After (Magics Oneshots) *requests open!!*

Missing Pt. 1

Hey, a more-than-one-part-oneshot-because-I-have-no-idea-how-many-parts-I'm-gonna-have-yet oneshot!! Wow, that took forever to write XD. This one is going to be maybe a month or two after the defeat of The Dark Lord, so everyone has kind of been settling into the fortress (even some are leaving, like a few of the Darks who had homes to go to). 

~

Surprisingly, things were quiet and relaxing while Linda was strolling through one of the hallways in the huge castle. She didn't think she was lost, but a lot of the hallways were hard to tell apart. She hoped she wasn't lost, anyway. But even if she was, it didn't matter much. She could either find her way back or just scream Shintaro's name and he would come running. 

Which would probably be hilarious, because she could picture the look on his face as he scrambled toward her after rounding a corner. The image of his frantic expression made Linda smirk to herself as she advanced toward one of the many stairwells in the maze of a castle. 

If there was anything she loved about Shintaro (which she loved all of him, mind you), it was how adorably hilarious he was when he was flustered. She had gotten to see more of his flustered side ever since she had declared that they were together, because she could randomly jump up and kiss his cheek without it being too weird. His reactions were always hilarious - flustered embarrassment but happy pride as she strode alongside him with a smile on her face. 

Because he'd been so busy, though, she hadn't been able to see him as often as she would have liked. She didn't really like it when he busied himself with things that could be handled later or even without his help, but he would always rush off to see what he could do for anyone who needed it. Ever since a few of the Darks had left, many others had been trying to find places to go, and Shintaro was always trying to help them out.

Linda loved that he was that kind of man - the one that would help with anyone, including his previous sworn enemies - but sometimes it got to be too much. If he wasn't busy with the former Darks, he was trying to get some sleep or eating something. 

It kind of bothered Linda. Though she was aware that he had things to do, she wanted to spend more time with him. But she guessed that she would get in the way if she followed him around everywhere, and then he would get frustrated. 

And although it was adorable when he was frustrated, it was also awkward and uncomfortable for Linda. She knew that he was normally somewhat snappy, that it was just his personality, but when he got actually frustrated, it was strange. 

Sighing, Linda rounded the corner and slammed into Shintaro's chest with a grunt. She stumbled back a step and nearly lost her footing, but Shintaro quickly reached out and grabbed her shoulders to keep her standing. 

"Ow," she protested hotly, mostly to tease him. She tipped her head back and glowered up at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "Watch where you're going, dolt." 

"Sorry," Shintaro said distractedly, lifting his eyes away from Linda and scanning the hallway behind her. His yellow eyes - Linda liked them this way, not oddly multicolored - darted over the area behind her, then settled onto something in the distance with hard impatience. 

Linda's playful mood left, and she quickly washed away the frown. "What's wrong?" she asked genuinely, listing her head to the right and uncrossing her arms. 

Shintaro didn't answer her, his jaw tight in thought. Which was strange to Linda, because she could always easily tell when people were lost in thought because she could hear what they were ranting about to themselves; but with Shintaro, she had to look at his face to find out if he was thinking. 

Not being able to hear him was probably something she would never get used to. 

"Hello?" Linda tried again, lifting her arm and poking his collarbone. "Earth to Shintaro?"