Peony Upala Malkuth IX was no stranger to death, or so he liked to believe. Attendance in state funerals was a matter of course of him, as was visiting the dying in soldier camps, offering what consolation or inspiration he could to those whose time was almost up.

There was also the matter of losing all his brothers and sisters, which inevitably led to his coronation. Long before that, he also lost Professor Nebilim, along with it the innocence of his two dearest friends—though innocence was perhaps too subjective a term. He also had an experience dancing with it more times than he could count, what with assassination plots being something that he dealt with on a regular basis, on top of considering the number of rappigs he owned throughout his stint as the Emperor of Malkuth.

Really, though, he was more than willing to welcome him with a cup of tea when it came knocking on his door. Score be damned—it was the only certainty that was there in anyone's future.

Alas, Death was never that straightforward.

When he lasted check—or as far as he knew—Death did not have auburn locks tied in a loose bun and waved in incoming clientele with soup ladles in hand. Neither did Death wear full skirts nor devastating smiles and speak with that all-too familiar voice-

"You're awake," "Death" greeted, her bespectacled face impassive as her red eyes bore into him. No, this was not Death, this was-

"Nephry?" Peony managed to rasp out, his own voice sounding foreign to him.

"Try again." The person offered him a glass of water, which he gratefully accepted. Midway through the refreshing liquid, he nearly choked upon seeing the all-too familiar smirk crossing the "woman's" face.

"Jade?" His disbelief was probably apparent due to the ever-widening smirk on Jade's face. Recognition gave a new meaning to devastating as he described that smile earlier, and as such, he mentally stamped out the word link from his memory. Of all the things he expected to see in the afterlife, it certainly was not his best friend in drag. Unless of course it was some punishment, as the sight and idea would have typically been more than enough for him to claw his own eyes out, if not for the fact that he looked and sounded like a she.

As if sensing his thoughts, Jade said, "I applied a fonic arte to my throat. I would no sooner pass for a woman than a rappig would pass for a cheagle."

Peony chuckled his agreement, though it was short-lived as he began to contemplate his surroundings. Thatched roof, wooden walls, pots and pans hanging in a far corner, and of course there was Jade in front of him. Speaking of rappigs, it was probably wise to assume that none of his pets made it, unfortunate as it was. His expression sobered momentarily, then turned curious as he fixed his gaze back on Jade. If that was not Death playing tricks in front of him, then where-

"In case you were wondering, you are currently in a settlement tucked in Tataroo Valley, inside a makeshift hut constructed by yours truly."

Jade blazed on before Peony could open his mouth to reply. "No, you're not dead—as much as your enemies wish for that, and no, this is not a dream, and if you want me to prove it as such, you are more than welcome to be my guest, Your Majesty. Though I could not guarantee a painless proof if I were to do the honors."

Peony fell silent at those words, not daring to take up Jade on his offer. The stiffness of his joints as he tried to move his arms and legs, as well as the dull ache in his chest seemed to indicate as much—if not the faint chatter of the townsfolk and the moos he could hear from his bed. Certainly, cows did not exist in the afterlife, did they not?

Coldness seized his heart as he finally considered that reality, dread washing over him as his chest constricted in response to a sudden realization. "How long have I been like this?"

"A month," Jade replied as a matter of fact.

"A month?!" Peony shot up from his bed, only to cringe visibly as a sharp pain coursed down his back.

"Your Majesty, I suggest refraining from such movements until you have fully recovered," Jade said reprovingly, his face a mask of disapproval. "I wouldn't want all of my hard work the past few weeks to all go to waste because a silly boy could not keep his limbs to himself."

Peony sighed in defeat and lay back on the bed, returning to studying the thatched roof of the hut. As much as he wanted to go out of the house and see the world for himself then and there, he knew better than to disobey Jade's advice. Well, he supposed, he could probably worm the information he needed from the said person. What was he doing in Tataroo Valley? Shouldn't he be in Grand Chokmah, not playing house with Jade? Also, why was he thinking about Death earlier? Just what-

Then, the haze that was his thoughts cleared, and it all came rushing back.

