He felt her tension as they neared the village. She began to drag her feet and squeezed his arm tightly. When he looked at her, shewas staring forward like a deer caught in the eyes of a predator. The sign wasn't good. He couldn't figure what was going through her head, although he had his guesses.

His mind was running wild, too. Was walking her through the village like a normal citizen going to work? Could she deal with the very sight of it? Most importantly, would her old memories trigger an emotion, an emotion that could lead to—

Enough. He wasn't going to let anything happen. There would be no repeats of the past.

When she gripped harder, he leaned closer and said, "Are you sure you'll be all right? Listen, if you think you cannot go on, let me know. Any time as we go. Remember, I will protect you."

"Yes," she said. "Thank you."

He passed her a smile and brought his attention forward. He bared with her hard grip as it grew tighter and tighter around his arm. He clenched his teeth but he hid the fact it hurt. She could be digging her nails into him and bring up blood and he wouldn't show the pain.

She pulled back more and he followed her pace. They didn't stop, though; they moved on together. And nearing the end, he felt her beginning to shiver.

She leaned closer to him. "It's just up here."

"I know," he said. "I came through here. It's a good while from the village to the grove."

"I remember," she said and sighed.

They walked further, and soon he saw the village beginning to peak through the trees. It looked like another world from inside the forest and Dizzy knew that, too.

As the sun shined through the leaves, she brushed a hand across her forehead and began to smile. "Ah, the sun. Isn't it lovely? And warm." She tilted her head back and absorbed the sun like a flower. Her skin seemed to glow and the light highlighted her hair. He couldn't help but stare at her in wonder and fascination.

While he did, she turned her head as if she sensed him staring at her. She stared back.

"Ky," she said, "You have pretty eyes."

What she said took him off guard. "What?"

"I didn't notice with the darkness behind us, but you have pretty eyes. They're a nice shade of blue."

He grinned nervously at her and felt a flash against his face. Dizzy hadn't taken her eyes off him.

"Did I say something wrong?" she asked him.

"Umm, no. Why do you ask?"

"You're blushing," she said.

"What?"he said curiously. He rubbed his cheek.

She nodded but he tried not to accept he was blushing in front of her. Why would he blush out of no where? He couldn't be blushing. He never blushed like some fool in front of a woman. Women blushed in front of him.

Maybe she was wrong.

"It must be the sun," he said.

"It looked like you were blushing," she said, then turned her head.

She had forgotten completely about the dangers of the village by what he saw from the change in her body language and behavior. She was even bold enough to . . .run?

She let go of his arm and ran towards the light that awaited her at the end of the trail. She giggled like a child running towards her favorite playground as she went.

"Dizzy, wait!" he called through his dry mouth and ran after her.

She didn't stop. She kept running towards the edge where the village and forest met. He knew by then he couldn't stop her by voice.

He leapt for her. He wrapped both arms around her waist and went tumbling to the ground. They landed by the edge with Ky's arms still wrapped around her. His body was half on top of her and one arm under them both.

Realizing their awkward position, Ky slid off her and sat on the ground, patting at his dirty clothes. "Sorry, but you shouldn't take of running like that," he said.

She went on her hands and knees and looked out into the village ahead. They were at its face with daring buildings a few yards away. There were people in view but they didn't notice the couple who were spat out. The end of Dizzy's tail was twitching as she looked on. So curious. So lovely.

As his eyes looked her over, the rational side of him came back and reminded him of what he should be concentrating on.

""Dizzy, we have to get going now," he said. He stood up and patted at his clothes again. ""But first I want you to stay here. I need to go into the village to get you something before we go in together. Just stay here. I'll be back." He began to step away and when he did, she reached out and grabbed him by the pantleg.

"Wait."

He looked down where she was still on hands and knees. Her tail was twitching and her eyes were large in a puppy-dog way. God, who could walk away from that?

"I'll be all right," he said. "I will be back. It won't take long. I need to get you something before we go."

"No you don't."

