She raised her eyebrows; it makes little sense. Or does this have something to do with what Ayah mentioned before? About Rhys getting injured for her.

Her stomach grumbled - and Lyn's cheeks flushed red, she forgot about her hunger. Rhys lips curve to a smile, "Hungry?"

Lyn nodded.

He released his hold on her and made his way back over to the table. Lyn used that time to examine the room. There was practically nothing, and yet the items that were there seemed extravagant. Even the room itself appeared large. In this large room with seldom any belongings, what was Rhys doing here? He called it his place, so does that mean he lived here before? But when…?

"Say, ah."

Lyn looked at him, annoyed, "Why do you have to feed me?"

"One, your hand is injured. Two, what's wrong with us acting more like a couple?"

Eh, her hand is injured? Lyn looked down at her hands to see traces of cuts and lashes, "That happened when you were sleeping. Ayah returned and did that."

"..I see," Lyn suddenly realized something, "And you? What did she do to you?"

"Nothing much."

That's a lie. Lyn watched him carefully and then she noticed it. He appeared to be flinching. Don't tell her, she reached out and touched his back. The moment her hand made contact, he flinched. Now that she thought about it, the lash marks on her hands cut off at some point.

"Take this off."

Rhys lips curve to a smile, "I didn't know we got so close that I have to strip down."

"Don't be an idiot."

"Yes, yes I'll do whatever you say, since you figured it out," Rhys removed his s.h.i.+rt. Aside from the old deep scar across his chest - Lyn could make out several other marks. She instructed him to turn around, and there Lyn saw it. Dark lash marks.

Pain welled up in her chest, "I'm sorry, you keep getting hurt because of me."

"Don't blame yourself. It was my decision."

Lyn shook her head, she couldn't bear to look at him and kept her head down, "I'm sorry, sorry," Lyn repeated in a trance. Even though she knew these words, couldn't heal his pain. This is all she can do for him.

"..."

Rhys said nothing and Lyn knew that this time around he wouldn't forgive her easily. After a while Rhys broke the silence, "You know, apologizing will not do anything. What's done is done."

"Yes."

"I have a favor to ask, if you want to make it up to me there is something you can do."

"A favor?" Lyn asked cautiously.

"Relax, I'm not that much of an animal. All I ask is for you to let me sleep beside you."

The request seemed fairly simple, but as a married woman, she couldn't allow that.

"Or let me rephrase that, there is only one bed and no couch. So you don't have much of a choice anyway," Rhys said.

At that comment she frowned, all the pity Lyn felt for him had vanished. But instead of getting angry, she sighed. She felt starving and tired. She just wanted to eat, "Weren't you going to feed me?" Lyn asked.

His gaze was gentle as he nodded, "Yeah, open your mouth."

Lyn followed his instructions; right now, she should focus on regaining her strength.

____________

Rhys looked over in disbelief, amazing - she fell asleep. Or rather is she stupid? She didn't check out the other rooms in this place, and he's lied to her more than once already. So why? He reached over and brought a few strands of the girl's hair across his face.

...

Even now, I still love you.

He wonders how she would react if he said that to her.

For the longest time, Rhys wanted to return to the Mist Kingdom, and tell her those words. But he refrained himself from doing so.

Unable to sleep with her beside him, Rhys found himself in the courtyard as he lifted his bow. d.a.m.n it, d.a.m.n it. He was frustrated in more ways than one. How come? How can it be possible? He received the report, though it looked like everyone was having fun. Rhys knew that it was only an illusion; he could see through it after all. They are being tricked, all of them are being tricked, and yet for some reason, they all can't snap out of it just yet.

Coming here to the Mist Kingdom, he only had one goal at all. Only one purpose, to find those that will aid him in saving his friends. Rhys would have preferred it if the Master stuck with him and the other 10. But it seems like the 11 of them can't do this on their own.

Rather, she said. 'Your all from this place and will be a great a.s.set and contribution. However, in the end, you'll need those with strange and unique powers. Four of you eleven will become one of the main six. Two will indeed be found in that place. They will be referred to as the Queen and Princess. Though even when you do find out who they are, you can't just bring them straight away. You have to wait till they're both ready. I don't want you all to be hasty and rushed about this. I'll be able to watch over the others and keep them in line. Even if I am in this form now, I'll still be able to do something. Unfortunately, I really can't go with all of you; I'm bound by these chains. However, I will keep in touch.'

Keep in touch she says, and yet he hasn't even heard one word from her at all. He expected to be hearing about the news report from her and not news reports.

Rhys sighed deeply; perhaps he ought to ask Lyn for help on this one. She's able to communicate with others from a long distance range, isn't she? Yet he recalled the girl's condition earlier and shook his head. Forget asking for help; they need to get out of this stupid situation first.

Perhaps it would be best if they stick to investigations instead of jobs. The beautiful lady that has dubbed as the demon princess, even now she still upholds that reputation quite well and indeed fighting beside her he certainly had that sort of feeling. But it's different now, back when she first joined this side of the world Lyn merely wanted the strength to protect people. Right now, the goal she has is the same as his. That must be why Kazuya brought them together. Rhys could not say that for sure, though, he never knew what his friend was thinking.

"You know getting angry will not help," a voice from behind him said.

"I know that," Rhys snapped. It belonged to the 'ghost?' Or would it be more accurate to say 'spirit?' named Rin. A few years back, this person followed him around and hasn't left his side once.

Rin sighed and leaned against the wall. "Why rush anyway? You've found your old best friend and the girl you used too like. So why are you rus.h.i.+ng?"

His eyes widened. "How did you know about,"

"You're an idiot Rhys. I share a bond with you remember?

. . Even if that's the case, she shouldn't know that. After all this entire time he hid it. Those feelings that have no chance to blossom even now. Then again, "Were you there that time?" The time he confessed to Lyn.

Rin shrugged, "Well, I would ask for some developments. But you haven't asked her yet."

"How can I?"

How can he, when she is obviously in pain? He can't do something so insensitive now.

*half edited*