Verdant Skies

As the soft tendrils of dawn began to seep into her room, Iris awoke with a slight start and rose as her hand rose to press against the thundering muscle within her chest. Heat was gathered across her cheeks and within other areas of her body, the remnants of a dream that still lingered within her mind. Hand dropping from her chest, she drew her knees up and wrapped an arm around them. Eyes going to the nearby window, she watched the sky through a fluttering curtain.

The vivid remnants of Iris's dream flickered through her mind as she sat in the quiet embrace of her mind. Like a delicate dance, the images swirled together with emotions that she was still trying to come to grips with and bringing forth new ones that left her grasping at straws. The warmth lingering on her cheeks and elsewhere served as a testament to the intensity of the emotions she experienced in that dream. As she sat there with her head pillowed on an arm, she felt a certain sense of vulnerability. The dream, though fleeting, had stirred something within her—something she was still trying to comprehend.

Releasing a low sigh, Iris allowed herself to contemplate just what had happened. The connection she shared with Kouen and Koumei felt like a journey into uncharted territory. It was both exhilarating and unnerving, and Iris found solace in the fact that her companions were equally lost in this intricate web of emotions. The dream had stirred something within her that she wasn't quite sure about. This heat only just beginning to ebb away, it was something she'd never felt before save perhaps vague impressions of it. There was an uncomfortable realization that came with that fact, a revelation that these connections were not only shaping her understanding of emotions but also reshaping her perception of herself.

As she shook her head with another sigh, Iris noticed a flash of blue approaching her window. Uncurling from her position, she began getting out of bed just as a spectral otter appeared. Hermione's voice sounded from the creature, "Iris, I've spent pretty much the entire night scouring all of the notes for the information you asked of me."

Muttering a curse, Iris dove for her desk with the otter following and quickly wrote down the instructions Hermione offered. As the otter dissipated, she grinned down at the recipe before shaking her head. She needed to get dressed and start preparing the ingredients needed for the potion if they wanted to use it.

Moving through the steadily recovering halls, Koumei's lips pulled into a deep frown at the fact he'd yet to find Iris. As he turned a corner, he spotted a maid going about her duties. Clearing his throat as he approached the woman, he mentally winced at the woman visibly jumped, "Excuse me, have you seen Lady Iris? I've been looking all over for her, but she seems to be missing today."

"Ah, Lady Iris?" The maid pressed a hand over her heart, "I remember seeing her in the eastern gardens earlier, but can't figure out why. They haven't cleaned them up just yet,"

Frowning at that, Koumei's brows pinched together as he tried to figure out why Iris would have gone there, "I'll have to find out though how long ago was that?"

"Two hours ago, M'lord," The maid answered.

Which meant Iris might not be there anymore, Koumei mentally sighed while waving the woman back to her task. It was his best chance to find her until he managed to track down someone who'd been by the eastern gardens more recently. As he neared the eastern gardens, the scent of greenery and the sound of birdsong increased. Walking past the low archway marking the garden's entrance, he inwardly cringed at the overgrown state of it though began walking along the visible pathway. Glancing about as he walked past overgrown flower beds and trees that showed small signs of damage, he spotted a gardener who seemed to be taking stock of everything.

Walking over to the man, Koumei addressed him, "Excuse me, have you seen Lady Iris around here recently?"

Wiping away the sweat that had gathered around his face, the man turned his head, "Ah, the pretty young lady? Yeah, she was fascinated with some of the strange flowers that were growing by the fountain. Since we're planning on completely overhauling this place, she asked to grab 'em and a couple of others."

"Did you see where she went? And how long ago was this?" Koumei wondered what she was doing with so many flowers.

"'Bout an hour ago, I think she was heading towards the west wing," The gardener shrugged, "Not too sure though,"

Nodding his head, Koumei thanked the man and began heading for the west wing. As he exited the gardens, his mind raced with thoughts about why Iris might be collecting flowers. Could she have gotten into contact with Hermione and figured out a proper recipe for the truth serum, if so, why the need for seclusion? There was a sinking feeling in his gut that their talk yesterday hadn't gone as well as he'd initially assumed, he loathed to think that way, but found his pace increasing at the thought. The west wing, although less affected by recent events, still bore signs of the upheaval. Moving through the corridors and glancing through various rooms, he found himself growing despondent with each lacking hint of Iris being present.

