Prelude || The Festival Of Light

[melodiesmods]

Characters: All the "Heroes of Light."
Where: Aqures Ixen.
When: The 3rd of August, final day of the Festival of Light. The Heroes of Light will awaken early in the morning.
Summary: The Heroes of Light awaken in Aqures Ixen and are informed by their assigned Moogles of what the situation and what their destinies are. This a log for them to react to the situation, meet each other and optionally participate in activities provided by the Festival of Light.
Warning: N/A

Where you were or what you were doing— It does not really matter. Not any more. Within an instant, the world around you collapses. Reality twists and shatters... Or maybe you are the one who is collapsing and shattering away from reality as you knew it. No matter what the answer is, it will only take a few seconds for you to find yourself sinking into a void, your world vanishing into the distance. There is nothing but darkness as far as the eye can see. Even you feel different: all the powers you might once have had, are now gone. It is silent, cold and it feels as though life itself is slipping out of you.

At this moment, when it looks as though nothing but a never-ending void awaits you, a red Crystal forms before you. In this void, its warmth compels you to grab it. Upon doing so, you can hear a soft, soothing voice speaking:


"Wake up."

Soon, the void itself vanishes and is replaced by distant noises of engines. Had it all been nothing more than a dream? The soothing voice repeats its call one more time, but is soon replaced with a much less graceful "Wake up, Kupo!" Hand clutched on your Crystal, the call of the Moogle may finally wake you up. But you are no longer in your world, nor in the void. You are before the Crystal of Fire, in the third district of a city called Aqures Ixen. At this point, you may realize the engine noise actually originates from an Airship flying low over the city and headed to dock beneath the castle. As if it wasn't strange enough, your clothes have changed as well. They are now a reflection of the Jobs you are wielding. Last but not least, you are surrounded by Moogles, small and fluffy creatures who are more than happy to tell you about everything you want to know, about your 'destiny' as a Hero of Light, about what awaits you.

Or at least, they will tell you everything they do know, which isn't much in the end.

Thankfully, there doesn't seem to be any citizens aside from Moogles in the vicinity. Indeed, the population of Aqures Ixen seems to be busy elsewhere in the city-- The Moogle will tell you there currently an event named the Festival of Light, which most people are attending. But you are not alone! It probably will not be long before you realize there are plenty of people like you all around, and if somehow you do not realize it, the Moogle who woke you up will be more than happy to inform you there are others like you around. Maybe with their help, you will be able to find out what is happening to you.






— Final Day —
The Festival of Light is a yearly event held at Aqures Ixen to celebrate the victory of the "Heroes of Light" over the "Calamity from the Skies" two thousands years ago, or so do the legends say. Whether people believe in the legends or not, this is an occasion for them to have fun and spend time with family and friends. The Festival is held from the 28th of July to the 3rd of August.

Unfortunately, most attractions and events are over by the third of August. Yet, there is enough to do, should the newly arrived Heroes of Light favor spending time looking at the attractions rather than panicking about their situation. The festival ends at midnight.


Theater Play
— Ninth District || 14:00 —

There is a large theater stage installed in the 9th district-- It is probably only temporary by the look of it. There is quite a crowd seated to watch the play about to unfold, as well as numerous people standing beneath the seats or sitting on the ceilings because they couldn't get a seat. After the audience grows quiet, a woman with long silver hair and green-ish skin steps onto the stage to address the audience.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Tonight's performance is a story that takes place long, long ago! At the time when the Ancients reigned over the planet, when the Calamities from the Skies landed on this world and waged war against all forms of life. When our story begins, the Ancients are on the brink of extinction and gathering the last of their forces to fight. And now people of Aqures Ixen and visitors from distant lands, we proudly present 'The 4 Heroes of Light'!"

After this, the play starts and will last for roughly one hour and a half. The main characters appear to be four Heroes of Light, respectively dressed as a Warrior, Monk, Black Mage and White Mage. Other characters include the Calamity from the Skies played by the silver-haired woman, an Ancient scientist and the Princess of Crystallis. The story appears to be a highly romanticized version of the tale the Moogles told the characters earlier. As the play unfolds, there is a love story between one of the Heroes of Light, the Warrior, and the Princess of Crystallis. At the end of the play, the Heroes of Light successfully defeat the Calamity from the Skies, but the Warrior has to sacrifice himself and die in order to protect the Princess of Crystallis.


Culinary Attractions
— Fourteenth District || Anytime —
What would a festival be without free food and banquets? Not really a festival. In the fourteenth district, there is a banquet and many stands held by people from all over the world-- People from Balicea, Aerilon, Esdham, Flence, etc. There is even a stand held by former inhabitants of the Empire. All kind of food from all over the world can be found here-- Refined food, pastries, cakes, cooked meals, etc. It's virtually impossible not to find something to like in all of this, and it's all free until midnight!


Competitions
— Tenth & Eight District || 18:00 —

At 18:00, there will be a Blitzball match opposing the teams of Aqures Ixen and Balicea in the Blitzball Stadium. It is more of an exposition match, with nothing to be won aside from glory. Anyone is free to enter the stadium to watch the match. Following this, people - playable characters included - will be allowed to play some Blitzball Match on their own, if they want to try.

At the same time, a Triple Triad competition will be taking place in the eight district, in the campus of the university. Characters are free to enter the Triple Triad tournament, and if they do so they will be given very basic cards and explained the rules. With low level cards and whatsoever no experience, odds are that they may lose to much more experienced and competitive players, but what matters is trying, right? Whilst no characters may recognize him yet, it is notable that one of the NPCs, Wedge, is taking part in the competition. It's just a shame knowing he will lose in the semi-finals.


Trano Golsaucia's Stands
— Eleventh District || Anytime —
Specially for the occasions, stallholders from Trano Golsaucia traveled to Aqures Ixen and brought a few attractions to display what they can do. Noticeably, they brought Chocobos and will organize numerous races throughout the day, on an improvised tracks running around the houses. The Heroes of Light are more than welcome to try and bet, should they want to lose (or multiply) what few Gils they have. If they feel adventurous, they may even try to enter one of the races and ride a Chocobo-- At their own risks.

Aside from this, there are some more attractions worthy of attention. There is a shooting stand-- Coincidentally, all the targets are vaguely similar to the main antagonists of numbered Final Fantasy games. There is a treasure chest game, where characters are presented with ten chests and can open only one-- Prizes range from one Gils to gigantic plushie. There is also a fortune teller Moogle, it is notable that his predictions will always include either the character suffering hell or dying soon, in one form or another. Hopefully this moogle is just a scam.


Fireworks
— First District || 23:00 —

What better way to conclude a festival than fireworks? Fireworks will be launched from the Castle of Aqures Ixen starting 23:00, and will end at midnight, at the same time than the festival. No matter where you are in the city, anyone should be able to watch them easilly if they so wish. Unfortunately, it means falling asleep before midnight may be a bit hard with all the noise.

Comments

[headfons]

He'd awakened with a definite start.

