Hello again!

Here is the new chapter.

Please let me know what you think.

Enjoy yourselves.

-O-

Chapter 21:

When Betrayal is Given a Face

A thick black blanket wrapped around the trembling figure. Muffled sobs persisted through the silence like a chant.

The moon was hidden behind a large passing cloud, leaving the night to be bathed in complete darkness.

'It's no use...' came a thought. 'It hurts...'

Under the blanket, slender hands clutched the chest clothed in navy blue pajamas. The pain was almost too incredible to bear, almost too heavy to carry.

Tightly closed eyelids hid the blue jewels of their owner as fresh salty droplets escaped and cascaded down rosy cheeks.

Another uncontrollable sob escaped.

There was a hollowness that echoed inside her body. Though she felt empty, the torture in her chest would not go away.

His words were like vengeful ghosts. Terrifying. Haunting. Unceasing. Yet, this terror was of an emotional nature. Her heart was suffering. The many pieces have been scattered into too many directions to assemble it whole once more.

She bit her lip as an image of their encounter that afternoon composed itself in her mind.

"It would make me happy if you chose some other male to annoy. Perhaps Ichigo or that Hiro character would be a good choice since all of you are equally of a nuisance."

Another invisible knife impaled her. It was sharp. The imaginary blood was pooling below her.

She had not expected it to be this excruciating. This was more agonizing than the broken bones she had received from her first encounter with hollows.

This...This was true pain.

'When did I even fall so love with him,' she wondered, 'That even his words could hurt so much...'

It feels as though he had always been a part of her life. From the moment of their first encounter, he had so effectively weaved himself into her existence that untangling from him was nearly impossible. Her life had become a tangled web.

"Who are you?" came a baritone voice.

She looked down at the source of the sweet melody, and she saw something that she would never forget. Looking up at her were the clearest emerald orbs she had ever seen.

She would always remember that first meeting at the park. Besides, she could never forget those vividly green eyes even if she wanted to. The memory of their first meeting was a priceless jewel that had embedded itself deep within her mind.

"What's your name?" she asked, finally giving way to her curiosity.

"…Ulquiorra Cifer."

Recalling the time when she had learned his name. her lips moved to give a small hint of a smile. His name is unique, a small clue of his fantastical origins. He was not human, but she could discern the humaness in him. Even if he would find it insulting, she knew that he was not as evil as hollows are made to seem.

She settled in her place in his arms, a blush creeping its way to her cheeks.

"I have never been carried by someone before," she explained, "Sorry for the troub-"

"Stop your apologizing," he interrupted.

That memory never failed to bring a slight tinge to her face. Now, weeks after the incident, she still felt embarrassed for fainting, but being in his arms - his cool touch - felt...right. That was the first time she had been carried by a boy. Though it is a stupid thought, the whole experience seemed entirely romantic.

"You fell didn't you?"

Again, there was no answer.

The sweet melody of a feminine laugh filled the room. Ulquiorra glared at the shaking form of Sayuri.

When her laughter faded away, Sayuri leaned in front of Ulquiorra with her hand extended. "Come on, I'll help you."

A short and nostalgic laugh replaced the sobs that had haunted the room, giving the depressed air a chance to breathe in short relief. She recalled that he never did admit that he had fallen. She doubted that he would ever admit it. He does come off as the type of man, in this case hollow, with a lot of pride.

Her world became dark, but for some reason, she did not mind.

She finally had found him.

Her pain and exhaustion did not compare to her euphoria.

That day had been one of the happiest days of her life. Yes, she did fall in the river and gotten sick, but she found him. That was all that mattered. He may be a hollow, but he was definitely different from the monsters that thirsted for her soul. The ashen man, to her, was a protector. He was someone that was meant to be loved, not feared.

"Are you alright woman?" she heard him say.

Her hands tightly clutched around his neck, but as her fear ebbed away, she willed herself to loosen her hold around him. Those green eyes were so assuring.

"Y-yes," she answered.

