite had no clue what was going to happen next.
