Everyone stood silently as they all waited in the upper room where Sensei usually "meditated". Bort, Rutile, and Adamane were all standing quite a short distance away from a wooden bowl that was placed on a table. Shinsha stepped forward timidly response to the tense aura this room was giving off.

Euclase arrived on the scene with Shinsha following right behind. "Alright, we're all here."

"Finally. Euclase insisted on bringing you here and Sensei- er, Adamantite agreed." Bort stated.

"Now now, you know Shinsha's actually really smart, and he's the only one Phos has shown his true motive to." Euclase quickly chatted off Bort before turning towards the counter.

"I-" Shinsha quietly muttered something before stopping himself from speaking.

I'm nothing special.

Although he knew the other gems would insist otherwise so he just stopped saying things that would initiate those lines of dialogue, lest he starts being embarrassed with words again.

"He's currently asleep since we've put a blanket over his head. Jade, who was responsible for his head, has found some suspicious within his inclusions just recently." Euclase revealed the still blanketed bowl.

"We've asked Rutile about this and he said-"

"Yes, while suppressing my urge to drop kick him, I theorized that perhaps Phos' inclusions have started being weird again. He is a special case, but parts of his facial features have been moving before uttering some words, according to Jade." Rutile reported.

"He ended up being surprised and dropped his head at the moment, shattering him." The quack sighed. "I had to repair his head, but I quickly put a blanket over him to make his inclusions go to hibernation once again. Although that does bring some questions..."

"Isn't it obvious on what to do? If he starts talking then we'll break him when it happens." Bort said a matter of factly, placing his hand on the hilt of his sheathed obsidian blade.

"But, what if it's Lapis' talking?"

The room went silent once more after Euclase mentioned that idea.

"I... doubt it. Phos' inclusions are undoubtedly strong. They probably replaced Lapis entirely for all I know." Rutile started pondering. "Shinsha, what do you think?"

"Ah! Me?" The red gem was startled from being forced into the conversation, his poison softly spiking from being put on the spot. Then slowly he calmed himself down and raised a hand to his chin.

"If it's Phos, he'll definitely show up, just like when he woke up the first time with Lapis."

"Hmph. Makes sense. In that case..." Bort quickly raised his obsidian sword without any wasted movement, bringing the edge right above the bowl with the intent of swinging down."

"W-Wait, aren't be being hasty here? We haven't even tried yet after all." Euclase tried to calm the black gem down.

Bort paused midway holding the sword right above the bowl for a few seconds, before giving a defeated sigh. "Fine, but the moment he tries anything funny I'll smash him into bits."

"Agreed. Ah, wait. How do you think we should respond Adamantite?" Rutile inquired to the one being that hasn't spoken a word so far.

Sensei closed his eyes, seemingly thinking of a proper conclusion. Opening his eyes responded with "I'll put your decision first."

"Alright, that settles it then." Euclase softly smiled before lifting the covers.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Phosssss~ wake uuuuppp~"

Seconds, then minutes passed before Phosphophyllite's eyes slowly lifted. "Hmm? Ah, five more minutes Euclase... wait... why can't I feel my arms? Legs? Wait, why can't I move?"

"It... certainly sounds like Phos..." Euclase muttered to himself. "But, Phos do you remember anything?"

"Ah, ah... sure I can remember... a job..."

Shinsha, who was already hiding behind Sensei the entire way through, peaked silently at the blue gem.

"A job? You mean winter duty? Or..."

"I have to... find Shinsha a job..."

The red gem blushed immensely, covering himself in Sensei's clothing taking care not to poison him.

Why would you mention that of all things!?

"Ah! Did I manage to get Shinsha a job this time?" Phos excitedly asked the other gems, before moving his view towards the gem behind Sensei.

"Shinsha!?"

"Tsk." The red gem in question crossed his arms and averted his head. "Not only did they give you a pearl eye, but they seemed to hollow out your head out too."

