A/N:...I wanted to post this yesterday, but life intervened.

Hopefully foiks enjoy this; because I'm on the brink of falling into despair. These back-to-back-to-back shifts are destroying my body and mind.

Now they're starting to affect my sleep schedule and chapters. Needless to say, I am NOT a happy camper.

Just gotta hang on until the end of the month...

With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.

And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.

Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Feels like everyone's lost their minds sometimes. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.

So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.

I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.

Time and feedback will determine if this should remain a story. Simple as that.

As ever, I own nothing at all, no quotes, references, themes or memes.

They're tributes to legends far, faaaar greater than I, one and all~!

Verbatim and spoilers for Sumeru, but that's obvious by now.

I've only JUST made it to Fontaine and I can tell...

...that's gonna be a LONG arc to write.

Here we go~!

"Make merry and make ready! There's work to be done!

~The Moment.

Reunion

Paimon pounced!

To be fair, she did a rather good job of it; Naruto was quite distracted and didn't sense the little fairy's leap until the very last second; even then he wasn't exactly in a position to do anything about it, given his arms were full of Nahida at the moment. But then the cheeky little goddess hopped out his arms and he found himself distracted for that crucial second-

And his little travel guide struck him like a starry meteor. "PAIMON MISSED YOU!"

Naruto didn't bother to brace himself; he knew full well Paimon wouldn't be satisfied until she'd gotten this out her system. So he let her have her way with him, fussing and fawning over him like the enthusiastic child she just might be. Her emotions were a riot of positive gleeful delight and he drank them in all in like a man dying of thirst. Even then he gave her a full thirty seconds to expend her energy before lazily looping an arm over to draw her close and nuzzle her cheek against his.

"Naruto missed you too," he singsonged back at her, mimicking her speech in a high, reedy voice, "But Naruto wishes you wouldn't tackle him all the time~!"

"Hey!" she squirmed in his arms and squinted at him. "Paimon doesn't sound like that!"

"I dunno, its been awhile, I almost forgot what you sounded like-

She whimpered a little, starry eyes shining with tears.

Nonono! Not having with that.

"Kidding!" he clutched her closed, pressing his head to hers. "Really, I was just teasing you. C'mon. Don't cry."

She warbled a little and tucked her head into his chest. "Okay...but never leave Paimon like that again! Its not the same when the real you isn't around!"

"Alright, alright." he placed a chaste kiss atop her forehead. "Its a promise."

"You better keep it!"

He knew she hadn't come alone, of course.

"Hello, dear." Lisa confirmed that not a moment later; stepping into him to grace him with a quick kiss on the cheek, not-so-discreetly pressing herself into his side. "You look well. Enjoying your vacation?"

"Yes?" he queried. "Sorry for the delay, I've been busy over here..."

"Hmhmmhmm." her hand lingered on his chest as her lips brushed his ear. "You can make it up to me and Shenhe later. Loudly. Enthusiastically."

Paimon tilted her head.

Kurama cackled inside his mind.

Nahida observed him in bemused silence.

Oh.

Ohh.

Ohhhthatwaskinky.

Naruto's entire face went completely scarlet.

Or so it was...until he heard someone tapping their foot.

He turned to face Shenhe and raised a hand in greeting. "Hey~! Hope my clones weren't too much of a bother."

No reaction whatsoever. Arms folded beneath her bosom and pale eyes stern, the adeptus disciple continued to stare at him.

Wuh-oh.

...you're angry, aren't you?

The tapping intensified tenfold.

"They clones weren't good enough. They broke too easily."

Oh, dear. He'd forgotten just how emotional she could be without her red ropes.

Shenhe stalked forward at a brisk pace, hips swaying with every step, but paused just out of arms reach. She made no move to touch him or otherwise be touched.

Paimon drifted backward in the air with a nervous murmur. "I think you ticked her off...

She really wasn't happy with him. But what had he done wrong? He'd kept his word hadn't he? What the heck was he supposed to do in a situation like this? Nahida and the others were no help at all, they just stared at him, as though expecting him to magically fix this somehow. He tried to wrack his mind and came up with nothing...

