Note: I hope that all have seen that I removed the "Book two" part and have replaced with "Book One" instead since the "book two" will be the sequel to this. I have changed the information to it in the previous chapters and such, so one who didn't see it before the change cannot know of it until they read this note. I hope all will like what I've done and changed, so please read on. ...If anything, please appreciate the change and feel free to leave any comment or view you have on the story. For as far as we know, me and my (currently absent) beta, this will take a while and will most likely not be done until summer with school starting up soon again. Well, as a New Year thing, I give another chapter to you...

Chapter Six
"Killing Questions"

"On the roof. You?"
Vincent grinned. "Aye, Dove. I'm glad you remember."
"I think otherwise."
The other grinned still, the amusement never leaving his eyes. I stared at him with a calm expression on my face, hoping to hide how I looked him over, trying to catch any sign - negative or positive. "Tell me, Dove, do you feel hatred toward me?"
"Hatred? I suppose you could say I hate you, but it's more like I dislike you to some level, while I dislike the man who sent you here those years ago even more."
"Unsurprising. But did I tell you that I knew him personally?"
I frowned slightly. "How unfortunate. And yet you weren't the leader?"
"No. I played scout and relayed messages to Him of our progress."
"And why so?" I asked, taking a silent note of how he emphasized the 'him' in his sentence. "Couldn't you just tell him when you got back?"
Vincent smirked. "Oh, no. He needed to know something, so I kept in immediate contact with Him."
I stared at him, wondering if there was some kind of meaning hidden behind his words. I frowned inwardly and met the other's gaze. "Tell me, would I happen to know this man?"
Vincent almost seemed to answer with a singsong voice. "I think you do, Dove. You and He are rather close. Or rather... were."
Were? But I didn't say this aloud. I didn't have my chance to, anyway, when he continued.
"In fact, I have a message from him. But... the only way I would be able to tell you is at the party Julian and his cousin will be holding the day after the tournament for the top four contestants."
"I assume almost the only way to be there is to be one of the top four or stay long enough to be invited to the party."
The male tilted his head slightly, grinning. His light tone didn't stop or change. "Yes. But I'm sure that you'll go through with the tournament and easily win first place, thus granting yourself automatic access."
Under my breath, I added, "To the party or your throat?"
Apparently, Vincent either read my lips or heard me. "To both, Dove. I have no problem in you making advan-"
I cut him off with a glare. "Shut up." I knew what he was to say before he said it. "I don't need twisted words."
Vincent grinned and straightened up slightly, despite what pain shot up his spine. "Forgive me, Dove. But let me ask you something. How close to others are you now, after being so far away from those you ignored and shunned? Do you enjoy solitude? For I see you with-" He stopped short to turn his attention to Blake who sat just a bit away from me. As if sensing his scrutiny, Blake turned and met the older male's gaze, frowning.
I glanced at Blake and scoffed. "Blake is a traveling companion."
Not friend? The question was in Vincent's eyes and expressed in how he raised a single brow in surprise. "As was the boy who came to your aid when you beat those men to a bloody pulp?"
I nearly scowled, and I'm sure if I let it, heat would've rose in my face. No, Kallai was not a traveling companion. But I had to admit, that was nearly all he was when I came here. After that mission, the boy grew on me. However, to admit I thought no more of him than just another person with me, someone who admired me and I simply could not ignore, and... I mentally shook my head. I was contradicting myself.
Turning my gaze back to Vincent, I saw that he read me well. I had a feeling that he knew me more than he told and let on. Smirking, he said, "Ah, I see. Well, tell me, Dove, how have you changed over the years? The last I knew, you were a demon; you were someone who had the skill and look of a demon, or otherwise someone who just came back from their trip in hell. Now, I see you more eased and relaxed. How have you changed?"
"I was more relaxed yesterday and this morning than I am now after our slight run-in. And as for how I've changed," I said, narrowing my eyes marginally, "I believe that I much rather enjoy my free life from the battlefields."
"Really? So you only fight for fun?"
I paused. "... You can call it that, if you think so."
Laughter was in his voice as he replied. "Ah, so then all goes well for you now?"
"So far."
"Hmm... Then I must ruin that happiness with a warning."
I lifted a brow. "A warning? How could anything you say prove to be fatal for me?"
Vincent shook his head. "I cannot tell you now, Dove. I will tell you the warning on the day of the celebration. It will be at the party that you will understand what could do you harm and ruin this lovely traveling you're doing."
