Chapter 21 - The Night of the Gala

The City Hall of Etto City looked more elegant with the decorations the Grand Kaiser had prepared for the 10th anniversary of his leadership. In the lobby, it looked less of a City Hall and more of a mansion due to the presence of expensive furniture. A chandelier can be seen above the lobby which made the place even more elegant. The stairs curved up to the main hall. The main hall was even more beautiful because it looked nothing like a government office, instead it looked as if it were an 17th century ball room. There was a buffet table in the corner and the main hall was vacated for the people to dance formally. There also was an outer part of the main hall which was the balcony. A door on the left side of the main hall was the main access to this. In the balcony, the view was beautiful and peaceful. It was an ideal place for a person to tell someone their true feelings and the like. 

People gathered in the city hall to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Grand Kaiser as leader. Majority looked like they came from the elite class (Business Owners, Government officials etc.) of Etto city. The women were dressed with elegant gowns and dresses that really looked expensive. The men wore formal suits and the price of those suits did not come cheap either.  

Creed was walking around the inside of the main hall just to examine the place. The trio of Jade, Jephtah and himself we're split up so technically they hadn't seen each other since the mission briefing. Creed was not wearing his trademark battle-suit instead he decided to dress for the occasion. He wore a formal suit with a coat with polo-shirt,but with no tie and slacks. His shoes we're shined and he wore black gloves on his hand. He was still walking around the main hall as if he were searching for something or someone.

"There are so many people. I bet these guys are supporters of the Republic." Creed thought to himself.

He went out of the main hall and into the lobby. He got down the stairs and saw a familiar face. It was his team mate Jephtah who was also wearing a formal suit except with a tie. He still retained his spiky hair. 

"Yo Jeph." Creed said to him. 

Jephtah saw Creed and was amazed.

"Not too shabby for a Bounty Hunter eh?" Jephtah said.

"Same to you man." Creed said. "How long have you been here?" he added.

"I was outside scouting for the two Disciples." Jephtah replied. "No dice though." he added.

"Yeah it looks like just an ordinary Gala, but let's keep our eyes peeled just in case." Creed said.

"It's better if we split up." Jephtah said. "I got a text from Jade that she's here too. Check your phone she might've texted you too. See ya." he added as we walked on his way to examine the main hall.

Creed also went back to the main hall to examine the presence of Disciple members in the Gala. He still did not sense a sign of them, and he had a hunch that they were preparing for something big. Creed continued to scout for them, while Jephtah was at the buffet table grabbing a drink. Creed thought about what Jephtah said earlier that he should check his phone if Jade sent a text to him. He pulled out his phone, but there was no text. Creed sighed and continued his mission. This led him to go to the balcony of the main hall. He looked around and still felt no presence of the two Disciple members. He saw the view from the balcony of the main hall. It was Etto city at night and he went closer to the edge of the balcony and rested there for a bit. The thoughts of his past began to run in his mind as he was resting. 

"So many regrets. I guess happiness was never really for me." Creed thought to himself.

"It's only been two years since their deaths...Still I can feel like it was yesterday." He thought.

Meanwhile Jade was also at the gala looking for her two team mates. She was wearing a sky blue formal dress. It was simple and nothing elegant, but it brought out the color of her eyes. Her long blonde hair fell softly on her shoulders and she really looked elegant at that night. She then came across Jephtah who was talking to a woman with the hopes of picking her up. 

"Well they don't really call me the strongest man in the west, it's just that I am." Jephtah said to the woman and she laughed.

Jade interrupted his conversation and pulled him away from the woman he was talking too.

"CALL ME!" Jephtah shouted at her.

"OW! Okay lemme go!" Jephtah said as Jade let him get out of her grip. He saw her wearing the dress and she looked elegant.

"Wow you look pretty. Creed's sure going to be happy if he sees you like that." Jephtah said to her teasingly.

"Well, where is he?" She asked him.

"I don't know, haven't seen him since we talked on the lobby." Jephtah replied. "I thought you sent him a text?" he added.

"I wasn't able to. I ran out of batteries." She replied.

Jephtah gave her his phone and said. "Use mine. Just be sure to state your name."

"Thanks Jephtah!!" Jade as she began to text him.

