After their long, arduous day, Sara and Leon finally began settling down for the night.

Following an unpleasant shower in the hotel's common bathroom, Sara sat on her futon, fully dressed. She plaited her hair into a tight braid while Leon took his turn.

Having secured the end of her braid tightly, she proceeded to double check her guns and gear. No time could be lost once dawn came. She had no doubt that Jake Muller would leave without them if they weren't ready to go.

Satisfied that everything was in order, Sara placed her guns beside her pillow as Leon had already done. It was wise to be prepared for anything. At last Sara switched on the TV and tried to relax. She understood none of the programming, but Sara wasn't heeding it anyway; her mind ran on.

She pondered the case at hand. Questions were popping up rapidly as more loose ends appeared. Hana Matsuo's kidnapping, Eito Matsuo's murder, a viral outbreak, an anonymous cry for help from a deserted town… It was a complex equation with no solution in sight.

Sara was also wondering whether it had been a wise idea to team up with the young mercenary―"freelancer"―who seemed to be a rather difficult character.

Leon entered the room, startling Sara out of her thoughts.

"Hey," he greeted her.

Sara looked up at him. He had changed into charcoal gray jeans and a fitted hunter green T-shirt that accentuated his well-defined chest and muscular arms. Leon ran a hand through his damp hair wearily before tossing his towel over the back of a chair.

"Hi," she replied, her gaze involuntarily drawn to him. Even after two years of dating, Leon could always stir up the schoolgirl-crush butterflies in her stomach. 

Before Leon could turn back to her, Sara quickly looked at the TV, suddenly feeling shy and self-conscious. 

"Are you okay?" he asked, taking hold of his futon and pulling it away from hers.

Sara smiled inwardly at his consideration. "Sure. I was thinking about the case before you came in. That and second-guessing our decision to travel with that Jake Muller guy."

Leon sat cross-legged on his futon. "We really don't have much of a choice; we need to get to Fukushū, and his ride's the only one in town. But Jake's all right. He's got a temper and a hell of an ego, but he protected Sherry back in Tatchi, and thanks to him, the virus released there was neutralized."

Sara turned to Leon. "How much do you know about him?"

Leon stretched out on his side, propping his head on his hand. "Biographically, everything. The DSO has all his files. Jake's history is pretty rough. His father was Albert Wesker, a virologist working with groups involved with the bio-weapon black market. Wesker worked alongside the Umbrella Corporation which was responsible for the destruction of Raccoon City."

Sara's brows shot up. "What?"

"That's right. Jake never met his father, though. He grew up with his mother in Edonia, where he was born. When she got sick, Jake became a mercenary to support her. Years after he began his career, the American bioterrorist group known as The Family started hunting him down to study his blood. Jake didn't know it, but his DNA was very special: his blood carries antibodies that can fight off various viruses. Jake inherited this… gift from his father. Before Wesker met Jake's mom, he had deliberately infected himself with a prototype virus that gave him superhuman powers.

"The Family wanted to use Jake's antibodies to develop superior mutant strains while the U.S. government sought him out for vaccine research. That's where Sherry Birkin came in; she was sent on protective duty to bring him in. What she didn't know was that her superior, Derek Simmons, the National Security Advisor, was the leader of The Family.

"The three of us crossed paths in Tatchi when I was on Simmons' trail, trying to bring him down for the bioterrorist attack he'd orchestrated in Tall Oaks. Jake wasn't the friendliest guy you'd hope to meet, but he came through for the vaccine, and he helped Sherry through that horror. He can sure pack a punch in combat―another inheritance from his father."

Sara whistled low. "That's a hell of a backstory."

"Sure is. Add to that some tension between Jake and Chris. Chris took out Wesker during a mission to stop a doomsday project called Uroboros. Even though Jake didn't have any love for his father, he didn't take too well to that. But Wesker had to be stopped at all costs. He had even kidnapped Jill and was puppeteering her as an agent in his service using drugs to control her mind."

Sara gasped. "They never mentioned that!"

"Not surprising," Leon answered gravely. "It's not an easy topic to discuss. Chris and Jill were on a mission together during which Jill tackled Wesker out a window in a desperate effort to save Chris. She and Wesker were both presumed dead. Years later, during his mission to shut down Project Uroboros, Chris discovered she was alive, but under Wesker's control. He had to fight Jill to save her, and she almost didn't make it. It was a touch and go situation."

"My God… Wesker was a monster! Why should Jake give a damn about him?"

"I think Jake would've wanted to settle accounts with Wesker himself, and he never got that chance. Anyway, Jake's a safe enough bet. Sherry would definitely vouch for him. Actually, I think she fell for him. Looking at Jake now and thinking back on that night in China, I'm pretty sure he fell for her, too."

