One of the reasons why he left that day was because he was afraid that she would one day realize who she is and what she could become. One day she would realize how amazing she is without him. Kazuya didn"t want to see her again; he didn"t want that to happen to him. However, when the Sound Kingdom elders gave out that task, Kazuya realized how badly he wanted to meet with Lyn again. All the feelings he held back in the years he didn"t see her vanished just like that.

When he heard that they initially a.s.signed this mission to somebody else, Kazuya felt sick. How could he possibly let somebody else do this job? Somebody would use this chance to take advantage of Lyn. If somebody has to trick her, it may as well be him. So Kazuya accepted and before he knew it, he was by her side again. When Kazuya first saw her again after so many years had pa.s.sed. It surprised him to find her training with a blade.

"To think she had to resort to that," back then while Lyn spoke of her ideals, she never mentioned war. So the sight was surprising him but what surprised Kazuya more was the clouded look in her eyes. It seemed to have dimmed even more than before.

Back then, Kazuya thought such twisted things, about wanting to keep her hidden away in a box - keep her all to himself. Kazuya wanted to s.h.i.+eld her from the ugliness of the world and get rid of that dim look in her eyes. For Kazuya, Lyn was a treasure. A treasure he must protect.

Lyn is the light in his dark and dim world. Even after the Sound Kingdom elders took him out of the facility, Kazuya has lived a dark life. He walked on the path of destruction rather than peace He used his abilities for the sake of those peoples satisfaction. The only difference between the Sound Kingdom Elders and the lab is well he more or less got the freedom he wanted.

It was because he got that freedom that he could meet her. The bright light in his dark work. He already gave up hope, a life away from the darkness. Yet, all suddenly, she came stumbling into his life.

It"s funny how connected their fates are with each others. Life is funny to him now. Before life was nothing but a job to him. Yes, just existing was a mere ch.o.r.e for him. But after he met Lyn, that changed. Lyn makes life worth living. She shows him many things that he would not have considered before — things he would have dismissed and tossed aside as nothing.

He doesn"t want her to stare into the darkness for too long like he did. However, when the sound Kingdom elders gave him that report, Kazuya realizes that the entire time Lyn has been staring into the darkness.

His thoughts broke off when he felt a clenching pain in his heart. Kazuya raised his hand towards his cheek; he didn"t need a mirror to know that the marks increased. Thankfully Lyn didn"t realize it.

The markings are spreading far quicker than he thought. Whoever"s voice this is, it"s clearly having some sort of effect him. He has to hurry if he isn"t mistaken Rhys said she should be around this area.

Lyn, he doesn"t want her to stare into the darkness any longer. It"s something he longed decided after figuring it out back then. His thoughts broke off instantly, hearing his name being called out.

"Lyn."

He looked up and is met by black hair and violet colored eyes. Despite the numerous amounts of wounds on her body and her pale looking state. To him, it was like a G.o.ddess had just appeared. And the words leave his lips before he can even register that she"s even there.

"Jump, Lyn."

...

He didn"t actually think she would jump.

But more importantly, his eyes went wide when he spotted the bracelet in the girls" hands. That"s --!

"Back then, didn"t you propose to me?"

Kazuya immediately extended his arms out, getting ready to catch the girl.

Lyn, this idiot. So many years have pa.s.sed, and this time around, they met each other in a completely different way than before.

This isn"t that place, this isn"t that place where she was a caged bird and him nothing but a mere tool for the feudal lords. Despite the difference, we could meet each other again, anyway. Lyn lands in his arms.

"Show me," Lyn asked and touched his cheeks. Her gaze brightened up, "The marks are disappearing."

The things he couldn"t say back then, there are so so many. Now that he can see her again, now that he can hold her in his arms.

"Kazuya, who am I?"

He leaned forward and encased the girl"s lips with his before answering.

"My Lyn."

Lyn cheerfully replied, "En!"

The extent to which he loves her, from now on he will tell her all the time.

...

After he safely caught the girl in his arms, Kazuya ensured that they were in a somewhat safe place.

"Ah ah, look at everyone go. It"s a real bloodbath; we should probably going them and get to the final stage of the plan," Lyn commented.

Even though it"s been a long time since he has last seen her, at the same time, it feels like they were never apart. Or so he would like to say. Kazuya grabbed hold of the girl"s arm and pulled her towards him once again.

"Wah--wah wah wait…Kazuya… . . .were in the middle of the battlefield . .."

"It"s fine."

"This isn"t fine at all, idiot."

"Lyn, let me touch you for a bit. I haven"t seen you in so long, I"ve missed you so much," Kazuya said. Though they spent time with each other earlier on, that wasn"t enough for him at all.

Kazuya pulled her to one of the buildings that have yet to be completely destroyed by the tremor. Although Kazuya would like to kiss her here, even he knows that"s uncalled for amid battle. But they will have to split off for the final stage of the plan soon.

So just for a little while longer, let him stay with her like this. Kazuya positioned the girl onto his lap and inhaled her sweet scent. When he saw how pale she was, though, he pulled out a few scrolls from his pocket and wrapped them around the girl.

Lyn recognized them, "From Rhys?"

"He gave it to me before we split off. Even I can use it."

"I see, even though I asked for you to come alone. Kazuya, you were probably lonely."

"Brat," Kazuya murmurs lightly as he pinched her cheeks, trailing his hand down her cheeks, "Sorry, I came too late. You"ve become so pale."

"No, you don"t have to apologize. Although I"d be kidding to say I wasn"t afraid since on more than one occasion he forced kisses on me. But I held out," although Lyn said that in a normal tone, Kazuya felt her tremble.

For Lyn to react this way, she must have been terrified. For her strong barrier to break down.. While he was claiming to do his work, she was suffering.

"Kazuya? What"s wrong?"

"Lyn, I"m sorry. I"m so sorry."