This is Just a Game...Right?

Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Reunion

A figure with blonde hair and scarlet eyes sits up from the mess of the dragon. And I recognize it immediately.

"Keiji?" I whisper out in a hoarse voice. The figure turns to me with a soft smile.

"Lyrica." And I start tearing up. It's actually him. My brother. He's back. I run towards him, giving him a hug, crying into his shoulder.

"Keiji. Keiji! You're alive. You're back! I missed you so much." I sob, and he rubs my back consolingly.

"I missed you too." He pulls back and looks around. "What happened? I remembered I got hit by a truck while driving back home...and then...I died. But how are you all here too?" He asks, glancing at us worriedly. "Don't tell me...you're all dead too? Lyrica? Rei?!" He panics, and I sigh.

"No, we're not dead. This is in a game. I um, wanted to get you back, and started playing this game...but now we're all stuck." I respond. He grabs me by my shoulders and shakes me.

"What the hell is wrong with you?! You know you have a penchant for trouble! Always making rash decisions! Do you not feel any contrition over your actions? Why would you risk your lives like this for me? I'm dead, for god's sake! Just leave me be!" He shouts at me, and I grab his arm, gaze level with his.

"Any sane person would do anything to bring their family back. Risking their lives or not." I reply, and he steps back, a defeated expression on his face.

"I just...can't bear the fact that you and Rei...could die. It's just...you two are the only remaining family-ish that you have. If one of you died..." Keiji says, tears welling up in his eyes. "I wouldn't be able to take it. If one of you died."

"Don't worry." Rei soothes, a gentle smile on his face. "We have each other's backs. And now you can help us. We just need to beat the hundredth floor, and we'll be out of here." Rei explains, and Keiji turns to me.

"What floor is this?"

"The fiftieth. We skipped from one to fifty. And now we'll go straight from fifty to one hundred." I declare proudly, but then Keiji looks at the rest of our party in alarm.

"Who are they?!" He asks, and I sigh. Typical Keiji. Always paranoid.

"The rest of our party. The silver haired girl is Mayumi, the blonde is Yuka, the red haired guy is Darren, and the rose haired girl is Lily. They've been with us, and we've been working together to beat these dungeons." I tell him, and he visibly calms down. Then a thought hits me. "Hey, if Darren has air-control, does Yuka have a power? Or Keiji, do you have one?" I ask. Kei nods, and a pair of golden wings unfurl from his back. The color is similar to the dragon's, and they glow softly in the dim light. Then he lifts a hand and an orb of water appears.

"Wow! Water control!" I exclaim, bouncing up and down.

"Well your power is perfect for countervailing Lyrica's. She has fire control." Rei smirks, and I glare at him.

"Don't worry, I'll keep her in check." Keiji stands next to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. I shove his hand off my shoulder, pouting.

"I'm not five, Kei. I can take care of myself." I hiss, eyes narrowed. Sometimes, Kei's just a bit too protective. I can fight, and even kill, if I have to. But he's treating me like some defenseless child. He looks down at me with pleading eyes. And then I knew. He just doesn't want any of his loved ones to die, to experience the pain he felt. I turn away, eyes on the ground, feeling guilt at my outburst. Lily clears her throat to get our attention. I turn, and she smiles slowly.

"So. We all have our family. I propose to tackle the boss floor now! Well...after we train. So...a week? Then we'll meet up at Flora Town. Okay?" She says, clapping her hands together. We all nod, then split up, heading our separate ways.