"So Bai Lao-Hu is dead?"

"You almost sound disappointed, Label," the old orgriash remarked.

"I wanted to fight him again. He and Graven were my first real challenging battles. Besides, he did make up for the bad stuff in the end, didn’t he?"

"He can never make up for the ‘bad stuff’," Sheena frowned.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to—" Label regretted saying those words but she continued.

"At least he did show he had a soul at the very end, and for that, we have made him a grave here in Para City."

"At a certain point in life, he was one of my dearest pupils and a friend," Zandor sighed, "But people change. Some for better, some for worse. I hope you and Anciel always stay on the right path, as I am unable to correct you by force anymore. Only by words, if you find it in you to listen to this old lynx…"

"Of course Master. Pardon me if I come off as rude, but I just have to ask you something."

"Go right ahead, my boy."

"How old are you? You didn’t seem so old just ten years ago…"

"Hahaha!" the orgriash let out a mixture of laughs and coughs, "…oh Label. If it weren’t for this poison, I’d still be up and about like a young orgriash. You probably assumed my age wrongly because you are a human and can not tell by just looking at me.
Now to answer your question; I am exactly ninety-six this year."

"What!? No way!" Label stood up and hit his forehead.

"Yes, my cub. I was eighty-six when we first met. And I could still kick anyone’s butt."

"Papa!"

"My apologies, Junior," he caressed his son between the fluffy ears.

"It’s boooring now!" Shen stretched and then flipped back from the couch.

"Yeah, if you won’t tell us about any other battles, we’re out of here," Mura made a few fighting moves with her paws.

"I suppose you can go then," their father shook his head.

"We’ll be going too then. We shouldn’t intrude too much," Label suggested.

"Stay as much as you like and come whenever you wish. Our door is always open for you," Sheena reassured them.

"Label, wait. I have a few questions of my own," Zandor showed for them to sit down.

"Sure. Ask away."

"What do you plan to do now?"

"Well… I was going to meet with Noix," blondie answered.

"I meant, what are your plans for the future? The Serpent Forces are not after your life anymore. Emnikatia didn’t even try to get their hands on you," Zandor said more specifically.

"I was planning to go home. My mom must be worried sick."

"Rest assured, we have made a couple of visits ourselves. First of which was Anciel who rode on Panusa’s back all the way to the Village of Stars to tell your mother about what has transpired," his former master lifted a burden from his chest.

"I see."

"I accompanied the Professor there myself in the Noisemaker once, but he already went there a couple of times. He was there just two months ago, if I recall correctly," Zandor stroked his chin, looking up not sure if he got it right.

"Well, that’s good to know, but I must go there myself. Then, I can decide what I want to do next," Label was adamant.

"I couldn’t agree more. In the meantime, you are invited to stay in our home. I doubt they will sort out your own place quickly. If there’s one thing I resent in this city, it is the paperwork…" the old orgriash frowned.

"Aye, ye got that right! If I don’t lose my fortune on them parkin’ tickets…"

Mai stood up and started spinning a pair of keys.

"You are not driving. Haven’t you had rum just seconds ago?" Zandor objected.

"This? Pfft! I don’t get drunk after a couple of bottles, let alone some tea! Come on handsome. Let’s see if me fellas brought me car."

Hearing that, Sheena checked through the window, overlooking the estate.

"They arrived and are waiting for you. Take care and thank you for coming. All of us are always glad to see you," she squeezed the girl’s hand, turning to Label next, "You too Label. I hope we become good friends."

"Thanks. I’ll come again before leaving. You have a beautiful home and kids, Master. And a gorgeous wife," Label nervously scratched his nape.

Sheena and Zandor smiled.

"Come on, no need for fancy goodbyes, ye can see each other whenever. These lot will just leave the car here and then I’ll ‘ave to drive with alcohol in me veins," she waved and barged out, running towards the enforcers, but it seemed they just left her car and drove away.

Label took another moment to leave properly and then joined her at the parking.

"So…"

"Aye; ‘so’. Ye know what. Why don’tcha drive instead?"

"M-me?"

"I see no one else ‘ere," she showed around.

"Gee, I dunno…" he didn’t really like the idea.

"Come on. It’s not agains’ the law if I’m trainin’ ya."

"S-sure…"

Label sat down in the small car with large thin wheels. It was of a chrome color with the engine exposed at the back. It looked rather complicated, blondie thought.
The inside of the cabin was riddled with various levers, pressure valves, and gauges.

"Uff...!" he frowned and scowled, "I think I’d learn sooner how to steer a ship."