There was, as seemed to be the norm, a sinking feeling. He was alone, again, wasn't he? It wouldn't be the first time he'd awakened without...anyone he knew. It being the fourth world, for him, it was doubtful anybody could blame him for expecting that one to follow the same trend.

After taking a moment to rub his head--and find his bearings, the redhead took the time to speak to the...unique creature. In some ways, it reminded him of Mieu; it could fly and talk, just like the cheagle. With all of his current questions answered, he regarded the moogle with a bit of curiosity. After finding out that it was a boy, he decided to call him...Ion. Something about it's reserved, yet kind personality reminded him of his dear friend.

Ion didn't seem to mind his nickname, at all.

~*~

Said "Culinary Attractions" were where the replica happened to be located. Hand on hip, he leaned over just a bit to peer at one of the dishes. It wasn't one that he recognized, but it certainly smelled nice- well, it was either that, or he just happened to be that hungry. Either way.

After trying everything he could manage quite a few of the unique dishes (as well as some he happened to be familiar with), he decided to move on. He was attempting to focus super hard on everything around him. Unconsciously, he knew...dwelling would put him in a place, mentally, he wasn't ready to be. He needed to move forward! His friends would be disappointed in him, for sulking, right? Turning, he began walking in the opposite direction from which he'd come- only to freeze. Wait, was...that...?

"Gaara?" The other redhead wasn't looking in his direction, but the Thief had caught a glimpse of that unique mark on his forehead.

[no_dreams_for_you]

Gaara was in the middle of deciding what to eat – feeling a bit remiss that he couldn’t locate one of his favorite dishes from Suna – when he heard his name being called. Someone recognized him, and that voice was familiar. Ignoring the faint hunger pangs, he immediately turned toward the speaker. His Moogle sweetly reminded him that he still needed to eat, but his attention was focused elsewhere, at the moment.

“Luke…”

Naturally, the ninja assumed that he came from Saeng Seong, with his memories intact. The facility was another possibility, but they hadn’t been so familiar, within those endless white walls. Instantly, a surge of relief eased some tension out of his body, at the simple knowledge that he… wasn’t alone, this time. His outfit had changed as well, likely caused by the mysterious crystal. Gaara found himself pondering over which class the other had been assigned.

“Don’t forget that you’re hungry, kupo!” The Moogle chirped at him, lightly tapping his shoulder. He would need to give her a name, at one point, but didn’t think that “Moogle” or “Kupo” would be very desirable to the cheerful creature…

Gaara nodded in acknowledgement of her words, and then began to walk toward Luke. His initial steps were a little hesitant, but his expression remained the same, for the most part.

[headfons]

There were a couple of blinks at the moogle's reminders. A faint, knowing smirk appeared on Luke's face as he scratched the back of his head. Immediately afterward, he moved to quickly close most of the space between them. As soon as he stopped, he...started to give him a hug. There was pause, though, as he studied his face.

See, the thing was- Gaara had known him, right off the bat, back in Saeng Seong. If that sort of thing could happen, once? Why couldn't it happen, again? So, he couldn't...help but worry, a little. Man, just the idea of Luke being alone in having memories of that city...

All the while, Ion was quietly studying both Gaara and the other moogle. Glancing down, for a moment, he was a little surprised to see how...shy the creature was acting. Maybe it was because he was...assigned to him, or whatever? Well, he wasn't worrying too much about it. It could just be his personality, or something. Well, Luke had just met the little guy. He'd learn more about him as time went...he supposed. It depended on how long he would be there, he thought with an internal sigh.

With a faintly awkward expression, he glanced to the side, for just a moment. Looking back to the other teen, he reached to scratch the side of his face as he decided on how to ask. Finally, he just wound up picking the bluntest option, "Which...'me' do you know? Facility or...Saeng Seong?"

[no_dreams_for_you]

From Luke, he would have accepted the hug. So when he stopped, Gaara tilted his head a little, and gave him a curious look. Why had he changed his mind, at the last minute? Something was holding him back – a sudden realization, of sorts. Luke seemed to be watching him intently, as though…

Ah, so that was his fear. It was one that the ninja could personally understand. He had felt the same way in Saeng Seong, back when he first addressed Luke, and told him about having met his other party members at the faciilty. Then, it happened again with Sora, and they didn’t even get the chance to become reacquainted. Just from the way Luke was speaking to him, though, he already drew the conclusion that they did in fact remember each other.

Gaara, as usual, answered his question literally, “I am acquainted with both versions. However, I shared a closer bond with the Luke from Saeng Seong.”

“Closer bond” was an understatement… considering everything they had done together, back in that world. Of course, he wouldn’t think to repeat any of those details in a public setting. So long as he and Luke both possessed the same memories, it was fine. They wouldn’t need to explain anything else to each other.

His Moogle scampered forward and greeted her fellow kind with a happy smile, “Hello, kupo! Nice to meet you! Do you have a name yet, kupo?”

[headfons]

He would agree with the "closer bond" being an understatement, considering what all had taken place on a certain full moon.

The look of relief wasn't even remotely possible to prevent the appearance of. He...remembered him. They were from the same place. Neither of them were alone. With a light grin he was all but lunging himself forward, arms firmly wrapping around the smaller frame. This action served more than just one purpose. For starters, yeah, he liked hugging the other teen. The bigger reason, however, was for the sake of proving, to himself, that Gaara really was there.

Fingers curling to grip the fabric of the shirt on the other young man's back, he held that position for more than just several seconds. Almost reluctantly, he released the mage. Stepping back, he allowed his hands to linger on the other redhead's shoulders. A very tiny thought in the back of his mind was that he might very well...up and vanish. That all of it was too good to be true...

"I thought...for sure that I was alone," his voice came out quiet, but then he was speaking in one filled with relief, "But, you're here- even better, you remember," he added after the briefest pause, "...me..."

Ion returned the smile with a bit of reserve within it, "Hello, it's very nice to meet you, as well," he started, giving her a nod at the question, "I'm Ion. Luke said he picked that name, because I remind him of his friend from home."

He still didn't know the story...or why Luke had looked so sad; he didn't feel it was appropriate to ask. Something told him, though, that he should feel honored to have it. Which is why he accepted it with a smile.

[no_dreams_for_you]

Would Luke have preferred the label, “intimate bond” instead?

“…!”

The ferocity of his hug surprised the ninja, and he stumbled back several steps, before regaining his balance. Even despite the conversation they shared, prior to leaving their last world, and knowing how Luke felt about him… Well. He hadn’t expected such an affectionate gesture. Maintaining contact between them had been necessary, to fulfill the requirement. There was no such criteria, in this world.

Just as Gaara had recovered and was starting to return the embrace, Luke stepped back. Something resembling disappointment might have flickered across his face, but then quickly vanished. His hands still lingered over his shoulders, and he was about to respond, when someone in the crowd bumped into him from behind. Eyes widening, he was knocked off-balance again, and fell backwards. On reflex, his fists tightened over Luke’s clothing, and he ended up pulling the other redhead with him, carried by the momentum.

