[@PaulHaynek]

[quote]"Of course." She answered without hesitation. "If you find yourself in love, Beelzebub, you would understand. I will even wager that you will do the same as I did."[/quote]

[color=a187be][i]....Oh.[/i][/color]

The words of the maid mamono reverberated within Kira's mind, rendering her silent to everything happened around her as she contemplated the Kikimora's plight. As the standoff between the two opposing parties played out, she came to her conclusion: Yes.

She would do the same thing.

If she were in love, she would cause typhoons and hurricanes to get to her love. 

To that end, Kira was sympathetic to the maid. And as Nero spoke, her sympathy for her grew.....as well as her fury for him.

[quote]Nero, still bound and gagged, managed to remove the cloth on his mouth and gave his answer while still tied up on the ground. "Look, I am flattered that she likes me but... I'm a warrior that has taken an oath to serve justice and protect the innocent. My life is forfeit ever since I took that oath with the Black Wolves, even if they have turned to evil and madness. For me to take a lover will only distract me from my duty."

"Rayya, it's not that I don't like you. Perhaps in another life we can be together, but not in this one. I'm already a dead man, Rayya. Sooner or later, I will die fighting the enemy, whoever that may be. It would be best for both of us that you look for someone else. Someone better than me. You deserve that much, Rayya."[/quote]

Unbeknownst to everyone, Nero's response struck a nerve within Kira, unearthing a long-since-buried scar and wounding it again. A shadow fell over her eyes as her chitin claws balled into trembling fists, her teeth grinding so hard against each other that one would think sparks would start flying from her mouth. To anyone who would notice, it looked like the Beelzebub was going to explode....but then her fists stopped trembling and uncurled themselves. She stopped her violent teeth grinding and when she looked up, she appeared...calm? Before anyone could say anything, the flygirl stepped in between Nero and Rayya, facing the now crying Kikimora.

[color=a187be]"I understand, Rayya. I really do."[/color], Kira began, her voice and tone filled with understanding and sympathy. [color=a187be]"Though I have yet to fall in love myself, I've seen more than enough of this type of scenario to know what you're feeling. It's painful, isn't it? Chasing after a man who captured your heart and wanting to give all the love you have in your soul, only for him to reject you at every turn, every time. It's why you're now so desperate and ready to take him by force. So yeah, I get it. But, even as you are right now, you know this is wrong. As painful as it is, you know this is not the right way. It's his decision and you have no right to take that away from him. I know it, everyone knows it and even [b]you[/b] know it. If you really love him, don't claim him at your worst....claim him at your best.[/color]

[color=a187be]"Now....with that being said..."[/color]

[h2][i]SLAP![/i][/h2]

It happened so fast. Anyone who blinked would've missed it.

To those that didn't, they would be left shocked and stupefied as they witnessed Kira quickly whirling around and striking Nero's cheek with a open chitin-covered palm, slapping him so hard that he could've swore that he almost got whiplash.

[color=a187be]"You are a cruel and selfish idiot!"[/color], spat Kira at the bounded man, her glare vicious and her tone furious. [color=a187be]"Look at her, Nero! Look at what your rejections and cowardice had forced her to do! She had thrown herself at you for years and had resorted to disturbing the peace and kidnapping you to prove her love for you! All because you were too chickenshit to accept the fact that there was someone out there who actually gave a fuck about you and didn't want you dying in a ditch somewhere! Don't deserve her!? Unworthy of her!? Have you forgotten what she is!? If a mamono says you're the one, it's not your call to tell her to look for another! For her, there is no other! And distracting you from your 'duty'!? Are you fucking kidding me!? She is the best thing that's ever happened in your life! The only thing 'duty' is good for is causing good men to die early.......[b]AND TAKING FAMILY WITH THEM, TOO!"[/b][/color]

By the time she finished her tirade, Kira realized she was breathing hard, visibly shaking and on the verge of having tears stream down her face, as well as possibly revealing something about herself that was deeply personal. Wiping her eyes to hold off the waterworks, Kira turned her attention back to Rayya.

[color=a187be]"You're right. He really is stubborn. It begs the question: If he's still blind to how much he is hurting you, then was he ever worth your love at all?"[/color]

With those somber words, Kira took to the skies once more, most likely heading back to the Guild. Not noticing if anyone was following her as her tears finally began to flow.