War. They were at war back then. It was so sudden; the Malkuth military did not have time to prepare properly. After ambushing the Malkuth troops at Kaitzur, the Kimlascan army marched their way across the Rugnican Plains, and while by no means unnoticed, were quick. Too quick. Even with the landships and troops ready to meet them, there was the matter of hover drives that they employed, which quickly turned the tide into Kimlasca's favor as the Malkuth forces were too busy holding off the Kimlascan army from ravaging Engeve and St. Binah.

The unexpected use of machines like the Albiore proved to be the empire's downfall. While most of the Malkuth Empire's forces were busy fighting at the Rugnican Plains, Kimlascan forces were able to ambush the said army from behind, while simultaneously raiding the capital from the air.

He remembered his advisers telling him to run for it. Hide and live, so that the Empire would be able to continue to hope. But he did not. He stood in his throne room, fending off attackers with his inexperienced blade, waiting for the mastermind to come out as his generals fell around him. An exercise in futility, for it was only a matter of time until a soldier struck him down, running his blade through his abdomen.

He was supposed to be dead. But how? How did he survive that ordeal? His gaze then flew to Jade. Jade... He must have done something. But what was it?

His face must have betrayed the shock he felt, for Jade spoke, "...You'd better rest."

"No."

Jade let out an exasperated sigh. "Your Majesty, now is not—"

"I need to know. What happened during the past month while I was knocked out? How did I even survive?"

"There isn't much," Jade said tonelessly. "The Empire fell. Engeve, St. Binah, and Grand Chokmah have been left for ruin. Keterburg has been officially declared Kimlascan territory. Survivors of Malkuthian descent are considered less than third class citizens." Jade took a deep a breath. "As for surviving, it's a feat none other than the Necromancer could pull off, don't you think?"

Peony narrowed his eyes at Jade. "I don't like the sound of that."

"Since I am no Seventh Fonist, I had to place you in a catatonic sleep so you could recover from that stab wound and the other injuries you incurred in battle. Well, to be exact, it was more of a state of suspended animation rather than a catatonic one, but I'm glad the experiment worked out. Though, the credit for the healing proper should go to Miss Tear Grants, who kindly helped out during the first month of your confinement."

Peony heaved a sigh of relief. "I see." At least no necromancy was involved. "Where is she now?"

"She had to leave, for she had other business to take care of."

"How about Nephry?"

"I don't know."

"Saphir?"

"I don't know."

In response, he shot up from where he lay, biting back a wince as he got on his feet. Wobbling slightly on his feet as he tried his best to ignore what seemed to be spikes piercing every inch of his body, he took several tentative steps forward and glared at Jade as he clutched the edge of a nearby table for support. "How could you not know? One of them is your sister, and the other is your close friend and research partner!"

"While I concede the lattermost statement regarding the latter person, you do have to note that my movement is extremely limited, considering I've had to babysit an unconscious emperor who foolishly decided to fight instead of fleeing."

"What kind of emperor leaves his people alone while they're fighting valiantly?" Peony's glare did not let up, though inwardly, he knew that Jade had a point regarding his circumstances.

Jade's gaze remained cool as his red eyes engaged Peony's blue ones. "Someone who knows that there's more of a future for his kingdom when he's alive rather than when he is dead."

Silence fell over the two as none of them backed down from their stands, until Jade decided to tear his gaze away from Peony. "If you will excuse me," Jade said, turning his back towards him, "I must get going."

"In that get-up?" Doubtful, Peony raised an eyebrow at him. "Where?"

"Yes." Jade returned Peony's raised brow with one of his own, as if to challenge him to mock him for his appearance. "To Chesedonia."

"I'm coming with you."

"No."

"Why not?"

"This has been a trip I have been delaying for months, as I have wasted enough time—"

"You haven't answered my question," Peony said, finding his voice fortunately steady as circulation returned to his limbs.