His breaths were shrill as his lungs struggled to take in air, initially. With a mild grimace, Gaara muttered quietly, “I’m sorry…” and then, after that apology, “Yes, I remember you. I should hope that we… possess memories of the same events.”

He missed having access to his sand abilities… for a number of reasons.

The pink-furred Moogle clasped her hands around Ion’s, still beaming with excitement and boundless energy. The complete opposite of her Hero companion, really. “Ion! Heehee, that’s a pretty name, kupo! Luke looks nice too! He has a bright smile! He must be good friends with Gaara, kupo!”

[headfons]

...Maybe.

Luke had never once maintained contact with Gaara...simply for the touch requirement. Not towards the end, anyway. If that were the case, he'd have simply resorted to resting a hand on the ninja's shoulder, at that time. If asked, he'd gladly clear that misunderstanding right up.

He attempted to brace himself against being pulled down, but he had...considerably less strength, than he'd had in the last world. That was going to take some getting used to. While he wasn't able to prevent himself from falling, he did manage to do his best to brace against the impact- he wanted to, at least, ensure he did as little damage as possible to the mage.

After shifting, a bit, so that he was propped on to one of his hands and knees, he paused at the apology. Blinking a couple of times, he grinned, "Heh, it's fine! It wasn't your fault--you just reacted."

The question of their memories, however, had his face freezing, for a moment. Slowly, a blush appeared as his expression softened. It was in that moment, the shock wore off, and notice was taken to the significance of their position. A hand lifted, and then he was running the knuckle of one finger down the side of Gaara's face. A couple of seconds passed, and then his expression was faltering as his blush brightened.

"Well, uh..." He paused, just for a moment, and then moved to stand, a hand reaching to help his friend stand, as well, "...I'd hope, since we remember the same place, that we remember the same...events."

Ion blinked in surprise, but didn't fight against his paws being taken, "K-kupo...You really think so? Thank you." Smiling with a bit less reserve, he gave a nod, "Luke really is nice, kupo! He seems really like smiling." Then, after a short pause, and in a thoughtful tone, "He's one of the people Luke mentioned not long after waking up. I'm sure they are good friends! Luke seems to have a lot of friends, kupo..."

[no_dreams_for_you]

It was nothing short of an embarrassment, but he was well-versed in concealing his emotions, at times. Though, the fact that Luke didn’t withdraw immediately, followed by the touch to his face… His stoic mask cracked, briefly, as his pale cheek flushed with faint color. It didn’t help matters to see Luke blush during this action. His eyes fluttered closed for a moment, and when they opened again, there was a sense of longing and yearning lingering within them.

Having known such little affection in his life, such gestures resonated with great significance, no matter how small.

And that short pause, with regards to their memories… Gaara was forced to turn his head away, as he worked to calm the sudden increase of his heart rate. He didn’t understand why his body was reacting in this manner, toward Luke… Or rather, he harbored suspicions, but hadn’t reached a concrete conclusion yet. There was still conflict in his mind, and it prevented him from reciprocating in the form that he wanted to.

After Luke pulled him up to his feet, the ninja continued to hold onto his hand. As he started to survey their surroundings, his stomach suddenly growled again, reminding him of his original quest for nourishment. The smells of various dishes were drifting through the air, enticing him to sample their taste.

“Master! You need to eat, kupo!” His Moogle scolded him just then, shaking Ion’s paws out of the excitement of the moment. “Luke! Please make sure he eats, kupo!”

Once that temporary distraction passed, she turned her attention back to Ion with a sweet smile. “Humans are so interesting, kupo! Is that how all friends treat each other?” She lifted one dainty paw and brushed it down Ion’s cheek, mirroring what Luke had done to her hero companion.

[headfons]

There were still things that he wanted to figure out, and it didn't help that they had things to...work out. They hadn't, really, had a chance to determine the state of their relationship. Both of them had reservations, regarding what they wanted to call themselves, to one another. For one, Luke still didn't know much about how relationships worked. He knew there was a thing called 'dating', but there were still a ton of questions floating through his mind, regarding that particular thing.

Seeing Gaara blush brought a faint grin to his lips, but he didn't say anything. He did nothing to pull his hand out of the other young man's, nor did he have even the faintest inclination to. There was a soft blink as he heard the request, however. Make sure he eats, huh? Reaching to scratch the back of his head, Luke nodded, "Right...Will do!"

After responding to the female creature, the redhead turned to look around them. Well, he still didn't know all of Gaara's likes and dislikes, but he did remember how the ninja had seemed to like the food he'd made, for him, "What kind of food are you in the mood for? I can show you all the places I've tried, so far, if you want."

In that moment, Ion returned the nameless moogle's smile, nodding at the mention of how interesting humans are. He...definitely agreed with that! Though, he couldn't help but curiously wonder about those two humans. The way Luke had spoken about Gaara, not long after his awaking, here, had been different. Kupo...

Humans weren't only interesting -- they were complicated, "I'm not really sure, kupo. Maybe we could ask them, when they're not busy!"

His head tilted to the side, just slightly, as he blinked at the action. Huh? A very faint fluttering sensation occurred, and his brow quirking. His smile turned a bit awkward, "Ah ha...kupo, I wonder what that even means..."

At that time, Luke was idly tapping his chin with a finger of his free hand, before slightly tightening the grip of his other hand. A light grin appeared as he gently began tugging Gaara over towards the place that he knew had some good food. After glancing towards the moogles, he looked back to his friend, "Wanna let them hang out, and get to know each other, for a moment? They look like they're having fun. We can call them, anytime, with this."

Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out the flute he'd awakened with, casually twirling it between two fingers.

[no_dreams_for_you]

They would need to hold a discussion, at one point… Since the majority of bonds in his life had been ambiguous, Gaara wasn’t altogether comfortable with having yet another one of that nature. Of course, they had priorities. Adjusting to this world and trying to locate their respective comrades were higher priority. But he had been trained to adapt quickly; would Luke become accustomed to his new role in a timely manner? At least… this city wasn’t like the hotel he had described.

When Gaara finally fixed his gaze back on the other, he gave a slight nod of consent. He didn’t recognize most of the food in the stands, and considered it tedious to question every single vendor on the ingredients. Luke certainly seemed to have a better understanding of culinary arts. Perhaps he even exceeded Temari’s knowledge.

“I have a preference for salty dishes,” he began quietly, “particularly tongue or gizzard, if either one is available…”

He wasn’t exactly expecting a positive reaction out of Luke, after revealing that information. His taste in food was… unusual, he supposed, by most people’s standards. From what he remembered, Luke preferred chicken and shrimp dishes, while he disliked eating fish.

“Okay, Ion!” The pink-furred Moogle wasn’t deterred at all by her lack of understanding. It gave her more of a reason to keep observing humans. She was already fascinated with the interaction between the two redheads. “But Master needs to eat right now! He came in here with an empty stomach, kupo! Like everyone else!”

