Chapter 43

The time is almost midnight right now. Despite my best efforts I can't bring myself to go to sleep. It's almost as if something is preventing me from going to that nocturnal haven that I desire.

It's probably due to having someone else in my bed this time. I'm not exactly used to the concept yet. But for some reason Nepgear went to sleep just fine.

Since I'm sleeping with a girl, after tonight I can officially say that I've slept with one. Not like it matters anyway, all that matters to me right now is Nepgear.

"Grr…" I grit my teeth a little bit.

Even if I have my feelings for her in check that doesn't change the fact that I can't get to sleep. I feel a slight stirring in the bed. Nepgear moves around in her sleep slightly, only noticeable if you pay attention.

I smile a little, she looks so innocent right now. Out of ever single time I've ever looked at her, I'd say she's never looked more precious to me than she is now.

"Jack…" She smiles in response. So people can be happy when they sleep.

I feel a bit warm when she says that unconsciously. She's thinking about me in her sleep, which has to mean something. Maybe it's what is should be doing, sleeping.

If I stay up and worry about hat will happen it will eat away at my soul all night, and possibly longer. I've got the person I love at my side, so there's nothing to fear right now. Thank you Nepgear, I'll tell you that when you wake up.

"Huh?"

Nepgear's body rolls closer to mine and puts one of her arms over my torso. Immediately she pulls herself closer to me and places her head on my chest.

It stings a little from my wounds when she plants her head down. But after a couple seconds the pain stops and goes back to how it felt a minute ago.

Words can't begin to describe how I feel right now. It's just heartwarming for lack of better words to see this. Her warmth transferring over to my body gives me an overall pleasant sensation.

I'm actually feeling drowsy from her cuddling. I think now I can finally be tender enough to go to sleep. Just one more thing before that happens though.

*Kiss*

I lightly kiss the top of her head. I'm not sure if she was awake for that since her sleeping smile just grew a little. But never the less, it made my mind relax to its fullest now.

Sweet dreams Nepgear, and hopefully I'll be like this in the morning.

A bright flash of light engulfs my vision. Once it clears up I can see where this dream has taken me. And please let it not be the same one again.

My surroundings are now completely black. I'm not standing on any solid ground, just floating in the nothingness. At least it's not the dream that I fear.

"…" I float here in silence.

So this is it? Just me floating around with nothing to do? Like I said before, it's not bad when compared to the previous dream it's not that bad.

I could get used to this if I put my mind to it. It's a lot like my school work for English. Not bad, but not great.

A little ball of light forms about a meter away from me. The ball isn't that large when it comes to size, but I can feel immense power irradiating from it. I think I felt this power before when I've been knocked out by Blanc's punches.

"Hello… hello, can you hear me?"

The same voice from those times knocked out as well. I've been curious as to what they meant. But every time I just left it alone thinking it was my mind playing tricks on me. For all I know it could just be that.

"Yeah…" I don't ask anymore questions because this is all still a little much for me. Again, much better than the dreams of last night.

"Oh good, these connections are hard to stabilize at times."

I don't know what she means by stabilize. Maybe some interdimensional princess is contacting me and is going to ask me to rescue her. I'd make a video game plot out of that if I had the time.

"Now, on to business, I have a favor to ask of you. If you wouldn't mind of course."

Well, this is a dream so it's probably in no way connected to anything I actually do. So what harm could possibly come from listening to my own imagination.

"I'll indulge you for now."

"Good, what I need from you is to go back to the cave where you retreated from in your online game."

That doesn't make any sense at all. Why would I need to continue playing a game? It doesn't actually do anything at all except give me a little bit a pleasure in the online world.

Whatever this voice is, it's confusing me just as much as the other dream did. Still not as bad though, don't think that for a second.

"And why should I? Why is me playing a game so important?"

The ball dims down before addressing me again. "I will explain in time. But first you must do that. I wish I could explain everything to you now but the amount of energy required to stabilize this connection is taking a toll on me."

A few more questions start to fill my mind. I know I've heard this voice before, but so far it's meant little to me.

"Before you say anything else, I've got a question for you. If this is so urgent then why have you only talked to me twice?"

The ball of light dims again, as if to show that it doesn't have much energy left. I just hope I get most of my answers before it leaves this time.

"You are not connected to the sharacite, so it is hard for me to contact you. Your mind has to be completely empty if I am to have any attempt at connecting. When you are knocked out, I can make said connection. You are relaxed enough right now for your mind to go blank and me to speak as well. If the connection is severed or fails to connect in general, your memory could be wiped out."

Now I'm starting to get scared of this dream too. When it says my memory could be wiped out that means I'd forget Nepgear and all the good times I've had so far this year. Wait though, it's just a dream, it can't hurt me or predict my future.

"I don't believe you… It's too crazy to actually be real."

The ball dims for a third time, I think now it's on its last leg. Which means I can enjoy the rest of my sleep once this thing is gone.

