"Sorry, but I was ordered to send all eye witnesses..." Hadi noticed a look of disinterest from you and wondered if the green-haired girl was the annoying sort. He had a little sister who was just a bit younger and he had to admit that she had an annoying streak when she wanted to. He turned to Mario "Miste-- sorry, Miss Hostess, I'm sorry to suddenly deprive you of your employee like this but..."

"I don't mind, I suppose. I don't have much of a choice. I'm not personally going to fight in the military. How about this," Mario leaned over the counter to speak to Ilie. "I'll let you have an extended vacation so you can spread your young woman wings!"

"WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!" Kidou slammed his hand on the counter and stood up, now realizing that he was not the employee that Hadi was apologizing for taking away. In retrospect, this should have been clear since he didn't do that much around the bar, but regardless, he was upset. "Are you telling me that you are perfectly fine with sticking me with this kid who needs a bodyguard and designated driver on an already dangerous trip? I'm already going to have my hands full with that idiot Jin and YN!"

"Yep!" Hadi stepped in. "We're short on money and manpower! Sorry, Kidou!"

"This is the worst." With a bang, Kidou's head hit the counter and you rubbed his back. And as if he hadn't already heard the worst news, in came Jin.

"What's going on, everybody?! It's your very own crosser of the deserts, the wandering merchant, Jin!" He paused when he noted the vibe of the bar. "Uh... what's wrong?"

"Nothing!" Ilie chirped. "I'll go put my traveling clothes on!"

Are those clothes what would have been gifts for me as well? You tapped Kidou's shoulder, prompting him to turn and look at your signs.

No. It was only a few little things. Would you like traveling clothes? His fingers snaked out from his sleeve and lightly dragged along your inner arms, sending lightning through your body. Slowly, your fingers intertwined with his and you sat down in the stool next to him. With one hand, you signed that you didn't need clothes. And with a wink, you realized that he deeply agreed with the sentiment. It was funny how things had changed since that first kiss. Gone was the insecurity that he might be embarrassed of you, or the feeling he would up and leave at any moment. Instead, you felt like you had finally welcomed you into his entire world. Little did you know, however, that his entire world was almost completely one thing. You.