AT MIDORI'S HOME…

"Mother! Father! I'm home!" Midori's voice was answered from her mother in the kitchen.

"Hello dear. My, your home late, sweetie! You missed dinner. I'll fix you some rice. That ok with you?"

"Yes, Mother, thanks! Sorry I was home so late. I was gathering herbs in the forest again."

"Alright. Just try not to be so late tomorrow dear." Midori nodded and began to eat the rice placed in front of her. Casual chat about her father's trip to the Star Village, what type of flowers to place over Grandma's grave, and favorite toppings on rice brought her to thinking of Kieoya somehow. She got an idea when her mother started to talk about a new kind of ninja food that was easy to make and came in a simple box; her father had taken it on his mission.

"Hey, Mom?"

"Yes Midori?" Her mother was washing the dishes, so Midori walked over to help dry them.

"I was wondering if maybe you could fix me a picnic lunch tomorrow. I'm supposed to meet a friend over in the woods. I met him while gathering herbs and I think it would be a good idea to bring food tomorrow, so we can take a break and eat lunch by that pretty little pond where we met." Midori hated the taste of the lie, but it was for her protection, and Kieoya's. Her mother, though very kind, would not accept him the way she did.

"A new friend? That's wonderful sweetie! I'd be glad to pack a lunch for two. I'll even put in some extra sweets for you both," her mother replied with a wink.

"Thanks Mom!" Midori said, giving her mother a big hug.

With Kieoya

He leaned up against the wall, looking through the old, rotting window pane at the bright moon. He looked at his glittering scales in the moonlight; they shined silver, and didn't glow at all where his blood covered them. He would have to ask Midori about the location of a pond where he could clean up a bit. He lied down on the make-shift bed and fell asleep thinking of ways to pay Midori back for her kindness.

The Next Morning- Midori's Village

"Midori! Midori? You there?" Her friend, Cassy, waved a hand in front of her face.

"Hmm? Oh sorry, just tired. Hey, listen, I got to go meet up with a friend in the woods today so I'll see you later." She began to walk away when there was a pull on her arm.

"But my dad said that's where the demon-boy ran off to! If he sees you he'll kill you!" her friend panicked.

"I was in the woods yesterday, and didn't see hide or scale of the demon-boy. Just a claw mark on a tree, from a cat. Let me go, I got to go meet up with my friend! I don't want him thinking I ditched him!"

"Oh… so you're going on a date?" All Cassy received was a glare and a mouthful of dust as her friend ran off into the woods.

Kieoya's "House"

Kieoya awoke to the smell of warm rice and more strengthening herbal remedies. He turned his head slightly to the side to find himself looking at a busy Midori. He closed his eyes and opened them again, just to see if she really came back. He sat up slowly, and she smiled at him warmly.

"Morning sleepy-head!" she giggled.

"What's so funny?"

"Does your hair always look like that in the morning?" Midori chuckled again and held up a small , smooth edged piece of glass. He flinched a bit at the sight; fiery red eyes sparking with demonic energy. He barely noticed the wildly placed forest of hair on his head. He took the broken shard of glass and stared at his own eyes. Midori noticed something was wrong—she had always been good at sensing emotions from others—and softly stated, "You're not a monster to me, Kieoya. So stop looking at yourself like you want to kill the reflection."

Kieoya couldn't stop death-staring himself down, and eventually just crushed the glass in his scale-covered hand. Midori gasped and immediately grabbed his hand and began pulling the pieces of glass from in between his scales. She went over to her backpack and took out a role of medial bandages and a kunai from the pocket. She also grabbed the food and tea and set that on a slab of tree bark for a tray and took it over to him. She held his injured hand again, muttering the whole time about the stupidity of some demons. He didn't mind her calling him a demon because she said it in a way that wasn't an insult.

"You shouldn't hurt yourself, Kieoya. It's not going to solve anything. Neither is having a stare-down with your self. Eat your food."

"Thanks for the food." He began eating small bits of rice at a time, realized that he was famished, and started wolfing down the food, not letting a single piece touch anything but his tong. He drank his tea as ordered, and looked at his wrapped hand. Maybe I could wear wrappings like this all the time, to cover the scales. I'd look like a ninja, too.

