A/N: Glad you're all still here, and happy Easter everyone!

Chapter 22 - Frustrations and Tribulations

Day 48

Lowee - inn

"…So, what do we do now?" Soren asked.

The party was in the room with Blanc, with the CPU silent so she wouldn't spill her identity. Or anything else for that matter. It's the reason many see her as the quiet type. However, her quietness wasn't helping in getting her home, to IF's frustration.

"I don't know. I didn't think we'd have to report a lost child at our age." IF replied.

"… 'At our age?' Just how old are you If?"

"I have you know that I'm fifteen. What about you?"

"I'm seventeen, last I checked."

"I'm sixteen."

Everyone turned to Compa, who blushed. "Uh, I thought we were all admitting our ages here."

"I can't remember what my age is." Neptune admitted, making Blanc snort under her breath.

"Well, I peg you being thirteen-fourteen-ish." IF mused, "While I'm guessing the girl over there is twelve. Am I right?"

Blanc kept quiet, but let's take a look what's going on inside her mind, shall we?

'Twelve? TWELVE? Goddammit, it's not like I asked to look like this! I want to look older too, but I have to deal with this kiddy body, even though I'm popular with Lowee's populace like this. Damn you Neptune for having a better body than me both in human and HDD forms! Argh!'

While Blanc rages inside her mind, IF asks, "Anyway, has she said anything while I was out?"

"Nope, not a thing. Though she did devour that sandwich Compa got for her." Soren replied, "Neptune's the one that's been trying to talk to her."

Looking, everyone saw that Neptune was trying to talk to Blanc again, the coaxing snapping the Lowee goddess out of her thoughts as she kept silent. Eventually, Neptune sighed at Blanc's passiveness. "You're like a ceramic doll sittin' there. But you're not a doll, y'know? Say some stuff! Or do I gotta pull a string?"

Blanc was tight-lipped as ever as Compa sighed, "Maybe we should wait a bit more?"

"…I'm going out for a bit. Be back later." Soren said as he got up and walked towards the door. "I'll leave it to you girls to figure things out. At least try to get her name so we'll have something to go on."

"Hey wait, Ren-!" Neptune called out but Soren was already out the door. "Phooey. Iffy, my coaxing isn't working. There's only one option left to me! Tickle fight!"

Blanc grew alarmed at that option as she drew herself back a bit. "…?-! N-No…"

"No, no tickling." IF shook her head. "What to do, what to do… Why don't you take her for a little walk outside, Nep. Maybe she'll loosen up once she feels more comfortable."

"You want me and her to go? Alone? Y-You sure? Why?" Neptune had no idea what IF was thinking when she grabbed her hand. "H-Hey, Iffy!"

"…Huh? Hey…" Blanc protested softly as IF grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet, but she didn't resist as much for some reason.

IF pushed the two out the door and said with a cheery wave, "Bye-bye, have fun!"

Closing the door before Neptune could say anything, Compa gave IF a look. "Iffy, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Positive. It's hard to talk when there's so many eyes looking at you, even if Ren did leave. Nep's perfect for this, since she's not threatening and all that."

"Until she transforms, that is." Compa said, trying to imitate a deep voice.

IF looked at Compa with a raised eyebrow and she looked sheepish. "Sorry, it's something I'd figure Soren would say."

"Uh huh… Let's just hope Ren doesn't run into them. The girl might clam up if he shows up."

Lowee - streets

"Girl look at that body, girl look at that body, girl look at that body~" Soren was busy singing to himself when he spotted Neptune and Blanc sitting at a crepe stand. "Huh, wonder what they're up to?"

As he got closer, he managed to hear Blanc say, "You really hate responsibility, huh?"

Hearing that Neptune and Blanc were having a conversation, Soren quickly hid himself while muttering, "I hope this doesn't become a habit…"

"Would sayin' yeah make me a pretty poopy person?" Neptune answered with her own question.

"…Well, at least she's honest about it." Soren muttered.

"…I didn't imagine you'd even think like that." Blanc replied, before shaking her head. "Just…forget it. You've hated responsibilities since the start. It doesn't matter either way."

"Okay, then yeah, I don't like responsibilities! They gimme way too much stress." Neptune nodded.

