Polo! (how many RPs do you do at any one time? xD)

Kougu relaxed slightly as he realised he was no going to be questioned, nor scolded, nor punished because she was disappointed in him, though the final example hardly made any sense in the current situation in any case... He frowned in confusion for a moment, then dismissed the thought, glancing over at her as she began to speak. "Very well." He replied quietly, glancing away briefly. "I'd suggest that you stay away from the second alleyway to your right after leaving the house." He offered helpfully, "There seem to be some dangerous people lingering there." He explained slowly, still struggling to arrange his thoughts properly after the shock from the attack, and more importantly, his retaliation to it... "I sincerely hope that all your endeavours are met with success, and that you manage to avoid the impending implications." He said softly. He thought for a moment, a frown crossing his face, then chose to reword his statement. "Good luck." He said, managing a faint smile and shrugging his right shoulder slightly. "Would you like me to escort you some of the way to your home?" He offered blankly, his voice somewhat toneless, mainly because he was unsure as to why he was making the offer in the first place, and in turn unsure as to what emotion he ought to put into his tone.

Charlie's gaze kept speeding back and forth from her side to the sofa for a few moments, until she decided she'd have to go get it herself. She quickly brushed past him and grabbed her hooded jacket and her stolen posession, hoping to her heart he wouldn't ask her anything else about what the box contained. She'd done so well to keep quiet, and even if she did trust this boy, she couldn't tell him what she'd stolen. Especially how much it was worth. As he may be tempted to take it from her without another word. She hugged it in her arms for a moment awkardly, walking back to the boy by the door. She waited for his advice to sink in, then she gave a small, brisk nod, although she still failed to meet his eye. "Thanks" she muttered, her pale pink lips curving into a tiny smile. "That would be great if you could take me some of the way, but are you sure your up for it? That slash is still quite fresh, and I wouldn't want you to pass out on the streets like you nearly did by your own doorstep" she added, suddenly shocked at how much she'd managed to speak, as it was the most he'd probably heard her say since she'd got there. But she could at least show him a bit of care, as after what he did for her, he at least deserved that.

"Sure." Kougu replied simply, offering a slight smile. He really appreciated her concern. It was the first time he could remember ever having received any, and it meant a lot to him. In addition, it was rare that he was able to offer his company without feeling repulsed by the prospect, yet not he found that he honestly would not mind accompanying this girl for a short distance. He cast one quick glance to the box in her hand, his eyes narrowing slightly. Just what was in there...? Still, it did not really matter. He had decided by now that she was a good person, and in turn that he had done the right thing. Still, he could not be sure... But pressing her for details would not help. He seemed to think for a moment, then suddenly launched off on one of his complex explanations, though it seemed that for Kougu these speeches were somewhat predictable. "It is unlikely that I shall risk losing consciousness again, as before it was most likely triggered...." He trailed off, suddenly frowning thoughtfully and staring into nothingness. "I don't suppose you need to know all that, do you...?" He asked thoughtfully, watching her as though she were some strange species he had never encountered before. It seemed he had just come to some sort of enlightenment, yet he merely shrugged and walked over to the door, checking that the bandage on his shoulder wound was secure before unlocking it and stepping cautiously outside, one hand hovering over the pocket holding his somewhat ineffective weapon.

For the first time since she had arrived at his house, Charlie found herself smiling. Yet not just a tiny, self concious secretive smile. It was genuine and bright, and it seemed to light her whole face with life once again. Her eyes curved upwards and they seemed to twinkle like little stars as she slowly shook her head once he had done with his speech introduction. She was simply amused with this boy, as he made her feel better in the most peculiar of ways. She doubted he even intended to, but it seemed to work all the same. She raised her dark eyebrows, gazing up at him with amusement. "Not really" she managed, unable to hide a slight giggle to escape from her lips. Watching him for a moment, she followed his gaze to her small box. Should she have told him what it contained? She knew for definate that he was itching to find out. She opened her mouth to say something but quickly snapped it shut again. She was going to leave him within a matter of minutes anyway, so there was no point. She followed him outside, clutching the box tightly by her side and walked into the rays of the late morning sun.

Kougu was pleased to see the girl's smile, and vaguely surprised at the way his own face returned it, seemingly without his permission. An automatic gesture, perhaps... Strange, really. He seldom suffered from those... He was glad that she seemed to be more relaxed now. It always brought him great joy to see people happy... Though judging by the way he acted, most people would probably not notice that aspect of him at all. Kougu shrugged off his thoughts, then followed her out into the harsh sunshine, wincing as it struck his eyes. He had always preferred clouds to sunshine... He pondered over this for a moment, then locked the door behind him and stepped off after the girl. It suddenly occurred to him that he might be required to make conversation... He pondered over this for a moment, then eventually decided that it was not worth it. He would never accomplish a successful conversation anyway, so he ought to save himself the distress of trying, and focus instead on releasing a little of the tension that clung to him, before it built up and caused him to go insane, as it ha so many times before. Then again, by his standards, he was reasonably relaxed, considering the circumstances. He took a deep breath, then made a vague attempt to stop thinking so much. It was tiring. He glanced briefly at her, noting her near attempt at speech, and smiled in amusement to himself. She had almost considered telling him the contents of that box, her was sure... Then changed her mind at the last minute. Just as he had predicted... She was a smart one, after all. He came to the conclusion there and then, that he would never regret helping this girl. Whatever her reasons for breaking the law were, he was sure they were the right ones.

