The next day..

I awoke with a groan. Feeling the absence of any weight on my body, I couldn’t help but sigh..

"Haa... so much for a good morning." I grumbled, suddenly unfamiliar with the feeling of waking up to an empty bed.

"Ughh..." I sat up, already fed up with the entire day. Burying my face in my palms I tried to adjust myself, but then...

BANG!!

My door went flying off its hinges.

I raised my head, already tired before the commotion even began.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! My friend! Rise and shine you sluggish fucker!!" Malachi came crashing through the doors like he owned the place.

"You know there’s a concept like knocking." I groaned in reply.

"That’s for wussies! Besides, what are you hiding? I already have the biggest dick here! Hahahahahahahahaha!"

"You sure that golden band ain’t on too tight? You’re starting to hallucinate."

"Ack! Bastard!"

"Heh!" I sneered. Standing up and heading towards the bathroom.

"Get out you monkey bastard! Don’t get monkey fur all over the place. Melissa will kill me if she comes here and finds the place messed up."

"Scared of a woman. Wimp."

"I’ll tell Cara you said hi."

"Uhhh... that wouldn’t be the blue haired crazy one, right?" All his gusto deflated instantly.

"Yup. The very one. She’ll probably like to know who got claw marks all over her rug."

"Dante.. you wouldn’t.."

"Try me.."

Wooosh!!!!

No more words were needed as the monkey made a beeline for the door, of course after making sure no traces of his could be found.

"Heh! Too easy... yawwwn..." I yawned as I closed the door behind me. It is was time to finally get ready for the abyss.

.....

.....

"Hmmm? Not as many as I expected. Are we at the right location?" I asked as I looked around.

I had followed the old man’s instructions and arrived at what was supposedly the gathering place for those who had qualified for the ascension exams. Yet the number of candidates I was seeing was quite honestly....

"Hmm? Who’s this? An outer court student? Here? Are you lost?" A curious voice sounded right beside me.

I turned around and...

"Hmm?" Couldn’t find anyone behind me.

"Hey! Down here." Feeling a tug on my pants, I looked downward.

"Wha..."

"You know. That’s quite the rude reaction. Humph." The voice’s complaint snapped me out of my momentary stun.

"Ahh.. yea.. sorry bout that. It’s just, I wasn’t expecting a.. umm..."

"Dwarf?"

"Yea that." I scratched my head. Suddenly self conscious as I stared at the person before me.

She was short. Not like cute short. Like short short. With a copper tan hair she had braided into twin massive braids. A hammer over twice her size slung casually behind her.

Yet, for her diminutive size, she was packing.

The way her slick black combat suit strained around the chest area. The jutting perfection of her rear. From this angle I had a perfect view of everything. Every line. Every contour.

The silver emblem hanging loosely between her breasts told clearly of her INNER COURT Identity.

"Seen enough yet?" She folded her arms around her chest as she huffed. The motion causing trembling waves on her peaks.

"Gotta admit. I ain’t never seen such a sexy dwarf before." I replied.

"And how many dwarves have you seen?"

"One."

"Pfftt...." She laughed.

"Hey! Hey! Hey there! You womanizing fuck! One day away from your women and you’re already looking for more innocent prey? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?"

BANG!

A punch to the face sent the talkative monkey flying.

"Oho? A player huh?" The dwarf smirked.

"What can I say? I’m just like that." I shrugged.

"Yea. I can see that. Hahahaha!" She laughed, before continuing...

"So. You lost or something? What is an outer court student looking for here?"

"Hmm? Is that what you should be asking? Shouldn’t you be grating on how an outer court whelp dared come to such a place?"

"Normally I’d have smashed your head in with my hammer but you look handsome so I’ll let it slide."

"Can you even see my face from down there?" I asked. Genuinely curious.

WOOOOSHHHHH!!!

I sidestepped a heavy hammer strike as..

BOOOOOOMMMM...

The ground exploded from the collision.

"Don’t make fun of my height."

"Heh! But, it’s a valid question though." I crouched. Suddenly excited to tease a violent dwarf.

"Don’t think I won’t bash your head in just because I was nice."

A grin suddenly appeared on my face as I leaned down further.

"There you go. My face. Feel free to smash it in." I smiled widely.

Our eyes met. Her deadpan copper brown eyes leveling me a dead stare as she remained silent.

"Oho! Cat got your tongue?"

.....

.....

"You’re lucky you’re handsome. Humph!"

"Pffft.... Hahahahahahahaahhahaha!!!!" I laughed. Genuinely amused.

.....

.....

"Hey... look over there..."

"What? Why are you bothering me?"

"Look! Someone’s teasing Carmen.."

"What? Who wants to die that badly?"

Two inner court students conversed quietly as the one being bothered finally turned, his expression freezing at the figure of the short dwarf that was...

"Blushing?"

"Fuck! Who the hell is that guy? Just because he’s a little handsome he thinks he can tease Carmen?" Another student rattled from the sides.

"Heh! You can go tease Carmen yourself if you want." The first student sneered.

"This...."

.......

Ignoring the whispers around, I stood back to my full height.

"Done flirting with a dwarf?"

"Hey. It’s not my fault if you’ve got no game. Don’t blame me."

"Motherfucker."

I ignored the angry chicken-cat as I finally looked around properly. Trying to understand just who and who I was going up against.

"Carmen..." a quiet voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts.

"Hmm?" I turned towards the dwarven woman once more.

"You said something?"

".... Carmen. That’s my name. You bastard."

"Hmm.. oh! Nice to meet you Carmen."

.....

.....

"At least have the decency to introduce yourself back, bastard!" She grit her teeth.

"Ahh! My bad. You can call me Dante. Dante Draven. I’m the main character."

"The main what?"

Before I could reply to her question, I felt a presence appear.

One I hadn’t felt in quite some time now.

"Hello there everyone. I’ll be your overseer for these exams."

At the sound of that soothing and beautiful voice, a smile appeared unconsciously on my face.

I turned as my eyes met those pure white, unblemished orbs that were locked into my figure.

My smile widened as I saw what she was wearing.

"Hey..." she waved. Suddenly more reserved than what I was used to.

"They look good on you." A simple remark. But...

"They do? They do?? Hehehehehe!! I knew it! I knew it!! Hehehehehe.. he said I looked cute. I looked good. Now we’ll get married and have lots and lots and lots of children... hehehehe.." She spiraled into a mumbling mess.

"Pfft... ahahahahahahahahahahaha..." I laughed. The familiar sight warming my heart as I walked towards her.

Ignoring the stunned silence that had descended upon the gathering, I walked straight up to her and pulled her into a close hug.

"Liz... it’s nice to see you again."

Her body froze for a brief moment, before she melted into my embrace. Her hands wrapping around me as she snuggled up tighter, a relaxed sigh leaving her lips as..

"It’s nice to see you too.. Dante..

... I missed you..."

************

Tr33_Note: alright. Be honest with me. Should I keep saying "Tr33_Notes" or should I just stick with the tried and trusted "A/N"?

Want a comment on the reunion? What else can I say other than Liz is cute? Anyways...

*************

Thanks for reading...