Mirror, mirror.

As one generation is brought into the world and another leaves, legends are born and some are forgotten; but it is those founding myths and legends that irrevocably leave their mark on each generation. It is those establishing tales that teach the younger individuals to respect their elders and if they disobey the heeding of their parents and go out into the dark alone they are likely to be eaten and mutilated by peripatetic oni.

However sometimes the bedtime stories that eccentric parents depict in flamboyant nightly performances have truth behind their ostentatious words and only some children take into account the moral of their parent's bedtime tale. It is these children who will throw salt over their left shoulder to cleanse themselves or avoid looking into the eyes of a raven as doing so will bring misfortune into their lives.

Reina was one of them children.

Every passing shrine or temple she would pray for the spirits of the deceased, regardless of their relationship to her. After years of reading the founding myths and accounts of demonic sightings she felt confident with her knowledge of the spirits and their associates, and this time was no different.

The nights are dark and full of terrors, oni's and spirits hiding themselves in whatever way they are able, some however are more open with their existence, the poor unfortunate souls who encounter them meeting prematurely with death. These are the souls that wander about after dark luring innocent, or not so innocent humans, towards their imminent fate; unless they had heard upon the wind about these beings people would be oblivious to their existence, they carrying on with their day to day tasks.

But it was one of them nights where the creatures of the night came out to play- and they were out in force.

The trio had been walking for days and by now their feet ached and their backs weary; the light that once covered the land had now crept away and the creatures of the night skulked from their hideouts. They would reach the Grand Ise Shrine by morning, the shrine bordering a nearby town, but first? First they would rest their aching bodies and replenish their empty stomachs; Reina remained behind the cloaked duo her eyes taking in the occasional roadside flower or foraging animal. She had been surprised how civil Kisame had been towards her, rumours of his ferocity and violent thrill of forcefulness had graced her ears many a time but she had not received a threat…as of yet that was.

The same could be said for the solemn Sharingan master, ever since the indenture and the secret of his ailment had surfaced Itachi had not threatened her; deep down Reina could sense that he trusted her to some degree to not let his secret slip. Why would she, it was not her secret to tell, she had nothing to gain from the world knowing the infamous Uchiha Itachi was ill. Illness was a way of the world, some suffering more than others, and it just so happened that Itachi was one to suffer in silence.

But admittedly his silence intrigued Reina. He was an anomaly to say the least; had things been different Reina could imagine herself to have enjoyed the company of the eldest Uchiha. She could imagine him to enjoy the simpler things in life, quaint cafés that lay in back streets but served the most delicious of food or rare first edition books that other people would normally overlook for the more popular of smut people called literature.

Yes, Reina could imagine to have gotten along rather swell with him.

Once again Reina's thoughts were broken by a familiar feeling in her stomach; looking up from the weed ridden road her eyes met with the focus of her thoughts: Itachi. Over the past few days she had grown accustomed to feeling his gaze upon her but it was never a hateful sentiment which she found bizarre, if bizarre was the right word to describe it. If anything she noted a glint of curiosity in his dark eyes.

Their eyes remained locked for what seemed an eternity before Kisame broke the surprisingly comfortable silence, his gruff and wry voice cutting the quiet hush.

"Ne do you hear that? Sounds like crying." His beady eyes scanned the sides of the wood lined road, the sheaves of grass swaying gently in the breeze. Reina narrowed her eyes as the crying became louder and even more piercing to the ears; she watched the blue skinned giant as he began to wade through the grass, it parting to reveal the cause of screeching.

A baby.

"Would you believe that…a kid." Kisame noted, surprise lacing his words. He looked over at Itachi as if waiting for orders; he bent down to pick the wailing child up only to be stopped by Reina, her arm acting as a barrier between the shark-like man and posing child. Kisame frowned having not heard her approach, his lips parted to reveal an array of sharpened teeth as he looked back to his partner, the confusion and uncertainty written clearly on his scaly features. Itachi nodded urging him to leave her be, his eyes continuing to be filled with inquisitiveness as they followed her.

"Don't pick it up…it's not a child." Reina murmured quietly, removing her arm and looking up at Kisame, her voice soft and littered with curiosity having not come across something like it in person before now.

Kisame wrinkled his nose whilst Itachi quirked a brow, the rest of his face remaining impassive as they waited for her reason. Reina lifted her gaze to meet Kisame's before gracing the pair with the explanation they longed for.

