It was snowing.

It was snowing hard.

It was cold.

It was freezing.

Mira was standing outside, wearing only her thin summer dress and just staring blankly into the forest where the giant cloud of shadows hovered over like a black omen of death and despair. Her arms crossed each other as she hugged herself, her breath steaming in the bitter cold.

He had walked outside and put a cloak over those thin shoulders, bushing away locks of her red hair as he tied it on properly since he knew that if he left it hanging she'd never notice enough to pull it up.

Maybe it was the snow.

Maybe it was the fact that they were completely alone out there, surrounded by a blinding ongoing storm of white flakes. Nobody could see anything but at that moment it was like the snow had created a tiny world there, a globe containing only them as the snow drifted in all the areas around them. Her red hair was like a drop of red blood on the blanket of snow.

Maybe it was the fact that Wolf was gone, or that Cura and Ash were gone on that stupid trip.

Maybe there was something was in the air, the snow, the feeling of it all. Or somebody had put something in his food, in his drink...

Maybe it was the fact that she was crying and if she didn't wipe those tears off her face they'd freeze right there and she'd catch a terrible cold.

Maybe it was because he had seen her cry one too many times. She always cried too easily, over the littlest, most insignificant things. Like when he had a bruise on his elbow after losing a humiliating fight and she was in shock from seeing him fall off his horse.

Maybe it was because that she was crying over her worry for Wolf.

Maybe that pissed him off.

Maybe it was because Mira had already kissed Wolf.

Maybe that was one last straw in a haybale that built up over ten years of unrequited love.

Was there any way to spin that haybale into gold?

Couldn't he at least try?

Kit leaned down and pressed his lips on hers.

Then he left.


The next morning Kit had walked into the breakfast room a little late and saw that Mira was standing in the corner, setting out only two plates of breakfast on the wide table that was meant for six. The chairs where Ash, Wolf, and Cura had sat in were empty. He walked in, surprising her.

She visibly swallowed. Her guilty face reminded Kit of a scared rabbit and he knew she was expecting him to react badly to what she was going to say.

He didn't say anything and sat down. After a moment, she did too.

He ignored the food and took a sip of the coffee, then he, almost casually, began to talk.

"You know, I had been in love with someone for almost a decade." Actually, a little bit more.

Mira bit her lip and didn't touch her pancakes.

"I'm still in love with her." Always.

"I've always wanted to tell that person, but I just never got the courage. But every time I look at her my heart skips a beat. But she never knew the truth. I was afraid of breaking our relationship." All this time...

Mira didn't meet his gaze and after a while he also looked away. The cheery sunlight outside the windows that were lined with snow didn't match the atmoshpere within the room.

"But then she fell in love... With a king. Someone with the status and the power and the money to fit her title. Someone who deserved her. I'm sure he likes her as much as she likes him, if not more." What does he have that I do not? Why can't I be him?!

Mira looked up this time, just about to deny it, but she closed her mouth at his gaze.

He was smiling at her. Save me. My heart is breaking.

"You don't have to say anything," he said softly. Say you love me.

"I know the truth." Lie to me.

She didn't know what do do. Her heart felt cold and unmoving, but her face was hot and probably the same color as her hair. Her throat was dry but her eyes were filled. Her hands were quivering.

He pushed back his chair, stood up, and left.

Whispering as a goodbye...

"I'm sorry." I forgive you.

She stared at the two plates of pancakes as her vision went blurry and tears fell down. What was she crying for?

Because she was sorry that she couldn't return his love?

Because Ash definitely knew... All this time?

For Ash?

For herself...?

Or for Kit?

Who hid himself behind a cold mask of indifference as he left her there and walked away even though it was his heart that should be breaking and his hope that was dying.


He should have never told her.

Of course he knew that.

That's why he never told her.

Until now.

Kit held his glass and watched the foam on his beer collect at the top.

He had ran by the bar and got a pint, but he still hadn't taken a single sip yet. He raised the glass to his lips.

Then he felt the sharpest spike of fear in his heart and he felt the essence of Ash in all its absolute fury as she stood behind him.

He turned around, his heart beating like a sledgehammer, but there was no one there. His eyes widened and his body was coiled to spring from any danger. But his room was empty.

Kit suddenly broke into a surprised laugh. Oh, she definitely knew! She knew he was about to turn coward to... To a flipping drink!

He walked to the balcony and tossed the glass straight out the window into the forest. He heard a small tinkle as the glass broke a long way off.

Kit found himself still slightly smiling. Confessing wasn't as bad as he thought. At least now she knew, and now she'd be more aware of him as a man and a woman!

Kit got up and began to prepare his guns to take up to the roof.


Cura walked ahead of Ash and Wolf, trying to forget whatever feelings had boiled themselves into a poisonous mix in his stomach. He thought of other things, of calm tranquil things, of mundane and boring things.

The main reason Wolf was made to come along was because of publicity, Cura coldly thought. He was already drafting up a speech for Wolf to give, brandishing his triumphant return with the flower to save them all.

No, sergeant Ash didn't save Wolf- the king saved sergeant Ash! And his loyal butler Cura to boot! He had picked them both up and ran faster than the shadows.

He had used his limitless intelligence to deduce where the flower lay. He had used Cura's months of labrotory work to make a portable bomb out of it. Cura felt the tiny bomb, now with the flower crushed and instead of it, hanging around his neck. As soon as they got him, it would be fired over the cloud of shadows and dissipate them for good.

The people will be delighted and filled with hope at such a capable and heroic leader.