A/N: Hello all! Some news before you read this.

I am now mostly caught up to the current chapter I'm writing. We're about 3 chapters behind to that point. I'm glad everyone is loving it and the consistent release. However, it may be pretty soon that the content drip may slow down for a while. I may also take a short hiatus and come back when the creative juices are back to full strength again. After all, I don't wanna tire myself out of the story like I have in the past with other fics I was really passionate about, such as "Stranded" (Which btw, any viewers who also like Sonic, check it out. I may be coming back to it soon.).

I would also like to point out a constant reviewer, Tessler. This person is the reason why I wrote this fic, because I saw "Perception". Definitely give it a read, and give them love!

Anyways, with that, we're off! Enjoy and please read and review, as always.

Rex panted, collapsing onto his side at a grassy alcove far outside the city, grasping his right wrist and nursing it. "I think...I think we're safe...right?"

Homura kneeled to him, looking over her shoulder but darting back to him, visibly extremely worried. "Yes. They've stopped following us.", she reassured, patting him on the head. She then tenderly picked up his wrist and closely inspected the wound.

"Good. I'm beat. Today was too much.", with his free hand he tossed his helmet backwards and plopped his back onto the soft grass below, eyes closed as Homura kept taking a gander at his damaged wrist. "I can't go any further."

"Obviously.", Gramps commented, flying above him and looking down.

The Nopon sat. "Tora pooped as well.", he yawned loudly.

After finishing her detailed review, she gently set it down on the grass, careful not to harshly drop it onto the ground and cause more pain for him (and her). "I hope you have lots of disinfectant and bandages, Rex. And room for another scar.", she quipped at the end. "I doubt this one will go away anytime soon."

Rex sighed. "Great.", he sarcastically whistled. "Add another one to the collection…", he muttered.

"Hm?"

"Nothing!"

A cough gained their attention, coming from the team's only Gormotti. Nia put on a sad smile once she felt she had all eyes on her. "Well, Rex, you kept your end of the bargain. So...I forgive you."

He tilted his head as he leaned up. "I did? But I didn't tell—"

"Well, I'm off.", she suddenly turned around and began walking.

"We are eternally grateful for all that you've done. We wish you well on your travels.", Dromarch bowed his head. "Farewell.", he turned around to join his lady.

Something bubbled up within him, and it wasn't a sick feeling from his wound. After everything he had done for her so far, he felt it couldn't end here. Especially since he knew where she was going.

"Wait!"

Nia stopped and turned back around, looking right at the distressed man. "I don't want you to go. Not back to them."

She sighed. "Rex...I…"

"No! Listen to me!", he bursted out. She blinked. "You can't go back to them."

"And why not?"

"Didn't you hear me the first time you said it? Those people tried to kill you!", he reminded her. "You seriously can't call them your family. After what you did, they probably won't even let you live."

"So what?! Like you know.", she spat at him, clearly irritated.

What she wasn't expecting was that Rex was now staring stronger than ever at her. "You're right. I don't know you or your life. I can't imagine the things you went through."

"So then what?!"

"Let me finish!", he nearly boomed, stunning the catgirl as he usually does with his antics. "I may not know everything about you, but I can try to put myself in your shoes. Back at the prison, I recognized the look in your eyes you had when I found you in that cell."

She was forced silent by sheer shock alone at his words that came next. "You had given up, hadn't you?"

She was taken aback by his words. "Y-you–"

"I know exactly how that feels."

She let him continue. She, including the bystanders listening, were all dying to know just how Rex experienced that. Well, all but Azurda, the only one who had an inkling at where he was going with this speech of his. But as for the two girls and the tiger, they had one question in their minds. How could a man so inherently optimistic reach the tipping point of despair? To the few that witnessed his breakdown in Torigoth, it didn't seem far off actually.

So, with curiosity baited, they listened.

"It's fuzzy but...I remember that I too once gave up on life. I had lost all my hope, my dreams...everything. For me, it was either the world should die, or me."

For Nia, she almost nearly took the thought of this being serious and threw it out the window. Seriously? So on top of being crazy, he's also an amnesiac? Great. As if his head wasn't already messed up.

He continued. "Back then...I fell into that void. I can recall wanting to off myself a couple of times throughout that. And it was because I was all alone in the world."