As she began to walk, Charlie turned her head back to notice him smiling back at her and felt herself blushing slightly, quickly forcing her gaze back to the path infront of them both. It was funny, as she'd never actually seen him properly smile like that since she'd first seen him. Which may have now been a good few hours ago, although it definately feel like so long. She'd definately miss him, she decided with a faint sigh, slipping her silky-soft hands back into her large black hoodie pockets. They were walking for a few minutes until she decided he wasn't going to talk, so she decided to take the role and took a deep breath, her eyes still refusing to meet his. "So..." she started and suddenly froze. What was she meant to say? She knew basically nothing about the boy and yet her brain chose now to turn blank? She inhaled once again, thinking fast. What to start with... Names! That would be a start. Of course, she'd been within his company for hours and she never even asked what he was called! "So, what should I call you?" she asked casually, looking up at the bright sun shining harshly on her pale skin. She'd never been a fan of the sun herself, as it reacted badly to her skin. Any dry, hot thing... she was just much happier in the comfort of her own home...even if it was as difficult to live in as it was. "You never said."

Kougu glanced up as she spoke, watching her with mild interest as he waited for her to continue. He seemed to stiffen slightly as she asked his name, then glanced away. It seemed he was contemplating, a frown deepening his face as he seemed to attempt to calculate the answer. It was not a difficult question, really, but it did have a lot of loose ends... A lot of questions... Should he tell her? There was not a way to avoid answering without arousing suspicion, and to give a false answer would be pure idiocy. Yet on the other hand, telling her his name...? It was a larger issue for him than one might imagine, and he was struggling to find a solution to this situation. Finally, he took a deep breath and steeled himself to answer, yet before he could manage, a memory darted through his mind.

A man and a woman sat in a clean, white hospital room. The woman held a newborn baby on her lap, and both of them were watching it with thoughtful expressions. The infant stared up at them through eyes of an arcane shade of blue. He did not make a single sound, nor did he shed a single tear. There was something about the child's gaze that made him seem almost like an old man, wise and intelligent, rather than the newborn child he was. His parents did not seem to notice this abnormality, or if they did they gave no hint of it. "How about Oliver?" The woman asked finally, glancing toward her husband. "He looks like an Oliver, doesn't he?" She asked with an excited smile. Her husband finally raised his gaze from the baby and looked his wife in the eye. "We shall call him Kougu." He declared firmly. "Kougu?!" His wife scoffed, an amused laugh bursting from her throat. "You got that name from a tool shop we went to in Japan! I bet you don't even know what it means." She giggled slightly, but her husband's expression did not change. "His name will be Kougu, as will his fate." The man concluded, turning away and leaving the room. The woman's smile faded, and she bit her lip and gazed at the child in concern. He could not be serious... All that talk... It had been a joke, hadn't it? Kougu... To name his own child... A tool? Perhaps she had misjudged him after all...

Kougu shook his head, forcing his thoughts back to the present. He should not even be able to remember things that far back... Yet somehow, he had always been able to. His mind never forgot, yet at the same time, important everyday things would always slip his mind. Like where he had left his keys... Like which side of the road his house was on. He jumped suddenly as he realised that he had been lost in thought, and she was still waiting for his answer. He could have kicked himself for his lapse of concentration... It would probably have made her uncomfortable. That was something he had wanted to try to avoid at all costs... "Oh..." He began edgily, trying to remember how he had chosen to answer. "Uh..." He mumbled, struggling to get his thoughts into speech when he was already so flustered. "You- You can call me Kougu." He managed finally, glancing away awkwardly and scratching his head. "Um... What is your name?" He asked, slowly raising his gaze again and watching her with vague interest, his rapid heartbeat gradually slowing again as the panic from his predicament began to subside.

Charlie seemed to sense something in his hesitation that made her brow wrinkle in slight confusion. Had it really been such a difficult question? She looked away from him to the high sun rising in the sky, reminding her of how long she'd been away from home, almost 2 days. She should have been longing to get home, to see her mother again. But she wasn't. Her mother probably wouldn't care that she'd been out late anyway, as she did it almost every night. The way her mother looked at her now, that discusted dis-owned glance she'd shoot as she'd come in through the door usually extremely early in the morning. Yet she wouldn't say a word, never an accusation of what she may have been doing out so late. She could have been attacked and left for dead for all her mother cared. Charlie sometimes wondered why, as she was always the one to bring money home, to bring the food, to prepare the food. What did her mother do? Complain. Always about her daughter, her own daughter. The food was either undercooked, overcooked, too sweet, too salty, or she just didn't like it. But not once did she ever give her a simple 'thank you', as it seemed those words were far too difficult to be forced from her lips. She never even got her own food, no matter how many times she complained. Charlie sometimes wondered why, then she'd realise. Her mother couldn't be trusted with a chopping knife, or the flames on the hob. She'd always do something to get herself hurt, or to attempt to convert the house into flames. She'd almost succeeded once. That was what happened when she ever trusted her mother alone, the exact reason why she couldn't afford to be arrested. She looked down uncomfortably, forcing the memory from her head. She didn't want to have to remember, at least, until she went home. As the boy begin to speak again, she nodded and forced an interested expression. "Kougu," she echoed to herself, what a peculiar name. She partly wanted to know what it meant, or where it came from. But she kept quiet. "I'm Charlie."

