You kept the promise. Still, you expected to use Guts' knife in another way, not to disembowel animals and remove their raw innards.

Why the hell I'm doing this, you thought as you threw the poor dead animal on the ground. Puck stared at the process with a disgusted expression, covering his small mouth with both hands to keep from throwing up.

«Ugh! You are terrible Y/n, where did you learn to do such a thing?!»

In that moment, you speared the open stomach of freshly hunted game. Although you were covered in blood up to your wrists, you were careful not to damage the flesh with the blade.

«In the wood. You must learn that if you don't want to starve.» There, you said you had your first hunt when you were five years old, being alone in the forest for three days «Except my father, no one believed I would make it...I had bear fur for the rest of the winter.»

«B-bear!?» Instead of disgust, now Puck looked at you with great esteem and courage «Wow, now I'm sure I've never met a girl like you before...you are terrific, Y/n!»

You didn't react, just staying with your eyes fixed on the animal's head before cutting it off with a clean cut.

Yet, you couldn't save her.

You wiped your sweat with the back of your hand. It had been a few days since then, but you still hadn't forgotten what happened to Lily...and now, to make things worse was the haunting presence of the man in black, who was treating you as if you were his damn slave. Luckily, you knew what you were doing and thanks to you, Guts could enjoy good meals too...

You had doubts that he ever did that.

Right there, his shadow appeared before you, blocking the light from entering the cave. He seemed to have returned from another hunt, as he was carrying another handful of dead animals on his shoulder.

«Enough for today.»

Guts commanded, letting go of his booty next to you and without even looking. Or so it seemed, until his eye followed your accurate movements with a little curiosity.

«So, there's something else you can do as a woman...» He taunted you with a smirk, getting an obvious glare from you.

«Interrupt me again and I'll make you a mush like them, clear?» His deep laugh annoyed you to death, it was clear he was playing with you, taking advantage of the fact that you couldn't react the way you wanted against him; no matter how hard you tried, he seemed to be watching your every move like a creeping hawk.

«We both know you don't need this. Why do you want me here? If I'm not mistaken, you wanted to be alone...» You added before starting to light the fire with a couple of stones, snorting when the flame went out soon after.

It was his fault you were nervous now.

«You're paying me for saving your life on the battlefield.» Unexpectedly, Guts crouched at your height and as you thought, he was a human beast up close. He stared at you with his eye, gripping the pinned sword with his right palm «Consider yourself lucky if you're not in the middle of the woods right now, I'm not usually that patient with women.»

«That's because you just know how to deal with men, have a crush on them or what?» Guts stayed serious when you said that, swinging the blade towards the ground nervously.

«I bet you've never touched a woman—»

Suddenly, a large hand gripped your collar firmly and abruptly lifted you up. You weren't aware of it and just stared at him in shock.

«Look, I could do what I want to you and you would have no way to react. You're powerless.»

You didn't know why, but his voice stuck in you every time he said your name and that's why it was better for you to provoke him, so as not to be deceived by him.

«Do it then, what are you waiting for?» You weren't resisting, letting his weight press you towards the hard wall, but your gaze said something else...there, Guts saw those eyes cursing him and not only that, he almost seemed attracted to them.

And that's why he immediately dodged off the top of you.

«Stay in your place from now on, I'm warning you.» He just whispered in a low voice before disappearing into the depths of the cave. You fixed your shirt and in that moment, Puck flew over to you to check that you were okay.

Of course, he sensed that Guts was acting strange, but didn't tell you anything about it, as you were already stressed enough on your own. You stared into space for a second before returning to your "work".

Still, you couldn't understand why he had looked at you like that.

«By the way fire's going out, I have to go get more wood.» You said when realized you didn't have enough of it to cook the meat. But before you could walk, Puck pulled a piece of fabric to stop you.

«D-didn't you hear what he said? You should warn him first, Y/n!»

Well, you couldn't wait for his permission and didn't need that to do your thing, that's why you took the dagger and a couple of ropes to carry with you.

«So, can I count on you to keep a watch?» You asked with a wink and with the intention of buying the elf's trust «I'll be back soon.»

Puck nodded without saying another word, watching you as you disappeared into the forest. He hoped Guts didn't appear at that moment, otherwise he would be angry with you again...

