I smothered a yawn with the back of my hand, blinking owlishly at my companion and running forward a couple of paces to keep at their side, struggling to match their quick pace. A strong gust of wind whipped past, blowing my hair across my face and causing the plastic bag in my hand to rustle loudly. After succeeding on prising my raven locks away from my eyes, I was forced to jog forward again to catch up with Zero.

It was a chilly Saturday morning and was neither late nor especially early, though despite it being around ten the sky was still downcast, leaving everything looking rather gloomy and miserable. I was now beginning to severely regret not having the sense to take my jacket as I shivered once more. I consoled myself with the knowledge that I would be home soon, where I would be able to burrow into my bundle of blankets, curl up onto my window seat and read to my hearts content surrounded by a pleasant warmth that I hopefully wouldn't be leaving any time soon.

Zero sighed and muttered curses under his breath as he lifted his foot back up out of the muddy water. He'd stepped into a puddle, a fairly large one at that and which had, by the looks of it, soaked all inside his trainer as well as the tips of his trouser leg. "Great, it's in my sock." He complained, quickening his pace even further. "Hurry up, Hikari." He added, after a fleeting glance over his shoulder to check whether I was still following. With my shorter legs, it was much harder for me to match those long, looping strides so, instead, I satisfied myself with light skipping steps and plainly ignored Zero when he commanded me to stop, grumbling that it looked weird.

I nimbly jumped over a puddle, noticing that my laces were untied and stopped down to rectify that. If Kei was here she probably would've scolded me and my clumsiness by now. I straightened up and then promptly walked into Zero's back as he stopped directly in front of me.

"Hey," Wincing, I dodged around him, rubbing my sore cheek and followed his gaze. He was staring at an alleyway just before us, a certain curiousness held in his eyes. "Wouldn't it be quicker if we cut through there?"

Panic instantly rose in my chest. I snatched Zero's arm before he could even fully complete his first step, insistently tugging him backwards. "No." I squeaked, not all too bothered about how my voice reminded me of a little mouse; the way it was so high pitched. "We can't go down there. It's way too dangerous." Zero turned to face me, one eyebrow raised in amused disbelief as he gently tried to shake off my hand. I tightened my grip though, already well aware that all the colour had drained from my face. "We can't, Zero. We can't go down there. I'm not allowed and... I don't want to!"

"Why not?" He sounded pretty bored, to be honest.

"Because," I chanced a small glance over my shoulder, almost anxious that somebody would be listening in- which, in all honesty, was pretty ridiculous- and lowed my voice even further so Zero had to bow his head, placing his ear right next to my lips and even then he could barely hear my hushed voice. "There's a gang that hangs out there."

Zero raised his head slightly, so he was able to look me in the eye. Both of his eyebrows were raised now and his face, especially his cheeks, were quite pink. I could tell he was trying so hard not to laugh right in my face. "I'm being serious!" I exclaimed. "They're down there. Kei and Ayumi told me so!" He still didn't look convinced. "I'm not lying! A couple of kids have got mugged and they beat up an old man."

"Gangs don't exist, Hikari." Zero chided, a note of amusement held in his voice as he commandeered my bag, hanging it one his left arm right next to the one he had been carrying the whole time. "They're just stories that parents made up to scare little kids so they don't go wandering off on their own. And anyway, they're completely over-dramatised in movies and stuff. Seriously," He rolled his eyes, a little smirk finding it's way onto his lips. "You'll be fine, come on." I folded my arms and stubbornly turned away from him. No. Way. I'm not going down there.

"No." Zero opened his mouth, probably to start cajoling me once more. I clamped my hands over my ears, rather childishly to be honest, and continued my little mantra. "No! I don't want to! I don't want to! I don't want to!"

Zero gentle pulled them away, lowering my arms to my side. "You can hold my hand if you're scared." Zero teased, poking his tongue out at me. A comment which I'm sad to say that actually made me blush. He'd already began to walk towards the alley, ignoring my whispered protests.