Almost ready to turn around and search elsewhere, Koumei's eyes caught sight of a slightly ajar door tucked in against a shadowed corner. Approaching it with a curious frown, the gentle fragrance of various flowers mixed with something harsher wafted through the air. Pushing the door open, he found Iris inside, surrounded by an assortment of flowers, vials, and herbs. Back to the door with a heavy-looking pot mounted on a stand before her, she hummed something low in her throat as she turned slightly to grab a vial of vibrant blue liquid only to pause. Turning fully towards him as the humming stopped, Iris's expression was filled with surprise, "Koumei? I-I didn't hear you come in."

Despite the confusion rearing up through him, Koumei offered her a light smile, "You seemed rather engrossed in...whatever this is," He waved a hand at her, "So it's fine."

"Ah-" Iris quickly turned around and dropped some of the liquid from her vial into the pot, "Can't stop moving for too long...not with this part of the process," She put the vial down after capping it and grabbed a sprig of some kind of herb that was hanging of head, "Hermione sent over an improved version of the truth serum. If we want to make use of it any time soon, I had to start it sooner rather than later thanks to how some of the ingredients needed to be prepared,"

Blinking a bit as relief swept through him, Koumei's shoulders released some of their tension as he walked a bit closer, "I'm glad she managed to get you the recipe," He eyed the pot with a small frown, "Though...it looks..odd?"

"To an untrained eye, it will," Iris let out a soft laugh as she shook her head, "I'm about...a quarter of the way through making the serum. Once I finally get all my needed ingredients into it save for what comes at the end, it'll need to sit for a day untouched save for an occasional stir," She grabbed a pale blossom and began crumbling it over the mixture, "But I'm probably not going to be finished brewing this until tomorrow morning,"

Frowning at that, Koumei asked her, "Truly?"

"As the only one with my kind magic and brewing knowledge around here, yes," Iris offered him a bright smile as she grabbed a wooden spoon and began stirring, "If any of my friends were around, we would take turns save for Nev or Ron as those two can't be trusted to work on anything potion related to save their lives," She let out a soft laugh, "Next time I get the chance, I'll tell you some stories about our school days and some of our more...memorable potion's classes," She eyed him with a slight frown, "Koumei, don't worry too much, I've had to stay up far longer and with far less rest before doing so," She offered him a gentle smile, "Trust me, I'll be just fine,"

"I don't feel right, but I suppose there is little I can do to argue with you," Koumei sighed heavily, "Is there anything I can do to assist you?"

Nodding her head, Iris pointed to a shelf that was nearby, but not within easy reach. She grabbed another vial while asking, "Mind grabbing that smallest jar from that shelf? It's the one marked with two circles and an 'X'."

Moving towards the shelf, Koumei scanned it for a long moment before finding the jar she wanted. As he grabbed the jar, he blinked in surprise at the heft of it and eyed it. Blue glass was made in such a way that you couldn't see through, the lid was black with a pale red string sealing it. Walking over to Iris, he handed her the jar while asking, "What's in this jar? It's a bit heavier than I expected."

Opening the jar, Iris spilled some of the contents out revealing what looked like green gem fragments. As he narrowed his eyes at them, the familiarity of the fragments struck him in a way he couldn't put his finger on. Iris spoke as she carefully dropped each fragment in, "Pieces of a dragon scale," He released a low sound and looked at her in shock as she dropped the last fragment into the mixture, "Gathered just before the collar was placed on me, we only have...four left though now that isn't going to be a problem," She resealed the jar and held it out to him, "Please put that back on the shelf, Koumei."

Taking the jar, Koumei hesitated to put it away, "Iris...why? Why would you put-"

"Because certain potions require pieces of magical creatures that don't exist in this world," Iris explained as Koumei slowly put the jar away, "We found workarounds for everything save for the dragon ones...I can provide the scales with ease...the blood doesn't exactly work since it's my blood just charged with more magic," She stirred the mixture, "Does it bother you, Koumei?"

"I-A little," Koumei admitted as he returned to her side, "But it doesn't hurt you, does it?"

Shaking her head, Iris offered him a small smile, "I shed the scales as if they're loose hair. The only reason it hasn't happened in recent years is due to not being in my dragon form that often and lacking the proper amount of magic that my body would consider healthy," She turned back to her potion, "So I know you didn't come here just to ask about potions...you looked pretty shocked," She tilted her head, "What made you seek me out?"

