Chapter 7

After all of the stressful events, they finally arrived at a nice tavern. “Finally there and far away from that cursed kingdom..” Black thought while he was about to go off Haru. But he noticed something.. Kiomi fall asleep. Black smiled and took some hair softly out of her face.

“wake up Kiomi” He said while rubbing her arm. But she didn't woke up. “Hey, wake up!” He said and rubbed her arm stronger. But still no answer.

Black got in panic and shook her. “wake up already!!! Are you dead?!” He shouted in a higher, surprised and concerned voice. From all that shaking Kiomi fall to the ground.

Black turned pale seeing Kiomi fall lifeless to the ground. He jumped off Haru and were going to help Kiomi up. Shortly before he were about to get tears in his eyes he heard something.

“Zzzzzzzz” from Kiomi.

“*yawn* Oh! Good morning Black! I had a nice nap. I feel better already, I am ready for any adventure!” She almost shouted at the pale Black, with all of her energy. “ugh? Are you alright?” Kiomi said very worried all of a sudden.

“Ah.. I mean-” Black was completely lost.

“Did I snore again?.. Ahh thats so embarrassing.. Don't look at me like that!” Kiomi again almost shouted while getting red and put her hands on her face.

“No you didn't snore but.. ehm.. you feel okay.. right?” He hesitated asked.

“Oh! That's a relief .. I feel perfectly fine sir!” She jokingly said and saluted. Black's colour of his face slowly turned back to normal.

“That's good.. so.. ehm let's go in and eat something.” Black continued still a bit confused after all.

“Aye sir!” She responded and walked happy to the door and opened it.

It was a nice place. Not many bandits and a lot of adventurer taking a break. It was almost a pretty cozy place. But then the spiderwebs and the missing cleaning staff, downgraded the nice atmosphere. Black was walking towards a free table, Kiomi followed him. She sat down grabbing directly the menu. Black sat down as well.

“Ohhh that sounds so delicious! I feel like I could eat a whole cake!” Kiomi told Black energetic.

“Is that so?” Black answered not paying much attention looking at the menu himself. “I wanna get the sweetpotato-fries!” She continued. “What will you eat?” Kiomi asked Black.

“Hmm.. let me see.. I guess I will take the sandwich.” He replied. “mhmhm fine choice.” She said.

Shortly after they decided, a guy came and asked: “So did the lovely couple has decided what they want to eat?”

Both looked at each other, one getting more red then the other.

They started to stutter “Actually.. we aren't..” Black started , Kiomi interrupted him. “haha yeah were not a couple.” She finished his sentence trying to not make eye contact with Black.

“excuse me. I didn't meant to cause any uncomfort, I certainly wanted to..” “Yeah don't worry we want one portion of sweetpotato-fries and one sandwich. Thank you” Black interrupted him.

The guy wrote it down, looked up, smiled and said “Thank you! The food will be there very soon.”

And so he walked away.

“What a weird situation.. I wish this guy would have just shut..” Kiomi thought looking down at the table.

Black noticed Kiomi was bothered. He thought about what he could do to make her less bothered and so said: “Don't worry m'lady, you have of course, a special place in my heart” Black told Kiomi in a slightly sarcastic but sweet voice.

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Kiomi giggled a bit and answered “Is that so?”, leaning forward to Black with a flirty smile. Black looked away and laughed a little nervous. “Oh god.. this girl..” Black thought and looked around again.

When he looked back to Kiomi he saw a bright smiling, happy young woman looking right at him. “Just one little pleasantry and you're already at my feet?” Black asked her in a languid tone.

Kiomi closed her eyes and answered “Hah.. you wish.”, looking with a superior look on her face.

Before he could react the waiter came and gave them two their food. Kiomi didn't hesitate and started to munch the fries.

Black watched Kiomi eat a bit and then started to talk. “About your fighting lessons.. We will start practising right after we ate! But don't worry.. You got a lot of fries so it will ...take ...some... time, wait did you ate all already? “ Black asked doubtful.

“Don't say it like I am greedy! I was just hungry.” She answered a little ashamed. “ts ts ts.. Then I guess we can go already!” He said and bit in his sandwich.