"Kieoya, I also brought another blanket, and a few more towels so you can take a bath in the pond a little ways from here. You smell like a dead corps, no offence."

"Midori?"

"Yes, Kieoya?" She cocked her head, wondering what the quiet boy could want to ask her.

"Do you think that I'll ever be allowed back in the village?" he asked honestly. He needed to know her opinion; she would tell him the right answer.

"I… maybe. If you wear wraps like that, and maybe a hat. Nothing we can really do about those fiery eyes—." She stopped herself. He didn't like his eyes; she could tell from the way he looked in the glass. "Sorry…" she said softly. She turned back to cleaning the dishes with a damp rag, and heard Kieoya stand up in the corner. She couldn't look at him; she wouldn't.

Kieoya walked over and began helping her clean the dishes. "I don't mind. I'm used to it." Midori looked up in surprise. He looked quite content sitting there, cleaning dishes. She looked up and met the blazing red eyes that needed her help so much. "Can you show me that lake now? I need to get some of this dirt off of me. I feel so heavy." He stretched out his wings, and for the first time she noticed how big his wingspan really was—a good ten feet. She didn't mean to stare, but he just shrugged and said, "I have to keep them from becoming stiff or I'll never be able to fold them right." He refolded the dragon's wings across his back, shortening them to about three feet from the main point to the main point. She handed him the towel and two bars of soap.

"Oh wait! You don't have a shirt—."

"Doesn't matter; I'd just tear it if I tried to stretch my wings or even just scratch my shoulder."

"Kieoya?"

"Uh, yea?"

"Do those wings ever bother you? They look kind of heavy."

Kieoya looked at her a bit oddly, because he wasn't used to people asking him questions about his demon form. He stood there, flexing the tips of his wings a bit, and then replied, "Have you ever been flying, Midori?"

"No, but I've always envied those who could. It must be so nice to be free of the earth, even if it's just for a short time. Why?"

"Um…These wings aren't heavy. They, err, help me get away from the earth for a while. So even if they are a pain to sleep on, I can get used to it." He decided he could open up to Midori. She didn't see the bad behind the demon he was. "The real annoyance of my demonic traits is the scales"

"Scales? Why the scales?" She asked sheepishly. She had a feeling this was uncomfortable for him.

He adjusted the towel and soap into his injured hand and lifted a single armor plate up slightly, and several grains of dirt fell onto the floor. "Uh..That's why. There a pain to clean under."

"oh.." She replied simply. "Let me show you that lake, Kieoya. It looks like it's going to take awhile for you to get clean." Kieoya nodded and let the blanket he had wrapped himself up in fall so he was standing there, shirtless. He walked out of the house first so he never noticed Midori's blushing face. Midori pointed over to a small spring about the size of your average hot-tub. Kieoya thanked her and pulled off his shoes, revealing sharp clawed toes. "I'm either going to have to sew you new pants while your bathing, or wash those." Midori sighed.

"Uh, I suppose that makes sense. You, um, stay in the house and I'll put them behind that bolder over by the back door. I'll tell you when it's… safe."

"That works." Midori went in the house, and when Kieoya was sure she was gone, took off the remaining clothing and wrapped the towel around his waist. He ran over and left his pants and shoes behind the bolder and ran back. He left the towel, and jumped into the middle of the spring, letting the cold water shock out any last bits of the drowsiness being sick might leave in his day. Being cold-blooded, he quickly cleans under, over and around his scales, washed his wings, and began to dry off with the towel. After hit thirty minuet bath, he wrapped the towel around his waist again and lied down in a patch of sunlight to let the natural light finish drying his skin and scales. He decided that a towel was descent enough, and pinned it in place with a scale that had shed while he was drying off. This was a regular occurrence, so he didn't worry about it much. He already had human skin, the scales acted as armor for that softer skin. After he managed to get the towel to stay, he stretched his wings out, and beat them once to take to the treetops, and then spread them to the full ten feet. He waited for a gust and then let the warm current lift himself into the cerulean blue sky. I'll give Midori a little surprise, and see if she runs from me. I will test her to see if she really can stay and help me. He spotted her washing his clothing in a stream closer to the cabin with a bar of some herbal soap. She was also munching on something sweet. He was careful to glide low to the ground—only about ten feet from the top of her head—so she could feel the wind his wings created. She heard the rustle of wind and looked up to see Kieoya glide over her head, wearing only his towel. She jumped up in surprise, but didn't run. She merely covered her eyes in embarrassment. "Kieoya! Put something on! God!" She threw his clothing on his head and then turned away, still blushing.