...no, wait, he'd read something about this in a book the other day, hadn't he?

Seemed like a bit of long shot here, but really, what did he have to lose?

Not much, judging by the increasingly blank look she was giving him.

Hopefully she would be receptive to it.

Steeling himself, Naruto took a quick step forward and took her by the hand before she could think to draw back. He felt every fiber of her being tense in angry indignation, just before he knelt, raised her knuckles to his lips and kissed them. It was a classic pose, and the book he'd read had been most descriptive about...among other things.

Paimon made baffled Paimon noises.

Lisa hummed appreciatively. Maybe she'd read that book.

"Very nice," she declared with a pleased coo. "Good delivery, smooth execution and lovely technique, not to mention a lovely technique."

Ignoring the lustful librarian and her teasing, he focused on the frozen fighter before him. Because that's what Shenhe was, you see. A fighter. Without her red ropes restraining her emotions she was more a warrior than ever and damnit she acted like one...or she had, until she'd frozen, gone still as stone like the very Cryo Vision she wielded.

"I missed you."

The ice in her eyes cracked. "You did?"

He nodded slowly. "More than anything."

A lone tear tumbled out her eye, rolled down her cheek, caressed her chin and struck the floor. For the life of him, he couldn't tell if it was a happy one or not. Her emotions were a whirling stream, impossible for even him to decipher here in this given moment.

"I don't understand." In many ways, Shenhe was pure; so he felt she could be forgiven for what came next. "Why are you kissing my hand? I want you to kiss me on the lips, I want you to hold me...

Laughter bubbled up in him. Alright, now that, he could understand.

He stood and drew her into his arms. "Like this?"

"No." Shenhe shook her head. "Like this."

She lunged up at him.

Her mouth met his hungrily; hands linking behind his back in a searing kiss that left him breathless.

Ah, I see. Nahida hummed happily. So this is what true romance looks like. I didn't think it would be passionate!

Paimn gagged. "What the heck?!"

"Now, now," Lisa covered her eyes with one hand. This is no sight for children.

"Clothes," Shenhe all but growled the world upon pulling away. "Off. Now."

"Oi! We're out in public! We can't do that here!"

A slow, baffled blink. "Why not?"

Explaining would've taken too much time. He settled for a long-suffering look instead. "Would you want people watching us? Or interrupting us?"

...I suppose not." Shenhe allowed at last. "I would have to kill them, and that would be messy. Tonight, then." She latched onto his arm. Latched hard, and turned a fearsome pout upon him, clinging onto his body with intent, looping an arm around his waist. She wasn't letting go anytime soon. "No running off again."

As if she'd let him.

...I'm not getting my arm back, am I?"

"No." her fingers bit into his sleeve. "You are not."

"Fine. Speaking of sights," he turned to Lisa and the still-squirming Paimon, "Where's Beidou and everyone else...?"

"Well," Lisa released the exasperated fairy and touched a finger to her chin. "Our dear captain said she had someone she needed to meet, Klee promised to help Lumine find her brother, which meant Amber got dragged along for the ride, and then Maeve took an interest in their plight and offered to watch over them for a bit...

That slacker! She just didn't wanna return to Liyue!

But yeah, he could see why those three wold wan to distance themselves from Mondstadt at the moment.

"So? Where are they now...

Lisa giggled. "About that...they may have gotten distracted by treasure...

"For the love of-loot goblins, the lot of them!"

Paimn huffed. "You're one to talk!"


(.0.0.0.)


"Hold it right there!"

Lumine blinked.

Hard.

"I'm sorry," she poked her head out the chest she'd been rummaging in and pivoted in place, heels kicking up a tiny plume of dust underfoot, "Is there a problem?"

In short order she found herself facing a band of goons wearing red sashes and mismatching armor, led by some burly brute with more muscles than sense. She didn't bother to memorize their faces nor their numbers-it looked like there were at least ten which explained the arrogant grins plasted across their faces-

She...wasn't best pleased at the moment. That last chest hadn't held anything interesting or useful; leaving her stuck with this pitiful sword and no armor to speak of. What's worse, she was fairly certain that she'd gotten herself turned the wrong way round in her quest for loot.

