He removed his fingers from the semi-corpse lying on the floor.

How disgusting.

"Humans are such ungraceful creatures", he spat, disgusted.

"Well, they had their memories drained, what did you expect?", chuckled the woman at his side.

"Even so, humans are too weak. It's easy to make them desperate", he scoffed, "I wonder how demons got beaten when they have so much power at their disposal"

"Yes, I wonder too", she chuckled, "Well, let's see how much it takes to break a non-human right?"

-00-

"...We arrived"

He looked behind him.

Haruka was still sleeping. Curled up and looking small, he didn't see her a lot more than it's needed, so it was the first time he saw how frail she really was.

Opening the back door, he placed his hand gently on her cheek, the only uncovered place as he lent his cloak, her skin cold to the touch.

"Nanami", he called in a whisper.

The girl didn't even move, her breath soft, too deep in her slumber. He could tell that her body trembled a bit because of her tired muscles.

She was more tired than I thought, he sighed, She put a brave front, but in the end I don't think she can help today.

"...Haruka", he started to nudge her.

The girl finally stirred, blinking her tired eyes, staying still until she had enough strength to sit up.

"Where am I?"

"We are in front of a psychiatric hospital"

"Why are we here?"

"The victims of the supernatural attacks are here", he explained, "I need to talk with the headmaster"

She nodded, looking uncomfortable.

"... You can feel the patients' distress with your power right?", it was more a statement than a question, "... I can't let you here when you're too weak, so I ask you to endure it until I'm finished here"

"...Alright"

"... Hold my arm"

"Hum?"

"You can barely stand right?", he said, "I could turn a bit of your weariness into energy, but I think it would take a great toll on your body"

She finally understood what he meant. A bit reluctant and feeling her heart pounding, she placed her hand on his arm, feeling as he moved it closer so he could support her if something happened.

She felt puzzled.

Did he honestly not feel anything at all? As far as she remembers, he was being kind and thoughtful when they were together, so she always wondered if he was as cold as he seemed.

"There's something on your mind?", Ai asked, noticing how quiet she was.

"No, I'm fine", she briefly looked at him, "We can go now"

-00-

As soon as they entered she could feel the great distress of people inside the building, their madness so intense that she could almost feel it.

"It's really bad", Ai narrowed his eyes, "I will see if I can dismiss their suffering"

She felt his power acting up, and for a second she felt relief as the anguished cries diminished.

"Let's go", he made signs to hurry up.

The hospital was full of people running around. Doctors, nurses, patients in wheelchairs as well as people with dark bags under their eyes, probably people who were visiting their relatives as their waves of concern washed them.

"What's happening?", she asked, becoming more and more worried.

Ai didn't answer. He walked in a straight line, ignoring the people around him, his eyes shining with a strange light.

It was her impression or the people around them were walking slower?

Is he... Using his power to absorb everyone's negative feelings?

Why was he storing so much energy? What kind of enemy they were going to fight that needed to much precaution?

"Headmaster", Ai stopped, gently knocking the door.

"... Who is it?"

"We came to ask a few questions about the patients you received"

"... Alright, enter"

-00-

The headmaster was a bald man with a grey moustache that looked like a brush. His eyes were small and of a dirty brown color, being hidden behind his small round glasses, covering the darker circles from his pale face. The old man also wore a white cloak, too tight for his round body and that made him look bigger than he was.

"Good Night, Mr. Victor Wellschess", Ai bowed as a respectful greeting, "I apologize for coming so late, but I have a few questions about the strange incidents"

"It's fine", the man took his glasses to rub his temples, "If you can solve this problem I will be glad to help you"

"Thanks", the guardian nodded, "Please, tell me how are your patients"

"Everyone show the same results", Victor sighed, "All of them wake up without remembering who they were and are examined here."

"I see... Go on"

"It was strange. We made a lot of tests to see if they had any physical damage that could provoke this lack of memory and tried to check their brain's activity, but everything seems normal", the man explained, "I never saw anything like this before..."

