Chapter Eight:

Disclaimer: … I think you get the idea. I don't own MÄR.

Pairings: Ginta x Alviss, Phantom x Alviss

"Where in the blazing hells did you disappear off to?!" Rosette demanded as Sabby jogged up to him, and grabbed his upper arm as if making sure that the black haired youth didn't vanish again. The silver eyed teen rolled his eyes in response.

"I was just tying my shoelaces back there," Sabby begun pointing behind them before he crossed his arms. "And just because you can't see me over the rock doesn't mean I wasn't there." He added when Rosette shot him a disbelieving look (A/N: This is actually from a conversation I had with a friend. -.-0 I was tying my shoelace and my friend kept walking for several metres and stopped, wondering where I went. I'm not actually that short. I insist. Just because all my friends are a head taller than me…).

Rosette loosened his grip around Sabby's arm, but still didn't let go. Sabby sighed, rolling his eyes before he dismissed it.

"NO COOKIE!" Ginta growled as the boy's hand crept across the counter for the umpteenth time, reaching for the saucepan that sat innocently on the stove. You would think that after all the burns Cookie got from tipping the boiling water over himself, he would learn but it seems to not be the case.

"But I wanna!" Cookie cried as Ginta swatted the hand away.

Ginta groaned as he shook his head. "When's Alviss coming back out?" He muttered to himself. Two days had passed and it seemed that Cookie was unwilling to give up his control over the body.

Cookie chocked back a sob as he gazed at Ginta with watery eyes. "Don't you-" A wobble of his bottom lip. "Love me?" Despite being aware that Cookie would of course be meaning the love between siblings or friends (Or between a master and their pet, Ginta had thought), the blond was still taken back at the question. It may not be Alviss Alviss, but it still was coming out of Alviss' mouth which surprised Ginta either way.

Ginta blinked in confusion. That explanation didn't really make sense. He thought to himself. "Of course I love you." Ginta replied, making the boy brighten immediately. "I just miss Alviss, that's all."

Cookie cocked his head though nodded in understanding. "Okay then, I'll leave." He paused, looking at Ginta seriously which didn't really suit him. "But I can't say for sure whether it's Alviss that resumes control or not."

Cookie's eyes became lifeless as the emerald green became blue again. Ginta felt his heart clench. It was just like before, when he wasn't responding or anything. I think I get it. Ginta thought as he waited. None of the personalities has surfaced to take the body yet, so all he is a shell.

Alan had actually explained to him what MPD was in MÄR-Heaven, though Ginta wasn't happy with the response. Here, it was incurable and it was the battle of the stronger mind. When he comes a shell, his body's up for grabs and a personality would take control.

Ginta waited and waited. Last time, he was out from beginning to lunch and come back afterwards. Of course, Akila took the body within two minutes so…

After several minutes, the black haired youth fell to his knees, a sob escaping his throat as he drew his knees to his chest.

"Alviss?" Ginta asked unsurely, eyeing the shaking frame. The youth's head snapped up, his blue eyes, brimmed with tears as he stared at him with recognition.

"Gin…ta?" He smiled briefly before he screamed, covering his ears as he shook harder. "Please, don't let him take me!" Tears slid down his face as he let off a whimper. "Make him leave me alone, I don't want to hear him! Make him go away!"

Eyes widening, Ginta knelt beside the youth; placing his hand on his shoulder in what he hoped was a comforting manner. The boy flinched at the touch. "It's okay Alviss," Ginta murmured, wrapping his arms around the boy loosely. Alviss' body stiffened at the contact. "Just stay with me."

Ginta rested his chin on top of the boy's head, continuing to mutter soft words to the boy. Alviss slowly relaxed as his sobs begun to die down until both youths were in silence. Ginta sighed in relief as Alviss shuffled nervously, a blush staining his cheek as the black haired youth seemed to have calmed down.

"See? Nothing to be afraid of."

"I wasn't afraid." Alviss replied, sounding much like he used to. Ginta merely smirked at the teen's statement before burying his face in Alviss' hair.

"Sure you won't." Ginta said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he tugged the boy's hair playfully.

Alviss shook him off as he stood up, glancing at Ginta before he furrowed his brows in thought. "… Okay… How did you get old?"

Ginta pouted. "I'm not that old, I'm only a year older than you now." At Alviss' look that practically demanded an explanation, Ginta explained what had happened; how he was trapped in the Training Gate and was forced to age, how he broke out, and how he found Alviss getting carried by a violet haired bishop.

