The moon was out and Andrew was wandering the streets of Konoha, his stomach growling for food like a starved wolf. He had practised sword all day without a break for food. The night life was different from day time, more adults were out and the usual food stands were gone, replaced with bright and exotic signs. Drinks were being poured everywhere and money exchanged in poker chips. Women were clinging to naive men and unsuspecting drunks for either money or other goods while shady men stood watch at corners periodically entering alleys with a client. Andrew had seen this as he was out late for training but he hadn't stayed for long. His nose led the path to food while his eyes took in the bright surroundings. Noise funnelled into his ears from everywhere making it hard to distinguish whispers from shouts and shouts from cheers. His senses were overloading and his head was pounding, but he didn't stop. He continued on his quest for food.

He eventually found a stand in restaurant for Ramen and ordered with what money he had from Granny Izuka. She gave both him and Emi pocket money every now and then but he had nothing to spend it on so he kept it stored up while Emi bought anything and everything on impulse. He was surrounded by obnoxious drunks happily chattering away while the owner was vigilantly cooking more noodles stirring and pouring. Out of the corner of his eye, a black cat with white splotches here and there was also focusing intently on its food of canned tuna. It turned to look at the gaze watching it and went on its way after eating. Andrew did the same, finishing up and leaving after paying.

Ahead was a commotion. A silhouette of a kid cornered by adults on either side of them walking away. It should have been none of his business but he decided to keep watch anyway. His gut told him something was up and his heart thumped loudly at the sight. His brain was going through possible tactics and his hand reached for his sword handle. Green hair illuminated in the bright light brought a familiar face to mind. He got closure and confirmed his suspicions just to be led on. An adult the size of a kid was leading two drunks home who had a bit too much to drink, the disgust on the woman's face was evident as the smell and breath of alcohol tickled her skin before one turned away for a nearby bush and let out his dinner.
Andrew relaxed and turned only to be startled by a kid staring intricately at his face as if she was itching every detail into her memory. With green hair and dark hazel eyes that reflected his own, her face was raised forward, hands behind her back as a smirk played on her face. She was that curious girl. Without knowing her name she helped him and appeared when he least expected it or when he most needed it.
"You thought that was me didn't you." Her eyes sparkled in joy while her lips trembled with excitement. Andrew flushed red and pushed her back whilst retreating.
"I was just worried for the worst case scenario, it just so happened she resembled you."
"So you thought of me? Were you worried?" The girl pushed her advantage, teasing Andrew making him stutter. He was usually calm and pushed others away but for some reason she always ignored those defences and saw through him.

She giggled away, revealing her age and they walked on.
"So what brings you here?"
"Food, you?"
"Nothing much." The girl shrugged and pushed up front, smiling at Andrew as she spoke and led the way forward.
To his right a familiar black cat was following an energetic orange cat racing ahead. The black cat let out a small sigh as it raced after. Andrew looking ahead saw the girl race ahead and gesture him forwards. Andrew could only sigh and pick up his pace to catch up to the girl racing on ahead without stopping.

Having finally snuck out of the Hyuga household, Aozora was making his way through a quiet market, everyone kept to themselves and exchanged suspicious and hostile glances. He wanted to leave but he had to pass through to get to his training ground. While looking around he bumped into a person. He lightly bowed and muttered his apologies, getting ready to move on but as he took the first step he felt resistance against his collar.
"Now look what we got here boys." The man snickered and two others appeared by his side.

"He spilt your drink, are you going to apologise?" The second man lowered his profile matching the boy's height. The man's dark eyes pierced Aozora's own and he gulped under the pressure. The man's large calloused hand tickled Aozora's chin and a cold sweat ran down his back.
"Now, now let's not be so harsh, he can just pay back his debt to us and go our separate ways." A grin grew on the third man's face spreading to the other two.
"Yeah, this was an expensive shirt as well." The three's gazes fell on him and for a second he saw the faces of demons. He was cornered by the three men and dragged away under everyone's watch… but they did nothing, only watching as he was taken away. He caught something a bystander said though, "Another one this week. How long do you think he'll last this time?"