Her body loosened as her face became sad, Dromarch's brows raised as he watched with intrigue at Rex. Homura herself was washed with concern. She couldn't imagine the happy Rex she knew for a couple of days now resorting to suicide. "But...now? I have Gramps. Everyone back at my home. And recently? I gained two new friends I never thought I would have in a million years. That's Homura and you, Nia."

"Aw...Rex…", Homura smiled sweetly and femininely at him despite him not even glancing at her. Her hands were clasped above her chest in reaction to the touching words.

"There's a reason why despite your hatred and lack of trust in me I called myself your friend.", he finished. "To be in despair with no one to lean on...that's a fate worse than death."

"Rex…", Nia felt salty tears well up in her eyes. "Don't say it…", she mouthed. "Don't you dare say it…"

"Nia. Your "family" back at Torna wasn't going to save you. You knew it, didn't you? So you were going off by yourself?"

"Don't…"

"I'm not going to leave you alone like that. We won't leave you."

"Shut up…"

"So please...be a part of my family. Not theirs."

That was it. She couldn't hold it in anymore. "You...idiot!", the only words she could muster before burying her hands in her face.

"Master Rex...I speak for my lady when I say I am very touched. However.", he huddled closer to Nia, his fur touching her side. "Just what are you planning? What is your end goal? Nobility is not noble without conviction."

He understood the protectiveness. Gramps was like that a few times as well for him when he was a child. He could only weakly smile, grimacing as he pushed himself to stand up. "I'm going to Eden, at the top of the World Tree. I promised Homura."

"Not t-that myth again!", she bawled, taking the hands off her face, displaying her puffy, reddened eyes and stream of tears. "Do you think this is funny?! Playing with me like that?!"

"Does it look like I'm laughing? I believe her 110%."

Silence. Sniffles the only noise amidst light breezes. Rex burned his eyes into Nia's flesh.

"Your kindness sickens me!", she croaked out, throat obviously dry from sobbing. "Your trust is going to get you killed! What if she's lying to you, and one day stabs you in the back?! What if I will?!"

"Eh?!", Homura gasped. "B-but I would never…"

"Are you that distrusting of others?", Rex asked.

"Why shouldn't I be?!", her tears, though still pouring, were replaced with those of anger. "Nobody's ever done anything for me! And even when they do, they…they…"

Rex's brows turned upward. His words didn't describe just how much he really didn't know what she went through. The anger that temporarily coursed through the small girl reverted back to the sad crying. Silence once again.

"Believe in me then. If you can't trust others."

Her lips quivered. "Why should I? You went berserk!"

He sighed in defeat, pausing for a thought. "Because I came for you when no one else would."

His words pierced her heart. She gritted her teeth and stomped over to him with balled fists. "My lady, please!", she bared her fangs and claws, with Rex only turning his head with a neutral expression and shut eyes, bracing for the worst. Footsteps stomped through the soft grass, kicking up blades and getting closer to him. He felt the wind rush as he sensed her rearing her hand.

Then...she retracted them, weakly bopping her hand on his shoulder before burying her face in his chest, crying much more softly as she practically dried up her wells. She couldn't deny it anymore. She didn't want to go back to Torna. As much as her mind blasted her for going with, what was in her mind, a psycho, she felt so much safer with him than Jin. This was the truth her heart knew.

"Please…", she begged. "Don't leave me…"

He didn't need to hear anymore, he gently put his hands around her into a soft embrace. Dromarch walked up to the two. "Okay.", he lightly tapped her, her face separating from his now dampened chest, her golden eyes meeting his. "Welcome home.", he smiled.

She put on a dreamy smile, but immediately gained a red face when she realized what just happened, jumping back. Tora in the meantime was wiping his own tears. "So beautiful...Rex-Rex…"

Homura had a different expression though. She felt moved by the scene too, but she was puffing her cheeks in pure jealousy. I wish he could hug me like that.

Nia's face turned bright red once she remembered just where she was. She forced her way out of his arms and hopped back.

"D-don't get me wrong! I...I just wanted to see if this Eden thing is real.", Nia blurted out.

Rex only chuckled once, still keeping his smile. "Of course it is. You'll see."

"Ow!", Rex hissed as Homura wrapped the damp, medicine-infused bandages over his right arm wound, his coat on the dirt nearby, collar side up. On top of that rested his helmet. So too his gloves.

