[Ryou wasn't expecting the Ring-Spirit to lean into him like that. He's not sure why...but it makes his heartbeat quicken. He is, again, waiting for the other shoe to drop, but...being this close with the spirit felt like...maybe this was what it was like for Yugi and Atem. Vaguely, not quite there. Not the same idea, but in the same realm of existence.

He really does care about the Ring-Spirit, even after all that had happened between them. Even though Ryou had scars that went past the physical...even though he was still scared of the spirit, deep down...he wanted to care. He needed to care, especially here in Ryslig.]

...I understand...that we don't see eye to eye on our inherent values.

[The Ring-Spirit said never mind, but Ryou decided he would mind it.]

But I, too, have my reasons for putting such a value in you, and I wouldn't hesitate to help you, no matter what. I'm sorry...your wellbeing is important to me. I'll just have to remember that mine is important to you as well.

[He smiles...but it trembles whenever the spirit says he doesn't abandon his family, because...because Ryou has been abandoned before, hasn't he? He thinks back to September, to being a child and being so scared of his father because the only thing he cared about was the Millennium Ring. He remembers a lot of things, things he repressed. Things that hurt. Some of them Aigami--Diva--brought up. Some of them were brought up because of September. All of them hurt.

But somehow, even though the Ring-Spirit was the cause of that pain, hearing him say he wouldn't abandon Ryou, and that he'd trust him...it makes him wrap his arms around the harpy and hold him close, to bury his head in the spirit's feathery hair.

Being tall has advantages.]

I know...i-it won't ever be perfect. But that's all I want. H-here...where we can be equals...right?