1 Chapter 1

I had walked into the coffee shop with my nose obviously stuck into a book, for I was never not reading one, my life only revolved around coffee and reading exiting tales of woe. I briefly looked up to see two people conversing.

I at first, watched a man work the coffee shop and smile at the people that came in, in my opinion the man seemed kind enough to approach to order my drink.

"Hey one Oreo Macchiato." A guy ordered rudely .

The man behind the counter clearly hated making it as it looked rather complicated to make. He smiled anyway all the same remaining kind he told the customer the total and taking the money he was owed for the drink.

Alas! It was my turn, I eagerly looked at the server and then at the menu, suddenly becoming overwhelmed with the options in front of me I became unaware of the voice addressing me.

The server had turned his attention to me with a gentle smile. "Welcome to Liquid Sin how can I help you?"

I looked at the server with a slight smile in return as I attempted to place his order, "Uhm, one plain iced coffee please" I didn't really want to order my usual fancy drink as I could see it would only annoy the sever more.

"Alrighty, what size will that be and do you want cream or milk? What milk do you take or what flavour cream would you prefer?" Once again I was addressed with a kind smile and a gentle voice.

I let out a quiet sigh, it seemed as though making things simple, wasn't a simple as I had planned it to be.

"I.. Uhm...a small plain iced coffee with dairy milk please?"

"Alrighty. That'll be $3.56 and I'll get right on it." It seemed as though this man was always cheerful no matter the order, for he was still smiling as he wrote down my order.

Deciding to be kind myself I had paid and added a $2 tip as an extra thanks. "Thank you Sir,"

"Thank you for the tip sir!" He smiled and started on the drink. He finished relatively quickly mainly because it was an easy drink to prepare and handed my drink over to me. "One small iced coffee with dairy milk."

I nodded and took the drink thanking him once more before turning away and sitting myself down at the table closest to the back of the shop. "Ah, that's right...this page!" I opened the book, loosing myself in a world of words once more.

A few minutes later a person walked in and positioned themselves sat opposite me.

"Hey, I'm Alkai and this is probably weird, but I would like to be friends." Alkai looked at me with a hopeful look, but the stranger in front of me also looked drained.

This made me instantly nervous, a friendship wasn't really something I took interest in, since I had a world of trouble to deal with, but maybe a friend would help ease all that off of my shoulders.

"I...uhm...of course... However, Social Interactions aren't something I'm currently used to"

Alkai simply let out a small disappointed sigh. "Of course you don't have to, you can leave if you wish, I just don't really have a lot of friends since they all graduated last year, besides you seem to be on your own too?"

I nodded, it was true. While my best friend was indeed a book, when it came to friends outside of books and my imagination I had none, the drama of having them was more than I could be bothered with.

"Mhm, alone is how I like to be, having Real friends cause too much drama in my eyes, however if you really have no one else to talk to then I'm sure on friend will suffice for my no drama rule"

Alkai looked at me with a confused look like they were expecting a different fact.

"What course's do- oh my, I'm sorry, i neglected the part where I tell you my name.. I'm Tyler. Pleasure to meet you" I literally face palmed himself due to my own stupidity

Alkai chuckled to themselves quietly "There it is, that's the fact I wanted. As for your question on what courses do I take...I actually won't be attending this year as I'm unfortunately joining the Navy Military..." At this fact their smile faded and their eyes looked down as though this was an event they could not change

"So I'll see you in training, right?" I reached for Alkai's arm gently holding it in a comforting way.

I saw Alkai's eyes immediately light up, "Wait, seriously?!"

"Mhm, I mean unless your training doesn't start this Sunday?" The excitement from Alkai had startled me, but I managed to remain composed.

"Yeah...this Sunday unfortunately.." Once again he looked down, clearly something was bothering him. Did he not want to join? Did he hate the fact that it was so soon?

"You seem disheartened? Is there something wrong Alkai?" I looked at Alkai, genuinely concerned even though they had only met today.

Alkai nodded and sighed yet again. "I'd just rather not have to do something I don't want to do...It's only two months though"

"If it helps I know the plans that they have so if you wanted I could tell you the plans for the week a few days before, that way you can prepare yourself. It may be quite fun if you give it a chance?" The words left my mouth before I could think about what to say.

"Really? You'd help me?" Alkai looked at me once more with a hopeful look.

"That's what friends are for right?" It felt weird to say, but Alkai really was my friend.

"I guess you're right." Alkai looked at my hand holding his arm and smiled slightly.

