WELL WELL! The second of the three sequels to Gladiolus is started now. I'm SO excited for this one. Zora/Kirsch is one of the ships that I just love!

Who's ready for awkwardness and character growth?!

This is taking the place at the same time as Bellflowers (the first sequel that basically is about Original Characters so no one's reading it)
therefore, it's one month after the epilogue of Gladiolus

Clover Kingdom
Capital City
Shopping District
Evening, just after the Magic Knights Entrance Exams

Zora never knew how he got himself into these situation as he walked between Kirsch and Mimosa Vermillion just after dinnertime through the shopping district of the Capital. Today Zora had been forced to help test the examinees wanting to join the Magic Knights, and while he tried to escape once his duties were done, he was grabbed by Mimosa. The Golden Dawn only got one new kid this time around and the new kids were always handed over to Klaus, meaning that Mimosa had some free time.

Mimosa also grabbed her brother, who didn't have any new kids to deal with this time and therefore some spare time, and she wanted them both to come with her to find Children's' Day gifts for Mereoleona's three hellions. Zora wasn't big on children, but he was socially required to buy gifts nowadays for the children he knew which included Asta's kid siblings, Mereoleona's girls, and of course, Marie. (And if he already bought the presents that was his business, alright?)

Zora kind of hated himself for giving in so easily, but it wasn't his fault that he was weak to Mimosa's big doe eyes. He was too fond of her and she knew it. Where did that shy girl go who only muttered snarky things under her breathe?

"And so I was thinking about getting Blue some more storybooks now that she's gotten into reading," said Mimosa, cheerfully, holding Kirsch's hand. (Zora put his foot down when she tried the first time ages ago. He was not the hand-holding type of a guy). "What do you think?" She looked at Zora when she asked the question.

"Suppose that's good," said Zora, shrugging, nonchalantly as possible.

"Come on, Zora, I'm the worst at gifting people," said Mimosa, pleading.

"Blue likes the adventure stories."

Kirsch snorted. "How do you know that?"

"Leo mentioned to Asta," replied Zora. "Now are we going to the bookstore or not? As much as I don't hate either of you, I have other things to do."

Kirsch decidedly looked away, finding something interesting in one of the store fronts, but Zora saw the blush go to Kirsch's ears. Zora really had to learn how to word things better.

"Aww, I love you too, Zora," said Mimosa. This wasn't said in a joking manner, she was dead serious. She meant it. Zora was able to tell by her tone.

Zora froze in his tracks and so did Kirsch. Kirsch looked mildly confused. Zora wanted the ground to swallow him whole. Slowly, Zora responded, "Don't think your boyfriend will like that."

"Oh, not like that, Zora! Geez! I love you like another brother," said Mimosa, giving him a beaming loving smile that made Zora's feel very strange. "Sometimes my preferred brother…"

"Hey, that's mean, don't be mean to me, Mimosa," said Kirsch, pouting. Zora had to smirk at the banter between the two siblings.

"Don't worry, I love you too, Kirsch," said Mimosa, consolingly. "Now, which bookstore should we go get these books for Blue?"

An hour later, Mimosa got books for Blue, a new sleeping mask for Sabriel, and a new dress for Hanima. It was a successful shopping trip and Zora hate himself for sticking around the entire time. They made their way back to the Magic Knight Headquarters, Zora and Kirsch were seeing Mimosa off as she had a date with Langris.

"Thanks for coming with me, guys," said Mimosa, kissing her brother on the cheek. Zora glared at her, daring her to try and kiss him, instead, she went for a brief hug that he sort of returned. He really wasn't used to all the affection that the Black Bulls and Mimosa wanted to give him. "I'll see you both soon. Love you." She ran off as Langris exited a Captain's meeting.

"She gives me hives," said Zora, annoyed.

"I think I should be insulted that she likes you better than me," replied Kirsch, easily, but not offended. To say that things had been awkward between the two of them for last three months was an understatement. It was all well and fine having their normal bantering and bickering on missions or meetings, but then either Zora said something or Kirsch said something or someone else mentioned something and Zora would remember the fact that Kirsch was in love with him.

"You're her brother, for better or for worse," responded Zora. "Now, I really do have to go. I have sleep to catch up and paperwork to do."

"Ugh, don't remind me. I've got paperwork too," said Kirsch, cringing at the thought. As Captain Dorothy was asleep, Zora knew that Kirsch had to do all the Captain's paperwork in addition to his own Vice-Captain's paperwork. "Well, I'll see you around, Zora. Make sure you eat regularly or I'll sic my mother on you."

Zora glared. "You keep threatening that but I doubt your mother has time with the amount of missions she takes."

Kirsch smiled magnanimously, "She'd find the time. Trust me on this."