Lisa, Shenhe, and the strange little fairy calling herself Paimon had made a beeline for the city, leaving them right behind.

So, yes. Much lost. Not happy was she.

Not. At. All.

"Blond hair, traveler, and a fairy." he looked to Klee, who made a confused noise." We've got you alright." the mercenary leader spread his arms with a grin. "Take a look around. You've fallen right into our trap."

Amber planted one hand on her hp. "Is that what you think this is?"

Still wasting time with idle chitchat, are ya? We'll shut you up soon enough.

"Erumites." Maeve took a deep breath...and scowled. "You dishonor your heritage."

"Excuse me?!"

"No," she smiled, "I won't, but I will beat you black and blue. Perhaps then you will regain some small semblance of honor."

Lumine looked back to the mercenaries. Their weapons weren't much better than her own pitiful gear.

But their leader had a pair of curved swords.

Curved! Swords!

"Nice weapons ya got there...

Amber drew her bow back, shaking her head. "Aaaand just like that, you went and flipped her switch."

Maeve drew herself up with a languid sigh. "I suppose we shouldn't ignore them...

Lumine rubbed her palms together with a giggl. "You get me!"

Klkee tilted her head, pure as the driven snow. "Kaboom?"

"Yes, Klee. Kaboom." Lumine thrust a finger at her latest victims-ahem, foes! Yes, definitely not victims, and she certainly wasn't going to take those curved swords for herself, no sireee! "Much Kaboom! KABOOM AWAY!"

They jumped them.


(.0.0.0.)


...so that's what happened." Naruto palmed his face. He could've sworn he heard a distant explosion just then. "Well, that's unfortunate...I was looking forward to spoiling Klee...

"Will you be returning to Mondstadt anytime soon?" Lisa asked.

Shenhe clung just a little tigher to his arm. Naruto noticed.

Kurama blanched right alongside him.

Right, Mondstadt...

.

..

...

...nope. Nuh-uh. He didn't wanna go back yet.

"I'll head that way...eventually." he made a vague gesture with his hand. " I'm kinda helpin' out the Archon of this land at the moment.

Everyone looked about. Shenhe frowned first. "Where is she...?

Nahida raised a hand. "Over here~!"

And all heck broke loose.

"So cute!"

"Is she a child?"

"She's so small that Paimon didn't even see her!"

"Ahem!" Naruto coughed into a fist before they could swarm the poor girl. "Are we not at all concerned about Klee and the others? Not at all?"

Paimon lifted her chin, floating just a touch higher. "They'll be fine, they've got enough firepower between them to level a mountain!"

A blond brow rose. And you know that how? Did you encourage Klee to use said firepower on the journey over here?

"N-Nevermind that! Paimon's more interested int he festival! Will there be food?

"Of course there will." Nahida was all to happy to step up, heedless of Shenhe's still-baffled stare. "There'll be all sorts of dishes, candies, not to mention deserts...

"Then sign Paimon up!"

"Great," he hummed. "I'll have a word with Nilou."

Shenhe bridled. Nilou? That's a girl's name. More competition...

Be nice. he flicked her forehead. She whined a little but held her tongue.

"Wow, she's whipped."

Lisa made an amused noise. "I wouldn't mind being-

"None of that! You're originally from Sumeru, aren't you?"

...I am, yes." she gave him a strange look, mildly intrigued. "Why?"

"Great!" he took her by the shoulder and steered her forward. "You'll be lending us a hand. Alright, stand to, people! We've got a country to fix!


(.0.0.0.)


Nilou noticed.

How could she not?

Naruto was right there, walking toward the stage, towards her.

A strange feeling bubbled up in her chest at his approach, like a rising tide threatening drowning her every thought, a riptide ready drag her under. She'd known for awhile now that the Lord Anemo Archon was bringing in allies from the east, but she hadn't quite expected...this. First there was the adorable little fairy -ohmysweetarchonsheissocuuute!- perched atop his shoulders, clinging to his head, looking this way and that like an curious child, happily exclaiming at everything she saw.

