"Then we'll have to get stronger." Kyle's eyes had a sharp gleam to him as he said this, and we all nodded. "But, we'll most likely have to go on our own adventures. I hope that when we're done with our training, we will be united, and stronger. We must push back or destroy the corruption at all costs." "Yeah!" the boys yelled, when the girls all bopped us on the heads. "You guys are so stupid! If we're all separating, that means we won't be able to spend time with you all." "Oh, right…" Kyle sighed. "I suppose the couples will have to go with their original groups…" "What about us?" Liliana asked. "Oh yeah...you guys just go with the groups you came with, okay?" "Okay!" She clung to Kyle's arm, and Natasha and Elena both glared at her. ""Get off of him." "Huh? Why should I?" It was evident that Kyle didn't know how to handle the situation, as he simply stood there awkwardly. I decided to help him out, and walked over, before picking up Liliana, and putting her next to Elena and Natasha. They smirked at her, before nodding to me in thanks. "Now, ladies, you will all compete for his affection by proving that you love him the most. Whoever finds the most precious materials and makes the best wedding ring will earn Kyle's and my approval. Three, two, one, go!" They dashed off, while Kyle stood there, mouth agape. "W-wha?! Why did you do that, man? Now I have more problems than I started out with…" Kyle's ears drooped, while our friends burst out laughing. Neroki patted him on the back as he said "Now, now, at least you have three beautiful women competing for you." before he was hit on the shoulder by Niraka. "So I'm not?" Neroki's face turned red as he looked away, while Niraka kept teasing him. "H-hey! S-stop teasing me…" Niraka giggled, and patted him on the head. "You're so cute!" Kyle set up camp with me and the others, and we all laughed and talked around a campfire. Neroki fell asleep, and Niraka gave him a lap pillow. Kyle was cooking, causing all of us to drool. Even Neroki woke up. "All right. Food's ready!" He shouted. We all gathered around and shoveled it down our throats. A meaty flavor combined with a cheesy texture and the crunchy bread tasted delicious. "I see your cooking's good as always, Kyle." "Wait… how long has his cooking been this good?" Niraka asked. "It's a natural talent." "But then why didn't he make it for our organization?" "Probably because he was too lazy…" "Oh…""Dammit Kyle! You were holding out on us!" Neroki shouted at Kyle, while he had wronged expression in his eyes. "B-b-but I didn't want to cause I was too lazy…" Niraka burst out laughing. "W-w-wow Kyle! Hahahahah-" She was stopped by a swift elbow from Neroki, who was still arguing with Kyle, and she started wheezing. "W-w-what the heck Neroki!" Neroki looked away from her, and ignored her question. "..." "H-hey! You owe me for that!"
Niraka POV
A cat grin slowly spread across my face as I said this, and Neroki halted in place, beads of sweat sliding down his neck. "Sigh… see you in the underworld…" Kyle patted him on the back, before walking away with Kizue. "K-Kyle! W-wait! D-don't abandon me…" as he said this, I was already behind him. Shivers went down his spine as he turned around, and asked me "S-so… w-what is it t-that y-you wanted?" "Hmmm… let me take a bath with you, or a kiss in front of your family. You choose." "B-but what about you? Won't you be embarrassed?" "Of course not! Since it's with you…" I smirked as his face turned red. "B-b-bu-" He was cut off by my kiss. I pulled back, and he looked away again. "N-Niraka?!? W-what was that?" "You still owe me one of the two." "..." He got up, and started walking away. "Huh? Neroki? Where are you going?" there was no reply. "Neroki? What's wrong?" He slowly turned around, his face red. "I-I-I-" I pounced on him again, and pushed him to the ground. "You still haven't picked one of the options. Choose now, or I'm not letting you go." "I-I-I-I'll b-bathe w-wit-" "That's great! Let's go now!" "R-r-right n-now?" "Of course!"
