Catching Up

As Mana was walking around the palace courtyard, she couldn't help but jump around and squeal. "Best coronation ever, best wedding ever, this is going to be the best reign ever!"

Freya couldn't help but laugh. "It's also going to be the best summer ever as everything changes for all of us. A new king and queen, new lives for all of us, everybody's dreams coming true, and a new age of peace and prosperity."

"Mm-hmm," Kisara said in agreement. "With two of our closest friends as Egypt's new leaders, it's like Millennia's wishes have just come true and we're living in paradise."

"Yeah, and in a few more years, the three of us will be just like the pharaoh and queen. We'll have our lucky guys, we'll be living large," she finally sits down and sighs. "Queen Mystery," Mana says to herself. "It's got a nice ring to it, I admit. But don't you guys think it's a little weird? Now that she's queen of Egypt, we're going to have to start calling her things like 'her majesty'."

Kisara and Freya admitted that it was something they would have to get used to. As time passed, the girls continued talking about their dreams and catching up with each other on their history. It was like typical female quality time. Mana was able to enjoy that with Mystery, but it wasn't the same without Kisara or Freya. Now that they were together again, they could share that same quality time. Kisara, Freya, and Mana would let Mystery adjust to her new life as queen, but it didn't mean they could no longer spend time as friends.

In another corner of the courtyard, the men of the group were lost in thought about the same things. Joseph was lying down on his back resting underneath a tree. Happy that the woman he loved returned, he started whispering things to himself as he imagined what things would be like now that they were together again. He slowly raises his arm as if trying to grasp the sun, pretending he was reaching for Freya's hand.

Seto decides to take advantage of the matter and play another prank on his friend. He approaches Joseph, grasps his hand, kneels down, and whispers, "Good morning, lover boy."

Joseph comes back to his senses and gives a surprised yelp. He sits up and scolds Seto. "Mother Goddess, Seto! How many times do I have to tell you? Do not torment me when I am daydreaming."

Seto shakes his head and chuckles to himself. "I just could not resist," he says, still chuckling a little. He had been doing this to Joseph for as long as they had been together. Sometimes, Joseph would torment Seto the same way. Doing so would make Seto hit Joseph on the head with his Millennium Rod. They also liked trying to get each other into trouble.

Joseph rolls his eyes, then focuses his attention on the girls. He watches Mana practicing magic to display her talents to Kisara and Freya. "I'm glad we're all together again."

"So am I," said Seto. "But that doesn't mean we can go back to the old ways."

"Maybe not, but we can still catch up and just be friends." It had only been a few short days since their return. Despite everyone's responsibilities and how much they had all grown, nothing was more important than being together as the family that they were. Not yet by law or by blood, but still by the love that they had for each other.

Mahad was sitting near the water by himself. He didn't want to get mixed up in another quarrel between his two friends. Seeing Seto and Joseph just being the way they were around each other made Mahad think of them as a married couple. The monsters decided to keep him company. Sakuya stood beside him and rubbed herself against his side while Kirara sat in his lap. "We have all missed you girls," Mahad said, scratching Sakuya's ears. Sakuya purred affectionately, telling him how much she and her friends missed everybody as well. Mahad turned his attention to Kirara and began petting her. "Are you happy to be back home with us?" Kirara swayed her tails twice as an answer for 'yes'. It was a trick Mahad taught her when he would ask her a question; one sway for 'no' and two for 'yes'.

Seeing Mahad look so happy, Mana decides to make an impression for him. She casts a transformation spell and gives herself cat ears and a tail matching her hair color. Kisara and Freya can't help but laugh because they find her looking so cute. At first, Mana thinks that they think that she looks ridiculous, but they promise her that they think that she looks cute. Satisfied to hear that, Mana approaches Mahad. He stops petting Kirara as he turns his attention to his student. Smiling, but trying not to laugh, he tells Mana how cute she looks and places his hand on her head to pet her and scratch her ears. Even Kirara meows in an amused manner.

Mana didn't know what to think of her master's reaction. Was he impressed with the spell she just performed on herself or did he really think she was cute? Either way, she was happy to see him like this. Mana would do anything to make Mahad smile. It would even make her happy to hear him laugh with joy. It would just go to show how much she loved her teacher and wanted his happiness. If only Mahad could see that. Of course, Mana wanted the same thing for all of her friends; to be happy and in a pleasant mood. That was why she had the amulet of joy. Her amulet even glowed for her impression.

The transformation spell starts to wear off and Mana's feline features disappear. "What did you think about it?"

Mahad smiles and tells her, "I was quite impressed with the spell you performed. Also, I really did think you were cute. Oh, Mana, you always know how to make your friends smile." Kirara jumps off of his lap and she and Sakuya give their affection to the rest of their friends.

She nods in a cheerful way. "I find great pleasure in it. It makes me feel good to see my friends look happy." She gets on her knees and places her head on her master's lap. Soon she starts to feel upset. She still didn't think she was ready to talk about her feelings no matter how much she wanted to show them. She tries by saying, "You know that a lot of the things I do is to impress you, right?"

