A/n: Hey guys! Sorry that I kept you waiting. Anyways, thanks again for all your reviews. Here's chapter 5.

A War of Two Hearts

Chapter Five: Unexpected Feelings

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Sora didn't move for a second. Instead she continued to stare at the stranger in front of her. There he stood, in old and ragged clothes, holding the heavy bucket of water that she had almost dropped. Even though she couldn't see the man's face, she knew very well that he was of young age just by the sound of his voice.

"Thank you." Sora finally said after breaking out of her own trance.

"Not a problem." Tai replied back. He then looked around. "So, where do you want me to put this?"

Elsa spoke. "Oh, you could just leave that in the dining room dear." She pointed to a small room on her right. Tai did what he was told and carried the bucket into the dining room.

As soon as Tai left, Lionel walked over to where Sora stood. "Well, the man sure has excellent manners. That's very generous of him to help. Oh, Sora. In case you're wondering, Tai will be our guest for the rest of the night."

"You mean he's going to spend the whole night here?" Sora asked.

"Yes. So once he returns, could you show him to the guest room?"

"Of course...but don't you think - " Sora was cut off the moment Tai came in.

"All done sir. If you don't mind, I'm a little exhausted from my journey and I wish to rest my eyes now."

"Ah Tai, don't worry. Sora will show you to your room." Lionel turned towards the young girl. "I'm sure you and Sora already met. And remember, if you need anything just ask."

Tai nodded. "Will do sir."

"Have a good night." Elsa said as she and her husband headed over to the dining room.

After the two left, Sora looked back at the man. "All right sir, follow me and I'll show you to your room." She walked towards the small hallway with Tai right behind her. Somehow, Sora didn't feel safe around him. After all, he is a stranger. She sighed. 'I don't know why I can't seem to trust this man. Hmph...maybe it's the giant cloak he's wearing.'

She stopped and opened the door that led to Tai's room. It was a small, dark room with nothing but a small dresser and a bed at the far corner. There weren't any windows, and the only light was the one coming from the hallway. After getting a glimpse, Tai entered the room and placed his bag on the floor.

Sora entered the room after him. "This will be your room for the night. I know it doesn't fit to your liking, but I'm sure it'll do. I'll just go grab some blankets and light a candle for you. I'll be right back."

Once she left the room, Tai walked over to the small bed and sat there alone with his thoughts. 'Damn. Acting all friendly and compassionate is killing me! But now's my chance to do this right. All I have to do is kill the girl and it's over.' He snickered. 'She doesn't even know who I am...or why I am here in the first place.'

Tai broke out of his evil thoughts when he saw Sora entering the room with a couple of blankets and a lit candle in hand. She headed over to the dresser, next to the bed, where she placed the candle and handed the blankets over to Tai.

"It'll be cold tonight, especially in here." She said before heading towards the door. She stopped and faced him when he spoke.

"Thank you. You've been a great help Sora."

"You're very welcome." She said looking over his old, ripped up clothing. "Um, would you like some new clothes sir? I don't know if you want to sleep in those."

"No, I'm fine with what I'm wearing and please...just call me Tai." He smiled.

"Oh...okay, Tai. Well, um...I hope you enjoy your stay here. Good night." Sora said closing his door.

"Good night, Sora." Tai said so softly. He didn't realize he actually said that out loud. 'Err, what am I doing? Am I falling for her again? No! I can't...not this time.' He fell onto his bed, groaning. 'Maybe this isn't going to be easy as I thought.'

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Sora sat quietly at the dinner table, while Lionel and Elsa were having one of those long conversations that they always have. She stared at the bowl of soup in front of her. Sora didn't seem all that hungry. Her mind was so full. She kept thinking about that stranger. Elsa began to notice her behavior and started to worry.

"What's wrong Sora?" Sora looked up at Elsa. "Is there something bothering you?"

Sora knew that she should just tell them what she was feeling. "Yes, there is."

"What is it dear?" She asked.

"Um, it's about our guest." Sora said looking down at her soup.

"What about him?" Lionel asked.

"I was just thinking. Was it a good idea to actually invite over a complete stranger to stay for the night? I mean...is it safe?"

After a while of silence, Elsa spoke. "Well dear, it's always been our duty to help anyone in need. You were a complete stranger to us you know and we still took you in."

"I know. It's just that, it's odd for someone who wants to conceal himself. What if he's dangerous?" Sora had to admit she was a little afraid of this stranger. Ever since that terrible day, she couldn't seem to trust anyone anymore especially someone who looks suspicious.

"Look, Sora. Tai may be a little strange, but that doesn't mean he's dangerous. He's just a traveler in town. All he wants is a place to stay for the night." Lionel said.

"Yeah, but we still know nothing about him other than his name. For all we know, he could have a knife in his pocket."

