Responsiblity

Nekonome patted San on the head as she introduced her to the group, "She's San Otonashi. She graduated from Yokai Academy two years ago. During that year she was the president of the Newspaper club, so I guess you could say she's everybody's senpai!" Nekonome smiled.

Ben, like most the others was dumbfounded by the girl's cuteness. To him she looked small and fragile like a porcelain doll. "Okay, but why doesn't she talk?" Ben asked, "Like, is it supposed to add to her cuteness? Does she not have a tongue? What's the reason?"

Nekonome laughed and waved her hand, "Oh, nothing like that. She's just shy." The students seemed to give Nekonome a look that said they weren't very convinced. Nekonome laughed nervously, but continued introductions, "San-chan here is living in this town and is working at a small motel near the seaside. We'll be staying there tonight, so could everyone try not to cause trouble for her?" Nekonome then stared at Ben, "And I mean EVERYONE."

Ben made a facial expression that said 'really?' and he shrugged his shoulders lazily, "I already got my ass kicked today, no reason to beat me while I'm down." San smiled and tried to hold back laughter. She lifted up her notepad to show the others what she was saying. Ben looked to Kokoa who was standing next to him and motioned her to read it for him.

"Are you serious?" Kokoa laughed haughtily, "The mighty genius is illiterate!? Well, I should've known there was something wrong with you. Stupid, pathetic human." she smiled. Ben rolled his eyes in response, "Ugh! She said she'll show us to the motel. God." Kokoa folded her arms and turned away from Ben as response.

The teens began following San and Nekonome as they led them to the motel they would be staying at for the time. During the walk Tsukune looked around at the different lights around them taking notice to the many seafood bars and arcades. He then took notice of his friends and how they seemed to be enjoying the sights themselves, while Ben just looked ahead and limped with a pained expression. Tsukune then looked ahead to San and gained a sad expression, So those who don't want to pursue higher education already have a job. he thought, It's really quite amazing, even though humans have problems finding employment a monster like San was able to support herself this whole time. Tsukune then looked at his friends again with the thought of the future weighing on his mind, I wonder...what everyone would do once they come to the human world. Tsukune looked at Ben and smirked, I think, out of all of us, Ben is the only one who's future seems certain. He'll probably keep swinging around and stopping crime while simultaneously trying to weigh a job or maybe even school at the same time. Tsukune then swallowed a lump in his throat, What would someone like Moka do? No, more inportantly...what would I do? What will we all do with our lives?

Eventually the group made it to the motel. The motel itself wasn't very large, it was two storys and a little run down. San told them to hang back while she explains the situation. She quickly ran up to the entrance where a man stood sweeping. He looked to be in his mid-twenties and had short hair spikey hair as well as a large shirt and jeans and boots. When San approached him he seemed almost surprised to see her again, "San? What're you doing back 'ere?" Ben frowned slightly as the man's dialect was making it hard for him to understand what was being said. The man put down what he was doing and walked up to the small woman, "Ya disappeared four days ago wi'out sa much'a goodbye. I thought cha ran away or sumthin'."

San quickly moved her hands over her notepad and held it up for the man to see. "I'm sorry. Please allow me to work here again from today onwards." she wrote.

The man frowned and gritted his teeth as if he didn't want her around, "Not happenin' yer already fired, San." San recoiled back in surprise, "It's expected, nah? We har'ly got any employees, yet you ran off to nowhere and coz'a that we had big problems!" the man yelled.

Nekonome frowned and made herself known, "Excuse me! There is a reason due to San's unexplained absence. She was kidnapped and taken to a yakuza office in order to make money off her." she explained, "Luckily, her good friends were able to help her out of her predicament." Nekonome smiled as she stood proudly with her hands on her hips.

Again, the man frowned and gave an annoyed look, "Huh? Like I care." he then forcibly shoved San's shoulder away, "Now hurry up an' get outta 'ere." Ben stepped forward, but Gin cut him off and got right in the man's face.

