Meeting Reasons

"Uh, where the…"

Walker sat up from a lying position and looked around. After rubbing his eyes and scanning his area a second time, he found himself in a medium sized room. It had two beds, which were all occupied, a balcony that had the view of the river, and a wardrobe. Plus, right by the door in front to the outside was a bathroom. Also the ooccupants on the bed were Walker and Francis, who still slept. Both of them were covered in blankets and had their shirts off.

"Finally, you're up." Shirts, not parasites.

"Stalker, the hell happened to me?"

"You got shocked until you fainted." Stalker reminded.

"Right." He looked to his left and saw Francis "Where's Filia and Cerebella?"

"They went to the hot springs."

"Eh?"

"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. They told me we were at a pretty popular inn, Riverside Inn, I think." The parasite answered.

"Right, famous for its hot springs." Walker got out of his bed but stumbled a bit "Damn, looks like I'm still not fixed."

"So, what're you gonna do?"

"Walk it off. Stalker."

"Got ya." Stalker morphed himself until he became Walker's jacket again.

"Already I feel better."

He then exits the room and finds another room. It looked like a giant living room with a Japanese table in the middle. There was another door beside the one he exit and two more in front of him. There was also a door through a small hallway.

"There's the way out." Walker commented.

He exits to a hallway that led to other rooms. He goes left and reaches a set of stairs, which lead down to the lobby. He then exits the lobby and is greeted with starry skies.

"I still don't get why people are afraid of night. It's pretty sweet to look at."

"They ain't brave enough."

"Ya got that." Walker then started walking around. He looked around to see a few late-night fishers and a few passerbys "This place is sure peaceful."

"Unless you count our little brawl, and the Skullgirl." Stalker said.

"Right, right. But it still looks like a pretty serene place." Walker looked around "I always did wanted to go here as a kid."

"You know, you never really did talk about your past, kid."

"I didn't exactly have a happy childhood." Walker looked out to the river "I'd rather not talk about it."

"Hm, fine."

Back at the inn...

"Grgh, damned lightning boy." Francis stood up and looked around his surrounding. He realized he had his shirt off and looked around for the Serpent Armes, his shirt. After finding it on the floor next to him, he put it on and left the room "Pretty nice place." He then entered the room diagonally across from the one he exit. He entered and found...

"MMPH!" There were two people occupying those beds. One of them was covered in blankets the other was a familiar feline tied up.

"...Fortune?" Francis asked. Ms Fortune nods her head "This feels slightly awkward. Then again, it is my job to bring you to our HQ, so it's no surprise that Miss Cirque would tie you up. Where is she anyway?"

"Mmmm, mmMMMmm."

"Right, gagged." Francis commented. He reached for the gag in her mouth and took it out.

"Thanks, now can you untie me?" She asked.

"No." Francis answered with a smile.

"Oh come on!" She tried to break it by herself "This is unfair! I'm just an innocent kitty! I wouldn't hurt a canary!"

"Yeah, tell that to the faces of the Medici men you tried to cut off." Francis told her.

Ms Fortune stopped and laughed sheepishly "In my defense, they deserved it."

"You're the one that started it."

Ms Fortune sighed "You all are really crazy. The circus girl ties up this poor kitty and decided to keep that mutt and Mr Electric Needles, too. It's a cat-tastrophe, I tell you, A CAT-TASTROPHE!"

Francis widened his eyes "What?!"

"Uh, it's cat-tastrophe."

"No, no, the before that."

"Oh, she kept the ninja dog and the robotic guy in the other room."

"...Stay here." Francis coldly told her and left.

"I'm tied up, you moron! Although, if you could leave a yarn that'd be fine." Ms Fortune said.

Francis only looked back before leaving the room.

"You know, you could've said no!" Francis heard from the other side of the door.

He looked at the door ahead and went to it. He opened it and looked to see the two other men from the bridge. He walked up to the bed where Kage slept. Francis only stared down at him. And raised his fist.

Around the same time, Walker walked back into the hotel and saw Filia and Cerebella. Filia noticed him "Walker."

Cerebella, with her hat in her hand, noticed him soon after "Aren't you supposed to be resting?"

"Resting? Tch, that ain't for me. I heal faster when I walk it off."

Cerebella shook her head as she smiled "Typical tough guy." She looked back up "What about Francis?"

"Pretty Boy is still sleep-Wait, did you call him Francis?"

Cerebella blushed at this "Y-yeah, why?"

Walker crossed his arm "I see. You're warming up to him, aren't you?"

"Hey, it's not like that!" Cerebella folded her arms in an X shape.

"Don't deny it. I guess he is right when he says that he can make any woman fall for him."

"I told you, it's nothing like that."

"Really, you're blushing." Samson added.

"You are." Filia followed.

"Moptop!"

"Speaking of Francis, when do you think he'll be up?" Filia asked Walker.

"He's not as tough as me," He bragged while pointing to himself with his thumb "but he should be up by now."

Filia, Samson and Cerebella had shocked expressions on their face "Really?!"

