Author's Note: Hey. I'm sorry I haven't updated my other two fanfics… this one seems to be the only one I have the muse for lately. Maybe it's because I've been playing a lot of D&D/Skyrim type fantasy games? In any case, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Also: I realized that I was misspelling Tycho's name last chapter. I'll go back and fix it eventually, but for now, just know that it's pronounced Tyko, but is spelled Tycho. Hope that clears up any confusion, lol!


For a moment after Celty removes her helmet, there is only silence. She had figured that in a world with magic, werewolves, cursed forests, etc., a woman with no head wouldn't be that big of a deal - though now, as she stands there waiting for a reaction, she's suddenly wondering if maybe she was wrong.

Then, the silence is broken… by Izaya, who gasps overdramatically and clutches a hand over his heart. "Oh dear, you're headless? All this time, I never knew! How scary, scary!"

That's it!

Finally having had enough with the obnoxious brunette, Celty storms over to him and grabs him by the collar of his jacket, aiming a fist made of shadows directly at his face. [I swear, if you don't stop acting like a little shit, I'm going to tie you up and hand you over to Shizuo on a silver platter!]

"Didn't you say I was the key to getting back home? If you let Shizuo kill me, you might end up stuck here forever. You don't want to take that risk, do you?" He asks her, smiling smugly.

Celty hesitates before withdrawing her shadows and taking a step back. She'd forgotten how good he was at using people's words against them… besides, that weird itching had started up again as soon as she'd gotten close.

It's not him making me itch, is it? And if it is, why? How?

No matter the answer, there's one thing she knows for certain; there is something very, very strange going on with Izaya.

"I'm sorry to interrupt…" Samuel clears his throat, and both her and Izaya turn to look at the three locals. "But we should probably get going, yes?" He'd be lying if he said he wasn't at least slightly shocked at the sight of a headless woman, but he's been a king for over a decade now, and part of being royalty is learning how to keep your expressions neutral. Tycho and Brannon, however, have had no such training.

"Fascinating!" Tycho's eyes are gleaming. "Tell me, do you have a head or have you always been headless? And if so, how do you see? Eat? Breathe? Do you breathe? How-"

"Elder." Samuel's tone isn't particularly aggressive, but it's commanding enough for Tycho to immediately stop talking. "Please do not be rude to our guest. She was kind enough to show us her truth, and it wouldn't do to make her uncomfortable simply because you're curious. And you, Ser Brannon… it is just as impolite to gawk at her. How did you feel when people first learned of your curse? Do you really want to be the cause of that feeling in someone else?"

Both Tycho and Brannon look down sheepishly. Samuel turns back to Celty. "I'm sorry about that. They're good people, just a little socially inept."

[It's alright… I don't mind. At least they didn't scream.] She answers with her PDA instead of the quill and parchment, which takes Samuel aback slightly until he realizes that the little glowing box in front of him contains words on it.

I see. This must be what allows her to communicate with her friends. I admit, I am a bit curious about it… but now is neither the time nor the place.

"Shall we?" He gestures to the door, and Brannon immediately scrambles over to open it for him. Before Samuel exits, however, he pauses and turns to Celty. "I apologize, but would you be willing to put back on your helmet temporarily? The man that was inside earlier is my Chancellor, and he is… not so open-minded when it comes to the otherworldly. I also have a small group of soldiers with me, and I would prefer none of them jump to conclusions. I have had more than once incident where someone has attacked an innocent in the name of my protection or honor, and I would really like to not have to deal with that at the moment. I hope you understand."

Used to this kind of thing, Celty wordlessly puts back on her helmet.

"Thank you." Samuel smiles at her before exiting the cottage, the others trailing behind him with Izaya taking up the rear.

"Ah, Your Majesty! Welcome back!" The aforementioned Chancellor exclaims when he sees his liege. "Did you learn anything useful?"

"I might have, I'm unsure as of yet. But we'll address that when I return."

"Return? I don't understand, Sire. Return from where?"

"It seems that a couple of Ser Brannon's guests might be lost in the forest. We're going to go find them."

"Wait, what? But Sire, that's insane!"

"People need my help. I am going to give it."

"But Sire-"

"Enough, Vykus. My mind is made up. If I'm not back by sundown… you know what to do."

"Sire, please think this through! We don't have time for deviations, and… Sire!" The King has not stopped moving, and neither has the three individuals following after him. "At least take the soldiers!"

"The soldiers are not immune to the fungi, and neither are you. The four of us, however, currently are. You can consider them your own protectors for the moment." He nods to his men. "Though if they would like to use this time to relax, I would allow that as well. I will see you soon, Chancellor Vykus."

"Your Majesty, this is reckless! Your Majesty - Your Majesty!" But the King has gone, leaving him alone with a group of slightly confused and more-than-slightly restless soldiers - but not before catching a glimpse of Brannon grinning and giving him the finger.