"Hey you. That ain't no way to treat a lady now, is it?" he questioned as he poked the man in the chest, "You heard what teach said, there was a mistake, so why don't you hold off on that firing a bit?"

"Please do it for us!" Moka spoke up, "Isn't there anyway you could reconsider!?"

"Isn't this all arbitrary?" Kurumu asked.

"You must reconsider!" Yukari joined in, her fist in the air.

The man looked all around at the teens that seemed to come out of nowhere with a surprised expression, "What the hell? Where'd all these friends o' San come from? Freakin' hurry up an' get lost! If I fired her then she's fired!" The air seemed silent after he said that. The teens didn't leave, but perhaps it was due to the shadowy figure that stood behind the man.

"Oi." The figure called out as she stepped into the light more. She was an older looking woman, likely in her mid to late thirties. She had long blond hair with a hair clip to keep the bangs out of her eyes. She wore a light yellow blouse with white lace around the chest area that outlined her breasts and she wore rolled up tight jeans. The woman leaned against the door frame as she held an open beer can in her hand. She took another drink for the can before she continued, "Takahashi, whatever privileges I said you had, well...the privilege to fire absent employees stops at me alone." she stated before downing the rest of her drink.

The man, named Takahashi as it turns out, gulped in surprise, "Boss? B-but she was--"

"So?" the Boss interrupted, "If San quits wouldn't end up being more of a bother for us?" Takahashi, feeling defeated scoffed and stormed off somewhere else. What a prick. Ben thought. The Boss sighed before smiling, "I'm glad you've returned." she said as she patted San's head, "I was worried about you." San nodded and wiped tears from her eyes, "You all must be the guests from Yokai Academy, yes? I'm surprised they are from your former school, San. Well, it's a worn down motel, but please, make yourselves at home. I am Marin Kawamoto, I own and manage the motel."

"She seems so nice." Moka whispered as her and the girls huddled together.

"And she's really friendly with San-senpai." Kurumu added.

Marin clasped her hands together before she covered her mouth to hide a burp, "Well, how about I show you to your rooms?"

Ben quickly wrapped his arm around Tsukune's neck and chuckled slightly, "Actually, Tsukune and I will have to hold off on that. He and I are going to hit the town!"

"What?" Tsukune asked with a worried expression.

"Ohhhh yeah, buddy. We've been through a lot, you and I. Now's the time to blow off some steam, lick our (my) wounds and get something to settle the roar in our stomachs." Ben said as he tugged at Tsukune, "I saw some Chinese restaurants a ways back, and honestly that sounds delicious. Hey, Gin! You coming?"

Gin turned back and rolled his eyes, "Wow...hard pass." he stated.

Ben scoffed, "Fine, you weren't invited anyways." Ben began walking back the way they came with Tsukune in tow, "Come on, Tsukune! Guys night, WOOO!"

Ms. Nekonome gained a worried expression as two of her students began wandering off in the human world, alone. "Hold on, Mr. Reilly!" she called out, "I-If you leave now, then I'll expel you!"

"Then you better start drawing up those expulsion papers!" Ben yelled back causing Nekonome to wince.

"Oooooh, I didn't think he'd call my bluff." Nekonome whined as she slumped her shoulders.

Ben and Tsukune sat at a table alone together in a small restaurant that served, surprisingly, American-Chinese food. Tsukune had trouble deciding on what to eat since a lot of the food consisted of chicken drenched in a sugary and/or spicy sauce or it was tons of noodles. Ben went ahead and ordered a bunch of food for the two of them. He wasn't sure what Tsukune would like so he just ordered things that sounded good. Pork fried rice, Egg Foo Young, Chicken Lo-Maine, Chow-Maine, Beef and Brocolli, even some seafood like fried shrimp and crab puffs. "This is...a lot of this is fried." Tsukune said as he took notice to the Sweet n' Sour chicken as well as most of the seafood dishes.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what makes it 'American-Chinese'." Ben said as he slurped up noodles from his Lo-Maine. "Sho..."Ben started as he chewed his food, "What's up? You seem down lately."

