Chapter 5: A Loving Confession

The crew of the Astral Express managed to secure the golden orb which is the Omni Compass with Alice and her faction having the second Omni Compass. "So much mystery with this thing. These Omni Keys and the Cogna are connected yet they are different," Himeko said as Welt had a weird thought in his mind.

"These Cogna are very old but the beginning of time. That is impossible, there must be a better idea of where they came from," Welt was in deep thought.

"Something wrong Welt?" Himeko asked.

"It's nothing, I was just wondering," Welt said as they studied the golden orb.

Elsewhere Dan Heng, Caelus, and March are in the main area to be playing something. Tingyun comes into the main train to see them enjoying themselves. "What are you guys doing?" Tingyun asked.

"We are playing Galaxy Wizards which is a role-playing game. Dan Heng is the Dungeon master here," Caelus said.

"Can I watch you guys play?" Tingyun asked.

"Sure, we are getting started," Caelus said.

"Oh, I want to be a Sorceress of Light Annabella," March said.

"Okay, let us begin," Dan Heng said as he talked about the situation they were about to get into. "Annabella, you have entered the door to the North. You are now by yourself, standing in a dark room. The pungent smell of mildew emanates from the wet dungeon walls," she said setting up the atmosphere with March looking down at her character sheet with an eager glint in her pale blue eyes as March made her move.

"I cast a spell!" she said as Dan Heng wasn't listening. "I want to cast a spell!" March repeated herself.

"March you can't yet, look at the list," Dan Heng said.

"I can cast any of these, right? On the list?" March asked in confusion for Dan Heng to look annoyed by her rookie behavior.

"Yes, only the first-level ones," Dan Heng said.

"I want to cast Magic Missile," March said as Dan Heng was bothered by her attitude.

"March, you haven't cast anything yet," Dan Heng said with a raised voice.

"I am though if you'd listen. I'm casting Magic Missile!'" March raises her voice.

"Why are you using Magic Missile? There's nothing to attack here," Dan Heng said looking confused by this.

"I'm attacking The Darkness!" March said in a silly way for everyone was laughing at March's silly joke.

"Fine! Fine! You attack 'The Darkness'. There's an elf in front of you," Dan Heng said.

"Woah!" March's eyes widen to look at her friend Caelus.

"That's me, right?" Caelus asked.

"Yes, it is. He's wearing a brown tunic and he has grey hair and blue eyes. Okay, you guys can talk to each other now if you want," he said.

"Hello," March said awkwardly.

"Hello," Caelus looking awkward as well.

"I am Annabelle, Sorceress of Light," March trying to act into her role.

"Then how come you had to cast 'magic missile'?" Caelus let out a joke for this and had the room rolling in laughing fits.

"You guys are being attacked," Dan Heng said to change it back to the game at hand. "7 ogres are surrounding you," Dan Heng said.

"How did that happen to us? I had Morin's Magical Watchdog cast," March said.

"No, you didn't it," Dan Heng argues with her.

"I did! You asked me if I wanted any equipment before this adventure and I said no but I need material components for all my spells so I cast Morin's Faithful Watchdog," March said as Dan Heng noticed she said the same spell differently.

"But you never actually cast it," Dan Heng said, very annoyed by March not taking the game seriously at all.

"I did though! I completely said when you asked me," March getting angry with tossing it back at her.

"No, you didn't! You didn't say that you were casting the spells so now there are ogres, okay?!" Dan Heng sounded more annoyed. Tingyun and Caelus look on in disbelief to see a dumpster fire taking place in front of them.

"March, you are not supposed to pick a fight with the dungeon master," Tingyun said as March let out a sigh.

"Fine," March pouts as Tingyun wants to take Caelus away to tell him something while March and Dan Heng are arguing.

"Are they going to be okay?" Tingyun asked.

"Yeah, they always like that. What do you need?" he asked.

"Well, we have some time on Thanzo 2 and the city was pretty when we were there last time. I was wondering if you and I could go on a date there. Just the two of us?" Tingyun asked.

