A friend will help you move.

A best friend will help you move bodies.

But if you have to move your best friend's body, you're on your own.

Alibaba's never known something to be so damn true.

'Alibaba-san, come.'

He can't. Kassim's still here- except, he's not really, is he?

He's gone. Alibaba doesn't even cry tears anymore. Everything's dull and fuzzy.

J tugs on his arm. He really should go; there're people- magicians coming to clean up.

He carries Kassim's body as far as Ja'far lets him and feels more alone than he ever has or ever will.

'What did you think of the Ren kid? He reminds me of you. Level headed.'

'You intend to use Koumei?'

'Kougyoku is too far from Kouen. I'd like to be closer. Did'ja know that Koumei manages newly conquered territory?'

It's been little less than a fortnight and already Sinbad is chasing this little thrill again. Manipulating people until everything he wants is in the palm of his hand.

Sinbad can't stop. Won't stop, maybe.

Sometimes Ja'far isn't sure if he even knows how to stop.

It worries him but he'll follow him anyway; Sinbad is his king.

Sinbad only started drinking after he won his Kingdom. After Ithan's gone, it gets bad. To the point actually, when Yamuraiha bans him. Magic can't fix livers.

'Sin. Put. It. Down.'

It's no surprise that Sinbad doesn't let go of the tankard.

It doesn't surprise Sinbad that Drakon doesn't force it.

Drakon collapses against the wall; seeing his King like this it... hurts.

'Why do you keep doing this to yourself.'

'People- people need dark, so that they appreciate light. I need sadness to appreciate alcohol. Works vice versa too.'

Sinbad hurts more than he'll ever admit.

'Magi. Eventually, you will choose Kouen.'

Like hell he will. No way he's gonna let himself be tied down to anybody.

Al-Thamen can suck it. Everyone else too. Everybody. All they want is for him to be put in the worst possible place.

'Mag- Judar. '

'Who the hell let you in?'

'Are you afraid to choose me?'

'Like I'd be scared of you, Kouen.'

Kouen- dumb as he is- does something smart and leaves.

Judar's scared of nothing.

But if he gets tied down when Sinbad comes to his senses, he'll never forgive himself.

'Ja'far. Sit with me?'

'How many proposals have you rejected?'

'Three.'

' Its been eight hours!'

'I know. Do it anyway?'

'For a bit. You're doubling your workload.'

They stay quiet and it's nice to scoot his chair closer to Sinbad's, lean on his shoulder.

Sinbad ruins it.

But isn't that why he asked for the Ja'far to sit here in the first place?

'Sometimes... I think about someone I love dying.

And I'm so fucking selfish... I get exited at all the new things I'd feel.'

Ja'far's become remarkably wonderful at comforting Sinbad.

'You could go back now, if you wanted, Sharrkan.'

He looks back towards the heat waves in the distance. He's pretty far out.

'I'm not scared, you know.'

'You wouldn'ta made it this far if you were.'

A hand thumps him on the back.

'It's alright to back out before you get hurt. Nobody'll think any less of ya.'

The sand is starting to shift in his robes, he rolls onto his stomach.

Sinbad gestures to Ja'far, pulling out several bentos with his other cohorts.

'But Ja'far only brought lunches for pirates.'

'Gimme one.'