A/N: Thank you guys for the nice reviews. I know assassin/priest pairing is too common these days, but I personally have an obsession with male assassins. I swear they're so hot! Um… anyways! Hopefully this won't be your average fic. I'll try to keep this interesting. I'm sorry this chapter took so long to write. I had midterms to study for .
Chapter 2
By the time they arrived at the castle, it was well past midnight. The dim flame flickering from the rows of torches lit up the entrance. A large impatient figure stood by the main hall, waiting. He frowned in irritation, shifting his weight from one foot to another.
"You're late," he stated in exasperation. Late was more than an understatement. "Faya wants to see you." He said to Ryo, with a hint of jealousy inside his voice. "She told me to send you straight to her chamber when you come back."
The assassin nodded in acknowledgement, pulling Kyra into tighter embrace at the mention of Faya's name. It was common knowledge that the Guild Mistress favoured the silver haired man. And it was also well known throughout the guild that the huntress gets what she wants. The priestess wouldn't dare to criticize the Guild Mistress's behaviors, but there were times when even she couldn't hold her emotions in check.
Kyra glanced up, searching for any emotion that would give away Ryo's feelings toward this situation, but there were none at all. She gently pulled herself away from his embrace, moving toward the direction of her bedroom. "I'm going to change," her voice echoed softly, "I will be there as soon as I get into a pair of clean clothes."
He grabbed onto her wrist, making her turn around in surprise. "It's going to be all right." He told her gently, catching her hopeless gaze only moments before.
She nodded, making her way down the hall, which led to the living quarters of the guild's female members.
"So?" the knight inquired, his voice full of amusement, "Are you coming?"
The assassin grunted in reply, following him closely behind. They made their way up the stairs to the second floor, where Faya kept her office and her chamber.
"Why do you look so grave?" he inquired curiously, surprised by the assassin's dreaded movements, "Faya might be angry at your tardiness, but you practically get away with everything. I don't see why you are so stressed over this. "
"You don't understand…" he told the blonde in a low tone, "If I don't do this right, somebody will die."
The knight's eyes widened slightly, but he shrugged it off. Ryo was always a little different from the rest of the people in the guild. There's probably nothing to worry about. "Just take it easy, man." He put a hand on his shoulder, before turning the other way. "Good luck in there." I'll never understand what the beautiful huntress sees in him…
A soft knock was heard from the oak door. Natural instinct told her to lift up her head from the piles of paper scattered around her desk to inspect the entrance.
Must be Ryo…
Her eyes shifted over to the tall grandfather clock to the left.
1:14. That was late, even for him.
A soft sigh escaped her lips, "come in." She said loudly.
The assassin entered the room silently, closing the door behind him. "You wanted to see me?" he spoke distantly, eyes full of unsuppressed emotions. She saw a flicker of anger within his dark orbs, before they returned to their normal blank state.
Anger… was it directed at me? She found herself wondering.
"Oh yes," she replied, after realizing he still expected an answer, "I was just going to ask your plans for tomorrow."
His eyes darkened momentarily, a flash of emotions Faya couldn't distinguish filled his blue orbs.
"We're leaving at noon," he replied hesitantly, an internal battle raging inside. Should he let go of his pride for the sake of Kyra's safety? "I need a favor, Faya…" His mind was made.
"Oh?" she raised a brow in question. Last time he asked for one, she had to break the alliance with the Fallen Angels to ally Divine. "I can't promise anything, but tell me what you want, and I'll see." The huntress knew she could deny him of nothing, yet she felt the need to say that for the sake of her pride.
"Keep Kyra here. Forbid her from coming with me."
There it is again…Faya finally understood what that emotion she saw only moments before was. It was fear… Ryo was actually afraid!
Is Kyra the only one that can make him feel anything at all?
"If she wants to go with you, my words will do no good," Faya retorted sourly, not even trying to hide the jealousy inside her voice.
"Is that a no then?"
Faya is the kind of a person, who knows what she wants and how to get it… but when it comes to Ryo, she's as clueless as ever.
"Why?" she stared at him in defeat, "why her?"
"… Please don't do this…this isn't the time…" The assassin pleaded. He already had Kyra and Leika to worry about. He didn't need Faya in the mix as well.
