NOTE: Characters' age will be changed in order to adjust to the story's events.

It was official.

Neave Ward just passed to the Second Round of the Shaman Tournament. The same applied to her companion and best friend, Victoria. And it was the latter, out of all the people that wanted to celebrate. Which was quite unusual, since it was Neave the first to want to celebrate. But this time it was different, Victoria wanted to keep her dear friend occupied. To keep her away from hurting herself more than she was already.

"Cheer up kiddo. You're a winner!" she said taking a sip out of her glass.

"Alcohol won't help me forget and start from scratch." Neave answered to her intents.

"You're not even trying."

"Maybe because I don't want to." She replied shooting her a glare.

Victoria sighed and took another sip out of her glass. Neave pushed her glass away refusing to drink.

"You're so childish." Victoria murmured not looking at her.

"I am." She simply stated while playing with the napkin that was under her glass.

"At least you're aware of that."

"I think she's more than aware, Victoria." came a voice from behind them. "A glass of vodka for the lady up here and one for me." The man behind them pointed at Neave.

His arrival made Neave nervous to the point that she lost control of what she was doing with the napkin and accidentally let the glass fall on the floor, turning it into shimmering dust.

"Hao."

She tried being as cold as possible.

"Neave."

The sound of his voice was soft, velvety, something that you could easily get used to.

"What brings you here? I thought you were a more sophisticated type."

He simply laughed, amused of what just came out of her mouth, which gave her the time to regain some control of the situation. Victoria was silent, she swore that she will ignore him. That didn't seemed to bother Hao, since he was treating her the same way.

"You are quite right my dear, I do like places which are classier. But sometimes mixing with the commoners is a nice distraction."

'Here we go again, the cynic bastard. I never met another guy who was so full of himself, yet so seductive at the same time. It seems like the Devil created the ultimate man.'

"Interesting, too bad I can't say the same about myself, I didn't actually have the pleasure to visit the fancy part of Tokyo."

"You could. Seeing as everyone knows you are with me that could open more doors that you imagine."

"Yes, I suppose so. But I don't intend to do so. The doors could easily close and let you die in the room."

"I see you haven't forgotten that small episode."

'Small?! Small, you fucking bastard? Was he really that heartless? Did I meant nothing for him? How silly of me to think that I did, I should have realised he wasn't capable of love when he tried to kill me just to save himself.' She thought to herself while clenching her fist so hard she felt her nails dig into her skin.

"Don't think like that, Neave."

"I haven't forgiven you. But it's only a matter of perspective, Hao. You know?"

The glass of vodka arrived and she was actually tempted to take a sip. She curled her hand around the glass and she felt that she could actually pull it up and drink. Victoria's stare was burning holes into Hao's head, probably cursing him across the ocean. But it was useless, she knew they weren't a match for him and there was nothing that she could physically do to help her friend. Neave was the only one that could pull herself out of this situation.

"What's meaningless to you, could mean the world to another person" she continued and took a quick sip out of the glass.

He smirked.

"I see. You might be right." He said while she finished the last drop of my glass and left it on the bar.

"Thank you for offering me a drink and for the lovely conversation, if we could call it that, but now I have to go." She looked at Victoria and gestured her to leave.

Neave had already turned her back at him when Victoria tried to stand up and he pushed her back down, he turned to Neave and caught her by the wrist: his touch felt so warm and lovely on her skin. It gave her goose-bumps just with that simple touch.

'No. Control yourself, Neave. I order you to not love him. You can't be in love with him'

But her body was saying the exact opposite, which was a big problem.

He simply chuckled.

'I knew exactly what he was doing. He just couldn't stop himself from reading my mind.'

"Can't you just make an exception?" he asked looking intensely into her eyes.

She looked at him with a tired expression. Neave then glanced at Victoria who was clearly beyond annoyed. She wanted to get away. Fast.

"Do I have any other choice?"

That was it. The signal that she gave up. Victoria looked down disappointed and shook her head at how naïve her friend was.

