Through the Fire

by NorthStar19

Two Agents, two different agency and ideology. These Agents were just like any other human beings, doing their duty; defending their respective part of the city of Manila. After hour happened and the two crosses path, What happens next might test their allegiance. Can they break the rules of their respective agency, Especially for each other?

Greetings Everyone, I'm The North Star, you can call me North or Star. This is my first entry on this website

This is not my first story, but my first submission here. I would like to know what you think about the story/Characters and Etc.

Constructive or any kind of criticism is helpful. I am building up confidence to publish my stories to the world for i would like to publish my stories someday.

So I give you "Through the Fire"

Through the fire.

The sun was beginning to rise, the color of the sky was changing, from the blue night sky, to the warm orange sky of the morning, it was slow, but relaxing, to witness the stars and the moon that kept you company through the night, was now being put aside by the light of the sun, the dark blue sky that fills with dark gray clouds, it was otherworldly to him, he witnessed it all, and he felt the cycle flew slowly, but that what matters to the medium height boy who was seating at the edge of a building, a building that shows the city, the city that was waking up, slowly putting off the lights that shines throughout the night, it was one of his pleasure while he waited, to witness it, he didn't know where or when he started liking it, but he smiled, chuckled at it, another lonely night for the boy, "Another day" he said, he stood up, letting the wind crash to him even more, he hold on to his jacket as the lower part of it flew to the direction where the wind was going, the wind that played his hair, waving it pass him and letting it crash to his forehead, it made him close his eyes in relaxation, and smile. He gladly accepts it, no choice but to join the flow he thought.

"It's time to go" he said, still in his little world, he turns around where he came from, the city still facing him, he started walking away, still holding on to his jacket, nothing happened tonight, or yesterday, nothing but the noises of the city, the horns of the cars, the people talking and walking, it wasn't a musical piece, not even a base piece, but it followed a natural flow that the boy find amusing, he grabs hold to the stairs pillar, it was solid cold, but not letting go while he went down, the wind that violently blow, was like telling him to stay, to keep him cool. He grabs the knob, turns it and enter a another set of stairs, the wind was no more, he steps down and continue on, he didn't pay attention, but he carefully looked down, carefully stepping on, another door stops him, he did the same thing, the door opens, revealing the commercial part of the building, he pushed the button of the elevator, watching the number of floors that the machine was going, it was getting closer to his current floor, then bing, the elevator went. The steel doors open revealing no one, the industrial steel decoration of the elevator greeted him, there were steel beams to support the passenger, the normal elevator things, he wanted the elevator to be one of those old movies, where the decorations were fine wooden interiors, and have gold plated beams. He enters it, and push again a button, he lean on to the wall, watching the numbers of the elevator went down like a countdown, bing, the elevator went every time he passes a floor, the elevator slowly shifted up and the final bing was heard, door opens, he steps out and continue to walk to the exit of the building, he fixed his jacket then sigh while going out, ones again he was greeted by the blue sky, slowly turning to day, people slowly showing up for their work or morning activity, those were adults he thought, he'll be like them soon, and its scare him, he don't want to grow up yet, the thrill he's feeling right now is something he wants to last, being a star agent was his life's purpose, he helped people through dreams, fight bad guys, and observe the city. He can't see himself in a suit or a polo shirt, staying and working from 9 to 5, in a cubicle, at – least not yet, he was enjoying life, thinking about the future isn't his doings, he shakes off the feeling, and he begins to walk to the cafe, he went for his pocket, grab his earphones, plug it on his phone, he hid his earphone inside his shirt and pulled out his phone for the music he wanted to listen too. The song started playing, the beat of it was being manifested by his head, nodding when a beat drops, going up and down, following the beat of an easy going Hip Hop song; "Stranger" was the name of the music, trying to sing the foreign lyrics of the song, but to little success, stuck in his little world, he continues to walk, listening to his music as he gets. Closer to the café, continuing to walk, the lyrics of the song we're getting more related by the seconds, the song was full of doubts, regrets, and lies, but the song was truly full of realization, It was the perfect song for him, for he truly loved, but his lover on the other hand, has her own agenda. He describes her as a teacher, she taught him a lesson that he realized or knew before he even loved his previous partner, the lesson was; never love easily, if that's even a lesson to begin with. Betraying was never taught, it's just a whim in the moment.

The way he loved was genuine, it was just painful for him to know she left, without saying anything, wanting to know what made her leave him. He did everything he knew on how to be the perfect boyfriend, wait for her by the gate when school is done, message her daily, being clingy was not the reason why she left him, he thought he was helping her by giving her space and time to solve her problem, he reminded her that; "Just message me if you need any help, I'll be here" he was there for her, ready to help, ready to drop everything like it was nothing, he didn't hold against anything from her, the late times, the thought of going home together, being cancelled because of personal life, and again, he didn't hold it against her, cause he understands that she was not just for her whole, all of that in for a short amount of time, and it payed of, dancing in the moonlight with the girl you love was crossed from the bucket list, date a girl that he likes; done. But the time he tried to get that girl to fall for him was the same; it was short. All the devotion he gives.

But it was not enough, devotion these days, like all things expected in a relationship, it becomes materialized. He thought, just remembering the cringe, and the simping he done just to get her, it was a pain in the head, an annoying reminder from the not so distant past, "not so lovely now?" he said to himself, "Not so loving now are you, Gray?" the consequence of the relationship is not so heavy than the one he truly lost, he wasn't afraid to fall in love again, why would he? If there's one he's afraid of was letting his guard down, just chill and ask himself, is she right for me? Is she understanding? After all devotion is one of the pillars of a relationship, an honest one.

While walking to the café, the diners, restaurants, and the hotels slowly opens up, while walking alone, he notices how nice it was, the people who worked or went to those places begin to go home, sober and ready to start a new day, the diners that was mixed of resto-bar was constructed using the containers of cargo trucks, it was fascinating at lease, he continue to move, but the thought early stayed with him, the girl, and their relationship, he knew there was something wrong, she came from nowhere, she just popped out of existence and come to his world, he knew there was something, but he still bit that feeling, ones his invested to her, he went to the depths of hell, a lot happened, and eventually, his worst nightmare happened, he got dumped, he knew it, but it was like those situation he never want to face, those worst case scenario kind of situations, he got dumped, period. He doesn't know what to make of it.

Should he be sad, or should he be happy that he prepared? He doesn't know. He just smiled at it, or hid it from the world around him, he doesn't want his friends to see him sad, he just accepted it, let his friends be the judge of what happened, a lot of them said, it wasn't his fault, he was a victim of cheap love, he should have seen it coming and etc… At the end he moved on easily, knowing he would be dumped of course. He said to himself, is this enough to keep me from falling in love? He answered his own question "No, it wasn't, the moment you stop loving, is the moment you stop learning" he kept his word. Looking at the café logo, he hid his earpiece inside his polo's collar.

Touching the cold steel of the door, pushing it inside, aircon on top of the door, pushes his hair downward, ruining his hastily finger combing style. He immediately fixes his hair while going to the counter, looking around, he was the first customer of the Daily coffee shop, the shop has a fancy wood work around it, he been through a lot of this type of café shop, he doesn't even need to go inside just to know what kind of style it has, they all looked the same, he reaches the counter, looking at the menu that's written on a blackboard, different food and drinks, different color of chalk are drawn. So many, but he wanted just one thing.

Coffee, just coffee, he said to himself, he made up his mind and waited for the barista.

"Yes sir?" she asked, "Coffee, white, two drops of white sugar" he replied, he reach for his wallet, Gray, give the exact money he was asked, "Your coffee will be ready in a minute" the barista said then turning back, he went around, exploring the shop, but not enough to get notice by the employees, he went to the window that shows the bay, choosing between the stool or couch, he chose the couch, both was able to give comfort and view. he seats and wait for the coffee to be serve. The only thing to do now is rest and wait for his coffee, he still has school to attend, thanking there's no quiz, performance tasks, and projects, it made him feel relieve, he doesn't need any of that to make him feel in a hurry, he refers himself as one of those Finnish cartoon characters, he'll do something, if he wants too, or he'll decide when to start. He likes the character's attitude, "I'll do something my way" he thought, some of his classmates hates him because of that, the attitude his giving, especially in group works, he just "add – leave" do what his told, and get the job done, he doesn't feel the need to talk to them, except in work, they made him feel like an idiot at some points of their work, so in retaliation he doesn't care, "why care at all" he said to himself. I just need to get it done and I'll leave. He fixes his jacket, the tie of his polo, his hair that was obviously finger comb, just to be sure, he pulls out his phone and checks himself using the camera, he was looking sharp, minus the eye bags he got earlier. He turns off his phone and return it to his pocket, waiting for the coffee, he slouches to the couch, he was getting sleepy, tired, he doesn't want to sleep in a café, were multiple people will stay and drink their coffee inside, and it was rather not him at all, trying to stay awake, until his drink arrives, was the current objective.

"What a pleasure of meeting you here" a feminine voice said. It made him look around, shoulder down to the wooden furniture, it was an adversary, she's a fine lady, she's short, close to his shoulder height, the fashion of the young foreigner was quite casual; black blazer, short sleeve, pencil skirt, black tights, and belly shoes, he admired it, to go to work in that, a business type kinda cloths, he just remembers that he too was like that. She was holding her coffee, her other hand was on her chin, she was smiling, "Likewise" he said. "Is your shift done?" she continued to speak with him, she went to the seat across from him, taking a sip of her coffee, "Yeah, just looking at the metropolis" Gray said. He follows her by looking at her, going to the sofa across to him.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one who looks at the city every night" she said.

"Even were enemies, I'm glad we can agree in some things" she followed, he just smile and nodded, shaking his head, as he talk to his enemy, the Stars and Skulls were enemies, still hating each other, a ceasefire was declared by the two leader of the group, all the agents from both sides were relief, they all need a vacation in some point. "Do you live here, in the city?"

Asked the curious skull agent, "Why do you want to know about that? "he asked, not minding the potential treat if he told her where he sleeps, she might cut his lungs, never waking up again, their conversation was cut short, when the barista shouted his name, "Gray?!" he stood up still looking at the agent, he was presented by a plain cup, with his name on it. "Thanks," he said. He grabs it and automatically takes a sip, it was good, maybe too good. He turns back to his neutral companion, still curious to the situation, and the girl started talking to him. he returns to his seat, waiting for her reply, she already knows he will be cautious on his answer, or even not answering her question, she just wanted to talk, like ordinary people, forget the professional life, she wanted a casual conversation with a normal person, or so she thought, he was and the speech pattern of his will determine. "My question is still the same" he echoed. This made the agent amuse, putting the coffee to the table, he waited, he wanted to know why. "Well, I wanted to make friends" she simply said, no interior motive, not feeling bad, he keeps his cautious, still neutral. He sighs in tiredness, it was getting to him, until he notices what she's doing.

She was looking at the horizon, observing the ever slow rising of the sun, it made him look at it as well, "You like it" he asked, the question didn't get the attention of the girl, "I Love it" she replied. He looked at the girl, she's aimlessly staring at the star. Letting her coffee combust, he rests his head on the sofa, deciding to give in or be him. An enigma to the world he lives in. They live in, he didn't want to tell her where he lives, certainly his name even, to put trust to someone you know is an enemy. While resting, close to sleeping, she looks at him, blinking at his action, was this person so tired? She asked herself, I mean being a leader and being a field agent at the same time? That's hard, not doubting, she just let him be, but not without really finishing what she started. "Don't worry, you don't have to answer" she said, smiling, she returned her attention outside, "But, I hope we can meet again, not on a battlefield of course" she followed.

He opened his eyes, still hanging on to the sofa, what was she doing to him, it was weird, at-least what his feeling, what was it?

"Me too," he said. Not thinking, he closes his eyes again, giving in to the thought, hey, I want to know you. The tiredness physically and mentally was affecting his thought, what should he do? He keeps asking himself. Was there really a threat? Thinking she meant if she's that devoted to her cause, she could have killed him the moment she spotted him, but she was different, he was open in all sides, but she didn't take the chance, what was the game plan here? He asked himself.

"Gray'' he spoke. The girl looked at him, confused, it made him smile at her action. "My name is Gray'' he smiled. The girl smiled, slowly blinking, she loved it. The boy looked the other way, blushing from the girl's smile, the smile of her is something else he thought to himself, it wasn't like ecstasy that stays for a short time, the feeling could stay for a long time, till his lifetime. It made him remember the curve of the young woman's lips, that face of her, every features, was something else, the feeling, the sensation, was appearing on his cheeks, he tried to erase the sensation of his cheeks, before she notices, but it was too late, but it works, a result he doesn't want to show, but an action she wanted they're still signs of his feelings. "I'm Elizabeth'' she said. Now they're getting somewhere, he grabs his coffee and stands up, this makes Elizabeth look at him, confused at the man's action. "Want to walk with me?" he asked. "Where?" she questioned. "To wherever" he simply replied. This made her smile.

She grabs her coffee and waits for the man to walk out, she starts to walk with Gray, following him while being close to him. "Breakfast?" the young boy proposed. "I would love that," Elizabeth complied.

