Garmadon led Misako away, his hand pulling gently on hers, through a long hallway lined with paintings and various photographs of a smiling, happy family. All the while, the warlord was listing off all the entrees he could make for the injured girl. Though she tried valiantly to keep listening to his deep, excited voice going on about the different fish he had on hand at the moment and the idea of making a few rolls of sushi, the warrior couldn't help her fatigued mind from being distracted by each photograph she passed - one photograph in particular stood out, though it was easily the most plain photograph featured in the hall.

It looked to be a normal family portrait shot, with the children standing in front of the parents, but somehow these people captured in the glossy paper seemed all too familiar to the girl. A calm, middle aged man with a light beard stood with his arms across his chest and a beautiful brunette, who had her hair pulled into a tight bun, stood beside him with her hands resting on the shoulders of two young boys. The taller of the two had wild, brown hair, the same shade of the woman, and wore a huge grin stretched across his face. The smaller boy - and probably younger of the two - had light blonde hair, trimmed in a very straight cut who looked to be very shy and he was nearly grimacing in the photograph.

Misako couldn't help but wonder: Who were these people? What was so familiar about them? Was it in their smiles? Their eyes?

His eyes.

The few seconds she was lost staring at the photo seemed like an hour, where upon Misako's eyes locked onto the smiling boy with the wavy hair and her heart stopped. He was it. There was only one person in the portrait that stood out to her. It was the way his wide open eyes shined in the light. How his charming grin stood out so strongly in the photograph. It was him, it had to be!... Even with those bright blue eyes, Misako pieced it together.

Apparently, he hadn't always been a terrible, red-eyed, four-armed Oni warlord, because there was no doubting that the brown haired boy was anyone but Lord Garmadon.

Misako's heart thumped back to life as a hand grabbed back a hold of her own. Misako turned to face the warlord, suddenly aware that she had froze staring at the picture. Garmadon's expression was drenched in worry.

"Hey, Koko, you doing OK?" he asked quietly after seeing the shock on her face. "If you need me to, we can get you back to bed and I'll bring some food to you?"

Misako shook her head gently. "No, I'm alright. I just -," she pointed to the photograph. "I saw this. I didn't realize you ever used to be…" Misako shyly let her voice fall away into silence.

Garmadon crossed his upper arms over his chest, taking on a defensive posture, though one of his lower hand was still holding onto hers. "Yeah?" he asked harshly. "I used to be what, exactly?"

Misako sighed. Better to get it get it out and over with. "Human. I never actually thought that you were ever anything else than…" she gently squeezed his hand. "You."

A sorrowful look came over his eyes. "Yeah, I get it." He yanked his hand away from hers. "I know what you mean."

So that boy was him.

Misako shifted her eyes back to the picture. "What happened? When did this," she turned back to face the warlord. "happen to you?"

Garmadon sighed loudly. "It started a few years after that picture was taken." He seemed to be distracted by the grain of the wood flooring. "But I didn't become this," he gestured toward his body with all four hands. "til quite a few years later."

"Garmadon," she reached out for his arm and he stepped backwards, away from her grip. "I'm so sorry to bring up a sore spot, really. I never thought… I didn't even think that you ever didn't look like this." She forced her way to him and gingerly gripped onto his wrist.

"Yeah," he disdainfully pulled himself loose from her hold again, his mood immediately souring. "I'm sorry, too." He spat each word out, as if they were poison. "I wish I didn't look this way either."

"No!" Misako would have winced if she had any idea how loudly she shouted that out loud. "I didn't mean it that way!"

Garmadon turned to walk back toward the kitchen. "Whatever. It doesn't matter anyway, 'cuz here I am, stuck like this anyhow." His prior cheerfulness had vanished entirely.

"Wait, Garm -!"

The warrior tried to leap forward to grab onto the warlord again, intent on making sure he wouldn't get away from her this time. But, she moved too quickly for her own good.

Still not completely aware of how little strength she had left in herself, Misako's knee gave way and she fell forward into Garmadon, knocking the warlord's breath right out of him. With a cry, the warrior threw her good arm around his torso, trying to catch herself. Without her other arm in use, she lost her hold on him and continued falling down. Luckily, the warlord reacted swiftly and clung tightly around her form.

Saving her once again.

Though the warlord's mood had swung dramatically in a negative direction once Misako brought up his past, Garmadon couldn't stop his miserable mood from fading away while she was wrapped in his arms. He smiled at the warrior, who had now buried her face into his top in pure embarrassment, and he chuckled to himself. He could just barely make out a million apologies flooding out from Misako's mouth, muffled by his gi top.

