I woke up in my bed, with a headache and feeling sicker. Yokai must have sent for a doctor while I was unconscious because I was only in bandages, but I could tell no magic was used. Still in pain, I slowly sat up and looked to the side there was a sheet of paper on my pillow. I picked it up and lit the lantern that was next to my bed as now it was dark. I must have been unconscious for hours.

I looked down at the paper there was a note written in Yokai's handwriting.

"You will not use any healing magic on your wounds, you will not use potions either. I want them to scar so that they will be a reminder of what happens when you disobey me. Pets must do anything to please their masters and you need to be trained. I do not know how many times I must tell you this but you are mine! MINE! MINE! MINE! Do not forget it!"

I burst into tears, there really was no way Kin could save me, it was a foolish hope; Yokai was never going to let me escape; he was too possessive of me. I wished that I didn't have this power. It was the reason I was here, it was giving me false hope. Even if Kin somehow managed to free my village, he would most likely have to fight Yokai in order to free me and Yokai was so strong.

I was really feeling the pain in my whole body, my arms and legs hurt, so did my chest and my wings... I wondered if there was anything I could do to stop the pain.

Suddenly the door opened and I was in fear yet again, Yokai was probably back to hurt me more but my fear subsided when I heard the person's voice.

"W-what happened? You look awful! What did that pervert do to you!?"

I looked up feeling so relieved to see Kin running towards me. "Hey," I whispered weakly as I looked up at him and tried to smile.

Kin was looking me up and down and pulled away the covers to revel my naked body, he blushed slightly, put the blanket back and apologised which was kind of cute in a weird way but I was still very embarrassed about it and held the top of the blankets tightly with shaking hands so that it wouldn't happen again, with my face red.

"We have to find a potion or something!" Kin said, panicked.

As he turned I stopped him by grabbing his wrist and pulled weakly. "No! Don't! If I try to heal my wounds I'll only be beaten again!"

Kin stared at me, his eyes full of worry but when I showed him the note he simply nodded. "Why?" he asked "why did he beat you like that?" I could clearly see how worried he looked which made me feel happy; it was comforting to know someone cared about me even if we only knew each other for a day and even if in the end he wouldn't be able to help me like he so wanted to do.

I decide to tell him quickly maybe then he wouldn't think of it as a big deal. "He kissed me and I got scared and I slapped him, then I tried to run... These wounds are nothing, you don't need to worry, Kin." I tried to smile at him to reassure him but he didn't seem to believe that I was okay.

"You are not okay! Angelus have you even seen yourself?! You're arm's swollen and all those bandages... some are red! And those bruises!" Kin clearly still in panic mode grabbed the hand mirror off my bedside table and handed it to me.

When I looked at myself I was taken back; I really did look awful. While my face was untouched the rest of my body was covered in wounds, no wonder Kin was so worried. Signing I put the mirror back and turned to Kin. "You really don't have to do this you know. I was thinking that maybe it's for the best that you just kill me. While I'm here in Yokai possession I'm a threat to your rebel army and I don't want to be. Also I don't want you to risk your life for me. I've suffered too much all I want now is death..."

Kin looked at me with wide eyes. "No! I will not do that, what do you think'll happen to your family huh? Yokai will have no need to keep them alive if you die. Not only that but your vision you said I was meant to fight Yokai right? Sure you don't know how it'll end but still! I'm not giving up on you... also..." Kin seemed to stop in the middle of his sentence as he stared at me.

"Also..." I said trying to urge him to finish his sentence when he didn't continue I asked "What?"

"About two years ago I encountered Yokai's army, I thought about it a lot after meeting you and well I believe that they were on their way to kidnap you. Yokai said something like 'bringing the one his father wants' or something like that... anyway later that day I found out that Yokai was now first in line for the throne and that my friends might have died, I was so shocked I fainted and had this weird-ass dream..."

"About?" I asked, intrigued.

"I was running in some dark maze and I heard screaming, I followed the sound of the screams and came to a door and I saw a pure white feather like the ones on your wings... When I opened the door I was in total darkness and I couldn't move while I heard someone begging for help. It was strange it felt so real, I think there was something telling me that you need help, I mean the darkness and the feather and the cry for help..."

