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Tsurui couldn't help but laugh, even in his weakened state, he held Kittie tight in his arms, he could hear his own acidic blood start to burn in to her clothing, he gentll pushed her off, and stared up at her.

"D-Don't be mad at Shade, he's just doing what he was taught. See...Shade isn't really a bat, he has no form really. He's...just different thats all. We get into fights like this all the time, thought this is the first time i've seen him mimic a jester before..." Tsurui had no strength left in him, his body went limp in Kittie's lap, as he fell unconcious. His hand was clasped tightly around hers.

Shade was off elsewhere now, the sting of Kitties slap fresh on his cheek. "Hmph, guess he didn't tell her about me, afterall. Some master." Even with Shade's shaken faith, Tsurui was still and always would be his master, a mentor...a teacher.

As Tsurui lay unconcious on Kittie's lap, his deck of tarot cards fell from his pocket, and a single card popped it. It was the card that he'd shown her earlier; The Lovers. The deck seemed to want Kittie to see the imagery on the card. On it were three people, one was a seraphim, with a trumpet, and the other two were a man and a woman. The man lay on the womans lap, a pool of blood surrounding him, the woman looked as if her heart had been torn from he body, and all she could do to help her fallen love, was hold him close.

The man though, had no such expression, in one hand he had his lovers hand clasped, and his face was that of complete tranquility. The card represented an undying bond and the angel who would blast out through the heavens annoucing their love.

"Kittie?..." He mumbled out, his eyes just barely able to open. His voice sounded so weak and helpless, almost lost.

"...I'll be fine, it's only a little scratch....nothing else. Heh, such a sad....smile, doesn't suit you." He said, sitting up slightly, his head felt as though it were going to explode at any moment. With a sigh, he shook it off, and sat upright, a soft smile on his otherwise bloody face. Unsure if the tears that fell from her cheeks were that of saddness or joy, either way he reached a hand out and placed it against her cheek. His thumb catching the tears and wiping them away.

"Come on now, smile for me? The world is a much happier place when you smile." He nodded happily, having gained back some strength, he put his other arm around her, and pulled her in for a hug. "I'll be okay, i've survived worse afterall." As he hugged her tight, his saw that his deck had fallen from his pocket, the stack of cards was okay of course, minus two cards. The Lovers, and Strength. The two cards sat, side by side, their images were uplifting and the message they sent out was that of a positive energy.

"Hehe, come on. Lets head back to the bar okay? I'm sure i'm not that badly hurt..." Tsurui, being the cocky individual, stood and with a grin started to walk off, when his knees gave out. For a moment, he sat on the dirt road, blinking a few times. "Man down!! Medic! Medic!" He called out, laughing softly. "Erm, wanna give me a hand? I think i'm getting brittle in my old age." He said scuttling to Kittie's side. "Oh...hehe, and this is for those tears you shed earlier..." He nuzzeled up against her cheek, and then kissed her lips tenderly.

"Okay, now we go?" He said, a touch of innocence in his voice.

Tsurui could help but smile as they walked back together, still a bit wobbly from his encounter with Shade, he leaned a bit on Kittie for support. His knees felt like jello, with each step he took, it was like an earthquake under him.

"Er...love, wanna stop here. Feels like i'm about to pass out." He said, scuttling over to a side bench and just collapsing on it. He was weak, but still had a wide smile on his face. The night seemed to go on forever, where they now sat. There were no others around, it really felt like they were the only two in the world. The stars twinkled brightly in the night sky, and the moon letting off a beautiful blue-ish glow. With a smile, he pulled Kittie down, onto his lap and just smiled.

"Besides, its a good excuse for us to just spend some time together, wouldn't you agree?" He said, nuzzeling her neck softly. As they sat together, Paranoia and Suzaku waltzed by, stopping in front of the happy lovers. "There you are! God you look horrible, come on lets go back to the bar and mend you up." She said cheerfully, reaching for Tsurui's hand and tugging slightly. "Heh, Suzaku, i'll...be back later. For now though, i'd just like some time to be with Kittie, just us, kay?" He said, a touch of innocence in his voice. Suzaku paused for a moment, before smiling widly. "Alright, just get back to the bar, we'll see you later." As Suzaku walked away Paranoia remained, looking as confused as ever. A few seconds later, his name was screamed out from Suzaku already ahead. With a sign Paranoia still confused took his leave.