Garmadon took a hand off her back to pat the top of her head. He felt guilty for getting so mad at her. After all, Misako had been injured and was obviously weak, whereas he had been overly stressed the last few days, just waiting for her to finally wake up.

There was a good chance she never meant anything by inquiring about his monstrous state, he reasoned. In her mind, she was just asking him a simple question, nothing more. He was the one who overreacted. The warlord knew enough about her that he could trust that the warrior wasn't trying to insult him or anything and it wasn't fair that he should be so mean to her while she was in this state. Just because he hated bringing up his vile past didn't mean he had any right to be so short with her.

Through all the years of his time being this four-armed freak, the warlord had gone heard far more than his fair share of insults, but nothing had ever stung as much as hearing Misako bring up his fetid past and the tumultuous emotions that stated spilling out of his heart in fearing she was disgusted by him.

Sure, Lord Garmadon was a terrible warlord bent on conquering the world and he had definitely done a lot of bad things, no doubt. But, that was when /that/ voice in his head took over. He would never admit it because of how far down this cruel path he had walked, but his life, his actions, his goals were all spurred on by that other version of himself. He truthfully couldn't remember the last time he had full faculties over himself besides the night he met Lady Iron Dragon. That sinister voice inside him and its burning passions had been commanding him forth nearly his whole life.

Only now with her in his company was the voice silent.

That dark, vile voice had been fully in control of the warlord for so long that he was losing his ability to distinguish himself from his other side - they were becoming one monstrous fiend together. But, even when that evil voice was running his actions, the real Garmadon still lingered inside. As successful as the warlord had been in his many campaigns and as legendary as his name had become since he began his reign of terror, Garmadon hated himself and the monster he had become more than anyone else out there. And it was that insecure part of the warlord had been struck sharply by Misako's questioning. He may have hated himself, but he hoped at least the one person who seemed able to see his true self wouldn't be repelled by his monstrous form.

He didn't want to turn away from the warrior or speak to her so sharply that she would dissolve into a state of sobbing apologies, yet here they were. Garmadon grimaced, realizing that though Misako could chase that evil voice from his mind, it's time controlling his thoughts and actions had left the warlord so aggressive and distrusting of others… including the warrior, as well.

He detested himself for that. And worse of all, he could never forgive himself for hurting Misako, physically or otherwise. He glanced down to Misako, still wrapped in his arms and smiled.

Seeing her in this light, Garmadon realized that the fearless warrior really wasn't anything more than just a girl. A tired, silly, straightforward girl who didn't mean any harm. Though he had her stuck in his mind since the day they met, she still seemed like a dream come true. Her flowing red-hair and her petite figure was in such sharp contrast to his dark skin and bulky form. He hadn't really thought of it before, but he realized that she must have been a good many years and decades younger than he was.

No doubt, she was a mere mortal, unlike himself. Her comparative youth to the warlord made her appear that much more fragile in his eyes, that much more in need of his protection She was so unaware of the true darkness in the world - such innocence and naivety! It struck him sharply how much he'd like to keep her that way. Safe, innocent and young at heart to the end of her days. Yet, here he had gone and fouled up both of their moods due to his sensitive past. The warlord hugged the warrior and he sighed out an apology.

"Misako, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reacted that way," he squeezed onto her tightly. "I'm a mean bastard sometimes, but," he gulped, almost worried he wouldn't be able to admit his true feelings. "I don't want to be. You don't deserve this sort of behavior or to have me bothering you in your life. I will only screw everything up. Let me get you fed and once you're feeling better, we can send you off on your way." His breathing was becoming harsh and erratic, as if he was experiencing a breakdown.

"Dammit!" He hissed under his breath. "This is why you can't keep a damn soul in your life! You're just an abomination! This is all your fault!"

Misako burst out of Garmadon's arms, her tear-stained face stuck in an expression of horror. "No, what are you saying? This was all my fault - I'm so sorry! I shouldn't ask such personal things so freely! I should have kept my mouth shut - I know better than to stick my nose where it doesn't belong!" The warrior continued crying, her hand covering her face, just within an arm's reach of the warlord. "I always ruin everything! I'm so sorry I can't do anything right!"

He really couldn't help himself. After hearing her words almost mirror his own, the warlord felt his heart break into two. He hated to think that Misako was suffering from any of the same internal conflicts that he was. Garmadon scooped the warrior up in his arms, his hand gently cradling the back of her head, stand up slowly to his full height.

"It's not you. Remember, I'm the bad guy! This was my fault. I never should have let my anger get the best of me. It's the only reason this all happened anyway."

Misako withdrew her hand from her face and gasped sharply at seeing Garmadon's head hanging so low, a brokenhearted expression printed across his face. The warrior struggled to sit up in the nest of the warlord's arms, throwing her arm around his neck once she was upright, nuzzling her face against his.