"I love to do that Tingyun," Caelus said as he was pretty happy to hear this beautiful woman was asking him out.

"Oh yeah, I am so happy right now. I am going to get ready, we can go in the afternoon," Tingyun said as both were very excited to go on their first date.

During the day, Tingyun is in the shower in her room to wash away the grime and dust off her body. She gets out of the shower to be within a towel to cover her body to see March there.

"Are you going on a date huh?" she asked as Tingyun nodded her head with her tail and ears moving with excitement unable to hide it.

"Yes, it's will be wonderful. I get to hang out with my favorite guy," Tingyun said.

"I wish you luck girl, do your best. I need a date too," March said.

"What about Dan Heng?" Tingyun asked as March laughed at this.

"That guy is more interested in books than girls. I am a real cutie and he has no response to my cuteness," March said.

"I don't think, he would interested in your cuteness. Well, I hope you find something cute to cling to," Tingyun said as she prepared for a cute outfit to wear on their date.

Within an hour, Caelus is waiting in the main train room for his date to come out. Caelus is looking at his phone to see the news about Sophia mysteriously getting destroyed. "All the evidence has gone in a flash," he thought as he pulled out a box holding something he wanted to gift Tingyun. I will give it to her at the opportune moment for maximum effect," he thought.

"Hey baby, like my outfit?" she asked as Caelus was floored by her lovely white sundress fitting her tall curvy figure along with her long brown hair let loose spread across her back. Her tail fits through a silt in the back of her sundress with her wearing blue sandals.

"You are looking amazing foxy," he said as Tingyun giggled to press her chest against his arm.

"I am so happy my handsome knight, you enjoy this view. You are looking quite handsome yourself," she said as she wore a red shirt, black pants, and white sneakers. Tingyun is enjoying the sight of his slim body. "I love me a cute pretty boy," she thought licking her pink lips suggestively.

"Should we get going?" he asked.

"Yes, let's go," Tingyun said as they teleported within the city outskirts to see how homely and sweet the city looked. "This is Alpan, the capital city of the planet. Within the vast mountain ranges, it's a lovely sight from a distance," she said.

"Yeah, the mountains in the background give it a certain feeling. Come on, let's look around and see what is here," he said as Tingyun happily nodded her head.

"Yeah, this is going to be so much fun," Tingyun said as she reached out her hand. "We should hold hands, that's what couples do," Tingyun said as Caelus took her hand without pause.

"Your hands are so soft," Caelus said.

"All the better to give you the attention you deserve my precious knight," Tingyun said as she got close to press herself into his arm openly showing affection.

"Who is that foxy lady, she is so hot?" a guy said admiring her beauty and grace.

"Dude, you are into Foxians. Are you weird or something?" his friend asked.

"She is very pretty," the guy said.

"She is not human, I suggest you seek something closer to home," the guy's friend said as Caelus was not happy to hear that.

"That jerk," Caelus said.

"Don't be bothered by xenophobes. You are a lucky guy to gain a lovely Foxian like me," Tingyun said.

"Is interspecies romance common?" he asked.

"Not really due to cultural differences among other things getting in the way. People will look at us funny," Tingyun said as Caelus sighed at this.

"These people," he said as Tingyun stopped to place her palms on his face to turn to her lovely face showing off a gentle smile easing his worry.

"Hey. We clicked and that is what matters right," she said.

"Yes, it does, come on. Let's look at that art museum over there," Caelus said as Tingyun nodded her head.

"Yes, I am wondering what kind of art pieces are in this world," Tingyun said as they saw a holoscreen displaying the news about Sophia mysteriously destroying itself. "Leaving no evidence," Tingyun said.

"This is insane, I wonder if they are more of those Gravediggers," Caelus said.

"Hey, we should focus on his date and not worry about that now," Tingyun said.

"Sorry," Caelus said.