I was stunned it sounded like Kin also had a vision of the future even though it seemed to be more symbolical in it's context... "Have you ever had this happen again?" I asked.

"No, never."

"Hmm, strange," I said as I put my hand to my chin "I can't explain that. I don't think you have any magical power so it's very unlikely we have similar powers..."

"I don't have any magical power, I was told this as a child but still! You didn't do something to send me the vision did you?"

"How could I? I hadn't met you so even if I could do something like that, which I can't, I couldn't... Unless I did something unconsciously..."

"Weird... Anyway I suppose that it doesn't matter, I brought the map, you can show me were your village is now."

"... You won't kill me?" I asked, I didn't want to live anymore and as much as I wanted to believe my vision I couldn't, I was scared and I didn't want to be in the world that I hated so much anymore.

"No! I am going to try to help you, Angelus. Trust me, I will free you!"

I nodded, reluctantly at him, I was feeling too weak and sore to argue with him. I tried to get up off the bed or at least turn to put my feet on the ground but I found that it was too painful to move and ended up grunting in pain.

Kin genitally put his hands on my shoulders and carefully pushed me back a little so that I was sitting flat against the headboard of the bed. "Try not to move, you'll only make your wounds worse. How bad is the pain anyway?" He said looking over my body again making me feel even more embarrassed. At least he was looking at me with worry and not lust like Yokai did. Kin was just making sure I was okay.

"In a scale of one to ten, ten being the worst I'd say... hmm... maybe about eight, eight point five-ish..."

"Damn, maybe I should come back tomorrow, if you're in so much pain you should rest."

"No, I'm okay really! The sooner you can free my village the sooner I can be free. Even though I still say you should just kill me..."

"I will not kill you, Angelus! Let's just look at the map."

I nodded, I was too weak to argue and Kin sat on the bed next to me and handed me a map that he had rolled up and shoved in his belt. It wasn't a very big map but I suppose it made it easier for him to carry. The paper didn't seem to be in good quality and it was starting to tear at the corners. I hesitated wondering if I should really tell him, if he died I couldn't forgive myself. I defiantly liked him whether that was because I legitimately liked him or if it was just because he was the first person I had contact with in the last two years who didn't hurt me, I didn't know but that made me feel really lonely.

Sighing I pointed to my village, I didn't want Kin to be killed but I really wanted to be free. I should really believe in him... "It's here, in the north-east corner surrounded by forest."

Kin looked at the map and nodded "ok, it looks hard to get to. If that fort wasn't occupied with soldiers it'd be easy but if I go that way..."

"Yeah, if you go around the mountains there is a increased chance of getting caught so you'll have to go through the mountains. It'd be best if you keep as far away from the fort as possible, just in case there are patrolling soldiers. Going north first and going though the thicker mountains will probably be your best chance of making it there alive. However as it is colder now you'll need better clothes and supplies if you don't want to freeze to death. How long do you think it'll take to get these supplies?" I looked up a Kin to see his puzzled face as he looked at the map.

"How much supplies will I need?" he asked, leaning closer to me to see the map a bit better, I felt myself blush a little at the closeness. I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy with Kin this close to me but I also felt really safe and I couldn't help but want to cuddle close to him just so I could feel even safer. I began to wonder that if things were different and if we met under different circumstances maybe I would've asked him out after all he was rather attractive and he seemed so kind, so far at least.

"Well, you'll need at least two or three weeks worth of food because you won't be able to get any on the mountains and you'll need to eat to keep up your strength and to keep warm. You'll need water and good quality weapons, they have probably taken away weapons from the villagers and you'll need some for them because you can't possibly free the village alone but you could steal weapons while you're there. Oh and you'll need armour too."

"I'll need a little less than a week to gather all of this... we don't have much weapons as it is so I'll need to get some. Armour will be hard to get, again we don't have much and what we do have is reserved for the men and women who are up front and fighting head on. I'm a thief so I'm less likely to be attacked as I can sneak past soldiers and also armour slows me down too much..."

