Ryo yawned noisily, collapsing to the ground and dozing off.

Haru crouched down beside Ryo, his face filled with grime and dirt along with a few scratches. He started poking Ryo in the cheek.

"Oi, Ryo."

"...mmm."

"Get up."

"Mm..."

"I am not gonna carry you again, you hear me?"

"..."

"Oiiii."

"...captain...carry me..."

"Like I said--ah!"

Ryo clambered all over Haru, making him fall to the ground.

"You lazy ass bastard! Get off me, I told you I'm not carrying you again!"

"...I wanna sleep."

"You already are!"

"Mmph."

Haru stood up and Ryo continued clinging onto his waist, not letting him go. Haru made a face, dragging Ryo across the floor, hoping the man would release him and continue sleeping away on the ground.

"Damnit--"

Drag.

"Why am I always--"

Drag.

"The one who--"

Drag.

"Carries you--!"

Drag.

"Captainnnn..."

The apprehended spies watched on speechlessly at the interaction between Haru and Ryo. They were beaten black and blue from head to toe, and those who confronted the ash blonde-haired man himself suffered more.

Haru was still brimming with energy, running around and trying to get Ryo off. Alas, the black-haired man continued snoring away despite being dragged around like a ragdoll.

"All of you, come with us," Yun stood in front of the spies, adjusting his glasses. "Whatever it is you have to say in defence or to plead with us, or to spill out information, we'll hear you out."

The spies hung their heads in defeat, slumping.

Meanwhile, the ash blonde-haired man was still not appeased. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed and eyes down, the spies situated nearer to him started to scuttle away.

From the beginning until now, the gloomy aura around the man never seemed to disperse.

When they were getting beaten up, they swore that he would kill them in a snap if he wanted to. However, something was holding him back from killing them all.

Whatever it was, the spies were relieved.

"Xue." Yun called out, approaching him, albeit hesitant. "You...are you okay?"

The man lifted his head up, hearing someone call his name. Something flitted past his eyes, his expression inscrutable.

"..."

"Xue...?"

He smirked in response, tilting his head. "Hmmm. Why wouldn't I be?"

Yun furrowed his eyebrows, confused.

This guy...

He is acting really differently today.

It's like seeing many sides of him.

Xue continued smirking, still leaning against the wall and staring at the spies. The spies cowered upon noticing his grey eyes on them.

The Xue he was used to seeing was a quiet and indifferent person. He was one that never initiated anything or led anyone. Neither did he wear smirks or spoke in such a languid manner.

"Yun Yun!" Haru hollered. "Come here, and help me carry this lazy ass!"

Haru panted, struggling to peel Ryo's arms off his legs.

It was as if he was some poor, hapless soul.

Yun sighed, walking towards Haru to aid him. "Captain, we need to go."

"Then. Get him. Off. Of me!"

When Yun was out of hearing range, Xue narrowed his eyes at the spies.

"That stoic, righteous man," Xue muttered out, raising his eyebrows. "He didn't want to give into his anger, and almost lost control because of that red-haired bastard."

If Cecil, K'xug or Hana were here, they would be able to tell this man wasn't actually Xue.

It was Leonaut.

***

Isleif: "...who you calling a bastard."

Xue: "You."

Zasiok: "It suits you."

Kai: "Definitely suits you."

Alric nodded furiously.

Shin and Sid looked at one another.

The graphic descriptions and violent temptations they heard from Isleif...it was hard not to shudder in response.

Just like how Isleif tried to overwhelm Xue with their combined anger, he did the same for Zasiok.

In the end, Zasiok had to retreat before he did something...nasty.

Shin glared at Isleif.

From their interactions here, he knew every soul here had interacted with Cecil. Imagining someone dangerous like Isleif near Cecil, it made him extremely unhappy.

Kai: "And you, Leonaut! You dare take the opportunity of the chaos to slip out!"

Leonaut: "Why not?"

Zasiok: "It was either Leonaut or Isleif, I would choose the former."

Just then, Kai and Zasiok felt a gloomy gaze upon their backs.

