When Edgar Kramler first moved to Costa del Sol from his hometown of Corel, he had no idea of what he was getting into. Costa del Sol was much more than the beaches and hot weather which made it a world-famous vacation destination; it was a den of vice and corruption, as well as the favored home of many an eccentric personality. Fortunately, Costa del Sol's darker and quirkier sides didn't faze him much; actually, he found these aspects of the town to be interesting. Every day carried with it the potential for a new experience, which led Kramler to become far more enamored with this place than he ever was with Corel.
       He was an accounting major, with a minor in economics, at Del Sol University, a prestigious institute of higher learning largely attended by the children of the Great Continent's most well-to-do families. Kramler himself lacked such a background; the only reason he was at the university was because he received a substantial scholarship, as his mathematics abilities were far above average. The education he was getting was good, and Kramler enjoyed several of his classes, but he couldn't help feeling out of place amongst his richer peers. Therefore it came as no surprise that, by the beginning of his third year, he had acquired a taste for solitude.
       One night, early in the semester, Kramler decided to hit Bar del Sol; his evening class had been cancelled, and he didn't feel like going home yet. Even on a Monday night such as this, this popular nightspot was filled with people; he had to walk all the way to the back of the bar before he could find an empty stool. He sat down and patiently waited for the bartender to make her way over to him. To his left was a deeply-tanned blonde who was busy chatting it up with a bunch of shirtless jocks, and to his right was a guy around his age, who was staring into space with a frustrated look on his face. Seeing as how any prospects for interesting conversation looked dim, Kramler sighed and focused on trying to get the bartender's attention. He must've tried to wave her over for at least five minutes before the guy to his right let out a shrill whistle and raised his arm, making a beckoning motion. The bartender noticed him almost immediately and came right over.
       "Becky, this guy here's been trying to get a drink for ages now," the young man said, pointing over at a stunned Kramler. "Take his order, and while you're at it, please get me another vodka tonic."
       "Sure thing, Reeve."
       "Just trying to look out for you, since you're new and all."
       "I really appreciate it," Becky said with a smile before turning her attention to Kramler. "Now, what can I get you, sir?"
       Kramler broke out of his trance and answered, "Oh, just a beer please. Something dark, like a stout, if you've got anything like that."
       "We sure do. I'll be right back."
       Once the bartender left, Kramler leaned over to Reeve and said, "Thanks."
       Reeve simply muttered an affirmative, which he followed up with, "I've never seen you here before. You from out of town?"
       Kramler chuckled. "Nah, I'm just a college student, but this is only my second or third visit to this place. What about you? Are you a regular here?"
       "I guess you could call me that." He held out his hand. "By the way, my name's Forrest Reeves, but as you've probably noticed, I generally go by Reeve."
       Kramler took Reeve's hand in his own and shook it firmly. "Edgar Kramler. Just 'Kramler' is fine."
       "Nice to meet you, Kramler."
       "Pleasure's mine." At that moment, Becky came over with their drinks. Kramler and Reeve paid for each of theirs, and she picked up the money and disappeared down the bar once more. Kramler continued, "So are you a student too? You don't look much older than me."
       "I'm in the Architecture and Engineering School at Del Sol University. You?"
       "The Business and Economics College."
       "Huh." Reeve took a sip of his vodka tonic. "You don't look the type."
       Kramler smiled; he should've expected a comment like this. "So, what 'type' do I look like?"
       "I'm not sure… liberal arts, maybe?"
       "I'm not as good with words as I am with numbers, though."
       "Looks like we have something in common."

       The two of them talked for the next couple of hours until Reeve announced that he had to get going. Hastily, they exchanged phone numbers and promised that they'd get together sometime to hang out. Kramler himself didn't stick around for much longer after that; he finished his second beer and headed for the door, then started the long walk back to his small, dingy apartment.
       He and Reeve did meet up a few times afterward, mostly at the bar in the evenings. During the course of those get-togethers, he learned a little more about Reeve; for instance, that he was from Gongaga originally and that he came from a well-off—but not wealthy—family of merchants. Then, a little less than a month later, Reeve told Kramler during a lunchtime meeting that his roommate was moving out. "This is the third time this has happened to me since I've come to this town," Reeve explained. "I just have trouble keeping roommates, I guess."
       "So what're you going to do now? Live by yourself?"
       "Why would I want to do that? Do you have any idea how much the rent is on that place?"
       "Well, it seems you have bad luck with roommates, so…"
       "Actually, I was curious to see if you were interested."
       Kramler, who had just started to pick up his sandwich, paused halfway, then set it back down. "Are you serious?"
       "Yes. Your share of the rent would be about the same as what you're paying now, plus my place is closer to—"
       "You barely know me."
       "I know you well enough to believe that you're trustworthy."
       "I guess so," Kramler shrugged, before finally taking a bite out of his sandwich. As he chewed, he thought over Reeve's proposition. Moving in with him would mean losing some privacy and solitude, but on the other hand, from what little he knew about Reeve's living situation, it sounded a lot better than his own. Still, he had to see the place with his own eyes. "All right. I'll think about it, but I'd at least like to see this apartment first."