Without giving me time to object, he stood up and walked out of the pub, leaving me lost in thought with his words. After some time, I let myself lean back in the chair, tilting my head back slightly. I was about to close my eyes when a voice interrupted.
"Boy."
I turned my head to the side. "It's Sora, barkeep."
"Well, Sora. Was what Vincent said true?"
I sat up. "Which part?"
One of the men who were beside me earlier that morning turned to face me. "About ya saving young Julian from the terrorists. Is that true?" he asked me.
I nodded. "Yes, I was one of those who came here."
"Who else came?"
"Kallai accompanied me. But he-" I stopped short, narrowing my eyes as a thought crossed my mind and my gaze turned inward. A silent moment stretched before I blinked, pulling myself out of unneeded thoughts. "I- I'm sorry."
"Was this Kallai the only one to accompany you?"
I turned my attention to the other of the two men from before and nodded to him. "Only us two."
A murmur spread throughout the pub and many pairs of eyes rested on me. I ignored them all as the bartender addressed me. "Son, to know that you were one of those who came to put a stop to those terrorists and saved young Julian from a terrible death, we are all grateful. I'd like to apologize for doubting your skills and judging you by appearance when you asked to enter the tournament earlier."
I shook my head. "No, that's unnecessary. I suppose I should be used to it by now. I don't mind and you don't have to apologize." I stood up, rotating my shoulders and sighing slightly. "But I really must leave now. If any of you are entering the tournament, then I will most likely see you then." Turning to Blake, I added, "Blake? Do you have the key to our room?"
The gang leader nodded and stood up, revealing a lone key around a small chain that dangled from his wrist. "Right here. Are we going back already?"
I shook my head. "No. I'd like to take you somewhere first."
When the other nodded, I waved my farewell to the bartender and two men at the bar and left the pub, walking past those who were washing away the blood on the street. I showed Blake to a weaponry shop that I had spotted earlier that morning, pushing him inside.
"What are we doing here?" he asked quietly, looking around the room.
I moved past him to a shelf with different swords displayed. "Looking for a weapon for you tomorrow."
The gang leader followed me as I moved. "Tomorrow? You mean the tournament?"
I nodded as I picked up a full-length sword and critiqued the craftsmanship. "Yes. I had you registered for the tournament. Though it was rather rude of me to do without your consent, I believe that we'll both benefit from it."
There was a sound behind me and I turned to see the other puff a bang and roll his eyes. I smiled at him and returned the sword back to its display stand. "What are you doing?"
"I'm looking for a weapon for you. But I don't think the longer swords are your type," I answered and continued along the display until I came across the section that displayed short swords, daggers, and knives. Looking a little more on, I saw throwing items, firearms, and other weapons that weren't swords.
Blake sniffed. "I don't think so either. Can't I not have a weapon?"
I turned back to him and smiled again, shaking my head. "Would you like to wrestle with an animal that wouldn't think twice about killing you? Sure, you can always forfeit, but you'd still have to tackle with the beast until you were rescued and pulled out of the tournament. So I don't think going unarmed would be the best solution. And, if I offend you, I'm sorry, but I don't think you're strong enough to fight with your bare hands."
He looked disgruntled and looked away. "Non taken," he said, but I was sure that he was still wounded in pride.
I looked apologetically at him and turned back to the display. I picked up a dagger that appeared to be in good condition and finely polished. Turning it over in my hand, I saw how the blade gleamed in the light, reflecting my surroundings on the steel. I ran a finger over the tip of the blade and found it sharp, as if someone had just finished running it over a whetstone. I turned to dagger upside down to take a look at the handle.
"What are you doing?"
I paused in my analysis to look back at Blake. "If you ever want a weapon, you always need to check the quality. Never just pick something up and buy it if there's a chance that it could be flawed and possibly break on you at an important time."
"Indeed. That would be most unfortunate."
I turned around to face the owner of the voice who butted in on our conversation. I lifted a brow to see it was Julian in the company of Colette. I was surprised and bowed slightly. "Jules. What brings you into the city? And with Miss Colette nonetheless?"
The young teen smiled and approached us, his redheaded cousin in tow (though it seemed that she was hiding behind him). "We came in town upon hearing that someone was challenging Vincent to enter the tournament."
I nodded. "You're slightly late. We already finished the fight."
Colette came out from behind Julian. "You? You fought Sir Vincent?"
I nodded again. "Yes, Miss Colette. Our duel finished but half an hour ago."
