"T-Tres…" she mumbled into her pillow. She hugged it to her chest, thinking about her former tovares, stuck in that block of ice while she was lying in this nice, warm bed. He was trapped there, waiting for his death tomorrow because he saved her. A solitary tear slipped down her pale cheek.

"K-Kain-sama? You've given me my own room?" Zelda held a hand against her hot face.

"You can't sleep in mine. I… fall apart easily."

She hadn't thought about what she was going to do for sleeping arrangements. It was another miracle that she received her own room. Besides, her innocent mind couldn't fathom why she'd want to stay in his. Plus the fact that Kämpher would have blown what was left of the moon apart if that had been arranged.

"Ah, thank you!" She responded him quickly.

Kämpher had been hovering over them, waiting, watching for a mistake to point out. Although he was irked that she was to stay in his master's wing, he smirked, "Yes, it is best that you rest. Tomorrow is a busy day. We're having the execution of that traitor, the robot… your past lover, correct?"

She tried to stay calm, praying that she wouldn't make a motion that gave her away. Coldly, she answered, "No. He acted as if he had feelings for me but it was all false. He couldn't love anyway, he was man made. Only lights and clockwork."

"Just because he didn't have real feelings for you, doesn't mean you didn't care for him."

"He was my partner; I only cared for him as much as I was forced to."

He scoffed, "Humph. Well, if you really don't care, you'll be fine when we destroy him. You'll be coming, correct? After all, you said you want to stay by Mien Herr's side forever and he's obviously going to be there."

She knew his game and knew how to avoid this situation but she still wanted to break down and cry. "Of course I'll be there."

Tres was going to die. He was going to die and she would be watching. In her mind she cursed her lying lips and told herself that she would burn for all the lies she spoke today. Yet, it didn't compare to the guilt she felt for letting him down. Curling into a ball on top of the covers, she wept silently.

---

"Is everything ready?" Kain's head tipped to the side as he smiled. Everything was set up for Tres' execution. They stood in a large room with Gunslinger the icicle- coming in five different flavors to a store near you! (The Rozen Kreuz Orden is not responsible for any harmful illnesses/food poisoning/deaths you acquire after eating these. To them, it's one less person they have to wipe off the face of the Earth.)

Kämpher smirked at focused his gaze towards the frozen robot, "Yes, Mien Herr."

Zelda was going to cry again but bit down on her tongue. Tres was set up in the middle of the room, about to be melted by an untamable fire. His guns were on a little stand only five feet from him, as if taunting him.

Swallowing hard, she understood what she was about to do. She suddenly hugged the Orden leader on what looked to be impulse. Pick pocketing her partner's chip off of him, she let go and ran for the guns. She grabbed his guns and continued her "Rescue Tres" operation. Cocking them, her armor wrapped around her hands in advance, waiting for the blast.

She pulled the trigger. An insane force erupted from the barrels, destroying the ice encasing him. Had she not had her armor, the gun would have shattered her hand. Her eyes flickered to the weapons as she fired still, No wonder he's so trigger happy! With this kind of arsenal, I would be too. And I thought it was just a guy thing…

She arrived at his side and ripped the remaining portion of his icy prison away. Praying, she shoved the chip into a little incision in the back of Tres' neck. This needs to work. Please. Please! Her fevered prayers were answered for his eyes opened and he looked to her.

"…Z-"

"Zelda," Kain interrupted.

She pivoted around to face the Crusnik. "I'm sorry, it wouldn't have worked out!" She caught hold of Tres' arm and dragged him along as she ran away like the coward she was. They sprinted along the halls, desperately searching for an exit. Although they were in a life or death situation (it leaned more towards the 'or death'), Zelda couldn't help but twisting her fingers around his hand, justifying his existence.

"Yo!" The Professor met up with them in a hallway. "I see you managed to free Tres-kun, good job!"

"That's all you have to say for yourself?" she muttered under breath.

"Hmm? Oh, we have to get to the third level! That's where the escape pods are. From there it's a clear shot!"

They reached the stairs, "If we make it there. Kämpher is probably raising his army as we speak. I'm sure that as soon as he was given permission, he began his plots of my complete annihilation."

Tres scooped her up and followed William into the stairwell.

"W-what are you doing?! I'm not injured!" she protested, her face a dark shade of garnet.

"You told me that you fall when I'm around. I am eliminating that chance."

Embarrassment nearly caused her to swoon. "Y-y-y-you heard that?!!"

"Positive."

Trying to cool her fiery blush, she said, "I'm fine, you can let me down."

"Negative. You are-"

"I'm fine," she waved it off and he reluctantly set her down.

-Two stairs later-

Her face collided against the hard floor, bruising her nose and right cheek. Her hands and legs stung from slapping the marble while the edge of a stair was pressing into her stomach. Tres lifted her off the ground. She thought she was going to be in a cradle-like position such as before but her hefted her over his shoulder like a sack. He obviously wanted her to stop slowing them down since she kept getting in the way.

"This position… feels oddly familiar…" she commented dryly, referring to their first mission.

The Professor exclaimed, interrupting her thoughts, "Level Three! We're here!" He flung the door open but stopped short, eyes wide.

Kämpher stood in the entryway, smiling. "Hello William. It's been a long time."