The heavily armoured men worked back and forth around the captains sharp eye, dousing the surrounding trees in gasoline. They knew they boy was in there, they'd known for a while. But now they had proof that he wasn't human, and that finally gave them the go ahead to eradicate him.

As leader of the Elite 7's Tokyo Devision, Shima Katsuragi had the steely edge of a double sided blade. She never stopped, and neither did her team of the military's finest, sworn to wipe out any trace of creature that came through that damned portal. The radiation that thing had released had taken down planes world wide, including the jet her father had been aboard. "Douse it all. We'll show that rat." With that, she stamped her cigarette butt into the ground, and set off back to her van.

It was getting late when Jun got to his feet, Judai watching him with widening eyes. Orochi stirred from her slumber, raising her snout and sniffing the air, eyes still closed. "I guess I'll see you-" Jun stopped, sniffing the air himself. Judai looked even more confused. The air snaked into Jun's mouth, acrid and harsh. He coughed his throat to clear it, and realised what it was. Smoke. He coughed again, as it surged through the trees. Somebody had set the forest ablaze.

Judai watched, somewhat afraid, as Jun hurriedly threw the bag over his shoulder. A hand was thrust into his face, and he flinched. "Come on, Judai, we've got to go." Go? Go where? This woods was his home. It had been since he was a baby. He'd grown up here with Oro, and he wasn't going anywhere. "No." There was silence a moment, Judai's defiance hanging in the air. "This is my home." Jun pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing and adjusting the bag on his shoulder. Judai studied his face, sensing his annoyance. "How about... How about you come to my home?" He softened his tone, "Judai, it's not safe. You'll die... A-and I don't want that." He had to look away, and it was hard to tell if the blush was from the rising heat, or something entirely different. Judai sighed. The smoke was rising, and he didn't have a choice. He'd have to go, despite his adamance to stay put. "Okay.. Okay. Let me get my things together."

He hopped to his feet, quickly scaling the tree, and grabbing a small linen bag. By this point, Orochi had crawled into the rucksack on Jun's back, and Jun had a sleeve covered hand over his mouth and was coughing. Before Judai had time to react, his hand was grabbed by Jun, who had started to run. Jun's coughing was wet and hoarse as they stumbled after each other through the smoke. It seemed, however, to be getting worse the closer to the exit they got.

After stumbling for what seemed like a lifetime and a second all at the same time, they made it the opening of the woods. Judai heard Jun cry out, but the smoke was getting so thick that it was getting hard to see. Still coughing into his hand, and staggering giddily, dizzy from the smoke and lack of oxygen, Judai felt a hand on his chest push him back, Jun staggering with it as large branch fell to the floor, breaking into a billion tiny embers. Judai started to panic even more, now anxious sweat beading on his brow. He'd trusted in Jun, but Jun could hardly stand. If he didn't act soon. They'd all perish.

The air back home had always been smoky, Judai remembered. Dragon's burning forests wasn't anything unusual. But as Jun slumped against his body, arms limp on his shoulders, Judai realised this fire was much, much worse. And he needed to get Jun out of there. "Jun…" Judai wiped the other males brow gently, but there was no reply. He knew he'd have to use his Magyk, but he'd never done it on anybody who wasn't conscious. Or on any human. He thought back to the books he'd found. They weren't on his Magyk, but they'd have to do. He needed a strong bond. And he needed it now.

Jun's vision was fading between orange and black, and his lungs ached. His mouth was dry, and his tongue burned. He could barely make out the mass before him, what he was slumped upon. He knew that it was Judai. He knew they were Judai's arms tight around him. In the back of his consciousness, he could hear Orochi chirping frantically. Just as his legs were about to give out, Jun felt hands on his sweat and charcoal smeared cheeks. He was almost too far gone, but he could make out the silhouette of Judai stood over him. There was a small pause, and Jun gasped a little. Judai lowered his head and pressed his lips on Jun's drawing him into a soft kiss as they disappeared in a bright flash.

And darkness engulfed Jun in it's arms.

Authors Note: On time, for once. Hurry, you go Kaworu. Speaking of Kaworu, gold star to anybody who gets my Evangelion reference. I appreciate this chapter is shorter than before, but I'm happy with this, and I didn't want to waffle on. It will be longer next week. She says. Don't quote me on that.