The festival has ended and the kingdom of Fanelia has returned to it's normal routine. Cosima has taken a room at a nearby tavern. She is worried about her friend, but the spirit tells her to wait.
There is a knock at the door of her room. She cautiously answers it, to find the cat girl Merle.
"Come in, it's Merle isn't it? "
"Yes, I need to talk to you. I don't know why, but I get this familiar feeling around you and I need help."
"It's about Cherry Blossom isn't it? Her has her I know it. Is she all right?"
"He has her. He's locked her away; talks about her as if she's Hitomi, his love, come back from the dead. It's not like him, I'm afraid he is going insane. I have known Lord Van all my life, this is not him. He is gentle and kind."
Cosima can see the love this cat feels for her friend. It takes special people to earn that kind of friendship. She can hear the spirit whispering to her again. 'Tell her you need her help, it is almost time to save them, as soon as the other arrives.'
"Merle, will you help me save both my friend and your Lord Van?"
"Yes, but what can the two of us do. Van won't listen to me anymore, he grows more and more distant everyday."
"I told you I am a Spirit Seeker, I know now that this is the quest I have been sent on with the spirit I have bonded with. What I didn't tell you at the festival is that there is a spirit influencing your Lord. It is a very dangerous and evil one. It drives him to the edge of insanity. You must be very careful, Merle, if it finds you plotting with me, I don't know what might happen."
"I'm not scared of a spirit, I will do anything to help"
"Yes I know you will, my spirit knows this and has told me. Come here in two days time. The other that my spirit waits for will be here."
Merle leaves, she feels better knowing that soon they will act.
Cosima leans against the door. She has felt more from her spirit than she can understand. Love, loss and impatience. He tells her to wait, but can hardly do so himself. Now he senses her probing him, trying to find out more than her is willing to reveal. He starts to caress her mind, to draw her away from finding out too much to soon. To be loved in this was by a spirit, is to the seeker a feeling beyond words. Soon Cosima gives into the feelings, to be held in arms that she can feel, but not see. Most spirits do not bond to this degree. She lies down and sleeps, in her dreams the spirit is now her lover, full of passion and tenderness. Her parents had both bonded with spirits of their own sex, she most definitely has not.