"We finally received word," Koumei watched Iris stiffen as her fingers clenched around the spoon in her hand, "Ashe isn't fully healed, but she's on the mend. She also wasn't the only one harmed, but no others higher up were injured,"

Breath shuddering as Iris released the wooden spoon, she tilted her head back, "Thank the above," She breathed out as Koumei settled a hand on her shoulder, "Nev's probably going to send a message with the full extent of her injuries once he's able to...I...Shit...If I didn't need to brew this, I'd want a stiff drink."

Chuckling softly at that, Koumei had to shake his head, "Perhaps once all this is over."

"Oh definitely, Kouha plans on dragging me to the nearest bar with your magi once things die down," Iris smiled weakly as she looked at him, "Does your magi often come to places you just conquer or assist on freeing?"

"To a point, I'm honestly surprised that Judar hasn't shown up yet," Koumei admitted while mentally planning to tell Kouen about their younger brother's plans for Iris, "After all, our reports haven't exactly hidden what you can do,"

"Well...I am looking forward to meeting him if only to see what the fuss is about," Iris turned back to her potion.

Lips pulling into a light smile, Koumei shook his head, "I think we're all curious as to how he'll react to meeting you."

Silence fell over them and Koumei took his hand off of Iris's shoulder after a long moment, he stepped back to observe her work. She was rather skilled with her knife work which he knew from reports and even seeing for himself that it transferred well onto the battlefield. There was a look of complete concentration on her face as time passed, she slowly gained a small smile and her eyes became half-lidded. Just as he was about to turn and leave, Iris spoke, "Koumei...would you mind keeping me company for a little while longer?" He was slightly startled by the request, "If you're not busy that is...I'm aware that you have things to do and your time is limited before you're due back at the other city-"

"I don't mind," Koumei smiled slowly, "After all, it's best to use what time I've got wisely. Did you want to talk?"

"I...would you finish the story from last night? The one you attempted to get Kouen to assist with?" Iris asked while casting a look towards him, "I...will return the favor after,"

Chuckling softly, Koumei nodded while moving to lean against a nearby counter, "Of course...where was I?"

In the early morning light, Kouen and Koumei were huddled over the war-room table. Scatterings of parchment were tossed about the other tables within the room, the discarded pieces tossed to the floor. Murmurs filled the air as they worked to iron out strategies, the room somewhat tense as their faint voice rose and fell. There was a knock on the door, he paused mid-sentence and shot a glare towards it as Koumei released a low sigh. Pushing away from the table, Koumei called out, "Enter!"

Pushing open the doors, a very disheveled Iris strode in looking sleep-deprived. Blinking as shock filled him, he didn't react right away as she approached the table. Finally speaking as worry filled him from the way she trembled with each step, he asked, "Iris, are you alright?"

"I-" A yawn left Iris as she held up a hand, "Am very tired and want to head to bed. I wanted to make a pit stop first though," She smiled weakly and swayed in place once she'd finally stopped moving, "You will have your truth serum by tomorrow morning at the earliest,"

There was a small bolt of pleasure from hearing that, Kouen frowned at her as concern filled him, "Iris-"

"M'fine," Iris waved her hand at him, "Just-" Another yawn left her as the swaying increased, "Tired,"

Sharing a look with Koumei, Kouen felt a bolt of bemused exasperation at the fact Iris seemed to continuously push herself to her limits. With a low sigh, he walked around the table towards Iris, "While I'm thankful for the potion, I believe you've done enough for the moment, Iris. Go to bed."

Nodding in appreciation, Iris began walking towards the door with her steps faltering until she collapsed halfway there. Rushing to her side with Koumei, he carefully turned her over only to snort. Eyes firmly closed as she breathed in deeply, Iris had passed mid-step. Shaking his head, he looked at Koumei as his younger brother chuckled, "Seems she should have just gone to bed rather than come to speak with us."

"She was likely too excited," Kouen picked Iris up making a mental note that she was even lighter than the last time he'd carried her in his arms, "It was about time we took a break regardless," Iris's face pressed against his neck as he carefully adjusted her, "I'll take her to her rooms. I believe you have paperwork to do,"

Grimacing a bit, Koumei nodded with a low sigh, "Unfortunately, I am getting close to the deadline of when I need to return to overseeing things," Kouen felt a small pang rush through him at that though dismissed it, "Though with what I've been observing, you'll be able to hand things off here not long after I leave."