Kougu watched the girl with an intent gaze as she seemed to delve into a world of her own. It was strange, he would not have guessed she was the type to lose herself in the past or future when the present lay at hand. Then again, he knew only too well that sometimes one was left without a choice. He sighed and glanced away, staring at the fading light of the sky and losing himself in a vague daydream as he waited for her to resurface from her thoughts. His mind drifted through a world of things unknown, mythological creatures and beings of peace, the impossible existence of a world where everything was perfect. There was no violence, no conflict- He suddenly cut his dimwitted daydreams off as he sensed that the girl was about to speak. He glanced over at her, studying her expression with his typical calculating gaze. He noticed the unspoken question on her lips as she repeated his name, but he kept stubbornly silent. Good, she did not know any Japanese then. He was certainly not going to admit to the cruel meaning of his name... He suddenly jerked out of his thoughts again as she spoke her own name. Charlie. It was short, simple, easy to remember... Probably short for Charlotte, he would guess. Though technically that did not matter... He hoped he would remember it, though he doubted he would. He never remembered names. "Thank you." He replied suddenly, jerking himself out of his head and fixing a pleasant smile on his face. "I shall do my best to remember it." He pledged earnestly, clearly meaning every word he said from the bottom of his heart. It seemed he made strange promises, yet it was clear that he would sooner die than forsake them. He watched her for a moment longer, then glanced away again, his eyes darting to the sky. He soon began to slip back into a daydream, content to stay silent until he was obliged to speak. Compared to usual, he actually enjoyed talking to this girl... Charlie. Well, he could tolerate it in any case. That was more than he could say for most conversations.

Charlie watched his expression for a moment, suddenly feeling just a bit embarassed. Had he noticed her staring into space? Well, it wasn't as if he'd never done it. She didn't do it often, admittedly. She was what many called the down-to-earth type, although some also saw her as mad, or twisted, or just a filthy thieving youth. If anyone called her such things a while ago, she probably would have felt wounded by such words. After all, she hadn't always stolen. Just since her dad and brother had died in the crash. But she'd learnt to get used to it, it was who she was now anyway. If she didn't face it, she would just be in denial. She turned to Kougu, half smiling slightly humourously. "It's to be hoped you do remember" she said, turning away from him. "I'll probably be leaving in ten or fifteen minutes" he sighed, feeling her gaze slip slightly. She'd definately miss him, she boy who saved her from the law. And he had not once asked her about why they were chasing her, and accepted that she didn't want to tell him what she'd stolen. Perhaps he did deserve at least that, but now was no longer the time nor the place. His previous words echoed around in her mind, and she turned back to him curiously. "Why were you thanking me? Just, out of interest. I do owe you, fter all"

Wrenched out of his thoughts once more by her voice, Kougu turned to face Charlie, his face not quite holding a smile, but coming closer than usual. He frowned slightly at her words, suddenly thinking about it for the first time. "Yes... That is rather soon..." He murmured thoughtfully. He fell silent and seemed to ponder over this, though his expression offered no hint as to how he felt about the departure. In fact, he was not completely sure how she felt. On the one hand, he had quite enjoyed spending time with her... Well, as far as enjoyment for him went anyway. On the other hand, it had been rather stressful for him, and in a way he looked forward to having the comfort of solitude back. That was not the main thing though... Not by a long shot. If he had spent any more time around her, he would have had to spend each second worrying for her safety. He could not trust himself. Not after all that had happened, and all that he knew was bound to happen. His facial muscles tightened slightly at this thought, then he relaxed again as she began to speak, refocusing his attention onto her words. Why had he thanked her...? He supposed he could answer that... Kougu thought about it for a moment, then hesitantly began to explain, "Well... I suppose... In giving me your name, you are trusting me with an important part of your identity. When the mind has a sound, that is, a name, to match to the image of a face, it makes it far more likely that the mind will remember that person. The way I see it, it's a sign of trust. You would not tell me your name if you thought I was going to kill you, after all... Personally, I have always thought that people take introductions far too likely. Then again, I've always been a bit..." Kougu trailed off into silence, partly because he had spoken too much and partly because he could not think of a word that exactly described how 'he had always been'. Odd? Weird? Eccentric? No matter how he put it, it would only make him seem pathetic, as though he was seeking self-assurance, or something of the sort. No, it was best to say nothing at all. She had seen enough of him to fill in the blank herself. That reminded him... It would be time to say goodbye soon. Kougu suddenly realised exactly what his opinion on that matter was. When she left, he would be alone again, probably for the rest of his life, or until something like this happened again... Or until he was thrown into a prison, though he doubted he would enjoy that company much. When she left, he would be lonely. Before he'd had the company, he hadn't fully understood what he was missing. Now that he was becoming used to her presence, he was certain that he would miss it. This thought puzzled him greatly. Why would he want to be around another person? It made no sense whatsoever...

Nawwwww

Charlie listened to him as he spoke with great fascination, her eyes wide and curious. She'd never been so surprised about someone's voice before, although she guessed it was because she'd barely heard his voice, as he seemed to keep his thoughts to himself more than most people. As some people thought she was down to earth, he was the complete opposite. He barely ever concentrated on a person, as he was always staring into space, thinking about...well she didn't know. Flashbacks, gathering thoughts, feelings, what he was going to have for dinner that night, she had no idea. But he was interesting. Interesting, and amusing, in a pleasant way. She could never guess what his next move would be, and that made her feel even more curious than she'd ever felt about anyone before. What was wrong with her? As he spoke, she simply stared at him, in yet more deep fascination. He spoke as if he was reading from a textbook, pronounced his 'T's', and not a word of slang was in his speech, no matter how hard she strained her ears to try and catch him out. His speech was perfect, a sign that he had such a small social life, if he had one at all. "Different" She finished for him, her lips creasing into a tiny smile. "Good different, or just...different" In case he got the wrong idea and felt insulted by her opinion. But it had to be said, but what confused her slightly was that she couldn't imagine him like any other person. Probably because he wasn't. Not by a long shot.

