As the night descended on the world, in a dark room where the only sounds that could be heard were the faint sounds of steady breathing. A shadow rushed quietly into the room, not even allowing light to enter the space. Stealthily walking through the room towards the bed there it saw a lump the size of a person covered by the quilt. As the shadow drew near a glint suddenly appeared within the shadows vision within a flash too fast for the shadow to comprehend.
"Why are you here? Who sent you?"
"I come with a message from the Viscar Royal Highness, there is news. Allow this servant to be released from your highness' grasp so I may extend this information." The cool calm voice from the shadow held no fear at all and was very resolute even while being held by knife point from Ji.
After letting go of the shadow he flipped the light on in the room to get a clear view of the intruder. A young female shadow-guard of the Dragon Clan dressed in standard attire turned around and knelt in an instant to her Crown Prince and awaited for the order to speak the message she held for him.
After receiving a nod from Ji she began to relay the message. "Your Highness Crown Prince Ji, The Viscar Royal Highness sends her regards and thanks for caring for her daughter. She is aware of the recent events and that her Blood Rite has activated. She also states her thanks for keeping this from her Highness as it is not the time to reveal the truth though she fears she suspects. The danger from off this world is soon at hand as they draw closer and her Viscar Royal Highness as you are aware can not leave the Higher realm to assist so she humbly calls upon His Highness the Crown Prince to assist again to safeguard her daughter. She also states there is a human hunting Her Highness. He is dangerous and possesses weapons from the other realm that the human Varick had come from. You must be cautious we have no safeguards to this type of weapon. This… Your Highness Crown Prince I suggest a full contingent of your shadow-guards to be present at this time perhaps His Highness' personal guards? There is also the matter of 'That Item' as well Your Highness."
Shaking his head Ji looked into the night sky and remained silent for a time while the young shadow-guard stayed in a kneeling position awaiting his order and reply. It was quite a while as he was digesting this news and thinking of what he should do at this time. Along with eventually breaking the truth to Kirin which honestly frightened him beyond belief if she would hate him after finding out.
*Sigh*
"Nothing could be done about it I suppose. Right, inform my guards to follow in the shadows from now on. Their entire aim is to protect the whole group, not just me or Kirin. As for the matter of the item… we need to somehow place a hint somewhere so that Kirin will want to try to find it. If I tell her myself she will question this as I am not from this realm." With a wave of his hand the young shadow-guard left in a flash.
Mumbling to himself once again Ji went into deep contemplation with everything that was said. "Please don't hate me for keeping things from you, it's the only way." He looked down and closed his eyes for a time before turning around, shutting off the light, and falling asleep.
Walking down the corridor, Varick knocked on Kirin's door the following morning. After hearing her asking him to enter he walked in with a tray of food for her.
"Have breakfast with me?" He smiled at her as he placed the tray on the table and pulled two chairs for them to sit.
"Mmm, I should eat, you're right, thank you Varick. I am sorry I have been so unreasonable. He's my brother, how can I not be worried? I have no other family though… I get this feeling my parents are alive still I just can't fathom as to why I would feel that way. I know that memory fragment said she was still alive but what parent could leave their children to live alone without showing themselves even once?"
"I don't know Kirin, maybe there's a reason for this?" Mumbling even lower after this statement while looking at her gorgeous face, "I know I would never leave your side."
"Did you say something Varick?"
Shaking his head quickly he blurted out to her."No, um I said nothing." A shy smile appeared on his face and he quickly began eating to cover the blush creeping up on his face.
"Well, I hope Jun wakes up soon. I am worried about him. Why would he go into a coma like this?"
"I don't know he wasn't hurt that we knew of… wait didn't he start acting weird when you mentioned to him about his memories? Could there be a link in this?"
"It's possible…" Kirin's voice grew distant with this as she delved into her own thoughts for a time. It wasn't until Varick pulled her back to the present that she shook her head and continued to eat her food with a worried look plastered on her face.
It was this look that tugged at Varick's heart at this moment. He never wanted her to be in pain be it physically or emotionally. There was simply nothing he could do for her. Just as he was thinking about how to make her smile again, it was Shou who burst into her room without knocking and bounced her way into Kirin's lap while glaring daggers at Varick as if he just ate her family.
"What did I do this time?" Shock and indignation ran through his eyes at Shou's obvious jealousy.
Turning her head away from him she changed her expression and smiled at Kirin. "Well look who is still grumpy? Hmm? Let's go staying in this Inn without breathing fresh air is absolutely not good for you Kirin."
Shaking her head a bit with a small smile on her lips she refused her. "No, I will stay here until Jun wakes up. I can't leave him right now, thank you though. Shou please go train with the others. We need our strength."
"She's right Shou stop pestering and let's go!" Ji suddenly showed up in the doorway, walked over, grabbed Shou by her top and dragged her out of the room while closing the door behind him.