A/N: I decided to slow down things with Alex and Kuru's relationship, so that is why not all the snippets from chapter 7 were actually in a chapter yet.

Alex's P.O.V.

I woke up slowly and stretched my arms. Kuru was up and already had set a tray of toast by my bed. He was in my dressing chamber, changing I'd imagine. I

sat up and looked out my window; it was a beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly, and I could hear birds chirping out my window. The people below in the

market place were setting up their shops and talking to each other. The children were shouting and playing in the streets, and the young lovers were gazing at

each other with the joy of the morning. For that moment, I forgot about everything. The whole earth was still, and it was perfect. The green grass and wild

flowers gave of such a luxurious scent, and the fire in the berth was dancing. My bed had fresh sheets and my water basin stood to my left, with fresh water

and a clean towel inside. It was perfect. Nothing could touch me in that moment, when everything was still and beautiful. I forgot my injuries, my pain, I forgot

all the bad things, but the one thing that kept popping into my mind, was Kuru's sunny face, smiling down at me. Then I realized that Kuru had indeed come out

of my dressing chamber, and was now sitting down at my side. His face had no sun though, it was cold and pained. His smile seemed forced and he was looking

quite melancholy. "What is the matter, Kuru?" I asked him, placing my hand on his strong, but thin arm. He said not a word, but merely held up an item. An item

I hadn't seen for days and never wanted to see again, though it had once been my favorite. In his hand, was the blue-green halter dress that I had worn the

night of the, er, incident. It was no longer a halter, of course. The halter part had been completely torn off, and the neckline reduced to almost nothing. There

were tears about the bodice of the dress, and I knew that the dress didn't do me any good that night. The once knee-length skirt of it was now extremely

shorter. I actually remember how it felt that night. I blushed in remembrance, because the dress was definitely not helping me in any area that night. The skirt

had a tear all the way up to my navel and then some. In the back, well, you could definitely tell nothing was covered there. Again, I blushed. No wonder Kuru

had given me his shirt that night! I was a mess! Speaking of Kuru, he was still sitting there, looking very morbid. "Oh, Kuru, I thought Amanda threw this away.

I'm sorry." I said, standing up to throw it away. Kuru placed his hands on my shoulders, and I took that as a gentle command to sit down; so I sat back down

on my bed, still holding the dress. "No, you mustn't get up. I-I will dispose of it." He said. I looked the dress over again, debating whether I should let him take

it or not. There were tears that could only come from teeth, and bloodstains too. I couldn't let him have to hold this again! But he must have already seen it. He

must know. He's held it twice; once with me in it. "Kuru, I can stand up you know, I could even walk if you'd let me. Now I need to get dressed. We have to

leave soon. I'll take this, and get rid of it. I won't look at it a moment longer and neither will you. Now come, help me to the dressing chamber please." I said,

getting up again, this time coming up right to his face. He must either not like me, or have really strong willpower. I think it's the latter. He picked me up and

carried me into the dressing chamber. Then he left and I burned the accursed dress there in the room. Then I got myself dressed and walked out of the

chamber all on my own. Kuru saw me walking almost upright, and was clearly very surprised and impressed. We walked to Anala and went to my world. The

fresh air felt so good! We walked into the hospital and almost immediately were escorted to a hospital doctor came in; her name was apparently Dr. Jeneau.

"What on earth has happened here?" She asked, voice full of concern. "I went on a date about thee days ago, and my boyfriend eat me up a little." I replied.

"And this is?" She asked, pointing to Kuru. "Oh, he is just my best friend. He got really angry when he found out what my boyfriend did, and insisted on taking

me here." I answered. "What is your boyfriend's name?" She asked me. "His name is Jared Collins. He has a sister, but I don't know her name." "How long

were you together?" "About 5 days." "Five?" "Yes, Dr." "Ok, I'll run some tests, can you ask your friend to step out while I examine you please?" "Of course.

Kuru?" He got up and walked out the door, and The doctor sat down in her chair. "So dear, tell me what really happened." She said in a way too sweet voice.

"I did tell you the truth. We, my boyfriend and I, went on a date , he got angry that I wouldn't, um, comply, and so he hit me a bit." I said honestly. "Right, but

are you sure that your boyfriend is really who you say he is, and not that boy who was just in here?" She asks, still suspicious. "Of course not. He is Kuru

Wilson, and he is also my brother. My boyfriend is Jared Collins and I have no idea where he is." I replied calmly. "All right then. So all he did was hit you? Not

anything else?" "No. My brother, Kuru, found me just in time. I was not hurt like that." "Of course. I will have the lab results ready in a few hours, why don't you

wait in the waiting room and I'll call you when they're ready." "Okay." So Kuru and I went to the waiting room. When we got there, I saw a slightly familiar girl

sitting in a chair. I couldn't recall where I'd seen her before though. I went up to her, and asked what was wrong. She looked up at me and I suddenly knew

why she was familiar.

In the next chapter:

"I've killed him! I'm a monster!"

"It's you! But you're dead!"

"My brother is dying."

"I have a choice; I can kill him now, or I can heal him."

"I've made my decision."

"My brother followed my Uncle's footsteps."

"I thought that if I drank a little before, it would numb the pain."

"Lilia. I'm Lilia Collins."

"Do you hate him?"

"Our parents died when I was 13 and he was 11."

"I've failed! I've failed him!"

"By the time I was 21, I had three... I lost three..."

"I had no choice, he is stronger than I am."

"He loves you very much. And he's so gentle! How can that be?"

"No man has ever been gentle with me before."

"He spoke of a girl he loved. Her name was Cosma."

Hope you like it!

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And reviews and advice are always welcome!

Thank you all for reading!