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Chapter Thirteen - Fear and Elation

The book that she was trying to concentrate on couldn't seem to capture Lyssa's attention. Her thoughts kept straying back to Nicholas; the man that she had promised to help find the light even at the risk of her own life. The young woman often found her thoughts going back to the handsome young Noah. Despite the fact that he was allied with Master Cross the fact remained that she and Nicholas were technically on opposite sides in this war that no one was supposed to know about.

"Oh I give up." Folding down the tip of the page that she had already read three times, Lyssa placed the book on the nightstand. It was a lost cause and she was getting tired of reading the same sentences over and over. Her concentration simply wasn't there tonight.

Lyssa was lying in bed in yet another less than glamorous inn when she heard the sound of someone or something knocking on the door. And based solely on the knock she had a fairly good guess as to who the culprit was. Getting to her feet the young woman walked over to the door and pulled it open, to reveal none other than Timcanpy.

"Hello Tim." Lyssa smiled at the golem as the little golden creature entered the room without invitation. In the weeks that had passed since her last face to face meeting with the Noah of Praise, Timcanpy had been her constant visitor. And it still amazed her that the little creature seemed to have absolutely no difficulty tracking her down. "What kind of message have you brought for me this time?"

In answer to her question the golem fluttered into the center of the room and opened his mouth wide. An image of Nicholas was instantly displayed and Lyssa felt her heart skip a beat as she heard that the young Noah wanted to see her.

Tonight.

"I guess I get to sneak out again," Lyssa thought to herself as Timcanpy closed his mouth and then moved to perch on top of her chestnut hair. This made her feel like a little kid trying to get something by her parents. Of course Master Cross was about as different from her parents as it was possible to be but the fact remained that he was still technically responsible for her.

At least according to the Black Order.

"Not that he ever really listens to them." Her master was notorious for ignoring orders from his so called superiors. To be completely honest Lyssa was more than a little surprised that he had actually made it to the rank of general. "Who exactly made that decision? Who, in their right mind or otherwise, thought it would be a good idea? Cause I feel the need to send a strongly worded letter of complaint to whoever is responsible for this fiasco."

Time seemed to pass by unbearably slowly as Lyssa waited around until it was late enough to sneak out of her room without fear of her master catching her. The hands on the small clock that was positioned on the mantel were almost taunting her as the young woman stared at them. Silently bidding them to move quicker. She was looking forward to seeing Nicholas again and didn't even bother to attempt to rationalize this to herself. Normally she'd at least make the effort but this time she didn't even bother.

She wanted to see him again; that was simply all there was to it.

"What is wrong with me?" Lyssa muttered as an image of the handsome young Noah appeared in her mind's eye. She shouldn't be harboring such feelings for anyone on the side of the Millennium Earl but then again Lyssa couldn't really see him on the side of the rotund man who was out for the destruction of mankind. The Noah of Praise seemed more like someone caught up in something that he couldn't escape… or at least that he needed help in order to escape.

And the young woman was determined to offer that help.

Because she wanted to see what kind of person Nicholas could be if only given the chance that he deserved. And because it simply wasn't in her nature to give up on anyone. Not even those that many would argue weren't worth the trouble that it would take to save them.

"He's worth it…" Lyssa thought vehemently as she got to her feet, preparing to depart for her meeting.

Reaching out the young woman grabbed her Exorcist's coat and shrugged it on. Then she reached back and pulled up the hood, covering her chestnut hair and obscuring her features. Then, taking a deep breath, Lyssa walked over to the door and grasped the handle. Glancing outside the girl scanned the area, making absolutely certain that her master was nowhere to be seen.

Because she couldn't use the same excuse that she had employed the last time. There's no way that Cross would believe that she was going out to look for a job at this time of night so Lyssa had to make absolutely certain that she didn't get caught.

Once Lyssa was absolutely certain that the coast was clear the young woman stepped out into the darkness. Closing the door behind herself without a sound Lyssa walked briskly toward a path that led into the surrounding forest.

With Timcanpy leading the way.

"How far am I going to have to walk this time Tim?" Lyssa questioned the little golem as she followed along obediently behind him. The distance that she had to travel for these little meetings with the Noah of Praise were never the same so Lyssa had no way to gauge how bad it was going to be. And of course Timcanpy couldn't answer the question that she posed to him.