Tsukune recoiled back slightly and gave a nervous smile, "What? W-What makes you think something is wrong?" Tsukune rested his chin on his hand and leaned against the table, "Everything is..." he frowned slightly and swallowed a lump in his throat, "Everything's fine."

Ben dropped his chopsticks on the table and looked at Tsukune with a disappointed face, "Tsukune, dude, think of all the things you and I have been through together. Think of maybe an hour ago! I know when something's wrong." Ben scoffed slightly, "C'mon man, I know depression when I see it. So don't jerk my jimmies, tell me what's up."

Tsukune let out a slight laugh, '''Jerk your jimmies'?" he repeated, "What the hell does that even mean?"

"It means don't give me the run around. C'mon, quit stalling. I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on." Ben took one of the empty plates on their table and put it on the table behind them and hoped they'd get a little more privacy if people thought that table was dirty at the moment. It probably wasn't needed, the business seemed almost dead, actually the lady taking their order seemed thrilled that they got so much.

The smile Tsukune once had quickly disappeared as he began to think about how he would explain his issues to be. He sighed as he began messing with the food in front of him, "Well...it's about my training." he started. Ben wiped his face and began listening intently to his friend, "I...I don't know if I can keep going through with it. My learning has halted. I'm not getting any stronger." Tsukune gripped his pants as he fought back tears, "If I can't get stronger then I'm nothing more than a liability." he took a deep breath and sighed, "Moka's right, there's no reason--"

"What was that?" Ben interrupted, he perked up at the sound of Moka's name, "What did she tell you?"

Tsukune just shrugged, "She said that, as a vampire, I need the will to have killing intent to beat my opponents." Ben scoffed and shook his head.

"That bitch." he muttered. "Check, please!" he called out. Quickly after paying the check, Ben grabbed Tsukune's wrist and took him to the beach. There the two were away from everyone else, the tourists and others who came to enjoy the ocean were long gone. It was just them and the high tide.

"What are we doing here?" Tsukune asked, almost groaning. Before he knew it he felt a punch in his gut that made him keel over slightly, "What the hell!?" he gasped out.

"Did that hurt?" Ben asked.

"Wha--YES!" Tsukune held his gut as he stood up.

"Are you dead?"

"No."

Ben then crossed his arms and smiled, "Do you get it?" Tsukune opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but quickly closed it. Ben sighed as he gripped Tsukune by his shoulders, "You DO NOT have to kill in order to beat your opponent!" Ben yelled as he shook his friend, "You can still beat the shit out of someone and not kill them, it's a matter of restraint!" Ben stopped shaking Tsukune and let his friend regain his senses. Ben then quickly wrapped his arm around Tsukune's shoulder and had him face the sea, "Now, we are in a secluded place. Nobody is around, so they won't hear you. That ocean," Ben pointed to the waves coming in and out, "is Moka, and I want you to tell her exactly how you feel about what she told you."

Tsukune gulped slightly as he took several deep breaths as he looked to the waves coming up to the shore. "I...I..." Tsukune closed his eyes and took a breath, "I'M NOT LIKE YOU!!" he yelled out, "I can't do all the things you do, blood or no blood, I'm still human! So what makes you think I want to kill!? I DON'T WANT TO KILL ANYBODY YOU COLD HEARTED BITCH!!!" Tsukune took several breaths as tears formed in his ducts.

Ben walked up to him and patted his back, "Good. You feel better?" Tsukune nodded, "Good, the next time she tells you something like that...punch her fucking teeth." Tsukune looked at Ben, confused at the hostile tone, "Predators tend to respect their prey a lot more when they fight back. Now...about learning how to fight."

"Ben I told you, I can't do any more. It's better if I quit." he sighed.

