Chapter 39

"*Ding!* *Dong!*"

*Creak*

"Trick or Treat!"

"Trick… or treat…"

Rom and Ram say in unison as we visit one of the many open houses of the night. So far both of their bags are halfway full of candy and other miscellaneous Halloween items such as spider rings.

The person who opened their door appears to be an elderly women with a kind smile on her face as well as holding a bowl of candy.

"Aw, how adorable you two are. Here, have some candy."

Rom and Ram hold out their bags in anticipation of sweets. Oh how I miss my childhood when I could've been what society refers to as normal.

A few pieces of candy go into each of their bags and both of them respond accordingly.

"Wow, thanks a lot lady!"

"Thank… you…"

The elderly women's smile grows a little bit and looks up at Nepgear and I. Please don't tell me it's another house where people think that we're Rom and Ram's parents. I've already had a similar discussion with Vert.

"Here, you two can have some."

She holds out her hands with a lot of tiny candies in them. I'm not sure how to take this, even though a few of the houses along the way gave us candy too despite our age.

I raise the eyebrow that isn't covered by my mask, hopefully she'll pick up on my questioning glare. I just don't like to be treated like a child, even if I am wearing a costume.

"Oh… well, everyone should have something sweet on Halloween, regardless of their age."

That actually makes a lot of sense now that I think about it. For a while I thought you had to be a certain age to get candy, as well as get the half price off bags the next day.

Both Nepgear and I nod to the elder and take a handful of the sweets. Nepgear has a little compartment on the front of her box where she's been storing hers for the night. As for me, I have a little pouch on my side where I've been stashing mine.

"Thank you"

Nepgear bows to her, I follow her example and do the same. This causes the old lady to smile at us once more.

"You're welcome, have a safe Halloween."

Her door closes and the four of us walk away from the house. Out of all the houses we've been to so far, I'd say that one was my favorite so far. And thanks to that, I love Halloween again.

"So, should we head back yet?"

Both Rom and Ram shake there heads vigorously at my question. I should've seen this coming, of course they're going to want more candy.

"No, let's go to a few more houses! Please?

"Please?"

Oh great, both of them have those puppy dog eyes that you just can't say no to. The rule is simple, once the eyes go on you have to do what they say or else you feel really guilty.

"Well… alright, but just a few more houses, ok?"

"Yay!"

"yay…"

The twins release their victory cries after having convinced me and Nepgear to get a little more candy. I'm starting to think that I'm just a puppet in their master plan of candy domination.

But it's not too bad, I get to spend time with some of my greatest friends in the world. Even if most people would consider me weird for having them as friends. I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Hey, we're back."

The four of us finally returned to the courthouse lawn where the others are waiting. Looking at the group, I notice two more figures than when I left.

Noire and Blanc have returned to the party, which is actually pretty unexpected knowing them. For once, I'm curious as to what brought them back to us.

"Don't get me wrong… you guys could do nothing without me here!"

Noire turns her head away from us while a bright shade of crimson covers her face. Usually I'd press on the issue but I'm actually proud of her. It must have taken a lot of courage to come back after she blew us off.

"I got bored of reading… it's less boring with you idiots."

Unlike Noire Blanc just goes and says what she has to say without any emotion what so ever. It's a trait of hers that I actually like, the only downside is… she can snap at the drop of a hat.

So now that we're here, what now? The little ones have been trick or treating for the night, I wonder if anyone has anything they'd like to do.

"Gather around friends, I have a totally wowzer idea." Oh great, here we go.

"Let's all go to the cemetery and hang out. I mean, it is Halloween after all."

That's not a bad idea actually, and the fact that it's Halloween will add to the scare factor while we're there. If the others agree that is.

Everyone ponders for a moment if it's a good idea or not. Personally I don't care, it's just a place where the dead rest and people come to pay their respects. A few might be scared and a few might be bored.

Everyone nods their heads in agreement at Neptune's big Halloween plan for the evening. I'm shocked that for once everyone agreed on something. Proposing an idea usually sparks a fight in which I get hurt… a lot.

"Alrighty then, let's be off!"

After a little while of walking we reach the cemetery of the town. To be honest, it's not as scary as I'd like to have imagined.

The only people that are scared are Nepgear, Rom and Ram. The twins hold on to each side of Blanc while Nepgear holds my hand tightly. I don't know what you did Neptune but thank you.

"This place… sure is spooky…"

"Scary…"

Even when they're scared it's adorable, but I have my own spooked out person to deal with. And she's at my side.

"Are you alright?"

"Th-this place… is just a bit… dark."