"It's okay, there it is," she said as they entered the art museum to see a big lobby which has paintings lining up the worlds. "Very fancy," she said as they approached a kiosk to pick up their tickets.

They go inside to see rows of art pieces all over the planet by the artistic minds of its people. "Gee, they look familiar," Caelus said as they both noticed the paintings were the ones from the art collection of the corrupt businessman Nass.

"They must have recovered them and put them here. Thank goodness, they all bring in a museum. They are too good for that scumbag," Tingyun said as they look through the hallways to see an exhibit to show artifacts in cases.

"These are supposed to be war masks," Caelus said as Tingyun looked down onto the panel to see words there.

"Oh, these for the sake of war. They use these to put fear into their enemies," Tingyun said.

"War Masks huh, interesting," Caelus said as they moved on to another section to see a section of lovely gems on display.

"Oh, look at this, this is the Heart of Ion. They managed to find this gemstone within a volcano and crafted it into its present state," Tingyun said as Caelus was impressed with the beautiful gemstone.

"I need to get Tingyun something," he thought as he looked over to his date. "I would like to give you something like that," he said.

"Oh, you don't have to do that. Anything nice would make me happy," Tingyun said.

"I think you will enjoy it when I reveal it later," he said as Tingyun was happy to hear this.

"Oh, I can't wait for me to see your gift sweetheart," Tingyun said as they went to another exhibit to see a statue showing a warrior priestess wielding twin blades looking proud, strong, and graceful. "Oh, she looks so pretty," she said.

"She was a powerful warrior who was part of a group of women were protected the royal family on this planet for generations," Caelus said.

"I hope I can be that cool," Tingyun said.

"In my opinion, you are already a strong warrior. Who saved our asses already," Caelus said as he was very impressed by her raw power against the planet-busting power of the Gravedigger great Cogna Unit.

"It's no problem, I want to do my best for the others and you," Tingyun said feeling her face glowing in the face. "Gee, he is so sweet. His words melt my heart so easily," she thought thinking fondly of her favorite human. They managed to finish looking inside the museum to head down the street.

"That was pretty nice," Caelus said.

"Yes, the art of this planet is interesting. Oh look, we are near a park," Tingyun said as they went through one of the big parks to see families having fun, children playing on swings, couples enjoying their company and people walking their pets. "This is so nice," Tingyun said as the wind brushed against her long brown hair which was dancing against the wind.

"Not as nice as you," Caelus flirted as Tingyun's cheeks felt warm at his sweet comment.

"You know how to treat me well, my handsome knight," she said with big green eyes filled with longing for him.

"Just speaking the truth," he said as the wind was getting harsher with Tingyun's skirt brushing against the wind.

"Man, it's very windy out here," Tingyun said with long thin arms raised above her head and stretched them out.

"Yeah, it's a bit fierce here," Caelus said as he sat on a bench when Tingyun was about to sit down. A gust of wind blows by her as Caelus blushes from this very pleasant view.

"Ah Caelus," Tingyun said with a stutter with her skirt blown upward from the wind to reveal her lower body to the world, especially her crush.

Caelus can see Tingyun's purple lacy panties which have a light blue little bow in the front. Her broad hips and big booty help fill out her panties along with her long curvy legs on her lower half shaping a beautiful image for Caelus.

"Wow," he said as her skirt was still up for a few more seconds with her arms hanging above her head like she was striking a sexy pose with her face looking deeply embarrassed.

"Oh great, why me?" Tingyun flushed badly as the wind died down the lewd display lasted for 10 seconds but for the couple, it felt like several minutes.

They stare at each other for them to flush from the awkward moment. "Don't worry no one noticed," Caelus said trying to act calm. Tingyun's mind is at ease but her heart is beating very fast from Caelus peeking under her skirt without warning.

"Good or I will die from embarrassment," Tingyun said to sit beside him with that image of her lacy underwear and curves burned in his mind.

"Tingyun is a real doll," he thought as he had a goofy look on his face with Tingyun noticing this.

"You were looking at my panties?" she questioned.

