Small knives charged toward Ban, swarming him from above and making it near impossible to counterattack his assailant. He easily dodged, winding through the various strikes, occasionally jumping or flipping backward. He swayed gracefully among the barrage, making it seem as though it were child's play.

King hovered above, controlling the attack patterns and area of effect that his Chastiefol's Increase had. Ban was always the most agile of the group, save for maybe you, so the Grizzly Sin had no doubt that Ban would be able to dodge the attack. He was simply warming him up, attempting to get him back into the groove of battle.

King had run out of knives, and in a half-assed final blow, he manipulated the single knife he had left and sent it surging toward Ban. The man flipped backwards, eyeing the weapon. He threw his leg out, his foot making contact with it and sending it flying back at its controller. King stopped it just before it made contact with his nose, staring stoically at his training partner.

"Are you taking me lightly, King?" His crimson-eyed opponent asked, eyeing him, causing the boy to scoff quietly. "Act like you're trying to kill me."

"Trying to kill you, huh...?" King muttered to himself, floating down as his sacred treasure changed back into its usual spear form. He landed lightly on the earth of the clearing they were training in, an area within the woods the Boar Hat had stopped near. He raised his voice so that his comrade could hear him, "And how am I supposed to kill an immortal such as yourself?"

Ban smirked, "Even if you can't kill me, you can stop me from fighting. Like how you turned me to stone, or whatever, that one time." He paused, reaching around to his back and pulling out the two knives that had slashed into his left shoulder blade. His voice became more serious, "The wounds that Holy Knight- Jericho- gave me didn't heal. I'm pretty sure that's the first time I've ever had (y/n) heal me."

"Your wounds didn't close? Interesting..." King commented, then narrowed his eyes at the man. "And (y/n) healed you?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Nothing," the boy shrugged, "Just curious."

It takes a lot of energy and magical power for her to do that, since that's not what the power is meant to do. It is a demonic power after all.... King thought. And she healed everyone after we got back too... No wonder she was exhausted... That and she's been out of the game five years longer than any of us have.

The boy hadn't noticed, but he was staring directly at Ban, eyes narrowed with concern. Not for him of course, but for the girl curled up in a bed that was not her own, sleeping peacefully for the first time in who-knows-how long.

"What do you want?" The Fox Sin asked, noticing quite quickly that something was bothering the boy before him.

"You're not your usual self, Ban," King responded, looking at him with suspicion. "What's wrong? It's like you're thinking of something."

The man zoomed behind him as a response, catching the fairy king off guard. He grabbed his head, flinging him backward at a tremendous speed, heading straight toward a large rock formation.

"I just want to crush the Holy Knights and take back the kingdom as soon as possible, that's all," Ban smirked, seeing King barely stop himself before making contact with the boulder. "Is that a crime?"

"Technically yes," the boy responded with a smirk, flying over and sitting down on his Chastiefol, which had changed into the green, cheetah print pillow he used for lounging. "But taking back the kingdom? That's a surprise, coming from you! I thought you normally stayed out of other people's business~"

"Hmph," he glared, the nonchalant sarcasm dripping from the Grizzly Sin's words irking him slightly. "Aren't you the same way?"

"Yeah, buuuuuuut I'm just here because Diane is. I want to help her out, and that means helping the Sins take back the kingdom."

"Well, if you're that goddam curious, I'm not going to take back the kingdom. I couldn't give less of a shit," Ban turned, looking King directly in the eye. "My target is the Horn of Cernunnos underneath the kingdom."

"Do you mean you're going to steal it?!?!" King shrieked, his voice high as he gaped at his fellow Sin. "That's a treasure of the kingdom!"

"I'm still going to save the kingdom," Ban shrugged, "don't get me wrong, I just feel like a little reward would be well deserved after all the work I'd have to go through."

"The Horn of Cernunnos is a direct communication device with the Goddess Clan..." King spoke, "Why would you need..." His eyes widened in realization, "Wait, are you..!"