"…Since when is that girl stressed?" Soren frowned, "If would just love to hear this…"

"…I don't think anyone does, but you're at least honest. It's so like you." Blanc commented.

"That girl must know Neptune from before she lost her memory, hmm? Interesting."

"I don't think you should try to get your memories back. It's better this way. For the world. For yourself."

"…What?"

Neptune had the same train of thought as Soren. "What? So you think I oughta stay like this?"

"…You're too irresponsible." Blanc finally commented.

Soren snorted as Neptune pouted, "…Ugh! You're being a meanie."

"…No I'm not."

At that point, Soren figured it was time to go when one of the townspeople came running from behind shouting, "Help, a monster!"

"Oh great!" Soren gritted as he turned around shouting, "What's going on?"

Neptune and Blanc heard the shouting and went to investigate, the two finding Soren as the townsperson replied, "A monster just appeared near my shop and started attacking! You're a Monster Hunter, right? Please help!"

"Of course, lead the way!"

"Ren running off by himself again? Jeez, that guy just doesn't follow party mechanics. C'mon, we're going after him!" Neptune said as she saw Soren follow the guy.

"Wha-whoa?-!" Blanc didn't have much of a choice as Neptune grabbed her hand and dragged her along.

Eventually, they reached the site of the monster attack, where they saw an angry red berserk minotaur-type monster attacking the various buildings as people ran. Soren recognized the angry red color and muttered, "Jewel Core monster…"

Neptune recognized the color too and turned to Blanc. "Uh oh, I better help. You better go find someplace to take cover."

Transforming, Neptune dashed in to help leaving Blanc by herself. Speaking of the Lowee goddess, she was torn on what to do. On one hand, it was her duty to fight and defeat the monsters that were threatening the townspeople, but on the other hand, Neptune would find out that she's the one that was attacking her and the others in her transformed state. Choices…choices…

Meanwhile, Soren was trying to lure the Rabid Minotaur out of town so he could don Yukihira, when Neptune came flying right at it, blade first. Smashing into the monster, it was sent flying back as Neptune 'landed' gracefully beside Soren with a hover. "What are you doing Ren?"

"Neptune? Where'd you come from?"

"I heard the person shouting about a monster, and saw you, so I followed."

"…Right. I'm pretty sure that's a Jewel Core monster right there. It's angry red, and it's vicious."

"That makes sense. Should we wait until Iffy and Compa show up?"

"No way, stalling will just increase the damages and risk of casualties, we should-!"

Soren didn't get to finish when the Rabid Minotaur charged right at them with a bellow. The pair only had a moment to defend themselves when it was smashed to the ground by a giant hammer to the head. Soren and Neptune looked to see Blanc holding a battle hammer that looked huge compared to her small frame.

"You two gonna be like idiots or fight?" Blanc retorted, hammer on her shoulders.

"Whoa, didn't know she could fight." Neptune mused.

"Whatever, she's right. Let's just kill the damn thing now. If Compa and If show up, then they'll show up. Right now, we fight!" Soren shouted.

"…Let's do this!"

The fight with the Rabid Minotaur, was short, if not highly destructive. All three fighters received light injuries of the sort, but the battle ended when Soren held the monster with Yukihira, letting Blanc and Neptune go in for the kill. With a smashed head and a stab wound to the chest, the Rabid Minotaur fell over dead.

"Whew, it's finally over. That was one tough beastie." Neptune's transformation had reverted, as one could tell from her change in speech mannerism.

Soren was busy looking for the Jewel Core Fragment, which wasn't hard to find. It stood out from the splattered red of the monster's skull. He picked it up and wiped it with a cloth he took out from his vest pocket. "A Lowee Jewel Core Fragment. That's two down…"

"Lowee Jewel Core…?" Blanc looked at the Jewel Core Fragment in Soren's hand, and couldn't help but feel a bit funny looking at it.

Turning to Blanc, Soren turned to Blanc and nodded, "Uh, thanks for the help. Didn't know you could fight, um…"

Seeing that Soren didn't know her name, Blanc decided to give him one, thinking that this was a one-time thing. "Um, it's Blanc."

"Blanc huh? Cute name, suits you." Soren missed the light tinge on Blanc's cheeks as he went on, "Anyway, thanks for the help Blanc."

