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It was in the way she ran that he could see it. Why? Was something wrong with him? Had he upset her from the last time they met? Because of his leg, he couldn't move at a pace to keep up right away, so as she slowly came to a halt he heaved to himself. Thank god Tahira was there to patch his wound or he knew where that could've ended up. Lest he was able to make due; as he finally caught her backside he looked to her with a confused glance. Nothing. He had on nothing but his bottoms right now, but even so, his eyes were trying to find the answers in her stance. She had been hurt. . So many bruises. Just what could've happened in their time apart. Lifting a free hand as the other held his sword, he was suddenly interrupted by her words. It stayed there, floating for a moment before retreating back to his side, letting the blade in his other hand slide down to his side. His hands now up on both, beginning. "Guin. . I-I'm not gonna hurt you. . Calm down. ." He'd exclaim in the best voice he could, not yet moving from his position.

After she seemed to calm herself, he made a single step forward in an attempt to possibly gain some leverage with her. Hopefully she wouldn't take him as a threat. "You. . You've been hurt. Did something happen to you?" He'd usher in a frank expression - one that said she could trust him or, at least, try. Whatever could've happened to her that'd gotten her like this. This Guinevere wasn't the one who he'd come to exchange words with those months ago. Clearly, he'd missed on whatever that could've happened to her. Either way, a shake of the head followed, dismissing the thoughts as he took yet another step towards the damsel. As much as he could, he lessened the threat as purely as possible. "You don't have to apologize for anything. . Just relax and talk to me? I just wanna know what's going on." It was as plain as day. There was so much that he didn't understand right now that words betrayed thought. All he wanted was to see why she was like this.

He'd take another step forward, this time taking the sword and placing it on the ground next to him. Maybe this would make her feel better. "See? Weaponless. . . Now can we talk without you running off, maybe?"

What was he to say to calm her further? In her eyes, in her stance, in everything she was, was no longer Guinevere. The upstart princess he once knew didn't exist anymore and seemed to have been replaced with this broken woman before him. Johnny only blinked in surprise to her retorts - it was as if she had been completely taken away. What in heavens name could've happened to her that she was like this? "Guin. . The way you're acting isn't like . . this was all casual. . I can see it. . Anyone could see it. ." Those bruises weren't from some disagreement. Someone had hit her. Had hurt her and if it were some random person, he was sure they'd have been hit right back, but. . it didn't feel that way anymore. The strength he feel emanating from her wasn't there, any longer. Where had it gone, Guin? Who took this from you. Who you were? His steps were met with steep opposition; a shout pierced the air which only caused him to freeze in his tracks. Before she was fine with him just being close, but now it was like he was some kind of monster? He didn't understand what was going on anymore, but he did feel it. The rejection. Maybe it was best if he left her be?

He didn't know what to do. He didn't like this, either, but he'd respect what she asked of him. "You don't have to tell me the truth if you don't want to." Silently he'd begin, still searching for the answers he wished he could find. Lost between them. In code or language. Either mattered little, their conversation was clearly for naught. "But I can tell someone harmed you. . The Guinevere I met that day wasn't like this. . And I don't like it. I just want to make sure you're okay. That you aren't as hurt as I can see." Though he wanted to, he wouldn't move. He'd stand there a few moments more before looking to the forest floor, then back up to her once again. There had to be a way to help but. . how? What was he supposed to do here? "If we really can do what I want. . then can you start with telling me what I want?" That was the best it seemed they'd be getting out of this situation. Though he'd only known her for a short period of time, Johnny cared. He cared enough that he would go out his way to make sure she was better.

Slowly he took a seat among the grass and grime, looking over to her earnestly. "I'm. . here for you. To talk. To help, but it'll only be if you let me know what's going on." It was all he could offer to the damsel in distress. This odd knight in shining armor had appeared.

He could only watch in concern as the maiden drove deeper into a pit of despair with every passing moment. Between the two, even though his wound was fresh, hers ran so much deeper. Sweet little Guinevere, an angel foretold to be much more but was making herself so little. He couldn't sit to understand what could've drove her to be like this. Yeah. . They barely knew one another, but that didn't matter. She was considered something to him in the least. An impression that lasted meant they were intertwined by fate no matter the distance between them. The time mattered little; it was arbitrary in the grand scheme of things, yet. . here they were. Face to face, wall to wall. The pain he saw here just made him want to hug her. . To let her know whatever she was going through didn't define her. That she didn't have to go through it alone! Oh sweet Guinevere, you're a blooming blossom and you don't even understand it yet. But this knight before you would cut away the dark using whatever he could, however he could. Her words caught him in his thoughts, going back to their first meeting when they spoke. It. . had been more of a joke than anything else. "You. . You're not bad for being. . who you are Guin. I didn't mean any harm by what I said. It was. ." He didn't know how to explain it to her. It just seemed like no matter what he said, she was on the defense about.