"There was anything odd about this amnesia?", Ai asked with a knowing tone.

"Yes... We didn't find it strange when they couldn't recognize their relatives, but...", he hesitated, "when we give something to eat they would complain about not being able to taste it"

Not being able to taste it?

"They lost their ability to taste?"

"... Not exactly", the headmaster sighed, "We once bought some fruits that were hard to find here, and when we gave them, they were to taste it just fine"

To be able to discern some..., Haruka's eyes widened, as she let a horrified gasp escape through her lips.

"Is there something off?", Ai asked.

"N-No, sorry", she shook her head, "P-Please, continue"

Ai gave her a look that made clear that he wasn't fooled, but he just shrugged and asked the headmaster to continue.

The old man started to talk about some patients starting to lose their sanity after not being able to feel or sense anything at all as well as some details about them, but Haruka wasn't paying attention, she was too worried about the first information that the man revealed.

Today... When we went together I wasn't able to taste one of the sweets, she realized with horror, But there were some that I could eat just fine, so maybe...?

Do you like anything?

Sorry, I think my mind was so occupied with worries that I didn't have time to ponder about the question

Now that she thought better, she didn't remember what she liked.

"... Haruka"

"S-Sorry?"

"You were spacing out", he pointed.

"I-I apologize, I guess I was more tired than I thought"

"...Headmaster"

"Yes?"

"Call us if there's any update about the state of the patients", said Ai, "We will be nearby if something happens"

-00-

At the hotel...

"... Ai", Haruka called.

"Yes?", he said with patience, already aware that she wanted to ask something.

"What... What are we fighting against?"

"... A Secret Keeper"

"What's that?"

"A Secret Keeper steals memories and secrets from people", he explained, "So if he steals a memory you wouldn't be able to remember anything associated with it. That's why the patients were unable to taste or feel some specific things"

"Oh... I see...", she looked down.

Did she ever meet one of them? She couldn't remember...

...

But then again, if she had her memories really stolen, then why it would only steal something so meaningless as what she liked? Why it didn't make her forget who she was like the people who was attacked?

"So many mysteries...", she sighed.

"Did you say something?"

"N-No... Sorry"

"..."

He knows that I'm lying, Haruka avoided looking at her guardian, But I can't explain that without being sure of it.

"... I will stay with you while you sleep"

"P-Pardon?"

"I don't know what happened, but you seemed to react pretty bad to the people on the hospital and to what the headmaster said", he stated, "I will be on guard while you rest"

"Thanks, but there's no need to..."

"I don't know why, but ever since we arrived I have the impression that we were being watched", he interrupted, "I don't know who might be, but I am more qualified protect us if they attack."

Oh, so the bad feeling she had wasn't only because of the people from the hospital?

"But..."

"I'm going along with what are you doing without asking any questions", Ai arched na eyebrow, "The only thing I'm asking is that you let me fulfil my duties"

"... A-Alright"

He opened the door to their room after she finally agreed on his terms.

She was surprised when she saw how spacious it was. It was like na apartment than a room!

It had a spacious living room, with four royal blue couches and a big and fluffy carpet as well as "electronics machines" that she didn't know what was their purpose. A large bathroom with a great sauna, with different cleaning products at their disposal. A big kitchen with all kind of fresh fruits neatly cut or drinks for all tastes.

And better of all, a king sized bed with pillows that looked as soft as clouds.

"Why..."

"Usually I won't rent an expensive room like that, but it seems that you are having trouble to properly rest"

"I...", she didn't know what to say.

"Rest. You need it"

There was concern flashing on his eyes.

"Yes, I will. Thanks a lot for your concern", she gave a small smile, looking embarrassed as her eyes darted to the side, "H-Hum... I-I know, you did a lot for me, but..."

"Yes?"

"Can I have your cloak?"

