Zero and I walked through the forest in silence. We were alone again, and it was taking its toll on us. The only time I'd ever really felt lonely was after I fled Heaven, but now... It was really killing me on the inside.

To make matters worse, I could still feel the fever searing through me. I was leaning on Zero, but refused riding on him. I wanted to feel the pain in my legs, it was punishment for what I'd done to them.

"What do you think they'll do when they realize I left?" I asked.

With a sigh, Zero looked at me. "Stop beating yourself up."

I shut up as we walked. They wouldn't find us, we didn't take a path, just straight through the trees.

"Let's stop here," I said. "They'll probably look around nearby towns, but we should be safe here."

Zero laid down and I rested my head on his stomach, burying my face in the fur. Slowly, but surely, darkness consumed us as we slept.

Something touched me, but I didn't lash out, I liked the cold, rough feeling of the object. When I opened my eyes, Peter was looking at me.

"Shit!" I jumped and slipped, but he caught me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Why didn't you warn me?!" I yelled at Zero.

Peter looked at Zero and I swatted his hand from my shoulder. Zero, that little bastard, walked away, deeper into the forest.

"You little betrayer!" I yelled at him. "What do you think your doing? Help me!"

When Zero didn't turn around, I looked back at Peter, who still held me. I struggled and he quickly let go. In a wave of nausea, I fell into the underbrush of the forest.

"What the hell!" Peter yelled, making me jump. "How could you?! We were all worried sick! Do you know how long we've been looking for you? Three whole hours!"

"Why? Why in the hells would you do that for a stranger?! Not to mention, a stranger who causes you nothing but trouble! You don't even know anything about me and you do all this for me!" I was crying now. "Why the HELL would you worry about someone like me?!"

For a moment, he just watched me, then he answered, "Because I love you."

The world froze as the words replayed in my head.

'I love you.'

"No," I said, panicked. He wants supposed to love me. "No! You can't love me, you can't! I'm stupid, I'm secretive. I'm not lovable. I'm the type of person you replace. Your not supposed to love me. If you love, then I'll have to stay and if I stay you'll be in danger. You can't love me, I'm dangerous, you don't know anything about me. I'm worthless, I'm-"

Bringing his hand to the back of my head, he pulled me closer and kissed me, crushing my lips against his. At first, I struggled. However when his tongue danced across my lower lip, sending shivers down my spine, and I stopped. I let him kiss me.

When he pulled away, he said, "Better?"

I nodded, slowly, still shocked by what had just happened.

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me as close to him as he could. I rested my head on his shoulder, my tears wetting his clothes as he talked.

"Akira, your the most brilliant and beautiful person I've ever met. I don't care how many secrets you have, I will always love you. I could never replace you and I want you to stay with me. Akira," he pulled me away from his shoulder and wiped my eyes, "I love you with all my heart."

I cried harder, but, through the tears, I whispered, "I love you too."

Smiling, he lifted me up, bridal style, and called for Zero. Within seconds, I was being placed on Zero's back, Peter holding me from behind.

"It's alright to sleep," he said. I didn't want to, I stayed awake, watching the sun rise and listening to Peter's quickening heart rate. I chuckled at him, and he just smirked. He was just as nervous as I was.

When we reached the inn, the others were waiting for us, and we were welcomed with hugs and smiles.

This was my home, this was where I belonged.