The young boy looked around the street in despair. Unconsciously he shrunk back, sliding halfway into the alley way. 'How am I supposed to find a partner here?' He thought in despair, clutching a white book tightly to his chest. The people on the street moved on, unaware of the anguished child watching them. 'I was told it would be different here, but it's all the same. No one notices me, and why should they? I'm nothing but the failure of the demon world.' Without a backward glance at the busy street, the boy trotted deeper into the maze of alleys.

Once the street was out of sight, the boy rested his back against the wall, sighing as he looked up at the night sky. 'At least the stars are different' He thought.

"Homesick, Awai?" a voice asked.

With a start, Awai whirled to face the boy's voice. The speaker was about the same age and size of Awai. But there was where the similarities ended. He had blond hair compared to Awai's black. Where as Awai dressed in dull gray's, to blend in, the boy wore a red tunic and black jeans, His hair was allowed to hang by his shoulders were Awai kept his short. As Awai gasped, his red eye's stared into Awai's silver ones.

Awai gulped, recognizing the other boy. "Arrow…why didn't I sense you?" he asked the boy.

"Sense? So that's how you survived the last couple months without a partner. Too bad for you I can conceal my presence. As he spoke, he stopped concealing his aura and Awai gasped as a sense of power washed over him. "Unfortunately that won't help you now. Mark, the first spell!" A young man stepped into the light, where Awai hadn't seen him. Dressed casual, you couldn't have picked him as a demons partner off the street, if it wasn't for the glowing orange book in his hands.

"Carrom"

The word seemed to echo through the alley as a ball of energy short from arrow's hand, shooting at Awai with startling speed. Throwing himself to the side, he heard the energy whistle past his ear.

"Nice dodge." Arrow complimented, appearing by his ear.

"Shi…!" Before Awai had blocked, Arrow's fist connected with Awai's face, sending him flying across the alley.

"Huh, I don't even need spells to beat you, scum!" Arrow spat, walking forward slowly. With deliberant ease, he lifted Awai up by his shirt, pinning him to the wall. Bringing his fist back he prepared to punch.

"Stop!" Three heads in the direction off the command, spotting the lean figure make his way down the alley. A young teen stepped into the viewing range, His face was set in a determined grimace, as if he had decided to do something that was against his nature. Walking up quickly he pushed Arrow back from me. In his surprise, Arrow dropped Awai's shirt, taking a step back.

"You, man, what you think your doing, letting this go on!" While the teen continued to rant angrily at Arrow's partner, Awai could see the surprise was wearing off Arrow quickly, being replaced with anger.

"Get out off here, human, you do not know of the matters him which you are interfering!" Awai shouted desperately.

"Huh?" The teen asked, confused. Probably because Awai had just called him human, which Awai doubted was an everyday occurrence.

"Mark!" Arrow called, furious.

"Carrom"

The energy ball shot out off Arrow's palm, aiming toward the teen.

"Move!" Awai shouted to him, as he was frozen in fear. But even as Awai spoke he knew he couldn't react in time and he lunged toward him, knocking him of his feet. He heard the wall blow up above my head.

"What was that?" The teenager shouted, his eyes on the sudden hole behind were he'd be standing.

"I told you! It does not concern you, now leave quickly!" He laid there and Awai wanted to hit him, but didn't have the nerve.

"You seemed to have dropped something, Awai" Arrow said. Awai turned to see him aiming at his book, lying out on the ground.

"Carrom"

Awai jumped over my book as the orb of energy left his palm. Having about three feet between us, the orb took no time hitting me in the back.

Awai screamed the orb exploded, sending ripples of pain throughout his body. After about a minute Awai ran out of breath and the pain was down to a dull throb.

"Nice dive but can you protect two things at once?"

'Shit!'

"Carrom"

Awai launched himself in front of the boy, taking the attack on his chest. Awai gritted my teeth against the pain and growled out, "What are you doing. Go!"

"…But…you…" the teen sounded uncertain and Awai cursed his bravery.

"I can get away once you're gone, NOW GO!" Awai lied through the fading pain..

"Yeah right!" Arrow snorted, "You can barely move after that last blast, let alone run."

Awai glared at him, knowing he was right. Awai was standing, but just barely. Behind him the teen hesitated, then made a rash decision. Grabbing Awai's book off the ground by Awai's feet, he grabbed Awai's arm in the other hand, and pulled him around the corner. Weak with pain, Awai didn't even have the will to resist. Once he was out of immediate blast range, the teenager scooped Awai up in both arm, sticking the book under one arm. Then he began to run. Taking as many corners as possible, he evaded the duo, one of which screamed in fury.