A Knight's Loyalty | Food Fantasy AU Fanfic

Chapter 26 - The Duo Arrives

"Um, Caviar . . . What exactly are you doing?" Milt asked quietly. Caviar didn't look down.

"I'm saving you," he answered. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"Well, no, but I'm capable of more than you think. I could've handled a simple Uke Mochi!"

"But would I have let you? No. Besides, Borscht was around, and I don't want you to get hurt. It seemed like the best course of action." He avoided adding, "Plus, you almost died."

"Well, I guess that makes sense. Borscht is pretty dangerous as we've seen.

She's not the only dangerous thing in the woods right now, Caviar thought to himself.

"Can you at least put me down now?" Milt requested, and Caviar, seeing the town was nearby, complied.

"Okay. I'll let you walk the rest of the way." He dropped her legs first, that way Milt could stand up, and then Caviar began walking closer to the main town.

As one of the townsfolk saw them, they sighed in relief. "Everyone!" they shouted. "The Food Souls took care of the Fallens!"

Many gratitudes came to pass into Milt and Caviar's ears. Caviar would claim he fought, but Milt kept him alive, while Milt claimed that Caviar had done most of the fighting, and she only handled healing. It made the townsfolk glad to know such Food Souls were protecting them - just like Buddha's Temptation and his men had protected Light Kingdom.

"Caviar! Look! Another unique-looking person!" Milt exclaimed.

"And?" Caviar asked questioningly.

"I think he's a Food Soul!" Milt whispered to him. Caviar's eyes widened. He turned to the crowd surrounding him.

"Everyone, we appreciate your gratitude, but we need our space a bit, we're going to take a break, so try your best to make room for us." The crowd understood, and surprisingly, they obliged and dispersed.

"That house," Milt whispered, pointing to a small home with some cats lingering about. Caviar nodded, and was about to knock when he saw the door was knocked down. So instead, Milt entered, and made an introduction for herself.

~

"Greetings, humans!" the female visitor shouted as she entered the door.

"Who is she?" Mooncake asked plainly.

"Oh, I'm Milt! How are all of you?" the visitor shouted once more. A man dressed in layers of dark blue and black followed her, an eyepatch covering one of his eyes and a mask covering his lower face. He let a sigh and looked amongst the crowd.

B-52 watched the male stranger's eye until they locked eyes, one way looking into one eye. Milt caught the glances and understood immediately.

"You're B-52, aren't you?" she asked in confirmation.

"Yes," B-52 answered matter-of-factly.

"Well, I thought so."

"The rest of you are Food Souls, right?' Caviar asked knowingly. He shrugged, not needing their answer. "It's an easy guess."

"And who's Mr. Edge?" Salty Tofu questioned with an unamused tone.

". . . Caviar. Whether or not you remember didn't matter, so you don't have to bother. Don't worry about me forgetting each of you. Well, except you three," Caviar stated. "I don't know you Attendants."

"Kuri," the girl stated.

"Catcakes," he friend continued.

"Ryouri!" the cheerful boy exclaimed, finishing the chain.

"Understood. My apologies for intruding." Caviar began to turn and leave, and an instant later he was out the door. Milt turned and followed Caviar.

~

As she left the house, Milt was set on getting to Caviar. She followed him down the road before confronting him.

"Caviar!" Milt whispered loudly. "Why are you leaving?! We've found more Food Souls!"

"Who's to say that they aren't with Spaghetti. They weren't exactly friendly."

"Exactly! Maybe we share a common enemy - Spaghetti! B-52's there after all!"

"So what?" Caviar asked firmly. It was harsher than he meant, but . . . Well, Milt had to listen, no? Milt flinched, but remained determined.

"Surely having a team of allies is better than going out alone. We fought off Borscht, but Spaghetti won't be becoming an easier battle!"

"Then why don't you stay with them? Surely they've better judgement, despite my existence. Even though I've been with you for the longest," Caviar snapped at her. He froze.. Wait, he didn't mean that. Surely, she would refuse-

"Fine! Maybe I will! Perhaps then you'll realize how much you need me!" She turned around. Caviar unfroze and remembered why he refused the idea in the past.

"Wait, Milt!" Caviar called to her. He needed the right words to make her stay. At least if they were together he could help her fight off any threat, but separate - both would fall. Caviar wouldn't regenerate fast enough, and Milt would have no protection. Recipes equally made for disaster.

". . ." Milt angrily glared back at Caviar, saying nothing. Caviar panicked - this couldn't happen! He needed to be near her! Irrationally, he ran up to her and turned her around.

"Milt!" He couldn't stop now, that would push her away more. "Listen, I- I - Please - Just . . . !"

Caviar's brain was practically melting. He had never done this before - then again, he never needed to. He normally knew exactly how to keep Milt happy, but timelines, all this - the unknown. Could it be he was afraid of not knowing?

"Don't go . . . I can't know if you're safe if I can't see you!" Caviar couldn't stop the words from spilling from his mouth. Where had his self-control gone? "I'm. . . sorry . . ."

". . . Does this mean you'll listen to me now?" Milt mused. Caviar nodded meakly. Milt held back a laugh.

"You're not mad . . . ?" Caviar asked in shock.

"Of course not! I'm not as clueless as you think, you know! I didn't know you felt that way about me though~!"

Caviar was the one to look away this time. "Yeah, well . . . !"

"It's quite adorable~!" Milt teased, and Caviar's mask became his greatest ally. Milt kissed his forehead and returning back to the house.

Caviar was happy to see Milt bright once more. The only thing was, he had one more thing to think about now - emotions.