He waited for you for a while, but strangely you weren't back.

«Please Y/n, don't be stupid–!»

«Where did she go?»

There, the little elf's blue hair vibrated at the sound of the man's voice behind.

«Y-you mean Y/n? Oh! She's gone to take wood for the fire...for the cold...for food!»

During that time, Guts didn't notice he had fallen asleep. But when he woke up, he clearly saw that you had disappeared and that the little creature knew about it.

And that pissed him to death.

«I see, you two have become very good friends now...» His tone frightened the little elf, who in turn started to babble confusedly and this raised the warrior's level of suspicion «You're plotting against me, right? You want to help her escape...»

«T-that's not true Guts! She's coming back, I'm sure of it!» Puck was incredulous, but when he flew next to the warrior, Guts pushed him away with an inch of air.

«I swear I'll crush you if you come near me–»

«What's wrong here?»

Suddenly, your figure appeared before them, carrying a bunch of branches on your shoulder that you could carry with one arm. You hadn't entered the cave yet, but you had obviously heard their voices from outside and Guts hadn't stopped looking at you with an intense expression.

«What, you want to freeze to death?» You raised an eyebrow as you set your stuff down and after less than a second, your arm was locked in his iron grip.

«Your attitude is starting to tire me, woman.» You locked your eyes with his and Puck couldn't help but hope you two wouldn't start biting each other again.

«So you take it out on the weakest? Don't be ridiculous.» You said standing in front of him and he laughed badly.

«You think you are better?» The man turned as if to reject your gaze «The only one at my height is myself. You're not a man so don't compare yourself to me.»

After that, Guts disappeared into the woods, giving no other explanation as to where he was going. However, Puck had an eye for hidden things and could catch sensations that you couldn't, especially when Guts was around you.

But in that moment, you saw a drop fall to the ground.

«Good thing, maybe he cools his brain in the rain!» You chuckled getting a curious look from the flying elf.

«You shouldn't get angry to defend someone like me...» Puck said humbly and toying with his bare feet «But you know, Guts doesn't do it out of malice–»

«Even though he spared my life, it doesn't give him the right to do as he pleases.» You said with conviction before going to prepare the meal, luckily you had gathered enough wood before it started to rain.

Still, you couldn't understand why he was so elusive now...

• • •

A couple of hours later, the rain got even harder. You were alone in the cave with Puck, as the other was gone for the rest of the day.

«Where's Guts gone!?» The elf said a little worried, but you just shrugged, that wouldn't kill him after all.

Suddenly, a beam of white light illuminated the black sky and there, a black figure appeared in front of the cave.

«D-do you think it's time to take a walk in the woods? It's pouring outside!» Puck scolded him and without saying anything, Guts sat down on the ground with a noisy echo of his armor. He was soaking wet from the head to the feet.

You didn't know why, but you thought it was better to dry him and so, you approached him to take off his cloak.

«Try to stay calm for once!» You rolled your eyes when saw him flinch at your touch «Big men can catch a cold too, you're not immortal.»

Well, with everything he had been through, Guts thought he was doomed to that and so, he allowed himself a smile you couldn't see at the moment. You started undoing his heavy armor, piece by piece, until he was bare chested.

There, not only he was really muscular, but also his left arm was tied to the iron forearm with sturdy straps and you wondered who or what had caused him such a loss.

«Be patient, I'll be done in a second.» You added with a clean cloth in your hands, as you positioned yourself in front of him to rub his black hair first. Guts didn't react, but his gaze fell on your bare skin at the neck, until it descended on your breasts, which were moving freely as followed the movements of your arms under the shirt.

«TeAr HeR wOmB aPaRt AnD mArK iT wItH yOuR cUrSeD sEeD.»

Again, the veins on his forehead throbbed as he tried to ignore that demonic voice.

«I kNoW yOu WaNt It.»

«What's the matter?» Right there, you noticed the tension at the base of his neck and started to press with your palms, believing it was caused by the rain «I can't help you if you don't tell me anything–»

«GET AWAY FROM ME.»

His voice was terribly hoarse and you just backed away. His breaths had become heavier, almost animalistic, and his back had arched to the point where he was kneeling on the ground.

