"So are you some kind of magician?" Ata said, slowly looking beneath him to find empty air.
"I suppose you could say that I am." Judar glanced down at Mari before continuing to look forward. The man's feet touched down atop a high dirt building and Ata jumped down, happy to feel solid ground beneath him.
"I don't suppose you know a good place for her to stay." Judar had Mari tucked in one arm, the other crossed over his chest.
"Actually, a few houses down there is a fabrics shop my mother owns." Ata pointed out into the dimly lit streets. Everything seemed smaller from above. All the people who carried small lanterns and dragged their sales carts seemed like small tiny fireflies.
"Lead the way."
Ata found himself speeding at an anxious pace, jumping down from building to building, with the occasional climbing over crates and running across the small plank that connected the market house to the Midnight Inn. Ata finally dropped down atop his roof. He clambered through the open window and toppled down on the bed.
"In here." he motioned. Judar floated through the small opening and settled Mari on the cushions. He hesitated before unwrapping her from the black cloth.
The wound didn't seem to be that bad anymore. Ata inspected it a bit before he turned away.
"She just needs to rest a bit." Judar placed a hand on her chest. A dim purple light glowed above her.
"It'll take a while and..." he hesitated again. "...then I'll be out of your way."
It was silent.
"I know you." Ata said.
"What do you mean?"
"Your the magi of the Kou Empire! Y-you're evil!"
"No! I swear...I!"
"You're hurting her aren't you?!" Ata raged.
"No...I never...!" Judar stopped, his head hanging a bit.
"I really...would never harm her." He sighed.
"Now that doesn't seem like a magi of Kou."
"It's her. She's broken me. It sucks!" He said, exasperated. "This little pest has broken the great Judar of Kou." he groaned, but he seemed satisfied with just being around her. Like Ata was. Somehow, Mari made him feel weird. In his chest and in his arms and legs and in his stomach and his brain. It was all so odd to him. He didn't like the feeling, but seeing her and being with her made up for all of that.
"You like her, don't you?" Judar said, a knowing smile rising to his lips.
"W-what do you mean?"
"Don't deny it kid."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Ata's face was burning, heart racing, body shifting.
"You feel all weird and awkward around her." Judar pointed out.
"Y-yeah, but..."
"She makes your heart beat fast?"
"Well...I"
"You're blushing for god's sake..." He pointed out, smirking.
"That doesn't mean...I" Ata's face was sure to be red, and his body was sweaty.
"Mhmmm." Judar laughed.
"How did you...?" Ata looked down at his dirty feet.
"Your Rukh is going crazy, not to mention it's pink."
This only made Ata burn even more.
"That's...not..." he mumbled.
"It's okay."
"...?"
"Honest. I felt the same way. I mean, I'm not in love with her, but, she made my heart flutter for some reason. And that hasn't happened in a while."
"What do you mean?"
"You got time for a story kid?"
"It was a while ago. I was on my normal patrol route." Judar said. Ata made a face.
"Okay. I was being mischievous as usual. But my point is, if I hadn't been, I wouldn't have met her. Anyway, I was flying back towards the Kou Empire when I saw a small tiny girl. I really don't know why I stopped for her, but I did. She was in a field of weeds which made no sense because there was a large patch of beautiful flowers nearby. I'd asked her if she was alright for some reason and she said she was, so I was about to leave, when she picked up a flower and gave it to me. I don't know why, but my heart melted. It was pooling at the bottom of my stomach for all I know. But she showed me so much kindness that I wasn't able to resist." he seemed to be in a state of complete concentration. His face was slightly red, but Ata thought it better not to mention it.
"She's completely ruined me." He leaned down over her. The dim purple light was gone and Ata watched as Judar brushed lightly at her hair.
"She'll be waking up soon. I should go."
"But don't you want to see her awake?"
"I'll see her...in time..." Judar stood and draped the black cloth over Mari.
"Just make sure she's alright." He stepped at the edge of the window.
"And don't take this the wrong way..." he leaned out. "But if you don't kiss her...I will." Ata caught a glimpse of his smirk before he disappeared from the window.
"That guy..."
"He's a handful, I'm aware. But there is good in his heart."
"MARI?!" he jumped. "You're awake?!"
"Of course silly. I've been awake this whole time."
"Then you heard...e-everything?" Ata shook nervously. His cheeks burned and his body ached.
"Quite a bit, actually." Mari sat up, still swaddled in the black cloth.
Ata slumped down. This was so embarrassing! And the worst part was she didn't seem happy about it at all. Every pat of his body was shaking, his heart wouldn't stop pounding.
"That aside I..."
"Does it bother you?"
"Huh?"
"Does it bother you that I like you?" Ata's voice shook, betraying him. His eyes downcast, tears welling up, threatening to fall.
"Ata-"
"Does it make you feel gross?" Tears dripped down his cheeks, pooling on the dirt floor.
"Ata that's not-"
"DO YOU HATE M...-!" Ata was cut off. His lips were now...occupied.
Mari had crawled off the bed and smashed her lips against his. He stood there, completely shocked. His heart pounded out of his chest, his tears still falling to the floor, but, beginning to slow. He began to kiss back slowly, his heart rate increasing. His eyes slowly fluttered shut.
He finally pulled away for air, gasping a bit. His eyes flashed, looking straight at Mari.
"Wh-why?"
"It didn't seem you would have stopped ranting like that if I didn't do something."
"You didn't have to kiss me!"
"Are you saying you didn't like it?"
"N-no..." His face was hot.
"Well, I am afraid I have to leave you at that." Mari said, standing. Ata could see the cut in her clothes were she had been stabbed and the stained blood and the slight scar that was now there.
"Wait? You're...leaving?"
"There are a few things I need to fix first." She wrapped the cloth around herself.
"So you're just going to leave after all...that?!" Ata gestured around him.
"Ata I have to make things right. My father may be worried about me, and there is a Fanalis I need to apologize to."
"What do you mean your dad may be worried about you?"
"I haven't really known him for that long. I only met him today. But there are so many people I've met, who I care about and love already. And I would hope that they would care about me too. But in all honesty, I'm afraid that they'll all reject me. I mean, I've practically dishonored everyone I've been in contact with so far."
"That's not true."
"No?"
"Nope."
"Well I'm glad you think that." Mari stepped onto the edge of the window.
"C-can't you stay a while." Ata stuttered, a bit.
"Ata...I..."
"Please. Okay, I've had real actual fun. The most fun I've ever had! I work in my mother's fabric shop for heaven's sake." Ata gestured downwards.
"Ata..."
"I have no friends. No one wants to be friends with me because my father was a drunk who went crazy." Tears began to fall again. "He left me and my mother when I was really little. I know that may not be the saddest story you've ever heard, but it's sad to me. So please..." His eyes burned.
"Please don't go...I've never had a friend before. I've never been happy before."
"I'm sure that's not true."
"Then you'll be like everyone else. You'll leave and never come back." His head felt dizzy and his body was heavy.
"No."
"No?" Ata scoffed. "I don't believe you."
"Then I'll promise..." She stepped to the edge of the window, leaning out so that she almost tipped over.
"...I promise that I'll come back. Once everything is right. And here's how I'll seal it." She leaned in and kissed him again. His face burst into flames. His tears were still streaking his face. He opened his eyes just in time to see her disappear from the window.
He scrambled over and stuck his head out.
"You better come back, okay?!" He yelled, tears falling like raindrops.
Mari giggled. All she could see was pink Rukh spilling from the window before a slight fog completely obstructing her view.