He had gone out of his way to help her again. Were it not for him, she could have easily been killed in that stampede of frantic students. He always did seem to be there when no one else was present. He was always there. He was always saving her.

"Do you always have to attract so much trouble woman?" Ulquiorra's harsh voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

Upon meeting him, she undoubtedly became the damsel in distress. She was aware of it. She hated being weak, but she had no healing powers like Orihime. She did not have fighting abilities like Ichigo. She was just a boring human. Her weakness made her annoying both to him and to herself.

The Espada turned his attention to the taller man. He eyed the Soul Reaper, a blank expression in place. "Get out Kurosaki."

A blush, like a tremendous army, invaded the planes of her cheeks. It was embarrassing to have him see her practically half naked. Not to mention, Ichigo had been there too. It was not the most pleasant memory, but memories of Ulquiorra would always hold a special quality to them, one that is irreplaceable.

"You're annoying," he explained harshly, "Like all those other human females at your school."

Tears renewed their storm as the memories flashed before her mind in quick succession. Her mind impulsively recoiled and sprung with each image that was evoked. There had been so many memories formed, and they all took their turn painting themselves in her head.

She shivered. Her heartbreak was metamorphosing into an undying and dense blizzard leaving her body to endure the frigidity of the experience.

'I've been falling for him from the beginning. Slowly but steadily, I fell in love with him.'

Love is a sneaky emotion, and like a thief, it steals your heart and rarely, if ever, returns it. It only reveals its head when it is powerful enough to control your mind. On the other hand, it is what gives the greatest happiness in the world.

It is the most bittersweet thing to exist. Sayuri Kimura has discovered this fact.

'So this is what love feels like...'

The ache inside her was never-ending, but it was proof that she loves him.

However, since their first encounter, she had merely become this annoying woman who was constantly in need of being saved. She was troublesome. Fate seemed to have twisted her destiny and forced her to take the role of the ultimate damsel in distress.

The most painful truth though was her love was unrequited and more than likely, irritated the very man that she adores. Ulquiorra obviously did not want her to feel this way for him. In fact, this emotion probably made her more aggravating than anything else.

He does not feel the same way. That, to Sayuri, was an undeniable fact.

Her heartache stayed, but clarity was replacing the haze caused by the pain. She found herself seeing, learning, and knowing more as she accepted and embraced the fact that her pain was caused by the miraculous occurrence of a deep and rich bond. Those who possess these intense connections and experience the emotion of love, she noted, would sacrifice everything and do anything in their power to ensure that their beloved would find happiness and satisfaction. She, too, would do this for him.

One final tear trickled down, and one finally sob was heard.

Sayuri then began to lock her own emotions into the deep recesses of her heart.

'I really want you to be happy Ulquiorra, so I will seal away everything because this is what you would want me to do.'

Her chest grew heavy due to the secret that she promised to hide away from the nosy eyes of the world. It was the secret that Ulquiorra does not seem to want. For that very reason, she will conceal and gradually erase it. She will ensure that it will cease to exist.

Gazing out the window of her bedroom, she watched as moonlight finally penetrated the clouds.

She hoped that Ulquiorra would find happiness. Though the agonizing truth of her emotions was sealed away, she would continue to smile for him until he is able to smile on his own.

She has never seen his smile. Hopefully, she will see it one day.

Her emotions entirely hidden within her and her resolve in place, the turbulent mind of the young maiden was given the chance to rest. Sleep finally claimed her, offering a quick respite from the burdens of her chest, in the early hours of the morning.

No longer was the still and fragile dawn oppressed by the woes of the broken hearted. However, a mild mist, as though a residue of wasted tears, hindered the indolent freckles of the sun. The cracked and torn pieces of the heart may no longer be in view, but the scar still undoubtedly persists.

Outside lingered the ephemeral presence of night.

The window opened smoothly moments after the young woman entered the land of dreams. A stealthy figure entered the room, a chill breeze following suit. Without the slightest bit of sound, he took his place by the foot of her bed and rested.

She would wake up soon to go to school.