"Ah! I'm sorry! Is it too tight?", Homura immediately pulled her hands away, letting the last of the bandage hang.

"No, it's just fine. See? I can move just fi–shit!", he was displaying a wide array of movements until a twist of his wrist caused a sharp pain in his forearm.

She tenderly held his arm and finished the badge. "It hurts, doesn't it?"

He moved his gaze from the bandage to her red eyes. "Yea. But I'll be fine in a couple of days."

"All thanks to Nia's healing, huh?", her ears flicked at the sound of Homura uttering her name.

A groggy Nia put on a dopey smile and flashed a toothy grin and a peace sign before heading back to sleep, resting her head on Dromarch. He returned his attention to her, picking up the medical tape and beginning to wrap around her right arm.

"Alright, your turn."

"Huh?", she blinked, feeling awkward but not wanting to retract her arm since she finally had her own moment of intimacy with him. But she was still wishing it was a hug...

"I heard you scream when I got hit. You're in pain too, aren't you? Let me do this for you.", Rex replied, taking her arm as he began making the bandage go in rounds around her arm. With his bare hands. Touching her with the same tenderness she showed his cut earlier.

She took it back. This was way better than getting a hug. Like, at least ten times better.

She smiled with relaxed eyes as Rex continued to wrap the bandaging around her arm, directing her gooey gaze at Rex who was honing in on the wrapping. "Thank you, Rex."

"No worries. Least I can do.", he then finished the wrapping, pressing his fingers gently to make it stick. "How's that? Is it alright?"

She held up her arm to look at it, and smiled. "Yes. You did great, Rex.", she turned to him, then taking the initiative and scooting closer to him on the log they were seated in front of the fire. She compared her right arm with his. "They're the same, huh?"

Rex's eyes traced out the shape of her side profile face. "Yea. I guess they are."

She let out a feminine giggle, watching the wind pick up the flames from their campfire and scatter embers in the wind. "Wow...so pretty…", she awed.

"Yea…", Rex watched it too, though he was unconscious of the fact that he was actually looking at Homura when he said that. "Because you made it, Homura…"

She turned to him and gained an even bigger smile, knowing full and well what he said, when he said it, and what he did when he said it. He blushed intensely when he felt that she knew. "I...I uh...I mean…"

She giggled again, and leaned closer towards him, giving him a light peck on the cheek. "You're so sweet."

If it was even possible, his face got even redder than it already was, her right hand ghosted his cheek before pain in his wrist brought him back to reality. "Uh...I'm going to bed! Good night!", his voice cracked.

He was off to his own patch of dirt, leaving his coat behind, and laid down on the crude bedding. Homura only watched intently before giggling again. He's so cute when he's embarrassed…

"And you're sure of it?", Jin asked Metsu one more time, dusting himself off as he arrived at their base under the Cloud Sea, stepping out from the extended platform of the Monoceros.

"For the last time, yes. I'm sure of it.", he angrily spat. "Do you really not believe my eyes?!"

"I'm sure he wouldn't after you couldn't detect it the first time.", in came in a man with red glasses, short hair and blue armor.

"Shut it, Yoshitsune! This doesn't concern you!"

"Ah, but it does. Especially when you know who is involved.", he pushed on the frame of his glasses. "He and I are so much alike."

"Oh give me a break!", Metsu complained. "How the hell is he anything like you?"

"Drop it.", Jin commanded Metsu. He turned to Yoshitsune. "Give us the update."

He nodded. "As you wish. But you know...I told you so."

"So you say after everything's done!", a Blade resembling a cherubim flew down, "wings" covering her body. She flew around behind him. "It's easy to act smug when hindsight's on your side!", she teased.

"Shut up, Kamui.", the bespectacled man rolled his eyes.

"Ooh, scary!", she joked, flying around to his back and constantly wiggling from side to side.

He returned to Jin and Metsu. "Mikhail's checking out that Ardanian factory...and my dearest little sister is out hunting as usual. I'm sure she found plenty of Drivers to chew up and spit out by now."

"I doubt we could use all of those Core Crystals.", Metsu huffed.

"What about the Holy Grail?", Jin refocused the topic back on what concerned them the most.

"Of course we know where she is. Kamui.", he held up a hand and snapped it, as if cooly commanding her.

