Author's note: Thanks for waiting!
BTW, this is where the rating changes for good.
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A few days later...
Besides Pyrrha, there was someone else who had troubles of her own. For quite some time since the Alexandra siblings sided with the Mad Hearts Neo and Schwarzwind, Viola was beginning to vaguely remember who she really was before her amnesia.
"Hey."
She heard Z.W.E.I.'s voice, and smiled as he approached her. The hill on Lasberg was one of Viola's favorite places to relax and be herself, and he couldn't agree more.
"Z.W.E.I...I'm glad you're here. There's...something that's been troubling me as I look into what awaits me..." she said.
As she stared into her crystal ball, it wouldn't take long for a red moon to appear inside. "If it weren't for Schwarzwind or even the Mad Hearts Neo, I wouldn't be able to know who this moon represents."
The person in question was Raphael; but alas, he was no more. In his place was Graf Dumas, having taken his physical form.
"If I encounter him...I do not know what to do; either reason with him, or deal with him personally." Viola added.
"I'm certain he'll be around. And I'll be more than happy to help you." Z.W.E.I. told her.
The white-haired girl smiled a very sweet smile, and kissed him on the cheek. This caught him off-guard at first, but he ended up attempting a smile of his own.
"Get a room already!"
However, Z.W.E.I. instantly noticed Greed's voice from down the hill. "Quit egging us on about becoming a couple. Besides, you know better than to interfere." he called out below.
Both the pudgy blond and even Malice scowled as Z.W.E.I. added, "Besides, why don't you just go perv on Marie some more? Or even her friends for that matter?"
"Oh come ON, man!" the brown-haired man retorted while Viola sighed in annoyance.
"He's right. Now, leave."
Her words prompted both men to shrug as they reluctantly relented, leaving the hill and leaving both her and Z.W.E.I. once more.
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Patroklos, who after having breakfast, was in the bathing chamber, hoping to have a quick bath before the day could begin. As he began to reminisce about all the many events that had happened from the past three months, he also had something else on his mind.
Lately, he had been taking notice of Lydia putting the moves on his sister Pyrrha. He was quite surprised that she was not only using her charms on him, but also on her, too.
Just as Patroklos found himself deep in thought, though, he heard the sound of someone else inside the chamber. Just as the other person finally got in the bath with him, he would quickly recognize her.
"Lydia?"
His question prompted Lydia to grin, as she asked, "So, is this the first time you've seen a girl naked your whole life?"
At that moment, he was floored. The only time he'd seen a girl naked was when he was taking baths with his family, including with his older sister.
"Actually, no. I've...I've recalled bathing with Pyrrha when I was a child. Nothing more..." was his awkward reply.
"...and as pretty as she is, I was never sexually attracted to her, thank you very much."
"Hmm, I see." Lydia raised an eyebrow, before she went over to him, sitting next to Patroklos and prompting him to blush immensely.
"Why are you here, exactly?"
"Because...well, since we've been around each other for so long, I wanted to tell you that both you and Pyrrha are visually appealing to me. In fact, after flirting with both of you - individually, of course - I've been wondering if I could get myself another shot at love with either one of you." she replied.
While Lydia was talking, she ran a hand across his side, before it went downwards. Just as she was about to reach his crotch, however, Patroklos stopped her.
"Do you realize that Marie didn't want any sexual happening in the baths?" he asked her.
"Ah, yes. She had; I guess we should move this to your bedroom."
"Yeah...yeah, I suppose." he replied almost nervously.
Just as he was ready to get out, Patroklos felt Lydia press her lips against his. This was his first kiss, and as much as he wanted to break it and tell her to get moving, he ended up giving in.
Once they broke it, he asked her, "I guess you came here because I was present, right?"
"Of course, silly."
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After leaving the bathing chamber to get fully dressed, Patroklos escorted Lydia to his bedroom. As he sat back on the bed, he kissed her again, albeit a bit more feverish.
The British girl's hands went straight down to his pants, and began to unfasten them. "Have you ever done it before?" she asked seductively.
He shuddered as his length popped out from his clothes, and managed to reply, "I-I never had. Honestly, I..."
His words were cut off by a small groan as Lydia stroked him off with both hands, looking up at him with an impish grin. "What were you saying?"
"What I'm...trying to say is that neither I or Pyrrha have ever engaged in sexual acts before. And...and from the looks of things, this the first time I've ever been serviced." he replied, his eyes set completely on her.
Lydia would then wrap her lips around him, her head moving somewhat in between slow and fast. Patroklos was amazed that she was far more experienced than he ever could be, and ran his fingers through her burgundy tresses.
"Lyd-"
He closed his eyes and grunted while she continued, her head bobbing faster than before as she continued her magic on him. One of her hands would also reach down to her skirt, where it would trace the outline of her femininity underneath her panties.
Soon, he opened his eyes and found his very first release, pure white essence landing on Lydia's face. The woman smiled as she licked herself clean with her tongue and fingers, before she was about to get on top of him.
"W-Wait! N-Not at a time like this!" Patroklos exclaimed.
And with perfect timing, as he heard someone knock on the door. "Why?" Lydia asked, as the blond man adjusted his clothes and got off the bed.
As he opened the door, he saw that it was Marie, who was standing there with a look of surprise on her face. "Marie? What are you doing here?" he heard Lydia ask.
"I was practicing in the training room when I heard some low moaning, so I decided to see what was going on." she replied. "And sure enough, it was coming from your room. Unfortunately, I guess I was too little too late."
