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(Shinichi)

I replied, "I believe you said this once, Akira. 'A failure is someone who gives up.' The Senshi made some mistakes, but they never gave up."

(Akira)

I was shocked. By my own words. I stammered, "Shinichi... You... You're right." That's when I said, "Just because I made one mistake, doesn't mean I have to throw in the towel!"

(Shinichi)

I laughed, "Now THAT's the Akira I know! No more Emo Akira for a while, I hope!"

(Akira)

I laughed, "I'm glad you're okay, Shin." I looked at the watch. 11:30 AM.

That's when I walked to my bag and got out a portable First Aid Kit. I said, "Hey, Michiru, Setsuna. I have a portable First Aid Kit on standby if it's needed."

(Akira)

I nodded, "Sure thing, Michiru. As Hotaru's friend, I'll do whatever it takes to make her feel better. In the noble sense, of course."

I took the First Aid Kit and walked towards Hotaru's room. I said, "Hotaru? It's me, Akira. Can I come in?"

(Akira)

I entered her room and I closed the door behind me. I said, "Before I check up on you, I'm sorry if I scared you earlier. All I ever wanted to do was to protect my friends and the people that they care for... And I can assure you, I'm no youma in disguise."

(Akira)

I put the First Aid Kit on the foot of the bed.

I replied, "I'm a genius in the many things that I do. I'm also a musician who truly loves music. And I'm a dancer who loves dancing because it makes me feel alive. I'm also someone who has seen and experienced suffering first-hand. And I'm also a good friend to the people I come in contact with. I'm also someone who's judgmental, angry, and makes a lot of mistakes. And I'm also a knight who fights to protect my friends and the people I care for. Sure I have some strange abilities, and I know a shadowy glaive style or two..."

That's when I opened the Kit and I sighed, "I guess you can say I'm sort of a Senshi, but what kind of a Senshi... This one has yet to discover what kind of a warrior I can become. All I know about myself right now is that I guard an intense and deadly power, I have a strong will, and a pure heart and soul. And for some strange reason, I have a connection with the planet Saturn... One of it's moons, Titan to be precise. The rest is still murky to me. But I hope that once I retreive the sword that I found on the museum, the murkiness that is my true past could clear up."

I looked at Hotaru. I held out my hand. I said, "All I'm offering is my friendship and support. All I ask in return is your trust. I will never betray your trust and the trust of your friends. That I can promise you. You have my word."

(Akira)

I laughed, "Hotaru, I'm a knight! I would never sink so low as to steal it!" That's when my eyes narrowed, "However, I have a feeling the people who are after me may steal it and use it as a bargining chip so that they may use my power to destroy the universe. I'm going to stop those creeps and hopefully, the curator of the museum will give me the sword as a gift for me stopping those thieves."

That's when I asked, while blushing, "So, um, which parts of you are hurt?"

(Akira)

I looked at Hotaru. I sighed, "It's not a strange idea. The people that are after me will do anything dirty, sick, and low to get what they want in order to complete their goal in plunging the universe in darkness. They have to be stopped."

That's when I said, "You sure you're going to be all right? You're truly one of the people that I've connected with after Natsume's death. I'm... Just a little worried about you, Hotaru."

(Akira)

I replied, "Because you and I... We're the same. We're both kind-hearted, honest, and reliable to our friends and the people that we care for. And we both seem to have the similar distrust of other people in our lives. I'm sure you have your reason, and my reason is, after my father abused me, I never trusted anyone fully ever again. I became wary of other people in my life. Especially with Shinichi and the others. But... When I met you... I sensed that you went through similar things the way I have. We're both kind-hearted people. We're both people that live by helping others, and have suffered because of who we are. When I'm around you, I get the same feeling that when I'm with Saturn: Safe, warm, and needed. You are right that only yesterday you were a stranger who I knew nothing about, but I felt that we met before in the past. I feel that you are a part of my murky past."

I lied down on Hotaru's bed. I said, "Again, all I want is for you to trust me, because in many ways, I trust you."

That's when I began to sing an American song that I knew, "I wish I could define, all the thoughts that cross my mind, they seem too big for me choose; I don't know which ones to lose, when I've fallen down so far, I think I'll never see your light, bouncing off of me, shining down from your eyes..."

(Akira)

I replied, "Point taken. However, I have been completely honest about the things that have happened to me, I can assure you of that. And I'll confess, I have been speculating some parts about you. But it's true that you do have a strong desire to help people, and you are kind-hearted and honest. And it's true that I don't know much about you, yet you know quite a lot about me because of the fact that I've been kind enough to open the door to my life. Hotaru, if we're to be true friends to each other, please, let me know you. Open your door to your life. There are some things in this world that I can understand far more than other people. I don't mean to pry, but I am merely asking for you to be open to me as much as I have been open to you. I've already proven to you that I'm no youma."

And that's when I stood up and said, "The pain of being alone is a pain time can't heal quickly. Even though I've surrounded myself with many people, those people don't understand the real me. I may be Mr. Popularity in some circles, but in other circles, believe it or not, I'm viewed as an outcast. Some people still think of me as an outcast. I know what it means to be alone."