Ninth waited at her home with his own blood on his body, and several large injuries, though, he seemed to be ignoring it.

She gasped loudly when she got home and stared at him, going over, "Ninth what happened!?"

She stopped herself from getting overly excited from the blood.

"a hunter... i have not seen one since... i can't remember..." he looked to the ceiling. He was still bleeding quite a bit. each wound looked fresh

"Whats a hunter..?" She sat down next to him.

"you don't want to know..." he looked at her and he covered his mouth, coughing suddenly then looking like he didn't care. She could see blood in his hand.

"maybe i do... but before that..." She got up and when to get her first aid, never been used. She was actually trembling at the sight of blood. Ellia quickly went back to him and unclothed the areas that had been hurt and tended to them, "I may not be a professional.. but it'll have to do.. unless you want to go to a hospital.."

"no... it'll be fine... don't get my blood on you..." he looked into the room, not another word spoken as she tended to burns, cuts, and puncture wounds

"Now.. what's a hunter... i'd kinda like to know what something is, if it does this much damage..." Continuing to bind him, her shaking didn't ease.

"I didn't get a good look at it this time... all i know is that they were design to hunt chasers and black bloods alike..."

"Thats.. different... does it eat people as well?"

"anything that gets in it's way of killing us, dies."

"Did you kill IT..?"

"no... i ran..." he looked at her. "i couldn't even scratch it..."

"Hm... all done.." Ellia finished up her bandaging work, but she felt a bit weird, there was no warning, nothing, just something different.
Acouple days later and sat on the couch, staring at Ninth. Sudden memories sprung into her mind, of when she had first met Ninth, to now. Ellia grew very distressed and weak, her voice catching on itself, and her eyes becoming teary,"I-I got to leave...". She stood up and walked to her room, her head hung down. Her mind going insane. She closed the door behind her and sat on the bed, {What... what... why is he here... why did i meet him.. my life has been nothing but awkward silences, drama, and confusion... how did i deal with it? I don't understand why he'd even be around me... im mad at him one minute then compassionate the next.. something's wrong..I forced him to tell me about his past...}, Her heart lurches and aches, as though someone is stabbing her, but she doesn't care, {He's so confusing... i don't even know why he's still here... He's.. intoxicating... All i've done is probably annoy him... Hes.. just teasing me.. seeing how long till i.. "pop". that seems.. right.. i don't know... im so utterly confused.. god.. this situation is... i don't even know...} She began to cry uncontrollably, {Why am i crying... its not like.. he means anything to me.. hes just.. a guy... i don't know if hes even a friend... yet.. the last couple days have led me to think ive been friends with him forever... just a friend...}, Ellia grew woozy, this intense thinking making her sick, she laid in bed, not wanting to move, not wanting to do anything. This depression coming as a complete surprise to her, and even unnecessary.{He.. loved someone.. something so personal... and i.. FORCED him... i forced him... Hes lonely.. i can tell... but i don't think im the right type of person to fill that space, hes most likely just searching for something to dull the pain? im just an extra... fuck.. why} Issac invaded her mind, {Hes so nice... so nice... i feel so alone.. longing for companionship? probably... ive never dated anyone... ever... he accepted me like id been a part of his life for a long time.. so welcoming and nice... so comforting... so warm}, She winces and cries harder. She ends up spending the rest of her night in there, constantly thinking, crying herself to sleep.

Ninth took her sudden depression as just a girl thing but decided to follow her to her room, where she was crying and twitching. "..." he didn't say anything, he sat by her and patted her shoulder softly, in genuine concern and softness. "whatever is bothering you... you are strong... you will be alright..."

She pulled the blanket over her head so he wouldnt see, and tried her hardest to not cry, so he wouldn't hear.

Ninth stroked her hair softly. "Its alright to cry... i already heard you cry anyway.." he chuckled a bit. "I can leave if you wish..."

She mumbled and peaked out, but not looking at him, "I'm just.. confused..."

"about...?" he kept stroking her hair.

"What am i to you? i mean like.. i dont know.. i feel like im an extra to you, someone whos there to fill in the gap, and nothing more. Then i was thinking about how i forced you to answer me.. and i broke.." Ellia eased off on her talking and went back in the blanket.

"the girl from before..." he sighed and closed his eyes. "she died long ago... there is no gap to fill... true it hurts to talk about her, but, she is already dead and the past is the past... I am not sure what you are to me... You are a close friend to me..." he kept stroking her hair. "my emotions about you are mixed up. my sight of what i may do is cloudy around you, that is quite interesting to me... you are, to me, something... no someone, i care about..." he looked down at her. "if i didn't care about you.." he smiled. "Why would i smile around you... try to comfort you... try to make you smile..."