Nilou smiled a bit at the sight of her.

Said smile died an ugly death when she saw women draped about Naruto's arms, tall and buxom in a way she couldn't yet be.

They were certainly...something. Was that the right word to use? And why did her chest ache all of a sudden? Such a strange sensation...

"Oh, my!" The woman in purple eyed her up and down as though she were some marvelous morsel to be devoured. "Is this here, then? You didn't say how pretty she was! She's like a lovely little flower yet to bloom...it makes me want to water her and see what she'll grown into.

Nilou flushed. "Thank you...I think?

The New Archon sighed. "Don't mind Lisa she means well. Sorry about that, actually, come to think of it, I better apologize in advance. These two are a bit of a handful. Just be glad Beidou isn't here. Compared to these two, that one's a typhoon. This is Lisa," he gestured to the woman who'd spoken. "Then we have Paimon-

"Hello~!" the little fairy waved happily.

"And last but not least there's...Shenhe? What's wrong?"

The woman with pale hair considered Nilou for a long moment.

Followed by another.

Then another.

Another.

She just...kept staring, which meant Nilou had to stare back, lest she feel rude. Had she done something wrong? Why was this woman glaring frozen daggers at her? She'd never met someone so stern, so intimidating, so very...raw.

Just who was she, really?"

"Shenhe," Naruto elbowed her, "This is Nilou. Be nice."

...you." the motion seemed to reactivated her for she looked to her suddenly. "I have a question. You will answer it."

Meep! Scary! Nilou forced herself to meet the older woman's eyes and not flinch. "Y-Yes?"

"Will you fight for him?"

Realization slapped her in the face.

Oh...she understood now. So that's how it was.

Nilou took a deep breath and forced herself to rally. "I'm not all that strong, but I will dance for him, no, with him! her hands balled into fists at her sides. I owe him at least that much for all he's done for our city."

"But you're weak."

As if she didn't know that already!

"You're the one being weak here, not me...

"How am I weak?" Shenhe recoiled, eyes wide. "I'm protecting him. You want to break his heart."

Where in Teyvat had that come from?! Nilou spluttered helplessly. "I never said that!"

"You will. He's been hurt enough. I won't let anyone else hurt him."

"None of that!" Naruto slapped her flank. "Behave!"

"But I am! She's still alive, isn't she?"

"Shenhe!"

Nilou made her excuses and reeled away while the two began to bicker, clutching her scarlet, steaming face as Naruto rebuked the ice cold woman. Oh dear sweet heaven, where had that come from? She usually wasn't this determined. But this was something -someone!- she wanted to fight for. Maybe she wasn't as strong or pretty or smart as the others, but even so...

Her heart wanted to understand what this feeling was.

She wasn't going to give up!

Not without a fight!


(.0.0.0.)


"You look awful."

Dehya had to physically bite her lip to fight down a snort when next she saw the New Archon of Mondstadt near the wall of Samiel; if only because the blond bastard really did look a proper sight. His clothes were tattered, his shoes battered, and was that a hickey on his neck? Stranger still there people with him, strangers she didn't recognize. He spoke with them briefly and they reluctantly waited a few yards back as he loped her way. His stride was strong at least, despite the strained expression on his face."

Dehya arched an eyebrow. "You havin' fun?"

"Not one word from you," Naruto growled as he traipsed out into the desert. "Not another damn word."

She couldn't help but tease him as she followed, just a little. "Or what?"

His spear appeared in a rush of light.

"Alright, alright!" she raised her hands. "I'll bite. What's your angle. Why'd you bring me out here?

"Angle?" The Anemo Archon -she couldn't think of him as anything else after that display- banished his weapon and tilted his head to regard her as a curious fox might a lone lioness. "I'm afraid I don't follow."

Oh, so that's how he was gonna play it, eh? Dehya planted a fist on her hip and cocked her body to the right. "Until you came by, Sumeru was run by the "wise and mighty" sages. To them, us desert dwellers are nothing but tools that can be discarded at their whim. We're cheap labor like livestock, just easier to control.

And you?

