Kyoko shuffled her feet as she supported most of Tsuruga's weight. His strength was running on fumes, and they both knew it. He was beat, in more ways than one, and hadn't had a proper meal in more than 24 hours. Cain's body ran only on liquor and smoke, and to be truthful, Kuon's anger had a big part in it as well. His old self's anger had built in its forced entrapment while in Japan. Once the cork was off the bottle, it exploded.

The outfit that had been tailor-made to fit the character of Setsuka was almost as dilapidated as his clothes were. Her skin was tarnished with dirt, and her hair was loose and messy. For the first time that night, as they walked the empty roads, Ren thought about all the actions that lead up to where they were. Something as stupid as his jealousy, had caused her pain. She risked herself to save him, despite harming her himself.

He felt sick with regret, no better than Fuwa Sho. He wished she would just drop him and leave him like he deserved, but he couldn't find his voice.

Their travel was made mostly in silence, only breaking when she asked if he was okay. Neither one quite knew what they were looking for, except for a good place to rest. The city was silent, dark, slightly run down and dirty, providing no real place to stop. They hadn't heard a sound since they were out of the sirens' range, except for their own shuffling feet and fatigued breathing.

Turning another random corner, a small street sign sat in the middle of the sidewalk, illuminating the dark pathway and everything in it. A pink shaped string, swirled into an arrow, and words on the black board. "Pleasant Dreams! Leisure Hotel" His dark eyes widened, questioning her relived smile at a love hotel's advertisement.

Kyoko looked up at him, her eyes full of innocence and well intentions. "You can get some rest here Tsuruga-san." He nodded stiffly, and turned his head away. The Emperor of the Night was not a character that needed to emerge now, not so soon after Cain escaped from him. He felt sickened with himself for even thinking of it.

Spotting a nearby broken lamp post, she set him to lean on that, apologizing. Taking the opportunity, he used it to support standing on his own. She made sure he was balanced before she left. He followed her frame with his protective gaze.

"Ano…hello? Hello?" Kyoko tapped at the panes of shaded glasses. "C-can you tell me how I can enter the hotel? We just want to," she looked back to the sign, "'rest', so we won't be long." In the background, Ren's head dropped and his face flushed. "Please…"

Finally, a obscured figure made its way by the masked viewing window. Through a low intercom system, his muffled voice sounded haggled and old.

"Only themed rooms left. Would 'the infirmary' be okay? How long?"

Kyoko looked at her beaten, half-conscious brother…sempai-…man resting on the trashcan, distracted. In the faint light of the sign, he seemed…defeated. Something pulled at her chest.

"Any room is fine, and…" she muttered, half listening, as glanced back at the little "Leisure Hotel" sign. She checked the advertising the prices. The cheapest would be 2800 for an hour. Kyoko reached into her pockets, one by one. She knew that they were empty, but she hoped for a bit of luck.

"Overnight. Whatever is fine."

"Yes sir."

Kyoko whipped her head, surprised to see him so close. His hand slipped blood-stained cash under the window, and the man exchanged it with a room key. Noticing his imbalance, Kyoko caught him by the side and steadied him back up to his feet. The middle door between the spotted glass booths opened.

She held Tsuruga's arm as she guided him inside, and down the hall. "We're almost there…just a little further."

There were muffled groans coming through one of the doors, and Ren turned red in embarrassment. Kyoko held Ren's frame tighter, concentrating only on him, thinking he would collapse.

"Ah, here we are! This must be the room" The door key and the room door both had a little nurse cross on it.

Swiping the card, the door opened on its hinges. Kyoko gasped in surprise. The anesthetically clean hospital hotel room gleamed, everything from privacy sheets, nurse cot, side desk, and even a chamber pot lay in easy reach.

"This is perfect. Let me help you to the bed Tsuruga-san."

Ren stuttered, as he was escorted to the flat bed. She slowly and carefully helped him out of his jacket, and laid it across the padded office chair next to the bed. He was in no condition to disagree with taking the only bed in the room, though he wanted to, and he felt his sore but grateful figure rest on the firm mattress.

"Tsuruga-san, you're really hurt…" Kyoko peered at all of the damage. He could detect no anger in her voice, only worry. There wasn't an inch of him that wasn't scuffed, bloodied, tattered, or dirty. She brushed his hair back, exposing the clotting wound mixed with his follicles.

He merely sighed and closed his eyes, as she ran her fingers through his hair. He could faintly smell the scent of her, but couldn't describe it. It was just…pleasant, and calming. He felt his consciousness beginning to slip away by the relaxing atmosphere.

*****

Nothing says romance like a love hotel, right? I don't think Kyoko completely innocent, as she's worked at an inn, but I can't see her hearing about the idea of love hotel in terms of "sex" from anyone.

I know in general my chapters have been really short, and I've made a lot of dumb errors. I wanted to thank the reviewers that've been correcting me, so I tried to polish up this chapter and get it out before bedtime.