All of this just was was made so much more confusing by how she was responding, but. . it seemed like she was finally ready to open herself up some. Perking up, he'd begin, but not before saying something he felt needed to be said. "First off, I need you to stop crying. You're way too pretty for that." Hopefully it'd eb a smile, if at all a small one. He just wanted to change the mood from what she was currently feeling to something lighter, but if that were to happen it'd be all up to her. Shaking his head to those thoughts, he'd speak yet again. "Secondly. . I just want to know what happened to you when we left. Last time we saw you we waved goodbye and headed off on our own. What could've happened to you in that span of time?" He wanted to details. Whomever was responsible wasn't someone Johnny could just let go without paying his earnest respects to and if that meant bringing them begging, he'd do so. The intent of some whole hard fools couldn't be ignored. Don't get him wrong, he is no saint. He has done his share of dirt, but to someone like Guin? It just wasn't something he could so easily forgive.

And so, he'd sit and wait for her to explain without moving. If she lightened up, then he'd do the same, but for now he had to make sure she understood that she was safe. If not with his friends, then with him at least. "If you want. . you can come sit with me and talk. Course, that's only if you want to." It was all up to her. It was all up to you, dear Guin. Where would you go from here.

At this point, he just didn't know what to do for her. No matter what he said or how he said it, she seemed to only get more upset than before. His auburn mixed hues stared over as she turned, drifting away from his gaze every single time he'd tried to look upon her. This was starting to become harder the more he tried and so far, he'd only wanted to help her to the best of his ability. But. . The difficulty to speak to her in open tone was starting to waver. Guin wasn't seeing this in the same light he was; it, in fact, seemed she was dragging herself into a hole over and over again. Perhaps reliving whatever experience she'd had in her mind continuously. If he was right, and he seemed to be so, she was legitimately torturing herself. Still, it wasn't like there was some way for him to just completely disregard anything she'd gone through. That would only prove to upset her even more, probably and you could see it in his eyes that, that was the last thing he wanted to do. "I wonder how long she's been like this." It seemed like this had either happened within the last few weeks or the last couple of months. Either time frame sufficed to her to have devolved to this state at such a rapid rate.

Her final words made him stare for a moment, then a shadow overtook his face. Nothing. He didn't say anything at all, but this. . This was just ridiculous. Who let her travel around by her lonesome like this and why? Why was it that she didn't seem to want to smile at all. Slowly he rose up and said not a single word. His Meitou left laying there in the grass as he slowly denied their treaty. A step harder than the one before it, Johnny would not stop to her cries. To her pleas. He would continue forward at a pace that would probably frighten her even more, but at this point it needed to be done. If she ran, he'd corner her and even still kept towards her. To any defenses, he'd make his way through them with the best of his ability and then, when she probably was going to lose it, he'd do the final deed. A very simple and warm embrace. Nothing more, nothing less. He held her there and to her struggle, his fingers would trace through her hair softly. She had gotten all the screaming out of her soul at this point, but no doubt would it continue. "This pain you feel won't go away any time soon." He'd begin, speaking softly as the nights creatures buzzed in their ears.

"Taking a life isn't something to scoff about. Being assaulted and taken advantage of is just as bad, but you're torturing yourself going on like this, Guinevere. Clearly, wherever your from isn't like anything this place is, but. .the more you sit here and despair, the worst it's going to be." He didn't say anything for a bit, releasing her now and beginning to walk away, the much large man going for his blade. "We all have demons. We all have done things that we have to live with for the rest of our lives, but what'll make you strong isn't crying over it. It's accepting what you've done and living as best you can and making whatever amends in your life as you see fit. You are a very sweet girl. . I really wish you would stop berating yourself for things that can't be changed no matter what you do." Turning, he'd give her a solemn face, then shake his head. "I'm not going to act like the things that've happened aren't hard, but. . you have to give yourself strength and be able to forgive for what you've done. Otherwise, the pain won't be stopped. . ." He wanted to help more, but this wasn't something he could do. It was all up to her.

It was a cold and starch feeling to know that you were being watched as someones idol. To become the jewel another admired wasn't something Johnny could ever say he was looking to do, but undoubtedly this was what was happening. Guin's words did nothing to quell his already pot filled doubt. Her tact on the subject showed that she was just as he thought; a girl who was thrust out on her own with nothing more than the clothes on her back. She was young and had doubts. She'd never experienced abandonment, real pain, emotion. To lose someone so close to you when you had little choice - but he did know a thing or two about pain. He knew all too well what he really was. Who. . he really was. Hidden away from the world as the child of a banished king and a pirate mother, he was no different than she in some regards. Unlike her, he was found by someone that raised him to understand this world. To see death for what it was. To notice the cold defining feeling of human nature and the reveled animosity people showed when they could not understand one another. It was so much more than simple dwelling on past experiences. No, things like that changed you and for better or worst wasn't up to the one who'd experienced it. It was up to time.

