After chasing the robber for about five minutes, Rose and Shingo finally cornered him against a set of abandoned rail cars behind the deserted South Station.

"Give it up dude, we got you cornered!" Shingo threatened.

"What the?" the robber exclaimed after seeing Shingo and Rose beneath a dimly lit lamppost. "You guys are just kids! Why the hell was I running, when I could easily do this." He pulled out a switch blade and walked toward them.

"I'm gonna enjoy this," he said, licking his lips. "It's been a while since ol' Shark Fang here got his teeth wet. Heh heh."

"Eeek!" Rose screamed.

"Don't worry Rose I'll protect," Shingo declared. He had Rose step aside and charged the robber "Eat this ass wipe . . . SHINGO KICK!"

Shingo leapt off the ground and flew like an arrow piercing across the midnight sky.

"Oh crap!" The robber cowered in fear, anticipating the blow that was about to come . . .

THUD!

"Huh?" he opened his eyes, and to his surprise was unharmed. He looked over a few yards away and saw Shingo mangled among a pile of rails and train scraps.

"Ow . . . the pain. I can't feel my legs," Shingo groaned.

"Ha ha ha. Stupid kid missed." The robber continued towards Rose with his knife clenched tightly. "Looks like your boy friend can't help you now. I'll gut him after I'm through with you."

"Oh please, he is not my boyfriend," Rose retorted. She seemed more perturbed by being taunted as Shingo's lover, as opposed to being threatened at knife point. "He is just a random boy who happened to hear my cries for help. But I beg of you, do not hurt us. If you let us go I will give you the combination to unlock a secret compartment in my bag. If I recall correctly, there should be $5000 in there."

"Hmmmm, it's a deal lady. But you better not be messing with me, or else you're done for." The robber's eyes lit up and he frantically rummaged through the bag.

"But of course sir. I would never dream of deceiving you. If you look at the side away from the opening you will notice a gold button. Do you see it?"

"Yeah, I see it."

"What you may think is a small trinket of no particular importance is actually a master lock to small titanium safe built within the bag. The lock is sensitive to the tiniest degree and will only open to the most precise of sequences."

"So what is it?"

"Patience, sir. All in good time. First, count slowly to five while turning the button to the left."

"Ok . . . done."

"Good. Now turn the button to the right while counting to six, then immediately left counting to three.

"Six seconds right and three seconds left . . . got it. What's next?"

"Excellent. For the last part of sequence, turn the button left counting to nine and finally . . . NOW YOU IDIOT!"

"Nine seconds left and . . . wait! Now you idiot?" the confused robber felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and was not pleased to see who it was.

"Remember me?" Shingo said with a grin. The robber was startled and instinctively lunged at Shingo with his knife. Shingo easily dodged the attack and immediately countered by kicking the robber's knife out of his hand. With no weapon, he knew he was screwed.

"Oh fuck!

"Got that right! BURNING SHINGO!"

Rose looked on as Shingo laid a beat down on the unfortunate robber. Shingo finished off his string of punches with a devastating uppercut that sent the crook flying into one of the empty rail cars.

"That should take care of him," Shingo said with satisfaction. "Kusanagi-san would be so proud." He picked up the purse and returned it to Rose.

"Here you go Ms. Bernstein."

"Ugh! Took you long enough, boy!"

"It's Shingo."

"Whatever! If not for my quick thinking and that dolt's obvious lack for brains we could have been killed! Killed, I tell you! A golden lock of a hidden safe in a Louis-Vuitton hand bag? How stupid are you people? Argh! I have had enough of South Town for one day. I am off! Good night, sir!"

"Wait. I know you're mad after all that has happened. But please let me walk you home. It's the least I can do."

"Well, if you must I suppose it will have to do."

The walk back home was rather uneventful. Both kept silent the whole time, which Shingo did not mind at all. He kept a few paces behind Rose to avoid the possibility of engaging in another 'spirited' conversation.

"Here we are," Rose said when they reached the airport entrance. "My airship is experiencing some technical difficulties. It will remain docked here until the repairs are completed."

"Ok then. Bye," Shingo said as he quickly started to walk off. After what he'd been through with Rose he couldn't wait to leave and not have to put up with her anymore.

"Stop right there mister! Are you walking out on me?"

"Well I dropped you off, so there is nothing left to do but to go home."

"For heaven's sake, where on earth are your matters? Aren't you going to kiss me good night?"

"Are you serious?" Shingo's eyebrows suddenly jumped. He could not believe what he was hearing.

"I am very serious. And I do not appreciate your tone."

"Uhmm, why would you want me to kiss you?"

"As a gentleman it is only proper to do so after a night out with a lady. You are a gentleman, are you not?"

"Uh, I guess. But I wouldn't exactly call what happened back there a night out."

"So then, what would an ideal night out in South Town entail?"

"I don't know," Shingo answered. He looked up and pondered for a moment. "Hmmmm. Probably a trip to the amusement park, dinner at a fancy restaurant, and a walk along the beach. Something like that."

"That sounds wonderful!" Rose beamed with excitement. "It's a date! Be here tomorrow at six sharp to pick me up. And I do implore you to dress in something nicer than your current attire. A lady of my taste deserves nothing less. Good night dear."

Rose struck Shingo with a quick peck on the cheek before merrily prancing back to her ship like a kid high on sugar.

Shingo was frozen for a while in jaw dropping shock. Amidst his dumbstruck stupor, he was mind was reeling over what had just taken place.

"What the hell just happened?"