41 Day before Departure Pt.2 (1/2)

It was quite a lovely day for October. The breeze was lovely and the sun was out, it was the perfect balance of warmth and chill making it the perfect day for a date. Hand in hand the two seemed to make their way down the sidewalk, and although Riyku had his eyes before him, Cira would be glancing at the ground timidly. She was still awestruck by the words Riyku had previously stated about her being his and her being free. ”Something up?” Riyku noticed her timid nature compared to how she usually was which brought that question up. Cira would glance up to take note of those crimson eyes looking in her direction and that lovely smile looking over her which caused her heart to skip a beat. Maybe it was because of how everything had progressed. Just last night he came up with this idea and now it was already put into motion. ”N-no.” Cira murmured which caused Riyku to chuckle lightly. ”Don't worry. I don't plan on doing anything sexual. At least not until you get a bit older.” Riyku seemed to tease her which caused her already dim pink cheeks to become rosy red. ”Pfft, I wouldn't want you to anyways!” Cira exclaimed with an embarrassed expression. This caused Riyku to chuckle lightly. ”What, what's so funny?” Cira called out and Riyku shook his head. ”You. You are fun to tease.” Riyku replied which caused her to puff her cheeks and grumble.

”Well, you can take it out on me with some games,” Riyku stated with a smile that caused her to smile brightly. ”Yup and I'll be sure to kick your butt.” She giggled afterward and Riyku sighed happily. ”Yeah, yeah.” He replied nonchalantly. Though as they were walking it dude come to mind of her age. If anything he did judge her to be slightly younger than Iris, but who knows. He might've been wrong. She was upset when he called her a child when they first met. ”Cira, how old are you anyway?” Riyku seemed to blurt out, without much regard. ”I'm Seventeen... Hey! Wait, I thought we were past all that stuff!” Cira exclaimed and Riyku nodded. ”We are. I was just curious. I can see why you were upset when we first met though.” Riyku chuckled lightly and Cira sighed heavily. ”Just because I am small doesn't mean I am a child! Besides, how old are you? Hm?” Cira would take a pick at him.

”How old am I?” Riyku blinked rapidly before shaking his head. ”Don't know.” He replied which caused Cira to go eye wide. ”Eh!? You don't know!? Did you forget!?” Cira seemed rather taken back by this, but who wouldn't? Someone didn't know their age? Riyku would shake his head. ”It's not that, well maybe it is. In a sense I have Amnesia. Remember, I told you I was not from this place? Well, I lost my memory when I woke up in this place. There is a lot I do not remember, but I am steadily starting to get my memory back.” Riyku would explain to her which caused her to nod softly. Taking note of how she looked off-put or even sad he would wrap his arm around her waist and pull her to his side. ”No reason to get all in the dumps about it. I am fairly happy as I am now. Besides, even without my memory, I can still make plenty more. This being one of them, a happy one at that.” Riyku stated with a soft smile which caused Cira to blush lightly and nod softly. She would wrap an arm around him in return and the two of them continued down the street. ”Though, I'll let you be the judge of my age,” Riyku added which caused Cira to chuckle lightly. ”Mmm... Okay.” She mused happily.

When they entered the Arcade they were greeted by Mimi. ”Oh, if it isn't Lady Cira and Riyku. On yet another date, I see.” Mimi chuckled softly and Riyku nodded. ”Mhm. I am. We will be hanging out here for a while.” Riyku confirmed her remark and Cira nodded happily. ”Yup. Come on, let's get going already.” Cira was pretty much dragging him alone with her. ”Alright, you pick first then,” Riyku stated, but Cira was already heading towards one of the games in the gaming hall. Mimi just waved at them with a light giggle and smile. The two of them began to play game after game, even attracting attention from others as they enjoyed their lovely date.

While all of this was going on, there was yet another storm brewing elsewhere. Deep within the heart of the Lower Quarter. Five figures four of which were in cloaks were gathered around an old wooden table that roughly looked like a conference table. One of the men was a big muscular guy wearing an eye who was sitting at the end of the table. ”I thank you all for coming today. While we may have our differences, we all are gathered here for one reason.” The man stated as he pointed towards an image that was projected behind him. Upon the image was Riyku walking down the shopping district. ”We all know of this man. He has been causing a lot of trouble for us in the Lower Quarter by destroying everything we have built up. Several brothels were demolished because of him, not only that but our smugglers are also being taken out. I know there are other businesses you all have running in the background because I am sure this man is taking out those as well. For this, I have brought you all here today. We need to devise a plan to take him out and return things to how they once were.” The man stated and someone perked up.

”Isn't this your fault? You were working with that stupid whore, to begin with. You knew she was useless and could do nothing.” It was then that another person came forth. ”He's right. If you two didn't give him a reason to come to the Lower Quarter, then this would have never happened.” This caused the man to sigh heavily. ”While that may be true, how can you say for certain that he would have avoided this place entirely? If I am not mistaken, he came down here because one of his friends was abducted. Our Smugglers abduct all kinds of females, so who is to say that one of them wouldn't have been brought one of his friends here in the latter times?” Another voice came forth, one more refined and fatal even feminine. Everyone looked to this cloaked figure and fell silent in thought. They would begin grumbling to one another as if deciding on something. They would then look back towards the female who spoke out earlier. ”Then what do you purpose we do?” One of the men inquired.