"We should probably get going, Asa is closing up" I pointed to the Baristo who was waiting patiently at the door for us to leave.

"Who? Oh, So that's his name? How's you figure that out?" he looked at Asa and then at me.

"I overheard his employees talking to him, also his nametag hidden under the tie" I pointed to the nametag that Asa had attempted to hide and then at the kitchen.

"But you were talking to me though, how did you manage to pay attention to them as well as me?" Alkai looked at me as if I was a super human.

"When you have the world as your enemy, you learn to pay attention to many things at once, I could teach you if you'd like?" I smiled kindly at Alkai.

"Maybe you could teach him after you leave?" Asa had spoken and it made Alkai jump slightly.

"Ah, yes. Of course, you sacred me a little there.." Alkai chuckled slightly nervously.

I shook my head slightly and ruffled Alkai's hair. "He took a breath before speaking, it was subtle but it was still there, I doubt he would last long where we're going."

"Tyler! That's kinda rude you know.." Alkai shook his head slightly in disappointment.

"Mhm, come on you two, don't make me laugh." Asa's voice was still as soft and as gentle as before.

"Yes, come on Alkai, we do have that navy meeting in an hour, we should be early to get into the commanders good books" I had a plan that was sure to work.

"That's a good idea, lets- wait I forgot my Notepad and Pen" He sighed as he patted his pockets.

"How the hell? That's like a basic necessity for note making" I handed Alkai some supplies and sighed shaking my head.

"You seem to know a bit about standards?" Asa had spoken up again.

"I was in the cadets, it's not the Military, but the principles are somewhat the same" I stood up and tucked my shirt in, clearing my own mess.

"So you have a head start?" Alkai looked at me with with a confused look.

"Not at all, the military is quite different from the cadets, there's more discipline and more adventures." I helped Alkai up and cleared his mess. "I'll be in the same boat as everyone else"

Asa has said something inaudible which I chose to ignore.

"Did you just make a pun? If you did it wasn't funny" He chuckled slightly still.

"Oh? So that's totally why you're laughing then" I giggled slightly at Alkai, but then Asa spoke again.

"You two know it's against the ruled to date in the ranks" Asa looked between me and Alkai who was actually blushing quiet a bit.

"I- We're not- I couldn't...I wouldn't" I struggled to find words, why? I did not know.

"Yeah! I mean...no? Wait what?" Alkai seemed to be having the same problem as I was, while Asa simply laughed.

"Come on Alkai! We're going to be late! I'm not being Cadet Lazy again!" I literally grabbed Alkai's arm again and pulled him, accidentally tripping over my shoelaces and fell backwards bringing Alkai with me.

"T-Tyler!" Alkai had landed above me propping himself up with his hands either side of my head.

"Well this wasn't supposed to happen..." I looked at Asa who was watching in amusement, so I knocked his hands off of balances and flipped his over, reversing our positions and then stood up. "Don't stutter next time just because a peculiar accident happened"

"So there's a next time then?" Asa was still watching with the same amused look as before.

"E-Eh?!" I looked at Asa with confusion.

"You did say that there'd be a next time" Alkai casually tripped me up so I landed on the floor next to him.

"If you uhm... fell? On anyone else in the future!" Shaking my head I flicked Alkai's nose and stood, then I offered my hand to Alkai to help him up.

"Mhm? Now you two should hurry up, especially you Cadet Lazy" Asa snickered and opened the door.

"Yeah, Come on Tyler! You were being all bossy and confident a second ago." Alkai smirked slightly and took my hand and stood beside me.

"Oh hush the pair of you, I bet I could out rank you both and the commander in a year!" I raised my voice slightly and stood tall proudly.

"Don't go saying things your commander won't like" Asa raised his own voice as if he was offended a little.

"What the commander doesn't hear won't hurt them" Alkai had backed me up and Asa had shook his head as we left not saying another word as we headed to the Military Meeting. When we got there we discovered that we weren't the only ones deciding to be early.

"So how's that early plan working out for you?" Alkai poked at me with a goofy grin.

"Alkai! Hush!" I gently pushed Alkai away and sat near the back just as a familiar figure walked in.

"Well, Well, Well, Looks like we all want to get into my good books hmm?" Asa had walked in, in a Navy Uniform

"Tyler, we sassed the bloody commander!" Alkai began to shake his leg nervously.

"It will be fine since we didn't know" I rested my hand on his knee to calm his and showed him a kind smile.

"No chitchat! Notepads out! I want silence and your full concentration" Asa's attitude has chanced drastically.