The two agents were now outside, walking side by side, looking for a place to eat, "I just notice, you're Gray, one of the leaders of Star" he chuckled at her research, there was no point of denying it, why would he if she already knows, he thought for a second, everybody in the agency and their opposition knows him, it was probably of the recent battle they have, the skull opposition was defeated by them, they were almost exposed because of it, "you're right" he just said, "Then I should be addressing you as, "sir"?" she said jokingly, this made Gray shake his head while grinning, he had enough of formalities, he was addressed in his school as "sir" because he was a former CATU officer, and at the agency he was addressed, you guess it, "Sir", and now he was being addressed by his enemy. "Where to, Sir?" she laughs, "Oh ha-ha, Ms. Elizabeth" said Gray, getting along. "No, don't, calling me Gray is fine" "Okay, okay" she replied.

They were having fun, until. A drop of water came down from the heavens, "Oh what's this?" Gray's stops walking, Elizabeth looked at him, worriedly, "Why? What's the matter?" she asked. The only response he gave was staring up at the sky, she brought out her hand, waiting for something to drop, she looked up as well, "It's going to rain" Gray said. Her search for rain stops, she nodded and waited for Gray to say something. He was about to open his mouth, until.

The thing they're waiting for comes to them, it begins to rain. They ran, no place to go, they went to the same place where they met.

The rain was still pouring, the two agents were still running, looking for a shelter to stop by, the two were about to go out, finding decent food for their appetite, but nature has other plans, they run and run, they didn't mind the drops of rain crashing to them, they need to find shelter they both thought, minutes after they've find one, there was no time to be surprise, they went in and begin to dry off, they grab their towel from their back pocket and started to dry their face and hair, relief at their clothes didn't get too wet, if so, they won't be able to enter the vicinity. The two looked around for their seat earlier, finding out the couch was taken by the other customers, they looked at the seat that offered a view of the outside. They seat, catching their breaths as they process what happened. It started raining. Gray looked at the present situation and then outside, grinning and later on laughing, "That's something" he snickered. Expecting Elizabeth will dry her hair and not look at his stupid smile, he still look at Elizabeth, who echoed his amusement, to his surprise, he laughed again at their actions, they were going to get breakfast until the force of nature came down, ruining their plan, they realized where they ended up, causing an awkward moment, Gray fixes the sleeves of his jacket, fixing the sleeves to his shoulder, the two agent fixes themselves, the two enjoyed it, but it's a pain in the ass for the two agent, Gray look behind him, finding food from the counter, to his dismay, he only saw pastry, bread, and cakes. Not the breakfast in his mind, the food that was displayed, gave too much sugar, it was not the ideal breakfast, "Damn" he whispers, he started to question why they returned to this café, why not run to their destination?

She looked at him, waiting for him to say something, anything, he was looking at the counter, she knows that his still thinking of breakfast, she smiled at this, knowing he will treat her, but she also worries for him, she made something with him, a relationship, she realized that Gray, was a kind person, a person you can be with, she realized that because of the short time, they grew comfortable to each other, and his willing to tell her his name. "Hey you okay?" she asked Gray, "We can eat here if you like".

Gray looked at her, thinking of something, he didn't want to eat those things early in the morning, he needed something hot. To wake him up, and the things that are displayed on the fancy glass desk wasn't the food he needs, let alone want.

"Yeah, I'm okay, I'm just thinking why did we head back?" he asked. "Well, we can wait till the rain stops" it made him frown a little, asked her if she's okay with that, he didn't want her to wait, there's that gentlemen instinct that tells him, do not make her wait.

"You sure?" he asked her, she nodded and replied "Yeah" they sat at the sofa again, they sat together and further realized what happened. "We got rained on" he chuckled and laughed, hiding his smiling face with his hand, he looked at her, they laughed "Man" said Gray still smiling, what happened was all they asked.

He looked outside and there was a seven eleven store, just across the street, again he thought, the convenient store is not a breakfast outlet, then again it's better than this five-star hippy shit, "Hey, I got the perfect outlet for our breakfast".

He said "You just have trust in me" Elizabeth's face was puzzled, what was his surprise for her? She just nodded and waited for him to do something, hoping it wouldn't involve their powers. Gray started walking out, as for Elizabeth she followed him, knowing it's still raining, Gray just stood there, looking out for cars passing by, there were none, there's no cars, but he still had second thoughts.

He ran, Elizabeth got no time to react suspiciously, she just let her body move, she followed Gray to the convenient store.

"What was that?" she asked. "I promise you that we'll have breakfast, and I'm not about to break that promise" what? She asked herself why, she shakes her head, asking why Gray ran, especially ran to the 7-11 store, "I wanted you to eat something good, and those foods their offering is not what I recommend. She just smiled, her smile widened into a laughter, "So you made me run all the way just to eat something close to healthy? You're sweet" she said "Let's go in?"

he nodded and smiled at her, walking after her lead. He opened the door and wait for her to go in, the air in the store was like any other, again, the air conditioning unit wave Gray's hair, but this time it was mildly, he looked around the store, finding the food dispenser, "There" she pointed out, she leads him to the food dispenser, "your type of breakfast, huh?" chuckled Elizabeth, he just shrugged and smiled at her, he began to think about the options, almost all of the food was not his type, he didn't want to eat those, especially microwaved. He was done thinking, nothing caught his eyes. "What are you getting?" he asked her, she hums softly, indicating she was thinking, not long she picked the steak and rice, he followed her to the counter, "How about you? You got to eat something" she said looking at him, of course he'll eat something, maybe he'll get the same food as her, or... "I'm going to get the chicken nuggets" she nodded, she paid for her, and after her, he ordered, then he paid, he turned around and she was waiting for him, there's no people beside them, they don't have any competition for tables.

They begin to eat, while doing that, a couple of words were exchanged, they were getting to know each other, the worries of his disappear little by little, she wasn't asking personal questions, they're playing it safe, waiting for one of them to break their secret by themselves, is this a date? He asked. Himself, "How long will the ceasefire last?" Elizabeth asked, this made Gray look outside.

Rubbing his hands on one another, he's not looking for answers from the drops of the rains, the buildings glasses that were dry, now the rain drops were clinging to the surface of everything, tears like pattern was blocking the view of the metropolis from the inside where the two agent was staying, the atmosphere of everything, the city, the convenient store, their space, it was like one of those lo – fi music videos, that goes on forever. All those were on them, but Gray was thinking about the bond they made, it was less than an hour. Less than what he thought to build anything that can test loyalty, and trust. They made contact, acting like they knew each other for years, the fun they had, the mutual care of each other was a new thing for him, it really is. Especially coming from an enemy, a deeply hated enemy.

He bit his lips and returned his attention to Elizabeth, "If your faction strikes, we'll tolerate it with force, but if nobody decides to attack, we're talking about three months, at least'' he said. She looks down on her food, picking the grains of the leftover food with her fork, her responsibility was the same as Gray, she can't disobey the order of her superior, she'll die just to complete something for her organization, as an oath to her and the ones who had fallen to her name, "Dead Master" the one who started the organization, the most powerful in her agency was killed by one of them, one of Grays. She hated it when the news got to them, the reason why the two agency went to this action, a murder of the highest commander. Hatred was fueling the organization to destroy the Star Agency, and it was working, all the members were full support on defeating the Star agency, no one questioned or thought, nobody wanted an argument, they wanted actions. A diplomatic envoy went to Elizabeth's agency, explained what happened, explained that the power of their superior was too much for her, it consumed her to the point that she cannot control it, the real her, Yomi Takanashi, ceased to exist, and it was replaced by Dead Master.

But despite all of that, she comes to this term, a doubting action, she can't fight him either, they don't want to fight each other, in the small amount of time, they were able to co-exist, it was more than that, Gray wanted more, and his hoping she does too. "Don't worry, it won't erupt violently, knowing your superiors" Gray said.

It didn't change her mind, knowing what happened before, she participated in various missions, including the school attack that took place before, she witnessed it all, the chaos, the fight, and him, she saw him there, fighting her superiors, she was awestruck when the three stars were fighting her friends, he was powerful, powerful enough to take on a squad of skulls, if she was to find him early and engage him, she knows she can't survive. But she was glad it was him, she heard he was kind and open minded, not a lot of people were just like him. After all the happenings, she would expect him to be a traitorous, lying, and self-righteous scum of a Star agent.

She just knows it that one way or another, they'll face each other on the battlefield. "Liz, you okay?" she looked up, Gray was looking at her, worriedly, she looked at him, his face said it all, he was worried, "I'm okay, I'm sorry" she said while fixing herself, "Why are you apologizing, you did nothing wrong" Gray said. It made him realize something, she made him remember someone, someone who's in peace; he moved on, he knows that, it was two years ago, but he's still having trouble forgetting, still having trouble falling in love again, there was someone, but that someone betrayed him for another.

A batchmate, she was like any other girl, but what set her from all, was she made him fall in love, he wasn't doubting, he was surprised in the first place when they met, a recollection trip, two souls wondering what they'll do in the future, what fear will they encounter when the inevitable comes, he was there for her, and she was there for him, the girl comforted him when. He was broken, he, when her glasses broke, he tried to fix it, he was glad it did get fixed and he was able to fix it.

After the recollection, the two started talking and not long, he fell in love again, but not even a year pass through, she forgets about him, left him for another, he realized after that he can't fall easily again, and that he was scared of the future, but he's not the only one, fear of the inevitable future. But time moves on, he gets back up, not scared of the future, or love. He can't think of something else. "Slow day Huh?" Gray said, hoping to change the atmosphere of the conversation, but little to no avail, she put on a small smile, an attempt to put him in ease, he can see right through her, that she was trying not worry him, them, all Gray can think of was how beautiful she was, he thought. "Hey, no matter what happened it won't go there" Gray said.

They made eye contact, "I promise you" he said.

He knows what he's talking about, "I don't want to fight you, Gray'' she said. He doesn't want to either, but there's that thing called duty, if he has too, he will do it, no matter how painful for it to do so, he wanted to believe his heart, but reality and his head was winning the argument, he was an agent, he has a duty, to destroy his enemies and protect the ones he loves, it was hard, how can he fight an enemy that is also a friend? There's nothing they can do about the future, at least for now. They finish their food, and now have nothing to do but think, and they hated it.

"Hey, how about we go our separate ways, for now" Gray said "It might help us to forget about it" He smiled, again, an action that pierce her, he was willing to help her, and himself. Not minding it, she agreed, letting Gray walk out first then she follows. What's next?

The two agents went out, feeling warm on the outside, seeing the city drying up, sun was up again, the clouds that were souring the clear blue sky were conquering the empty space. sunlight hitting the wet asphalt, windows that were darkened by the clouds that deliver the rain, was nowhere now, now the sunlight was the primary light source of the empty buildings, apartments, and establishments. Seeing the day officially started, Yup the day was starting, it's a start of a new chapter of their life, a life that seems to repeat, day by day, something finishes and another task will replace it, it was tiring, tiring so much, no matter what, they just have to toughen it out, be strong, be positive. Again, Day begins its reign, and it's just getting started. "It's 6: 00" Gray reminded her "I'm going to school, how about you?"

He looked at her, she isn't hiding what she feels, she was worried, her face, her lips, it formed a frowned, her eyes, looking at the corner, semi closed to the point where it can speak louder than a mouth, her eyes were full of concern, "I'm going to school also" she said back.

"I guess this is goodbye" he approaches Elizabeth, ready to ensure what he wants. No gulping, no warm ups or talking to yourself saying; "Am I about to do this?" he shakes away those feelings.

"Go get that girl" he thought to himself, sure the feeling of doubt was there, but no, no more. "Let's meet again, there" he said pointing where he was earlier, she complied by looking at the structure, a small smile was shown from her face, it was assured for him.

"Let's figure this out together" he said "I won't let that happen" he didn't mind what he was doing, getting emotional and getting close to a stranger, it's not that he wasn't thinking straight, he was serious, the two agent face each other, Elizabeth was unable to move, unable to say something, he reflected her actions, the noise of the city, the people talking and walking, they didn't mind it, they were stuck in their own world, world full of uncertain future.

Gray was sure of what he's doing and where it might lead to, nothing to lose, but expecting to have something, the assuring smile, the two agent did it at the same time, it was an official "yes" to them, a thing that the agents invented with the little time they had, it was sad, it was painful, but it was really assuring, "I'll wait" she said "Let's face the future, together" she went to Gray, and hug him, unable to process and unable to move, Gray just accepted it, the two confuse soul hugged like they were lovers, that has been separated since forever or by distance, in the short amount of time, they felt love, it was like new, a new feeling that was lock away from the inside of their heart, and it was over, they have to let go, to think this through, none of them wants to let go, but it was necessary, and they both understand that. They slowly let go from each other, ready to go back to their lives. "I'll wait" Gray said, she touches his face, showing a smile that will tell him "okay" the Soft hand of the maiden, ignite heat to the agent's cheek, he could touch her hand, letting it stay like that a little longer, it was good, felt good, he needed the comfort, he needed a drug like thing that could let him forget all his problem, and get high again in love.

she let's go, "I…" they both said, he didn't know what to say, what to accomplish by speaking, she resonates his action; "instantly regret it", they look at nothing, the sidewalk, where little puddles forms and drying up, the garbage bags that was semi wet, and stack to each other, they look away, just to ease up the situation and recess it, "Again, good bye, for now" Gray said, now looking at her, and this got her attention, she knows that, "Yes, I'm looking forward to it" she answers anyway. Smiling at him. Lighting up her heart in just a matter of seconds.

