They stared at each other, neither of them blinking, trying to peer into the other's inner soul. It wasn't a fair contest. He didn't have eyes, or at least, he didn't have normal human eyes. But, still, she could see things in that crackling blue/white fire that nobody else could. And she hoped that he could find those same hidden things in the windows to her soul as well.
      "I love you, Kiko." He whispered, his hand tightening on hers through the cold, prison bars. The shadows fell across his handsome face in dark, uneven rows. She felt a tingle, but as always she couldn't tell if it was just her or if a bit of power had passed from his fingers into her veins. It didn't matter, the sensation was the same.
      "And I love you too, Galford. With all my heart."
      Oh, how cruel to see him like this. Trapped, caged like an animal. But he was an animal…wasn't he? She knew it would end like this, but at least he was still alive. For that, she thanked the gods again and again.
      Kiko peered from the corner of her eye at the three silent men who stood guard around them in a loose circle. Iga ninjas. They hadn't moved or said a thing since they had brought her here, only their rising and falling chests indicated that they possessed life, and even this was barely perceptible.
      I'd free you if I could, Galford. But I can't. They welded the prison door shut. And even if I could, how would we escape? The Iga are everywhere…
      Thunder crashed outside. A powerful storm had been building for some time, growing stronger and stronger, and it showed no signs of weakening. She could hear the rain and hail smashing down upon the rocks and the wind moaning for it's lost lover. Galford's eyes grew brighter everytime the lightning split the heavens. The ninjas had told her earlier that clouds had begun to form the moment her precious Galford had awoken.
      "Make the storm stop, please. I know you're the one doing it. If you show them that you can be reasonable, they may consider letting you go." Kiko pleaded, even though she knew it was useless.
      "No." He whispered, turning his head away from her.
      "Why?"
      "Because I won't. Not until they set me free or end my life. I'll bring Fortress Iga down around their ears first."
      "You'll kill me too if you do that…"
      His hand slipped from hers, and he bunched them both into fists.
      "I know… Kiko, I know. That is why you must leave."
      "No."
      "You must. Now."
      "I won't."
      He growled something unintelligible in frustration and slunk to the back corner of his cell. There he slid to the floor and stared moodily back at her.
      "Leave me alone. Please. I need to think."
      "As you wish…Galford."
      One of the Iga immediately stirred and chaperoned her out the door. The other two remained inside, and six more ninja stood silently outside of the prison entrance in two opposite rows of three against the walls.
      No, there'll be no escape for you, my love. She thought sadly to herself, looking back over her shoulders at him one more time as she was led down the torch-lit hallway. Not alive anyway, only in death.