What it Means

[Takato]

Takato nodded his head, even thought his ankle hurt like never before. He didn't want to worry her. Takato continued to follow Kida. When suddenly Kida made a sudden drop. Takato went to grab Kida's hand but she was already too far down. He sighed and relieve to see that she was dangling there. When she mentioned being free Takato grunted. As happy as he was, his ankle continued to hurt. Meaning he was going to have to drop down.

Having no choice really Takato then dropped down, concentrating his weight on his good foot. Following Kida out side. He was happy, for so many reasons. One to be free from being trapped in a room. Two, he was lucky to be alive. Three for being able to breath freash air. "Finally, free" Takato said breathing heavily. Even though they wern't exactly free. They were free from being trapped. Now, they needed some place to stay. Somewhere they can rest.

Takato then leaned up against the wall falling down. Taking off his thick boot that just saved his life, moments ago. He let out a grunt as he tried to move his foot. "Fuck!" Yelled Takato from the pain of moving his foot. Damn, how are they supose to find a safe place to rest if he cant even walk.

[Kida]

"Takato!!" Kida shouted in frustration. She was still hanging by the electrician's handle on the side of the building. There were two things that had just screwed her over. One, Takato had gotten out, but he hadn't sealed the vent. Meaning that the Syn could easily push their way out and track them. Two, she was hanging off the damn building! Sure, it was only a single story, but that was enough to literally kill Kida if she landed wrong. After all she wasn't a cat like Takato. She didn't always land on her feet.

"Grrrrrrrr...." Now what? Normally there were ladders or more handles on the wall for the tech to get this high, but Kida was looking down at nothing. "I...hate Gradia..." she growled. Guess there's only one thing left....here goes nothin' Kida took a deep breath and let go of the bar, falling to the hard ground on her ass. Kida groaned. "I...really hate Gradia..." Unsteadily she stood and rubbed her lower back. Her tail bone hurt like hell now. "Damn it! We need to shut the front doors!"

Not waiting for a reply, Kida took off around the corner to get to the front doors.

[Takato]

Takato tried to stop her, but it was too late, she had already ran around the corner to lock the door. What good is locking the door when there are millions more outside? He tore a piece of cloth from the bottom of his cape, wrapping it around his foot. He didnt know how much it would help but what ever worked right? Takato tried to get up to stop her, to tell her they need to just get the hell out of here. He climbed up the wall leaning on it. Trying to catch up with her. When he got no where fast. He stopped. His Ankle was killing him. "So much for protecting her" He prayed to god that she would be ok, Who knows what could be lurking around every corner.

Takato then turned into his lion form. Walking on 3 legs was alot easier than walking on 1. Takato then went towards the corner of the mall, seeing Kida still in one piece. He sighed in relief. He then walked towards her. "We need to get out of here and fast" He said. It was then he realized that he didn't know this place very well, how were they supose to find a place to rest? they could be walking for hours.

[Kida]

Running to the front door, Kida saw that a Syn was starting to sniff it's way to the opening. Shouting, Kida gave him a kick to the chest that sent him flying back inside. With a swear she threw herself at the key and twisted forcefully. The deafening clang of the doors shutting sounded and Kida was able to breathe a little easier. She turned at the sound of Takato's voice, but saw a lion instead of a man.

"Where are we going to go? The city has been evacuated, all the people left are probably fighting....The hospital is a possibility but we don't know if it's still standing." Thinking it over however, the hospital was their best bet if they wanted to stay in the city of Gradia. "Maybe....they've set up some sort of post or fort for information, healing..." she suggested. It was something they could only hope at the moment.

[Takato]

Takato thought for a moment. Looking around, Did he know where the hospital or any type of fort? Takato didn't remember seeing any type of thing around. There was only one thing they could do really. And that was wonder around the town until they found a group of people. If not that then they would have to camp somewhere for the night. It was late already, And Takato could only bet Kida was just as tired as he was. Plus the factor of his ankle. He needed to see someone who could help him and quick. "We should start looking." He said as he started to walk. Their best bet was to start looking for the hospital. He tried to pick up any type of smell that was similar to the hospital. But there were none, he smelt nothing but blood spill and Syn's.

And just to make matter's worse, there was a sound of thunder not too far off. Takato sighed. It couldn't possibly get any worse than this. Takato just wanted to find a place and rest! thats all he asked for! But no it was simply just too much to ask for some rest. Or anything good right about now. Takato sighed as he looked towards Kida. "You didn't happen to see any of that stuff have you?" He asked her. Frankly the sooner they find it the better. Thats how Takato saw it.

