For the past fourteen years

For the past fourteen years, this person has been protecting her and worrying about her. Lila thought she already knew this before, but hearing his words now during this situation where they stand on opposing sides... Even now, he is still desperately trying to protect her. Everything he does is for her.

Any normal person would have accepted his feelings by now. He has done so much and sacrificed so much for her sake. Yet the person that lingers in her heart even now is her husband, Karashima Haruka.

The world is so unfair. How come he has to suffer this much? Kiryu has spent the past thirteen years devoted to her.

She took a deep breath. "I may have saved you, but don't forget Kiryu; you saved me too. It wasn't physically saving, but you saved my heart. When I was younger, so many things were happening around me, my parents, Ren-san, and the hanyou world. At some point, my emotions gradually became cold, and I became indifferent to everything. But you changed that, Kiryu."

She may have gone to him because she figured he was in danger. But there was no doubt, the sound of his bells - the sound of stars drew her towards him—somebody who was exactly like her and yet at the same time different. Lila never thought she would meet a person like that.

"You kept me safe." Her gaze softened when several images from the past appeared in her head. A young Kiryu standing right in front of her blocking her from the adults who gave her odd looks.

When her mother left, and her father became a mess. The adults around her figured it was not a good idea to leave her with her father. Some suggested sending her to the church as they did with her sister. But that would do no good due to the darkness inside her body. During that time, Lila recalled how scared she felt, and yet strange enough, despite that fear, she did not fall apart. Kiryu was there for her.

"I understand the dangers of the current situation. You must have taken my child because of some kind of danger I am not aware of yet. But I don't think it will do either of us any good if I continue hiding behind you." Lila trailed off. Her gaze landed on the skies, and she extended her hand out. "Even now, I think I am powerless. But if there is something I can do, even if it is something small, I want to try."

"Are you not satisfied with the way I do things?"

Lila sighs. "Well, I don't appreciate you sneaking around."

"Are you afraid?"

"Yes." She is afraid, so very frightened. But, Lila recalled how pained Haruka was the last time she saw him. Her husband's pain and the desperation she heard in Jae-hees tone at that time. Moreover, she looks back at Kiryu. The person who has protected her this whole time. "I am afraid, but not knowing and not doing anything is scarier."

Having power and not using it is a sin. Somebody told her this before—the power she has, the darkness surrounding her since she was younger. She needs to accept it properly.

"That answer is like you. But," Kiryu suddenly grabbed her hand.

Her eyes widened at the sudden contact of their hands. Lila was about to pull away when she realized his hand was trembling.

"Sorry, Lila, I still don't tell you everything. I know you need to know. No matter how much we run away, the truth will reach us eventually. Even If I don't say anything, it will eventually happen."

"Im too impatient."

It isn't just impatience, and they both know that. The more days that go by, the more destruction occurs. The more she feels drawn to all these events. The role she has to play in all of this is still not clear to her, but she is no bystander in this.

Kiryu extended his hand out towards her. He hesitated but pulled her into his arms. "I took Kotori away because I noticed there was something weird about her. She was in such a bad condition, but her injuries healed up fairly quickly. She bled so much, but right in front of my eyes, her serious wound healed before the ambulance came."

Something weird--? Lila blinks; she wasn't expecting this kind of news. But then again, she didn't expect to hear the things Kiryu said about protecting her.

"Anything else?"

"Your son," Kiryu mumbled. "--is dangerous."

At that comment, she clenched her fist. It's not like she didn't figure that out before. Lila failed to mention it to anybody, but it felt like it was sucking her life force away when the child was still in her body. "A child of darkness? How bad is it?"

Kiryu paused. "I can't say."

Lila hits his chest then. "Don't tell me that part if you won't explain everything." She said angrily.

"I know your frustrated Lila, but.."

"No, buts Kiryu. I want to see my child. Please." Lila begged him.

They had a peaceful mood going on just a few minutes ago, so how did things end up like this? But whenever she thought of that child, she would think of her husband. It is selfish of her, but that child is the only thing that would ease her pain of not meeting Haruka.

The proof of their love and those peaceful days they spent together.

There was a long wave of silence. Lila kept hitting him until he grabbed her wrist. "Sorry, I cant." Kiryu shook his head. "But Lila, right now, just worry about yourself. Downstairs, people recognized you."

"I know."

"Instead of walking into a den of wolves, please take care; otherwise, my efforts all this time would be in vain, no?"

She glares harshly at him. That is so unfair! If he says things like that, how can she say anything else? But the words Kiryu just told her echoed in her head. The past fourteen years, this person has kept her safe. He has shielded her from all the dangers of the world. Like her brother, her friend, and even the person she loves, he acted as her family.

Austin Kiryu played so many roles in her life.