"He never felt the way as you did. You were just a second plan, maybe not even a one. You are an obligation, a burden to him, don't you see? With a scent of symphaty, what a pity, working as a slave of some other's will. You are a shadow just like me. Join me!" said the shadow woman on her dark chair next to Kanae's bed. Finishing her words, she stood up and walked into the dark with sweer steps. "I am going to get you anyhow."

Kanae didn't want to believe the words of this cunning woman, who repeated the same thing and awakened her every night, always at the same time. She always woke up wide awake, as if she would never need to sleep again. It was an uncomfortable feeling. She always wanted to ignore it, at least as much as she could. Expecting to feel a piece of warmth, she glanced at the man lying next to her. He was cold as steel. No intimacy. It was only a type of routine. They had never spent a day off together. He goes to work, comes right at 7:40 pm and devours his meal, asks if his shirt has been ironed for the next day, spends the rest of the night in a bunch of papers with unknown information, or makes love sometimes, with no love. Feeling his ice cold body on hers like it required no more feeling than giving change to a beggar made her shiver. But, but Ryuuken-sama knows something I don't know. And what he knows is right, he knows the best thing to do. He is wise. I have never had the chance to improve my skills of mind, but he has. How dare I doubt him?

But on the other hand, we all were born to love and be loved. What kind of thing could block it?

There's no doubt I love him, but could it be…Ryuuken-sama doesn't love me back?

The voice once said she was already nothing but an empty shell. She refused to be an empty shell. Ryuuken must have loved her deep inside. He just didn't seem like. It was in his pure Quincy blood not to reveal his feelings. The shadow could be nothing more than a night monster. Maybe a mind monster.

So Kanae forced herself back to sleep. Ryuuken's breakfast had to be prepared early.