Obligatory Disclaimer: Ragnarok Online does not belong to me. It just enslaved my soul.

The personalities in the story, however, do belong to me. Not that anyone will, but don't steal my ideas. :(

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"And where do you think you're going so late at night?" a deep voice, husky with sleep, broke the silence of the night. A small, female figure halted next to a set of intricately carved double doors, then revolved slowly on the spot. A row of torches lined high on rough stone walls cast her face into shadow as she met the eyes of the man that had spoken.

"It doesn't matter." she answered softly, adjusting a leather bag on her shoulder. The male that had spoken - tall, slender, and dark-haired - moved forward to peer at the tiny female, his expression one of mingled curiosity and confusion. "Seriously, Shinta. It's not important." the female insisted, again shifting the sack.

"It's important if I say it is, Maya," Shinta said evenly, a feeling of unease creeping into his stomach. "Your assassin test is tomorrow, you should be in your bed, resting."

"I slept most of the day," Maya said stubbornly, drawing herself up to full height. However, as the top of her head barely reached Shinta's shoulders, it did not come across as the impressive gesture it was meant to be.

"You're hiding something from me." Shinta said flatly, crossing his muscular arms over his chest. His dark brown eyes burned into Maya's silvery blue ones, causing her to wince and look away; she had been a part of Shinta's guild for most of her days as a thief, but the Lord Knight still had a tendency to intimidate her on occasion. Perhaps it was that Shinta had long been considered a master of his art by many, or that he was the leader of the longest-standing, not to mention most powerful guild in Rune-Midgard, or maybe just that he was admired by so many. Maya gulped as her eyes met Shinta's once more.

"I'm leaving."

"Leaving?" Shinta repeated, barely allowing Maya time to finish. His voice was harsh, and he strode forward quickly. "To go where?"

"To... stay with Akito." Maya whispered, the name she uttered barely audible, even in silence. Shinta's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, before his face was carefully blank. "He offered to help me."

"As have I." Shinta replied, keeping his voice neutral. Maya's eyes strayed from his face once more, fixing on a crack in the castle wall. Unable to stop himself, Shinta continued, "I trust you know that I keep my promises. Fenrir has kept Reprion and Noisy for many months. Surely you don't feel as though - "

"There are more things to life," Maya cut Shinta off, giving him a wan smile. "Than treasures and power."

There was an awkward pause. Shinta's chocolate colored eyes never left Maya as he contemplated her. He remembered the day she had come to the entrance of Reprion, ragged and starving, her parents having been killed by the many monsters that had roamed the land. What had they been thinking, Shinta had wondered often, to have chosen to attempt to raise a child, when they could not even protect themselves? Too well he remembered the haunted blue eyes, tinged red from the many nights Shinta knew Maya had spent crying: lamenting the loss of her parents, terrified of what lie ahead, and unable to cope with the troubles she met.

Fenrir had taken Maya in with open arms. The high priest in charge, Azriel, had taken it upon herself to ensure that Maya was nursed back to full health. Shinta himself had helped Maya reach her full potential as a thief, and they had all protected her to their fullest abilities during sieges. Despite the trouble that Maya had undeniably brought to Fenrir, the frustration he had sometimes felt at her slow training, Shinta had developed a soft spot for her that he rarely developed with any of those he commanded.

"I can't persuade you to stay?"

"No... I'm sorry sir, but I've made my decision."

"Then..." Shinta paused, then moved a few short steps to the room where he kept his armor. Maya watched him, puzzled as he unlocked the wooden door and disappeared inside. If he was going to offer her something, she thought with a twinge of discomfort, she wouldn't take it. Within a few short seconds, Shinta reappeared. "Take my Valkyrie helm." he said, holding out the delicate armor that Maya had become accustomed to seeing him wear.

"I can't." Maya said softly, taking a step backwards as though Shinta had said something offensive. "The zeny - the time you spend to create, I can't take- "

"You'll take it, or I'm throwing it in the guild dungeon for a dark illusion to play with," Shinta said firmly, holding out the headgear. Reluctantly, Maya took it in her small hands, finding it to be surprisingly light. "If I can't help you train directly, at least..."

Maya nodded as Shinta's voice trailed off, then carefully placed the Valkyrie helm on her own head. It slipped down over her eyes, a little, obscuring her sight, but Shinta reached out to adjust it, then gave a strained smile. "Well," Maya spoke, her voice soft. "I suppose... I won't intrude any longer. Thank you for everything... sir."

Another awkward pause followed, before Maya turned on her heel and continued down the winding path that led out of Reprion. Shinta watched her go with an odd pang in his chest, then shrugged. He had wondered many a time whether Maya would choose to stay with Fenrir. They came and they went, he knew from long experience as a guild leader. With a soft sigh as he heard the front doors creak open, then slam shut, Shinta continued to his original destination, the kitchen. He had been hungry when he had gotten out of bed some twenty minutes earlier, but as he took an apple from the fruit basket, he noticed that his appetite had gone.

"What are you doing awake?" a soft, feminine voice asked. Shinta recognized the voice immediately as Azriel's, and gave her a nod of greeting as she entered the kitchen.

"Saying good-bye."

"Oh?" Azriel asked, taking an apple for herself and settling at a long, rough carved wooden bench. "Imaginary friend decided to move on to greener pastures?" she teased.

"No," Shinta sighed, seating himself opposite the high priest. "Maya did."

A shocked silence greeted this statement. "Well, you can't expect them all to stay forever." Azriel said finally, frowning. She looked at her apple intently, as though waiting for it to speak in agreement, then sighed. "I suppose we have the day off tomorrow, if we're not escorting her to the assassin temple."

"Yeah," Shinta agreed softly, giving another soft sigh. "I suppose we do."