Well… Here it is. Chapter 12.
Enjoy, readers.

Sure… I’ll teach you a tune, Lex…
You can make up any words for the tune, you know…
I know, …, I know…
Listen well…

Could it be the same one…
While I was walking, I came across an open shop and right there before me was a small golden harp.
”Excuse me, do you mind if I look at this…?”
”Oh, sure, test it out if you’d like.”
”Thanks…”
I looked at the top part of the harp, then the sides. It looked regular, then I felt the bottom. It has a scratch, so I looked.

The bottom of the harp had a name, but it was scratched out. I looked a bit harder then froze.
”Sir? Something wrong?”
”… Nothing is wrong… “
This was the same harp… she used…
I stroked the harp and it made a low-to-high music balance.
”How much is the harp?”
”Well, sir, it’s in perfect condition! No scratches or anything! 100,000 mesos.”
”No scratches, eh? What’s this then?”
”That isn’t a scratch! That’s a beauty Harp Mark! It makes it play well!”
”Yeah, sure… Look, you know it’s a scratch, so drop the price a bit.”
”No.”
”Meeh, suit yourself. I’ll be taking my leave then.”
”Wait, sir, alright, I’ll sell it… for 75,000 mesos. No lower than that!”
”Alright.”

I paid the merchant and made my way while putting the harp in my bag. I walked into a small area in Orbis and it was park-like. I took a stroll down the lane and saw a beautiful tree. I sat besides the tree, laying the shade while the cool breezes blew. I took out the harp and looked at it for a while.

Remember the tune…

I stroked the harp’s strings to mind the right level, then remembering the tune I began.

[ This is the part where you would want to listen to what I was playing right? Well… My brother took the piano cord so I can’t play the piano, editing it to the harp mode. Either way, I wouldn’t let you listen to my singing XP ]
I made up lines along the way, singing while playing.

“Oh, Tai… do you hear that?”
”I don’t think I hear anything, I think the brown stuff went into my ears”
”I hear it… Kyuu… It’s beautiful… but somewhat… sad…”
”Yeah… Milkshake… It is kind of sad-sounding…”
”Oh, I can hear it now… what… is it?”

“What to do, Derr? We went to the Weapon and Armor— Wow… that’s… soothing… but somewhat sad…”
”What was that, Sierra? What’s… that?”
”Music from a harp, I suppose…”

No one heard my voice as I played, they just heard the harp’s tunes as I stroked the strings. I played it twice over again, then stopped.

“So… that’s what you think… isn’t it, Lex…”

Aaru came from behind the tree I was laying on. I wiped my face from tears and took a *ahem*.
”Yeah… it is…”
”Time passed… Things change… You should know that by now…”
”I do… It’s just… hard to let go of memories…”
”Look, Lex, what you saw on the ship—“
”It’s alright, Aaru… I understand. If you’re happy, then I’ll be happy for you.”
Silence was all that was heard while the sun was setting as we both stared at the sky, speechless.

“So… What brings you out here…?”
I said to break the silence.
”I just… felt like taking a walk, then saw you lying besides this tree playing the harp.”
”Ah…”
”Well, Lex, it’s getting dark… I’m headed back to Orbis.”
”Take care…”
”Oh, and lex?”
”Yes…?”
”You dropped this on the ship…”
She handed me a picture and I held it in my hands, staring at it in silence as the moon rose.
”… Thanks… Aaru…”
”You’re welcome…”
”Do… you still have yours?”
”No, unfortunately… I lost it a while back.”
”Here… have it then.”
”What about you?”
”Well… something for you to remember me by…” I said with a small smile.
”That is… if you want it… as a memory…”
”…Sure… I’ll take it… Thank you…”
I handed the picture back to her and stared at the moon as it shone. The cool breezes blew and the shadows of objects danced in the moonlight and light breezes around us.
”Well, Lex, now it has gotten dark… I’m headed back to Orbis. What about you?”
”I’m… going to sit here a while longer.”
”Alright… Take care.”
”You too, Aaru… You too…”
”Oh, and Lex?”
”Yes?”
”I’m glad you’re… alive…”
She walked down the path slowly in the moonlight as the sound of silence was around. I watched her leave until she disappeared into the town of Orbis. I laid back some more on the tree and stared at the moon.
Old memories…
I took a sigh and slowly closed my eyes.

“Tai? Where’s Lex?”
”I don’t know.”
”Hmm… Did he leave the hotel? Kyuu~”
”Probably so, Milkshake.”

”We’re ba-a-ack~!”
”Hey, Sierra!”
”Hi, Milkshake”

Everyone exchanged greetings then they all laid back on their beds. All the beds were filled except one. Tai, Derr, and Silver quickly fell asleep soon after.

”Hmm… Haruki, where’s Lex?”
”I don’t know… I’m kind of getting worried… It’s already late and he’s not back…”
”Do you think we should look for him? Kyuu~”
”Maybe so…”

”Aaagghhh…. He’ll be fine, he can take care of himself…”
Tai said, waking up grunting those words then falling back asleep.