"It's a yōkai, a Konaki-jiji to be more precise." She murmured, kneeling down to exam the now suddenly silent yōkai, its eyes glowing from a hazel brown to a clouded grey as it stared intently back at her. Kisame frowned leaning in closer to inspect the scowling being before looking to Reina unsure as to why she told him not to pick it up. "If you were to pick it up it would turn into a boulder and crush you beneath it." Reina replied sensing his ambiguity. She had only read of such things prior to this and she knew that if they continued on this journey that they would encounter yōkai's far more vengeful and dangerous.

They would have to be on their guard.

"You're kidding right?" Kisame asked in disbelief. Itachi stared from his place on the path, briefly glancing at the phantom child with slight disbelief, he could feel Reina's anxiety bubble in both of their stomachs. He would do his best to keep her safe, without her this mission was doomed before it even began. Itachi continued to watch Reina closely as she stood watching with a slight look of awe on her expression as Kisame drew the infamous samehada from his back, the heavy sword hit the ground with a dull thud, the earth indenting where it made impact.

"What are you doing? You can't kill it, it's already dead…" Reina stated bluntly, quirking a brow wondering if Kisame had ever even read a scroll about folklore before, needless to say she received her answer when he lunged towards the Konaki-jiji, a wide wicked grin spread upon his face. She sighed softly and dismissed the overwhelming presence of testosterone that now inhabited the lush grassy area; returning to the path she stood beside Itachi attempting to fix her straggled hair, cringing inwardly at its untidiness.

"He won't be able to harm it, he might be able to drain its essence with samehada but…other than that? It's futile." Reina murmured softly as she re-twisted the chignon at the nape of her neck, the occasional stray hair blowing across her face. Itachi nodded heeding her words knowing she was right, Kisame was fuelled by violence and jumped at the chance to cause bloodshed and this time was no different.

"We will move on, let him get it out his system. He will know where to find us." Itachi muttered obviously oblivious to his partner's aggressive antics; Reina nodded and allowed yet another sigh to pass her still split lip. By now the Konaki-jiji had transformed into a weepy looking man, his wrinkled face whitewashed as he shimmered from one place to another, avoiding the manic swipes of Kisame with ease.

Reina continued to watch the giant scaled sword swing and glide through the air, she had to admit Kisame was truly a master in his own right and prayed to the gods that she never had to experience him in battle. But what he lacked in brains in specific areas, he certainly made up for in sheer brawn. Reina continued to watch the pointless battle unfold before her eyes, the Konaki-jiji shrieking woefully as it floated through the air, its translucent body mimicking her own permeable state, passing through tree trunks fleetingly.

"Reina-chan, come." Itachi ordered quietly as stood ahead of her, the metal of his headband glinting in the light of moon; she had not realised how late it was as she glanced back at the duelling pair for the last time before continuing down the winding road, her captor beside her as they went.

The forest that once inhabited either side of the road had now dissipated from sight, it being replaced with paddy fields and hanging lanterns that illuminated age worn road signs. Reina inhaled deeply savouring the fresh air that filled her lungs, the cold air slightly stung the back of her throat, yet it was a pleasant sensation not that of harsh winter ice.

But winter was coming.

Autumn was nearing the end of it reign, the leaves beginning to wither and free fall from the trees and shrubs; only the vivacious evergreens remained, standing proudly against the rotting landscape. She liked the winter though, it was her favourite time of year; her ideology was that it was easier to warm up rather than to cool down so she didn't mind throwing on an extra layer to keep toasty. Reina was a winter baby through and through, arriving into the world in January she was no stranger to darkening skies and frosty morning starts.

But her thoughts took a turn, if they did indeed find the mirror or manage to get away unscathed then there would be no more winter. If Pein used the mirror he could wipe out entire cities and provinces with one single use of the mirror; Reina felt her stomach turn with dread, she was unsure whether the Akatsuki fully understood the sheer power the mirror held. It was the mirror of Amaterasu, similar to Itachi's technique it possessed the power of the sun, blindly destroying anything in its path if it fell into the wrong hands.

She couldn't allow that to happen.

"Reina-chan?...Reina-chan." She was stopped abruptly, the fabric on her cloak tugging her backwards, her thoughts instantly dispersing away as she looked back at Itachi, his usual impassive expression present on his dark features as he released the back of her cloak. "We're here, don't say anything, just stay close." He murmured as he motioned to the surprisingly hectic Ryokan, the sound of the customers chatter and laughter mingling with upbeat shamisen melodies as they flooded through the decorative paper screens.