The girl seemed to consider whether or not to approach me. Instead, she stared at my wounds with slightly round eyes. "You got hurt!"
"Well, it is my fault for fighting with a staff when he held a sword. But I do not think that these wounds are serious and will heal in no time."
Julian grinned. "You held back, didn't you?"
A smile lit my face. "Yes, I did. But I do admit that some stupidity played role in the cause of these wounds."
Suddenly, the boy frowned. "Did you find out that he..."
At the trailing of his voice, I sighed, the smile fading. "Yes. But what I wonder is that since you know, why do you keep him here? Had he not been part of those who planned on killing you?"
The boy nodded. "Yes, he was. But in the time that he was with us, he showed no harm. So he stayed with us."
I shook my head and sighed. "I just do not want you getting hurt, young Jules. In my time here, I will make sure that nothing happens to you. And even if nothing happens while I'm here, I would like to make sure that nothing would ever happen to you. You have a long way to go and many things to do."
Julian smiled and hugged me. Into my shirt, he said softly, "Thank you, Sora."
I patted the boy's head and waited for him to release me before going back to examining the handle of the dagger. Grooves, I noticed, were molded into the handle for better grip. Running my fingers over the dark handle, I felt a thin net-like cloth over the handle. Curious, I wrapped my hand around the handle and found this net to be like extra grip for the owner so that their hand did not slip when wet. I let go and held the dagger out from the blade, extending the handle out to Blake who stared at me in confusion.
"Hold it. I'd like to see you hold it."
Hesitant, he gripped handle where the sharper edge was facing outwards. I smiled and moved back, letting him swipe the weapon out in what could be a deadly arc. I let him experiment with it for a few minutes before he decided on falling back into a stance with the dagger's tip facing outward to an imaginary foe in front of him.
Julian looked up at me and nodded. I knew he approved, even with his unskilled eye. I nodded as well and turned back to Blake who currently stood normally, looking down at the dagger.
I gently took the weapon from him and sheathed it. "I think this works, don't you? What do you think of the weapon, Blake?"
The gang leader eyed the dagger in its black sheath with eyes that held the approval and excitement of a kid who enjoyed a good game. "Yeah, I like it." Looking up, he added, "Are you buying it?"
I nodded. "You need something for the tournament, and I'm sure that once we travel again it'll come in handy."
The gang leader nodded and took the weapon when I handed it to him and moved back to the sword section for a new weapon for myself. Since I obviously could not use my staff anymore, it would be best to depend on something that I specialized in.
"What are you doing now?"
"I'm getting a sword for myself," I answered, letting my hand trail in the air as I looked critically at those displayed.
I stopped just before the display of broadswords, knowing that though I could use them, they probably weren't the best to carry around, especially on travel. I looked at the full-length swords and their thin blades, immediately eliminating the ones that had flaws in making. One of them caught my eye with the sheath's design and the blade's sparkle. Interested, I picked this sword up from its display hooks and criticized it. Like the dagger I offered Blake, this sword's blade was fine and sharp, the steel crafted with great skill and with the thought of perfection. I saw my face in the reflection of the blade and remembered how I had once detested knives or anything sharp. My first kill was with a weapon similar to a dagger, and it was aimed at an innocent woman's throat.
"Sora?"
My head snapped up as I turned around to face the other three who stared at him with similar concerned expressions on their faces. "What?"
Julian put a hand over mine and gently lowered it. "You were so deep in thought that you didn't even realized that you were hurting yourself."
I frowned. "What?" I looked down at my hand and found that I had pressed the blade into my palm, drawing a small line of blood. "Oh... I'm sorry."
The boy shook his head. "No, that's alright. Maybe you should rest after this. Forget about what I said about you telling me what you've done over the last few years. I think that you need to rest for the day. You seem too deep in thought."
I nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Jules." I absently wiped the blood on my pants and cleaned the sword of the blood that I had unintentionally spilled on it. I picked up the sheath and walked over to the counter where the owner of the weaponry shop slouched against the fine wooden top. Blake came up beside me not a moment afterwards and handed over his dagger as I placed the sword on the counter after I sheathed it. "I'd like to buy these."
The man who couldn't have been but ten years or so older, eyed us with a bored expression on his face, shrugged, and reached under the counter to retrieve a paper that he showed us. "Sure. You can buy it as long as you sign this and pay full price."