Now they walk separate ways, to their own lives. No actions will be executed today, they both have to wait until tonight, the night of all night for the two agents. Walking and not thinking about it, Gray continue to go to his school, Gray that was surrounded by wallpaper worthy sight; skyscrapers that stood stall, streets that were empty with the sunlight shining from the smallest holes that somebody can ever find, aftermath rain effects like puddles, shining of the floor because of reflection, it could take his breath away, steel his attention from the happenings of earlier, a Mona Lisa of minimalism, was all around him, but no. No, he was too busy thinking of Mona Lisa, his Mona Lisa.

Gray who went to home first, was still tired, he unlocks the door, push the wood screen quietly as possible, he enters his home, not hastily getting his clothes off, he crashes to the sofa first, embracing it, as he sighs heavily, he looks up at the window, he turns the shades to the side and let the sunlight in, "That feels good" he said. Nobody was at the first floor, they're still sleeping, he seats right up, looking at the living room, the coffee table, the pictures of him and his siblings, the medallion and certificate in a frame that he got from his training graduation, he stood up going to the showers, no breakfast at the table, he notices, he takes off his clothes and fold it on a seat.

He was done, he reaches for his towel, dry every inch of his body, horridly putting on his uniform, he was putting on his id and they went all down, his family, "You're early" his Father said, a medium height man went past him and prepared breakfast, he went to his room, he turns the shades to the side, letting in the sunlight, his room was clean, "I been awake for 20 hours, can I make it?" he smiled at his question, of course he can, he been doing this for 2 years now, what else is a day? Sleep deprivation is a bitch, but who cares, he doesn't, he grabs his bag and exits his room.

While going to school, the puddle that he saw early was nowhere to be seen, the streets were drying up, it was fill up with cars, service vehicles for school, it was like a military mobilization, going to war, it was causing a jam at the intersection, we can go in, without getting ran over, and student that were walking to the school was like soldiers, going to their school, doesn't even matter if their awake or half asleep, they're ready. Entering the school, there where id scanner, were we tap our id to it to enter the school, he taps, the hallway he was taken was like half ready, the pipes were visible, they were going to God knows where, all different kinds, small, big, the walls paint was like five years old, nothing was admirable, he was able to get to his classroom, wooden arm desks, white board, a flat screen at the center of the board, he went to his desk. They went for their desk.

Not even tired, not even sleepy, the two agents aimlessly looking outside, thinking of each other, Gray and Elizabeth's thoughts were in sync, two were worried sick, two were both professional, but impatience, "What's Gray doing right now?" She thought, "what kind of problems are running inside his mind?" looking around her classroom, walls that replicate ancient buildings from Greece, arm desk that were pure as white, the writing board is huge that it can reach the ceiling, and student's talking to their fellow students, it was boring for the agent, a lot was happening around her, but it didn't catch her attention, it was noisy inside and outside her classroom, in some situation it will steal your attention, but for her, it was not the case.

He let out a sigh, thinking what he'll do tonight, his finding words that can fix the situation, finding reasons that will keep their relationship the same, school haven't started, but they're already occupy, not minding the upcoming subjects, tasks, and projects, they carry on thinking, class haven't started and their waiting for it to end, to do what their heart desire, they both know it, they just want confirmation.

"I should have asked for her phone number" Gray whispered, He thought it through, would it disturbed her or help her? So occupy he is, the awareness around him, was absent, "You looked occupy" asked his seatmate "Did something happened?" he fixed his posture "I'm just tired, that's all" Gray replied, he wasn't lying, because he hates lying, telling his classmate that his tired is the truth, but he wasn't tired from school, he was tired of something else.

Something he was longing for, "Thanks for asking, I appreciate it" Gray said. His classmate just nodded and went to his seat, he didn't want his thought to distract him from academics, he waited for the teacher to come, the other agent was in sync with him, she ignored the thought that was present early on.

The two started working, waiting and listening to their teacher, different subjects pass by, but the process for the two agent stays the same, writing notes on their notebook, looking up to the flat screen, waiting for it to change the slide of the presentation, and copying again, there are moments when the two was caught up, when there's nothing to do, they both slouch to their seat, wishing the day could go faster, they wanted to speak out what their feeling, lost on her thoughts, she looks outside, "what should I do?" "what should I tell him?" she asked herself, too busy for answers, let alone the questions she's thinking, the young Briton stared at her phone, what will she do? What will she say? She asked herself these two questions, she herself didn't know yet, the blankness of her cell phone screen was the only thing that resonated with her feelings, the face of a young lady reflects not only her face, but her thoughts, feelings. She looked at the corner of the screen and saw her classmate approaching her, she hid her phone and waited for her friend.

"Hey, Elizabeth, are you feeling well?" she fixes herself, ready to answer her classmate's question, "I'm doing good, thanks for asking" she said. The girl just nodded, and suggested asking for help if she's feeling ill. She slouched again, thinking she should have given her number to him, it was something else. They can agree that they are different from one another, they were able to fall in love with one another, but both are uncertain of their feelings, is it real?

Both were hurt, left by their thought to be the one significant other, reasons why they cannot fall that easily were destroyed, the feeling they both ignored for years, was now the longing feeling. They hope to find again, both are willing to take that chance again, "I just have to know" they both said. Even their not face to face, the sun was going down, the clouds that were colored ocean was now fill with the colors of dusk, the moon was at the doorsteps, the night of night is coming, and the two agent were like being killed slowly, the two agent that are mature, are also impatient of the awaited meeting on their rendezvous, tapping the wood of the arm chair with the index finger, drumming the tip of the pen to the cover of the notebook, and looking outside, they'll do anything to pass the time, to make time faster, it can't be help they both thought, what was going on? The feeling of the past, the sweet, sweet moments of youth was coming back, it was hitting them back home, little moments of romance like holding hands, walking her back home, going places. a peck on the forehead to signaling a good bye, see you tomorrow, it was all coming back, never mind their exes. They didn't see their past lovers, all their reminiscing was the moments that define their romantic life, it was their escape, their stress reliever from the all the problems that life was throwing at them, sure it was the past, but no one knows, they don't know if they'll ever taste that feeling again, until now.

Believing that the future will come, both agents can't help to look at the future, a future with her, a future with him, picturing moments like earlier, will it happen again? Or will it be better than the last one? How sweet. They remark. "Can't wait for that" Gray thought to himself, like he promises to his past significant other, she'll be the last girl he'll love, the perfect and last girl, his one and only, not the first, but the last, while writing the lesson from the flat screen.

He shakes the feeling, deciding it will be best if he study first, the boy wanted to think one thing, any thoughts that are not related to his work, kinda messed him up, last semester, he was given an achiever card for having a grade of 87.77, a new average for him, at first he ignored it all, he didn't strive to be an achiever, but when he got the card, he felt happy, he was surprised at best, because what was the reason for it? Last semester he didn't study hard like any student that's supposed to be. He was riding his own wave, not minding if he gets one or not, he just wants to pass like every semester, today, he changed his mind, he wanted to graduate with achievements. That's his goal right now.

The boy continued to write and listen to the lesson, "One thought at a time" he said, the boy grinned, "what was happening?" he thought "I'm not like this at all". The boy's writing hand begins to ache, no reason to continue, but to stop, so he did. As the thought of writing and listening stops, the thought of Elizabeth suddenly appears. Admiring the young Briton was all he's thinking, there was something about her that he can't shake off, never mind the beauty, and charm of the girl. Why was he falling in love, and so sudden? "I was hurt, but I'm willing to bet my chips," he thought.

The boy was occupied again.

Elizabeth was writing on her notebook, listening what her teacher was saying, ruling out what's not important, leaving the un finish sentence of information she written, and moving on where the lessons resume, looking outside, the cycle of day was ending, the metropolis she's watching every night was coming into a beginning, not every night she has something to look forward to, sure there's the opposition she's hunting, but like this, it is rare for her.

"Ring!" the school bell rang, "Yes!" they both thought, not to get to unnecessary trouble, they stayed on their seat, not going anywhere till the teacher officially say the class is over, Gray stops writing, waiting for the teacher to say something, he behaved, like a grade school student would, seat right up and eyes on front, the teacher shuts off the tv, grab his flash drive, said what to be said, and went out, the class automatically fixed themselves, their bags, and seats. Gray grabs his bag and put it on his seat, he puts in his pens and notebook, getting ready to leave, but not without fixing his seat for the last time, while walking out of the room, he said good bye to his friends, he smiled, while his smile grew, blush begins to appear on his face, "Not long now" he thought.

Elizabeth grabs her bag from her seat, saying farewell to her fellow students, she pulled out her phone and open the time application, she sets the time and named it, clearly the maiden can't wait, she walks out of the room, she exited her school and went directly home, even though it's far from bed time, she forced herself to sleep in order to look fresh later on, still don't know what to do, what to say, she decided to wing it, let him take her all the way, she was expecting it to happen, the excitement proves to be a boundary to sleeping, the child like habit returns to her, she hopes she can still wake up later, nobody wants to be late, especially their professionals, and professionals can't be late.

Gray arrived home safely, went to his room and put his bag beside his drawer, changed into his house clothes, then began to sleep, a drag it was, but necessary, the tiredness was helping his body to rest, to sleep, not another minute, he closes his eyes and sleeps. The boy has dinner to attend to, but not a problem. But not long he opens his eyes, he looks around.

Only to find he was not in his room, it was all too familiar, the dark surroundings, a lone blue flame that ignites a small fraction of the darkness, his boss was here, he didn't want her to wait, he begins to approach the flame and one by one, flames with similar color appear, creating a path for him to follow. As the flames behind him disappear, new ones replace it, this time he was getting closer, the last flames created the pathway was resolving, replacing it as a circle in the center of it was the symbol of the organization he was working with. No doubt about it, she's here. A friend of his, he was happy that she's able to speak to him, and worry about what she will say to him, does she know? That question has yet to be answered. "Ma'am, are you here?" he asked in the darkness, what would be her reason to call him out like this, not his complaining. He stood there, waiting. "How are you, Gray?" a voice said, he turned around, he was greeted by his commander, "Ma'am? I'm doing good, how about you?" Gray asked "What's the reason for calling me? Not that I'm questioning" he followed nervously. She walked past him, the flames of the circle slowly disappearing when she approached the edge of it, flames from before started to ignite, showing another path for the two agents. As they continue to walk, the darkness surrounding them continues to fade away to their backs, Gray didn't need the full picture where they're headed, it was the café from earlier, a flashback. His leader stops and looks at the two, him and Elizabeth, seating and talking, it was from earlier. "What's this all about, Ma'am?" he asked. Mato didn't look away from the memory of her subordinate, "How about you tell me" She proposed to Gray. "I'm waiting" she continues, no excuses now, or ever. she already knows what will happen later on, she knows all too well who he is, what his intentions, "Ma'am let me explain" he said. She nodded. He was out of words, what will he say? "Ma'am, She's a good person, she's…"

"She's an enemy," she suddenly said. "A threat" now she was looking at him, she was serious now, sharp eyes, angry frown. She was indeed disappointed at him, like a dog that failed his master, he just bowed his head down, accepting the sermon of his master. "You know the rules, and yet here we are'' she continues. She returns her look to the two agents, he echoes the action of Mato, what will he do now? "Ma'am, I know what I'm doing" he insisted. Mato knows this all too well, just like a former agent, he too was turned against them because of love, "Oh?" said Mato while walking to the other side, not looking at him, she stood behind the projection of Gray and Elizabeth, looking outside. "Ma'am, I know this person, we're the same'' Gray said while walking to her master.

"Same as you?" She replied. "I hope you know what you're talking about, cause it's not a laughing matter" He looks at her from the corner of his eyes, the unmovable person that is Mato was uncertain of her agent doing, she knew he was alone, and need of company, that she and her agency can't give him, a personal companion, she doesn't condemn love, she has a relationship for goodness sake, even she, the leader of her agency fell for a person, to fall for a person you trust, and especially on your side, is a jackpot. But the situation of her agent was blurry. "I trust her, Ma'am" she looks at him again, still in disbelief why the agent doesn't get it, realize it. "You don't get it do you?" she sighs. "It's not about trust, it's about your safeness, listen, when you start something with this person, you're not only compromising your safety, you're compromising your family, friends, and maybe this agency" She was giving Gray the hard pill, how can he act? He doesn't want to give it all, give it all to love, he did it before, and regretted it, "Never again" he said to himself. It was his new rule, but Elizabeth came along, and now.

His breaking his own rule for someone, and to top it all off, his breaking the agency's rule. A simple desire, yet many oppositions. "How can I overcome this, master?" she really hoped he'd never ask that question.

"Do you really want to risk it all? She said. "Give it all, to this person?" He looks at her, he was certain when he and her will be together, she won't double cross him, he was sure. "I know this person; she can be trusted." He replied. "She doesn't want what her superiors want" she wasn't buying it. She can never be too sure, "You really want to overcome this situation?" She asked. Looking at Gray, hopelessly wanting an answer, Gray just nodded.

She looks at him from the corner of her eyes. "You could end it later, or you could quit the agency, so you two can have your happily ever after" she said "If that's what you want" she hands it to Gray, simple, but hard. "What am I going to do?" he said. "A chance to fall in love again, but I can't" he was close to crying. Why is the world so tough on him? He knew he sacrificed so much for the agency, he knew the risk, the outcome of this little thing they'll have, he knew earlier, but like any feeling, he forgets, they forget. Didn't mind the agency, didn't mind their professional life. Will he quit his job for Elizabeth? "Will she do the same?" He asked. "Will she give it all?"

