I looked around and I saw everyone around me, alarmed. I laughed to myself; I wouldn't have tried to kill them. Not while I'm in my state of mind, I wouldn't.
"You guys actually believed that I would hurt you?" I said.
"You had no recollection of what you done?" Xiaoyu said. "Were you that out of it?"
"I can't remember anything right now. My head's killing me…"
When I touched my head, there was no wound, but there was still fresh blood. I lifted my hand and looked around.
"What did I do?" I asked. "I was only out for a few seconds."
"More like a few minutes," Hwoarang said. "You don't remember trying to slash our throats?"
Not even a glimpse. When I looked around, it finally hit me. Everyone had cuts all over their bodies, and their knives were bloody. I held my head once again, trying hard to remember who injured me, and did I actually try to hurt them.
"I can't…remember…"
"Stop trying to remember it right now. It'll come to you soon."
I looked at Xiaoyu, and she looked like she got the worst of it. I rested my head against her shoulder with a heavy sigh.
"I'm sorry," I murmured. "I'm so fucking sorry…"
"Stop blaming yourself…you drank my blood, so you shouldn't have any problems with your devil now."
"…I sure as hell hope so."
"Xiao…do you wanna talk to him…for a little while?" Jin asked.
"Just for a little while," She said. "We'll be coming back as soon as I finish, okay?"
Jin nodded and everyone followed him through the woods. Hwoarang glanced back at Xiaoyu before following the others back through the woods. We were left all alone then.
"Lars, the more you begin to worry about this devil, the more vulnerable you'll be," She said. "I don't want what happened two years ago to happen again for as I live."
I lifted up my head in disbelief. "The same thing happened again today! You have the cuts and bruises to show for it!"
"That doesn't mean anything right now! I gave you blood, and it should be working soon. Just relax for now."
"Do you care for us more than you care for yourself?"
I could tell that was true, but I wanted to hear it from her mouth. I rested my head on her shoulders again, but for support. My body suddenly became weak, and I wanted to go back to the house.
"That's kinda what a soldier does," she said. "I just want you to be alright, Lars…I went through Tekken Force training just to get where I am now. I wouldn't be as strong as I am now."
"You were never weak to begin with. You just thought that because Jin and I were gone."
I lifted my head and I gripped her shoulders. "Stop thinking that you're worthless! You're far from that and you know it!"
She looked at me, with tears filling her eyes. "It took me two years to try and find you both! The only reason I started looking is because of a stupid riddle!"
Don't give into temptation, I thought. I can't do this to her…she'll start to resent me.
But it was too late; I was already on the ground, kissing her softly. I don't understand why I love her, I just do. I stopped myself before I could remove her top all the way.
"Sorry," I said.
Xiaoyu was still on the ground, trying to take hold of what just happened.
"What just happened?" She asked to no one in particular. "I don't even…"
I helped her to her feet. "Ignore that…come on; let's go back to the house."
(Back at Jun's house)
"Did you find him that way, Jin?" My mother asked.
"Yeah," I said. "We don't know if Anna and Nina did it, but it shouldn't matter now. It won't happen again."
"I hope so…"
Xiao and Lars walked through the door. I approached them with a warm smile.
"Is he okay now?" I asked.
"He should be fine," She said. "No more problems with the devil for now."
I looked at Lars, and he smiled and nodded. I opted for him to get down on one knee, but that would lead to too much shock. He and I planned this beforehand, anyway.
Well, what can I say? We're one big happy family. It doesn't matter what the future holds for us; it can wait itself.