Well, chapter 2 is up. Hope you guys enjoy!

Note: I use Kaiser and Kyle interchangeably. After all, they are the same person.

~Kaiser's PoV~

"We'd better get back to Pantheon, they must be waiting for us." I notice Angel seems in a sort of… trance. She's just staring into space. My eyes might deceive me but I swear I can see a small teardrop at her eyes… What's up with her? I don't think I've ever seen her cry, she's stronger than that. I decide to not think too much of it. Maybe some dust got in her eye or she's tired from fighting those specters. "Angel… Let's head back to Pantheon." I repeat to her. That seems to snap her out of her thoughts.

"R-right Ky-Kaiser, l-let's go back." She seems to be stuttering and I can definitely hear some sadness in her voice. And what's up with her double 'K' when pronouncing my name? Sounds like some epic sound effect. K-K-K-Kaiserrrrrrrr!~ Ha ha, I must be a complete ass if I make fun of her about that. But anyway, now I'm really a little confused. Just a short while ago she was all cheerful and happy and suddenly she's moody and all. What happened in that few minutes?

"Hey, you all right Angel? You seem upset. What's up?"

"Uh-i-it's nothing! I'm j-just tired and thinking about um… those specters. I-I mean, w-what if they got into Pantheon and Magnus penetrates our defenses? Our poor people would all suffer. I'm just thinking how bad it would be if we fail to protect Pantheon." Hmm, seems convincing enough. I pat her shoulder.

"Hey, it's okay. Our defenses are very very strong. Magnus won't be able to penetrate our defenses that easily. Besides, with the both of us, Pantheon should be safe for now! Those relic shields will guard us just fine, even with the Eastern one gone. Sigh, makes me wonder again how Tear's doing… damn relic and priests… Oh well, I will guard Pantheon for my friends, especially for her! Ah crap, why did I say that? Now Angel's probably thinking I have some sort of lost love for Tear… Meh, hope she doesn't think too much about it, that'd be embarrassing for me, she'd tease me non-stop and I'd never hear the end of it.

"Well," I quickly change the subject. "Let's get going and head back to Pantheon. I have other business to attend to. Plus the elders and Cartalion are probably waiting for us. Let's not make them worry about our safety." I get up and sheath my sword. Angel seems to get the cue and gets up as well, her pink hair flying about in the wind.

~AB's PoV~

Kyle and I are walking back to Pantheon. As we walk back, his words are replaying themselves in my mind. 'Guard Pantheon for my friends, especially Tear!' Woah woah, that was deep. I feel my heart tighten as those words ring in my ears. Did he mean… he liked me? Is he really willing to… protect me at whatever cost? Oh, he's such a sweetie. It takes quite a lot of effort for me to hold back my tears.

I begin to think about my double identity and Kyle. It's really difficult to play two roles at once – the heroic Idol of the Battlefield Angelic Buster, then the sickly and cursed girl Tear. Kaiser only knows the Angelic Buster part, but he must not know the Tear part. That would just… ugh, it'd be so horrible! I don't even want to think about it!

But… but a part of me desires more than anything to show him my real identity as Tear. Hopefully he can accept it. I hope in such a situation that he does. Maybe, just maybe, I can be together with him. That's something I really want, to be Kyle and Tear, like those days so many years ago, back where everything was good. I've had fantasies about that for a while now – just Kyle and I, together, nothing about Kaiser nor Angelic Buster…

I feel my face heat. Why am I having such thoughts? Am I possibly having… some romantic feelings for Kyle?