Hello readers! Atrium here! I apologize for the delay. Again. Sigh... college. What kind of English class asks you for an essay every week? Anyway, I read some comments about Guy's fiance in the feedback. Well... hold on to your seats ladies and gents. I've got a little something up my sleeve. Curtains aaaaand... action!

The scent of sandalwood and cloves greeted her as she yawned and cuddled up against the soft silk of the pillow.

She stretched luxuriously and breathed in more of the crisp, fragrant air. Her joints creaked and popped after being still for so long.

It was such a drastic change from how she'd felt when she was last conscious. She could hardly remember the pain and the freezing cold. She smiled and hugged the thick blanket that had been draped over her. "This is just wonderful..." She though.

She was so blissfully warm and comfortable that she didn't notice Guy sitting at her bedside, resting his head on his hand.

She suddenly realized where she was and felt terribly embarrassed. "Wha.. G-GUY! Um... Good Mornin- no... uh..." She stammered as she bolted upright and attempted to smooth down her hair, which was magnificently tangled.

Guy looked down and covered his mouth, trying hard to suppress the smile that pulled at his lips. He cleared his throat and looked up at a very bewildered looking Rose.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, watching as her cheeks flushed gently. Rose's face turned solemn as she looked down at her arms. There were covered by various bandages and a few yellowing bruises. "I'm... I'm feeling better." She said as she made a fist and released it, realizing the soreness in her muscles was gone.

Guy nodded and looked down at his lap, racking his brain for something to say. He cleared his throat and opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off.

"Thank you." said Rose, giving a small nod. Everything would have been fine, had she not looked up at him like she did.

His heart stopped for an instant as his gaze locked with hers. Her eyes were crystalline, a vibrant shade of sea green so bright that they seemed to dull the colors of the world around him. The ribbons of sunlight that streamed in from the window hit her face just right, their soft orange light making her skin glow.

Rose gulped and shifted her gaze to the floor, shifting about nervously. "U-um... for taking c-care of me..."

Guy felt his face get uncomfortably warm as he realized that he'd been staring at her. "I... of course. N-no problem." He stammered, staring holes into the wall as he mentally kicked himself.

She gave a little half smile and began to shift her way to her feet. "I won't forget your kindness. I wish I could find some way to repay you." A confused look struck Guy's face as she limped past him. "Wait... you're leaving?" He asked, the despondency in his voice a little more obvious than he would have liked.

She stopped, her back turned to him. She was silent for an unconfortable second as she wrapped her scarf around her shoulders tighter. "He's still out there..." She whispered, lowering her head a bit.

Memories of the atrocities Bison had committed flashed in his mind. 'She's right...' He thought, clenching his fist a bit. He watched her stand, tilting slightly to the left, trying not to put too much weight on her wounded knee. He took a deep breath and walked towards her. She flinched a bit as he grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. "I can't let you leave." He said, looking at her straight in the eye. "I understand that Bison has to be stopped, but there's no way you could defeat him in the state you're in."

A little flash of indignation showed across her face. "I... I know what I'm doing." She huffed, pushing his hand away and trying to put on a menacing face that ended up looking like a little pout instead. He looked to the side and sighed at her stubbornness. She bit her lip and looked down, rubbing her arm nervously.

She turned and walked towards the door, thinking desperately about where Bison could have gone. "Give me a week." he said, stopping her dead in her tracks. Her heart gave a thump as she turned slowly. He was looking at the floor, trying to hide his face from her as much as he could.

"Give me a week to prepare you." he said, looking up at her. She drew in a breath at the sight of his desperate expression. She'd never seen him like this. He was usually so distant and emotionless. She looked down and gulped, closing her eyes tight. "I... I can't. I have to do this by myself. I can't involve anybod-"

"You will die." He said flatly, flinching a bit internally as he did, the image of her pale, bloodied face haunting him. "And then nobody will be able to stop him." He crossed his arms over his chest and collected himself, giving her a stern glare.

She made a tight fist and shrunk under his stare. She shook her head and chewed on her bottom lip, storming past him. "Fine." She snarled, bumping her shoulder into his and going back to his room.

Try as he might to surpress it, he had to smirk.

"Well then... let's begin."

-faceplant- FINALLY. Thank you so much for being so wonderfully patient. I've been swamped with work lately. But the fic must go on! This chapter is named after the Temperance card. It represents balance and a harmonious union of opposites. It suggests finding the middle way, and may come up to signify agreements, understanding and compromises.

Thank you again for being wonderful, readers! Until next time!

-Atrium