Seven days pass before we even come close to any sort of real breakthrough.

During this time, Mika becomes nearly insufferable with her teasing me about Saïx. It gets to where I am waking up and returning to bed at different times than the rest of my roommates so I will not have to listen to her taunts. I know she means well, but I feel confused enough without her making suggestions.

Slowly, Saïx and I begin to reach a theory. There is a trouble brewing up ahead that involves members of Houses Rain, Aotora, Hokama, and Inazuma; specifically members who are in the Assassins' and Diviners' Guilds, and even more specifically, these members include Saïx, me, and a mysterious figure he refuses to address by name. All he will tell me is that she is an Assassin from House Rain, and that the scar on his face is somehow related to her.

When he says this, I cannot resist reaching up a hand to touch the two red lines between his eyes. I expect him to flinch away or scold me, but surprisingly, he takes his hand and presses my fingers to his forehead softly.

"Did it hurt very much?" I ask him quietly, feeling the rough ridges beneath my fingers.

"More than you can imagine," he replies in a near-whisper. "It was done with a magically poisoned dagger. It was supposed to kill me, to torment me and make me suffer and then kill me. Fortunately, my life was saved by a Sorcerer who took pity on me. He was able to reverse the poison's lethality, but I still suffered more than I ever have in my life. In addition, this scar will never fade."

I let my fingers rest a moment against his forehead before I slowly pull them away.

"I'm sorry that happened to you."

He shrugs. "It is all part of the past now, and I cannot change it."

I sit down beside him, still looking at his face, but his attention has already returned to the pile of strange objects on the table before him.

"What are those?" I ask curiously, glancing at the pile.

"Divination talismans," he replies. "They're a more ancient tool, and not very many of us use them anymore, but we are so close to discerning possibly helpful details, I am willing to try anything."

"Details like what?"

"For instance, exactly what sort of trouble is forthcoming," Saïx says. "If we know the nature of the danger, there is a better chance of providing protection for all those involved."

I nod; it makes sense.

"Come and help me," he says, holding out a hand to me. I take the hand, feeling the warm, smooth familiarity beneath my fingers.

"I have no idea what you're doing," I say honestly. "I don't really see how I can help—"

"Not with the talismans," he says. "Just lend me your Sight."

"…My sight?"

"Multiple Diviners can channel their Sight into a single person, which makes it much easier for that person to perform a reading," he explains. "You will not have to do anything except keep hold of my hand; I will do the rest."

"All right," I say slowly. I thread my fingers through his, lacing them in between his longer digits until our hands are tightly clasped together.

It's a symbol of an unbreakable connection…

The talismans suddenly begin to shine brightly and to make strange, soft, high-pitched whirring noises. As I watch, four of them rise from the table and begin rotating in the air before us, glowing with a gentle blue light.

"Which talismans do you see, Nax?" he asks.

"I see… the crescent moon," I say slowly. "And a lock, and… a knife, and a lightning bolt."

He nods; reaching out his other hand, he cups the fingers slowly beneath the rotating talismans. They speed up suddenly, spinning faster and faster until they are a multicolored blur above his hand. Then, without warning, all their momentum ceases and they drop into his palm. There is a slight crack as their motion stops, and for just a second, as I watch, Saïx's eyes flicker a brief, bright gold. His face twists in pain, and he quickly closes his fingers around the talismans, shutting his eyes as well.

"Saïx?"

He does not respond, but his fingers tremble around the small objects.

"Saïx! Say something, please!"

"There is… a traitor… in the Diviners' Guild," he breathes suddenly.

I can feel my breath hitching. "What?!"

"I cannot see who it is, but… someone among us is not trustworthy." He tosses the talismans back onto the table, flinching slightly as they leave his hand.

"What are we going to do?" I ask him anxiously.

"We will have to tighten our security," he replies. "And there is another thing, as well. The Assassins' Guild… something is brewing behind their walls. I cannot tell exactly what, but there is a great darkness overhanging them."

I feel my stomach clench. My sister is an Assassin.

"Can we… can we warn them?" I ask him quietly. My insides are churning with anxiety, both for whatever danger is overhanging the Assassins' Guild and for the fact that his face is still tight with pain.

"I will have to call a convention of the leaders of every Guild," he finally says. "I will let them all know that there is trouble forthcoming."

"Will they believe you?" It's not a secret that most people hate Diviners. I should know.

"Oh, they will believe me," he replies with a grim smile. "They may hate me to the core of every fiber of their beings, but when a Diviner tells you that trouble is coming, you build your fortifications well."

I sigh. "When will you call the meeting?"

"In one week's time," he says. "I will be off attending business at that time anyway. You will not have lessons starting the night after tomorrow."