"Oh no, that ain't happening." Ben replied causing Tsukune to look at him in surprise, "Yeah, sorry bud, I know you didn't ask for those powers, but you have them now. You have a responsibility to use that power for the greater good. It's a task that isn't forgiving, and you likely won't get any praise when you do well, but it's a life you'll have to live now."

Tsukune blinked a few times in confusion, "But...why?"

"Because I see it in you Tsukune. I saw it last year and I saw it earlier today. You have the passion and drive to help others! No matter how much danger there is you are still willing to put yourself in harms way if it means protecting people." Ben took a deep breath and continued, "I know I snapped at you today, and fear did get the best of me...but when you jumped in like that, I was incredibly proud. I was proud because I know that if our roles were reversed...I would have done the exact same thing. Tsukune, you show what the best heroes out there show. Captain America, Luke Cage, Peter...you show heart. That you care for others around you. That's the makings of a great hero. So don't let things like 'killing intent' get to you. Because you don't need to kill anyone to save the day. You just have to do what you think is right."

Tsukune stared at Ben with wide eyes, "But...what about what Moka said? What if I can't get stronger."

"Fuck what she said." Ben replied as he brushed off the question, "You just need to learn to measure your opponents strength."

"Measure their strength?" Tsukune asked.

"Yeah, I mean, you can't go all out on everyone you see. You'll kill someone, right?" Tsukune nodded, "But at the same time you can't keep pulling your punches. You need to adapt with the fight. When you see your opponent is sticking with you the whole time then you need to increase your power. That means, stop treating Moka like she's a human or even if she's in her other form. Inner Moka is much more durable than both you and me. That means you can go ahead and try a little harder, alright?"

Tsukune nodded, "Yeah, I think I understand."

Ben chuckled, "Good. But remember not to always use the same attacks on her. Mix it up a little, fight dirty. She won't expect it." The two began to leave the sandy beach and walked back up to the street. "So...we can go back, or..." Ben smiled, "I could show you something really cool."

Back at the Motel...

Off behind the motel on a concrete dock over looking the ocean, Takahashi frantically paced back and forth and shakily lit a cigarette. Finally after a couple of drags he pulled out his phone and made a call. "C'mon, C'MON!" he said impatiently as he began tapping his foot. Finally there was a click signifying someone answered the phone.

"Shuei Industries." the voice answered on the other line.

"Hello, boss!?' Takahashi leaned down as if he was trying to hide that he was talking on the phone, "What the hell is going on here? That girl, San, she came back to the motel! This is completely different to what we agreed on. You were going to take care of everything so I co-operated. I went and pretended as if she ran away and even forged a letter of resignation!" he frantically threw his cigarette over the side of the dock and into the ocean below, "But she came back and ruined it. Everything was a lie. Whadda'm I sposed to do?"

"Ohhh, went back to the motel did she?" the other voice replied. Takahashi's eyes widened. That voice didn't belong to the man he was working with, nor did it belong to anybody the boss worked with.

"Y-You aren't the boss." Takahashi stuttered, "Whaddya do with him?"

The man on the other line laughed, "Well...you're boss messed up. Don't worry, he's alive...for now. But come tomorrow morning they may find him dead in his cell."

Takahashi paced trying to figure out was going on until the realization hit him, "Wait...you're part of that organization. Fairy Tail, right? You guys hired Shuei Industries to kidnap San, weren't ya?" the other side was silent making Takahashi believe that his fears were true, "Look I...I don't have any business with you. The boss had me take care of a whole bunch a stuff, so I had to co-operate."

"A-ha, then you can co-operate with me too, no?" the other man asked with a laugh, "I'm thinking you have to make San lonely. If she has a place to go then the moment we capture her she'll just escape again. I don't like that happening. So, if you get rid of the motel then San will have nowhere to go."

Takahashi gulped before letting out a sigh, "What...what should I do?"

"Burn it." the other man said coldly, "Set the whole thing on fire." he laughed, "Oh, and careful not to fuck me on this. I will find out." the man laughed into the phone while Takahashi stood dumbfounded unsure as to what he should do.