Kougu returned her smile and shrugged slightly. "An understatement, but it works." He replied, his tone almost cheerful. 'Different'...? Well, that he certainly was. Then again, seeing as she did not seem to mind the oddity that was himself, she was probably slightly different herself... Check that, very different. Yet in some ways, completely the same... It was strange, but when he really thoughts about it, they were all human at the end of the day anyway. Kougu turned his attention away again, though this time he did not slip off into a daydream right away. He was suddenly aware of the fact that they were out in the world, right in the middle of the nest of society. This could be dangerous... If he were to witness a crime, he could have a problem. He shuddered slightly, forcing his mind away from that particular train of thought, and casting around desperately for something to distract himself. When he could think of nothing, he reached into his pocket and came out with a complex little Japanese puzzle. It consisted of five loops, apparently connected to each other, and one piece of string coiled through and around them. To solve it, one had to remove the piece of string. It was the only puzzle Kougu had never been able to solve. The legendary Rubik cube he had solved at age 5 in about 7 minutes. It was strange, really, the way his mind could fail him so dismally on the simple, yet important matters in life, yet respond so quickly and logically to the challenges it ought not to be able to conquer. Kougu kept walking forward, his eyes on the puzzle in his hands as his long, pale fingers darted in and out of the loops, twisting and manipulating them in a thousand different directions to try to remove the piece of string that clung so stubbornly to them. It kept his hands and mind busy, at least... It was better than reliving the horrors of his past, or freaking out over the horrors of his future, in any case...

Well, at least he knew he wasn't like most people out there, or any ordinary person she'd met. Although, who was? She wrinkled her brow in deep thought for a moment, the question suddenly flicking the switch for a lightbulb to appear inside her head. What was ordinary? What did an 'ordinary' person look like? There was no such thing, she realised with a frown. This boy may have been the slightest bit odd, but as she'd said, he was different. Just like every other person on earth. Her eyes scanned the busy streets, watching more and more people appear from inside shops, haunting alleyways, taxis, police cars... She stopped in her tracks, staring unblinkingly at the brightly checked yellow and black cars parked outside a familiar shop just across the road from where they were stood. Charlie recognised the grand, stone-built walls of the building, and the rounded frame around the entrance. High above the first floor stood the words 'Barnard House' and a large banner hung from the roof advertising over-priced expeditions and school trips for those uptight know-it-alls that could afford such a poor excuse for a day off. But she knew that place, the museum. She'd barely seen the proper entrance, as she'd only ever managed to get in through either the roof or the back entry. But she could make her way around that place blindfolded, despite the fact that she'd never been on one of their expeditions. She didn't need a ticket, as she got in for free. Her eyes flicked back round the streets at the police cars and she felt her eyebrows knit together as she saw their contents. Nothing. Noone was in there. Where were the policemen? Well, probably in at reception asking what had happened the night before. But as she looked back at kougu, a flirecent yellow figure just above his shoulder cought her eye. A uniformed man was watching her...no, glaring at her. She had no idea how long he had been doing so, but a little voice in her head told her to get out of there, immediately. But before she could retreat from the boy, the policeman began to stroll towards them, his eyes seeming glued to hers. His expression brought a chill down her spine as she automatically grabbed Kougu's hand beside her, perhaps a little tighter than intended. The policeman had seen them together, talking. He probably knew Kougu knew what she'd done the night before, and if she abandoned him now to take for cover, he would be just as likely to be arrested than she. "Is it me or is he following us..." She muttered slowly to herself, her eyes still watching the man inch closer and closer towards them, slipping his hand to his walkie-talkie and barking commands into the microphone. Now they were in trouble. "Come on" Charlie muttered, still having hold of his hand as she turned away, quickening to a sprint into the croud.

Kougu was so immersed in the puzzle in his hands, that he did not noticed what was going on around him, nor did he notice the growing unease radiating from the girl beside him. He stopped almost without realising it as she did, neither knowing nor caring why the motion had ceased. He was snapped back to his senses abruptly as he felt her grab his hand. His head jerked up, and the puzzle fell from his hand, landing with a soft metallic clatter on the hard tarmac. Panic lanced through him, like a tongue of flame burning him from the inside out, or a blade twisting in an open wound. Too close, too close, too close! Not just too close, but much, much too close! Nobody touched him. It was as simple as that. Especially not so suddenly... Nor purposefully... And () certainly not his hands! Somehow, the fact that she was robbing him of the use of his hands made everything so much worse. His defence, his offence, his skills... Everything lay in his hands. Just what was she planning to do to him? How did he know he could trust her, when he did not trust anybody? The panic began to escalate rapidly, and within a second that had felt like a year, Kougu already found himself hyperventilating and completely losing his cool, yet he had still not reacted. Her words washed over him like a mindless drone, none of them sinking in, yet the sound of her voice finally triggered what Kougu had feared was coming from the moment he began to panic. Before he could do anything, even yell out a warning, Kougu blacked out. His senses completely faded, and at that moment he was dead to the world, completely unaware of everything around him. Yet his body did not move.