Sara's eyes went wide. "Sherry, in love with that guy? They're polar opposites!" she laughed. "Sherry's sweet and good-natured. This guy…"

Leon shrugged. "Well, sometimes opposites attract."

Sara hugged her knees thoughtfully. "That explains a bit. We got to talking once about dating and relationships, and Sherry started talking about a guy she'd met once. She never mentioned his name, but she sounded like she still had strong feelings for him even though he wasn't around."

Leon nodded. "That seems to clinch it, then."

Sara nodded silently, reflecting on that bit of information. She felt a sudden rush of sympathy for Sherry. It must have been difficult loving a man who wasn't around, and being unable to move on. It was as though Sherry was waiting for something that might never happen.

That thought struck a deep nerve. It occurred to Sara that she and Leon had never spoken about their future together. When they weren't working on a case, they spent pleasant time together, but they never really talked. All at once Sara wondered if, like Sherry, she was waiting for something that might never happen.

"Sara? Are you okay?" Leon asked, noting her reverie.

"Yeah, sure," she lied.

Leon rose and sat beside her, gazing at her earnestly. "Something is wrong. What is it?"

"Do you ever think about being partners… for life?" Sara blurted out.

Surprise flashed across Leon's face. He nodded slowly. "Yeah, I have, actually," he replied. "But what―"

"It's just… I can't help drawing parallels between Sherry and me. She's stuck on a man who isn't even in her life, and I'm wondering how long I'll be waiting for the man in mine. Of all the things we talk about, we never talk about us."

Leon's jaw tightened visibly, and Sara regretted speaking. "I shouldn't have brought it up. It's not the time or place," she muttered.

"No. This is as good a time as any," Leon said quietly. "You're right; we've never discussed it. Let's talk about it now."

Sara trained her eyes on his. "Fine. Do you still have feelings for Ada Wong? Is that it?"

The name tasted bitter on her tongue. Sara had never met the woman, but she knew that the shady double agent who had used Leon to retrieve a virus sample back in Raccoon City had once occupied his heart. By Leon's account she was a trickster and a thief, despite having saved him a few times.

Leon listed his head. "Is that what you think?"

Sara's mouth formed a tight line. 

Leon sighed. "Yeah, why shouldn't you? Look, I wasted years thinking I was in love her―a woman who stands for everything I fight against. I'm done with that."

That was somewhat comforting to Sara, but not quite satisfactory. "So it's just commitment phobia."

Leon blinked owlishly. "No."

He regarded her somberly for a moment. 

"I've…  never had a meaningful relationship with anyone. Since Raccoon City, all I ever really had was the job. Sure, I dated a few women, but nothing serious. That being said, I never had to think about how I'd measure up in a real relationship. And I never thought about the toll this life was taking on me.

"Then I met you, and you shed so much light into my life. For the first time in years, I actually felt alive . But I also realized how much I needed to fix about myself―how much darkness there was in me. You've made me a better man, believe me, but 'better' isn't enough. I want to be more than that for you."

Leon paused, gathering his thoughts. Touched to her core, Sara swallowed hard, waiting for him to continue.

"You're a strong, independent woman; you don't have to wait for anyone, and I know I have no right to ask, but I'm going to. Just give me a little more time to sort myself out―to clear out the ashes―so that I can be the man you deserve. Can you do that? Will you?"

Sara could only look at him. He had poured his heart out to her, laying his doubts before her openly. Words forsook her.

Leon gazed at her searchingly, his intense blue eyes appearing to glow a dusky turquoise in the dim lamplight.

Sara laid her hand on his face tenderly, tracing the pad of her thumb along a thin, pale scar low on his right cheek.

"I can still afford to be patient," she answered softly. "Just don't take too long; I don't know how much more my poor heart can take." She touched her fingertips lightly to his full lips then kissed him gently. "I do love you, Leon Kennedy."

Leon gathered her to him and embraced her, exhaling quietly in evident relief. His scent of sandalwood surrounded her. 

"I love you," he said, his voice warm and sweet in her ear. He sighed in some frustration. "No; that's not right. Those words aren't enough to describe what I feel."

"It's good enough for me, as long as I can feel your love," Sara replied. 

Leon withdrew, looking at her solemnly. "And do you feel it?"

Sara smiled faintly. "Every day. You show me in ways you don't even realize."

Leon caressed her cheek, gently skimming the curve of her face. He kissed her, imparting a powerful sense of non-sexual need that stunned Sara. She stared at him, but Leon's gaze had dropped to her dragon-phoenix pendant. He lifted it, tracing the intertwined tails of the figures.

"We rise and fight as one," he stated unexpectedly. He met Sara's gaze soberly. "Good night, sweet Phoenix," he said softly.

"Good night," Sara whispered. 

She watched as Leon stood and returned to his own futon where he stretched out and shut his eyes, sighing deeply.