Her face, he examined, was puffy, and stains from her tears left a transparent scar on her skin.

He had seen her cry in the excessive veil of the darkness.

-O-

The incessant noise of the alarm harassed the still morning. With a groan, reddened eyes met the glare of the early sun.

She had only received a few hours of sleep and was well aware that there were dark, heavy bags on her face. Hopefully the scarlet color of her eyes would not draw too much attention.

The day, unfortunately, had begun.

The spiritual and physical injuries she received while in the Soul Society still persist, though to a lesser degree. The sluggishness her body felt was mainly due to her exhausted state.

Her body mechanically consummated the morning routine, and soon she found herself wondering the halls of her school without much recollection of how she had gotten there. Her fatigued mind was having an arduous time keeping up with the movements of her body. It was a blessing that there was such a thing as muscle memory or she doubted that she would have made it to school. She just could not think straight with what little rest she had and with the constant knot on her chest.

The loud ring of the bell slightly startled her and forced her brain to work more efficiently, else she would be late. Her limps instinctively ran up the stairs. As she rounded the corner to her classroom, she suddenly found herself sprawled on the floor.

"Sorry Sayuri," she heard a classmate say blandly, "I didn't see you."

No hand was extended to help her. The raven haired teen stood up just as she heard the footsteps retreat. She then followed after them to the classroom.

All of the attention focused on her as soon as she slid the door open. Well, almost all. Sayuri, through her peripheral, noted that a certain new student was concentrated on the view presented by the windows.

'Ulquiorra...' she automatically named.

"Sayuri," Miss Midori scrutinized her, "Care to tell us why you are tardy?"

The Kimura child bowed her head to hide the puffiness and redness of her eyes.

"I'm sorry Miss Midori. I woke up a little late," she murmured her lie.

With her hands on her hip in an attempt to convey anger, the teacher replied, "Make sure you come on time tomorrow."

The lily female nodded her head before quickly walking to her seat, her head still hanging low. She did not want to attract attention to the state of her face. In fact, she did not even risk a glance at Ulquiorra. Sayuri definitely did not want him to notice.

Upon taking her seat, she instantly arranged her bangs so that they covered her entire forehead and reached just above the curve of her eyes. If she tilted her head downwards just right until the swelling and the crimson color subsided, her hair may hopefully hinder anyone's view of the upper half of her face. It was a lucky thing that she had not trimmed her ebony locks.

She pretended to be asleep or busy studying during the first two passing periods so that no one would bother her. It was nothing more as a precautionary measure since all the hormonal adolescents were still in awe of the trio's arrival. It was a positive thing that Mai and Hiro were still infatuated as well or else they surely would have spent their free time conversing with her. By the third passing period, she left for the bathroom to inspect her face. To her relief, aside from the pinkish lining and bagginess of her eyes, her face looked more normal. On the way back to the classroom, she was able to hold her head up higher without having to worry too much about her appearance.

Sayuri's lifted spirits was interrupted by a sudden collision on her left side. Her hands unconsciously rose to caress and sooth the soreness on her skin as the other party passed by. She looked behind her and merely saw the pair of girls continuing on their way as if nothing had happened. The young teen did not bother to think much of it. She was just delighted that she would not have to avoid anyone anymore. Still, she knew she had to proceed with caution and not allow her fellow classmates to get a clear look at the outlining of her eyes. She could explain the bags under her eyes as lack of sleep, but the reddish lining was obviously caused by crying. The pinkness was not extremely prominent but was noticeable if someone stared at it long enough.

She returned to her seat on time. She will manage to survive the day somehow.

Once lunch approached, she watched as two seats were pulled up to her desk.

"Mind if we join you?" came Orihime's voice.

Sayuri looked around and saw that she was surrounded by Orihime, Ichigo, and several of their admirers. The number of onlookers was slowly dwindling but still persisting. She predicted that within a week, the commotion caused by the arrival of her three friends would dwindle to the point of nonexistence. Yet, the infatuation and crushes towards the attractive trio would certainly endure.