I hesitated, bouncing on the balls of my feet, feeling my heart start to thump against my ribs as I quickly ran to join him, barely acknowledging the fact that I grabbed his hand with both of mine. This is a bad idea. This is such a bad idea. Our footsteps seemed to echo like gunshots as we carefully made our way further to what I could only assume was our impending doom. The walls seemed almost to tower above us and they were so close, trapping us, enclosing us like a prison.

We'd managed to walk about a third on the way when Zero turned to me, smirking a little victoriously. "See? What'd I tell you? No gangs." I wanted to face-palm so badly right then that I actually did it. Right there and then, I face-palmed, my hand making a rather satisfying thwack as I did so. Zero's smirk instantly switched to a very forced cheery smile. "Right behind me?" I nodded, still in the process of face-palming.

"No gangs, huh, Zero?" He rubbed the back of his neck a little sheepishly, eyeing the two that were leaning against the wall a few paces before us, studying us just as intently in return. "Remind me to never listen to you ever again." I turned and managed to go a pace before I walked into what appeared to be a brick wall, which I promptly bounced off of, stumbling back into Zero. I gasped as I realised that the brick wall was actually a person. A very tall, now very angry person. I decided to dub him Tough Guy. The smaller one was now Skinny guy. The other one was Pants Guy, since he seriously needed to pull them up.

"Ow." He said, softly, though his voice was full of menace.

Zero's quiet muttering of, we're so screwed, summed up my entire thoughts quite nicely. The men didn't even need to say anything else, for in one quick movement they had Zero eating the bricks as he was pinned against the wall, one of his arms forced behind him, Pants Guy's hand pushed roughly between his shoulder blades. He was groaning, and valiantly struggling as much as this position would allow him to. I didn't even think, I'd already launched myself at them, babbling nonsense, begging, pleading them to release my friend. Tough Guy pushed me away so roughly that I fell to the floor.

"Give us your money. And make it quick." He snapped.

"Don't have any." Zero's voice was muffled as his face was pressed even further against the wall. I'd only just picked myself up off the ground as he did so.

At that moment in time, I finally realised how much danger we were really in. These were older, stronger guys. Men that were two, three times my height and probably triple my weight. I cried out as I felt a strong grip was on my upper arm. I squirmed for a second. Then I stopped. I was completely frozen. Petrified with fear. Click. In a sudden blur of movement, a penknife was flipped out. The blade caught a ray of sunlight, winking momentarily at me. I barely dared to breathe as it was held just centimetres away from my neck, nearly close enough to nick the skin. Nearly close enough to end my life.

"Are you sure?"

Zero was wheeled around, still restrained, his eyes wide, unblinking. Scared. They flicked across my face, searching for an signs of harm. He looked as if he was about to break down any second, but for my sake, he was trying his hardest to stay calm. "Okay." He breathed heavily, watching them warily, standing still for once, letting the fight drain out of him. Letting himself be weak. Be vulnerable."Okay. I'll get it. I'll get it... just... just let go. I'll get it." Pants Guy complied, but not before shoving him hard into the wall. Zero winced, clutching his arm, but he didn't react like I thought he would. After a moment's pause to recover, to dispel the pain, he held up his hands in a surrendering motion. Carefully, slowly he made his way towards me. Each step was calculated. Each breath laboured.

"Where?" He said, when he stood before me.

"Back pocket." I whispered, barely trusting myself to speak. The knife hadn't moved an inch. Zero briefly closed his eyes, gulped and nodded. He took a step forward. He was so close now, I was acutely aware of how much taller than me he really was. He rested a hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle, barely reassuring, squeeze as he noticed the fact that I was trembling. His other arm snaked around my back. He searched for a moment, struggling to find the pocket and muttering quiet apologies for his accidental grouping. He found it and quickly located my wallet. The same wallet that held my Only-For-Emergencies savings account card. The very same savings account card that held *¥18353 yen stored on it. I couldn't loose that card. Zero knows that. He knows that my mum would kill me if I lost that card. But, how exactly am I supposed to save it? I have a freaking knife against my throat, after all.