He was taken aback because of the strange request.

"...Why?"

"The smell of lavender, it calms me", she lied.

He took the cloak without any question and offered to her.

"Thanks"

"You're welcome"

She felt her face heat up as she gripped the fabric of the clothe with more strength as she laid on the bed, trying to sleep and ignoring her heart, which started to pound again.

She needed to talk with her mother again and ask a few questions.

-00-

There was something wrong.

Where it should be a field full of lavender flowers was a dying field of plants, with no building in sight.

"What's happening?", Haruka asked, looking around.

Where she was? She was supposed to meet her mother through the link of her memories.

"Wow! So that's how they knew so much about our movements?"

There was a laugh of a woman, a voice that she didn't recognize.

"Nice to meet you, your highness", greeted the playful woman of deep red hair and grey eyes, "I'm Eis, an illusionist"

"Who..."

"I already told my name", the other shook her head, "Well... I don't even need to explain how I entered your dream as you already had an Illusionist as a partner... Hum... Tokiya right?"

"How do you know about that?"

"Well... Boss was watching your movements~ And everything else I know thanks to Gray", Eis chuckled, "Like what you hate, what you like and other useless things like that"

She was right. Her memories were stolen.

"Does it scare you?", The illusionist approached her, the scenery changing to a room full of people crying in despair and panic, "To end like them? Without being able remember what made you... You? Hahaha, simple things like and dislike may seem trivial, but they are part of what you are you know?"

"...Stop it", she felt sick, trying to close her eyes to not see the horrifying scene before her.

"You are really something... Gray tried to steal your whole identity the first time, but he couldn't do that because your secret was to big to keep", she whispered in dangerous way, "... Yes, for your luck he still doesn't have the ability to do that, but that doesn't means that he can't steal other smaller secrets"

It's a trap especially made for you.

Haruka opened her eyes and stood up in a jolt.

"What happened?", Ai asked, alarmed.

"A... Nightmare", she answered feeling shaken.

"Nightmare... Were you attacked in your dreams?"

Her body stiffened.

"Haruka, I need to know"

"It's a trap"

"What?"

"The attacks... They did it so they could lure me after I was back from the last mission!", she shuddered, "We need to call the other guardians!"

"So it explain why I had the feeling of being watched", he frowned.

There was a loud ring on his pocket.

He took his phone and answered it.

"Ai speaking"

"Mister Ai, we are under attack!"

"Attacked? By what?", he frowned.

"I-I don't know! But it's two strangers! The patients are even more hysteric!"

This timing... It can't be just a coincidence.

"Don't worry, I will be there as fast as I can"

-00-

The second time they entered the hospital they noticed that it was eerie quiet.

There was no people running around nor screaming even with the plain feeling of fear in the air.

"... I sense their presences. Let's enter the next room"

The room was filled with people with empty eyes. They barely breathed, and their state was so horrible that they could be mistaken by corpses.

On the end of the room was two figures. One of woman with red blood hair and the other with a pale blue hair and dark and cold grey eyes.

"Oh? So you came after all?", Eis smiled, "Had a good night princess?"

Neither smiled at the joke.

"Aw, You need to loosen up, why so s-"

"Don't", the man stopped Eis, probably the person she refered as 'Gray' in her dream, "We don't have time for jokes, let's just do what we need to do and return"

"... I don't know what you want with her, but I won't let you continue with your plan", Ai hissed in a dangerous tone as he took wooden staff with teal carvings that increased in size while the enemies took their rapiers and started to attack.

Haruka tried to make a barrier for her and all the patients on the room, as well as sealing the doors so no one could enter. Ai skilfully traded blows with thire rapiers, making small explosions connect when the weapons touched.

"That's an interesting weapon", Eis whistled, "Mind telling what it is?"