"Yessir~!"

She held out a hand and created a three dimensional map of all the major Titans in Alrest. Dots scattered everywhere, each taking on a bright yellow light and making pointilist recreations of the world's major Titans. "They're currently travelling away from the city in Gormott.", Yoshitsune pointed out on the Gormott Titan.

"Away? What the hell is out there for them?", Metsu crossed his arms and looked.

"They may be leaving. However, that's not all. We spotted a transport heading from Mor Ardain to Indol. A shipment of Core Crystals for purifying I bet.", his finger tapped a blinking, bright, white dot moving slowly on the map.

"How pious. Want us to handle this?", Metsu turned to Jin, arms crossed.

"No. I'll handle it alone. Focus on the Holy Grail.", Jin replied.

"Got it. But if I may, what about Nia?", Yoshitsune put a hand on his hip.

"Where is she?"

"See that dot?", he pointed towards a large blue orb on Gormott. "That's Dromarch. Seems they're travelling with the Aegis."

Jin took a moment to think. "Take care of her then. I don't want any loose ends."

"How cruel.", the glasses man shook his head with a coy smirk. "We got it."

"We'll take the Monoceros.", Metsu looked at Jin through his peripheral vision.

"As you wish."

A flag waved in the air.

Crest on a white background.

A warrior in golden armor with flowing cape.

Crown protrusions on his head.

He walks through meadows of green.

Waving to those he passes, they smile.

He stops and turns.

The gold turns to obsidian black.

White cape to meridian.

Protrusions into violent horns.

The place he once was torn asunder.

Rubble scattered, flames burning.

You notice he's covered in blood.

The demon is back.

Jaws slide open.

Ragged breath.

He bares his claws.

.

.

H̷͍̹͓̼̞̻͙͐̏̔́͗͒̉̓̀̾̋͆̂ǫ̷̲͍̼͙̥͇̙̾̓̄̉̌̑͗̈̐͋̕̚͝w̶̨̢̺͉̭̠̼̫̼̪̻̮͚̄̆͌͛͂̓̀͌̽͑̈͊͘͜͠͝ͅ ̴̗͙̘͓̓̋̈̅́̑͛͐͗̉̿̃͠͝m̸̪̫̦̘̀̑̓ú̸̯́͛͒̅͛́͗̐̀̕c̸͚̙͖̭̗̮͓̘͍͜͝ḧ̴̡̻̞͈̮̻̳̬͔̤͍͔̙́̅̐̒̐͊͗͌̌͆̆́̆͠ ̷̨̡͈̱̝̩͈̜̺͙͕̤̥̈͒̈́̿̓̽ͅļ̶͍͚̫̠̻̯͇̌̎̂́͗̇́͆̕ͅô̸̜̞̱̗͉̬̬̤͕̟͖̬͗̊̆̍̎̀̀̉͂̃͛͌̚͜͜͝n̵͕̲̰̠̩̜͑͝g̵̱͍̙͛̅͒̄͒͛̒͛͐̕͠ȩ̵̥̥͈̖̰͈͈̜̘̻̺̗̌̑̆̅͆̋͐͘̚͝r̴̟̰̲͚͍͖͓̈́̃̆̐̾̓̾ͅ ̵̢̛̬̞̞̖̜̤̬̲͖̰̥̩̇̎͂̔̓̐͝ţ̴̢̧̪̟̣̜̳͖͈̺̠̀͑ͅi̷͕̠̘̩̩̺͙̐̊̚l̴̨̧̢̡̤͇͔̦̖̮̻̼̳̪͒̀͋ļ̸̙̺͖̉ ̵̯̪̺̥̭̭́̌̄̉̀̈́͘y̶̧̩̠͙̥̙͔̾̀o̴̡̧̮̜͉̱̔͆͒̏̽̇̐̌͂̀̇̊͐̕͜͠ŭ̷̪̘͉̭̮̗̟͓́ ̶̢̹̙̭̭̜̰̔͝ḍ̷̼̝͍͈̜͕͇̭̠̩̓͂ͅe̷̩̬̓̑̏̀͝n̸̤̦̹̔͗̌̒̈͆͝ͅy̶͚̠̪͖̰̰̦̻͖̥̍̾̈́͊͌͐͂͌̒̅̎̚̕̚ͅ ̵̠̠͍̿͆̎̿̓̕y̴̨̨̲̠̺͎͇̙͖̗̯͆̃̏̂̀͐͜ő̵̢͇̽̍̽̀̌̏̈̃̀̒ͅǔ̸̡̥͎̙̰͇̝̮̱̬̻̥͎͉͂̂̄͂ͅr̶̨̭̫͓̽͒̀̿̐̇̿̑͜ ̸͉͎̪̺̺̳̟̤̦̠̿́͊͊͜ḣ̴̢̨̞̰̦̫̮̥̳̀̉͊̒̉̓̽͒i̷̜̺̰͕͖̪͍͚̘̐ś̷͉̘̌̓͝t̵̻̺̲̮͗ọ̵͓̼͖̦̥̫̮̳̲̜̜͛̊͛̉̉̚̚͝͝ŗ̴̨͓̜̳̻͓̮͕̙̹̃̑̎͜ỳ̴̜̤͔̯̝̀͜?̴̟̟̩̰̼̳́͒͂͑͌͌̌̚