"Very true," Kouen followed Koumei out of the door, "However this also means that the three of us will be separating for a bit as well,"

"True," Koumei frowned heavily, "But at the very least, we've already spoken about what needed to be said," He turned away and began heading in the direction of the small library he'd been working in, "I will see you at dinner, En,"

"See you then," Kouen inclined his head before turning to make his way towards Iris's room.

As Kouen approached Iris's room, he couldn't help but reflect on the events of the past days. From kissing Iris to finally coming to the conversation they'd had just a day ago, the chaos of it all made it seem as if they'd spent weeks within this place rather than little more than a week. He pushed open the door to her room and gently laid her down on the bed, making sure she was comfortable. As he started to turn away, Iris's fingers curled around his wrist tightly and she let out a low murmur. Eyes going to her face, he watched her expression flicker through a myriad of emotions.

Mumbling as she shifted to face him, Iris's body curling slightly as her thumb pressed into the pulse point of his wrist. A small smile played across Kouen's lips as he watched her expression ease. Reaching out to brush the hair out of her face, he gave into the impulse that always seemed to call to him nowadays. Leaning forward, he pressed a light kiss to her forehead before pulling away as her grip on his wrist loosened. There was a small noise from Iris before she shifted to burrow her face into the pillow, an arm wrapping around it as she curled up even further. Biting back the urge to chuckle at the heartwarming sight, he turned and began walking away.

Just as he opened the door and began walking out, Kouen cast a glance back at Iris's sleeping form. Protectiveness surged over him as he peered at her, the need to ensure her safety increased. If only to allow for serene moments like this to continue, he stepped fully outside of Iris's room and closed the door behind him.

Rubbing the back of her neck, Iris followed Koumei into the dining room, "I still can't believe I passed out like that."

"It just shows that you've been stressing yourself out without really noticing it," Koumei shook his head lightly, "Ah, En, look who's awake,"

Flushing as she caught sight of Kouen, Iris dropped her hand, "Sorry about earlier-"

"Don't worry about it," Kouen eyed her with concern clear in his eyes, "Are you feeling alright?"

"Still a bit tired, I'll be fine once I've gotten a bit more rest," Iris slipped into what was becoming her usual seat when it was just the three of them, "I checked on the serum and my earlier thoughts were correct. It will be ready by not long after dawn tomorrow,"

Nodding to her as a servant poured them all wine, Kouen's lips pulled into a small smile, "That's good news, we will hopefully have people to use it on soon."

Iris frowned in surprise at that and paused as she went to grab her glass of wine, "You already have people searching for targets?"

"Yes," Kouen held up a hand as Iris's frown deepened, "It's nothing against you, Iris. With Ashe's injuries, I knew your focus would be torn," A bolt of hurt tore through her though she understood his caution, "And while you've shared your abilities to gather information and kill targets, we've yet to hear much about detaining them,"

Rational or not, it still stung that they didn't trust her. Iris mentally grimaced as she finally grasped her wine glass, "I...understand your reasoning for all that part of me dislikes it," She took a sip of wine, "Detaining targets isn't something that the jackass wished for us to do very often, I do have the skills to do so," She leaned back against her seat, "All of my friends do though as we were taught a pair of spells that allow us to knock someone out and wake them up. Hermione is very good at both and conjuring up bindings," She didn't want to think about what her formerly bushy-haired friend could use those for because some of the knots were very delicate, "However even with my control returning to its former state, I...can't be trusted to use that kind of magic. What would normally knock someone out is more likely to put them into a coma they're unable to wake up from."

"But it's an option for us to use in the future," Koumei offered earning a small nod, "Have you heard from Neville yet?"

Shaking her head, Iris's lips pulled into a small frown, "No though I wouldn't be surprised if he's in much the state I'm in though for a different reason. That idiotic bear probably worked himself into a stupor ensuring Ashe was on the mend..."

"Idiotic bear?" Koumei tilted his head, "I've heard you call Neville a bear a few times..."

Blinking a bit, Iris smiled as she explained, "Despite only Ginny taking the time to try and become an animagus like myself, all of my friends know what animal they'd be if they went through the process. Because of this, we tend to refer to one another by our animal forms occasionally."