It was Xue seated on the couch, glaring disapprovingly at them. He was obviously not happy that he was forgotten among the choices.

Alric waved his hands in a panic.

Alric: "Xu-Xue, it-it's not that we forgot about you, bu-but if you force yourself to go back again like before--eep!"

Alric flinched when Xue focused his gaze upon him instead. He looked around, realising he couldn't hide behind Leonaut. He decided to hide behind Kai and Zasiok instead.

Xue: "..."

Xue: "I didn't even...do anything..."

Kai laughed helplessly, putting his arm around Alric and smacking his back.

Zasiok: "Alric is right, what Veau did affected all of us. If you go back out again, coughing out blood and fainting would be the least of your worries."

Xue sighed, glancing away.

Shin: "...Cecil suffered even more when you did that."

Xue stiffened.

He remembered that moment very well.

He had never seen such a heart-wrenching expression on Cecil. Moreover, it was because of him.

...rather than feeling accomplished and gratified, he was in much more pain.

Making Cecil sad, that was the one thing he never wanted to do.

The soul fragments all started to agree with Shin's statement.

Xue did not turn to look at them as they continued yapping away, an indifferent expression on his face. They nagged at Xue to fully recover the damage on his soul before coming out again.

Xue: "I got it."

Xue closed his eyes.

Xue: "...I don't want to see an expression like that on her ever again."

The soul fragments heard that statement from Xue clearly, all of them sharing the same sentiment.

She was already in so much pain earlier, and Xue didn't want to add on more to that.

In addition to that, it was a good thing he was inside here right now.

Xue kept his eyes closed, clenching his fists.

I might have just given into the anger and the bloodlust.

It would have been dangerous, and he might have just given into Islief's influence.

***

The spies could feel sweat running down their backs.

Leonaut was still looking at them, an unreadable glint in his eyes.

"You think I'm gonna kill you?"

The spies nodded their heads furiously.

Leonaut smirked. "Don't worry, compared to the others, I'm not too bad."

A few of the soul fragments inside rolled their eyes and scoffed in disbelief, especially those who had known Leonaut beforehand.

Xue himself snorted in disbelief as well, starting to list out a few insults he had for Leonaut in his mind. However, when he thought about how Leonaut was essentially a part of him, Xue froze.

It was as good as him insulting himself.

"Rather than focus on killing and tormenting all of you," Leonaut added on, mumbling the next few words softly to himself. "I want to see her quickly."

"Xue, we should go!"

"Finally." Leonaut muttered to himself.

Haru and Yun both carried the sleeping Ryo.

"All of you, follow us quickly," Yun demanded. "And Xue, you can keep your eyes on them."

The spies paused, hesitant.

At that moment, there was an irritated look on Leonaut's face as he looked at spies. The spies immediately straightened themselves and stood up, lining up orderly.

They didn't want to be beaten up again, or go through something worse.

They all started to walk, with Haru trying to shake Ryo away from time to time.

Alas, his attempts were futile.

Yun was sighing and trying to balance himself and Ryo.

In the end, Haru slipped and tumbled down. He dragged Yun and Ryo along with him, causing a chaotic scene.

The spies were staring in front of them, completely lost.

Leonaut walked forward, stretching out his hand towards them with an indifferent expression.

He felt as if...this was something Xue would have done now.

"Thank you, partner!" Haru grinned.

"Thanks." Yun muttered out as well.

The two of them got up with the help of Leonaut, supporting Ryo who was still miraculously asleep.

"To think that you would eventually offer your hand to help us," Haru laughed, shaking his head. "We sure have come a long way."

"Indeed." Yun adjusted his glasses, smiling slightly.

All of a sudden, Leonaut started to recall the memories he spent inside Xue's mind and along with observing the journey Xue had along the way.

Leonaut: "You know, after all this time..."

Leonaut: "It isn't so bad being you, Xue."

Xue: "..."

Alric: "W-we are already a part of him though..."

Kai grinned toothily.

Kai: "That's right, we all are."