̷̛̛̠̹̓͋̈́͐͑̆̌̏̋͝

̷̤̱̺́͒̄̇̾͊̒̿͜͝Ą̸̲̳̣͕̬͉͌̿̍̐̍̀̊͆̈́̀̇̎͘͘͝ͅn̴̻̠͇̻͕̣̣͖̲̰͙͖̰̔́̎̉̋̅̐d̸̢̙͕͚̺̪͚̙͚̪̋͑̎̇̇̏̅̾͐̕ ̵̧̘̃̂͗̈͛̄͋̓͝͠y̸̡̨̘̤͕̲̘̺͛̆͋̈́̋̀̕ŏ̵̜͖͇̊͆̔͘ù̴͚̝̗̺͖͖͍̮̥̬̪̭̺͚̐̀̀̀̍̍́͂̕̕͠͝ͅr̵̬̟̱̄̀̀̊͐̍͝ ̸͔͈̳͍̻͓̒̾̅̌͊̓d̷̙̖̪̪͍͈̠̜͓͇̃̀̚ę̸̼̫̲̙̙͌̍͛́͗̇͠s̸̭̟̗̱̙͂͆̊̇̎̌̔̋̿̈͘t̴̗͌̌͋́̄̓̈́̕i̸̩̗͙͓̒̆͒̄́͠n̴̼̯̟̙̟̯̩̮̗̱̆̿̽̓͠y̶̨̩͓̲̜͍̲̬̿̉̎̋̉͊̔͂̎̽͘͜?̶̢̡̪̘̱̙͙̗̩̀̈́̋͂̈́̀̑̅̚͠

̶̡̨͖̟̲̖̗̑̀̑̿̒̌̎͆͂̋̓̚͘͝Á̶̟̘C̶̡̝̤̞͇̼̬̦̝̈́͗͘ͅC̷̪̣̠̮̻͓͇̩̝̥̟̯̤̈ͅE̷̡̮̻͖̯͇̤̱̼̮̖̯͙͖͔̎͆̽̀̍̓̌͂̕̕͠P̴̛̠̝͕͚̼̜̝̮̫̩̔̇̀̄̈́͜͜͝Ţ̴̨̨̧̩̖̬̱̘̘̩̦͌͒̓ ̶̦̯͕͐̐̎͒̓͛̄̈́͆̉̕M̸̼̱̗̏̓͗̐̓̓̽͌͌̔͒͘̕͠ͅȨ̵͕̪̟̯͖̝̪̞̜͚͚̋̃̀̒̀̀́̒͂̕͝͠.̵̛̮̮͉͕̱̥͕̞̣͍͎́͆̂͑̾ͅ ̶̢͔͉̭͇͖̰̞̮͉̦͉͌͑́̃͋́̑́F̶̺̜̩̤̝̟͕̞̫̈͐̇̅̈́̆͌̌́͜͝͝Ǫ̴̙͔͔͓̌͛̈́͆̿͋̓͗̐̈́̏͘̕͝R̶̺̞̔̍̅͐̒ ̶̧̧͈̩͎̰̘̼͙̥̰̂͗̎̂̇ͅA̸̧̪̪̽M̷̧̤͓͖̼̺̘̻̈́̏̇͗͆̒̈́̾̾̉̚ͅ ̵̧̢̯̳̭̝͖̗̘͔̪͙̰͐̈́̽̂͊̇͜ͅI̷̛͕̙͍̲̜̼͓̤̼̝͔̞͈͔̺̒́̒̀͗̌͊́̀̍͘͝ ̸̧̨̥̭̬͔̖͍̬̣͙͙̜͌̓͌̂̆̚͝ͅY̷̢̧͍̪̜͙͓͙̞̝̭̳͐͂́͒͆̂͋̈́͋́̓́̾̕͜O̴̡͉̬̘̣͕͌̂͑̈̐̉̋̉̿͘U̵̧̹̠͚̦̺̝͂̾͗́̈̕

