Chapter 6

"This is perfect!" Rui exclaimed after Keira finished telling him about Aki.

"Perfect how?" Keira stared at her bathroom door in wonder.

"We've been talking about adding another person to our party—"

"No, you've been talking about it, and I've been telling you 'no' repeatedly."

"But..." Rui gestured to the bathroom. "You just told me he knows about you hiding your injuries. Oh, please don't tell me that means you plan to make sure he doesn't tell anyone. I mean, I've got your back if you did something, but—"

Thwack!

"Ouch." Rui rubbed his upper arm where she punched him. "What was that one for?"

"I literally just told you what happened; you know I didn't hurt him." Not that I would without reason.

"Fine, fair enough, but I swear you're getting more violent."

"You don't seem to react well enough to anything else."

Rui thought about it for a moment and shrugged. "You might have a point, but do you have to hit me so hard?"

"I doubt you'd notice it otherwise."

"Okay, fine, I might not notice... but I'd really appreciate it if you didn't hit me hard enough to bruise."

"Are you going to bruise from that?" Keira frowned. "I thought your body was tougher than that."

His jaw hung open. "How dare you question my toughness?!"

Keira rolled her eyes.

"I still vote we add him to our party."

"What if he gets injured? Or worse..."

"Then it happens. If he joins us, he joins knowing the risks. I know them. You know them. I know you don't want another tragedy, like what happened with—"

"Don't. Please don't." She gripped her hands in her lap. No matter what he says, I know the truth. He died because I couldn't protect them. Because he tried to protect me instead.

"He didn't die because of you, Keira, and you shouldn't end up avoiding help because of what happened."

"It's better if it's just us."

"I think him helping you earlier proved otherwise. Look, I get it, what happened... was truly horrible, and I'd hate for something like that to happen again—"

"Good, then you agree it should stay just us."

Rui sighed, shaking his head. "Not in the slightest. I think someone else might help us stay alive longer. And if we're around, we'll save other people. See what I'm getting at?" Rui slung back his drink and poured another glass. "Besides, we're going to need the help."

"Oh?"

"There's definitely something brewing, though I don't know what." He poured her a fresh glass.

"Guess I didn't mention the gashes on the crystal this time."

His eyes widened. "As in someone attacked it? Damn, I was hoping I was wrong about something going on. How do we figure out who? Do we go back to the scene of the crime?"

"That won't help us any. I already fixed the crystal, and there wasn't any more evidence. I doubt someone would leave the weapon that did it behind, but we'd also have nothing to compare it to."

"So we're out of luck until something else happens?"

"Pretty much. It might be best to have someone guard the crystals at all times now." She swirled her drink around in her glass.

"Probably, but do we have enough guards to spare for them all? One person may not be enough to fend off whoever broke the last seal. Do you think any of the previous times the seals cracked someone was causing it?"

"Not that I can tell... but it seems like they've been cracking more lately, so who knows? Maybe they're trying to make deeper cuts because I've been fixing them, but they didn't think they'd draw attention. There's no real way to know unless we catch a culprit."

"And for that, we need more manpower."

"Ugh." She rolled her eyes.

"If things are getting more dire, then it's unavoidable that we need more people. Despite your awesomeness, you're still human, Keira. Even you need help."

"I'll do it!" a voice came from the other side of the bathroom door.

Keira and Rui exchanged a look.

"Guess he woke up." Rui set his glass aside and stood. "You never told me what you wanted to do with him."

Keira shrugged. "Not sure how to safely get him out of here this time."

Aki knocked on the door and peeked into her bedroom. "Am I allowed to open this?"

"Yes, of course. Rui already knows about you, and no one else should come by here tonight."

He opened the door, still sitting on the floor. "As I was saying, I'll do it!"

"Do what?"

"I'll join you guys."

"I didn't ask you to."

"Good to have you aboard!" Rui approached him, hand out.

"I didn't agree!" Keira complained.

Rui shook Aki's hand and gripped it tighter as he dragged him to his feet. "We definitely need help from talented individuals like yourself."

Ugh, don't butter him up.

"Oh." Aki laughed. "Thank you." On his feet, his legs wobbled again. "S-sorry! Guess I'm still too tired."

This is what happens when someone tries to take on my burden.

"No worries." Rui slipped his arm under Aki's and around his waist. "I can hold you up."

"Thank you, Mr. Rione."

"Rui is fine, and I can even carry you like a princess if you need me to."

"N-no, thank you." Aki's face burned.

Oh no. Rui will tease him until he's up in flames. But maybe he'll run to save himself then.

"Suit yourself." Rui shrugged and headed for her door.

"Where are you taking him?" Keira asked. Not sure how well that would go if they tried to go out the front door at this time of night.

"Well, unless you need him here for something more." Rui wiggled his eyebrows.

Idiot. She frowned at him.

"I'm taking him to my room to rest. I'll claim he was my drinking buddy; it's not a big deal. Better than leaving him here."

Definitely wouldn't look good if he was found in my room. She nodded.

"Thank you," Aki whispered to him, wondering what he was thinking, breaking into her room again, especially in his condition.

"No problem. When you're better, you can support us more. So, care to tell me more about your powers? I've never heard of green fire before."

Keira closed the door behind them and leaned her head against it. "Now what do I do?"

With someone ready and willing to join us, Rui isn't going to back down on this. I'm doomed.

She sat back down with her drink, swirling the liquid around.

If only things had been different. If only I could've saved you... Wakaru, what should I do? I wonder if he would've forgiven me for my carelessness...

She downed the rest of her drink.

You'd think he'd bring something stronger after the day we've had.

Keira stared at the empty glass. "I think causing the death of one healer was bad enough. Do I really want to chance sacrificing another?"

Ugh, I'm just spinning my wheels at this rate.

She opened her nightstand drawer and pulled out a blue crystal necklace.

"I really should've sent this to your family instead of keeping it."

The crystal warmed in her hand, though she couldn't tell if it was real, or the drink taking effect.

It would be nice if you were watching over me in some way, but I highly doubt I'd be lucky enough for that.

Knock, knock.

Who would come here at this time?

"It's me," someone whispered from the other side.

Me who? It's too quiet to tell. It almost sounded like... the king?

Keira opened her door and stared up at Shun in a navy night robe, his long red hair in disarray. "What's wrong? Did something happen?" Since when does he show up in my room? Was Aki caught and captured?

"Keira, I'm glad you're still awake and looking well after the incident earlier. May I come in?"

"Uh..." That wouldn't look right. He's not Rui...

"Oh, right, right." He looked down the hall, both directions. "No one is around, and I need to talk to you in private."

Must be serious.

She glanced down the hall herself and stepped back, letting him in.

"So, what's wrong now?"