Second chapter! I actually probably have around 4 or 5 chapters saved in my documents, but I think I'll put them up if I get any requests to do more. :)

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Cliff punched a clenched fist into his open palm. That Fayt had a way of getting himself into trouble.

Gritting his teeth, Cliff roughly pushed a door open, a group of nurses scurrying out of the large man's way. Damn it, Maria and Mirage were taking forever, and it was starting to make the impatient man angry. Why was he sitting here doing nothing but watch doctors and nurses examine Sophia when he could be saving his best friend? Not that Fayt had exactly called to be saved…but, all the same, Cliff was sure that…he…wasn't any good for Fayt's state of mind.

That pompous bastard really bugged Cliff, making him all the more angry that he wasn't demanding Fayt's return. Mirage had tried to tell him to calm down and think of how Fayt felt, but whatever the young boy was thinking, Cliff was sure it wasn't that he wanted to stay with that Nox guy.

Peering through a small psychiatric ward window that led into a small, white room, Cliff saw Sophia and the doctor with Mirage and Maria. Sophia was doing most of the talking, and it seemed she was having a fun time. Cliff smiled sadly and shook his head. The young brunette hadn't known why she was being asked questions, but she had obviously thought it was fun.

Cliff made a few hand gestures at the door's window to catch Mirage's attention, and when he saw her bright blue eyes flick over to meet his, Cliff gestured for her to come outside. Cliff then saw Mirage interrupt Sophia's talking, probably apologizing profusely, and talk to the doctor briefly, jabbing a thumb at the door. The doctor swiveled on his chair and peered out of the window through thick glasses, making Cliff smile uncomfortably. Cliff never really liked doctors. Mirage then stood up and walked quickly to the door, a scowl appearing on her face.

"Uh oh…" Cliff thought when he saw the color rising in the blonde's cheeks.

Mirage quietly opened and closed the door, but then turned on Cliff and grabbed his well muscled arm, dragging him down the hallway.

"H…Hey!" was all Cliff managed to say, but when Mirage snapped her gaze back on him, he decided to be quiet. When Mirage got like this, there was no calming the Klausian woman down.

Once they got to the main lobby of the hospital, Mirage continued through the front doors, still dragging Cliff behind her.

Once they got outside, Mirage released Cliff's arm and crossed her arms, keeping her back to the slightly ruffled man.

"What do you want, Cliff?" Mirage asked in a quiet voice that surprised Cliff. Usually, when they were younger, whenever Mirage got angry at Cliff she would yell at him, which usually resulted in them screaming back and forth at each other, both not willing to "lose". But now, with Mirage being almost sorrowful, Cliff didn't know how to react.

"Well?" Mirage snarled, for a second losing the quiet demeanor she had showed a few minutes ago. Cliff smiled slightly. At least the real Mirage he knew was still there.

"Mirage, I know we've had this conversation before…" Cliff started, staring at the blonde with a crooked smile on his face.

"Cliff…" Mirage sighed, almost rolling her eyes.

"Wait. Just hear me out, ok?" Cliff said, watching as the Klausian woman quietly nodded her head. "Fayt's been gone for 3 months." At this, Mirage nodded her head in agreement, "You know how much it has been bugging me to wait around this place without a word from him. Don't you find it a little strange that he hasn't even called us?"

"Cliff, you can be really dense at times." Mirage sighed, shaking her head. "Fayt obviously wants to be left alone, otherwise he wouldn't have left in the first place. And just because he hasn't called us doesn't mean that he's in trouble or hurt, if that's what your thinking, it just means he doesn't want to contact us yet. Give him a few weeks, maybe another month. He'll probably call before then."

"Yeah, but if he doesn't…" Cliff began to protest, ignoring the rising annoyance in Mirage's face, "can't you even agree to let me go get him back? Let's just say, that if he doesn't com back in…a month, then I should go to Elicoor II and drag him back."

"Cliff. I'll agree with you, maybe just to shut you up, however…when you say 'drag him back' you'd better not bring him back here if he doesn't want to. If you do, that would be very selfish and I don't think I could ever forgive you. So, let's just say that in one month, if Fayt hasn't called by then, that you may go to Elicoor II to talk with Fayt, and see what he wants. If he wants to stay, so be it, just make sure you let him know that we're worried about him. If he wants to come back, all the better, and bring him with you. Can you agree to that?" Mirage glared, making a point that if Cliff did bring Fayt back without Fayt's consent, that Cliff would have her to deal with. Cliff gulped mockingly and smiled, patting his older sister on the back.

"Yeah, yeah mom. I hear you. You always were very picky with detail. Just leave it to me. I'll have Fayt back here in a jiffy…" Cliff trailed off, then added upon seeing Mirage's face, "if he wants to come back." Mirage relaxed then, closing her eyes.

She had been up almost all night taking care of Sophia. Her and Maria traded off every other night because it seemed that the young brunette almost never slept, but rather much enjoyed talking…all…night…long. Mirage sighed. It had been very tough what with Sophia's current condition, but the stubborn Klausian was determined to see it through to the end.

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"Wake up, maggot." Fayt groaned, putting a hand up to shield his eyes from the light which came from the front doorway. Someone had moved aside the thick piece of cloth that was used as a door, but which also kept the light out. Still on his back, Fayt propped himself up on his elbows and looked around, trying to find Albel, who had, apparently, woken him up.

