A/N: Time for responses.

Trueopulence: Thanks, I tend to be highly intelligent. Mostly.

khaylittle(-Also the Beta reader, thanks a lot): Thanks.

That's it for now.

"So," Joshua whispers to his new roommate as she wanders around, looking at his room with curiosity while wearing a pair of his basketball shorts and a white shirt with nothing underneath, "you're a princess."

"Yup~!" She says, loudly while straightening up, causing her breasts to bounce and nearly take away his attention from how loud she is.

"Shhh!" He quickly shushes her as he looks at the door. Lala follows his eyes as she keeps quiet, both of them staring intensely at the door. When it was obvious no one would be coming in, Joshua relaxed before turning to Lala. "Please, try to be quiet, it took a lot to convince my sister that nothing happened, I'm not sure I'll be able to escape punishment if she sees you."

"But why?" Lala asked, tilting her head with a curious hum, "Wouldn't it be better to tell her?"

"It would, and I'd love to…" He starts, biting his lip as he sat down on his bed. "But this is my problem, I can't drag her into it. She might not be my sister by blood but no brother would want their younger sister worrying over him. Besides," Joshua looks to the side with a slight grin, "I want to do this. I want to find out the truth with my own skills and eyes. And for that, we need a few things."

"We'll need to find out a clue, something to lead us to where my blood parents could be." He explains, leaning back as he stares at the ceiling. "Clearly, they're in the West since my features clearly aren't Japanese, not to mention my proficiency with English and Spanish. But that doesn't really narrow it down at all."

"Sure it does." Lala pipes up with a smile. "Now all we need to do is go over there and see what we can find. Maybe we'll get lucky."

Her enthusiasm and attitude give Joshua a smile. "Yup… let's…" He stares at his watch, the dual 'L's of the Lucky land designer brand obvious. "Hold on." He stands up, walking towards his closet and opening it. "I could've sworn…" he trailed off, throwing out bundles of clothes into the floor and generally causing a mess. "Lala, turn on the laptop for me please." He says, pointing to the closed laptop on his desk.

"Okay~." She calls, walking towards the door and opening the ancient, in her eyes, machine and turning it on. Waiting as it began booting up.

"Fuck yeah." he said, bringing out a box with the brand 'Lucky Land' on it. He looks around and finds the serial number on the box and nods, sitting on the chair and rolling towards the desk beside Lala.

"What are you doing?" She asks curiously.

Bringing up a search engine, Joshua explains. "You see these numbers?" He says, while pointing to the serial number. "That's a [Serial Number] it's used to kind of…" his hands shake as he tries to find the right word before giving up and typing on his laptop, "here, let me show you."

Pulling up a website, he clicks on another bar and types in the number into it before clicking 'Enter'.

There, the serial number pops up again as he clicks the tab.

A certificate popped up. "Let's see… Damn, My parents must be loaded." Joshua notes.

"Why's that?" Lala asks as she stares at the scuffed but still functional watch on his right hand.

"Lucky Land is a designer brand, so it's expensive but there are also fakes of it all over. It started off somewhere around Italy before moving to America. But…" he opened a new tab and typed in the location shown in the certificate, "you can get the genuine articles at their flagship location for greater prices. And Lucky Land's flagship location is in New York City, probably the most well-known American city."

"Really?" She asks, looking at the map as she looks at the date. "July?"

"Hmm, it's currently August, the second term started a few days ago so it's at least been a decade since the watch was bought. Well, a decade and a few months, so I must have been seven at the time since in October will be the tenth year I'm with the Yuukis." Joshua mumbles as Lala blinks in shock at the thought that a family would abandon a child at the age of seven.

Joshua ignores Lala's expression as he opens up a new tab and typed for a bit, nodding as he smiled. "Right, Lala, tomorrow, we're going shopping for clothes, then we're flying to [New York City]."

"Really~?!" She exclaimed, only to clasp her hand on her mouth as she looked around. Joshua's eyes widen as he quickly grabs her and begins moving her towards the closet.

"Sorry, but stay quiet for a bit." Was all he said as he closed the closet and played the anime as he sat down on the chair.

A knock came from the door as he heard Mikan say, "Keep it down! I'm trying to sleep."

Either the noise dampening foam he has isn't as effective as he thought or Lala was actually that loud, "Sorry!" Was all he said as he listened closely while Mikan returned to her room. He sighed in relief as he walked towards the closet and opened it, revealing the pink-haired alien princess to be ashamed as she scratched the side of her head.

