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I've recently bought the two Death Note movies: apparently there's a third one! I must see... I don't write Japanese words (like "-san" or "baka") because it's weird. I write in English and, until the day I learn fluent Japanese, I will keep doing so. It's not much of a problem here in MAR ff, but in other ff stories... Why call someone a baka when you're writing in English? I just don't get it at all... TT. Anyway the story is heating up! Time for battle!

Fight and Flight

The weather had changed dramatically during the time Alviss and Rolan were sitting in the cafe. The clear blue sky was dark and crunchy white snow littered the street. Snowflakes, light and powdery, fluttered down to earth like weighted butterflies. Despite the snow, it wasn't that cold of a night.

Rolan's eyes were bright with joy. He breathed in the air, choking on a rogue snowflake. Alviss was standing beside him, his blue eyes sparkling in the dim light.

"You know something, Al?" Rolan spoke up. "You are quite handsome."

Alviss started and looked down at the man's face, a slight blush colouring his pale cheeks. Rolan was smiling up at him, for once looking truly happy.

"Thank you..." Alviss said awkwardly.

"Why don't you have a girlfriend? I'd have thought you'd have had one by now..." Rolan continued innocently. Alviss closed his eyes. For some reason he was expecting the conversation to turn to this... girls...

"I have no time for girls," came the cold reply that shocked Rolan. "All they want is time, money and attention; stuff I just don't have." He started to walk down the street. Rolan stared after him for awhile, and then ran after him.

"You must be awfully lonely," Rolan commented sadly.

"I don't need a girl to not be lonely," Alviss said.

Rolan was confused into silence. The pair walked down the empty street, snow dusting their hair.

"What happened to that fairy that was always hanging around you?" Rolan asked Alviss suddenly.

"Bell? She just disappeared. One morning I woke up and she wasn't there," Alviss replied. Rolan went quiet again. Alviss didn't attempt to start a conversation; he kept silent, pondering Rolan's random statements. "Why haven't you found love then?" he shot at Rolan.

Rolan looked stunned. "You know... I never thought about it... My whole life was about... him..." Rolan froze and then smiled. "Plus, I was a Chess Piece, so I doubt any girls would like me now... You saw how they acted towards me... It's been like that for awhile. I couldn't get a job, I was chucked out of my house countless times and they wouldn't let me buy things. Eventually the only place I felt accepted was by... his grave."

Alviss stopped with a jolt and looked at Rolan. He had never even thought about how horrible Rolan's life must've been.

"Plus..." Rolan continued, blushing furiously. "I never really fancied girls..."

Alviss laughed softly and ruffled up Rolan's hair. "Well, I didn't have to be a genius to work that one out." Rolan chuckled as well. They continued around the corner.

A group of pole-and-crowbar-wielding tugs blocked their way. The biggest, ugliest unshaven guy holding a rusty pipe spoke up in a gravely voice; "Well, what do we have here? Two lovebirds?" All the other guys laughed cruelly. Alviss sighed. He put his hand on Rolan's chest and pushed him back softly.

"Stay back, I'll handle this," he said. Rolan stepped back, his eyes full of concern.

"Oh goody! Boys we have a hero on our hands here," the guy sneered. The guys jeered, their hands tightening on their various steel weapons.

"You don't know who I am, do you?" Alviss sounded serious, his icy words blasting into the cold air. The leader of the thugs laughed.

"Bring it out, punk," he crowed. As if by command, several of the guys charged at him, weapons raised. Alviss blocked each blow with just his hands. Within minutes, the guys were falling back dumbly, their weapons destroyed.

"Is that all you've got?" Alviss asked, disappointed. The guy looked angry. He clenched his teeth and growled menacingly.

"You asked for it!" he yelled, charging at him. Alviss dodged the first blow. He couldn't strike the guy however, he was just too fast. Alviss jumped back, skidding to a halt in the snow. He grimaced as he focused his magical powers.

"Forgive me, I'm a bit rusty at this," he said in a painful voice. "Thirteen Totem Pole: Rod Version!" A flash of bright light parted to reveal Alviss standing there, holding his trusty ARM. The guy stopped, shocked. His eye twitched.

"ARM... user?!" he chocked. Alviss smiled smugly. He took one step forward. The guy stumbled backwards and dropped his pole. "I-I-I never wanted trouble..." he turned tail and fled.

Alviss unsummoned his ARM, panting heavily. "That was worse than I expected. Well, what would I be expecting? I haven't used or even practised my magic for 10 years..."

"Al!" Rolan cried, running at him and hugging him around the middle. "You were so brave!" He buried his face into Alviss's nice-smelling body to hide his tearing eyes.

"Bravery has nothing to do with it. You obviously can't defend yourself in this state. If you were to summon your magical powers, your mind would shatter beyond repair." Alviss wrapped his arm around the tiny shivering body in a one-armed hug. Rolan sobbed quietly into Alviss's arm. "Come on, you'll catch a cold if you stay out here." He herded him down the street.

The lights were on when Alviss started up the driveway. He remembered Nanashi that morning. He had turned down Alviss's request of meeting up with everybody. When asked why, Nanashi laughed and scratched his head. Alviss shuddered to think how many girls had been violated and taken advantage of.

He opened the door and sighted the blonde bouncing on the couch with a brunette girl. He stopped and looked up, his long hair ruffled up at the back and his red bandana even lopsided than usual, and called out in a gravely voice, "Al! Rolan! Yer home! This is... um... Rebecca!"

Alviss sniffed. He stepped back out of the door and closed it. He looked down at Rolan and said, "Let's take a detour to the park." Rolan gave a sleepy nod.