"So Neville's a bear?" Kouen asked with a raised eyebrow, "What are the others?"

"Hermione is an otter," Iris explained with a small laugh, "Ron is an Irish Setter which is a dog breed from back in our old world. Luna is a hare," She took a small sip from her wine, "Ginny is a fox which made Hermione annoyed since it disproved all the theories created about the animagus process,"

"What do you mean?" Koumei looked at her curiously.

"Many believe that our patronus are reflections of the soul just as the animagus process," Iris explained with a wave of her hand, "But between Ginny and I, the evidence doesn't stand up especially when you consider the fact the spell is based on happy memories given physical form,"

Brows furrowing as he cupped his chin, Koumei admitted, "That doesn't sound like it would stand up."

"Our people never really liked to look into things, it's why many communities were stagnant and tended to shun any new developments for the most part," Iris rolled her eyes at the thought, "But as I was saying, Ginny and I both have patroni that don't reflect our inner animal. Granted, we've both had our change more than once after coming to this world,"

"Really?" Kouen set down his glass of wine, "What animal?"

"Well, I used to have a buck as my patronus. It was my dad's animal form," Iris explained as she placed down her wine glass as well, "Ginny had a unicorn," She let out a soft giggle at the memory of Ginny's flushed face when they'd first conjured their patroni together, "Not long into our time here, they changed. I ended up with a wolf-dog which given how my thoughts were behaving at the time, it makes sense. Ginny's changed into a lion only it didn't stay like that for long," She grimaced a bit, "Her's has changed more frequently than mine, I don't know if she has a new one or not. I wouldn't be surprised given the current circumstances,"

"What about you?" Koumei eyed her, "Do you think yours could have changed?"

"Definitely," Iris confirmed though noticed something in his eyes that made her blush, "I...have no idea what the animal could be and don't have an exact reason to conjure up a patronus right now,"

"Pity, I am rather curious," Kouen chuckled softly.

Blushing a deeper shade of red, Iris looked away from him, "Well, um, I suppose if there's ever a reason to find out, I'll let you know," She heard another chuckle and quickly looked at Koumei, "So...I noticed the pile was a lot lower..."

"Ah, yes," Koumei's smile dipped as he nodded, "I'm making great progress and will make my deadline,"

Frowning a bit, Iris's head tilted, "Deadline?"

"Yes, I have to be finished here within the next few days," Koumei offered her a small smile as her expression dropped, "Though, from my calculations, your work will be done here not long after,"

Blinking a bit, Iris ran through everything she'd been doing and found herself nodding slowly while glancing at Kouen, "You aren't wrong. Though...Is the plan for me to start ferreting out information closer to Astoria or are we tabling that for now? With everything that has happened...with Ashe getting hurt..."

"I...That is something we need to consider," Koumei frowned as his eyes met Kouen's, "We do need that information sooner rather than later, but with everything that's happened..."

"We can't send you to go meet up with Lady Ashe and her group. Not if our guess is right and Lord Habi is seeking to draw you out," Kouen frowned heavily.

Mind whirling as she struggled to figure out a way to stay on the field, Iris snapped her fingers as she remembered one key detail they seemed to be forgetting, "Kouha," Kouen and Koumei both looked at her, "He's still working his way through the villages, right? I could seek him out which would ensure I'd be on the move and thus out of the Jackass's reach. It would also allow me to trade places with Ginny and let her go to the areas closer to Astoria."

"There's a chance it might also draw attention to Kouha's group," Kouen frowned heavily, "As the youngest, Lord Habi would likely see him as an easy target and strike," Iris grimaced a bit, "Though that would prove he was attempting to draw you out once he realizes you're no longer with me,"

"Which also means he's biding his time waiting until I'm away from you," Iris set down her wine glass, "It would mean he thinks you're protecting me," She felt both amused and unsettled at that thought, "Which also means he believes I was weakened,"

"Perhaps," Koumei shook his head, "It's risky, but...the plan is also feasible," He eyed Iris with concern, "If you do join up with Kouha, you'd also be providing him with more coverage than what Ginny is capable of. It's also likely not something Lord Habi is predicting you'll do,"

"Which means there will be more time to get information and allow you to get used to traveling with Kouha," Kouen shook his head, "There is a lot to consider...But," He looked at Iris, "This is also the safest option that will allow you to keep moving...I won't argue if you wish to do this, Iris,"

"Nor will I," Koumei smiled weakly as he nodded.