"I'm sorry." She says quietly as Joshua sighs.

"It's fine, just keep it down." He says as the two step out. "Let me lay out something for you."

"Can't we just share the bed?" She asks, tilting her head. "What about a shower?"

"Well, I can't just reveal you to my sister at this point." He explains while scratching his head, "so we can either take a shower together or wait until she's gone tomorrow."

"I'm fine with that." She said as Joshua's eyes blanked.

"...Huh?" He asks, his eyes blank as Lala giggles.

"I'm actually a bit uncomfortable without a bunch of servants so taking a shower with someone else is actually pretty comforting, same with sleeping." She admitted without a change in expression.

"But…" Joshua started, really wanting to simultaneously stop her and join her but he came to a realization.

This is a product of [his own] choices. He kept Lala a secret so Mikan wouldn't worry about his newfound quest and so he would have to deal with the consequences of his [choices].

In a house a man looks at a computer screen, an alert that would pop up when a certain teen would access a certain website. Sighing, he palms his forehead, the gray-eyed man with stubble on his chin mutters, "Why?"

He despised them. Despised the people who made the choices for the teen for him without his permission, much less told the man about it before forcing it on him. He reaches over his shoulder and rubs an area where a [birthmark] should be.

"Josh." The old man said under his breath, memories coming to his mind. Of a young brunette child with bright gray eyes running at him with arms extended on both sides, poised to leap at his uncle.

He hated what he promised to do. But as much as he loved his nephew, even if he didn't remember much, he still had others to care for like his brother, his sister in law and his other nephew among others.

Barking out an order, an underling begins to make a call while he sighs, straightening up and glaring at the paper in front of him.

His nephew was born with all of the good traits of his parents, observant, empathetic, kind, and loyal among many things. He also gained some bad traits like his mother's laziness and his father's obliviousness.

He just hopes Joshua doesn't have a ruthless streak like his uncle, or else they'd have a lot more worries than before.

Joshua couldn't do it.

He waits outside the bath as he covers his face, wearing his pajamas while blushing up a storm as he hears water move. The noise causes the image in his mind to sharpen as he imagines each individual droplet traveling down her face and into the valley in between her two mounds or maybe down her supple thighs that had Joshua wondering how they'd taste if he bit into them.

Before he could go further down the rabbit hole that is Lala's physical attractiveness Joshua brings out his phone, opening up a group chat between him, Kenichi, Risa, and Mio. He began tapping away at his screen as he talked with his friends, simply explaining that he needed them to stop by the house to hang out with Mikan.

Then came the last piece. Under a contact with the name 'Baws' he takes a deep breath and asks if he can cover for him for the week. The response came almost immediately, asking why as Joshua idly tapped the screen, keeping it on as he wondered whether to lie or tell the truth.

If he tells him the truth, he could tell Mikan while he's gone…

He decides to tell the truth. Mikan is going to be pissed at him when she finds out…

Should he tell her?

He doesn't want her to worry but regardless of his choice she's going to be hurt.

Mikan might be mature but she's still a young girl and his little sister, he doesn't want her worrying for nothing.

Nodding, he decides on a course of action. "I'll tell her that it's a job in America. I'll be gone for the week since the schedule will be packed and I won't have much of an opportunity to talk to her. I'll bring her some souvenirs along the way."

Looking at his phone he got a message of acceptance from 'Baws' to cover him for the rest of next week while his friends asked him why. He typed a quick message explaining that his current job needed him for the week and that he was going to be busy before adding that he was worried about Mikan since the whole thing is pretty much last minute.

They accepted it with a bit of reluctance and Joshua released a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"I'm done, Joshua~." Lala said, walking out the bath without anything aside from a towel.

Joshua quickly looked away and closed his eyes.

This was going to be difficult.

Lala is situated on the bed while Joshua is on the floor, his legs crossed as he comes across a conundrum. "Lala, do you have a passport?"

"Actually, I do!" She says, showing off a blank booklet with pride. "As the Princess of planet Deviluke and the daughter of the emperor of the Milky Way galaxy all I have to do is show this to anyone and it'll react on its own, revealing information from a fake identity."

Nodding, Joshua released a sigh, "That's…questionably legal but as long as it works." She nods as he continues. "Right, we'll be leaving tomorrow at midday after getting you a phone and some clothes. I've already got the tickets ready and we'll have to wake up early tomorrow for all of that."

"Ok~." She draws out as she lays on the bed and Joshua turns off the light.