Rosy lips gave a strained smile. "Of course," came the falsely enthusiastic response.

Orihime took her seat while Ichigo disappeared for a short moment. When he returned, he had Ulquiorra, who had a murderous glare in place, dragged behind him. Were it not for the fact that they must maintain a low profile, the Espada would have undoubtedly endeavored to kill the Soul Reaper in that instant.

Kurosaki, aware that the hollow would not dare do anything under the circumstances, retrieved a chair with his free hand.

"Sorry, just had to get our lonely friend over here," he remarked cheerily while forcing the ashen man to take a seat.

If looks could kill, Ichigo would undoubtedly have died that very day.

With Ulquiorra seated, the orange haired swordsman took his own seat in front of Sayuri. Everyone, except Ulquiorra, then began to take out their lunches.

Sayuri rummaged through her belongings for her lunch.

'Did I forget to bring it?'

When she reached the bottom of her bag, she concluded that she must have. Her mind had been incredibly hazy that morning, so she did not bother to try and remember.

"Aren't you two going to eat?" the creamy voice of the voluptuous woman asked.

Ulquiorra simply answered with a "Hn." He was a hollow after all, so it was more than likely that he already had his fill through the cannibalistic appetites of his kind.

Sayuri avoided looking in his direction and just settled with giving the best smile she could.

She reasoned, "I had a big breakfast, so I'm not very hungry right now."

"You sure?" Ichigo questioned, pushing his bento towards her.

Fervently, the ebony crown nodded. "Just enjoy your lunch you two. I'm fine."

Aqua eyes intensely kept their focus on the view outside as the two other humans consumed their meal. Her stomach was empty, and she hope that it would not make a sound of complaint. She also could not allow herself to look at Ulquiorra, which was much harder than she had anticipated. Her eyes were automatically drawn to him, so it required conscious effort to avoid unnecessary glances.

She will erase these troublesome feelings. It would take quite a long time and effort on her part, but she will do it for the sake of his happiness.

However, her worry overpowered her. Fearing that her suffering stomach would let out a growl, she excused herself in the pretense of going to the bathroom. She ran down the stairs, breathing heavier as a result, towards the cafeteria to see if there was anything left she could buy. When she arrived, she searched her pocket for her wallet to see how much she had. Her hands came up empty.

Her wallet was also missing. Lack of sleep has not done her memory any good it appears.

With a defeated sigh, she retreated back to the stairs to make her way back to the class. Her slothful steps were interrupted by the majestic figure that descended and halted just before her.

"You took too long woman, so the humans forced me to come after you," he immediately answered her question, as if her mind was an open book, before she even had a chance to open her mouth.

Sayuri instantaneously bent her head to avoid looking at him.

"Sorry, the girl's bathroom was full," she lied with an uneasy laugh, "So I used the one on this floor instead."

She watched as his feet landed before her but still kept her gaze low. A pale hand then reached under her chin and lifted her head from its position. Her eyes were forced to land on the blinding and burning perfection that is Ulquiorra.

Sayuri could not stop herself from wincing. Her chest was constricting, becoming tighter and tighter at the sight of him. If the earthy orbs had caught her reaction, his face was a master at concealing it. This, of course, was not surprising because Ulquiorra is the epitome of enigma.

Blandly, he merely commented, "My face is this way woman."

The raven haired female attempted to bow her head once more - anything to avoid those overwhelming emerald jewels that seem to shallow anything and everything they see. His fingers, with their latent strength, effortlessly kept her head in place.

Sayuri shifted her eyes to the side. The secret in her chest was aflame. "S-Sorry."

At her apology, the restricting but cool hand dropped its hold. A familiar but soothing glacial sensation coated the skin where his hand had made contact.

"You're eyes are still red," he spoke.

Sayuri's face froze at his statement as her head snapped up. He had already made his way up the stairs.

Her mouth opened and closed mechanically, her brain refusing to function. It would seem that she had failed in hiding her state. Worst yet, it was him that had to notice.