"Gray, you have three hours to think it through" said Mato. "Whatever you picked, I'll support you" if he quits, his memory of Star, Mato, everyone in the agency, will be gone, and worst of all his power will cease to exist. Memories of his agency, being an agent was the most exciting thing that happened to his life, it was a unique experience, you can almost say it's a once in a lifetime. "What should I do?" he said. "This is the first time I'll do something for myself, the thing I always wanting to find is there, out there, and yet I'm going to lose it again" He hang his head down, it was hard non the less, "You have to sacrifice things like this in order to have a greater future" Gray suddenly fixes his head in order to look at his superior. "Sacrifice? What do you know about Sacrifice?" he said almost in outrage. "More than you know" She answered. "Despite all I did, I never weighed it to get what I desire, even love" She began to walk out, the environment was like being erased, the darkness was spreading.

"We both know, you done somethings that were bigger than you, and you would never use that for any desires in exchange" she was about to walk into the darkness, where she can return from wherever, leaving Gray to wake up, and decided, but she heard him, crying, "Why?" he whispered, she looks at him again, he was seating across him and Elizabeth earlier, Mato went to him, seated beside him, "Gray, I..." She said, about to comfort him, but he cut her off, "You what!?" The environment around them was coming back to its original state. Gray still covering his eyes with his hands, covering his tears from going out, he doesn't know how to control his emotions anymore, he was shaking, talking to himself, asking; why did he ever fall in love with her, blaming himself, and cursing at life, the pain was too much, it was too damn much. She could never blame him for falling in love, she would do anything to support him. "I just wanted to protect you from it" She said, "I just don't want that to happen to you, you're special, to the agency and to us two, Me and Josh" He finally faced her, the tears were still there, pain was still there. She saw this before, and what she felt when she witnessed it at first, it was still the same, it was painful. "What happened to Jay and Yomi, it's a tragedy" she holds his shoulder. "Unconditional love is a beautiful thing, so much it would test factors that's bigger than itself like; time" Gray dried his tears, hearing out his master, she smiles at him.

Knowing now that Gray is listening "Jay and Yomi are like any other humans, they had flaws, they accepted it, Yomi, is my best friend, she looks up to me like a sister, me and her would do all the careless things in this world, we were happy, until she begins to show weaknesses, she can't handle what the world throws at her, her emotions got the best of her, then the Dead Master we all know was born, I saved her once, then we decided to form the agency, to protect those like her, save them from themselves, when I found out at that she was killed, it broke my heart, same as Jay, he was like a little brother to us, he made us happy, forget our pain, help us leave our regrets in the past, when he betrayed us, for the resurrection of Yomi, it breaks my heart, not because he left us, it's because we have to eliminate him, we all decided that it was too much for him to live on, with the pain. When we did it, I realized something, we can only do so much, and two important people in my life died because of weakness" She gets closer, now holding both his shoulders. "And I don't want that to happen to you, to anyone ever again, including to our enemies" Gray realized it. "I know what you're trying to say, but please trust in me, trust at your agent" She smiles softly, closing those eyes of her at the process, she opens them again only to speak, "I do, I do trust you, to do what is necessary"

He opened his eyes, seated in disappointment, the encounter with Mato was not the hardest thing that happened this night, it was only starting, he looked at his alarm clock and he was early, three hours early. Gray decided to get out of his bed, took a shower, and changed his clothes into his work clothes, then went outside. While walking out of his neighborhood, he wanted to think, assessing what was valid and not.

Walking aimlessly to nowhere, the city of manila was asleep, and Gray was using his time to think, the thought of it was keeping him from sleeping, listening to his music while walking, he continues to walk, bandits or crackheads can walk among him, it was scary, but he keeps walking.

He arrives at Intramuros, no guards around, or its inhabitants, "They really follow the curfew hours" He said. This city was important to him, don't know why or when this feeling started, he was glad every time his father went to get his sister from the university, and that university was inside the wall city, every time he went, it was like a fantasy land, old Spaniard architecture, deem lights, and nostalgic atmosphere, I mean what more do you want? He looks his left and right, the left side of the road was a bandit's paradise where you'll be fuck, the right side was like a horror movie setting, the city was not giving him choices, he laughs at this and continue walking, this time, taking off one of his earphone, He stayed on a path that was cover with lamp posts, opening his waist bag, holding on to that steel baton of his.

The place he was walking to is a field, where one can sit, and maybe lay on the grass field, no particular reason but, to think, to reflect. While staring up to the sky, he begins to hear footsteps, he didn't get up he just turned his head to the direction where it's coming from, "Hey, sir" Orian said. He waited for him to sit down, he looked at the sky again, "Hey, Orian, how are you?" Gray said "Shifts done?" "Yup" He said. "I shouldn't ask this but why are you here, and at this hour?" He just looks at Orian, he knows this, Gray said to himself, a guardian of the walled city asking him why he was here, "We both have the same reason why we go here" Gray said. "Hmm, yeah" He said. "Sorry if I ask". He can now close his eyes, knowing somebody is by his side, fully think and find answers to his latest crisis, "Did something happen, Sir?"

Gray didn't want to open his eyes, let alone answer Orians question, Orian born in the Philippines, a medium height boy, tanned skin, has the same hairstyle as me, he wears a blue hoodie, a white short sleeve, black slacks and black shoes, a student by day, and guardian by night, a Star agent, station here in the walled city, like any candidate for the Star agency, he was once a civilian, a student that goes to school from 7 to 4, like me, he takes a liking to the walled city, the mystery, the story of this place was fascinating to us, he also goes here when he got any problems, ever since he has been the guardian of this city. I was getting lost, and then I remember Orian.

that's not how to behave around his agents, he seats down still closing his eyes, Then the companion of Orian shows up, Reyna, a Black Gold Saw agent, born in Germany, she was a BGS agent station in her country, taking care of ghost in munements, last year a rookie, now an experience agent, like Orian, a guardian of this city, she took upon herself to be an agent and go here to harden her skill as an agent and student, and it was paying off, her agency is a sister agency of Star, all agency were establish right off the bat when the main one, Star was founded, all has the same vision; defend the ones who can't protect themselves. It was simple as that, there're from Japan originally, but as the dreams of people becomes more and more problematic, and some of the dreams becomes real and corrupt, the dreamer's hearts and minds, were being damage physically and mentally, the five agency; Star, Dead Master, B.G.S., Chariot, and Strength went global, all major countries has agencies, Me and Orian, we belong to the same agency, in Orian and Reyna situation, their guarding this historic site, they're the product of a cooperation program by the Star and BGS.

"Good evening, Sir" she stands in attention, "As you were" He simply said. She let her seat by them, nothing else to do but let them, his agents, "Are they always like this?" asked Orian "Always in a strict manner" Why did I come here again? He thought to himself, "Guys can you let me be for a sec?"

The two agents stopped talking, it only took seconds to realize, "We'll return to our post, sir, we apologize '' Gray just nodded, and lay again on the grass, "What am I going to do?" he said. "I can't just break her heart" closing his eyes won't ease the moment. Picking the necessary thing was a must, for the agency. He stands up, patting down his back, dusting off the grass that was able to hang on his jacket, maybe a little walking might help him. She knows who I am, who I really am, not just a star agent, but as me, a side that I always hide, a vulnerable side, if he chooses his feelings, she might use him for her own use as a weakness. Why did I even talk to her? He asked himself irritatingly. "Why am I so desperate!" he said. "Why am I like this?" now coming down, it was tiring, so confusing, so other worldly. he continues to walk only to find himself at the church's field. Orian and Reyna were at the fountain, he approached them, hoping to talk to them about his problem. "Hey, Guys'' he went for a seat beside them, holding the concrete edge, for support.

The two agents look at their superior, they know there's a problem, they only want to hear it from him. "I have something to say, hope you guys can understand my situation" never ever to seek advice, let alone help, but he's here to do it. ``What would you do if you fell in love with an enemy?"

The two junior agents look at each other, then at their superior. Gray as an inquirer he expects this action, to expect them to understand? No, not at all, but never the least, to expect helpful answers from them, he chuckled at the time that was taking them to answer. "Well?" he smiled, he looked at the surroundings, the trees, the night lights, even the sky, to seek answers for himself, "Well…" He returns his attention to Orian, ready to answer? He thought. "To help get the answer you're a looking, why and how did you fall in love?" he said "And who is this enemy?'' The last sentence, Orian said it like it was a threat. Gray can't blame him for it, Gray sigh, "I met her just this morning, she's a skull agent, but I didn't see her that way, I see her as her, without the title, without her being an enemy, I see her as a human, a human that loved and been hurt, but willing to love again".

The three agent seats beside the fountain, hoping to find an answer, Gray who's staring up to the sky, Orian, who's staring at his surroundings, and Reyna, looking at the ground, Gray notices this, thinking maybe it wasn't necessary to ask them, maybe they don't really understand, sigh…

"You know sir, you have a thing for danger, huh?" Orian said chuckling, Gray just smiled, admittedly he is, in fact, he likes seeking excitement, whether it's dangerous or safe. "Have you fallen for her, has she fallen for you?" Orian and Gray looked at Reyna, returning to the topic, Gray fixes his posture, sitting up straight. "Think so," Gray said. "Well, you're making our night more complicated, THAT'S for sure, if you don't mind me saying, sir" Orian said.

Reyna looked at her friend, "It's not complicated, you have two choices, and I expect you already know the choices, Sir" Gray nodded at Reyna, smiling at his problem.

"I think I don't have the balls to break her heart," Gray said. "Then again, I can't lose my job" he stood up, looking at the night sky once again, he looks at his wrist watch, reading the time, two hours remaining, two hours or less to think it through, "what was needed to do?" until now the agent can't find an answer, the two that were served to him by Black were broad, straight to the point, no relationship or connection to the enemy.

"What's the call?" Orian asked. "Continue doing your job, I'll be going now" Gray answered, He nodded and signaled Reyna to go with him to continue their job. "Good luck, sir," Orian said before leaving. Gray looks at his wrist watch, he just wasted an hour for this, the rendezvous was getting closer and closer, no time to think.

He exited the wall city and started going to the building where he and she decided to meet, it was weird, it was his first time, leaving Intramuros without an answer, it was surprising nonetheless, he continue to walk, taking the same precaution he took while going to his secret place, after hours like this are more dangerous, thanks to muggers and crackheads. He decided to stop by to a convenient store, to buy something for the two of them.

For the meantime…

Elizabeth's POV

My alarm clock ran. I get out of my bed, tuck the bed sheet, fix the pillow, and go to the bathroom, preparing for things is my forte, it becomes a thing of mine, it's not me if I don't prepare. It goes in the family, I exited the bathroom, showered, brushed my teeth, and did it. I begin to suit up, I check myself in the mirror, not only to check if my appearance is ready, my mental state also, "am I ready to do this again?" I asked myself, do I have the will to give in to this person I just met, but know like we're longtime friends, does he trust me, even though we're enemies, is he willing to give it all just for me, for us? "Of course he is, Elizabeth'' I said. I draw a smile, a technique to raise morale, I don't know who really is, but I'm willing to know him, for me to understand him, I will try. I must try. I exit my room and quietly walk out of the hall, stepping down the stairs. I unlock the door, step out and lock it. The thought of him fills my head, he's such an unknown, where is he, how is he, what kind of things is he doing? I asked myself. I just hope he's okay, and thinking of me as well.

He's one of the leaders of his organization, a high ranking officer, a powerful adversary, in the organization we know him as that, an enemy, but earlier, he didn't show that side. He showed me who he really is, a human that needs loving. The way he speaks, his actions towards me, I didn't expect him to behave like that, he should be hostile around me, show distance towards me, better yet ignore me, but I'm glad that he didn't, I'm glad that I approach him, I'm glad that he shows me his true self, a gently person.

I see so much passion, so much weakness, so much assurance from him, is he the right one? The last? As I walk to our rendezvous I ask this question to myself, still thinking what will happen, what will be my answer to my questions. And what will happen to us.

Gray's POV

I exited the store with two drinks, and two meals. I just picked what we had for breakfast, "Am I about to do this?" I sigh 'Not my first time, but it's been awhile, since…her"

what I'm feeling tonight brings uncertainty, and excitement, thoughts of holding me back, and going for it, was colliding, it was crushing me, I almost laughed at myself, did I really lose that loving feeling? But here it was, the feeling I always wanted to find is here, the chance to fall in love is up there at that building, my sanctuary. "Fuck, I'm not even up there and I'm feeling weary already" I said. "Is it really that long since I felt love?" It was only two years since Mika died, a girl that truly changed my life, it was paradise, with her I think I could conquer it all, our problems in this world, with us being just together we can leave it all behind. She was the one. My wonder wall, we help each other, it was a genuine relationship, none of us had a doubt on one another, we believed that nothing, by that I mean nothing can separate us, not distance, not problems, not nothing, and we stay by that, following what we like, what we want for ourselves, breaking rules and making rules for us, to favor us, we did all the things we thought that fuels us and our relationship, we don't care what the world tells us; like we were too young to understand what we're doing, too young to know about forever, we were just ourselves, two souls who understand each other, an unbreakable bond. But that happened…. The closer I got the thought of not doing it was fading, no turning back, no turning back, I said repeatedly, like it was kinda of a pep talk, funny I thought as I kept saying it to myself.

