Well, we've made it to Chapter 13. I'm feeling well enough to operate normally now, though I'm not 100% yet. Anyway, this means that I'll probably be updating at my normal pace now (or pretty soon). So, let's do the replies! :D

WindGoddess Rune: Thanks; I think you'll be pleased with this chapter. ;) Thanks for the tip about Gamekyo - I went over there as soon as I read that about Ikai no Kyojuu. Blue Dragon Jr. ... Oh, that is classic! XD I don't know whether you intended that to be funny or not, but you made my day with that. :) And you've given me a wonderful idea for Blue Dragon Beyond's sequel. ;) Thank you. And it is so cool that Ran is going to have a bird Shadow! It looks a little like Phoenix, but it's beak is too different, so it must be a different kind of bird. I hope they give its official name soon. And no - I find Blue Dragon to be a pleasant/annoying acquaintance. ;) I'm joking about that, by the way - he could be nicer to Shu sometimes, but then he wouldn't be the Blue Dragon we know and love. ;) Thinking about it, I realize that I forgot that Noi is a Superior Life Form - he's much younger than the others, and he's traveling with Shu, so it just slipped my mind. But, now including him, Noi would be my favorite Superior Life Form. :) And I think you're right about Blue Dragon having a human form (well, humanoid) at one time. There was probably some kind of accident, and he ended up as the Shadow of Shu's ancestor. It's been a long time since then, so it's likely he's just forgotten - either that, or he isn't saying. That's my theory, anyway. Nene? Cute? Please, no! *runs, then comes back after recovering* Excuse me. ;) Ah. I see I'm becoming a bad influence on you with the face thing. Why are they called that? I have no idea. Noi had called them "Joui Seimeitai", and the kanji of that translates as Superior Life Form. Beyond that, I don't know. I'm very curious as to why they are attacking all the time. Maybe they have some kind of grudge against humans? Or surface dwellers, at least, since they seem to only live in that floating place in the sky. Um... Hope that answered your question. :)

Edward-Elric-in-red: Thank you! *blushes* About the genius thing: Bouquet was about to call the lady who owned the stall something very impolite, but changed it after realizing that the woman had kicked her in front of the store. Yeah, she kind of is. ;) Here's the update, as requested.

ultimashadow: Oh, we're not even at the best part yet. ;) Thank you. *blushes again* Yes, actually; I have several Blue Dragon stories I'm working on. And I have stuff planned for other series, too. But I probably won't upload anything else, save for possible oneshots, until Troubles on White Day is finished.

pepperdadog: ... Pepper, you are brilliant. Your review has just increased the length of this story. :) I'll be following your suggestion almost to the letter. ;)

Prince of Tennis' Shaman: A lot of thanks go to your reviews for that. :) I might've been exaggerating just a bit... but I'll let you decide when it comes up. Besides, Pepper just gave me an idea for one that's probably much bigger than what I had in mind. And for phrasing, maybe "even more"? Or something like that. :) You'll see more of that in this, chapter too; I think it's even longer than last time. Aw, thanks... I might do it just because you said that. Since Grand Kingdom hasn't been a big feature in this story, I thought about doing something for those guys, especially since it would probably be done around Valentine's Day (at this rate, maybe after). I probably would've done something like Lemaire x Cynthia, but they aren't around at this point in the series. In my opinion, they should've never been killed off. :( I'm feeling better now, so I should be able to update without stressing myself too much. Besides, writing makes me feel better - I use it as a stress buster, too. ;) Oh... Get better soon! Really? Your reviews do the same thing for me. :) Well... I'm doing that right now. :D I was already two and a half days late on my Eternal Sonata story, but it was easy to write now that I'm more or less better. Yes... Still getting better. :) Hope to see some more reviews from you soon. And still eagerly awaiting the translation. :D

WindGoddess Rune: Please, by all means, go ahead! I'd love to see some writing from you. Both of your ideas seem very interesting. Just do me a favor, okay? Please, please, please call her Primula. I've checked and double checked this translation over and over, and I'm positive that's what her name is. The primula is a flower, and since delphinium is also a flower, it seems reasonable enough that that's her name. Sorry about the rant, but yeah, I think those are both very good ideas. I actually had a similar idea to the second one, but I think our ideas are different enough that we could both still write them and not be copying the other. ;) Besides, it sounds like your second idea is in the first season - my idea takes place in Tenkai. Of course, I can't get that idea out until I finish Troubles on White Day. But that shouldn't be too much longer. I just hope I make it to Valentine's Day!

Okay, there are the review replies. I did this in my reply, but I'd like to thank Pepper again for her idea. The development of said idea should begin in this chapter. After the disclaimer, read and enjoy. ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own Blue Dragon. I'm not sick anymore, but I've still run out of ideas to make this pestilent disclaimer interesting.