"There is always another option, but I would say that in this case it would be best if you'd come with me."

"Agreed. Just give me a minute, I'll meet you outside." He nodded and headed outside. It was just her, Victoria and the empty glasses of alcohol that gave her the courage to take the wrong decision, again.

"Why, Neave? Why?" she asked looking at Neave confused and hurt.

"V, this feeling is stronger than me. I simply can't control myself around him. There's something about him, the way he talks, he walks, he touches me… He makes me feel weak."

"I'm going home. And I want to see you in your bed tomorrow morning. Is that clear?" she said hugging Neave which she gladly returned and nodded.

As soon as she exit the bar she felt the cool wind blew against her skin which made her shiver. Hao grabbed her by the shoulders and let her get under his poncho.

"How chivalrous we are tonight. Not afraid of public affection anymore? Or what the other female followers of yours will think?"

"Oh, what they don't know won't hurt them, will it?"

"That's lying, something that you always knew how to do best."

"And you just love my lies, don't you?"

She just let his question drop. She clearly wasn't in the mood for his mind games. She didn't have the strength to fight him anymore. Not tonight.

Even thought, there were millions of questions she wanted to ask him.

"You can ask me just one question."

She looked at him quizzically.

'Was he for real?'

"Shoot, before I change my mind." he said looking ahead of where they were going.

Neave immediately blurted out the first thing that came into her mind.

"Do I mean anything for you?"

"Yes." He simply stated and gave her a smile. One of those smiles that hypnotized her. That smile that stole her heart in a blink of an eye.

"What?" she continued.

"Ah, ah. One question only." He smiled satisfied. Now that was the smile that got on her nerves.

They walked and walked till they got to 'their' place. It wasn't anything special, actually Hao killed the previous owners in order to have it. It was a small apartment near the thermal baths. A traditional apartment for a non-traditional couple.

She didn't seem to register clearly how they got there. How she managed to get herself into this situation. It wasn't the first time, she could have stopped this. If only she truly wanted this to stop.

After a moment of silence he asked her a question out of the blue.

"Would you consider travelling with me to the Patch Village?" he asked while standing behind her. His breath was tingling on the back of her neck sending chills down her spine.

"No, you know I wouldn't do that."

'It would mean to totally lose myself.' she thought and tried to ignore how close he was.

Now she perfectly understood how we got here, at this apartment. Here the tension that was between them became stronger. She felt as if she were caught in the spider's web, and she sure didn't like it.

'Damn it, he has to go! Now!'

"I don't think you're going to throw me out, Neave."

She turned around to look at him annoyed.

"Would you stop reading my mind?! And why? Why do you think I won't be able to do so?" she yelled at him for making her so frustrated.

He grabbed both of her wrists and got closer to her, even closer than before.

"Because you don't want me to leave, you want me to stay."

"N-no!"

She tried to denying it, but failed miserably and made him laugh.

"Oh yes, you want me to stay. Your whole body wants to and your mind too."

She suddenly felt weak, weaker than ever and caught in his power. She was at his mercy.

"I said stop reading my mind!"

He laughed.

"Looks like someone is feeling fragile." He smirked.

Her eyes were starting to well up with tears.

'Not again. Please, don't.' She thought.

"Go away, Hao! I don't want to be with you anymore!" she shouted right into his face, trying to convince him. Or better yet, convince herself.

The only answer she received was a passionate kiss.

"You want me to go?"

"Y-yes!"

He kissed her again and this time it was certain that she would surrender herself to him.

"Do you want me to go?"

"No."

He smiled, he won again.

Yet again the prey was his, he started kissing her again and soon their clothes were on the floor. He picked her up and led them to the master bedroom where he gently placed her on the bed. After that, the only noises that could be heard were soft breathes, whispers, and sighs of pleasure all mixing together.

These little moments of passion were the reason she always came back and never really left.

A/N

Hello lovely readers,

Thank you for taking time to read :3 hope you will also take time to comment! I really love to see what you guys think :)

love,

Eva