She was up and down on her feet and toes, looking out the single window from time to time. Theirconversations wandered because of it but they explained themselves, past, present and future. Dizzy told her tale and he listened with interest. Ky told his the best he could, leaving a few things out— especially about the Gears. He sat on the edge of the desk as this went on, his eyes never leaving her.

She went to the window again and peeked out. "Are we there yet?"

The conversation was wandering again. Her story how she met Testament was beginning to run away.

"Almost, Dizzy, almost." He bobbed a leg. "A few more minutes I suppose. I've been to England to Paris a few times before."

She turned around and pressed her back against the wall. She fidgeted. She obviously wasn't the usual traveler, a shame, but she was happy. He liked the smile. They could have no conversation at all and all he wanted out of her was her smile.

"Will this work?" She walked to the desk and picked up the compass.

He chuckled slightly. "It can't measure distance."

"Sorry." She began to set it down but picked it up again. At one point she raised it up over her head as if she was offering it to a god while she raised a foot in a dainty way. It made Ky smile. After making a few turns she said, "We're going the right way."

He nodded. "Yes we are."

She did a few spins. It made it look like she was dancing.

When they landed, Dizzy jumped at the descent and the sounds of the ship. She ran and hid under the desk like a mouse. Ky was sitting on it when she went underhis legs.

He looked down. "Dizzy?"

"What was that?"

"We've landed." He dropped down from the desk.

"Really?" She stood quickly.

"Yes. Just wait a few minutes more and we'll be out of here."

"Good," she said. "I want to look around." She went to the door but after she took her first few steps, he grabbed her by the arm. "Dizzy! This isn't a vacation."

She lowered her head. "I know. I'm sorry."

He began to open his mouth to speak, but before he could get anything out, there came a knock at the door. "Commander?"

"Yes?"

"We've landed safely. What do you plan for us and your lady?"

Your lady?

"You're excused for now," Ky said, "until further notice. I will take care of her."

"Yes, sir."

He listened as the footsteps disappeared, then turned to Dizzy. "Just a few more minutes."

She gave him a disappointed look, then walked to the desk again. She took up the compass again and fiddled with it with her head ducked, trying to distract herself.

What am I going to do with you? he asked himself as he watched her.

He waited a few moments before he went to her. He grabbed her hands and wrapped them around the compass. "All right," he said. "All right. Let's go. You can keep the compass."

"Really?" she said in a tone a child would when getting a present.

"Yes, really." He took a hold of her arm and pulled lightly, and she gave way. He guided her to the door and grabbed Thunderseal on the way out. "Keep close to me," he said. "And keep your wings and tail in mind. There are a lot more people here than the village. I don't want to imagine what may happen if they found out about you." He touched a hand to her shoulder then onto her back to check her wings. She stood still when he did this.

All seemed fine for now. They were still hiddenby the cape.

He started the way down the corridor and out the airship. He was jerked to a stop once they stepped onto the dock. Dizzy's eyes were wide as she looked around the large port, full of other airships. There were colors she had never seen. There were flying banners. He felt her breathe hard beside him.

"Oh, Ky! Look!"

He grinned. "Yes. This is Paris."

She turned her head to him with a large smile. She suddenly ripped out of his grip and ran across the port. Ky's heart violently pounded in his chest. It wasn't the other ships that scared him, it was the people with them.

"Dizzy!" He ran after her. "Dizzy!"

She kept running from him as if she was deaf. She was too excited to care. A thought of sending out a low charge of his magic crossed his mind but he could never bring himself to do it. It was only a thought of desperation. He wouldn't do it even if it was the last thing he could do to stop her.

"For God's sake, stop! he screamed. "STOP!"

She finally slowed. She began to turn and when she did, he grabbed her roughly by the arm. He squeezed it. "Dizzy, what do you think you're doing?" His voice was still in a shouting tone. He could feel his hands shaking.

She turned her face to him, startled. She had the same look on her face like the first time they met, the exact same look. "You're hurting me," she whimpered. She looked like she was about to cry.

Realizing what he was doing, he let go instantly. "You shouldn't go running off like that," he said in a firm voice. "Not around here. Do you understand?"

"I'm sorry." She crossed her arms and ducked her head. He soon noticed she was beginning to cry. They came out in gentle and feathery whispers. He stared at her with guilt and oddly, awe—and then, more oddly, he wrapped his arms around her. He didn't think about touching her so intimately. It just happened. "Dizzy."

He let go and took a step back. He saw tears in her eyes. She was staring back at him. Her sobs had stopped. There was silence between them a moment.

"I'm sorry, I—" Ky began.

"No, you're very nice."