       "Of course. Can you drop by this evening?"
       With a nod, Kramer replied, "I'll be there at seven, right after my last class lets out."
       "Actually, can you come over at eight? I'll be getting out of class shortly before seven as well, but I want to straighten up the place before you come over."
       Kramler raised an eyebrow. "You aren't the messy type, are you?"
       "Me? No. I just need to get a few things in order. First impressions, you know."
       "All right. I'll see you at eight then."


       He fell in love with the place the moment he stepped through the door. Reeve's two-bedroom apartment was in an older building, so the rent was reasonable, but it was spacious and located only a few blocks from the beach. The worn wooden floorboards bore a rich mahogany stain and the windows were modestly-sized, but let in a good breeze which calmly rustled the potted palm that stood in one corner of the living room. The other furnishings were obviously second-hand, but with a comforting air about them; sinking into the couch that night, he knew that he wouldn't want to leave.
       Kramler moved into Reeve's place the first day of the following month; fortunately, he had been on a month-to-month lease at his prior apartment, which made the transition that much easier. Reeve helped him move, as did a couple of their respective classmates, and thanks to their help, the job was over in only a couple of hours. They all sat around the living room after they hauled up the last few boxes, drinking beer and discussing their plans for the rest of that weekend. Now that he had officially moved in, Kramler felt more than ever that he had made the right decision. Reeve seemed like a decent enough guy, and he was sure that they wouldn't have any problems living together. The only rules that Reeve had given him were to knock before entering his bedroom, and never go in there when he wasn't around. Of course, Kramler didn't have a problem with this; he understood the need for privacy, and didn't question it.

       As Kramler had hoped, he and Reeve got along well as roommates. Their schedules were quite different, but there was enough overlap during the week that they would see each other at home on a regular basis. Every once in awhile, Reeve would have a guest or two over, but Kramler ignored them for the most part, and would typically just retreat to his room or otherwise separate himself from the others.
       He also started going to the beach more often, as it was much closer now than it had been at his old place. They lived near the northern end of the Costa del Sol coastline, which was the one part of the shore where the locals typically outnumbered the tourists—even during peak vacation times. Kramler came to like this northern beach, as it was unpretentious and populated with people who were more like him, as opposed to the rich kids who were his classmates, and even the not-quite-as-rich one that he lived with.
       The local eye candy was also something as well. There was just something about the beach which compelled people to shed their clothes for skimpier outfits, but Kramler wasn't one to complain. He wasn't interested in swimming or tanning—in fact, he tended to burn fairly easily—so most of his time at the beach was spent in the shade with a book, but usually doing more people-watching than reading.
       One day, he was at the beach when a shapely brunette with slightly bronzed skin walked up to him and started to make small talk. This was not a rare occurrence by any means; he had had similar encounters before, some of which had led to dates, and sometimes even a little bit more. However, shortly after discussing the lovely weather and a couple of other trivialities, this girl admitted that she had been sent over here by someone else.
       "My brother goes to Del Sol University," she said. "He's in some math class with you. Says you helped him out with some homework last week."
       Kramler nodded, knowing who she was talking about. "So, he wants something else from me?"
       "Nah, but our dad does. He's been looking for an assistant on behalf of his accountant, and hasn't been having much luck. You helped my brother ace his homework, and he talked you up to my dad."
       "What, you mean your dad wants to recommend me for this job?"
       "Yeah, something like that. My dad's one of his accountant's best clients, so if he likes you, I'm sure you'd get the job, no problem."
       "What exactly your dad do?"
       "Oh he… he's just a businessman. Into goods and trade, you know?"
       "Uh huh," Kramler replied, raising an eyebrow. Considering what he already knew about this classmate that he helped out, this sounded a touch shady… but what job wasn't in Costa del Sol? Certainly his current one—at a butcher shop where the owners regularly bribed the health inspectors—qualified. "Well, I'll think it over."
       "Can't you give me an answer now?"
       "Nope. For one thing, I need to know more about what I'd be getting into." Quickly, he added, "You know, how much I'd be paid, what the hours are like, that sort of thing."
       "I'll give you my dad's number and you can talk to him yourself."
       "All right."
       The girl dug a small notepad and pencil from her purse and jotted down ten digits, then tore off the page and gave it to Kramler. "Thanks so much for this. I'm so glad I was able to catch you. I've seen you here at the beach nearly every Tuesday for the past couple months, so that's how I knew where to find you."
       "Your brother gave a good description of me, then."
       "It's hard not to take notice of a young guy with white hair."
       Kramler smiled; his grayish-white mop was quite the distinguishing trait. "By the way, I never caught your name."
       "Suzy. And you go by Kramler, right?"
       "Yep."
       "Well, I hope I'll be seeing more of you around in the future."
       "I suppose you mean working for your dad's accountant, rather than as my date at a club tonight?"