While Joshua lays on the floor with a blanket over him out of his own choice, he could hear Lala shift and move on the bed above him, occasionally giggling as he sighed. "Excited?" He asks as the moving stops and Lala peers over, her bright green eyes glinting with excitement and her face split by a grin.

"Ehehe~, was it that obvious?" She asks. "I've never been to a different country, much less a planet so all of this is making me really excited."

"Really?" Joshua asks, as Lala nodded. "I could see why, you're a bit naive, aren't you?"

She pouts, directing a fake glare at him. "Isn't that rude to say about others?"

"It is, but it's the truth." He says as he shrugs while she looks at him confused. "Hopefully, it'll be straightforward, so let's come to an agreement." He says, looking up to her. "I'm choosing the music."

"Sure." She says, smiling as she looks at the ceiling. "I've always wanted to listen to Earth music, even going on a road trip too!'

This confuses Joshua. "Don't you want a say in something? Like when we stop and whatnot."

Lala simply shakes her head. "This isn't a trip for me." She says, "The fact that you haven't asked why I left is enough for me."

Joshua had a problem looking her in the eye as Lala giggled. "Who's naive now?"

"It's time to sleep. We'll be having a busy week." He says, turning away as Lala giggles and brings the blanket up above her chest as she closes her eyes.

Joshua is one of the few people who enjoys waking up early. It's just that his habit of sleeping late tends to ruin his mood if he wakes up early.

Still, he raises the bag of feminine clothing that he believes is Lala's size if he managed to guess correctly, and if not their slightly baggier so that's fine. He looks at the phone as well as he wanders back towards his home. How is he going to connect it so it can receive calls and texts?

Well, Lala created a spaceship from an escape pod, she'll be fine.

He leaps up the wall, catching the edge of the roof by the window of his room as he jumps up and opens the window, walking on his bed with a sleeping Lala as he soundlessly and successfully manages to move by her.

He opens a backpack, stuffing it with clothes and leaving a change for Lala as he goes to the bathroom to get ready. He won't be going to school, instead they'll be taking the train to the Tokyo airport.

While he took a shower, Lala opened her eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. She smiled at the memory of her new friend and the journey she will soon be taking. It's earlier than usual so Joshua must be getting ready. She spots the change of clothes, grabbing it to reveal a simple set of jeans and a black shirt as she proceeds to try it on.

It was comfortable, but her eyes quickly locked onto the guitar on the corner. Walking towards it, she reaches in to reveal a receipt along with a bunch of dust. It took her a bit to mentally translate the language but once she was done, she was sure the date said September ten years ago if her mental math is correct. After a bit, she decided to place the receipt in the bag of the backpack. It might be useful. Still, the remaining dust is bothering her nose as she takes a deep breath and sneezes.

"Bless you." Came Joshua's voice, wearing black and white striped joggers with a black shirt with drips of gold on it with a gray hoodie over it.

"Thank you~." She says to her new roommate and soon to be travel buddy. They already had a plan, so as she followed Joshua into the bathroom, she began her normal routine of cleaning up, just without any servants this time, a novel experience. Meanwhile, Joshua leaned on the wall, making sure Mikan hasn't woken up yet.

Soon, Lala was done and they proceeded on with their plan. As Lala crawled out of the room, Joshua was downstairs preparing food for Mikan and an explanation.

In the silence, he stares blankly at the food, a flame of anger rising as he continues to wonder what his actual family was like. Especially if they had the gall to abandon a child at the age of seven.

Slowly, he relaxed, letting the flame extinguish as he heard Mikan walk down as she hummed in curiosity. "Morning Josh."

"How's it going, Mikan." He nods while finishing the eggs he was making. He plated some for Mikan and himself as he added a few sausage links as well and placed it in front of her.

"Wow, this looks good." She notes, taking a bite out of the food and nodding. "You've gotten better." She compliments while Joshua rolls his eyes.

"I was always this good. You're just better than I ever will be so I let you do the cooking." Joshua ribs as Mikan gained a superior look and puffed out her chest.

"And don't you forget it." The two siblings fall into silence as Mikan stares at Joshua, looking incredibly guilty as she sighs. "So, what's going on?"

Joshua scratches the back of his head. "Well, you know how I work for that modeling company? Well, they recently got a job over in America and are going to need a guard with them."

A stretch of silence comes over the table as Mikan stares at him. "Not a model?" She asks as Joahua flinches.

Joshua works as a part-time model/security guard for a modeling agency. He's been told he's 'attractive enough to be a model but enough for it to feel right', something he doesn't understand much. Still, at least he gets paid well. "Y-Yeah?"