"Ugh, I hate that damned beast!" Kicking a tree stump, he scowls and takes a seat on the stoop of the cottage. The worst part is, he knows that Brannon's presence will probably make the King's return more likely… he just doesn't want to admit that any good could come from allowing an abomination like him to live.

"Well, I suppose there's nothing we can do but wait, is there?" He sighs, then clears his throat to address the small group of soldiers standing there awkwardly. "You heard the King, didn't you? If I am in danger, protect me. If I am not… if I recall correctly, the wolf has a well in his backyard. It wouldn't hurt to hydrate yourselves, maybe refill the water skeins if need be. Otherwise, you're free to do as you will."

The soldiers salute before branching off, some heading to the backyard as suggested while a few others find a place to sit and chat. The only one who doesn't is a tall, dark-skinned, muscular woman with short black dreadlocks wearing a set of captain's armor. She sits next to Vykus and places her hand on his shoulder. "You know he'll be back, Chancellor. He's never failed before - he has the blood of the Champion in him, after all."

"I know, but that doesn't stop me from worrying. We may differ in opinion, but he's the closest thing I have to a family."

"Trust in him, Chancellor. That's all we can do."

"I suppose." He sighs again. "Thank you, Brielle."

She smiles, pats him on the back, then stands. "I'm going to go make sure nobody's fallen down the well. Let me know if you need anything, Chancellor." She salutes, then heads around the side of the house towards the back. Vykus watches her go, then turns his gaze back in the direction his king had left in.

"For all our sakes, I hope she's right..."

Shizuo paces back and forth, the last of his cigarettes held between his shaking fingers. It's been a long time since he's felt like this, guilty and scared and more than a little self-loathing - he's hurt a lot of people, but he's never actually ended a life. Even if they were only animals, he can't help but beat himself up over it - in fact, maybe it's because they were only animals that it's getting to him so badly. When he hurts a human being, it's usually because they were asking for it. After all, most of the people he's put in the hospital attacked him first (usually on that damn flea's suggestion, but still… it's their choice to mess with him, so they're the ones that have to take responsibility.) The cubs, though… they were just minding their own business.

"You know, I've been thinking…" Shinra says after what seems like hours of silence. "Where's their mother? You'd think she'd be close by, but I haven't seen or heard any sign of her." He'd be worried, but there's no doubt in his mind that Shizuo would be able to take a bear, even if that bear was an angry mother who just lost two of her babies.

"..."

"No comment? I suppose that's fair. In any case…" He wipes his bloody hands off on his lab coat, wincing when he sees just how dirty they are. "I've done what I can, but there's no guarantee the wounds won't get infected. The forest isn't the most ideal place to perform emergency medical care." And the poor thing was practically half-dead to begin with, a fact he feels best to keep to himself. "I do need to know, though… what do you plan on doing with her?"

"Her?"

"The cub. It's a girl… I think. I'm not exactly an expert in ursine genitalia."

"Oh…"

"So what are you going to do with her?" Shinra asks again. "If we take her with us, Mama Bear will almost certainly come looking for her… but if we leave her here, it's very likely that she will die."

"Well, obviously we'll take her with us, then!"

"Are you sure you can handle the responsibility?"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Shinra attempts to use his coat to wipe off his glasses, but that just makes the smudges on them worse. He sighs, feeling very, very tired. "Look, Shizuo-kun… you're not exactly the most… gentle person, and this is a living, breathing baby animal we're talking about."

"You think I don't fucking know that?!" He clenches his fists, frustration welling up inside him. "What other choice do I fucking have?"

"Shizuo-kun, I - wait, did you hear that?" It sounded like the rustle of leaves and branches, as if someone - or some-thing - is moving through the trees nearby.

"Hear what?"

"I think something's out there." He drops his voice to a whisper. "Maybe it's Mama, maybe it's something else. Either way, we should probably-"

"Oi! Whoever or whatever the fuck is out there, how about you stop hiding and show yourself!" Shizuo shouts into the trees.

"-keep quiet." Shinra finishes, wondering why he even bothered. The noises are getting louder now, the rustling getting closer and closer and closer until the trees finally part to reveal - a familiar and very, very, very welcome (albeit not literal) face.

"CELTY!" He launches himself at his lover, relieved tears starting to well up in his eyes. Instead of pushing him away like she normally does, Celty returns the embrace, just as relieved to see him as he is to see her.

[I'm so glad I found you, when you didn't come back I started to worry!]

"Ah, Celty came to save me! My hero!" He squeezes her tighter, having no desire to let her go ever again. "I thought I would die out here!"

[Well, you're safe now…] The hug is starting to get uncomfortable. [So you can let go.]