       "Bingo. Nice try, though," she replied with a wink.
       Kramler smirked. With a shrug he said, "A guy's gotta do what he can."

       He left the beach a little bit early that day, staring at the phone number on the small piece of paper that Suzy had given to him. Certainly, he would give Suzy's dad a call later this week and press him for more details about this gig. It sounded promising, especially since it was related to his major, very much unlike his current job. However, he just knew was that there was probably more to this than what little he had been told that day.
       Reeve wasn't around when he entered the apartment; at first, Kramler found this odd considering his roommate's schedule, but then shrugged it off, figuring that he just ran to the store to pick up something. He dropped his keys and his book on the sidetable by the front door, went into the kitchen and grabbed an energy drink, and was about to go into the living room and plop down on the couch when something caught his eye.
       Between the kitchen and the living room was a small hallway, at the end of which was Reeve's bedroom door. Usually, this door was kept closed shut, but this time, it had been left slightly ajar.
       Not only that, but there was something Kramler had spotted beyond that door. There, on Reeve's bed, was a long, shiny blade, like that of a sword.
       Kramler paused in his tracks. He did respect his roommate's privacy, but there was something unnerving about what he had just seen. Costa del Sol's laws pertaining to weaponry were so convoluted that several types of weapons were essentially illegal; in most cases, it was best not to risk owning weapons at all. What his roommate would be doing with a sword on his bed was something of a mystery to Kramler, but at that moment, the reasoning behind Reeve's house rules suddenly became much clearer.
       Just then, the front door opened. Kramler turned his head to see Reeve, who bore an annoyed expression, which seemed to be aimed at no one in particular.
       "You're back early," said Reeve.
       "I've got a lot on my mind right now."
       "Hmm. And why are you standing there like that?"
       "Reeve, I saw something, beyond your door…"
       As that moment, Reeve's brows furrowed and he stormed over to where Kramler was standing to take a look for himself. "Shit!" he swore, then walked up to his door and swung it all the way open. Reeve then grabbed from the bed what Kramler now definitely knew was a sword, and swung it around so that the blade's tip was directly beneath his roommate's chin.
       "How much did you see?" Reeve demanded.
       "Only that sword through the crack in the door. I got here not five minutes before you did!"
       "Don't ever again refer to this kitchen knife I've got in my hands in such an absurd way!"
       "Huh? Oh…" Kramler caught on quickly. The walls of their apartment weren't exactly sound-proof, and if Reeve got caught with this sword, he'd be in a whole heap of trouble. Lowering his voice, he told Reeve, "Listen, I'm not gonna turn you in. I'm not like that. So you've got nothing to worry about, okay?"
       "Do I have your word on that?"
       "Yes, of course."
       Reeve stared at Kramler for another moment before pulling the sword away. With the threat lessened, Kramler let out a long, relieved sigh and said, "Is this why you had trouble keeping your previous roommates?"
       "This usually had something to do with it, yes."
       "'This'? Meaning the sword?"
       Reeve said nothing.
       "There's something else you aren't telling me, isn't there."
       By way of a reply, Reeve turned around and entered his room, where he opened the closet door. "If you really want to know, then come in here and take a look."
       Kramler hesitated for a moment, then decided to take Reeve up on his offer. Inside the closet were at least a half-dozen more swords, along with some firearms, fighting gloves, daggers, whips, and other weapons he didn't know the names of. Dumbfounded, Kramler shook his head. "What the hell are you doing with all this?"
       "It's my part-time job. I told you my family's all merchants, right? This is the sort of thing we deal in."
       "You're a weapons merchant?"
       "Not so loud."
       "Sorry," Kramler whispered back. "But you do know your line of work isn't exactly legal around here…"
       "Why do you think I went to such trouble to hide this from you?"
       Kramler simply shook his head and leaned against the wall, while Reeve sheathed the long, slender sword he had been holding. "This is a Murasame, forged in Wutai. Not an easy thing to get ahold of for most merchants, but we've had a good relationship with a well-known swordsmith there for decades. I had a potential buyer come up here to take a look at it this afternoon, but he backed out of the deal at the last minute. Said he couldn't afford it. I was out seeing him off when you came home."
       "So a lot of your houseguests have actually been clients?"
       "Most of them, yeah."
       Kramler watched his roommate as the latter carefully placed the sword inside the closet and slid the door closed. Reeve then turned to him and said, "You now have two options. You can continue to stay here, or you can leave. Keep in mind that if I ever get caught, you'd probably be going down with me as an accomplice. Either way, you must not let on to anyone what goes on here."
       "And if I do?"
       "Let's just hope that won't have to happen..."
       "Well, in that case, I'll stay."
       Reeve raised both his eyebrows. "Are you sure?"
       Kramler nodded. "The reason why I came back so early is because I got a job offer. I've been thinking it over ever since."
       "What's the job?"
       "Assistant to a classmate's father's accountant."
       "Sounds right up your alley."
       "Yes, but something's been bugging me."
       "Which is…"
       "Said classmate's last name is Gabbiani."
