The glare on Alit's facial features seemed to intensify with every step he took. His green eyes darted around wildly as he stared at the scenery, then froze when they landed on Mahpari. A gentle smile crossed his lips for a moment while he stared at her, but then returned to the scowl he'd walked in with when he looked back at Kite.

"How in the world did you guys even find us?" Kite asked, taking a step forward and pushing Mahpari behind himself.

"We followed your blood trail," Alit replied, a cocky smile appearing on him.

Mahpari was confused at first. She looked Kite up and down, attempting to find evidence of a wound that would do such a thing. That was about the time Mahpari noticed the wound on Kite's leg, which looked like it had been oozing blood all night long.

Oh geez. That explained a lot.

The gray-haired girl's gaze shifted back up to Alit and Kite. Both of them were glaring, and Kite was keeping her hidden away behind himself in attempt to protect her. Mahpari kept her hands clenched to the fabric of his shirt though, not daring to let go.

Kite and Alit had a stare down. Forest-green eyes versus sky-blue.

It turned out that the forest-green ones won. Alit was at Mahpari's side faster than she could blink, scooping her up and making a beeline for the door. Gilag had rushed in to attack Kite, making sure he kept his distance as Alit raced away.

This sudden turn of events struck terror into Mahpari's heart. She shrieked, causing Alit to yelp, freeze, and nearly drop her. Instead, he hissed, then looked at the girl in his arms with a confused expression.

"What the heck Mahpari?" Alit asked. "You're safe now. There's nothing to worry about. I can guarantee that, considering the fact Gilag's probably killing your kidnapper."

"What!?" Mahpari exclaimed. She sent herself flying from Alit's grasp, then went scampering back towards the cabin she had awoken in.

And sure enough, there was a blood battle going on in the living room of the cabin.

Gilag and Kite were almost dancing around the room. In Kite's hand was his rifle, and in Gilag's was his shotgun. Mahpari watched in horror as Gilag raced up, then whacked Kite in the face with the butt of his shotgun, causing a pained wail to come from him as he was knocked down.

"Kite!" Mahpari yelled. It was plainly obvious Gilag didn't hear the girl's voice, for he did not stop his attacks. He hit Kite a few more times, causing him to choke up some blood.

That did it. Mahpari threw herself into the middle, screaming when the shotgun smacked her in the shoulder and sent her into the hard wood on the futon.

"Mahpari! No!" Kite spoke in a squeak-like tone. It wasn't on purpose, but he didn't care at the moment. The blond and teal-haired man staggered up, then ran/tripped over to Mahpari's side. He shook her a little bit, getting no response other than a moan.

Now, Kite's sky-blue eyes narrowed. He shifted his gaze up to Gilag, glaring and growling as he picked Mahpari up from her spot.

"That's cruel, attacking a young girl like you just did," Kite said, gaining his regular voice back just in time. He watched as Gilag backed up, a frightened look on his face appearing just as Alit came to the doorway.

"I didn't mean to! She jumped in the way! How was I supposed to stop that quickly?"

"I..."

All three looked at Mahpari. Her smokey-gray eyes opened delicately, staring at Gilag weakly. Her voice was soft and nearly inaudible, but they could make out what she was saying.

"I did it...to protect Kite. He's...he's my...f-friend."

Gilag and Alit felt their eyes growing wide as Mahpari finished her sentence. She blinked, then looked up at Kite, giving him a warm smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

No one said a single word. Instead, they watched as Mahpari stood up. She placed her hand on her right arm and growled, but smacked away the attempts to try and help her that came from the three soldiers around her. She refused the help, then staggered to the door.

Enough was enough. Alit rushed forward and hoisted Mahpari up, refusing to let her go if she decided to struggle again. But she didn't. Rather, she sank into his embrace as a caring smile crossed his lips.

"Sorry Mahpari," he whispered. "We thought Kite was the enemy. If we'd known, we wouldn't have hurt him."

Mahpari smiled. "It's okay," she said, allowing her eyes to close. She felt Alit shaking her, hearing him say something about getting her back to the base. That blow had made her rather dizzy when she hit the futon's wooden arm.

But it was fine. She'd saved a friend from death, even if it meant the possibility of never again waking up from her comatose state.

That was all that mattered to Mahpari.

XxXxXxXx

"She did WHAT!?"

The startled yell that came from Durbe sent a panicked zap through Alit's heart. The gray-haired man sat up, fear lacing his smokey-gray eyes. Alit turned away, gulping and refusing to make eye contact with his comrade.

"She jumped in the way of Gilag's attack, and she got knocked into the futon. But the doctors said it's nothing major. She's fine."

Durbe sat up and blinked, staring at the green-eyed soldier that stood before him. He tilted his head, then looked at the door.

"Could you please help me to her room?"

"Of course," Alit replied. He put his arm around Durbe's neck, and Durbe put his around Alit's. Both stood from the edge of the bed they had been sitting on, then half limped, half walked away.

Alit opened the door that led to Mahpari's room. There lay the young girl, her breathing somewhat heavy.

"Mahpari," Durbe breathed. He broke away from Alit, ignoring the pain that shot through his injured leg when he put pressure on it as he darted to the side of his little sister's bed. The gray-haired girl opened her eyes and took one look at her older brother, then smiled sweetly. Durbe took Mahpari's hand in his own, sitting down on the stool to take the pain from his leg as a small smile graced his features.

The door opened, and three sets of footsteps could be heard walking inside. Durbe and Alit turned, staring at Shark, Gilag and Mizael as they walked inside.

"Is what I heard true?" Mizael asked, taking a few more steps forward. "I woke up a few days ago and realized she was missing from the house. But when I left to find her, there were no trains departing from here until today. I got here late."

"It's true," Durbe replied. He turned back to Mahpari, chuckling when she tightened her grip on her older brother's hand for a second.

"N-Nii...san," Mahpari said in a hushed whisper. "You came back in one piece."

"Barely. How are you feeling?"

"Okay. Just a little dizzy." Mahpari sat up and yawned, then threw her arms around Durbe's neck. "Can we please go home?"

Durbe laughed and lifted his little sister up. "Yeah," he said, "we can go home."

They got up, smiling at one another, and walked out of the room, Durbe once again ignoring the pain in his leg. It wasn't like he cared at the moment. He and Mahpari were together now. That was all that mattered, especially since they were going home.