"But what if you're simply an apparition, cruelly vanishing the moment my back is turned? How could I possibly I take that risk? No, I think I'm going to keep holding on just to be s- ow ow ow ow ow!" A shadow has grabbed onto his ear, pulling him away from her hard enough that Shinra's almost afraid it'll come right off.

[And to think I was worried about you!]

"I'm sorry, I just really did think I was going to die! We tried to find our way back, but the forest started to look the same and we kept going in circles." He rubs his ear.

"It's true. Kept ending up in the same place we'd left." Shizuo says. "Thanks for coming to get us."

[It's no problem! Come on, I'll lead you to the others.] She holds out a dark, shadowy string for them to take.]

"What's this for?" Shizuo asks, confused.

[It's to keep us from getting separated, so don't let go of it, okay?]

"Ah, okay. Hey Celty, do you think you could make, like… I dunno, a blanket or towel or something with your shadow-stuff?"

[Probably, why?]

"Shizuo-kun found an injured bear cub. We don't think it'll survive on its own, and the mother isn't around." Shinra answers.

That's when she notices Shinra's lab coat laying on the ground, as well as the small furry creature on top of it. [Oh no! What happened?]

"Let's discuss that later, shall we? I don't want to stay here any longer than we already have."

Celty nods and uses her shadows to produce a towel-like blanket, which Shinra carefully wraps around the unconscious bear cub. When he's satisfied that the baby is secure, he picks her up and holds her out to Shizuo. "Remember, she's your responsibility."

"Yeah, I know." Shizuo responds, hesitating before gingerly taking her and holding her in his arms. She's so light, he can barely even feel her weight.

[Come on. Let's go.]

Celty turns and starts leading them back towards where she'd left the others. She hadn't been able to drink the potion, but it seems like the fungus doesn't have any effect on her… something she is very, very grateful for.

Maybe it's because I don't have a nose to inhale with?

Deciding it doesn't really matter, she turns her attention back to the trail of black shadowy strings she'd left tied to a tree near the others. After following it for several minutes, the three of them come across a clearing occupied by two more familiar faces - along with two more un-familiar faces.

"Oh, good! It was them, after all." One of the newcomer's says, in a voice rich, deep, and warm. It's obvious from his clothing and armor that he's someone important - perhaps a noble of some kind.

"Oh, thank the gods." Brannon sighs, relieved that he hadn't lost his first guests in a long time to this goddamn hell-forest.

"Hello!" The other newcomer says cheerfully. This one is dressed in simple, light purple robes; they remind Shinra of something a wizard from a fantasy novel might wear.

"Good to see you're still alive, Shinra." Izaya says, his nonchalant demeanor hiding the relief he feels at the sight of his friend's face… but that relief is cut short the moment his eyes meet Shizuo's, his expression turning sour. "Not you though, Shizu-chan. I would rather you have died."

"Not in the fucking mood, flea." Shizuo growls.

"So… who are your new friends?" Shinra asks, deciding to step in before things can escalate.

The nobleman stands up from the log he'd been sitting on and walks over towards them, extending his hand. "My name is Samuel Verdantis. I am the King of Verdantia, which you are currently inside of. This man over here is Elder Tycho Zika. He is a scholar and magical expert."

"Wait, you're a king? A real, live king?" Shizuo asks, incredulous. He's never met royalty before.

Samuel chuckles. "At least for now. Come, let's leave this wretched forest. Thanks to Miss Sturleson, it shouldn't be a difficult feat." He gestures to the black shadowy string, which extends past them into the trees on the other side of the clearing.

"Don't have to fucking tell me twice." Shizuo mumbles, adjusting his grip on the baby.

"H-hey, uh… Ser Shizuo?" Brannon has noticed the bundle in the other man's arms, and while he's terrified of the other man, the scent of blood and fur has stolen his attention. "Is'at a bear cub ye got there?"

"Yeah, it - she - uh, got hurt." Shizuo tells him, too ashamed of his violent mistake to say anything more than that.

"Where's her mother?" Samuel asks.

"No idea. Didn't see or hear any sign of her, and she didn't come runnin' when her baby started crying, so... "

"So you didn't want to leave her to die alone. A commendable deed." Samuel informs him, his expression sympathetic.

"Yeah…"

"Do you know how she got hurt?"

"...Yeah."

"Well?"

"..."

A gleeful grin spreads across Izaya's lips. He's never been good at reading the beast, but right now his emotions are written all over his stupid face. "Oh my, Shizu-chan… don't tell me that it's your fault this poor, defenseless creature got injured?"

"Orihara-kun, can we please not do this right now?" Shinra pleads. "I'm hungry, and I'm tired, and I would like to leave."

"...Fine." Izaya surrenders, but not before aiming a sneer in Shizuo's direction.

Violent, pulsing red threatening to cloud his vision, the only thing that keeps the blonde from losing it is the warmth of the innocent creature currently held in his arms.