Author's note: I'm rushing this a bit, right? Um, I'll try to slow down…I just wanted this to happen fast XD! You'll see what I'm talking about soon. I dunno, but I really like this story. Not as much as Dissimulation but hmm…I'm having idea problems with this one. Still, please review.

This Lyric is also from Dear Vienna (right after the last).

4

Until I Viewed It in Black & White

Apparently night fell in the second world, like the third. It wasn't quite as cold and we weren't prepared at all. So we spent the night suffering, cuddled close to one another. This wasn't the most comfortable position but it was all we could do.

"I was thinking about what Lilura said. Why do we need a strong bond? That makes no sense," I turned to Grill, who was probably just about to fall asleep. I was annoying her which pleased me greatly.

"I guess. Don't ask me," she growled angrily. I stuck my tongue out at her, "I saw that."

"Saw what?" I asked innocently. Grill hit me on the top of my head and I giggled, "Sorry, but I guess we're good friends now, right?"

She sighed and squinted at the sky. "It's going to be morning soon. Let's get up and go somewhere. Maybe ask around for a way to escape."

"Yeah, that sounds smart," I stood up and took a step away from her. She didn't seem to notice the distance I was putting between us.

"Okay then, which way do we go..? How about here?" Grill pointed to our right and I smiled expectantly. She began to walk in that direction so I followed her, "What? Are you like a baby chick or something?"

I didn't respond which seemed to annoy her further. We continued walking for a while before she spun around and whacked me with her broom. "Ow! What was that for?"

"I felt like it," she smiled evilly and stopped walking altogether. I studied her face closely until she said something, "Don't stare at me like an idiot."

I kept looking at her while she concentrated on a tree a few feet away from us. I wondered if that was how she really saw me—as an idiot. Maybe I could fix that by showing her how smart I was…though at times I had doubts about my intellect as well.

"Is something wrong? You look perplexed." Grill offered me a kinder smile than earlier. I wasn't sure if she actually cared about me or if she was leading me on so that she could tease me. So I ended up staying silent. She stabbed my side violently.

"Hey! Why do you keep hurting me? You remind me of my girlfriend, she likes causing me pain too," that thought made me very angry. Dee did seem to enjoy hitting and pushing me, as did Grill. That must mean something.

Grill sighed loudly. "Do you have some kind of issues? Your moods keep changing suddenly! It's annoying, so can you please stop?" we were both silent for a while before she added, "I don't mean to offend you or anything, so don't take it that way."

"I understand," I looked down at my feet. I realized my shoes were unnaturally shiny. Maybe this place made everything look better, or did Dee polish them before everything happened? I couldn't remember. It was probably the former but…

"Why are you squinting at your feet? They aren't that small, you know."

I glared at Grill. That was when I remembered something she said yesterday. "Grill! You said that I'm not your type, so what is your type?" I shouted.

"Why are you yelling?" she began to walk so I followed close behind her, "that doesn't matter anyway. Let's just focus on getting out of here."

I nodded and we kept going in silence. The walk was actually quite enjoyable despite the fact that there weren't many words between us. I found it fun looking at everything, though it was hard to believe there weren't many people walking like we were. I figured they probably found their place picking flowers and never wanted to stop. This seemed strange to me. I could never stay in one place for such a long time. That would be boring if nothing was ever gained.

As we neared the edge of another large field at the end of the day I collapsed. It was just too much on my body to walk such a long way without any rest at all. I could barely even breathe.

"Get up. I thought you were supposed to be full of energy, what happened to that?"

I gave her a piercing stare and she jumped in surprise. "I haven't walked that distance in my whole life and you expect me to do it without rest and NOT GET TIRED? What kind of person are you?" my head began to spin so I laid down again.

"I would say sorry but I didn't do anything," she knelt next to me on the ground and stroked by back gently, "what's your problem, anyway?"

"What? Why would you ask something like that?" I turned onto my back to see Grill hovering over me. She touched my cheek and dragged her fingers over to my lips, which her own lips then came in contact with in a kiss. This lasted for a moment before she pulled away with a horrified expression on her face. I scrambled off the ground and ran into the field. A man who was picking only daisies stopped my while giving me a content smile. She patted my head.

"Can you get out of my way please, sir?" I asked. He leaned down and whispered something to me that I couldn't understand. I felt the strangest urge to repeat it so that's what I did. After doing so the man poured his flowers over me and they engulfed my body. I felt a sudden wave of fatigue and hit the ground so hard it hurt. I couldn't move my body at all yet I was still conscious. This sensation was frightening and I wanted to yell or shout, but I couldn't.

"There we go, now I want you to know this is punishment for having any romantic interaction in this level. It is strictly forbidden! I conclude you aren't supposed to be here, no?"

My body was suddenly freed and I screamed at him. "You ass! It wasn't even my fault! And…and of course I don't belong here! I was forced to come to this whole realm before I should even be dead! I need to go home to my girlfriend! That's why I'm here! I need to get to the last level now and—" he placed a hand over my mouth to silence me.

"I see your circumstances and that girl's over there," he said after removing his hand, "I am the one who can get you to the next level. My name is Adlai and I would be pleased to escort you both there."