He stood stock still as she turned to run, yet did not release his grip on her hand, which had tightened now with the strength of a vice grip, a strength that his scrawny arms certainly did not contain. His dark hair masked his eyes, and hid all thought and emotion, of indeed there was any, from his skeletal face. With deadly calm, he reached into his pocket and slowly withdrew the same gun he had pointed at her before. He loaded it with a loud click and pointed it at her forehead. Just as his finger began to tighten on the trigger, a shout rang out and a bullet whizzed past him. Kougu took a moment to calculate before reacting. The bullet had been too close for the shooter to be amateurish, yet too far for it to have been a miss. That shot had been a warning. An attempt to make him release his victim. Well... It had worked. Like a bull with a red sheet waved in front of it, Kougu wheeled on his attacker. He launched himself at the man like a wounded animal, forgetting about Charlie completely in his maddened attempts to terminate his attacker. The man began to fire at will as Kougu rushed toward him, yet it seemed he had a sixth sense that allowed him to dodge the bullets, for he did so effortlessly, simply leaning or ducking without breaking stride. As he neared the policeman, the man turned to run, but Kougu was too quick. He tackled him to the ground, kneeling on his chest to hold him still. The man squirmed and trembled in fear, but Kougu showed no mercy as he slowly straightened and pointed the gun at the man's head. Kougu pulled the trigger, and as he did so, the man closed his eyes and fainted. What shot from the gun was not a bullet, but a jet of water.

The white walls seemed to swim before his eyes, the bloody hands in front of him sliding in and out of focus with each heartbeat. Terror knifed through him, and he suddenly jerked his head up to stare at the room around him. Blood coated every surface. Here and there his enhanced senses detected a particle of a fine white powder mixed in with it. Directly in front of where he stood was a gun, coated in blood, just like everything else. Beside it was the object he had used to defend himself, though what it was he could not be sure, for it was there that the memory ended, casting him back into the blackness...

Meanwhile, Kougu maintained his position atop the unconscious man. He whipped a pocket knife out of his left sock and quickly flipped it open. Without a moment's hesitance, Kougu slashed at the man like a striking snake. He plunged the blade through the flesh as far as it would go, feeling the flesh bursting apart and warm blood gushing out over his hands. He withdrew the knife and stabbed again, this time relishing the feel of muscles being severed beneath his blade. Blood continued to flood in every direction, blinding him in a haze of crimson as it stained his skin and his clothes. The man was now bleeding profusely from between his ribs, his left shoulder and his right arm. The fourth time Kugu raised the blade, he paused to aim it at the man's throat, then came slashing down. A millisecond before fate would have been confirmed, Kougu's arm froze. At that second, Kougu resurfaced from his unconscious state into the world of reality.

For a moment, he sat motionless, unable to comprehend his surroundings. Then everything hit him like a flood. He was holding a knife, and kneeling on a man who was covered in blood. Kougu instantly dropped the knife, yanking his hand away as though burned. His heart thumped like a rocker's drum as he saw the blood on his hands. It was too much like that day... It was all too much the same... Kougu gasped and staggered backwards, raising his hands and tugging at his hair as he stared down in obvious horror at what he had done. He began shaking his head, slowly and disbelievingly at first, then more rapidly, as though trying to banish the scene from his mind, trying to wake himself from a nightmare. When it did not vanish, Kougu spun around and burst into a sprint, his long legs carrying him with the speed of an athlete as he rapidly fled the scene, unable to think past the rapid, frenzied beating of his own heart in his chest.

Wow...I'm NOT gunna be able to beat that o_0 you rebel

Charlie sped in and out of the people she passed, her eyes glued to one direction. Forward. Now they'd both be in trouble, that is if they were caught. They were surrounded by people, huge crowds heading to work, to go shopping et cetera. Although she was still figuring out in her mind whether that was good or bad. If there were more people around that meant more hiding places, and it was easier to blend into such a huge croud such as this one. On the other hand, it also meant they had more chance of being chased, as more people were around for them to see, or to watch them commit crimes just on the streets. Noone dissed a policeman nowadays, as now people knew better. Charlie thought back to when she'd taken Kougu's hand before she'd set off running, and couldn't help but remember the shock and confusion in his eyes, the alarm that must have gone off in his mind. Of course, he probably hadn't even been touched by anyone else for such a long time, it would have certainly made anyone jump. But she had to do it, she had to get his attention. unless, that is, he wanted to get arrested. And () that she highly doubted. He was clever enough to know what the consequences would be for commiting such a crime, medalling with a criminal, even one of my age. I may have been just a teenager, but I was a criminal all the same. In the papers, that made no difference and papers was all that mattered to them nowadays. Thinking back to Kougu taking her hand, she glanced down, his touch still tingling at her skin. She hadn't been thinking straight when she'd done it, but surely he didn;t mean to look so...so horrified? Then she looked back at her hand again, suddenly realising he was no longer holding it. She skidded to a halt, spinning back round on her heel. But all she could see were unfamiliar heads, usually those of business men and wemen heading for work or going out for lunch in the early afternoon. Her heart punched quickly against her chest. Where was he? She started to debate on whether to leave him and find her own hiding place. After all, he'd taken her this far. There was no point looking for him now. Every man...or girl...for themselves. But the voice in her head rang once aain through her ears, forcing her to turn back and look for him. Something was wrong. "Kougu?!" She shouted, hoping for him to hear her voice. She retraced her steps a few hundred meters until she could see a body drenched with crimson laying unconcious on the floor. It was almost hard to believe he'd been standign just a minute or so ago. But who had done this? It couldn't have been him, the boy. She'd heard him running behind her, unless...

Unless he was running the other way. Her eyes widened as she turned back to scan the croud, her eyes darting madly to see where he'd gone. Noticing a tall, shaggy haired figure sprinting in another direction, she skipped on one foot and headed after him. He'd done that? But why?? "Kougu! Kougu...wait!" she panted. She jut hoped to her heart that he would listen.