"Uh, Sorry. I'm dressed now." Kieoya was slightly bushing to. He didn't think about THIS reaction; he felt all fuzzy and warm again. Maybe it was her who caused this feeling; poor unknowing Kieoya…

"Kieoya, come here." She said simply. He walked over and was promptly smacked on the back of his head.
"What was that for!" he exclaimed , rubbing his sore head.

"For trying to scare me! I would think you could warn me next time you're going flying. And no more flying for now! What if a villager saw you! We'd both be in deep trouble."

"Sorry… So you're going to leave now, right?" He asked guiltily. He didn't think (oh there's a surprise) about the villagers much anymore. It only brought back pain to his thoughts.

She sighed and turned to face Kieoya. She noticed when he felt guilty or upset about something he let his forest of hair cover his eyes. "No Kieoya. I'm not leaving. You're still sick, injured, and you need somebody to take care of you, Dragon-boy." She shoved his shoulder goodheartedly; he was new to human touch still, but still understood this. He stood up and stretched out then creased his wings, careful not to hit her in the head. He was walking back to the house when he stopped suddenly. Midori was looking elsewhere than in front of herself, and ran right into his rock-hard shoulders. "Ouch! Kieoya, don't stop like—!" She was cut off after Kieoya clapped his hand over her mouth and motioned for her to whisper. He rushed her into the house. "Kieoya, what's gotten into you?" she murmured softly, but forcefully. He said nothing but walked to the window, and began to sniff the air softly. "You look like a dog-demon now, Dragon-boy."

"Shh! Somebody's coming." Kieoya shushed. Midori's green orbs of light widened when her hearing picked up footsteps. Somebody HAD seen Kieoya flying—she knew it! She thought on the fly; she shoved Kieoya under a table, wings and all, and then began piling towels on himself.

"What the—."

"Shh!" Midori walked outside to greet her "guest"; she was tackled by her best friend Cassy.

"MIDORI! I SAW THE DEMON-BOY FLYING AND—!"

"You're yelling in my ear! Did anybody else see him?"

"Uhh.. not that I know of. We are pretty far in the woods, and he was flying low. Come on! We got to go back and warn everybody that he's still around here!"

"No!" She said a little too quickly, earning an odd look from her friend. There was a crash from inside the cabin suddenly.

"What was that?" her friend demanded.

"Um.. I was stacking some towels on a table. I guess they fell off."

"Well, let me help you."

"No, I can do it myself. Just, wait here."

"Midori, you know I don't accept the word 'no' for and answer often. Now I'm going to help you, alright?"

Midori should have guessed that at least one person would find out about Kieoya. How could she explain to her friend? How would Kieoya react to being found by another human other than herself? Would her harm her friend? She trudged into the house, and saw the pile of towels on the floor, the knocked over table, and the tips of wings poking out from under the cloth.

Her friend looked a bit frightened. "Somebody's under there!" she exclaimed, both anxious and excited. She looked at Midori for an explanation.

"I suppose I can't keep this a secret any longer. But you have to PROMISE that you won't tell ANYBODY."

"Midori… Alright! I Promise! Even if it was Demon-boy himself!" Cassy was true to her word. She wouldn't tell. She was confident though about her guess; it might have been the demon.

"Alright then. I'll remember that. Kieoya, you've been found out." The pile of towels parted a bit, revealing those striking liquid fire eyes. He grunted and picked himself off the ground, almost towering above them at a good four feet tall—they both were only about three feet by an inch or so. She noticed two things: Kieoya's wound was bleeding, and her friend was passed out on the floor.

"Sorry… I should have been more careful. Hey, is she going to be alright?" His slightly rough voice caught in Cassy's ears. 'Hey, is she going to be alright?' was not something she expected to hear from the demon-kid.