She brought her paw up and stroked it downward again, before having her attention pulled away by the pair leaving. “Oh! I think they want to be alone together. Well, let’s go get some food too, kupo!”

After casting them another curious look, Gaara made a quiet noise of assent. He allowed Luke to pull him over to a stand, and then glanced back at him just in time to catch the flute twirl. A faint smile of admiration graced his lips – how dexterous of him. Especially considering the fact that Luke wasn’t a ninja who performed hand signs on a consistent basis.

“Hmm… That isn’t a typical ability for a swordsman,” he remarked idly, and then tilted his head in the direction of the food counter. Unconsciously, his hand tightened on Luke’s for a brief instance. It didn’t occur to him that they probably should have released each other, a while ago. “What type of food is served at this establishment?”

[headfons]

He'd never consider his knowledge of culinary anything special. While he'd improved on it while still on Auldrant...and worked, a bit, in a mall restaurant in the last world -- he still didn't consider his skills to be anything more than something that could be improved on. That was not something he had a problem with doing, but it wasn't going to be a priority on their current world.

Fortunately, for Gaara, Luke had come across a couple of dishes that might fit his tastes. Approaching one of the food stands, he easily moved through the other people. Fortunately, there were only a couple of curious people standing in their way, at the one he'd picked. Turning his head, he'd started to say something, only to be distracted by the smile. He silently cursed his own face for heating up, again. Awkwardly, he let out a soft laugh.

"Now that you mention it, I've never been able to do something, like that. Apparently, though--according to Ion--I'm part of the..." he started, before pausing, briefly, to tuck the flute away, "...Thief...'Job Class'. What about you?"

A faint fluttering within his chest was the result of that hand tightening on his own. One of his thumbs casually brushed one of Gaara's fingers, before he turned to see the line, of sorts, gone. Stepping up, he gestured towards the food that resembled...bacon -- as he remembered someone calling it, back in Saeng Seong, "It's called 'Streak o' lean', if I remember correctly. I tried some of it, already, but didn't...much care for it," he sheepishly admitted, "You might like it, though! If not, we can try another one." Grinning softly, he gave a soft shrug, and then went quiet so the ninja could properly check it out.

"Okay, kupo!" Ion said with a bit more excitement, than he'd meant to, after recovering from that next odd flutter.

Even though he hadn't been hungry, earlier, that was certainly not the case, anymore. The moogle nodded just a bit sheepishly, before going with her. It was curious to see his human hero acting that way towards another human -- he really was interested in finding out what it all meant. Luke hadn't acted that way towards any of the other humans he'd encountered, so far. Sure, he'd been friendly and nice, but...not like that, "Oh, that looks tasty..."

Ion gestured towards one of the food stands, and then to another, "Kupo...That, too."

[no_dreams_for_you]

Luke’s face had turned red again, piquing the ninja’s intrigue. He did know that there was an alternate reason for people blushing, which happened to be the concept of embarrassment. But why would Luke experience that feeling, right at this moment? Was there something embarrassing about their current situation? Gaara started glancing around and analyzing every possible cause for it, in spite of his earnest confusion.

Looking down at their joined hands, he asked quietly, “Would you like to be released?” And then, to answer that question about his job class, “I have been assigned to the White Mage and Dark Knight Job Classes. My current appearance is that of the White Mage class. Your aptitudes must have changed as well, then.”

Streak o’ lean…? He had never heard of that dish. He knew what bacon was – commonly derived from pork meat. He didn’t particularly feel one way or the other, toward it. As Gaara was stepping closer to inspect it, he caught sight of another dish that drew his attention. Without announcing his intentions, he began to pull Luke over to that booth, where he placed an order for grilled chicken and vegetable kabobs.

She was quickly distracted by a certain item, and flitted to the booth with Ion in tow. After accepting the cone, she unfortunately had to let go of the other Moogle. Pulling off a piece of cotton candy, she attempted to feed Ion by bringing it toward his lips. “Try some, kupo! I love cotton candy!”

All smiles, she started licking at the fluffy candy herself. Some of it got onto her nose, but she didn’t seem to notice. Curiously, she peered at the people surrounding them, then commented idly, “Mmm… There are so many new Heroes!” Glancing back over her shoulder, she tilted her shoulder toward their respective human companions. “They’re still holding hands, kupo! Not all humans do that… It’s so interesting, kupo!”

[headfons]

Slowly tilting his head, slightly, at Gaara looking around, he was assuming it was nothing more than the ninja observing the area. He didn't have the faintest clue it was because of him, of course. He remained quiet until he heard that question; his brow tensed as he looked down, immediately afterward. O-oh...right. In spite of his face heating, he shook his head, "Only if it's...making you uncomfortable."

Nodding to the information, Luke smiled, "Ah, you're a mage, too, then! I'm also a Red Mage," he started, and then gave a nod before adding, "Yeah, I'm guessing so. I do feel different. Earlier, I was able to move incredibly fast. The...unfortunate thing, though, is I...think I'm a lot weaker than I used to be."

He let out a somewhat annoyed sigh. It was actually pretty frustrating to, not only be sent to a new world, but to also have all of his abilities stolen away. Of course, he wasn't as worried about himself, as he was about Gaara, "So, uh..." he started with the awkward scratch of his head, "...Actually, never mind. I'll ask you about that, when we're alone..."

A soft blink of surprise was given when he felt himself being tugged off to something else. Smiling softly as he watched Gaara place the order, he resisted the urge to chuckle. Well, if he liked it, at least it was something they both could enjoy later on...

Ion let out a soft squeak as he was tugged off to the booth. Once they were settled, he let out a soft breath. He wasn't looking when he suddenly caught a glimpse of her paw in his peripheral vision. Blinking twice, he looked up and glanced from her paw...back to her. After a very short pause, he leaned forward and accepted it, letting one paw rest on hers.

Oh, wow, that was certainly good. To her words, he nodded, "Yeah! There are a lot of them, aren't there?" Then, to the mention of Luke and Gaara still holding hands, he blinked and looked back, as well, "You're right, kupo...I don't see any other heroes doing that..."

Initially, he didn't notice the food on her nose, either. It was after several seconds that he glanced over and seemed to notice. He let out a soft sound and tapped his own nose, "Ah...you got some on you, kupo..."

[no_dreams_for_you]

“I don’t feel uncomfortable,” he admitted softly, despite a slight shift in his movement. “I simply don’t wish to inconvenience you.”

Or make Luke feel uncomfortable. It wasn’t as though Gaara himself understood all of the intricacies of a platonic or romantic bond. He didn’t know where the boundaries lied, even in friendship. Holding hands did seem to overlap in both friendships and relationships, which caused some uncertainties in his interpretation. Nevertheless, he continued keeping Luke’s hand in his grasp, and decided to let him decide when it was appropriate to let go.