Mikan seems to smirk, her eyes not really reflecting the happiness shown on her mouth. "Well good for you, out to see the world and leave your precious sister here on her own. How cruel."

Joshua quickly shakes his head. "No, that's- It'll just be for a week, I'll be back before you know it."

"I'm guessing you forgot to tell me that it's for today since your boss barely told you last night?" Joshua nods as Mikan sighs, already used to the boss' demands. "Alright, I'll hold down the fort." She says, picking up her plate. "You should get going."

As she deposits the plate onto the sink, Joshua slithers behind her and hugs her from behind, kissing her cheek as he whispers. "Thank you, take care. I'll be back before you know it."

Her face flushes as she turns, prepared to smack her brother but only finds nothing but an empty home. A home she was occasionally used to but felt lacking without her brother taking up all the space within.

She turns and begins to wash the dishes. "Maybe when you're back you can tell me the truth."

Each family had their secrets and every person could have theirs. Mikan knew Joshua enough to know what's actually happening. So, she leans against the hall as she stares at the door with a bit of longing. "I hope you come back."

"Woow!" Lala mouths as she stares at the surroundings of Sainan. "There's so much to see!"

Joshua quickly grabs her and pulls her along as he says, "I'd like to show you around but we are on a time limit. C'mon, the faster we get there the more time we'll have to explore."

"Yay~!" She says as she begins to walk beside Joshua while anxiously looking around, her body garnering looks from some of the early risers as she waves at them, her bust…

"Lala, did you wear a bra?" He asks, slightly flushed as he leans in close.

"No, they're so uncomfortable. Your sweater is way comfier." She says before reaching down to her waist where the windbreaker he was wearing yesterday was tied around.

Slapping a hand to his face while groaning, Joshua relents. "Fine, just try not to bring too much attention to yourself."

"'Kay~!" She says as the two feel a silence fall over the two, weirdly comfortable despite barely knowing each other. Almost like a resonance in a way.

Though something seemed to pop in Joshua's gut as he looked around near the train they were getting on. He looked to the right as a strange man entered the other car. He wore a robe and was well-muscled, almost bigger than Joshua was, which is saying something, and seemed to narrow in on Joshua as the two met eyes.

Neither broke away, a pressure being exuded from the stranger as Joshua exuded the same, his eyes narrowing while the stranger didn't do the same, instead walking into the cart while locking eyes with Joshua.

Even once inside, he didn't stop staring at him. Lala took notice, looking at the man then at Joshua. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He quickly shot down. "Just paranoia. It should be gone by the time we get to our stop."

But it never disappeared. Like a specter it lingered over his shoulder just like the stranger staring him down. He never stopped staring and Joshua found it hard to really explain the pressure he exuded. It seemed to resonate with him everytime he took a breath, leaving him feeling weirdly energized as he stared down the man while Lala looked from one to the other.

When the stranger took a breath, Joshua did so too, trying to follow only to find himself struggling to follow the breathing despite the energy he was feeling. Almost like he was trying to imitate a master without the proper knowledge or preparation.

By the tenth breath, Joshua was light-headed as his breathing improved, allowing him to relax as he tried to get rid of the light-headedness at his own pace. Lala tried to do the same but found herself light-headed as well, something about the breathing interrupting her attempts as she seems to have trouble with it. In the end, she entertained herself by researching the plans of the train she was on with her new phone she connected to the universe-wide web.

Still, nothing happened. The stranger simply stood there, as if waiting. And if the focus he was directing at Joshua is anything to say, he's probably here for him.

Taking a breath, Joshua stood up, "Wait here." he muttered under his breath. Slowly, he began to tread towards the car the train was on, Lala following after him. "Wait, wha-?"

"We're in this together, right?" She asks, smiling as she leaned forward, hands behind her back, "You'll protect me and I'll help you."

"Yeah." He admits. "But this is something else."

"How do you know that?" She asks with a smile, walking ahead as she brings their backpacks along. "He might be here for a simple conversation, or maybe even a test!"

Sighing, Joshua followed along, "Fine, but get behind me." He says as Lala does so but sticks a bit too close.

He opened the door in between train carts and stood in front of the man, his robe hiding his features aside from the tight shirt on his chest. "So, what's your deal?"

The man said nothing, his eyes boring holes into Joshua as the teen's mouth contorted into a frown. "Your breathing," he said with a deep voice, "it's familiar."

Joshua licked his lips, his breath hitching before it continued as normal, "Is it? I wouldn't know."