I sigh. "What business, Saïx? Please tell me."

He smiles again, and this time the smile is gentler. "You know I cannot tell you, Nax."

"But why? You can trust me, you know!" I cross my arms, even though he can't see it.

He laughs. "I know. I do trust you, I promise you." He tilts his head to one side, and then adds, quietly, "It is myself I do not trust."

"What…?"

He doesn't give me time to finish. "I will be leaving to convene with the other Guildmasters in three days. Please do not tell anyone that I am leaving. It is vital that this information remain secret until after everyone has been warned."

I sigh. "All right, Saïx. I won't tell anyone."

He smiles. "Thank you."

I remain silent on the couch, my arms crossed anxiously over my chest to hide the rhythm of my furiously thumping heart.

He turns his head toward me. "I know you're worrying." There's a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Because it's not typical of a Diviner to be able to read me," I reply, rather waspishly at that. "What's it matter?"

His face turns serious. "It means more to me than you can ever know to know that you worry about me."

My cheeks grow hot immediately. "Who says I'm worried about you?"

He chuckles. "Have it your way. But… thank you. And in case you were wondering… I worry for you, as well."

I look down at my feet, needlessly hiding the flush in my cheeks. "You do?"

"I do."

"What for?"

He shrugs. "These are dangerous worlds. Bad things happen to wonderful people. I would hate for you to be one of those people."

"I can take care of myself," I mutter.

"I never said you could not." He's looking right at me, and I have the weirdest feeling for a second that he can see me, though his eyes are as pale as ever.

"Then why worry?"

"Because I care about you."

I shake my head. "Okay. Have it your way."

He laughs. "Touché." He stands slowly, picking up the talismans from the table and placing them neatly into a small velvet pouch, which he stores on one of his bookshelves. I lean back into the couch, closing my eyes and trying to ignore the anxious feeling in my stomach mixed with the stupid, swooping, fluttering feeling in my heart.

I care about you…

The soft touch of a slender, warm hand on my forehead startles me, and my eyes jerk open. His fingers are pressed to my forehead right between my eyes, right where the scar is located on his own face. I feel my face beginning to heat up again, and I'm almost certain he can feel it.

There is a sudden flash of blue light, and for a moment, my eyes are dazzled by black-and-blue spots that flicker and waver in and out of my vision. Gradually, they clear away, and I'm left staring into his face, wondering what just happened.

He leans down and presses his lips gently to the place his hand just was. A hot, shivery tingle runs from the base of my spine all the way up to my neck, and my mouth opens slightly in shock.

Your lesson is at its end; you may return to your room if you wish.

It takes me a moment to realize that, although I hear the words as clear as a summer's night, his mouth has not moved at all, except to curve up in a half-smile.

Did you just…

An unbreakable connection. His smile widens.

So… we can hear one another's thoughts?

Perhaps not 'thoughts,' but telepathic messages, certainly.

This is insane. You're insane.

I am a lonely, blind Diviner who needs someone to keep me from descending into maddened misery. Surely you would not deny me that?There's a tone of amusement in the mental message, and he hides a grin from my sight.

I have to smile back. Of course not.

Then we seem to have reached an agreement. He laughs.Goodnight, my dear.

My dear? Since when am I 'my dear?'

Since I decided you were. Go to sleep.

I laugh, hop up, and exit the room.

"Where've you been?"

Mika's sitting up on her bed when I get back to the room. Her yellow hair is coiled up on top of her head, pieces falling messily out of the bun to flop all over her face. Her legs are crisscrossed underneath her, and she's tapping an impatient finger on her knee.

I glance around. Pyra and Emi are already asleep beneath their covers, the blankets over their chests rising and falling gently. I've got to handle this carefully.

"The lesson ran a little long," I say casually, shrugging my shoulders and moving over to my bed to change into my nightshirt and pajama pants.

"Oh, really?" she asks.

"Yep."

There is a slight pause.

"You're hiding something."

I pull the grey shirt over my head and turn to face her, maintaining a completely blank face. "What would I be hiding, Mika? My lesson ran long."

"I dunno, but… something. I can read it around you, there's a wall up." Her jade eyes search me intently.

Ugh. This is what I get for living in a houseful of Diviners…

What's the problem?

I nearly jump out of my skin. Saïx! What are you doing?! I thought you said we couldn't hear thoughts!

So sorry, my dear. Goodnight.

No, wait, help me out here! Please?

I sense the mental amusement once more. What do you need?

It's Mika… she's being… herself. I cross my eyes.

"Helloooo? Nax?" Mika waves a hand at me. "You awake, there, buddy?"

"What? Yes, I'm here, I'm awake," I say hurriedly, flopping down onto my bed to stare across the room at her.