"Yeah, why?" Walker asked worringly as he looked at their face.

"Well, we kind of brought everyone on the bridge to the room." Cerebella told him.

"So?"

"Including that ninja."

...

...

...

...

...

"WHAAAAAAAAAT?!" Walker yelled "What the hell were you two thinking?!"

"We had good intentions?" Filia replied.

"We have to get back now!" Walker yelled as he ran upstairs. He then came back downstairs "I forgot, what's our room number?"

"14." Filia and Cerebella replied while they sweatdropped.

"Right!" He ran up followed by the two girls.

They reached the room and opened it hastily. They saw that one of the door is open.

"Oh crap, that's where the ninja mutt is!" Samson said. They ran in, expecting to be late. But instead...

"Francis, don't do anything you'll...regret." Walker started going before seeing Francis just standing there with his fist through the bed, right next to the head of Kage "Francis?"

Francis lifted his arm out and just stood there with his eyes shadowed by his beret. He then walked passed his three companions and left the room while slamming the door shut.

"Someone mind telling me what just happened?" Stalker finally asked after moments of silence.

"I'm not sure myself." Samson said while scratching his "head".

"Should we go after him?" Filia asked.

"Nah, leave him. He'd be better off cooling down on his own." Walker advised.

"You sure?"

"Trust me, let's leave him alone, both for his sake and ours."

They heard groan from behind and found Kage coming too. He opened his eyes and slowly sat up. He looked around until he landed his eyes on the three people. He blinked, then widened his eyes "Wait, don't try to-"

"Woah, relax, we're not the ones trying to kill you." Walker had his hands out.

Kage took deep breath and exhaled "Forgive me. I'm still on edge after what had happened."

"I don't think you'd have to worry about that now." He pointed to the hole on Kage's bed."

Kage sweatdropped "Oh, I see. Where...is he, at the moment?"

Outside, Francis just walked grumpily while gritting his teeth.

"Where's Pops?" The voice of a child in his mind started.

"Francis...I'm sorry." Replied an older voice.

"Sorry. What do ya have to be sorry about? Where's is he?"

"Francis-"

"Tell me where my dad is!"

"He...he..."

"No. Please, no. He didn't...did he? No. That ain't true. THAT'S NOT TRUE! IT CAN'T BE!"

"Francis! Come back!"

"Dad! Where are you?! Dad! Answer me, please! DAD!"

"RAAAAAAAAGH!" Francis slammed his fist to a nearby wall. He breathed heavily "I had the chance. I had the goddamn chance! Why the hell did I chicken out?!"

"I'm stopping you from doing something you'll regret." Walker's voice started.

"Dammit, Walker. You had to say that, didn't you, you son of a bitch?" He turned around and slided down the wall he sat against "Dammit. The hell is wrong with me?" Tears started flowing out of his eyes "Why the hell did all of that had to happen? Why, goddammit?" He slammed his fist softly on the ground repeatedly and continuously muttered "Dammit."

Back in the hotel room, Walker, Filia, Cerebella, and Kage, without his mask, were sitting around the Japanese table. They were all drinking tea that they ordered out of a traditional cup.

"I really have to apologize how pretty boy acted towards you." Cerebella said.

"No need. He did have a right to be." Kage responded.

"Right. That whole ordeal a few years ago." Walker commented "What did happen, though. From what I can tell, Francis' old man was the top dog around the time. Not many people would go up against someone like that, let alone a kid."

"That was because...I was blinded by fury."

All three of them...five of them had curious expressions on their face "What do you mean?" Filia asked.

Kage looked down "The man that I killed, I killed him because...he...he...he took away my family."

"Huh?"

"That man, he mercilessly slaughtered my brothers and father. The only thing I could remember, were the screams of my brother, and my father smiling at me even at the brink of death." Kage sat there silent, as well as everyone else "And the worst of it," Kage started "I felt even worse when I killed him."

"So that's why you wanted to explain." Filia said to him.

Kage nodded "Although it partially might be because I did not want to die, but I do want him to know that nothing can come out of revenge."

"Francis is an arrogant guy. You'll have a hard time trying to explain to him." Walker said.

"But...I must at least tell him why." Kage said.

"And you will. Don't worry." Filia assured.

"And even if you do die, we'll just pass the message." Samson said.

"Uh, I don' think that's reassuring." Stalker commented on his kin's comment.

"But I wonder, why did he stop?" Cerebella asked.

"Maybe he's starting to think clearly." Walker guessed.

"By the way, are you sure you don't want to get him?" Kage asked.

"Do you want him here?"

"Well, no. But then again, it is not my choice."

"Yeah. It's his." Walker yawned and stood up "I don't know about you, but I'm actually gettin' tired."

"Yeah, I guess we should get some sleep now. It's been tiring." Cerebella turned to Kage "I hope you don't mind your roommate being that psycho."

"The Lab cyborg? No. In fact, I have questions for him that I would like to ask in the morning."

"You brought that thing here?" Walker asked.

"Don't worry, we tied him up with chains." Cerebella said.