       A pause. Reeve then replied, "You don't mean… that Gabbiani?"
       "I think so. At any rate, I wasn't sure then, but I am now. I'll be taking the job. If I end up on the other side of the law as well, then you'll have nothing to fear from me."
       Reeve sighed and shook his head. "Well, if you're sure about this, then I suppose I can't stop you. Actually, I'm kind of glad you're sticking around—you've been one of the better roommates I've had."
       "Thanks." Kramler felt much the same way, though Reeve was in fact the only roommate he'd ever had. He didn't want to give up this great apartment, but at the same time, he didn't want to give up his great roommate, either.


       Maybe it was because it had existed from the beginning, but after Reeve's weapons dealing had been disclosed to him, a certain tension had been lifted that Kramler previously hadn't even known existed. Over the next few weeks, Reeve became less guarded and more open, and as a result, they were becoming better friends than they had been before.
       The semester was also winding down, and along with it came several parties amongst the university's students: the final big bashes before the long summer break, when most of the students would be back at home or otherwise traveling. Kramler and Reeve went to a few of these—sometimes they were parties with the former's classmates, sometimes they were those thrown by the latter's. Regardless of whose friends or classmates were throwing the party, they both usually got fairly wasted on drugs and alcohol. However, this year's bashes had been different than in previous years in that, back then, Kramler would sometimes slip out with someone in the middle of them, some luscious attractive thing that had caught his eye in his drug-induced haze. This year, such a thing didn't occur, not even once. He and Reeve would just trudge home afterwards—usually with their arms draped across each other's shoulders as they helped the other to walk. The following mornings, they'd sleep in late, then go out for a big breakfast.
       At first, Kramler found himself wondering if somehow, his sex drive had declined, and this was why he wasn't so concerned with getting laid this year. Yet at one of the last parties before the final week of the semester, as he stared at Reeve sitting idly on the host's couch, his heart racing so fast he wondered if he'd go into cardiac arrest, Kramler realized that it wasn't that at all.

       They left that party about an hour later, Kramler supporting Reeve as the latter rambled on about some guy he'd met there, a senior who'd scored a lucrative post-graduate career with a growing company out east called Shinra.
       "So what do you plan on doing after we graduate next year?" Kramler asked him.
       "I'm pretty much set, job-wise. Staying in the weapons field, but maybe on the manufacturing and design side as opposed to sales."
       "What? But that's not what you're interested in. Didn't you once tell me that you'd like to get into civil planning?"
       "Eventually, but… that doesn't matter right now. I already know what I'm going to do once I leave this place."
       "All right…"
       When they got back to the apartment, they found the front door unlocked. Reeve immediately took off to his bedroom, to check that nothing was missing, while Kramler quietly wandered through the rest of the apartment.
       "Nothing's missing," Reeve said upon completing his inspection.
       "And nobody's here," Kramler added.
       "This is definitely suspicious though. Too bad we can't turn to the cops."
       Kramler nodded; this was indeed true. Between his working for the accountant of the Gabbiani crime syndicate, and Reeve's illicit weapons dealing, to turn to the police, especially in this situation, would be suicide. "It's likely that one of us forgot to lock it when we went out."
       "Yeah." Reeve wandered into the kitchen, pausing in his tracks as he passed the sink. "Hey… the faucet's not dripping anymore."
       "Huh? It's not?"
       "Come see for yourself." Kramler did so as Reeve continued on to the fridge. He found that his roommate was right.
       "Well, I guess that solves the mystery of the unlocked door. It was probably our super."
       "Makes sense. I heard one of the other neighbors complain the other day that the super forgot to lock her door after he came by to fix something."
       "Guess that solves the mystery then."
       "Guess so." Reeve pulled out a beer and cracked it open, then walked into the living room and stood before one of the windows in there. Kramer could tell that he was still a bit shaken by the whole incident and decided to walk up to Reeve. The apartment was dark, as they had not bothered to turn on the lights, but Reeve was illuminated by the moonlight that streamed in through the glass. Kramler found himself struck by his friend's forlorn expression, his soft yet weary brown eyes trying to pierce the darkness beyond the window. Yes, one-night stands were just not worth it anymore, not with him here.
       "Reeve…" he said softly. "Forrest."
       "No one calls me 'Forrest'," Reeve replied. "Does anyone call you 'Edgar'?"
       "No, but I like how it sounds when you say it." Kramler came before Reeve, locking eyes with him. "You may call me Edgar, if you wish."
       Reeve swallowed hard and turned away. "What's gotten into you?"
       Kramler nuzzled his head against the back of Reeve's, encircling him with his arms, and slowly ran the tip of his tongue from Reeve's left earlobe upwards. He could feel Reeve shiver in his grip. As he felt a smirk creep onto his face, Kramler replied, "Nothing. But I'd like to get into you, Forrest, if you know what I mean."
       "Edgar… stop doing that."
       "Doing what?" Kramer chuckled. He began kissing the nape of Reeve's neck, eliciting a few small gasps from the latter. "And you called me Edgar! Are you really sure you want me to stop?"
