I finally understood how my younger brother had felt when Lolidragon protected him.

In front of me stood Gui, a cruel hand piercing right through his chest. "Gui, please don't die." My mind initially blanked out, but it was then slowly dyed with the red of Gui's flowing blood. No! Gui must not die! At that moment, I finally understood. I definitely cannot lose Gui, absolutely not!

However, the expression that appeared on Gui's face was part gratification and part apologetic. Before collapsing, he said something in a voice that was too soft to be heard. "Thank god you're okay..."

My tears were flowing, but I felt a frightening emptiness in my heart. I raised Cold Fox's dagger and simply said, "Long Dian, you said that you had nothing left to lose. What a coincidence. I too have nothing left now."

I glared directly at Long Dian, who actually looked away as if he were feeling guilty. Calmly, I said, "Come. Let us finish this."

Volume 8: Chapter 7; Eternal Legend

[-]

Just how long was she going to pretend everything was fine, that nothing had changed and things were the same as usual? How long would things keep going on as they had, when in reality the wheels of fate started turning long ago and were now on hold, just waiting for the final piece that would set everything in motion.

Her decision.

She had begun to see less and less of Wicked both in school or in-game. It kind of worried her because they were good friends but she also knew that having chosen her path, this choice was for the best. It was painful, but her happiness came before anything else. And her happiness was not with him, that much she had realized.

She also knew it was a long time coming. She just didn't know how, or when, she would tell her finally found answer to the ones who were patiently waiting for it.

With a sigh, Feng Lan tried to focus on her homework, but as everyone knows, it is hard to concentrate when you have love issues.

"Sis! Are you going to make dinner soon? I'm hungry!" Yang Ming entered her room without knocking, which simply made her sigh.

"You stupid brother! Don't you ever knock? I thought Lolidragon would have taught you manners by now!" Yang Ming simply shrugged sheepishly. Feng Lan wanted to hit him with her literature book.

"Yeah, yeah, I don't really care about manners, right now I'm just hungry."

She had enough of her brother. When would he finally grow up and learn to do things on his own without having to rely on her? She threw the book at him and sent him out. "Go make a sandwich in the toaster or something, I'm not in the mood to cook."

"But siiiisssss!" Yang Ming whines came as soon as she had uttered the words for him to make something on his own. "You know what happened last time I tried to cook something."

"Look," she gave him a glare. "All I'm asking from you is to get the ingredients from the kitchen, make the sandwich and put it in the toaster until the red light turns green. It's the same as Second Life, how difficult is that?"

"Difficult enough that I could probably burn the house down." He stated. "We don't want that to happen now do we?" Feng Lan groaned.

She didn't need to add 'homeless due to brother's lack of cooking skills' to her list of woes and dispair.

With another sigh, she got up and followed her brother to the kitchen. At least then she'd be able to assure herself they still have a home...

And so that our stupid parents who are rarely ever even home have a roof to return to!

{-}

In-game, it had been as difficult as off-game to think about her feelings. What with the festival getting closer every day, she had enough to worry about to last a eternity. Adding a obsessive bard to it was not pleasant to think about.

She took a deep breath, put on her helmet and dived into the world of Second Life.

Prince's last save had been in his room in the palace so when he opened his eyes, the first thing to greet him was the flowers in the vase he had kept in his dressing table. It took more time for the flowers to wilt in-game, he knew that and whoever was placing them in the room noticed it too, but it seemed to be that every day, a new bouquet seemed to appear.

Just who possibly had that much time in their hands?

He hopped off the bed, went to the dressing table and glanced at his appearance as he sniffed the wonderful smelling flowers. With a swipe of his hand, his Blood Red Tiara appeared, along with his dao.

As he equipped the items, he mumbled to himself about everyone expecting too much from him and what he wouldn't give to not have to live to the expectations being the Blood Elf brought along.

He probably had messages from Lolidragon already but he had ignored those and made his way out of his room a couple minutes later.

{-}

His steps echoed throughout the corridor. He was not the best when it came to masking his position or remaining incognito. He would be fetched eventually by one of the raging girls and that would not be pretty. Until then, he attempted to try not to be found right away.

"Your highness!?" Gui exclaimed excitedly as he saw Prince coming around to the corner he was walking to.

Prince stood frozen in place. Not knowing what to do. Gui waved and flailed his arms and Prince had to press a finger to his mouth, a signal for him to keep quiet.

Gui walked over to where he was. And once again asked; "Your highness?" This time in a quiet, hushed tone, barely a whisper.

"Hey, Gui." Prince responded. He still had no clue what to do and all he really wanted was to one, get out of the corridor and two, find refuge and a place to think quietly with no disturbances.

Gui really wouldn't have any of that. "If you're not too busy, can we perhaps take a walk around the gardens?" He offered in high hopes and starry eyes.

Prince, who was looking for a way to escape from his duties, shrugged and nodded. It wouldn't hurt to accept his advances for once. Even if that meant his peace and quiet would be gone.

But really, when did he ever have peace in Second Life?

'you have to choose one of us,' Wicked's voice echoed inside his head. 'or both of them will eventually end up getting hurt' Wolf's voice also echoed.

