It's been a while hasen't it? Sorry for the wait. Enjoy!

Ray looked at the house in front of him. He looked at the gift in his hands before looking back at the house. "Will Lotus like the gift?" He wondered. Ray finally gathered up his courage and walked towards the front door. He paused "What if he's not home?" Ray thought. He suddenly heard someone talking in the living room. Ray silently peeked through the window and saw his one and only childhood friend walking up the stairs. Lotus. Ray smiled at the sight of him. He quickly rang the doorbell and waited for Lotus to answer. He heard Lotus cursing and  coming downstairs in a rush. Ray took a step back just in time before the door swung opened.

"Who the fu-" Lotus shouted before stopping himself. 

"Ray?" Lotus asked as he moved away from the front door. Ray smiled brightly and waved at him. Lotus stared at Ray in disbelief before a huge smile came to his face. Lotus tackled Ray with a huge warm hug. Ray happily hugged him back. Finally after a whole minute Lotus was off him. 

"G-get inside." Lotus mumbled in embarrassment as he helped Ray get up from the ground. Lotus turned around and went inside. He didn't seem to notice the blush on Ray's face. Ray stepped inside and closed the door behind him quietly. Lotus gestured Ray to join him on the couch which Ray happily did.

"You've grown Ray." smiled Lotus. "So did you." Ray said as he held the gift behind his back. Lotus couldn't  believe that his childhood friend came back to town. It felt like forever since he'd last seen Ray. He smiled at the happy memories that he and Ray had shared when they were little.

"Lotus?"

He quickly snapped out of memories lane and looked at Ray. "Sorry just thinking about the fun we had when we were little." Lotus said with a warm smile. A tiny blush appeared on Ray's cheeks as he nodded, but Lotus didn't seem to notice.

"What brings you here Ray?" Lotus asked. Ray jumped a little at the question. Ray's grip of the present tightened a little. Ray blushed a little more. God he hoped Lotus didn't notice his blush.

"I wanted to give you this." Ray handed the present to Lotus. It was wrapped in light pink wrapping paper, and the design had candy on it. It also had a large red bow on the top.  Lotus looked at the gift in confusion for a moment before gently taking it from Ray's hand.

"Um thank you Ray, but you shouldn't have. I-i don't have something to give you." Lotus said. Ray shouldn't have wasted his money on him. It made him feel guilty that he didn't have a gift for Ray. He didn't deserve a gift.

Ray noticed Lotus smile drop a little. Ray gently touched Lotus's shoulder and gave him a warm smile.

"Hey buddy it's ok. Now open the god damn gift." Ray said cheerfully.

"Okay geez." He playfully punched Ray on the shoulder, causing Ray to laugh. Lotus pulled on the end of the red ribbon which came undone with ease. Lotus tore off the wrapping paper like a hungry wolf. Lotus wasn't gonna lie he was truly excited. He wondered what Ray had gotten him. The first thing that came in mind was a book. Ray smiled was he watched Lotus open the present. He knew that Lotus would love it. Lotus opened the box and looked inside of it. Lotus gasped as what he saw.

"No... oh my god. This is..." Lotus lifted up the book and examined it with shock and happiness. It was a thick book about necromancy, reaping souls, and a whole lot more. Lotus flipped through a couple of pages before turning to Ray.

"Ray I-i love it!" Lotus squealed. Ray smiled at his reaction.

"I knew you would like it." he said. Lotus swung his arms around Ray and gave him a tight happy hug.

"Like it? I love it!" Lotus squeaked again. Ray chuckled in delight at Lotus. Guess he knew why he fell in love with him in the first place.

"Ray?" Lotus asked sheepishly as he hugged the book.

"Yes?" Ray asked gently.

Lotus fidgeted with his hands before turning to Ray.

"I heard about a cafe that opened up in Outertale. I heard that it was really good too. So...um do you wanna go with me?" Lotus asked Ray.

"Sure. Why not. I have nothing better to do." Ray said. He was secretly happy that Lotus invited him. It would kinda be like a date. Lotus smiled that he accepted the invitation.

"But don't get any ideas okay? I was planning to go with Rurik but he's gone to do his job." Lotus got up and started to make his way upstairs. He was gonna find a nice stop to place this book. Lotus paused before quickly hurrying back to Ray. He gave him a friendly kiss on his cheek before heading off to place the book away. Ray froze as Lotus kissed him on the cheek. Ray felt his face heating up. Before he knew it he had a huge blush on his face. "It was only a friendly kiss." Ray thought to himself. He heard Lotus coming downstairs and the blush hadn't gone away yet. Lotus reached the bottom of the stairs and looked at Ray.

"Come on let's go!" said Lotus.

"Y-yeah." stuttered Ray.

Lotus looked at Ray and noticed the blush on his cheeks. Was Ray sick? No he seems fine. Eh it's probably nothing.

"The honors yours." Ray said playfully to Lotus. Lotus giggled as he began to summon the portal to Outertale. A portal appeared in front of them and Ray entered first. He held his hand out to Lotus who shyly took it. Entering the portal himself. Lotus and Ray looked up and saw all the gorgeous stars in the sky. Lotus and Ray smiled at the sight. Lotus had a feeling that this might be a good day. Lotus couldn't help but wonder about Rurik. Where could Rurik be.

Rurik dropped the body of his victims. He was covered in a crimson red. Rurik wiped the blood off his cheek causing it to smear instead. He looked around at the dust and blood around him. He smiled "That was fun." He thought as picked up his bloodied knife from the body in front of him. Rurik chuckled as he held the knife to the sky. The moon made the bloody knife glisten a red color. Rurik giggled soon his giggling turned into maniacal laughter. After he had calmed down enough he started humming a sweet beautiful tone as he walked away. Corruption floated beside him and listen to the haunting yet beautiful song. The only audience to hear the music was the moon. Who giving off a sad blue light. After all the place had become a ghost town within an hour. And no one lived to tell the tale of how a happy place that had so much life and joy in it. Became only a memories.