"Yes, it's reminiscent of a sect of hermits far from this land." He continued, "For someone so young, you do it quite well."

"...I wouldn't know." Joshua admits. "It's how I've always breathed."

The memory was one of the few things that stuck to his mind. It was of a strange man, breathing as he began to mimic it every time he saw him. It stuck to him ever since he woke up with a guitar, watch, and the clothes on his back.

"Is that so…"

"Yeah…"

It felt like a stand-off, both of them exuding a pressure Lala wasn't sure she's ever felt before, their hands at their side, twitching at certain intervals.

"So…" She piped up, "are you here to hurt me or…?"

The man turned to Lala, his eyes trailing her tail as he hummed. "I know not what manner of creature you are, but you are not my target."

Lala sighed in relief.

"He is." Added the stranger.

Her eyes caught the movement as shock coursed through Lala's being at the speed the human moved. She was too slow despite being able to barely perceive his movement as he took a deep breath.

"Kaaaah~." He took an audible breath as lightning coursed through his figure as his middle finger rested on Joshua's solar plexus, his hand out vertically as if offering a handshake as Joshua started, wide eyes and in shock.

"W-wha-?!" He started but was unable to finish as the man moved in a perfect one-inch punch as his knuckles collided with Joshua's body.

A second later, Joshua's back collided with the steel wall of the train, leaving a dent as he bounced off it, his eyes rolled back with the indentation of a fist on his chest, leaving him unable to breathe as he stumbled forward before he hit the floor.

"Joshua!" Lala yelled as she swung at the man with a wide hook backed with as much strength capable of in her devilukean body.

The man didn't even look at her as he directed a chop to her leg as lightning coursed through them along with an unfamiliar energy as she collapsed, all the strength leaving her along with leaving her sprawled on the floor. "This is good." The man said, his relief absolutely visible and audible to Lala as she stared at the man in shock and fear. "I thought you were a being of darkness in direct opposition to the [Sun]. This is very good."

For the first time in her life, Lala is unable to physically move. Everything below her waist does not move to her will, not even her tail, will budge an inch. As the daughter of the Emperor along with a Deviluke, Lala has been in attendance of many meetings of incredibly strong beings, her father is one of them, and she has been rendered silent many times. The pressure exuded by these people is suffocating for many and even Lala has had times where she nearly passed out. At that time, her Devilukean body boiled in excitement at meeting a strong opponent.

Now, that same body seemed to chill in fear as it found something it could not understand. Humans are supposed to be physically weak, incapable of things that many in the galactic empire are capable of. Yet here a man stands that exudes a weak pressure yet managed to do what many could only dream of.

[He brought a Deviluke low with one hit.]

For the first time, the confidence coming from her pride in her heritage was brought low, forcing her to the floor as she nearly hyperventilated in fear while her pupils dilated in horror, conflicting with the image the universe usually sees her as.

Confident, childish and intelligent Lala Satalin Deviluke has been broken down by one hit from a human.

If their enemies could see this, they'd be celebrating, offering the man that did so enough money to live lavishly for eons.

Yet the man was not proud. No, his face contorted in [shame]. And it confused Lala.

"How far I've fallen, to accept tasks to beat down such youngsters with potential." He mutters as he looks to Lala as his face seems to look ashamed even further. "And a young lady too. I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me."

"Wh-why," she managed through chattering teeth, "why are you sorry?"

His father said so, their enemies would never show them mercy. They'd be proud. But why is he ashamed of himself?

"Because I hold no ill will for either you or your friend." He spoke, looking to Lala with eyes full of warmth, as if seeing something in her that none but him could see. "I do what I do because this path is the one I've chosen. May whatever judge that presides over me damn me to hell."

He began to walk towards the downed young man as Lala began to panic. "Wait, wh-what are you-?"

"Forgive me." He says as he brings his arm up. "Your legs will regain motion in half a decade, when everyone is ready to confront their demons."

"Stop!" She yells, attempting to crawl but her arms are slow and weak from the energy coursing through her. "No! Don't!"

"From the information gathered, until you came along he wasn't interested in finding the truth. Let this be a lesson, young lady," he says before taking a deep breath, raising his hand as he aims at a spot on his spine, "all [actions] have [consequences]. And sometimes," he closes his eyes, a singular tear falling down his cheek, "[fate] is cruel enough to direct the [consequences of our actions] to someone else."