”Well, if he doesn’t show up in half an hour, we’ll go look, okay Haruki?”
”I hope he shows before then… I hope he is alright…Where are you, onii-chan…”

Lex… Save me… Lex… LEX!!! HELP!!! SAVE ME!!! AAAHHHHHH!!!
”Noooo!!!!”
I woke up with sweat all over my face. Sitting up, I was breathing hard and my body felt stiff. I looked at area around then looked at the sky.
”What the…”
I laid back and tried to relax.

Omg, look at that bandit sitting at that tree!!
Wow, he has a golden harp aside him!
AND A MAPLE WAGNER!!!
Wow!!!
Alright, since you’re sexy, go over there and distract him.
WHAT?!?! Why me?? Besides, he looks deadly… His clothes are ripped and he has a scar on his cheek and his hair covering his eyes!!
Don’t be scared… We need some money for food, you know… We haven’t eaten in two days! Besides, we’re girls. Your boobs are bigger than mines, so go!
*sigh* Fine…

I heard the bushes rustling then I saw a girl walking down the lane. I put away my harp in my bag and put one hand on my Wagner.

“MmHmm… Hey sexy guy~” She said, winking at me.
She was a bandit like myself. She wore a Dark Avenger and had a Gephart on her.
”Hmm? Is there something you want.”
She giggled as her friend went from bush to bush, hiding within the shadows to get close enough behind me.
”Of course there is… Hmm hmm…”
She got in a posture of seduction and then stared towards me. I looked at her as she continued walking forward.
”Do you mind if I sit here…?”
”Well…—“
”Thank you! You’re such a nice person~!”
Weird girl…
Her friend looked at her with more of an F5 face and she thought
“WHAT?!!?! WHAT IS SHE DOING?!!?!”
”So… Nice night isn’t it… Lex, right?”
”I suppose so…”
She turned around and winked at her friend. Her friend got close and closer then hid behind the tree we were sitting at.
”So… You’re a bandit… tee hee hee~”
”Yeah… So are you.”
”Yep yep!”
Her friend behind the tree looked at my bag and reached for it. I got up in time and walked 5 feet ahead then stretched.

”Honestly… Why did you sit near him…”
”Well, you said go over there!!”
”YEAH, BUT NOT SIT! Oop!!”

“So… who’s that?”
”Who’s who?? Hahaha, you must be hearing voices!!”
”Umm… Who’s the girl poking her head out the tree right there?”
”Erm… that’s not a head!! That’s… umm… poop.”
”POOP?!?!?! MY HEAD DOES NOT LOOK LIKE POOP!!!”

Her friend jumped out from behind the tree and started beating on her, saying
”POOP?!?!?! I’LL MAKE YOUR FACE LOOK LIKE POOP!!!”
Her friend was also a bandit, but she wore a Purple Avenger and had a Gephart.
I scratched the back of my head and started walking.

”HEY!!! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?!??! GET UP YOU!!! AMBUSH!!!”
”I don’t think I can ambush… your slaps hurt… I’m tired…”
”GET UP!!! TAKE OUT YOUR GEPHART!!! SAVAGE BLOW AMBUSH!!!”
I took out my Maple Wagner as they both ran towards me and jumped, using savage blow. I blocked all 12 hits, then moved out of the way.
”AAARRRGGGH!!! COME BACK HERE!!! JUST BECAUSE YOU LOOK SCARY WE WON’T HOLD BACK!!!”
”Scary… ehehe… you mean… like this…?”

The moonlight shone upon me as my black napoleon blew in the wind. My hair covered my face as I was grinning, with my arms up.
”OMG A GHOST!!! RUN!!! MY BODY ALREADY HURTS FROM YOU BEATING ME UP!!! NOW A GHOST!?!?!? RUUUN!!!!”
”SHUT UP!!! HE ISN’T A GHOST!!!… Are you a ghost?”
”I am the ghost… that wanders the park… looking for my severed body… ooo…”
”EEEK!!! RUN!!! I KNOW YOU’RE DETERMINED TO STEAL HIS STUFF, BUT EEE!!!”
”NO!! I WANT HIS WAGNER!!!”

The girl that was in the black avenger ran towards the tree I was once laying upon. She crouched down, covered her face, and began to cry.
I think I did a little too much…
I stopped the ghost act and stood there normally.
”GHOST OR NO GHOST, I’M GOING TO GET YOUR WAGNER!!! RAAWWRRR!!!”
She used about 20 savage blows on me, but I blocked them all with my Wagner.
”*huff* *huff* you’re…. Pretty… Strong… Come on, get over here!! I need your backup!!!
”I see no ghost, I see no ghost, I see no ghost!!”
I turned and looked at the bandit with the Dark Avenger.
”GOTCHA!!!”
The bandit in the Purple Avenger got up and ran towards me, preparing to use savage blow. I turned around and she tripped on my foot.
”EEEE!!!! *thump*”
”Owwie my head…” She turned over and looked at me as I stood there infront of her.
”Go ahead… finish me…”
I held up my wagner.
”Hurry up and finish this…” She said.
I swung my wagner.

