The night came back into serenity although several points were damaged away in that place. The wind had died down, giving a grimmer feeling to the inn that the Asakuras were dwelling in that place. But, it seemed no one was hurt, or to be exact, they were busying in other places doing something in the middle of night.

"Tamao-sama really put so much effort toward this. And yes, I should have the same gratitude to Yohmei-sama and Kino-sama for their hard work."

"And of course to you too, Faust."

The doctor turned his head to the person beside him and smiled. "Thank you, Sati-sama. My life is in debt to you if you didn't save me by your furyoku."

"It is a pleasure, Doctor," replied her softly and then she looked at the almost destroyed room in front of her. "So, here they lay."

Faust nodded. "Seeing The Master and The Okami together always warmed my heart. I hope they will be always like this in the future."

"They will," Sati said almost directly. "If they passed this test, they will become stronger… and unbreakable."

Hearing those words, the doctor smiled. And then, they came back to their surroundings. "But, Hao is surely cruel. He didn't need to break this place that much."

Sati didn't say anything toward Faust's comment and put her hands in a pray position. But, even in that dire situation, she could smile.

"For everything has its price, Faust. Just hope everything will be alright down there."

The situation became quiet. No one moves, no one talk and no one tried to make a sound. The remaining Onis were forced to stay in their place and watched the couple from afar, without any clue of what's happening. Yoh, in the other place, still stood in his place firmly, while Anna gave him a silent treatment from his last remark.

They knew what they wanted to say. But, no one dare to say it first.

The silence remains, but not for the both of people to let it stay like this. Yoh took a step forward by gripped his Harusame determinedly, only replied by a step back from Anna while she clutching her beads nervously. The boy sighed and the girl could only turn away her face, didn't dare to take a look to the person before her. The unspoken movements were lasting almost like an eternity until…

"Eh?"

Anna suddenly couldn't feel Yoh's presence anymore. She raised her head until she could hear her neck rattled by being turned too fast. The moment her eyes looked to the place he stood, he was no longer there.

"Yoh…?"

"So, I wonder why you did do all of this… Hao."

"Just say, I'm being merciful today."

"You are not answering my question."

Hao looked at them, still sat in the same tree while talking to them. "Pardon?"

"I know that all of your attacks are just illusions for the other boy and the girl," stated Sati calmly, but distinct. "What is exactly you wanted from them?"

"Ah, I need it for the next entertainment. Making them stronger won't hurt if it can make the tournament more interesting."

"By doing the same thing with your brother and his fiancé? It felt like you have been crying for help for these sometime, out of nowhere."

The long haired boy snapped, but then smiled. But his eyes locked straightly to the nun in front of him.

"As you're always know, Sati. Perhaps, I need to be saved."

Faust astonished. The words he stated, suddenly bugged him. Saved? Why does he need to be saved? Saved from what? And of course, he forgot that Hao could read what was on his mind, so he closed his mouth terrifically as assurance he tried to stop his mind.

But, beyond his worries, Hao just smiled.

No one still moving, no one still tried to break the silence. Anna could only looked at the empty place with a horror face, didn't predict that this will be happened. She turned her head to the left and to the right as her feet started to walk forward frighteningly, trying to feel some grasp of the warm air she felt near her before. Her eyes tried to scan the Onis, but they only exchanged with her with the same clueless faces and again he wasn't there.

He wasn't there… No. That's couldn't be happening.

But, where…?

Did he already come back to the surface? Did he really leave her as she told him? Did he really gone for good?

Will she never see him anymore?

No, no, no. She couldn't bear that thinking. But, trying to find him nearby it's useless for easing her heart. This was the first time she couldn't be sure of he was unreachable for her or not. To fade away just like that… No, he wasn't gone. He couldn't be gone.

He mustn't be gone…

There's no life for her if he was really gone…

"Yoh—"

*shrug!

The big arms once again were touching her bare skin in a soft manner and very protectively around her. Without she could notice, suddenly she could feel the warm that was left from her before. Now, it was very near, so close to her that she could hear a grasping breath behind her neck. She couldn't see him as he hugged her from behind, but she could feel what he was trying to say when his head was rested in her shoulders longingly, as if it was firstly made to stay there. Only by feeling how he held her, she knew that whatever she did or talk, won't ever made him let her go.

And so did she want it to be, as she held his arms tightly with her small hands.

The Onis which looked at the scene could only amaze and then talked to each other.

"He just left for a minute. And— doeh?"

"I know what you want to talk about," said the other Oni and then looked again at the couple. "But, don't you think it is making you didn't want to break this moment whatever the cost?"

Nothing was being said. Even the people who saw this are all agrees that nothing else needed to be done in this silence, except let them have their time. In the end, they realized that there was nothing that has to be said, from the first time.

And there's nothing to be frightened anymore, since they will always be together.

Did I become too melancholic in this chappie? Hohoho ^^. Hope you like it!

Next! The truth behind Hao's Behavior...

Read & Review please! ^^