       "You're lucky I'm so high. If I was sober, you'd be halfway across the room by now."
       "Hmph. But you seem to be enjoying yourself." By now, Kramler could feel himself becoming very hard, and his hands were wandering southward down Reeve's body, hoping to find the same.
       "Kramler, I mean it. Stop. Stop it. Please."
       Reluctantly, Kramler paused in his actions, but didn't draw away from Reeve completely. "Why? What's your deal?"
       "I'm engaged."
       Kramler froze. "Huh?"
       "I'm getting married next year. And I don't want to get involved with anyone before then, even for a little while."
       It was then that Kramler fully backed off from Reeve. "You never told me about this before."
       "There was no reason to."
       "I see."
       Reeve turned his head slightly; Kramler could just make out his profile. "You know… you really surprised me, just now."
       "You aren't the only one who's surprised."
       "I'm sorry, Kramler, but there's not much I can do about that. I'm engaged, end of story."
       "Well, that was certainly a surprise as well, but that wasn't what I was talking about."
       "Eh?"
       "I was surprised to realize just how much I've grown to love you."

       Those were the last words either one of them had said that night. The following morning, they didn't go out for breakfast together as they usually did after a big party. By the time Kramler woke up and got dressed, Reeve had already left for the day.
       The week that followed was fairly quiet and low-key. They each took their respective final exams, then, on that Friday, Reeve packed up and left for his summer job: acting in the Loveless play's touring company. As Kramler was staying behind in Costa del Sol for the three months between then and the start of the fall semester, Reeve left him with his share of the rent money for the time he'd be gone, and carefully packed away all his "wares"—the assorted weapons that he kept in his room. On the day of Reeve's departure, he and Kramler exchanged terse goodbyes.


       That summer passed by neither too quickly nor too slowly. At the beginning of the break, and for the next couple of weeks after Reeve's departure, the incident that had happened between them weighed heavily on Kramler's mind. Yet since then, he had convinced himself that there was no point in worrying about it. What was done was done, and although the situation was far from ideal, if it was for the best, then that suited him. Although it pained him to know that he and Reeve could never be, as long as his friend was happy, then he could live with himself.
       The Monday before the fall semester started, Kramler busied himself with the task of cleaning up the apartment before Reeve got back. After a long morning of housework, he wiped the last of the kitchen counters dry, squeezed out the sponge in the sink, then started toward the living room to collapse on the couch. However, before he could reach his destination, the door buzzer startled him. He took a quick glance at the clock; Reeve wasn't supposed to be coming home until later that day, and he wasn't expecting anyone else. His curiosity now piqued, Kramler turned back around and headed toward the front door.
       When he opened it, he found a young woman standing before him, wearing a floral sundress. Her long blonde hair was piled up on top of her head, fronted by a pair of designer sunglasses, while thin, loose bangs framed her made-up face. Kramler had no idea who this girl was, though he had a theory, which was soon verified by the girl herself.
       "Hello. I'm Scarlet Hanover, Forrest Reeves' fiancée," she said, holding out her hand. Kramler took it and gave it a brief shake. "And you're his roommate, I take it?"
       "Yes, Edgar Kramler, but you can just call me Kramler. Are you here to see Reeve?"
       "That I am. Is he around?"
       "I'm afraid not. He's not due in for at least another hour."
       "From where?"
       Kramler stared at Scarlet. Didn't she know about Reeve's summer plans? "He's been touring with Loveless for the past few months."
       "Ahh yes, I remember now," she laughed, seemingly feigning embarrassment. "Silly me. For some reason I thought he'd be done with that already."
       "Do you want to come inside and wait for him? It's going to be sweltering today, and I just cleaned up the place…"
       Scarlet nodded, and without any prompting from Kramler, made her way into the apartment. A little bit taken aback by her forwardness, Kramler simply edged out the way and followed her into the living room. A faint, almost sickly scent of perfume trailed behind Scarlet as she walked, but there was a particularly distinct odor mingled in with the floral essences: that of money.
       "So, can I get you anything to drink, Scarlet?" Almost immediately, she shot a withering look back at Kramler, who replied, "I can call you Scarlet, can I?"
       She sighed. "I suppose so. As for the drink, I don't need anything, thanks."
       "All right," he said, shrugging. Kramler watched her as she wandered about the living room, examining the furnishings and accoutrements as though they were artifacts in a museum. He leaned against a nearby wall as she scanned the titles on their bookcase.
       "So, Scarlet," he continued, wanting to break the uncomfortable silence that had settled over the apartment. "How do you and Reeve first meet?"
       "Our families have known each other for a long time. Reeve and I first met as children. We were engaged not long afterwards."
       Kramler was no longer staring at Scarlet, but now straight past her. They were engaged as children? As his initial shock wore off, he noticed that Scarlet was looking at him, smiling for the first time since they met. He quickly replied, "I apologize for my reaction. It's just that I can't imagine such an arrangement."