Kougu's head was jerked around as though by an invisible string as a familiar voice jolted through his haze of panic. He paused, staring through the crowd that he had not noticed until a moment ago. His dark eyes darted from face to face, all of them blurring in his mind until he found the one he recognised. She stood out clear as crystal. Like a blood stain on white cotton. Kougu tensed, indecision freezing him in place. Did he wait for her, go to her, or run from her? Was she friend or foe? Good or evil? Was there even such thing as good or evil...? When both sides were criminals and killers, how was he to tell? How could there be a right side and a wrong side, when conflict in itself was wrong...? The entire world was wrong. If that was true, then by the scruples he had been taught, it would be right to destroy it... Good destroys what is evil. Yet if good is the destroyer, then what is evil? What if good is evil, and evil is good? Kougu's thoughts buzzed around his head like a swarm of killer bees, increasing his panic to greater extents and confusing him with all the unasked and unanswered questions that had always haunted him. He thought too much. Since the day of his birth, he had been aware of that... Had he over-thought this? Under-thought it? No, it had been neither. He had not thought at all, for he had not been capable of thought. Assuming that was true, he would not be capable of an honest explanation that she would certainly expect. There! That was his answer. This equation had a solution after all. Kougu tensed, his eyes widening in panic and, though it was hard to tell, perhaps a hint of fear? He shook his head rapidly, then turned and began running away, winding his way between the ignorant idiots who walked the streets, completely oblivious to all that was happening. He had to get away, it was simply too important to compromise. He could not tell her anything. He could not tell anybody anything... Kougu ran blindly on, each breath ripping at his lungs and each step stabbing through his legs. He was not fit, nor was he healthy. His energy was ebbing fast. Kougu suddenly swerved around a corner, barely managing to keep his footing. He dashed into the darkest part of the alleyway, praying, though he knew not to whom, that nobody had followed him here, and that nobody would meet him here. He suddenly found his back against a wall, the filthy clay bricks feeling cold and scratchy against his back. His legs began to shake, and Kougu gave in and let himself slide down the wall. Hidden amongst a nest of discarded cardboard boxes, Kougu slowly drew his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them, trying to make himself as small and vulnerable as possible. It was a typical human reaction. When in distress, the mind would regress to its basic survival instincts. When it feels itself doomed, it falls back upon the final protection it has: Maternal protection. Relying on the parents for protection or, in the case of most humans, comfort. It was a comfort that he had been denied for most of his life, yet even though his mind did not know what it was... When in turmoil, his heart sought it. No matter how much he scolded himself and tried to force himself into action, he simply found himself frozen. He sat like a statue, and stared with the gaze of a dead man. From the intensity of his gaze, one might almost guess that he was trying to burn a hole in the wall, yet at the same time his eyes were unfocused, staring at nothing and everything all at once. There were too many questions, and too many variables for him to find the answers. How was he supposed to understand a world where there were no concrete answers...?

The boy entered the house with an opened envelope in his hand. He was gnawing on his lip nervously and glancing around in a desperate hope for escape. Unfortunately, his father was right there. The man snatched the envelope from him, yanked out its contents, and scanned it quickly. When he had finished, his expression darkened. He slapped the report card down onto the table with a sound like a gunshot issuing from his palm. "What's this?!" He roared, stabbing a finger at a single point on the report. The boy cringed and looked away, but his father grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and forced him to stare at the black ink, contrasting with painful sharpness and clarity against the white paper. "I-I failed." He stammered. "I'm sorry." His father simply shook his head in cold disappointment, and turned to walk away, leaving the boy staring in utter defeat at the page. He just could not understand it... He had never been able to... Everything on the report card was the same. 100% in every subject, not one wrong answer the whole year... Except for that one subject. They all said it was so easy, but he could not understand. There were no answers... Or if there were, how was he to distinguish between right and wrong...? Yet there it was in black and white: "Life Orientation: 12%. Fail."

Yes, that was right... He had always needed an answer to everything, and where there wasn't a correct answer, he had never been able to create one. Though undeniably brilliant, his mind was... Unstable. He could not rely on it, nor could he trust it... Not since that day.

Charlie watch the questions speed through his head, his eyes flashing pictures in her mind that reminded her af a silent film without the captions to remind her of what was going on in his mind. Had he forgotten already? She may have been with him for just a couple of hours but surely he must have remembered how they'd met, or what had happened within those few hours. He'd been attacked and almost killed on the street, so how could it be possible that he could forget? They stood for a few moments, which seemed like hours in her own mind, as so many things happened in that time it took her too long to register. Kougu's eyes flickered in alarm once again. And () was that panic? Before she could react, he'd spun round and set off at a sprint once again, disappearing back into the swarm of taurists and business workers that walked briskly around one another, barely giving him a second glance as he pushed them all out of his way. She watched helplessly, her heart thrust into her throat as she quickly took a second or two to catch her own breath. It was surprising in that the amount of times she'd had to run away from someone...or something, she'd never actually run so fast like that in her entire life. What drew him to her, she had practically no idea. But she'd barely even said goodye to him, or even thanked him for helping her in such a difficult situation like the one she'd dragged herself into. Although she could barely see the point anymore, as he seemed to have forgotten who on earth she actually was. Still panting slightly, she ran her hand through her long, chocolate brown hair and rested her fingers on her hip, completely torn of what to do next. She could carry on running, but where was there left to go? Plus, she was running out of energy far too quickly. She'd only pass out and get arrested then anyway. She pulled up her hood, stuffing her hand miserabely in her pocket and clutching the small box tightly to her side. She was on her own now, and perhaps it was better that way.