Reina nodded doing as she was told and stayed hot on his heels inwardly cringing as the stench of sake filled her nostrils along with cheap perfume, a concoction she most disfavoured. A look of distaste washed over her features, her rosy lips twisting into a grimace of disgust; Itachi glanced back at her silently musing at her expression despite a lack of his own. The pair entered the bustling establishment, removing their shoes as they did; Itachi approached the reception desk and without a word the host bowed lowly handing him a room key motioning a glance over at Reina, a questioning look appearing on his aged features.

"She will be accompanying me tonight. I assume everything is in order?" Itachi interjected brusquely, staring down at the host sternly instilling a sense of fear into his very core- Reina could practically feel the colour drain away from his face. The host nodded his head rapidly, gulping slightly as he motioned for the pair to head to their lodging; Itachi gave the host a slight inclination of his head, murmuring a quiet 'arigatou' as he too motioned to Reina to follow.

Reina huddled close to the solemn Uchiha instinctively as drunken samurai escorted by painted geishas stumbled through the halls, slurring their words and laughing maniacally as they swigged overcompensating mouthfuls of rice wine. Social drinking never appealed to Reina, the nasty aftertaste that alcohol left in her mouth made her feel queasy, never mind staying out all day and night drinking the stuff, she preferred a pot of tea and a good book any day over that.

She half expected the hallways to become less crowded as they continued towards their quarters but they didn't, if anything the lantern laced corridors became overwhelmed with couples staggering in their drunken stupors. The air was thick with lustful hormones, almost suffocating in fact as people openly displayed their shameless affections like animals in heat.

"You're a pretty little thing aren't cha!" Reina cringed feeling warm breath crawl down the back of her neck, her hair standing to attention; but before she had a chance to react Itachi manoeuvred her behind him, his arm swathed around her almost in a possessive manner. The burly looking man towered over the pair, his face covered in unkempt facial hair, even his topknot was tatty and disorderly. Reina held on to the back of Itachi's cloak, the dark fabric bundled in her hands as she glimpsed out from behind him, slightly taken back by his speed and abrupt movements.

"You have no desire to pursue her further, you were in fact admiring the flower arrangement down the hall not her." Itachi stated sharply, his Sharingan in full swing as he stared intensely at the drunken ronin; the ronin attempted to come back with a smart remark only to become instantly spellbound by the lethal technique. His face became expressionless as he entered the hypnotised state almost leaning in to get a closer look at the ebbing stomas; Reina watched in awe as he nodded and turned around, plodding off in an ogre like manner to admire the said flower arrangement.

"You are proving difficult, just not in the way I expected it." Itachi cogitated aloud, glancing down at Reina, the Sharingan bleeding away from his eyes to reveal a dark blend of cocoa; she frowned a little unsure of his words as he opened the door and motioned her to enter. She complied and whispered a quiet 'thank you' as she stood beside the door glancing about the surprisingly decorative room, her eyes blinking having not expected the room to be adorned in such a way.

Autumn.

That was what the room reminded her of. Shades of red, orange and gold splashed across the intricately embellished room. It was obvious to her that the Akatsuki or at least Itachi and Kisame were in good faith with the owner, protection perhaps? The tatami matted floor matched the colour scheme with ease, even the shoji screen doors depicted autumnal scenes, moulting trees bidding farewell to their leaves as the wind carried them off. She had never seen a futon that looked so comfortable and well…fluffy. The said futon had been dressed to perfection, the covers folded neatly yet retaining its appeal, the pillow was just asking to be rested upon almost tantalising her.

"The water closet is through the door beside you if you wish to freshen up, food has been sent for and will arrive shortly." Itachi said as he undone his cloak, folding it and placing it beside one of the futons. Reina nodded glancing at the ornate shoji screens once more before taking her leave. The bathroom was as decorative as the main room, the wooden panelled bathtub even more tantalising than the futon; Reina turned the tap on relishing the instantly hot water that filled the rather deep tub. She hadn't realised how deep the tub actually was until she measured it against herself; now considering her height was a gracious and petite five foot two inches, anything above her waist was considered fairly deep.

For a bathtub especially.