       "Such is the way of things when you come from a family like mine," Scarlet idly replied, brushing past him toward one of the windows. She turned around and leaned her elbows against the windowsill in such a way that accented her ample figure. "My family is in the business of designing and manufacturing weaponry. His family sells weapons. Our engagement is merely a part of a strategic alliance between the two. He doesn't come from nearly as much money as I do, but that's all right. Things will work themselves out."
       "Why's that?"
       Scarlet smiled again, but this time, her lips bore a grim edge. "Simply because they have to."
       At that moment, the front door opened. Kramler swung his head around to see Reeve standing there, laden with luggage, easing his way into the apartment. He headed toward the front door to help him out, and heard Scarlet following him from behind.
       "You're back early," Kramler greeted, taking a couple of bags from Reeve's hands. "Here, let me help you with those."
       "Thanks, Kramler."
       "By the way, you may have noticed that we have a visitor."
       "Indeed I have," Reeve replied, setting the last of his bags down. "This is certainly a surprise, Scarlet. What's the occasion?"
       "You said you'd master that All materia by the end of this summer," she said, idly rolling one of her bangs with her index finger. "You know, the one I gave you for your birthday a few years ago."
       Reeve nodded. "I finally finished it off this summer and cashed it in while we were in Corel this past week."
       "So you're all set, then. You won't have to work during your senior year, and can instead focus on your studies."
       "That, and I can pay off the rest of my tuition in one lump sum," Reeve replied with a chuckle. Scarlet cleared her throat while he continued, "Thanks again, Scarlet."
       She waved it off. "Giving you that materia wasn't even my idea to begin with."
       Reeve nodded to this, then said, "I suppose you won't be leaving without my unsold Hanover Company inventory, then."
       "That would be appreciated, yes."
       "All right. Follow me."
       Reeve led Scarlet into his bedroom and closed the door behind them, leaving Kramler standing behind in the living room. He wondered for a moment if he should sneak up to the door and listen in on their doings, but thought better of it; his inherent respect for Reeve's privacy notwithstanding, something told him that he would not be hearing anything coming from that room other than talking.

       Scarlet left later that afternoon with a old trunk which she and Reeve had filled with several securely-wrapped weapons. Once they had secured the trunk in the back of her car and saw her off, Reeve and Kramler walked across the hot asphalt of the parking lot back to their place.
       "So that was your fiancée," Kramler said with a weary sigh.
       "Yes, that was Scarlet," Reeve simply replied. "She's quite a looker, eh?"
       "She's fucking gorgeous."
       "But that's not what's bugging you."
       "Glad it was that obvious."
       Reeve stopped in his tracks and faced Kramler. He obviously hadn't shaved in a few days and his hair was a mess from his recent road trip, so to Kramler, at that moment, he looked more like a beach bum than the heir to a weapons manufacturing empire. "So what is it? What's wrong?"
       "Your whole engagement is wrong, Reeve."
       "Huh?" Reeve replied, giving Kramler an odd look. Kramler sighed again and slouched against an adjacent palm tree, arms folded across his chest.
       "This marriage of yours has been arranged for your families' businesses' sakes. It's all so… so political."
       Reeve shrugged. "So? I've known I was going to get married to her for most of my life."
       Kramler threw his hands up in the air. "You obviously don't have any idea where I'm coming from."
       "And where would that be?"
       "That, you know, you should marry someone of your own choosing, and that you should do so because you love them? And vice-versa?"
       "Oh." Reeve's expression turned blank, and he walked past Kramler and continued on to their building. Kramler stayed behind for a moment, stewing in his own thoughts, before turning around to catch up with Reeve, which he did by the time he got to the apartment. Reeve stood before the door, fumbling with his keys.
       "Kramler, listen. This was just how I was brought up. My own parents were married under a similar arrangement and have lived happily together to this day. I just know that Scarlet and I will work out."
       "And what, you'll grow to love each other?"
       "Yes, I'm sure that we will."
       Reeve finally unlocked the door, but before he could open it, Kramler took the handle from him, swung open the door himself, pulled him inside, and shut it again. He then forcefully shoved Reeve up against the door and kissed him, only pushing his tongue into his captive's mouth once he had felt him melt a little. Once he had felt that telltale twitch in Reeve's groin, pressed up against his, Kramler broke away from him just as quickly as he'd forced himself onto him, taking a step back in preparation for a possible retaliation.
       "Does she at least make you feel like that? Ever?" Kramler angrily demanded. "Something tells me that she doesn't. And if I'm right, you damned well better rethink this whole marriage business."
       "What, and run away with you?"
       "This is not about me!" Kramler barked back. "This is about you. What do you want? What makes you happy? Who do you want to be with for the rest of your goddamned life? If you can't answer those questions, then you have no business getting married to anybody."
       "You just don't understand…"
       Kramler was about to counter again, but then he paused before saying anything, having suddenly realized that this argument would be one without an end. "Fuck it. I'm going out," he said, pushing past Reeve to open the front door. "I'll see you later."


