3

He was scared. He felt like there was someone else in his head.

He was scared. He denied the memories that were forcing their way out.

He was scared. He had lost control over his actions.

That's why his subconsciousness was a mess. Why would that human intrude? Was he not afraid of getting killed? What was Rin thinking, putting himself in danger for some lion spirit he barely knew?

"You know that I can hear your thoughts now. Are you stupid?"

Rin's voice echoed in his head and Loid pulled his knees up to his chest, laying down on the wooden floor, bound by those vines. He closed his eyes and there was the human, his sword in one hand and the other hand on his head, pushing back his hair that kept falling into his eyes.

"Get out of there."

"As if. Now show me what on earth is making you hysterical."

"I can't. I'd rather you kill me before I hurt anyone of you."

Loid sighed, his eyes burning. That was the right choice. He dare not bring about anyone's misery.

"Would you rather run away?"

He snapped open his eyes.

"Face your actions. Aren't you a lion? Where is your pride?"

Those words shook his very being and he gulped as a tear roll down his cheek.

"Don't give up. Trust me you'll regret being a coward."

Loid buried his face into his knees, his tears soaking the fabric.

The space around Rin began to morph and he had to bend his knees to steady himself, Genki secure in his grip.

His surroundings got blurry before he suddenly found himself standing in a dimly lit room; a small room with a rug in the middle of the wooden floor and a round table pushed against a wall. Overlooking, it was a window, the sky outside was dark. The sun had long set but he could still hear voices from outside the house he was in.

"He came at midnight",Loid whispered.

"Who?" Rin opened what seemed like the front door.

"A man. In black cape and a scar on his neck."

Rin stepped outside on the porch and saw Loid. His memory only. Rin was in his thoughts but he was only a silent witness with no power to interfere in the course of events. Cladded in matching gray kimonos with vines embroidered on the sleeves, Loid and a little kid were sitting next to each other, their legs dangling from the porch, a plate of freshly made rice balls on the boy's lap. The house was in the north of the village. People were still up; beast women and men busy in their chores, little kids giggling as they played hide and seek around the lion statue standing in the center of the village.

The boy beside Loid laughed out loud at something, getting Rin's attention.

"He's Damian. My brother."

"I could tell. You two have same eyes."

"He's here. Behind you."

Rin turned around and sure enough that person was there, a sinister smirk showing from under his black hood. Sensing the foreign presence, Loid got on his feet, a hand in front of his brother.

"I'll lose to him in a duel. I don't remember after that."

Rin witnessed the inevitable loss. Loid was exhausted and badly beaten as he laid on the ground, his breathing heavy and irregular. Dark clouds gradually covered the starry sky. The earth underneath them shook violently and that hostile guest bent over, something red glowing in his pale hands. Rin watched as that object got absorbed in Loid's chest. What could that be?

"What was that, Loid?"

No response.

"Loid? You there?"

The ground shook under his feet, Rin swayed a little before grabbing on to the wooden post of the house. That was the moment the thing had started going blank in Loid's mind. Rin saw him shift into a mighty lion spirit, that object glowing bright red in his chest. He roared loudly, spewing hot red flames. Could lions do that?

Houses were burnt, tribe's people were turned to ashes; women, men, children. All of them had become piles of ashes, that lion statue being the sole object still standing.

Everything was gone.

Rin subconsciously raised his hand, an attempt to pat the lion roaring in front of him as if weeping for the things he had lost, complaining about the fateful turn of the events.

A king who had lost his kingdom.

"You can take it easy, dear. They'll be alright",Rin's mother said, sitting beside the worried elf. He had been sitting beside the unconscious bodies of his friend and Loid for the past two hours. Kim shook his head without looking away from Rin's asleep form,"What if he needs me, Miya san? I must stay by Rin's side."

The woman embraced the young boy in her motherly embrace. The boy was a sincere friend her only son and she didn't like seeing him feeling so helpless.

"Rin's strong. We need to trust him."

Kim gave a slight nod, rubbing his stinging eyes.

Cough.

Kim break away from the embrace, holding Rin's lifeless hand.

Cough.

"Rin? Rin, can you hear me?"

"Oh lord! He's being drained of his energy!", Miya san cried. She hastily raised her hands, casting a large magic circle over the boys, its bright gold radiance illuminating their features.

RETRIEVE!

Their hair and clothes began to flutter in her magic.

Cough, cough.

Loid was the first to return, with a gasp as if he was hungry for air. Turning his head right, a frown appeared on his face. Laying beside him was the human. His body motionless, his face pale and his lips dark.

He sat up, his body aching from the drainage of his energy. He extended his hand, holding the human's wrist. It was cold.

Why wouldn't he come back? It was all his fault. To put another being in danger. He was such a nuisance. A shame.

"He's losing energy. Do something! Please!", he cried helplessly to Miya san.

RETRIEVE!

RETRIEVE!

"I don't know what's wrong here", Miya san whispered, her heart sinking in her chest as unwanted thoughts flashed through her mind.

Why on earth would Rin use INTRUSION? He could have find another way. She would ground him for the rest of his life once he woke up. She wouldn't let him out of her sight. She wouldn't...she wouldn't..

Tears began to sting her eyes.

'Please wake up, Rin.'

Suddenly the boy's chest began glowing, a shade of blue like those eyes of his. It grew bigger until it covered his whole body. Confused, the three of them looked at each other.

And he was back. Snapping his eyes open, gasping for air.

"Rin!", Miya san leapt at him, wrapping her arms around her son as a tear rolled down her bloodshot eyes, followed by many others.

"You made me sick with worry."

Blinking slowly, Rin looked over her shoulder at a crying Kim, eyes teary and nose red from all the rubbing he was giving it. He patted his mom's back, closing his eyes.

"I'm home, mom."