~*To Keep A Promise*~

Part One: Signs of Love

Spoilers: Spoilers for the end game. Enough said.

Characters: Fuka, "Vulcanus"

Summary: I spy with my little eye…something on a certain someone's neck…

~*X*~

As expected of Hades, it was disturbingly hot no matter where the heck she went. Fuka groaned and resumed traipsing around the reformation center's grounds, kicking a scorched black rock into the heaving mass of lava beneath her. It disappeared with a little fiery flash into the depths, never to be seen again. The Prinny Girl was annoyed. Why couldn't her dream have been a little more…temperate? All this smoke, ash, and flame just had to be bad for her skin, if not her entire body.

A familiar voice made her pause in the act of passing by one of the many outdoor training areas. She jogged back a few steps, listening with her ears pricked.

"Do you need any help? Here, let me carry this for you."

"…Miss Artina, please. I'm never going to pay off any of my sins if you keep doing things for me."

"O-Oh, right…Sorry…I'll just be going then. Let me know if you need anything."

Artina came up the steps with her hands clenched in front of her chest, taking a left and heading down the dusty stone path. (Dusty? Those Prinnies were really slacking off!) She didn't even seem to notice Fuka standing there. She hurried to catch up with her, waving her hand in front of the older girl's face. "Hellooo? Didn't you see me back there?"

"Huh?" She blinked her blue eyes, looking down at her. "Oh, good afternoon Miss Fuka…Did you need something?"

"Not really, I'm just walking around." They continued along the road side by side. "I'm so freakin' bored. Bored out of my skull! And Valzy keeps hounding me with his stupid Prinny Rules…Ugh."

The corner of Artina's lips twitched. "Still think this is a dream?"

"It has to be a dream!" She retorted automatically. "There's no way any of this is real!"

"If you say so…"

"I do! So…" Anxious to change the subject, Fuka said, "How's Nemo?"

Artina seemed lost in thought, her reply coming a bit delayed. "He's fine. He's being really cooperative…I'm glad."

"He better be, considering we risked our asses to save his sorry behind!"

Her friend seemed pleased for some reason. "And what about you, Miss Fuka? What do you plan on doing now?"

"I'm still gonna take over the Human World, of course!" She pointed her finger dramatically. "I'm not gonna rest until the whole world is underneath my feet!"

"Small wonder you ended up in the Netherworld," Artina mumbled, apparently torn between being amused and being worried.

However, Fuka wasn't listening. She was staring at Artina's throat with wide brown eyes. "Th-That can't be…Artina, did you…!"

The angel paused, tilting her head to the side curiously. "Huh? What is it?" Suddenly her whole face turned red and she hurriedly readjusted her flower choker, but not before Fuka confirmed what she had just seen.

She let out a little, excited squeal. "Artina! No…he didn't! Wait, yes he totally did!"

"Please don't make such a big deal out of this…"

"Oh I can't believe it! Wait 'till I tell Desco!" Fuka hopped up and down, grinning hugely. "Oh, oh, what was it like? Did you embrace? Or did he sort of just pounce on you? Did it hurt?"

"No, it didn't hurt, it was actually—" Artina appeared to realize her mistake and clamped her mouth shut, but it was far too late to stop the typhoon known as Hurricane Fuka.

"Oh mah gawd!" Fuka was smiling so widely it hurt. "Really, tell me, what was it like? What happened? If it didn't hurt, did that mean you liked it?"

Artina looked a bit pale. "Please, wait a moment…"

"When did this happen? Wow, I've got so many questions! What's it like to suffer the kiss of the Vampire?"

"…Fuka, dear, please, that's enough."

Her tone made the girl halt in her verbal tracks. "Oh, I'm sorry Artina. I just really wanna know! You two make such a cute couple; I can't help but be interested!"

She was blushing furiously now. "I might tell you about it later, but Mr. Vampire and I aren't…aren't together or anything."

Fuka frowned, coming down from her romance high. A devilish gleam lit up her eyes. "Would you like to be? I always wanted to play matchmaker…"

Artina didn't get to answer, because just then Valvatorez came down the stairs from the next level, Fenrich in tow. The Werewolf looked like someone who had opened his gifts on Christmas and found everything he had ever dreamed of. Valvatorez went right up to Artina, whose white wings were ruffled with nervousness, and said in a perplexed tone, "Do you know where Judge Nemo is now? Fenrich and I have many activities planned out for today, and he must complete every single one in an orderly manner if he hopes to atone for his sins this millennium!"

On closer inspection, Fuka noticed that Valvatorez was practically glowing with health. He emanated an aura more powerful than before, it was rather intimidating, if she did say so herself.

"He's in the west training grounds," Artina informed him. "Practicing his Prinny techniques, I think."

Valvatorez grinned. "Excellent! I'm glad to see that he has enthusiasm!"

"We'll see how long that lasts, my Lord." Fenrich's tone was wry but again his golden eyes were pretty smug.

"Indeed we will. Come, Fenrich!" He made as if to sweep off down the corridor, but to Fuka's shock he stopped halfway down and turned around. "…And what are you up to today, Artina?"

"Me? Hmm…I was heading to the Hospital to help out, that's all."

Valvatorez nodded as if this fact didn't surprise him before addressing Fuka. "And what of you, lass? Still determined not to undergo your Prinny training?"

"Hell yes! I. Am. Not. A. Prinny!"

The Tyrant looked exasperated, but he merely shrugged before disappearing around the bend. Fenrich just swished his tail, not even sparing the other two a glance as he followed his Lord.

Fuka waited a few beats, and then giggled. "Did you see that? He totally stopped just to ask you—"

"I-I've got to go, Miss Fuka. I'll see you later, okay?" Artina didn't wait for her reply; she simply took to the air, vanishing from sight as she soared over the high stone walls of the Hades prison complex.

She watched her go, a knowing smirk on her face. "Just wait until I find Desco…"

In her opinion, those two bite marks on Artina's neck was the Vampire equivalent of a passionate kiss, considering what Valvatorez thought of the angel and all.

Author's Note: This one-shot collection will follow a loose continuity of its own, but for the most part they're stand-alones. I haven't finished the post-game yet so please keep that in mind...Hm, what else...Oh yeah, I ship ValvatorezxArtina in this collection, so you have been warned if you dislike it. That aside, I do accept suggestions but I might not neccessarily do them...It's not to be spiteful, sometimes I just can't think of a way to execute things. That aside, stay tuned for more!