Day 5: Complications

"Japan seems pretty nice right now," Sabrina said as she stood atop a skyscraper, her mask on.

"It's been a while since we've been here," Shade said. "Ever since…"

"Can we not bring that up?" Sabrina asked, her tone agitated. "I still haven't gotten over it yet."

"Fine, but Edhas might bring it up though," Shade said.

"Yeah," Sabrina looked down at the roads below her. "I really miss Brianna."

"I miss her too," Shade put a had on Sabrina's shoulder. "Let's go. YAGOO said he works at a fast food restaurant."

"Maybe I could get some fried chicken to eat my sorrows," Sabrina said.

"Oh, stop being edgy," Shade grumbled.

"Never."

-

"Hey Brianna!" Ollie barreled through the door, tackling Sabrina in a hug.

"Yes Ollie?" Brianna hugged her back. She was in a grumpy mood due to all the exercise she did with Mana's regimens, which were hell (both physically and literally).

"I'm planning on going to KFP today," Ollie said. "Want to come?"

"I'm dead, remember?" Sabrina reminded her.

"Yeah," Ollie took out the KFP pamphlet and pointed at the pentagram on the bottom right, "but this pentagram can bring spirits to the overworld!"

"Really?" Brianna rubbed her chin. "Someone with a lot of power and resources backing them would have made these, then."

"Whatever!" Ollie waved her arms wildly. "Just go on a date with me!"

"Fine, fine," Brianna heaved a sigh, patting Ollie's head. "Let me get ready first."

-

Ryan cracked his neck as he prepared for work. "What do you even do to prepare for work?" Nux asked in Ryan's head.

'Mentally,' Ryan replied, as if it was an obvious answer. 'Who knows when I'll get my ass thrown in the usual room?'

"What's the usual room?" Nux asked.

'You know,' Ryan looked at the door, shuddering. 'I'd rather not know the answer to that question.'

-

"Morning Tenchou," Ryan said his usual greeting as he walked into the restaurant.

"Hi, my Little Egg!" Kiara ran out of the back room. "Are you excited to work today?"

"Of course," Ryan smiled as he made his way over to the break room. Ah, the ease of mind one got by knowing that their boss wasn't ground pounding her wife in the break room. "I'm always excited."

-

Ryan instantly tensed when he opened the door of the break room to see two familiar figures. Shade wore his usual clothing, a brown robe covering an orange T-shirt and cargo pants. His short, blond hair was wild and unruly and his mask covered his entire face. Sabrina was also wearing a brown cloak and her mask, wearing her standard skinny jeans and pink hoodie with a giant '4' on it.

"It's nice to see you again, Edhas," Shade turned to Ryan.

"I've been called a lot of things, but that's a new one," Ryan said, narrowing his eyes. "My name is Ryan Shade."

"Call me Shade," Shade said. "I don't know why you don't trust me, but I'm on your side, Edhas."

"Why are you calling me that?" Ryan asked, looking visibly agitated at the mention of the name. "I'm not Edhas."

"Who's Edhas?" Kiara tilted her head, looking back and forth between the two parties.

"An old friend," Sabrina replied.

"Whatever you say, Yo-chan," Kiara waved her hand dismissively.

'Haven't heard that nickname in ages,' Ryan thought to himself.

"Anyways, back to our-," Shade was cut off when the doors slammed opened, revealing a redheaded zombie with a sword through her head.

"OHAYOLLIE!" Ollie shouted as she strutted into the restaurant. "THE WORLD'S NUMBER ONE ZOMBIE HAS ARRIVED!"

"Ollie, please don't be two lo-," Brianna stepped in, sighing but cut herself off when she saw the people before her. "Shade…? Sabrina…? Edhas…?"

"Bri!" Sabrina hopped off her stool and tackled her friend in a hug.

"Hey!" Ollie cried in protest. "She's my date!"

"I thought you were dead!" Sabrina squeezed her friend, ignoring Ollie's cries of protest.

"Well, I still am, but apparently I can find my way here now," Brianna patted Sabrina on the head, wrapping her other arm around her before looking up to Ryan. "Aren't you going to hug me too?"

"Sorry, but Edhas is long gone," Ryan rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I'm all that's left."

"What…?" Brianna just looked at Ryan with a blank expression as Sabrina let go of her. "What happened…?"

"I think you guys should take this conversation outside," Ryan said. "I have a job to do."

"If you insist," Shade stood up, heading for the exit. "Brianna, I will explain everything."

Kiara turned to stare at Ryan as the three left. "What was that?"

Ryan shrugged. "I have no idea."

-

"Alright, what's going on?!" Brianna demanded as she stomped up to Shade, grabbing him by the shirt and pinning him on the wall. "You better explain what's going on with my brother or we're going to exchange a little bit more than words."

"You see, after you died, Edhas lost his temper," Shade said calmly as he turned his head to face her, as if he was boring a hole into her with his eyes. "He unleashed his power, threatening to destroy the world in his anger, so we had to lock his memories and his magic. Ryan Shade was the result of that. He formed his own personality and life without the use of magic. We came here because an outside source said there was a chance that he unlocked his prior memories again."