"Me?" she shrugged one shoulder. "As long as I can enjoy every day with a drink i my hand, tasty food in my stomach, and a good night's rest, that's enough for me. I must be the least ambitious person you've ever met," is what she would've liked to say, but the last part didn't necessarily ring true now, did it?

...I wouldn't be so sure about that.

Yet here you are, bringing down to the wall of Samiel. I don't get you.

"Oh, you will~!" he grinned. "I don't give a flying fig about this king Deshret guy. If he wants to "resurrect" and pick a fight with me, that's on him. I know gods that would've eaten him for breakfast. You wanna see a god? I'll show you a god. He pressed both hands to the sand and snarled. "WATCH AND LEARN."

Deyha felt the earth shift underfoot, no the ground was shaking, now. Why?

"You know, I just looove being underestimated." Naruto's voice rose over the rising tremors Even now! It always makes me smile, ya know. Azar and those idiots thought they knew true wisdom, rather, what a true sage was. They didn't have a clue; didn't even scratch the surface. Here. Lemme show ya.

Dehya looked past him.

"Wait, show me whaaaoooohmysweetarchonshowareyoudoingthat?!"

Mistakes were made, because what she saw next...boggled the imagination.

"See, that's it, right there!" Naruto laughed over her cries "That's the look! Never gets old!"

Before her very eyes, he began to breathe life back into the desert. It was a slow, wondrous thing; she felt energy leave him, saw it thread its way into the sands; as though time itself were being undone in a mere matter of moments, seconds, minutes, no it felt like hours; she wasn't sure how long she stood there, watching as the forest crept back across the sands, gradually overtaking the dunes bit by bit. It wasn't fast, nor was it quick and immediate, it was slow, gradual work. But it humbled her all the same.

"This...its beautiful. How did you...

Dehya turned to face him, baffled by his sudden stoic silence.

All her joy and awe became so much ash in her mouth.

Naruto had collapsed at her feet in the grass.

A/N: Wuh-oh.

Aaaand scene. There we have it!

Shenhe will get her scene. Don't you worry.

Next Time: Shower Me With Praise. Yup. "She" will be making an appearance.

Hope you enjoyed this; its rare that I write a dialogue heavy chapter. Now then, should this be moved to a weekly update? Yay or nay! Really need to hear from you this time.

Once more, the Embers rule remains. If folks don't like this story? Well...I'll not continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.

Right then, as ever, Reviews are love, Reviews are Life.

Reviews keep me safe from any and all strife.

So in the immortal words of Atlas...

...revieeeeew, would You Kindly?

Enjoy these humble previews.

Next time: Forget Me Not.

As ever:

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

SPOILERS AHEAD!

(Preview)

"What did I say about overdoing it?!"


Nilou's dance was..beautiful.


A few enterprising souls were curious enough to take him up on his offer.

Truly there was no fast travel like shadow clone fast travel; his doppelgangers could carry people as well as gifts. Granted, it wasn't the most comfortable ride...

Ergo, Sumeru City saw a sudden influx of guests, much to the curiosity of the Akademiya.

Beidou had fobbed him off with an excuse about swinging by later.

Cheeky captain...


Best get out of here before there's trouble.

How cute.

Was this how Orochimaru felt when he stared them down in the Forest of Death? A master facing three idiots, utterly out of their league. He could appreciate the irony, if he still didn't have the best opinion of said snake sanin.

And what kind of trouble would that be?"

This kind! The bruser growled and threw a punch straight at his face.

Naruto rolled his eyes and tossed Nahida straight up into the air, sending her flying out of harms way with a shriek. In the same moment he bent backward, leaving his spine nearly parallel with the ground as the punch passed him by and drove a leg upward into the one place no self-respecting warrior wished to be kicked. The thug crumpled with a groan, clutching at his groin.

All this, in the blink of an eye, an instant really.

Nahida came crashing down out the sky a heartbeat later, hollering at the top of her lungs.

Naruto caught the little archon with a grin

"Gotcha!~!"

He expected anger, indignation at the very least. Instead she giggled and clapped her hands, utterly delighted. That was fun! Again, again!