Elizabeth's POV

I'm at the entrance of the building, looking up at the top floor, saying to myself; "that there's no time for warm ups, no time for going back" assured of the actions that I'll do, I entered the building, I clicked the button of the elevator, entered it and leaning on to the wall then looking at the led screen, ten seconds, that's all it takes to get to the other floor, while I'm only at the second floor and the top was like at the heavens. Nothing to do but stare at the led screen of the elevator. I'm getting closer and closer, while that happened, there's this thing I'm feeling, I was forgiving myself, moving on all of a sudden, I thought I had, it was two years ago, two damn years of being alone and being a Skull agent, an occupation that I truly love, and while working I met someone, someone I thought I love, will keep me from being hurt and alone, but as times flies, he made me feel lonely, too focus on the work, too focus on destroying the agency we swore to hate, sure work is important, and the work was life threatening, but it would be nice to work with someone, and it happened, glad it happened, but I'm not happy now, am I?

The moment my former lover left me, I moved on quickly, I never have a thought of him ever again, like; where is he now? What is up to? No, not once I asked that, the only thing I never got to move on was, being alone, it was tormenting. A year of being just that, I'm around people that I trust, but felt so lonely, then he comes along, he, and all his quirk and his faults, made me forget all that years of pain, in a matter of a day, he made me realize without telling me that "it's okay to be me, it's okay to be weak" he accepted me, even though we're enemies, a factor that should warn us to keep away from each other, and it should be, but he was different, a lot different. He didn't see me as that, and I know I didn't see him that way either, we were two broken souls, hoping to find someone that will fix us and make us whole again, and here I am ready to give it a go once more, to love someone again.

I look up at the led screen, one more floor to go, the elevator went up slowly and down, I'm at the final floor, the steel doors open, revealing a commercial floor of the building, stores that sell different products, clothes, merchandise and etc. They're all close, the display of each store was covered in those nets, I continue walking and another door, is it locked? I asked myself, I turn the knob clockwise and the door was already open, it made me smile, he was here, and now at the top, truly a gentleman, I closed the door behind me and look at the stairs, "don't look down, don't look down" I said, due to the wind or ventilation coming from outside, inside, where I am, it's like a wind tunnel, I begin to move, slowly and carefully stepping on to the thin steel stair, "I can do this" I said hurriedly.

Increasing my speed every time, I step in one and getting closer, I arrive at the top and a door stops me, I turn the knob clockwise, the door opens, revealing a part of the city, the wind blew harder than earlier, I fully open the door, now I can see the whole city, the lights, the stars, and the sky, it was like any other night, "fantastic" I whisper, I step out, and close the door behind me, while going up the stairs, another part of the city was being reveal to me. Then there he was.

Preparing some kind of dinner table, and the decorations like; the candles, and the chairs with his power, just his powers, He stops doing his preparation the moment he saw me, he literally just pauses, "Oh, you're here early" this made me smile, and giggle at him, an old fashion chap, I like it. He drops it all and approaches me, with those lively eyes of his and a smile that shows his emotions, glad at his reaction, I imitate his actions "Hey, how are you?' he said. "I'm fine, what is this?" I said smiling and questioning what he had arranged. "I was thinking we could eat first, and then talk about it" he said, he was hiding his shyness, he could have look the other way, or at our shoes, but he didn't, he looks at me, it was sincere, he snaps back to us and show me to our table, "Nice isn't it?" he pulls out my chair and let me seat on it, he went for his seat, snap his finger and the symbolic blue flame ignite on his finger tip, like a lighter he points his index finger and light up.

The candle, after that he blew the flames away. "So?" he smiled brightly, almost chuckling, "So?" I mimicked his amusing smile, "Oh yeah" he leaned down and grabbed something, I was about to do the same thing, he brought out our meal from before. "I don't know what kind of food your into, so I just picked what he had earlier" this made smile, I hadn't had a smile bigger than this till now, it was super sweet, I wasn't expecting anything like this, I didn't mind the what he bought, I know this is a corny thing to do, but he has effort. "So…Dig in" he said "We can't talk about our future with an empty stomach." The last one has a little humor in it, I chuckled and shook my head. We begin to eat our food, a couple of small talks have been exchanged while having dinner.

Gray's POV

I finished eating, and she was picking her food again with her fork, whenever she gets bored she looks at the city, the city we protect, and shine every night, whether it's rain or shine, because of its beauty of it, sometimes were left to wonder to the horizon, thinking; our future, our regrets, our past. And sometimes we got so loss in it, we just accept the mystery of our youth, she was still looking at it, it made me look at her, her blond hair waving with the wind, her blue eyes, blending with the lights of the metropolis, she took my breath again, with a simple action; like getting lost at the moment, thinking nothing but the problems that was facing her, I can see it in her eyes, it was time, time to do it. "Hey, you okay?" I asked worriedly, she's facing me now, I got her attention, fixing his hair to the side, "I'm fine, I'm just taken' away by this view you know'' she smiled "You got ways to impress girls like me; you got this figure this out, a lovely dinner date, a fantastic view, I love how old fashion you are" she continue to smile. I shrug of her compliment "Well that's me" giving her my signature shrug with my arms making that posture. "So how was your day?" I asked, she fixes her posture, ready to answer me with those twinkling eyes that shouts excitement, and assurance of listening. "It was different" she glanced in the other direction, "I hope it's not bad" I said, she looks at me, regretting what she did earlier, "No, no, it wasn't bad, it was different, cause what I felt earlier, has been missing since… since him"

Her ex? I was about to ask a question but, I think it will be great to wait for later on, to pass the time, get to know each other better, i'm not expecting she'll say all her pain or experience before we met, but if she decided to, i'll be happy and assured. "Wow" she said, embarrassed and awkward, we both cut ourself off from talking. This is my first time doing this again. By looking at her, I don't think she's been in a situation like this before, she hasn't been on a date before.

"Liz, are you really okay?" I said "Are you fine with this?" her attention came back to me, a surprise look drawn on her face, "What? Noo, not at all, i think it's very well thought out" she said. "I'm just taken away by this, cause" We finished our food, and drank our sodas. "Liz, you might want to stand up," I said. "Oh, okay" Not getting the situation, she was unsure what was going to happen, I snapped my fingers and the table, the chairs, and the decoration. Disappeared, she gave me the look that said "What now?" I snapped my finger, and summoned a picnic blanket.

"You ever lay on the ground or grass and look up, thinking of something that's beyond our reach anymore" i said. This made the atmosphere silent, not awkward, just silent. Knowing she's been there before, i was confident she won't hide away, hide away anymore. The wind that blew violently was the only thing that was making noise, and it doesn't seem to bother us, i like to believe as we continue to do this, live like this, we continue to understand who we really are, can a simple wind disturb us, or let it do its thing, even join with it. sitting beside her, still facing the city we protect, it was now the time to tell, to be vulnerable to one another. she sits down on the blacket and tuck her knees in, holding on to it then she draws a smile, looking down at her knee caps. I followed her lead and sat, leaning back on my arms, reclining. feeling the cloth. "My day went well, but not quite like the rest" I just looked at her, let her continue what she's saying. "It was weird, felt it once" when she said once, she looks at me all of a sudden. Because of that we were stuck in a trance, "Once?" i said cautiously, "Yeah, once" she followed. she suddenly chuckled and pushed me playfully, "Yeah, haha" i know that, i got a habit of making people admit, or said something themselves, but i know it. "I loved someone, some years back" she looks at her knee caps again, making a small smile. resonating the good memories first. "I was new to the scene, The Skull was bulking up, looking for new recruits, me? I'm insomniac , so everytime i fell asleep, there's a chance i'll have sleep paralysis; so one night i was really tired, i took advantage of it, i went to sleep right away, in hope to repair my sleeping hours, so i close my eyes, and my worst fear accrued, a sleep paralysis was happening, i wanted to let go, but her supremacy came, the sleep paralysis was over, but the dream wasn't" i nodded. "She offers me this position, doing things like it was like from a fantasy book were i fight, and this" she pointed out, looking at the city

"Watch over the city and protect my family, it was like giving me a new life, and I fell in love with it." I let my breath cool. "I Join, i join, and while working, i fell in love with someone, i met him on one of my assignment, we were guarding our part of the city, everynight we see each other and do the same thing, we get together every time our shift is done, our bond grew stronger, and in one night we engage a STAR Agent, that agent knew how to fly his plane, he was doing that, and he goes over there" she was saying with her hand making gestures, mimicking the movement of the plane. "And we were like "Where did he go?" we almost laughed," she chuckled.

"Then the STAR Agent fired upon us, I mean it's our fault first, we tried to shake him off, but he continued to chase me, then boom. I got hit, i make my jet disappear and now i was falling; i thought i was gonna die, then he came, my partner, the guy went out from his plane and get me by skydiving down, he was reaching for my hands, and me i was doing the same thing, it was like a scene from a movie, he was able to reach for it and hug me, he summon his jet, and then we were up again in the air, the moment we look at each other, the city was there, the stars shining so brightly, and we were just alone in each other arms, in the air, stuck in our moment, he reach for my waist, and he went closer, i went closer also, then we kiss".

At this moment, i don't know what to say, the last guy saved her, and they're partners, it was enough to build a bond that cannot be broken, atleast. And me? I was some random guy in a coffee shop, resting and looking forward to whatever bullshit will happen later on, and i'm an enemy for Christ sake, i'm jackshit compared to her ex, what am i going to do?!

"He's a shy type kinda guy, but he was serious at our job, he's the kind of guy that doesnt know how to say what on his mind, but he'll do it, nothing can stop him, i like him for that" She stops there, she returned her attention to the city; some of the lights from earlier that glows with herd of it, was put to rest. Everytime i hear stories like these, like hers, I can't feel but wonder, if we were able to find someone that attracts us, attracts us like a magnet would do to other metallic objects, but in all of it, why do we still fail?

"His sweet, his humble, a little cranky sometimes, but i believed it was him, his gonna be my last, he'll be my companion for life" i fix myself, knowing after that sentence she'll be speaking her fault, his fault, and their downfall as a couple, this is where the pain started. She was opening up. She let out a heavy sigh, her eyes that were semi close, now full open, seeing again the past through memories.

"But one awful night, i don't know what happened but he was not himself, he was this person that's addicted to his job, destroying everything in his path, it was like his being consume by the power of her supremacy, we knew that it can consume us, bad things will happen, he, he still tried it, he was gonna kill every agent of every agency, guarding this city; STAR, BGS, Chariot, Strength, even His own. I have to put him down, and I did" she shakes her head in denial, and bit her lips.

"He was back to normal, but as time flies by, he was making distance, my first thought was he was protecting me from him, and i understand that, i really do, but the distance grew and grew, he was like telling me to leave him alone, quit what we have" she tighten up again, it made me look at her, worrying if she truly want to let this out, "Hey…" I said. I wanted to know if she's truly comfortable with this. "Are you sure you want to go on?" i said while comforting her. She smiled and looked at me. "Yes. I trust you '' I smiled at her, it was the right comeback, I'm also glad that she said that. I return my attention to the city,

"I see, I can't blame him though, we have this thing also" i said, the thing is our insane version. "The leading causes of becoming one, becoming an insane version of us is; Depression, loss of temper, and the loss of a loved one" it made me fix my glasses, and bite my lips. "We, we witness this when your second in command, my former executive, Jay, loss his love one, he left us and when we finally got to him, he let it all out, his insane version went out, purple flames coming out from his eyes and everything, you thought it was over for him, we can fix him, but then again, he let all his emotions out, to the point that he can't be reason with".

"He was blaming all of us, that we were too late to help him, help Yomi" I said "And it works, part of me was agreeing with him, that we were too late, that I was too late to save him and her, it made me sniff, i was not gonna cry, i told myself everytime i decided to talk about it, i wasn't gonna cry, "The tough part was seeing him betray us, left us for a false hope of happiness, he was promise that if he left his agency, Yomi will be resurrect, and he took it" When that happened, the first thought was, his just fooling around, he's reasonable, he's smarter than this, wiser than this, i was convince that, that was Jay. But love and desperation conquer his heart, and then his head, it was a simple case of emotions taking over. "What's tougher is fighting him and just like what you did, i have to put him down" Nobody in their right mind would be able to kill their friend, no matter the reason, no matter what happened. I remember it so clearly, details that I thought would be blurry by now, it just gets clearer everytime i resonate with it.

"What happened to him?'' I asked her. She fixes herself, now she is reclining back. "He confronted me about our problem, and the best way to fix this was give him time, retired for the meantime, and when he came back, he break up with me automatically, he doesnt want that to happen again" she softly sigh "I was convincing him that it was okay, it wasn't his fault, but he persisted"

"I finally came to terms with him, our last mission was invading your school, he survived, and after that, he never talked to me again" she begins to sniff, it didn't take a minute to see her cry, "Why?!" She stood up and shouted at the city, it made me jump from my seat, she was full on crying, blaming destiny for the false hope she was given. "It hurts!" she shouted, reaching for her, I was reaching for her, trying to comfort her in any way, it didn't matter if it was life advice, or even a simple hug, I just got to reach her, and heal this broken soul of her.