"Midori! You're taking care of the demon?" Cassy asked startled as she sat up. She gazed at his figure as Kieoya studied her; she thought he was trying to find out if she was a threat. He flexed the tips of his magnificent wings and sat on the floor, trying to make himself look less significant.

"He was bleeding in an alley, and he was sick. What was I supposed to do?" an argument ensued, and nobody noticed the dragon until he had spoken up.

"I think you both should stop arguing. And, um, Cassy was it?"

"Yea…" She was skeptical of this Kieoya. What could he say to her that wouldn't be a threat?

"Um.. Sorry for scaring you. I mean, I know I'm kinda creepy looking, and I'm sorry about…" he cut off. He didn't like the way she was searching him; it was like she was looking for the truth in his words.

"It's ok, I guess." Cassy looked at Midori, who smiled at her.

"He's not aggressive or nasty. He's just… Kieoya." Kieoya gritted his teeth and his hand covered his side.

"Kieoya? Kieoya!" Both of the girls looked shocked at the pool of blood on the floor. He was losing consciousness from blood loss.

"Is he going to be ok?"

"I… I don't know, Cassy. I'm doing everything I know how to for him."

"He needs stitches, but I don't know how to."

For the rest of the day, little conversation happened between the girls until them both decided to sew him some new pants out of an old blanked. It was red and black, with no real pattern so it was perfect for him. "So what is he like?"

"Hmm?" Midori looked up from her part of the blanket.

"I mean Kieoya. He seems… rough. But nice."

"He's just misunderstood. He isn't a mad killer like everybody thinks. I guess half-demons aren't like full demons."

Cassy looked up and put her hand on her friend shoulder. "I won't tell. About Kieoya, I mean. I think you did the right thing. You always were good at understanding people, err, dragon-people." They both giggled; Kieoya moaned and his crimson red eyes flickered open, looked over, and then closed again. "Wonder why he looked at us."

"to make sure we didn't leave him. He said he never had anybody stay around him this long before. He needs a friend or two. He isn't used to human contact yet; all I did yesterday was place my hand on his shoulder and he jumped like I put an ice cube on his bare skin."

"That reminds me. We should probably make him a shirt too."

"No. His wings would rip it if he tried to fly, or that's what he said."

Cassy pondered this for a moment. "Well ok then. But it is kind of embarrassing to be around a shirtless demon. I mean, how does a nine-year-old boy get so strong to the point where he actually almost has an eight-pack?" That was Cassy for you—direct and blunt about her thoughts.

"Cassy!" Midori blushed a bit, because she had been thinking the same thing since she met him. His core muscles didn't show much, but you could tell they would if he worked out anymore. She blushed more at the thought.

"Oh… I get it. You have a crush on Kieoya!" Cassy whispered excitedly.

"Do not!" Midori said. Kieoya opened his eyes and moaned again.

"Midori? Cassy?"

"What is it, Dragon-boy." To Kieoya's surprise, it was Cassy who answered him.

"Uh… never mind." He forced himself to sit up, even though it made him dizzy.

"Kieoya, can I ask you a question?" Midori was worried about what Cassy would ask.

"Sure, I guess." Kieoya was worried about what she might ask to, and looked at Midori for help. She shrugged. "Uh, yea. Go ahead."

"If your part dragon, or dragon-demon. Whatever you are, does that mean you're cold-blooded?" Cassy had just asked a very important question; if Kieoya still had a fever, which would be hard to bring down in the heat. And how would you know it's a fever?

"Um, I prefer warmer weather to winter. I'm, uh, a fire-type demon, if that makes sense. Here let me show you what I mean." Kieoya shuffled across the floor to the fire-pit, filled with unused wood, and the girls came over to.

"Don't get to close. I don't want you getting burned or hurt."

Wait, so dragon-boy is worried about us? That means that the villagers beat an innocent kid! Cassy was older than both of them by a year and half a year—she was nine and 1/2 –, so she called them kids. "Ok." Cassy answered and moved back slightly, afraid of what might happen if she got to close.