"A weapon that has a power based on the user", he hit the floor where the illusionist was standing, breaking it, "... In my case, it's as strong as the feelings in this area... It reacts well with the secret memories you stole"

"You think you have the upper hand because of that?", the cold man asked, unfazed, "You're useless and the weakest of her guardians"

Eis used her illusions to attack, and even with the ever-moving and confusing images floating around the silent guardian wasn't too shaken. He easily dodged the mental attacks. He was sure that the attacks could be blocked by Haruka's protectio butn he didn't know if it put a strain on her. She was already exhausted because of recent events, so there's no need to put more unnecessary burden if he could avoid it.

"So the only thing you can do is dodge", the Secret Keeper stated, "You don't have any attack power at the moment, so I only need to bother with miss Haruka"

He felt that dreadful feeling return with full force after the enemy made that statement, he knew that there was something off but couldn't place what it was before.

He was feeling powerless.

He could only rely on his personal weapon for now. He couldn't use the feelings of the enemies in front of him as the man was too cold and the woman didn't have any strong desire, just deciding to play along as long as it amused her. Using the emotions the Secret Keeper stole were out of question, because when it was stolen like that the emotions were linked to memories. Using them meant losing the memory forever.

I still have my personal weapon and the White Seal, he thoughwith reluctance.

"... Let's end this", the Secret Keeper turned, staring at Haruka who flinched under his intense gaze, "Do you remember me?"

"...No", she answered with hesitation.

"Of course not", he snorted, "I took this memory. Do you want it back?"

He snapped his fingers, and on the next instant Haruka crouched on the ground, screaming and holding her head with her hands.

"What did you do?", Ai frowned, assuming a defensive posture.

"I just gave back all the memories I stole from her.", he said simply as he threw wild attacks with his weapon, "Everything"

The Keeper looked at him with indifference, using his body to push forward, in a way that made it difficult to move. A wrong move and the blade would cut in.

He felt a sudden pain on his arm as well as the feeling of something shaking his entire core, throwing him off balance long enough to give other the upper hand, throwing him on the other side of the room.

"You forgot that I was here too", Eis smiled, kissing one of the bloodied scalpel of the medical room.

I need to calm her, he quickly got up, her emotions are in total chaos.

He tried to use his own power to calm her like the many times he did before, but as soon as he tried that her screams become louder and her pain bigger, so he stopped.

There was only one choice left.

He looked briefly at Haruka when he started to chant the words necessary to activate the runes, which glowed faintly like a snowflake hit with the dim sunlight.

But nothing happened, the girl of red locks was still crouched on the floor, her anguished voice and trembling body still suffering.

"What...?", he was baffled, looking at the white marks that still glowed, "Why it isn't working?"

"For starters, she still receiving the flood of memories", the Keeper kicked him on the stomach, making him hit the wall, "Even if you use your own power to take her pain it won't work, her mind would suffer even more to the point of breaking. It's a waste to give you the White Seal as it won't work."

"What do you mean?", he coughed blood, cleaning the corner of his mouth and weakly standing up.

"The function of the White Seal is to suppress the emotions of another with your own, but you seem to lack that", Eis explains, standing close to Haruka, patting her hair as the girl still struggled, "I are Strong. You were barely shaken by my attack from minutes ago, that's proof enough"

"... What are you doing to her?", he hissed, before his shoulder was stabbed by a sword.

"We can't kill her, but we can't ignore the danger of letting her do as she pleases", the demon shoved the blade deeper before he walked towards the agonizing figure on the floor, "Without feelings to connect with she wouldn't be able to do a thing to us"

The man nodded to his partner so she would be on watch as he placed his cold fingers on Haruka's face, stopping the flux of memories for a second as it would be troublesome if she lost herself.

Her eyes were glazed and her breath was shaky, but he paid no mind to it. He started the process of slowly drawing her memories again.

I need to focus on the memories she had with the seven guardians as they are being kind of troublesome lately, the demon frowned.