"We didn't intend for it to happen for another couple weeks," Sabrina said. "As much as I miss him, I don't want to see him destroy the world either. We wanted him to mature as a person before we gave him back his memories and his magic."

"I… I see…" Brianna lowered Shade before heaving a sigh, sitting down on the floor. "Just when I thought I could see him again…"

"We will," Sabrina knelt down, hugging her friend. "We'll get to the bottom of this. I'm sure we'll be able to see him afterwards."

-

Ryan raised his eyebrow as Brianna was the only one to walk back into the KFP. "Did something happen?"

"It was a false alarm," Brianna heaved a sigh. "You looked like one of our friends who vanished a couple years ago, but since you aren't him, Shade and Godslayer went looking elsewhere."

"I see," Ryan said. He knew that she was lying, but he would play along.

"Now can we get back to our date~?" Ollie said, giving Brianna dead puppy eyes.

"Fine," Brianna sat down on one of the stools. "Do you have any Dragonson liquor?"

"I'm going to have to see some ID," Ryan said.

"Well, I died two years ago and I was sixteen when I died so I guess I'm legal," Brianna said. "I don't even know anymore."

"Are you sure you want that one?" Kiara asked. "That one is the strongest one we have."

"Yeah I just…" Brianna shook her head. "I think I need it right now."

"If you insist," Kiara said before walking over to the back room.

"Dragonson liquor?" Ollie tilted her head, putting a finger on her chin. "I don't know what that is. Doesn't sound all too romantic."

"Oh, you'll see," Brianna smirked. "It's the best drink in the world."

-

"Ollie is never allowed to take her sword out her head again," Ryan grumbled as he wiped brain matter off the counter.

"Oh, you're no fun!" Ryan stiffened as Kiara slapped Ryan on the back. "She was just enjoying the pleasantries!"

"The strongest alcohol in the world shouldn't count as pleasantries," Ryan said. "Anyways, I'm clocking out for the day."

"Bye Ryan!" Kiara smiled and waved as Ryan walked out the door. Ryan walked a couple minutes down the alley before he dived out of the way, narrowly dodging a fireball.

"You know, throwing fire at people isn't good manners, Shade," Ryan turned around to confront Shade and Sabrina.

"You definitely sound like Edhas," Shade said.

"Yeah, but I'm not him," Ryan said, growing more agitated by the second. He thought he was managing his emotions properly, but these events were proving otherwise.

"So, you know about him," Shade noted.

"Yeah," Ryan scoffed. "He's dead."

"Dead?" Sabrina asked.

"Yeah, that's why I'm here," Ryan said. "I would appreciate it if you told no one about my escapades through time. It would be nice to have the right to tell the people I want."

"So that's why Jack moved towards Japan," Shade said. "Why did you tell us, though?"

"You would have found out anyways," Ryan heaved a sigh. "It's only a matter of time before Reporter gets on my ass."

"Reporter?" Sabrina tilted her head. "Who's that?"

"Oh, I forgot he hasn't shown up yet," Ryan said. "I don't know his real name, but he's the seventh mask."

"Isn't he dead?" Sabrina asked.

"There's a lot of coming back from the dead if you couldn't tell from today's events," Ryan said.

"Brianna came back from the dead?" Shade rubbed his chin.

"Yeah, but that wasn't supposed to happen for a while," Ryan heaved a sigh. "Anyways, I'm tired, so I'm heading off to bed."

"Bye Ryan," Sabrina said. "I'm sorry for everything."

"I'll see you around," Shade said.

"I guess I don't have a choice," Ryan muttered as he turned the corner, knowing that two were already gone.

"I can't catch a break."

-

"You don't belong here," A voice radiated throughout the endless void as Nux casually walked through it.

"Do you think I give a shit?" Nux chuckled as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "You must be dumber than I thought."

"I'll get you eventually," The voice growled. "You can't run forever."

"Who said I was running?" Nux laughed loudly at that before scowling. "Now piss off. I have a meeting to get to."

When Nux confirmed the voice had gone, he continued walking, a smile growing on his face as the glowing of a TV screen could be seen in the distance.

"I didn't expect to see you so soon, Nux," Storm turned around to see Nux walked up to him. Aloe, who was watching Gen 5 do a collab stream poked her head from her seat.

"Storm? Who's this?" Aloe asked, tilting her head.

"Can't I say hi to an old friend?" Nux slapped Storm on the back before turning to Aloe. "Name's Nuxanor. You can just call me Nux."

"I thought you were enjoying your new body," Storm said. "Did you get bored already?"

"Nah," Nux's smile went soft as he looked Storm in the mask. "I just missed you."

"I never thought I'd hear that from you," Storm chuckled. "Nevertheless, the sentiment is welcome."

"A lot has happened since I got this body," Nux said, chuckling softly. "I just want to spend time with my friends."