"Hmm? What do you mean about tha- oh... the rest of my body. It's gone, isn't it...? Looks like I failed to get to a job again..." Phos revealed a saddened expression. Shinsha slowly grew more frustrated at this idiot as he continued to spat out more unnecessary words. He quickly was about to come with a retort, but that was before Bort then walked in between them, stopping Shinsha.

"Wait, his words might be tricking us again. Look, he still has Lapis' head." He directed his blade at the head.

Phos, too shocked by the situation didn't take care to comprehend what they're talking about, instead, he was more concerned about much more pressing matters. "Bort!? You finally cut your hair!? You look so different now!" *Pikachu face*

The room went silent as Bort pauses for a good moment. "You're the reason why I had to cut my hair, you idiot."

"Oh... right! I did ask you to cut your hair for when we teamed up didn't we? I'm glad you took my advice to heart~" Phos teased, sticking out a tongue in playfulness which causes Bort's head to crack.

Then, a large black hand placed himself over Phos' head before turning it around to reveal Rutile, without any powder, but filled with killing intent. "Phossss....."

"AAAIIIEEEEE!!!"

"Bort! There's a scary monster here! Bort? BOOORRTT!!!" Phos was crying out in ear-piercing screams as Bort readied his blade to resolve that.

Sensei raises his hand to stop everyone in place. Bort and Rutile were obviously ready to smash him into bits so he put a stop to them. "Wait." Then he calmly walks up to Phos and picks him up. "Phosphophyllite... do you remember anything?"

Phos simply stares at Adamantite, "Uh..... no... um... who are you?" The room goes dead silent. Sensei's eyes widen before saddening his gaze. "I see. So you don't remember anything. Shinsha. I have a job for you." He then places Phos back into the bowl and handed him towards the red gem. "Take care of Phos' head."

"W-Wait! M-Me!?!" Shinsha was filled with expressions that showed he was flabbergasted beyond belief while both Borts and Rutile have expressions of surprise and animosity for Phos. Phosphophyllite was too busy cheering the words "Yay~ I found Shinsha a job!" to care.

"Hold it Sensei." Bort interrupted. "Why choose Shinsha? Why not anyone else more suited for the job like me?" Sensei pauses once more. "Because I can only trust him with this job. No other gem can easily discern if Phos is lying aside from you and Shinsha. Of course, while you are very capable, I'm... worried that you might break Phos the chance you get. Forgive me for caring too much for Phosphophyllite."

"A-Ah I-I..." Bort struggled to find another retort to that, then gave a defeated sigh.

"Wait... don't I have a say in this?" Shinsha quietly asked, turning his still shocked expression towards Sensei.

"Of course you do. The end decision will be yours since you're the one asked to perform this task only accomplished by you." Adamantite gave a gentle smile. "Will you help with this job?"

"I-I..."

"Well I don't really know what's going on with those two saying I'm lying and stuff, but I bet this job can be fun Shinsha!" Phos happily encourages.

"You're wrong, this won't be a fun job at all!" Shinsha yells back at Phos. "Aren't you worried that my poison will get on you?" The red gem asked Phosphophyllite.

"Not at all."

"But why-"

"Because I trust you, obviously. You saved me twice after all."

"!!!" Shinsha blushed immensely at the memory. Poison spiking in high gear as his emotions swirled. "I didn't mean to-" then Shinsha raised his fingers to his temples in obvious annoyance and frustration. "So you remember that as well." He sighed, before turning back at the group.

"Fine... I'll accept. But I'll definitely not enjoy it!" Shinsha shouted back at Phosphophyllite.

"Ehehe~ we'll see~" Phos commented teasingly as Shinsha left through the stairs muttering to himself in self-pity.

After he left Rutile commented "You know I kind of expected at least Lapis' head would shift his personality somewhat, if not his memories. We need to keep a closer eye on him. Lapis is known to be very deceptive."

Bort nodded. "Agreed, but for now it seems he cannot remember Adamant. This makes him appear to not be a danger to the group, but... we can never be too careful."

Euclase stayed silent throughout the conversation, watching the stairs Shinsha left through as he pitied the blue gem for forgetting the man who raised them. "Oh Phos...."