The snow around them was thick, pure white and as deep as the young woman's knees. Luckily she was able to walk in the trench made by another. She gave a small giggle as a lump of snow dropped down on her head from a branch that had been knocked.

Shaking herself free of snow, Rin laughed and ran to carry on after the figure she was following.

The tracks lead her to a large cave with icicles hanging over the edge. She smiled at it, sitting down at the edge and staring out.

Slowly a warm glow appeared beside her and warmth closed around her little body. A feeling of exhaustion overcame her and she lay down beside the fire, resting her head on her hands as her eyes closed. But then a cold wind blew over her and she shivered back awake.

After a moment, something slowly wrapped around her legs, snaking its way around her body. Rin cracked open her eyes to find her something white and furry had cocooned its way around her, protecting her from the elements.

She smiled at it and grabbed a handful, pulling her face into it. She whispered into it but the words were lost to her. Behind her, a hand pressed into her hair, comforting her. "Goodnight Rin."

Blinking, Rin opened her eyes. She just lay there for a while, trying her hardest to keep hold of the memory. For some reason, it was very fuzzy but she still remembered some parts of it. Whatever that was, it was very important since she was able to recall so much of it.

She sighed to herself and wiped her eyes, sitting up out of the bed. "Lord Kaito?" There was no reply and it took her a while to remember she wasn't in the palace but somewhere else.

Climbing up from her sheets and pillows, Rin went out of the small house, yawning while looking up at the sky. She smiled and waved as a bubble came into view. "Lord Kaito!" She ran towards him as the bubbles merged.

The demon smiled at her, placing a tray of food and a bundle of cloth down on the ground before walking over to her, wrapping her in his arms. She held him a little but not very firmly, concerning the demon as he pushed her back a little. "What's wrong Rin?"

Her eyes wouldn't look into his. "I'm sorry my lord. I had a strange dream."

"I see. Want to tell me about it?"

Rin shook her head, closing her eyes against his shoulder. "No, it's nothing."

Kaito didn't say anything, just holding her tight and frowning but hiding it behind a smile as he pushed her away and looked into her eyes. "Very well. Come, I brought you food and a change of clothes. And I brought you some embroidery."

Holding her shoulder, he turned and walked her to the house, sitting at the side like he had the night before.

They didn't talk as they had, just sat in total silence until she had finished the meal. Kaito appeared distracted, staring out away from her, his face set in stone. Finally Rin put her chopsticks down and he stood up.

"Until later." He muttered and began to walk away while Rin stared at her lap. She had the strangest feeling that Kaito was upset with her.

She sighed to herself when he left her, looking to look at the kimono and embroidery kit that Kaito had brought her. After a quick wash and a change, she decided to try her hand at the needle work. She found certain calmness in the movement, creating a pattern with the thread.

After an hour of her work, she paused and looked at her work. A crescent moon. She stopped and stared at it. Something about the pattern was a comfort in her isolation.

She smiled and carried on with the work, her hand moving with certain finesse.

Then, out of nowhere, a cold shiver ran down her spine. Had she been on the surface, she would have blamed it on the wind but here, there was no such thing. Worried, her eyes lifted from her work, looking up over her home. "Who's there?" She announced clearly. "Show yourself!"

For a moment she thought she'd imagined it but then a figure stepped out from the rocks at the edge of the dome. She gasped at the sight of him, the intruder from two days ago.

He was soaking wet, his hair and clothes handing to his skin while the fur on his shoulder was just a wet lump.

Rin swallowed in fear as she looked at him, putting her embroidery to one side as she stood. "You."

The stranger took a slow step around the rocks but Rin stepped back. "Don't… don't come any closer!"

The other stopped where he was and stood still but Rin could see that he was shaking. She stared at him, observing the way water was dripping off his body and his sharp uneven breathing.

He appeared to be in some serious pain.

Slowly, Rin tipped her head to the side and swallowed. "Are… are you… alright?"

The stranger closed his eyes but said nothing.

She moved a little closer to him. "Are… are you hurt?"

"Only tired."

His voice was soft, more than his appearance would suggest. Rin found herself suddenly feeling strangely warm but she walked slowly to him, keeping a safe distance from him. "Do… you promise you won't hurt me?"

He looked up, eyes locked in hers. They were cold, lifeless almost but as she stared at him, something else flickered across them. "I would never harm you Rin."

She smiled and nodded a little. "Alright. Come on." She stepped to his side and lifted his arm over her shoulder. "Can you walk?"

Leaning on her a little, the stranger walked over to the house and sat down while Rin hurried into the house and grabbed a towel. "Here, use this and dry yourself off."

He sat for a moment, thinking about his next move but then nodded and took the towel, using it to dry off his face and hair.