With the water filling up and the complimentary bath salts dissolving in the hot water Reina set to organising her own toiletries which were still intact in her bag surprisingly. She knew that she had a slight compulsion when it came to certain things, and arranging her toiletries in height order and order of use was one of them. When she was satisfied that her belongings were all aligned correctly she shed her clothes quickly having making sure that the door was securely locked, she dreaded having a repeat of unwanted visitors.

The water was as heavenly and welcoming as she expected it to be; the water reached her shoulders washing away the grime that somehow managed to accumulate on her pale skin and in her hair. Reina sighed happily rinsing the fresh water through her tangled locks, running her fingers through her dark tresses contently. She pondered silently to herself, another reason she put off taking the ANBU exams was in fact pitiful but she placed cleanliness next to godliness despite her lack of continual religious allegiance. She couldn't imagine having to wash away the blood of another from her body- the thought of the water running crimson repelled her.

Before long her hair was as clean as a whistle and her skin invigorated with the help of scented washes, her lip stinging as the scented liquid made contact causing her to wince ever so slightly. But she was clean and her aches had disappeared and that was all that mattered to her; Reina glanced about the room, a folded burgundy yukata catching her eyes. Drying quickly she donned the yukata gliding over her skin in an almost affectionate manner; she tied it with the utmost precision, the obi belt tucked neatly within itself accentuating her womanly figure.

Reina smiled faintly to herself in the mirror as she fingered the small garnet gem that had remained around her neck throughout the entire ordeal; her parents were looking out for her and would always be with her despite past occasions. Reina stared at herself in the mirror for mere moments which felt like forever, it was not in a vain manner it was more in the sense of searching for an answer to a question which had been eating away at her for days.

Why had she grown so comfortable in the company of the infamous Uchiha Itachi?

He was her captor, the man forcing her to cooperate with a rogue ninja organisation's evil dastardly plan; yet she found herself not minding herself being in close proximity of him. He hadn't exactly been cruel to her, in fact he had been civil and courteoustowards her. Reina pouted her lips in thought as she began to draw the water from her hair; the water molecules started to leave the individual strands of hair without over drying them. Eventually her hair was soft and dry once more, the dark locks falling about her child-like face sporadically as they danced down the front and back of her shoulders in gentle cascaded curls.

Knowing that her reflection was not going to give her the answers Reina exhaled quietly glancing at the door hearing a quiet rap at the wood's grain. Opening the door she noted that Itachi was no longer in his own clothes, he too had donned the complimentary yukata and washed the dirt from himself, the scarlet fabric was very befitting for the young Sharingan master.

"The food has arrived." He murmured motioning to the lowly slung table beside the futons, it residing in between the pair. Reina smiled gratefully as she took her place at the table, Itachi beside her; she noted how bizarre it was for a captor and their captive to civilly sit down to dinner together. Itachi watched Reina closely finding the quiet girl oddly intriguing most prisoners acted the hero and cut their lives short because of pride and lack of intelligence. But Reina, he knew Reina knew how to play the game without making the situation more difficult than it had to be.

If anything it was a peculiarly welcomed change to the usual mission.

Too distracted by his thoughts Itachi failed to realise that Reina had spoken to him, her voice gentle with a hint of hesitation to it as she repeated herself.

"Itachi-san, your necklace…" She murmured as she scooted closer to him with a sense of refinement to her movements, she knelt beside him, their knees brushing against one another as she leaned in close. Reina looked to the elder Uchiha for permission which she received, a mere nod of his head as he continued to gaze down at her Reina smiled shyly as she knelt up, her fingers brushing the cool metal of his necklace.

Itachi inspected Reina more closely as the distance between them had waned; he noted just how many freckles she had splashed across her pale skin which he strangely had not noticed before now. He remained perfectly still as she fiddled with his necklace moving it around his neck so the three stoma were aligned correctly, the clasp having moved into sight throughout the day. He smiled inwardly, the secretive smile solely for him as he watched the expression of pure determinedness on her face; her lips twisted into a satisfied smile almost resembling an artist admiring their finished masterpiece.

"Gomenasai…it vexes me when the clasp moves." Reina admitted timidly, a faint splash of pink brewing in her cheeks as she went to retreat back to her place only to be stopped in her tracks. Itachi held onto her arm gently keeping her where she sat as he quirked a brow in slight amusement.

