In a cave located somewhere in the most dangerous forest of the world, with only a fire as his friend, back leaned against the wall, that person pulled out a medal which had been broken in half from his pocket and caressed it gently. To other people, it might not mean anything, but to him, it was something more valuable than his own life. After all, it belonged to a very special person.

"I glad I picked you."

Unconsciously, his tears started to fall. How long had it been? Since the day that person disappeared from his life for good? He lost count already. Just as he held the broken pieces near his heart, calling out that person's name, he picked up several sounds coming from outside, beyond the thick bushes and trees. Something was heading this way. However, he didn't think it was an animal since the fire was still up. Yet, just to make sure, he grabbed the stick with the sharp end he was using to hang his clean underwear just in case. Then from the shadow, a man emerged. Sadly, he collapsed before being able to say anything.

A few moments later...

"Here, please have some water." He said while giving the man who was devouring his emergency food stack his water bottle.

"Thanks! And sorry, I shouldn't be eating your food like this."

"Please don't worry about it. As long as I have a clean underwear for tomorrow, I'm fine." He smiled. "More importantly, what were you doing wandering around in the forest this time of day?"

"It's embarrassing, but I came here with my co-workers for our research on a rare flower. I was so into it that when I turned around, everyone was gone. I tried to find my way back but..."

"You got lost."

"Pretty much. By the way, I don't think I catch your name yet."

"Ah, sorry. I'm Eiji Hino."

"Nice to meet you, Eiji. I'm Mahado Takashi. So, what bring a young man like you here to this forest? I doubt you're here with the same purpose as me."

"I'm looking for a way...to bring him back."

"A medal?"

"Mhm. It belongs to a friend of mine. Thanks to him, I was able to save a lot of people, but..."

"Eiji."

"...I couldn't save him."

"I see. How unfortunate."

After that, they talked for a bit more then headed to bed.

...

"So that's the person you've chosen." Sitting on a boulder on top of a cliff with the bright moonlight shining down on him, Mahado stared into the distance. In the palm of his left hand laid the broken red "Taka" medal. As he closed his eyes, it started to glow. Seconds passed, but it felt like eternity as a bunch of images flashed through his mind. The moment he opened them again, he smiled and took out a rose whose color was like a diamond bathed in the Heavens light. Throwing it in the air, he watched as the flower turned into a ball of light and merged with i before vanishing in the wind, leaving only his words behind.

"This time, live your life to the fullest..."

"...Ankh."

The next morning...

"Where is it?!" Taking off his clothes, searching all over, pocket to pocket, even flipping the whole cave upsidedown, Eiji desperately looked for his partner's core medal. However, no matter how hard he searched, he just couldn't find it. It was like it had vanished into thin air. Then he finally notice something. The man he met yesterday, Mahado Takashi had also vanished.

"Don't tell me it was him that took it."

With that set in his mind, the young man grabbed his clothes and dashed out of the cave. He didn't know where he was going, but he just kept on moving forward while yelling out the man's name. Because of this very reason, he tripped over a big tree root and ended up falling face down.

"That hurts!" Hugging it, he rubbed his poor nose which was as red as a tomato. Luckily, it wasn't bleeding. Then all of a sudden, he noticed something at the corner of his eyes. On one of the trees to his left, a red silk was fluttering in the wind. Just when he wondered what such a thing doing here, a familiar voice echoed in the air while a rain of red feathers poured down.

"I see you are still as stupid as ever."

Trembling slightly, he turned his head. Standing there wearing his usual flashy clothes with a monster liked right hand, that person was staring straight at him with his hands crossed in front his chest.

"Ankh... Is it...really you?"

"What a stupid question. Do you see another Greeed who is as good-looking as me around?"

"This isn't a dream...right?" He staggered to where that person was and grabbed his arms.

Continued to stare at him, the bird Greeed grabbed his collar and pulled him closer, placing a kiss on those soft lips then slowly pulled away.

"You tell me, Eiji."

"Ankh, you...you..." With his face burning red, the young man moved back while covering his lower face.

"Heh? And here I thought an idiot like you can't blush."

"Anyone would if you...do...such a thing..." His voice got smaller and smaller.

"Hm?"

"Forget about that. How did you manage to come back? Nothing I tried so far has work. Could it be it just take time for the medal to heal--"

"No, you idiot!" Ankh smacked his head. "If something like that was possible, I wouldn't have said such cringe last words!"

"Then?"

"How should I know! When I open my eyes, I was already here!"

"I see... Wait a minute... Hina-chan! Hina-chan! Are you around?!"

"Hey, stop it! You're going to attract wild animals with your screaming!"

"But Hina-chan might be in danger!"

"Huh? Why would that woman be here?"

"Eh? Aren't you using her brother's body?"

"This body doesn't belong to any humans as far as I can tell. All the memories it had are mine."

"I don't really get it, but you finally got a body of your own, right?"

"Yeah."

"Good for you, Ankh."

"Tsk." He looked away and held his hand out.

"What?"

"Ice cream."

"I don't have any on me right now, and there isn't any store around."

"Then let's go somewhere we could get some." With that said, a pair of colorful wings appeared behind his back. Not giving the young man a chance to refuse, the bird Greeed grabbed his arm and took off.

"Ankh."

"No matter what you say, I'll have you buy me all the ice--"

"Welcome back."

At that moment, for the first time in his life, he felt it, a beating deep inside his chest.

"...Idiot."