People often express their true feelings when they hide behind some kind of mask or due to feeling anonymity - where they hide their very selves behind a disguise . They hide behind their mask, and it makes them feel like they are a completely different person; separating themselves from the consequences caused by their other self .

-

Lyn looked over at Rhys who was running ahead of her; earlier she didn"t expect that . He looked at her so seriously after she showed him her powers . Though she intended to show him everything like he asked her, for some reason he stopped her halfway . She doesn"t understand this person at all . From what she saw earlier it"s clear that he"s the type who fools around a lot .

She may not be familiar with those things, but Lyn heard some stuff from the guards and Pupillam . The latter warned her not to get involved with "players . " Lyn was too busy thinking things through in her head, that she didn"t notice that at some point she stopped walking . Rhys followed and inched closer to her .

Before she knew it, once again Rhys lips were on hers, it came as sudden as the rest did .

This was the fourth time this man stole a kiss from her . The first - she understood he was trying to get rid of his friends . The second to prove a point to Kazuya . The third because of his anger - this fourth one? Lyn didn"t know where it came from at all . Lyn didn"t hesitate at all as she drew out a small concealed blade from her .

Rhys looked at her amused, "Will you hurt m--" she cuts him off when Lyn charged towards him . Rhys seemed surprised to see the blade, and his reaction to stop her was slow . Lyn managed to cut his cheek with the small knife . After a minute Rhys snapped out of it and blocked her attack .

Lyn, however, remained calm, as she asked him, "Why?"

"You had a serious look on your face; I wanted to get rid of it . "

For that reason? Lyn frowned, "Of course I"m serious . Kazuya is in danger," though the reason just now was because of Rhys .

"Kazuya, in danger huh . "

What"s with that tone?

"I think there"s no need to rush . I mean this is Kazuya," Rhys trailed off sensing her confusion, "Kazuya is the strongest person in the Sound Kingdom . "

"Eh?" Lyn said surprised .

Rhys nodded, "Yeah, n.o.body in the Sound Kingdom can match his strength . Since he was younger people called him a genius, whether it"s his powers or intelligence . Kazuya is the Sound Kingdom"s triumph card . "

Yet they sent him out here? Lyn frowned, it seemed wrong to her . Normally one would safeguard somebody with Kazuya"s strength until they reach the adult age of eighteen, where people can no longer manipulate him . But the Sound Kingdom people sent Kazuya here, no matter how much she thought about it . Lyn found it unusual; however, she knew Rhys was only explaining it as a pa.s.sing thing . He might get mad at her if she asked him .

Lyn"s thoughts broke off when a woman crashed into her, "I"m--- I"m sorry-" the woman paused, " . . . You Princess Lyn . "

Ah?

Lyn immediately recognized the woman who got of her; it was the same woman who was clinging on to Rhys . Unlike her earlier appearance, the woman"s hair was messy, and her clothes tattered . Fresh wounds on her shoulder, Lyn pulled out her handkerchief, "Your bleeding . "

Esta looked away, and moved her hand away, "Don"t be so kind to me . I"m your enemy . "

"Oh . . . "

At that comment, Rhys grabbed the woman"s wrist and dragged her up; the look in his eyes was dangerous . She felt the temperature in the room drop .

"I knew you guys were suspicious . Why do you think I didn"t report you? I wanted to see what you would do . But huh, I didn"t you guys were stupid enough to do something like this . . "

"R--h--ys-- forgive me . I was only following orders," Esta"s shoulders shook, and her words came out as stuttering .

The menacing look was enough to send anyone shaking . Ordinary people would stay away from such a guy . However Lyn reached over and tapped Rhys hand, "It"s okay, the fact that she"s telling you this now means deep down there"s something good about her . "

Indeed Esta could have easily lied her way out of this . But the first words she said was asking for Rhys to forgive her . She must harbor feelings for Rhys . Lyn turned to the man who had placed her hand on top of hers, eh?

"Geez, your making everything difficult for me . "

Lyn looked at him with a puzzled expression on his face . What does he mean? Rhys let"s go of her hand before she could say a word, and turned to Esta . He still wore that frown on his face, but he seemed more relaxed in contrast to before .

"Where"s Kazuya?"

"Outside," Esta stammered .

"In this area?"

Lyn"s eyes go wide, and she immediately went towards the window . She opened it and indeed confirmed Esta"s words . Not too far from where they were, Kazuya was fighting bellow .

. . . . .

They found Kazuya easily, the guy who was with Esta was the sub-leader was laying in the side, the man named Chris . But just like Esta, he wasn"t in the condition to fight . Kazuya must have escaped . So why hadn"t Kazuya returned to them yet? Lyn felt there was something wrong . Rhys, however, was just glad to see him . Kazuya stood alone in the vast gardens outback since it was night a cool breeze spread through the air indicating it was close to winter .

