"Akiara?" Teivel's expression changed to serious and worried as she looked left and right. She slowly sneaked away from them and started running searching for her. She went back to festival and searched for her in every stalls but no sign of her. As she was running she bumped into two people.

"Sorry. Huh?" She raised her head and saw that it was head maid's two escorts.

They grinned, "Goodness, it's a good thing that she crawled to us. How about we start the game of tag?"

"Sh*t." She took three steps back and started running.

"Damn it! Why now of all times? Don't worry about them. I have to find her." She kept on running.

She ran in front of them again. "Uh-oh." She ran into alleyways as they were following her. As she turned left then again turned left. She bumped into someone and fell back.

She stood up dusting off her clothes, "I'm sorry. Are you alright?"

She glanced at that person. She was leaning on the wall, trembling. She came closer and tapped on her shoulder. She felt faint citrus woody scent. She recognized it was Akiara's scent, "Aki?" She forcefully made her turned towards her. Her eyes grew wide when she saw her half face was covered with one hand. She could clearly see fear in her other half face like bad memories triggered her and eyes clouded with tears. She was shaking in fear.

"Aki? Aki look at me." She shook her but she wasn't paying attention. She flopped down on the ground. She also sat down.

"I'm sorry." she mumbled. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you guys. It was my fault."

She looked worried seeing her panicked state. She gritted her teeth. She grabbed her cheeks and made her look at her eyes, "Don't blame yourself for the sin you didn't even commit!"

She immediately came back to reality. She looked at her eyes. "I don't know what kind of sin you have committed but I trust you that it was never your fault to begin with. So please don't blame yourself." she started to tear, "It hurts to see you like this while I can only hopelessly stare at you and can't do anything."

A small spark shone making her eyes shine in the bright moonlight as if life came back in her eyes. She remembered what Mitsuko said that day and realized what she was doing. "I am still clinging into past. I can't forget what happen right in front of my eyes. Mitsuko.... this time I'll try my best not to remember my past to make me feel weak." She lowered her gaze as tears started to fall. She hugged her and cried silently. She smiled and gently rubbed her back to reassure her.

"I'm sorry........ I'm sorry to turn you away countless times."

She kissed her head, "It's alright you don't need to apologize. I'm used to rejection. But I never felt hurt when you do that."

"......" she smiled.

Suddenly her eyes glinted and she unsheathed her dagger which evaded sword's attack. She glared coldly at the assassin. She let go off her and used her shoulder as a support to jump in the air. She kicked the lower jaw of the other assassin that jumped towards them. She flipped and landed on the ground. She stood there with intimidating aura.

She raised her eyebrows, "Holy aura? Why is holy aura surrounding her?"

They ignored her threat and charged towards Teivel. She dashed towards her. She evaded their swords attacks pushing them back.

"It's time to try using it after working on it for few days." She pulled out a pistol and removed its safety mechanism. Then she pointed it at one of the assassins leg and shot it. He collapsed writhing in pain in his leg. The other one stood there waiting for an opening to attack.

She walked towards her and handed her the dagger. "They are here for you. This is your first practical test of self-defense. Either kill or injure them to defend yourself or let yourself get killed." she walked away leaning on the wall.

Teivel looked at the dagger and then glanced at Akiara. "The enemy won't give you enough time to decide. Hurry up before they manage to kill you."

They charged towards her again. She switched on defensive mode to protect herself at any cost. Their blows were heavy for her to keep up in defensive mode.

[Akiara was teaching her how to use dagger.

"You know why daggers are used by assassins?"

"I don't know."

"It is a deadly weapon whether single or double-edged, and hidden with ease because of its small size. It can also be used as to protect yourself."

"I see."

Akiara walked towards her. She fixed her stance and position. She held her hand, "In case, if you don't have suitable weapon to use, you can use the dagger as it is also good for close-combat." She slashed off the log and she was staring at her dazed. She let go off her and stood at the corner.

"Remember one more thing, if you can't evade heavy blows just dodge them. It will be easy to slash off their neck." She gestured with her hand.]

"I remember what you taught me. I will try my best to win this fight." She smirked and stood in her fighting stance.

They charged towards her and she dodged their attacks. She hit one of them with elbow on his back and the other one by kicking his lower jaw. Then she dashed towards them and hit them at their vital points. They were lying on the ground groaning in pain. She walked towards her.

She patted her shoulder, "Good job. You passed the test. You are a fast learner."

"Can you give the thing you used to hit that guy's leg?" She showed her hand.

"You mean this?" She took out the pistol and handed her, "I can teach you how to use it."

"No need because I know how to use it."

"How?"

"I saw you the other night using it. What is it called again?"

"Pistol."

"Yeah yeah that."

She pulled the spring which removed the safety mechanism, aimed at them and pulled the trigger, killing them. She looked quite amazed and walked towards the corpses. She kicked their body, "Are they even alive?"

"Pfft.... hahahaha!" She laughed softly. As she glanced back to see who was laughing, she got mesmerized seeing her laugh. She fell for her all over again.

"You don't need to worry about them. They are dead. One bullet is enough to kill one person but with strong physique--?!" She couldn't even react as she quickly appeared in front of her and kissed her.

Teivel wrapped her arms around her waist and pulled her closer to kiss her even more passionately. When she pulled away, she noticed her face was bright red and was speechless. She chuckled. She touched her forehead with her forehead.

"You know... your face looks cute when they show emotions that it's enough for me to fall for you all over again."

She looked dazed as she felt something warm inside her heart. She blushed when their eyes met. "Let go off me." she tried to loosen herself from her grip. She enjoyed seeing her struggling to free herself. Then she lifted her chin up and kissed her again making her slam her on the wall. She pushed her away. She looked down and took twenty steps away from her.

Then she glanced over her shoulder and showed her hand, "W-w-we should h-head back. Others are probably worried about us."

She smiled brightly, "Yes. Let's head back." she took her hand, walking away.

When they reached the park, fireworks show was over. Cordelia and Arrow were calling out their names. They ran towards them.

"There you guys were. We were searching for you everywhere." Teivel said putting on a fake worried expression.

"Big sis!" Arrow hugged Akiara crying, "Where did you go? I was worried that I thought I won't be able to see you again."

"I'm sorry. I will never leave you again." Akiara replied with a small smile.

"Really?" Arrow raised his head.

"Yes. So you don't need to worry anymore." Akiara replied.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Man, it's late why don't we go to a restaurant to have dinner?" Teivel spoke as she ruffles Arrow's hair.

"Sure. That's good idea." Cordelia replied.

They walked away as they headed to nearest restaurant.