“Asking a girl where she wants to go is an invasion of privacy,” Reina retorted playfully.

She followed him out the restaurant into the rain, where a smile etched itself onto her face. She didn't know if it was the close proximity of the guy next to her – the guy who made her loosen up and totally forget the time, possibly to the point that her parents would kill her, but not to the point that she would've minded – or the rain that was falling. She had always loved the rain and the small pitter patter of those droplets on her clan's rooftop.

The darkness that had enveloped Kiri returned the sense of foreboding she had felt the entire week. She felt as if someone or something was coming, and the universe was warning her. All she needed to do was listen to it, just once, and be done, but when she thought about leaving just like that, she realised her thoughts were only half-hearted.

“You know, normally, a guy would decide where to go,” she answered, looking around and breathing in the fresh scent of the rain. “But it's getting late and I think I'd better get home. As much as I enjoy the rain, I don't think I'll feel the same way when I'm in bed the next day with a cloth over my head. Is there anything else? Anywhere else you want to go?” she looked at him expectedly, feeling the rain wash down her face. “Otherwise, I'll be going.”

Dameon let out a small chuckle at her come back and listened to everything else she had to say. He grabbed the straps of his coat and took it off as he placed the warm coat around her shoulders. He wasn’t used to being shirtless in the rain but he couldn’t deny that it felt amazing. He looked back down at her and put his arm around her. He didn’t exactly know how she would respond to this but he could only guess.

“Theres one place I want to show you first because it’s hard to find. It’s very close though,” he said as he directed his attention back down to her. Even more so with his words just spoken he didn’t know how she would react. He wanted to make sure that she always knew where to find him if she needed anything. The truth was he hadn’t shown another living soul where he laid his head at night, but he felt like he could trust her.

“My home, it’s not much, and it leaks a lot. I don’t want to weird you out. I just feel like it would be useful for you to know, in case you needed me for anything,” he said with smile as he once again focused his attention ahead of him. His curiosity about himself was overwhelming even him. He didn’t recognize himself when he was around her, but he felt as if the changes were worth it.

“What do you say? Or should I take you home now?.”

Reina had almost shoved the shirt off of her. She didn't particularly want Dameon to get a cold. He had already said he was more aligned to the lightning element, which was fairly acquainted with heat due to how it usually produced sparks. Unlike her, he would not be used to being drenched wet, nor the coldness that usually descended upon the village of the Mist at night.

“Are you sure you don't need this coat? It gets rather chilly out here, and I'm already used to it,” she said, feeling the droplets of rain trail down her face, gathering at her chin before dropping off. “And if it means that much, I guess I can take a look. Besides, if I have to hurry home, it's nothing a quick Body Flicker won't fix, right? But on one condition. Take back your coat, you're freezing. Trust me.”

“Reina, I am fine. I am a more used to the cold and wet than I would care to admit. Besides, what good is a body guard if he can’t even protect someone from waking up with a cloth over their forehead? Also, electricity generates heat and the rain drop usually goes away only a couple seconds after they land on me. I am perfectly fine, trust me,” he stated with a warm smile. His scarred yet muscular chest damp and his hair falling soaked across his eyes as he used the hand not holding her to brush it aside. He looked ahead and pointed out an alley.

“It’s just up ahead,” he said holding his hand outward inviting her to walk with him toward the alley he had silently mentioned. It was a kind warm feeling that came across his body on that cold and wet night. Someone that actually cared for his general wellbeing was now friends with him. It was something that he couldn’t have hoped to happen in a hundred years and it did. Fate as it seemed always had something planned for him. He couldn’t see into the future but it felt like a good thing and he would embrace it and strengthen it with every ounce of his soul.

Reina sighed. If he said so, she wouldn't argue. Besides, there was something about his coat that just warmed her heart, the way it was draped over her petite figure, covering her exposed arms from the rain. She didn't like to be doted on or protected, but it seemed as if Dameon knew just the right balance, if giving her his coat outright could be called a balance. Well, at least he hadn't ushered her to some sheltered area. That would've been crossing the line and he would've found himself frozen to the ground in a moment.

“Lead the way.”

Dameon smiled as she spoke those words and walked toward the alley he had mentioned. The entrance to I was fenced or so it seemed. Dameon slip the two by fours out of the way to show there was indeed an entrance into the alleyway. At the far end was a door, half gone to the elements, and the wall had a couple of holes in it that leaked in water and cold air. Dameon walked forward and opened the door with a creak. The inside looked as big as a prison cell and was damp. A few holes in the ceiling let rain drip right in. There was a mattress in the corner in the only place not touched by the water, and on the opposite corned were a few sticks to make a fire with a pot hanging just over it for cooking.

“Like I said, it’s not much, but its more than that homeless family has that we helped earlier, and that’s why I help them out in some form every day on my way back here. One thing that’s guaranteed though, this place has a friend. If you need anything while I am not training don’t hesitate to come. In fact I would love…like to help with anything that a friend need. After all, you are my first friend…ever and I still owe you. Thank you so much,” He said turning to face her and bowing his head formally and standing back up the falling over his wounds as a lightning bolt jetted across the sky behind him followed by a roar of thunder.

“Now let’s get you home.”

Reina took in the sight of his home. It was small. Very small. Even her bedroom was at least twice the size of the humble abode Dameon apparently lived in. Somehow, it seemed unbelievable and heart-wrenching that someone would have to stay in a place like this, but seeing was believing, and the shack in front of her was very much real, and so was the person standing beside her.

She removed his coat and stepped into the house, where it was relatively drier than outside, despite the few drops of rainwater leaking through the ceiling. She folded up the coat and placed it on one side, before her eyes scanned the place like they did with everything new she came into contact with. She liked remembering things and saving them for the future. Information was what kept a shinobi alive, and while this was probably irrelevant, it still wouldn't hurt.

Satisfied, she turned around and exited the house. “You've been wonderful company tonight, but I don't think you should walk me back. I'll make it by myself just fine. See you next time, I guess.”

With that, she walked off into the rain, in the direction of the harbor.

“You also have been great company,” he stated as she turned to leave his room. He felt like he had made his first real friend. Eight years had been a long time without knowing anyone but all those feelings and emotions washed away seemingly with the rain. He had a renewed sense of self-worth and confidence he hadn’t had in a long time, and it felt great. He smiled as he remembered something he wanted to say earlier but got a sidetracked.

“As for training, there’s another spot I train at often. There’s a river that runs along the northern end of the village into a dense forest. There is a large clearing I have set up right on the riverside. You will know you’re in the right area when you see a large pointed boulder like an arrowhead, or a sharks tooth. If you cut through the forest there you will find the clearing. It is said the Seven Swordsman used to have meetings and spars there. I set it up for training of all kinds. I am there every morning at five and stay there for twelve hours, with breaks here and there, but never leaving those grounds,” he said letting her in on his somewhat secretive training spot that he had mentioned earlier. If she was serious about training, it was a remarkable place to improve one’s skills.

“I will see you then. Have a safe trip home,” he said as he watched her walk away and fell back into his room closing the door. He was happy and smiling like crazy, he wasn’t alone in this world anymore. He fell onto his mattress and look at the ceiling of his room as he extended his finger and shot electricity into the firewood, igniting it and giving him warmth as he fell asleep.