A few months went by, and Laina could feel her happiness growing while her fear was fading. Matt had come to visit a few times. She could tell he really liked Ryo. He told her to stick with him. It didn't help that Matt had also loved Ryo's soccer skills and would play soccer with them every time he came. There was even one time he brought a poster with him and asked Ryo to sign it for him. They still had weekly visits from Shin and Seiji, who now brought Anna and Mason along every time. Shu would come by occasionally and there were a few times they watched Shu's clan for him so he and Akane could be alone.

Laina enjoyed this domestic life, but she could tell Ryo's blindness still bothered him. He started having nightmares and his mood became worse again. He continued to train her, only he seemed to be more demanding. Making her do the move over and over until it was exactly right. She could tell he was pushing her, and she had definitely gained muscle.

After a training session, Laina gulped down her water and looked at Ryo, who stood on the back porch looking pensive.

"What's wrong? You've been training me harder than normal this week. Is there something going on? Also, you stare off like something's going to jump out at us any minute now," Laina said, "What are you so worried about?"

Ryo sighed, "The nightmares… they're back, which means they are coming back. It's usually an omen. I'm worried because I don't have my sight, and then there's you and Wyatt. He's got to have healed up by now. I can't leave knowing you are in danger again."

Ryo shut his eyes tight, his jaw clenched as he ran his fingers through his wild black hair.

"Don't worry about Wyatt. If he does come back, I think I can handle him now. You taught me how to dodge a knife, and where to hit," Laina said, "But who is the "they" that you're talking about?"

"The "they" is Queen Mardina and her goons," Ryo said turning to her and putting his hands on her shoulders, "What I'm about to tell you is a secret, but not really. Most people just forget about the battles when they are done. Usually just those close to us remember. I'm a Ronin Warrior."

"What's that?" Laina asked, she could tell he was serious.

"I have mystical armor that helps me fight off these seriously bad people who also have mystical armor. We've been able to keep them at bay, but I don't know if I will this time. Last time I had my sight," Ryo replied, "Last time they took Anna, too. Touma's been worried they will take you or Akane, or even Mia. I'll have to leave to fight them and I could be gone for months. What if they come for you while I'm gone? Or what if Wyatt comes while I'm gone? Touma's been looking for these dragon warriors. They are supposed to have a healing ability that might get me my sight back, but he hasn't found much information on them yet. I really should be at Touma and Mia's training, but I don't want to leave you, and I don't want you to come in case they take you."

"Well, that is a conundrum. Maybe I should go. I promise to stick by you guys so I can be safe," Laina said, "Also, I'm supposed to be with you to help you out. It's my job."

Ryo chuckled, "That's true…"

Ryo turned to the forest and White Blaze let out a growl. Laina looked up as a handsome male model came out wearing black slacks and a tan trench coat with a white turtleneck underneath. His blonde hair was wavy and hung down past his shoulders. He watched them with eyes so dark they looked black.

"Who are you?" Ryo asked stepping down from the porch.

"My name is Dracu. I hear you lost your vision," the man said staying by the trees.

"Laina, what does he look like," Ryo whispered, "He doesn't have black hair and purple eyes, right?"

"No, he has blonde hair and black eyes," she whispered back, "And he's wearing slacks and a trench coat."

"Are you a dragon warrior?" Ryo asked the man.

The man nodded his head, but Laina was getting a bad feeling. She reached out and took Ryo's hand. Dracu's eyes narrowed on her.

"I am a dragon warrior," he said, "I can help you. I know that Queen Mardina is coming soon, and you will need help."

Ryo smiled, squeezing Laina's hand.

"That's fantastic," Ryo replied, "Thanks!"

"Ryo, I don't know about this," Laina whispered, "Maybe we should ask the other guys what they think."

"We need to get to work right away," Dracu said, glaring at Laina from the side, "If you want your sight in time, we need to go now. It will take time to get the right ingredients."

"We need to get ingredients?" Ryo asked.

"Yes, if you want me to make the serum you have to come with me to get the ingredients. We'll make it up right away and get you fixed up before the fight," Dracu replied, giving them a slight smile.

"Okay, Laina, do you think you can be ready to go in five minutes?" Ryo asked.

"Maybe we should pick her up before we meet up with the others. It's too dangerous for a human girl to join us," Draco said, crossing his arms, "I wouldn't want her getting hurt, and it may take a few days to gather everything. There's no sense making her sleep out on the ground somewhere when she doesn't have to."

"Yeah, you're probably right, Dracu," Ryo replied scratching his head.

"Ryo, I don't know-,"Laina started.

"I'll be fine. White Blaze, I want you to protect Laina," Ryo said touching the tigers head, "I need you to keep her safe."

White Blaze growled and Laina watched apprehensively as Ryo walked toward the male model. Laina's chest tightened and she worried that this may be the last time she saw him. If it was the last time, he needed to know that she loved him.