"Aw, your name's Blanc? That sounds very pretty…" Neptune cooed.

"You know Neptune, coming from you, that sounds kinda sarcastic."

"I agree with him." Blanc grumbled.

Before Neptune could say anything, IF's voice shouted out to them, "Hey Nep, Ren!"

The three turned to see Compa and IF running towards them, with the former shouting, "Alright monster! Now that we're here, prepare to take a beating!"

"Uh, you're kinda late for the party Compa. It's already dead." Neptune pointed out.

"Huh?"

IF looked around and noticed Blanc still holding her hammer. "Okay, just what happened here?"

"Jewel Core monster." Soren simply replied, pointing to the monster corpse.

Neptune however, had a more enthusiastic response. "Oh, it was so amazing. That monster was going all bam bam, and we were all slash slash, and Blanc was all smash smash with her hammer, and eventually we kicked that monster's butt back to the afterlife!"

Both Soren and Blanc looked at Neptune oddly as IF stared at her. "Alright…" She then turned to Blanc saying, "Well, thanks for helping them, Miss Blanc. Though it's a bit surprising to see that you're a fighter."

"I get that sometimes. It's something I learned to do." Blanc replied.

A nod came from IF before she turned her attention to Soren. "So, how many Lowee Jewel Core Fragments that makes?"

"Two of them." Soren put the Jewel Core Fragment away as he gave a stretch. "We'd better get out of here before the cleanup crew arrives."

"Cleanup crew?" Neptune asked.

"Far as I know, that's what Arf calls them. A bunch of mages that specialize in magical repair. With the monster attacks, I'd bet that they're in high demand around the four landmasses. Anyhow, we should get back to the inn."

Everyone nodded and they made their way back. Little did they know, the entire fight was recorded by a drone that flew off when the battle ended.

Lowee - inn

"Looks like another request. We'd better get those monsters!" IF then turned to Blanc and said, "Oh, you can stay here, or go home whenever you want."

Blanc just nodded silently until Compa spoke up. "No! She's part of our party now. She's going to help us."

"Yeah, she's a great fighter. You can take it from me. I've seen it." Neptune added.

Soren stayed quiet as IF shrugged, "The more the merrier, I guess. But still, we can't involve a civilian, even if she knows how to kick ass. The fact is, normal people, besides Compa, are generally useless in a battle. But that's beside the point. I personally don't want to involve others in our affairs."

A cough came from Soren as Compa eyed IF as she speculated, "Was that supposed to be a compliment, or…?"

"Yeah, sure. I'm, uh, praising your bravery for charging into battle against monsters with a hilariously oversized syringe that can shoot stuff out of all things."

Soren went into a light coughing fit as Compa gave a pout. "You're definitely mocking me!"

"Hey, are you alright Ren?" Neptune suddenly asked.

"Heh…yeah, just a, uh, caught something in my throat." Soren made up on the spot as a cover for his amusement. That didn't stop it from showing on his face though, something Compa spotted.

"Hey! No laughing Soren!"

"Urk! My bad!"

Blanc just blinked, not really used to all the chatter. IF sighed before saying, "Anyway, our main target is an Ubelluris, as it's the cause of the other monsters being riled up."

"Another minotaur-type? Wow, they're poppin' out of the woodwork, huh?"

"Who knows? Let's just get moving."

Everyone got themselves ready and before they left, Neptune said, "Well, see ya later Blanc."

"Yeah, see you." Soren added.

After the party left, Blanc looked herself over before saying, "Maybe I should take another crack at them…"

Lowee - forest

"You know, I'm starting to wonder if Lowee has nothing but forests…" Soren muttered.

"Eh, it's not our fault that Lowee's forests make excellent monster breeding grounds." IF told him.

"I know, but still…" Soren kicked the dead Ubelluris in frustration.

The party was hanging around the dead monster as Compa was treating Neptune's injuries that she received from the battle. Out of all of them, she had the most, though the most serious one was a cut leg.

"Ouch, that hurts!" Neptune cried out.

"I know Nep-Nep, just let me apply some more Reflex…" Compa replied.

"Aw, can't I use that fancy crystal thingy?"