"Uh, you Vermillions and your aggressive caring."

"It's what we do."

Clover Kingdom
Noble Realm
Blue Rose Headquarters
Kitchens
Nighttime

Kirsch entered the kitchens of the Blue Rose Headquarters through their backdoor where he was hit with the smell of cake in the air. His mother was still in her battle armor, but she was busy decorating cupcakes. Smiling, he greeted his mother, "Whose birthday is it?"

"Lerola," replied his mother, Lady Nickole. "I just have enough time to make the cupcakes before heading out on a mission tomorrow morning."

"Mother, I thought we talked about you slowing down a bit," said Kirsch, crossing his arms and sighing.

"Bah, I'm fine, Kirsch. I'm not that old yet," said his mother. "So, how's your sister?"

"She's good. She spooked Zora today with a profession that she loved him like a brother," said Kirsch. He didn't intend to drop the topic of his mother taking a break, or at least, taking less missions. In Kirsch's opinion, his mother done more than enough and deserved some time for herself.

His mother raised an eyebrow. "Oh, and how are things between you and him? Still a bit awkward?"

"It's getting better," said Kirsch, flushing. "But that's not why I came by to see you. The wedding is in nine months. I need you to meet with Lady Esmond to plan the wedding."

His mother gave him such a look. "Kirsch, please, no don't make me do this, can't your father do it?"

"Father has a garish sense of décor, Mother. This is the only wedding I'll have, so I want it to be the best," said Kirsch, giving his mother his best pleading look.

She groaned. "The things I do for you kids. Fine. When I come back from my mission, I'll go and meet with Lady Esmond. I'm sure that will go splendidly." She said that last part under her breathe. His mother wasn't thrilled with Kirsch's decision to go on with the betrothal, but she knew not to change his mind.

"Just don't fight Lady Esmond, Mother, please."

"No promises."

"Mother!"

Clover Kingdom
Coral Peacocks' Headquarters
About an hour later

After the conversation with his mother, Kirsch finally reached the doors of home—the Coral Peacock Headquarters. It was nighttime and everyone should have been in their rooms. But as he stepped inside, it was bedlam. Kirsch felt his blood pressure rising. He yelled, "Levi! What in God's name is happening?"

The foyer of the Coral Peacocks' Headquarters was filled with multi-colored soap bubbles, the "kids" (their squad members under the age of 18) were running amuck while Levi Roe, Barry Morton and Cornelia Franklin were trying to corral them. Different magic affinities were clearly in use. Levi yelled back, frustrated, "Someone decided it was a good flipping idea to whisper things in the Captain's ears and things are appearing out of thin air!"

Kirsch's eye twitched. He took out his grimoire and cleared the bubbles. He shouted, "If I don't have every single one of you in front of me in ten seconds, the entire squad will be doing nothing but chores until kingdom come!" His squad knew he was quite serious. Kirsch took cleanliness seriously, so everyone in earshot lined up in a row, even Levi, Barry and Cornelia (Senior Class Knights). "Now, who is the ring leader and let me tell you no one is moving until I get a damn answer. I've got all night."

Unfortunately, not everyone in the squad was in the row (either because they were out on a mission, Kirsch recalling he did have three Magic Knights out on one or because they were too far away to hear him), and Kirsch should have seen this coming, as a lemon meringue pit appeared out of nowhere and landed right on Kirsch's head.

Kirsch was not happy.

Clover Kingdom
Forsaken Realm
Black Bulls' Base
Living Room
About the time that Kirsch got the Coral Peacocks' HQ

"Oh My God, let go of me, you clingy bastards," said Zora, struggling to be released from the grip of Magna, Vanessa, Charmy, Luck and Gordon. He just wanted to go to sleep. There was too much of feelings today and he was too tired to deal with his stupid friends at the moment. But they were not having it today.

"But we missed you, Zora," said Charmy, attempting to shove a piece of cake in his face. "Eat! Eat!"

"No cake at night, Charmy," replied Zora. "Damnit, let go!"

"You never hang out with us when you're home, Zora," complained Vanessa. "Instead, you're too busy going off to hang out with Kirsch!" Why was Vanessa so unnaturally observant sometimes? "I know you gotta hang with him before he gets married, but don't forget about us!"

Zora growled, scaring Charmy and Gordon off of him but not the other three. "Shut up! This is enough! I'm going to my room. Do. Not. Bother. Me." Despite having Luck, Magna and Vanessa hanging on him, Zora walked toward the stairs, attempting to kick them off. Once on the stairs, he got enough leverage to break free from the drunk, clingy assholes and run to his room.

He got to his room and went in, slamming the door shut and making sure to lock it. He sighed. "Fuckers."