His hands were shaking. But I noticed the fact that it almost looked forced. He braced himself for a moment, the quaking of his hands intensifying. Then suddenly, it slipped. Zero's eyes went comically wide. He lunged for it and then the wallet was flipped open. Zero briefly grappled for it in mid air, before he caught the wallet on his arm, fumbling slightly as he collected it back into his hand, yanking a little on his shirt sleeve as he did so.

"Here." He offered, outstretching the wallet towards Pants Guy, who looked as if he would very much like to pin him against the wall once again. "That's all we have."

"Bullshit." I flinched. That was the voice of Skinny Guy, the one holding me. Zero looked back, cautious. Scared. "Where's your's?"

Zero was looking straight into my eyes. He flicked his eyebrows up. Do it. I bit him on the hand. Skinny Guy shrieked. In one fluid movement, Zero had knocked his hand away, allowing me enough space to duck underneath the knife and escape his grip. Zero had the Skinny Guy's arm held across his body and in a flick of his arm he'd pinned it right at the elbow and had brought his knee up. There was an audible crack as the blows connected. Zero swiped the knife and then shoved Skinny Guy away, throwing his remaining arm out across my body, keeping me firmly behind him.

"I just broke your arm," Zero's voice was full of such forced nonchalance, it didn't sound anything like him. "If you want me to break something else, then come right ahead." I wanted to scold him right at the moment. I mean, seriously, what kind of idiot challenges the guys with the big pointy knives?

They hesitated for a moment. I thought they were going to back off. But then Tough Guy lunged forward. Zero swept to the side, pushing me away before dodging the attack and easily throwing the knife far away. His foot raised up, kicking the man hard in the solar plexus, winding him. He followed up with a punch in the chest which sent him doubling over and finished with a hard blow right to the temple, knocking him clean out. Well... That was one mighty K.O.

"Stay behind me." Well, I wasn't exactly going to refuse, was I?

Zero was now apparently a Kung Fu master. When Pants Guy grabbed my arm and tried to use me as a shield Zero dived in. I performed my now signature move and bit him, this time on the arm. Zero round-housed him hard enough for him to spiral into the wall. With a quick tug, Zero pulled Pants Guy's feet for underneath him and then promptly stamped on his face, breaking his nose and impairing his vision with blood. I gagged at the sight, clamping a hand over my mouth and swallowing thickly, barely managing to force the bile down. That wasn't the most pleasant sight I'd ever had the misfortune of bearing witness to.

Zero studied Skinny Guy as he glanced at both of his friends, now slumped on the ground in various degrees of pain. Zero took a simple, rather threatening step forward. Skinny Guy fell flat on his ass, pushing himself as far away as the enclosed space would allow him. Zero had caught my hand before I could even react. "Run."

I didn't hesitate.

We were racing away before I had time to collect myself. Or reminded myself of the fact that we had just abandoned both my wallet and the shopping. But, I figured that stuff didn't really matter right now. I could only focus on a few things. The fact that my heart was pounding wildly against my chest, but all it really did was urge me on, reminding me that I was still alive. The fact that Zero's hand was warm and, though fairly clammy, it was nice to hold. The fact that my legs were killing me, but I ignored the pain and ran on. Ran on with Zero. Holding his hand. Feeling the warmth. Feeling protected. Feeling safe. I collided with his back as he paused to allow a car to speed past the road before dragging me across it. We weaved between crowds, trying our hardest not to topple anyone over, dishing out apologies when necessary.

We didn't stop again. Nor did we slow down until we had reached my house. Panting, breathless, I kneeled over. Zero leaned against the door while I hunted for my keys. After inserting them into the hole and turning the lock, we poured into the house, slamming the door firmly behind us and sprawling out across the floor as we tripped over each other.