"Why are we running?"

"Why not?"

Andrew just looked at the girl in disbelief and kept his pace slightly behind her, watching which twists and turns she'd take. Why he was following her he didn't know. He could just stick to his original plan and leave for his training ground but for some reason he felt an urge to follow. So he did.

They passed by bars and window shopping at closed shops. Then their surroundings went dark. The laughter and joy changed to silence and distrust. The atmosphere took a turn and they both stopped running feeling the change.

Their back and forth talk came to an end and they stuck together to avoid trouble and isolation. Strength in numbers but two kids was abnormal in these parts.

"Another two kids?"

"They must be having a field day."

"Like lamb to the slaughter." Two men talked in the distance but their topic worried Andrew, he had to get out now. The girl next to him realised this too and picked up the pace. But something was bothering, 'another' meaning they weren't the first kids to be caught here tonight.

A commotion down an alley perked his ears and a familiar voice funnelled into his ears. He stopped in his tracks and that caught the girl's attention, she tried to call out to him but all he heard was that one voice. It was that familiar voice that always annoyed him but stood by his side. They were opposites in every sense of the word but were still on good terms. His one friend but just a number to the other. Aozora. Andrew broke out into a run at a cry of pain and his eyes twinged with anger and fury. He was going into a rage and his eyes were going fuzzy. It was a familiar feeling and his surroundings would soon go clear and precise but that never happened. A hand covered his eyes and another on his shoulder. A quiet voice whispered into his ears.

"Not here, not now. Follow me." Andrew took deep breaths at the calm and relaxing voice. It was stern but polite, a hint of kindness hidden behind unclear intentions. It was her voice.

Andrew followed and two cats caught his eye once again.

The black and orange cat snuck up on three dogs older and bigger than the kittens. And in the middle of the dog's was another kitten, it bared its fangs but the dogs nearly scoffed, their tails wagging as they inflicted terror on the poor cat. Andrew looked away, he had bigger problems now than two worry about a cat fight. He followed the curious green haired girl.

'spit' Aozora fought back as best as he could. He was cornered by the three demons and had no hope of escape but he still bared his fangs and fought back as best he could. He was slumped against a wall and had been beaten black and blue. He coughed out in pain and felt his stomach churning. His mind was spinning and every fibre of his being was numb from pain. He couldn't scream, he couldn't shout. He was just in too much pain.

Dammit, dammit all! Aozora still hasn't given up; he fought with what he had left. He fought with his eyes, he fought with his teeth and jaw, he fought with his nails and he fought with his soul, and finally he fought with his mind.

"Hey boss, he is still disrespecting you."

"It seems he still has a lesson to learn on respect, the bat." The first man with a drink spilt on his shirt held out his hand and a weapon from an empty palm now grasped a wooden bat.

"Boss."

"Now listen here brat, all you have to do is apologise, is that too hard?" The first man known as boss knelt down to his height, bat in hand raising Aozora's chin so he could look him in the eyes.

"Fuck off!" Aozora spat on him again and was met with a hard thump from the wooden bat.

"You still haven't learnt."

Watching this Andrew was filled with rage and wanted only to kill, he felt like this once or twice before, the first time with his duel with Itachi the second with the arrogant Uchiha picking a fight with his sister. He was calm now and knew he wouldn't win in a head on fight. He has to use every tool at his disposal. He felt his sheath confirming he still had his sword. His thoughts were interrupted though by the girl next to him. They were both watching Aozora from a nearby roof.

"No killing."

"I know."

"You say that but I don't think you do."

"Yeah yeah, whatever you say." This elicited a frown but it was light-hearted humour for what they were watching.

"We better get going."

"I'm not leaving him."