Chestwarming at the fact they're agreeing with her plan, Iris smiled softly, "Well, I guess if we're going to go for this option, we'll have to plan out how to start things off. We can't send a message to Kouha or it might tip them off. So..."

"We'll plan around it," Kouen decided as Iris leaned back against her chair, "For now..."

As they began their discussion in full over dinner, Iris marveled at how the dynamics between them were evolving. It wasn't just about tasks and missions; there was a growing understanding and trust, it felt wonderful. While part of her loathed that she would be parting from them soon, she knew she'd see them both again when the time came.

As the days passed with Koumei and now Iris's impending departures, a small amount of tension seemed to be building in the air. Kouen found himself caught between conflicting emotions - the need for Iris to fulfill her mission and the reluctance to see her go. During one of the last nights they'd be spending together, they sat in his temporary rooms with Iris looking over a map of possible routes to where Kouha was camped out. Koumei stood beside her as he offered up small suggestions and pointed out little things that had been marked out on the map. Lips pulled into a grimace as he stood from his desk, he spoke drawing both his companions' attentions, "Two more days..."

"About that," Iris's eyes flickered towards the map as her lips pulled into a frown, "While we've been routing out anyone loyal to the jackass, we don't have any guarantees. I...I don't want to risk all of our plans just because someone decides to be a dick and play unwanted messenger,"

Eyebrow furrowing as his grimace deepened into a frown, Kouen's chest bubbled with unease, "You're planning to leave sooner than we planned."

"With how I've set things up...I can leave tomorrow," The words came out slowly and Kouen's chest burned, "I just need to create a reason...some excuse as to why I wouldn't be coming out of my room for a day or two,"

The room seemed to constrict around him as Kouen processed the implications of the sudden change. His eyes boring into Iris's skull as he struggled to breathe properly, the realization that she planned to leave sooner than he'd expected...hurt in ways that felt almost physical. As if sensing the tension, Koumei cleared his throat, "We've worked hard to ensure the routes are secure. But if you feel it's necessary to expedite your departure, we'll adapt to the new timeline."

Raising her eyes to meet Koumei's, Iris nodded with a look of gratitude mixed with regret, "I...Thank you, Koumei," She released a deep sigh, "I..I don't want to leave anything to chance. Not with what I know the Jackass has done in the past, I can't," She offered them an apologetic look, "I don't want to leave anything to chance. The longer I stay here, the more unpredictable things become."

Tension eased from him at those words though his anger spiked, Kouen breathed in deeply, "We understand your concerns, Iris," She looked at him and he managed to offer her a reassuring smile, "As Mei said, we'll adjust things as needed. If tomorrow is when you need to leave, then we'll make sure everything is ready by then."

A grateful smile forming, Iris's shoulders slumped, "Thank you for understanding," She sighed heavily, "I wish things hadn't come to this..."

"I don't think any of us do," Koumei set a hand on Iris's shoulder and offered her a warm smile, "But we have to work with what we've got which unfortunately means separating for now," She nodded slowly and reached up to grasp his hand, "Though I think Kouha will be glad to see you,"

Letting out a soft laugh, Iris grinned, "No doubt, I think he'll probably beg me for a dragon-back ride the minute he sees me if not soon after."

"Probably," Koumei snickered as he shook his head.

As the tension eased and their discussion resumed, Kouen couldn't shake the sense of impending separation. Tomorrow, Iris would venture into the unknown, and he would have to reconcile his desire to keep her safe with the necessity of her mission. There was a knock at the door not long after they'd managed to finalize some plans, he was left alone with Iris as Koumei was called away due to some issues popping up. He looked at Iris as she slipped back into her seat with a light frown and reached for the map once more. Walking over with a small sigh, he grasped the map and tugged it from her hands earning a small look of irritation, "Kouen-"

"Continuing to worry over plans that have been made and remade will only drive you insane," Kouen set the map aside and held a hand out to Iris, "I believe a small break is in order,"

"A break-Kouen, I'm leaving tomorrow-" Iris started to protest.