“Evidently, a White Mage specializes in healing abilities,” he reiterated somewhat dryly. It would be an interesting adjustment, so to speak, considering his former capabilities. “What abilities do you possess, in the Red Mage class?” He made a mental note of the increased speed, and decline in strength. “I see. Perhaps a different class would yield a higher aptitude in strength. Regardless, I have confidence in your capabilities, Luke.”

He tilted his head a bit, in curiosity, at that trail-off. “Is it a personal question?” Because if not, then he saw no reason not to ask right now. What reason would Luke have to suddenly act shy… unless it had to do with the matter of their… personal relationship? That thought alone caused his cheeks to darken a little, but he didn’t turn away.

After receiving his order, Gaara began to eat, tentatively, as they resumed walking around. He felt an immense amount of relief that they wouldn’t have to be subjected to those tasteless food bars. Still, he was suspicious of the festival itself. Nothing was ever given freely, without consequence. The ones in charge of this city – this world – surely wanted something from all of the new Heroes.

The female Moogle giggled cheerfully when Ion set his paw over hers. He was so gentle and sweet. She hoped all of the other Moogles were just as friendly and kind! She wanted to make friends with them, to better help her new Hero. Their network would run much more smoothly with cooperation between the Moogles.

“We’ll need their help… after the other Heroes vanished.” The ending of the play had hinted at new Heroes arriving, to keep the peace. Maybe that meant their world would need to be saved again…?

“Hum… I wonder if it’s something human friends do, kupo…” she mused out loud, while offering more cotton candy to Ion. “Want to try it, Ion?”

When Ion brought that to her attention, she laughed gently and leaned toward him. “Oh! I must look so silly right now, kupo! Can you please take it off?”

[headfons]

His gaze softened on the other redhead at those words, and then he gave him a reassuring smile, "It's not an inconvenience."

Was it something he'd never done before? Definitely. The thing was, though, he'd seen other people doing stuff like this, back in Saeng Seong. He also recognized it as something that two people who...liked each other, did. Essentially, it was aiding in providing Luke with a cure for his doubts. A part of him still wondered about the extent of the ninja's feelings towards him, and he still couldn't help but question the entirety of his motives on that fateful night.

Luke gave an impressed blink at the mention of what White Mages could do, "Hey, that's a good thing! Being able to heal people's really important, you know," he said, and then continued with a light grin, "It likely means you'll have a lot of people coming to you, in the future, for help. Heh...better watch out, or you might become super popular!"

As for his own abilities, though, "Uh...apparently, I can use all sorts of magic. Ion said I'm kind of like a...'Jack of all trades', or something. I can wield a sword, while also using offensive and defensive magic. Right now I'm able to cast Fire, Blizzard, Water, Thunder, and Cure. I won't be specializing in anything, though. My magic skills will become mid-level, at best," he said, letting out a sigh, "Same for my sword skills."

The part about Gaara having confidence in his abilities had his face darkening, and then he quickly looked away. Reaching up with his free hand, he scratched at the side of his face, "A-ah...Well, I have a lot of faith in your abilities, as well, you know! You're really smart, so you'll have no trouble increasing your skills," he said as he looked back over to Gaara, face still red, "We should probably start training together, as soon as possible."

Anything to get the subject off of himself, really. Luke nodded at the question of whether, or not, he had something personal to ask, "Yeah. Actually...there's two things I wanna ask, though."

After watching Gaara, quietly, for a moment, he turned his head to begin looking around. The place was...considerably different from the other three worlds he'd seen. In spite of his being away from home for nearly half a year (in the time most people went by, as he'd now learned), he still dwelled on home, from time to time. Even with the distractions he immersed himself in, he still missed his friends.

Ion nodded to her words, giving her a tentative smile. He could only hope that he could make himself useful to Luke and the other heroes. Tilting his head, a bit, at her musing, he wondered the same thing. Maybe it was how humans showed their level of closeness. Blinking at her question, he responded in a curious tone as he took more cotton candy, "Kupo? Sure..."

He certainly didn't mind it -- he liked her. She was cute and friendly, and he felt comfortable around her. Eating the sweet, sugary substance, he glanced back over to Luke and Gaara. When she leaned towards him, he blinked over to her. Then, nodding to her question, he moved a paw to her nose and pulled the sticky substance off. Fortunately, it came off, easily.

"There you go, kupo," he said, while offering her a faint smile.

[no_dreams_for_you]

His hand felt warm… and it resembled the same tepid sensation resonating inside his chest. Was it nothing more than physical temperature, or…? He couldn’t be certain. He hadn’t experienced this emotion often enough to truly decipher it. Even then, the previous instance he could recall was… His facial features hardened, briefly, as he was helpfully reminded of the loose ends that he left untied. Like the red string Sai had been so insistent on keeping, even after they finally released each other, on the island of dinosaurs.

Popular? Gaara wanted to scoff in disbelief, but settled for a simple headshake. Others may come to need him for his healing abilities, but that was all. Of course, he would be willing to assist anyone that received injuries. It didn’t mean their bond would extend beyond the duration of battle.

“You possess a healing spell as well,” he reminded Luke, “in addition to your other abilities. Even if your extent is mid-tier at best, the elemental advantage should not be discounted. You are a much more useful ally, simply due to versatility.”

It didn’t matter that Luke might not be as powerful as a warrior that specialized in a specific area. Cooperation was a key factor in their new circumstances. Wherever they lacked in strength, they could form an alliance with someone to fill that void. When Luke mentioned having faith in his abilities, however… Gaara carefully avoided his gaze. He was formidable with his sand, but in this new world, having been stripped of that capability… He didn’t want to tell Luke how much weaker he had become. Particularly with regards to his aptitude in physical combat.

“Yes… we should,” he agreed with ease, “I intend to begin immediately… after conducting a thorough search of this city. Perhaps we could mutually benefit from training together.”

At the sudden reminder of the reason behind his search, a shadow passed over his expression. “I will keep your friends in mind as well, Luke.” He remembered, quite vividly, the physical appearances of Tear, Jade, and Guy. It was Anise and Natalia that he had never become acquainted with.

Meanwhile, his Moogle companion was looking at both of them from where she sat, with Ion. She was curious about why they were still holding hands, and made a mental note to ask Gaara, once they met up again. If that was something friends did, could she and Ion hold each other’s paws while they were walking along? Maybe even flying, if they were close enough? Something interesting to ponder over…

“Thank you! Kupo!” She tipped her head down toward his paw and lapped up the small bunch of cotton candy he had just pulled off. At least this time, she didn’t get it on her face. After the sugary substance had melted in her mouth, she brushed the cotton candy over Ion’s nose with a playful giggle.

[headfons]

He'd meant it when he said there wasn't an inconvenience from their hands remaining together. There was something...nice about the physical contact. It reminded him of the very thing he'd started to become incredibly used to, back in Saeng Seong. Even back on Auldrant, he'd never been hesitant about touching Tear -- Guy's pats on the shoulders had always comforted him, too. Hell, even when Anise hugged him, during the latter half of their journey...he'd felt a sense of happiness. During his years trapped in the manor, he'd become starved for attention, without even realizing it.