"Alright, I am a dragon-demon, and I learned how to do this at a young age…" Kieoya closed his eyes, focused his natural energy towards his lungs, took a semi-deep breath, and blew out enough fire to incinerate all the wood in the fire-pit. The girls both gasped and jumped back, and Kieoya smiled a bit. He had been itching to do that since he had been locked inside a small house all day.

"Whoa… Think you could teach my pet lizard how to do that, Kieoya?" Cassy asked in awe.

"Probably not. Its, uh, a dragon thing." He blushed as Midori gazed at him in that way that made him feel fuzzy and warm again. He swore to himself and forced the blush away.

"That's amazing Kieoya! Darn, look how late it is!" The sun had already set half way, and they were so far in the woods. Kieoya looked down a bit guilty that he would make her late home yet again. Then he got an idea. He stretched his wings out a bit and looked intently at Midori, whose emerald eyes grew wide. "Kieoya, no. I'm not letting you fly us home. If the villagers see you, you'll be killed!"

" I was thinking that I could just set you both down by the edge of the forest."

"No, Kieoya." Cassy said forcefully.

"You're afraid to fly. Both of you are." Kieoya said, a slight mischievous smile graced his usually serious face.

"Maybe…" they both answered.

"Well, how can you know if you like it or not if you don't attempt it?" Kieoya stood up and walked out the front of the old hut he now called home. The girls looked at each other, then carefully walked outside. They saw Kieoya's wings stretched out full wingspan, his scales glinting in the sunlight, making them seem to be on fire. They both stared again at the dragon-boy, who smiled and said "Change your minds yet?" The girls nodded, stunned by the glowing scales and rather handsome smile he gave them. "Alright then." He picked both of them up rather easily, and a rush of wind took them to the treetops. He sniffed the air to see if anything was nearby. A pack of wolves had killed a deer. Somebody several miles away was plowing a field. Storm clouds were gathering on the horizon, and they smelled of damp rain. "Ready girls?"

"Not really!"

"No!"

"Alright then let's go!" He tightened his grip on his passengers, firmly but gently, and allowed himself a semi-steep dive into the low tree branches. Cassy was smiling like a lunatic, and Midori slammed her eyes shut and snuggled into Kieoya's chest.

"You can put me down here, Kieoya." Cassy said above the rush of wind.

"Alright."

"Wait, don't dive—!"

Too late for poor Midori and Cassy. Kieoya had dipped into a steep dive; not vertical but not far from it. He tucked his wings back a bit, then reopened them when he neared the ground.

"Wow, what a rush!" Cassy fixed her messy blonde hair. "Thanks Kieoya! Oh and sorry."

"Sorry? For what?" Kieoya had never heard an apology that was for him.

"For believing the villagers. Midori was right: you're a nice, err, dragon." Kieoya blinked as she called out a goodbye to Midori and himself. So she likes me? I have to friends now? he questioned himself. In that case, I'll have to protect them both. Especially Midori; I like the way she makes me feel.

"Kieoya? Hello? You there?" Midori waved a hand in front of his blank face. It was getting dark and she had to get home.

"Hmm? Oh. Yes, sorry. Just thinking." Midori smiled and he picked her up; it was a smoother take off with only one passenger. Midori snuggled into his chest again, making him blush. He allowed himself to let her soft, sweet scent waft up to his sensitive nose. Midori smells like roses. Come to think of it, she does remind me of the fragile flower. Aren't there stories of dragons crushing fields of flowers? He shivered. He slightly tightened his grip on the girl, and noticed she had fallen asleep. He made himself a promise right then and there. He whispered to the sleeping girl, for reasons unknown to him yet, "I'll always protect you, my little flower." She smiled in her sleep and mumbled something uncatchable. Kieoya allowed himself to smile slightly, then went back to focusing on flying.

Midori felt his grip tighten on her, making her stir from her sleep. She didn't move or open her eyes; she didn't feel like it. She knew Kieoya wouldn't let her fall. He said something unexpected to her, and she knew he thought she was asleep, but that didn't matter. "I'll always protect you, my little flower." She smiled and mumbled, "I'll always be there for you, Dragon-boy."

I know it ended abruptly, but i'm addind the last few paragraphs to the next chapter so the writting will flow more easily.