[Kida]

She shook her head. "Better. I know where the hospital is." Kida had been to Gradia many times before to acquire the latest in their gaming equipment. Not to mention a few comics. "C'mon! This way!" Kida had started to run for it, but she turned sharply, realizing he had gotten turn. "Are you going to be able to run?" Sure, he had four legs now, but only three of them were going to get Takato anywhere.

Thunder sounded in the distance and caught Kida's attention. Rain? Oh please let it rain.... Powerful rain was usually when Kida was at her strongest, if it rained it would give them a great advantage over the Syn. She could drown a hand full quickly, but only if it rained hard enough.

[Takato]

Run? In Takato's condition he didn't know if he could. Thought it might be necessary, In case they run into Syn. Takato then turned back into his human form. "Run, Uh... I dont know about that." He said as he undid the cloth. Maybe if he had a good stick to keep it still? Takato looked around and to his favor he found one. Taking off the boot once more, he placed the stick next to his ankle. Wrapping it once more, he then put on his boot. Takato was lucky his boots wrapped around his legs so well. It only helped the stick stay in place.

"Ok, So how far are we away from the hospital?" He asked her. If it was too far then they may need to stop for a moment. Though he really didn't want to because syn's can attack at non moving targets. Takato put pressure on his foot to see if it made any difference. As he stood up he could feel a shooting pain going up his leg. When he finally stood up strait for the split second that he did he then lost his balance landing strait on Kida. 'Shit' Takato then rolled over onto his back bringing Kida on to his stomach. Now doesn't this seem familiar...

Not even five second later Takato heard another loud roar of thunder. Followed by the thunder, came the rain. And it was raining quite hard. But Takato didn't mind, for his mind was somewhere else. He starred into those crystal blue eyes of hers.

[Kida]

"Ta--Ah!" Kida fell to the ground with a thud and hissed. Before she could panic about Takato hurting his leg worse he had flipped them over. "Jeez...Are you sure you're okay to walk...?" If putting weight on his ankle threw him to the ground he couldn't be in good shape at all. What was worse the hospital was no easy walking distance from where they were. "Shit!" she muttered. "I have zero healing powers..." Kida moved off of him and sat next to him on the ground, blinking up into the rain.

"Well...At least I can protect us efficiently now. Don't worry about that." Looking down at him, Kida hoped that the rain wouldn't bother him too much otherwise their race to the hospital would be worse. "I think your lion form would be best. At least that way you can stand." She offers him a hand to help him stand up.

[Takato]

'Damnit' Takato thought. She moved, he was quite comfortable in that position too! Takato sat up in a grunt. And to make matters worse its now raining. Lucky for Takato he had his cape which would protect him from the rain. When kida mentioned his lion form. That meant his cape was gonna have to come off. Oh no I'm fine I just lost my balance for a moment." He covered up.

Takato then got back on his feet. Though his ankle hurt. It was going to have to do. He wasn't going to run around lion form because well, he actually was having a hard time walking on 3 legs. This way he could walk on 2. Takato had to admit. For once her water bending powers would come in handy with an unlimited supply of water falling from the sky. "Lets get to that hospital shall we?" Takato said not wanting to be in the rain much longer

[Kida]

"Yeah...C'mere." Kida pulled him over to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Lean on me, you little liar." Kida shook her head. It was not the time to be pretending to be alright. There were going to have to make it to the hospital, sure, but the point was to make it there in one piece, not with pieces missing. "And no taking the opportunity to feel me up." she joked to try and lift the mood a little.

"And I mean it." she said, giving his cheek a peck. Kida started walking in the direction of the hospital, breathing with every step and praying it would be the haven they were looking for. Rain....Thank you God. Now she was a lot more confident about their trip. If the rain actually kept up then it might not matter if the hospital was safe or not, they could find somewhere else for Kida to build a water wall around.

[Takato]

Takato then was forced to lean on Kida. It was then a little light bulb went off in his head. It was technically the first time he actually got to hold/be held by her. So of course the first thought that came across his minds 'nice curves'. It was immediatly after that she spoke "And no taking the opportunity to feel me up." Takato's eyes widened. Takato knew she was a water bender but a mind reader too? Takato laughed. "Aww, Why not?" He played back.