"No! I convinced him!" Is this how it feels? "It's my fault, I-I shouldn't have told him!" She yells, regret lacing her very being as memories of stories come to mind, of men loyal to a leader that went against her father as their subjects begged to take the punishment of a leader. "Take mine! Leave him alone!" She began to cry, her heart aching as her mind wondered why she's reacting like this.

The scarce memories she experienced with him flashed through her mind. Of a kind, direct young man who was a bit lost. He didn't ask why she was hiding and only asked for help in finding his true family. Something that also benefited her curious nature. Allowing her to explore this new world in its entirety.

No, he became a friend, not an ally or a rival. They were equals brought together by coincidence instead of some order. Joshua has a sister to go back to help take care of and a school to attend while barely anyone knows Lala on Earth. In the same way Joshua is responsible for Lala's safety, Lala is responsible for Joshua's.

She could have taken the hit, the effects might have been the same but the consequences against this man would be devastating, not to mention this planet. But she would have lived and with the help of some of the universe's brightest minds she would have been alright. But Joshua doesn't have that.

She grits her teeth as she glares at the man, tears lining her face as they streak down her face. Finally, she reached forward, yelling, "No~!"

But it was too late the Stranger's hand was a few centimeters away from crippling a young man she was responsible for. From crippling her friend.

"Kaaaaa~." A breath was taken as lightning coursed through Joshua's body as the Stranger's hand hit.

"Wh-What the-?" The Stranger yelled in shock as Lala blinked away her tears.

There was a [bump] found under Joshua's hoodie, lightning coursing through it as the Stranger's hand was still directing energy at the bump.

Finally, he jumped back as something black began to float, directed at the Stranger as he and Lala stared at the moving body of Joshua standing up. His legs shook as he spread them at shoulder length, his hands slowly reaching into his pockets as more black bubbles began to come from him, surrounding him as he slowly turned, glaring at the Stranger from the edge of his eyes as he leaned back, his upper body forward while his pelvis was thrust forward and his knees bent, striking a very [menacing] pose.

[ゴゴゴゴゴゴ]

"H-How! How are you conscious?" The Stranger yelled in shock.

"J-Joshua~!" Lala said in relief as she held onto the seats beside her before forcing herself up and sitting down. Dragging herself away slowly.

"Lala, are you okay?" He asks, not tearing his eyes away from the Stranger.

"I-I'm fine. But watch out, he can paralyze you with a touch." She explained as she watched the stranger warily.

"Got it." he says as he turns, directing his entire body towards the Stranger as the Stranger's eyes widen.

"You-You used what little [Hamon] you can generate to redirect my own [Hamon]!" The Stranger realized.

"[Hamon]? So that's its name." Joshua mutters before turning to the Stranger while raising his shirt, revealing [paint] where the Stranger landed the hit. "Close, but I actually started to release black [paint] onto the floor, redirecting the target of your [Hamon] from my body to this liquid, neutralizing some of it."

The Stranger looked down, seeing a puddle of black [paint] that flickered with his own [Hamon] energy. His eyes wide in realization.

"Granted, it hurt like a bitch but it could have been worse. With the bubble, I tried to use your [Hamon] to kick start my own in earnest but couldn't, so I just generated all I could on my own and sent it to a bubble I created." He says, finishing the explanation as the black bubbles of [paint] began to pop on their own.

A silence overtook the train cart as both sides were at an impasse. One of them could generate liquid, something which [Hamon] could pass through with remarkable efficiency, while the other is a master at [Hamon].

As one, they took a breath.

"Kaaaa~."

"Kaaaaaa~."

Then they moved, Lala trying to keep up as the Stranger moved faster than Joshua could.

"Stay down, Joshua!" He yelled as he dashed forward, arm in as he lashed out with an elbow.

The strike hit nothing but air as Joshua latched onto the ceiling of the train with his [Hamon] as he lashed out with his leg into the face of the Stranger while Joshua grinned. "Gotcha."

The Stranger staggered back, shocked at the strength of the [Hamon] infused kick as he rested his hand on the bar of the train. His eyes widening in realization, "Vibrations?"

"That's right. I'm harnessing the vibrations of the train with [Hamon] to increase the strength of my kick." Joshua says as he takes another deep breath.

"Of course." The Stranger said in realization. "You're using the vibrations of the train to simulate the act of the ripples created by [Hamon] in the bloodstream naturally and instead using what little [Hamon] you can harness to spread the energy through these ripples."

"Exactly! So long as we're on this train, we will be equals!" Joshua says, his eyes going everywhere but the Stranger as Lala realizes that he doesn't even know what he's doing.

"My name is Sousa. Keep that in mind." The man says as he gets in a stance.