"N-No, please, don't...!", she managed to stutter, tears flowing from her eyes as her precious memories with the people she cared for were merciless taken, leaving a void in it's place.

She needed to fight back, she knew that but couldn't even lift a finger because of how exhausted her body and mind was, she was struggling enough as it is to stay sane while she was stripped of her most intimate thoughts and secrets.

Her eyes met light cyan ones. Who struggled himself, a lost and hesitant look on his face as he tried to free himself, but being watched constantly by the illusionist who watched everything with amusement.

I need to do something... Anything..., Haruka closed her eyes, trying to muster her will to fight back.

The four guardians. She didn't share a deep bond with them as close as with her first guardians, but she didn't understand them better in the last days and together they managed to summon the power to fight on. She could rely on these feelings.

I want to protect my country, the people close to me and I don't want to see that horrible sight again

Her finger tingled a bit, a weak light forming on the tip.

Breath caught on her throat and her heart pounding so fast that she felt that it would burst from her chest, Haruka tried her best to ignore her instincts to shot an attack toward the female illusionist, her conscience fading as she was finally reached her breaking point as the loud scream and sensation of pain became too unbearable for her.

-00-

Ai had a lot of problems understanding his own feelings, but the thought on his mind was so clear and loud that he was sure that he was angry.

Don't touch her. Don't hurt her.

The female illusionist got pissed when the attack hit her, so she used her power to inflict an attack that rendered Haruka unconscious, her face so pale that almost made her look as if she was dead.

"That's unnecessary Eis", the man frowned, stopping the draining as he scolded his partner.

"I didn't kill her", the other replied with an annoyed voice, "The blow will only make her unconscious for a while. I think it will more effective, your methods take too long"

"My methods are fine, she wouldn't be able to feel anything after I finished"

"You forgot that I'm still here"

There was a great blow as a powerful blast hit them. Both stopped their fight to look at Ai, who held a great amount of energy on his hands.

"How..."

"...You shouldn't have any source of power now that I took everyone's feelings"

"I'm draining the power from myself", Ai threw another powerful blast that made the room shake, making a dent on the walls with the bodies of the two opponents in front of him.

He was tired because of an early mission, he was ashamed for being hopeless and for letting the enemies easily defeat him, but the strong feeling of all is the pain he felt from Haruka and regret he felt, which he couldn't tell if it was because of his sense of duty or because he truly cared about her.

"We need to return", Eis spat blood, "He's now too dangerous for us to handle"

"... Yes, the memories I took should suffice", the other agreed.

"You aren't escaping"

"Sorry, but you can't kill me unless you want to risk the possibility of getting her memories back", the man didn't look intimidated, "As an apologize for almost killing her you can have my companion's life"

"What?", the woman turned, pain almost blinding her senses as the blade of the sword sliced her.

"You..."

"I don't have any use for an idiot that do everything on a whim", he cleaned the blood, "Not only her mind is tired, but her body as well. She needs a better place to rest"

"..."

"Farewell, Mizake Ai. From now on, I shall, consider you a threat", the Keeper took a magical artifact, disappearing without a trace.

-00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000-

So... Anyone is surprised that the White Seal didn't work?

Sorry for not updating and sorry for the lame chapter, I pretty much forgot how I write and I was busy with things and not feeling the inspiration for that, the only thing I have in mind at the moment is how I will plan everyone's reaction and when I can introduce Aine(taking longer than I expected ew)

...

I'm surprised, touched and happy for the new people still Reading this, so let's answer your reviews right?

PassionMusic- Thanks for the V-Day greeting! Mwahahaa, I swear that Ai acts almost like someone with aspergers, dude can't fuck tell the obvious, hopefully, as he's going to realize it while spending more time with Haruka.

Hitomi65- Thanks a lot! I try my best XD

Secondhandrapture- Hahaha, I'm glad that you like the plot, I think I beat around the bush for too long, Haruka will tell QN her past after she fully recovers from this traumatic event.