       The tension between Kramler and Reeve slowly cooled over the course of that week, and by the time their senior years officially started, they had reached an unspoken truce. Likewise, their friendship eventually recovered, and soon, things were back to normal.
       Due to the large sum of gil Reeve had received by selling his mastered All materia, he offered to pay the rent and living expenses for the both of them for that year, meaning that Kramler could quit his own part-time job. At first, Kramler balked at the idea; he was used to having to get by via his own means, not having to depend on anyone, but Reeve was insistent. Eventually, he caved, leaving his job and allowing Reeve to take care of all the bills. He came to appreciate the gesture once the fall mid-term exams hit, as he needed every bit of extra time available to study. However, he was left wanting for a way to repay his friend for his extraordinary generosity, although Reeve insisted that any sort of repayment was not necessary.
       Although he had quit his job with the Gabbianis' accountant, he continued to maintain the few friendships he had forged within the crime family, and that spring, was introduced to Suzy's cousin, one Maria Gabbiani. Together with Maria and her cousins, he would go on weekly beach outings with him, and spent his evenings with Reeve at parties, bars, and poker matches. It was due to Reeve's extraordinary winning streak at these latter events that Kramler started calling him "Lucky", a nickname Reeve disdained. In fact, Reeve's poker chops were so good that their regular group eventually kicked both him and Kramler out.
       Truth be told, Kramler felt lucky himself, as his senior year was going swimmingly well, especially in regards to his friendship with Reeve. At the beginning of the fall semester, he had expected Reeve to kick him out of the apartment, due to the incident that had occurred after that party so many months ago. However, no such thing ever happened, and they continued on with their lives as usual, if only with a touch more tension between them, so natural was their friendship.

       Graduation rolled around, and after a few days of parties, entertaining family members, and the requisite ceremony itself, Reeve packed the last of his things, ready to go home. The apartment was paid up for the next few months, giving Kramler plenty of time to move if necessary. Kramler hoped he wouldn't have to, however, as shortly before graduation, he had secured a well-paying job with a small investment firm in Costa del Sol. Still, he was saddened to see his friend go, but Reeve promised him that they would meet again.
       "You've got something in mind? I'm sure we're both going to be fairly busy from now on."
       Reeve smiled and gripped Kramler by the shoulders, his eyes shining in the sunlight that streamed through the open windows. "Yes, in mid-August, in Kalm."
       Kramler gave him an odd look, though he had some idea of what was up. "Why there?"
       "Because that's where I am going to take Scarlet as my wife, and I want you there, as my best man."
       With a mix of joy and sadness, Kramler returned Reeve's smile, then gave him a hug, patting him on the back with both hands. "I'll be there. I'm still not sure this marriage of yours is a good idea, but for you… I'll be there."
       "Thanks, Kramler. I really appreciate this."
       Kramler drew away from Reeve and nodded, then turned toward the stack of boxes. "Well, do you need any help with these?"

       The apartment felt quite a bit emptier with Reeve gone, but Kramler soon became so busy with his new job that he didn't dwell on this for long. After hours, he would meet up with his friends as usual, though more and more of his free time was spent with Maria, these days without her cousins in tow. Settling into his new life without school proved to be quite an adjustment, but he dealt with it the best he could.
       June passed, then July. At the beginning of August, he received a phone call from Reeve, who had returned to Gongaga for awhile. He said that between helping his parents with the family business and the wedding, he was quite busy, not to mention stressed out.
       "So it's still on, then?"
       "Of course. You'll be there, I hope."
       "I said I would, didn't I?"
       "Yeah, you did. By the way, you haven't been talking much. What's been going on with you?"
       "Oh, nothing much." Kramler ran his fingers over the maroon lacquer box he kept on his nightstand, then opened it and pulled out an antique ring that once belonged to his grandmother. "Same old, same old."
       "How about your new job? Is that going well?"
       "So far. Listen, Reeve, I'm sorry to cut this off so short, but I have to go. Got a date tonight."
       "…All right. Have fun."
       "Thanks. See you soon."
       Kramler promptly hung up the phone and set the receiver back in its place. Still holding onto the ring in his other hand, he sat at the edge of his bed and took a deep, yet shaky, breath. In a way, he was glad that Reeve had accepted his excuse without further explanation; Kramler couldn't bear to explain to him exactly how important this night was to him.

       Two weeks later, Kramler arrived in Kalm. This was his first time on another continent, and he took in the unfamiliar scenery that surrounded him as he rode his rented chocobo toward the old walled village that was his destination. Upon arriving in Kalm, he found the place to be extraordinarily busy, with several people rushing by him carrying various crates of food, wardrobe trunks, lavish decorations, and other things. Evidently, this wedding was going to be quite the event.