«The hell's happening to him??» You quickly looked in Puck's direction and he seemed very agitated, feeling Guts' emotions made him so sick, especially the bad ones.

«Tell me what can I do.» In a firm tone, you grabbed the dagger you had stolen, freeing it from its scabbard.

«I'll stab him if necessary.»

Of course, the little elf didn't want you to do that, but he didn't know how to help Guts either; not knowing how to proceed, you studied the condition of the warrior and noticed the armor was vibrating on its own.

«Don't tell me that thing is alive...»

The armor was claiming its master, surely it wasn't a good idea to let him wear that. Despite the swordsman's warning and his constant growls, you didn't move from in front of him.

«Wake up, you damned!» You slapped his right cheek hard and he froze instantly «This stuff's driving you crazy, take it off now.»

Again, Guts didn't react and you took the opportunity to do something else, warming the blade of the dagger over the flame of the fire.

«What are you going to do Y/n?» Puck was confused and scared at the same time when he saw the blade glow «D-don't tell me you–»

«He won't come to his senses.» You said retracing your steps «Only pain will heal him.»

Sweet manners were useless with a brute like him and for this, you prepared to inflict a controlled blow to cause him just a burn.

But that's when your wrist was pinned hard inside his palm.

«I'LL RUIN YOU IF DON'T LEAVE.»

The crouched man seemed anything but joking and the more times he said it, the more you should have convinced yourself to do it. But you stood there, as you watched him transform into something he couldn't control.

I have nothing to do with him. Why should I do this? You thought staring at that hateful man with the weapon aimed at him...the truth was, you owed him a debt for taking you away from certain death a few days earlier.

«...you really expect me to leave you in this state? Fucking no.» You said lowering the knife, on the contrary Guts didn't let you go «Not after what you've done for me.»

He didn't try to attack you in any way. Guts lowered his head, watching his own breathing as he struggled to not listen to his inner demons...the dark side of him wanted to dominate you, break your barrier as he had done time ago, ruining the only thing that was really worth to him...

But you seemed able to stop him, instead. He managed to stand up later and with his only hand, he pulled you towards him, leaving you a bit confused.

«Let me go–»

«Just shut up.» Though rude, his tone was back to normal and so was his annoyed face, as he was busy looking at you.

«Then, don't try to escape from me Y/n. Never.»

Despite the only working arm, his grip was enough to keep you from walking away and though Puck wanted to distract Guts from any crazy ideas, both of you didn't loose sight of each other...until you noticed his distance narrowing and there, his bottom lip brushed hard against your top one.

No way, Guts backed away when saw your palm between your mouths.

«And you stay away from me. Always.»

Your words sounded like a warning and his hand behind your back faded, leaving a cold void that you clearly felt.

After that, the warrior clad himself in his armor and without adding anything else, he vanished as quickly as he had appeared in your life. You dropped his dagger to the ground and sat down on a stone with your hands in your hair, as if to tear it away...

You couldn't believe he was going to...

«Tell me, why that man does everything to make my life worse than it already is?» You said aloud knowing the little elf would hear you and he landed on your knee. In a way, Puck was relieved that neither of you had provoked the other, or it would end badly.

«Maybe, but this time it was you who saved him, or not?.» He said crossing his arms as he reasoned, but you didn't seem to understand.

«Then, how can you be sure he didn't want to kill me?» You asked again and this time with greater insistence, as if you were looking for a different answer, which wasn't the one you already thought «You've seen it. He was like a wild beast.»

«That because you can't see what I see!» Just then, Puck flapped his wings with a satisfied smile «And believe me when I tell you Guts has feelings for you...»

You looked at the naked elf with a teasing expression, obviously without believing him at all.

«You're like Lily, hopeful of something to come...but nothing will change and I don't want to feel anything, especially for someone like him.»

You had never felt emotions like that and were determined to remove what was about to happen with the swordsman, without stopping to think about it at the same time...it was more than logical that he wanted to trick you with these little games and you felt guilty for letting your guard down.

Still, you couldn't understand why your heart was beating fast and with some fear, you touched with your fingers the same place where a man had never dared before.

And where Guts was close to "kissing" you.