The two, now friends, walked down the quickly darkening street. A cold chill enveloped the night air as the silvery moon rose over the horizon.

Karrah felt Tsiriu's hand creeping into hers, and oddly enough, she didn't mind it. The thing that really shocked her was that her thoughts were constantly drifting back to the hug they had shared earlier. She felt like she was missing it, she wanted to hug him so badly, but she thought he hadn't liked it.

Sensing her thoughts, and seeing her pensive expression, Tsiriu stopped her and turned her to face him. Looking into her eyes, he finally spoke. "Karrah, about, about the hug. I, uh, I only pushed away, because I was, wow I'm not good at this. I was, nervous. Please understand, I've been without any kind of family or friends for a very long time. I'm not gonna force you to do anything, just so you know." Tsiriu said hesitantly. His cheeks grew a slight reddish tint, betraying his attempts at keeping eye contact.

Karrah felt her emotions soar. A huge smile lit up on her face and she, once again, jumped into his arms. While tugging him, she whispered into his ear. "It's okay, to be honest, I've never had a boyfriend so I'm sort of nervous too."

"I haven't either. Uh, I've never had a girlfriend I mean." Tsiriu said nervously. He gently pulled her closer to him, hardly noticing he was. She smells, nice. This is, weird. I've never felt like this before. This is, kinda nice though. Tsiriu thought, blushing greatly. He pushed her away gently and slowly. "I can't walk when I'm being hugged like that Karrah. Come on; let's wait until we're at your place. You look cold. Here." he said, taking off his coat. He draped it around her and held her close to his side as they walked, his guitar now on his back.

"Wait until my place for what?" Karrah asked Tsiriu with a wink, when she saw him blush further she patted his shoulder and said "I'm only joking Tsiriu, gosh I'm not a slut or anything," She giggled. She sort of snuggled into Tsiriu's coat a little further and pulled it around her, she shivered slightly but, trying not to let Tsiriu notice she smiled up at him. Wait, why is it so cold? It's nearly summer, it shouldn't be this cold, oh well whatever. She thought shrugging that odd feeling off. Running her fingers along the soft lining of his jacket, she suddenly noticed that it was very warm, and very soft. Putting one hand through the sleeve and using the other to hold the jacket closed, she lightly grasped Tsiriu's hand that was draped over her shoulder.

"Hold up Karrah." Tsiriu said, his eyes half closed. His grip on her shoulder strengthened slightly as his eyes changed color. From the bright blue that was their norm, they slid smoothly towards black, going to red first. "Can you fight? We're gonna have company soon. Not friendly company either." he added, taking a few knives out of his guitar case.

"Um..." Karrah started, she had never really been in a fight but she couldn't sit there and let Tsiriu do all the fighting so she grabbed a largish knife out of Tsiriu's hand and dropped into a crouch.

"No, get behind me Karrah. Your stance, you won't be able to fight these guys. Unless you can use Psynergy get behind me now." He said, putting the knives into small, easy to reach pockets in his shirt and pants. He grabbed a longer one out of his guitar case. It looked much like a miniature katana. Dark blue rings surrounded him as he closed his eyes. The mini-katana glowed black as it grew to the size of a real katana. "I'll take care of this. It's my fight anyway. I've been waiting for these sick freaks. I wondered why it was so cold." He finished, taking a battle stance where the blade rested on the side of his elbow.

Wide-eyed and slightly frightened, Karrah back away until her back was to a tree, wondering all the while what had just happened to the Tsiriu she had just been walking through the woods with.

"Karrah, you're my only friend, and, for some reason I don't know, I feel like you're a better friend then I've ever had. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise." Tsiriu said as he turned around to look into her frightened eyes. His, once again, bright blue eyes looked deeply into hers. In one swift motion, he quickly kissed her on the cheek, muttered some strange words while tracing a strange shape on her forearm, and turned around to meet his strange adversaries.

"Well well well, what do we have here."

"Hey, it's that Tsiriu kid!"

"Let's get him!"

"You think you can kill me now, after I whooped you all the last time? Big mistake boys, or whatever you three are." Tsiriu said, his eyes dark and angry. The three strangers all wore very little. No shirt for any of them, and strange, glacier blue pants. Their breath came out as pure cloud, and their touch just as icy.

Karrah backed up against the tree even further, her mind not even registering the kiss Tsiriu had planted on her cheek, she watched as the three enemies tried to surround Tsiriu, only to have ones leg get sliced off by Tsiriu's sword, but to her amazement, it grew back. Then suddenly an icy hand grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth, she tried to scream but she couldn't, paralyzed with fear she felt a knife against her neck.

"KARRAH!" Tsiriu yelled as he finished one foe with a stab and twist in the stomach. Without even consciously knowing the other one was behind him, he stabbed backwards and fell deep inside himself. Summoning up every tiny piece of anger, hatred, and pain he had ever felt in his life, he formed a small, pure black ball in his hands. When he opened his eyes, they too, were pure black. The difference: they had flame burning bright in the center. The dark ball disappeared with a huge explosion, completely disintegrating the dagger, and the entire arm it was connected to.

"YOU WILL NOT HARM HER!" Tsiriu screamed as his sword twisted into a scimitar, the jewel on the hilt pulsing with dark anger. With a step forward and right, and a flick of the wrist, the head of the attacker came clean off. Rushing forward, he pulled Karrah into his arms, his katana returning to it's small form and floating into his pocket. Running faster then normally possible, especially with someone in his arms, he put as much distance between them and their assailants and her possibly could. They had arrived at Karrah's house. Laying her down on the couch, his eyes quickly returned to the bright blue, and then, to eyelids as Tsiriu passed out from over-exertion.

Karrah watched Tsiriu pass out, not knowing what to do she tentatively got up, Tsiriu had scared her, that sudden change in him was terrifying, after crying for a few minutes she realized how hungry she was, getting a blanket and wrapping the still unconscious figure of Tsiriu she bustled about the kitchen making dinner.