Neroki POV
We found the rest of the group sitting around their campfire, and Niraka walked up to them. "So, who wants to make a hot spring and bathe?" all the girls raised their hands, while all the boys groaned. "Alright! Let's go!" the girls dragged the boys to the hot spring, and the boys went into the boys bath, while I was dragged into the girl's bath by Niraka.
Liliana POV
I watched as Niraka dragged Neroki into the bath, and all the girls giggled at his blushing face. "So, Liliana, who do you like?" "H-Huh?!?" I exclaimed. "Who do you like?" "K-Kyle…"
Kyle POV
"So, brother, how did you and Elena end up together?" Kizue asked. "Uuuhhh… I met her when I was in a dungeon…" "...That's it?" "Yeah… it's like something attracted me to her…"
Elena POV
"Achoo!" I sneezed, and covered my mouth. "Sooo, Liliana, how did you fall in love with Kyle?" I asked. "...well…. He was being abused by his father, and was forced to participate in a selection tournament for who would enter the Grand battles, and he won, therefore, he represented one of 100 demon realm provinces, and fought in the final tournament, claiming first place… the prize was my hand in marriage…" "H-Huh!?! S-so you're his fiancée?!?" "Yep!" A smirk spread across her face as I glared at her. Natasha did the same, and she kept smirking. "Anyway, Niraka, Why did you bring Neroki in here?" "To wash his back, of course!" "U-uh Niraka?" "Yeah?" "Couldn't we have done it somewhere else? And isn't it inappropriate for me to be bathing with you and all the other girls?" "Yeah, so?" "Sigh…"
Ryika POV
I leaned back and sighed. My thoughts were occupied with thoughts of Taki. "Siiiiggggghhhhhh…" Lately things were really awkward between us, but I didn't know what to do or how to advance our relationship. "Ryika? What's wrong?" Niraka asked. "Well… things have been so awkward between me and Taki…" a grin slowly spread across all the girl's faces. "W-What are you guys p-planning?!?" "To make him fall for you again, of course." The girls dragged me and Neroki back to the camp and started forcing me to try on dresses. "How does this one look on her, Neroki?" "H-Huh? You're asking me? U-um… I'd say that it looks good on her…" all the girls ignored him, and started staring at me intensely. "Um… why did you guys ask me if you're not going to at least acknowledge that I exist?" "Cause you don't, duh." Niraka replied. "Sigh… you guys decide. Women have better taste than men anyway. I'll go hang out with my actual friends." He walked away as the girls kept examining me. "W-What I-is it?" "Hmmm what about a silver dress with a ruby headband?" Natasha proposed. "That would go with her hair color, and the ruby would provide a good contrast… That sounds great!" They used their magic to create it, and I was changing when someone knocked on the door. "Hey! Anyone in there? It's Taki! Lunch is ready!" All the girls smirked, before pulling him in. "W-w-Wha-" he blushed, before asking, "Why did you guys pull me in here? I'm a boy, you know…" "how does the dress look on her?" "H-Huh?" "Turn around." "O-okay…"
Taki POV
I slowly turned around, before my mind went blank. Ryika was blushing in a dress, and my face reddened as well. "S-so how d-does it look?" Ryika asked. "His face says it all." Diana replied, smirking. "O-oh…" Ryika's face reddened, before giving me a kiss. After she pulled back, all the girls started clapping, and we both blushed. "R-Ryika? W-what was that?" I asked. Even though I liked her, I shouldn't be with her. My status as the Shadow Empire's prince forbade me to be with her. "I-I don't deserve to be with you. You should find a better person. I'm just a thief and assassin. You're a Paladin and a princess." I said. Tears dripped down my eyes, and my heart hurt, but I knew that it was for the best. After finishing my speech, I turned and walked out of the tent.