"Ryo, I love you!" Laina called, "Please, be safe! Do you hear me, Ryo? I love you!"

Ryo turned back around and swept her up in his embrace, swinging her around as he kissed her passionately.

"I love you, too. I swear, I'm going to keep you safe. I just need to get my sight taken care of first," Ryo said, touching her face and then he took off toward the blonde man. Laina watched them go and then she sat on the porch. Ryo knew what he was doing, right? White Blaze nudged her with her big head and Laina wrapped her arms around the large white tiger.

"Is he going to be all right?" Laina asked. The tiger growled and Laina sat petting her for a moment before she remembered she needed to call the guys. Pulling out her phone she went to her contacts. She pulled up Shin's number and called it. Listening to it ring she wondered if he was busy. When the answering machine picked up, she left a message for him to call her and moved down the line. She called all of them, Seiji, Shu, and Touma. No one answered. What was going on? Laina chewed her lip with worry and paced along the back porch. A chill ran up her spine and she suddenly grew weary.

"Let's get inside, girl," Laina said opening the door and waiting for White Blaze to go inside. She made sure everything was shut and locked tight. Her heart raced with a nervous anticipation as she waited for anyone to call her back. It grew late and she went to Ryo's big empty bed. She grabbed the blanket she had put on her side and curled up underneath it with her cell in her hand incase anyone called. She lay awake for a long time before her eyelids grew heavy enough for her to sleep.

When she woke her eyes felt grainy, she looked at her phone and still no one had called her back. She tried calling Shin again and was surprised when he picked up.

"Hullo," he mumbled. Laina looked at the time, it wasn't too early.

"Hi, Shin?" Laina asked.

"Yup," he mumbled, "What's going on Laina?"

"Did I wake you up? I'm sorry," Laina said.

"Nah, don't worry about it. Are you guys on your way out here? Seiji's here, and Shu is, too. They left Anna and Akane at home this time because Akane's sick and Anna's expecting, you know?" Shin said and then he gave a big yawn.

"Oh, yeah, I get it. We're not on our way out yet. We were going to come out but, well, this guy showed up," Laina said.

"What did he look like?" Shin asked, "Did he have black hair and purple eyes?"

"No, Ryo asked the same thing… No, he had blonde hair and like black eyes. Pitch black," Laina replied.

"Huh… nope, we haven't seen him yet," Shin said.

"Ryo went somewhere with him. Shin, I'm worried," Laina said, frowning.

"Why? Did he say why?" Shin asked.

"The man, he said his name was Dracu, he told Ryo he could get him his sight back," Laina replied, her brows furrowing.

"He did? But you seem like you didn't believe him?" Shin asked.

"I don't. Something's not right. I can't put my finger on it, but I'm really nervous," Laina said.

"Don't worry about it. We'll look into it and find him for you. Then we'll swing by and get you, okay?" Shin's cheery voice comforted her and she found herself nodding.

"Okay, I'll talk to you soon then," Laina said before she hung up. She felt a little better after talking to Shin. That nagging feeling was still bothering her. She went about her normal routine making sure the place was spotless. As she sat in the early afternoon sun, staring out at the forest where Ryo went, her phone rang again.

"Hey, Laina. What's going on with Ryo? Shin says someone came for him," Touma asked.

"Yes, a man with blonde hair and black eyes," Laina replied, "They are supposed to be back to get me tomorrow, but I have the feeling they won't be back. I don't know how to describe it, it's just a nagging feeling that something isn't right."

"Did the guy say that he was a dragon warrior?" Touma asked.

"Yes, he did… wait… Ryo asked him if he was a dragon warrior and he said yes," Laina replied.

"Ryo asked? Hmmm…. So, it could be that the guy lied," Touma whispered.

"Yes, and I think he lied," Laina replied, "He told Ryo that I shouldn't come because they were going to be out in the woods, getting supplies for some serum."

"Okay, thanks, don't worry, we'll take care of it. We'll find him and I'll let you know when we do," Touma said before hanging up.

"Thank you," Laina replied, "I trust you. I know you'll help."

Oddly enough she did. In a matter of months, Ryo and all his friends had earned her trust. They looked out for each other and it showed. She knew just by cleaning his house and seeing the pictures that adorned his walls, that they had the kind of friendship that was more like a brotherhood.

"What about you? Will you be okay on your own for a bit?" Touma asked, "I'd assume that ex of yours has healed up by now. He could be back. Is White Blaze still with you?"

"Ryo's been training me. I think I'll be fine if he does show up, but White Blaze is here. Ryo asked her to stay by me and protect me. She's doing a good job," Laina replied. In a way she was glad that he had remembered, and checked up to make sure she was safe. Laina found herself smiling.