"Uh...where did you-"

"Get the chains? Found them in an alley on the way here."

"Ooookay. Well, I'm hittin' the hay. Night."

"Good night." Filia replied as Walker closed the door. She turned to her roommate "Let's go."

"Right." They both went to their room, but Cerebella turned back "Aren't you going to bed?" She asked Kage.

Said ninja looked back at her "No. I will stay up for a while."

"Alright. Good night." She entered the room and closed the door.

Kage sat there in silence "Perhaps my instincts were right. Something major will happen. And soon." The sound of a door opened and in came...

"You." Francis was at the doorway.

There was tension in the room and silence for a while "Please, let me explain first-"

"Don't." Francis coldly replied "I'm not in the mood to hear your reasons." He walked up to him "Nor am I in the mood to kill you." He walked towards his room and entered.

Kage could only stare before looking back down again "I have to let him know. I can't let him kill me until I let him know. But..." Kage sighed "The parasitic boy was right, that man is arrogant." He sipped his tea and sat there for the rest of the night.

Peacock and mage fell asleep in their rooms. Peacock was snoring loudly, which didn't bode well with Mage.

"Good Lord, how can anyone sleep through this?" Mage sat up and looked at his long-time friend. He kept thinking about how she would react to knowing who the Skullgirl is, fearing that she would react badly to it "I need another walk."

Mage walked around the base, again. Few guards were up. The ones that were were patrolling and keeping out, some even yawned. Mage marveled at the Egrets devotion to their jobs. He came across someone sitting on a roof and smoking.

"Captain." Mage called out to the smoking unmasked Arselite.

"Hey, never thought I'd find you out here again in a short while, kid." Arselite smiled.

"Do I have to keep telling you not to call me a kid?" Mage irritatedly replied.

Arselite chuckled "Sorry. It'll take some time to not call you a kid. By the way, why are you up?"

"If this has anything to do with my age-"

"Regardless if you're an adult or child, everyone needs their sleep. So what's keepin' you up?" Arselite asked again.

Mage sighed and used his magic to fly up to the roof "It's just that...I have a lot on my mind."

"You did look troubled when yo got here, and when I met you out here before, and during the meeting that happened. Something big is apparently eating you."

The young magician scratched the back of his head "It was that noticeable, huh?"

"The only that didn't seem to notice was the Argus user."

"That...doesn't surprise me." Mage turned and sat down next to the Commander.

"I know it's not my place, but do you wanna talk about it?"

Mage looked athim, then back down and sighed "I'd have to tell someone sooner or later." He took out the picture of the Skullgirl.

"So that's where it went."

"Sorry for taking it from you. I saw it on the ground." Mage apologized.

"It's not a problem." Arselite scratched his chin "But it seems that it means something to you if you picked it up."

"It does. You see, me and Patricia, we both knew the Skullgirl."

Arselite was shocked "You do?!"

"Yeah." Mage placed the picture back in his pocket "All three of us were orphans, at a Medici orphanage. All of us, including the other orphans, had no one but each other. The younger ones looked up to us, looked to us for support. Everything was fine...until that day came."

"Day?"

Mage sighed again "Peacock had always tend to get on the Medici's nerves. When they had enough they...they..."

"You don't have to say it if it's hard." Arselite had his hands on Mage's shoulders.

Mage looked at him "Thank you." He looked back down and continued "When I found out, I tried to get her out. There, I discovered that I had magic, albeit, it was small. I had to get out, but I wanted to take someone else with me."

"The Skullgirl."

Mage nodded "Yes, Marie. But, she said she wanted to stay, because she couldn't leave the others alone. She urged me and Patricia to go get help for ourselves. I wanted to take her with us, but she chose to stay for the others' sake. Years later, after getting augmentations, I went to look for the Skullgirl. I found her, and an old friend at the same time."

"So, what did you do?"

"Nothing. I couldn't really do anything. I was too shocked. The only thing I remembered was that she left telling me to stop." Mage tightened his fists "I could've done something done, but I didn't. So I swore to myself that I'd try to bring her back."

"I'd hate to tell you, but I don't think there's a way to revert her back. She's the Skullgirl, chances are that sooner or later she'll..."

"I know." Mage looked forward "But I have to try. I won't give up easily." He looked towards Arselite "Commander, I have to ask you that you tell no one, not even the Princess, about what I said."

Arselite put his hands behind his head "Something like that is hard to keep. But," He smirked "if you want it to be kept secret, then it's fine."

Mage smiled "Thank you." He yawned "I think I might try to sleep again."

"Yeah, you definitely should. We'll need you to be fresh tomorrow."

"What about you?"

"I'm a trained soldier, I'm used to staying up late and working hard in the morning."

"Are you certain?"

Arselite put his mettalic fist on his chest "Don't worry, besides, I can always take a power nap."

"Very well then. Good night, Commander." Mage floated back down and walked back to his room.

Arselite continued smoking "That's one hell of a story. But," Arselite blew a puff of smoke "How will this affect the mission?" He muttered.