It was then Takato's train of thought was thrown off, when she suddenly pecked him on the cheek. His eyes were wider. Here he was thinking he was getting no where with her. Sure it was only a kiss on the cheek. But it was a kiss. It was something that made him feel a little bit better on the inside. With Takato's arm on Kida's shoulder, Takato then maneuvered his cape so that he went over Kida's shoulder. To prevent her from being soaked. Hopefully she had some extra clothes something so she wouldn't be sick. Though it may be too late for her clothes.

"Thanks" Takato said. He was kind of grateful she was there. The fact that she's a water bender, really helped for the fact that it was raining, and for helping him walk to the hospital. Takato was only glad, he could relax just a little bit. The nerve racking experience at the mall, where his life was not only in danger once but five times. If not more. And seems how he had his cape to protect him from the rain. The quiet city almost seemed peaceful.

[Kida]

"Pfft....Why not." she muttered to herself. "As if the reason isn't obvious." she chuckled quietly. Glancing back at him Kida couldn't help but smirk when she saw his expression. A peck on the cheek wasn't that big a deal, but she thought it might be good enough to perk him up and get his mind on nicer things than pain and death. "And don't worry..." she pretended to sigh as if she was bothered, "That didn't count as the 'kiss' since we lived through that."

It would have been entertaining to toy with him and say that was all he got, but now wasn't the time. It was better to have something to look forward to in times like this, it paired well with hope. "I keep my word, ya know." After all when she said 'kiss' she meant a real kiss. "Real" being something more substantial than a quick peck that wasn't even on the lips.

The cape was a nice touch but it didn't completely prevent Kida from getting wet. At the moment she really didn't care. There were more important worries on her mind that a slight chill. For example speed and safety. Thankfully she didn't have that feeling that something was watching them, but Kida didn't want to fall into a false sense of security either. Danger lurking around every corner...Yes, yes. Kida tilted her head to the side so she could pop her neck.

Turning around a corner and continuing down the way, Kida kept glancing around the immediate area. Another advantage of all the rain was that it was impossible for Syn to sneak up on them silently. All foots steps sounded with a tiny splash. While their own steps might lure the Syn to Kida and Takato, Kida was still sure their advantage was better. Water, in the right circumstance, could also trick a creature's sense of smell. The scent of the rain on the asphalt was heaven to Kida, but it could prove annoying to a creature looking for food.

[Takato]

Takato froze, The fact that there was more coming shocked him. When she said, Kiss the first time. He just thought it was going to be a peck on the lips/cheek. And thats what he got, And thats all he was expecting. But When she said that wasn't it. Takato could leap for joy. If his ankle wasn't badly injured. Infact it was the only thing keeping him down on the ground. He really was starting to feel bad. Feel bad for needing her help, when she's doing so much. "Thats... Good to know" He said softly. "It is the same for me" He said. Even though, he never really gave her his word, except the time he was with her in the amusement park, and he gave her his word that he'd be the best she'd ever had.

But at a moment like this, Takato didn't think she was thinking about that at a time like that. He was about to speak. Tell her that he wouldn't let anything happen to her. But how could he say that when he was leaning on her for the very support. He didn't like himself. He grew quiet in Thought... As he walked down the streets. The Rain gave this town something... Serenity. It almost seemed as if the town was peaceful instead of infested with Synthetic freaks.

In the distance, Takato saw a silver lining. He saw a light on. Could it be what he thought it was?

[NPC: Male]

"Nnnargh..." They could smell them even under the blanket of rain. They could smell them, however blurry, as they walked upon the wide metal roads of the complex. They were being slow, being careless, those prey. They, the Syns, could tell one was injured, that one was vulnerable. That was good, they thought, very good.

Because that meant that they could feed.

They walked like the men they were, upright, graceful, and with dignity but underneath the skin of men were the instincts of a beast. They walked faster and faster until the forms of two huddled hunk of flesh became visible in the curtain of water.

[Kida]

As they walked Kida heard the tap tap tap that meant someone was coming. She stopped them and turned, looking in all directions for where it was coming from and saw them. "Shit!" she said under her breath. Well it was there lose. As soon as the attempted to get any closer, Kida was going to take the offensive.

For the moment, however, she made a defensive move. The water around her and Takato's feet started to swirl slowly in a circle, probably invisable to the Syn that were walking towards them. For ever second that ticked by Kida made the diameter of the circle grow larger and larger around them, making their safe territory bigger. The moment the Syn's feet touched it the tides would turn.

The one thing that held Kida back was the fact that these Syn walked like regular men. It unnerved her and for only a moment made her doubt that they were really Syn. But she couldn't afford to let her guard down.