Mei laughed and dug her feet deeper into the sand. Kyo laid beside her looking at the stars.

"This is nice." He said "I've never slept on a beach before."

"Never?"

He shook his head.

"I have." Mei continued "Loads of times... once, I didn't have enough money for a hotel... so I got this job at this ice cream place to raise money... and I had to sleep on a beach under a little dock for a week and a half... unfortunatly it rained most of the time, and I spent most of the money I earned on medicane to get better... but it was really fun."

"I wish I could've been there with you."

"Why?"

"That way... I could've taken care of you when you were sick... and worked for you... so you wouldn't have to."

Mei smiled and put her head on Kyo's chest.

"You're too nice to me." She muttered softly

"I know." He said "I just want to take care of you."

Mei smiled. It had been a few weeks since they'd left. When she was gone, she never quite kept track of time. She always just kind of drifted from one day into the next... and before she knew it, weeks, even months had passed. She looked down at Kyo and smiled again.

"Kyo... why did you really come with me?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Because I love you. And I want you to be safe and happy... and free. But I don't want to lose you. So I came with... to make sure you don't just float away."

"You'll keep me anchored right?"

He nodded.

"Good."

Mei wrapped her arms around herself to keep warm and sighed, staring at the small campfire that they had started.

"Sometimes, I want to go back... just explain everything to everyone." Mei said "But they wouldn't get it... no one would."

Kyo looked up at her.

"You really don't expect anything from anyone do you?"

"Huh?"

"You don't expect anything from anyone... you don't hope or want from anyone but yourself."

"Yes."

"Why?"

Mei looked at him questionally.

"Well... I mean, sure it might protect you... but not ever hoping... wanting... it's almost inhuman."

"What?"

"I mean... humans expect and want... hope... but you don't... you just assume everyone will hurt you... so you shut them out."

"Kyonkichi.."

"I imagine it keeps you safe... but I also imagine it's very lonely."

Mei looked over at him, almost hurt.

"Mei... I..."

But without a word, she stood and walked off down the beach.

Mei dug her feet into the sand, looking at the stars.

Was he right? Am I really like that?

Did she really shut everyone out? Yes, and she knew that. It was her way of protecting herself. She was still so selfish. All she could think of was herself, of what would make her happy and she really couldn't care less about others. Kyo was right, she did shut others out, and she did it in order to protect herself. When she became uncomfortable in a setting, without thought she would simply leave, giving no consideration to who it hurt.

This time it was Kyo. He followed her, left the rest of his life behind for her, and she couldn't be selfless enough to go back for him. To conqure her fears of being hurt and go back to Sohma house. She closed her eyes, and suddenly thought to Seto.

He too didn't expect anything from anyone. He always assumed that he would be hurt so he pushed everyone and everything away from him. She had told him that once, and yet couldn't see the similarities in herself.

She wiggled her toes, opened her eyes and headed back towards Kyo.

"Kyonkichi?"

He was still in the same spot, lying on his back.

"Hmm?"

"Lets go home."

He turned to her, shocked.

"Huh?"

"I mean it, let's go home... I think it's about time, don't you?"

Kyo nodded.

"Yeah. But are you sure you're ready?"

"No. But it's about that time. Besides, there's someone I want to see."

"Mei... this isn't because of what I said..."

"No... not really anyways... I just... I just think it's time. You're right... all my life I've been running from my problems... but now it's time to just stay and face them head on."

She leaned down and kissed him softly and stroaked back his orange hair.

"Kyo... there's something about you that I've always wanted to know... something that you would never tell me."

He looked at her, curious.

"But... if you don't want to tell me... i'll understand... I just..."

"You just what?"

"I just... want to know..."

She reached to his wrist and tugged on his beads.

"Why do you always wear these?"

His eyes widened.

"You... you mean you don't know?"

"Hon, I wouldn't be asking you if I did."

Kyo sat up, and Mei did too. Kyo sighed and looked down at his wrist.

"Mei... I really couldn't tell you... I'd have to show you."

She raised her eyebrow, but nodded none the less.

Kyo reached for his beads, and hesitated.

Will she still love me after I show her? Will she be able to accept it? Will we stay together, forever?

But regardless, he pulled his beads off, and felt his body transform. He shut his eyes, and when he opened them... he was staring at Mei's shocked face.

"Kyon-ky-." She said, bringing her hand up to her mouth

His heart began to race. Is she afraid? Disgusted with me?

"This is what you've been hiding?"

"Mei..."

"Is this... the 'true form'? That I've heard about?"

Kyo nodded.

"This is... SO AWESOME!"

Kyo's eyes widened.

"It's so cool! You're like a giant bug... or dragon... or something! I mean besides that smell you're so cool!"

"Huh?"

"I mean, I can only turn into one animal... but you can turn into two... that's so cool!"

"What the--... how can you just act so calm? I'm hideous..."

"But you're still my Kyo."

"But... can't you smell... see?"

Mei was silent for a moment, then she reached up with her hand and covered her eyes, and then she reached forward with the other hand and covered Kyo's.

"If we're both blind.. neither of us can see right?"

"Nn?"

"If we're both blind, I can't see you like this... and you can't see me... see my selfishness..." She replied "But I know you're there Kyonkichi... I can feel you."

Kyo felt himself change back, and Mei's hand remove from his eyes.

"Mei--."

"Kyo... I still love you, even in that form. You may look different, and smell different but you're still my Kyo. Some silly beads can't change that. You're still my pretty kitty."

Kyo smiled and adjusted the beads on his wrist.

"Lets just go to bed." Mei said

Seto Kaiba sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes. He glanced at the alarm clock next to his bed, it was 3:00. This was the fifth time he woken up. He sighed and stretched. He was still thinking about Mei. Why he didn't know, but she hadn't left his mind since he'd been in his office that day. She was still such a mystery to him, and he wanted to find out everything about her.

He wasn't sure why he wanted her so badly. Was it because she was beautiful, witty, funny and nice? Was it because she seemed to somehow see into his heart? Into his eyes? Or maybe it was simply because he couldn't have her, and after several years of getting everything he wanted, something that was unabtainable was so desirable to him that he couldn't stop thinking about it?

Whatever the reason, it was driving him crazy. And he was tired, so he simply yawned, stretched and prepared for another sleepless night.