The fire flickered in the dark forest, giving life to the shadows around every tree. Junpei watched the sleeping forms of his friends, tiredly. Leaning against the tree he was sitting under, he sighed.

Kouji had insisted that someone should keep watch while the others slept. Takuya and Kouji had argued about who would take the first shift, Izumi had butted in and volunteered Junpei for the job, for reasons only known to her.

Even when Kouji and Takuya had dismissed the idea, Izumi persisted and there was no use in arguing with Izumi. So, here was Junpei, awake and not so fully alert. A finger prodded Junpei's left arm and caused him to jump slightly. The provoker gave a giggle and he turned to see Izumi stifling a laughing fit with her hand. "Hey," Junpei said, embarrassed. "What was that for?"

"To see if you were awake," Izumi replied. "You weren't moving and it's no use having a sentry asleep."

He rubbed the back of his head and looked to the ground, hoping that she couldn't see his blushing in the dark. "I didn't notice you," he admitted. "But I was awake. I'm starting to think that you just like picking on poor little me."

"Hey," Izumi said defensively. "I never said you weren't awake. Maybe I do like picking on you, it's just so hard not to."

Junpei replied with pouting and scooting over so Izumi could use the tree as a backrest, too. "Can I ask why you volunteered me earlier?" he asked.

"Sure," said Izumi. "Takuya and Kouji would've been arguing about who should keep watch 'till midnight and I need my beauty sleep, you know... Yes, I know I'm already beautiful, you flatterer. So I decided to step up. Tomoki is too young and the Digimon would fall asleep within minutes, and the other two were the cause of the argument..."

"...So I was the only choice left," Junpei concluded, sadly. "Should have known it was something like that..."

"Sorry," Izumi said quietly. "I didn't mean nothing by it."

"I know. It's just..."

Izumi gave Junpei a forceful shove. He tumbled sideways then looked at the girl with a hurt expression on his face, she just sat there staring right back at him. "Quit moping, it's not becoming,"she stated bluntly.

"If you say so," Junpei muttered, straightening up. "I just hope no one woke up."

"They didn't," Izumi reassured him. "A herd of elephants couldn't wake them up."

"If you say so," Junpei repeated.

"Is that all you can say?"

"If you want me to."

Smiling ever so slightly, Izumi scooted closer to Junpei. She had an idea. "I think the sky is green, Junpei," she said slyly. "Do you?"

He blinked. "Um, yea," he said. "Sure. The sky is green."

Izumi couldn't help but giving a small giggle. "You know, Junpei," she told him. "I think I'm going to stay up with you tonight. Is that all right?"

"Um... Sure! You can have my spot, if you want... It's nice and comfortable..."

Junpei was starting to think that having sentry duty wasn't so bad.