Territory of the Wolf and Undead

[Reno]

"Really?!" Terra said in surprise and possible happiness, and he was glad he did not have his tail for he was sure it would be wagging. It was not as if he could help it - he enjoyed sharing intelligence with people and keeping most of his time with lycans - who really were dumb as door nails most days - is made him thrilled he would be a teacher for once and not ignored for his fancy. When the other looked at him he quickly composed himself, clearing his throat as he set aside his own text and reached for the Bible, pulling it over to him.

"Well then let us began." He said, flipping open the first page.


He was not sure when it occurred - perhaps when the night librarian shushed them - but soon enough they were sitting close at the table, Ven still sitting in his spot but Terra's chair had been moved close so they were adjacent one another. They had just begun Exodus, the story of Moses quite the fame of these chapters, when Terra realized many hours had drawn the night as he glanced at the window. The sun was not to be up for awhile yet but the travel time would almost make up for that.

"I think it is perhaps time we have gone home. The sun will rise soon and I believe it will not be beneficial for you to be caught when that happens." Terra stated, drawing Ven's attention to the window as well. The agreement was made and the book was flipped closed and placed away before the took to the town's outskirts. There, embarrassingly enough for Ven, Terra undressed - and after giving him a slight tease over it - the man changed into a wolf the transformation quite interesting to watch. It was a wonder it caused him no pain. The canine picked up his clothes, neatly tied together with ribbon so it swung from his teeth, before the two ran for home neither having trouble keeping stride with the other.

They reached the forest without trouble, the sky have turned from a deep navy to a gray-blue. There was still time before the sun rose, but that did not mean they had much to waste. Even still, for some reason, they paused and looked at each other.

[Rikugurl]

A smile came across the young blonde's face as he looked down at the wolf, feeling a bit scared for he had not been out of his room this late... or early before but as long as the sun's rays did not hit his body, he would be well. "I must thank you, Terra. Would you take the offer of reading to me again tomorrow?" With the answer confirmed, he smiled brightly before nodding. "Till then, I suppose. Good night." And he was gone, quickly running to the manor and up the stairs before closing the door. They locked majikally behind him but he took no care to notice as he quickly made his way to the large bedroom.

He wasn't shocked that his brother was already upon their bed, looking worried and he gained such a chastise. It was fortunate for the blonde that the sun was coming up now so they were both forced to sleep. Even still, it was not a warm without their third brother upon them.


The day came and went and once more the sun's sibling came up, still but a sliver in the sky bit every night it grew larger. The vampir and lycan rose as the humans laid, the ritual almost like a dance. It did not take long before the door was unlocked and the undead were ready to entertain themselves or eat but before they could get far, their master finally appeared to them with some news.
A meeting would be called tomorrow night and all must attend.

"Do not worry your head about it!" Axel smiled as he ran his fingers through blonde hair. Ever since the night he had taken the blonde, his liveliness had come back to him. "It is probably but news of the Full Moon and some tactic he wish for us to practice." They left once more, the other brothers not having the chance to even speak to him. The blonde glanced at his brother, feeling terrible that he wished to leave as soon as possible as well to the library in Stagwood. "I suppose you could stop the lord for some assistance?" He inquired bit Sora seemed to shrug it off, saying that he would look for her himself.

"Than we shall travel together!" Ven smiled before they both headed to the city.

When they arrived, Sora pulled the letter from his jacket, smelling it once more. He paused though as his brother started to chuckle, inquiring what was ever so funny. "It only reminds me of a hound, dear brother. To sniff out a robber of sorts! I can just see the ears and tail upon you now!" He chuckled again, getting shoved playfully. "Well, here's good luck on your search and when you find her, please put in a word for me. I would also fancy to hear how her knew dress looks upon her body." He gave a wicked grin, making his once tanned brother blush. The two finally split; one heading towards the library as the other following a very dead trail.

Dead but not impossible.

The brunette was led down the main streets of the town, turning here and crossing there. He came to a business road, seeing some of the larger houses and flats before coming to the dead end, seeing a large iron gate. Beyond it was a well managed house and the sight of some candle light in the windows.
On the side of the gate upon a plaque was an inscription.

Judge Ansem Evard the Wise

[Reno]

Even though he told him not to worry, his mind could not help but be preoccupied with the thoughts of what the future meeting could entail. For some strange reason, he worried about Sora - especially strange since he had not thought of him for dangers. Yet it could not be denied his brother was being quite an upstart among the Vampirs.

