"This is just what I needed..." Yu sank into the spacious outdoor pool of warm water and let out a sigh of relief. Their long escort job far away from home seemingly completed for the time being, the fools had finally returned for some much needed RnR.
"And here I thought you were so attached to those guys and steering that ship that you'd never want to come back home." spoke his hetero life partner, one Minato Arisato, sitting across from him and running a hand through his blue locks of hair.
"Or were you just that eager to come here for the free soak? You're welcome by the way." They were of course lounging in the Amagi Springs within the rural town of Inaba, courtesy of a certain heiress that, between the two's travels in their first couple of years, Minato had become particularly fond of.
"Well, yeah... but we've been on this world saving adventure since..." Yu paused, then looked his long time best friend dead in the cerulean eye with his gray orbs, both of them bereft of clothing.
"Actually, how long has it been since we met?"
Minato blinked, then closed his own eyes in seemingly deep thought.
"You know, now that you mention it..."
"My earliest memory is us squaring off in that arena. I should have a more clear picture of my, or I guess his life before that time... but nothing's coming to me." Minato mused aloud while vividly recalling that moment, down to even the sword swings he took back then.
"Yeah... and I know that us not knowing was a big problem before. What with who the two of us are based off of, but if you were to ask me when that fight took place, I couldn't give you a straight answer." Yu scratched the back of his head, puzzled but then put on a smile in spite of himself. "But you know..."
"It doesn't really matter, uh-huh. I know." Even after all this time, the two still had a knack for finishing each other's sentences like the totally married couple they were.
The fools continued reminiscing about their times, both within their home 'Stage' and the ones belonging to some unforgettable others they met along the way; chief among them, the 'Reaper' and 'Serpent', before deciding they had no interest in becoming a pair of prunes.
They emerged from the springs and got dressed in their usual attire before stepping out for a night on the town, and lucky them, there was a promotional 'festival' ongoing that same evening with fun and games for the two to indulge in, hosted by Junes.
"Oh yeah, did you send the letter to those guys?"
"Sure did, partner."
"...And we're not going to question how exactly it is that our mailbox connects to theirs, are we pal?"
Yu solemnly nodded. It was frankly a miracle that they could continue to establish an open communication line between Inaba or Iwatodai with the likes of the hierarchical city of Kagutsuchi, the futuristic Dentech City where their previous third now resides, or the relatively primitive continent that held Hoshido and Nohr atop it. If their 'new recruit' passed his upcoming exam with flying colors, they'd have to add Yongen-Jaya to that list.
The Dual Fools' lives still remained largely secretive when it came to world mingling using the doors connecting the greater universe containing them. Regular civilians weren't supposed to be in the know about these things after all, but the Social Links formed with these companions across time and space remained a steady lifeline for the pair.
"Well good." Minato said, looking over his shoulder at the taller fool as they neared the hustle and bustle of the festivities. "I really do wanna hear all the good and bad, the new stories they'll have. So I hope they write back soon."
"Heh. That's a little unlike you, being that openly sentimental." Yu teased, nudging him playfully. "You sure you're not the one that misses those guys more? Are you..." pause for dramatic gasp and finger point.
"...CHEATING on me!?"
"Oh yeah, because long hair that looks impossible to manage in the morning is what really gets me." he played it off coolly before turning it back to the accusatory boy.
"How do I know you're not trying to get cozy with that hard ass prince of tomatoes? He looks like someone who knows how to pop a high collar. Just the way you like..."
It wasn't long before they both burst out in laughter, sharing in humor that only the two of them would truly get. That in and of itself was just another sign as to how these two, Minato Arisato & Yu Narukami had a bond harder than steel formed between them.
An anthology spanning tales from multiple pairs of unlikely likeminded heroes in even more unlikely scenarios.
Blues. Scions. Royals.
They all trace their roots back to the Dual Fools.
"To arms, 'Your Highness!'" cried out the voice of the clemar nobleman, back to back with the person he vowed his undying loyalty to.
He and his lifelong hetero partner had been surrounded by an enemy monster horde that had gotten the jump on them with a rather grotesque homo sapien seemingly leading the pack, magla particles visibly coursing through its veins.
"My apologies...!" the silver haired man spoke; hurriedly tossing the scabbard of his longsword aside after deflecting an incoming goblin's axe with a diagonal slash. "It was my suggestion that we hunt down our rations to save a little on coin. And now we stare down a blasted human!"
They had trekked just a little too far from their gauntlet runner to gather food and herbs out in the woods. The thicket they sought their prize in was too dense to make for a quick escape however. They'd have to fight their way out of this mess.
"What are you sorry for? Your argument was sound!" the 'royal' companion spoke, casting a gust of green gale infused magla to form a headwind; sending a winged talon beast divebombing toward him careening straight down into the dirt.
"We could both use a bath in an inn that isn't a cramped casket, right?" the azure haired boy reasoned, seemingly not too fazed by the surprise opposition. He had a sinking suspicion one of the competitors for the throne set this trap, but rather than voice concern, he'd rally and beckon his right hand man into action.
"They're the ones who will be sorry. Now, to battle!"
"RIGHT!"
"Now tell me..." A third, monotone voice spoke; breaking all tension. "Is this what you do when you... 'cosplay'?" The voice belonged to Zen, former escort to Minato & Yu, who had since found his purpose elsewhere with a little guidance from the fools.
"W-well..." Yu replied, hands holding onto a script and recounting an outing from a previous Halloween. "We may have gotten too caught up in the excitement that night."
"I'm just as much to blame there." Minato chimed in, scratching the back of his head. "It's been a long time since I was fully immersed in character like that. It's contagious."
"I see. But you two had... fun, right? Would you do it all over again?" In response to that question, they shot each other a knowing look; accompanied by a dramatic pause.
This situation hadnât been her fault, sheâd like to think. She was simply taking a walk when there was a loud bang, and some rubble from a nearby warehouse had fallen on her before she could escape (what the catalyst for that destruction was, she had no idea).Â
The cinder blocks and metal beams that had fallen on Ribbon crushed the lower half of her body. It was painful- she wished she could have bled instead- and her meager strength wasnât enough to lift the debris off of her. The bones in her legs had been broken, and, while being crushed, they wouldnât heal.Â
âUuu... mother...â She whines, feeling very sorry for herself. The communication device Xis (that is, the god of a place called the âBubblegum Sea World,â who had created her along with her siblings) had given her had been broken by the debris, and the shattered remains of a smooth white stone lie beside her.Â
Upon spotting someone nearby, she calls out, âUm, excuse me, please...â in the hope of finding assistance.Â