Zora flopped on his bed, fully intending to get more than three hours of sleep. But what Vanessa mentioned nagged at Zora in his head. Kirsch was in love with him, Zora Ideale, but Zora didn't return the romantic feelings, but saw Kirsch as a friend. Kirsch was getting married in 9 months, 3 days, to a noble lady from the Esmond House.

And Zora hated it. He hated the fact that Kirsch was getting married to someone who didn't love the pretty boy Vice-Captain of the Coral Peacocks. He hated that Kirsch didn't get a choice in the matter. Marriage was a big deal in the Clover Kingdom. When someone got married, you didn't just legally bind yourself to another person until death do they part, but you magically bound yourself to them. The partners to be married wrote their names in the others' grimoire in their blood.

He remembered when his father, Zara, showed Zora the page where Zora's mother had written her name in her blood binding herself to Zora's father on their wedding day. His mother had died when Zora was three, maybe four, and while he barely remembered, he knew that losing his mother hurt his father in a way that he couldn't understand. So, yeah, Zora was angry on behalf of Kirsch, who just agreed to it like an idiot. Of course, Zora knew it was to protect Mimosa from any house politics (not that it mattered since Mimosa was dating Langris, who was an acceptable match for her anyway).

Kirsch's happiness mattered. Zora may not be in love with Kirsch, but Zora would be damned if Kirsch tied himself legally and magically to a woman who wouldn't treat Kirsch well. He didn't know the woman's first name, but he knew how to find someone who would tell him all about the woman.

Clarity Esmond will be getting a visit tomorrow morning, Zora decided before his mind finally decided to let him rest.

Clover Kingdom
Azure Deer Headquarters
Courtyard
The Next Day

"Mr. Zora, what can I do for you," asked Clarity Esmond, the 22-year-old ink magic affinity wizard and the 4th Class Senior Magic Knight of the Azure Deer squad. She was usually overly polite, when her head wasn't in the clouds or her hands weren't busy with her art. Zora had worked with her a couple of times, and she was an airhead in his opinion but she was far from stupid.

Zora stood in the courtyard of the Azure Deer Headquarters, after sneaking out before breakfast at the Black Bulls' Base, though he did take some granola to eat on the way because Charmy would murder him if he didn't eat properly. Somehow Charmy always knew if you were lying about eating. He merely intended to get a read from Clarity about the girl's older sister, for Zora's peace of mind. If the lady that Kirsch was marrying was like Clarity, Zora wouldn't have to worry because Clarity was a good sort of woman and took good care of her favorite person (i.e. Rill). "Kirsch is marrying your sister. What's she like?" Zora was not going to beat around the bush.

Clarity's brown eyes sharpened at the mention of her sister. "Why do you want to know?" She sounded particularly defensive, for whatever reason.

"Kirsch is my…friend. I just want to make sure that the woman he's marrying will be good to him," said Zora, bluntly. "If you didn't realize, he's got a personality that you have to get used to and he can be annoying, but he's reliable when it counts."

Smiling, Clarity replied, "Oh. Um, I don't think I'm the person you should ask."

"She's your sister, ain't she?"

"She and I don't get along, so I'm afraid that my answer would be…biased," said Clarity, softly.

Zora made a face. "Usually, siblings know all the shit parts of each other. Talk."

It took the blonde-haired artist a minute to think. "Fine, but just don't take my word for it." Zora nodded and waited for her to continue. "My sister is the middle child. I have an older brother who is the heir to the Esmond Noble House. He's a moron, just for reference. My sister, on the other hand, is very book smart intelligent. She's a professor at Clover University, her expertise is philosophy."

"Uh, philosophy," grunted Zora. What was the point of philosophers? In Zora's opinion, they were just failed historians and literary people.

"I know right," said Clarity, continuing. And then, everything that Zora wanted to know came spilling out of her mouth in a rush like she was ashamed to feel that way, "But that's about what she does, you're looking for what kind of person she is. She's not nice, Mr. Zora. She's condescending and mean to anyone she doesn't like. She thinks being a Magic Knight is a waste of time for nobles and royals that we should just let the commoners fight. She doesn't like kids and if she and Vice-Captain Kirsch were to have kids, he'd be the one to raise them. And while I think Vice-Captain Kirsch will try to make the best of it, she won't work with him. They haven't met yet, but I know that it's going to go badly." She breathed in and out.

"When do they meet?"

"Well, it has to be after the mothers of both meet for the first time, but usually the betrothed in these situations don't meet until 6 months before the wedding," said Clarity. She shrugged. "Vice-Captain Kirsch can do better." Then, she went back to her ink artwork and back into her own world, ignoring Zora.

Knowing that he wasn't getting any more out of her, he left, but now he was worried about Kirsch's impending marriage even more. Zora wished earnestly that he didn't care.