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Tai sat on his bed holding a small, but deadly dagger in his hands. It was a small weapon, but it took so many lives. Tai remembered when he had received it as a gift from his uncle. He was still young then, but Tai knew he destined to kill. His uncle once told him 'You must train day and night, Tai...One day you will become unbeatable in combat.'

There was a knock at the door. Tai quickly hid the dagger under his pillow and pulled his hood over concealing his face yet again.

"Come in."

Sora opened the door and poked her head in. "Sorry, if I'm disturbing you, but I brought you something to eat." She held a platter filled with a piece of bread and a hot bowl of soup.

Tai immediately stood up. "Oh, no you're not disturbing me at all. Please come in."

After he said that, he quickly sat back down. He slid his hand beneathe the pillow and gripped the dagger tightly, waithing for his prey to approach. Sora slowly entered the room and walked over to where Tai was. She left the dish on top of the dressser and faced him.

"I thought you'd be hungry since you didn't eat dinner with us." She said in a sincere voice.

Tai couldn't help but gape at her. She was even more beautiful in the candle light. He released his grip on the weapon and stood up, wanting to be near her. They stood closely to each other waiting for the other to move. Tai hadn't realized that his breathing became faster. The girl was making him nervous. Even his legs began to move on their own. He walked a little closer to her, thankful that she didn't back away.

Sora was nervous as well. She didn't even know him and yet he seemed to captivate her. She came in here to tell him something important but forgot what to say. She decided to just blurt it out. "I wanted to apologize."

Tai looked at her in question. "Apologize for what?" He whispered.

"For my behavior towards you." She sighed deeply. "I've been treating you like a criminal this whole time and I had no right to. I'm sorry." She bowed her head in shame.

Tai lifted his eyebrows. "What made you think that I was a criminal?"

"I guess it's because I thought you were hiding something. Why don't you show your face?" Sora asked waiting for an answer.

Tai took in a deep breath. "Because."

"Why?" She asked, this time wanting a more appropriate answer.

"Because if I show you...you'll be afraid." He replied in a montone. Sora looked at him as if he was crazy. "You're just going to have to trust me."

"I can't seem to trust anymore." Sora looked down after she said that.

'Great. Now I made her upset.' Tai thought.

Sora began to speak. "Um...if you need anything, I'll be next door." She turned towards the doorway and started to walk when Tai grabbed her arm. She looked at him.

"Look, I'm sorry I've been acting a little strange to you. How about we talk and get to know each other a little more? That way, you won't feel scared around me." Tai said pleadingly.

Sora gave in. "I guess we could do that."

"All right then." Tai walked over to the door and closed it. "So where do we begin?"

She sat at the far end of the bed. Tai sat by her as well. "I don't know."

"Do you mind if I ask you something?" Tai asked.

"What do you want to ask me?"

"Are you happy living here?"

"Uh..." Sora pondered on the question. "Yeah I'm happy living here. Lionel and Elsa have been wonderful people to me and I'm thankful for that. It's just that...I miss my family."

"So...what happened to your parents?" Tai asked already knowing the answer. Sora looked at him. "I just wanted to know."

"They were killed." She simply said. "Murdered."

It was silent between them until Tai decided to speak.

"Have you heard anything about what happened at the Ardin Kingdom lately?"

Sora immediately looked at him. "Why?" She asked curious of where the conversation will lead to.

"I'm a traveler and I happened to be there during the massacre. I was able to escape from there." Tai lied. "It was a horrible sight."

"Yeah, I saw it. I was there too. My family and I lived there." Sora said.

"So, you survived the whole thing?"

Sora nodded. "I never saw my parents or my brother again." She sniffled. "He was the best brother I could ever ask for. He was always there for me, protecting me from any danger. Now I know that he's been killed trying to save me from this horrible man. I...I really miss him."

Tai felt guilty for doing this to her. He didn't realized he had caused so much pain. He still remembered that day when he slaughtered every one of them, including her brother. He felt so many emotions running through him, emotions he never felt before. Why does he feel this?

"Will you ever forget all this?"

"I don't know. But I know that that insensitive, heartless general is to blame for it! He's a monster! He has no feelings whatsoever! He's the reason why everything is falling apart!" Sora shouted.

Tai felt an uprising in him. He immediately grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her against the wall. "You have no right to talk about Lord Kyo like that, ever!!" Sora cringed at his tone of voice and his tight grip.

As soon as he saw her pain-filled face, he instantly let her go. Tai began to deeply regret his actions. Before he knew it, she slapped him hard.

"You stay away from me. I was right about you. Maybe you're just like him." She mumbled before running out the door and shutting it.

Tai felt angry, but this time with himself. He grabbed the dagger and threw it at the wall, leaving it stuck there. He slowly sat back down and covered his face with his hands. 'What have I done? Is what she said true? Am I really becoming like my uncle?'

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A/n: I was going to make the chapter longer but I didn't know where to end it. Tai's beginning to feel a lot of guilt here. Will he apologize? Will he tell her the truth about everything? I don't know, but you can find out! Thanks again.