.

.

He lunges and tears you limb from limb.

Blood spews everywhere.

Fading…

Fading…

Rex let out a frightened yell, sweat beading his forehead as he jerked up, panting in paces unheard of. His vision was blurred from tears and another reason. He was having yet another one of his severe anxiety attacks that followed his nightmares, and both in particular were very nasty today.

He panicked as he tried to leave his "bed" in a frenzy, unaware of the body laying mere inches from his sleeping spot right next to him. A strong grab and pull of his arm only made him panic more. "L-let go! I'll never let you–"

"Rex! It's me! What's wrong?!", called out the soft voice.

"I-I won't! Never!"

Black began clouding the edges of his vision as his panic only worsened. In his eyes, a monster wouldn't let go.

Gramps was awakened too, being all too familiar with the scene. "Homura! Let him go, you're making it worse!"

"Eh?!", she immediately let go, her head whipping around from the Titan to catch Rex practically sprint off before collapsing, hugging himself on the ground. He began sobbing uncontrollably, grabbing his head as the pain returned.

"Nnngh…", the Holy Grail rubbed her temple, feeling a slight pang of it.

Azurda sighed, flying over to Rex after staying back to make sure Homura was alright. He landed in front of the mess of an adult and began to wipe his tears with his furry hands, wetting his coat. "There, there."

Homura crawled over a bit groggily to the balled up Rex, looking over him with great concern, spiced with a hint of guilt that she caused it. The little Titan turned up to her. "See, you need to let him escape first. This is how he calms down.", he let her know. "You grabbing him probably spooked him. He thought you were the monster in his nightmares trying to keep him there."

Her hands hovered over him as if he was a piece of fine china that would shatter at a feather's touch. The Blade bit her lip nervously and looked over at Azurda for approval.

"It's okay. You can help him now."

She nodded and started by rubbing his back, before moving her hand down and taking in his with hers. "You're okay, Rex. I'm here.", she whispered to him, the other hand now stroking his hair.

"I...I'm so sorry…", he choked out. "I'm...so pitiful…"

She shook her head. "No, you're not. It's my fault for scaring you like that. I just wanted to help."

Azurda smiled up at her. "Well, no harm done. You know now how to handle it for next time."

Rex finally relaxed and got himself up, turning up towards the sky to see dark clouds while Homura wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Rain coming.", he muttered out, pulling another item out of his seemingly endless amount of hidden pockets in his jacket. He opened up the device and took a look. "7 in the morning. That's a new record."

Homura blinked. "What is?"

He sniffled, wiping his dried up tears on his shirt. "Nothing. Forget about it."

"Rex…", she sighed. "Please...tell me. You gave me a scare. I have a right to know."

"About what?"

"About those...visions. That voice!"

"You mean...you hear him too?"

"What in the world are you two doing?"

The two of them froze and looked behind them simultaneously to spot a woozy, yet obviously awake Nia. Homura flushed as her hands flew back off of him. "Nothing!", she squeaked.

The cat girl rubbed her eyes. "Yea well, it didn't look like "nothing". It didn't sound like nothing either, what with the manchild over there screaming his head off."

Rex flinched backwards as if the words pushed him. "Sorry I woke you."

"Nah, you didn't. I'm an early bird. But uh…", she turned back around to see Tora still snoring rather loudly while stretching. "You might have trouble waking your little Nopon friend over there."

Oh yea, the Nopon. And his little robot girl Blade thing named Hana. He totally forgot about them amidst all that confusion and fighting. "Er...right.", he noted.