Her first audible phrase was she didn't know. If only she knew that no one did. There was no instruction manual on just how life was to be lived. No way for you to tell that things would always be in the favor of good. Even he believed the subjective nature of good. . and evil. That the fine line threaded itself so close that you could step and be in the eye of another. The people of this world were so very fickle, Johnny included. There were no exceptions. As he gripped his blade, slowly he turned to see her indecisive nature. Like there was something there she wanted to say, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She still needed more. . And he was no fool. Leaving her alone like this now wasn't the best thing to do. Yes, his friends needed him but Guin was just as much an ally of his as they were. They fought side to side, if only briefly and he'd acknowledge this for what it was. Gripping Echizen, he placed it to his side before getting closer to her once again, not saying a word as her glances matched his own time after time. Back and forth she'd go with her constant berating. At this point, she was wearing her emotions on her sleeve.

But then all of a sudden he saw it, the fear. She was trying to run away again and he knew it wasn't time for that yet. As she turned he lightly grasped her arm, shaking his had. It wasn't demanding. It was only to keep her there for the time being. "You have done nothing to disturb me. My friends can wait. I have nothing but time." Lightly he'd pull her along to head towards a nearby tree, taking a seat next to it while patting the ground for her to sit next to him. This was something she was going to need. "Guin. . Let me tell you a story. ." He'd begin, looking to the starry sky above as he recalled a time not so long ago. "There was a child born in infamy. Marred from his place for a sin he could never wipe off no matter what he'd done. Simply being born, had been that sin." Eyes slow to turn, they burned as he looked into her ocean, wiping a a tear from her face with a free hand and a smile. He continued. "His mother a Pirate Dog and his father, a king in a land filled with clouds and wonder. Having a child with that woman was treasonous. She wasn't of his land and his crown was considered tainted. Both that woman and man were ordered to death. . But the woman fled with the child and left her love to meet a dark fate. She had no choice in the matter. ."

He'd wait for it to sink it, allow her any questions she might have, then speak.

"Her mother left to her parents where she left the child, feeling the world was too dangerous for the boy to exist. After year, the boy came of age and set out to find his parents . . but never did. Tired and alone, beaten by the cruel fate of the world, he wandered around a town in hopes that someone could help. . And after many days, a man found him collapsed on his dojo steps. Years later, that boy came to be known as a pirate. . Johnny. ." After finishing his story, he leaned to Guin with a soft laugh. "Guin, we don't decide what Fate chooses. It just does it and this life will be so confusing that decisions like death won't be so far away. The right decision could be wrong, but you'll never know until you make one." A silence yet again, his warmth being shared with her as best it could. "You aren't wrong. You've done nothing wrong. Stop hurting yourself. Stop making yourself feel this way. And if you need help, then ask for it. I know you may not know me well. . and maybe you think I'm just some guy trying to make a pass at you, but. . I am here. . and if you do need some time, you can stay with me. With my friends. You'll be safe here."

Her spirit was affecting his own in more ways than she knew. The tears didn't seem to fall no matter what he said and the natural nature of the once enigmatic Johnny Blaze was crumbling underneath himself. She was so helpless right now and the more they talked, the more it seemed that without someone to guide her, she'd plummet even further. He could see it and if he could, anyone else who wasn't as good as he could as well. Guinevere was ripe for the picking - a few nice words and she'd fall for any men who looked half decent, probably. The wrong path was waiting, but there was no way Johnny would allow that to happen to her. He'd defend her if it was the last thing he did right now, even if she was making it hard for him to discern whether she wanted to be by his side or not. Their constant back and forth wasn't fixing anything on any front. What he wanted, was for Guin to accept his help and just stay with them for awhile. At least until she was able and could stay on her feet. . But the difficulty in that was staggering. She argued every point he made and that meant he was running out of things to say to calm her respectively.

But he'd try. Again and again and again.

"Fate doesn't work in any given way. It does what it wants and how it wants. Things probably don't make sense to you and they won't any time soon, but as time passes everything will come together. You've got to live to see tomorrow, not just by the day." He was trying to calm her as best he could, once again. His golden tresses blew in the wind as a breeze carried them and those eyes, those perfectly auburn eyes mixed to show a sunset would gaze over into her own. They were two very different people, but Johnny knew well the kind of person Guin came off to be. She was primed for royalty, it seemed and he could accept that about her. Back on Karate island, he got a taste of just what type of woman she'd grow into. It was obvious she was royalty, but from where he didn't know. He just saw it for what it was. Careening about the lit sky a single star took its path, probably going crashing elsewhere and Johnny peered up to watch it just as she spoke of her distrust. He couldn't say he blamed her. Hell, it wasn't like he looked the part of a knight much, either, but he was here for her now. No matter if she believed him or didn't believe him.

The lies she told were read like a book bound by flimsy. Her emotions were as clear as day, on her sleeve. That teary eyed gaze she shown him time and time again said it, that she just wanted someone to reach out to help her. He wasn't going to dismiss her view, however. He could still be wrong about all that. "You don't trust me?" He'd respond softly, looking over to her with a turn of the head and a soft laugh, smiling thereafter. "You don't have to trust me right now. . but you can believe what I say. I don't want to cause you anymore pain. I don't want you to hurt or cry. I just want to be there to help you until you're ready to take the world on by yourself." A hand went out lightly to show her that he was there, waiting for her to grasp it on her own this time. Take it Guin, here he was. The knight you've been waiting for all this time. ". . . Guin. . . I'm here. . I promise. ."