Axel had told him the night after his X-pendant was returned to him that, even though it was a same as it looked nice upon him, it would need to be hidden under his blouse whenever in the presence of another Vampir out of respect for their weakness over it. He had later been told this message had been delivered in person to his brunette brother. But it was not only that. The conversations he caught at the table - when he was listening of course - told him he had also not drunken human's blood yet. A fact which was deeply disturbing the rest of the Vampir's. He did not wish for his brother to be humiliated in front of the other's by Master Kuku...

"So, meetings like this happen often?" He asked in a roundabout way, wondering if Axel actually had some insight since he was the second eldest in the house. If it was about Sora, he would tell him... right? As they walked down a dusty trial, his lover responded. It was not unusual and now that they had himself and his siblings it was probably important that they know what was expected of them during the night. "Expected..." He repeated softly, but the red-head was quick to reassure him to again not worry, that he would make sure to watch over him during the battle and would protect him from harm.

Rather then making him swoon, Roxas frowned and stopped dead in the trial. The red-head walked a few more paces before he noticed his date was no longer at his side. "I think perhaps we should postpone today's fun Axel." The other seemed alarmed but Roxas was quick to disbarge them. "It is not that I do not wish to or do not value your company or these expensive tastes it is just... we have eternity for fun - but that eternity will be cut short very fast if I am killed because I am under-prepared. And I know you will do your best to protect me to your last breath Axel - but I am not a woman. I too can and want to do the same for you. I know it must sound silly to your ears but do not laugh. I wish to take care of you as you do for me. Please, it is important to me. Could you perhaps... teach me more about fighting?"


Meanwhile, as Ven found himself walking through the library doors, he found Terra at the same table he had been at the day before, the chair already moved to it's previous place it had been changed to the night before. The brunette was thumbing through another book, The Castle of Ortanto and The Holy Bible, both already stacked on the wooden surface. The new title read The Complete Collection of William Wordsworth and Samual Taylor Coleridge. "Ah, your finally here!" Came a teasing lilt, "I have been waiting so long I even read the rest of my story!" The other wore an expression that could of been taken as a pout as he inquired when he had gotten here. "Oh some time before the sun set." The other blinked as he sat then complained how that was hardly fair, making the man laugh humorously before he shut his book and set it down, fetching the Bible. "Alright, enough fun let's begin shall we?"

As he was thumbing through the test to find their spot though, Ven again asked what he had been reading. The side of the man's lip quirked as he answered, "Poetry." Ven possibly had a look of surprise though Terra was not certain as he was still looking for their place. Basic conjecture seemed to find that reading novella was truly nothing but for entertainment - reading poetry was an art for a university student. Even after centuries of change, reading and logically dismantling poetry was very highly regarded over stories.

"Very finely written, though a bit simplistic at times. Coleridge and Wordsworth, they were good friends and they wrote their morals and meanings not so much with metaphors but rather as if they were events of life. Not to say there is not any metaphorical nature - no there is quite-a-plenty - but their dream was to make their poetry able to be read by anyone not just the elite. So even if a commoner might miss a lot of the important and complex issues within, they can still appreciate the basic message and- Ah, now here we were."


Pads of soft finger tips ran across the granite plaque, eyebrows pursing some as he sounded the words as if they were a fine play to be enjoyed. The look ion his face was anything but. "Evard..." While he probably should not be surprised as families could be large but - Oh! what were the chances? For his dauntingly beautiful Lilo to have appeared at the steps of a relative of his former master?

Even though it was now impossible he could not help the shiver that worked alongside his body at the thought of being recognized and taken back to his servant's quarters - of the long hours and invisibly shackled life. Yet... Yet still. Her scent was here. It was all over, there and strong. She was within these walls and he would not let his past hinder him from seeing her.

With the letter back in his breast pocket he backed up some before taking to the gate at a run. He leapt high and caught the top of it, his body swinging like a grandfather clock's pendulum and with a neat, artful flip he landed on the other side in a crouch. He got to his feet with haste and hurried towards the house, so eager in his intent... he missed a very important scent of who ELSE lived upon these grounds.