Lyn who wore light clothes brought her hands to cover herself but stopped as she stared at Kazuya . She noticed it; he hasn"t deactivated his powers yet .

"Kazuya, come on . Let"s go back now . Hopefully, Lyn"s family didn"t notice . "

She stepped forward and blocked Rhys from taking another step forward . Lyn closed her eyes, and a natural light surrounded her, and soon two familiar blades appeared in her hands .

Rhys looked at her surprised .

"Lyn? What are y---"

"Kazuya doesn"t seem normal," Lyn interjected . She noticed it when they were still far away and when she opened the window . But the aura around Kazuya seemed different .

Rhys glanced over at Kazuya, and his expression grew grim, "Kazuya, to escape did you perhaps use . . . "

" . . . "

"d.a.m.n idiot, the elder is going to kill you . "

Lyn didn"t know what they were talking about, but as she glanced at the present Kazuya who was surrounded by black energy . An image of the fourteen-year-old her appeared in her memory . Is it the same power as her? The colors dancing around Kazuya now are not his usual bright ones; they were dull and gave her a feeling of being oppressed . Kazuya"s normally bright eyes covered in darkness .

She immediately understood what happened here; they must have hit him repeatedly to provoke him to use his powers . Even in Kazuya"s present state, Lyn could make out the cuts and bruise marks on his face . How awful, how long did he withstand it? She should have noticed sooner .

Maybe she should have told Rhys, he almost saw right through to her . But how on earth could Lyn bring it up?

--------

Earlier

Lyn brought it up because she didn"t want him to twist her thoughts . Big brother has a way to do that . Lyn only mentioned that he was hiding a power greater then what anyone had seen before while they waited for the servants to finish setting up the rest of the table .

"Keep your distance from him . "

"Brother," Lyn paused, "I don"t think I can . . . "

Andrew shook his head and sigher . "Do you understand? You must do your job well, little sister . "

------

The "job" her brother a.s.signed to her regarding Kazuya . Yes, even before she met him, she knew who he was . But, honestly, a long time had pa.s.sed since brother contacted her regarding that job . That"s why she forgot what he looked like .

So when she first met Kazuya and the many memories they created afterward - they were all genuine . She wasn"t pretending to get close to him . But when she saw how hostile her second brother was and noticed General Adrien being too cautious . Lyn decided to search for the file with the photo . When she finally found it, she remembers the weak feeling in her knees, her face color pale .

Why, why does it have to be Kazuya?