"I never said we were." The girl gave a quick smile before leaving and Andrew looked back down at what was unfolding. At any rate Aozora would die if nothing was done.

Andrew held his sword's hilt and unsheathed it, readying himself for battle. They wouldn't be able to win against three adults but what if it was only one.

"Remember, no killing." Andrew glanced at the girl and gave a light sigh switching the side of his sword so he was attacking with the blunt side.

"Good." The girl smiled and looked down as well.

"Before we go, what's your name? I'd like to know the person who's watching my back."

"Isabel, but you can just call me Bel."

"Andrew."

"I know." At that they both jumped.

Thud!

"How long will you keep up this resistance? Just give up already!" The boss was growing frustrated and Aozora was on the brink of losing conscience, but he held on by a fine edge.

"g-"

"Yes?" The boss brought his ear to Aozora's trembling mouth, bat in hand pressed against his chest.

"go…fu-"

"YES?" The man grew more frustrated in anticipation, waiting for his words to finish.

"go fuck yourself." Aozora finally spilled out the words and the boss hit Aozora's centre mass like a baseball.

Aozora coughed out but as his vision was fading he saw two shadows drop down. He wouldn't get to see what was next though as he slumped to the floor in exhaustion and pain. It was the end of his part.

Argh

Gah

The two men slumped to the floor after Aozora did. Turns out a solid hit on the back of the neck is more than enough to put a fully grown man to sleep. Andrew's eyes burned and the boss turned around. It was him and Bel against Aozora's tormentor.

"Ah, they just keep coming like moths to the flame." The man let out a relieved gasp and continued, "This, boy, wasn't enough." The man sneered as he spoke about Aozora, Andrew didnt want to listen to any more and charged only to be held back by Bel. They had to fight smart. A head on fight would lead to all three of the kids deaths or further misfortune, they couldn't have that. Andrew clicked his tongue and waited for the most opportune moment to strike. He fell back to the shadows.
"So the coward flees and the girl is left to fight, hah!" The boss laughed at the situation and readied his bat.
"Come then." Bel didn't move but observed the man. She couldn't win a direct fight so she had to use other methods to delay his movements. But how?
Andrew appeared by her side again coming out of the shadows and lunged forward. This time she didn't stop him. Ninja tools appeared in her hand from Andrew and she threw the shuriken into the ground as caltrops between her and the man while Andrew protected Aozora with them. The man laughed at the area of denial walking over and around the tools.
"You think that will stop me." Not stop but slow down. They needed to direct his movements and that's what this did.
The man swung his bat in the air for practice then licked his lips at the two. "This will be fun." The man grinned widely then fell to the ground. "What?" He didn't have a chance to turn around before a sword was at his neck. The momentum was about to cut it off before a voice yelled out.
"Stop." At that the sword stopped just short of digging into the man's neck. Before the stunned man could turn around his body fell to the floor from a solid hit to the back of his neck. Out stepped Andrew and the Andrew standing between Aozora and the man disappeared into smoke. The shadow clone jutsu. The two kids looked at each other then went to Aozora.
"Can you talk?" Andrew walked up to Aozora and asked. The boy was beaten badly but still alive. He was unconscious but breathing.
"It will be difficult to stay here, I'll take him home." Andrew picked the boy up by the shoulder to carry him.
"To the Hyuga?"
"No to my place."
"To the Uchiha then?"
"..." Andrew realised how stupid it was to take someone under the protection of the Hyuga to who they considered a rival, not to mention the people there wouldn't be as welcoming to Aozora as they were to Andrew.
"Follow me." Bel gestured forward out of the alley already walking ahead.
"Where to?"
"My place."
"What about -"
"They're not home." Bel had her back turned so Andrew couldn't see how her face contorted but something about her voice changed at that incomplete question. Her tone which usually had a hint of kindness was gone and replaced by anger, maybe frustration. He didn't press further and the journey was quiet.