"Exhausting your mind will not help things settle in, Iris. Or do you need a refresher of what happened the last time you exhausted yourself," Kouen smirked as a delicate blush spread across her cheeks, "So...take my hand,"

Eyeing him for a moment, Iris took Kouen's hand, "What are you-"

Before Iris could finish her question, Kouen gently pulled her to her feet. Shushing her as she tried to protest, he led her over to the balcony attached to his room and into the cool night air. There was a soft sound as Iris stopped protesting and her attempts to pull away stopped, he spoke while taking in the secluded garden settled below, "I...am uneasy about you leaving tomorrow, Iris. Not because I do not believe you're capable of protecting yourself, I've found myself worrying over your safety as of late...something that hasn't happened with anyone save for my siblings..." He felt her fingers tighten around his hand, "I won't protest or ask for something foolish like you staying safe."

There was a soft snort, Iris spoke softly, "That would be kind of stupid," Kouen jolted as her head rested against his arm, "I...My decision didn't come lightly, you know?" She had a deep frown stretching across her lips, "But when I considered all the facts...I had to make that decision even if part of me wanted to be...be selfish for the first time in a very long time," She let out a low laugh, "But now's not the time."

"I understand better than you think," Kouen saw her look up at him and their eyes met, "But being selfish will come soon enough," He shifted to face her and she pulled away slightly, "I...it makes me feel better to know that you feel just as conflicted about this,"

A sad smile forming, Iris's shoulders shrugged, "Why wouldn't I? We finally had that conversation and are just now figuring things out...I...I don't understand things still, but..." She hesitated and he could see her trying to pick out the words, "I'm working on it which is strange. Scary too," She shook her head, "I...A part of me is scared that any progress we've made will be lost."

"It won't," Kouen loathed the thought with every fiber of his being.

"How sure are you?" Iris's voice was soft and her eyes filled with uncertainty, "You admitted that emotions aren't something you're used to either,"

"I'm not, but that doesn't mean I can't feel how strong they are," Kouen used the hand not holding Iris's to cup her cheek, "Feelings this strong don't go away, Iris...And if we're truly determined to work through this together, the progress we've made won't be lost,"

There was a moment of indecision in her eyes before Kouen felt her lean into his touch, he felt his heart warm even as uncertainty still lingered within Iris's eyes. She spoke in a soft tone, "You...might be right," He mentally snorted even as her fingers tightened around his, "Coming as far as we have considering all the facts, I...I don't want to lose it. It's just... unsettling."

"Change always is," Kouen drew a bit closer to her and was surprised when she didn't try to back away, "It's a challenging thing to deal with, but as a part of life, we have to," He stroked her cheek with his thumb, "Our connection, whatever it may become, is something worth navigating these uncertainties for,"

Iris's gaze held a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability. "You make it sound so simple."

"It's not," Kouen's thumb traced across the green mark beneath her eye, "But it's a journey we're undertaking together. And despite the uncertainties, there's something meaningful in that,"

As she released a low sigh, a blend of emotions flickered across Iris's face, "This...it's only going to get more complicated, won't it?"

There was a damning truth in that, Kouen mentally grimaced even as he nodded, "Yes though Koumei and I will be there to walk with you...if you'll allow us."

Lips pulling into a small smile, Iris released a low laugh, "Somehow we keep coming back to the same discussion...over and over again even if it's painted with different words."

Chuckling softly, Kouen smiled at her in return, "You aren't wrong."

"I-" Iris stilled as his thumb slid across her lip.

Seeing her eyes widen and then soften sent a tingle down his spine, Kouen watched as multiple emotions flickered through her as his thumb slid back to her cheek. Time seemed to slow as they stood on the balcony, surrounded by the quiet night and the subtle rustle of leaves in the garden below. When she leaned forward, the feeling of her other hand brushing against his chest sent another tingle down his spine. Lowering his head, he pressed his lips to Iris's and almost groaned. Despite his urge to deepen the kiss like before and get another taste of her mouth, he pulled away after what felt like far too brief a moment.

Speaking softly as Iris peered at him, Kouen told her, "Come back...if nothing else, Koumei and I want you to come back to us, Iris."

There was a spark in her eyes, a fire that he'd seen only briefly before. Warmth filled his chest as Iris nodded, she pulled back from him, "I will...I promise."

Those words hung heavily in the air, it felt as if Kouen had just been given precious information. And as he focused on her eyes, he could see the weight of those words settle on her and knew just how precious they were.