I sighed again "At least wear something! I won't forgive myself if you die! Even if you are a bit of an idiot for doing this!"

Kin looked a little shocked at what I said but smiled anyway "aww so cute you care about me!"

"Hmph, I do not!" I said as I crossed my arms and pouted, almost... playfully...? What's gotten into me? Kin makes me feel so comfortable...

Kin laughed lightly and put his hand on my head, I was about to pull away and tell him not to pet me like a dog like Yokai did but Kin just messed up my hair a little before taking his hand away. "You are just adorable!" he laughed and I couldn't help but smile at him. "Okay so I'll try to get some light weight armour, like leather so something. You know I won't die, Angelus I promised to save you and I will. I'll come to see you every night until I've gotten all the supplies, I'll have to steal it all and that'll take a couple of days but after that I'll go straight to your village and save it."

"Okay, Kin, I'd like you to come to see me more..." I said as I smiled slightly at him, I was feeling much better than I did before but still not entirely sure Kin was strong enough. "Just get the supplies and come back safe."

"You know I will. Is there anything else I should know?"

"Hmm well, if you could I'd like it if you could find my necklace and bring it to me?"

"Your... necklace?"

"Yeah it belonged to my mother and it's means a lot to me, I'd like it back as soon as possible. The day I was taken I had left it on my bedside table, I hope it's still there and hasn't been sold..."

"Okay, I'll try to find it, what does it look like?"

"It's really simple looking, it's just a string of gold beads."

"OK, is there anything else?"

"Not really... Just try to find my friends and my father. It shouldn't be too hard as the village is small so you could just ask people if you keep away from the soldiers. My friend's names are Hana and Takeshi. Hana's crazy and annoying and won't shut up but she's the nicest person I know. Takeshi isn't very bright and is very hotheaded, sometimes I don't know if he knows how to think..."

"Huh? They sound like fun."

"They are, even though they do annoy me... I wish I could just see them again and my father too. Even if it was just one last time..." I said as I turned my head away and looked out the bared window, the curtains had not been drawn so I could see right outside, the crescent moon shone brightly and the stars twinkled, what I would give to simply go outside and fly in the beautiful night sky...

Kin knocked me out of my day dream when he put his arms around me causing me to jump in surprise. "Sorry," he said quietly but he didn't move his arms and he gently hugged me close. Again I felt the safeness that Kin provided and relaxed, I laid my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. He felt so... warm.

"... Thank you..." I whispered softly to him.

Kin chuckled softly and asked "For what? I haven't done anything yet."

I awkwardly shook my head not wanting to move it from his shoulder. "No, Kin, you have done so much already. Just the fact that you are willing to try to save me and... well you make me feel less lonely. I feel so... safe around you."

"I'm glad, I will set you free and I will make you happy ok?" Kin sounded so confidant... I had just met him yesterday but I already trusted him and felt so safe around him, my vision probably helped with that.

I sat up to look at him, gave him a half smile and properly looked him in the eyes. "Thank you again, Kin."

Kin smiled back at me and I swore I heard him say "so cute," under his breathe.

I blushed, I knew that Kin thought I was attractive; he had said so yesterday but he said it again... a few times... I knew that I should take it as a complement but after all that happened would I really want something like this. A relationship? With Kin?

I mentally slapped myself, of course I didn't want a relationship with Kin, after the abuse from Yokai I never wanted to date like I had dreamed about before and besides I just met Kin! Not that, that doesn't make him hot and really kind...

"Is there anything I can do for you right now?" Kin asked me "anything that could take away the pain or something?"

I shook my head, there was a pain killer potion but if I used it Yokai would notice and I'd just be in more pain. "I can deal with it, I've done so before, can you just stay here with me for a while longer?"

"Sure, what time does someone come in?"

"It depends, you should probably leave about an hour or two before sunrise... that is, if you want to stay..." I said looking down at the blanket and playing with the top of it in my hands.

"It's ok, I'll stay with you, anything to help you out."

I was happy that Kin would stay with me all night. We stayed up for several hours talking quietly about whatever came to mind, even if it was kind of stupid but it was fun, the most fun I've had in two years.