Ackie: Ok, who here likes Metallica?

(Most raise hands)

Hiei: Hn

Ackie: Oh, c'mon, Hiei, you know you like them!

(Hiei rolls eyes)

Ackie: I mean, look at you. You practically scream Metallica/Slayer. Look at Demon Lord Raenef IV's position. His theme is the 'Thorn Within'. (Notices Kurama) Though, Kurama is more of a Nirvana guy. Yeah, I definitely see you in denim and Connies.

Kenshin: What about Korn?

Ackie: No. I don't know. You're more of a leather jacket guy. Mmmm, Metallica/Pantera? Definitely Black Sabbath. You know, with that whole IRON MAN thing going on. (Yeah, that's right. Kenshin IS Iron Man.)

Kurama: We're missing someone.

Ackie: (Looks around) Oh! Sano! You, my man are a Rage Fan. Maybe even Zeppelin. But only because of your hair and shirt. I'll think about it.

Sesshomaru: ahem

Ackie: Sessho! Pop in a Ratt, and the Crue, and you are the essence of spandex and Aqua Net!

The idea of staying in one's room all night was absurd. Especially when that person is still wired from some 4 O'clock coffee, and being in the Zone.(Nee nee nee nee)

So of course, Laena snuck out of her window, seeing as it was now 12 am, and a Friday. That, and the moon was out, in it's full harvest-gold glory.

She wandered back to the Forest behind the school, already deciding what happened 4 days ago was a dream. Nothing like that could ever happen.

Clad in her peacoat and boots, that looked well-loved, she swished through the leaves on the forest floor. The last sign of Fall.

She found a very tall tree at the center. One that loomed over many of the others, giving a perfect view of the full moon. She began to climb, searching for the right spot to sit.

Quite a ways up, she found it, and perched herself next to the trunk. The branch was nice and wide, enough to sprawl her feet on.

Content, she slipped her headphones on and pushed play on her walkman. The mournful chords of Heart-Shaped Box began to reverberate as she watched the golden glow of the moon before her.

Laena sat back and sighed, perfectly at peace.

(Haaaaaaa.)

Suddenly, a small shadow cast itself over her, and she jumped, almost losing her balance. When she looked up, nothing was there, and she figured it was probably just some bird.

But then she felt some weight at the end of the branch, and strained to see to the end. She squinted, but could barely make out a shadowy silhouette. Hmmmm... she wondered to herself. Slipping her headphones onto her shoulders, Laena leaned forward.

"What are you doing out here?"

Laena jumped with a small yelp and began to slip off the branch. Her eyes darted around nervously, and then a pair of garnet eyes pushed through the darkness, causing her to lose her already precarious grip.

Laena fell out of her perch, and she screamed.

Just as she thought she would become nothing more than a mutilated mass on the ground, something grabbed her. Held her.

She opened her eyes after a moment and looked around, shocked.

Arms?

"What?" She caught sight of a broad shoulder, and then her eyes traveled up to the stranger's face. Those garnet eyes were looking down on her. He seemed to be made of shadow.

Laena's breathing hitched as she stared into those seemingly endless pools of fire.

"Are you unhurt?"

His voice was like a refined bass.

"Oh, thank you." she sighed, still in shock, as she wrapped her arms around him in one very grateful hug.

His eyes widened and he began to pull away. What is this, hugging? He asked in thought, very surprised and disgusted. He pulled his arms out from under her, in an attempt to push her away, but having her upper torso practically tied to his, she brought both of them down.

"Ow" she yelped, when she landed on her cut.

The figure was completely taken by surprise when he found himself on top of the girl, and rolled away with lightning speed.

Laena sat up, hand over wound, and looked around, dazed. She blinked, and shook her head to try to make sense of the world.

Aha! Well, that was exciting!

thank you for your emails! I feel so special. And the of course the excitment caused me to squeal when Duality came on the Radio, and of course, because my hair is down, I have to head bang. So if my next few sentences are a little incoherent, that's why.

Hiei: What are you talking about? You're always incoherent.

Ackie: No. Well, wait, maybe, yess.

Kurama: It's kind of like the nature of the beast.

Ackie: mumbling to herself you will all face my squirrely wrath! It's one of our HIDDEN nature things.

Kurama: whispering just walk away.

Final note for the night.

1) there was band called SNOT. They are not that bad.

2) this is the last chapter I have written. There are pieces of other ones, but for nowI need to finish the next, so it may be a few days before the next installment. I kind of went nuts on the last one.

Sorry. i know, it's just so enthralling.

No, reli. i know we are a pathetic bunch, and yet we are not fazed.

JUSTICE RANGERS UNITE!