The thugs lunged forward, swinging their clubs with their brute strength. Red and Sita bared their fangs, their claws sliding from their sheathes, as they slowly circling the enemy. Red growled, and the thugs glanced at each other nervously. Then, the two beasts struck.
 Sita swiped her claws across one's chest, and they came away coated in blood. The thug groaned and stumbled back, kicking at her. One kick landed solidly against her underside, and she winced painfully. Then she pounced at him, slashing down his face. His eyes bulged, then he put his hands against his face, and ran out of the room, screaming in pain.
 Red bit down hard on another thug's leg. He could taste the rusty tang of blood in his mouth, and he let go. The man clutched his wounded appendage and fell to the floor, dropping his club with a clatter.
 Cloud had disarmed the last one, and they were exchanging blows with their fists. He punched the thug in the gut, and the air rushed from his lungs, but the man still stayed on his feet. He let fly with an uppercut that narrowly missed Cloud's jaw, then he leapt forward and tackled him.
 The thug hit him in the face, then Cloud heard a sickening thud.  The thug's eyes rolled back into his skull, and he collapsed like a limp rag doll. Tifa stood above him, casually spinning a nightstick in her hand.
 "Thanks Tifa," said Cloud gratefully, rubbing his jaw. "I'll be feeling this tomorrow......."
 "Are you all right?" Red said to Sita.
 "I thought I told you to leave me alone!" she said through gritted teeth.
 Red frowned. "But.....you're hurt......."
 "Just.....just shut up!" she yelled. Tifa watched them with concern, then she pushed the feeling into the back of her mind, concentrating on the situation.
 "They've probably seen us on the cameras. We've got to get outta here!"
 They dashed out of the door, then they found their way back up to the staircase. In no time they were back in the dining room, among the rich bluebloods. Tifa noticed several more guards in suits, holding radios and nightsticks.
 "Try to look inconspicuous......" she whispered, but it was too late. Several more of them fanned out, trying to surround them. Cloud tried to watch them, but they quickly disappeared among the sea of heads. Then, one of them appeared behind him.
 Cloud spun around, his roundhouse kick hitting him in the side. He sprawled to the ground, out of the fight for the moment. Tifa had knocked down another with a series of punches and hits from her club, her martial arts training serving her well. The crowd of guests had scattered in terror, making it easier for the guards to find them.
 Red and Sita both found themselves surrounded. Red rushed at them, and he swiped at one with his claws. The guard screamed and ran, blood pouring from his chest and arm. The other one ran at him from his blind side, but Red was prepared. He kicked at him with his back legs, hitting the guard in the jaw and sending him flying into the air.
 Sita, however, was not so fortunate. She was being forced into a corner by three of them. She growled menacingly, but the guards kept coming. One raised his club, and struck her.
 "Aaaghh!" she cried, the intense pain shooting through her body.
 "Sita!" shouted Red. "Don't hurt her!" he snarled, running towards them. Just as another guard swung his club, Red stepped in the way, and it hit him on the back. He shut his eye, trying to hold back a cry of pain.
 "Sita......." Red groaned, but she wasn't listening. She pounced on one of them, raking away at him. Blood splattered on the walls and floor as he screamed in agony.
 Red roared, the pure hot rage boiling through him at seeing Sita be mercilessly beaten. He tore open a guard's throat, and he tumbled to the floor with a gurgle, landing in a pool of his own blood. The last guard, seeing his comrade's gory demise, dropped his club and ran.
 "More guards are coming," said Cloud. "Let's go." He and Tifa both ran for the entrance. Red and Sita followed them, but Sita ran much faster than Red, trying to get away from him. They dashed down the steps, where their limousine was waiting.
 "Where to, sir?" asked the chauffeur.
 "Anywhere! Just drive!!" exclaimed Cloud, as another group of guards chased them down the steps. Cloud practically threw the others inside, then slammed the door shut. As soon as he was inside, the driver gunned the engine. The tires squealed on the pavement, and the limousine raced away into the darkness.