Shenhe was on the bandits a moment later.

Poor bastards. They had a bad time.


A very bad time indeed.


Paimonial wraaaaath!"

Collei flinched. "I'm sorry. I don't like being touched.

"S'fine." the amusing archon before her shrugged. "Your just remind me of someone. A certain red-wearing girl with a bow.

Her eyes lit up. "You know Amber?"


"Who is this small child?"

Klee clapped her hands with a delighted squeal. "New friend!"


Jeanne bowed her head. "I...overreacted. For that, I wish to apologize."


"Are you certain you won't go to Liyue?"


Lumine squinted at him. Naruto squinted back. Grinned now.

"Did we just become best friends?"


Blood spattered his face.

His victim laughed. "There he is. There's the monster. You can be surprisingly...heartless...when push comes to shove...

They died in his arms, still laughing.

She went by many names. Lesser Lord Kusanali, the God of Wisdom, Buer. But Nahida. That was hers.


"May I have this dance?"

Furina blinked. She blinked hard.

Oh, jeez. Why was her face so darn warm...?!"


"We just did a good thing, didn't we? So why...why am I crying?"

"Oh, honey. Its alright. Come here...

"What have we done...?"


"We all nestle under the great tree of wisdom, peering out to perceive the world. From the earth and from the rain we perceive its wonders until we become a white bird to perch atop a branch and finally snap off the most important leaf. Once upon a time, I alone dreamed in this world.

In my dreams, everybody would also dream after they fell asleep. Wild and wonderful thoughts would emerge from their minds. Some would tumble to the ground, and others floated to the sky, connecting all things in this world into a dazzling net. Among a plethora of worlds were numerous smaller worlds, all of fate, finding within the tapestry their brilliant glow. I gradually understood that these indescribable and constantly changing things are the most profound things in the world.

Only they can completely repel the madness. Only dreams can awaken consciousness from the deepest darkness. I'm the one who posed this question, yet also the one who sought a solution. Saving the world with the dreams of the people used to be my answer. And now, despite my objections, you've also found your own answer. So I shall return all the dreams to the people.

Goodnight, people of Sumeru. May you be blessed tonight with the sweetest of dreams.

...now that you've done that, you can apologize for making Nahida cry."

"Ehehe, I suppose I'm in trouble, aren't I? How did you do it?"

Never you mind that. Apologize. Now.

"Owww! My ear! Okay, okay!"


Naruto flicked her forehead. "You're acting like a child."

The Shogun recoiled with a yelp, clutching her stung brow. "Excuse me?!"

"Losing your loved ones...yeah, that sucks, I know. Being alone is worse. It makes you want to scream at the world. I can understand that. But this?" He swept a hand up, indicating the desolate landscape around them. "This isn't the answer. I know it hurts. I know you want to hide away from it all. Yet what you're doing here is wrong."

"And what would you know of it?"

"More than you could possibly imagine."

How dare he...! "You cannot even BEGIN to imagine what I have lost."

"You're right." his nod startled her. "I can't. But you don't know me, either. So why don't we sit down and talk this out like adults." those piercing blue eyes glimmered green, glancing to her weapon. "We've got plenty of time in here. Or we could fight." he planted his feet and strengthened his stance, ready to move at the slightest provocation. "Kill each other again and again until death finally sticks for one of us. Is that what you want?

"..."

"Neither, then? Fine. Be a coward. Think about it. You know where to find me when you're ready to talk."

His peace said, he turned his back on her and strode away.

She twitched. "You would walk away from me...?"


A continent away, Venti winced. "Oh, dear. I heard that from here. He's really angry...


...why are you in a tree?"

"Dunno. Why are you dancing where no one can see?"

Ayaka felt heat spear through her face. "You are...a very strange man."

"Lady, you don't know the half of it.

EDIT: Hey, thanks for making it!

With my fifteen year anniversary on this site here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.

And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.

Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. The recent earthquake in Turkey/Syria serves as a terrible example. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.

Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work tonight~!

Maybe you all have a good day, and may it be blessed with muc luck;

~Nz.