"Ye don’t say. Look, lemme’ just turn it on an’ ye can drive then. All ye need to do is turn this here small rudder, just like on a ship."

Mai put in her keys and the engine started, making a lot of noise.
Label started coughing as a cloud of steam encircled them.

"It’ll be less of a problem as soon as we start movin’," she pulled a lever and turned a small valve, which made the vehicle slowly go forward.

"Whoa! Whoa!" Label started turning left and right nervously, surprised by the sudden movement.

"Don’t panic, ye wuss! Aren’t ye used to higher speeds than this? Ye are runnin’ faster then this for—"

They crashed into the fence of the estate.

Mai stopped the engine and got out of the car. Label followed.

"…sorry."

"’Tis alright. I’ll just jolt them a message ‘ere we did it, so they don’t need to call it in."

"I think they know."

Label pointed towards the mansion, on which balcony was Zandor, putting a paw on his face.

Mai waved to him.

"That makes things easier. But how we gonna get ye to the lab now…" she scratched her forehead.

"I could run there?"

"Aye, but ye’d get lost. This city’s no village. Even Wasserstadt was easier to navigate. Took me years to stop getting’ lost meself," the beautiful girl’s face was now ruined with a frown.

"I could…carry you… and you could point me in the right direction."

Mai’s frown turned into a smile.

"Aren’t ye bein’ bloody romantic allova sudden?"

"I-I…wha…I…" he stuttered, turning around himself, not knowing what to do with his arms.

"Relax. Don’cha think I didn’t notice ye lookin’ at me when I turn me blind side. But ye’d be wrong to assume I can’t see," she showed her eye patch with her finger.

"S-sorry… you remind me—"

She put her finger on his lips.

"Don’t say it. I don’t wanna be compared to ‘er all the time. I’m me own woman. Just like ye’re not the Label that everyone thinks of the first time ye tell’em yer name."

"Okay. I understand…Miss Mai."

"Mai, Rouge, Rose, whatever. Just don’t put any title in front, an’ we’re good," she turned around and pointed far away towards the place Label escaped just this morning.

"That over yonder be Lab 1. Our destination. I’m not heavy but I’m not a feather either. Will ye be able to carry me there?"

"I may not be the brightest around, but I’m the strongest you can find. Especially with this…’new’ body now. I feel like nothing could stop me."

She turned around.

"I’m bragging. Sorry."

"Stop apologizing all the bloody time. It goes on me nerves. I’ll poke ye with me sword whenever ye say yer sorry from now on."

"Ok…sor-…ok."

"Ye better," she put back the already unsheathed rapier.

Label approached her and instantly went red as he picked her up. She put her arms around his neck.

"If ye drop me, I’ll make sure it be yer last time. Got it?"

"Y-yeah, don’t worry. I won’t drop you. If I do drop you, I’ll catch you. Well… just don’t worry."

He started running, first slowly, then more and more wildly, now already making large jumps instead, getting ready to fly up the first of the roofs that were in their way.
Rogue de Mai was grinning from ear to ear, partially to the adrenaline rush, and partially because she was happy like a child.

"Whooooooo!" she screamed from the top of her lungs, which made Label relax and smile.

He jumped higher and higher, getting over chimneys and through clouds of steam, as the city looked smaller and smaller, compared to the speeds they now traveled at.

"Who needs th’ Noisemaker? I got me own privat’ transport!"

"Wait until I show you my dragon."

She slapped him lightly.

"Ouch. What was that for?"

"Yer’ a bold one, Label. But a man should not be bragging like that in front of a lady."

"…I meant, when I can summon Albus again."

"Oh…" now she was red like a tomato.

Jumping from one roof to another, traveling through the steam while the wind brushed against them cooled them down after a while.

"Now it’s me turn to apologise," Mai admitted.

"What for?" he asked, but while keeping his eyes on the next couple of roofs and bridges, not to crash them both.

"I forgot ye are a kid inside."

"And you’re not?" he smiled.

"Aye, but—"

"Don’t worry. I already feel different than ten years ago. Not just in my body, but my whole being. I’m not a kid. I’m just a man who slept through most of his life."

"Musta’ been rough."

"That’s alright. Most importantly, I’m back. I have to make the most of it now."

"Well aren’t ye lucky the first thing ye saw when ye wake up was me own mug?" she smiled at him, teasingly.

"I don’t know yet. The first thing you did was shot me and then tried to send me into the void right after. I’m not sure if that counts as lucky."

"Hehe. I’m a bloody scoundrel," she grinned.