Ryika POV
I was shocked at what Taki had just said, and only came back to my senses when he left. I chased after him, before finding him alone in the boy's tent. "Taki! What was that just now? Stop joking! I thought that we both liked each other!" I shouted angrily, with tears in my eyes. He looked up at me, and I was stunned to see tears in his as well. "I-I know, but…" I sighed and sat down next to him, before hugging him. He buried his head in my shoulder. "I-I'm the prince of the Shadow empire…" his voice was muffled because of my shoulder, but I could still hear him. "That doesn't matter. We love each other and that's the only thing that matters."
Taki POV
Her firm voice shocked me but I wanted to dissuade her for her own sake, so I told her "but my people will come after you… especially Rioa…" "huh? Who's that?" "My childhood friend… look, I don't get it! I don't want you to be hurt! I'm doing this because I love you!" "I'm doing this because I love you as well!!! You think I can bear to live without you? Huh?" "Of course you can! You should move on from me! I'm not the right person for you!" my heart hurt as I shouted, but I knew that it was for the best. "I can't move on from you! You're the only person I've ever loved!" She stormed away angrily with tears in her eyes, and I smiled to myself sadly, tears sliding down my face. "Ryika… I love you too, but… it's best if I never see you again…" I turned, walking into the forest nearby, before vanishing into the shadows.
Ryika POV
"What? Ryika? Where's Taki?" "H-he left…" Elena immediately noticed something was wrong, and asked "What happened?" "He said he shouldn't be with me, since I'm a paladin and a half-angel, and he's the Shadow empire's prince…" "ugh… boys are so stupid sometimes… anyway, you better go chase after him…" "R-right!" I ran out of the tent and quickly arrived at the location where we had argued, before using mana detection, and chasing down Taki. He was standing in front of several men, before turning around. His eyes widened when he saw me, and he yelled "Ryika, no! Get ba-" his voice suddenly strained as he tried to hold back the men, who had transformed into night demons.
Taki POV
I heard footsteps, and the night demons around me quickly transformed into black scaled monsters. I turned around and pointed a dark ball of energy at the person, before lowering my arm. "Ryika, no! Get ba-" The guards charged at her, and I pulled them back with strings of dark mana. "G-get out of here!" I gritted my teeth as the guards turned feral and strained against the bindings. "Hurry up and GO!!" "I won't leave you!" she slashed at one of the night demons, but it bounced off its scales, creating a shower of spikes. She covered her eyes, when, suddenly, the leader broke free from my restraints, and slammed into her. "Ryika! No!" I caused my aura to erupt, and slaughtered the night demons. "Young prince, what isss the meaning of thisss!" the leader hissed, before melting into a puddle of ink. I ran over to Ryika, and picked her up. "T-Taki? Is that you?" "Yeah, it's me. You're gonna be okay. Get some rest." "Mhm…" she closed her eyes. After making sure she was asleep, I sat down next to her
Liliana POV
The dense shadow mana alarmed me, and I quickly stood up. "We gotta go. Taki and Ryika are in danger." I ran to the boy's camp and warned them as well. We all geared up, before rushing to the area where they were, to see Taki holding Ryika. He looked up, and said "She needs a healer." "Let me." Elena leaned down, and pressed a palm to Ryika's chest. "She's suffering from heavy internal injuries. I think I can heal it, but it will drain me of my mana." "Then go for it." "got it." a white glow spread from her palm to Ryika's chest, and Ryika's eyes fluttered, before opening halfway. "T-Taki? I-is that you?" "Shhhh. Just rest, okay? You're fine." "O-okay...." she fell asleep again, and Elena collapsed. "E-Elena! Are you okay?" Kyle caught her, and she looked up at him, her eyes fluttering. "Yeah… I'll be fine…" "ok. Try to get some rest." "Mhm…" she closed her eyes, and leaned into Kyle's body, quickly falling asleep. "Let's go." "Alright." Kyle carried Elena, and I carried Ryika as we departed. Liliana and Natasha punched me in the shoulder. "Why did you leave Ryika, huh?" "B-because I-I can't and don't deserve to be with her…" "Well she clearly doesn't think that way! Get it into your dense head already! She's in love with you!" "I can't be with her! It doesn't matter! Her safety should take precedence over my personal feelings! I can't stay near her if I put her in danger by being near her!" "Why does that matter? You're both strong enough to protect each other!!!" "No I'm not! My brothers and my childhood friend are far stronger than me. I have the highest potential, which is why I'm the prince, but potential isn't strength!!" "Then you two can work together, can't you? And what about us? We're your friends, you know?" I yelled. He lowered his head and sighed. "O-ok… You're right. I'll stay with Ryika." "Good." I crossed my arms, and walked away.
