The bell rang. Everyone stood up at hurried out of the classroom. Lili was the last out the door, glaring at Madi and Kumi when she got into the hallway. They made innocent gestures and waved goodbye to her, leaving her to meet Shiruo under the arch. She couldn't find a way through the crowd of students without being seen so she went back to the attic, determined to use the ladder on the side of the other building.

Looking around to make sure nobody was watching, she successfully made it to the second building and started down the ladder. She had only begun the decent when she heard a noise. At first, she thought it was the wind trying to blow her off again, but she realized that it sounded more like boiling water. And boiling water it was. A broken pipe, angled towards the ladder suddenly spit out hot water, hitting her on the hand, and making her let go of the ladder. She still had about twenty five feet to go and she ended up falling the rest of the way.

Shiruo caught her once more and smiled, setting her down. "Must we keep meeting this way? Or are you determined to break a few bones?" She smiled back, slapping her injured hand against the wall next to her. His smile faded slightly. "Doesn't that hurt?" He asked. She looked at him and shook her head. He made an innocent gesture. "Come on, why wont you talk to me?" She remained silent. To be honest, she hated the way her voice 'sounded like a bell' as her mother and friends put it.

She dismissed the thought as he waved her over to where he now stood. They walked down the street and into a few allies before he stopped and opened a trap door. "Ladies first." Aware of another presence outside, she nodded and walked into the trapdoor, finding herself on a set of makeshift stairs. Shiruo walked in with her and he quietly shut the door behind them. Complete darkness overwhelmed her. Unaware that he was watching, she spoke, lighting her hand.

"'frente a escuridão domina, ilumine meu lado para acalmar e superar." Portuguese

Her hand illuminated. He watched in awe as she was able to make the light of her hand turn into a bright white ball of light, floating in the air. As they were walking down, a thought struck him. "How many languages can you speak?" She looked up at him and held up seven fingers. "Please talk to me." He said. She shook her head and they continued down the stairs.

They stayed like that for the rest of the way, silent. As they approached a door, she felt the same feeling as when she entered. Were they being followed? She had no way of knowing, for she had no wish to speak at the moment. He glanced at her and, seeing her small frown, looked around. So she feels it too. I guess there's more to her than she lets on. Suddenly, the ball of light dissipated and the feeling that someone else was there was gone. He quickly lit one of the nearby torches and looked around, feeling that something wasn't right.

He was correct. Someone had taken Lili and disappeared before either of them could do anything. He could do nothing but continue on, his senses telling him that he would find what he was looking for up ahead. He walked for what seemed like hours, about ready to give up. But, just before he collapsed onto the ground, he told himself that Lili needed his help. He continued to walk, forcing one foot in front of the other. He was once more about to give up when he heard a voice. Finding a sudden burst of energy, he ran as quietly as he could towards the door that the voice was coming from. When he finally found it, he pressed his ear against the door in an attempt to make out the words.

"Shiruo mumble mumble you will mumble wife. Mumble mumble forced to mumble."

Shiruo stood back from the door suspiciously. What did he have to do with anything? Who was the guy talking to? Well, he assumed that the person speaking was a man because of the deepness of the voice. But, on the other hand, they could be a woman. He dismissed the thought. It was most likely a man, and he would have Lili with him. Tied to a chair most likely. Shiruo thought, a frown forming on his face.

He looked around and found no other way to get into the room. Finally, he decided to just push open the door and barge in there, demanding for her back. And he did just that. The man talking, spun around quickly and smirked. "What are you smirking at, Nitmasu?" Shiruo half-yelled. Lili looked up at the sound of his voice. Instead of being tied to a chair her hands were tied to a pipe that was protruding from the wall. Unable to help, she sat helplessly next to the pipe as one of Nitmasu's henchmen ran towards Shiruo from behind, raising his sword.

"Shiruo!"

That was the first time she had spoke to him so far. It's strange, he thought, how her voice sounds like a harp. He didn't voice the thought though. Instead, he whirled around and dropped backwards in one smooth movement, knocking the henchmen out of balance. Lili, seeing enough, closed her eyes, only opening them when she felt the rope holding her tied hands to the pipe get cut. An arm wrapped around her waist and she was dragged towards a door that she hadn't noticed before. She struggled and was about to call out Shiruo's name once more when everything went black. Nitmasu removed his fingers from her pressure point and continued to drag her out the secret door behind a rock on the left hand side of the big room.

Shiruo killed the last of the henchmen and looked toward where Nitmasu was dragging Lili's unconscious body behind a rock. Knowing that if he didn't move now, he would disappear with her once more. Adrenaline surged through his system, urging him to go faster with every step took. Nitmasu noticed Shiruo running towards him and he ran like the wind towards the door. But he wasn't at full sprint. Shiruo failed to notice this small detail and caught up to Nitmasu just before he could open the door.