[Rikugurl]

Eyes shifted to look down at the book that Terra had placed down. Poetry, was it? He knew that Xion fancied it but himself? It always went over his head when she read out loud to herself as he admired her from afar. His head shook as the brunette started on their lesson, the words of God ringing in his ear better than any thought of a woman in his head. "Please pause your lesson, for I have a question." The lycan did as he was told, looking across the table, the look on his face curious. "You said you were not much a man of God, yet you wish to read the entire book to me. Why is it so? I ask for we are mere enemies of each other, at least as our blood is concerned."


A man was at his desk, laboring away even at this time of night. Many papers had to be finished for the court tomorrow as well as deeds that needed to be done for the council in the evening. He dipped his quill into the ink jar, about to sign him name before pausing, hearing a knock on the front door. The quill was discarded in the small bottle before he stood, his cape falling behind before he walked out of his den and to the front hallway.

Slowly, he reached for the knob, opening the door to see quite a pale, young man standing before him. "Good evening," He began as he glanced pass the brunette for he was taller to see beyond him, realizing that the gate, including the lock upon it, was untouched. He secretly clenched onto his cane, his thumb hovering over a button. "How can I help you?"

[Reno]

The brunette sat there silently for the moment before the book was placed down and he clasped his fingers on the table seeming to be pondering something. To reveal to him this...? He supposed, if they were to spend many nights as such, it could not hurt. "Do you know what I used to dream of when I was young?" Of course he did not, he knew very little of him. "When I was a pup, my mother would sometimes take me to town, told my father it would be good for me to learn about human society in case I ever needed the knowledge during a battle or whatnot."

Blue eyes dimmed, lost in a memory as a fond smile spread on his features. "One day she took me to Oxford University....... oh it was glorious Ventus. So large, like a castle!" His hands moved about on the table as if he were building it's blueprints right there for him. "These beautiful tall towers and structures, this glorious bridge and this moat - oh, I can't describe it. It is something that must be experienced by one's own eyes. I was starstruck by it all." He chuckled some but his smile dropped.

"And that day I asked my mother if I could one day go there... and she told me no. My father would never allow it and she was concerned what a danger I might be in alone and with nothing for company but humans. As we are pack animals we must stay as such... and that was the day my dream was born and shattered all at once. There has been nothing more that I have wished for... then to attend university. To learn the arts of English, French and Portuguese, of music and the religions and to spread and create more knowledge." He leaned back then swept his hand as if to present the library. "That is why I come here and to any library that is easily traveled to. It is but a small replacement, but my parents at least allow for this pleasure."

This time he looked at the other, "And that is why I am willing to read to you. Perhaps you are right, our blood is not the same and it shall never be so. Yet that does not mean our minds have to be. I have lived my years up until now with those who have no interest in such - the wolves of my pack are perfectly fine in dim-witted solitude. So, if there is something you wish to learn it would be a gracious honor to me... if I could help you do so."



Perchance he did not think this out very clearly. In fact, Sora was quite shocked when the man opened the door and cursed himself for his foolishness thinking it would be Lilo who would beckon to his call. What lady was permitted to open a door? How could he of forgotten such a simple mannerism as that?

"Uh, a fine evening it is good sir!" Sora said as he straightened his body, bowing to him. This man, he reminded him so of his master. The face so similar, though the eyes seemed kinder. Perhaps he could use his previous knowledge to his advantage even if the lies on his tongue made him feel quite foul. "I am sorry to bother you at such a late hour as this. I am but a humble servant of Mistress Kairi's, and she wished for me to run an errand which has led me here."

[Rikugurl]

Blue eyes blinked slowly as he listened to the man across from him, watching as his emotions played upon his face like an act. It was no act though for it was nothing but the truth, he was certain. When the explanation ended, the blonde nodded some before smiling. "That is quite a humble thing to say, Terra, but upon your reasoning, I came up with another answer for a question that dawned on me a few nights back. I wondered if you were not born with this blood or did, the answer being revealed now. You have always been the creature that you are."

He knew that their voices would not pick up very far since they were way in the back and their conversation only theirs, so he felt free to talk out of terms about the lack of humanity in them.

"Did you once dream of being a human? What you could do if you were not born upon four feet but two? Or have you come to terms with what you have been placed upon this earth to live as?" He wasn't sure why he was so interested. It was possibly to wonder why God would allow such beast to be a normal, natural occurrence on this plane. If one could be born, it was surely meant to be. As for his own race, Marluxia and Luxord had educated them that no woman could bare their children. Vampirs could not be produced through natural reproduction.

