The silence of the night only made the popping of the fire and scraping of wood seem even louder.

Sakura glanced over at Ren, the man having not said a word since his latest disappointment that morning. It was discomforting for the fox, a voiceless needling scratching at her nerves and irritating her an a way that was unfamiliar. Even as children, when the angel wasn’t as talkative, he still spoke often, never letting the peace linger for too long. She couldn’t recall a time where he had gone completely quiet other than in his sleep, and even then, that was broken throughout the night with his unintelligible dream mutterings.

Maybe there really was something wrong with him?

Maybe he was actually upset?

How long would that last?

How annoying would it be?

She looked at the vast barrenness around them, unwilling to play into the man’s silent treatment. They were on the outskirts of farm area, and the land around them was flat and clear of mostly anything other than dirt and grass and some shrubbery. She never could understand why people chose to live in areas like this, so open and exposed. She much rather preferred the more forested lands. Places you could slip into and disappear without a trace. She wasn’t exactly looking forward to going back to Hollis, but she did love the layout of the land with its river and creeks and woods and mountains. And despite the pests that roamed those mountains, they felt safe, like they were keeping all the bad things out.

Defending them from the world outside their snowy peaks.

The woman peeked over at the tent. By now the two occupants inside were more than likely asleep, and she wouldn’t be disturbing them when she crawled in. She knew that they always went to bed early not because they were tired, but because they wanted to be alone, free to be together without the interruption of others. Where they could talk or be quiet or do as they pleased. It must be inconvenient for them, exploring the boundaries and limits to their relationship while following along two people who were once allowed those same freedoms that they themselves were currently seeking out. Lack of privacy was just one of those challenges that came along with traveling, but they seemed to make the best out of their circumstances, finding whatever time they could.

The demon didn’t want to bother them or stand in their way. There were certain things in life that you just had to figure out for yourself. Sometimes, with help from a certain other.

She marveled at how the boy and girl were so different from each other, almost complete opposites. Where Zero was tall and broader in stature, Ivy was short and petite. His hair was light and eyes dark, while hers were switched. He was quiet, she was chatty. He was hard to read, always so constant in his demeanor with only small changes here and there. She was an open book, always wearing her heart on her sleeve and a wide array of emotions on her face.

But, somehow, they fit together perfectly.

How strange.

A devil and fae.

Two beings that were like oil and water, never meant to unify.

And yet, the boy and the girl, it was as if they were meant to be.

And without question, the woman would give anything to protect that.

Her eyes slipped back towards the man, following the twisting of his hands as the dagger cut through the wood with little resistance. She had tried whittling with him when they were younger but found it tedious and boring. It took too long to get the results she desired, and mishaps were plentiful. It required so much more patience than she had.

But Ren had the patience. He could take the time to work around the wood, carefully planning his next move. Errors were made, misjudgments in directions or force, and the carving would be rendered worthless. But he never truly looked at it that way, rather as a step to further him towards his goal. He could observe where he had gone wrong, what mistakes he had made, and reconfigure. It took time, sometimes more, sometimes less, but he always got the desired result in the end.

The angel was like this with everything. Sakura had seen it all while growing up and then from the moment they reunited. The man watching, waiting, planning his every move and the ones from those around him. Constantly several steps ahead with all possible obstacles already considered and remedied in order for him to continue moving smoothly down the path he had chosen.

But she wasn’t one of his carvings that was easily managed and pliable. Never had she fit comfortably into his plans. From the beginning, she was unpredictable and wild, always throwing him for a loop, of which he would stumble to adjust accordingly, following along and chasing after the unknown of her capriciousness.

However, this time it hadn’t been her to hinder his ambitions. Rather, Ivy and Zero, two variables he definitely hadn’t taken into account. And despite his affections for the pair, they had become a reminder of what he had once had, had lost, had found, and was trying to obtain once again.

To see their success among his many failures.

Perhaps it had broken the man?

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Sakura stood, tired of the silence. If this was how the night would be then she’d rather just go to sleep and wait for morning to see if the angel had returned back to his normal, obnoxious, and obsessive self.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Ren asked not looking up from his project, displeased with the woman’s attempt at escape. “I’m not done with you yet.”

“Oh.” She tilted her head at the man. “It speaks.”

“It does. Come here.”

“Why?”

He pushed the dagger into his belt and peered up at the woman for the first time that night. “Come here.”

She sighed but went to the angel as he straightened his legs in front of him and opened his arms to her. She dropped to her knees on either side of his legs, sitting on his thighs while facing him, her hands on her own. “Are you done ignoring me now?”

“I would never ignore you.” The man grinned as he held the small figure up for her. “I was just deep in thought.”

“Of course you were.” She rolled her eyes as she took what was offered. “It’s a bunny.”

“Good eye, it is a bunny.”

The vixen ran her fingers over its long ears and cotton ball tail, admiring the intricate details in the wood with every whisker and strand of fur accounted for. “It’s cute. I like bunnies.”