Rin sat a little away from him, fascinated by the strange demon as she stared at him. He seemed engrossed in what he was doing, his eyes closed as he wiped his face, neck and arms down with the towel. Finally he fell reasonably still and just sat there, leaning on the building while still keeping his eyes closed.

"You don't know me." he said clearly and without question.

Rin dropped her eyes to her hands as they messed with the hem of her sleeve. "In a way, I do."

"Explain."

"I… I know I know you. I just can't remember you." She took a deep breath and fiddled a little more, locking her eyes on the fabric. "Lord Kaito said that you are the person I forgot."

The stranger said nothing, just cracked his eyes a little.

Rin sighed and shrugged. "About a week ago… Lord Kaito offered something to me that would help me."

"Dragon Tea."

"Yes, you know it?"

"I have seen its effect. It is very powerful."

The woman chuckled, looking back at her hands. "I know. I have… completely forgotten you."

"Why?"

That stumped her but then swallowed and hunched her shoulders, still messing with her fingers. "Lord Kaito said… you hurt me."

He turned, looking at her face. "I have never placed a finger on you."

Rin nodded, staring at her hands. "I know. I can feel it. But I also know… you did hurt me." Carefully, she lifted her eyes to him. "I don't know how… but you did hurt me."

He stared at her but then lifted his head away.

Rin looked down at her hands again. "I have no idea how but I know it really hurt. I'm sorry."

He let out breath and closed his eyes. "Are you happy?"

"Sorry?"

"Are you happy here?"

"I… I was happy… but I don't like it down here. I preferred it when I was in the palace and I could talk to people and explore. Here…" She looked over the small house. "I'm all alone and I really don't like it."

"You have never liked being alone."

"I know. Perhaps that's why I allowed you to stay here. Just so I could have someone to talk to."

Silence fell between them.

"Do you… miss me?"

"Why would you say that?"

"You… came looking for me. I must mean something to you."

He blinked. "Kaito took you from me. I do not appreciate things being taken from me."

Rin frowned as she looked down at her hands. "I see."

Silence.

Strangely, this silence wasn't as bothersome to Rin as the one she had been trapped in before. It was as if the noiseless environment was natural for the two of them, just to sit in their own little worlds, their thoughts their own, their minds lost to the world. But it almost felt like their worlds were the same.

As her mind wondered about him, Rin found her fingers still twiddling and decided to return to her embroidery. It was the only movement, her hands going back and forth over the fabric, creating a rough but beautiful pattern.

Suddenly the demon stood and walked forward. "I have to leave."

"What? So soon?"

"We have been sat here for over six hours."

She blinked at the realisation and found that she was in fact quite tired and hungry. So much time had passed and she hadn't even noticed. She looked down at her work and saw that her pattern was almost done, an image depicting the stages of the moon.

A smile cracked her lips but it fell when the stranger moved. "Where are you going?"

"To the surface. Kaito will be coming here soon."

Rin looked up at the dark blue above her and felt a sigh fill her lungs but she held it back. "Will… you return?"

He said nothing, just standing with his back to her then walked over to the barrier. He stood right before it then dropped his head a little. "Rin, would you like to see me again?"

"What?"

"It was a simple question." His hand closed into a fist. "I expect an answer."

Rin stared at his back as he stood before the barrier. "Yes."

He was silent but then walked forward, passing through the dome and vanished.

Rin sat there on the step, staring out at the darkness. Then suddenly her body flopped to the side, drained of all her energy. She wasn't unconscious or in pain. Just tired. She lay on her side, embroidery in her hands and closed her eyes.

Eventually, she felt something wrap around her stomach and her head lifted. "Kaito?"

The green haired demon smiled as he leant closer to her ear, kissing her there. "Having a little nap Rin?"

She chuckled and leant back on him. "How long have you been there?"

"About an hour."

"Why?"

"I like watching you sleep." He kissed her cheek again, wrapping his arms around her. He pushed his nose into her and rubbed his face in her hair. "You smell different."

"Really?"

He shrugged, pulling her closer. "You've been playing in the garden again, haven't you?"

Rolling on him, Rin laughed happily and turned over, placing her head on his chest and looking up at his face. After a moment she tipped her head a little. "You look different to this morning."

Kaito sighed and closed his eyes. "Yes. I am sorry about the way I acted back then. I don't like the idea of you keeping secrets from me."

Rin swallowed, lowering her head. "It was just a dream."

"I know that now. I sometimes forget that you are human. You see; a demon would instantly tell me what they were thinking, since they are in my service. You aren't a demon but more over I should have respected your privacy." He ran his hand down her hair. "Can you forgive me?"

Rin nodded, eyes closed. "I forgive you."

She rested her head on the ocean demon, listening to his breathing and heartbeat. She felt warm but not peaceful.

Not as she had.