Manwein woke up in his chair facing the fire. He had fallen asleep in his depression and now he felt like an ass for being so forward with Kasumi. 'She has been gone a long time,' he thought staring at the door she had slammed after he had made advances on her. 'I hope she's okay,' he thought scorning himself once again for what he had done.

He sat for some time wondering if Kasumi would ever come back, his thoughts brought him to look at the door where he saw Kasumi's bow and quiver propped against the wall.

'She would never leave her weapons,' he assured himself, 'She'll come back. But what will I say to her? I know I must apologize, but how?'

Manwein debated on this subject for quite some time until his sharp elfin ears picked up a thump from outside. He stood up in surprise and walked cautiously to the door. He slowly opened the door and peered outside, there was nothing. Manwein began to close the door when his eyes caught sight of a boot on the ground.

"What the.....," Manwein whispered aloud as he swung open the door. "Kasumi!"

Manwein was shocked to see Kasumi's limp body lying outside his door badly wounded on her leg and stomach. He rushed to her side and gently picked her up, he sighed when he found that her body was not cold. He rushed her into the willow and up to her room.

"Kasumi," he whispered in her ear repeatedly hoping for an answer, but there was nothing. He ran down to his pantry to retrieve some herbs and flowers and threw them into a pot of hot water. When he finished the tea he poured into a cup and brought it up to Kasumi. She was still unconscious so he tilted her head up and poured in the warm tea. He gave her more tea on an hourly basis, but there was still no sign of Kasumi waking up.

* a day later *

Kasumi awoke with a groan and rubbed her eyes. She was amazed to find that she was in her room in Manwein's dwelling. She laid there trying to recall exactly what had befallen her the day before. She tried to sit up but fell back into bed as a sharp pain surged through her side. Her hand came down to clutch the wound and she found that it was tightly bandaged, but the rest of her body was bare. She brought her hand under the covers and rubbed her injured leg, it too was expertly wrapped.

She sat up and wrapped the sheets around her body and took a look around. According to the light flowing in through the window Kasumi reckoned that it was late into the morning.

"Oh you're up," Manwein said cheerfully as he walked into the room with another cup of tea, "I was worried that you would never get up."

"How long was I unconscious?" Kasumi asked propping her weak body against the bed post and wrapping the covers tighter around herself.

"A little more than a day," Manwein said walking over to place the cup of tea on to the bedside cabinet.

"Thank you for taking care of me," Kasumi said looking up at Manwein.

"It was no burden. Of course I would help you," Manwein said coming to sit on the side of her bed. "Sorry about.....you know."

"It's okay," Kasumi said putting her hand on his shoulder. "You didn't know."

"Well, get some rest," Manwein told her as he got up, "You're still very weak. Drink that tea then go to sleep."

Kasumi frowned, "I feel fine," she complained.

Manwein smiled, and laughed, "Don't fool yourself, you know how bad you are injured, if only mortally."


Kasumi watched as Manwein headed for the door. "Manwein, I have one more question....."

Manwein turned around to look at her, "What is it?"

"Who undressed me?"

Manwein smirked and Kasumi frowned.

"Whoever your lover is, he must find himself very lucky," Manwein said slyly.

"We never did 'that'," Kasumi said calmly.

"Well he doesn't know what he's missing," Manwein said chuckling as he watched Kasumi grimace.

"I only told him what I felt right before I left."

"Oh," Manwein said beginning to understand. "Who is he anyway?"

"I'll tell you some day, though you probably know him," Kasumi said slyly. She giggled as she watched Manwein pout.

After he left the room she drank the tea and went to 'sleep'.

***************************************************************************************************

This chapters not so long. Mostly conversation. Thanks for all the reviews so far, keep 'em coming.

Dear Sommer is this better? Well for any questions, suggestions, etc. email me at Chichikat90@aol.com.

Thanks and review, review, review. And for Spacellamaprincess the answer to your question (Which Valier sent Cutheniel?) will come up in later chapters but if you really want to know I'll email it to you if you review and ask me to. Just in case anyone else wants to keep it a surprise until I post that certain chapter.