So what was the hunter's story?


The blonde man with a brilliant goatee rose an eyebrow as he saw the peculiar way that the man before him was acting. He seemed to be nervous and unsure but his voice was not threatening nor was his body language. Still, the old judge kept his thumb close to the button upon his cane. "Yes, that it is." He agreed before blinked some as the reason why this man on his door step was revealed. He would of never expected such a thing, especially so late at night. But knowing the young woman and her antics, it was nothing that could be unusual.

"Ah, I see. Now what has my dear niece wish you to receive from me?" He asked, his thumb slowly moving away from the button.

[Reno]

"I think perhaps we all dream of things we wish to have, Just as a poor man wishes to be rich and a rich man wishes to be richer, I think it only natural I have had many wishes of being human." The brunette said thoughtfully. "Yes... I have had many thoughts on such, thought of the family I may raise, the jobs I could do, the life I could live. And if I were much younger I too would tell you that is is all I ever wanted. But none of us can really fight the hand dealt to us so while I sometimes still look upon humans and wish I could join them as if I were as normal as they... I also do not have so many restrictions of who I am truly am."

He nodded at that statement, agreeing with himself. "Being a lycan, it is truly not all bad. There is a sense of freedom of running upon four paws and having such strength and speed. Life is very simplistic at times, but sometimes that is a blessing." He looked at the other, saying contemplatively, "I know you've have not yet lived but a full moon cycle as such, but I am certain as time passes you too will find that though there are things you can now take pleasure in that you could never have before."


It worked? It worked! Now if only he could come up with a proper response and - oh! He knew! What are women better known for then their vulnerability and haste of love?

"Mistress, whatever was that?" Sora asked nervously as he pattered down the hall after his grieving friend. What a terrible state she was in, now that her grandmother had passed!
"It was nothing, but a brooch of hers. It is to be mine."
"Yet why are they taken it away?"
"Because it will be stored with my uncle for safe keeping until I have chosen a husband. Now please Sora, go do... something! I do not wish for your company at current!" The door slammed in his face, making the young ten-year old step away, before her hurried off as ordered.

"Ah, Mistress informed me to say that she wishes for Madame Kairi's brooch." The brunette said as he straightened, being respectful to not meet the man's eyes. At least that is how his master had always kept it. "She has chosen who she is to wed."

[Rikugurl]

The blonde nodded as the brunette spoke, knowing well what it was like to come with terms with one's self that this was what they were and what they had to live with. Even still, he had not believed it but awhile ago as he thought his days of being a servant were over once Xion too his hand in marriage. It was not foolish of him to dream though, was it?

But what caught him flat and made his eyes gaze across the table was the last piece Terra spoke from his lips. "You speak as if... I were to live beyond the full moon..." His spoke softly, his eyes becoming admirable.


"I see...." The man of the house frowned before shaking his head. "I have gained information about this affair. I was sure my young brother would of sent a letter with such news. I am afraid I will have to turn you back for I will only present it to her at her wedding. The manor, including my niece should of known as much." Once more, the tale that this man did not settle well with him and his hand moved over the button. It was becoming more and more peculiar now that he did not notice a horse waiting outside the gate. The Evard's manor wasn't very close by; it would take a horse ride to get to the city in a reasonable time but by foot, it was not such a pleasant journey. He supposed the man could of come by carriage and rent an inn room to stay the night...

but that was unlikely for a servant.

[Reno]

The lycan blinked at the curious response then chuckled, "Well of course. Did you not? After all you did survive the last battle. Ventus, if you can not believe you will live the future, you can not honestly expect to." The man spoke wisely.

Though he knew something the Vampir did not - all of the Vampirs did not - which could both be helpful... and a nuisance to them. And that was of Xigbar. His father was predicting that upon the night of the full moon, the fight for territory was going to change, That it would not only be they and them, but they, they and them. His uncles pack was gaining quick numbers and strength, and his desire for Aqua as the mating season grew ever closer was making his mind go mad. The fight for territory was becoming complex now that a third variable was to be added.


"A-Ah?! Truly?" Sora knew, the instant he addressed the man's words with such utter surprise, his lie had been broken. Suspicion was now obvious on the man's face, and the young Vampir knew he had been trapped. But even still the news dazed him... Kairi was truly to be wed? He tried not to let that bother his heart as the man demanded of his true reason of being here and finally he sighed bowing to the man again.

