Disclaimer: I do not own Avalon Code or its characters in any way.

Sorry about the late update, we're doing summer cleaning . anyway, here it is! Chapter seven!

Aria's POV

"We good to go?" I glanced at Anwar, who would now be traveling with us. He smiled and gave a faint nod. I smiled back, and opened the book. "Okay, Ur, where do we have to go now?" The lightning spirit floated in front of me.

"That's the thing, Aria. You've done everything up until now. Why don't you take a break?" I had to gasp at this.

"B-But Kullervo! What if he, I mean…"

"Every Hero needs a break." I gave a pout of complaint.

I turned to look at Anwar, who was standing in his same spot with a very confused look on his face. "What's wrong?" He tilted his head to the side. "Anwar?"

"You've got an imaginary friend? What's his name…? Ur?" I immediately blushed, remembering that no one but the chosen could see the spirits.

"Well, uh… you've heard stories about the Book of Prophecy, right?" he nodded. "Well, you know about the four spirits, right?" nod. "And that they're invisible to everyone but the chosen?"

"Ooooohhh that makes sense." Rempo raised an eyebrow and muttered something along the lines of "idiot." I cast a glare in his direction and he shut up.

"AAARRRIIIAAAAA!" I immediately flinched at his voice. He was coming… and fast. I ducked behind Anwar.

"Don't tell him where I am!" Anwar had a confused expression and I just put my finger on my lips.

An old man ran up to Anwar and asked if he had seen me. Of course, new to emotions and whatnot, he hesitated.

"N-No?"

"Wait a minute- is that you Aria?" I flinched, and quickly plastered on a big, but fake, smile. I jumped up with my arms open wide.

"Grandpa Vis!" I ducked down to give the little man a hug. "How've you been?"

"Quite fine, Aria. My, my! Who is this strapping young fellow?" I could feel my cheeks heat up a bit as I turned to the boy.

"This is Anwar. He's from the desert town." Vis began to circle the swordsman, observing him. He tapped on his arms and legs, confusing Anwar to no end. Finally he stopped circling and told him to smile. Anwar lifted his lips in what seemed like a smirk. The examination continued in that manner. I could hear Rempo snickering behind me, and I couldn't help a giggle or two of my own.

"I like him! You got a nice fellow here." I heated up and demanded what he meant by that. "You two are so much in love. I'm so jealous." Red overcame Anwar's tan face.

"Vis!" he turned to me, innocently. "I-It's not, I mean, well… we aren't together like that! Don't just go on assuming!"

"But I'm not assuming, just stating the fact." Rempo finally broke out in laughter. The rest were snickering and even Ur seemed to be enjoying this.

"Sir, we're not… well…" Anwar rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"No need to be shy, young one. When a boy comes to a certain age, he starts to develop certain feelings that he himself doesn't understand-"

"Vis!" The little man turned his head to me, that innocent look still in place.

"That's exactly it!" Vis and I turned to see Anwar with an admiring look on his face. "I don't understand any of it!" Rempo was rolling on the ground now, and I could feel all the heat in my body rise up to my face.

"Well, Vis, we'd better go now. I've got training to do." I tucked my book under my arm and motioned Anwar to follow.

"That reminds me… good luck in the tournament." I stopped and looked back at Vis.

"Tournament?"

"Yes. You know, the one held every ten years? Determines who the strongest person in the world is? Any of this ringing a bell?"

"Actually, I do remember Rex mentioning something like that. He signed me up, actually. I can't believe I almost forgot."

"Did he tell you he made banners and signs that say 'Aria the hero, take their health down to zero' and he's gonna' be handing them out?"

"He did what?!"

"But that's so cheesy!"

"It's genius!"

"Genius? 'Take their health down to zero?' What is this, a video game?!"

"Oh, come on!"

"Where are they?" I looked around the room. I spotted posters and flags with the cheesy phrase written on every one. I walked over to them, picked them all up in one armful, and took them outside.

"Hey- what are you doing??" I set the "me merchandise" on Rex's bonfire and lit it. Rex was complaining about the cost of it and I pulled out my money pouch, counted out 2,000 mystic jewels, and handed them to him.

"No more posters." He frowned, but nodded, and we walked back in the house.

"You… huff… run… huff… really… huff… fast…" I turned my head to see Anwar bent over, trying to catch his breath.

"Oh, hey Anwar. I was just leaving." The swordsman lifted his head with eyes and mouth wide open.

"What?" Anwar let out a loud groan and propped himself up on Rex's doorframe.

"Who's that?" Rex jerked his head in Anwar's direction.

"That's Anwar, a friend of mine." Rex looked him over with a disapproving look. Anwar took a step back, obviously feeling uncomfortable under Rex's stare.

"Well, we should go. Anwar, where are you staying tonight?" He didn't say anything for a moment. A soft pink appeared across his tan face and muttered something about "not expecting to stay so long."

I looked over at Rex, who looked back with a confused stare. I willed him to understand with the puppy eyes. Suddenly he understood and took a step back.

"Oh, HELL no!"

"Please, Rex? Just until after the tournament?"

"Nuh-uh. NOT gonna' happen!"

"It's either your place or mine." Rex, being the brother-like figure he was, wasn't gonna' let a guy he didn't know stay in my house. He reluctantly accepted. Anwar just stood there like a child watching his parents fight. "Thanks, Rex! I owe you one!" I stepped in for a hug. He sighed as I wrapped my arms around him.

"You owe me." He confirmed. I peered over Rex's shoulder to see Anwar looked very ticked off.

How cute.

There! A long chapter, just as I promised! Now I can sleep tonight without any guilt :D and also, there will be some more Anwar/Aria fluff coming up so look forward to it! Bye bye! See ya' in chapter eight!