After flying for a while, Shu and the others set up camp in a forest just over the mountains. While Bouquet was cooking food, Jiro decided that he needed some space and took a walk. After a short while, Jiro came across a stream and bent down to drink. He almost fell in when he heard a voice behind him.
"Jiro, I need to have a talk with you." It was Rin. Jiro got up to face her.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked.
"Um, well, not exactly," Rin replied scratching the back of her head. "I just needed to ask you something."
"Go on," Jiro prompted.
"Well, uh, I just wanted to know how you really feel about me," Rin said.
"Wh-what do you mean by that?" Jiro stammered, cheeks turning a crimson red.
"Well," Rin said, her voice getting a little bolder, "whenever I said I was going out to train you would immediately ask to join me."
"Well, I need to get stronger," Jiro replied, his voice getting defensive.
"You also wanted to ride with me and Worgen this morning," Rin added, her voice firmer with an edge of annoyance to it.
"Well Andropov wouldn't possibly let me fly with Kluke, Shu and I would more than likely start a fight, and Marumaro just freaks me out," Jiro pointed out.
"Well what about the way you look at me when I'm not looking!" Rin snapped in an aggressive tone.
"What? !" Jiro exclaimed, his cheeks bright red.
"Don't play stupid with me!" Rin shouted. "Kluke told me all about it back at the inn!"
"Sh-she did? !" Jiro stammered.
"That's right! And I want to know what the deal is!" suddenly, Rin's voice softened. "Jiro, I just want to know. Do you really love me?" Just as Jiro opened his mouth to respond, Bouquet came crashing out of the bushes.
"We're being attacked!" Bouquet cried out.
"What? !" Rin and Jiro both exclaimed. All three went running back to camp. When they got back, the others were fighting black shadowy creatures. Half a dozen were flying above them, shooting beams of energy. The group had already summoned their Shadows and were fighting back. Blue Dragon took out one of the flying creatures with Blue Explosion. Some were trying to beat down Kluke's shield with their swords. Kluke and Phoenix struggled to hold the shield.
"Crystal Square!" Andropov cried out and Albiheim stunned the creatures attacking Kluke. Marumaro and Saber-Tiger took them out with Sonic Scissors.
"You're back, maro!" Marumaro exclaimed. Rin, Jiro, and Bouquet summoned their Shadows.
"Hippopon, Hippotama Transform!" Bouquet said as she and Hippo merged with Saber-Tiger.
"Eternal Breath!" Kluke cried out as Phoenix incinerated the rest of the flying creatures. Some of the ones on the ground leapt at Rin and Jiro. The creatures slashed at them with their swords and Rin and Jiro drew out theirs.
"Waves of Rage!" Jiro shouted as one stabbed at Minotaur. The creature screamed before dissipating in a cloud of smoke.
"Jiro!" Minotaur exclaimed. One was leaping at them from behind. Minotaur tried to dodge, but its sword sunk into his left shoulder. Jiro screamed and clutched his shoulder and the pain was transferred to him. The creature pulled its sword free and prepared to deliver the final blow.
"Chain Lightning!" Rin shouted. Worgen shot out a bolt of lightning at the attacking creature. It screamed as it was hit before exploding.
"I suggest you watch your back from now on," Worgen sneered at Minotaur. Minotaur glared at her as she and Rin defeated more of the creatures. The number of enemies had noticeable decreased. Blue Dragon and Shu took out more with Crushing Nail. Kluke took out another attacker with Eternal Breath. One of the creatures sunk its sword in Albiheim. Andropov smiled as his Shadow crystallized the sword and the creature before shattering them. Saber-Tiger ripped through one with Blitz Claw.
"I think it's time to end this," Rin said when only four remained. "Slicing Wind!" Worgen whipped her staff across her body, a strong wind following it. The creatures were ripped in two, along with a few nearby rocks and trees. She turned to everyone. "Is everyone okay?" They all nodded and everyone's Shadows vanished. However, everyone, including Rin, had cuts and scrapes on their bodies. Bouquet dashed over to Shu.
"Darling! You're bleeding!" she exclaimed. One cut on Shu's arm was bleeding and Bouquet immediately began treating it, despite Shu insisting that he was okay. Rin sighed. Jiro thought he saw a flash of fear in Rin's eyes, but it quickly vanished, so Jiro thought he simply imagined it.
After all, he thought, we won, so what reason does she need to be scared.
Suddenly, Jiro began to wonder if Rin secretly knew something about the creature that the others didn't know about, one that could spell disaster for them all.