Hi hi!!!!!!!

Wow I'm updating again

Not in the 1 week time that i was hoping but 2 week is still good.

I hope this is ok...it might be...slightly slower paced...but guess who's backkkkk :)

One evening, the assassin's eyes slowly fluttered opened.

He blinked several times to help his eyes focus and then he scanned the room he currently is in.

Once he determined that it seems to be safe he sat up in his bed.

He almost fell back down because of the light headedness he felt when he sat up.

He propped himself up with his arms and stayed still until the dizziness went away.

Once he felt better, he began a better examination of the room looking for clues for where he might be. He immediately ruled out the possibility of the guild base and a dungeon. So it seemed like he wasn't caught by anyone. However it doesn't seem to be the hospital either so he couldn't help but wonder where he was.

Curiosity got the best of him and he tried to get out of bed.

Once he got his feet on the ground and stood up, he collapse immediately to the floor. His legs had absolutely no strength to support him. His stomach then growled at him reminding him that it's hungry. He guessed that he has become really weak due to the lack of food when he was unconscious. He had no idea how long he was out but he figured he was about to find out when he heard footsteps outside the room.

The door opened to reveal an old man standing there. The bold man with a kind face looked at the assassin on the ground.

"Oh you're awake," He comments.

The assassin stayed silent as he watched the old man come closer to him.

"Here let me help you get back into bed. You muscles are probably weak due to the lack of food and exercise while you were unconsciously. You know, you have to keep moving to stay strong. See look at me. I exercise every day and I'm in perfect shape." The old man told the boy with pride as he helped lift the assassin back into bed.

When the assassin was back sitting in the bed his stomach growled loudly. The old man heard the growl, looked at the boy and laughed out loud. "I guess one would be hungry if they were unconscious for several days. Why don't I cook you something to eat now. Anything special you want?" He asked.

The assassin shook his head.

"Silent one aren't you." He commented, "Ok I'll go make my famous Curry Savages on rice for you to eat. I'll be back in a jiffy." (A/N Savages is a monster in game that probably resembles a wild bore (pig)  )

The assassin sat there trying to figure out what had happened.

He remembered going out on a mission and meeting the acolyte in the garden. He read her diary and found out that something fishy was going on at Mother Marthilda's so he decided to check it out.

He found his sister being held captive there along with some other children. He tried to get his sister out but was found by Persona and they fought.

Just as he was about to die someone had saved him. He remembers priests coming in to warp everyone out and then he left using a special butterfly wing. He remember making it into the garden before he collapsed. After that he couldn't remember what happened. He had no idea who saved him and where he was.

While he was trying to figure things out, the door opened again.

He could smell the delicious curry the old man made. The tray that he had brought the food on had legs on the side and is able to stand on the bed.

The food smelt delicious but the just stared at it. He wasn't sure if it would be safe to eat. For all he knew this could just be a trick set up by the guild.

The old man noticed his hesitation and spoke up, "Don't worry, it's not poisoned or anything. Try it, it's good; Mikan loves it."

The assassin tore his eyes off the food and looked at the old man when he said the name Mikan.

"Was she the one that brought me here?" He asked in a rough coarse voice. It felt rough on his throat when he spoke. He supposed that's due to the fact that he hasn't spoken for several days since he was unconscious.

"Mikan is my granddaughter. I thought you guys must have had a really horrible accident while training when she brought you home that day." He explained while smiling.

Hearing that created mixed emotions in him. He's relieved that he's somewhere safe but now he's concerned about Mikan and her grandfather's safety. He knew how much her grandfather meant to her from all the stories she had told him when they were together in the garden.

Knowing that he was in safe hands, he took the spoon and ate a mouthful of the curry rice. His mouth watered from the delicious taste and he quickly ate the rest of the food.

Ji-Chan watched him eat with delight, "That a boy. The food will help get you your strength back. You can't be weak if I'm going to let my granddaughter train with you." He said with a smile.

Once Natsume finished, he thanked him for the food and asked, "How long as I out for?"

"4 nights and 3 days." Ji-Chan replied.

"I should really get going then." He replied.

"No you shouldn't. You just woke up; you didn't even have the strength to stand up. All you should be doing is resting and eating until you're recovered." Ji-Chan scolded him as he tucked him back into bed.

The Ji-Chan muttered under his breath, "Mikan will be mad at me if you leave before she comes home." Ji-Chan didn't mean for him to hear that but Natsume's sharp hearing picked it up.

"She's missing?" He questioned.

"No, she said she was going to the church the day after she brought you home. She'll probably be home any day now." Ji-Chan told him.

He nods and starts drifting off to sleep like he was told to. He figured he'll wait for Mikan to return to make sure she is ok before he sets off again to find his sister.

The next morning passed by rather uneventfully. He woke up in the morning, went downstairs for breakfast and helped out around the house. He wanted to pay them back for helping him for the last couple of days. Once he finished helping clean up the house he took his lunch and enjoyed it out in the backyard with Ji-Chan.