”NOOO!!!” Her friend in the Dark Avenger said.
The bandit I swung my Wagner at closed her eyes and rolled up as a tear drop rolled down her face.

”…Huh…?”
She opened her eyes and looked at me.
”You had a nasty cockroach on your shoulder, so I killed it for you.”
”Co—Co— COCKROACH!!! EEEEEE!!!!!”
She got up, running around in circles wiping her shoulder.
”EEE NASTY NASTY NASTY NASTY!!!!! I HAD A COCKROACK ON ME!!! AAAH!!!!” She shrieked.

I scratched my head and made my way towards the girl near the tree.
”Oh no… The ghost… he’s coming towards me… what do I do? What do I do?? WHAT DO I DO!?!?!” She whispered loudly.

I got about 3 feet close to her, then sat down.
”Umm… umm… yes…?? Please don’t eat me…”
”I won’t eat you… Hmm… Why did you two wanted to rob me?”
*in the background “eek a cockroach was on me, eek!!!”*
”Well… We haven’t eaten in 2 days… so… we thought if we took that Wagner of yours and sell it, we could have enough to eat…”
”Well, why didn’t you ask for money?”
”I… I don’t know.”
”HEY!! What are you two talking about there?”
We talked and talked for a while.
”Well, I think the food room in the hotel is still open… If you want, you can eat there since I’m spending the night there with some friends.”
”Really!??!!”
”FOOD!!!”
”Hurry and lead the way!!!”
”Erm… okay…”

We walked to the Orbis Hotel and I met Haruki, Sierra, and Milkshake at the front.
”ONII-CHAN!!!”
Haruki jumped on me, knocking me down as she hugged me.
”Where were you, kyuu…”
”We were worried, Lex.”
”I was at the park.”
”Who are they?”
”Where’s the food, lex…” The girl in the purple avenger said, poking me.
”Ahh… I met them at the park.”
”Where’s the food… *poke*”
”Oh really? Nice to meet you, my name is Sierra.”
”Mines is Haurki!”
”I’m Milkshake, kyuu~”
”Ah, well, the girl in the Black Avenger is Lucy and I’m Susan, nice to meet you! *poke* Where’s the food…”
”Ahh, stop poking me!! Excuse me, Haruki, Sierra, Milkshake…”
”Going to the food room? We’ll go too.”
”Alright.”

We all went to the food room and ate. I told Sierra, Haruki, and Milkshake about what happened while I was out. The two bandit girls ate then fell asleep on the table.
”Oh, so you were the one playing the harp… I didn’t know you played, Lex.”
”You played beautifully, kyuu~”
”Hehe… I learned the tune from a friend…”
”Well, it was good, onii-chan~”
”Aww, thanks.”
”Well, we should rest up, I need to find where this necklace goes.”
”Alright, let’s go.”
”Tehehe… before we go… Let’s poke them awake, Lex.”
”Erm… Not sure if we—“
”*Poke, poke, poke, poke* Wake up!!”
”AHHH NO TOUCHING!!!… Oh, hi.”
”You fell asleep here… I trust you can sleep in the same room with us without stealing… *evil stare* Right, Lucy, Susan?”
”Ahh!! Yes, Lex, Yes!! We won’t steal!!! I don’t want to be eaten!!”
”Alright, Let’s go.”

Sierra carried Milkshake as we all headed upstairs and into the assigned Hotel room.
”Wow!!! The room is so big!!”
”Well, here’s a sofa… I think this one… Yeah, it does. This sofa folds out into a bed, so you two can sleep on it, alright?”
”Alright! I haven’t slept on a bed for a while…”
Goodnight.”
”Goodnight!”

Lucy and Susan cuddled up together and fell asleep in an instant. Haruki jumped on her bed and said goodnight to Sierra, Milkshake, and myself. Milkshake jumped upon my bed and fell asleep on the pillow.

I slowly started walking to my bed then Sierra asked
”Lex… Could you sit with me?”
I went over to her and sat besides her on the bed.
”Lex… I’m glad you’re alive… Oh, you dropped this on the ship.”
She handed me my Red Pilfer, a bit bloody but mostly clean, so I stored it away in my bag and smiled at Sierra.
”Thanks, Sierra…”
She cuddled with me as we looked out the moonlit sky. We were both in silence as we cuddled, looking out the window, then she said
”Well, you should get some sleep, Lex… After all, you did say you needed to find the place where the Necklace goes.”
”Yeah, you’re right. Goodnight, Sierra.”
”Goodnight, Lex.”
She laid back on her bed, covering herself with the blanket and she fell asleep.

I went back to my bed and opened the blanket. I saw Milkshake lying on the pillow, so I laid besides her. Milkshake woke up and hid in the sheets.
”Milkshake…?”
I felt her jump up on my lap and she cuddled me.
”Lex… your face feels like cloth…Mmm… So warm…and comfortable…”
”Erm… that’s my lap, Milkshake.”
”Oops… Hehe…”
Milkshake went out of the blanket and jumped on my chest, snuggling it. I hugged milkshake and said goodnight. The night was silent as everyone slept peacefully.

Sleep well… Lex…