Slowly and with a defeated stupor, heavy legs made their way back just in time to see students take their seats. The young maiden gave an apologetic smile, in the direction of the two ginger haired teens, for taking so long. She then averted her gaze to anything so long as it was not Ulquiorra.

Taking her seat, she grabbed her bag to take out her notebook. When she opened it, she saw a sandwich, a banana, and a juice box laid on top of her belongings.

'Who is this from?' she pondered as her hands wound their way around the delicious food.

Her stomach made a gentle, almost purring, noise as though it was expressing its happiness. At the thoughtful gesture, smile eased the frown from her face.

She looked at the clock and saw that there were still two minutes til lunch officially ended. Quickly, she opened the wrapper and took large bites of the sandwich while still trying to insure that she did not look like some starved individual. In record time, she had eaten the unexpected meal.

'Thank you,' she mentally expressed her gratitude, 'Whoever you are.'

A pair of colorful orbs watched the scene covertly. The tiniest shine of amusement shone through at Sayuri's attempt to consume her food in a ladylike but quick manner.

She gave her first genuine smile of the day. That was the most important thing.

That afternoon, an intimidating but slender figure stood on the rooftop against the zealous flames of the sunset. Three shadows stretched eerily across the white cement floor.

A lethal and beautifully savage voice spoke, "I detest shameless and arrogant women who believe they have the right to steal another's money and food."

Two teenage girls stood quivering before the demonic male.

"You are irritating and worthless women. Nothing more. Now make yourselves scarce," came the voice one last time.

Heeding his advice, the females ran down the stairwell in fear. They had learned their lesson. He knew they would never bother her again.

-O-

Sayuri held her promise. Over the course of a weeks, she minimized her interaction with Ulquiorra in a desperate attempt to erase the emotions she felt towards him, or at least hide them effectively from view. She avoided being alone with him, and they no longer held any conversation with each other. By Christmas Eve, what little interaction they had to begin with was reduced to slight nods or small but genuine smiles of acknowledgement whenever the need arose. Her smiles were her gifts to the very man who could not.

Needless to say, her chest felt heavier with each day that passed, but she was becoming familiar with the burden. Though the load was heavier, she was getting stronger. The pain was more bearable.

The only truly positive thing that passed was that her wounds - if you could even call them that - from the Soul Society have finally disappeared. Her body now felt more energized compared to its unfortunate state the week before.

Sayuri only wished that emotional injuries would heal just as quickly.

"I wish Mai was able to celebrate Christmas Eve by having breakfast with us," she stated as they walked down the white fields of freshly powdered snow. Puffs of blanc smoke appeared and vanished with each word she spoke.

"She did say she was feeling a bit under the weather due to the cold," came the response.

Blue windows rose to look at taller male walking next to her.

She said to him, "I hope she feels better by tomorrow. It would be a shame to spend Christmas sick and in bed."

An overwhelmingly large smile greeted her sights. "She'll be fine. I'm sure of it."

Since they were young, they would always meet in the morning of Christmas Eve to spend time together since Christmas day was spent with only family. Sayuri believe that this little tradition that she had with her childhood pals has kept their bond strong throughout the years. This time, unfortunately, Mai had been unable to attend.

"I really hope she'll be alright."

At the fork in the road where they usually part ways, the dark haired teen waved goodbye to her childhood friend and former crush.

"Have a nice Christmas Hiro! It was nice having breakfast with you."

The brown haired teen waved as well, his enormous smile still in place. "It was nice having breakfast with you too. Enjoy your holiday Sai!"

Sayuri sauntered down the chilly and snow-covered road, her gloved hand clutching her small bag.

It then dawned on her that she had forgotten one important detail. Opening her purse, she saw the three gifts that were snuggled together. She would have to hold on to Mai's for now. She had been worried over Mai's health that it had completely escaped her mind to give Hiro his present.

She had already dropped off Ichigo and Orihime's presents just before she headed off to meet Hiro at the cafe. Ulquiorra had not been at the apartment, and she was more than a little hesitant to leave the gift she had bought for him. She was terrified of his reaction. She did not even know if he would like the keepsake she had bought for him. Thus, the present wrapped in green and white paper remained in her bag along with those belonging to her two friends.

