Okay, as promised chapter two is up nice and quick :] Will probably be a bit longer till the next one though. Although as they're short they don't take as long to write as my others so hopefully I will be able to update both fics at the same pace :]

Chapter 2 written in the girl's POV. I'm using a sort of 'stream of conciousness' thing to make it seem more personal, so if the grammar is a little weird in places, that'll be the reason. I quite like the contrast to the more traditional way I'm writing Kurogane's POV.

Anyway, hope you enjoy! Please review and let me know what you think!

Consciousness slowly seeps through my mind, bringing me back from the black abyss, restoring my senses.

First comes memory. There were men in my woods. What were they doing here? No man had set foot in this forest for years. What did they want? I follow them silently, ghosting through the trees. They seem to be looking for something, or someone. Me? They pause and I take my chance, launching myself at the slimmer of the two, the only one I could hope to knock down. I take them by surprise, hurling him to the floor and landing on his chest, pinning him down. There's a dagger in my hand and I hold it to his throat, but I don't strike, not yet. I have to know why they've come.

WHAM! I'm thrown to the side and onto my back, the other man on top of me, holding me to the floor, his hand around my neck, too hard to be flesh, too cold. I struggle, writhe and wriggle and thrash but it's no use, he's too strong and I can't move, there's nothing I can do. I can't escape. I look into his eyes and they're red, like blood and I know there's no point in fighting any more. My defences kick in and I black out.

So where was I now? What had those men done to me? As consciousness floods through my body I push out with my senses, probing, exploring, waiting for the pain.

But none comes.

I almost open my eyes with the shock. I check again, more thoroughly. There's an ache in the base of my skull, and warm blood, sticky on the back of my neck, but that happened when I fell, before I blacked out. Other than that there was nothing. Not a scratch, not a bruise, not even an ache between my legs.

They hadn't hurt me.

The realisation is something I can't quite understand. I was completely at their mercy, there was no way I could have fought back, or escaped. Why hadn't they hurt me? Maybe they were waiting until I woke up, maybe for them it's no fun if I'm asleep. Well if that's the case then they won't get what they want. If they try again I'll just black out on them. It's the only defence I have if I can't escape them.

I explore with my senses again, pushing further this time, beyond my body. I'm no longer lying down. I feel rough bark against my back and soil beneath my feet. So I'm propped up against a tree. My hands and feet are bound, but even there there's no pain, no burn from rope or bruises from chains. I wriggle my hands behind my back, trying to get purchase on this strange substance. It's cool and smooth, but won't give, not even a fraction. There's something else about it, something… ethereal.

And then it hits me. It's magic. They've bound me with magic. Panic rushes through me. How? How could they have magic? In all my life there has never been anyone else, and if there had… Terror replaces panic. What are they going to do?

I can hear them talking, quietly. They've built a fire, I can feel its heat warming my body even though I must be some way from it. I can't hear what they're saying, their voices are so low they're lost in the crackle and hiss of the flames. Slowly, I open my eyes.

The two men are sat by the fire, just beyond where I would be able to reach, were I free to do so. The man who had knocked me down is closest, but with his back to me. He is huge. Not only tall but well built, with muscles that bulge underneath his skin. I shudder inwardly, dreading what that man might be able to do to me. Only he hadn't. His hair is short and black and he seems to be the complete opposite of the man he sits across from. The man who was my intended victim is thin and fair, pale skin and golden hair. There's a strip of cloth around his neck, I must have caught him with my dagger as the dark-haired man pushed me off him.

I thought they hadn't noticed I was awake, but as though he senses my eyes on him, the blonde looks my way. Immediately I drop my eyes to the floor and bow my head, but I can hear him getting up and coming towards me.

"So you're awake then?" he asks, his voice soft and somehow musical. He crouches down in front of me and I shrink back into my tree. I feel his fingers cup my chin, soft and warm, and I flinch. He hesitates for a moment, but then slowly raises my face until I'm looking right at him. His eyes are wide and blue, sparkling and deep and I can't look away. But they puzzle me. There's something in there I don't understand. They look wary (understandable seeing as I tried to cut his throat) and questioning, almost curious, but there's something else, something I can't quite place.

They look kind.

The thought hits me just as the big man had earlier, knocking me just as hard. Kindness. I'd almost forgotten such a thing existed. But… why? Who were these men who not only have not hurt me, but now look at me with kindness? I didn't think such a thing was possible.

"Are you alright?" the blonde asks. He's changed his voice somehow, it's lighter, even softer than before. It stirs a memory somewhere in the back of my mind, something long since forgotten and I realise what his tone means. It matches the look in his eyes.

Who were these people?

"It looks like you hit your head when Kuro-sama here pushed you to the ground. He gets a bit overenthusiastic sometimes but I don't think it's too bad." He prattles on, a smile on his face that I can tell is fake.

Seemingly concerned by my lack of answer he moves his hand towards the back of my head. I shrink back further, trying to avoid his touch and a low growl escapes my lips. My muscles clench and I'm ready to fight in any way I can. But he draws his hand back looking slightly alarmed. He holds them up in front of me as if he's trying to show me where they are.

"We're not going to hurt you," he says, all trace of a smile gone and what looks like… concern on his face. Nobody's looked at me like that since I was a child, and even then never a man.

I try and pull back even further, wishing I could run, escape. These strange men, treating me in such a confusing manner when they shouldn't even be here. Somehow it terrifies me even more than when the big one was on top of me. At least I know how to deal with situations like that, but this? My heart pounds against my ribs and my breath comes shallow and fast but I can't feel the blackness creeping up on me. Somehow my magic is telling me I'm not in danger. I'm not sure whether this should bother me or not. My magic has been the only thing I could ever rely on, the only thing I could ever trust. But I've never been in a situation so far from my understanding before. Perhaps my magic isn't made to deal with things like this?

The blonde man moves back slightly, giving me some space and behind him I see the big man, watching me as intently as the slim one. His face is harsh, full of hard, straight lines. His eyes are narrowed and his brow furrowed. If this had been any other time, any other place then I would have thought I knew what he was thinking. But all of this is so far beyond what I know that I look, I really look. I know what hatred and lust and cruelty look like. I know the gleam they give to a man's eyes. His eyes hold none of those things. They just watch me. Like the blonde's.

I don't know what to do.

Finally the fear overcomes me and I feel the corners of my mind grow dark as my magic takes over and sends me into a blissful, unknowing sleep.