Chapter 2

"Kuon, you bastard. Where are you?"

Voices and shots follow Kyoko and the presumed Kuon as they run for what seems like minutes. Kyoko's breathe hitches as she runs into a small alleyway in between two rundown buildings. She's clutching the hand of this stranger as they press against the wall of one all sweaty.

"Are you okay." The man whispers as he turns to face Kyoko.

"Well, I would be a lot better if you hadn't come along but I'm not hurt." Kyoko says sarcastically, trying to regain breathe.

"Woah, chill girly, I just saved your ass. Last I checked, you were the one walking without looking... Ugh"

"Huh... oh are you hurt?" Kyoko suddenly realizes that the man isn't just wet because of his sweat, but there is BLOOD dripping from his forearms.

"Oh.. Ohmygod. W-what dowedo. Illcallthecops. oh-shit-my phone" Kyoko hurriedly searches for her phone from the depths of her hand bag.

"Forget it." Kuon cuts in grabbing Kyoko's slender wrist suddenly.

"Oh..right. you're an illegal-maphia-blood guy. Oh! I know. It's all good duuudeeeee" Kyoko emphasizes the "dude", trying to act tough while her insides turn at the sight of the blood dripping nonstop on the hard pavement.

Kuon looks at her strangely, raising an eye brow.

"No it's all co-ul mannnn! I know blood is thick for coollness..."

"Um... uhh...that doesn't make sense. Anyways, I think I'll go." He says, straightening up.

"Oh..right...umm I guess I'll leave too." Kyoko says turning to leave. Suddenly two rough hands grab her arms.

"Where are you going?" The deep voice says calculating her face.

"HUH!?...uhh...home? OMG waittttt. Let go, I'm not that type or girl. Mr. Coolness you can't just take any girl you want."

Kuon looks Kyoko up and down, a little hurt, and then laughs. "You dirty little girl. I wouldn't even want you anyways. I'm going to drop you home after all the trouble I caused." He's clutching his stomach laughing and wincing as his hands shake

"Huh..." The guy almost looks kind and non scary laughing.

"Ohh right! ' ' shouldn't drop girls off." Kuon says mockingly, blue eyes glinting in the moonlight. Kyoko almost hides from embarrassment because she totally called this man an illegal kid, and he's kind of...well good looking when he's this close and not running and cursing.

The walk back to her house is a little awkward as she looks down and Kuon teases her.

"I'm sorry that I'm so 'illegal.' Seriously what does that even mean?"

"W-welll..you were being chased by guys with guns and all."

"Yeah they're idiots. They asked me to fight and when their leader lost they run after me. Gosh, Japan's the same as America. Same old idiots."

"Sooo, you ARE a hoodlum." Kyoko says critically,

"No. I'm just a strong and handsome guy." Kuon says smiling. "You know you're the first girl to call me an idiot. You should watch your mouth before I killll youuu, duuuudddeee." He says with a grin as they inch closer to Kyoko's house.

"Shut up." Kyoko says reddening

"Heh. Girls are so easy to bother. They always fall in love with me."

"Well I won't. I don't like guys."

"WHAT? You're lesbian? Woah, no wonder you ran from me." Kuon replys, a little taken aback.

"Yes-wait NOO. No I'm..ugh never mind. It doesn't matter love isn't for me."

"So I guess since you'll never like me, want to be friends?" Kuon says, thinking she'll be an interesting friend.

"What. No I never want to see you again."

"Why? I'll help you out with your love life."

"I don't want help." Kyoko says, rolling her eyes. For some reason it seems easier to take to this man she just met hours ago.

"Nahh... its all good girl. I wont judge your tastes"

"Umm..."

"I know some really good looking girls."

"What?.."

"You know you can make some more friends if it doesn't work out."

Kyoko's eyes glimmer for a second. Friends. Friends that aren't guys. No need for love. Woah. She's lost all her friends after Shou left. (Apparently they wanted to get closer to him)

"Uhh...okay."

"Wow... you're eager. Hey give me your phone." He grabs her bag before she can argue and calls himself.

"There you go. Wait-what's your name?" Kuon says, realizing he doesn't know what to save her as in his contacts

"Its-"

"Well, I'll just name you dude-ett, huh dude?"

"ITS KYOKO. Change it now!"

"Anyways see you around." Kuon says smiling as he waves his back turning away from her house.

Kyoko pushes open her front door feeling flushed, excited, and some-what confused, but better than she has for the last couple of weeks.