Zasiok: "Mhm."

Shin: "Mm."

Isleif: "Tch."

Sid threw his hands up in the air to support the notion.

Leonaut walked back to the end of the line, and as he did so, he stared out at the empty streets. For once, he wasn't smirking but smiling genuinely, rubbing at his nose.

This time, there weren't any interruptions along the way.

***

"They are back? That quick?"

"Yes, Owner." Masaru bowed.

Rugi calculated the time in his mind.

"It was only a few hours, I expected at least half a day or more..."

Tsuki nodded at Rugi, exhaling the smoke from her mouth. "They even transported the culprits to your brothel like you asked, and the weapons crates have been completely destroyed from existence."

Rugi paused.

Too quick.

Even for my estimation.

Rugi remembered about K'xug and Xue being in the party as well.

He was confident enough to admit that he had recovered all the memories of Xue. The power of Xue and K'xug combined, he knew how powerful they could be, albeit they had lost the majority of their powers.

Rugi smiled in disbelief.

That's right.

With the two of them there, it's no wonder.

Haru and his crew are already competent themselves.

The wooden doors slid open.

"Here they are, now, the rest is all up to you," Tsuki placed a hand on Rugi's shoulder, smiling. "Tsurugi."

"To hear you call my full name, how rare."

Tsuki's room that was originally empty was slowly being filled up by Haru and the others. An ash blonde-haired man walked in behind Hana and K'xug, and at that moment, he heard Hana gasping in surprise.

"Wha--"

His vision was suddenly covered.

It was Hana tiptoeing to cover his eyes with her hand.

K'xug joined in as back-up, covering her hands over his.

Haru and Yun scuttled to the side, still carrying Ryo. Meanwhile, Kiyae dashed towards Rugi, a warning look in her eyes.

Along the way, Tsuki had gathered a few pillows and mattresses to stack it all up, so that Rugi could lean against it. After all, the man did not want to push Cecil who was still snuggling against him.

She slept serenely, her arms around his waist as she laid her head on his lap. Even her hands were grabbing onto one of his hands tightly.

Rugi wore his kimono loosely that exposed his fair and firm chest. His other free hand was holding a book in his hand, something that would help kill his time.

It was the scene Hana saw that made her gasp in disbelief.

"Hey Rugi!" Kiyae hissed out. "Place Cecil back on the bed!"

"It's not like I can push her off, can I?" Rugi glanced up from the book, placing down on the table in front of him.

"Push her off...gently!"

"Why should I do that?" Rugi smiled.

"..."

Kiyae was speechless.

"What are you doing?" Leonaut clicked his tongue, prying the hands away from his face. "Get your hands off--"

His grey eyes zoned onto the scene in front of him.

It was the same scene that Hana witnessed.

Ceil snuggled up to Rugi.

In an instant, something exploded within Leonaut's mind. The same reaction was shared among all the soul fragments, including Xue.

Xue: "Get him off--"

Kai: "Right now!"

Alric: "Ho-How..."

Zasiok: "How dare he--"

Shin: "Making Cecil lie on his lap like that..."

Isleif: "Gouge his eyes out! And cut off his legs!"

Sid: "My goddess looks so comfortable..."

At Sid's words, the rest fumed even more and he was ignorant of their glares.

Kiyae backed off hastily.

Hana laughed nervously, fiddling with her fingers.

Meanwhile, K'xug placed his hand on his forehead.

No matter how you look at this...

K'xug watched as his friend marched towards Rugi, snatching Cecil away from him and embracing her in his arms, glaring at Rugi.

Aren't you just being jealous of yourself?

"Get your hands off her."

"She was the one who hugged me first."

"...then push her away!"

"I don't want to."

"...!"

Everyone was either amused or shaking their head at the exchange between the two men.

Leonaut wanted to reach forward and grasp Rugi by the collar, preparing to bark angrily at him. "You..."

"Uh oh."

"Not good."

"Seriously?"

Everyone was preparing to bolt out of the room, expecting a fight to happen.