"Oh," I stood and stared at Adlai. I noticed he was a fairy like Josephine, though his eyes were a deep blue and as was his hair. His face was shaped a lot like Josephine's though…and Peachy's for that matter.

He picked up his basket and shovelled in a few of the flowers with his hand that he lost using the spell. "As you are wondering, I am Josephine's son. This would make me Peachy's grandfather. In this world one of our family members exist in each level so the souls can travel through them, if worthy. My daughter will be waiting for you in the next level as I cannot do this alone. Please collect your friend."

I nodded and ran to where Grill sat. She had her face covered with her hands. "Grill," I whispered, "Josephine's son is helping us to the next level. His name is Adlai and he's really nice. C'mon. I'm not mad at you."

"I'm sorry," she muttered as she took her hands off her face, "I lied. I really like you…a lot…and I can't explain what happened. I'll tell your girlfriend everything when we get back and take the blame! It is my fault after all…"

"Yeah, it is," I laughed, "We kinda have to get there first though. Let's go."

Grill got up and we darted over to where Adlai was waiting patiently for us. He waved as we arrived, taking time to pat the two of us on the head. I wasn't sure what to think about this and was about to ask when he mouthed a few words. The same light as when Josephine used her spell appeared, enveloping us. Adlai didn't wave like his mother; he instead placed his hands in a praying position and bowed. I glanced at Grill who lost consciousness already. I then felt mine slipping as well.

I opened my eyes and blinked a few times to adjust to the light. I was laying on a platform with a huge set of stairs connecting it to a larger platform. The marble floor was so shiny I could probably see my face in it. I guessed this level was just like one those fantasy 'castles in the sky.' I stood up and looked at Grill who was just waking. She stretched her arms before looking around the room.

"Wow, this place is beautiful. It's even prettier than the last level!" she shouted in surprise. She looked at me and frowned, "I want to explain before we go any further…"

"Explain what?" I asked, being as cheerful as possible. It wasn't fake either. I was actually happy.

Grill took a deep breath and grabbed me violently. "Look, I really like you! I couldn't keep it from you because, well, the world is black and white! You're either someone who can keep secrets or someone who can't, and I'm the last. Just to set everything straight though, I'm going to stay your friend and become your girlfriend's too!"

"Can you let go? You're kinda hurting me," after she let go I shook my head at her, "you shouldn't question my feelings, as you know I can be a tad erratic at times," she nodded and I paused just to scowl at her for this, "ANYWAY, what I'm trying to say is that I'm fine with this. It'll be cool to have two girls liking me! I look forward to it!"

Her mouth dropped open. "So that's why you're happy! You're such a GUY!"

I laughed then stared at Grill coldly. "You actually took that seriously? I was KIDDING! God. Obviously you don't know me that well," I began to walk toward the doorway and this time Grill was the one following, "You're one of my best friends now and I want it to stay like that forever. I hope Dee likes you too!"

Grill gave me a loving noogie, which I guessed was the equivalent to Dee's head pats. "Yeah, we can all be good friends, no matter how idealistic and cheesy that sounds."

We kept walking and conquering the ridiculously high staircases until reaching a platform where there was a small commotion. We ran over and found that a frail looking woman with long blonde hair collapsed on the floor. The people around her parted at our arrival. She raised her head to look at the two of us.

"Yes, father was right," she murmured, "I, as Peachy's mother, greet you both. The power I used to help teleport you has sapped my energy, but please don't worry! I shall be fine! You must both see Nova…now…" her head fell to the floor and she began to snore loudly. The others started to fuss over her.

"Nova? I wonder who the heck…Marx?" Grill poked my face which had a shocked expression plastered all over it. Everything I'd done hit me at that moment and I couldn't take it. All the guilt of the people I affected negatively…everyone I ended up hurting…even Dee. But Nova, I hurt Nova the most. It was forced to die because of me and still kept on granting my wish. I did so many despicable things to it and now I had to face it and ask for forgiveness. This scared me so much! I just wanted to go home and be happy and make other people happy! I wasn't ever going to hurt anyone again!

"Marx, are you okay? You're crying," Grill wiped the liquid falling from my eyes and smiled at me, "I don't know what it is you're crying for, but we have to be brave now! Alright? We're almost there, so you can see your girlfriend again. I bet she'll want to hug you close and never let go, yeah?"

I sniffed and let out a nervous laugh. "Uh-huh, that's just what she's like! Heh, it's like you know her already." I took a deep breath and gave a determined look to the set of stairs ahead of us. They ended in an ominous darkness where Nova dwelled. The thought still scared me, but it was okay. I knew it would be worth it.

Author's note: Yay! Marx is being so strong! How SWEET! (has adoring fan moment before snapping back into reality)

Anyway, Nova is the God-like figure! It was obvious seeing the description Grill gave in chapter one.

Oh, and sorry for the guy stereotype Grill said. I don't mean to offend anyone out there! Heehee, Grill's just a bit prejudiced at times! (again, I'm sorry!)

Oh and in mid-chapter when Marx stared at his shoes, he just got totally lost. I mean, usually you do that when you're nervous and you're actually THINKING of what's doing that to you. But Marx…he starts thinking of his shoes. Anyway, just don't criticize that part 'cuz it took away from the story and plot! XD

That's it! Review if ya wanna!