Why wasn"t she mistaken?People often express their true feelings when they hide behind some kind of mask or due to feeling anonymity - where they hide their very selves behind a disguise . They hide behind their mask, and it makes them feel like they are a completely different person; separating themselves from the consequences caused by their other self . - Lyn looked over at Rhys who was running ahead of her; earlier she didnt expect that . He looked at her so seriously after she showed him her powers . Though she intended to show him everything like he asked her, for some reason he stopped her halfway . She doesnt understand this person at all . From what she saw earlier its clear that hes the type who fools around a lot . She may not be familiar with those things, but Lyn heard some stuff from the guards and Pupillam . The latter warned her not to get involved with players . Lyn was too busy thinking things through in her head, that she didnt notice that at some point she stopped walking . Rhys followed and inched closer to her . Before she knew it, once again Rhys lips were on hers, it came as sudden as the rest did . This was the fourth time this man stole a kiss from her . The first - she understood he was trying to get rid of his friends . The second to prove a point to Kazuya . The third because of his anger - this fourth one? Lyn didnt know where it came from at all . Lyn didnt hesitate at all as she drew out a small concealed blade from her . Rhys looked at her amused, Will you hurt m-- she cuts him off when Lyn charged towards him . Rhys seemed surprised to see the blade, and his reaction to stop her was slow . Lyn managed to cut his cheek with the small knife . After a minute Rhys snapped out of it and blocked her attack . Lyn, however, remained calm, as she asked him, Why? You had a serious look on your face; I wanted to get rid of it . For that reason? Lyn frowned, Of course Im serious . Kazuya is in danger, though the reason just now was because of Rhys . Kazuya, in danger huh . Whats with that tone? I think theres no need to rush . I mean this is Kazuya, Rhys trailed off sensing her confusion, Kazuya is the strongest person in the Sound Kingdom . Eh? Lyn said surprised . Rhys nodded, Yeah, n.o.body in the Sound Kingdom can match his strength . Since he was younger people called him a genius, whether its his powers or intelligence . Kazuya is the Sound Kingdoms triumph card . Yet they sent him out here? Lyn frowned, it seemed wrong to her . Normally one would safeguard somebody with Kazuyas strength until they reach the adult age of eighteen, where people can no longer manipulate him . But the Sound Kingdom people sent Kazuya here, no matter how much she thought about it . Lyn found it unusual; however, she knew Rhys was only explaining it as a pa.s.sing thing . He might get mad at her if she asked him Lyns thoughts broke off when a woman crashed into her, Im--- Im sorry- the woman paused, . You Princess Lyn . Ah? Lyn immediately recognized the woman who got of her; it was the same woman who was clinging on to Rhys . Unlike her earlier appearance, the womans hair was messy, and her clothes tattered . Fresh wounds on her shoulder, Lyn pulled out her handkerchief, Your bleeding . Esta looked away, and moved her hand away, Dont be so kind to me . Im your enemy . Oh . At that comment, Rhys grabbed the womans wrist and dragged her up; the look in his eyes was dangerous . She felt the temperature in the room drop . I knew you guys were suspicious . Why do you think I didnt report you? I wanted to see what you would do . But huh, I didnt you guys were stupid enough to do something like this R--h--ys-- forgive me . I was only following orders, Estas shoulders shook, and her words came out as stuttering . The menacing look was enough to send anyone shaking . Ordinary people would stay away from such a guy . However Lyn reached over and tapped Rhys hand, Its okay, the fact that shes telling you this now means deep down theres something good about her . Indeed Esta could have easily lied her way out of this . But the first words she said was asking for Rhys to forgive her . She must harbor feelings for Rhys . Lyn turned to the man who had placed her hand on top of hers, eh? Geez, your making everything difficult for me . Lyn looked at him with a puzzled expression on his face . What does he mean? Rhys lets go of her hand before she could say a word, and turned to Esta . He still wore that frown on his face, but he seemed more relaxed in contrast to before . Wheres Kazuya? Outside, Esta stammered . In this area? Lyns eyes go wide, and she immediately went towards the window . She opened it and indeed confirmed Estas words . Not too far from where they were, Kazuya was fighting bellow They found Kazuya easily, the guy who was with Esta was the sub-leader was laying in the side, the man named Chris . But just like Esta, he wasnt in the condition to fight . Kazuya must have escaped . So why hadnt Kazuya returned to them yet? Lyn felt there was something wrong . Rhys, however, was just glad to see him . Kazuya stood alone in the vast gardens outback since it was night a cool breeze spread through the air indicating it was close to winter . Lyn who wore light clothes brought her hands to cover herself but stopped as she stared at Kazuya . She noticed it; he hasnt deactivated his powers yet . Kazuya, come on . Lets go back now . Hopefully, Lyns family didnt notice . She stepped forward and blocked Rhys from taking another step forward . Lyn closed her eyes, and a natural light surrounded her, and soon two familiar blades appeared in her hands . Rhys looked at her surprised . Lyn? What are y--- Kazuya doesnt seem normal, Lyn interjected . She noticed it when they were still far away and when she opened the window . But the aura around Kazuya seemed different . Rhys glanced over at Kazuya, and his expression grew grim, Kazuya, to escape did you perhaps use . . d.a.m.n idiot, the elder is going to kill you . Lyn didnt know what they were talking about, but as she glanced at the present Kazuya who was surrounded by black energy . An image of the fourteen-year-old her appeared in her memory . Is it the same power as her? The colors dancing around Kazuya now are not his usual bright ones; they were dull and gave her a feeling of being oppressed . Kazuyas normally bright eyes covered in darkness . She immediately understood what happened here; they must have hit him repeatedly to provoke him to use his powers . Even in Kazuyas present state, Lyn could make out the cuts and bruise marks on his face . How awful, how long did he withstand it? She should have noticed sooner . Maybe she should have told Rhys, he almost saw right through to her . But how on earth could Lyn bring it up? -------- Earlier Lyn brought it up because she didnt want him to twist her thoughts . Big brother has a way to do that . Lyn only mentioned that he was hiding a power greater then what anyone had seen before while they waited for the servants to finish setting up the rest of the table . Keep your distance from him . Brother, Lyn paused, I dont think I can . Andrew shook his head and sigher . Do you understand? You must do your job well, little sister . ------ The job her brother a.s.signed to her regarding Kazuya . Yes, even before she met him, she knew who he was . But, honestly, a long time had pa.s.sed since brother contacted her regarding that job . Thats why she forgot what he looked like . So when she first met Kazuya and the many memories they created afterward - they were all genuine . She wasnt pretending to get close to him . But when she saw how hostile her second brother was and noticed General Adrien being too cautious . Lyn decided to search for the file with the photo . When she finally found it, she remembers the weak feeling in her knees, her face color pale . Why, why does it have to be Kazuya? Why wasnt she mistaken?