The teens stood just outside the motel on the main patio that overlooked the ocean. The patio area was a usual hotspot for the motel as it was where they served food and sweets. Usually it was a place that made more money than the actual overnight booking part of the motel. "What beautiful furniture," Moka complimented as she looked at the old wooden chairs and tables. They looked to be imported from the west, possibly Europe? She couldn't tell, "They're a little old, but well taken care of."

"The first floor is dining and snacks and the second is the hotel." Yukari mentioned.

Kurumu smiled and twirled in place, "The sea is right in front of us, this view is absolutely the best!"

Ruby smiled as she looked around at the teens, "Yes, I believe we'll eat lunch out here tomorrow." the news made the girls beam with joy, even Ruby couldn't contain her own excitement, "Oh, we get to eat out here with such a view of the ocean. What a luxury." she hummed.

Moka and Kurumu leaned against a railing as they looked at the waves reflecting the moonlight and splashing against the sand below. "I really admire San-senpai." Moka said after some time of silence, "Being able to support herself, working at a fantastic place like this."

"Nah," Gin interrupted, "actually there's a bunch of new stuff since we were last here." he stated with a smile. Gin leaned against the wall and continued his explanation, "You know how San doesn't speak? Well, because of that, after she graduated she had a hard time communicating with people. She wasn't able to find a place to work. But just when she seemed to give up, the Boss went ahead and picked her up." Gin thought back to when San got the job, "Yes, San was so happy she seemed like she'd cry. Since then the Boss has been sort of like a mother to San."

Yukari wiped a tear from her eye, "What a wholesome story."

"Yeah," Kurumu started, tears welling up in her eyes as well, "now that I think about it, those two really could be mother and daughter."

Mizore looked at the motel and then down to her feet, "So to San...this place is home."

The teens nearly jumped out of their skin when they heard a loud crashing sound coming from the dining area inside. "Oi! You piece of shit trash, can't you control a piece of tableware!?" Takahashi shouted. Gin frowned when he heard the man yelling. He's yelling at San. he thought, Just who the hell does he think he is. To yell at somebody like that? Takahashi knelt down and got with level with San before he forcibly grabbed her by the top of her hair, "I outta tell you not to fuck with me!" he seethed, "Ya can't even greet guests if you can't talk!" San couldn't do anything, she just sat still with tears forming in her eyes as Takahashi berated her, "If it wasn't for the Boss you wouldn't even be able to walk around and flaunt yourself! We don't need useless bitches like you!" he grabbed tighter and San had to suppress a yelp, "An' another thing. You shouldna come back. I almost had my gambling debts paid off, whatchu gonna do about that, huh?" What the hell is this guy talking about. Gin thought as he began to focus more on the worker.

"San-senpai! Are you alright!?" Moka asked. Takahashi quickly let go of the young adult and cursed under his breath. On his way out the door he bumped shoulders with Gin, Damn brats... Takahashi thought as he walked away. While the group went to help San, Gin could only stare at Takahashi as he disappeared around the corner.

Back with Tsukune and Ben, the former was holding on to dear life as Ben swung throughout the port city. The air flew into his face and the whole time Tsukune could only laugh at how weightless he felt, "It's like I'm flying!" he yelled out. Ben smirked as he landed on one of the taller towers in the area and began running up its side until he reached the top. Ben then continued climbing until he reached the top of the spire and overlooked the city with Tsukune on his back. "Woaaaah..." Tsukune said quietly. The flashing lights of cars, different buildings and traffic lights looked almost otherworldly to the teen.

"I love spots like this." Ben mentioned, "When I'm having an off day or it's really slow I like to climb to the top of the tallest tower around and just overlook everything." he laughed, "I feel like...I can see every crime that's happening, even though I really can't."

"So...you do this often?" Tsukune asked.

"Yeah, but I'm usually overlooking a much larger city than some coastal tourist spot. Though, I gotta admit, seeing the Pacific Ocean really is different than seeing parts of the Atlantic." he chuckled, "Smells better too." both the teens laughed as they continued to look down on the city.