Well it is nighttime, or is she talking about the other type of dark as in a feeling? Either way I'll still be here to hold her hand and make her feel safe.

"Neptune, why did you bring us to this place?" Noire asks out of frustration.

"Well Noirey, there is a legend of the cursed phantom of this very cemetery. And legend has it that on Halloween night, it comes out to haunt those who come by."

Both Rom and Ram gulp as they heard this. Oh dear god she's trying to scare the living piss out of everyone who will believe her on this. It does have one advantage though, Nepgear's getting closer to me by the second.

Damn I sound like a pervert now, but when you actually love someone, you just want to have them as close as possible.

"Wh-what else is there to the legend?" Nepgear asks her older sister. She's so gullible that it's pretty adorable.

"Well, the phantom likes to get up behind you when you're all alone. Then he yells at the top of his ghostly lungs. Afterwards, you can't move, and he takes you away to his lair of darkness."

"Hahahahahaha!"

A very disturbed laugh comes off from the distance. Either that's a hallucination or it's just some idiot who overhead us is playing a practical joke. If it's the former then Blanc is going to punch them.

"Hahahahahaha!"

The laughing gets closer and closer to us. Please just let it be someone that doesn't know us so they can't identify us.

A person walks out from behind one of the larger headstones. It's hard to get a good look at him, I'm assuming it's a him because of the way the laugh sounded. I could be wrong and it could be a very masculine women.

"And you are?" Vert asks the shadowy figure before us.

The shadow walks out of, well the shadows. Once the moonlight illuminates his face, it just turned into a whole new night for us.

"Miss me you fuckers?"

"Oh hell no…"

Before us stands an enemy of ours. I believe everybody remembers him. The one, the only, the person always seems to piss me off more than anything else in the whole wide world.

"Andrew…"

"Ding Ding Ding!"

Tonight he's wearing a blue and red striped flannel with it buttoned up all the way. He has it tucked into his jeans with a belt around it. He is also wearing boots, I can already see the cowboy jokes coming in already.

I don't want to fight him, I'd rather not be in the presence of him either but it's already too late for that. Like I said before, I'd rather it not end in physical contact. Who knows what could happen if I get into it.

"And who is this?" Martin asks me quietly.

"He's a guy who's been us all year. Ever since I kicked his ass the first time he thinks he has to fight me every chance he gets."

Martin lets off an "ah" before stepping back. I'm the one he wants, might as well hear him out. It won't be pretty I can assure everyone that.

"What do you want this time? I'm hanging out with friends so can we make this quick?"

"What do I want? To get back at you!" His sudden raising of his voice causes a few of my friends to flinch a little. He started out so calm, but then went insane on us like Zant from Twilight Princess.

"Haven't you learned your lesson yet? I don't want to hurt you." That much is true… for now.

"But I want to hurt you! And with my new friend, I can do just that!"

Ok now I'm confused more than I already was. I've proven that I can beat him when there are three people restraining me while I'm getting it handed to me. What's one person going to do?

"And who is this "friend of yours?"

"You'll see…" A deviant grin forms on his face before he holds his arm out like an idiot. Yep… he's gone completely bonkers.

Suddenly I feel like something is holding me in place. I don't know what it is, but it feels like it's out of this world. Oh god, please tell those weren't pot brownies that one of the houses gave out. If that's the case, Blanc will kill me because her sisters ate like three of those a piece.

No, I'm not high and this is for real. For some reason I can't move any part of my body besides my mouth and eyes.

"I… can't… move" I stand there struggling against this external force that I can't even see.

"Neither can we!"

I can't turn my head around, but that was Vert's voice I'm sure of it. Just what the hell is going on here? First I can't move, now they can't either?!

"Yep, this has got to be a bad trip…"

Andrew begins walking towards me with a grimace of malice. I can see it in his eyes that he has no intentions of being kind with whatever he's about to do.

Out of his pocket he pulls out a knife and holds it upright. Now I'm really starting to get scared of this. Bad trip or not, I think I'm going to need my brown pants.

"Does this feel like a bad trip?"

He swings his knife at me and makes a cut on the cheek that isn't covered by my mask. I don't get cut very often so you can guess what the initial feeling is. Pain.

"Ah!"

"Jack!" I can hear Nepgear's screams coming behind me. I don't want her to scream. If this is a bad dream then I want to wake up from it immediately.

"What do you think? Being powerless and not getting a choice about anything I do? You're essentially my puppet now!"

He gives two more slashes to my chest with his knife. Luckily my costume is thick so the cuts aren't too deep. But it still hurts like hell when he does that.

"God damn it!"

"Jack!" This time when I hear her voice Nepgear sounds like she's crying.