That...must have been why it'd been so hard to let go of Van, or to even let himself push away from Guy, after finding out he'd tried to kill him out of genuine hatred. Even after committing to his change, he'd been basing his personality adjustments on what everyone else approved of. He just...really didn't want them to leave him, again. It had a lot to do with making up for his mistakes, yeah, but that was only the larger percentage of the reason, wasn't it? In the end, part of it was because he didn't want to wind up...alone.

So, then...maybe that had been part of why he'd let what happen on the full moon...happen. A part of him had already started latching onto the person that made him happiest out of everyone else, to be around. It was different from that, by the current point, of course. They'd wound up on the same world, and so Luke was bound and determined to ensure he didn't risk having any more regrets. No more...

His thoughts were cut of by the other redhead's voice, prompting him to blink back into reality. Then, when he hears that part about being more useful as an ally, his face reddens. Shaking his head, "Y-yeah, well..." With a frustrated sigh, he reaches up and scratches at the back of his head, "Still, it'll suck not being about to really master anything combat-related..."

Because he was looking away, too, he missed the avoidance of Gaara's eyes. Folding his arms over his chest, he decided to let the topic drop, for now. Really, it was also because of the distracting thoughts that continued to prod at the back of his mind. There were a lot of things piling up in his mind that needed to be discussed or...faced, simply, but some...he wasn't ready to so much as acknowledge. It was his fault, however, for avoiding certain things, for so long.

"Ah!" He smiled, "Good thing I already planned to ask you if you wanted to train together, then."

With that, he gave the ninja a slight grin, folding his arms behind his head. As he shifted his weight onto one foot, just a bit, he glanced to the side. The mention of his friends had his eyes no longer matching the upturn of his lips. He...could already feel that doubt creeping in, that they'd be found, in that found, "Yeah...I'd appreciate that," he said, ignoring that faint pressure in his chest, "I'll be looking, too. I remember what Temari, Kankuro, and Sai look like."

After the light green-colored creature followed the female's eyes, he found himself studying the two humans, once again. He was curious, too, and really wanted to ask his hero...friend about it. Luke had already called him his friend, by that point, but it seemed like not many humans did that, either.

Maybe that was why they were holding hands, unlike the other humans -- Luke didn't like to follow the behavior of other humans! Kupo...but, then, what was Gaara's reason? Hmmm...well, there wasn't going to be any figuring it out, from where they were. He'd just have to wait until next time he was with Luke.

"You're welcome..." He offered her a small smile after she finished the cotton candy, "Kupo?"

He blinked after she brushed the stuff over his nose, but then let out a soft laugh. Namely, because that had tickled. She was...interesting, to say the least. Not in a bad way, of course. If anything he was fascinated by her cheerful demeanor. Reaching up, he brushed his paw over his nose.

[no_dreams_for_you]

The loneliness was something he had sensed, a number of times before, whenever he looked into Luke’s eyes. He had his doubts on occasion, wondering if Luke simply stayed with him because he wanted to replace the empty void in his life left by his friends and his roommate from the hotel. Would Luke ever allow his desire to not be abandoned, override his logical sense of mind? If his friends should arrive in this world, wouldn’t he naturally gravitate toward them? And then… he wouldn’t need to hold onto other unnecessary ties.

His appetite had suddenly began to diminish, but fortunately, he finished his food, by this point. There wasn’t a conscious reason for it, but he felt like gripping onto Luke’s hand tighter, and so he did. Now, if there was a stand around that served decent tea, he could cleanse his palette…

“Why do you hold that belief?” A serious question, because Gaara saw nothing wrong with being versatile. If anything, Luke was much better prepared than him, and he didn’t need to specialize in a particular area. Gaara felt all the more determined to overcome his weaknesses; he didn’t want to become a burden to Luke, or anyone else he might be fighting alongside. “Is it your contention that you must master a form of combat in order to be proficient at fighting?”

He replied without hesitation, “Yes. We have already begun training together. It would be logical to continue.” Without his sand abilities, he would need to rely on Luke to point out which areas he lacked in, since he could no longer be self-aware to that extent. Even if Luke couldn’t use the exact same techniques as the previous world, he hadn’t completely forgotten his sword skills. He wasn’t helpless or useless, in this new job class.

Gaara waited until they had walked further along, and then slowly eased to a stop, once they were far enough away from the general crowd. He turned to Luke and lifted his free hand, gently running the back of his fingers down one lone cheek. “Don’t relinquish hope, Luke. You possess more strength and resilience than you seem to realize.”

Well, now their Heroes had run off and disappeared together! Or maybe the crowd had just swallowed them up, when her attention was turned away? She wasn’t watching them the entire time, because she had been finishing her delicious cotton candy. Letting out a soft squeak of surprise, the pink-furred Moogle flitted up into the air, dragging Ion along with her.

“Oh, no! Where did they go??” Their companions had flutes to summon them with, but the reverse wasn’t true! They couldn’t just magically pinpoint where their Heroes had gone. It wasn’t fair, really.

[headfons]

The thing was, the redhead would never stop missing the friends that weren't with him. That wasn't to say, however, that he would have a shift in loyalties, should they ever appear. Even if his friends from any of the three previous worlds showed up, the replica would always hold on to the bond he had with the ninja. So, fortunately, Gaara would never have to worry about that -- even if Luke didn't realize he needed to reassure him, in that regard.

When he felt the tightening of that grip, Luke blinked and looked down. Expression turning just a bit concerned, he glanced back up to the other teen. Before he could ask, however, he heard those questions.

...As a means of stalling, he tugged Gaara over to a drink stand (sorry, seems this one doesn't have tea). He figured, since he was there, he could get one, as well. After getting a drink -- apparently it was something called lemonade, he let out a soft sigh, "Isn't...that how it's supposed to work, though? You figure out what you're good at, then you master it...right? I mean- it's not as though I'm...ungrateful for what power I do have. It could be much worse, and I could have arrived here with nothing. Besides, it's power I can wield," he said, before giving a somewhat dry laugh (after all, he'd arrived in the hotel with nothing), "I guess it just...feels weird, is all."

Nodding, he gave a smile, in regards to the comment about training together, "Not only that, but I...like training with you."

Once they were away from a majority of the other people, Luke blinked as Gaara suddenly came to a stop. Before he had a chance to ask what was wrong, however, he felt that hand brushing against his face. Instantaneously, his face began to heat as a soft sound escaped his throat. There was a short pause as the replica glanced to the side. Then, leaning forward, he placed a soft kiss to the other redhead's lips. Without pulling away, completely, he spoke, "Part of...the reason I didn't lose all hope, was because of the fact that you arrived, here, too," he says, his tone softening as he says the next sentence, "As...selfish as it is, I'm really...glad you're here, with me."

Then, he pulled away, his face completely red.

Ion's eyes widened as he looked around, realizing she wasn't the only one that couldn't see them, anymore. Aw, kupo. Brow tensing, he assisted her in the search, "Well, fortunately, they'll be able to call us if they need us..."