"Yeah," Ban growled, "I'm going to... to revive Elaine with the help of the goddesses."

He hesitated. It was brief, but King saw it very clearly. That wasn't all that was bothering Ban- and now he knew what else was on the Fox Sin's mind.

"Now come at me with everything you've got..!"

Ban charged at the boy, not allowing him to think about the issue any further. He threw punches and kicks, the two of them whirling around the clearing at a speed that was impossible to any normal person. The clang of King's Chastiefol blocking Ban's attacks echoed in the trees and throughout the section of woods they were in.

"That isn't the reason," King spoke up as Ban threw a punch at his face, "you're not yourself, Ban. You're thinking about (y/n)."

His fist stopped instantaneously, halting just before it made contact the Grizzly Sin's nose. Ban growled lowly.

"I'm right, aren't I?"

He didn't respond.

"You've noticed her feelings for you. I know you're not stupid, and she's so painfully obvious, it hurts. And that's coming from me. You've started to feel the same, haven't you? I saw you last night, comforting her after she had a nightmare. I was coming in to check, but then I saw you. You wouldn't do that for just anybody. And now you're confused because you feel like you're betraying Ela-"

Ban grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling the boy close to his face as he snarled. "You have no idea what the fuck you're talking about. Keep talking like that- see what happens."

King's eyes widened in surprise. This only confirmed his theory, but he was surprised by the violent reaction. "Ban. It's fine. Elaine would understand. She would want you to be happy..."

"SHUT UP!" He shouted, birds in the distance being disturbed by the sudden shout and flying out of there nests. "YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! (Y/N) ISN'T ELAINE AND SHE NEVER WILL BE! SO STOP ACTING LIKE YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT WHAT THE FUCK I'M FEELING!"

Why won't he just shut the hell up... Ban thought, his inner voice somber, unlike his angry outer shriek. I'm already feeling shitty as it is... he doesn't need to come in and make my problems even more real. I need Elaine back. That'll fix everything. She'll make me see straight again. She'll be my only one again.

"Elaine is the only woman I've ever cared about in my shitty life," Ban said, glaring at King. "You even thinking that I might have feelings for (y/n) is like fucking treason to me. Elaine is the love of my life! Not (y/n)! I don't care about her! I don't, and I never wi-"

"Hey guys," a voice yawned, causing both their heads to snap in the direction it came from. There you stood, stumbling tiredly toward them.

You had your eyes closed from the sunlight, the sudden brightness momentarily blinding you. You sleepily rubbed one of your eyes, not caring about your mangled and frizzy morning hair. You hardly even noticed it. Your voice was quiet and slightly hoarse from sleep, and you were still in your pajamas. The oversized shirt hung loosely from your body, making you seem much smaller than you actually were. Your feet were bare, dragging across the earth, which was surprisingly soft. It felt nice against the bottom of your feet, which were so used to the overbearing heat of shoes. You approached the two boys, completely naive to what they were discussing. Or more accurately, who they were discussing.

"Did I wake up too late for morning training?" You asked tiredly, removing your hand from your eye and looking between the two boys. Your head cocked curiously to the side, notching Ban holding King by the collar in a particularly threatening way. "Are you guys okay? Did you get in a fight?"

"No," Ban huffed, "we're good."

"Oh, okay!" You said with sudden cheer, "I'm gonna go change, then come out to meet you guys! Is it okay if I train with you?"

"Yeah, (y/n)," King grinned, landing softly onto the ground. "'Course it is."

"Thanks! Be out in a few!"

You ran back inside, cheeks burning a bright pink due to seeing Ban again after last night. You had been surprised, waking up and not finding him holding you. It was to be expected, though. However, it was unexpected, and unbeknownst to you, that Ban's cheeks were tinged with a light pink as well.

"You don't care about her, hm?" King asked, looking smugly at Ban. "And you never will?"

Ban turned away from him, knowing that the boy was right. He was lying. He was falling for you. And he hated it.

Or at least, he thought he did.