Being herself? I'm afraid you'll have to be a little clearer than that if you want my help, Nax.

"You kinda zoned out there, chickadee," she says, smirking. "Got your mind on other things, huh?"

"Yeah," I reply. It's a vague truth, and I hope maybe she'll drop it at that.

"Other things like… maybe… blue-haired, blind Diviner Guildmasters?" She gives me a knowing grin.

I can feel my face heating up again, only this time, there's no barrier of blindness to protect me.

"Shut up, Mika."

She laughs delightedly. "I knew it! What happened?!"

Mika is convinced that you and I… that we're…

That we are what, exactly?

"Nothing happened! He's just been helping me figure out that dream I had! That's all!" I glare ferociously at her. "Will you quit pestering me already?! It's almost light out and I'm tired!"

She's convinced that you're… in love with me, or something.

There is absolute silence on the other end of the mental connection.

…Saïx?

"So that's all that happened? He was just helping you figure out your vision?" Her eyes are twinkling mischievously.

I groan, shoving my head into the covers. "Yes, just like he has been all week. And I am not having this conversation. Go to bed."

"Not until you quit hiding stuff from me!" she insists, hopping up off her bed and coming to flop down beside me on top of my silver and grey covers. "I'm a Diviner, remember? I can tell when you're not telling me stuff." She grins. "No secrets exist in Maison Etoile."

I feel a shard of ice pierce my stomach at that. No secrets exist in Maison Etoile… but Saïx told me to keep his departure a secret. And there's a traitor in the Diviners' Guild…

"It's none of your business," I reply firmly. I try calling out to Saïx again in my mind, but there is still only silence to greet me. I wonder if he's cut the connection already. Internally, I groan. Just what I needed.

"Nax, I'm your best friend. Come on, you can trust me!" Her eyes plead with me, and she gives me the saddest puppy-dog look I have ever seen.

I moan and shove my face into the covers. "He told me that he worries about me all the time and that he cares about me," I mumble, my voice garbled by the blanket.

She hears me anyway, and her face lights up in a bright grin. "Aaaawwwww! That's so cute!"

"It is not cute!"

"It is too, that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard!" She smiles even wider. "But you're still not telling me something. Come ooooonnnn." Her voice is wheedling and innocent. "Pweeease? Pweeeeease tell me?"

Saïx, if you're here, I could really use some help right now…

Tell her what you believe is true.

I am shocked by the sudden distance on the other end of the line.

What I believe is… what in the worlds are you talking about? What is true? What aren't you telling me?

If I am not telling you, what makes you think I want you to know?

I feel my cheeks heating up. I did say you could trust me, so why don't you?!

My emotions are not playthings! They are very unstable; I don't even trust myself with them! So why in the worlds would I confess my love to someone who could not even begin to understand what it means for me to love?!

My mouth opens in shock, but I cannot form words.

Nax? His voice returns almost instantly, but all the anger has drained away. Are you still here?

I don't reply to him.

I'm sorry, Nax. I didn't mean that.

I shut him out.

Please answer me… I'm sorry.

"He kissed me on the forehead," I say to Mika, shrugging. "And he gave me some kind of weird mind link into his head."

Her eyes bug open wide. "Oh. My. Oblivion." Then she is grinning and squealing loud enough to wake the dead. It certainly wakes Pyra and Emi, who both jerk into a sitting position simultaneously.

"What's going on?!" Pyra exclaims.

"Nax is in love with Master Luna Diviner!" Mika squeals gleefully. "And he's in love with her too!"

"I am not in love with him!" I shout, but my insides are telling me liar, liar, liar.

Naxanz… where did you go?

I'm here, Saïx.

I'm sorry…

I know you are. I forgive you.

"You are too!" Mika yells. "You are toooooo! I've seen the way you stare at him!"

"Mika Inazuma, I swear to oblivion if you say one more word about it, I am going to kill you. Right here, right now."

"Threaten me all you want," she smirks. "It's only because I'm right."

Your friend Mika is very observant.

I guess I'm just blind, then.

I believe that would be me, actually. Another pause, then, Sleep well, my dear.

You too, Sai.

Sai? Since when am I 'Sai?'

Since I decided you were. Go to sleep.

He laughs once, mentally, and then his voice retreats into a warm presence at the back of my mind.

"Shut up and go to bed," I retort, sliding beneath the covers and rolling away from Mika.

"Goodnight, lovebird!" she sings.

"Sharp knives, Mika. Sharp, sharp knives. I'm going to poke you in your eyeballs with them."

"Sure you will."

"Go to bed!" Emi's voice is sharper than the knives I'm imagining for Mika's eyeballs.

We all shut up and turn over into sleep.