Ji-Chan told him many stories of when he was younger and out adventuring. He absentmindedly answered Ji-Chan prompting him to continue his stories when necessary. In reality, as his mind is busy figuring out how to find his sister and wondering if Mikan is safe or not.

Once they finished lunch he took the dishes into the kitchen to wash them.

Ji-chan stayed in the backyard enjoying his tea until he heard a knock on the front door.

He got up and answers the door.

"Good afternoon, Ji-Chan." Ruka greeted when the door opened.

"Hi Ruka. It's been a while since you last came over. If I remember right you were still an archer last time and look at you now. Congratulations on becoming a hunter. You should come by and have some tea with this old man more often." Ji-Chan told him as he ushered him into the house.

"Thanks Ji-Chan." Ruka replied as he went into the house.

"Is Mikan around? I haven't seen her in a while and I haven't been able to reach her on communicator."

"No, she hasn't come home yet."

"Do you know where she went?"

"Well before she left she mentioned something about going to the church. I just assumed she's out training."

"Really? Who would she be training with? I contacted all our friends and none of them have been in contact with Mikan for the past couple of days. We got worried about her and since Hotaru is busy I came to check up on Mikan." Ruka explained.

"Hum, that's weird. Her communicator should always be on. Unless she's blocking calls for some odd reason." Ji-Chan thought out loud.

"I'll go make some tea for us and we can try and figure out a way to get in contact with her. I'm sure she's ok." Ji-Chan suggested and walked towards the kitchen.

"I'll help," Ruka volunteered and came into step behind him.

When they got to the kitchen, the boy looked up from the dishes at the new comers.

Ruka's eyes went wide open "Natsume?" His voice came out as a whisper when he found it.

"Oh, so that's his name. I should have really asked when he woke up." Ji-Chan said to himself.

"Natsume?!" Ruka said louder in disbelief as if he was trying to confirm that the person standing there was indeed his best friend.

Natsume just stared at Ruka in return since he did not know how to respond.

"I guess it only makes sense if you guys know each other since Mikan knows the both of you." Ji-Chan mumbled under his breath.

"What are you doing here? You know how long and hard I've been looking for you?!" Ruka managed to ask as his voice started to crack at the end.

Ji-Chan sense the tension and said, "I'll leave you boys to catch up." After that he left for the backyard once again.

"After Aoi got taken away you just left on your own without saying a word. We had no idea what happened to you. I searched long and hard and never stopped looking. And here I find you in Mikan's house?! How could she not tell me? She knew I was looking for you and said she'll help." Ruka continued to ramble on.

"It's not her fault." Natsume said quietly.

"Why would she do that to me?" Ruka quietly mumbled while shaking his head sadly.

"She doesn't know who I am. She still doesn't know." Natsume told him.

Ruka looked up at Natsume, "Then why are you here?"

"It's a long story. But basically she found me hurt in the Prontera field one day and helped heal me. After that it became a daily thing. I never told her my name, at first she tried to get it out of me but eventually she gave up and just gave me a name. She never got to see my face either since it was always covered by my mask."

"That does sound like something she would do. She's always going around helping people." Ruka thought out loud. Then he questioned, "Why are you here then?"

Natsume sighed, "The last time she saw me I was in really bad shape. She must have brought me here."

"Then where is she? I've been trying to contact her but I haven't been able to." Ruka replied.

Panic flashed through Natsume's face and then it disappeared again. "I don't know. I haven't seen her since I woke up. I was unconscious for several days." He replied as calmly as he could but on the inside he was dying to make sure Mikan is okay.

"You don't think she was captured like Aoi was, do you?" Ruka asked worriedly.

"I hope not." Natsume replied, then he realized what Ruka said. "Wait, how did you know about her being captured?"

"Right, since you've been unconscious you probably wouldn't know. Your sister is at the Hospital right now. The Prontera knights found her." Ruka answered.

Natsume sighed with relief, "Good they got her out okay." He whispered.

But that didn't escape Ruka's sharp hearing. "You were there weren't you? Aoi was asking for you. She said she thought she saw you." Ruka pushed him for an answer.

Natsume sighed, and then decided to tell Ruka what happened, "I spent a long time looking for her. But when I finally found her I got in a fight with them and got badly injured. Then other people came in with priests and got all the hostages out. I winged out immediately after I saw they took Aoi away. Is she ok?! I was going to look for her right away but I've only really recovered my strength today."

"She's a lot better now. Her physical condition is getting better and she is calmer then before. Wait so you were so injured that Mikan had to bring you here and when you woke up she was gone." Ruka concluded and Natsume nods in confirmation and relief hearing that his sister is better.

"You don't think something happened to her do you?! What if the people that took Aoi took her away? I mean, since Aoi has been rescued. What if the found you and followed her home?" Ruka asked while freaking out.

"Damn it," Natsume cursed under his breath, "That's what I was worried about all along. That's why I never told her anything about me whenever she bugged me."

