Crossing Swords at Crossroads

Miriam had taken care not to be seen, but as she made her way to the rubble on the nave she was afraid she was in plain view. Though she tried to look around for demons, she could not always take her eyes off the rubble, which was the reason she had ventured out at all.
The man had sprung from these rubbles with no recollection of who he was or what had happened, and it seemed to her something must have happened her to make it so, but to her disappointment it seemed nothing new or even remotely strange about the rubble. It was as it had always been, and nothing at all seemed strange about it. Sighing, she stood up and turned around, ready to leave, but instead she found herself staring into a pair of deep, pitch black eyes she knew all too well, and her heart caught in her throat, immobilizing her for the moment.

He had almost considered himself too lucky to see her almost immeadiately after leaving Calcifer. Her idiocitiy never failed to suprise him, and yet here she was. Walking up behind her, he waited until she noticed him.
He stared back at her, no longer any hint of emotion in his expression as she had prehaps recalled before.
'Miriam' he said flatly. He had made sure from his position he was facing the Entrance wing, and subsequently blocking her route back to the Sanctuary. For now he held his knife by his side, however he moved it slightly in his palm as if to draw attention to it momentarily, hoping she would understand his intentions.

"Rin," she replied, though her voice hoarse with momentary fear before the weapon in his hands made her senses return to her. In one swift movement she had removed her own knife from her bag, the longer one given to her by the yellow-eyed demon, though her heart was pounding at the immidiate knowledge of what would happen next. She braced herself, her expression turning cold and fearless, though she knew Rin had far more experience with the knife than she could say for herself. She already braced herself for defeat and an agonizing death.
"Finally manned up?" she asked, the fear in her voice gone. How long had she not asked him to kill him, it would seem cowardy to go back on her request now. This was how they were supposed to be. Bitter enemies filled with hatred as only emotion, and yet her heart ached at the anger in his eyes when he looked upon her. She had not wanted his earlier affections, but she quickly realized they were soarly missed now that she no longer had them.

'I thought it was wrong to mistake me for a man' he smirked, noting the knife in her hand which was evidently also demon made, and yet knowing that regardless of what injury she could inflict he would still ultimately win.
In one swift action he moved himself behind her, brought his arm around her neck and pointed his blade her way, struggling to keep her in his grasp. Leaning closer he smiled. 'And I just thought we had reached the stage where it was time to show you off to the family' he laughed, holding her tight.

In the state she was in she was weaker than him, and had problems releasing herself from his grasp, but at his words she knew she had to escape, and fast. Quickly she pushed the blade of her knife into his leg, squirming out of his grasp as his grip on her weakened for a split second.
"I'm sorry," she told him as she turned around to face him again, the bloodied knife poised in case he tried to come near her again.
"I'm not looking for anything that serious."

He scowled out at the pain, but did not let it phase him. If anything he just grew more determined to drag her back and he glared back at her.
'Oh you hurt my feelings' he mocked, taking another move to try and harm her, knowing she was already injured as every other human in this place was by now. He managed to cut her arm, holding the knife, as she attempted to defend herself, but it was not deep enough to make her release the blade.
'Come on now, we've made all the preparations to make you feel right at home' he teased, edging closer but keeping his knife out ready to block her.

She gasped at the pain, but it was a familiar sting she had gotten used to it long time ago, and it was nothing compared to the injuries she had already given herself. The pain almost felt welcome now, the only thing she could rely on in this place. Her only true friend in that moment.
"Don't take no for an answer do you?" she asked mockingly with the hint of a smile playing at her lips whilst she lunged forward to cut him.
"I'm not," she said through gritted teeth as her blade lunged forward and found empty air. "Interested," she continued at a second swipe of the blade, giving him a small cut by the side of his ribs, surely nothing that could hurt him too much as it had barely even penetrated his shirt.

He stepped back, almost laughing at her failed attempts.
'Ahh but you see, the women who say that always end up being the ones that beg for more' he taunted, step away as she tried once more and swiftly cutting across her back, hoping that would enable her to lose her footing. If he continued he could gradually wear her down, and then she was all his.

