She lets out a sigh, her eyes unfocused as she stares at the flower in her hands, but a smile curving her lips. Zain watches her intently; there’s an inherently strong desire in him to protect her, to become involved with her, but he’s still not sure where it comes from. He’s just a merchant, a small village’s resident, who can’t even wield a weapon - but he knew the moment she appeared, that he needed to stay close to her. Her lack of focus concerns him, when he considers the dangers that lurk in all corners of this world, but she looks so happy he can’t bring himself to complain or draw attention. So he watches. He takes in all there is to see, while still being aware of the surroundings.

 

He is perceptive of the fact that with many of the others around her she shares a close bond. They are supposedly friends. The concept is somewhat foreign to him; he is connected to people for business, he knows regular faces within the town, but beyond that he doesn’t feel there are people he can consider “close”. And yet, with her, he feels something stronger than he has ever felt with any others. Is this desire something that those with close bonds share? Is this how those who surround and guard Kazuha feel? He has joined them late. His insistence the only thing working in his favour when he lacks the skills of the leader of angels, or the power of the demon who insists on working alone (until now, anyway).

 

Preparations are well underway in the efforts to climb the tower - time is short, and he suspects that this may be their final chance. But does that mean it’s the final chance for a great number of things? Should he act upon whatever passion it is that is fuelling him - that has made him recognise his differences to the others, and that when they all are able to flee from here… he will be left behind? He has no reason to believe he has human ties - he knows he doesn’t. But when he compares himself to the other NPCs that exist, he knows there is something different about him. And it is that something he wants to put his fragile hope into.

 

“Kazuha.” He calls her name, finally, and garners her attention. “What were you thinking about? You looked very happy.”

 

“Oh, just about home.” She answers, “it’ll be nice to finally go back again…” Back to where things are normal, less complicated, and maybe her brother will be able to come back there too - if he really is trapped within this world like she and Hiroya, and the others.

 

“What is it like?”

 

“Hm?”

 

“Your world. The other world. Where you come from. What is it like?” He is curious, because to him this is like home. At least, this is where he comes from. He doesn’t exactly have a memory of childhood or a history that he is aware of - he was created this way and has acted how he was meant to since then. There’s no particular place where his family come together that he could call a home. But he supposes the town he resides in could be considered as such. He has traveled, too, of course - it is how he was able to guide Kazuha here and towards her final destination. And yet there’s a small part of him that doesn’t want her to reach it. It’s almost like a fear - a raw and human emotion that threatens to creep up and consume him as much as his desire to protect and… and. He closes his eyes, shakes his head a little. He is a torrent of things uncontrollable that he can’t understand, but it’s more tolerable when Kazuha is near to him.

 

“Hmm,” she hums, looking to the flower once more. Azaleas. A small bunch of the few that survived the encroaching darkness. “It’s a very beautiful place. With lots and lots of people. Lots of families. Though everyone is human and there aren’t any demons or angels… oh but we do have animals! Not like the scary creatures here, but cute woodland wildlife or even adorable pets like cats or dogs.”

 

Zain understands that Hiroya’s race has elements of a cat - the ears and tail to be precise - so he can kind of understand why animals with those features could be attributed as adorable. However he tilts his head and offers only a simple comment. “I think a human like you is the most adorable.” It’s so honest that even he is a little surprised. It’s a fact he has thought of for some time, but he’d never expected to say it aloud.

 

“I think you’re cute, Zain! You’re pretty.” Her response surprises him even more so - flusters him to the point he has to think on his words and his actions. And then he pouts.

 

“I’m not pretty.”

 

“Oh! Right! Handsome… I guess? But…” she hesitates and turns sheepish, “you really are beautiful so I think pretty suits you more.”

 

Maybe not surprisingly it isn’t the first time he has heard it. He knows his looks are more effeminate, and he knows he conducts himself with better etiquette than most adventuring males who visit this place. And compared to most others would consider handsome, he is also rather small. He’s not pleased, but the compliment has made him happy in some regard - perhaps because it is one from her in particular. He decides not to further comment on it, and averts his gaze elsewhere; the town is still bustling to get ready, and their conversation is drowned out to bystanders through it all.

 

“Can I do something?” Kazuha asks, and Zain looks at her curiously - almost skeptically - before nodding. That’s when she steps forward, “turn around for a second,” she adds, and he follows the command as though it’s a natural thing for him to do.

 

“What are you going to do?” he questions aloud, as she reaches out to his hair. She slips the flower through just above where his hair is tied; the strands loose enough to allow the stem to slip through, while the small cluster of pink flowers sit securely on top. He reaches up to delicately feel them, and then looks at Kazuha quizzically once again.

 

“They suit you more.” In both appearance, and meaning, she thinks. But rather than explain she simply offers him a bright smile. There’s still a long journey ahead, but she feels far lighter after this exchange about what is to come.

 

Meanwhile, although Zain still harbours a great sense of foreboding and concern, when he catches a glimpse of Kazuha still smiling at him, he has no choice but to let it all go and return the gesture. He will keep her, and what she has given to him safe, until the end really does come. Little does he know, however, that his worries were not misplaced; that his passion and desire to protect were so fragile that one single man could shatter them, and then take the place of his very existence in an instant.