"Dude, if you did this with girls, I think you'd have them crawling all over you." Tsukune laughed. Ben looked behind him and smiled. He then stood up so he balanced on the spire with his left foot.

"Tally ho." Ben stated with a grin before jumping off the large building and diving straight down to the streets below. Tsukune, again, held on for dear life and screamed as they inched closer to the pavement. Then, just at the last second, Ben fired off a webline and attached it to one of the surrounding buildings allowing him to swing up and have Tsukune's back miss the concrete by half a foot.

"Too close for comfort! TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT!" Tsukune shouted as he gripped tighter to his friend. Ben could only laugh at his expense as he swung off towards the motel.

Ben made sure to land in an alleyway close to the inn as to not draw attention to him or Tsukune if somebody watched them just...fall out of the sky. Tsukune shakily got off Ben's back and balanced himself out on the flat ground, "Oh, sweet flatland." he said as he bent down bowed to the ground. As the two left the alley they walked up to the entrance of the inn and Ben's Spider Sense began blaring. He stopped at the door only for Takahashi to burst through it and collide into him.

"Watch your step, pissant." Ben taunted in English as he shoved the worker off him. That was weird. he thought, Why the hell did my Spider Sense go off? I mean, I suppose he ended up running into me, but that's kinda minute, right? Ben and Tsukune walked through the door and made their way up the stairs where they eventually found their rooms...or rather, room. "Seriously? Why do we have to share a singular room? This happened last time too and it's just...really awkward for me."

"I know what you mean." Tsukune added, "They could at least have had you, me, and Gin share a room, the girls get a room, and Ms. Nekonome could get a room." Tsukune laughed, "I didn't think monsters were so cheap."

"Maybe the school is secretly run by goblins." Ben joked causing Kokoa to give him a questioning glance.

"Goblins are often portrayed as money grubbing creatures in different facets of media." Yukari explained, "But it's really just a gross stereotype."

Ben rolled his eyes, "Yeah, tell that to the money grubbing goblin that stabbed me in the back." After getting adjusted to the singular room, and Ben putting himself off in the corner so he didn't get in the big group, the teens went to sleep.

Late in the night Ben got up and walked out to the open patio, the awkwardness of sharing a room getting to him. As he was on the patio he leaned against one of the railings and recoiled when he felt a sharp pain shoot from his rib area. He tried to clear his throat and ended up coughing in his hand, as he did so he noticed blood covering his palm. Still? he thought. He took a deep breath and tried to relax as he rubbed his face, "Man, I could really use a dose of Dreamqueen right now." he groaned.

"What's a 'Dreamqueen'?" Ben jumped in surprise at the sudden voice. Turning around he saw the voice belonged to Kokoa.

"Oh, Jesus." he breathed out, "You scared the hell out of me Hot Chocolate." he laughed, "So, what brings you outside? It's kinda chilly y'know?"

Kokoa squinted slightly before leaning against the railing by Ben, "I should...be asking you the same thing." Kokoa gave a questioning glance to the vigilante before she repeated herself, "So...what's a 'Dreamqueen'?" she asked using finger quotes.

Ben rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "Heard that part, did you?" he chuckled, "Life is...hard, kid." Ben said as he swallowed a lump in his throat, "You probably don't care, and I think that'll work in my benefit because it'll feel like I can finally get this off my chest; but my brother passed away last year. At least, as far as I know." Kokoa stood silent and allowed for Ben to continue, "When he was gone I decided to take over for him and I feel...heavy. Like, it's as if this fuckin' suit is cursed. I feel as if I'm supporting the weight of the world on my shoulders.

"You know, like...you ever get the feeling that people have these overly high expectations for you? And it just feels like, no matter how hard you try or how much you do, you can never please them? Or maybe, you do please them, but you have so little self confidence that you doubt yourself? Do you know what I mean?" Kokoa looked down, she did know what he meant, perhaps better than he realized. She always felt inadequate when compared to any of her sisters.