Rather than worrying over her predicament with the ashen man and debating whether or not she should hand over the present to him, she focused on the issue at hand: finding Hiro.

Sayuri retraced her steps and sprinted down the empty path. Her thick white coat kept her warm against the frigid bites of the winter air and camouflaged her with her snowy surroundings. It made her appear as though she was a large snowflake floating over the winter wonderland.

-O-

He swallowed the bite that he had taken from the still and grotesque figure in his grip. It was a benefit that Espadas do not require as much nourishment from souls, but he found the hunt for his meals lacked the exhilarating quality that it was supposed to have. Hollows in the human world were so weak that it was not even a challenge to kill them. He did not bother to watch the carcass disappear into nothing as he walked through the woody clearing.

His pace did not slow even as he came upon a familiar couple in the distance. He did not comprehend why humans participate in such useless acts of intimacy.

He was about to ascend into the sky when, just beyond the clearing, he sensed her slight spiritual energy growing nearer.

From the shadows of the trees, he saw her sprinting ignorantly towards the area where the couple stayed immobile and occupied.

-O-

She slowed to a light jog when she saw Hiro's figure standing in the distance. The back of his black jacket, like a stain, was easy to spot amidst the purity of the snow.

"Hir-!" she began calling out in the loudest voice she could muster while she regained her steady breathing. However, her voice caught in her throat when she realized that she had been interrupting something intimate and unexpected. Her feet firmly planted before the scene.

The two crushed lips separated from their passionate kiss and the tangled appendages followed suit.

"Mai?" a shocked voice left Sayuri's mouth as her best friend's face was revealed from behind the male's imposing form.

A low chuckle sounded from Hiro. "Looks like we're finally caught."

Befuddlement gracing her features, Sayuri forgot her initial purpose and could only ask, "Are you two dating?"

Mai's black eyes rolled at her idiotic question. "Obviously," she muttered.

"Congratulations!" the young teenager exclaimed, "I'm so happy for you both! Well, I'm sorry for um suddenly showing up like this..."

Sayuri gave a sheepish laugh at her inopportune timing. "But it's so nice to see you're feeling better Mai!"

"I was never sick to begin with idiot," the shorter girl responded, rolling abysmal eyes yet again.

"T-Then why did you call me today and say that you were?" Sayuri questioned, her face looking more confused.

"Because I-"

Hiro intervened. "Mai..."

"No!" Mai looked at him with a pointed glare. "I let you have your fun with her, but you're mine. I hated having to share you with her!"

Sayuri took a half step towards her best friend's shaking form. "What's g-going on?"

Blank ebony orbs settled upon Sayuri's pale face. "I. Hate. You!"

The emphasis on each of the gruesome words pierced the lily girl's chest, leaving large holes in their wake.

A deep sigh escaped from Hiro. Nonchalantly, he shrugged and said, "Oh well. Look's like everything is out in the open now."

The Kimura child looked at him pleadingly. "What's going on here?" she repeated her question.

The skinny arms of her former crush circled Mai's waist. He laid his chin on her shoulder intimately as he spoke. "Sayuri, meet my girlfriend of five years, Mai."

"F-F-Five years?" the lily girl could not help the trembling in her voice. "But we'd been dating since this year..."

It was Mai who spoke next. "You really think Hiro would date someone as boring and as plain as you Sayuri."

Sayuri felt her breath quicken. "W-Why did you do this? Why did y-you let him if you were his girlfriend? Why didn't you tell me? Why would you two do this to me? We've been friends since we were youn-"

"We we're never your friends," Hiro laughed, "You just suddenly stuck to us like glue when we were little."

"So we thought it would a little fun to see how long we could pretend to be your friend," Mai finished for him.

Eyes the color of mud stared at her blankly. "We never did like you. I just thought it would have made things more entertaining if I played around with your feelings. Mai did tell me that you had formed some sort of infatuation towards me."