It was then that the male sitting at the end of the table perched up once more, ”I have a solution for this. I have hired someone from the Guild.” This caught their attention. ”She is looking into the matter as we speak. She is a relative of my best friend as well. So this matter is also personal.” The male stated with a serious look before pointing the image. ”Now if you will return your attention to the images.” The image projected would shift to a collage of several females and one male. Kristen, Mina, Lira, Vex, and Skylar were all there. ”These few people are extremely important to getting what we need. However... as you may all know. Simply abducting them will not help us. We need to put him in a situation where he has to choose between them or himself. Right now, the person I hired is scouting them as we speak to find any weakness they may have. After all, they are not pushovers either.” The male would explain to them and they silently took in the knowledge.

The image would cycle to another collage of a few males and females. Yumi, Deyo, Natalie, and Freya along with a few other people like Mimi, and Mary. ”These are people who he associates with the most within the Shopping District. We can also take them hostage or use them against him when the need arises.” The male stated and everyone seemed to listen in. ”With all of this said, we should form a plan to make small sabotaged robberies or even threats to these shop owners and personal. Before taking action on the others. After all, we are all aware that we can not simply just go against him without much thought.” The male added and everyone seemed to agree. ”So let's get down to it. Who will be responsible for who and when.” It seemed dark tides were soon to come upon Riyku, but alas the male did not even know about it.

Speaking of which, we return to Riyku who so happens to be sitting down at the bar booth with Cira. Both of them enjoying a nice ice cold cola it would seem. ”You know, today was really fun!” Cira stated with a bright smile and Riyku chuckled softly before taking a sip of his drink. ”I am glad to hear.” Riyku replied to Cira.” Did you have fun?” She seemed to ask and Riyku looked to her nodded. ”I did. It was nice to be able to release after all the tension that has been going on.” Riyku said with a smile across his face. He would finish off his glass of cola before eyeing the clock which read a few hours after-noon. ”Are you ready to get going?” Riyku asked, but Cira gave him a puzzled look. ”Go where?” She inquired and Riyku chuckled softly. ”To meet up with the others. You wanted to join my Harem, remember?” Riyku would move from the booth and slip his hands into his pockets. ”Have a good day, Sir.” The Barista called to Riyku from a few meters down the counter. ”Same to you,” Riyku called back before looking to Cira who had flustered expression.

”Umm, right now? I mean, I'm not even properly dressed.” Cira said hastily which caused Riyku to chuckle lightly. Cira was wearing the same style of clothing, neon blue on black. Short shorts, sneakers, low-cut crop-top shirt and her hair tied up in twin tails. ”I see nothing wrong with your attire.” Riyku would retaliate firmly which caused Cira to blink in awe for a moment before finally giving in. ”Fine, fine! Let's go!” She pushed past him. Even though she tried her best to hide it, she was probably scared in some way. Riyku would walk after her to walk beside her. ”Don't sweat it too much. They are not bad people.” Riyku would state while placing a hand on her shoulder which caused her to reach a hand to his hand and look up at him. He would look down at her and nod softly with a smile. ”I assure you.” He added, though be it his warm smile or his silver-tongue her tension had ceased.

As they walked up to the front door of Mina's mansion, Cira would blink rapidly before looking to Riyku. ”Who do you associate with that owns a place this large? I mean, it's roughly the same in size but... wow.” Cira was amazed. It was better than frightened. As they approached the front door, it was slowly opened and Walter would greet Riyku. ”Afternoon, Master Riyku. I have been informed that you have brought a guest over.” Walter would look over from Riyku to the girl beside him. ”This is Cira Maverick, daughter of Dom Maverick.” Riyku introduced Walter to the girl who nodded softly to Walter. Walter in return bowed lightly to her. ”Well then, right this way if you will. I will lead you to where the others are. Everyone is here today as well.” Walter would state and Cira would take Riyku's hand, a bit nervously if one might add. Riyku would take her hand lightly and the two would follow after Walter.

”Oh, Cira. I almost forgot, but I thought your last name was Marvin, why is it Maverick?” Riyku inquired, not simply because he wanted to know, but to also ease her a bit. Cira would look up at him before smiling softly, ”Well, the real reason was to keep people from finding out who I am. Though, I use it because that was my mother's last name before she married my father.” Cira would explain to Riyku who took in the information she gave him. ”I see. What was your mother like?” Riyku asked which caused Cira to blink before smiling softly. ”Mother was a beautiful person. Not only on the outside but the inside. She would help out just about anyone who she saw needed help. She often volunteered her time for services like helping children or the elderly. Though even as busy as she made herself out to be, she always made time for me and father.” Cira would reply to Riyku's question before sighing softly afterward. ”I think that when mother passed the one who took it worse the most was Father. After mother passed, Father engrossed himself in work endlessly. Most of the time he came home late, and when we were home he was still working... It makes me wish that Mother was here.” Cira said softly which caused Riyku to place a hand upon her head and pat her head softly. ”Sounds like you have a perfect role model then. Your mother lives on inside of you after all.” Riyku would state and Cira looked up at him who smiled down at her.