Clover Kingdom
Capital City
Magic Knights' Headquarters
Office of the Wizard King
Mid-morning

Kirsch didn't know why he was being called to the Wizard King's office, but it must be important to be so unplanned. Despite the few problems they had a few months ago (like Kirsch almost dying because of a curse), the Magic Knights led by Fuegoleon Vermillion tended to like planned meetings since they all had a lot to do. But if his cousin needed him, Kirsch went to the Capital without much fuss, leaving Levi in charge of making sure the kids did the chores (with threats of putting in the new titles in the bathrooms).

He entered the Magic Knight' Headquarters. It was quiet that morning, no one was rushing about panicking.

"Ah, it's you," said Zora, who came in after Kirsch and quickly caught up to Kirsch. They walked side-by-side. "You got called by him too?"

"Yeah," said Kirsch, suddenly very concerned if Fuegoleon called both Kirsch (a Vice-Captain) and Zora (a 5th Class Senior Magic Knight) than it must be important. It was especially strange considering that Zora tended to get sent out missions that were needed to be handle with discretion.

Zora seemed to realize the same thing as him, because they both hurried to the door of the Wizard King's office. Kirsch knocked and Fuegoleon called for him to come inside. The Wizard King, Fuegoleon Vermillion, the heir of the Vermillion House and Kirsch's older cousin sat there and he didn't look well. Marx wasn't in the room with him, in fact, things were very quiet today in headquarters.

"Holy shit, what the fuck is the matter with you," asked Zora, incredulously. "You look like shit."

"Thank you for pointing that out, Zora," said Fuegoleon, wryly.

"What's going on," asked Kirsch, before Zora got himself in trouble with that mouth of his.

"I have a favor to ask of both of you," replied Fuegoleon.

Zora snorted. "The unofficial kind, huh? Alright, I'll bite, what do you need done?"

"I need you two to go to Grimmtowne and find Sal," said Fuegoleon. "She left three months ago to investigate rumors of a demon and she's been dark for a month. Knowing her and asking Julius, she's never gone more than 2 weeks without communications. Marx can't get in touch with her."

"And because she's your wife, you can't be seen playing favorites. The general rule if someone goes missing, an investigation can't start until it's been a half-a-year, due to the lack of resources," finished Zora, arms crossed. "But knowing Sal, she's probably fine."

"That's what my head tells me, but I can't help but be worried," replied Fuegoleon. "If she's fine, then there's a good reason why she hasn't sent updates. But if she's not, I want you two there yesterday."

Kirsch understood. Sal was family. Fuegoleon risked everything to be allowed to marry Sal. "Of course, I'll go. Grimmtowne you say? Ah that's where the lady who wrote the fairy tales lived…guess they're not fairy tales…"

"I'm in," said Zora. "We'll head out as soon as we get some supplies and Kirsch sends orders to his squad."

Fuegoleon looked very grateful. "Thank you. I can't tell you how hard is it not just to go myself."

"Sal's probably fine," said Kirsch, smiling reassuringly at his cousin. "But we'll get to the bottom of everything."

Clover Kingdom
Capital City
Gates of the City
Noon

After leaving the Wizard King's office, Kirsch rushed off to the communication room in the Magic Knight Headquarters to talk to Levi, while Zora went to get supplies in town. Zora always left the Black Bulls with his travel bag out of pure habit, but the main thing was to get a medical kit and some other items just in case they had to deal with a demon or who knew what else. He was just waiting for Kirsch to show up at the gates of the Capital.

If Fuegoleon was worried about Sal, Zora was worried too. Zora met Sal shortly after Yami gave him the Black Bulls robe when he was like 16 or 17. Sal had been sent to check him out by Julius, there was no doubt about that in Zora's mind. She was an alright person and she didn't stop him from doing what he did to unworthy Magic Knights. Other than Lady Prospekt (that's a whole other story that no one had gotten out of him yet), his father Zara, Captain Mereoleona, Sal was one person that Zora would safely admit that he looked towards for guidance in his actions.

"Sorry, it took so long," said Kirsch, as rushed over to him. "The kids have been in trouble since last night, so I had to give them more chores. And Fuego's gonna send Asta over to check on them."

"When's Captain Dorothy waking up again," asked Zora.

Kirsch made a face. "Probably not until the Winter Festival. Got everything?"

"Yeah," said Zora, nodding. "Glad you changed to something less bright. We're flying most of the way and then finish by getting into town under the cover of night. Let's go."

"We'll find Sal, don't scowl so much. You'll get wrinkles," said Kirsch, teasingly.

"Aw, shut up and get on your damn broom, Kirsch."

Ch. End

Ahhh, so there's chapter one. I'll be doing a chapter a month for this story until it's complete. So please let me know what you think!