"I apologize Sir Ansem... I have come here upon false terms. I had known Kairi and of the brooch as I had once worked for her. I came upon you this night with this story because I wished to find entrance to your home... as you have a woman staying here I once knew." He straightened and this time met his eyes as he spoke. "My name is Sora Wilkinson, and she is Lilo Harding. We were once friends in childhood and I had grown quite a fancy for her, but circumstances changed and my family had to leave the town for different opportunity. When I heard she was living upon your estate I had to come and see with mine own eyes and hope perhaps... even to perchance court her. I had feared however you would find my desires foolish and of the young, and that is why I attempted to fool with my lies."

[Rikugurl]

"That is not what I meant, Terra." Ventus quickly added before he grinned, his claw rubbing against the table some as he wondered if he would shock the wolf well with his theory. "Is it but the lycan's wish to kill of the vampir? To take over our estate and our land to make the kingdom of your own? I find it curious why a lycan would speak to a vampir about lasting so long under such terms."


The judge shifted, frowning as the man seemed baffled, startled even at the information that he should of already known if it were his true reason for being her. "Yes, she is to be wed in a few weeks to Lord Tidus Zanarkand of Scotland. He seemed to be the only man who could cheer her from her depression... So, the truth with you."
That was when the young man poured his story upon him, making his facial features changed quite a few times.

"You are brave to tell a judge such a story, young man. I know you well, Mr. Wilkinson for you are the one who depressed my niece so." The brunette seemed shocked, looking as if he was caught red handed, for he truly was. "You were her servant once and you ran off without warning. When she knew of it, she locked herself away in her room for near a week until a man rode by this a horse that caught her eye and she had to stop him to ask of what a pony it could be. It was then that she met the Lord." He finally pulled his hand from the button for good before he smiled. "She wrote this all to me in secrecy and since it is but good occasion that came out of this and that I knew her heart was with you for quite some time, I shall not return you to hear under your contracts to be her servant under her knew manor... especially if your own heart is after another. It would neither aid her nor you."

Slowly he moved, allowing the man in. "And yes, I am holding the Lady Harding in my small suite upstairs. She came to me but yesterday with much pound in her hand and a place in mind. I had to sign off her papers before she could move here and it seems as if the owners of the flat wish to ready it for her so she needed a night to stay. She is but a distant friend of ours, my son especially for she and her mother housed him when he was up their way a few times. I can only offer her the same courtesy in return." He walked the quite pale fellow to the stairs before motioning up them. "And love is not foolish if it is all and true. I've had the pleasure to befall upon love and am but all happy to be with with. Of course..." He started to chuckle, "It is but Lady Justice."


Upstairs, a young, fair and beautiful woman sat before a mirror, an ivory comb matching her perfect skin running through her pitch black hair, the natural curls bouncing with grace as she passed them. Her hair was shiny and healthy, the light of the candle on the vanity making it shimmer. She wore but a white corset, the strings quite lose before it came over a thin, long white skirt. She had no idea that she had an admirer coming up the stairs as he hummed a sweet tune.

[Reno]

The lycan opened his mouth as if to answer, but no words permitted, the wolf utterly speechless, which made Ventus all the more amused. "Well erm... uuuuh..." His smile almost seemed certain of something. "Hmph!" Terra scoffed, a blush darkening his cheeks some and looked down at the book. But Ventus probably already knew what he wished to know - it appeared the wolf liked him, at least enough not to wish for his death. "Should we not be reading? I will not even get to the next page by sun up if you continue to distract me!"


Somehow, he felt settled at the story, knowing she had found the man to love her. Had he still been under her wing, jealously would be but the only emotion he would have known. He had not even realized, when he had left that night, how damaged she might become from it. It was true they were more than master and servant - they had been friends and had circumstances been different could have even been lovers. He would have been happy had he had her to lay with him every night. Yet, the feeling he had for Lilo... it seemed strangely different. More powerful. And he realized their love would be from friendship. His and Lilo's... it would be borne from passion.

"All and true," Sora repeated the man after he revealed who his love was, and after he was told where to go he started up the stairs. When he reached halfway though he paused and glanced back, smiling sincerely, "Thank you." The man seemed to brush it off as no worry and the brunette only nodded before he continued up the stairs. It did not occur to him until he was out of sight that what the man had said was quite strange. If he loved only Lady Justice, where had his son come about?