"Garmadon, I'm so sorry! It's not you, I promise! I promise!" she choked out, pressed her forehead against his chest. "I'll get out of your hair as soon as possible. I don't want to leave you but I don't want to ruin your life, either. I'm so sorry I ever said anything! I can't believe I ever opened my mouth..."

Garmadon raised his head up, guilt spread across his face. "What? 'Ruin my life?' Ever since meeting you, you've only improved my life! I haven't felt like myself in years, I haven't felt hope or happiness or anything like that in so long! I'm the monster that's destroying you - I'm the one who runs everything! Just look at me! I don't even know what I am - I'm a damn aberration!"

"No, you're not!" the girl cried, drowning out the warlord's deep voice. "You're perfect just the way you are!"

The warrior took him by surprise with that. The warlord could barely raise his voice higher than a whisper.

"I'm… what?" He asked in disbelief.

"Perfect," Misako declared, following a coughed. "Four arms and all."

Misako and Garmadon exchanged glances, both torn between more emotions than either could even explain.

The warrior felt a moment of intense bravery run through her system and she lifted her hand to brush a strand of wild hair out from the warlord's face, the fire of anger burning in his chest was cooled to barely an ember.

"I wanted to learn about you, just ask about your past," she continued. "I didn't mean to hurt you, I swear, I didn't."

"I know, I know," the warlord leaned into her touch. "It wasn't you, I escalated the situation. I'm sorry."

Garmadon smirked when her hand returned and she adjusted another patch of his bangs from falling into his eyes. She still looked so weak and so sorrowful, yet she still was trying to take care of him even as she was falling apart at the seams - he just couldn't take it! Seeing such a soft look in her eyes almost had him crying.

"We've got ourselves into a fine mess now, haven't we?" The warlord chuckled as he stroked his knuckles along her cheek.

"What do you mean?" the warrior responded in earnest.

"You said it when we first met - don't you remember?" Garmadon responded.

Misako gave him a puzzled look.

"Now, what exactly was it that you said? Something like: 'Girl meets boy. Girl fights boy. Girl sends boy far far far away to jail forever and ever?'"

The warrior blushed lightly. "Yeah, something like that."

"Well, I'm thinking we need to change it a little, say: 'Girl meets boy. Girl fights boy. Girl and boy try to live happily ever after?'"

Now she was blushing wildly like an out of control wildfire. Misako had known the warlord for only a short time. She didn't expect to hear a proposal of any sort any time so soon!"

"Are you asking me to marry you?" Her head felt like she was being washed away to sea by a violent current. She knew she was tired and out of it, but she had definitely heard him say that, but she couldn't process it at all!

Garmadon bellowed out a laugh. "Ok, maybe that came out a bit too over the top! Let's not doing anything crazy, but maybe we could try to, I dunno, date for a while?"

Misako put her hand to her forehead. "This is kinda sudden, don't you think?" she asked, suddenly sounding as drained as she looked. "I mean, we barely even know each other. I don't want to put you in an uncomfortable spot."

Never in all her days would she have ever expected to be having this exchange with a villainous, legendary warlord!

Garmadon flashed her his signature smile. "Well, we gotta start somewhere, don't we? Plus, I can't blame you for wanting to hear more about my past - I've wanted to get to know you since the first time your name crossed my radar - the famed, incredible, unstoppable Lady Iron Dragon! -, too."

"Well," she started coyly. "Alright, I can work with that. After all, I've been dying to get to know this fascinating four armed warlord better, as long as he would have me? Plus, it'll give us the time we need to figure each other out... but, I have one condition!" she ended triumphantly.

"I would be happy to have you, of course! And sure, what's that?" the warlord egged on, feeling much more at peace with both returning to their previous good moods.

"No yelling from you! Not unless it's good yelling! You've gotta control that anger of yours," she stated pointedly. "Otherwise we'll keep ending up in bad situations like this."

"OK, OK, I can work with that as long as you work on a condition I've got for you, too!" he snidely retorted back to the warrior.

"Go ahead, hit me with your best shot!" she sat straight in his arms, planting her hand on her hip and looking him directly in the eye.

"No crying! That is, unless something really bad happens, 'cuz Koko, you're killing me with these waterworks of yours!" One of his hands moved up to her cheek, rubbing away traces of tears from her face.

Misako sniffled lightly. "I'll try my best for you. But you should know, I'm a big crier!" For as fierce as the warrior was, she could never seem to hold in her sensitive side when she needed to.

"Thanks, Koko," Garmadon bowed his head, pressing his forehead to the warrior's. "I appreciate you giving me a chance to get to know you and be with you, with all my flaws and issues, too."

