Isao nodded. "Yes, I... am not myself when I transform. I get provoked fairly easily whenever I'm trying to fight off whoever." It certainly brought back some unpleasant memories from when he served the warlord. He reached up slightly when she winced from pulling a muscle.

As she thanked him for saving some of the children, he smiled softly. "I only did what I thought was right." Settling into the bed some, he sighed to himself. "I still have nightmares about what I've done. When I change... and I have strange dreams from time to time. I don't know how to describe them."

He had never told anyone about his dreams before. It was something he considered personal. But the strange dreams he had... he never recognized where he was. Some of the buildings' structure always looked familiar to him. The language he spoke sounded similar to his native tongue. Even a few faces in the dreams looked familiar. But he could never describe what he saw exactly.

He sighed when he heard that a storm was coming. "I suppose this gives us a chance to get to know each other better..." He turned away for a moment. "If that's alright with you."

As he tried to stretch his back, he winced and let out a soft hiss.

Isao drifted in and out of consciousness as Rose looked after the children and transported them the South Port City. It wasn't until much later when he finally stirred and put a hand to his head.

He was covered in bandages and he felt his head throbbing somewhat. A quick glance around the room was enough for him. He even saw Rose tending to her own wounds as he tried to sit up.

"I... I hope my coming didn't startle you too much," he said. "I didn't even know you'd be out there." Well, he didn't think she would be in the same area as him as he thought that she would be at another slave trader's camp. But he supposed that she made quick work of them beforehand.

Lying on his back, he began to wonder what her reaction wad when he lost control of himself. Still...

"Thank you," he said meekly, "for saving my life."

He slipped to the other side of the camp where he dispatched four more guards and free more captives. Once he confirmed that all hostages were freed, he drew a symbol in the sand for them to simply teleport back to Okaona.

Now turning his attention to where the cave would be, he thought he caught a glimpse of Rose heading toward the same cave. Knowing that she didn't ask for his help, he simply let her be before a small cry came from a tiny caravan nearby.

"C'mon!" one of the men yelled.yel "We've already lost most of the cargo! We can't lose these Air Pirate brats!"

Isao shook his head, noticing a few small children in a cage. Taking a deep breath, he teleported to the cage and put a finger to his lips as the traders continued to argue. Slipping his fingers into one of their pockets, he fished out the key and quietly unlocked the door.

"You're gonna haveta pay for them once we reach-"

A large lightning bolt struck the man before he could finish.

Isao scooped up the children and made a run for it, teleporting from place to place in order to throw the traders off.

"Oy!"

Isao stopped by the hollow tree before setting the children down. He stumbled forward as an arrow struck his back. Before anyone could blink, he sent a wave of electricity toward the group and charged toward them, now towering at roughly nine feet with enlarged horns and fangs. His fingers grew into claws as he swung them at the traders and let out a horrible roar.

Isao was able to slip out of the palace and move about the marketplace as they were rumors that slave traders were likely afoot. He used magic similar to Rose's glamour magic to hide among the people in case he ran into his targets. Some whispers of missing loved ones here and there and a glimpse of the traders in question were enough for him to slip by and pickpocket one of them to have a map and letter in his possession. Satisfied, he quietly returned to the palace where he went over his findings. He found a letter waiting for him and read it before writing a reply.

Rose,

I know the warning had to be made. I realize I haven't gained your trust yet, so all I can do is give you my word and hope that it would be enough.

Honestly, keeping my instincts in check is easier said than done. And because of that, I hesitate to start traveling again. But yes, my only crime was freeing a woman who would have been forced to serve the soldiers in... less than savory ways. I couldn't stand by and let that happen. She only reveled in her freedom for a few shirt moments before she was met with a rain of arrows.

I am so sorry about how I went about it. It was never my intention to be insulting. And when have I ever blushed? As I recall, you're the one who does the blushing.

I'm joking, by the way.

The prince seems to think he's good at putting people together. All I can do is shoo him away and tell him that I'm not taking his suggestions. He seems to be getting a little better with it.

I'm glad that you and Gif found each other and that you two can share a special bond. It's better that he moves about freely than in a cage.

At the moment, I'm attempting to track down slave traders as they have been causing trouble and taking the locals as of late. I may ir may not have to leave the city to track them down. I will let you know.

And please, don't worry about saying too much. Nothibg you tell me will be used against you.

Fair winds find you,
Isao

As he sent the letter out, he received a short note from the courier.

Isao,

Please come see me at your earliest convenience.

Prince Hikurai

Days went by, and Isao grew worried that Rose no longer wanted to write to him. Did something happen? Did he say something wrong? He found it hard to concentrate as he sent out ravens and various spies to carry out tasks as he pondered over what could have happened.

"Isao..." Hikurai called as he walked in with a letter. "For you, I believe."

Isao quickly took the letter from him and frantically read it over.

"Why don't I help write your next letter?"

"That's not necessary..." He located some paper before he began to write.

Rose,

I'm relieved to hear that you, Gif, and your crew are alright. I can imagine how terrifying it was to almost lose Gif, even though I don't know much about having a bond with a familiar. I hope you can get all the rest you can get.

Yes, most forget that I was born to man. And some issues have come about because of it. I have learned to move past that. That being said, I still have some difficulties with being an oni. My abilities sometimes get out of hand or my instincts of being a guardian overtake me. But that hasn't happened in sometime. I'm told that I become more intimidating at that point.

I was wondering how you passed as a human when we met. That makes sense now. I understand those... circumstances aren't fun, that is all I will say about it. But I understand the need of using magic to conceal your identity. I do that as well whenever I left the city. So long as I wasn't provoked, then things went smoothly.

Well, it is nice sentiment to believe in. It isn't overly romantic, either. Most people have a better half, I believe. It's just a matter of finding them. I... well, you know what I said before. Embarrassing and awkward as it was.

I see that both of us are where we are now thanks to someone helping us our of our situations. That is another thing we have in common. But a traveling minstrel or a Gypsy would have been an interesting pick as well. As for me... I'm not sure. I probably would have remained on the farm, although I probably would have gone off to be a sailor or a trader or... anything that let me move about from place to place. Wanting to be a spy wasn't exactly my choice, but I wasn't ready to be a soldier again so soon after escaping one warlord. You'll have to forgive me, this is the most open I ave been with anyone for some time. I feel a little vulnerable because of it.

And I see I can't decipher teasing in a letter either. My apologies. Get all the rest you can.

Fair winds find you,
Isao

"Compliment her eyes," said Hikurai.

"No," replied Isao.

"Her smile?"

"Already did..."

Hikurai pursed his lips and opened his wings slightly. "Maybe her... well, what is it that you like about her that no one else would say about her?"

Isao paused as he sent the letter out. He could think of maybe one or two things, though based on her reaction from his compliments before, it was likely unwise to try again so soon.

Hearing his inquiry about what she wanted to do next, Amaryllis paused and felt her heart skip a beat. "Um... I'm not sure. Was there anything you had in mind?"

Honestly, it surprised her that he was so friendly and hadn't been scared away yet. She grew all the more hopeful.

Maria continued to throw stones at Ripper before picking up a large stick and began approaching.

Ripper turned and growled at her before he felt claws dig into his eye, causing him to roar in pain and step back. He covered his eye and cowered in pain. As much as he wanted to try and rip Sirius' throat out, he now had to deal with his new injury and he suddenly backed away.