"No, that's for really serious injuries that need to be treated in an instant!" Compa finished treating Neptune's leg before she stood up. "There we go, it shouldn't hurt anymore. Thank goodness that Reflex prevents scarring."

"Oooh, I feel better already. Thanks Compa."

"Alright you two, ready to head back?" IF called out.

"Yes!" Compa replied, "Still, that battle was quick. I'm pretty sure we're getting better at this. Let's go back and play with that girl!"

A slight rustling made IF look in a direction, and she saw something coming towards them. "Wait. I see a familiar shadow. Nep, Compa, Ren, looks like we've got to pull a little overtime."

"Does that mean extra pay?" Soren asked.

IF just looked at him with a flat expression as the rustling grew louder. A moment later, Blanc appeared before them again in HDD. However, she just looked at them with a calm expression. It made Neptune puzzled.

"She's not acting like before. She doesn't look like she's here to fight." Neptune commented, before Blanc started acting. "Oh wait, she's pulling somethin' out." Blanc materialized her axe. "She's holding it up." She held it in her hands as she walked towards them, Processor Units appearing. "She's comin' towards us! Okay, yeah, I was wrong."

"Jeez, one after another…" Soren muttered as he stood in her way.

"Out of the way, surface human. You know what I want." Blanc threatened.

"Sorry, but I don't listen to unknown assailants. You want me to move, make me."

"Fine by me!" Blanc charged right at Soren as he deployed Yukihira and blocked Blanc's axe.

Neptune transformed and entered the fray with Compa and IF. However, even with the four of them, Blanc was surprisingly holding her own. Neptune couldn't help but point it out. "You're different from the other times."

"Maybe it's because I'm gonna finally beat you?" Blanc replied rather calmly.

"Nah, I doubt that's it."

During the clashing, Yukihira suddenly spoke up. [New Preset Weapon formed. Full configuration within seven days.]

"…What's the point of that? Ergh, so I can't use it?" Soren grumbled.

[Weapon is usable, but special functions are not calibrated, thus disabled.]

"Well, if anything, it'll surprise tomboy over there." Soren looked to see Neptune and IF trying to double team Blanc, with the later getting a kick to the abdomen for her trouble. "Alright, deploy it."

[Understood sir.]

Yukihira Type 3 vanished from Soren's hands, only to be replaced by an axe that looked similar in design to Blanc's, but was predominantly white with grey lines. The blade part looked like it could open up, but Soren figured it was part of the 'special functions' of the weapon. Compa noticed and gasped at the new weapon in Soren's hands. "Eh? Where did that come from?"

"Something Yukihira cooked up." Soren held the axe in a similar way to Blanc as he charged. "Hey tomboy! Eat this!"

"The fu-?-!" Blanc stopped mid-sentence to block Soren's axe with her own. "What the heck?-! Where did you get that weapon from, and why does it look like mine?-!"

"That's for me to know, and for you to find out the hard way!"

Despite Soren's boasts, he wasn't all that skilled with the axe, relying on Yukihira's strength and speed to make up for it. Blanc was much more skilled and slowly, started pushing him back.

"Orryah!"

With one strong swing, Blanc knocked the axe out of Soren's hand, sending it flying. Soren himself crashed backwards, chipping a bit of shield energy in the process. "Ugh, maybe I overdid it?"

"Time to put you out of your misery, dog!"

"Bite me you little midget!"

"Mind if I butt in?"

Blanc and Soren turned to see Neptune charging right at Blanc with the axe in her hands. With one swing that she put all her power into, Neptune aimed right for Blanc, who hastily raised her own weapon to block, but was sent flying through two trees and crashing into a third. However, due to Neptune putting all her power into that strike, she turned back to normal and dropped the axe due to the heaviness.

"Oh, that thing was heavy! How did I swing that axe so good?"

Compa and IF stared at the scene with blank looks as the former commented, "Wow, who knew Nep-Nep was that strong!"

"Maybe there's more to that magical boob girl transformation than we thought." IF added.

Soren got up as he disengaged Yukihira, the axe vanishing with the armor. "Ugh, thought I was going to get hammered there. Thanks Neptune. Did you get her?"

