... [i]Ven?[/i]

On the outside looking in, Kalaya's brain is able to figure this out. It's pretty clear that when one is thinking of a long-lost childhood friend, they can convince themselves of seeing them in passers by. A fleeting glimpse in a crowd or, in this case, an eerie lookalike stranger on a rain-soaked road after an emotionally charged battle. It's perfectly reasonable. There's no subtext or other possible explanation as to why this very (very) pretty priestess should be triggering those memories [s]and feelings[/s]. And despite her (again, very pretty) eyes and oh is it getting warmer out here - wait, still cold and raining. Right. Where was I? Ah yes, very pretty eyes, there's no [i]romantic[/i] reason why they should be linking to that particular memory or person.

I mean, after all, Kalaya's dream is about being a knight in the truest sense and making the Flower Kingdoms a better place. The idea of getting smitten isn't even on the game plan. In fact, its not even in the arena. If it was anywhere, it would be two kingdoms over, kicking back and going fishing.

...

[i]Even if [/i]Kalaya was to let someone into her heart, it probably wouldn't happen quickly. She'd always thought that the person, if they ever existed, would be her friend first. Good and true. A partner and supporter in her dream. Her other half in every sense of the words. If Victorious Vixen were to be [i]that[/i] ... [i]Can [/i]she even be that?

...

Those eyes. They gaze with such intent. 

"W-why me?" she asks, cramming all of that back inside and meeting the priestess' gaze with an sizzling intensity. "Why me, and why now?"

Her body is still, but her hand is gripping her sword hilt so hard that her knuckles are white.