When Kiyu awoke, she was alone. Not even Laki had been in the hospital room. Her body still felt sluggish, but she could move again.

She straightened up and stroked her fingers through her short hair.

'It's been a while since I could devote myself to my body,' she thought to herself as she felt her straw-like hair.

Her eyes first fell on a tray that stood beside the bed on the table, where just the day before there had been the soup Laki had fed her. But instead of soup, there was now a loaf of bread on it, cut into bite-sized pieces, so that Kiyu should have no problems with it.

Not a second too soon, as her hungry stomach had showed with a loud grumble. Apart from the soup she got from Laki, she had seldom eaten anything sensible in the two days. If she had eaten anything at all.

Laki hadn't been the only one who had looked a bit worn out, and Kiyu didn't even think about the poisonous gases that had flowed through her body.

'Well, what the heck.' It was Toras' help and skills which dissolved the poison from her body, and so she recovered from the aftermath of her fight.

The bread she held in her hands was dry and plain, but to Kiyu it tasted like the most delicious thing she had ever eaten. Each bite felt as if they had spread the finest butter available on them, and even the imagined smell caught her nose. Nothing could spoil her appetite or keep her from eating.

"That felt good," she cheered, having satisfied her hunger with something real and edible.

The feeling of powerlessness gave way to the new motivation and good mood she had developed, and she forced herself to stand up with an elaborate jerk. She landed on her sturdy legs, which no longer had any problem carrying her.

"I'm alive again!" she cheered throughout the room and ran with vigor to the door that led into the primary room of Toras and Zhèngyi's lair. Her eyes fell on the group of three who had made themselves comfortable at the table and were dining there together.

However, unlike Kiyu, they had the finest spread there that she had imagined while eating her piece of bread. "Ehhh?" she groaned in confusion as she watched the other three dine in her absence.

Tomatoes, butter, even some salad, and meat was ready on the large table. How could poor robbers even afford such a thing? But Kiyu wasted no further thought.

With an amplified leap, she had overcome the distance between herself and the laid table in an instant, and didn't even know where to start first.

"Food!" she brought forth, letting the amount of choice take her by surprise.

"So you're feeling better?" mentioned Zhèngyi, smacking his lips as he polished off a piece of meat before her eyes. Toras had also got himself some meat, albeit more demurely with a knife and fork, and just nodded at Kiyu.

But she was most pleased to see Laki, who stood up and hugged her.

"You're feeling better," Laki cheered, full of joy.

Every hug with Laki seemed like an eternity, which she would prefer never to let pass. She could feel her friend's warm breath moving over the back of her neck as she exhaled. And as much as Kiyu would have continued to hold her tight, she also had to let go once again.

'Should I do it again?'

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Kiyu had been unsure how to act. Just the day before, she had kissed Laki. But the day before, she had also just woken up from dying. Did Laki feel the same as she did? Or was it just a reaction after a loved one had risen from the dead?

Uncertainty paralyzed her, and she remained passive as Laki released the embrace.

'Please, don't,' Kiyu screamed in her mind, but couldn't get a single sound out.

Her eyes followed Laki's as she stood in front of Kiyu. Her face was close, so close, but no matter how hard Kiyu tried, she couldn't move an inch.

Instead, she could only gaze into the beautiful countenance of the person she loved. Feeling that she hadn't any control over her body movement, she closed her eyes, squeezing them shut, trying not to think about it any further. Deep inside, she had come to terms with the fact that Laki maybe just didn't feel the same way about her.

A warm glow ran through Kiyu's veins. She felt the warmth spread from her face through her entire body, dissolving her insecurity. Almost instinctively, she put her arms around Laki's hips and pressed her closer.

For that one moment, she forgot everything around her. Toras, Zhèngyi, the delicious food on the set table. A fiery feeling which the kiss triggered in her washed away everything else.

It was perfect, or at least that's how Kiyu imagined perfection.

"Now if you're going to do this every time you see each other, why don't you get a room for the night?" teased Zhèngyi.

Kiyu, who had forgotten in the moment of beauty that they were not alone, blushed bright red when she heard Zhèngyi's biting comment. Laki, however, released her kiss and turned around, giving him a nasty grin.

"Is someone jealous because he doesn't have a girlfriend to kiss?" she provoked him.

"Pah! If I wanted to, I could have dozens of girlfriends!" Zhèngyi returned in a huff, crossing his arms in front of his body.

"Hit sunk, I'd say," Laki laughed, turning back to Kiyu. "Come eat with us first," she said, settling back into her seat.

Unable to hold back the laughter, Kiyu sat down at the table with the others after a few moments. This morning had started so much better for her than so many other mornings.

She had excellent food, was in the company of people she considered her friend and her girlfriend who returned her love.

They all took something to eat and enjoyed the quiet atmosphere. Kiyu felt a little uncomfortable about it. There was so much to talk about, but no one lost a word during the meal.

'Out of politeness?' she wondered, but didn't want to destroy the mood.

Time passed, and they had all eaten their fill of what they spread on the table. Toras had been the first among them to stand up. Relaxed, he cleared the set table and put all the things away again.

"By the way, Kiyu," he opened the conversation while still walking, "What are you planning to do from now on?"

Yes, what was she up to now? Now that she had Laki back, she would have been fine even if they just left town. But then again, they were broke and their last money had been in the hands of...... Toras and Zhèngyi! Which made her realize how they paid for the pleasant time.

"I'm not sure," she answered him.

"On the one hand, I just want to leave Jarifa behind me as soon as possible."

"But?" asked Toras.

He hadn't been the only one to notice the hitch in her voice, but at least he was the first to follow up.

"Siwang," Kiyu said disgusted, clenching her hands into fists.

"She killed all those people. And that while the city administrator Tānlán protects her, too!"

Just thinking about those two almost made her sick. One a perverted old man who used his position of power to harm others. The other a Spiritformer who used her spiritformer power to harm others she considered lesser.

"As long as these two walk around unhindered, they will continue to bring suffering to the people," she summarized in a lowered voice.

She didn't know how the other three would react to this, but the behavior of the two was inhumane to her and she couldn't stand by and watch them continue to do so unhindered.

"I agree with you they are dangerous, but... The guards are not dead," Toras noted.

"What are you saying?" asked Kiyu, looking at him.

"While that crazy witch was chasing you, I took the chance to distribute an antidote in the marketplace," he explained to her as he continued clearing the table as if he were just holding a customary meeting.

"Took me some resources, but so far everyone is fine. Aside from a few side effects for the next few days, of course."

Relieved, Kiyu exhaled. For her, at least, this meant good news. It was like a boulder falling from her shoulders. As if it had freed her from an invisible obstacle.

'Seems like it doesn't always make sense to blame yourself for everything others do,' she admitted to herself. She had blamed herself for the deaths of people who weren't dead at all.

"I'm glad to hear that," she said with a smile. "But it doesn't change the real problem. Both Tānlán and Siwang Mao are a problem for this city and problems….. are there to be solved!"