"Go to the cave… and then it will be revealed… I don't have much time left so please…"

Alright I'll go back there if it will make the voice be quiet. And once nothing happens I can return to the most normal life I've ever had with no weird things going on.

"Fine… I'd at least like to know what your name is. Even hallucinations have names."

"Very… Well. My name… is… Hist-." The ball finally dims down and is no more. And here I stand once again in nothing more than a pitch black abyss. It suits me really, and I like it much better with something telling me pointless things.

Oh well, time to finish this night off. I think I'll be enjoying the rest of this dream. I'll thank Nepgear later for not letting me have a bad dream tonight.

My eyes open up when the sunlight hits them through my window. So my night has finally ended. I'm glad to see that I didn't wake up in a pool of my own sweat this time.

I give off a sigh of relief. For some reason I feel that the murder dreams are over. But at the same time more puzzling nights are going to be at hand.

Whatever the case may be, I have friends who will stand by my side through thick and thin. And more importantly, I have a girlfriend who can change the way I feel in an instant.

Speaking of which, Nepgear isn't here right now. It's unlike her to leave unannounced.

Actually, I think she's still here. I can hear the sound of cooking coming from our kitchen. And knowing Maurice and his girlfriend, they're not the ones cooking.

Meaning that Maurice probably convinced Nepgear to cook. That or she let her hospitable side show and decided to make breakfast.

It's about time to get up anyway, looking at my clock it's a quarter past eight. Yep, I defiantly should get up to avoid the impression that all I do is sleep.

Getting out of bed, I let off a large yawn. Afterwards I exit my bedroom and see where all the commotion is coming from. True enough, Nepgear is cooking in my kitchen still adorning her pajamas.

As I finally step out into the living area, she looks at me and then smiles. Her hair is a little messed up from her usually neatly brushed look. I will say this though, she's especially cute in the morning.

"Good morning sleepy head."

"Hey *Yawn*… Morning"

She smiles again then goes back to what she was doing. I still can't believe she's cooking right now. I know she's nice but I could've done it at least. It's second nature at this point because I always cook for my brother.

I suppose I owe him a little. After all he did take me in when I had nowhere else to go. But that's a different story for later, and one that will bring me to tears probably.

"Need any help?"

Nepgear ponders for a second, coming up with an answer very quickly. "I'll be fine, go join the others in the living room and I'll be out in a minute."

"If you say so…"

Doing as I'm told, I see that Maurice and his girlfriend who shall not be named are already sitting out here. It's not unusual to see them, it's just I've been getting out more as of late so I don't get to see them as much.

"Morning you little bastard." That's my brothers way of being nice.

"Shut up, it's too early for this."

His girlfriend looks a little worried and eventually speaks up. "Boys, can you two please not fight?"

He groans at me for a second before returning to what he was doing. Just when I think the tension is about to rise again, Nepgear walks in carrying a few plates.

I stand up and take a few from her, she looked like she was struggling with the four at hand. She returns my gesture with a smile and a light peck on the cheek.

So we're at the point where we can kiss for little things? I can honestly say that we've grown on each other these past few months.

Everyone is seated now and I get a chance to finally look at the meal she's prepared, even though the smell gave it away. The plates before us contain two slices of bacon, a side of hash browns, an egg, and a piece of toast.

"Thank you…" It's still unsettling that my girlfriend just cooked for my household.

"You're welcome." Nepgear replies back with a certain luster in her eyes. I never knew she was perfect housewife material as my brother would call it. This can't and won't be a common thing, vow to cook for her one of these days.

"Jack, *Gulp*, you found yourself a nice girl." Maurice is only saying that just because she cooked.

But he's right I have the greatest girlfriend a man could ever ask for. She's sweet, kind, intelligent, and great with getting me out of emotional pinches.

I hit the jackpot when I met her. I know I say I'm lucky a lot, but it's true. I don't know where I would be if it weren't for her. I'd say probably down in a glass case of emotion.

Whatever it is, I can't wait to see what else comes of our future. That includes school which sadly has to come back tomorrow. It won't be so bad, after all I have Nepgear and others to make the day lively.

As I sit back and enjoy the breakfast Nepgear made, I think about a lot. That voice in my dream which was probably a hallucination might come back. And I was going to finish that dungeon eventually.

But more importantly I thought about Nepgear with each bite. Every time I think of her my body feels like it's burning up. Until eventually it burns in the inferno of love.

A/N: This chapter was a bit of a sucker to get down. It's not the best one for sure, but overall I think it's going to really set the tone for the rest of the story.

I'm entering a speech contest soon, and considering the competition I have, I'm probably going to get 2nd place at worst. Either way that'd be two hundred dollars in my pocket. If I win any of the places though, I'm getting a new memory card for my vita and Hyperdevotion Noire.

Enough about my personal life, that contest is what's kept this chapter from being released sooner. But until the next time, see you in the next update.