"I'm pretty sure…" Neptune and the others looked in the direction Blanc was sent flying, only to see her starting to stir.

"…I lose again? To Neptune…? Frickin' impossible…" Blanc got up and readied herself to fight again. "…No, not yet! Once more!"

"No way, kiddo! We're not here to bully weak people." Neptune said before she could think.

"Wrong thing to say Neptune. " Soren muttered.

Understandably, Blanc was offended by that. "…Weak? Me?"

"Why'd you have to shoot off your hungry little mouth and make the situation worse?" IF smacked her head as she looked at Neptune in disbelief. "Now she's gonna come after us again!"

To her credit, Blanc didn't charge in like a berserker, but she did get understandably upset. "…Shut up! I don't ever wanna hear you say that shit to me! You didn't want anything to do with it. You ran!"

"What's she talking about?" IF muttered.

"I'm not sure…" Soren replied, but he found those words a bit familiar for some reason.

"Whoa! What's this?-! Wh-What're you talkin' about? What'd I run from?" Neptune looked shocked and confused by Blanc's words.

"Everything! Because you're so damn honest! You just wanted to run from everything!" Blanc's anger was starting to get to her as she gripped her axe tightly. "I ain't gonna let you win this. Now, just shut up and let me defeat you! Don't ask…just…just…!"

"Sorry, but I don't wanna. I still gotta save Histy. I still wanna travel with Iffy, Compa, and Ren." Neptune told Blanc, "Maybe when I'm all done with that we can-"

"How can you let your excuse be something so trivial?-!" Blanc shouted in disgust, interrupting Neptune.

"It's not trivial! I dunno what you're referring to, and I guess I don't wanna. It's my life and it means a lot to me!"

"…So you're running. Again. You don't wanna know? Because you're a frickin' scared coward. That's why, I'm…" Blanc trailed off as she started shaking.

"…That was a pretty dramatic discussion for you. Real heated and emotional. You done?" IF asked, pretty much ending the drama.

"Yep. I didn't learn nothin', but I'm done." Neptune said with a final sigh in her tone.

"Okay, then shall we commence tickle torture until she spills some good info?" IF had a grin on her face, something that Soren shared.

"I'm okay with that." As if to show, his fingers started flexing in a tickling manner.

"No, don't! I told her I didn't wanna know anything anymore. Were you even listening?" Neptune protested.

"Yeah, yeah. We're just joking. Personally, I'm still curious, but it's your business." IF held her hands out in defense.

"That's right. If Nep-Nep is okay not knowing, then I'll stop being nosy, too." Compa added, while Soren just deflated.

"…You mean you were curious, too?" Neptune looked surprised at Compa's curiosity.

"Of course! Your past sounds so fun, like it's full of upside-downs and inside-outs!"

"I'm pretty sure you mean 'ups and downs' and 'ins and outs.'" IF corrected, "What about you Ren? You curious?"

"Pretty much. I mean, Neptune knows more about me than the other way around. Still, we could ask that girl…" Soren looked to see that Blanc had vanished during their conversation. "Well crap, looks like she's vanished."

"Huh, maybe this'll be the last time we'll see her?" Compa asked.

"I doubt it, but one could hope…" IF shrugged.

"Let's get out of here. The cold's starting to get to me." Neptune complained.

At that moment, IF's phone beeped and she went to answer it. To her it was a message, and it's contents made her eyebrows go up. "Huh, looks like a request from Avenir. Interesting."

"What does it say?" Compa asked.

"Looks like another job request. Scavenging from the looks of things. It's not really specific."

[Sir, registration of weapon is complete. Please input name.]

"…You know, I'll never get used to Yukihira talking." Neptune commented.

"Noted," Soren gave it some thought before he finally said, "Okay, register the name as 'White Frost', Yukihira."

[Understood, registering name now.]

"…White Frost?" IF asked with a curious look.

"Yeah, it's based on that midget's weapon, and it's Lowee, so I thought it'd fit."

"…Makes sense, I guess."

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon! Let's head back to the inn already! I'm sure that Blanc's waiting for us!" Neptune shouted.

"Or she left to go home." IF guessed as the party headed back to town.

A/N: Not much to say here, except to thank everyone for the support. I'll answer all questions within due time.