Where are you? I'm here. -Jade

Creed was still in the balcony when he felt his phone vibrate. 

"Hmm? A text message?" Creed thought as he pulled his phone out from his pocket. He looked at the screen and saw Jephtah's number, but when he read the text he felt his heart thumping faster.

Where are you? I'm here -Jade

He did not reply to her, instead he gave the phone a call. Jade on the other hand was waiting for the text message. She heard the phone ring and answered it.

"Creed?" She asked.

"Jade I'm at the balcony of the main hall. There's a door on the left you can't miss it." Creed said as he hung up.

She went back to Jephtah and gave his phone back to him. After that she went up the stairs to the main hall. Jade saw the door on the left and she opened it and saw Creed there. She saw him wearing the formal suit and he looked like a different person. He was looking at the moon and did not notice her come in. She went closer to him. Creed instantly noticed her and said.

"Nice of you to join me here." He said without looking at her.

"Creed, you look good." Jade said.

He now looked at her and saw a beautiful woman. Creed saw her wearing the dress and he was awed at her beauty. She looked like an angel to his eyes. He could stare at her forever if he wanted to.

"You're beautiful." Creed blurted out in an instant. Then he noticed that he was blushing so he turned away from her.

Jade just stared at him when he said that.

"Thank you." She replied.

There was silence between the two of them, but at the same time they both felt anxious and uneasy with one another. Jade went to the other side of the Balcony and went far from Creed. He suddenly noticed this and he looked at her. She was staring at the view of Etto City. He got nearer to her and he held her soft blond hair. He ran his fingers through her soft hair and she felt it. She blushed because she had never been this close to anyone before. She was not facing him yet and then she felt a hand on her head. Creed had pat her on her head again.

"I'm not a dog you know." Jade said to him.

"I know." he smiled. 

"Why aren't you facing me?" He asked.

"Nothing..." Jade said as she blushed even more, but then she felt him get closer to her and then in an instant she felt him wrapping his arms around her. Jade never felt this way before. Now she was really assured that she loved him.

"I love you Creed..."  She thought to herself.

"I know you're scared....but don't be.." Creed said to her

"Why?" Jade asked him.

"I won't go back to being a killer...never again." Creed said as he continued embracing her.

He let go of the embrace, because he remembered the sad truth. They could never be together due to Creed's past. If he gets hunted buy the Republic they could use her as bait and he could not stand it if something were ever to happen to Jade. He does not want her to be hurt ever again.

"Creed, what's wrong?" Jade sensed as she faced him now.

"Nothing..forget it.." he replied as he turned his back on her.

"It's not nothing! I can see your face and it's definitely a something." Jade replied.

"My past..." Creed replied.

"What?" Jade asked him

"We can't go on like this...my past will keep on haunting me and I just don't want to see you get hurt anymore..." Creed said to her.

Jade was stunned when he said this.

"Yes, but I promised to be stronger for you.." Jade.

Creed got near to her.

"I know... It's just... I can't imagine what I would do if I lost you..." Creed replied to her.

Jade got stunned again. Now she wanted to make sure if he indeed felt the same way.

"Do you...love me?" Jade asked him.

She got closer to him and his heart was now beating faster.

"Why?" Creed asked her.

"Because I....I.." Jade stuttered.

She held his face and tried to complete her sentence.

"Creed I....I...." She was about to say until they were interrupted by Jephtah who opened the door to the balcony. 

"Sorry to interrupt, but the Grand Kaiser's about to make his speech." Jephtah said to them. "It'd be best if we hear about this."

The expression on Creed's face changed and Jade noticed this as well. She did not want to let him go but she had to for their mission was about to start.

"I guess I'll just tell some other time then.." Jade thought to herself.

"If you only knew how I really felt..." Creed thought to himself.

The three have left the balcony and closed the door. Suddenly there was a shadow appearing on the area where Creed and Jade had stood. The figure wore all black and had long black hair. He was wearing a familiar face mask. It was Feiryon, and he had been watching Creed and Jade the whole time.

"So she is your woman....The reason why you had been so weak all along is because of her. She is dragging the killer instinct out of you. Now I know what I have to do..." Feiryon said as he disappeared from the shadows.