Mai glared at her boyfriend lightly. "I can't believe you made me put up with all that crap for half year. I was so jealous."

"I told you that it was all for the sake of fun," he soothed her.

The dark black eyes of Mai and the dirty spheres of Hiro's both imprisoned Sayuri in their hold.

"It seems the game's over now." Hyterical laughter resonated in the emptiness.

"I can't believe we managed to keep it going for eleven years!"

"I never thought Sayuri Kimura could be so dumb!"

Sayuri could no longer tell who it was that was talking. All their words were echoing over and over and over in her ears. Her blue jewels lost more of their shine as a thick coating of gloss began to cover them. Her tears were gathering, but before they could fall, she found her body pressed against something soothing and cool. Wind was whistling through her hair and skin. She was flying, so quickly that her surroundings were just a white blur.

Within seconds, the sensation was over, but the cool touch remained. She found herself in an entirely new setting where the snow was not tainted by the dark figures of Mai and Hiro. She found herself standing in front of the very man who pained her as well.

"U-Ulquiorra..." she stuttered weakly, the tears finally flooding down her flushed cheeks.

She covered her face with her hands to shield her weakness away from him. He hated weakness, and yet here she was, crying in front of him. Her sobs shook her body. Everything was uncontrollable.

Suddenly, she felt muscular arms cradle her. Her eyes shot open. He was embracing her - comforting her.

'This can't be...'

She cannot fall for him. She would not allow it. She cannot lose all the progress she had made distancing herself from him.

"No!" she cried weakly. Her hands pressed against his chest, pushing him away. His power, she knew, far surpassed hers, and all her efforts to escape the embrace failed.

She sobbed louder, and her tears came faster.

'No...' she thought weakly. However, the betrayal of her two closest friends caused her resolve to crack and crumble. Her burden had broken free from its lock from the holes that Hiro and Mai's actions and words had left behind.

Her hands reluctantly gripped the back of the white jacket that he wore. She buried her face into his chest and allowed herself to cry before him.

However, she soon felt his secure embrace around her body slacken. Before she knew it, the body that she had anchored herself to like a lifeline had vanished. An empty space now presided in her arms where his body had been.

She tried to sense his presence but discovered that she could not. He was gone. He had left her.

Her knees crashed onto the ground now that her support was no longer there. The salty liquid that had been flowing endlessly froze. Her trembling ceased.

She spent several minutes just sitting there on the chilly snow-covered ground. No tears were shed. No sobs were heard.

Without a sound, she stood. Like an empty and broken doll, she walked out of the forest towards her white home. Her face was blank. Expressionless. Distant.

One thought repeated itself in her mind.

'No more...no more being weak.'

From a high branch, blazing jewels watched the empty figure stumble down the road.

He had just finished consuming some weak hollow when he had stumbled upon the scene. He had seen and heard the entire conversation. Yet, he had not deemed it necessary to intervene. He was a supernatural being, and as such, he did not see the necessity of partaking in such inconsequential human affairs. He had stayed because he was bored and had nothing else to do. When he had seen the tears about to fall from her eyes, his body simply reacted. He had raced to her and carried her a safe distance away. When he had settled her in front of he, he saw her emotions overwhelm her control.

Like a puppet, he felt strings pull his arms around her forlorn form. He had actually hugged a human. When he regained his senses, he was confused and in his state, he suddenly felt his body leave her.

Human matters were of no concern to him. He had foolishly allowed his body to take over and perform such foolish actions of comfort. This was none of his business.

He looked at Sayuri and saw that her eyes had lost most, if not all, of the radiant and unmistakable shine that they had once possessed.

Without realizing it, his left arm lifted as though tied to a string once again. Pale knuckles collided with the solid trunk of the tree, splintering the bark and the wood with the greatest of ease.

Sayuri had been broken...and he had helped break her.

-O-

I hope you all liked this chapter. I have been attempting to make the chapters much longer.

Let me know if you want me to change anything!

Thank you again for reading.