Kyle POV
I walked over to Taki, and stood next to him. "So, what's all this about leaving the group?" "Liliana convinced me to stay…" "Yeah, that's what I thought. Anyway, how strong are your brothers, and your childhood friend?" "They're at least as strong as you, and my eldest brother could be stronger… I'm pretty sure no one can fight them one on one and last very long…" I smirked at him, and said "I think you're underestimating us a "little" bit too much…" "Yeah, yeah… I bet Elena's stronger than you." "...Hey, hey, why the personal attack?" He smirked back at me, and walked away. "C'mon man, don't leave me hanging like that…" He ignored me, and kept walking. I caught up with him, and patted him on the shoulder. "Just remember that we're your friends, got that?" he turned around and smiled, and I couldn't help but smile back. "Yeah." he replied, and we walked back to the boy's camp together. "So how was it? Did you guys manage to get Taki?" "Yup. He's right theeeee-" "..." "I think he went to go check on Ryika…" "Probably." "Uh-huh" "Yep" "Most likely." The boys all nodded.
Taki POV
I walked into the tent where Ryika was resting, and sat down next to her body. She latched onto my arm while snoring, and I couldn't help but smile. "So cute…" Her mouth formed into a smirk. "Taaaakkiiiiiii~" "Y-you were awake when I-I s-said all th-that?!?!?" "Of course I was, but I just wanted to prank you!" she giggled, and I blushed, looking away. "Awwwww don't be shy Taki, we are a couple after all!" "R-right…" She stood up, and walked next to me. "T-thanks for saving me back there…" "You're welcome…" I was mesmerized by her face, and we stared at each other, blushing, before I kissed her. "Mph!" "Yay." "Woohoo!" "They finally shared another kiss!" the tent flap abruptly opened, before all our friends started cheering. Ryika quickly pulled back and blushed, and I did the same. "U-um…R-Raki?" "Yeah?" "I-I would like to go out on a date with you!" "Huuuuuuuuhhhhh!!?!!?!?" I stared at her incredulously, before smiling. "Sure."
Kyle POV
After Ryika asked Taki out on a date, I stood next to Taki. So, you happy, excited, anything?" "Unlike you, I actually have an established relationship with my girlfriend, so of course I am." "... do you always have to insult me?" "Yes." I smacked him on the back of the head, and said "Well, make sure to take care of Ryika, alright?" "...Sure..."
