It was late in the afternoon - the same day as the new dragon (Daniel) had arrived and the stir and curiosity had wore off from the other young dragons: well . . . almost all of them.

Clay was sat down outside looking up at the sky staring at the stars and wondering to himself about the new dragon, all that kept running through his mind was how adorable Daniel looked and the more he thought about it the more he felt a soft warm glow inside him grow and grow until it felt more like a roaring fire burning inside of him lighting up the darkest night sky so it was like the brightest star - for all to behold.

Clay was quickly shaken out of this feeling by himself as he held is head and let out a long groan "This just a'int right"

"Whats not right Clay?" a voice was heard from behind him. Clay looked around and saw Kimiko walking towards him.

"Oh nothi'n Kimiko just . . . stuff" Clay as usual lied about as well as a 6 year old could ; the curse of being so honest. Kimiko just looked at him with the "I know your lieing so fess up and tell" look that friends seem to give oh so well.

". . . . . ." Clay just looked at Kimiko ". . . . WHAT!?" at this point Kimiko had crossed her arms and struck a pose looking directly down at him knowing that Clay would give in eventually. "....... Stop that! its freak'in me out" several more minutes past as Clay finally caved in "OK OK just stop that!". Kimiko just laughed and broke the stare and sat down "Knew you would" she was able to muster through the laughter.

Clay let out a long drawn out sigh and just looked up at the stars, Kimiko knew about Clay's bi-sexuality but only because she caught Clay eyeing up Rai when they all first arrived and Kimiko confronted him about it being the only one that noticed. "Do you believe in love at first sight?" Clay questioned to Kimiko.

"Aw Clay im sorry I'm just not interested in you in that way" She giggled and nudged Clay playfully as Clay let out a slight chuckle himself "Honestly thou Clay, i do in a way i guess". Kimiko stoped for a second thinking "Well i guess its really hard to tell because in this day and age people often mistake love for lust and associate material objects with happiness but if you know what love is and can tell the difference then i would say . . . Yes"

Clay just looked at Kimiko im awe for a moment "That was abnormally pleasant and philosophical for you"

Kimiko just looked at him "Hey! . . . i have my moments" and snickered "That and Daniel was talking to me most the day so i think it's rubbed off, hes such a sweet-heart"

Clay just let out a sigh and a smile once he heard Daniel's name being uttered which Kimiko knew was most unlike the usual rough and tumble cowboy and then suddenly it clicked. Kimiko looked at Clay and snapped her fingers in front of the cowboys face to get him out of the trance "You know for the dragon of earth your heads in the clouds alot!" before Clay could even remark Kimiko looked directly at Clay "You think your in love with Daniel don't you!".

Clay just sighed "Yeah" and looked at the ground "We have hardly spoke, we seen each other brefly all we ahve done is shake hands so how can i be love with someone i don't even know, it feels right but i think its just so wrong" Clay held his head with one hand again and groaned "How can i get so caught up in one person and those eye's, oh god" Clay continued to stammer of various little nuggets of what was going through his mind as Kimiko just listened thinking it was so sweet and her thoughts turned back to Daniels reaction when he saw Clay.

Kimiko looked at Clay lost in thought for a moment "You know . . . ." Kimiko looked harder at Clay and poked him to get his attention since he was still holding his face and muttering to himself. "I think Daniel might like you - in THAT way".

Clay just stopped and looked a Kimiko with a smile, "You saw his reaction too then?" there was a long pause for a moment then Clay stared deep and hard into Kimiko eyes with a evil sly smile "You two hit it off pretty well right away didn't you! hmmmm"

Kimiko looked back with the flat eyes expression "You want me to find out the dirt on him for you don't you? -.-;" *SIGH* "Fine! - but you owe me Clay Bailey"

Kimiko got up and began to head off to her room to retire for the night while Clay went back to looking up at the star's and gently drifted off into a sleep with the biggest smile anyone has ever seen fixed on his face unknowingly to him, that he had company once more.

**During Kimiko' & Clay's Conversation!**

Daniel heard Kimiko and Clays voices from outside his window - peeking out he watched them talk trying to keep out of site - although he was unable to hear the conversation he just felt so at rest watching Clay and when Kimiko had gone and Clay had his eyes closed he stood up fully and watched Clay sleeping with a sigh as tear's began to fill up in his eyes.

Daniel's mind was being torn apart from the voices in his head "He wont like you", "Your worthless", "Who would every like a thing like you", "Your meant to be alone", "Give up the dream!". Daniels tears began to stream down his face as he closed his eyes tightly, clasped his hands over his chest, his heart telling him not to give up on.

Not to give up on himself, on Clay, on everything, . . . . but most of all, hope.

Daniel just hung his head for a moment and then muttered to himself "Be still my beating heart"