Though the two suddenly stumbled when the train came to a stop as both looked out onto the platform to see a bunch of people just looking at two people just fighting it out. Lala wasn't visible as she was still paralyzed but getting better.

"Ah shi-." Joshua couldn't answer as he ducked a punch only to fall from the sweep of a leg as he sweeps his own leg outward as Sousa steps back and heaves when Joshua manages a punch on his stomach.

Jumping up and attempting to drive a knee onto his face, Joshua fails as he's instead slammed to the floor and then stomped as he brings his own arms in a cross to block it and [Hamon] collides.

He brought his leg up and onto Sousa's rear in a kick as he stumbled off and the two returned to their stand off as the train began.

"Last stop to Tokyo Airport." It rang out as all three of the occupants turned to it in shock. Little did they know that the energy they've been throwing around has been messing with the line a bit, making them miss stops and skip them.

At this point, both took a deep breath as Lala clenched her hand into fists.

"Kaaaaa~."

"Kaaaaa~."

Then the two rushed each other fists cocked back and ready to go blow-for-blow.

Joshua threw the first punch, landing on the other man's cheek with a crisp, "Ora!"

Whereas Sousa threw his own punch with a soundless cry that landed on Joshua's cheek, both men in a deadlock as pins and needles began to pierce both of them, their energy draining at alarming rate.

Joshua followed with a punch to the side then another to the stomach as Sousa went for the side and the chest.

In that single train cart, lightning seems to course through them as Joshua begins to yell out. "OraOraOraOraOraOraOraOraOraOraOraOraOra!"

Sousa said nothing but narrowed his eyes in concentration as both sides continued throwing punch after punch, blood falling down Joshua's brow as neither side backed away.

"Give it up Joshua! Would you really put your parents through the suffering that would come from seeing you!?" Sousa says as he continues punching.

"They should've thought about that before abandoning me!" Joshua yelled back, a flame lit up in his eyes as he continued punching as he fought through the feeling of exhaustion.

"How selfish!"

"That's how I roll baby!" Joshua retorts as he takes a few hits and rears his arm back. "Ora!" He brought it down onto the foot of Sousa as he yelled in pain, looking down as Joshua didn't move, coughing as he tried to breathe, he scoffed.

"Your selfishness will be your downfall!" He yells as he brings his arm up, laced with energy as he brought it down onto Joshua's head.

"Ragh!" Lala cries out as she leaps forward into a punch right onto Sousa's face while he's distracted as it impacts his chin, contorting it as he goes flying back. His eyes wide in shock as he looks into the green eyes of Lala who was glaring at him.

His back hits the wall of the train cart as Lala breathes heavily in exhilaration while Joshua gets back up. "Well…maybe you should pay attention to your surroundings, fuckface." Joshua retorts as he swipes at his side, causing his hoodie to flutter behind him as the doors to the train open.

Though he quickly realizes that they're at their stop. "Shit, Lala get your stuff, we're nearly late!"

"Wait, what about-." She starts, worried as she grabs her bag and Joshua his.

"No time, argh," he flinches as he stumbles out, "we don't want to be here when the authorities come by."

Lala looks on worriedly, her entire worldview swung on its head, leaving her useless in a fight she could have finished quickly and leaving her friend injured.

Biting her lip, she quickly came to a decision. She saddles beside Joshua as she grabs an arm to help him. "Here." She says with a smile. "Let me help you."

As the two stared at each other, they couldn't help but note a few things about each other. Joshua looked different in her eyes, as if he was comfortable in his shoes despite being injured all over whereas Joshua could see a hint of conflict in Lala's eyes. In the end, the two had to tear their gazes away from each other as the two began the run to their terminal.

"Move!" Joshua yelled, shoving people as they ran to their terminal. Limping as Lala trails back a bit worried.

Finally, they sighed in relief as they scanned their tickets a few seconds before they were closing it up.

Lala, being from an alien species and stronger than any baseline human, only took breaths of light exertion while Joshua, a strong human teenager that just had the fight of his life and exhausted himself twice over, was hunched over, coughing his lungs out. "We… made it." He says, leaning up as he begins to wander into the airplane, Lala is weirdly quiet as he chugs the water he packed.

Once inside the cabin, Joshua frowns, "Are we in the right plane?" He mumbles as he stares down the aisles. It was empty. "Guess this is ours now?" He told himself as he sat down in the middle seat with Lala by the window.