Kougu groaned as the thought he had known all along was comcing forced itself into his mind. He couldn't just leave Charlie so suddenly... Without protection, without an explanation... She had watched him come close to killing a man. She deserved to know something... But he could not tell her, he could not explain it. Even if he could, she would not believe him. Kougu groaned again, bashing his head against the wall in an attempt to make his conscience just shut up. Obviously, it would not. Guilt struck him now, and the pain it brought was nar unbearable. Kougu shook his head like a wounded animal, then pushed himself to his feet and timidly made his way back toward the street, his dark eyes darting around nervously. Perhaps she was still nearby... He could apologise, or try to explain... But no, he could not. What was he even thinking? She was probably terrified of him by now... What the hell was he supposed to do?! Kougu groaned again in agonized indecision, staring out into the crowded street and searching for her face, not sure whether he wanted to find it or not.

((Sorry - block. ))

(No worries, I'm not in my best writing mood either )

Charlie kept her head down as she weaved in and out of the people she passed, her eyes studying the cold grey pebbles scattered across the tarmac-covered path. She was meant to be going home, she knew. But not yet. She'd protected that box for a few hours she could protect it for a couple more. She wasn't in the mood for the greeting she'd be faced with if she did anyway. She'd had enough negativity from her mother to last her a lifetime. Shifting to a stop, her eyes noticed some strangely familiar old trainers belonging to someone evidently tall, as they were a much larger size, it seemed, compared to her bonnie little feet. At first she was wondering whether it was one of those non-uniformed policemen following her around. But as her eyes flicked up to the face of the stranger, she realised, with a tiny sigh of relief that it was in fact no stranger, but the boy who had run from her just a few moments ago. She tried her best to hide her feelings, but she really couldn't help but let the corners of her lips curve upwards just to see his face. What had happend in the past ten minutes or so drained from her memories as she just felt happy to see him again. She stared up at him for a moment, not daring to touch him, speak to him, or even move past him in the worry that it would scare him. And after what he had just done, neither of them could afford for him to run off in panick again. Not if they wanted everyone to remain unharmed.

Kougu's eyes suddenly sifted Charlie from the crowd, only to realise with a shock that she was moving towards him. He resisted the urge to run, firmly reminding himself that this was what he had wanted. He took a deep breath to calm himself, then took a step back and dropped his gaze to the ground. He kicked at the dirt for a moment, struggling to find words that might fit the situation he had got himself in to. He was such a fool... Why had he taken the risk of mixing with society? He had known that this would happen... In fact, he had come dangerously close to killing Charlie herself, never mind the poor man who had suffered from his insanity... Kougu sighed, running his hands through his hair as he turned away, walking deeper into the alleyway, away from the crowds that proved such an obvious danger to his sanity. Kougu leaned against a wall, slightly more relaxed now that his expression was hidden by shadows, and made a final attempt to muster the courage to speak. "I, uh..." He stammered uncertainly. "I- I suppose I owe you some sort of explanation for... All that." He muttered softly, staring at the ground as he spoke. He looked for all the world like a child who had been caught raiding the cookie jar. He attempted to glance up at Charlie, only to find that he could not hold her gaze, and had to glance away again. She was smiling... Why was she smiling? She was standing in the presence of an insane killer. Why the hell would she be smiling?! She was no idiot, he had already established that. Why, then, was she not running for her life, trembling in fear, or showing any sign of unease whatsoever? Kougu supposed he ought to be relieved and grateful, but instead he was just confused, and confused by his own reaction. It was almost as though... He wanted to be hated? Wait, what was he thinking?! Of course he wanted to be hated! He had just proved what happened when he got too close to people... He just had to give them a wide enough berth that it could not take effect. He glanced up at Charlie again, suddenly aware that he had been silent too long. "I didn't mean to do it." He murmured quietly, his eyes almost pleading with her to believe him. It had not been his choice... It never was... But that did not make him feel any less guilty. Why, then, was he making excuses for himself? Why...? Did he actually want her to understand? Want her to trust him? That made no sense... It would put her in danger. Kougu ran his hands through his hair again, swallowing a moan of frustration as he struggled to sort out his thoughts.

Charlie studied Kougu's questioning expression for herself, just utterly curious to what he was thinking. His eyes seemed to flicker in panick for a moment before she could actually guess what he was wondering. She noticed with a jump that she was smiling and looked down uncomfortably, just in time to see him turn his back on her and begin to walk away. No... she thought desperately, her head snapping up at the sound of his feet retreating across the tarmac. He was moving further and further away from her, and she had a horrible feeling in her gut that he was going to run from her again. Why was she so obsessed with him? Why was it that every time he disappeared from sight she felt such a lump of anxiety rush to her throat? Then she realised, he may have been the first person she'd had an...inteligent conversation with in a long while and it felt like everytime they spoke to each other, he actually listened. Noone had done that for her in far too long, so she wasn't used to it. She followed him at a brisk trot until he stopped by a wall and let out a huge sigh of relief. It was to be hoped that he would stop, anyway. She felt like she was going to pass out any moment. Gasping, she leant herself by the wall, feeling her legs give way beneath her as she slowly slid down onto her pelvis with a slight wince. The cold ground was no longer like the soft sofa she'd happily placed herself on back at Kougu's house, and it seemd her backside was still adapting a minute or so later. She let out a long sigh, forcing her racing heart to calm down just the slightest bit so she could speak. "And...I guess I owe you an explanation of why so many people have been following me, policemen and detectives alike..." She swallowed, unable to meet his eye. She should have spoken up much earlier on, as it would have saved him all this...bother. Plus it would have probably saved that poor policeman what he'd gone through back there on the High Street. Someone would have noticed him now and he would have probaby been revived from his unconcious state with memories already flooding back. "No...no I doubt you meant to hurt him, I...I'm sorry for scaring you. I panicked..." But surprisingly, she could get herself to fear him as much as any normal person would. She could hardly even blame him for stabbing the policeman, whoch worried her more than anything. What was he doing with a knife in his pocket anyway? She didn't know. But in a puzzled and slightly horrified way, she didn't care either.

