Artemis and Bloody Rose clashed with one another as their wielders duelled in the courtyard, amongst the rain and mud. Zero's finger slipped and Bloody Rose went off as Mana drove Artemis forward. The action sent both weapons in the air and they landed in the mud. Mana held her steaming hands, glaring at Zero as the rain poured down on them. Zero breathed heavily, lifting his head to stare her down from his sopping fringe.

"Give it up, Mana," he said "You can't go on."

Mana snarled as she cut her fingers. Eight tendrils of blood lashed out and hovered beside her, ready to strike.

"I'll never give up."

Zero narrowed his eyes. He shrugged off his jacket, letting it fall to the floor. He rolled his shoulders, relieved of the weight. Mana had the same idea, letting her torn jacket slip off and fall around her feet. They stood for a while, waiting for the other to move until Mana lashed out with one of her whips. Zero dodged and ran forward. Mana kept on lashing out, sometimes hitting and sometimes missing. When one of those whips did strike him, it stung, especially against his soaked, numb skin. Zero finally got close enough to punch her around her face. Mana stumbled as she waved her hand, four of the whips curling around Zero and sending him across the courtyard. She felt her cheek, glaring at Zero who skidded in the mud and somehow stabilised himself to stay on his feet.

Zero could see it clearly. Behind that stubborn mask, Mana was clearly hiding her fatigue. She wasn't used to this kind of fighting, taking this amount of damage. Even though she was now a Pureblood, she was still pretty weak. Her blood whips were flickering, drooping as she ran out of energy to keep them up.

"You're tired, Mana!" he called over the rain pour "Give up! I will find out what you're hiding from me!"

"Never!"

Mana lashed out again and Zero noticed that the whip that struck him wasn't as powerful as the first few strikes. He smirked. She was losing energy. He charged forward, ready to strike at her again and she retreated. He chased her across the courtyard until she sought refuge in a tree. She landed on one of the branches, the blood whips vanishing as she leaned on the trunk of the tree, gasping for breath. Her eyes were glowing red and her fangs were fully elongated.

"You're thirsty, Mana!" he shouted up at her and she snarled at him, her claws growing to dig into the wood "Don't hold back, you need blood!"

"Shut up! I'm not thirsty!" Mana spat.

"Yes! You are! I would know!"

Zero leaned his head to the side and placed a hand over his neck.

"I can give you the blood you need, Mana," he offered "Come, before you go insane with the bloodlust!"

"I won't!"

Zero stepped back as Mana lunged forward, her claws out and ready to attack him. He brought his own claws out and they swiped at one another. Blood splattered the scene and Zero retreated as Mana tried to take another swipe out of him. He licked his fingers clean, his eyes burning and his instincts sung with joy. This was Mana's blood but it wasn't enough to taste what she was hiding. All he could taste was that she was confused, she was conflicted. Zero glanced at her as she pressed a hand to the scratches on her body. What was she confused about? Was she having second thoughts about working with Rido?

"Mana, you can't go on," he said again as Mana braced for another attack "Give up."

"No."

Zero narrowed his eyes and he lunged for another attack. Mana reacted by using defensive moves, summoning more blood whips to use. But these attacks were feeble, Zero could bat them away if he were more focused. But all his mind could think about was how intoxicating Mana's blood had been, and his inner beast demanded for more. Mana backed off with every swipe he tried to attack her with, using the blood whips to shield herself more than attack. Zero attempted to bit into the whips, only to get struck in the face by them. Mana retreated back into the trees again, slumping against the trunk as her eyelids drooped.

"Give it up!"

"No…"

Mana was whining now as she fell to her knees, completely exhausted. She was struggling to keep her eyes open and Zero looked up at her.

"…Won't Rido be waiting for you?"

Mana looked down at him as he craned his neck.

"Give up, drink my blood and let me drink yours."

"No…"

"I'll let you go, just stop driving yourself insane like I had done. You can't suppress the bloodlust."

"No…"

Zero hesitated.

"Do you care for me so much that you're afraid you'll drain me dry?"

"No…"

That was all she was going to say it seemed. Zero narrowed his eyes as Mana's mask began cracking little by little. He was getting to her. He'll be able to unearth the real Mana yet.

"I'll let you go, Mana! Just give in!"

"You're lying…"

Zero met her weary eyes.

"You'll kill me the moment you'll have the chance…" she rasped.

"I won't. I promise."

Zero placed a hand over his neck and used his claws to cut open his skin. His scent of blood had Mana reeling. She grasped the tree, clinging onto it as if it would anchor her, protect her and Zero held his arms out.

"Drink my blood, Mana!" he shouted "Drink and regain your strength! I'll let you go!"

"You're lying!"

"Unlike you, I'm honest!"

Mana hesitated as Zero narrowed his eyes.

"Unlike you, I can be trusted. You know this."

Mana whined as she clung onto the tree tighter, hiding her face.

"Stop it…"

"Mana!"

"No…"

"Drink! I'm right here, Mana! Drink my blood!"

Mana snarled before roaring in defeat. She launched off the branch, arms out towards him. Zero grunted as he caught her and their fangs sought solace in each other's necks.