The little creature merely continued to fly forward, glancing back every so often. As though to make certain that Lyssa was still trailing along behind him. And, while it wasn't exactly easy to make her way down the darkened trail, Lyssa did manage to keep track of the little golem.

"I'm coming," Lyssa assured him.

Timcanpy nodded his small body and then continued with his forward progress. Continued leading the way toward the location where his master was waiting.

Before long Timcanpy entered a small clearing, something that Nicholas seemed to be adept at finding. It was as though the young man had an innate sense of direction, something that Lyssa was sadly lacking. Stepping into the clearing the young woman's searching brown eyes fell upon the Noah of Praise within minutes. It wasn't easy to see him in the absence of light but there was no mistaking who it was.

"Hello," Lyssa said in a soft voice, offering him a smile that she wasn't even sure that he could see from this distance. Reaching up the young woman removed the hood that was covering her head, shaking out her chestnut hair so that it was soon falling over her shoulders in soft cascades.

With a smile spreading across his own face Nicholas quickly covered the distance that separated them. Bowing slightly at the waist the mahogany haired Noah held his hand out to Lyssa, who gave him her own hand without hesitation this time. Nicholas placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand before raising his gaze to meet hers.

"Welcome," he whispered, straightening up and watching with amusement as a blush rose to color her cheeks.

"You sent for me…" Lyssa said, making every attempt to banish the embarrassment that his action brought about.

And failed miserably for the record.

"I did," Nicholas said, a roguish grin appearing on his face as he heard the note of discomfort that had appeared in the voice of the young Exorcist. "But it doesn't have anything to do with business…"

This last part was a confession that Nicholas hadn't intended to make however for whatever reason the words just seemed to come out. "Guess she just brings out the best in me," the young Noah thought bitterly as he waited for Lyssa to yell at him for his audacity.

But Lyssa just smiled.

"So I suppose that I should feel flattered that you wanted to see me bad enough to send Timcanpy out to get me… But you know I might not be so inclined to drop everything and show up the next time buddy boy."

"Buddy boy?" Nicholas repeated, a stunned and also somewhat confused expression appearing on his handsome face.

"Buddy boy," Lyssa confirmed, her gaze locked on the young man. "And while we're on the subject of Tim, there's something that I want to know. How is it that he always seems able to find us?"

The expression on the Noah's face turned to one of arrogance. "Tim's equipped with a tracking device of my own design. He can find anyone that he's came into contact with, no matter what steps they may take to hide. It's a dead useful little talent."

"You know I might be scared if I didn't know that you were harmless."

"I assure you that I'm far from harmless…" The voice of the Noah screamed out it's protest at this accusation and, as a result, Nicholas' voice had a sharp edge to it.

"Oh I fully realize that you could kill me in about two seconds and not even break a sweat." And yet there was a smile on Lyssa's face as she spoke this rather harsh bit of truth about what exactly the Noah was capable of doing. "But I also know that you won't… because buried in there somewhere is a good person."

The Noah of Praise was actually speechless.

Lyssa's eyes had adjusted enough to the darkness to pick up on this change in expression and it caused her to laugh. The sound was totally musical and Nicholas couldn't help but think to himself that he could listen to that sound for hours.

But something suddenly happened to take away the laughter, to be replaced by a scream. It was obvious, by the lack of light, that the night was overcast but there hadn't been even the slightest hint of a storm. That is until lightening suddenly flashed across the sky, followed mere seconds thereafter by an earsplitting crash of thunder.

The moment that the lightening appeared Lyssa jumped and let out an ear piercing scream.

Which startled Nicholas.

Stepping closer to the young woman he asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'm…" Another flash of lightening and crash of thunder caused Lyssa's body to once again jerk uncontrollably. "I just… really don't like thunderstorms."

Nicholas could actually see the young woman's body shaking and, without thinking of any possible repercussions to his actions, the young Noah reached out and pulled Lyssa into his embrace. The moment that they touched it was as though the skies opened up, releasing a torrent of water. The lightening continued to light up the sky, the thunder continued to echo, and Nicholas continued to hold the trembling form close to his heart.

"Shh," the young man soothed as though speaking to a young child. "It's alright little one, I've got you."

In any normal circumstance Lyssa would feel embarrassed over the fact that she was clinging to him like a drowning victim grasping a life preserver. But as the lightening continued to flash Lyssa found herself actually feeling safe in his arms. As though nothing bad could get to her where she was right now.

