Disclaimer: i do not own LoM... etc etc etc

Fonts in italic are for character's thought

When they did come on Gnome day with Elazul in tow much to Angelique's dismay, they saw the girl with a magic painting thing. After a brief introduction, they learned that her name was Esmeralda and the abstract painting thingy was Nunuzac, her teacher. "What is it that you wanted us to help you with?"

"Uhmm…. I was thinking of asking one of you to be my knight." She replied demurely.

"Why them? Why not me?" Elazul asked her rather intrusively.

"I was thinking of that. But then, Nunuzac said that it will be a disloyalty to your partner."

"But I can…"

"Quiet, boy! You can't even protect one, let alone two." Nunuzac intruded suddenly.

The argument went on for awhile, until it was decided that Angelique was to be Esmeralda's knight. Kain was offered the position but then he refused because he cannot do a combat in the front line. So the offer was taken by Angelique. Elazul had said to Esmeralda that she can come to him anytime that she wanted help. So while Angelique stayed in Geo for awhile, Kain headed home since they couldn't leave the kids alone for a long while. Before he set out of Geo, the lapis knight approached him, "If you ever find Pearl along in your way back home. Can you… uhhh… can you take her home with you since I think it will be safer for her if she stayed at your place?"

"Sure, no problem." Kain chirped happily since he liked the both of them and happy to be of help.

"Remember this though, if ever you let her be harmed then…." Elazul was stopped by Kain's laugh.

"I know, I know… trust me, I'll keep an eye on her and I promise to protect her."

"Esmeralda, so where do we start?"

"I feel them close nearby, maybe we should stroll in Geo and maybe I can feel their presence."

They walked around Geo for some time, they had visited the art palace, where they met Diana the Diamond Jumi. She gave Esmeralda her sister's core. When Esmeralda insisted that they had to visit the jewelry shop, when she accused the shopkeeper, she was kind of upset. "Well, I kind of understand your grief, Esmeralda but don't you think that was rude?"

"Uhmm… Yes, I guess, I'm sorry…" She said it demurely to the shopkeeper.

"It was quite all right. I got that response many times." The shopkeeper said kindly.

When they had headed out the shop and gone to the inn, Esmeralda sensed another of her sister core but it was faint. So she decided to ask the innkeeper but was turned down. Then they headed back to the academy, and found the core at the headmaster office. "We have to go back on Dryad day since he's teaching that day."

So they stayed at the inn and when they stayed, Esmeralda sensed her sister core somewhere in the inn. So she looked around and Esmeralda finally had tried to take her sister core from the pot plant. "Oy… wat ev yu done?"

After that, she explained on why she did it and the teapot cried buckets. So she got the second core with that and on Dryad day, they went to the principals' office and took the third core. "Does this make me like a bad girl?"

Looking at her, Angelique can't say much about it. She knew that Esmeralda at heart was not one to resort thievery but it was her desperate measure to be one with her sister again. What can she say other than, "No, of course not. Silly…!"

With this, they both grinned and left the office as soon as they could. Since they didn't want to be caught red handed by the principal. After they had left the office and headed for the café to plan the next step. Esmeralda decided that she wanted to be alone for a while much to Ange's discomfort. She feared that Esmeralda would be hunted like what happened to Rubens. After they had parted, not much long after that, Angelique saw Inspector Boyd was running around the academy in a hurried fashion and then when he saw her, he ran to her. "Have you seen Esmeralda?"

"No. Last thing I knew was that she's in the academy." Worried and confused, Angelique wondered on what might happen to Esmeralda.

"Blast it!! Then she could be in danger… Sandra had left this note stating that she will take the lucky clover."

"Oh no…. This could be bad. Inspector, why don't we split up and search for her? I'll go to the art palace while you go the café and the other area."

Then she ran to the jewelry store to find Elazul, when she entered she found him standing there in the corner.

"Elazul…!" Angelique spoke a little too loudly as Alex shushed her.

"Is something wrong…?" Elazul asked a little bit perked up because of Angelique's reaction.

"Uhmm… It's Esmeralda. She's being targeted by the jewel hunter." Angelique said worriedly and Elazul grasped her hand after she said.

"Are you sure?" He asked, staring directly to her eyes. Elazul's piercing gaze made her felt weak and nervous but she tried her best not to fall down.

