(Schu notes: My scene breaks that work over on fictionpress don't seem to work here. The solution? When you see an ellipse on its on line, that'll be a scene break. Bastards. Hopefully it'll work this time. )

Raphael and Siegfried sat close to the blazing fire that Siegfried had created under Raphael's demand. Raphael had his arms crossed over his body and was shivering.

"I got the wood," he had said, "the least you could do is start a fire."

Siegfried had thought of a million responses to the above statement, but something made him decide against it. Siegfried chuckled lightly as he saw Raphael sitting so close to the fire.

"What are you laughing at?" the man snapped.

"Nothing nothing." Siegfried said, smile apparent on his face. He decided to use sarcasm against Raphael, just this once. "Just wondering why you're sitting so close."

"I'm cold! That's why I'm sitting so close."

"It's not all that cold." Siegfried stood up and tore away the ragged piece of cloth that was on his waist. He walked to Raphael and wrapped the fabric around his shoulders. "There. I don't know if that will help anything, but it's better than nothing, especially since you're missing half your shirt."

Raphael scoffed as he pulled the cloth closer around him. "Least you could do. You destroyed it. I happened to really like these clothes!"

"I told you! I wasn't of right mind!" Siegfried was getting frustrated over the issue of the kiss.

"Oh, so now I'm not good enough for you!" Raphael rolled his eyes. "Swords do not possess people."

"Soul Edge did. It had control over me for many years." Siegfried sat back down and looked solemnly into the fire. "I got it seeking revenge. Revenge for my father's murder. When I came upon the sword, it promised me my revenge. Instead it took over my body and mind. I have no idea how many I've killed over the years, and it has been years. The sword's power was weakened four years ago. That's when I realized that the promises the sword had made were lies told to control me." Siegfried put his head in his hands. "I learned that it was me who killed my father. With that blood on my hands I'm not worthy to go home and see my mother again. The sword cost me everything, nearly my own soul. It is evil. It's not the answer for anything."

Raphael scoffed again. "Then I was correct," he said, a smirk on his face. "You were too weak for it."

Siegfried was appalled by Raphael's arrogance. "Did you even hear a word I said?"

Raphael nodded. "You didn't know how to handle it." Raphael's stomach growled. "I'm hungry. Do you have anything to eat?"

All Siegfried could think of were the many ways possible to bring physical harm to this man. Instead he simply spoke, "I've been eating souls."

"Would you drink a red or a white wine with that?" Raphael's sarcasm shone through again.

"Red. Blood red."

A smirk and a short chuckle was all that Raphael gave as a response. "Of course you would." The Frenchman shivered and pulled the cloth closer. "God, it's cold. You don't have anything warmer?"

"Does it look like I do?"

Raphael pouted. "Well do something. I'm cold!"

"Why the hell should I keep you warm?"

"Because I'm cold and you can provide a source of warmth."

"And how can I provide this source of warmth?"

"I don't know. Use your imagination!"

…

Raphael sat in Siegfried's lap, the knight's arms wrapped tightly around him. "While I'll admit that I am indeed warm," he said, with a pout on his face, "do know I'm not thrilled about this."

"Hey, you're the one who asked for it."

"Just watch where you're putting your hands…and I'm still hungry."

Siegfried growled low in his throat. "You do know that I could just squeeze right now and break you in half."

Raphael turned his head sharply to face Siegfried. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

Siegfried sighed the exasperated sigh that he'd been sighing the whole of his time with Raphael. "It means that you have to choose between warmth and food. I can't do both."

Raphael shivered lightly before saying "Warmth." He then did his best to get closer to Siegfried's body.

"So what brought you here? Why did you want the Soul Edge?" Siegfried asked of Raphael. Siegfried thought of a million selfish reasons that Raphael could have given for his wanting of the sword. Instead, he was surprised by the answer.

"I have a little girl. I want things to be better for her," the man answered, staring blankly at the fire.

"And you were going to give her Soul Edge?"

"It's much more complicated than that!" Raphael snapped.

"Well, we've got time."

Raphael sighed. "She doesn't think well of the world. She doesn't think that there's goodness in it at all. I want to make her realize there is, because she proved it to me. I want her to be happy. I needed the Soul Edge for it."

"So you're married then?"

"No."

"What happened to the mother?"

"Don't know. She's not even really mine. I just sort of adopted her." Raphael smiled in a way that was pure and genuine, entirely unlike how Siegfried had been smirking the rest of the day.

"She probably misses you." Siegfried wanted to add "I can't see how" to that statement, but figured it was probably best not to.

"I'm sure of it. I miss her very much." Raphael held close to Siegfried's arm and rested his head against his shoulder. "I'm going to attempt to sleep. If you try to kill me in my sleep, I will haunt you the rest of your life."

"Right. Good night, Raphael."

"Good night." Siegfried settled as Raphael made himself comfortable.

…

"Hey!" Raphael called from behind Siegfried. "France is the other way, not to mention the inn I'm staying at."

"I'm not going to France."

"Why aren't we going to France?" Raphael asked, jogging to catch up.

Siegfried growled, stopped and turned to face Raphael. "One, there is no 'we'. Two, I don't live in France, and three, why are you following me?"

"Because you're taking me home," Raphael answered simply.

"WHAT? When did you decide this?"

"Last night."

"I never said I'd take you home."

Raphael shrugged. "Well, I came for the Soul Edge. You destroyed the Soul Edge. You made my journey worthless. I feel that your taking me home is a fitting reimbursement. That being said, France is that way." Raphael ran his hand through his blond hair. "Well are you coming?" he asked impatiently.

"No!"

Raphael turned around and stuck his nose into the air. "Fine. I'll go on my own to get raped and killed by thieves who will steal the rest of my clothes, find my inn key, take my things and then poor little Amy will be fatherless. But that's ok. You go home, wherever that is." Raphael smirked without Siegfried seeing as he pulled the cloth Siegfried had given him the night before tighter around him and started to slowly walk in the direction he indicated. It wouldn't be long until the guilt he'd laid on Siegfried would take effect.

Siegfried watched him walk. Fine, he thought to himself, good riddance. As he went to continue on his own way he couldn't help but look over his shoulder to make sure Raphael was still all right. He watched as the Frenchman continued on without a word. He then thought a little more. He really didn't have a home to return to. He didn't deserve to return home to his mother, and he really didn't have any friends anymore to speak of. What else did he have to do, really? "Damn it," he cursed himself as he went to follow Raphael.