After studying him for a moment, Sara turned off the TV and laid down, leaving the lamp on as a safety precaution. Exhausted from the long flight and the night's events, Sara fell into a deep but turbulent sleep.

☆☆☆

Sara awoke with a start, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She sat upright suddenly, forgetting for a moment where she was, her heart throbbing against her ribs painfully.

The soft light of the small lamp quickly brought her to herself as it illuminated the dull room. Sara ran her hand over her face as she waited for the fit of panic to decline. She glanced at her watch; only an hour and a half had passed.

Hugging her knees to her chin, Sara meditated on the nightmares that had torn her out of her slumber. They were the dark, bloodstained reflections of her experience on Halcyon Isle. She vividly recalled the experiments performed on her, the monsters she had encountered, and the virus that would have claimed her if not for Leon's courage and strength. 

Sara shoved aside those heavy thoughts, grateful for the stillness of the room. Her pulse and respiration steadied. She glanced over at Leon. He lay on his back, sleeping soundly enough, his breathing deep and regular.

For a moment, Sara was tempted to wake him, her nerves still unsettled. A few reassuring words, uttered in his deep, mellow voice, always had the power to soothe her. She quickly thought better of it, however. After all, there was no need to disturb him over some bad dreams; he was exhausted himself. Maybe a quick splash of cool water over her face would calm her down.

Sara rose. Standing over her bedding, her eye fell on her gun. Hardly knowing why, Sara took it up and tucked it into the waist of her jeans. She headed to the door then stopped, her attention arrested by Leon's resting figure. 

It occurred to her that in all the time she'd known him, she'd never actually seen him sleep. Sara knelt beside him silently and analyzed his handsome face. Even in repose he was austere, his brow slightly furrowed. No doubt the demons of past bloody battles haunted his own dreams. Gazing at him fondly, Sara bent low and touched her lips to his lightly.

Leon moaned quietly and shifted restlessly onto his side, facing Sara. She held her breath, afraid she had woken him, but he showed no further signs of rousing.

Relieved, Sara stood, smiling a little sadly. "Sleep well, dragon warrior," she whispered.

Sara then slipped out of the room soundlessly and stepped into the dimly lit corridor. Cold dread suddenly laid hold of her. She pushed it aside, attributing it to the nightmares that had woken her.

"Get a grip!" she chided herself. Shaking her head in frustration, she made her way down the stairs.

The hotel was eerily silent. It was strange, even in a shabby love hotel, for everything to be so deathly still. Sara had the unsettling feeling that she was walking through catacombs. She stopped in her tracks, perceiving that the left end of the hall leading to the bathroom was completely dark.

A low, guttural moan sounded from the shadows.

Sara's stomach went cold, but she rallied her wits. "Hello?" she called.

She was answered by a hiss and a gurgling sound. Tamping down her fear, Sara drew her gun and advanced slowly. A peal of goblin-like laughter erupted from the shadows.

"What―"

Sara took another cautious step forward. She halted at the sound of wet squelching under her feet. She immediately recognized the rusty odor of blood.

"Come out into the light with your hands on your head!" she ordered, working to keep her voice steady.

The demonic laughter was reiterated along with Japanese words uttered in a gravelly, mocking tone.

Sara was about to repeat her demand when the sound of shattering glass nearby, followed by a strange, pungent odor, distracted her. The din seemed to come from within the room just beside her. Before she could react, the unseen being shrouded in obscurity snarled and charged at her.

Sara fired into the shadows. An enraged howl followed the shot, surprising her as she had scarcely expected to hit her attacker. Suddenly, the door beside her was flung open. She quickly turned to look, but the room was blanketed in darkness. The peculiar smell grew stronger.

A feminine scream erupted from the blackness, quickly becoming a feral, distorted cry. A pair of burning chartreuse eyes glowed out at Sara. She instantly swung her gun around to fire, but the creature seized her, causing her to shoot wide.

Sara struggled with the monster, horrified at the realization that it could see her in the dark. Sightless but not powerless, Sara grappled violently with the creature, fury simmering within her. A sudden surge of electricity shot up her spine, racing up to her head and burning at her skull.

A sharp shriek of pain and rage burst from Sara's lips as an excruciating headache struck her. A flash of brilliant orange electricity rushed forth from her fingertips, illuminating the blackened corridor. Sara found herself staring into an open snout filled with razor-sharp teeth. It gaped in a fierce howl. The creature resembled a distorted, rabid ezo red fox.

A powerful wave of nausea came over Sara, weakening her momentarily, but she took advantage of the monster's temporary vulnerability and kicked it hard, sending it reeling back into the room. Enervated, Sara staggered backward, gasping raggedly.

Suddenly, a bright flashlight beam fell over her. Sara whirled around. Dazzled by the light, she squinted, scarcely able to discern the figure of a man aiming a gun at her.

Sara's eyes went wide, her lips parting in shock.

"Get down!" the man ordered.