She screamed a muffled cry of pain, but stubborn as she was she forced herself to keep going, ignoring the pain as much as she could. She let her blade push his aside so he could not stab her once she took a step closer to him, eliminating the distance between them as she laid a hand on his chest. Her heart was beating so hard it was the only sound she could hear, and the touch did not help the fluttering.
"You wish," she whispered teasingly with a little smile before she jumped away again, scared she could not hold his knife away for long.

With this last gesture he grew even more aggrivated, and with that continued to aggressively advance, managing to cut into her thigh and across her fact before eventually managing to succeed in hitting her forearm, this time much more deeply, the pain enough for her to drop her knife.
He quickly leaned over to grab it, before she had the chance. Smiling he could not help but display his clear satisfaction, whilst she attempted to recover. Now it was only a matter of time.

She had knew this would come, this sure inevitable defeat, and yet it frustrated her how weak she felt, the fear obvious in her eyes as the weapon flew from her hand. In honesty she had not thought that Rin would come to attack her in such a way, not after the last time they had met, but regretably she knew Proteus had been right. Demons were demons, and they could never be trusted. They were monsters and nothing else.
Yet, she looked at him with an exasperated expression and shrugged, as if this had been nothing but mere child's play. She could not make herself believe he would honestly harm her after all they had been through, and though she knew he would, it was the last straw she could cling to.
"Are you done?" she sighed, her teeth gritted to hide her pain. "I thought we were passed this point by now."

He stared at her with utter hatred, extremely annoyed how she so arrogantly assumed her safety after manipulating him for so long. In doing so she just proved to him what he had thought all along, and with that he snapped.
Grabbing her by the hair he brought the knife to her throat, staring at her.
'I will never be done with you' he spat, proceeding to grab her tightly by the arm as he began to try and drag her across the rubble. The other knife of hers he kept well away from her, in the back of his belt, but within reach for him to grab if so needed.

Tears sprung to her eyes, but she refused to shed them. In either case he could not see, and she was grateful. It seemed it had all been a game for him, as she had feared. A game of hearts where only hers were at stake, and she had blindly given in to him, revealed her greatest weaknesses. She had never felt more idiotic than what she felt now, the pain of betrayal, heartache, fear and anger piercing her heart whilst the physical pain made her scream, both equally painful but she would take the physical pain any day. It was a pain she was used to, a pain she could welcome. This new sensation was stronger and weird, like nothing she had even dared to feel before, and it was sickening to her core. She wanted it gone, but it clung to her with a steel grip.
"That's no way to treat a lady," she said through gritted teeth, her voice barely audiable, as she tried her very best to calm her beating heart. Though nothing could ever be between them, his touch still had power over her beyond what she could express in words, and she wished more than anything that he would let go of her.

'Well from my past experience you are not very lady-like' he said bitterly, proceeding to drag her. He kept the knife held up against her as a warning, whilst he grabbed her in a headlock and started to move across the rubble. He did not focus on anything else but getting her from the Nave to Calcifer. Then he could deal with her. He did not particularly want to be in her company much longer, and he did not focus on what would happen to her beyond that point. He would do his job and that would be that. Problem solved on his part, and with some hope Lillith would be relatively pleased with him once more, and he could continue with what was left of normal in his life.
He knew deep down he still felt conflicted, however he swallowed such feelings down and instead focused on the rage that was coursing through him. It was so obvious now that she had used him to stay alive, and equally obvious that in the process he had become foolish and pathetic. But no more.

She held her tounge, the same way she held her tears at bay. Proteus had been right, and she owed him an apology far greater than the one she had already given him. Sadly, she thought she would never be able to tell him that in person, but in a way she felt grateful she would not have to face that shame. The ridicule and heartache from Rin was all she could bear without adding salt to the wound. Already it was hard to take.
Instead she put on a brave face, walking with him without looking or speaking to him. Best pretend this mess had never happened. Best pretend they were nothing but what they had started out as. The trouble lay in that she could not remember a time where she had thought of Rin as anything but whatever she thought of him as now. She could not fake emotions she was not familiar with.

It was obvious now she had given up, which although made his life easier did not mean he appreciated it. There seemed to be little point in what she was doing if she would not even resist. However he did not protest, instead walking in silence over the rubble until they reached the Entrance Wing, where he could see Calcifer was still waiting, and he looked at him smugly.