My mother peered out from the kitchen doorway. "Hikari? Did you get the shopping?"

"Mama!" I wasn't even thinking. I ran straight forward and wound my arms around her, hugging her tightly. I was secure now, safe. I couldn't be hurt any more. After realising this, I started to cry. My shoulders shaking with sobs. When it was happening, I didn't really have enough time to be too scared, but now that I was safe all the emotions came pouring out in a torrent of delayed tears.

"Hikari? What happened, sweetie? Are you okay?" I burrowed my head even further into her chest as she squeezed me back, carefully stroking my hair as she attempted to comfort me. I could hear Zero raising himself to his feet and slowly edging closer, I guessed my mother was beckoning him to do so with her free hand. "It's alright, Hikari. You're okay now. Tell me what happened."

"It was all my fault." Zero said, his head hung low in shame, hair falling low over his face, casting a shadow over his eyes. "I got wet and wanted to take a short cut. Hikari warned me about the alley, but I didn't listen. I'm such an idiot. When I saw them, I froze. I should've done something. I should've tried to get her out of there, but I just froze. I was against the wall before I could even try to react. They wanted money. But, I didn't have any on me... So-"

"I had to give up my wallet, Mama. They had a knife to my throat, so Zero had to give it to them. He was only trying to protect me. But... I still lost the card. The Emergency card. I'm so sorry, please don't be mad at me."

She enveloped the both of us into a hug. Both me and Zero, as if we were both her kids. "Are you stupid? I don't care about that card, you silly little thing! I'm just glad you're okay. You could've been killed." She squeezed us tighter, conveying how worried she really was. "Thank God you're okay. Oh, thank god!" She kissed me on the forehead, whispering; I love, love, love you which was two more loves than usual. I told her I loved her too.

"Zero beat them all up, Mama. You should've seen him. He was amazing! He just was like Woosh and was Kung Fu-ing them all and everything. He's so cool!" Zero blushed and promptly looked away, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. "Where'd you learn all that, Zero?"

"Uh, Ichii taught me..." He mumbled, still not daring to look us in the eye. Instead, he occupied himself by stooping down and gently picking up Tabby, who had meowed happily at him as she pawed at his leg. His expression softened as he scratched her behind her silvery ears, lips splaying into a small smile as she purred contently. "I..." He trailed off as my gaze settled on his face. "I can... Teach you... If you want... I can't see you like that... I don't want you to be that helpless ever again... I'll teach you to defend yourself, if you want me to." I nodded enthusiastically, but before I could open my mouth, Zero was mumbling something again.

He carefully handed Tabby to my mother, his cheeks turning scarlet as he pulled out my Savings Account card from where it was concealed up his sleeve. "Ano... I... I managed to nick it when I pretended to drop your wallet and then... Well, I hid it up my sleeve... I... I couldn't let you lose something like this..."

He almost fell over when I tackled him with a hug.

* ¥18353 yen – Seems like a lot, but it's actually roughly equivalent to £100.

A/N: And that concludes my 9th chapter. It's a little shorter than the rest but I really hope you guys liked it as it's my first outside of the usual anime/manga plot.

JJ: I think I made Hikari around 4"7-4"9 (139cm-146cm). In the actual serious Nina is 5" (153cm?), Zero is 5"3 (160cm?) and Ichii is 5"7 (170cm). LoveInuyasha22 helped me to decided her height, so a big thank you to her. That's exactly how I feel, I thought it would be awkward for her to obsess like Nina does, since I've been 12 and my bust was not something I was all too concerned about. The same goes for now.

LoveInuyasha22: I love reading your reviews! Thank you for showing your support once more! That's a good idea about Hikari's father, it could work with some of the stuff I've got all inside my head at the moment.

Moka: I think I'm going to go by both the anime and the manga, since they're both so good.

Breebreebabygirl: Thank you so much for your review, I'm really glad you liked it. I hope you also like this chapter too!