Chapter 13

I stare in silence as the man screams in pain before jumping into the lake to try and douse the flames before I turn my attention to the sky just as Kirche lands in front of me.

"Saito dear," She says in a husky voice before she slams her lips against mine. I'm so surprised that I just stand there in shock for a moment while she kisses me. After only a moment though, she runs her tongue along my lower lip, wanting access to my mouth. Unsure of what to do and not wanting to anger her I open my mouth slightly.

I'm pretty sure everyone else is as surprised as me because no one else moves except for Del who's only response is to stiffen when Kirche places her warm hands on my checks.

"Now that," She says panting lightly when she pulls away. "Is what I needed." She then turns around to face the ring of guards, or soldiers depending on how you looked at it, fire dancing in her hands. "Who was it who harmed my darling?"

The men don't say anything as they stare at the fire and then glance towards their fallen comrade. "Got cold feet?" Kirche asks and even though I can't see her I'm pretty sure she's got a wicked grin on her face.

Before I can say anything to Kirche Del's arms wrap around my neck in a death grip as she leans down and whispers into my ear in a whiny tone, "Stop looking at her."

"I…. Wasn't." I gasp trying to get air into my lungs.

"Yes you were," Del says releasing her hold on my neck. "And you kissed her."

"I didn't kiss her she kissed me!" I exclaim as Kirche throws fire at the men around us. Now normally this wouldn't be so weird except for the fact she was using her hands and not her wand and also the flame coming from her hands is bigger than any flame I've previously seen her produce. "Kirche?" I whisper in question.

"What darling?" She asks, turning to look at me when the men around her are all set ablaze in a fiery inferno.

"Are you… Feeling okay?" I question, fighting the urge to step back from the intense heat coming from her flames.

"Actually now that you mention it," She says taping her chin thoughtfully, her fire now gone from her hands. "When I kissed you a felt renewed and recharged… Shall we try it again?" She asks with a smile as she steps closer to me.

Before she can press lips against mine again or before Del can do anything Sylphid lands on the other side of the once burning men who are now just ashes blowing away in the wind of Sylphid wings.

"Guys!" I call with a smile feeling a sense of relief fill me for multiple reasons.

"Saito," Tifa calls with tears running down her face. Before she throws her arms around me like I think she's going to she stops short staring at my forehead. Oh crap! I curse to myself. I completely forgot about what Sheffield did… Tifa's no longer my master…

"Saito?" Tifa whispers staring at my forehead, eyes unmoving.

"I can explain everything," I say.

"I hope you can," Siesta says angrily, but not because of the mark but because of the girl on my back where she's shooting death glares.

"We should go first," Tabitha says, still on Sylphid's back as she looks over at more approaching figures, one of which I instantly recognize as Sheffield.

"Will Sylphid be able to carry all of us at once?" I question quickly, glancing between the approaching mob and the girls.

"Yes," She responds and with that one word we all hurry towards Sylphid, Del still holding tightly to my back.

"Ready?" Tabitha asks once we're seated, the mob was quickly approaching.

"Yes," We respond in eerie unison and then we're off towards the setting sun. Where had the time gone? I wonder.

As we're flying away I look down at the quickly shrinking people. I can still clearly make out Sheffield among the others with a strange looking girl standing next to her with platinum white hair. Before we start flying over the woods I look back one last time to see the strange white haired girl holding Sheffield and staring in our direction. It may have been my imagination but it seemed as if her eyes met mine…

"Shhh," Miss. Eumelia whispers to Sheffield as she gently strokes her hair as she cries. "We'll get him back." Miss. Eumelia watches as Saito looks down towards them from his seat upon the quickly retreating dragon. Watch out boy, She thinks to herself as she meets his gaze. Because next time we get a hold of you, you'll have to deal with me.

"Sheffield dear," She says shifting the girl in front of her so she can see her tear streaked face.

"Yes, Mistress Eumelia?" Sheffield asks fighting back her tears, trying not to show anymore weakness than she already has.

"Why don't you head back up to your room and get some rest. You've had a long day and you could use the rest."

"But what about Saito?" She asks surprised by her Mistress's response.

"I've already come up with a plan so do not worry," Miss. Eumelia responds waving a hand to shoo her away to her rooms.

"Are you sure?" Sheffield asks, mildly curious, her tears now gone.