 "Sita, how does your back feel?" asked Tifa.
 "A little sore," she replied, "but I'll manage."
 "How about you, Red? That guy hit you pretty hard," she inquired, turning to face him.
 "I'm all right," he mumbled.
 The limousine whispered to a stop, and they got out to walk the rest of the way back to the villa.
 "You should be thanking Nanaki," said Cloud. "He was very brave to do that." Sita remained silent. Ahead of them, coming from the darkness, were two people. When the got near, they waved.
 "There's Tobias and Marlene," said Tifa. Sita's eyes widened.
 "Grandpa!" she called, sprinting ahead. He beamed at her, and crouched down to hug her around the neck as she skidded to a halt, her tail wagging happily.
 "Oh, Sita!!! I've never been so happy to see you in my entire life!! Are you OK?!"
 "I'm all right, Grandpa! Cloud and his friends rescued me," she explained, then she noticed Marlene. "Hello there!" she said in a friendly voice.
 "Hi," said Marlene uncertainly. "Are you Naki's friend?" Sita's smile faded slightly.
 "I'm glad all of you are all right," Tobias said. "Let's go back to the villa now." Everyone agreed, and they started walking through the cold and dark streets.
 Red and Sita trailed slightly behind the others. He began to walk closer to her, and when she noticed, she walked faster to catch up. Red sped up as well, trying desperately to talk to her. Finally, Sita realized she'd had enough. She snarled and scratched him across the leg.
 "Don't you get it?" she yelled. "I don't like you! I hate you! So......just get out of my face, or I'll make a mess out of your other eye!" A trickle of blood seeped into Red's fur. Tobias glared angrily at her.
 "Sita! Apologize this instant!"
 "No! No way, Grandpa! He's one of......he's one of them!" she protested.
 "What do you mean by that?" Red questioned. "We're both the same race!" Sita stared coldly at him.
 "How dare you....." she hissed. "How dare you lower me to your level!"
 "Sita, Red, please stop this!!" implored Tifa.
 "I'll never stop........his people left me to die........" she muttered. "I'll never, ever forgive them......."
 "I did not do that," replied Red calmly. "Our people would never do that. Listen to what your grandfather has to say, because what he says is the truth."
 "SHUT UP!" she screamed, lunging at his throat.
 "Stop it, stop it, stop it!!!" sobbed Marlene, running over to Red's side. "Don't hurt Naki!!"
 "Marlene........" sighed Red.
 "Naki is my friend! He didn't do anything to you, so why did you hurt him?" asked Marlene, the tears streaming down her face. "He just wants to be your friend, so why can't you be his friend too!?"
 "Marlene," said Red sadly, "it's okay. If it makes you happy, Sita, then I'll.......I'll just leave." He turned slowly, and walked into the darkness.
 "Red!" called Tifa, her voice filled with despair. "Please, don't go!!" He turned, and looked back.
 "I'm sorry, Tifa, Cloud," he said solemnly, then he prowled away.
 There was near-total silence, the exception being Marlene's bitter wailing. She ran over and hugged Tifa around the leg, and she patted the crying girl on the back.
 "Why won't he come back!!?" Marlene bawled.
 "Sita........." said Tobias calmly. "Please listen to me." He cleared his throat, and locked his eyes on her. "I have something very, very important to tell you."

 Her throat was raw from crying, her eyes red from her tears. Sita sat, alone, in the living room of Cloud and Tifa's villa. Her necklace lay on the table, shining dully in the moonlight that streamed through the window. She had taken it off and tossed it there, but she wasn't sure why. Maybe she wanted to be rid of anything that reminded her of her mother and father.
 That's enough of that... she thought. You were wrong. For your entire life, the one thing you knew was right was a lie. And look at who you've hurt, you fool!
 The look in her grandfather's eyes as he told her the truth was engraved in her memory. They were sad, betrayed eyes.
 How could you do that to him!? He's the one who raised you!
 "Sita...are you okay?"
 "Who's that?" she asked hoarsely.
 "It's me....Marlene. I heard you crying."
 "You should be in bed, it's very late." Sita raised her head slightly. "I want to be alone."
 "I can't sleep." She shut her eyes. "I'm worried about Naki... do you know where he went?"
 "No, I don't," Sita mumbled. "I wish I did, though." Marlene frowned.
 "You hate him, don't you? Why do you want to know where he is? So you can hurt him more?!"
 "No!!" she said sharply. "That's all over with now, got it?!"
 Marlene gasped, and Sita felt a pang of guilt.
 She's just a little kid...you don't have to be so harsh.
 "I-I'm sorry...it's just I...!"
 "Naki's feeling lonely. He wants to talk to you, so you should go and look for him. He likes you a lot!" The little girl laughed, and picked up Sita's pendant from the table. "I'll put this on you, so you look pretty. Okay?"
 "Yes, thank you," she said, smiling for the first time in what seemed like days. She heard a tiny click as Marlene fastened the clasp at the back. Then there was the familiar feeling of the green gem resting on her chest.
 "Now you head off to bed, okay? I'll see you tomorrow..." she said.
 "Okay, but you promise to find him..."
 "Don't worry, I will. I promise."

 I was naive to think she would want to be with me.
 Red absently put his paw into the water, allowing the sand to wash between his toes. Aside from him, the beach was totally empty. The moon and stars glittered brilliantly off the ocean, and a gentle breeze whistled through his fur. Yet not even the beautiful scenery could lift his spirits.
 Long life is nothing but a curse now. I'll live my life alone, and die alone.
 He thought momentarily of Cloud and Tifa.
 What have I done to them? I've been so selfish, leaving them and hurting them. It must be painful to watch a friend walk away. I'll never be forgiven.......
 Just then, he caught a trace of Sita's scent on the wind. He turned his head.
 "Nanaki...." she said, smiling weakly. "I'm sorry." She put her head on his shoulder, and he returned the gesture. "Please, forgive me..."
 "I already have," he said.