Ryika POV
"EEEeeeee!" My mind was whirling with thoughts about Taki, and how I asked him out on a date, when a question popped up in my head. I walked up to him after his talk with Kyle, and asked him, "If you're so strong, then how did I manage to capture you the first time we met?" "I was trying to hide my power… I would've escaped if you did manage to "capture" me." "..." "Huh? Why do you look so sad?" "Oh… I'm fine…" I smiled at him, but I couldn't shake the feeling of depression that came over me. "I have to get stronger… for his sake…" I clenched my teeth and my fist curled up into a ball. "Huh? Ryika, are you ok?" "I-I'm fine…" "You sure?" "Y-yeah…" "Well, if anything is bothering you, you can tell me ok?" "Uh-huh." I walked away, and came to the boy's camp. "Huh? Ryika? What are you doing here?" I spun around and saw Kyle standing there. "I-I want to get stronger, for Taki's sake!" "Mmm. Well, I could help you if I was in a good mood, I gue-Owww!" "Stop teasing the poor girl, alright?" Elena smacked Kyle on the head, and smiled at me. "Since he even made an appearance, then he already made up his mind to help you!" "Elena! C'mon… did you really have to tell her that?" "Of course I did! She's my friend, you know." I wish I could act like that with Taki one day… My eyes turned wistful, and they both noticed. "Huh? Ryika, are you ok?" "Idiot. She just wants to be able to act like this with Taki." "Anyway, let's get training." I was dragged off by Kyle, into the nearby forest. "Alright. Come at me." Kyle took a fighting stance, balancing his weight on his feet. "H-huh?" "I said attack me." "But won't you get hurt?" "You can try. If you really want to get stronger you will." "F-fine." I gritted my teeth, and manifested a sword of Holy light, before swinging at him. "Too slow." "Ugh!" My body locked up as Kyle disappeared, before appearing behind me. The overwhelming killing intent he was releasing was on par with many great beasts. "Too slow. At least attack me full force… Whatever. I'll be training your resistance to killing intent. I will release it, and you will try to break it over and over again, until you can.
Natasha POV
I dueled against Elena. Several Holy light blades flew at me, but I blocked them with an ice shield, that then exploded into a hail of needles, causing Elena to block it with a manifested light shield. We continued battling in silence, and then stopped after we both determined it to be a draw. "So, Natasha," Elena smirked, before continuing, "Was it love at first sight for you, when you saw Kyyyylllleeeee???" "W-wha!" I blushed and covered my face with my hands. "Mou… Why are you asking that now?" "heeheehee… I-I couldn- hahaha I couldn't help myself! Your reaction was so cute!" "Hey! S-stop teasing me…" "Tee-hee…" I sat down next to Elena, and took a gulp of water. "So, remind me how you met Kyle again." "... We met in a dungeon when he saved my life. We almost escaped, when I took an arrow for him. He buried me, and left before meeting… you know…" "..." "Sooo…" I tried to break the awkward silence, but failed. "Alright, back to practice. Wonder h0w Ryika's doing?"
Ryika POV
"Still too slow." I gritted my teeth as my sword went through Kyle. "Tch." After several hours of training, I could move under the oppression of killing intent, but my body still needed to adapt. "Faster. Push your body to its limits." Kyle appeared in front of me and grinned. "However, despite the fact that you still haven adapted to the oppression, you have improved at a noticeable rate. Let's end the training for today." "Alright." "Sooo, is your dedication because of Taki?" Kyle smirked as he asked this question, and I blushed. "M-maybe…" "Well, be sure to take care of Taki, okay? I told him the same exact thing about you, but personally, I think you're stronger… After all, men aren't made to beat women." I started giggling, and said "Seeing as how Elena, Natasha, and Liliana treat you, and how Niraka treats Neroki, I can only agree." "Yeah, yeah. Laugh all you want. They've been giving me a lot of trouble…" "Maybe that's cause you aren't used to handling women." I snickered at Kyle, as he slumped over.
Elena POV
Damn… Natasha really is a tough opponent. That's what I thought when we dueled. "Tch." I clicked my tongue as my sword cut through an ice wall, only to find her gone. I heard a loud rumbling, and several monsters came out. They were covered in a purplish liquid, and I inhaled. "The corruption…" "Get the others, I'll hold them back." Natasha threw several spells as she told me this, and I nodded my head. "Alright…" I dashed back and found the rest of the girls and boys. "Corruption monsters are attacking! We gotta go! Natasha's holding them off." We quickly evacuated the forest, and I grabbed Natasha, before dashing away. "Sigh. Let's build a new campsite then…" The process took a few hours, and everyone was exhausted from the fighting and running. I crawled into Kyle's bed, along with Natasha and Liliana, and fell asleep.