Lulled by the stillness of that holy place, the two warriors exchanged a long, passionate kiss, closing their eyes and savoring each other.

During those interminable moments, their minds seemed to go blank and the time around them slowed down enough to isolate their hearing from all the sounds of the city. The only sound they could hear was that of their hearts beating in unison.

Shioko's lips were soft and warm, as sweet as the best fruit in the world. The smell of her hair and skin was intoxicating, and the femininity of her movements drove Yoichi to surrender to her, waiting for her lips to be the first to move away.

Suddenly, after more than ten seconds, this happened and Shioko opened her eyes, realizing what had just happened. She sprang back and pulled away from Yoichi's face, hitting him with a violent slap that sent his neck spinning backward.

The archer's expression reflected all her embarrassment, and her freckle-covered cheeks had turned redder than her hair. "What... what the hell did you just do?" she stammered, touching her lips with her fingertips.

Yoichi looked at her confused, unable to understand the reason for that senseless and exaggerated reaction. "I... I thought that..." - the young warrior's words were interrupted by another expression from Shioko.

After a long sigh to savor the strong sensation still lingering in her body, she bit her lips, giving in to her instincts and leaning forward.

Driven by passion, Shioko grabbed Yoichi's face with both hands and kissed him repeatedly, with much more intensity than the previous kiss. Closing her eyes again and breathing fervently, her tongue and Yoichi's touched, giving the kiss further importance.

When Yoichi opened his eyes, he felt a sudden sense of well-being, not nearly as good as any he had experienced since his awakening. The heart in his chest was beating fast, as was the heart under his lover's clothes as she looked at him with half-open lips.

Who would have imagined that what I felt for her was a mutual feeling? He thought, still unable to realize that he had managed to make her figured concretely how much he cared for her.

"Don't say anything," she whispered, resting the index and middle fingers of her right hand on Yoichi's lips, brushing against his blond mustache. "I don't want you to leave, Yochi," she added. Letting her hands slide behind his back, she hugged him, resting her head on his chest and snuggling into his arms.

What?! Aaaargh! Is this the Shioko I know?! Really?! Yoichi, who was inwardly exploding with joy, asked himself. If he had externalized those emotions without filtering them, he would have looked like a kid in a full hormonal surge, not able to control his impetus.

"Well..." he whispered, clearing his throat. "You're a free woman and can choose what to do regardless of what you're ordered to do, aren't you?" he asked, squinting his eyes and hoping that the next answer wouldn't disappoint his expectations.

"I have a duty to the guild and Takamori-Sensei, Yoichi. You know that" she replied, speaking those words with a high degree of resentment.

"Duties? So, wait a minute. Listen to me carefully," he spoke, gripping Shioko's shoulders in his hands and looking into her eyes. "Takamori-Sensei feels responsible for what happened to me and wants in every way to undo the damage. I'm sure he won't object if you inform him that you have decided to leave with me on a journey beyond the walls of Goldhaven!"

"How can you be sure?"

"I just know that. Look, together we could travel the world, traveling to discover new places and new legendary demons and relics. We could even run into ancient demons and add them to our team! Think about it, with your experience and Kenji's draconic power we could become undisputable tamers!" he reiterated, full of expectation. "By defeating other Void Summoners and helping the weaker ones, we could get our names to be known by the people and our fame might even come to the Emperor's attention!"

"Do you think he would allow you to return to Goldhaven after helping his daughter escape? You're delusional, Yoichi," Shioko replied, trying to think with her feet on the ground.

"He will never know that the princess left with us. Traveling in Sui's company can be difficult, but it can also be an advantage! She is the daughter of the most powerful man in Tentochu!" the young tamer replied, trying to turn the tables and suggesting to Shioko a method to avail themselves of Sui's title.

"You told me that she's not even capable of fighting and that she's not a Demon Tamer like us. How do you think she will behave inside the dungeons where we will be forced to face Gonshiro's men?"

"Would you really rather she stay rotting in her little room in the palace, guarded by the Emperor's guards? Save the Princess and leave with me, Shioko. There's a whole world out there just waiting to be discovered," Yoichi continued, making the archer think for herself.

Although he was aware that leaving with Shioko and Sui would probably get him into trouble after that kiss, Yoichi was sure of his feelings for the archer and the Princess' company didn't scare him. However, the time to make a decision was getting tighter and tighter.

"The plan is this. In a week I will be in Ambershire, at an inn called 'The Sleepy Owl'. You will have plenty of time to come up with a plan and get the princess away from the Palace. In order for her to understand that you and I play on the same team, you will position yourself under the cherry tree and show her this," Yoichi explained, pulling the hairpin with the Imperial family symbol from his leather pouch.

"When the princess is safe with you, you will use the advantage of the night to escape and the next day we will meet at the place I told you. From there it will be easier to continue east and get over the Southborne Mountains, moving away from the capital," he added, after thinking out a plan in great detail.