Ellia just laid there for a minute or so, hidden by her blanket, then compelled to hug him around his waist and not let go.

He let her hug him, patting her hair softly and then laying down.

"I'm sorry for asking... I need to keep my mouth shut more often.."

"dont worry... it is not your fault..." he looked down.

She didn't look at him, but she also let go of him. Feeling a bit awkward with hugging him there and turns around and curled in her blanket, her crying exaghsted her.

he looked at her slowly with no clear expression

She didn't move for the rest of that day, and didnt wake up till about evening the next day.

he stayed with her until she woke and he stood up.

Ellia turned her head back to look at him leave.

"I'll be back.. i promise..." he left the house quickly and ran off.

She stretched and felt a bit odd and embarassed about yesturday. It wasnt worth her time to think about it so she could out of bed and took a hot bath, turning the light off before doing so.

he came back late in the following day with more cuts on his body, though there was black blood on his cloths as well. he didn't seem to himd the cuts again. "i'm going to bathe.

She had gone out while he was away, spending most of the day in the forest. Afterwards when she got home she felt she needed to take another bath, so she did, relaxing, the bubbles everywhere, having lit candles as well to set the mood.

Ninth walked in and actually blushed a bit, then composed himself. He turned around and shut the door behind him.

She blinked a bit as she watched him, not really caring. She probably wouldn't even care if he joined. She went back to enjoying her bath.

"that was awkward..." he spoke to himself awkwardly.

"I can hear you.." She called over the barrier of the door between them.

he blushed again and left the door to sit on her couch

Rolling her eyes she got out and peaks out the door looking at him, "It's not like you haven't seen me naked before, you know.."

"I actually haven't really... everything has been hidden before..."

"it was pretty visible before we got in the hot spring..."

"I didn't look..." he stood up a bit.

"Alright.. just letting you know i dont care." She went back to the bath with the light still off, not really closing the door.

"why don't you care if i see you naked? i would think you'd get pissed off..." he spoke in an annoyed tone.

"You're really the only friend i have who wouldnt care wether you saw me naked or not. It's not like i can do that to Issac cause i know he'd either make a move, or shy away" She ignored the way he talked.

He walked into the bathing room again. "i need a bath... and my cloths need washed..." he stared at her, half annoyed, half tired.

"Well i was basically outside 'all day', sence i woke up, and need a bath as well... You can join me, i have no preference.." She looked up at him, sleepy eyed.

He took off his cloths aside from the gauntlet and got in the bath with her, laying his head back as blood was washed from his body. "ugh..."

"If you're annoyed with sharing a tub i can just leave.." She raised an eyebrow.

"No, i'm just exhausted... dealing with 2 hunters and a black blood was exhausting..." he spoke softly. "i killed the black blood then ran away..."

"Well thats good..."She replied, watching the blood drain off his body.

He looked at her. "you really don't mind me being naked with you?" he raised an eye brow when he spoke

"No..." She breathed, still staring a bit, her eyes flickering.

"why not?" he looked confused

"I could ask you the same thing.." Her gaze went to his.

"because i care about you... and because quite frankly, skin doesn't bother me..."

"Then my answer is the same.." She laid her head back and cllosed her eyes.

He watched her and laid his head back as well

"I have a weird vibe about Issac.. i felt like he lied to us.. saying he was like me.. do you feel that way?" She didnt move her head.

"he looked at her suddenly. "I think he's a black blood... even after cutting him.. because i never got a chance to look..."

"I have that feeling to.. but i dont like making accusations.. so id rather wait to see what happens.."

"I didnt sense anyting either.. maybe it was that vanilla.."

"it was... it was too strong for my senses..."

"But i also dont feel nausiated around him... its like the most comforting feeling iver ever had..."

Ninth looks at her. "you feel comfortable around that dick?" he shrugged a bit

"How is he a dick?"

"he is in the way he carries himself." he spoke, annoyed.

"What do you mean..."

he just is, alright?" he looked annoyed, almost jealous.

"Oh, well.. alright." She stoped the conversation and just relaxed.

He sighed a bit and looked at her

She had her arms outside on the arms of the tub and her head back, her eyes also closed. Forgot to mention, its not a very big tub so she has to put her legs over his while hes on the other side.