I hold her shoulders from behind, make her turn around and look at me, her eyes, even when she's crying, she's still beautiful, eyes that are telling me "What should i do?" "Let me help you," I said. Then out of instinque, i hug her, she holdin' me tight "There you go again'' i thought "The actions you shown, are enough to tell me, that you been through alot, that you been hurt'' i don't know what to say, i don't know if hugging her is enough, i didn't have to say; "I'll be here'' cause i bet she already knows that. This is the first time I see her like this, but when she does it, she's beautiful when she does it. Yes, even when she's crying, she never fails to amaze me with her charm.

"I know when i say this, that i'm asking too much of you" i said while looking at her, she was still in my arms, looking up at me, waiting for me to say something, "You need to move on, but you don't need to be alone" She hid her head on my chest, tighten her grip on me. "I know, i know i have to move on, but how? How?" she cried. It's different, from where she's coming, her story differs from mine, by a mile away, I can't actually understand her, because of that, it feels like we're living in a separate world. A fade signal called experience is the only thing that is keeping us communicating, understanding, and maybe relating. to each other. "What can i do?" i thought. "You have to realize that, it's over" she continues to cry.

"You have to let go emotionally, from that memory" i said while stroking her hair, then i made her look at me, touching her cheeks, it was warming up. "Only then can we truly be free from our pain" She still holds on to me. "If you can't do it on your own, I'll be here, rain or shine" I assured her. "And in return will you be here for me?"

She looks up to me and says, "I'm here am i?" she smiled after that. it made me chuckle softly. I patted her head, now she returned to my chest, accepting it, "You're beautiful, you know that, right?" I said, she nodded. She moves away from my chest, looking at me and waiting for something. "I showed you my pain, now do you trust me enough to let me see yours?" she said "If we're gonna help each other, we must know each other's stories" I just nodded. "Can we seat?" I proposed, I snapped my finger and summoned a park bench. I don't wanna sit on the floor anymore. What I did earlier was one of those corny things that you see in movies, and I deeply regret it. "Where should we start?" I asked her while sitting down. "She looks at me while sitting down next to me. "Are you comfortable in the first place?" she said "It's not an obligation, cause i shared mine" a shake my head, "No, not at all, of course i'm okay with it" leaning out of the seat, ready to bring out my story. Alright, Gray, you can do it, breath in and out.

"I wasn't an agent back then, i was an ordinary high school student waiting for my classes to end, everyday, every week, and yearly. I wasn't expecting anything grande. Then she comes along" i draw a smile, especially at the part where she comes along. "We were so different, and even to now I still can't believe we ended up as a couple".

"I was bored out of my mind, listening, and writing the whole day, being stuck in a room and doing the same thing wasn't me at all, i decided to do what's the majority of us students were doing, "Sleeping" I was about to, when she stops me, she asked me why am i about to sleep. I said i was tired and wanted to go home" as i tell my story to Elizaneth, my smile grew larger and larger, i can't help but smile from the moment me and Mika met, It was like breathing fresh air, it was extacy. "I Thought about what she said, that everything has a conclusion, even school. so i continue writing till the class ends" I look at Elizabeth, as she listens to my story, she chuckled at the last part, accepting the common flaws of a student, a high school student. "Nothing like a highschool student who sleeps through his class" She laughed. Accepting the foolishness, I laugh too, the things I did back in highschool. "What's she like?" She asked. That smile I drew earlier grew even more, "She was not easy to read, I tell you. She's this easy going girl; go with the wind, what happens happens type of girl, but at same time, she's wise, and smart. You could never know at first sight." "But I'm glad I listened," I said. "The class was over, i was free to go home and do whatever i want, but i didn't, i was interested on what she has to say, we hang out at our school monument, talk about who we are, i was the first to talk about myself, and it was like new experience for me, i never talk about myself, and my weakness, cause i know nobody cares"

Elizabeth looked at me when I said "Nobody cares?" She moves closer to me, I notice it and looking into her eyes, it tells me that without saying a thing, "Somebody cares" I move my hand, and I hesitate, I put it down again, and look at the city. "We walked from our school to our home, we went to the bay area and decided to stop by, to look at the sunset, i invited her, hoping i can impress her, and i wanted to rest, let the wind crash to my face, play with my hair, letting it join the flow of the wind, and fixing it. She joined me, sat beside me and played her instrument, the moment was getting better, sunset, and relaxing music, it was the perfect combination. I know what's the perfect moment, but i didn't know until that day happened, I let the wind play with my hair, and

That's when the magic started. The sunset was in motion, the light went in our direction and the moment it did, she looked at me, she looked amazing, her soft skin, her brown hair, her eyes that shine with the sun. That day, she beat the sunset, and she took my breath away"

I know to myself what's the perfect view, but when that happened, my standards on the perfect view resets, I chuckled, how in the hell was she able to use the scenery, and her beauty? Making it her own, It was one of my pleasures when we; Me and Mika went outside and reenacted the event when we fell in love with each other. Mika once said "I was falling in love over and over again, even if it's in the past, I applaud you for doing the same thing, making it even better than the last".

"She sounds wonderful" She said, Elizabeth adjusted her posture, leaning on to a more comfortable seating position, our hands getting closer, our poses comfortable, letting our guard down, we now trusted each other. "I finally confessed to her the next day" I chucked first before returning to my story, cause it was fun, and i realized something that day, that i was the kind of guy who will do everything for his loved ones, what will happen if she wasn't by your side? Do you just quit and be done for the day? No, that wasn't my first thought, i go find them and tell them how much i love them. "Class was over and we decided to go home together, but she suddenly left" Smiling at the past, once again i released a soft chuckled, cause it was one hell of a find. "I ran and looked for her inside the school, thinking where she could be hiding, what was the perfect hiding spot for Mika? The library? No, the School Grounds? No, and then i remembered, Thank God i remembered, you see before all of that happened, the teacher ordered me to fetch her from the school terrace, the tenth floor, where the higher ups of the school goes for meetings, the tenth floor was like an office, it has a vacant space, sofas, coffee table, and plastic plants, all the nine yards, then there's the office, we don't know what's inside, so that's the tenth floor, another block for us students, but for Mika, it was THE View, Where you can see the city and the sunset, it was the perfect view, but the floor was off bounds to students, even to this day i don't know why she was allowed or why the teacher knew. So as a good student, i went and fetch her, when i got to the terrace, i looked at her first, She was looking at the horizon, i approach her, and the noise i made, she suddenly looked at me, she smiled at me, fixing her hair because of the wind, at first i thought it was some kind of gimmick, those corny gimmick you see in movies. I said the teacher was looking for her, she complied and we went down together, now i know where she was. I ran, skipping individual stares as i go to another floor, almost dying at the process because of skipping, i arrive at tenth floor, again no teachers, no employee from the floor below, i was glad there was none ,if i got caught i won't be able to say those words i want her to hear, i unlock the door and there she was, same place, same time.

She turns around to face me, the wind that was blowing behind her, made her hair wave to my direction, showing her beautiful brown hair, she fixes it, letting her bright brown eyes be the attraction of mine, i approach her, holding her hands, and looking at her, i said, "I love you, Mika" After i said that, she launches herself to me, hugging me and letting her head rest on my chest, she looks at me from my chest and said "I love you" I was the happiest man on the earth, i fallen in love"

I'm happy that i'm able to get this out, to tell another person about my story, our story, to let my weakness be known and be helped because of it, i'm shaking and i don't know why, i notice it, i wanted to stop it, but she beats me to it, Elizabeth finally grabs my hand. "Hey, you okay?" She said as she gets closer to me, messaging my hand, keeping it from shaking even more. She was helping me to relax, cause she knows there's a sad ending to my story, to my perfect story. Before continuing it, I try to relax, helping her to get me at ease, I breathe in and out, slowly. Another action I was surprised, years of not showing weakness, not showing any problems to others . Who knows just sharing my pain will trigger me to do these things, to show what i don't want to be shown, especially my friends, i don't want them to see this, this me, this side of me, i was shaking, and it's only shaking, what if i cry? That's when i can't old on any longer, where sheer will can't contain the emotions that's needed to let out, it wasn't healthy to seal it inside for too long, not of it was, but to build up a strong mentality is a must, it was needed to do this job, i needed to think like that. I thought I was in control, but I was wrong, dead wrong, i was never in control, i was just running away from it, now it catches me, telling me to let this out, to get me fixed by somebody. Somebody I can trust, and I still don't know if she's the right person. "I'll be here" she said, she's still holding my hand, she's beginning to worry now, i want to tell her that there's nothing to worry about, i'm fine, but i don't want to lie to her, she doesn't deserve it. "Can you still tell me? I won't force you if you're not ready" She asked me, "I know these things takes time, but i'm okay with that" I shake my head in denial, this has to be let out now, i don't know what will happen tomorrow, i don't know if we'll see each other again. tomorrow is an unknown variable. "Its okay, i've been hiding this for two years, and i trust you to helped me"

showing me her smile was assuring, it made me smile as a result, i mean what can i say? It was magic. "Everything was doing well, we both knew what we wanted in the future, but destiny had other plans".

I lean my head to the side, the feeling of uselessness is coming back. And so the innocence, the pureness, the trouble free life. The world back then, there was no worries, no complicated problems crosses our minds, it was like a story, were you thought its planned out, so we can be free because it's not our responsibility to think or do something to keep our life running, like we can wake up in the morning and let the day pass by.

We were living for love, thrills, and fun, we would wake up in the morning, and the first thing we'll think about is what we're gonna do today, but now the first thoughts after waking up are problems, and our uncertain future. It seems like we're living for our problems, like it's the only thing that keeps us running, not walking. It was easy back then. It was easy because I have someone. Someone that truly believes in me. With her I thought I could do anything, But the moment I knew there was something killing her, my life became a house of cards.

"The moment she told me she has cancer, my life went to a bottomless pit" I didn't know what to do, it was out of our control, but still, I didn't give up on us. We were perceived to win, to get over this nightmare. "Everyday I visit her, hold her hand, talk to her that everythings gonna be okay...That you won't die"

"I don't know what to do. What can I do? All I know is that I can't let her lose hope" and it hurts when that's the only thing you can do, she's on her deathbed, clinging to life support, breathing heavily in and out. I hold her hands, it was a pain to see her that way. everytime we see each other, holding on to her hand. "I would tell her about my day, and make her smile, with my corny ass jokes" i said as i looked up at the sky, signing and returning to my story. "We tried to stay strong, but every passing day, the effect, and procedure of the battle was affecting our will to stay strong, they cut her hair bald, because chemotherapy. It was heartbreaking"

When I look back at that moment, I was standing beside her bed, Mika sitting up, greeting me, asking how was my day, and smiling at me, telling me it's okay, I went to her and cried, how can i just accept it? "How is it okay?" i asked her, still in her arms, "I don't want to see you like this"

She patted my head, made me look at her by touching my cheeks, she gave me a weak smile, then saying "Don't cry, i can do this" i believe her, i believe in us. But hope can go so far, and she was fading. The first sniff of the night, I noticed. and my eyes began to water, then followed by breathing through my mouth, looking around like a lost person, hoping my companion finds me. "Then one day, like most days i went to the hospital, i bought our favorite food and a banquet of her favorite flowers; "Lily of the valley" I hoped it can give her the hope that was needed, but when i got there, She was moved into another room, her cancer was spreading, she hit critical"

The first tear of the night begins to stream down my cheeks, it won't be long till I cry a river. I reach back for my back pocket, getting my towel out from it, then dry the lone tear with my towel. She notices this, i don't know what to do, except tell the story, to finish it, and maybe, just maybe, she'll help me answer my problem, i don't expect her to understand me, but maybe the part where i love, is something she'll resonate with me. "No visitors allowed for the meantime, she needs to rest" Her doctor said. I was losing hope fast, the day passed by, I was seated outside her room, waiting for the nurse or doctor to let me in. It was making me nervous, i was sitting and praying, i was doing something that i thought was a waste of time, cause it's not gonna help in anyway, i was praying to God, i was praying to him to save her, the audacity i felt after that, praying for a God that you don't believe in anymore, i was like those so called friend, whenever they need something they just suddenly appear and after they got what they want, they cease to exist again from your life. "Please save her, please help her overcome this situation" I prayed. "I don't want to lose her" i was beginning to cry, leaning to my lap, and blocking my tears from coming out, i didn't care if people see me doing it, at this point i was waiting for a miracle to happen, I later came back to the thought of That's not how prayer works. so many thoughts crossed my mind that day, so tired and so lost, I slept at the seat, I only woke up by the wariness of her Parents. "Son, you have a rough day, why don't you go home, Mika won't want you to do this on yourself" Her Father said. "We'll message you when we get any news from Mika's Doctor" I dried off my tears, while doing that I stood up and said my goodbye to her parents, I exited the hospital, walking back home. It was cold, windy, and shitty weather for nights back then"

"When I finally got home, I went directly to my room, walls that don't have paint and cracks, my clean bed, that was waiting for me to collapse on it. I took off my shoe and kicked it to the side of the door, walked to my bed, then slept '' even to this day, it didn't bother me if i had sleep paralysis. "Two things happened that night, first; I met Black, our leader, then she gives me a task, travel across the land of dreams where five different people who was total power over their city, and beat them at their own game"

The moment i closed my eyes, i was transported to this world, a ruined world, everything was destroyed; building that once reach the sky, gothic style architecture surrounds the environment, all is in ruined and everywhere you step, the floor, or the ground was a black and white checkered pattern chess board, "Am i piece?" I asked myself . I was looking around, completely unknown to this world, knowing there's no sign of inhabitants, I stopped surveying the area and walked, don't knowing where or when I'd wake up.