"We're getting soaked," she managed to whisper, her face pressed against the front of his tuxedo jacket.

"It doesn't matter," Nicholas said nonchalantly. And in the grand scheme of things it really didn't. The young man wanted nothing more than to comfort this woman who meant more to him than his very existence.

The angel who had came to save him from the darkness and bring him back into a light that he had long forgotten.

He would endure much more than a thunderstorm for her. For her he would walk through the very fires of hell. "Not an altogether impossible notion…" Nicholas thought wryly to himself, an image of Cross appearing completely unbidden in his mind's eye. "Since her master is the devil himself."

The storm passed by almost as quickly as it had appeared and within twenty minutes the skies had cleared somewhat. Revealing a small amount of stars. The clouds parted to partially reveal the moon, which bathed the clearing in a subdued light. As though someone had placed a spotlight on the young couple. Clearing her throat Lyssa gazed up at Nicholas, fully prepared to apologize for making a complete fool out of herself.

However the moment that her gaze met his, the young woman found that the words simply wouldn't come. All she could do was stare up at this man who had held her throughout the storm and never once laughed at the absurdity of the fact that an Exorcist who fought against Akuma was scared of a little thunder.

"You're beautiful…" Nicholas breathed as he gazed down at the woman that he still held in his arms.

Lyssa could only scoff at this statement. "I probably look like a drowned rat…"

Reaching out Nicholas touched her chin with the tips of his gloved fingers, raising her face so that he could once again stare down into her brown eyes. "You look like an angel to me."

Lyssa gasped, her eyes widening as she heard these words escape from his lips. Now the rational part of her knew that it couldn't possibly be true, owing to the fact that she was soaked clear through to the skin but the part of her that was still a woman felt elated by the compliment.

Nicholas found himself absolutely mesmerized by this woman and, once again without a moment's thought about any possible repercussions, the young man leaned forward and gently touched his lips to hers. Hoping as he did so that he wasn't about to make the worst mistake of his miserable life.

Lyssa was startled by the completely unexpected advance from the Noah but, after the moment of shock wore off, the young woman wrapped her arms around Nicholas and returned his gentle kiss.

The pair remained in this gentle embrace for a few blissful moments before Nicholas pulled away and gazed down at the girl. He wanted to make sure that he hadn't crossed some invisible line but his heart became infinitely lighter as he noticed the light that was shining in her eyes. "That was…"

"…wonderful." Lyssa felt a blush rising to warm her face but at the same time she couldn't keep herself from smiling.

"You took the words right out of my mouth," Nicholas said, offering her yet another charming smile. "But I really think that we should cut this little meeting short. It would probably be in your best interests to return to your room and change into dry clothing."

"Oh I see how you are," Lyssa said, playfully slapping him on the chest.

"Um… no… it's nothing like that…" Nicholas was normally very articulate but something about this woman frustrated him and caused him to trip all over himself as he attempted to explain his intentions. It was beyond infuriating.

Lyssa couldn't help but laugh at the fact that her words actually had him stuttering. The ever arrogant Noah of Praise was acting like a nervous school boy and Lyssa had to admit that this fact amused her greatly. Grinning like the cat that ate the canary Lyssa once again wrapped her arms around him. "I was just giving you a hard time Nicholas. I fully realize that you have a valid point; I'm not so thick that I would just roam around in wet clothing."

"That was cruel," Nicholas murmured as Lyssa once again wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm just like that sometimes," Lyssa said, standing on her tip toes so that she could give him a quick peck on the cheek. "Side affect of hanging around Master Cross."

"We're going to have to do something about that," Nicholas said, only partially kidding. That red haired Exorcist was a bad influence on this gentle soul and Nicholas shuddered to think what prolonged exposure could do to her personality.

"I don't think there's a cure," Lyssa chuckled as she turned to depart. "If you want to schedule another meeting just send Tim! He knows where to find me after all." And, with these parting words, Lyssa turned and walked toward the trail that would take her back to the inn where she and the others were staying.

"Farewell my angel," Nicholas whispered as he watched her depart, a soft look in his stormy eyes. "Til next we meet… and I hope it's soon."

A/N - They finally kissed! Only took thirteen chapters to get there. I really hope that you guys enjoyed this chapter and I would be very much appreciative if you would leave a review and share your thoughts.