He waved his hands in front of himself, trying to get some sense back into himself. "I apologize for raising my voice. But you scared me. There are too many dangers around here, as I told you. Over there." He nodded his head to the side, towards the city. And further inward, there were taller buildings, fresh and new. It started small at first, like drizzle, then further in, it became busier. The IPF was within it.

"Can I go somewhere else?" she asked.

She was recovering. But he still had that embrace on his mind. And he had a feeling she was a bit shocked by it, too.. He had seen it in her eyes.

"If you promise— If you keep your tail and wings covered, I'll show you around a little. And stay with me."

She clasped her hands together. "Really? Really? Now?"

He glanced behind himself where the airship sat, then back at Dizzy. "All right, you've been patient. What would you like to do?"

"Anything."

He stared at her, the innocent girl trapped inside a Gear body. He ignored the tail, the wings that could kill him—especially the dark one Dizzy called Necro. He tried to see a girl who just wanted an escort into her first visit to Paris.

"Well, I'm sure there's a place nearby." He looked around. His eyes lingered on a small patch of trees guarding the welcoming of the city. A park. He had a feeling there would be a place for both of them there before the hunt began.

He took her by the wrist this time. "This way. And remember, no running off."

"I won't."

She walked with him. Close.

* * *

They had slipped through with no harm. It was Ky who got looks, rather, with his uniform and sword. Dizzy was, in the view of others, only his lovely cloaked companion. Although she did get a few glances from some men—but they shied their eyes away when they saw the possible competitive male with her.

Her eyes went every which way while they walked, soaking in the new and alien environment. Then, after making sure she was safe, rest was in order. He had gone on too long without rest or relaxation, and his body was finally letting him know it.

Dizzy stared at a cup of tea in front of her, blinking at it. It was the first tea she had been given and the poor girl hadn't tried it yet. She only looked at it. Ky was on his second.

"Earl Grey," she said, stating its name as she looked at it.

He had led her to a private spot by the side of an open-air café. He watched how she sat and made sure nothing would show but her pretty face. Her tail was tucked and her wings were non-existent to human eyes. Good. He was calm but he still kept his guard up. He watched people at the corner of his eye every once in a while.

While cradling the cup of tea, she glanced at him as if to make sure she had his permission before she finally took a sip. After she did, she licked her lips in approval. "I like it," she said.

Ky grinned. "It's one of my favorites," he said.

She took another sip. Then another. She smiled. He kept his eyes on her for a few moments then turned them down when his brain kick-started back where it was supposed to be.

He uncrossed his legs and straightened himself. "Dizzy? As we were?" She raised her eyes. "I was thinking Paris would be suitable for you—so I know where you are and so I can keep an eye on you, if needed."

In all honesty, he liked the idea, and not under obligational orders.

"I like that idea," she said and looked around. "I like Paris already."

"I thank you. But I wonder . . ." He ducked his head into his head with his elbows on the table. He sat there in silence for a long time, his eyes closed into darkness. His mind was blank.

"Ky?"

She softly said his name again and again until the fifth time went through his ears. He picked his head up and looked at Dizzy who was leaning towards him. He got a glimpse of her cleavage from under her cloak. His eyes widened and he dropped them down towards her feet. It was there he saw the yellow bow in the abyss of her black cloak. He quickly reach a foot out and teased the end of the cape until the tip of his boot caught and pushed over it. "Sorry. Excuse me. Your tail."

Finally noticing what he was trying to do, Dizzy tucked her tail in again.

They both exchanged glances before Ky rose. "I have to check. Excuse me." He rounded the table until he was behind her and looked on the ground. All he could see was the end of the cape now. He then crouched down and slipped a hand under her cape where he felt her warm and smooth tail. He jerked his head away and stood. "You're all right now." He walked around her and when he did, she whispered over her shoulder, "Stop it."

His face suddenly flashed hot and he stopped in his tracks. "What?"

"Necro," she said.

"Oh." He still felt the heat on his face.

He sat again and when he did, Dizzy pointed at him. "The sun."

He looked at her again, a little more longer. He saw a bit of redness on her cheekbones, too. But perhaps something else . . . He ducked his head and returned the gesture. "The sun, too."

She snickered, covered her mouth and ducked her head.

Get serious! he said to himself. It sounded like someone else shouted in his head.

It was possibly the first joke in his life. But he was right, it was no time to test it out. He loosened his facial muscles, looked at the table surface and cleared his throat. "Sorry, sorry. No. Now, what we need to do here is to focus on finding a place. Today if possible. This problem has been suddenly thrown onto my lap. I wasn't prepared for this, so—"

"I can go back—"

"No. I brought you over here for a reason. There is a possibility I can get you in somewhere. But it's risky. For both of us." She was quiet and listened. He glanced around before he leaned towards her. "I'll take you to my old home. No one goes there anymore. I think you'll like it. I still do. Would you like to take a visit?" He held a hand out and she took it.