I was to make my first step when a giant steam powered spider rose from the ruins. The first thing I thought was to run and find a hiding spot, but out of curiosity, I went to it, and snapped my fingers, then this sword appeared from my right hand, then a star ring on my middle finger. "What the hell?!" I said. having second thoughts i was preparing, jumping up and down but not leaving the floor, i grip at my sword. What? What? I thought What are you going to do?! if i can summon this thing, then i can summon this; I snap my fingers and blue flames appear on my palm, What the hell is happening? The spider was three meters away, I threw the flame at its front and went to the side, I found a ramp, then jumped from it, stabbing the spider to its head. Like those movies i saw, monsters, or in my case a giant spider don't die quickly, before it does, it shakes a little, making those noises that can only be the stuff of dying nightmares. I stab its head and turn the weapon to the right, still inside its head,then I stab it deeper.

I walked away from the moment it hit the ground, the sword disappeared because I wanted to. Then she appears, Black Rock Shooter. I think to myself, my night just keeps getting weirder and weirder , I liked it so far. letting her talk first is a step start. "Gray, is it?" She asked. I nodded back at her, she leaned her head to the left, to see what i had done, she's not surprised, not even a little, still leaning to the left, she looked at me next. "You did this?" She asked. "Yes ma'am" I replied. she stood up straight, sighing "Was that yours ma'am?" I asked. she shakes her head in denial, "Nope" She added. "Walk with me" She then said. As she started walking to nowhere, she was leading me.

"By my side please" without looking back, she ordered me. I catch up and copy her pace. "You wanna see your Love again?"

No time for a question on how she knows about Mika, I just nodded and waited for further explanation. "We're going to five different cities, each city has different boss, and different games that are mastered by their respective leader, beat them at their game, wake up, and maybe, realize your new purpose in life" Shocking, i know dreams are weird, but i never anticipated dreams can be this weird. Interesting? Yeah. "Where to first?'' I asked, the road ahead was still in ruins, cracks and cracks for miles, buildings like earlier were still visible, making me believe this was once a city. "You ready, Rookie?" She asked. I just nodded and let the events that made who i am today lead me.

"I woke up that day with the burnden still in my chest, I put my phone beside me, laying on my bed, still waiting for that call" Helpless and desperate, I wanted to sleep again, to forget all of it.

"But you didn't sleep, did you?" i just shake my head, no i did not, "The moment i did, Mato wouldn't let me, she said; "You were able to defeat the five leaders, almost dying in the process, but facing reality for you is too much?" I realized she was right, I got up, did what I had to do that day and waited for Mika's condition report" Elizabeth nodded and understood, what can you do? I was not the doctor in charge of her, I was not the nurse that could help her recover, I was her lover, but being a lover was not needed in the operation room. So I waited. I waited all afternoon, and all night. I just want to hear her voice or her road to recovery.

"The next day, her Father called me, and…HE finally told me that Mika had passed away. I cried, I broke down in my room, carefully not screamin my pain out, I just cried and cried. "No, no, no," I said while crying and hugging my pillow, thinking to myself, as I hugged this pillow I was hugging Mika, "I need to go to her'' I thought to myself. "The Gray you know now, was not him that day, I was in my lowest" i smiled at her, "I lost someone so dear to me, that it made me think that i was never gonna find love again" I was not trusting my heart to anyone so sudden, and if i do, i'm gonna play it smart.

"How about now?" She suddenly asked. "How are you feeling right now?" i feel good, i feel i'm free from all the pain i hid from all my friends, and my family. "I feel I can love again" I replied. As we stare at each other, a spark begins to grow. the feeling we know when we fell in love, when we are sure to give ourselves to a person we adore, was present once again, and it was sweet, when it's sweet how can we say no, we lost this feeling, and when that happen, if that spark begins to grow again, we always say to ourselves; that we are ready to go. We don't like the thought of rejection, we're always expecting the confirmation of our significant half. Although the possibility of rejection is there, it never stops us to propose, to take a chance, to risk it all. To take somebody all the way. That's when we're sure of it.

"I feel I can love somebody now, and I think I already fell in love with someone" I smiled at her. She was the one, i didn't think this through but I'm sure she's the one. If I ever were to fall in love again, I know that she's the one. She holds my hand tightly, she gives me a smile, as we get closer, the thought of the violation; that me and she can't fall in love, because we're enemies, disappear. We didn't care, cause we rather risk it all just to fall in love with the right person. And Me and Elizabeth would take it all the way. She touches my cheeks, feeling it gently, I let her get closer as a confirmation, I hold her waist with my right hand and the other to her head to feel her hair. We closed our eyes at the same time. we were closer than before. Feeling her warmth in my arms, the feeling that was lost, i thought i lost it with Mika, it appears again, and i'm more than happy to accept it. Our lips met, everytime it did, the kiss was deeper than the last, we broke the kiss, resting. Still in each other's arms, "I love you, Gray '' i draw a smile, my eyes lighting up like a christmas tree, i love her, i love her so much. "You don't know how much i want to hear those words from you" she smiled, she pull me to her, hugging me, "I love you too, Liz"

No one depicted this, except us two. Our agency won't allow this, a romance between enemies, especially these times, where the two factions are on the edge of total war, I doubt it can change the opinion and tide of the conflict itself, our future is so full of uncertainty, so uncertain it make us doubt about ourselves, even our own capabilities to do what is necessary for the future.

"What now, Gray?" i don't know, i really don't know how to continue this, part of me wants to tell her my plans, but another part of me is wishing this moment will stay forever. but i have to say something, the ecstasy from earlier is still there, it was so unreal to me, i anticipated it, and i'm glad it happened, i'm just surprise, that the one i was looking for, to vent out to, to love, is an enemy, an unlikely variable, "We prepare for the future…" we could just stay here, in each other's arms, or wait for her, for her judgment.

"Hey, i have an idea" I looked at her, waiting for her idea to pass the time. I hope it's not something so out of the blue. "Show me a good time, fly boy" she throws me a grin and playfully push me, she's a fast runner, without a care to the world, the wind crashing to her face, the clothes of her joining the flow of the wind, it was like being a child again, but this time, love and ecstasy was filling the air, this was gonna be one of those nights, to throw away responsibility and experience something that everyday life can't give me.

I followed her lead, she already jump from the building, so any minute now she'll summon her jet, i jump, touching the last piece of the building, and not another second, i begin to fall down, i got a visual of Elizabeth, i want to catch her, i narrow my posture to make me more aerodynamic, i was like bullet, Elizabeth still spreading her arms and legs,like a skydiver, not wanting to surprise her, i hid my laugh until i get to her. "Hey" I smiled at her, she looked at me all surprised, she leaned to the left and grabbed me.

Hugging me. She slowly let go to let me see her smile, she slowed down by spreading her arms and legs again, then her jet appeared; A, P.1216, a vtol aeroplane, its unique wing design got my attention. A prototype of the british airforce back in the 80's should be a replacement of a harrier, another vtol aircraft, it was my first time seeing it in real life, a dynamic design, but there was a reason why it never go into service, but seeing it perform, it was breathtaking, like in an anime show. I stop admiring her plane, as she slowly climbs up vertically, absorbing the sudden g force, 90 seconds, reaching mac 0.1, it was a magnificent aircraft indeed, Elizabeth was able to handle it, she went to the sky, waiting for me to summon my own aeroplane. I won't let her wait.

I faced the night sky and closed my eyes. focusing and picturing the aircraft i wanted to summon. I opened my eyes, and I was airborne, climbing up, and getting her. My plane is an Su - 47 an forward swept wing plane, it's a prototype of the Russian air force in the 90's, the design of this plane should give me agility and maneuverability, this should able to catch her in no time, i can't help but smile, the speed, the thrill, it was being manifested on my face. Quiet cheesy but what we said earlier to each other, there's no such thing as that now. "Catching up are we, Dear?" smiling at the comment, I accelerate even more. Now she was beside me , maintaining the formation, we stayed like that, looking down to our city, it was magical as always, the thought of the city should be asleep during night disappear, it was alive and well, the lights that compose the beauty of the city, it was shining brighter than always. I want to show her something. "Hey wanna show you something?" "What is it?" she'll love it for sure, i just know it. "You have to trust me on this' 'I began to lead her out of the cloud layer, we were piercing the skies, and not long we were one step closer to space. "What are you planning, Gray?" She asked. "Oh you loved it, in three, we have to exit our jet, form on me" "What?!" I just laugh and wait for her to do the same, "You better know what you're doing!" keep climbing, keep climbing. I can feel it, the coldness. "Gray?" "Just a little more, Liz" both our planes finally lost power,,, turning to the side and pointed down to the earth, it was time. "Now!" my plane disappears, Elizabeth follows my lead, i turn to her, waiting for her to go to me, she's close, i grab both her hands and we are free falling.

I pull her to me, spooning her in the process. I closed my eyes and focused. "Gray?" She asked again. "Anytime now!" I summoned once again my Su 47. A little bump, we were safely inside of it. "Liz?" we were cruising speed, "Where are we?" still closing her eyes, i chuckled, she was holding on to me, i wanted to hold her, what beauty i thought. "Liz, open your eyes" I said. "No way, no way" "Open your eyes, i want you to see this. Trust me" without looking at her, I know she slowly opens her eyes, letting her head lean on my chest, once she opens her eyes, it widens, I get her. The stars, and the earth, both are in our midst, both are aspiring, they are different, but to our eyes, it speaks of beauty.

"It's beautiful, Gray" she looks up and to the side, it was fun to watch her doing her thing. She leans on me again, hugging me in the process. "You really outdone yourself", i engage in autopilot, i wanted to hold her, scratch her hair, hold her waist, i wanted to feel her even closer. i went for her head, feeling the soft blond hair of hers, it was blissful. she snuggled into my neck, touching my chest, feeling my heartbeat. I reached her waist using my other hand, pulling her closer. We can feel each other breathing. "I love Liz," she smiled, "I don't want to let you go, I want you to be my last, and I hope you feel the same '' her smile grew widely. "I love you too, my love, and do feel the same" She Opens her eyes, looking at me from my chest, she adjusts herself upward, we were face to face and getting closer, we both close our eyes and our lips meet again, holding each other passionately, i never thought i could ever feel love again, and it's even stronger than before. We were glad, I'm glad I was able to change her heart. we break the kiss, she returns to my chest, closing her eyes in the process. "Let's go home, my love" I nodded. "Hold on tight" as comfortably as possible, I head down, not disturbing her rest. Not a minute later we return to the cloud layer and glide down, I can see the city again. Still glowing from the darkness of the night.

It was 0430, not too long till the sun rose again , starting a new day, another day full of uncertainty and opportunities. From where we are, i never had a full picture of the city, i was so used of the view from the building i always go, this was other worldly, railways, and rivers, two things so different but connect the city in someway, cars that was mimicking the flow of blood in the veins, it only took seconds to take a look of the city, the factors i just said. To look at them and make a perfect view. It only took seconds to appreciate it.

"I can see the building" the building we hold our date earlier. My jet slowly descended, the engine roared louder than before, once it touched down to the helipad, the plane disappeared slowly, each piece glows upward, I was carrying her bridal style, slowly touching the ground, the glow disappeared, now we were alone again. "We're here"

She slowly lower her weight and stands up. "Hope you liked it" she reached for my hand, let me face her, "I did" she led me to the edge of the building, we sat on the helipad and looked at the city, she leaned her head to my shoulder, she closed her eyes, letting it rest, then smiles. Won't be long until the sun rises.

The sky was showing the change slowly, light blue skys, I fell in love with the stars that glowed with the city, it was all being erased slowly by the sunlight, the sunlight wasn't visible yet, but it was there, slowly changing the view. Changing it to an even better view, oblivious to other people, irrelevant to the population, but to me, everyday is a beauty. Beacons of each building in the city begin to light up. Joining what's left of the light of structures, people slowly waking and showing up, getting started in their daily routine, small but distinguished noise that defines the city life begins to sound off.

Little things, little things that can put me at ease, I looked at Elizabeth, still sleeping in my arms. I was about to close my eyes also, I was in peace, with the girl of my dreams beside me, I was letting my guard down. joining her peaceful sleep. Until I see something. something familiar.

I feel nervousness and uncertainty fills me. As this thing gets closer. I was still not sure why or how, due to this "Shit" is that what i think it is?

Elizabeth notices this. She looks at me, waiting for an explanation why I was in my present form. "It's Mato" I slowly stood up from where I was sitting, letting Elizabeth stand on her own, it was judgement time.

Her plane was getting closer. A Grumman X -29, a forward swept aircraft from the cold war era, its color black, with the agency's logo at the vertical tail fin ; a white star, there was no mistaking that's her, it turns to the side, while in mid air, we look eye to eye. Then she passed us upward, booming the air, the jet went upward, slowly transparenting, then glowing and disappearing with the wind. Mato slowly descended downward to the helipad, she looked at us with disappointment. What she opposed, was now a reality, a STAR agent fell in love with an enemy agent.

Elizabeth looked at me with worry, I too was worried. The boss was with us. With Mato, it was always an enigma, all of us in the agency don't know what she's thinking, it was her aura that sent chills up to our spine. Enemies or Allie, Even to Josh, Her lover, there was no exception. But today I think I know what she's thinking.

