Love is Blind

Chapter 2

A/N: I have to apologize guys. This has actually been done since two weeks after chapter one came out. Why didn't I post it? I made Rita ridiculously out of character, and I never could get it fixed. AngelWithACrookedHalo, CrimsonGaze and FluffyDireBunny, the apology especially goes to you, as well as an immense thank you. Your reviews made me pick this back up, dust it off, and fix it. I have to be honest, she still feels out of character, but I think I made it bareable.

P.S. Again, this was DONE for ages, I just edited a couple of things. A lot of time has passed, I've already posted another YuRita fic and have changed the style, so… I hope it doesn't affect it too much ; A ;

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A simple late night stroll. A quiet seat under the stars. Simple, quiet... none of the above. Not what he asked for. Those were the thoughts going through Yuri's head as the girl approached him.

"What are you doing out here?" the young mage questioned her leader, stopping her stride directly in front of him. "You need your rest! We're crossing the desert again tomorrow!"

Yuri let out a long sigh, yet kept his poker face strong, keeping his eyes fixed on the starry night sky above him, not letting them wander towards Rita's features which still haunted his thoughts so savagely.

"Sorry. I had a lot on my mind, and figured a little time under the stars would relax me." The man barely contained a flinch as Rita plopped herself on the ground next to him, curling her legs up to rest her arms on her knees.

He barely looked at her, from the corner of his eye; her top lip was woven over her bottom, a sign that something was on her mind. He let his head gently turn to face her more, drawing her out of her thoughts enough for her to question, "What?"

"Got something on your mind you'd like to share?" he flashed a gentle smirk, inviting her to fill him in on her thoughts.

It worked.

Rita ran her hands through her hair roughly, frizzing it before patting it down again as she spoke, "It's just driving me nuts... That Duke guy... How could he do that to the Apatheia? How could he destroy the very fruit of my research!? I want to wring his neck, and yet...!"

Yuri tilted his head curiously. Though he knew why she couldn't attack him, he felt there was still something else to this conversation. "You can't, because we owe him our lives on more than one occasion."

"Exactly..." Rita bit her lower lip, her left canine leaving a sheen that drew Yuri's attention dangerously far from the heated discussion they were having.

"Are you really still going on about that?"

Rita's eyes snapped into a lock with Yuri's. "And what the hell does that mean?"

Yuri shrugged, breaking the stare down she initiated, once again feeling his chest tighten as dangerous thoughts rushed from the darkest depths of his mind. "You just told me I need rest. Why are you letting this whole situation with Duke keep you up? It's not like you to lose sleep over something even you know can't be helped."

Silence.

Had he spoken out of line? Did he say something harsh without realizing it? He hesitated, then steeled himself; he turned his head to look at her again, only to find her staring at the ground, eyes shimmering, as though she was ready to cry.

Oh hell, what did I just do?

"I guess..." Her eyes lost their gloss, returning to normal, "There is something else on my mind." She slowly ascended to her feet, walking slowly in front of Yuri before turning to face him again.

That damn walk again... it drives me crazy..!

"Yuri... What do you think of me?"

The man stared at her in disbelief, not caring that his perfect poker face had broken. What the hell did she just ask him? "What?"

"You heard me! What do you think of me?" Rita shouted, not asking for an answer, but commanding one.

Yuri cocked his head to the side, staring at her through slanted eyes, his cool composure returning once again, "You're our Genius Mage, the girl who slaughters anything who gets in her way, and acts as the logic of the party" He shrugged, forcing a cocky smile as he turned his attention away from her, as though this should be obvious to her.

"No, damn it." She huffed, "I meant as a person, me, Rita Mordio to Yuri Lowell. How do you see me?"

This threw him off. Just what was she getting at?

Her head dropped, and her gaze shifted towards the ground, once more biting her lower lip. "You too, huh…?"

"Rita, what are you-"

"Everyone treats me like I'm a kid still... Age is just a statistic." She looked up at the stars for a moment then back to the ground, "It shouldn't make any of you see me differently. After all we've been through, I figured at least you would see past some number and see me as an equal, if not in battle at least in mental capacity. No matter how smart I am, no matter how much I do, all of you... Raven, Judith, Estelle... Even the brat. I'm just a kid to you all..."

"Thank you"

Her head shot up, shock and confusion etched into her features as Yuri stood and approached her. "What?"

"Thank you for trusting me with all of this. I never expected you to be feeling like this, and the fact that you're opening up to me shows that I'm pulling my weight as leader of this group." He grinned and ruffled her hair, ignoring the dangerously high chance of her blasting him with a fireball.

But it never came. Instead, a soft voice, one Yuri had never heard before came from the girl's lips. "Of course I trust you... Why do you think I'm still following you all, despite even the most obvious of common logic dictating I should just leave you guys? Because I know that I can get my research done with you. That without all of you, without this journey, I wouldn't be any closer to completing my formula… I know I'm safe to do these things as long as I'm with you..." She blushed lightly before thrusting out one last word, "a-all..."

"Is that why of all people in the group, you clung to me in terror on the Atherum?" Yuri chuckled as she finally swatted his hand away.

"Oh please!" Her voice once more took that acidic tone that Yuri had grown accustomed to, "You were the most logical choice to hide behind! Like hell I'm hiding behind that old man, and the runt couldn't defend me if he tried!"

Yuri didn't bother with a reply. Instead, he laughed and returned to his position on the ground, looking back up at the stars, waiting for her reaction.

The mage stared at him with curiosity still shining in her emerald eyes. Was he inviting her to sit with him? Or was he just teasing her, treating her like a kid again? She shook her head, ignoring her internal conflict and stomped to his side, dropping into a sitting position.

She let her gaze stray to her left, immediately closing her eyes and lifting her chin up when she realized he was staring at her with a toothy grin, though she couldn't contain a light blush, which only made him smile more.

"Feeling a little better, Genius Mage?" Yuri asked with a gleeful chuckle.

"D-don't get the wrong idea! You helped a bit, but I figured the rest out on my own!"

"Whatever you say, Rita."

She coughed one last sigh before letting her eyes close again, leaning her back against a rock behind her. Yuri gazed at her from the corner of his eye, keeping a smile cleanly plastered on his face. His heart felt much more at rest, knowing how much she trusted him. It was going to be a lot easier sleeping, knowing that the battle in his mind had been toned down just from this little conversation.

His heart leapt when he heard her whisper his name. He looked at her again, fully turning his head to face her. Rita's breathing had slowed, her lips barely parted, her eyes gently rolling under their lids. She's asleep...? That was fast...

"Yuri..."

She's dreaming about me?

"Yuri... Please... Treat me... Like an adult... Please..."

A harsh blush erupted upon Yuri's features.

This is going to be a looong night...