"Well, it's hard not to with them on full display," he said as Tingyun lets out a halfhearted laugh,

"Yeah I guess," Tingyun said.

"By the way, they look cute on you," Caelus said as Tingyun's face reddened further.

"Thanks, they are brand new. I wanted to look pretty for you," Tingyun said.

"Mission success with that," he said as Tingyun giggled at his sweet gesture to kiss him on the cheek. Despite Caelus peeking under her skirt, she didn't mind if he was the one looking since she wanted to feel pretty for him.

They looked out to the park to see the trees were a beautiful shade of purple with their leaves. Tingyun looks on with interest with Caelus catching this. "These are Vimta trees, they are a rare breed from the planet Tendo IV," he said.

"They are beautiful," Tingyun said to marvel at the trees with the leaves dancing against the winds.

"I prefer the sights right in front of me," Caelus flirted with the foxy lady blushing at this.

"You make my tail shake with those sweet words coming from your lovely lips," Tingyun said as her fox ears twitched with excitement along with her tail. She is not hiding she is enjoying her date with Caelus and having fun.

"Hey, you want to go on those swings?" he asked.

"Oh, that would be fun," Tingyun said as they went up to the swings to see if the kids were there. "I am going first," she sits on the swing with Caelus and begins to push her to see her gain some air. "Oh yeah, I am getting some serious airtime," she said.

Caelus pushes Tingyun getting her higher and higher. "Getting the hang out of the movement," Caelus said as his final push made Tingyun gain some height to let her leap out of the swing to leap onto her feet.

"Graceful like a fox," Tingyun said with a smile to be able to gracefully hit the ground without pause.

"Cool, pretty good," Caelus said as he heard Tingyun's stomach growling.

"Oops, my stomach is growling," Tingyun looking embarrassed.

"We can go to the local shop and get some grub," Caelus said.

"Sounds good to me," she said as they went to a nearby restaurant to be set up at a table outside with the snowcapped mountains in view to wait for their orders. "Nice seats," she said.

"Indeed," Caelus said.

"Hey guys," March said.

"Oh, hey March. What's up," Tingyun said as the pink-haired young woman was standing beside them holding a box with her leftovers.

"Just getting some lunch. The cafes make the tastiest sandwiches, the BLTs here are the best. I got some to take back at the Express," he said.

"Sounds good, enjoy those," Caelus said.

"I will see you guys later," March said to go away.

"March seems very attached to sandwiches," Tingyun said.

"Long corny story behind that. 'A Tingyun Sandwich'," Caelus said sounding like March making Tingyun laugh at his lame joke.

"Tingyun Sandwich huh. I sound pretty good," she said.

"You sure do," he responds as their lunches come in with Tingyun having a toasted chicken panini with Caelus getting a meatball sub with a basket of garlic bread on the side.

"Enjoy your meal," the waitress said to put down their drinks as well to leave them be.

Tingyun took a bite of her sandwich as her taste buds went wild. "Oh my, it's like a beach party is taking place in my mouth," she said with a smile.

"Good huh?" he asked.

"Yup, delicious," she said.

"I heard this shop always has good grub," Caelus said.

"I bet it does," Tingyun said as he continued biting into his sandwich.

"So, about the whole ageless thing. I think I am like that too," Caelus wondered.

"How so?" Tingyun asked.

"Well, I went on a mission with the Stellaron Hunters to learn more about myself," Caelus said.

"March told me about that. What did you learn about yourself?" she asked.

"I was an artificial being created to host a Stellaron and its raw power. Blessed by an unknown along me to tap into its power without becoming an unholy mess," Caelus said as Tingyun was quite interested in this.

"Quite amazing, you were made to be the ultimate hero. No wonder you can use multiple paths and elements when everyone else is tied down to one element and one Path. The Stellaron's power allows you to go beyond the limits of normal users of the Paths almost godlike," Tingyun said.