"Well, what are you waiting for…? Let's go. We have to find her before it's too late…" Elazul stormed out of the store after he said leaving Angelique behind. They tried asking in the shopping district but found nothing. So Angelique suggested that they go to the Art Palace since Inspector Boyd was looking in another area.

"What is going on? Why are running in my abode?" Kristie asked us confusedly.

"Uhmm… We're sorry to intrude but do you happen to see Esmeralda?" Angelique asked between her breath.

"I can't say. Perhaps you can ask the Venus downstairs." Kristie offered.

"Thank you." Angelique bowed before leaving and heading towards downstairs. From the door, she can already hear Elazul shouting. I wonder what happened….

"What do you mean give up? We can't give up. Not like this. The Jumi can still live." Elazul's fury was just plain visible and Angelique felt like she's wanted to console him if possible.

"It is without hope. Florina is missing. Without the tears of healing, we can't live." Diana replied softly yet hopelessness was within her voice.

"Argghh…" Elazul shouted and it echoed through the storage room.

"Diana, had you seen Esmeralda?" Angelique cutting thinking that perhaps this might erased Elazul's fury.

"Yes. She's in the arena with the jewel hunter." Diana answered calmly as if this didn't bother her at all. As soon as she said it, both Angelique and Elazul rushed to the arena.

When they reached the arena, Sandra had just took Esmeralda's core and leaving a jewel beast behind. They entered the battle arena as they saw Esmeralda's form sparkling and turning into nothing but green light. Both were raged and very much fueled to slay the jewel beast to vent their anger. Angelique danced with her knives and slashed the beast, while Elazul struck the beast at its feet. The beast retorted with beam and they somewhat managed to dodge it but they didn't quite expect that it will fire the second beam. "Elazul, watch out…!"

Angelique pushed Elazul out of the beam line and got blasted away instead. After he gained his composure, he charged to the beast and hack it with all his might. When he wanted landed the finishing blow, he was rather careless and left his side open. Just on time, Angelique's knife flew and stopped the beast's claw and thus making Elazul able to finish the monster with his laser blade. When the beast had fallen down, and stopped moving. Elazul ran to Angelique and saw her badly injured. "Hey, are you okay?"

"I don't know. I've been worse but this is probably not good. I feel dizzy…" Her voice laced with weariness, and pain. Her wounds were fresh everywhere in her body, blood still flowing from some spots. Looking at her, Elazul couldn't help but think that this was his fault, if only he had been more alert then this wouldn't happen. Wasting no more time, he scooped Angelique up and exited the arena in a hurry.

"Just try to stay awake, alright…" He said that while rushing out the palace and heading towards the inn. He felt her nod but he couldn't be quite sure. Elazul did not want anything horrible happened to his dear friend. He just couldn't afford to lose someone that he cared again. With that in mind, he quickly told the situation to the innkeeper then he headed to the academy and tried to ask some help. After the professors from the academy had looked at her and administered some magic and some other things to help her recover. When they finally left, Elazul stayed by the bed and looked very concerned. He brushed the strands of hairs that covered Angelique's face. Silently he whispered, "Please, you've got to open your eyes and get well soon. I don't know what I do if I lost you."

--

"How do you like your tea, Pearl?" Pearl turned her head to the voice that asked her.

"With milk. Thank you, Kain." Kain poured milk into her tea and gave it to her. Pearl had stayed in their house for awhile after he picked her up in Domina four days ago. He had been enjoying her companies very much. With her, he had managed somewhat to have more problems but the problems caused only served to compensate what Angelique would normally do. Kain was practically quite happy to have trouble, since he was feeling lonelier when his sister was not home for a long time. Now, I know what Ange feel when I was missing…

"Kain, Kain! Can we go to the orchards?" His reverie was broken with the kids tackling on him. Smiling at them, he nodded to them and ushered them out so they could go and play. Then he rested at the door frame, smiling tenderly then Pearl just popped out beside him.

"Do they gave you a hard time?" Casting a glance at Kain, Pearl just asked that out of nowhere. She thought that somehow she wanted to know more about Kain and Angelique. Both of them are a very good friend of hers and Elazul. Although, her question was welcomed by a warm laugh. A kind of laugh that had affection and warmth in it. A laugh that Pearl sometimes wished someone would direct to her.

