15

Rin wasn't unaware of facing such an outcome. He had predicted it the moment he decided to keep Loid's core a secret from everyone.

That mysterious man who intruded Loid's village that day was the one responsible for all that mess. When Rin had invaded into Loid's memories, he witnessed that man placing Alicia's core inside Loid's chest. He gave him her core making him lose control, destroy his home and massacre his own people. Thinking about that made Rin furious and he clenched his fist.

Nobody had a right to mess up Loid's life. Alicia and Loid were connected now by that core and Rin would not lose Alicia again.

Inside that crystal orb, the lion was quiet as he watched the president question the boy. Could Rin prove that? What if he could not? Loid would be executed as a possible threat to others. He pursed his lips, looking up at the cloudy sky through the glass roof of the courtroom.

I wish I could watch Dammy grow up, he thought.

He closed his crimson eyes, placing a hand on his chest and feeling the beating of his heavy heart.

"I can!"

Rin's words sounded in his ears and he snapped open his eyes, turning his head towards the human boy.

"Really? What plan do you have, kid?", Arthur smiled his nerve-wracking smile as he looked down at the shorter boy. Rin pointed at the crystal,"I'll make him my kemono."

"What?",Hana's mouth hung open and Takashi laughed out loud as he pushed it back up for her, saying,"Just what you would expect from Rin. He's crazy!"

"Crazily impressive!", Drakes cried, grinning excitedly at the boy,"Make him your kemono? Why have I not thought of such a thing? That's-"

"Insane. That's what it is. Arthur, don't tell me you are allowing him to do that? To tame a lion and he is only 18. Surely you know what toll it will take on the boy?", Professor Virion said, hands on his cane.

Arthur stroked his chin, eyes sparkling with excitement. He said,"What if you fail to tame him, boy?"

"I'll try until I succeed", Rin said, his gaze unwavering.

Arthur placed a hand on his eyes and Rin saw his chest tremble as he laughed out loud. That boy had never failed to amaze him. He was only 18 and dared to look him right into the eyes when others would avoid getting on his bad side.

Arthur placed a hand on Rin's shoulder and said,"I allow you to tame this lion as your kemono."

Rin gave him a firm nod.

Loid watched the boy as he walked towards the orb and stopped in front of him, the crystal being the only wall separating the two of them.

"Rin?", Loid whispered upon seeing the torn expression on the boy's face,"What's wrong?"

"Loid. I have to make you my kemono. You'll be bound to Genki, my sword."

"I still can't tell what's the problem here."

Rin frowned,"Why can't you? I'm telling you that you will be under my command for the rest of your life. You will have to answer when I summon you, fight when I tell you to and get hurt because of me! That's what's wrong here, Loid!"

Rin hit the crystal wall with his clenched fist, his blue eyes conflicted.

Loid reached out and placed a hand on Rin's fist, the wall standing in between them. The boy was worried for him thinking about all those things. A smile found its way on the lion's face and he whispered,"You know, Rin, I'm scared. I don't know if I'm going to see the next day. But seeing you giving your all to save me, it makes me happy",he gave Rin a reassuring smile,"so even if I have to follow your every command, fight for you, get hurt, it doesn't matter. I just want to stay here, with everyone, with you, Rin."

Rin opened his fist, their palms facing each other through the glass. Loid smirked,"And you need someone to watch your back. You are too reckless for your own good."

Rin raised an eyebrow,"Are you implying that I need you to stay with me?"

"Isn't that the deal we made that night? I'm to stay by your side", Loid said.

"Guess we can't do anything about it now",Rin said, a smile spreading across his face and softening his stiff features.

"No, we can't", Loid said, feeling all the uneasiness in his chest slowly fading away.

Rin put together his middle and index fingers and touched the crystal.

DISPERSION.

The orb broke into thousands of small crystal pieces. They got suspended in the air and then vaporized right before Loid's eyes, setting the lion free from his cage.

He stepped down on the floor, his raven black hair falling gently over his shoulders. His clothes were still dirty from his last fight; his shirt crumpled up and his trouser torn a little from its ends.

Rin chuckled,"You look like a homeless man, Loid."

"I even feel like one", Loid smiled. He was doing that more often these days.

"Alright. Let's do this. Genki!"

The sword answered to Rin's summon, appearing in his right hand. Arthur went back to the pavilion and sat in his chair, resting his knuckles against his sharp jawline. This will be interesting, he thought.

All eyes were on the blue-eyed human boy. "Tch",Hana clicked her tongue, crossing her arms over her chest. Takashi and Professor Drakes, on the other hand, were leaning forward in their seats, excited to see the ordeal.

Rin extended his arm, touching Loid's chest with the tip of his sword. He whispered the spell.

SPIRIT TAMING.

Loid saw a magic circle open up under their feet, its intricate pattern rotating clockwise and emitting Rin's signature blue glow.

Loid could see Rin's core; a fluorescent blue orb in the center of the boy's chest. It was beautiful but not without a flaw for there was a narrow crack across it.

Rin swayed in his spot and Loid furrowed his eyebrows,"Ri-"

The ground disappeared from under his feet and he fell down, his surrounding morphing into darkness. Rin, the council members, that courtroom. Everything was gone as silence surrounded him.

His back hit something wet and with a loud splashing sound, he found himself drowning in water. He couldn't see anything in that darkness nor could he move his body. He opened his mouth only to choke on water, air from his mouth bubbling through the water.

Drowning in complete darkness. That was not what Loid had expected the SPIRIT TAMING to be. Water stung his eyes and he cursed as he felt his consciousness slipping away. He didn't know for how much longer he could hold his breath. His body was starting to get numb and he closed his heavy eyelids, thinking about the only person on his mind.

Rin.