"Considering it vexes you, you seem to have committed your own pet hate." He crooned lowly, his voice as velvety as hers; Reina blinked in slight embarrassment noting how her own clasp had mimicked his yet gone unnoticed. Itachi let a rare remnant of a chuckle rumble at the back of his throat as he carefully brushed her hair over shoulders, his fingers barely brushing her skin yet causing her to hold back a shiver that rolled down her spine.

If an unprejudiced person were to view the on-going scenario between the pair they would assume they were lovers, the animosity that should be present replaced with a welcomed wave of calmness and certain degree of trust. Itachi gracefully grasped the dainty gold chain, his gentile actions juxtaposing his lethal reputation as he carefully rotated the chain to its desired position. Reina stared at him in minor incredulity, catching a short-lived smile that danced on his lips for the most fleeting of moments, ignoring the chill when his fingers grazed over her exposed collarbones.

Reina breathed silently as if anxious to disrupt the rare moment; this was the Itachi she had known briefly all those years ago, it wastouching to see that a remnant of his former self still existed. She hadn't realised before just how appealing the elder Uchiha smelt, it reminded her slightly of Neji in fact, a wood like scent with an undertone of mulled spice, it reminded her of the winter months where the aroma of mulled wine would linger in the streets.

It was such a bittersweet moment between the pair, one that was unlike to occur ever again; a part of her was saddened by the brief almost sentimental encounter for Reina knew that it was fleeting and that from now on the role of captor and captive would take command once again. Reina parted her lips to murmur a quiet and slightly timid thank you only to find Itachi's hand clasped over her mouth, muffling her words before they even had the chance to leave her lips.

"Shhh…" He mouthed, his eyes bleeding into the Sharingan once more; the more he used it the more frequently Reina could tell, their chakras instantly telling one another of their intended actions. She nodded, her eyes wide in surprise as her breaths were muffled by his hand; Itachi narrowed his eyes and stared at the door, a familiar feeling overcoming the entire room as the door handle began to twist.

Genjutsu.

Reina had experienced the genjutsu of an Uchiha before but this…this time it was entirely different, she could feel her own chakra contribute to the simulation of the genjutsu, each individual fragment of chi aiding the fabricated world. Itachi removed his hand from her mouth, satisfied that she was not going to speak, the door swung open revealing two men at the door, their faces inquisitive and weary.

"You sure this is the room?" One asked the other as they entered the room, their eyes scanning the seemingly empty room.

"Yeah, the drunken ronin swore he seen them come in here. I'm surprised the Uchiha hasn't painted the walls red with her." The other replied, his voice gruff and vacant of any sympathy or morals. Reina averted her eyes from Itachi who had stared at her as the gruff man spoke feeling her stomach turn at the very thought. Reina stared at the men intently attempting to place where she had perhaps come across them, but then she saw it, the red heron insignia stitched into the arm of their yukata sleeve.

The insignia of the Himura clan. Her Grandmother's maiden clan…her Uncle's clan.

Reina frowned, lines appearing on her forehead as she scrutinised just why messengers of the Himura clan would be here. Itachi quirked a brow in curiosity feeling a bubble of uncertainty simmer away in his stomach as he stared at Reina, the same sensation happening in her stomach. She did not recognise their faces in fact they had no traits of the clan whatsoever, they even had outlandish katanas, then she realised something.

Messengers of the Himura clan don't carry katanas, they carry a bow and arrow to shoot down enemies from a distance to ensure their escape and delivery of the message.

They're not Himura messengers, they're mercenaries in disguise.

Reina pondered to herself, unable to believe her own words; why would mercenaries pose as messengers from the Himura clan? But then her question was answered.

"The girl isn't here, if the Uchiha hasn't killed her yet then the samurai must have been blind drunk and meant someone else." The taller of the pair muttered and held onto the scabbard of his sword idly, his grip tightening almost in annoyance.

"What do we tell the old man then? He won't be happy if his niece returns alive…" The other murmured, casually picking his teeth with a small senbon, seemingly unfazed. The taller one grunted in distaste as he shifted his weight from one foot to another, glancing about room in thought, his eyes passing over the silent pair without so much as hint of recognition. Reina clenched her fists at their words, her stomach bubbling with anger as she realised just who they were talking about.

Himura Atsushi. Her uncle.