"Sometimes… But not too hard I guess. They've been through a lot and I guess they just wanted home and a place where they belong."

His reply was a sigh and a giggle, he wondered what Pearl was thinking. When he looked at her, what he saw was almost an angel. In all her innocence, Pearl clad in white dress, hair adorned in pearls, golden hair, and her green eyes, just made her a stunning beauty. Seeing Kain agape, Pearl tilted her head and blush, when she realized that Kain stared at her. Seeing her blush, Kain blushed too afterwards, and just gave a nervous laugh.

"Uhh… so what do you want to do today?" Kain asked her absently trying to relieve the awkwardness between them.

"I don't know… Uhmm, can you show me around again? I like to see your pet. I like your chocobo and the sky dragon. They're so cute…" Pearl answered his question shyly as always but this time a little bit braver since she wanted to be able to talk normally to Kain.

"Sure. Do you want to go there now? Or some time later?" Kain asked a bit profusely

With her nod, they went to the orchard. When they were there Kain fed the monsters, while Pearl was looking from the fence. Kain turned around to see that Pearl was only standing by the fence. So he closed their gaps with long strides and asked her when he was close enough. "Why don't you play with them? They're actually quite nice and I promise they won't bite you…"

"Uhh… uhmm. It's okay. I…" Pearl stuttered not knowing what to answer. She wanted to play with them but she's kind of afraid and didn't know what to do.

"Here let me take you to Howy. You like him, correct?" Kain took her hand and dragged her towards Howy, the chocobo.

"Uh.. Wow… he's so big…" Pearl said amazedly

"Yeah, but you know he used to be half your height…" Kain told her while showing her how small Howy was.

"Really…? That small…?" She asked innocently. While Kain just smiled and nod. Howy decided to peck Kain because he felt that his master belittled him. Pearl shrieked at Howy's aggressiveness while Kain just defend himself, calmly coaxing Howy that he didn't mean anything by that. After he had managed to calm Howy down, he smiled to Pearl. Pearl still afraid of the chocobo backed away a little but she reached out the wound in Kain's cheek and rubbed it with her handkerchief. Kain blushed at the contact but continued to smile nonetheless

"Do you want to try to ride him?" Kain offered to her kindly

"Ahh… no… I don't think I can. I'm afraid." Pearl refused his offer shyly

"Okay… if you don't want to. But if you want, I'll help you ride him. Don't worry. He's not usually puckish or anything. He's tame, see…" Kain said while stroking Howy's feathers and Howy kweh-ed contently. Kain tried to persuade Pearl to ride Howy and after half an hour, she finally agreed.

"But… please don't make him walk fast… I…" While saying this, Kain helped her mount Howy's stead.

"It's alright. I'm with you okay…" Kain assured her calmly. Pearl just nodded. After trotting for a while, Pearl was used to Howy and enjoyed the ride. Then they walked around the hill after some time Kain decided to mount Howy too.

"Kain… uhmm if you want to ride Howy then I'll go down…" Pearl blushed as she said this. She felt that the proximity was too close and her heartbeat drummed loudly.

"Uhh… are you uncomfortable with me up here? If so then I'll just went back to walking…" She shook her head and Kain just smiled while taking the rein. Their hands touched and it stayed like that for a while. Deciding that Howy needed exercise, Kain ushered Howy to canter rather than just trot. Pearl shrieked at the change of the pace but after a while she smiled. The feel of the breeze against her skin was nice and Kain's warm chest behind her made her both cool and warm at the same time. Pearl leaned back to Kain because she felt a bit tired. She dozed off after a while and Kain stopped Howy to check on Pearl. Knowing that she's asleep, he changed the direction so that they headed home. Kain felt great during the ride and in the journey back home, he thought many things and one of them was that he'll definitely tell Angelique what he experienced these past four days and secondly was that he thought that he liked Pearl leaning to him. Although it's a little bit awkward but it's still nice to him. "Pearl, you know… perhaps with you, Elazul, Angelique, Matilda, and the others…. I can learn to share more and opened up more to my friends, especially to you and Angelique." He said it unconsciously while mounting down and carrying Pearl back to Angelique's room. After he done that, Kain went to the study and think some more about the prospect of opening up.

Thx for reading!