Prince's choice was made after dealing with Long Dian and perhaps it was time he and Gui had that long awaited talk...

[I was gonna end it here cause I'm evil like that... Kukuku. Then I realized ending the chapter where the previous preview ended is kind of mean from me...]

{-}

He didn't know what to say and the silence was killing him. Should he compliment how well kept the garden seemed? How the flowers smelled really good and- wait. He recognized those flowers!

The location of each was the same as the arrangement that for the past three weeks have been left in his room, a fresh vase full of flowers each and every day.

Should have guessed it was none other than Gui. I feel a little stupid now.

"Your highness..." Gui's voice brought Prince out of his thoughts and the elf glanced towards the bard, who seemed a bit fidgety.

"Yes?"

"Do you like the garden? Is anything not to your liking? What about the flowers? The furniture?" He was rambling on and on.

Prince laughed and wiped a happy tear from his eye. Of course, this was the same hyper, fast-paced mumbling bard he always knew.

What had be been worried of?

"I like everything, Gui." He coughed and settled himself into the swing set that was placed in the middle. "It's really peaceful here, you know?" He smiled softly and ushered for the bard to also sit in the swing. The swinging/bench had enough space for three people.

Gui happily obliged and sat down as well, but on the opposite side, so he wouldn't upset the elf. He had wanted to be like this for a whole and nothing was going to ruin it. Except for himself and the words that just always seem to slip out, of course.

He gawked like a fish. Of course he wanted to say something, to praise his highness but no words seemed to want to come out in fear for saying the wrong thing.

He settled for; "I'm glad his highness is enjoying the visit to the gardens." And flashed a bright smile. "I've always hoped you could see it, but his highness seems busy a lot."

"It comes with the job description, Gui. Not as easy as you think."

"I would imagine so, but... Has his highness wondered what he will do after all of this?" Gui bit his lips. It was forbidden to talk about it. He knew this. But he was curious. He had to know.

"After what?" Prince blinked in surprise. Tilting his head.

"After this, you know," and he raised his arms as if signaling everything. "Second Life..." He whispered.

"'I don't really know' is what I would say," Prince stated. "If you didn't know who I am."

Gui's breath got caught in his throat. It was getting harder to breathe. "Highness?"

"Second Life will be over soon. I know it's not really nice to talk about off-game things, but, I think we have to. I owe everyone quite a few explanations." His feet kicked off the ground. Gui did the same and they started swinging, the breeze soft and calming. "I owe you a lot of explanations." It was Prince's turn to bite his lips.

"His highness doesn't owe this Gui nothing!" Gui said with a shake of his head.

"I do, when you already know I'm not really a guy or gay, but still stick with me."

"I always said that what you looked like didn't..."

"Didn't matter," Prince interrupted, "but that was before you knew."

"Doesn't matter. Present tense." Gui stated. "It really isn't problematic to me."

Of course, Prince thought. Had to fall in love with the literature obsessed teacher who was also a genius and easily remembered conversations.

"All I know is that I put you through a lot." Prince said.

"Back then, I said that I didn't care how you looked like in real life, or the gender." Gui recalled. "That sentiment still has not changed."

The elf rolled his eyes. "Feng Lan is nothing like Prince," he pointed out. "You said so yourself. She is your student after all."

Gui waved his hands. "Who said we can't work around that?"

"Exactly. I'm glad you see my poin-" the elf blinked. "What?"

"Feng Lan is my student off-game." Gui repeated back as if stating a point. "I know that."

"Also a few years younger than you."

"I know that."

"And is not like me at all."

"I know that."

"And not as smart as you."

"I know that."

"The only thing she's good for is cooking and making scenes."

"I know that."

"She's uncoordinated..."

"I know that."

"She can easily get lost... Maybe she's like me after all!"

"I know that."

"I'm not gay."

"I know that."

Was this guy seriously going to answer 'I know that' to everything?

"Feng Lan likes professor Min Gui Wen."

"I know tha-" Gui's voice stopped and he stared at the elf. "What!?"

Prince laughed.

Maybe they would be just fine after all.

[-]

Ending it hereeeeee! Part 1, at least! I know it seems a little OOC I'm sorry. And the ending part seems a little off to me as well. Why do I feel like I might have accidentally copied this off somewhere? If this seems familiar, I'm SORRY! I tried my best to seem original. It's seven in the morning. My brain is still in a sugar rush and yelling, 'fluff!' 'fluff!' Sigh.

Actually wait I know where I may have gotten it from. It Started With A Kiss that one scene in the end... yeah that's it.

Preview; "Oh my gaaaaaaawd!" Lolidragon squealed. "Took you long enough! Okay, Prince, Gui, KISS!"

Prince hid behind Gui. "Gui, attack!"

Gui laughed quietly and pat the elf's head. "I do kind of want to kiss you."

Prince backed off from Gui. "Stay away from me you pervert!"

"I don't see what's wrong? We've kissed before."

Memories of what had occurred that day in the plaza flooded the elf's mind and he blushed like a tomato. "Because you started it!"

Things just can't be simple for our dorks, now, can it?

See you next time!