Natsume ran out of the kitchen to go upstairs to the room where he was staying.

He quickly changed into his clean and patched up uniform and sprinted for the front door.

"Where are you going," Ruka cried out.

"I'll find her." Natsume replied quickly as he reached for the doorknob and opened the door.

He blindly rushed out the door only to crash into someone on the other side of the door.

His body must really have still been recovering because instead of reacting to steady himself, he just fell onto the floor on top of who ever he just crash into.

'Itai," the voice from under him whined.

The voice sounds familiar he thought as he looked down at the person.

He was greeted by the sight of familiar brown hair but instead of the usual pigtails it was left down. She had her eyes closed and her head was shaking side to side. "Pretty stars." She commented in a weak dazed voice. "Mikan?" He thought as he continued to stare at the girl below him taking in her features. He noticed that she was wearing a priestess uniform but Mikan had only been an Acolyte the last time he saw her.

"Natsume are you ok?" Ruka's voice brought him back to reality.

Natsume quickly pushed himself off the girl and called out, "Oi, get up."

That seemed to snap the girl out of her daze and she opened her eyes and looked up at where the voice came from.

Warm brown eyes stared intently into his and all muttering about pain and stars ceased.

"Neko-Chan." She whispered.

Then she snapped out of her daydream and exclaimed, "You're awake!" and launched herself at him.

"I was so worried. I felt so helpless when I couldn't heal you. Don't ever do that again." She cried into his chest.

Natsume felt a wash of relief come over him as the girl he was able to go search for is now safe in his arms. He lightly wrapped his arms around her bringing them up to their feet.

"Ahem," Ruka cleared his throat behind him to interrupt the moment.

They looked up to the source of the sound and found Ruka standing there in the doorway.

Mikan happily went over to him and greeted, "Ruka! What brings you here?!"

"Mikan?! You're a priestess now!" Ruka responded in surprised as he realize that the reason why the priestess looked so familiar is because she was Mikan.

"Yup. Do I look that different that you didn't recognize me?"

"No, well, I didn't expect to find you as a priestess. So it just sort of surprised me, that's all."

Mikan giggles and spins around to show off her new uniform. "How do I look?"

Ruka blushes and stutters, "It suits you."

"Thanks," Mikan replied brightly.

"So what is everyone doing at the door? You weren't going to leave without saying anything were you?" She accused the assassin.

"I was going to go look for you since Ruka was worried about you." He replied.

"Worried? Why were you worried Ruka."

"Well, we haven't been able to get a hold of you for a couple of days and it just seemed weird. So I thought I would come and visit to see if you were okay. Then I found Natsume here in your house. That was a surprise."

"I kind of blocked all calls when I was training with my sensei. I wanted to focus on training so I can class change faster." Mikan told him sheepishly, "Sorry if that caused you guys to worry. I'll let you guys know next time if it ever happens again so you guys won't worry. Hum, isn't Natsume the name of your friend that you were looking for?"

"Yeah, that's him right there." Ruka told her and pointed to the assassin.

"Oh." Mikan said softly.

Then something clicked in Mikan's head. "Wait, you mean Neko-Chan is the friend that you have been looking for?!" Mikan exclaimed loudly.

Ruka nods in reply. "Oh My God! I had no idea. I'm so sorry Ruka. If I knew that earlier I would have told you. I'm so sorry." Mikan said while tearing up.

Ruka patted her head, "Don't worry, it's not your fault. You didn't know who he was."

Then he turns to Natsume, "Well now that we know Mikan is ok, we should really go visit your sister. She's waiting for you to visit her. I've been making excuses for why you haven't gone to see her yet ever time I go to see her."

"Hn." Natsume replies.

"Also, Tsubasa-senpai will need to question you about what has been happening."

"I don't want to get other people involved." Natsume replied grimly.

"They can help keep Aoi safe. Isn't that important?" Ruka pointed out.

Natsume thought about that and grunted.

"Tsubasa-senpai?" Mikan asks.

"Yeah I bumped into Tsubasa-senpai on another day when I was going to look for you. Turns out he found Natsume's sister so I've been visiting her every day now."

"Ah I see. Why don't we go visit her together and then I can call Tsubasa-snepai and he can meet us there?" Mikan asked thoughtfully.

"That's a good idea." Ruka replied, "How about it, Natsume?"

"Hn."

"Alright then, lets go! Lead the way please, Ruka."

Ruka nodded and then led them to the hospital.

I hope that wasn't too ackward

I had a little trouble towards the end otmake everything flow

Please please please review

Thanks to everyone that reviewed last time:

o0fuYuHAnAsHIrAZuKI0o: The priestess test was the first class changing test I did :) I made my other second class chars at that time before they implemented quests...lol _ i've been playing for too long

yuuki36 : heehee little NxM moment there :) sorry Ruka but I'm a NxM fan heehee

oObroken-wingsOo: Hey Natsumi, I've been good. How have you been? you haven't been updating lately :(