Jiro was lying on the bed, his arm thrown over his forehead, face blazing in a blush.

The good news was that he'd finished his book. He supposed there wasn't any bad news, but it seemed bad to him; the ending had taken a sudden romantic turn, and it had resulted in his thoughts turning to Kluke.

In reality, it hadn't been a long time since he'd crushed on a girl, but everything in his life that happened before his village was destroyed seemed like an eternity away. Still, the feeling of it was fresh in his mind - he knew the signs, and he was getting them again.

But he was considering making a serious attempt with Kluke. He was pretty sure he had a crush again, and he knew better than anyone that sometimes you had to make a move in love, because you never knew when you'd get another chance. He'd never confessed to that girl because he was too scared, and now she was dead.

He rolled onto side, sighing. Kluke wasn't that bad. He hadn't really liked her at first, since he thought that a non-Shadow User would end up slowing them down. But she had proven herself time and again, and even turned out to have a Shadow; now she was the group's main defense, where they would have had none without her. Besides, Jiro thought she was just pleasant to be around.

The door to the room opened and closed. "I guess you are the only one who stays in here." Zola said as she walked in.

"Did you find out anything?" he tried to seem normal; if anyone would detect what he was thinking about, it would be Zola.

She sighed, clearly annoyed. "The results haven't come in yet. They said to come back tonight."

Jiro smirked. "I guess you're getting up late again tomorrow."

"Seems that way. Anyway, why are you still here?"

"What do you mean?" he held himself up with his elbows.

"Don't you remember what I told Shu and Marumaro? Boys your age shouldn't stay cooped up."

"Then why wouldn't you let me leave?"

"I never said you couldn't leave."

"... You knew, didn't you? Bouquet put you up to it."

Zola started walking out of the room. "That was days ago, Jiro; you should put it behind you. Go outside and have some fun."

Jiro glared at the closed door, his hair falling in his eyes. "Why do you always leave without answering me?"

The two girls stood there for a while, just staring at each other. Then, very suddenly, they both pointed at each other and shouted, "You!"

Bouquet's hand clenched into a fist. "What are you doing here?"

Kluke stopped pointing, folding her arms across her chest. "I should be asking you the same thing."

"... I came to by some chocolate," she admitted grudgingly, letting the hand drop. "What else would I be here for?"

Kluke smirked. "What's wrong? You giving up after all?"

"Of course not! This is for me!" Well, that was half true. "Besides, any chocolate eaten by anyone doesn't count until White Day."

"And you thought of this rule when exactly?"

"Can I buy some, or do I have to talk to the manager?"

Kluke ground her teeth together. Of all the... How did she always end up in these weird situations with Bouquet? She must be cursed. "How may I help you?" her voice was as tight as piano wire.

Bouquet closed her eyes, obviously gloating. "I'll take three quarters of a pound of the holiday gift box."

"You can have a half a pound, or a pound, or a pound and a half, or more. We don't do quarters here." In her head, Kluke congratulated herself on this small triumph.

Bouquet opened her eyes, raising an eyebrow. "You don't want to disappoint the customer, do you?"

"Of course," Kluke managed a fake smile with a great amount of difficulty, one of her eyebrows twitching. "A good service provider never disappoints the customer," she pushed open the counter door, letting it swing shut on its own. "Let me just talk to the manager about this, okay? I'll be back in a moment."

Bouquet rolled her eyes after she'd gone; Kluke pretending to be nice was almost worse than her losing her temper.

She looked over her shoulder at the racks behind her, scanning the contents. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to pick up some-

"Sorry for the wait!" Kluke rushed back out of the door, holding a box in her hands. "We made up a special box just for you."

"I wanted to get this, too." Bouquet tossed a bag of cooking chocolate onto the counter.

"Let's see... counting the tax..." Kluke punched some numbers into a cash register. "... it should come to 150G."

"WHAT?!" Bouquet nearly dropped her purse. "I-it should've come to 80G at the most!"

"Well, you had a special request," Kluke's smile was very real now. "So we had to add some more to your total. This won't be a problem, will it?" Her voice was syrupy sweet. She'd have to remember to thank Helen later for this wonderful little idea.

"How dare you? You're doing this because of the competition!"

"Not at all. This is strictly business."

"Thief." Bouquet spat out, throwing the entire money pouch on the counter. "You can keep the change. Maybe you can use it to buy yourself some cooking lessons."

Kluke bagged the items, offering it. "Thank you for your business. We hope to see you again."

Bouquet snatched it away. "Don't count on it. Not while you're working here."

Kluke waited until Bouquet had shut the door behind her before she burst into a fit of laughter.

"What do you mean we don't have enough money, maro?!"

Shu was about five seconds from banging his head against the closest wall. The only thing that was stopping him was the headache - doing so would undoubtedly make it worse.