He handed me an ink pen and I quickly wrote my name oat the bottom of the paper. "There. I assume that it's a way of giving us permission to hold these weapons without having them confiscated as long as we didn't kill senselessly with then, right?"
The man nodded. "Exactly. The price for the sword is eighteen Talans and three Silcs. The dagger is fifteen Talans and two Silcs."
My brows lifted. "That much?"
The man nodded. "Yeah."
I whistled inwardly and thought over the amount of money I had. Did I have enough? I had not expected the weapons to cost so much, let alone have to buy weapons at all! I bit my lip and reached into my pocket, checking the number of coins I had in my pocket. Julian, though, interrupted my count as he walked up beside me.
"Don't worry, Sora, I'll pay for them. You save your money for something important."
I stared down at the boy in surprise. "Are you sure?" When the boy nodded and paid for the weapons with a few added Talans as courtesy, I frowned. I did not want to be in debt of the boy, for debts did not go well with me. When the boy handed Blake and I our weapons, I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, Jules."
The boy smiled. "No problem at all. Just call it a present."
I nodded and smiled back. "Sure. And you'll see your presents in action tomorrow at the tournament."
The boy's smile widened as we walked out of the weaponry shop and started down the street. "I suppose that's good to hear. I hope to see you at the party as well."
My eyes darkened but I closed them in a fake smile. "I wouldn't miss it for anything. I'll be sure to be one of the top four in the tournament."
Julian laughed. "And even if you don't become one of the top four, you're still invited to come. I will want to save two extra seats for you."
I nodded and looked around us. The street split, as did our paths. I bowed slightly to the two young rulers. "Good day, Jules, Miss Colette."
The redhead shook her head, smiling and finally speaking. "Please, Sir Sora, call me Cole. I am more comfortable with it."
"Same for myself. I'd prefer you only use my name without a 'sir' before it."
The girl nodded and waved goodbye to us as they started down one fork toward their House while Blake and I made our way to the inn. I sighed as I fell back on the bed once inside our room at the inn. My shoulder was tense and the skin around the cut on my stomach was tender. The cut on my cheek didn't bother me, and most likely wouldn't by the next morning. There were still a few hours left of sunlight in the day and I didn't want to move. Rubbing my shoulder, I wondered about Vincent's words earlier today. A warning... what could he mean? How could his words harm me?
I shook my head mentally, trying to clear my head. There had to be a reason, a something dear to me, to have me pull this. Right? I shook my head again, this time not mentally, rolling carefully to my side. I flinched when my shoulder protested and knew that I couldn't turn to my injured side for I'd feel the same jolt of pain. I sighed again and turned to lie on my back once more. Blake, I saw, watched me from the only chair in the room. I turned my head to meet his gaze and it held, neither of us uttering a word. Time passed and I was the first to look away, closing my eyes in fatigue. I fell asleep, paying no mind at all to fact that I was still being watched and I had yet to really fix myself, let alone change my clothes that had additional, not needed holes in it.
In the morning, I didn't have to worry about clothes, it seemed, since Julian and his cousin took the liberty of coming by and giving both Blake and I some for the tournament. I had barely woken when they entered, lifting my head off the pillow to look at them.
"Good morning, Sora."
I lazily waved a hand at them. "'Morning. What brings you to our room?" I slowly raised myself off the bed, resting myself on an elbow. "And how did you know where we were?"
Cole curtsied slightly as she entered, looking about the small room and single bed. "Sir Vincent directed us in the general direction and we checked several inns to see who hosted a brunette with a sword and a black- haired boy in his late teens who held a dagger with a black sheath. It wasn't hard to find out where you were once we mentioned the weapons. After all, it's rather new for those of our age to carry weapons so freely."
Julian nodded as he laid two pairs of clothing at the foot of the bed. I swung my feet out of bed and stared questioningly at the clothes. "What's this for, Jules?"
The boy grinned. "I took the liberty of gathering a few simple clothes for you today. Since you are short of one due to the blood from the fight, as well as all the other damages, I estimated your wear and brought these over. And don't worry about repaying me or thanking me; this is just something to give to you for today. It's nothing fashionable or expensive, so it's okay if it's torn."
I smiled politely. "Though you said not to, I must still thank you for giving this to us. You did not have to, and I would still have worn this ragged thing today, but you presented this anyway. Thank you, Jules."
"No problem. And I brought over more bandage in case the blood from your wounds soaked through or they just needed to be replaced."
I lightly touched my shoulder. "And I suppose that you can easily see through the wide cuts in my shirt to tell that I had some, right?"
