"NDS: Book 13—Neon: Chapter 97: A Moment"

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A ceiling fan splintered the light coming in through a window on the side of the room. The Enduro—Maxwell home was quiet once more in the living area as the early morning's hot sun had raised itself. Most of the Maxwell Gang was asleep or going about their business still, but Emilia herself was simply sitting on the couch with a depressing look to her face. Many thoughts racing through her mind. She heard a sudden footstep and she lost her depressing look for a happier one in a sudden nervous moment of hers'.

She looked to the man who had walked in. "Oh, Gallows, I didn't hear you."

"You try to hide it from me?" Gallows wondered as he walked into the room.

"What?"

Gallows stopped in front of her. "Emilia, I want you to comes somewhere with me."

"Where?"

"You will see when we get there." He grinned.

"Oh…Right. I would be glad to come with you then."

"I'll be in SAND waiting for you then." The Baskar waved and left the room as Emilia sat there in confusion. It was awkward of him to act like that. She knew he was up to something, but had no idea what. She simply went along with it.

She soon found herself on the ship with Gallows at the helm. Neither of them had spoken for the longest times it seemed. Finally, Emilia leaned over the chair and looked outside. "Are we headed to my home or to Baskar?"

"No." Gallows shook his head. "Neither of those are really home for us anyway. I was sort of thinking that following Nobuo—Eon that being far away from civilization would be for the best…but…that wasn't true at all." He stated.

"So…the place you want to put your new home is at our destination?" She wondered.

"Emilia…" Gallows blinked. "All of these questions will be there when we arrive. That's all you need to worry about."

It was silent for the longest time as Gallows continued to pilot the ship. "Gallows?"

"Yeah?"

"You already noticed that I am not happy. That since Clive's death I have felt that I am suited for a similar fate?" She wondered.

"Yes." The Baskar confirmed. "I intend to get you to stop thinking such stupid thoughts. "To return you to your normal self."

"I always thought you hated my normal self."

"It's who you are deep down." Gallows replied. "So how could I hate that if I don't hate you?"

"It's so hard to remain as you are when your life seems to alter drastically all the time. When you realize the way you live will end up with you in the grade. It is not fair, and living like I did seems harder when you only can see your future ending up as my pathetic attempt to atone for a sin I made long ago."

"Jet said the correct thing." Gallows muttered. "Though we all lost a part of our hearts, other people will quickly take those roles over and cover that hole up. This is something that has happened to you all too many times."

"What does this have to do with anything?"

"Listen, your answers are all going to be at our destination."

"I'll wait then." She sighed. "To find them."

"Good."

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Outside of the town of Fenix the two stood as Gallows covered Emilia's eyes with his hands. It had been a long time since they were here, and the town in the distance had grown. This had been where the two sat following Emilia's battle with Isamu, but aside from that, Emilia did not understand why they were here once Gallows removed his hands.

"It's…why here?"

"I've been thinking a lot recently, about the past, and something about here kept showing up in my memories."

"You mean, from that talk we had here after I beat Isamu?" She wondered.

"Right."

"And this is where I…" She paused as she thought over the moment here that she told him she would help him with women advice, but in the end she never gave him the right sort. "What did you realize when you thought about this place?"

"I realized one thing about what you were supposed to be doing for me. You were supposed to help me find a girlfriend." He smirked. "I realized the truth about many things about you."

"Gallows?" Emilia looked to him with question.

"Your mother is too smart for me, for anyone." He laughed. "Listen, I came here so I can, tell you something important."

"Yes…tell me what you're up to."

Gallows laughed and looked to her. Caught of guard, she found his lips upon his, and she accepted their first kiss. She finally broke away. "Gallows?"

"The truth was, that all along, the woman I was after was you." He laughed. "I love you."

"Gallows." She placed her fingers on her lips. "Thank you."

"Living far from people like we do is not life." Gallows noted. "I have altered your life again…are you happy?"

"Y-yes."

"You said that you could never be the normal again, but, isn't what you feel normal?"

She scoffed. "I was wrong then, back on SAND."

"Listen, you have so many holes in your heart you must be leaking, but I intend to do my best to cover them up."

"Thank you." Emilia went over a thought. "Would you like to start now?"

"Yeah."