~MISAKI~

I waited for him to come to the clearing. I knew he would come.

His salient enemy was surrendering. How was he supposed to be able to resist?

The soft moonlight made the daises on the banks of the lake shine softly with an ethereal glow, like they were lit on the inside. I laughed humorlessly at them.

I sat on a boulder, splashing my bare feet in the cool water, the pants of my soul weaver armor rolled up to my knees.

My ears pricked up when I heard him pad into the clearing. He wasn't trying to be silent, he just naturally was.

"I didn't expect you to come alone." I said.

"I could say the same to you." He replied. I laugh.

"I came armed," I notified him.

"Why?" he asked, though he probably already knew the answer.

"I want to talk before you take me." It was true. I wanted answers. Answers only he himself could provide.

"Negotiations?"

"Partly." He came and stood beside the the boulder. He hadn't brought his usual talking sword, just a normal Katana. It probably had some nifty powers, but it didn't talk. He dropped it onto the grass.

I unhinged my soul claws from my wrists, and laid them down on the grass, and lowered my hood.

He looked at me strangely for a moment, then took off his helmet. My breath caught.

~SEPULCHURE~

She lowered her hood. It was the first time I saw her hair, and i was shell shocked.

It was in a simple loose braid that hung over her shoulder. I assume she had it tucked it in with a clip or something when the hood was up, but now, when she lowered the hood, it looked a good three feet.

But it was the color that amazed me. It was pure white, like fresh snow, and her longish bangs just brushed her eyes, longer strands curling and framing her pale face, a great contrast to her acid green eyes.

I decided to return the favor. I took off my helmet and dropped it on the grass with my sword. I'm so glad to be free of that annoying talking sword.

I saw her eyes widen and smirked slightly.

~MISAKI~

Wow. Just, Wow. Who'd have thought Sepulchure of all people was a hottie?

...

Not that it changes anything.

His dark brown hair was a bit longer than I had imagined it to be, falling in waves down till his chin. His eyes were a red tinged brown, and despite the warm colour, they were cold, and ruthless. I got the impression that a lot had had happened to make him the way he was.

I shrugged off the initial surprise, and shifted a little so he could sit on the boulder beside me.

He sat close to me for some reason, but I refused to give in to the apprehension and back down, so I didn't move.

"So, what do you want to talk to me about?" He asked in a low voice. He sounded quite normal now that he had dropped the arrogant tone and the loudness. Pleasant, even.

"Why are you attacking Lore?" I asked. Lets get down to business.

"To get to you. It's not Lore we want. It's you." I felt the guilt get heavier, and I almost choked. This was it. It was confirmed that every single death caused by this war is my fault. All those people dead, all those families grieving, all my fault.

"So if I come with you, you'll never do anything to harm Lore again?" I asked, satisfied that my voice was steady. I needed confirmation.

"Yes." He didn't hesitate. I looked into his eyes, and the truth was reflected there. I stood up and faced him.

"Fine then." He stood as well, and looked me in the eyes.

"Are you sure?" He asked. His tone was hard.

"He won't go easy on you. He'll make your death slow and painful." I hesitated for a second, but then brutally stamped away any second thoughts. Those people died because of me. I've killed hundreds of people, hurt even more, and left even more mourning, and none of it would have happened if I had just given myself up earlier.

"I'm sure." He frowned a little, though I don't know why, then turned and beckoned for me to follow. I left my weapons and took of my armor and left them near the boulder and followed him. Then suddenly he stopped.

"Don't you want to take anything with you? You'll never see them again."

"It's better this way." I replied. We walked a while till the soft green grass faded to white sand, and there in the distance I could see the dragon skeleton with the castle perched on top. It looked somehow beautiful in the pale moonlight. We got into a boat, and stopped directly under it and then the boat rose into the sky. He started to climb up winding stone stairs, and I followed his lead.

We were in the castle then when I felt a sharp pain on my left temple and I fell to the ground.

The last thing I saw was Sepulchure's pained expression.

XXX