The boy nodded. "If you don't perhaps I shoulder ring up service for the morning. That way, you two can change. Cole?"
The girl nodded and exited the room with her cousin, leaving Blake and me in privacy. I stared at the clothes at the edge of the bed and lifted a brow at Blake who shrugged and lifted one of the outfits.
"I couldn't care less if it's expensive or not. If I'm given something, I take it."
I smirked and took the other one, standing up and retreated to a curtain in the corner that served as a dressing corner. "Sounds like you, Blake..."
In the dressing corner, I carefully pulled my shirt over my head and dropped it to the floor. A mirror, about the size of my palm, was on the wall. I stared at the reflection and saw a bit ob blood through the bandage on my shoulder and side. The one on my cut showed nothing and I ripped it off my face, examining my cheek. The cut was mostly healed, so I didn't have that to worry about. Turning to my shoulder, I slowly unwrapped the bandage, eyes squinting halfway as I uncovered my cut, revealing a still tender wound that throbbed. I let my bandage unravel to the floor, starting the one around the cut at my waist. This cut was slightly deeper than the one on my shoulder and I inhaled sharply as I unconscientiously pressed the skin around it. The bandage protecting that cut fell, accompanying the one from my shoulder. Around both cuts, my skin was red.
I sighed silently and turned my attention to a third bandage around my upper body. This one... this one never came off. This one has been with me since I left Crimson. Biting my lip, this third bandage fell to the floor for the first time. I became conscious when it fell, quickly replacing it with the new bandage with surprising speed. I immediately wrapped my wounds and picked up the shirt of the outfit Julian gave me. It was a simple black, the collar high, the sleeves extending down over my hand, almost covering it. I changed my pants, finding their design different from the shirt. The pants were black as the shirt, falling amazingly low around my hips. I hated the low rise and wondered what idiot didn't measure that part correctly. Moreover, what idiot designed the pants anyway? It was not fighting material! As my gaze wandered down the legs of the pants, I snorted in distaste. The legs of my pants were loose and almost baggy, the right leg normal and reaching down over my feet. As for the left leg of the pants, the black fabric stopped just below my knee where a net-like material started and continued down the leg to the same length of the other leg, falling over my feet. I folded up the right side of the pants leg and hoped that the net on me left leg wouldn't give me trouble.
I bundled up my torn clothing and bandages and emerged from behind the curtain wearing an irritated expression. My eyes fell upon Blake who wore a better outfit than myself with a simple sleeveless black shirt with white pants, a thin white button-down shirt open over the black shirt, sleeves rolled up past his elbows. I glared at him as I threw my clothes into a bag to be thrown away or burned later on.
"I dislike you."
"Why?"
I rolled my eyes and gestured wildly to my clothes. "Can you not tell? You took the more comfortable clothes, leaving me with... this! This is the closest male clothing I've seen that's nearly feminine."
Blake snorted. "Well, it suits you."
I lifted a brow. "What?"
The other waved a hand toward my hair. "Well, I'm not the one with hair the length almost to their shoulders. As far as I know, I'm the one with normal hair."
I ran a hand through my hair and found that it indeed had grown nearly down to my chin. "Well, it's not my fault, but I hadn't cut my hair in nearly two years. Had I realized it grew so much, I would've cut it by now." I picked up Blake's dagger and pulled it out of its sheath. "I should cut it, though."
I drew my hair back and was about to draw the dagger across it when the door to our room opened, Julian and Cole entering with two trays. On each tray held two plates of food and two mugs, all of which I knew wasn't ale. The two stopped short when they saw me with the dagger positioned under my hair.
Julian placed his tray on the small table in one of the corners near the door. "What are you doing, Sora?"
"I was about to cut my hair," I answered bluntly.
Cole placed her tray down as well. "Why? I see nothing wrong with it."
I lowered the dagger. "Do you like my hair at this length?"
Julian smiled and took in my appearance. "Well, it certainly wasn't as long as it was the last time I saw you. But besides that, you look... Oh, how shall we say... unique."
I threw him an annoyed look. "I much rather prefer my torn clothes than this. But as for my hair, that was over five years ago."
The boy shrugged. "Well, I recognize you more with the longer hair."
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. How about we eat and get going for the tournament. What time did it start, now?"
"After midday. We have about four hours till then."
I sighed. "Well, let's eat then. I don't want to stay in these clothes any longer." I turned to Blake who lifted a brow in my direction. "What about you, Blake? Though your clothes are more comfortable than mine, I'm sure that you'd like to change into something more of your choice, right?"
