A/N: Hey! I didn't take an obscene amount of time in coming out with this one! pats self on back

Step Six Part II: Failure

Phoenix cursed at his stupidity as he raced after the retreating figure of Jullianne. Of COURSE she was there the whole time! He KNEW he had heard something creak outside… stupid Conceal… stupid Snipers… stupid Jullianne.

He rounded a corner just in time to see her round another, and by the time he'd turned to the next street, he saw no sign of her.

"Crap. Maybe the cross-street's a long one." Bounding after the intersection, stomach growling angrily at him, Phoenix hoped he could catch a glimpse of where the runaway-sniper was running away to.

But alas, it was to no avail. By the time he had reached the crossroad and looked each way down the street, he saw Jullianne nowhere.

"If I was a shocked, hurt, Viera Sniper named Jullianne… where would I want to hide…?"

Phoenix thought she might have sought out somewhere away from the city, like the meadows to the east, so he ran around the city (several times) hoping to find her.

No use.

After his third runaround, he leaned against the wall of a building, panting like a dog. Jullianne did NOT want to be found, he had no idea where to look next, and his stomach was killing him. He decided to solve the last problem by grabbing some grub from a food stand on one of the streets in Cyril. Once his stomach was satisfied, he decided to make his way back to the inn to report his failure to Mack and Yuwain.

On his way back, he took a shortcut through a back alley. His footsteps echoed off of the walls on either side of him, making his Hunterly senses cringe at the amount of noise he was making.

His Hunterly senses didn't cringe without reason, for within a few seconds, the sounds of scrambling echoed along with his footsteps. Behind several crates in front of him, a Viera leaped up, bow trained on his chest and eyes narrowed.

Jullianne.

Phoenix gave a sigh of relief. "Jullianne, I've been looking all over for y-" He leapt to the right to dodge the arrow as it whizzed by him.

"Too bad that missed. I'm not sorry at all."

'Ouch… not good.'

"Oh, come on Jullianne! Can't we just talk about it?"

"What's there to talk about? That you think stealing my heart is some kind of game? 'Catch that girl's heart to win! Bonus points if you get her laid before ditching!'"

Phoenix slapped his forehead. "That wasn't the point of using the book! You see-"

"Then what WAS the point, you little snot?"

"I'm getting there!" He shouted back heatedly. "You see, based on past experiences, I've come to realize I'm not very good at making good impressions-"

"What else is new?"

Ignoring her, Phoenix continued. "… So I thought maybe some advice on how to come across better would be in order. Therefore, I used the book."

"For your information, it doesn't give me a good impression of you to find out that you use a book to charm me."

'Charm her… say, that's not a bad idea…'

Phoenix discreetly took out his bow and, in one swift motion, fired a Cupid Arrow at Jullianne.

Phoenix swore her heart sounded like it was titanium reinforced when the arrow bounced uselessly off.

"… I can't believe you tried to pull that. You absolute loser."

Stunned at his stupidity, the Hunter blinked several times before saying, "Did I just do what I think it did?"

"Yeah, you dummy… you did. Now go away."

Phoenix didn't like that idea.

"I don't think I will."

"You're not impressing me at all by being stubborn."

"I want to talk to you."

Jullianne rolled her eyes. "What do you think we've been doing? I'm done talking, now scram."

"But I still want to-" And then he was talking to thin air.

'Damn Conceal ability…!"

Phoenix heard rapidly retreating footsteps.

Calling after them, he shouted. "I do love you!"

He heard them pause for a second, perhaps two, and then picked up again. Sighing, he walked back to the inn… defeated. He slowly made his way up the stairs into his room. He pushed the door open to see Yuwain and Mack lazily throwing a small ball back and forth across the beds.

They paused their little game when he came in and looked up. They noticed the look on Phoenix's face immediately and sighed.

"No luck, kupo?"

"No luck…"

"Any ideasss for what to do next?"

Phoenix nodded. "For me, one thing's for sure… I'm not following that damn book anymore… I'm playing by my own rules… and my own steps. I've already got my next step in mind, and you're probably not gonna like it."

"Kupo…"

A/N: sighs Yet another short chapter. They will get longer and more interesting in the future, I can assure you that much. I will still be sticking to my chapter-titling format (because I find it cool)… they'll just be Phoenix's steps.