Alviss' look was incredulous. "Rosette was carrying me?!"

"Whatever his name was." Ginta said with a shrug. "He was also the one that apparently trapped me in the Training Gate, according to Alan's description."

"He was carrying me?!" Alviss repeated, not quite catching what Ginta was saying. He looks unhappy, Ginta thought as he spotted the distressed look that crossed Alviss' face. Maybe a bad experience?

Alviss cupped his cheeks with a groan. "He didn't drag me the whole way did he?"

Ginta blinked, not quite knowing how to response before he laughed hard. "Here you were, beaten and bruised and all you're worried about is whether that bishop dragged you or not?!"

Alviss huffed, clearly not happy with being laughed at. "He's off his rockers too!" At Ginta's look he glared. "I'm not nuts, I'm just mentally unstable." Alviss stated, answering the question that Ginta didn't voice as he scratched his neck.

"Well, anyway." Ginta said cheerfully as he stood up. "It's good to have you back."

"That was an enlightening trip, wasn't it?" Sabby asked as they returned back to the castle, landing themselves in the court yard.

"Swell." Rosette murmured unconvincingly, making Sabby glance at him. "Um… It was good." The golden eyed youth said, trying to sound believable, only to fail yet again.

"If you don't like going, we could have done something else." Sabby stated as he begun walking towards the castle entrance.

"Well, you like to walk, so I do it for y-"

"SABBETH-CHAN!"

Rosette stiffened when he heard the ever familiar voice. Sabby froze, a feeling of dread settling in his stomach as he slowly turned his head in the direction of the voice.

A tall fiery haired man was running towards them, waving like a lunatic with a gleeful smile on his face. Sure, he was good looking somewhat, with his even tan and sparkling blue eyes, but Rosette wasn't fooled. Actually, that man was the one person he hated with a passion… plus a few others, but that was beside the point.

"Uh… Hi, Chase…" Sabby greeted with a great deal of hesitance. That guy really scared him. A low growl rumbled deeply in Rosette's chest as he glared at the man, Chase. Mentally drilling holes in the red head's chest, the violet haired youth clenched his fists.

Chase ignored the other man with practiced ease before he grabbed Sabby's hands and held them close to his heart. "I've been thinking about you."

Sabby laughed nervously as he tugged his hands free, wiping them on his green shirt. "I… uh…" He dashed behind Rosette and poked his head out. "Got to…" He racked his brain, trying to think of an excuse. "… Pee!"

Waving, Sabby grabbed Rosette's wrist and dragged him towards the castle. "Why are you peeing with him?" Chase questioned, giving the golden eyed youth an icy glare. Rosette returned the glare tenfold, baring his teeth at the older man.

"I can't reach the toilet seat." Sabby excused as he picked up his pace, only to have Chase jog up next to them and copied them in strides.

"If that's the case, I'll be more than happy to insist." Chase said, giving an award winning smile as he looped his arm around Sabby's.

Rosette growled again. "Back off asshole!"

Chase glanced at him briefly. "Maybe you should just stick to words you can spell."

Sabby turned his head sharply. "You're walking on thin ice, Chase!" He snarled as he pried the man's fingers off his wrist.

"But Sabby, bab-"

The ring on Rosette's right, middle finger glowed before the light begun to stretch until it faded, leaving a long whip sitting in his hand, covered in thorns.

"He's not your baby! Rose Whip!"

Rosette cracked the whip next to Chase' feet, making the other bishop take a step back. "Says the moron?"

"Says me!"

Sabby slapped his forehead, letting out a groan. Another Chess Piece, this time a Rook, approached them. The Rook shook his head, letting his lime green hair fly as he gazed at the others with crimson eyes.

"Back off Yuki!" Chase growled as he shook his fist at the nineteen year old Rook. Yuki huffed before he crossed his arms.

"Get a life, you overgrown wiener."

I wonder if I can take Sabby and leave while they stare each other down, Rosette thought as he glanced between the pair of older males. They were staring each other down with fire in their eyes.

Sabby sweat-dropped before he tugged on Rosette's sleeve, signaling towards the castle with his spare hand. Nodding, Rosette crept away, trailing behind the silver eyed boy.

Anyway, I'll update as soon as I can. Maybe if more people review, I might update quicker wink wink. So review please. XD