Jade sighed in resignation. "This is a journey I must undertake alone. Based on what I have confirmed, both of us have been declared dead by the Kimlascan military. However, their top brass know better and are still searching for us. I refuse to put you in danger for something this trivial, especially since now that you're well on the way to recovery."

"'Something this trivial'? I still have a lot of questions and none of them are going to be answered as I sit around here! Also, what makes you think I will be safe here?"

"No one except me knows of your true identity, and you'll blend in with the townsfolk easily enough."

"I've had it with sitting around and waiting for things to happen. I want to see things for myself and do what I can to help."

"Then stay. You are this country's hope, and you are of no use to it dead."

"No. There is no guarantee that the Kimlascan army will not siege the settlement, and oh, kill everyone in here because they felt like it."

"The chances of that happening is very unlikely considering how Kimlasca has deemed everything in the Ispanian Peninsula and Rugnican Plains as unworthy of their attention, especially after their multiple sweeps throughout the said regions. They have failed as far as making sure that everyone that needed to stay dead stayed dead, but that works to our favor," Jade then threw him a pointed look at the bed. "As for you, you'd better lie down again, else, I will make you."

Peony folded his arms and shook his head. "If you did that, then wouldn't you be risking reopening my wound even more?"

"Touché," Jade said, but made no move to push through with his earlier threat.

"Besides, don't you need someone to cover for you while you're casting your spells? You can't just Energy Blast everything in your way, you know?"

"You are clearly forgetting that I am able to channel fonons through my weapon and am more than capable of holding my own in physical combat."

"Well then, wouldn't you be more certain of my safety if I were around? Besides, they are searching for a man or two, not a couple off to do their shopping."

For that, Jade was rendered temporarily speechless, and he hid his eyes behind the glare of his glasses—a movement that Peony recognized as Jade hiding something, if not plotting for the best way to go about the demise of a nearby living being. Truly a cause for concern, considering he was the nearest one that qualified the latter criteria.

"That is one of the most ridiculous ideas I have ever heard of in my life, but that might actually work. Though I do prefer the term 'family', as that is what I have been telling our fellow survivors. Figuratively, of course, considering how we do not look a thing alike. Do get used to moving around in a month's time, as we will be leaving then."

"Wait a minute—I thought we were leaving now?"

"I said nothing of the sort. I still need to settle some matters around the encampment, as our fellows will be losing their soup kitchen mistress. And of course, I also need to gather supplies for the trip."

Peony could not help but pout as Jade smirked and turned his back to him to attend to the stove. He got him there, alright. Regardless, he comforted himself with the thought that he managed to get his way in the end.

For a while, Peony simply stood, watching Jade as he began scooping out curry into bowls. From behind, he really did look like Nephry. If Nephry were less endowed in where it mattered and smiled like a cat who caught the proverbial mouse.

"Doesn't dressing up like that hurt your pride as a man?"

"You are speaking as if I had that pride to begin with."

Peony wrinkled his nose at Jade's response. "Jade, society's standards dictate that men are not supposed to be enjoy cross-dressing and the like."

"It's not a matter of whether I enjoy it or not. If it gets the job done, then I will do it."

"Way to be all serious about it," Peony said, rolling his eyes. "But you know, for a guy, you don't look half as bad as a woman."

"I am not my sister, Your Majesty."

"Franz."

"Neither am I your deceased older brother."

"No, I meant, call me 'Franz'. We can't have you addressing me as 'Your Majesty' once we get out of here. Plus... it's not like I have an empire to speak of anymore."

"Very well," Jade said, shoving a bowl of curry towards him. "Eat your curry, Franz."

Peony had to suppress a grin of amusement as he accepted the bowl from Jade. Fishing for sympathy from Jade was like asking a goldfish to walk on land, huh? Regardless, that was the Jade he came to know, and it was nice to see that despite the winds turning on them, some things did not change so easily.

Still, he could have sworn that before Jade spoke out loud, he muttered something under his breath, something which suspiciously sounded like "not if I have anything to say about it".