"Actually, to tell the truth, I was getting ready to have a bath when Lydia came in and brought me back to my bedroom."
"And what else?" Marie asked, her eyes widening with curiosity.
"Uh..."
Patroklos trailed off, but he also remembered the statement Ares made of his interactions with the Mad Hearts Neo. It would either lead to him hooking up with one of them, or perhaps all of them.
He wound up changing the subject, though. "Nevermind...so, uh, you want to spar together?"
"Sure!"
As Patroklos and Marie spoke together, Lydia walked out of his bedroom, but not before giving him a mischievous wink. Maybe next time, she thought.
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Another block was made on Patroklos's part as he countered with one more slash, prompting Marie to take a hit. As the blonde leader began fighting for breath, she saw him coming over to her.
As he helped her up, she asked, "Ain't it funny our weapons are so similar in appearance?"
"Yeah. I was gonna have a shield in addition, but I've settled for just a sword instead."
"At least we had some fun for this 'match' of ours. I hope you get better someday." Marie said with a smile. "But come to think of it..."
Her face quickly changed into something more serious as she added, "Viola's told me lately about how her memories have begun to manifest, after all these months...or maybe years. She's planning to tell the other Mad Hearts Neo about it, too."
"Really?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. She's already conversed with Liz and Helen about it, so I suspect she might bring it up to Isuzu."
Remembering how Isuzu would frequent the tavern, it wasn't long before Patroklos took off. "I'll be right back. We'll talk later!" he called out to her.
Marie was able to ask, "Hey, about what happened in your room with Lydi..." Though she trailed off as he quickly left, prompting her inquisitiveness to strike again.
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"So what happens now since you've come clean about it?"
As Isuzu asked those words, Viola sipped at her ale. She finally replied, "Maybe it is time for me to come face to face with him. If Marie says that he's lived on in a new body, then so be it. I know it might be dangerous, but I sure as hell know it's worth it."
The Japanese woman raised an eyebrow, and said to herself with a grin, "The plot thickens..."
Her attention soon turned to Patroklos as he entered the tavern and walked over to them, and asked, "Hey, Isuzu. What are you and Viola talking about?"
Isuzu flashed a smile at him as she offered him a seat, and Viola replied, "I had been spilling my guts about how my memory is beginning to come back to me after so long. I've a feeling he might be here in Lasberg..."
This prompted him to drop his jaw a bit, and she added, "Thankfully, I do have Z.W.E.I. helping me out. And I hope neither Greed nor Malice interfere and run their mouths for no reason."
"So it sounds like you've jogged your memory for real!"
His words made Viola nod, and she heard him also add, "I think you and Z.W.E.I. make a really good duo together. Even if him and those goofballs occasionally annoy me."
"I'm glad to hear you out."
Isuzu then asked, "Hey, one more question: you sure you got something going on with him?"
Viola blushed lightly, and replied, "I...I'm not sure, but..."
"What do you think, Patroklos?" the dark-haired woman asked him.
"Eh..." Patroklos scratched the back of his head, and replied, "I'm not sure, either. But I think we'll play it by ear."
Isuzu grinned at him, her hand briefly running itself up and down one of his legs. Viola nodded again, concurring with his statement, though she was somewhat aware of what was going on with the duo.
"I should take my leave."
As she said those words, the white-haired girl got up, took her drink, and went someplace else. This would effectively leave Patroklos and Isuzu and the only ones at the table.
"Hey, you're not hitting on me, are you?" he asked.
The older woman could only reply, "...Maybe. But you never know." before giving him a wink.
Even if she isn't drunk, she sure is flirty, he thought to himself.
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After having a (non-alcoholic) drink, he would return to the Mad Hearts Neo's base. Looking around for a while, Patroklos chose to go outside to try and get his thoughts in check.
Once he was outdoors, though, he noticed Elizabeth growing some herbs. It was clear he was at her garden, and she would instantly take notice of him.
"What is it, Patroklos?" she asked.
Letting out a deep sigh, he replied, "Nothing new, but today was just peachy; I got word of Viola's memory, and I got a little private with Lydia."
"Concerning Viola, that's good news." the blonde said. "But you were...private...with Lydia?"
When Elizabeth asked that question, this prompted him to flinch. "H-Hey! You know Lydia was putting the moves on not just me, but also Pyrrha, too."
"Really? Seems to me that girl has quite the libido. Not as much as Isuzu, but still..." she replied.
"Yeah...and I suggest we change topics."
"Why is that?"
"'Cause, uh...I don't want to go into detail." he told her.
"Oh...okay." Elizabeth then finished tending to the garden, and asked, "Have you made your decision about referring to me?"
"Not yet."
"I mean, you've been referring to me as Liz, lately. Is that what you prefer?" she inquired.
"Liz..." Recalling all the times he had initially referred to her as Elizabeth, but eventually settled with Liz, he nodded.
"I like calling you Liz; it's a nice nickname for someone as nice as you." Patroklos said with a small smile.
Elizabeth blushed and chuckled at his words, "So you've made up your mind, after all, Patroklos."
"Thanks."
"Do you mind if you work on the rest of the garden with me?"
"Not really; besides, I'm not afraid to get my hands literally dirty." was his reply. "But I never really took up gardening before; so could you lend me a hand?"
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Next chapter: A confrontation with another mysterious figure, and Helen's lack of sleep!
With love for my fans,
Chrissy