Choice of Music: La Tortura - Shakira, Love Stereo - Eduard Maya and Viga Jigulina, Close to the Flame - H.I.M.

Chapter 7 - Vulnerability

Kia moved her hips in tune with the music playing through her headphones. It felt kinda nice to be spoiled a little by her uncle. The school day had gone off without a problem, and she didn't even have to get to know people. She just introduced herself to the class as the teacher asked her, and the rest of the day had no problems.

As she was gathering her stuff to leave, she saw two boys walk up to her. One was almost ridiculously tall, and he had black hair and dark eyes. The other one was much shorter, but looked more delicate, more feminine. He had blonde hair and medium sized glasses.

"Hello, my name is Kodaira Lune," the shorter one introduced himself, and said, "This is Agari Yamato," motioning to the larger boy next to him. Agari gave her a slight wave, and giving her a friendly smile. Wanting to leave school as soon as possible, she gave them a slight bow and said "Kachikawa Kia. Nice to meetcha."

"You seem to have an accent," Agari pointed out, finally speaking.

"I was born in America, then I moved to Japan when I was six, and then to Russia when I was twelve. I just recently moved back." Both boys eyes widened.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get home."

"How about we walk you?" Agari asked.

"No, I'm pretty sure I'll be quite fine."

Turning on her heels, she marched out of the classroom, leaving the two boys behind her. She heard someone catch up to her, and saw that it was Agari. "Can I help you?" she asked smartly.

Agari gave a nervous laugh and said, "Wow, you kinda have an attitude. You'd get along well with Akitsu."

"Akitsu?"

"You know, Ohtake Akitsu? The one who carries around the Kendo stick?"

"Oh, I see." They walked along quietly, and she actually didn't mind the company. Suddenly, Agari started to chuckle silently to himself. His laughing was contagious, she thought, as she started to smile too. "What's so funny, Agari?"

"Something that happened when I first came to Senjo Academy."

"What happened?" It was official, he had sparked her curiousity.

"Let's just say that you had a better first day than I did."

"Well, don't beat around the bush, Agari-"

"You can call me Yamato, you know."

"Yamato. Don't say something like that and not tell me the story. Spill."

"Well, it was a hot summer day, and my first day at Senjo Academy", he started, and Kia listened carefully to the details.

K and Vice sat in the living room, watching a show on tv. Occasinally, K would look at the clock, and then back to the tv. "Kia should be home soon." Vice looked out the window, and was almost shocked to see Kia walking with someone he never expected to be anywhere near here. "Agari Yamato," he growled.

"Huh?"

"Kia's home." Vice glared daggers at Yamato, willing him to explode with his mind.

Kia's POV

Kia laughed, entertained by the things that Yamato was telling her. Suddenly, Yamato stopped laughing. She looked for the reason, and saw Vice's head peeking out of the upper floor window, glaring an ultimate death glare her. No, no her, Yamato.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Yamato!" she waved to him, and ran into the building before he could say anything.

"Uncle K, I'm home!" she said, entering the apartment.

"Hey sweetie! How was school?"

Kia set her backpack on an empty chair, and explained the details to her uncle.

"Well, it seems as though you had a very good day."

"Do you mind if I go down the the vending machine?" Kia had so much to tell her uncle, she hadn't even realized how dark it had gotten outside.

"I would really rather you didn't," K said. "You don't know who's all lurking around out here."

"I'll be really quick, I promise."

K looked at his neice, and then decided to give her money. "Please hurry."

"Ok."

Kia wandered the streets, almost sure she had gotten herself lost. And to top it off, she forgot her cellphone at home. "Now, no need to panic, I'll find my way eventually," she said to herself, calming her now racing heart.

When she turned, she began to really wish that she hadn't left the apartment. A small group of men, maybe three or four, had spotted her, and were starting to walk her way. She turned on her heels and quickly walked the way she had came.

They still followed. Kia quicked her pace.

And so did they.

Kia broke out into a fullblown run, and was terrified to find out they had too. She could feel her legs burning, and she was starting to get dizzy from lack of air. 'Please don't let them catch me, please don't let them catch me, please don't...'

A hand clamped on the collar of her shirt, and pulled her into him. "Hey look boys, dinner is served." She could smell the alcohol on them, and went into a frenzy to try and get herself free. One pair of hands tore at her skirt, and another at her shirt. She knew what they were after now. Kia managed to kick one of them between the legs, and after that they had her pinned on the ground, unable to move.

Kia was terrified, she was horrified. Tears had started to fall down her face. She wanted someone to come help her. She wanted someone. She let out a blood-curdling scream.

A flash of green glinted in the streetlight, and Kia heard an animalistic sound, almost like strangling or gurgling. All hands were off her, and she was free. She turned to see the men, who had frightened looks on their faces. Another bright green flash, and part of a man's face was missing. Kia closed her eyes, not wanting to see the grotesque image. Sounds of skin shredding, howls of pain, bones snapping, and then it was silent.

Kia opened her eyes again, and all she saw was puddles of blood surrounding her. Someone hoisted her to her feet, and she flinched. "Don't move," she heard him command her. She felt him swoop his arm underneath her legs, and she was being carried bridal style. Kia looked at his face, and was given the biggest shock of her life.

It was Vice. He was the one who had saved her.

As he carried her back to the apartment, the green Douji never once looked at her. Kia felt sick to her stomach, and could feel bile threatening to come up. Fresh tears wanted to spill from her eyes, and she couldn't help it as she buried her head into his shoulder.

It was what they deserved. Vice had no problem in taking it his obligation to rip those pieces of shit apart. Kia had fallen asleep in his arms, and he thought it safe to finally fly. He lifted from the ground, and took off, fast enough to get them there sooner but not enough to wake her up. How in the hell she managed to nearly walk halfway across town was beyond him.

Hesitantly, he looked down to make sure she was still sleeping. She wasn't crying anymore, but her face still held a small amount of fear. Maybe that was why she clung to him. She had nuzzled into his shoulder, making her seem almost vulnerable. Streak of dried tears lined her face, but not a speck of blood was on her. Except was was on his gauntlets that made contact with her clothes, but that could be washed out.

When the balcony of their aparment came in view, he slowed down and gently came to a stop. Still holding onto her, he crawled through the window into the living room. K was snoring, his head on the table and drooling slightly. Vice cocked an eyebrow silently, and walked to Kia's room silently. Placing her gently on the bed, he found the tanktop and shorts she usually wore to bed. Carefully dressing her in the clothes, he pulled the covers up to her shoulders, and sat in the dark.

Watching her silently, he made sure that her window was securely locked, and left the room. Vice left her door open slightly, and grabbed the pink comforter from the closet. He curled up on the couch, pulling the blanket over his head.

'Now why in the hell did I go and do that' Vice thought stubbornly to himself. 'Maybe because K would have a fit if I didn't.' He gave himself a mental argument on why he should have and should not have saved her. The green Douji went still when he felt someone gently pull the cover back, his eyes shut as though he was sleeping.

That smell. The scent of vanilla and cherries. Kia's smell. 'Good God, what does she-'

He felt a pair of lips press against the side of his forehead, as Kia had given him a soft kiss. "Thank you, Vice," she whispered, and replaced the cover over his head. He listened to the creaking of the floorboards, and the click of her door. His heart pounded in his artificial chest.

Vice attempted to shut it out of his mind, and drifted into a dreamless sleep.

So SO SOOO sorry if ANY of the characters were OOC! I canNOT apologize enough! Please review!