“wha- But you haven't even eaten your sandwich yet!” She explicitly said. “That's fine. I will eat it on the way.

“Okay but we need to pay.” She mentored him.

“Excuse me waiter? Can we pay?” Kiomi shouted friendly. “Oh! Actually this man over there already covered your bill! Have a nice day!”

“Wait what guy?” Black asked concerned. The waiter pointed at a guy dressed in red. He not only wore a red cape but also had red hair. The guy sat a little further away but when he heard his name he turned around and was directing to the table where Black and Kiomi sat.

Kiomi looked at Black's expression and he looked very unprepared and surprised.

When the guy came closer, Black stood up and he gave Black a big hug.

“Long time no see dear brother!” The guy said in a very happy tone.

“Brother?!”, Kiomi spoke out loud, with the most unbelieving expression she could make.

“Kiomi, This is my brother. Reaper.” He explained peaceful.

Kiomi stared at Reaper and sharpen her eyes with a disbelieving look.

“whoa, what with that expression?”, Reaper said and gave a closer look at Kiomi. “Your friend here seems like she doesn't trust me at all”, He giggled a little, “She reminds me a lot of you already!”. He said with a interested tone.

“I am Kiomi. Princess of the Kingdom in the East-north.” She explained. “Oh! A princess.. I am very happy to meet you!” Reaper said and bowed down. “No need to bow! Don't worry! I just.. never knew Black had a brother.” Kiomi explained confused.

Reapers happy shiny presents changed quickly. “Hey buddy, you haven't mention me once to your friend over here?” He judgingly asked Black.

“Well.. I thought I had mentioned you once.. or ehm.. twice?” Black tried to counter. “I can't believe my own brother forgets about me.. How could he???” Reaper theatrical asked and closed his eyes to deepen his act. He carefully opened one eye but noticed Black didn't laughed. “And your sense of humour got lost as well huh? Oh well. I am just kidding of course, I know you are just like this.” Reaper said with his warm smile back.

“I am glad you're alright buddy.” Black told Reaper with a slight smile. “But tell me, why are you so far in the north?”, Black asked him.

“You know, getting new missions and helping here, saving people there, the usual you know?” Reaper proudly elaborated and hold his thumbs up. “I see.. The same reaper as always, good to see you are still the same.” Black said satisfied.

“so.. Reaper huh.. wait- Reaper is your actual name?” Kiomi asked him very interested.

“What do you mean?” Reaper asked with a confused smile.

“Like.. your real name .. the name you always had is really Reaper?” She asked again.

“Yes? Why would I introduce myself with Reaper if my name wouldn't be reaper?” He asked a bit lost in the conversation.

Black seemed amused by those two having a conversation and actually giggled a bit.

Reaper and Kiomi looked at black giggling, when Black realized it, he coughed a few times and said, back in his serious tone, “Reaper, I wanted to train with Kiomi actual fighting. Could you help me out there buddy?”. Kiomi looked at Reaper. “Well.. I happened to have free time at the moment, I would like to help you out there.”

“Oh no no, Don't bother yourself. In fact I can fight already good enough, and don't need training.” She said rapidly, glanzing at Black.

“Oho.. I see, a confident lady over here. Well now I am excited for a duel.” Reaper got carried away by his fighting spirit.

“I have nothing against a duel.” Kiomi said confident.

Black noticed the tense aura that suddenly appear. He knew his brother had a strong fighting spirit and he also knew that Kiomi hated to loose. In fact he never saw Kiomi in a battle, Black couldn't say who would win. Reaper had incredible fighting skills, he had all right to be confident. Kiomi were all her life in a castle.. she could have trained all those years but nobody could now how good she was..

In any case he needed to provide that none of them would get serious injuries.

“Hey, hey calm down you two. If you want a duel, I will be thrilled to watch that. But I have rules or else none of you will take part in this.

Both nodded admitted to the duel already.

“There will be three rounds. The first one is without magic, only you two with the weapon of your choice.

In the second round, it will be allowed to use magic. And the third round, everything will be allowed, tricks or distractions, everything.

Is that a deal?” Black explained.

Reaper and Kiomi agreed. And so they walked outside to find a spot not too far away from the tavern, and fight.