"Yea. Now if you excuse me, me and Dromarch are heading to the nearby lake to bathe.", she walked over to Dromarch. She rotated her head around her neck to sneer at Rex. "Follow me to peep and you're dead."

"Uh...how did you get soap?", Rex piqued his head as he watched Nia go down the hill. "Be safe!", he called out to her, having no reply from her. "Hope she shares it…", he mumbled.

Homura grabbed his shoulders again, this time now directly in front of him, redirecting him to their conversation that was interrupted. "Please tell me now. While we have privacy…"

"...Promise not to tell anyone?"

She nodded. Rex turned his head to Azurda. "Gramps?"

"Trust me, her word is true.", he backed her up.

Rex sighed. It was a bit hard to open up, especially considering he had only known Homura for a short while. But he figured if she could see, hear, and feel the things he does, it wasn't worth hiding it. He surmised she'd weasel her way into finding out eventually, so best to come clean now.

He sighed. "Alright...lemme give you the gist of it in case sleeping beauty over there wakes up in the middle of it…"

"My lady, Rex is putting quite a lot of trust in you right now."

"Oh for God's sake, Dromarch!", she groaned, eyes rolling as she began lathering herself in the lake with some of the prison soap she stole. "I'm not going to run off and do that to him! Not after the kindness he showed me last night."

"But I thought you said it sickened you."

"I was in a hissy, Dromarch! You know I say things I don't mean when I get emotional."

"O-oh...right. Apologies, my lady."

"Hush! You're distracting me!"

She continued to lather in silence before taking a dip in the lake again to rinse the soap off, shivering cold.

"My lady...you'll share that soap with the others, right?", he began entering the lake with her as he noticed her body shaking.

"Y-y-yes! N-now get in h-here and warm me, please!", her teeth were chattering.

"My...that's a terrible accident.", she gasped.

"Yep. Nasty thing, getting an anchor stuck in your chest. After that, I guess I found out the truth behind myself.", he finished off the story. "I still have no idea how I managed to get fake skin to hide this thing, though.", he pointed to the Core Crystal on his chest, specifically the rhombus.

"So he really is…"

"A Flesh Eater. Yes.", Azurda confirmed.

"That Paxel guy's assertion was right. I was trying to keep it a secret. That's why I nearly slipped when Gramps became...well, that.", Azurda could only cross his arms and lower his brows at Rex while he explained.

"Wow...I...d-did you eat your Driver?", she asked, still in shock.

Rex vigorously shook his head. "That's the thing. Despite everything I can't remember, I don't think I had a Driver. It...sort of feels like I never had one to begin with.", his hand ruffled his hair a little.

Blink. Blink. "But...that's impossible. You must've been a Blade at some point. You've got to have had a Driver.", she suddenly lurched towards him, Rex not reacting in any way. "How else would you be a Flesh Eater?"

The brunette shrugged. "I dunno, I guess I'll find out either way. Ever since I bonded with you, memories have been popping up left and right. Something's bound to come up...right?"

Homura backed off and rubbed her chin with her thumb as she was deep in thought. "You think that voice in your head might've been your Driver?"

"Nope. Like I said. I just have this gut instinct. It's never failed me thus far. And it's telling me that I had no Driver, and that voice isn't."

"Do you think your nightmares are about your past? Is that why you panic so hard?"

"It can't be anything else. I mean... Brighid...I saw her in my dream back in that ship. I realize that now. But I don't understand the part of her...dying, was it?"

She nodded. "I remember. It wasn't clear since I was awake and you were out cold in the battleship but...I just had this feeling. And wait...did you say she died in your dream?"

He nodded. "Yea. Don't know what that was about though."

It was then the trio picked up a yawn and the loud startup whir of Hana. Rex blew air in relief. "We finished that just in the nick of time…"

Rubbing his eyes, Tora slowly got up, Hana's eyes opening. "Good morning, Masterpon. The time is 8:03."

"Ah...just 5 more minute…", Tora mumbled before Hana hilariously shook him with great vigor.

"Masterpon, wake up! Is new day! Friends already up!"

"Aaaaah! OK, OK! Tora up, Tora up! Put Tora down before Tora throw up!", the poor Nopon screamed his head off.

Rex snorted and snickered at the sight. He could tell this would be one interesting new friend.