Misako wrapped her arm around the warlord's neck. "And thank you to you too, Garm. I can't remember the last time anyone willing allowed me into their life. Thank you for that."

Though her words set off an alarm of some sort in Garmadon's head, he pushed his worried thoughts to the side, just for now - he'd address this issue later. But first -

"Well, you still hungry?" Garmadon swiftly changed the course of the conversation, truly unsure of what to say in response to the warrior.

"Oh, absolutely!" she chimed in.

"Good, because I've worked up an appetite now, too! Let's go get something to eat!"

"I'd love that!" she began looking for a way down out of Garmadon's arms when he turned on his heel and began carrying her the rest of the way to the kitchen.

"Let's get you taken care of now, shall we?" he asked with that charming grin of his, making Misako's heart pound in her ears.

Though he had his troubles, Misako sighed in relief, Garmadon was nothing to fear, unlike her nightmare version of the warlord. Though he had quite a vicious look to him, he was simply human at his core, with normal emotions and all. It was so weird to Misako that she was willing to link her life with another's, but never had she felt so at ease or so natural with anyone before, even when having a little spat. She felt so protected in his arms as he carried her about as if she were a fragile vase. For a young woman who had no choice but to fight through a majority of her life, this was a fresh and welcoming change. Never would she have imagined ever feeling so safe in another's company.

Today was probably just a bad day for them both. It's in human nature for emotions to change like the weather. After all, Misako had been a blubbering mess today - there was a great chance that this was a bad example of Garmadon's normal behaviors, too. Misako's internal voice still questioned why she would even give the warlord a chance, but even now, she couldn't fight that odd attraction that compelled her closer to him.

They would have their share of bad times along with their good days too. At both of their cores, they were only human after all - today being a great example that although Garmadon's appearance was inhuman, he was still just a normal guy at the end of the day.

Misako promised herself that she'd be more careful in starting conversations about the past with the warlord, as he clearly was still dealing with some nasty open wounds. She had her own miserable past she'd always wanted to forget, so she couldn't blame him too much for being so sharp after she accidentally backed him into a corner.

As if he was reading her thoughts, Garmadon sighed. "Time hasn't treated either of us very well, has it?"

Misako looked away, a distant look caught in her eyes. "I can't speak for you, but for me, it wasn't time's fault. People made my life a living hell."

Garmadon froze in spot and nodded grimly, still surprised he'd found such a kindred spirit in her.

"We have definitely been shorted our fair share of good times. But, let me promise this to you now," the warlord leaned in and gave a quick kiss to Misako's forehead. "The bad times will end. I will do everything in my power to ensure your life will be good from here on." He gave Misako a look out of the corner of his eyes. "Even if that means I part from your company, I will ensure a good life for you."

The warrior's heart pounded quickly, resounding with a deep ache. How was she so absolutely heartbroken over a man - a /warlord/ - she barely knew?

"Thank you. And I will do the same for you." Misako and Garmadon shared a glance, both so resolute in their promises. "Everything in my power," she repeated.

Garmadon cracked a small smile and ruffled her hair. "That's all good and well you saying that, but you're in no shape to make any promises like that!" The warrior paled looking down at her injured arm and wondered how sickly the rest of her might have looked to the warlord, in turn.

"Do I really look do bad?" Misako asked with a wince.

Garmadon chuckled in response. "No, don't worry. You wear the gaunt, pale look very well! Plus, those bags under your eyes just make the blue of your irises pop!" he concluded and gave her a dramatic wink. "But, I don't know about you, I'm personally a fan of the healthy, 'I'm-not-on-my-deathbed' sort of look."

Misako blushed lightly and turned away from his gaze, playing with a strand of her hair.

"Don't worry though, in a few days you'll be good as new," he moved towards her, forcing himself into her vision. "That's a promise from the desk of Dr Garmadon, himself, ya know," he continued.

Misako still kept her eyes away from his and the warlord responded by screwing up his face, attempting to make her laugh.

"A promise from me is as good as gold, ya know."

Misako couldn't keep serious as she could see his expression even out of the corner of her vision. He was cross-eyes with his tongue sticking out between his fangs. The warrior finally laughed and pushed Garmadon away.

"Thank you, doctor," Misako's eyes shined brightly as she addressed him, even though her tone was incredibly sarcastic. "I appreciate it, you big goof."

"Well," Garmadon grinned and he began walking down the hallway to the entrance of another room. "First steps first, let's get some food into your body."

"Doctor's orders?" The warrior smirked as the warlord choked back a loud burst of laughter.

"Doctor's orders," he affirmed with another wink, much more genuine this time. "Let's get you fixed up."