"Aren't you coming?" Gukko asked.
Douglas shook his head. "I wish."
"Why not?"
"Ssir Fey gave me the command to intervene only if necessssary.He thinksss you're ready, but he's not sssure."
Gukko nodded and drew his sword. It was a Burglar Sword, empowering him to sense any hidden things and the such. The nu mou came into the clearing, a basket in hand. He bent down to pick up a mushroom...
Gukko leapt. He cleared the bushes, only nicking the toe of the boots, and landed in front of the Sage.
Kratos's head shot up, surprise. Then.. "Oh. It happens upon me that it is merely you, Kuros," Kratos said. "Well, don't just stand there, boy. Shall you ever assist me in gathering these before the sun goes down?"
Gukko flushed and turned around to face where Douglas was hidden. The Gladiator punched his chest and then the air, a signal for...
"I'm not Kuros."
Kratos squinted. "Shall this be some sort of ridicule of my handicap?"
Gukko flushed, not only with embarresment but with guilt. An unarmed, handipcapped old Sage?
But Douglas punched his chest and the air again.
"I'm here to kill you."
The Gladiator smacked his head against the palm of his hand.
"What did you jsut vocalize? Sorry, speak louder," Kratos said.
"I'm not here to help." Gukko held out his sword again, this time a more subtle approach. "You can make my life easier and just take one long step forward."
At this Kratos's eyes widened. He bellowed something and Gukko was thrownoff his feet as a huge fireball whipped in front of him. Shards of ice began to rain down upon him. He turned to see Douglas standing stoictically, his face not moving, totally emotionless.
More ice rained upon him as Gukko rolled over to expose his Bronze Shield. But another Aero whipped him, throwing him in the air and tossing him downwards like a rejected rag doll. Gukko felt his strength fast fading as another Aero whipped him upwards. But...
Guiding his fall, he stuck his sword out. Kratos only had time to widen his eyes before Gukko's impact.
"Esssellent, Gukko," Douglas said calmly.
Guko exploded. "I nearly died back there-"
"Hush boy, don't let Sssir Fey know that you sssaid that. It's bad to fear dying, you know. Unhealthy. Besssidesss, if I helped you, then would it be me or you on the missssion?"
He had good point, Gukko thought. For now he was happy that his first mission was a success.