Disclaimer: I do not own Ragnarok Online. This story, however, is completely mine and may not be redistributed or used without my approval.

Chapter 15

"You're going!" Crono exclaimed, standing up from the dinner table. I sat calmly eating my soup. "Even after what Dante said? Dude, you're fucking crazy."

"Hikaru, we can wait and find another route." Raisu gave me a worried look. "Anyways, right now, we don't know when Prontera is going to attack again." Tempest cut in at this point.

"The probably won't until they find more people." He said knowingly. "We were a small number compared to them...they'll be pondering a long while before doing anything drastic..." He took a sip of his soup. "In addition, the Morroc army has sent an informant to tell the governor that their army would be arriving shortly for reinforcements."

"I'm not going to drag any of you into this." I replied silently. "In fact, I would like it better if you all stayed." I looked up and Raisu was giving me an angry look. "I know Valkyrie's Requiem is to stay together...but..." I looked around the table at the different people. "One person isn't worth endangering a thousand others."

"But what if that one person saved us before?" Raisu said. "That time at the Pyramids...the recent battle with Prontera." I was about to speak, but she went on. "If you hadn't pulled that stunt, Dante wouldn't have thought to go and confront the Prontera army...we would've been crushed."

"It was mere luck, Raisu." I stood up. If I was wearing my armor, the table would've been tipped over by force. "I've never had people that were so awesome with me before. I'm not about to lose them over myself." With that, I walked away from the table and went to my chambers.

----

"Hikkie?" I heard a muffled voice on the other side of my door. Three knocks followed. "Open up, Hikaru." I hesitated before I got off my bed and opened the door. Raisu smiled at me and allowed herself in. "I want to talk to you."

"If it's about the-"

"It is, so sit down and suck it up." Her voice was serious and commanding. I sat down on my bed and she sat down beside me. "Look, I know how hard it is to choose." She sighed. "And what it's like to be alone...but one thing I learned from that is to just, trust the people who care...let them help you."

"If any of you die..." I started but couldn't finish the sentence. The mere thought of losing anyone from Valkyrie's Requiem stabbed my heart.

"We won't, Hikkie." She put her hand on mine to reassure me. "We're one of the best in Rune Midgard. Believe in us." At this point, we could hear snickering outside the room. Raisu motioned me to follow her to the door...and what we heard was...slightly embarrassing.

"What do you think they're doing?"

"Do I WANT to know?"

"God your a pervert."

"You're thinking the same!"

"Was not."

"Yes, yes you were, stop being in denial. You thought they were...you know."

"I didn't say it, YOU did."

At this point, my face felt reddened and so was Raisu's. She took the doorknob and opened the door, scaring the hell out of the spies.

"So uh...what did you think we were doing?" Raisu leaned against the doorframe and stared down at them. Crono and Dante's right hand man, Upgrade was knelt down in front the two of us. I just stood there, surprised as Raisu beat the two of them. "If I had a cliff...ohhh the two of you would be thrown RIGHT OFF IT!" She had her hands on her hips and lectured the two like she was their mother.

"Haha...anyways." Upgrade cleared his throat. "Dante wanted you to know, Hikaru, that he would be accompanying you on your trip."

"WHAT!" I burst out. "No, that won't do. I won't let him."

"Too late." Upgrade pointed out my window...and surely, a small army gathered, ready to ride off tomorrow morning.