Kougu sighed and slid to the ground beside her with a stressed sigh. "You don't owe me anything." He murmured softly, dropping his eyes to the ground, "Least of all an explanation." Kougu glanced away, trying to ignore the fact that he was still trembling with the shock of what he had done, yet she seemed hardly to care at all... He could not deny that he was curious about just what she had done to get herself into such deep trouble, yet he could also foresee that if she was to offer him an explanation for that, he would be even more obliged to explain his own actions, and he simply could not do that. What was he supposed to tell her? That he was like a time-bomb? Ready to explode and kill her at any moment? He just couldn't tell her the truth... He couldn't even bear to think of it himself. "Never mind all this." Kougu muttered suddenly, "Let's just get you home. Somewhere safe..." He pushed himself to his feet again and began pacing, unable to keep still beneath the intense pressure of stress settling over him. He raised his hands to run his fingers through his hair again, a habit he had picked up over the years, but as he did so, pain knifed through his neck and shoulder. He winced, glancing briefly at the wound to see that it had reopened. Not surprising, really, what with all the stabbing he had done... Kougu shuddered slightly at the thought, then turned his attention back to Charlie. He met her eyes with an intense gaze, his expression sombre as he gave his full attention to what he had to say... What he had to force himself to say. "You can't trust me." He began firmly, "I've put your life in danger, and I'm sorry. I should have known better... I shouldn't have tried to help you, it could never be worth the risk..." He trailed off and resumed pacing, his eyes on his feet as he struggled to find words to explain, but only two would come to mind. Kougu paused, and glanced back at her, a strange, unreadable expression crossing his face. "I'm sorry." He murmured quietly, "I really am."

(Okay, I'm going to first person, as I keep starting in 3rd then changing to 1st anyway, it's confusing me )

I tucked my knees into my chest and wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly feeling extremely insecure. I could sense Kougu's nerves and it was making a huge compact on myself, although I couldn't quite grasp why. He'd been nervous around me ever since we'd first met, so why did it have to be now that I was also becoming overly anxious? It was funny, as it seemed as he'd mentioned the word 'home' that I'd started to feel nervous. Strange as it was, I realised I actually didn't want to go home; I preferred it out on the streets, even when I was likely to be attacked, arrested or even get lost. Admitting it felt unbarably strange, but it was the truth. I didn't want to go home, I couldn't. What good could possibly be awaiting me there? Letting a sigh slip from my lips, I gently shook my head, resting my fingers to my aching temple. Despite my top up on drinks back at Kougu's house, I was still feeling the irritating symptoms of the exhaustion that I had experienced what seemed like days ago. I clenched my teeth slightly, quietly letting out an inward groan. That would teach me to never steal so far from home anymore, unless I was fit enough to be able to sprint the length of a marathon. "Trust me, I'd rather stay out on the streets. Home isn't too...pleasant for me at the moment. At least out here there's the sun, the fresh air, and for once I have room to think. It sounds stupid, and I know I may be a bit mad. But believe me, although home is much safer, it doesn't mean I like it there" I stretched my legs out infront of me, wincing as my muscles throbbed from all the running. I really needed to practice it more often. My forest green eyes flicked up to him, noticing suddenly that he was pacing. Frustration slowly built up in my throat, probably from my horrific lack of sleep the night before and I had to quickly breath it out before it showed in how I acted around him. That would soon be regretted, by both of us. "Kougu, sit down" I said calmly, looking right up at him. For the time being we were in no immediate danger, and if anyone would appear to try and catch either of us, we'd be ready for it. But what mattered to me now was him, and what secrets I was prepared to reveal before our time ran out.

Kougu continued pacing, listening to her to some extent, yet still clearly distracted. No matter what she said, his opinion would not be swayed. He suddenly froze as her tone changed, his full attention locking on her words as she asked him to sit. Immediately, his mind jolted into action, trying to calculate the reason behind the sudden change of tone. This one was easy... He knew it all too well. He was freaking out, and obviously giving off an aura of being unreliable. Of being uncertain and scattered. In a typical human reaction, she had dropped all dependence on him, and decided to take leadership into her own hands. Her calm, authoritative tone clearly implied that she was taking control in trying to calm him. A typical human reaction based of raw instinct. So complex, yet so simple... Still, despite the confusion, Kougu was able to take one undeniable fat from it. He was losing it. He had to calm down and take control, otherwise he would only be more of a danger. She was right... He needed to get a grip. Kougu took a deep breath, then made a square with his fingers and stared into it for a while, slowly attempting to calm himself. Finally, he dropped his hands to his sides and let the tension in his shoulders release slightly. He took a few steps back until he was leaning against the opposite wall to Charlie, watching her with a deadly serious expression. He watched her intently for a moment, then sighed and dropped his head, resigning himself to relaxation. "Fine, you're not going home just yet, but at least do me a favour and hang on to this." Kougu spoke firmly, grabbing the knife out of his pocket and tossing it to her. "You might need it." He muttered bitterly, glancing away for a moment before dragging his thoughts back on track and watching her, his expression softening slightly. "Okay, I'm calm now." He informed her, a slight smile twitching the corners of his lips. "Thank you."

((Alrighty, no worries. Sorry about the shortish post, I have a bit of block. ))