Tsurui smiled and held Kittie close, his arms wrapped affectionatly around her. He still felt battered and bruised, but at this single moment, nothing mattered, at this point his world consisted of Kittie, and himself. nothing else.

Even in the pale light of the moon, Tsurui could see Kittie blushing, it made her all the more beautiful. As her lips pressing longingly against his, he could feel the emotions conveyed in the simple action. His arms tightened around her affectionatly; holding her close to him.

In the distance he could hear the faint sound of a bird chirping, and to his surprise, he could see the moon starting to dip in the sky and very dim rays of sunshine peaking out. He pulled away, slowly from her kiss, looking into her eyes tenderly. "I love you too..." He whispered softly to her. The sun was steadily climbing into the sky as the two lovers sat in each others arms. The stars slowly starting to disappear from they sky.

Tsurui stood, slowly, Kittie still in his arms. "Okay, so it's a little cliche, but we should head back. Suns up and i'm exhausted, so how about we get some sleep okay?" He said, Kittie cradled in his arms.

Tsurui slowly made his way back to the bar, but instead of the front entrance, he chose to go through the back. Knowing full well that Suzaku was awaiting his arrival. With Kittie fast asleep in his arms, he slowly carried her up to the only spare room he knew of. Opening the door with a battered foot, he slowly made his way in and gently placed her on the bed.

With a smile he pulled the blankets over her and tucked her into bed. He leaned in a bit and ever so lightly kissed her lips. Once she was curled up happily in the bed, he let out a sigh of relief and wandered over to the washroom, across from her bed. He stood over the sink; blood caked onto his mask. "Gah, i'm a mess. Better clean up..." With that, his fingers traced the edge of his mask and briskly pulled it off his face. A flash of blackish hair adorned his head, the same mark over the eye of his mask was on his face as well. His eyes were a deep shade of ice blue, his face even after the fight still remained its youthful look, only a few scars here and there.

"Why hello there, haven't seen you in awhile." He said with a laugh as he stared into the mirror, even his voice sounded different. No longer was it muffled from his mask. It was clear and precise. He closed the door slightly, to not disturb Kittie's slumber. He paused for a moment and then walked back out to her room, remembering to close the blinds. Tsurui stopped for a moment, and just watched Kitie as she slept, she seemed so at peace and not to mention comfy. "I love you...Kittie..." He whispered softly, as he headed back to retrieve his mask.

Tsurui was busy scuttling back and forth between the washroom and where Kitte was sleeping, something about her lying so peacefully was very inviting. The more he watched, the drowsier he became. Each time he looked in the mirror, he let out a long yawn.

"Gah, her sleep is contagious." He mumbled wearily out, along with a small whimper as he stitched up one of the more severe wounds. "Yay...only what, two more to go?" He said with a sigh, as he put my thread in the needle. The needle was made from one of the shards from his scythe, and the thread had come from the few spare blankets he'd found. Once done he swtiched the lights off in the washroom and took a seat next to Kittie's bed, he could hear her soft breathing. The almost rythmic tone of it was enough to send him off to sleep, still forgetting to replace the mask on his face, he nodded off.

Before fully going to sleep he gently took hold of Kittie's hand which was hanging limply over the side of the bed. He softly kissed the back of it, and was finally asleep. The morning light from outside almost completely blocked by the blinds and the few blankets he'd pinned up. He'd fallen asleep sitting up, so it was inevitable that he'd topple over in his slumber.

With a thud his head hit the side of the bed frame, and then the floor. "Aw Dammit!!" He yelled out. Remembering where he was, he instantly fell silent and rubbed the now large bump on his head. "Geez, first Paranoia, then Shade. And now that bed. It's like everything is out to kill me these days." He said, quite loudly at that. He kept forgetting that no more than a few away his lover was sound asleep.