Her uncle was in league with mercenaries? And they were out for her? That was the last straw. Itachi watched Reina closely noting her eyes darkening with an unspoken promise, he knew her uncle well and knew he was an ambitious man, rumoured to be affiliated with the Uchiha coup d'état. The gruff pair agreeing that their time was wasted there left, the door closing heavily behind them, leaving a tense and sudden dark aura lingering in the room.

Reina stood silently from her spot beside Itachi, the fabric of the yukata dragging along the floor occasionally as she attempted to hold it up, the robe sagging around her shoulders ever so slightly. She could feel her anger burn in her stomach, a familiar sensation occurring once more; all she could hear was static, the constant buzz echoing perpetually. Itachi watched wordlessly as the air around her began to pop and hiss violently, the chemicals smashing into each causing vicious and rapid reactions. He had heard rumours of this happening when they were younger, when she was frustrated or unable to concentrate her kekkai genkai would subconsciously react with everything around her.

"Reina-chan." Itachi murmured, he too standing attempting to calm the obviously torn kunoichi.

"Don't Itachi-san…please." Reina pleaded, her eyes closed as she attempted to calm herself, a futile action as all she could think about was her Grandmother and the danger she could be in right now.

That bastard. Thatabsolute bastard.

She cursed mentally as she began to pace the matted floor, the yukata ends trailing as she went. What was happening back home? How on earth did he know where they were? Why were mercenaries after her? Reina growled under her breath, her teeth clenched together whilst her hand flickered with tiny sparks; her chakra began to flow quicker around her body, the synapses lighting up now visible to the human eye as it crackled almost resembling electricity.

Itachi stared blankly before grabbing Reina by her shoulders and shaking her a little.

"Calm. Down." He muttered, staring down at her sternly; but this time she did not back down or back away, he could see the fire and pure rage burning in her eyes. Reina glared up at Itachi and attempted to push him away only for him to hold on to her tighter, his eyes narrowing at her decision.

"Do you have any idea what sort of man my Uncle is Itachi-san? Let me tell you, he is a pretentious and overly ambitious shadow of a man, using and disposing of people like chess pieces. So do not tell me to calm down when you have no idea what he has done to me to cause such an opinion." She hissed under breath, the air continuing to pop and sizzle wildly. He had never seen this side to Reina before, he doubt anyone had, her usual cheery disposition replaced with that of abhorrence and resentment fuelled by obvious past sufferings.

"Your Grandmother will be fine Reina-chan so it's~" Itachi started only to be interrupted.

"Do not belittle me with false integrity. Do you think a man who beat and scarred his own kin will have any sort of sympathy or feeling for his sister? No. So do not give me that." Reina spat curtly shrugging of his grip and trying to pull the sagging fabric back up to its correct position; but what happened next shook her to her very core. Itachi grabbed hold of her and pulled her to his chest, one arm sneaking around her waist as the other yanked the yukata down her back revealing her ashen skin.

"How dare you. Get off!" She shrieked trying to use her arms which were cramped in a useless mess against his chest; yet he ignored her shrills of protest and moved the yukata so it sat at her waist, her bare back exposed in the soft light of the room. Itachi stared once more at the area of skin that grabbed his attention all those moons ago back at the lair, the familiar sense of anger churning in his stomach now knowing just how she earn the mark. There etched into the pale skin of her back was a thin scar, it aligning along the ribs on her flank; Reina grew motionless feeling her fight drain away from her, feeling physically and emotionally vulnerable.

"Like I said Itachi-san, my Uncle is a shadow of man…enough to scar his grieving niece for refusing to follow in her Mother's footsteps." Reina whispered weakly, shuddering despite the lack of pain as he traced the small scar with his finger gently, the pieces falling into place why her anger escalated so quickly. Reina held onto the collar of his yukata feeling practically naked before the silent Uchiha; Itachi retraced the healed skin once more prior to pulling the fabric of her yukata back over her shoulders covering the secret she had kept for all those years.

Itachi brushed her dark locks behind her ear in one swift motion, not uttering a single word knowing that no word that passed his mouth would even begin to take away the hurt and trauma of the ordeal. Reina gazed up him mutely, her now glossy gold orbs portraying her raw emotions as she remained holding onto his yukata as if he were the only thing that was supporting her and keeping her from falling as he too kept her in his grasp, like a doll in his hands.

So now the Devil had become her confidant and the tea cold.

Would she be eternally damned if she shared the Devil's food once more and shared his bed to rest her weary head?

Only the Gods could decide.