The desert plains outside of the town of Dolza were usually the quietest spot on the planet. Especially on such a tranquil day as this afternoon. The peace and quiet of the outdoors with it's healthy air and endless miles. The shore nearby however, was a different story as heavy artillery rang out. Six sandcraft. Five chasing one other.
"Why'd you have to tick them off?" Emilia grumbled.
"I didn't know she was part of the Ark of Destiny!" Gallows defended.
"What have I told you about thinking with your head over your...y'know?" She gave with acidic tone.
"Hey Clive, why can't 'ya get this over with and shoot them apart?" Gallows swore.
"I can't fire to my rear!" Clive said for the umpteenth time. "Maybe if you guys stopped fighting and turned us around for them I could kick their butts!"
"Should I get the bombs ready?" Jet questioned to Virginia who were the only two calms ones throughout this battle.
With some quick alteration to their course and manipulation of the controls the craft was turned to their enemies. "Clive!" Emilia began. "I think it's time we tested out the Missile Might."
He grinned. "I thought you'd never let me." He aims and lets out multiple missiles for their enemies taking out three of them. With pure speed that only Clive can have he was able to also fire a shot from the normal cannon taking out one more ship at the same moment. "That has near perfect aim. It could be calibrated a bit more." He remarked. They watched the remaining craft run from them.
"That was a good job you guys." Virginia commented. "We COULD work on our teamwork some though." She felt the blame was on herself though. She should have been responsible for such things being that she was the leader last time she checked. It was so hard these days seeing that everyone was becoming a leader themselves. It had become even more of a democracy than it was before with Virginia holding basically a title. She was willing to reclaim her role, but she did not mind it so much. The less pressure the better she felt.
"Hey...isn't that Sakura?" Gallows commented as he looked out the window. Jet shoved him aside and peered out eagerly.
"That is Sakura!" He said in shock.
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The gang were now seated with Sakura in a small saloon where they were currently the only patrons. "So...what are you doing here?" Jet wondered nervously.
"Well...my wares—my cooking—weren't selling so well, but then I came here and found a new job that it seems that I'm well-suited for. So...say hello to Sakura Ryokai, reporter." She smiled with a blush. "I...had heard there was a sandcraft battle going on off-shore so I came to look into it being that it was news and found...you guys." She chuckles. "Didn't quite expect it."
The doors to the place burst open as Adven stood there silently. Everyone just stared at him in quiet. Jet looked to Sakura. "Adven too?"
"Don't you remember? I asked him to come along and help me with my business...he...sort of hung around even though that's over." Sakura replied.
Jet snaps his fingers. "Now I remember."
Adven stood there tall as if more confident. Threatening in posture it would almost seem. "U-Um," Same old nervous voice though when his direction was pointed for Sakura. "Sakura...I'm going...I'll be back in some time."
"You're leaving again?" Sakura questioned. "Where do you keep going to?"
He glared at Jet. "Nowhere important." He remarked. With that Adven departed from the group who stood seriously silent.
"If only he would be honest." Sakura shrugs with a sigh.
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Jet and Sakura had met up following dinner as the sun had set already and the stars displayed themselves vibrantly. "Jet...I have a confession to make."
"Oh?" He wondered what it could be.
"I didn't just stop being a chef just because of those reasons...I...I'm trying to find what vocation I really belong in." She admitted with a blush. "A job that wouldn't mean so much wandering. Something that will help lead me into my later years...when I'm...m-married." She trembled. "Maybe I'll be lucky enough to have a husband, someone nice, kinda've like you...or that Adven."
"Really? You think I'm a nice guy?" Jet wondered not hearing the rest and only the flattering part of the talk. A quote comes to mind. 'Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me and I will never forget you.'
She shook her head viciously to put such embarrassing things away. She was blushing up a storm. She needed a new topic. Fast. Of course! "You know...Adven...he's been acting...strange upon late."
"How so?"
"He's...actually...it's been a positive change in him. He use to be so rude to me and never say hello and tremble with words and I nearly thought him retarded." She laughs. "He was so rude though. To think so little of me like that." The irony. "He's been acting...pretty normal recently though." She shrugs. "Maybe you can't know someone off the bat like they say."
"Heh. Yeah, I suppose Adven a decent guy." He glared. "He can be annoying though. The first time I met him he wouldn't shut up with this annoying song, and it was all because he wanted me off-guard when we found the treasure." His fist went flat from it's previous clenched ball. "I guess he is a bit of a flakey guy though...sort of like he never sees the big picture. A single-minded sort."
"Oh," Sakura put her hands to her mouth as they noticed Adven was standing right besides them. "Adven...we were just talking about you."
Adven set his eyes level to Jet's own. No malice in them like usual. There was some strange fire burning in them though. "Jet," He began shocking the two who thought him mute. "I wish to challenge you to a fight."
"Huh?" Jet found it odd that instead of Sakura and Virginia facing off it was now his turn to be called out like this. "Why's that?"
"I will tell you the reason in time. For the moment you will fight me!"
"Okay...I should warn you that I won't be easy to defeat."
"I know that. I have my own specialties that will surely blow you away." Adven admits before breaking into laughter. Apparently an inside joke to himself, and himself alone.
Sakura merely hung her head low in a bit of confusion. She did not want to see these two men fight. There was a purple glow to the air this night in the direction of Adven. Two glares from each man with the woman caught in the middle. Little did she know she played a huge part in this battle.