And Thus the Koshka hunts for her Myshʹ

she then raeched out with both arms, and hugged him

she kept her face hidden and began trying to calm herself

Lino felt warm and alive and there...he wasn't Rasputin who was always cold and stunk of death

he was safe and comfortable

Ana felt her heart rate slowing down and felt tears come to her eyes despite she was still grinning like her life depended on it

she kept muttering sorry over and over for all kinds of reasons that were running through her head, not all her sorrys aimed at Lino, but also for her brother and grudgingly against Rasputin, the Romanovs and lovingly towards Rosalie

she felt herself gradually coming out of her memories and slowly rose her head to look at Lino with big blue eyes, the dark circles seeming darker

sorry..... she mumbled and hugged him a little tighter before hiding her face again

The boy was a bit stunned at first when she embraced him like that. But he soon was able to relax himself and wrap his arms around her as well.

Little would she have known that him holding her like that was bringing back memories he himself had tried to shove far back from his mind.

Her feminine frame, the way she trembled in his arms, how her long hair felt brushing against her back.

He gingerly rubbed his hand up and down her back, closing his eyes. Occasionally he'd let his fingers brush the ends of her hair, feeling how soft and silk like it was.

Per favore non piangere Penelope.

It was her voice that pulled him out of his small flashback. The way she mumbled sorry over and over again.

He stared at her blue eyes back, his own pale gray ones full of confusion and a bit of pain. She shouldn't be here. Her being here, it wasn't doing any good. It was only hurting both of them.

But he couldn't push her away. Not when she was like this. He leaned his head on hers as he continued to hold her close.

"You dont'e need to be soree Ana." He whispered.

Ana giggled lightly, the physical contact calming her and she smiled up at him, uncurling slightly and pulling away a little

it...it was nice for her to hear those words

Rasputin always made her feel like she should forever be sorry

but those words eased her heart a bit

d-da....thank you she said in a near whisper

she stood up and pulled Lino to his feet with her

you're a nice person! i see why your master Loves you! she giggled

yes, she could see this one's master loving him. it was just a matter of time before it became obvious

she giggled and held Lino's hand in hers childishly

Lino slinked back once they were standing again and she seemed like she was okay.

He looked down at the ground when she said that though, all giddy like.

Love.

Love was something that didn't exist in his world. Love was for people who deserved to be loved and that was something Lino could just not accept about himself.

Ana smiled at Lino and lightly bopped him on the head

no need to get down over it! everyone needs love~ she giggled including you and your master!~

she gave his hand a squeeze and sat on the bed again, kicking off her boots and pulling her knees up to her chin as she urged Lino to sit next to her

both of us deserve and need love, yeah? even my brother could be finding something. i've been smelling the scent of another Lycan on him, but i won't say anything~ *giggle* i'm happy for him! and you should be happy that your Master loves you even if he doesn't know it. she snickered, wrapping her free hand around her knees and tilting her head to the side as she rested her chin on her knees

she smiled brightly at Lino and giggled