Ninth yawns and stands and steps from the tub

Ellia looked up at him, making her eyes avoid his manly hood, "Done?"

"yeah..." he sighed and left the room, grabbing his cloths

"Something wrong...?" She suddenly looked worried. "Did i say something?"

"no, just tired..." he yawned and walked away

"Alright" Ellia replied, staying ther for a good 20 more minutes then got out and got dried off and dressed.

He was asleep on the couch with his jacket covering him and his pants loosely on

She went into the kitchen to get milked then peaked out and stared at him a bit, then retreating into her room to drink milk and sleep.

He wasn't awake by morning like he usually was

She walked out and went over to him, standing in front of him.

He looked peaceful while he slept.

She sat down and rested her chin on the chouch end, near his face.

He kept sleeping soundly without a word or a noise.

She pawed his face, still staring at him.

he openned his eyes. "hm...?" he sat up slowly

Leaving her head there she followed him with her eyes, "Good morning"

"morning..." he yawned and stretched.

"Sleep well?" She laid her head to the side.

He nodded a bit and stretched some more.

Ellia stood up, "Lets go do something today"

"like what...?" he looked at her with a hair sticking up and dry drool on his lips. It was the first time she'd seen him just wake up and he was silly looking, but i bet you knew that.

She looked at him and her lips curled into a wide smile. Picking up a blanket and wipes his face off and left his hair, "Youre silly when you wake up.." She stuck out her tongue playfully.

I am...?" he looked like he had no idea what was even going on. He probably wouldn't remember this later.

"You have fluffy hair as well.." She played with it a bit and giggled, then stoped, she realized she'd never recalled giggling before, it was strange.

He tried to stand and failed, falling back down and sitting again. "oops..." he tried 4 more times, all of which failed, then laid his head back. "i failed..."

She stands up and gets in front of him, grabbing his hand and pulling him up, "Jesus youre heavy!"

"huh...? oh yeah... thanks, i'll do that later..." he spaced out.

"You alright?" Still grabing his hands, not wnting him to fall over again.

He fell asleep standing up, his eyes shut and everything. He obviously was not a morning person.

She put him back on the couch and covered him up with the blanket, then left to her room to get dressed

He slept soundly again and didn't move

When she was done she went back over to him and sat on him and watched tv.

He started to wake up again. "hmn...?"

She was watching a horror movie

He looked at her. "I'm awake... did i do something stupid?

"Nope!" She smirked a bit and looked at him, then focused back on the movie.

"That's good..." he sat back and watched the movie with her. "zombies this time?"

"Yep! There was nothing new that i havent already seen.. except this one"

"cool..." he watched as a girl had her arms eaten. "dumb bitch..

She didnt respond to his comment, lenaing back more and layed in his lap, to get more comfy.

He yawned a bit and patted her head.

"Still tired?"

"no, not really..."

"Alrighty. After this movie wat do you want to do?"

"what? we were doing something today?" he looked confused

"i asked you earlier when you were half asleep. But you get to choose today."

"?" he looked confused still. "I don't get it...

"What. Do. You. Want. To. Do. Today. After the movie.."

"I don't friggen know..." he shrugged.

"Well you decide today.."

"i will later i guess..."

"Alrighty.. we could always go out to eat... hot springing... er.. movie theater, amusement park, erh... idk what else.. we could go to an abandoned hospital, i know where one is! that'd be exciting..."

He shrugged a bit. "I'd be alright with out to eat...

"Alrighty, then after hospital?" She looked at him

He shrugged. "Whatever you want."

Later on the movie finished and they got ready to go. The strolled out of the apartment complex and went to eat somewhere, then once they were done Ellia lead Ninth towards the abandoned hospital.

ninth looked somewhat tired still and he slouched when he walked. "mngh..."

"You look a bit tired... you can head home, i was planning to still go in"

"No, that's alright, i'll still come with you." He shrugged a bit.

"I dont want you falling asleep in that hospital, as amusing as that would be.."

"I won't god." he looked more annoyed now.

Ellia rolled her eyes and came to the hospital, its outer walls covered in long, vine-like weeds and most of the windows broken out, the front door not even there. The location of this place was right smack in the middle of a forest, the only thing leading to it was a long eroded cement road.

"cool.." he didn't look to entertained until he caught the smell of black bloods, and a lot of them. His eyes sharpened.

Ellia stepped back gagging, "U-Uh.. i think we should go back.."

He looked sharper at the hospital and his blade appeared. "you go. I need to take care of-"

Both of them could hear a sharp, blood curtling roar from something