"Blech. Emmy, this looks terrible! Next time, i'm picking where we eat."

'Emmy' looked over to his bemused and disgruntled companion.

"It's Steak. Besides, you never have steak well-done."

"Well, I guess you're right... But I still get to choose next time!"

"...You melon. You will eat that overcooked steak- you ordered it, you suffer it! Besides, I pay this time and i'm not letting money go to waste."

"B-but-"

"No buts! Eat it or perish!"

"(Perishing might actually be better...)"

"What was that?"

"I, er, need some pepper. Yeah, that was it- pepper! I'll be right back."

Having finished his own steak(which was medium-rare, in case you were wondering), Emmy began the process of eating his companions'. Knowing his friend had had lunch before only made him seem... unlike his regular self.

After returning(unsuccessfully, might I add) from a 'long and arduous' pepper hunt, Emmy's friend returned to not one, but two empty plates.

"...You ate mine as well."

"Rufus, we both know that you had food beforehand."

"You knew? Of course..."

"I'm not being sarcastic or anything; we know each other too well."

"Point taken. Now, about these... [whispers]powers."

Emmy mock gasped.

"What?! You knew?! Are you... stalking me?"

Rufus blushed heavily.

"Amadeus, this is serious!"

"You look hilariously cute when you are angry and blushing at the same time. From a 'bro' point of view, that is."

"Grrr..."

"I thought you said this was serious- yet here you are, growling like a rabid dog."

"...Moving on, you said you found you could, ah, what was it?"

"Control fire."

"Lemme see!"

"No. Wait, i've got an idea~!"

"Oh?"

Emmy's eyes glowed an intensely deep red. Slightly muffled screams could be heard emanating from the kitchen.

Suddenly the fire alarm started wailing, causing Emmy to recoil.

"Aggh!"

His head jerked back- then his eyes returned to their normal colour- a piercing grayish-blue.

"Emmy?"

"Hm?"

"You ok? That was weird."

"Oh, i'm fine. But we should leave. Now."

"If you say so..."

"I do. Now, let's hurry."

And with that, they calmly(but quickly) strode out of the restaurant, alarm still blaring loudly.

In the hustle and bustle of the crowd, no-one noticed one small vacancy.

Except Emmy.

"I'm returning to the building. Stay here. Do not move."

"What? Why?!"

"There is a child trapped inside. I will not wait for the E/S to arrive- he/she could've died by then."

Silence on Rufus' part.

"...Don't worry, I will return. I promise."

Just as he finished his sentence, a woman cried out "NOOO! HE'S STILL INSIDE!"

Emmy yelled to the woman:

"Ma'am, I am going in. Do not follow me; it is too dangerous for you. I can sense where the child is."

He entered the blazing building.

'To think, this all started from a simple chip-pan fire,' he thought.

'My abilities will come in handy after all.'

Entering the burning wreckage, he realised where the child- no, Children were.

"Thank god this place has a sturdy bathroom."

Lives were at stake. He could not force himself to imagine what would happen to them if he just... left them to die.

A multitude of confusing twists, turns and dead-ends later, he reached the room where he sensed the children to be.

"Here."

He knocked on the door.

"Hello? Anyone there? We gotta get outta here! This place is burning!"

The door made a metallic klik and slowly creaked open, revealing four terrified children: a girl of around 12 and a boy of similar age; a boy of six or seven and a girl of similar age.

"Are you here to help us escape?" asked the older boy.

"Yes. But although I am not with the police or fire brigade, I can offer you a safe way out."

"We're going, and that's final!" blurted out the younger girl.

"It's decided, then. Stay behind me and never go in front. If you do, you will get burnt. Don't ask why, or how, just do as I say."

The kids all nodded in agreement.

'That older girl, she looks... somewhat scruffier than the other three. I wonder...?'

After they managed to escape out of the blazing building unscathed, Rufus came running up to Emmy.

"DUUUDE! You're... Ok?"

"Yes."

[whispering]"Hey, Emmy. Why is that girl following you?"

"Huh?"

He turned to see the older girl whom he helped escape.

"What is it?"

The girl was taken aback, shocked even, by this.

"I, uh, j-just wanted to, uh, s-say... th-thanks for r-rescuing me... It was really b-brave of you."

Emmy felt proud. But...

"It wasn't bravery. I knew no-one would come to any harm."

She looked perplexed.

"W-what do you mean?"

"...Never mind. Anyway, you're welcome nonetheless."

What she said next shocked Emmy to the point of no return, yet didn't really surprise him as such.

"...C-can I live with you? You're brave, kind and i'm...-"

"Without a proper home."

"Y-yes..."

"Is there anyone supervising you?"

"No. I have had to f-fend for m-myself for the past few years."

"I don't see why not."

KRAKKK!

Rufus' mouth had broken through the concrete.

"Oh do be quiet, Rufus. Now, before we go doing things, we should at least introduce ourselves. I am Amadeus Schwarz- but everyone I know calls me 'Emmy'. This is my friend, Rufus."

He points to Rufus.

"And you are?"

The girl ponders for a while.

"Sakura Inagushi. But the people who used to know me called me 'Rin'."

"So, can we call you Rin?"

"...If you want to."

"Ok. Now, would you like me to show you my house?"

Emmy was glad he actually owned a house. And a car.

"S-sure..."

"Rufus, do you mind if Rin rides shotgun?"

"Not at all. Besides, i'm walking to my cousin's house."

"Oh, right. Rin, would you like to sit in the front or the back?"

She looked very surprised indeed.

"What is it?"

"I've... never actually got to choose. If you don't mind me asking, what car do you have?"

"Black Subaru Impreza Cosworth- only a year old."

"And you'd trust me in the front?"

"I have no reason not to."

"Uh, o-okay. I guess i'll s-sit in the front, if you w-wouldn't mind."

"You can."

He waved goodbye to Rufus and started towards his car.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at Emmy's house.

"Rin, welcome to the place you can call 'safe' from here on in."

Emmy hadn't noticed it, but Rin was quietly sobbing.