Along the shores of Tokyo...

June 28th, 2035 4:00 PM

Yuuki's POV

I decided to get away from the city, and take a walk on the beach. I need to get away from the violence and other s**t that's been going on for the past few hours.

The beach.... so many good memories as a child remain here....

I sat down, and watched the sun slowly set... but then I noticed something, or rather somebody, washed up on the shore.

I stood up, and ran over to see if they're all right.

Once I reached the person, I hesitated.

'What if he's faking? What if he tries to kill me?' I thought, taking my gun out.

I grabbed his shoulder, and flipped him over. I examined his face.

He has slightly tanned skin, short black hair that splits from the middle, and.... I think he's Canadian.... I think.

I pressed my ear against his chest. He"s breathing, but its weak.

I pressed his chest, saying: "One, two, three." And pressing my lips against his, and gave him CPR. I repeated this process three times, before he started coughing.

He then... vomited up water.... and.... Is that.....blood?

He knelt on one knee, panting. Then, he stood up, saying "Courtney.... I.... Will...... Save.... You......" I gripped his shoulder, and tried to shake him out of it, and noticed his eyes.....

They were pitch white...

Amazing... I've been told that martial artists have been unconscious, and still to fight, but this... incredible. His will to save...Courtney... must have kept him going. Amazing endurance...

I never thought that I would see this.

He pushed me aside, and kept saying that same phrase.

After he took a few steps, he collapsed.

I walked up to him, and knelt down to pick him up, when I heard gunshots in the distance. Along with laughter, drunken slurs, and bottles smashing.

"S**t. I have to get him away from here." I exclaimed, quietly. I picked him up, and pulled him behind a nearby building. I laid him down where we cannot be seen.

The bandits passed by, without even noticing us. I let out a relieved sigh.

"That was too close." I whispered.

I lifted him up, and carried him home.

4 hours later...

Justin's POV

"Courtney..... Courtney....." I murmured.

"Courtney!!" I called, snapping forward. F**k! My wounds! I opened my eyes, and looked at my right side.

As soon as I looked there, I noticed that bandages are wrapped around my torso. I wonder.....

"You're awake." I turned around, and looked for the source of the voice.

"Did I disturb you? Were you dreaming of a friend?" I tried to look around again. Am I hearing things?

I felt a finger press against my lips, as a face slowly appeared out of thin air.

"Shhh.... You're supposed to rest. Your wounds." She pointed at my side bandages, which now has fresh blood seeping into it.

"Lay back, and rest. I'll take care of you." She said, slowly pushing me, until I laid flat.

"Are you a ghost?" I asked, as my head rested against the pillow.

"No. I'm just like you. A mutant." She said, fully appearing. I've seen some pretty girls before, but this girl.... she takes the whole cake!

Her black hair reaches her hips, and her eyes seemed to faintly glow red, in the moonlight. I also noticed the scar on her left cheek. Her skin is a little lighter that Courtney's. She wore a white tank top, black cargo pants, and combat boots.

"You think I'm beautiful, don't you?" She asked, pulling her hair into a bun, and placing two sticks in it.

"Maybe." I said, half grinning. She chuckled.

"I'm sorry. It's just that a lot of men tend to be attracted to my body, not who I am." She said, embarrassed and blushing.

"I think you're beautiful. It's just that I don't know you well enough." I grinned. She chuckled again.

"You're smarter then I thought. I'm Yuuki." She held out her hand.

"Justin Williams. Lovely to meet you, Yuuki." I said, shaking her hand.

"Likewise." She said, smiling.

Meanwhile in Austrailia.....

Courtney's POV

I know that Justin is out there....

I know he's coming. I just know it. I went inside, and closed the Vault door behind me. It closed with a loud hiss.

"Courtney? Are you ok?" Borko asked, concerned.

"I... I just..." I stammered.

"You miss Justin, don't you?" He asked.

"Yeah.... Usually we send messages to each other, or talk on FaceTime, but.... now that the phones are down.... I....." Tears streamed down my cheeks.

Borko approached me, and carefully wrapped his arms around me.

"He'll be fine. I'm sure of it. Now, lets go eat something. I'm starving."

Back to Japan.....

Justin's POV

"So, you're a bounty hunter?" I asked.

"Yeah. Been doing it for a year now. What about you?" She asked.

"Me? Well, usually I take odd jobs. You know, just to make an extra bit of money. And, I'm a champion sword fighter." I said, grinning.

"Really? Where's your trophy? Or your belt?" She asked, curiously.

"That." I said, pointing at Dragon's Tooth. "Is my trophy."

"Wow." She said, unsheathing it.

"What a beautiful blade." She said, examining it.

"Not as beautiful as you." I muttered. I cleared my throat, and said "I was going to name it Sylvia, but I changed it to Dragon's Tooth." I informed her.

"Why?" She asked.

"It's very strong, and has never been scratched, nicked, or dirty ever since I had it. Five years now." I answered.

"Makes sense." She said, sheathing it. She placed it down onto a table.

"So, how did I end up here? In Japan?" I asked, looking outside.

I heard a SCRITCH as Yuuki lit up a lantern. "I found you along the beach a few blocks from here. And you probably don't remember this, but you began mumbling something about a girl named Courtney." She said and placed a lantern onto a hook on the ceiling.

"You also managed to stand and begin walking, unconscious, despite your wounds. After that, I brought you here, and treated your wounds." She said, sitting down.

"Wow. So now I'll be staying here with you, huh? Can you do me a favour?" I asked.

"Heh heh. I just saved your life, and now you're asking me a favour? How ironic." She stated.

"Yeah, I know. Just hear me out." I replied.

"All right. Shoot."

"I need a boat, so I could go to Australia to help my friend, Courtney. She's very close to me." Yuuki then leaned over to me, and said "Is she your lover?" She said, smiling.

My face reddened, and I replied "No! No! No! She's not my girlfriend! Why does everybody think that? She's my best friend! Nothing more!" I said, waving my hands.

She began laughing, and after that, she said "Relax. I'm just having some fun with you. Actually, I'm quite jealous of you." She said, leaning on her hands.

"Why?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, all of my friends were either killed, or they managed to get out of Japan. I...." She trailed off, looking at the stars.

I stood, and walked over to her. When I was behind her, I gently placed my hand on her shoulder. She looked up at me, with tear filled eyes.

"Your wounds..." She said, standing up.

I pulled her into a hug, and said "Your well-being is more important." I said, trying not to wince and tear up.

"Justin...." Said, embracing my hug.

I held her shoulders, and said.

"Now, tell me. What happened?"

She wiped away her tears, and said

"Well, my mother, father and I were trying to find a way out of her, but a group of bandits came..... And...." She began sobbing.

"They killed my parents... And they..... Did things to me....." She sobbed, leaning onto my shoulder. "I understand." I said, rubbing her back.

"Do you think.... do you think that I could sleep with you tonight?" She said, hesitantly.

I thought for a moment, and said "Yeah." She smiled and said "Thanks."

We both laid down, held each other, and went to sleep