"Albel? Where'd you go?" Fayt slurred, still tired. He still hadn't been getting much sleep. He was wide awake, however, when a rough hand was clasped over his mouth. Albel was kneeling close behind Fayt, his breath stirring the boy's blue hair. Fayt tried to ask Albel what he was doing, but with Albel's strong hand over his mouth, his question turned into a muffled grunt of protest.

"Be quiet, fool." Albel whispered into Fayt's ear, pulling his hand away from the flabbergasted boy's mouth. "We're leaving. Get your things." Albel stood up and walked towards the entrance to the hut. Fayt squinted, straining to see through the doorway, seeing that it hadn't been as bright out as he had first thought. It was probably four in the morning. Checking his watch, Fayt saw that his guess wasn't far off.

"Albel, why are we leaving so early?" Fayt whispered, making sure his voice wasn't any louder than Albel's had been.

"Because I feel like leaving now. Don't question me, worm." Albel sneered. Fayt stared, astounded at the older man's rationalizing. He was about to ask more questions when he froze. A look of…pride?...fell over the swordsman's face as he glanced out the door. Albel seemed to smirk as he crossed his arms over his chest, an air of arrogance hovering around him.

"Albel…" Fayt groaned, standing up, "What did you do?" Albel snapped his gaze back over the young boy, glaring for a second, before he smirked again.

"Not much." He said simply, then looked around at the floor, gesturing for Fayt to hurry up with his packing.

"What is Albel thinking?" Fayt wondered, sneaking a glance over his shoulder at the tall man while rolling up his sleeping bag. Albel was of an interesting build, being around six feet and very thin. He also chose an interesting wardrobe, wearing a tight, purple shirt that was cut off and, most interestingly enough, a purple skirt. His choice of wardrobe always confused Fayt, but then it really wasn't his place to say what the strange swordsman could and couldn't wear.

"Stop staring, fool, and hurry up. I'm growing impatient." Albel jeered, squinting his eyes menacingly.

Fayt felt himself blush, though he didn't know why, and stood to grab his tattered backpack. Slinging his book bag in front of him, Fayt grabbed his sword and strapped it onto the front of his backpack, finding that this was the easiest way to carry his broadsword while traveling. The hilt ended up sticking out past his left shoulder, making it easy to reach with his right arm. While this probably wouldn't have worked with a longer sword, Fayt's sword was a few inches shorter than most, making it possible.

Shrugging his bag onto his back, Fayt shifted his shoulders until he was comfortable, then went to stand next to Albel, who was still peering out of the entrance. Albel nodded to Fayt once the young boy was even with him, then walked out of the hut.

"Ah, so I see the maggots have come out to play today." Fayt heard Albel say once the older man walked out of the hut. The chilling sound of Albel's sword being drawn slowly out of its sheath was all Fayt needed to run out of the hut, looking around frantically for Albel.

To the left of the hut stood Albel, his sword, the Crimson Scourge, pointed at a group of tribal warriors, who were brandishing crudely made swords of their own. Fayt ran to Albel's side and saw the wicked man smile, apparently thinking Fayt would join him in the battle, but instead Fayt grabbed Albel by his wrist, making him switch the Crimson Sword into his clawed hand's grasp, and pulled him into a run.

"Stop pulling me, worm! Those maggots deserve to die." Albel raged, trying to pull his wrist from Fayt's grasp. Fayt was adamant, however, and didn't want there to be any blood shed.

"Shut up." Fayt snapped, not bothering to look back at Albel. The older man just sighed in annoyance, since he was slower than Fayt was and the sprint was starting to wind him.

Once they got to the edge of the hill where Albel and Fayt had been only the night before, Fayt slowed down. The angry voices that came from the village had died down somewhat, and Fayt wanted to know what all that was about.

"Albel." Fayt said evenly, watching as the older man breathed deeply to catch his breath. "You wouldn't have caused all that back there, would you?" Albel snapped his crimson eyes over the blue haired boy and grinned wickedly.

"I might have." He said as evenly as Fayt had been. Fayt stopped walking and turned to face Albel, his hands on his hips.

"What did you do?" he asked roughly, glaring at the swordsman.

"Not much. I already told you that, worm." Albel sneered, turning to face the equally annoyed teenager.

"I'm not going to settle for that answer. Now, tell me what you did so that I can go apologize to the chief elder and ask him for your things back." Fayt grinned, watching as the realization of what happened settled over Albel, his eyes widening in surprise.

"They took it then, did they?" Albel asked, meaning the sack that he carried the few things he thought valuable enough to keep. Fayt nodded, a few blue strands of hair faling into his eyes. "Maggots…" Albel muttered under his breath and drew his sword again, taking a deliberate step back towards the village.

"No! Wait, Albel!" Fayt gasped, not believeing how rash the swordsman was. "You can't just waltz back in there and take your things from them!" At this, Albel stopped and turned to glare at the younger boy.

"Why the hell not? And I wasn't planning on 'waltzing' as you so crudely put it. I was more in the intention of going back, killing a few worms on the way, then coming back her after retrieving my things from them."

Fayt paused before retorting, a mental image of Albel waltzing forming in his mind. After unsuccessfully suppressing his laughter, Fayt looked back up at Albel, who was staring at him as if he'd lost his mind. Maybe he had.

"Just tell me what you did, ok?" Fayt asked, rubbing his temples. Today was bound to be an interesting day.