The same goes for everyone else, I can hear them whimpering in the background at the sight before them of me getting lacerated by an asshole who doesn't know up from down.

"Rom… Ram… close your eyes."

"I don't think so!"

Raising his other hand to the sky, something must've forced their eyes open because I can hear them cry more loudly than before. He's a monster, and once I get free I'm make him pay.

That's if I can get free.

"Now… where was I? Oh that's right!"

He repeatedly swings his knife making lacerations on my chest. Like I said before, my costume is thick but it still hurts like hell.

Slash after slash; he doesn't know the meaning of humility. All he does is swing his knife in attempts to cause more pain on my part. His attempts are working and the pain I feel magnifies.

"Argh! Stop! Let them go!"

"Why… then they wouldn't get to experience your torment as well!"

It might be a little late to say this, but he's lost his mind. I feel nothing but pity for the poor bastard. If I can free then I'm going to beat him to near death.

A few more slashes come towards my chest which results in more pain coming my way. I've had enough of this, I want to kill him!

"Jack…"

Nepgear's muffled voice catches my ear. I don't know why, but I become more aware of everything that's going on around me. I can hear things couldn't normally be heard. Like Nepgear's tears hitting the ground.

"Take this…"

With my enhanced awareness, I could hear what she said. I'm not sure what she meant, but just hearing her voice fills me with a little more hope than I had.

My pain begins to fade away after a couple seconds, even after he keeps swinging his knife at me. Instead of the usual pain filling me, I'm filled with vigor.

I move my fingers around a little bit, proving that I'm almost free of his paralysis. When he retracts a lot for his next swing that's when I'm finally free.

"This is the end for you!"

My hand catches the blade of the knife. For some reason it doesn't hurt me at all. That's probably due to the adrenaline but I could care less right now, I'm going to end this once and for all.

"Wh-what?"

"*Thud!*

Retracting my right arm, I land a blow to his jaw which causes him to fly back into a cross shaped headstone. His knife still being in my hand, I turn it around and make the blade face upwards.

"Cover your eyes girls."

All of them shut their eyes and cover them with their hands. What they're about to see is something I'm not going to be proud of.

Walking towards Andrew who is still recovering from hitting a headstone, I get close to him and throw the knife into his right hand.

"Ah! What the hell was that for?!"

"You're asking me why I'm doing this? Look in a mirror Jack ass!"

My right leg goes into the air before slamming back down and making the knife impale the ground this time. The base of the hilt is on his palm, he won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

"Ah! Sto-Stop!"

"Why should I, I'm just having fun!"

He tries to take his left arm and pull the knife out of the ground. I kick it back, presumably breaking his arm at the elbow. He's going to pay for what he did.

"What's the matter? You were talking all that good shit a second ago! Then I impaled you to the ground like a little bitch!"

Tear marks can be seen on his face. He hurts me, I hurt him back two hundred times harder. And I've also got to take in account he made my girlfriend cry.

Kneeling down to his new height, I take both my hands and grasp his head tightly. Pulling his head back, he knows what I'm going to do to him now.

"This is for cutting me!"

*Smash!* I slam his head into the headstone behind him.

"This is for making my friends cry!"

*Smash!*

"This is for hurting Nepgear!"

*Smash!*

"And this is for being a little bitch!"

*Smash!*

Backing up off of him, I take in the sight of what I just did. He's covered in blood, mainly his arm and face. He's still crying and breathing heavily, which means I didn't kill him.

Even if I did, nobody would miss him, and I could plea self defense. I do have nine witnesses after all.

And him being alive in this state means that he'll need a lot of time to recover. Which in turn means that he won't be bothering us for a very long while. Hopefully my friends kept their eyes shut, I'd hate to have to explain all of this.

Turning back to my friends they all still their eyes closed and covered. If they'd seen me right then, I would probably be considered a monster.

Walking over to their position I'm prepared to hear the worst. However, it might just be the opposite of that.

"Is it over?" Neptune is the first to speak.

"Yes it is. All of you need to turn around and walk the other way."

Everyone nods and turns around before opening their eyes. From that point, we all walk away from the grisly spectacle.

Martin taps on my shoulder. "What exactly happened? We were all paralyzed and then you suddenly just went…"

I hold a hand up to him signaling him to stop. He does so and begins to drift away from me.

Looking to Nepgear, she's still a little shaken up from what just happened. I do a few sidesteps to get close to her. Afterwards I put my arm around her shoulder.

"It's over you know, so stop crying will you? I can't stand to see you sad."

"B-but, you were in so much pain." She looks at my cheek, then my chest.