With that, he gave a sigh. A thought occurred to him, though -- what if they wanted to...be alone? It wasn't anything he could say, with confidence, so he left the thought where it originated. Nevertheless, though, it was something that popped into his head, just then. Really, kupo...humans were so very strange.

[no_dreams_for_you]

No tea? Off with your head!!

Fortunately, he was familiar with most of the drinks at that stand, and ordered pomegranate juice. He gave serious consideration to Luke’s words, but his ninja training had essentially taught him the opposite. Yes, some shinobi did specialize in one particular aptitude or element; however, even rarer were the ones that could utilize two elements. Rock Lee, in spite of his prowess in taijutsu, would be susceptible or even useless if the other attributes were required. Gaara had all but proven that by defeating him in their fight, years ago. Not to mention, he had needed to rescue his Leaf counterpart during combat against Kimimaro.

“You are accustomed to offensive means,” he easily recalled, from their training sessions together. “Your speed and precision were lacking, as a result of your focus on simply mastering your sword techniques. Consider this an opportunity to develop your aptitude in additional areas.”

He wasn’t entirely merciless toward Luke when they were training, but he had realized where he needed to improve, rather quickly. Not to say Luke wasn’t a skilled fighter, especially considering how little time he had spent out in the vast world. He was simply ignorant and unrefined, and rightfully so. Of course, Gaara wasn’t absent of critique toward his own skills either. He never had been very adept at taijutsu, and now, he would endure the consequences of his negligence.

In all honesty, he was surprised to hear Luke admit something of that nature. After releasing a blink, Gaara stared at him for a moment. Slowly processing those words until he could derive a reasonable explanation behind the meaning. “You enjoy training because you wish to improve, correct?”

And that… was certainly unexpected. Eyes widening, Gaara remained still, cheeks lightly flushing. Given the structure of their last conversation revolving around… the state of their bond, he didn’t feel utterly certain about how it should proceed. Luke had admitted to harboring romantic feelings toward him, but also confessed that he never experienced a relationship before. Gaara didn’t consider himself an expert on the subject, in the slightest. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial and sensible for Luke to seek this type of bond with someone that was… actually adequate?

He was in the midst of forming a response, when Luke pulled away. Gaara held onto his hand, facial features softening a little. Part of him still felt hesitant, because he had yet to officially sever his ties with Sai. Then again, nothing was set into stone. Luke didn’t apply any pressure on him, one way or the other. If he wanted to pursue a deeper bond, then they could address that at the appropriate time.

His gaze shifted to the side, taking on a thoughtful look. At the very least, he could reply to that meaningful declaration; “It’s… human nature to be selfish. If we are unable to return to our home worlds at present, then… I am glad to be in your company as well.”

The female Moogle continued to pull poor Ion around as she searched for them. Finally, she pointed a paw in the direction of their Heroes – and then saw Luke pressing their lips together. She had seen it before, as recently as the play that she watched with her Hero companion. Humans kissed each other when they were in love, right? Just like the Warrior and the Princess, from the story!

“Look, Ion!” She was bubbling with excitement, feeling happy for both of them. It would definitely explain the handholding, and why they wanted to wander off alone together. “They’re in love! …I think?”

[headfons]

...IT'S NOT MY FAULT!!! IT'S NOT! MASTER VAN DI-........Ahem.

There was a brief pause as he listened to Gaara's words. Then, after staring at the ground, a sheepish smile appeared on his own lips, "Heh, you're right. I should just focus on the benefits of this. Maybe...think of it as a learning experience."

The other redhead's confused expression and innocent words had Luke blinking. Head tilting to the side, just a bit, he gave his own, matching expression. Well...of course he loved training, due to the desire to improve. That was only part of it, however. Brow tensing as he allowed a smile to appear, he released a soft laugh, "It's not just that. I enjoy training with you, Gaara. Back in Saeng Seong, it had meant a lot, to me, that you were willing to help me get better, you know? It...gave me something else to look forward to, each and every week. It...wasn't just the training, though," he started as his face gradually reddened, "Hanging out with you...was fun, too...you know?"

He'd started to question whether, or not, it had been a good idea to kiss him. Which didn't help him in willing away the redness of his own face. While it wasn't as though they hadn't done more that just lock lips, at that point, there were still things that needed to be figured out. Considering they'd been dropped into a new world, together, before they could do that? Well, things were super confusing, at that point. Seeing Gaara's expression soften, however, Luke felt a little better about it. Gaze lowering, he let out a sigh; as the ninja began to speak, he looked up, again.

"..."

A soft smile crept back onto his lips. The last sentence was nice to hear, though those words didn't remove all of his uncertainty. Reaching up, he scratched the side of his head. In Luke's mind, they needed to...go ahead and figure out where they stood with one another. He'd already spent too long being frustratedly confused, in the last world. Still...there was a part of him that knew better than to jump to doing something like that, right then. He'd wait to let them get a little more settled. Their minds were still attempting to absorb all of the new information. But, that didn't mean he couldn't make one thing clear...

Face tensing, he tightened his grip on the other teenager's hand. He turned his head to the side and spoke in a low tone, "Before we...wound up here, I made it pretty clear to you how I felt," he said, and then gave a soft smile, "And...just so you know," he started, turning his head to look at Gaara's face, "...That hasn't changed, just because the setting has."

Meaning that he still liked him, in that way, obviously.

Seeing his human Hero pressing his lips to Gaara's, Ion could only blink a couple of times. He'd seen the plays, as well. From his understanding, that was something that...only people in love did. So, when he heard the female Moogle exclaim those words, he could only give a firm nod, "So that's why they wanted to go off, alone?"

There was a pause after he said that. A serious look appeared on his face as he thought it over. That...didn't make much sense, to him. Why would that be something they would want to hide? Shouldn't they be happy to express their feelings, for one another? K-kupo, he would just have to ask Luke about that, later, "Guess we should leave them be, kupo..."

[no_dreams_for_you]

The smile he gave to Luke in that moment was a little thin. Gaara wouldn’t think to claim that he was a very effective training partner. He preferred to be swift and efficient, often ruthless, if the situation called for it. He had to adjust his curriculum, in a sense, to match the level and needs of others. If Luke hadn’t been so attentive and willing to improve himself, the ninja wouldn’t have even bothered wasting his time.

Despite being in-sync on numerous matters, there was a great deal about Luke that he still didn’t understand. Was that… hesitation on his face? Regret? If Luke’s feelings hadn’t changed, then… what did that mean? Their bond remained that of friendship, as far as Gaara knew.

“......”

Frowning slightly, he was contemplating how to word his confusion, when his Moogle suddenly flew over to him and began tapping his shoulder. Ion was closely behind her; clearly, she had a magnetic influence that garnered attention. “Master! There’s someone you need to visit, kupo! It’s very important!!”