       Reeve was waiting for him just outside of the local inn, looking respectable in a crisp white shirt and khakis, a far cry from the casually-dressed roommate of just a few months ago. They talked for awhile as Kramler checked into his room, then parted ways again until the evening, when the rehearsal dinner for the next day's wedding took place. At the dinner, Kramler met quite a few members of both Reeve's and Scarlet's families, and he was able to notice the stark contrast between the two groups, especially between the parents. Reeve's folks he had met once before, on the day of their college graduation, and they were as nice now as they were then. Scarlet's parents, on the other hand, were pretty much what he expected them to be.
       After the dinner was over, everyone was free to do what they liked for the rest of the evening. Reeve insisted on taking Kramler out a little ways beyond the town's borders into the surrounding meadows, saying he had to show him something. They stopped walking upon reaching the crest of a fairly short, but wide, hill; below them lay the Midgar valley, and the eight towns that made up Midgar proper, all huddled close to one another. The light from these towns was so strong that the buildings seemed to glow, and overhead, the stars were fewer in number, and those that could be seen were dimmer.
       "So that's Midgar, eh?" Kramler said.
       "Yes. We'll be moving there after our honeymoon."
       "It's bigger than I imagined."
       "There's more to come, too. A lot of construction is going on there right now."
       "Really? Are you going to be involved with that?"
       At this point, Reeve turned away to face the ocean far to the west. This was all the reply Reeve would give, but to Kramler, it was sufficient. As they left the brightly-lit Midgar valley behind them, the full moon shone strongly overhead, and Kramler found himself drawn back to a time and place not too long ago—but long enough.
       "Edgar," Reeve said, turning his head just far enough so that Kramler could make out his profile. Kramler momentarily found himself startled by the sudden softness of Reeve's voice, and of hearing his own first name, once again, roll off Reeve's tongue. "Did you really mean what you said, back on that night?"
       "You mean, when I told you that I'd grown to love you?"
       Reeve nodded once.
       "Well then, yes, I did mean it."
       Kramler could see Reeve's Adam's apple bob slightly, and an awkward silence followed. "Well, things haven't changed. I'm still getting married."
       "I know. I knew it back then as I do now, which is why I forced myself to adjust."
       Reeve turned around to face Kramler. "What do you mean?"
       Now it was Kramler's turn to fight a lump in his throat; he wasn't sure how Reeve was going to take this, and for some reason, it scared the hell out of him. "There was no point in chasing after what I could never have. I knew this for a fact… and during senior year, I met her."
       "'Her'?"
       "Perfection. Radiance defined. The woman who I've asked… to be my wife."
       "Ah." Reeve bowed his head and turned from Kramler again. "Congratulations."
       "Hm," was all that Kramler could reply. He stared off at the cluster of glowing lights to the south. "Forrest, there's still time to call it off. The wedding hasn't happened yet."
       "Thanks for your concern."
       "You know I hate seeing you like this."
       "You just don't understand what this whole marriage is about."
       "Maybe not, but I do know how stubborn you can be. Like you said, things haven't changed. You, in particular."
       "But you have, and for the best, it sounds like." Reeve paused before continuing. "It's… sort of a weight off my shoulders to know that you don't love me anymore."
       Kramler smiled. "It may be true that I have no desire to get into your pants these days, but I am still your friend. And as your friend, I will always love you."
       "Edgar…"
       Turning around, he set a hand on Reeve's shoulder and looked him in the eye. "I have something for you. It's back at your room in Kalm. There's a letter that goes with it that I want you to read tonight, on the condition that you are alone when you do so."
       "What's in the letter?"
       "It says… everything that I've wanted to say to you ever since I came here, but couldn't bring myself to do so, in person. I know that you're your own man, and you have to do what you feel you should, but at the same time…" Kramler drifted off, and turned his gaze from Reeve. He squeezed Reeve's shoulder, then let go. "It's getting late. We should head back."

       The wedding took place early the following afternoon. Kramler stood in his proper place watching the proceedings, and all of the beautiful people who had come to witness them. Reeve's anxiety from the previous night seemed to have melted away, as early in the wedding, he shared with Kramler a sincere smile, one which remained throughout the ceremony, and into the reception.
       Kramler stayed at the reception long enough to grab a drink and make his requisite speech about the newlywed couple. Amid the clamor of people, he then made his way out, but was caught by Reeve at the door.
       "You aren't staying?" Reeve said, the disappointment plain on his face.
       Kramler shook his head. "No. I'm not comfortable around all this… this money," he said, indicating the guests at large.
       "That's what this world is like, Kramler."
       "I know. More's the pity," he replied, shooting Reeve a knowing glance. "By the way, did you read the letter?"
       "Yes, I did," Reeve said, clearing his throat. "Thank you. And thank you for the gifts."
       "You're welcome. Now, I must get going. Send my best to Scarlet."
       "Will do."
       "Lady Luck is on your side, Reeve," Kramler said, winking. "Don't ignore her."
       Very much unlike previous times when Kramler brought up the subject of luck, Reeve replied, in a serious manner, "I'll do my best."
       Kramler nodded and smiled. He had done his best as well, but whether or not he was ultimately a failure had yet to be seen. With one final wave to the groom, the best man left the building, to begin his journey home.