"it comes in handy in a pinch. Also, Kafka knows who I am," he said as Tingyun is quite wary of Kafka due to her reputation as a terrorist across the universe.

"She does?" she asked.

"Yeah, before I lost my memories. Her partner Blade said I used to be her partner and have known her for a long time yet I still look like I am in my early 20s despite some time has passed," Caelus said.

"A long time, were you lovers?" Tingyun asked curiously.

"Who knows, she seems very interested in me but the feeling is not mutual if that is where you are going with that question," he said as this put her mind at ease.

"I mean I have seen her wanted poster online. She is a very beautiful woman, it wouldn't be hard to think you two were lovers in the past," she said.

"Well, that doesn't matter. Whatever past I had is behind me and my present and future is with the Astral Express and you. The only woman I have interest in," Caelus said.

"Oh, you know how to make a girl feel special," Tingyun said to glow in the face from his sweet comments.

"I try my best because you deserve the best," Caelus said as Tingyun jumped for joy within her mind.

"Goodness, this young man I want to jump on his cock so badly and make him my forever," she thought.

"Anyway, she told me her boss wanted me to fight and kill Nanook," Caelus said.

"Well, the Anti-Matter Legion is a huge threat to the universe so it makes sense. To stop them, you need to slice the head of the snake," Tingyun said.

"Well if it means being peaceful. It's a win-win for everyone," Caelus said.

"Yeah, you are right. We are the heroes and we take out the villains and monsters in the universe," Tingyun said.

"When all this stuff is over, we can both keep going and experience the universe together on the express," Caelus said.

"Yeah, we are both ageless beings now. The Universe will take an eternity to explore, we will have all the time we need. Sounds so romantic," Tingyun said.

"Best with someone charming and kind by my side," Caelus said.

"Gee, I wonder who that could be," Tingyun said with a sly smile.

"It would be you of course," Caelus said as Tingyun giggled at him.

"I know silly, it's fun playing with you," Tingyun said as she finished her meal. "Oh boy, that was good," she said patting her stomach to feel satisfied.

"Likewise, let's get going," the duo leaves the café to head down the street.

"This is wonderful, you know. Hanging out with you and enjoying the city," Tingyun said.

"Yeah, Tingyun," he said as the beautiful Foxian looked into his eyes.

"Yes Caelus," Tingyun's voice is etched with gentle warmth as Caelus feels very nervous despite them becoming closer.

"Better make a move," he thought as he pulls out a small box from his pocket. "I got you a gift," he said as her green eyes widen by this.

"Oh, that is so sweet, let me see," she said as she opens the little box to see a necklace with a silver chain and a bright white crystal at the end. "Oh, my goodness, this is so pretty," Tingyun said.

"I made it just for you," Caelus said as Tingyun is even more impressed.

"You made this?" she asked.

"Yep, I went to Jarilo-VI which as cave which hosts these crystals. I managed to collect and turn it into a necklace," Caelus said as Tingyun puts it on which looks goof on her. "See it fits you well," Caelus said..

"Goodness, you are so good to me," Tingyun said as he grabbed her waist to pull her in a kiss to adjust her head to better reach him.

Tingyun looks surprised but she is relieved to give into his kiss for them to hold it for a minute until they break away breathless.

"Oh wow, that was my first kiss," Tingyun said trying to regain her composure.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yes, I was so busy with my work in the past. I didn't have time for romance but you are a very special guy to me Caelus," Tingyun said to pull his head onto her bust as Caelus enjoyed the softness of her large breasts.

"You are great Tingyun," Caelus said.

"You were there when I was lost but you were there to pick up me and make me smile," Tingyun said to emit the most beautiful smile Caelus has ever since which made his heart melt from its presence.

"I want you to be my girlfriend Tingyun," he said putting as much bravery as possible within his voice.

"Of course; I will. I am yours," she said to give him a brief kiss on the lips "Come on, honey. Let's go back home. I am very satisfied with the results," Tingyun said to be with her favorite human to head back to the Express as a loving couple.