"And that's not all, but aside from general hero stuff and the constant fear on whether or not I'm gonna get killed when I go out, I also get no respect when trying to be a comic book artist because I'm not already in the industry...among other things." Ben said as he shifted his eyes slightly, "And I can't live off commissions, that won't pay the bills. But with me in school I can't exactly have a decent part time job. But that means I don't know how well Aunt May is doing without me there to help, I mean, Kaine is there but that means now he just has to make up for me being gone and I don't like being a burden to either of them." Ben chuckled, but Kokoa could see he was struggling to keep his composure.

"But to top it all off...I still haven't gotten over my brother's death. I thought that if I had taken over for him I'd feel better, but all it does is just remind me that I'm a clone. I thought I had gotten over this last year, that I had become my own person. Buuuut NOOOOOO, instead I did the exact opposite of what I preached and ended up just being like him anyways. The only thing different about me is that maybe I'm a little more lenient on some issues and more conservative on others." Ben let out a long sigh as he looked down over the railing.

"But...what's a 'Dreamqueen'?" Kokoa asked again, slightly annoyed.

Ben gave a slight smirk, "Dreamqueen is a 'who' not a 'what'. She's a succubus." he said bluntly, "Due to certain circumstances that occured last year I became acquainted with her. And now, due to an agreement we have, she gives me good dreams in exchange for some of my vitality." Ben saw the slightly disgusted expression on Kokoa's face and quickly corrected himself, "NOT IN THAT WAY!" he corrected, "She just gives me dreams that will give me some serotonin so I can...not feel depressed. The whole idea was that I didn't want to be dependent on anti-depressants because I kinda...went through some issues." he let out a shaky breath, anxious on what Kokoa thought of him after what he said, "So, yeah...life is hard, kid. And in my case it never feels like it'll get easier."

"I'm sorry..." Kokoa said softly, "I'm sorry if I'm a burden to you."

Ben gave Kokoa a smirk and brought her in for a hug, "Nah, Coco...You're no burden. You're a bright beacon in this dark world." Kokoa could only blush at the compliment before she pushed away from Ben.

"Let go of me, you...you!" without thinking of anything Kokoa began to walk back inside, "Hey, don't stay up all night. You still have to sleep too." Kokoa wouldn't admit it, but Ben was certain he saw her smile.

To be continued...

A/N: Alrighty ladies and gents, here's the next chapter of our story. A little laid back, I know, but it's really just setting things up as well as expanding relationships with some of the characters. Next chapter should be a long chapter, for the most part, so it may take some time...Also I think I'm gonna start the finale to my Spider-Man/Deadpool series, so don't be surprised if that gets posted first.

Um...I kinda want to get something off my chest. I know we're usually making jokes around here, but, look, this time of year is really important to me because my Grandpa's birthday is in early August. He passed away from cancer in March 2010. When I was growing up I didn't really have a father. My real father left shortly after I was born and my stepdad of the time was a fucking alcoholic turned coke addict. My grandpa was like a father to me up until his death and I wish every day that I cherished my time with him more. Things are a little better now because my mom's second husband, my stepfather is a pretty great guy. But this time of year us still hard.

I brought this up because despite of how sad things may be, I'm glad I could make you guys laugh, smile or cry along with me. Not just you guys, but fans from all my stories, I really appreciate those of you who have stuck around for so long, and I love seeing new faces show up. Sharing my stupid stories with you guys and you all actually enjoying it is such a good feeling. Even if it was just one of you I'd be happy, but there's like what, 50 of you? Ballpark area around there? That's awesome! That doesn't even count the other story. So, thank you. Thank you to all of you that stuck around and few of you who joined more recently.

I hope you all have a wonderful day. Remember to favorite, follow, and review, and have a fantastic day.

P.S. Listen to that new Logic album "No Pressure" shit's fantastic.