Once seated down, Joshua unwound and deflated as he began to cough, causing Lala to react as she sat up in worry. Taking a moment, Joshua brought up a piece of cloth and spat into it, blood and phlegm on it as he frowned. "Eugh!" He stands up to throw it away but only manages to fall out onto the aisle. Lala stands up to help him but he raises a hand. "I-I'll be fine, just give me a minute."

As he stands up, Lala is left alone to her thoughts, the weight of it all finally hitting her.

Joshua was nearly crippled because she convinced him to search for the truth. She knew that even if she came along Joshua would have met Sousa but would it have ended the same? If she didn't convince him and he decided to do it on his own, would it have ended differently?

She couldn't help but latch onto these questions as more began to pop-up. This time concerning her and her own inventions. When Joshua first touched her impromptu spaceship he got hurt but stayed awake long enough to help, how many times has similar things happened? How many Devilukean soldiers has she hurt when one of her inventions goes wild? How many times has she hurt someone with a family?

All of a sudden, the job her mother and father has seems far more daunting than it was before.

"Hey," She heard someone say gently as they reached over to clean her tears, Joshua's gray eyes reflecting her own green as they seemed filled with worry, "what's up?"

Looking away, Lala mutters, "Nothing."

"Well it's clearly not 'nothing'. C'mon, you're helping me with this entire thing, the most I can do is help you with your own worries." Joshua insists as Lala thinks on it.

In the end, she decided to simply ask, "Joshua, do…you regret this?"

"Hm? Regret what?" Joshua asks as Lala continues.

"Going with me, meeting me." Lala specifies as Joshua shrugs.

"Nah."

"But-." She starts, but looking into his steely gray eyes, she had trouble coming up with an explanation.

"But nothing. Look, I had to do it at some point, I just decided to do it sooner rather than later." Joshua says, "And Sousa? He would've been there regardless of when or why."

"And he nearly crippled you!" Lala whispers as she turns to him. "Because I managed to convince you-."

"Look, I don't remember what Sousa said exactly, but it's true. Bad things happen to good people and sometimes they don't deserve it. But that doesn't mean that it's all bad." Joshua interrupts, "Sure, I nearly got permanently hurt but I survived. We can now continue and learn from these experiences. A life with only good experiences isn't a good life. Besides, I get to go and travel with a cute girl, "for some reason, Lala felt her face and ears flush at this, "this is a dream come true. And this is only the beginning."

Lala smiles at the compliment as Joshua reaches over to her cheek and turns her, his eyes full of life and looking straight at her as her heart beats faster, "Lala, there's only so much we can do." He says, looking into Lala's eyes, "One day, there'll be something that neither of us can change, but that day isn't today. I'm not crippled, you're not injured, and we're continuing on our journey. And we're going to take it all in, the good and the bad. Got it?"

Slowly, Lala nods as Joshua smiles, leaning back and letting go of her cheek as she tilts her head in confusion at these feelings she's having. "So, keep your chin up, kick back and try to get some sleep, the trip to Amer-."

He's interrupted by the intercom. "Hello, this is your Captain speaking, we're starting our takeoff to [Armenia]. I repeat, we're presently starting our takeoff to [Armenia], buckle your seatbelts and keep all hands away from the aisle."

The two take a moment in silence, Lala holding a hand to her mouth as Joshua looks on in shock. "Huh?"

"Pfffahahahaha! I can't-ha!" She starts, laughing away at Joshua's incredulous expression while he looks around in abject shock. He takes out his ticket and looks it over before slumping onto the seat, causing Lala's laughter to ring out as she rubs away some tears.

Though, despite his feelings, Joshua smiles at seeing Lala in such high spirits. Now if only he could go back in time and get the right ticket this time.

As the plane takes off, the two occupants begin to chat, the two getting to know each other during the flight.

Well, first they slept for the first half of the flight before actually chatting, feeling slightly better than before.

A/N:For anyone that can't tell, this Lala is a bit OOC due to the fact that she's more mature but that doesn't mean she's not going to be the Lala we know, or that's what I'm going to attempt. I hope I do well.

Note: Hamon will not be an integral part of this story. It'll be there but it won't be the centerpiece.

Now, next time, we'll see Lala and Joshua in Armenia. What a Golden time it'll be.

Also, I have an announcement unrelated to most of my fanfics.

I got a Ko-fi. For right now, it's hella bare bones and will mostly be there should you guys want to donate, but later on I might open it up for commissions, mostly three shots and such.

Here it is: ht(tps:/)/ko(dash)fi(.co)m/501ar

(Remove the '()').

Anyway, that's about it, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.