It's true that my adrenaline wore off about a minute ago. Which means all the pain I should be feeling is back in one big surge. It's nothing a little Neosporin and a band aid won't fix.

Blanc pokes me once. "You'll have to tell me about it later. I'm curious as to what you did."

Ram perks up at her sisters question. "Tell me too will ya?!"

"Ram… you don't want to know what happened to him. You're too young, same goes for you Rom."

Both of them lower their heads in disappointment, Damn right I won't tell them, if they knew then they'd get the wrong idea. I'll everyone else though when they aren't around, they're my friends, if they remain curious then they could start to develop negative feelings.

"Well I'm getting tired… what say we all head home now?" Vert chimes in with a surprisingly good idea given the events that just unfolded. I'm sure we'll all forget about this by the morning and just go on about our lives. I do have all weekend to heal after all.

Neptune, Nepgear and I stand in the middle road of the apartment complex. Halloween for the year has come to a halt. I'm just glad I can go to sleep now and forget about tonight.

"Well Nep Jr., I'm heading on in. Come back when you and lover boy are finished." Even Neptune is returning to normal already. I'm glad for once to hear her perky voice.

Nepgear and I stand alone, much like we did after our first date. Looking into her stunning purple eyes, I feel all my pain drifting away.

"I'm sorry if I worried you back there."

"I'm… ok now. I'm just glad to see that you're alright."

"Yeah… by the way, I heard you say "take this" while I couldn't move. What does that mean?"

Nepgear's head shoots up as I ask this. Maybe she thought that I couldn't hear her. I'm just curious, it was probably just my imagination from the blood loss.

"I… um… well…"

"It was probably nothing… I'm just really glad that I'm alive to see you."

Nepgear blushes at my remark, if that's all it takes for her to feel happy then I'm set for this relationship. Then again, I blush just as easily.

She places her palm on my chest. The automatic reaction is a little bit of pain shooting through me but it subsides quickly.

"Jack…"

"Nepgear…"

Her left hand raises and removes the mask that I've been wearing for the night. Now that my right eye isn't looking through a small hole anymore, I can truly see her face.

What I'm greeted with are dried tear marks and a smile of hers that just takes all my pain away in an instant.

Our faces get closer to the point that she's only about two centimeters away from mine. Her breaths are hot and ragged, and so are mine.

Within a second, we close the gap between us and our lips meet. As always, the sensation of her kisses is like a drug that I'm addicted to. Both of our faces are really tensed up though.

After a few seconds, both us relax and engulf ourselves in each other's presence. After I feel a break in her defenses, I slide a little bit of my tongue into her small mouth.

This earns me a small yelp before she just begins to go with the flow. She follows my example and slides a little bit of her tongue into my mouth. This adds a new dimension to our kiss, one that I'm stuck in.

I can't take it anymore, the feelings I'm holding inside as well as the ego boost I got from earlier are making me want Nepgear more. Putting my arms around her back, I pull her in close.

Again, I get a small yelp before she starts to enjoy it. Her arms wrap around my back, and we're closer than we've ever been before.

Our faces separate due to the lack of oxygen.

"haa… haa… haa…"

"haa… haa… haa…"

After a couple breaths our lips meet again skipping the formalities and immediately slide our full tongues into each others mouths. The overall pleasure I'm receiving outweighs any pain I would've been feeling before, replacing it with passion.

Before long, we separate from this kiss, probably from using more air on this one. Both of our faces stained crimson, staring into each others eyes. The shade of purple that hers are have hypnotized me into loving her more.

"I love you Nepgear…"

"I love you too Jack…"

Both of us look down at the position that we're in and immediately begin to make a new shade of red on the color pallet. Quickly separating from each other, I'm not sure how I actually managed to get into that position.

It must've been my primal desire for her… the desire of lilac.

"I… must be off now… goodnight Nepgear…"

"Good… night…"

Both us walk back to our respective apartments, thus ending our minute of pure passion. Love is a dangerous game…

And I've still got a long way to go before I can truly play it.

Still, in the back of my mind, I wonder why I couldn't move back then. And who is this friend he was talking about? So many questions… no answers.

The best I can do is look to tomorrow and hope for the best. For mine and Nepgear's sake.

A/N: A long chapter this time around. I hope you all enjoy what I've written so far. This was actually written a couple days ago but as I said in the last chapter my internet has been down.

Still though, continue to read, review, spread and repeat. I love everyone of you who reads. Every idea that comes in is appreciated. But most of all, thanks to a few people's encouraging words (You know who you are.)

I was able to get my spark of creativity back. For that I'm grateful. Well, until then…

See you in the next update.