Mahad smiles and rubs her head. "Mana, I'm always satisfied with your efforts. I don't think you lack talent or skill. I just want to support you and let you know that I believe in you."

Mana smiles hearing that. She always considered herself lucky to have a teacher as kind and understanding and supportive as Mahad. Then she got an idea. Mana got back on her feet and presented her master with Gracedia flowers to show her appreciation to him; how grateful she was to Mahad for being a wonderful teacher and one of the best friends she ever had.

Mahad takes the flowers and smells them. He felt like Mana really did care about him and wanted him to know how she felt. He takes one of the flowers and places it in Mana's hair. "To show how fortunate I am to have an apprentice like you and that I know you will become a wonderful magician someday." Then he moves closer to her and kisses her brow.

Mana's sigh sounds like a gasp, but she moves closer to Mahad and wraps her arms around him to hug him. Perhaps they weren't showing signs of affection the same way the rest of their friends did with each other, but it was clear that the both of them knew that they had feelings for each other. Mana takes her master's flute and holds it out to him. "Please play me a song, Master," she requested.

He smiles and takes the flute. He keeps still and quiet for a moment to let the wind give him an idea about what to play. Listening, he starts to play on his flute to match each note with the melody he hears. Kisara and Freya rejoin their friends and listen as Mahad plays. Soon, memories of all the songs they sang together and danced to started coming into mind. When Mahad finished playing, he started talking with the girls about the same thing.

Seto and Joseph approach everybody with Kirara and Sakuya in their arms. "I never get tired of hearing you play wonderful tunes, Master Mahad," Joseph complemented him. Seto and Mahad were his friends, but he had to address them as his superiors because they were of a higher status than he was. "It's like all the bad things inside of me are being driven out."

"I too, think about all of those good memories we shared together," Seto sighed. Then he and Joseph fix their gazes at their beloved girls. Kisara and Freya want to talk about all the good times they shared as well as catch up with their friends, but they suddenly felt nervous about being together again like this. So they decided to go back inside the palace while Mana decided she wanted to train her Kirlia with a battle against another one of the royal beasts.

Seeing the girls leave, Mahad smiles and asks his friends, "Are you two going to tell me to stay away from your girls?"

Joseph smiles back and retorts, "If I needed to do that, you and I wouldn't be friends." Then he and Mahad chuckle at each other. Joseph sets Kirara down and sits beside Mahad. "There's nothing wrong with being together spending time as friends."

Seto continued to tease his friends by adding, "Besides, we each have our own lovers," as he scratches Sakuya's ears. He sits down and gives Mahad a warning. "So I suggest you stay away from my girl." He chuckles, confesses that he's only teasing, and pats Mahad on the back.

Mahad had become more tolerant to Seto's humor and would try to laugh with him. Other times, he would just roll his eyes and scoff. He didn't want to start anything, however. So he played along by saying, "Yes, we're certainly fortunate to have Kisara, Freya, and Mana as good friends and good lovers."

This time, Joseph decides to tease Mahad. "So you and Mana do have feelings for each other. I'm not surprised. I mean, I've known you two for ten years now and you can't hide anything from me." Then he cries out in pain as he feels Seto hit him on the head with his Millennium Rod. Seto had been doing that since he became its sacred guardian. He would hit Joseph on the head just to tease him, or if he thought he was being immature, lazy, or irritating.

"Our affection for our women is our own business and not each other's," Seto scolded. "There is no reason to pry or tease. When we're ready, we'll have a relationship. After all, we can't all be as impatient or immature as you."

Joseph rubs his head and growls. "I know that. Come on, Seto, I may be reckless, but I'm not irresponsible." He was speaking as if he knew where Seto was going with this. "Look, I want Freya to be comfortable and happy. I'm not going to force myself on her out of lust. When she and I are ready, we'll be a real family." He had to include himself after mentioning his flaws and what he thought would be right. As much as he wanted to marry Freya and start a family, he had to respect her needs of comfort and let her become adjusted to the life of royalty like he did when he moved into the palace.

Hearing Joseph say that, Seto smiles and tells him, "Well said, Joseph. That goes to show how much you truly care about Freya and that you're not only thinking about yourself. No man could ever admit not being ready no matter how excited he was about his dream." Then his amulet and Joseph's both start glowing.

"More than that," Mahad was mentioning, "That makes you a true friend. Despite your flaws and peculiar ways, you do the things you do because you care. Also, once you've made up your mind, there is no stopping you."

Joseph appreciated hearing the compliments and pieces of wisdom his friends were giving him. He had to admit that sometimes he had to be the way he was, but when it came to being a friend, he would also be also be willing to do the right thing. The three of them did agree, however, that before they could complete their love for the women they loved, they had to consider their feelings as well and respect their needs. But there was no hurry. Just as there was plenty of time for them to get where they were now, there would be plenty of time for them to decide their futures.