All of a sudden, the raven-haired woman in his arms groaned slightly and she moved, throwing her arms out as she wrapped it around Leonaut's neck.

"I like you, all of you," she mumbled out, laying her hand on his chest, her voice soft. "Every single part of you, Xue."

Those words were only for him to hear.

Leonaut stiffened, his body trembling.

At that moment, everyone watched in disbelief as the murderous aura around their ash blonde-haired friend disappeared.

The aura was replaced by a flowery one.

It was obvious to anyone he was in bliss.

"..."

"..."

"..."

They were speechless at the sudden change.

Meanwhile, Hana started clapping to herself in awe. "Cecil is amazing! So amazing! Only she can do this!"

Yun coughed loudly, clearing his throat. He tossed Ryo over to Haru, making Haru stumble as he looked at Yun in disbelief.

"We have done everything as you requested, Rugi," Yun shifted his glasses up his nose, nodding. "We have transported them to the empty house you have ordered to as well."

"As expected," Rugi smiled, closing his eyes. "With all of your strengths combined, a task like that would require little to no effort from your end."

"So regarding the matter about the auction house..."

"Ah that, we'll talk about it later," Rugi responded, waving his hand. "It'll take place in another week, I'll have to settle the matter with the spies and--"

Rugi felt a wave of dizziness washing over him, making him clutch his head as he wavered.

"Owner!"

"Owner?!"

Tsuki and Masaru rushed forward.

Kiyae and Yun did the same.

K'xug frowned.

It's definitely slowly consuming him.

He'll grow weaker and weaker.

Leonaut snapped out from his bliss, narrowing his eyes at Rugi.

Xue: "...he's been hit with dark magic too."

Xue: "It isn't as serious as compared to Cecil, and K'xug should be able to cure him quickly..."

Rugi and K'xug made eye contact at that moment, K'xug took a step forward. However, Rugi only shook his head faintly at him.

K'xug was left bewildered.

He could really help him, nevertheless, Rugi seems determined on keeping his condition this way.

"Looks like I'm in no state to go," Rugi smiled helplessly, patting Masaru on the shoulder. "Masaru, why don't you handle the matters this time?"

"What...? But..."

"You've been by my side long enough, and you are more than experienced enough to handle this yourself, no?"

Masaru hesitated before he straightened himself, bowing his head. "I'll come back with an answer soon."

"Are you really okay, Owner?" Tsuki questioned.

"I'm fine."

Tsuki sighed after hearing his firm response, it looks like he didn't want Tsuki to pry any further. She stepped back, observing the crowd in her room and she crossed her arms.

"It is getting late, I'll tell them to prepare the bath and new clothes for all of you to change into," Tsuki stated. "As well as rooms, I wouldn't want all of you squeezing into my room like now."

Tsuki started to call for her employees, their actions were quick and eventually, the group was slowly led away to their respective bathing area.

Hana volunteered to help Cecil change and wipe her body. After all, there was no possible way for Cecil to shower on her own. Being a woman herself, Kiyae wanted to volunteer, only to earn many glares her way.

She backed off reluctantly.

"Wait, Xue."

Leonaut paused, glancing back.

The soul fragments were getting accustomed to becoming Xue themselves, that even the man himself was surprised.

Right now, the room was completely empty except for the two of them now, excluding the sleeping Cecil. She was carried back onto the futon by Leonaut, with him casting warning glances towards Rugi as he did so.

"I have a request."

"Speak."

Kai: "Haha! That's how Xue would answer too!"

Zasiok: "It's funny how everytime we step out, we are becoming more and more like you."

Zasiok looked at Xue.

The other soul fragments started to murmur in agreement, except for Sid who was sleeping and Isleif who was back to his grumpy self.

Xue was quiet, looking away.

"It's a simple request," Rugi dropped his languid expression, his clear voice low and solemn. "When I am nearing my death..."

"Will you fuse my soul with yours at that time?"

***

《 start 》

Becoming more and more like me?

It's more like...

I am becoming all of you.

But maybe...

Maybe both ways aren't so bad after all.

《 stop 》