"So you're going to avoid this subject forever?" she demanded, her eyes lit up in anger, enraged by his insensitivity.
"I never meant for any of this to happen." He told her in desperation, "I didn't ask for you and Leika to feel that way about me, and I sure the hell didn't plan to meet Kyra. I can't change anything that happened, or how anybody else feels. I'm trying to do the best I can to deal with all this. But sometimes, I don't know what the right thing to do is."
She smiled bitterly, her rage still vivid inside her hazel orbs. "If you had your ways, you probably wish you never met me at all. Things would have been a lot easier for you if you hadn't."
"Even if that's true, I refuse to regret anything I've done in the past. God knows I might live longer being optimistic." He cracked a smile to prove his point.
This was exactly what she loved about him. No matter how bad things got… he was always… she trailed off. Ryo wasn't always likes this. He was once cold, distant… perhaps even emotionless. Maybe… just maybe, Kyra did change him for the better.
She shook that thought away. He isn't meant to be with her. He belongs with me…Time healed him… it had nothing to do with that priestess.
"Fay, I promise we'll talk about this when I get back. Not now, please. After I fix things with Leika, I'll make things up to you." The last thing Ryo ever wanted was a girlfriend. Ironically enough, he had 3 beautiful women after him. It was any other man's dream, but his personal nightmare.
"Fine," she replied, knowing that was the best offer she could get out of him, "I'll consider who I will allow to go with you. But keep in mind, the guild is my top priority."
For the second time that night, Faya found herself staring at the doorway. Someone was knocking on her door- Kyra.
"Come in," she called out in an even tone, trying to keep herself together. I can't let her know I'm jealous… I refuse to show my weakness to my opponent. It will jeopardize my position in the guild.
"What brought you here, Kyra?" she inquired politely, with a hint of superiority inside her voice. She knew perfectly well why the priestess was here. It was such a pity that she enjoyed tormenting her. Kyra was afraid of the Guild Mistress, Faya knew that well enough.
The priestess didn't reply. Her gaze was directed at the thick crimson carpet below her feet, as if it would give her an answer.
"Well?" The huntress demanded, enjoying this greatly. She was making the younger woman uncomfortable.
"Stop it Fay, you know why she's here. Just give her an answer." Ryo's eyebrow twitched in anger. She was going too far, even for her.
"Don't you dare tell me what to do Ryoku," There was no way Faya would lose face in front of the priestess. "Last time I checked, I was still the leader of this guild."
Faya can be so stubborn at times…Ryo thought to himself in irritation. He knew better than to feel threatened by her. What would she do? Kick him out of the guild? He laughed mentally at that though. Yeah right, like she'll ever do that.
Then a sudden thought struck. What if she grants Kyra's request to spite me…?
"Please let me go with Ryo tomorrow," said the priestess with a hint of desperation, "I believe it's in the guild's best interest to have at least 2 priests along. It will be a party of 7. Dento is talented at supporting, but I do think another should go with him to attend to any wounded, if there is any."
"If I permit you to go, then there will only be 3 priests attending to the 23 members who will be here in the castle." Faya pointed out in full honestly, "I need as many healers here as possible. Our relation with Exile has worsened. I'm certain they will lunge an attack on us within the next few days. They want this castle, I'm sure of it."
I may hate you, Kyra… but I don't lie. This guild is the most important thing to me. I refuse to do anything to jeopardize it. "I can't let you go with him. I need you here to help defend this castle." She spoke after careful consideration.
As much as I hate saying this… I really do need her. We've been so short on priests since Leika left. I can barely spare Dento… but Ryo needs someone there.
"Then I'll switch places with Dento." Kyra declared to Faya's amazement.
I never thought she'd go as far as to… "What makes you think you're more capable than him?"
Kyra blushed. "I don't think I'm better than him… It's just…" She trailed off. I can't tell her I don't trust any other priest supporting Ryo... "I have been a priest for a longer period of time. I have more experience handling emergencies."
"Is that so…" she turned to Ryo with a spiteful look. He knew exactly what she was thinking. Should I do what you bid me…? Or let her go for my own amusement…
The silver haired man clenched his fist in anger. "You want to know why I've never loved you, Faya?"
The priestess and the huntress turned to him in surprise. Just what exactly was he thinking?
