Author's note: Sorry for late update. Advanced Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year. Please read and review. Your comments and reactions are important to me. Thank you!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Ragnarok Online but I own the story and the characters.

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Chapter 5: Always here…

"Carlo!!! I thought I was all alone!!!" a young man jump into Carlo with a hug. After some moments of struggling, the young man releases Carlo and look at Rosemarie. "And look, here's also Rosemarie and…" His cheerful face suddenly turns shocked and surprised to see Crystal. "Crystal?!!! Is that you?"

Crystal responded with a glare. "Not funny, Michael."

"Nothing is funny to you." Michael answers back with a huge grin. "I am really surprised you're even here! I mean…"

"I wish I wasn't."

Ken walks near them and smiled at Michael. "Mr. Michael Alemanya, I'm Ken Arviole. I am assigned to look after your welfare."

"Geez!!! This was amazing! I am never looked after in my whole life! But I rather enjoy my place here in…" Michael scans around to find any hint where he was.

"Alberta, fool!" Crystal, as if reading his mind, answers him. Michael just grinned.

"Yeah, Alberta! Very clever, Crystal!" He slaps Crystal at her back which makes him receive a punch. "I enjoy this place. The market, prices and costumers."

Carlo smiled at him. "If you enjoy that, you will experience more of it in Prontera. I have seen the place and it was greater!"

"That was good!"

"But Mr. Alemanya, I would like to talk to you for some important things regarding this matter."

"What matter?"

"About your sudden appearance to Rune-Midgard. We have to do some actions about it to return you to your homes."

"But I like it here."

"I don't" Crystal snobbishly said as she looks away from the group. Ken just sighed and faces Michael again.

"Yes, you may be but we don't what happen to your world when you disappear."

"Alright! Where?"

"At my house, wouldn't you mind?"

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As they arrived in Geffen, Michael's jaw dropped. This was hundred times larger and more dazzling than his house or if you could call it a 'house'. Even a mansion is not a good description.

"You live here?" Michael asked. Ken just smiled and nodded.

Ken opened the door and bow to them. "My guests first." All of them went inside.

The living room is large enough to hold a ball of thousand of people. At the middle was a sofa, couches, a round table and other side tables. There are also shelves of books, paintings, statues and plants around it. Ken motion them to sit down.

"As far as the information I gathered was accurate, you're only four here." Ken started seriously. "I will try to create the spell I used to send people from your world back to it. But it needed time and I maybe out of the fields some time. I maybe needed some help from you. But as long as you're here, please feel free to enjoy our world."

"Brother!!—" Maileen called from what Crystal remembers as kitchen.

"Oh, the lovely maiden I met in Alberta. How nice to see you here!" Michael exclaimed with excitement.

Maileen glared at Michael. "What the heck you're doing at my house?"

Michael laughed. "Talking to Ken."

"About what?"

"About having your hand in marriage."

Suddenly, a fist hit Michael's head. Ken and Carlo were surprised while Rosemarie chuckled. Maileen was more shocked to realize who hit him.

"You idiot bastard! I never know you had a play boy blood on you! But don't try fooling Maileen around or I'll hit you another one!" Crystal screamed and Michael was startled.

"What the—"

Crystal regained her posture again. "I'm just paying a favor for what happened the first time I arrived here in Geffen. Maileen helped me a lot so behave yourself."

They remain silent for some time until they heard Ken chuckled. They look at him curious.

"Well, as I see. I have gathered all of you here so we need to celebrate. And as my gratitude for the wonderful friendship between my sister and Ms. Crystal Heatherford."

Crystal snubbed. "Shut up."

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The party held at the Arviole's house later that night. Everyone is celebrating. Michael is found at the table full of foods and eating all he can. Ken is nowhere to find while Maileen is inside the kitchen. Rosemarie and Carlo are outside the house.

"Carlo can you get that for me?" Rosemarie is pointing at an apple tree.

"Wait, it was too high."

"You can get that! Oops.., be careful.!"

"Here."

"Thanks! You're the best!"

Crystal is watching them at the balcony. She is quiet and hiding when their sight reach her. As she is watching the two, tears flow down her cheeks. There is unbearable pain at her chest which is new to her. When she tries to wipe it with her hands, a handkerchief was pop up from nowhere. As she looks at the giver, she saw Ken smiling sadly at her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked arrogantly. "Aren't you supposed to be downstairs and be the host?"

"How can I start the program if the guests aren't complete?" he said back. "And besides, there are no programs. It's just simple gathering."

"Oh, right."

"Are you crying?"

"What the hell! Of course not!"

"Then what are that tears for?"

"Can you stop bothering me? Whatever you'll do, I still hate you! You're the reason why I'm here! You are! And from what you are doing, I even ha-"

"Do you believe in love at first sight?" Ken sighed when he hears no answer from Crystal. Crystal is just shocked when Ken asked the question. She remembers that day.

"You know what. I can't imagine I will experience it. The time I reach my status, I really don't bother to check if my heart needs someone but one day this beautiful lady came. I like her the first time I saw her. I feel hurt when she gets mad at me but I know I can't do something about it. And the more I get to know her, the more this feeling grow. And when I'm sure this is love, I found out that she loves someone else. I am deeply hurt but I didn't show it. I just wish to heal her broken hearts if my power can do it."

Crystal feels guilt when she heard his story. But when she realized how awkward this situation was. She turns red and shouted.

"I don't care… about your story! It's just makes me feel… sad!" Crystal still red, turn her back to Ken. The high priest just smile.

"If that's what you feel, then do it. I just want to help. To tell you, you're not alone." When Crystal is about to walk out, Ken grabbed her wrist. "No. I'm going. I am the one who just came, right? Good night." Ken walked away leaving Crystal confused.

"Wait… what just happened?"