He had little time to ponder before he was stopping at the door indicated. He did not need the direction though as he could hear her heart beating, her lovely voice singing. He felt stricken as he rose his hand and knocked upon the door. After he had done so he wondered in panic what she would think of him? He was dreadfully pale and truly very thin and wiry. Awkward even and his feet - oh how large and clownish they were! Would she truly find him appealing when her beauty had no comparison?

[Rikugurl]

Ventus could only chuckle playfully as his trick had done just as he thought. He had caught the wolf in a trap without harming him none. It was still very amusing to him as he tried to weasel his way out but there was no hope for him. He could not even chew off a limb to set himself free from this one! His chuckles settled as the brunette pulled the book back and started to flip through pages though his blush was quiet easy to spot even on his tanned skin.

"Ah yes~ Mine ears are all yours~" He fluttered his eyelids as he cross his fingers together before placing his chin upon the bridge.


The woman paused as she heard the knock, but she quickly continued to comb her hair from any snarls as she called. "Come in!" Her voice was heavenly and even though she was nearly on the brink of homelessness, her beauty and the way she presented herself did not falter. She was a true prize to be won. She was not but merely beautiful but her perfect hips and full breast showed pure signs that she would be a perfect definition of a mother who could bore healthy children.

Her alluring, bright blue eyes looked beyond herself in the mirror, glancing at the door that was slowly opening... only for her to pause as her brows pinched. That was curious. There wasn't anyone at the door it seemed. She had no idea that there was... and that his reflection could not be seen.


Only down the hall, a darker room was filled wit some steam of heat as a tub was filled with settled water. Or so it seemed. It wasn't easy for one to tell that a man was actually underneath, only a few silver strands of his hair floated to the surface. His eyes were closed as his breath was held, some used clothes on the side of the rim showed that he was near done with his bathing.

Until he suddenly surfaced, gasping for air as his eye went wide. Like some sort of mad man, his head looked too and fro as his nostrils flared. Fanged teeth clenched as he quickly stood from the tub, his nudity not a surprise as the water ran down his body and the noise of water splashing around the area.

There was a vampir in the house!

[Reno]

Terra was wise to quickly go to reading, ignoring the almost adoring look upon the other's face. It was going to be a long evening he was sure!


"Lady Lilo...?" Came a voice, seeming to surprise her. From his angle he did not know she could spot the door in the reflection. Yet it was nothing compared to the surprise she had when she turned to face him. For all his doubts he had grown into quite a man. His hair wilder than even in a surprisingly neat mess and a little sun-dyed to make it appear all the more dashing. His pale skin which highlighted the crystal blue eyes and youthful but strong face. He was not tall - not that he had ever expected to be - and when she stood he was not even a full head taller then her. His limbs were not strong looking but maybe even because of this his body was evermore endearing.

He finally gave her a smile, his beautiful white teeth gleaming in the candlelight. "I believe.... you left a letter for I, requesting my attendance. I hope I have not changed too much that you no longer recognize me."

[Rikugurl]

"Lady Lilo...?"

"Hhhaaa!!" She gasped as she heard a strange voice behind her, one she had never heard before. Who in this city would know her well enough by name? The master here had but one servant and it was more like a maid for she had her own home to go to at night and it surly wasn't her. The fair women turned in her stool and instantly, her comb dropped to the floor, sounding as it hit the wooden floor. Her eyes widened as she stared at the man for but a moment before she seemed to fly across the floor and carpet to wrap her arms around his neck.

"Oh...." Her voice was soft as it pressed pass his hair into his ears. Her fingers clutched against his back as her eyes closed, seeming to melt in his arms. "It was true... I really was you. However could I be so blessed to be in your very arms at this moment, Sora?"

[Reno]

The man blinked in surprise as she was suddenly there and he swallowed hard, not because of her thrumming heart or the blood he could hear rushing her veins, but because of how her body felt against his. It was perfection.

He wrapped his arms about her bringing her delicious warmth ever closer as he head upon hers, murmuring gently, "As much as I am to be here today, with you so near. Oh Lilo... how I have longed to see you again. Such tragedy had befallen us both... yet look at how beautiful you are despite it."