He just didn't understand what he'd done to deserve being stuck in this endless loop. He'd been kind of mean to Bouquet, he'd admit that. But he hadn't even been looking at her - he'd thought she was Jiro! Why did he have to be punished like this?!

"Please, little boy, don't cause any trouble." Fortunately, the cashier in this store was much friendly. "I'm sure you can find something else."

Those words sent Shu walking; if Marumaro was going to make a fool of himself in front of everyone in the shop, the least Shu could do was find something occupy himself with. And searching for a cheaper gift didn't seem like such a bad idea.

Shu blocked out Marumaro as he started having a fit, looking through some rings. He sighed. Nothing seemed right... He knew there was a gift out there that was just right for her, and he just couldn't find it. That was when a thought occurred to him - why not use magic?

He wasn't stupid enough to ask Blue Dragon - not only would the Shadow refuse to help him, but he'd probably make fun of him just for kicks.

But... If Shu drew on Blue Dragon's power, kind of like half summoning him, it might help his mind clear enough. Maybe he could try to sense which gift was the right one? Or something like that - there was always a difference between theory and practice.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He hoped that no one looked his way; since he wasn't doing a full summon, he'd probably only glow for a split second, but a second was all anyone needed to see. And he had no idea where to begin explaining what the glowing was. How did you explain to someone that you used magic?

He felt the magic course through him for just a moment, and then everything seemed so clear. Eyes still closed, he walked down the aisles, brushing his hands across various accessories.

Shu couldn't really describe how he knew that he'd found it. He just touched it, and something clicked in his head. This is the one, a voice whispered in his head. Later he wondered if the voice had been Blue Dragon, but it wasn't deep enough.

He opened his eyes, seeing a necklace. The motif was obviously blue - the cord was azure, and hanging on that was a small, light blue disc. In the center of the disc was a cornflower blue triangle.

He didn't know why this one was calling to him so strongly - there were plenty of others that looked much nicer. But his instinct told him to get this one, even after he'd stopped calling on the magic for help. He was just about to grab it...

"Hey!" Another boy shouted at him. "That's the gift I'm getting for my girlfriend!"

Shu frowned. "But I need to get this one for my friend - she's mad at me and I have to give her a present when I apologize." Well, that's what Marumaro had told him, anyway.

"Too bad!" The other boy bumped Shu's shoulder on purpose. " 'Cause I saw it first!"

"If you're going to be a jerk, do it somewhere else; get lost!" Shu pushed back with equal force.

Marumaro wasn't having any easier of a time. "Now, you-" He stopped short as he was telling off the cashier, as he saw someone out of the corner of his eye that surprised him. "Just a minute, maro."

He jumped off from where he was holding himself up on the counter. He quickly ran over to the entrance, poking his head out of the door. He gaped as his eyes confirmed it for him. "Shu, I need to check something out, maro. Can you take care of things here, maro?"

"Yeah, sure thing." Shu ground out, having gotten into a tug of war with the stubborn boyfriend.

Marumaro bolted out of the store without a second thought.

"I told you, I saw it first!" The boy tugged especially hard, almost making Shu take a tumble.

"No, you didn't!"

"Give it!"

"... and she's really annoying sometimes. So, thanks for helping me out." Kluke finished.

"No problem. It's better for our profits anyway!" Helen laughed.

Kluke giggled a little herself; she knew that Zola wouldn't be happy when she found out about the lack of gold, but it probably wouldn't be so bad if Kluke explained it to her. That is, if Bouquet didn't get to Zola first. Even then, she figured she could probably convince her.

"Hey, you better get back to your shift. You don't want to miss a customer, do you?"

"No. Well, not unless it's Bouquet."

Helen chuckled, pushing on Kluke's arm playfully. "Go on."

Kluke smiled to herself as she exited the room; no one had really taken care of her since Shu was very young, so it felt nice to have this sudden big sister figure in the form of Helen.

The bell above the door jingled. Kluke quickly ran to her post, trying again with the closed-eyed smile pose, though it was a little sloppy from barely getting behind the counter in time. "Welcome to Sweet-"

"Kluke?"

She opened her eyes and saw Jiro more shocked than she'd ever seen him.

One thought floated around in her mind: Why do I even bother?

Well, there's chapter thirteen. It took me a bit, but it's finally out. I was actually going to make it longer, but I decided this is a better place to end it. If anyone's wondering, the necklace idea wasn't mine - it's the necklace that Bouquet wears in Episode 8 of Season 2, while she's wearing her swimsuit. But I would like to thank Prince of Tennis' Shaman for inspiring me to use it. :) Next chapter... oh, next chapter should be interesting indeed. ;) Since it's almost time for Valentine's Day, I'm going to make this story a priority above my other ones. I'm probably not going to make it in time, but hopefully we'll get to something interesting on that day. I'll try to update after 10 hits, and I hope to see you guys soon!