"It is nothing, really… nothing of importance…", she answered, still decided not to share her emotions with anybody than  her own self.

Though his rational self told him to leave his friend by herself like she wanted him to, Ryu's emotions brought a question to his mind.

"It's about Mina, isn't it?" 

Yet it was more a statement than a question.

Nina's head sunk even more, and as her shoulders started to shake, Ryu wanted nothing but comfort her.

Yet he did not have the courage to do so.

"It…", the young woman started with a quivering voice, "it all went wrong… I didn't want it to happen that way…She was far too young to give her life away that easily…"

Though it seemed nearly impossible, the Windian princess still contained the tears that threatened to break free, to destroy all barriers.

Ryu gently placed a hand on her shoulder, an action which made Nina look up at him, a haunted expression showing on her face.

"You know it was her own free will", Ryu started soothingly "She loved you too much to let you give your life away. And since she did so, she sacrificed herself."

Still Nina did not seem persuaded.

"I think she is happy now. She is happy as long as you acknowledge her sacrifice. She surely does not want to see you cry over her."

Nina turned around to him, surprised that such tender words had just crossed the lips of the strongest man she had ever known.

A single tear escaped the princess' eye and slowly made its way down her cheek, until it was suddenly interrupted by a long, strong index finger.

Ryu, gently smiling at Nina, was wiping the tear away.

She showed a small, half smile, turning red in embarrassment of the circumstances.

"I told her I would not cry before everything was over…" she said, as if trying to find an excuse for her emotional breakdown, hiding her face in her hands.

Ryu, still smiling at her, took her tiny hands from her face and placed them gently in her lap.

"She would not have any objection to see you caring for her…"

Looking up, her eyes slightly red from crying, she smiled back at him, grateful for the consolation he was giving her.

Starting to sob again, she threw herself into his arms and silently cried into his chest.

Ryu gladly embraced her slender figure, ready to help his friend as much as he could.

Yet after a couple of minutes, the sobbing quieted until it completely  died down.

She fallen had asleep in his arms.

Yet once again this evening, Ryu smiled down at the young Windian princess, brushing a strand of blond hair out of her beautiful face.

Carefully as if she was made out of most precious china that would break at even the softest tune, he took Nina into his arms, and, carrying her like a sleeping child, walked over to their home.

Chapter 3

"Morning, Nina", Katt waved at her friend, smiling, as she took a really big bite of the salami she held in her hand.

The Windian smiled at her woren companion, nodding.

Quietly, she got herself a handful of fruits they had found in a nearby forest and sat down at the table, joining the cat-girl. Absent minded, she pealed the fruits without paying attention, obviously in deep thought about something important.

Slightly frowning, Katt glanced over at Nina.

"Hey, Nina, what you thinkin' about?" she asked, while chewing on another bite of meat.

No answer.

As if nothing had happened, Nina just went on pealing her fruits slowly, turning them around in her hands, an empty look in her eyes.

"Hello-ho!" the woren tried again, getting up from her chair, waving her hand before her friend's face. "You still with us?"

Finally, she seemed to have aroused Nina's attention, for she finally looked up, a confused look on her face.

"Pardon?"