His gaze lifted, meeting Luke’s for a brief moment. In that short look alone, they were agreeing to meet each other after this… important visit. Whatever it happened to be. Nodding as a form of farewell, Gaara disappeared into the crowd, following his Moogle to the supposedly crucial destination.

It wasn’t until much later that he found himself alone, once more. Naruto had given him… quite a bit of information to think about. The war that was taking place, back in their world… it had escalated, of course. Hopefully, their forces would be skilled enough to defeat the enemy army. The mere thought of facing reanimated corpses was more than a little unnerving. Which specific individuals had gotten revived?

The fireworks had yet to stop exploding. Seated on a secluded rooftop – that he didn’t fall off of, this time – he only vaguely noticed his Moogle flying around him. Honestly, she seemed incapable of sitting still… But then, his mind soon shifted over to Luke. He wondered where he and Ion were, right at this moment… Had Luke been able to locate any of his friends, from his original or any subsequent worlds?

[headfons]

During the hours, with Ion, he met some interesting people. After the day's events, Luke paused to rest and grab another bite to eat. It wasn't until they finished eating, that Ion mentioned something about fireworks. Folding his arms over his chest, the replica recalled something like that, back in his world, "...Fireworks, huh?"

With Ion directing them, from his shoulder, Luke made his way to the designated area. Finally, he reached a place where he didn't need the moogle to direct. For just a moment, he was distracted. It took Ion pointing out that the view was much better, from up high, to get him to sheepishly laugh and continue on his way. After Ion flew on up, Luke easily made his way up to the top. It was then that he remembered it being pointed out that the Thief Class had agility going for them...

Maybe he wouldn't mind it, so much, after all...

Once he was on top of the roof, he stood there, for a moment. Arms folded behind his head, he wondered if Gaara had seen them, yet. Ironically, in that moment, Ion alerted him to the ninja's whereabouts. After looking over to the creature, he followed the direction in which the creature was pointing. Sure enough, not all that far away, was the one he'd just been thinking about and- ...ah, his moogle was looking as energetic, as ever. A soft chuckle escaped, at that, "Hey, uh...Can I ask you something, kupo?"

Luke blinked as he heard the question, but gave a nod. Then, again, maybe he shouldn't have...considering the next words out of Ion's mouth, "Are you and Gaara in love?"

Turning red, his arms dropped down to his side, and he was left giving a look of disbelief. It took him a moment to get even the broken up response out, "Wh-...?"

"...Don't humans kiss when they're in love?"

"Th-that's...It doesn't always have to be love. We can kiss one another for several reasons," he paused, folding his arms over his chest and looking to the side, "Sometimes, family members kiss one another! ...But, maybe that's a bad example, since that's another form of love," he let out a frustrated sigh, reaching to scrub at the side of his head, "Well, uh...sometimes, you kiss someone you care about in a way that's...more than friends, but not quite love?"

"Kupo...I don't think I understand, completely."

Luke wasn't going to give him a chance to try and understand, considering he was eager for his face to stop feeling so hot. With a frown, he managed to get out in a hurried tone, "We can talk about that, later, right? Come on, let's go see what Gaara and your friend are up to!"

Luke caught a glimpse of a soft smile playing across the furry being's lips as he hurried over. Once he was just feet away, he seated himself next to the redhead. After tossing a wave and 'heya!' up to the female moogle, he watched Ion flitter over to her. Smiling lightly, he glanced over to Gaara, "Hey..."

Almost immediately after, he was looking up. A short pause, later, he was speaking in a low tone, "...The last time I saw these, it was during the day. Gotta say, the view is a heck of a lot better, at night."

[no_dreams_for_you]

“Ion!”

His Moogle was the first to announce their presence. Starting a little, the redhead blinked and turned to glance their way. She was eager to rush up and greet them, completely invading their privacy without hesitation. In fact, she heard Luke’s explanation, and twitched her nose, feeling just as confused as Ion about the subject. They should definitely talk between themselves and try to figure things out…

“Luke, Luke!” She chirped cheerfully, laughing with delight as she pointed a paw at his face. “Your cheeks look like your hair, kupo! It’s so cute! Don’t you think so, Master?”

“......”

Gaara immediately averted his gaze at that question. Regardless of what his answer might be… he didn’t see it fit to tell his Moogle. Luke, cute? He found him attractive, yes… He had never thought of Luke in that particular context, however. Wasn’t such a description more commonly reserved for children? Though… Luke was technically a child, given his chronological age…

“Luke,” he greeted quietly, focusing his attention on him, now that his Moogle was pleasantly distracting herself with Ion. “…Ah. So you have watched fireworks before. However, explosive effects aren’t as easily viewable, during daylight hours.”

A logical, straightforward answer, but he didn’t have much experience with fireworks. Certainly, there was a peculiar beauty to such a wondrous display of shifting lights. Sai would have surely-

Briskly, the ninja cut off that train of thought, which led to him voicing in inquiry, “What did you want to ask me, earlier? Is it related to your kiss?”

Despite the nature of the memory, his face wasn’t flushed red with embarrassment. He had been curious about the reason why Luke kissed him… Did it mean more than a simple gesture of affection? He and Luke had already done far more than merely kiss. He still remembered that night, very vividly. And the day that had followed… until the pace of his breaths were coming out at a quicker rate, and he needed to change mindsets. The attraction was obvious, but what did Luke want, after their discussion?

[headfons]

"....." Wait.

What? His eyes widened, just a bit, at her words. Having his blush pointed out, somehow managed to cause it to darken. So, brow tensing, he looked away from the direction of the female moogle, "Y-yeah, right..."

It was then that he rushed over to sit next to Gaara, deciding not to push the matter any further. Ion didn't seem to understand what was so cute about the blush. Instead of questioning it further, however, he opted for glancing up at the fireworks. They really were pretty, kupo.

Scratching at the side of his head, Luke stared down at his shoes, for a moment. When he heard Gaara speaking, he looked over to the other redhead. Nodding, he responded to the remark about fireworks not being easily viewable, during the day, "Well, they weren't for looks. I don't even think they were real fireworks. Whatever the case, it was something being used, for the sake of keeping people away from the Dark Wings' base."

The inquiry that came next, however, had the replica looking a little...awkward. Shifting his gaze to the side, for a moment, he gave a soft smile, "There are a few things I want to ask you about. You're right, though. One question is related to the kiss," he looked back to Gaara, a soft laugh being given as he continues, "I'll start with the simplest one, though. Is...the full moon gonna be tough for you, here? I guess what I'm asking...is if the demon's sealed, in this world? I know you have separate powers, but..."

...He'd learned to never assume things, "As for...the next question," he started, eyes shifting downward, face reddening, "How do...you feel towards me?"

Reaching up to scratch at the side of his head, he paused. With a faint growl of frustration, he had to think about how he wanted to word the next part, "I didn't just kiss you for the heck of it. I did it because I still like you, in that way. Like I said...even winding up in a strange, new world didn't change that. But, before I ask the last question, I'd like to know the answer to how you feel."

Looking over to the other teen, he falls quiet, for the moment.