“I know you do.”

They sat there with only the crackling of the fire around them. Sakura really did like the little carving. She loved rabbits and favored them above every other creature. Ren would tease her when they were kids about a fox showing affection towards their prey, but she couldn’t help it. They were so sweet, so adorable. And though she would hunt and eat them, there was always an underlying guilt at having to resort to using them as a food source.

“I’ve been thinking about what those two have that we don’t.”

She peeled her attention from the figure and looked up at the angel. “Hmm? Immortality and fairy wings?”

Ren nodded. “Yeah, but that’s not all. There are bone wings, too.” He chuckled lightly as she scoffed before the grin faded and his voice lowered. “But the most important thing that they have is an equal share of power.”

“An equal share of power?” Her brow raised with the question. “Is this what you’ve been pondering about this whole time?”

“Mmhmm. The problem is, we don’t have that. You and I, we have a power struggle.”

“Is that so?” She gazed at him curiously, wondering where he was going with this.

“It is so,” the man spoke in a calm and factual manner as he took the woman’s wrists and placed them over his shoulders, his hands falling to her hips, pulling her closer. “You have all the power. And that’s my fault. In my delirious frenzy in finding you, I gave you it all, and you’ve run off with it.”

“Is that what you think?”

What was this crafty man getting at this time?

“That’s what I know. I spent all those years in The Guard dreaming and making plans for how things would be when I was free, constantly working towards them. And then, I finally did get out and ended up spending another three chasing after you. Then, I found you, but I haven’t stopped chasing you, trying to make you go along with my plans, forcing you into a mold that you refuse to fit in.” His hands dawdled up to her waist, his fingers playing over the exposed skin. “You can’t have that, Sakura. You can’t have one person always chasing while the other stays just out of reach. It has to go both ways. It’s the only way for them to come together.”

The demon could feel the nerves bubbling under his touch and rising to her chest. She tried to swallow them down, but it was to little avail. She couldn’t even bring herself to look away, their eyes locked without a key. Her voice came out, hushed and unsettled, “And how are you going to remedy this situation?” She had a sneaking suspicion, one that would make things difficult for her. It was easy to pull back. It was much harder to reach out, hoping that they’d accept.

His smile was small and content, hands creeping higher to her ribs. “I’m not. You are. It’s your turn. Just like when we were kids. If I couldn’t chase you, then you’d always come back to me.”

“And if I don’t?” They both knew it was a false threat.

“Then you don’t.” His smile grew. “But you will.”

“So, you’re just gonna stop?” The thought terrified her. It had been easier when they were younger, when the possibility of him turning away seemed impossible. But she had learned that day in the snow that it wasn’t. That if he so chose, he could push her away and be gone and there would be nothing that she could do about it.

But if he followed her, then she could keep moving forward knowing she wasn’t alone. That he was there just as he said he would be.

But if he stopped…

“Don’t even start that shit, Sakura.” He shook his head, his smile gone, deep blue sincere. “I never stop, and you damn well know it. I’m just slowing down a bit. Letting you breathe. Giving you time to think about what you need until you’re ready. But let’s face it, we’ve both grown complacent in this little cat and mouse game, and if we’re ever going to get anywhere then one of us needs to take a step back from playing it. So, for now, I’ll take a break from it, but I’ll never really stop. You’re my One. I love you. There’s no one like you, and I don’t want anything else. Just you. You’re the only one who can handle me, and I’m the only one who can handle you.”

He was right.

There was no one who could handle her. That had only become more and more clear as the years went by and she went from place to place, coming into contact with different people. She never looked, she had no interest beyond what she already had. But she saw the looks, heard the whispers and how quickly their tunes changed once they saw her for who she was. She couldn’t blame them, sometimes she could barely handle her own emotions and behavior, hardly able to keep herself from the brink of her own self destruction.

There was only Ren.

The only one who not only tolerated her but reached out for her and brought her close when she was spiraling into the ruins of her own creation. Who followed her. Chased her. Stayed with her. Reminded her she was worthy of love when she was consumed by hate.

And she was the only one who could do the same for him.

Her breathing came out in shudders as his hands moved further up her ribs, just grazing the sides of her chest. “Are you sure about that?” she managed, still unable to suppress her natural obstinacy.

“I am.” A mischievous smile spread across his face. “Good luck. I so look forward to seeing your attempts in wooing this maiden of pure virtue.” His hands slipped under the woman’s arms as he pried her body from his, tossing her to the side. “Be sure not to sully my innocence in the process. Or do. Your choice.”

Sakura watched him stand, walk off and disappear into the tent with wide-eyed shock. She looked down at her hands, opening the one with the little rabbit, her heart beating just as fast as the creatures.

Ren knew her so well. Sometimes better than she knew herself.

Just as she knew him better than he did at times.

“Shit,” the word a whisper.

And he really knew how to make things difficult.