The male nodded and we dug into our meal, idle chat to pass the time. In due time, we left the inn. Blake and I carried our weapons as we made our way to the Holy House to invite Obert to watch the tournament with the two young rulers. Then, we parted, Blake and myself going over to the center of the city where the contestants were starting to gather for the upcoming tournament. Many of them ate as they waited, chatting with each other. I sat at the edge of the fountain in the very center, resting my legs for what would be a long walk. I closed my eyes as Blake took a seat next to me, waiting as well.
"Well, what's this, Dove?"
I opened my eyes to see Vincent leaning forward slightly with his arms loosely crossed over his chest. A sly smile adorned his lips, mischief written all over him. I eyed him with an irritated expression. "What do you want, Vincent?"
The smile on his face widened a little. "Oh, just having a chat with fellow participants before the tournament."
"A chat? Then why do I have a feeling that you're talking to only me and not other 'fellow participants'?"
The male mocked a shocked innocent look. "I don't know what gave you that idea, Dove. I'm sure I talked to many others before I came to talk to you."
"Of course," I replied sarcastically. "Then tell me, what did you want to talk about?"
"Perhaps..." He paused to look over my appearance. "You new attire? Care to share your new fashion?"
I shook my head. "No, I'd rather not. These aren't mine."
"Probably why those pants are slightly seductive with the low rise?"
As a wolfish grin played on his features, heat rose to my face. "What the hell are you looking there for?"
"Rather I look somewhere more... appropriate?"
The flush on my face deepened. "Stop playing with me, Vincent."
Vincent let out a low chuckle and straightened up. "Don't worry, Dove, chatter does not harm you. Though I do admit that I find it a pleasant surprise that you are easy to tease. My, if I didn't know you from earlier, I'd say you were female."
I scowled at the male. I would've said something to his comment, but stopped when a whistle blew, calling all the contestants' attention. As single man held something in his hand that he referred to as he spoke.
"The tournament will commence in several minutes. But first, it is our duty to warn those who are new to the tournament. In this hunt, you are required to kill the animal that you pursue. To those who may think that would be animal cruelty, it is proven that these animals are not wild, but bred. In fact, they are clones of the original species.
"In the tournament, for each animal you kill, you receive a certain amount of points. There are officials from the tournament that will be keeping track of certain areas of the city and record who passes through and what they kill. At the end of the tournament, these officials will collect your points and determine who are the top four contestants who will, the following day, attend the party at Sir Julian and Miss Colette's special Hall.
"Also, you may use any weapon you please. The only devices unacceptable are poisons or something that relies on poison to attack. Any poison-based weapons or objects will be immediately confiscated till after the tournament. The reasons for this are obvious. Now, are there any questions?" When no one answered, the man continued. "Then, by following the clock, you have two hours in three... two... one..." On 'zero', the man blew his whistle and everyone ran in all directions to get on with the tournament, some startled at the sudden start.
I slowly got up. "Well, the tournament's started," I said, brushing myself off.
Blake stood up as well. "Yeah. I'll see you in two hours, Sora."
Not surprised for the male to catch my name from having Julian and Cole say it, I nodded my response. "Good luck!" I called after him as he ran off to one street, disappearing out of sight. I turned to Vincent who still seemed casual and smirking like he just found something amusing. "What are you still here for, Vincent?"
"Just wishing you luck as well, Dove. I'm sure you'll love the tournament and come out on top, hmm? It will be delightful to see you in formal wear tomorrow night."
I scoffed and walked away, picking up my sword and tying it around my waist.
After me, I heard him call, "And it would be hilarious if you were... in appropriate clothing as well."
I ignored the wish to retort and continued walking down an opposite street Blake headed down. The tournament, I hoped would go smoothly and that perhaps I would be able to glimpse what this magnificent creature was that was worth a multitude of points in this hunt.

~*~*~*~*~
AN: I'll have everyone know that I had not planned this to extend in such a different way. In fact, I had not planned for the outfit spiel at all! In fact, it just flew to my mind and I just started typing it. I don't know why, though... I suppose my subconscious is helping me slightly in this whole Sora plan. Heehee! It'll all become clear soon! And expect more weird scenes soon! For all we know, something new may come up! And... help me on the outfit? I don't think that was the best my brain could think of, but... that's all we have! ^^;; Please review and tell me your gracious opinions!