"Well so much for that nice and sweet Baristo" Alkai chuckled slightly and placed his hand over mine.

"It's called a façade, a fake profile or personality" I didn't move my hand away, His hand over mine was comforting and took the anxiety away.

"On Sunday, you will all be known as cadets, you'll be experiencing life as a soldier, some of you may have some experience already, so you'll lead by example. Now for everyone I'll be looking for flaws in everyone's uniform." Asa went on to explain what we were to do and what we were not to do. "It is strictly forbidden to date anyone in the ranks!"

For some reason Alkai had sighed and moved his hand off of mine hesitantly, brushing mine off his now still and relaxed knee.

"Alkai? Are you okay?" I looked at him and kept my voice low.

"Call me Crimson.." He looked down and made notes from Asa's speech.

"I -Okay...Call me Akashi then.." I dropped my gaze and looked to the front to see Asa writing down cadet qualities.

"Look lively lads!" Asa shouted at us and threw a pen which Alkai caught effortlessly.

"Yes Sir!" I glanced at Alkai and then back at Asa.

Asa continued to explain the ruled and morals of the Military, it was quite entertaining and exciting, I yearned to know much more, "Meeting is now over! I want you bright eyes and bushy tailed on Sunday at 0800 hours sharp!" It was clear he just dismissed us.

"Crimson? We should start pa-" I thought Alkai was with me, but he had already left. "Oh..."

"Something the matter Akashi?" Asa had walked over to me and sat next beside me, once again harbouring that familiar kind smile.

"Ever since you mentioned the no dating rule, Al- I mean Crimson seemed disheartened again" I sighed slightly, I didn't understand what was wrong with my friend.

"Come on Akashi, I thought you were smart?" A small chuckle came from Asa as he stood and left.

Sighing slightly I left and went home to pack. What did Asa mean? What was wrong with Alkai? Was it something I did?

"Hello? Tyler? Earth to my dim-witted brother?" Someone had pokes me harshly, so I looked up to see my sister.

"Oh hey Lyralia, What's up?" No amount of effort was put into addressing my sister.

"Wow, that was like speaking to Aunt Cassie" Lyralia chuckled at her own dark joke and then looked at me with a more serious tone. "Come on. Spill the beans. Just not over the table cloth"

I shook my head at her, her humour was not amusing to me at all, I began to explain what happened that day and Lyralia paid close attention to my words and did not interrupts which was unheard of. "There, that's what happened"

"With you being older I expected you to know more about this. Obviously you don't read any romance novels" Lyralia shook her head. "This Alkai may be into you romantically, like a crush. Since you're being surprisingly overly friendly he may pf had high hopes, but then your commander rained on his parade"

"Me? Date? Out of the question! I don't date" My voice raised slightly in annoyance.

"You'll join the Navy, but you won't date?" She looked at me like I was completely insane "You'll die before you find love"

"That's the point dumbass, I'll be so busy with the Navy, I won't have any trouble with it. I won't even have time for it" My plan was perfect and fool proof.

"Love works in mysterious ways Brother, it makes the time. Heck for all you know it could be an online relationship or an oversea one! If you're lucky it's close proximity" My sister continued her daily lecture.

"It's not something I take interest in, okay?" I tried to end the conversation there but Lyralia insisted on carrying on.

"Neither was friendship but here you are with a friend who crushes on you after one day" Lyra shrugged her shoulders and offered him a slice of pizza which I obviously ate.

"That was...we were...oh hush!" Once again struggled to find words, I hated it when this happened. She usually used that against me.

"See! You broke your first rule! Bet you'll be sneaking off from the commander soon enough" Lyra began to laugh at her own joke, in my opinion her laugh was funnier than her jokes.

"You sound like a bloody Hyena child, honestly." I flicked her forehead and left the room to pack for Sunday.

Entering my room was like taking three anti-stress tablets, that was until I looked at my calendar. "WHAT?!" Sunday was tomorrow and I was far from ready, I literally rushed about packing what I needed, before falling asleep inside the suitcase accidentally.

"Tyler Akashi?! Where the devil are you?!" Lyra had literally tipped my room upside down looking for me at 5am the following morning before attempting to throw the suitcase I was in on the bed, obviously failing since it landed on her. "ARE YOU SERIOUSLY INSIDE THIS THING?!"

Unfortunately I awoke from my slumber and climbed out of the suitcase and looked at her. "Shut the hell up Lyra, it's Sunday..." My eyes widened and I threw Lyra aside and packed the remaining things.

Today was going to be Hell, weather I liked it or not. Sunday had arrived.