"Yes I do," he said more firmly. "Dizzy, stay. Please." He pulled away and walked into the village, leaving her behind. He heard her whimpering nervously as he went, but he knew he couldn't up and bring her inside. Not yet. People would be screaming Gear the moment they saw her. And with him beside her? It would be an embarrassment.

Eyes fell on him as he walked into the heart of the village. Most thought nothing of him, though, even with his police uniform. No worry? No questions? His return held no wonder. He possibly was the only one who return from that forest.

He shrugged it off.

He stopped by a shop and looked into its display. There were clothes, coats, belts and cloaks; most of them for women. As he glanced through them, he turned his head. Hanging by the window was a black hooded cloak.

It was just what he needed.

He went inside and automatically walked to the cloak, thinking about nothing else what the shop had to offer. He grabbed it, pulled it off its peg and briefly examined it. It would serve its purpose.

With it in his possession, he returned to Dizzy with it folded in his arms. As he neared, he saw her in clear view, crouched on the ground playing with something. She was oblivious she could be spotted. Why would she be so bold as to let herself get so close to the village edge.

"Dizzy!"

He ran to her, and as he did, she scooped up whatever she was playing with into her arms and held it to close to her. She looked at him in a guilty way.

He made a dead stop in front of her. "Dizzy, what are you doing?" he said in a scolding tone.

She looked at him shyly. Her wings were drooped.

"I was . . .I was only playing." She slowly opened her arms to reveal a small gray kitten between her breasts.

Of course.

He cracked a tiny smile despite the danger. "Well, let it go," he said. "I want you to see what I got you. Stand up."

She let the kitten go and stood. "What is it?" he asked.

He unfolded the black cloak and let it tumble open until it took a shadowy form. It hung there in Ky's hands like a matador's cape before he whipped it around her shoulders. It landed on her and covered her wings.

"There you go," he said, grinning at the progress. "Do you like it?"

She smiled widely as she looked at each shoulder. She had that child-like look again. "I love it! I love it!" she cried out. "Thank you, Ky! It's nice and comfortable. And it hides Undine and Necro."

"That's what I was hoping for," he said. "As long as your wings and tail are hidden, you'll be fine. Now, would you like to go?"

She shook her head wildly. "Yes. I would love to!" She reach out and took his arm again. She squeezed him hard.

He winced and chuckled. "All right. We still need to be careful." He pulled her hood over her head before he started towards the village. No one turned their heads towards them, going about their normal and simple lives. There was no interest in the police officer and cloaked woman he escorted. And this was the village that was attacked by a Gear a year ago and knew it existed. Ky still didn't understand. Now it seemed as if their fears were suddenly released.

He turned his eyes forward, not thinking about the village itself (Dizzy became too important) until a group ran to him.

"Officer! Officer! Did you get it?"

"Did you see it?"

He looked amongst them, and as he did, more were gathering. Dizzy began to squeeze his arm and drew closer to him.

"I—It's . . ." His brain finally kicked in and he regained his composure. "Your village is safe now. The Gear is no longer a threat, so you may go about your lives. I thank you for reporting it."

"We didn't report it," a man said.

"You didn't? Then who did?"

"It must have been some other third party. We knew about the Gear, though."

Ky blinked, then said, "Well, either way, you're safe."

"Can we see it?" a young villager said.

The real one's right beside me, he said to himself, then said aloud, "It's dead. I don't think you want to see it."

"Are you sure it's dead?"

"I am sure," he said. He raised his sword slightly to show his lie.

"There's no blood on your blade. And you."

"There doesn't have to be blood involved when you know the art and power of the Sacred Order," he said.

The crowd hushed.

"So you may no longer have to bother the police force about this," he said. "I wish you all well. Goodbye." He turned and kept Dizzy by his side as they walked away. She took a final glance behind them as they went; there were no flames and there were no people calling demon into the air.

When they came across the dirt road above the grass hills, Dizzy's grip fell from him. She looked every which way with fascination on her face as if she had been blind and she could finally see the world around her. Her expression was indescribable.

She then took off running and giggling.

Ky chased after her.

"Dizzy! Get back here!"