She finally touched down. "So.. You pursue it, huh?" she walked towards us, Elizabeth beside me, she was nervous, so nervous she hid beside me. "Gray'' I look at Elizabeth then at Mato. "Ma'am"

Mato looks at Elizabeth, observing her. Mato looked at her in a demeanor, and it was working, Elizabeth was looking at the ground, holding my hand, it got Mato's attention. I hold her in return, ever holding it so tight. "So you have decided...You know what will happen next, right?" I nodded. "But there's another way" Mato stood up straight, still looking at us with a demeanor, waiting and listening. She let out her sword from her back, it was her iconic, gigantic sword. She let us see it, hanging it to the left.

Then shove it to the ground, leaning at the side of the blade. She crossed her arms then looked at us again. "This better convince me, Gray" The plan is a hail mary, the plan is; to let Elizabeth join my agency, she will swear to a new agency and commander, forgetting her previous agency, cutting ties to the skull too. She'll be a new STAR Agent. Everything will change, even her powers. "What's your plan, Gray" Elizabeth looks at me,waiting for me to explain my dumb plan, it could save our job and our powers. It's a gamble that's for sure. But if it doesn't work, i'll still sacrifice my job for a chance to be with her. I told her my plan, carefully explaining it in detail, I also tell her the things we'll be sacrificing. Our memory of our job, the people we met, and our powers, it will be all gone in one snap of a finger.

"Are you willing to do it?' I asked her, I let her think about it first. "As long as we have each other" I nodded, moving our hands, I turned it to hers and kissed it. I nodded, finalizing our decision. "My plan is to let Elizabeth join our agency".

Mato, known for being an unmovable agent, widened her eyes and was able to move from her sword. Shocking at first. She fixes herself, she knows me as a person that is full of surprises, even to now i don't disappoint, i wasn't smiling, it was not like a chess match where i can checkmate her objection, the power and the last decision is still in her hands, she is the judge at this point, and i have a feeling of uncertainty, she's the commander of my agency, it is expected from her, to not get read by people so easily, she stood there, undisturbed, waiting to make up her mind. "Please Ma'am, believe in me" I thought. There's a part of me saying I was not ready to leave this job, to live an ordinary life again. But the half of me was saying let it go. It's time to let go, to move on. There's an end for everything, I know that, and someday it will happen, but today, still in my teenage years, I was not letting go of it, not until I said so.

In the agency's history, the situation of Elizabeth is special, and never happened, in the exception of B.G.S, Strength and Chariot agents. But nobody ever change affiliations before, higher ups didn't think of it cause it was never possible for an enemy agent to change sides, it was in the prophecy in the first place, Stars and Skulls are natural enemies, they don't sit and talk without having a gun pointing at each other, both agency have a department of diplomacy, but the people in that department can only do so much, at first Mato wanted to relive the renaissance time of agencies, where the five agency combine forces, they have a clear vision of helping the sleeper to wake up from a deadly dream, and if the sleeper show promising talent, they might recruit them on their mission, it worked for two years. 2012 to 14, when the world begins to be more complex, so as the agency, and leaders of each faction begin to disagree on their mission, and to add even more complexity, the dreams and the sleepers begin to show abnormal effects, it was chaos, they hit defcon 1 to put it in a simple way, they team up one last time, to defeat an insane version of some sleeper, this sleeper even to this day is kept anonymous by the five leaders, the sleeper was so powerful it can endanger the existence of each agency, destroying the mission and vision of the combine agency. In the end they succeed in suppressing the threat, the fear of being exposed as a single agency went through the leaders, so the solution was to break up, if one agency from the five is to be exposed there's still three to continue to the job.

Back at the present, Mato was still standing guard, she's staring at Elizabeth, Mato's fierce eyes pierce through Elizabeth's soul, we always have a saying: just by looking in the eye you can see the soul of the person. Mato was doing just that. "Elizabeth is it?" Mato leans to her sword, fierce as ever, "Fall IN'' Elizabeth grips my hand even tighter, her eyes filled with uncertainty, she's scared, "Why?" I asked. standing aside Liz, "I just want a talk to your girlfriend… Nothing wrong with that, right?" she hid her sword, lowering the tension, showing Elizabeth no harm. "I said fall IN'' looking at Elizabeth, she let my hand go, "You ready?" she just nodded and slowly walked to Mato, any minute she's gonna be more in hands. "Quickly!" And there she goes, she sprinted in front of Mato, Standing in attention, reminds me of my early days as a cadet officer. All those memorable days, it was full of drama, brotherhood, and foolishness, And i'm glad to be a part of it. Elizabeth got to Mato, halting infront of her, standing tall, chin up, hands curl into a fist, and feet at a 45 degree angle, she was ready to present herself. "Your Uniform is a little crumple" Mato looks at me, leaning to her side, she was not too impressed. I shrug as a reply.

"Tell me a reason why should i listen to your lover?" Mato summoned her sword again, but this time it was a normal size, and she pointed it to Elizabeth's chin. Knowing this is just her scare tactic, I relax my aura, but there's still a chance that my boss isn't fooling around.

"Why should I let you join my beloved agency?" Her left eye is flaming out blue flames. one of her famous icons, a sign to show that Mato is serious. There are times Mato's flame burns through hope, and sometimes it burns with anger.

"If I let you join, will you betray our trust?...ANSWER ME" Elizabeth is still standing in attention. C'mon, Liz, answer her, convince her that you change, change for me. "Because Gray believed I could leave the wrong side and go to the right side, Ma'am." "Because I want to help people with the right people, Ma'am. " "No, I will not betray you and him, Ma'am!"

Mato's eyes look sharp, her flame still there, still going strong. "Convince me...Fall OUT" the moment she commanded that, Elizabeth looks at me, wondering what to do, how can she convince her, Elizabeth knows words can only go so far, promising is like 50/50 at this point, Mato can't just rely on promises, this was an enemy agent, words from them can be just words, no sincerity at the statement. Everybody can pledge all they want, make promises, but not everybody can commit. Mato wants her full cooperation, her allegiance changed, and no bullshit.

"Would you die for this person?" Mato looked at me. Elizabet looked at Mato, Nodded without hesitation. "Show me" How? How can she? "Have any idea?" Elizabeth looked at me, she wanted to show her, but what?

"I know" What she gonna do? I let her go to Mato, Mato which was still standing, waiting. "What?" Asked Mato. Elizabeth raise her right hand, this made Mato looked at Elizabeth's hand,

an object was starting to form, glowing in her hand, it was like watching fireflies form into one singular light source. When all the light sources gather in her arms, it forms a banner, her agency's banner, she presents arms. Using her powers, she ignite it with flames, letting Mato see, the agency she so dispise, an agent of it, is burning her own flag, the wooden pole, and cloth of the flag, it was disintegrating, each part falling to the floor, Elizabeth letting it burn until its no more, She was looking at Mato, without saying a word, she was sending Mato a message.

The whole thing burns to nothing, Mato still unfazed. C'mon boss, say something, "If that's not enough, my powers burn with it" She sacrifices the power of the skull? She's an ordinary teenager now. "Show me" Mato barked, without hesitation, Elizabeth snapped her fingers, and nothing appeared or happened.

Mato turns to the side, smiling, and she shakes her head in denial, she then laughs, "There's nothing stopping you, huh?" Elizabeth shocked, Mato return her attention to Elizabeth, "Don't betray him, or even hurt him, Gray went through alot, i'm expecting you to be his companion and guardian from now on"

"She's a keeper, Gray'' She smiled at me. "Fall IN '' Elizabeth running with joy in her face, she was accepted by my commander, standing by, waiting for Mato's Approval. "Elizabeth Knight, you are now a STAR Agent, protector of the weak, to work in the dark, to bring the enemy to the light, a beacon of hope to those who can't see it, a light to those who are in darkness, a guardian to those who lost their ways, May you shine bright, to lead the way"

The whole world seems to stop, the sun and bright blue sky that was shining a minute ago, now it was replaced by gloomy weather, clouds that store thunder, the sun was nowhere to be seen, we were covered by shadows of the clouds, circling around us.

Elizabeth's green aura was lifting up, letting go of her body, it was disappearing to the sky, the clouds was now releasing lightings, it was like watching the clouds hold in its hidden wrath, boom it went, each spark of light was shown, not a second later, a booming sound was replacing it, one after the other, it seems like it could strike us any moment now.

"Ma'am?" Elizabeth asked Mato. Mato just smiled at her waiting for something, I too was waiting for my boss to do something; maybe get us covered from this lightning- rich environment?

Then a loud boom, not like the first ones, this thunder could open up the clouds that was conquering the city, it sparks inside the clouds, absorbing other individual thunder, it went around in circles, i followed it with my eyes, even thought it was a lost cause, it moves faster than sound, i can only follow the glowing effect it does in the clouds, it was getting closer and finally one last boom was heard, then it hit Elizabeth.

She screams of pain, so much it made her kneel to the ground, We just stood there, knowing what was happening, we can only smile, as another join our ranks, and she was a promising one, as another agent joins, the fight lives on for peace, hope was building up for a better future.

"Rise, Elizabeth Knight '' Elizabeth complide, her new aura, color blue was alive and burning, so much joy filled her, she was able to ignite a flame to her eye, our iconic symbol. I echoed her amusement, so much so I ran to her and hugged her, I was able to lift her up, twirl her around. "I love you, so much" i smiled, " I love you too"

"Welcome to our ranks, Elizabeth" Elizabeth turns to her new boss "Happy to be here, Ma'am"

Mato snapped her fingers and not another second, we were back to the present, the scenery we adored was there, continuing the cycle of the day. "Thank you, for listening to me, Ma'am"

Mato just nodded, seeing Elizabeth Smile so much in one day, it made my heart jumps "So you're a STAR Agent now!'' She hugs me again, full of joy. What can i do but imitate her emotions, the person i love is now with me, no boundaries, no rules to keep us apart.

"You won't leave me right?" looking down at her face , those eyes of hers that can take my breath away, her features, i don't know if i can get tired of it, or leave it. My head is telling me to not mess this up, don't ever leave for another, i don't want to gamble it. "Never" I replied.

Without saying anything or doing anything, she can make me smile in seconds, still looking at her until now, but without warning, she pushes herself to me and kisses me. Deeply accepting it. So sweet it tasted, while kissing her, I asked myself; if this was the taste of love? "I should probably go?" Mato broke the silence, we automatically broke the kiss, "Where to Ma'am?"

"Since i'm here, i might visit your Master" She brings out her phone, and begins to type in something, probably texting Joshua.

"Thank you again, Ma'am" I said " For believing in me" she nodded and began to walk away from us "Oh and another thing" she suddenly said. she points at her clock, three hours before classes start. "Got it," we said. She smiles and summons her jet again. "You kids go on now, and try not to make people uncomfortable with your lovely dovely emotions"

we can't help but grinning at her comment, we look at each other, "sureeee" we both thought. "Yes, Ma'am" As we watch Mato climb to her Jet, she closes the canopy of her plane. "Take care of her," Mato said on the radio. I nodded happily as she looked at us from the canopy. As a goodbye, she pointed forward, and began to vertically take off, then fly to the sky, making a boom sound through the city.

While looking at it, my attention shifted to the sunrise, better than yesterday it is. But the mood of the situation was still the same, feeling things i felt from the past, where i worry about nothing, i didn't worry about the future, i can sleep without a care in the world, waking up was easy back then, truly i miss those days.

Whatever I did then was over, I'm here now, with her and now I have the will to see the future in a better way, I might feel those emotions again, even better than before. Like a kid on christmas eve, i was excited for tomorrow. For the future. It might be uncertain, it might be an unknown and full of problems, but we found each other, and we were glad, I just didn't find love, I found the right person too.

"What should we do, Gray?" Still in each other's arms, I look at my girlfriend, smiling at her and at my plan. "Wanna do it all over again?" smiling even more. "Again?" asked Elizabeth . " Want to go for coffee in the same place we met, and go to the place where we had breakfast?"

"You're really good at being romantic, aren't you?" As a yes, I shrugged at her, accepting the compliment. "Sure...But let's just treasure this moment" Elizabeth said while looking at the sunrise. Sunrise. It made me look at it again, the scenery. Sun Rays that light up our world from the night, the clouds that put the finishing detail of the sky, and the wind that keeps us cool. We witnessed it again. I was content with it, at least that's what i thought back then, My first love; "Mika" She defeated such a view like this. And I'm more than glad Elizabeth was able to do the same thing.

Her soft blond hair, crashing to the side of my face, her soft skin touching mine, her blue eyes, those beautiful blue eyes, they were shining so bright that the beauty of the view reflected in it. Without even trying, she's able to beat it, Without noticing, she took my breath away. Without asking, she's beautifully standing beside me.

"Liz?" I asked. "shush" she only replied. holding me tighter than before, she rests her head on my chest and closes her eyes, replying to her actions, I hold her head, softly scratching her hair, and hold her tight with my other hand. "I want this moment to last.. Don't you" her soft reply.

Without saying a word, I made her look at me by softly touching her face then down to her chin. she made an expression that was curious. I slowly lean into her lips, telling her what i'm about to do, she complies by closing the distance, we close our eyes and then kiss. If they held each other to warm us up, the kiss was the cherry on top.

As we do that, the world around us continues to move, the city, waking up and beginning to function. Won't be long until we join the cycle itself. We broke the kiss. Letting it sink in. We were a thing now.

"Shall we Go?"

"Yes"

"I love you, Liz," I said.

"I love you too, my Gray"

.