"Of course," She flashes a smile at her and continues. "And besides you two are connected now. Even more so than you already were so there really is nothing to worry about."

"Okay," Sheffield says with a bow. "Thank you, Mistress Eumelia."

"You're welcome," She murmurs as she walks away, her eyes still staring in the direction of Saito and his gang. Even at the great distance between them she can still clearly see Saito if she focuses.

"Mistress Struna," A soldier says, coming up to kneel next to her.

"Yes," Miss. Eumelia asks a little annoyed at having to pull her gaze from Saito.

"Would you like us to begin pursuit?"

"No," Miss. Eumelia says sharply and the man sinks back at her tone. "You are dismissed. Go clean up the mansion and then take the rest of the day off."

The man's eyes go wide for a moment and then he nods quickly. "Of course Mistress. Eumelia," He says with a bow and quickly whistles for his men to come to him to listen for instructions.

Even after they leave Eumelia is standing there staring off into the direction that Saito disappeared in. "Saito," She whispers quietly to herself, a hand on her heart.

On the way back to their house, Saito tells them everything that happened from when he passed out in the woods to where Kirche dropped down on those men and saved his and Del's skin.

Tifa, who'd be silent through the whole story, asks at the end, "So you're no longer my familiar?"

"According to Sheffield no…" I stop talking for a moment thinking about everything that was said. "But then again she could be wrong."

"One thing she was right about though," Kirche says, pondering what I just said. "Is that you got her marks."

"She got my marks as well," I say quietly. "I know for sure." Once the words leave my mouth I see five sets of eyes turn in my direction. "…. What?" I ask confused.

"You saw her marks?" Siesta asks coldly, crossing her arms and turning her head away from me.

"What do you mean?" I ask curiously, trying to piece together why they were all so angry.

"You have a mark on your chest, Saito. Your chest." Del says coldly.

I can feel my eyes widen with realization. "No, no, no," I say shaking my head and hands in denial. "I didn't look at her chest but at her hand!"

"Sure you didn't," Kirche says also turning away from me.

"I didn't," I try one last time. "Honest I didn't!" But they wouldn't have it as we began our decent to our home, as the last rays of sunlight turn to shadows.

Where is he, Henrietta wonders as she continues to look into the mirror waiting for Saito's face to appear. She takes her eyes away for only a moment to look at the moon to try and judge the time.

He's really late… I hope he isn't doing this on purpose, Henrietta contemplates as she turns back to the mirror, which only shows her reflection. I even dressed up for him…

After a while longer of staring at the mirror she gives up and heads out of her closet to lie down in her bed, feeling empty and alone. Where are you Saito?

Henrietta rolls over on to her side hoping to fall asleep and forget about it but that doesn't seem possible as different thoughts filtered through her brain.

Saito isn't the type of person to just leave like that without saying anything… And after the way he kissed and held me… Henrietta's face flushes as she touches her lips remembering the night before and a small moan escapes her lips. "What is wrong with me?!"She exclaims in surprise at her own actions.

"Henrietta-sama," Someone calls through the door after an intense knock.

Who is it at this time of night? She wonders to herself as she stands up and wraps a thick robe around her to hide her outfit. Is it maybe Saito? A guilty little part of her wonders with a great amount of hope but when she opens the door her smile falls to a frown at who she sees.

"I'm sorry to disturb you ma'am," Agnes says from outside my door with an apologetic bow.

"It's fine. It must be important for you to come here this late at night," Henrietta says stepping aside to let her into the room.

Agnes closes the door behind her and takes a seat next to Henrietta. "It's not country threatening," Agnes says apologetically.

"Then what is it?" Henrietta asks, with a quirked brow.

"It's about Saito." Those three words froze Henrietta in her spot.

"What about him?" She asks trying to keep her voice steady.

"We got word earlier today about him being missing from the other girls," Agnes says carefully but it didn't matter because Henrietta was already on her feet, her face a mask of horror.

A/N: Hello again everyone! Sorry about the cliffhanger the other day but hopefully this fixes it. :D Please review? It helps a lot in the motivation :D

maesde: Again sorry about the shortness of the last chapter! Glad you liked it though! Thanks for reviewing :)

llat-2: Yes Saito was saved... :D

Only two reviews? How many of you people actually read my authors notes? O.O Anywhos thanks for sticking with me if you are reading this and you don't review!

Until next time

~Dancer