"Natsumi!" Giroro's hand was outstretched towards where the girl of his dreams had been standing. The dust made him cough but he refused to look anywhere but where she no longer was, the spot covered in twisted steel and concrete. "Natsumi!" His voice took on a pained quality and he quickly leapt towards the debris.

"I'm here! I'm okay!" Natsumi's voice came from behind it all, stones crumbling away as she climbed up the pile to look down at Giroro, her dress torn and her hair half falling out of its binding. "Are you okay?" She scrambled down and grasped his arms with her hands looking over him frantically.

"I'm fine. How did you get out of the way?" Giroro lifted her chin to look into her eyes.

"I jumped. But where's the Nyororo? I'm going to kick its butt for interrupting us." She stepped back from him enough to look around, trying to see through the thick haze of dust that still lingered in the air.

Giroro felt his heart swell with pride both at her quick reflexes and her determination to find and destroy her enemy. "I haven't seen it yet but I'm surprised it's even here."

Natsumi shrugged. "We are made of about sixty-five percent water. I know it's nothing compared to what Keronians can be but maybe it's really hungry or something."

"Natsumi you should get out of here." Giroro didn't look at her as he spoke and it was a mistake since it meant that the slap to the side of his head wasn't avoided.

"If you think I'm just going to sit back and let you fight this thing all on your own you've got another thing coming. How dare you suggest-" Natsumi's words were cut off as Giroro pressed his lips to hers, her eyes fluttered closed and she pulled him tightly to her chest. Finally Giroro pulled back looking down at her.

"I don't want you hurt." He said his eyes shining. For a moment she was silent and then she frowned.

"I'm still not letting you do this alone." Her eyes were hard and she started a little when he began to laugh.

"You can't blame me for trying. You wouldn't be the woman I loved if you refused a chance to fight." He kissed the back of her hand and let her step away from him. "Shall we?"

"I thought you'd never ask." She squeezed his hand tightly then let him go, setting herself in a fighting stance as the Nyroro reared its head above them.

If the pair of them had been in sync during their dance their movements during the fight made it seem as though they were of one mind. Each step, each attack landed in tandem and with power born of determination they beat it back until the exit was clear.

"Go on everybody, get out of here!" Natsumi stood back far enough so that she could wave people out of the building. Giroro smiled fiercely and watched her out of the corner of his eye, immensely pleased that he had fallen for someone so spectacular.

"Natsumi what IS that?" One of the girls asked. Natsumi didn't take the time to explain, shaking her head and urging the girl to keep moving. They were taking too long, and the longer they took the longer Giroro had to stand guard by himself and that was simply unacceptable. As though he could hear her thoughts he spoke.

"Don't worry about me Natsumi, you just make sure that they get to safety." His voice was rough with the dust in his throat but still it sounded strong.

"Right!" Natsumi redoubled her efforts and began racing people out of the room, keeping one eye on the Nyroro as she did. It was swaying as though trying to come up with the best plan of attack but the enormous hole in the ceiling meant that a lot of the humidity was dissipating. She could see the creature begin to flag and sway even slower than before. Natsumi's eye caught a hand underneath the rubble and with a quick motion she snagged it and pulled hard. "Come on – up you get." She said and slung the girls arm about her shoulder, half dragging half carrying her to the exit where she handed her off to a pair of people before going back inside to look for more.

"That's everybody." She said and came back to stand beside Giroro, shifting easily onto the balls of her feet. Her hands coming up in fists in front of her face, ready to attack or block at a moment's notice.

"Together then?" Giroro asked, still looking solely at the Nyroro.

"Together." She said and once again they fell into an easy rhythm.

Punch.

Kick.

Punch, punch, kick.

Together they beat the Nyroro until it was black and blue. As they moved snow fell in from above and between that, the dust in the air and what lights remained everything was cast in a hazy dreamlike glow. It was better than anything Natsumi could have dreamed up. Even though her dress was ripped and she was covered in dirt and small cuts she had never felt more beautiful, nor more thrilled with how an evening had gone. Despite the fact that the Nyroro certainly wasn't a planned part of her evening it had almost certainly made it better. She had gotten to dance, and fight and Giroro had even kissed her! With renewed vigor she wound back her hand and punched the Nyroro as hard as she could, sending it's weakened and hungry form flying away again through the sky.

Giroro watched in shock as the bane of his species went disappearing back into space. He had always know why he had such an affection for Natsumi but seeing it demonstrated again always got his blood up. With two short steps he closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms, kissing her again.

"Natsumi I…" The low growl was muffled as he whispered against her lips.

"Ya. Me too." She said and closed her eyes, kissing him back.

It was only a few moments but it felt like it lasted ages. When the pair of them finally broke apart they were both panting.

"Shall we go home?" Natsumi asked quietly, resting her forehead against his. Giroro nodded unable to speak and slipped his hand into hers, letting himself be lead from the room and back out into the world.