I sat alone as I thought of where Dongju could've ended up. Why did he run off? We all know it wasn't the first time, so why was now any different? My mind drifted back to when he said he'd protect me and would find me. I should at least do the same for him. I made up my mind and hurried in the direction he took off in.

It wasn't too hard to track him down as his powers still seemed to be on the fritz. I hopped over a fallen tree then heard faint sobbing. I hurried over then felt sadness wash over me. I had never seen Dongju look so...defeated. I quietly walked closer then made my presence known. I thought he'd pretend as if he wasn't crying, but he simply just got quieter.

"Don-" I started before he suddenly ran into my arms.

I became flustered at his sudden action and didn't know what to do. This wasn't like Dongju at all. It started making me suspicious. I pushed him away then pointed a sharp icicle at him.

"You're not him are you?" I said with a wary tone.

"Huh? What do you-" he started, but I simply moved closer.

"Reveal yourself." I warned. It couldn't trick me. I knew the type of person Dongju was.

He sighed then revealed his true form. I didn't know what it was as I never studied shapeshifters before.

"Mighty perceptive aren't you? Just how well do you know this person?" the fleshless matter asked with interest.

I attacked it, but it swiftly dodged each and every one. It tsked at me while it sat up in a tree.

"You really-" it started then noticed the dark holes surrounding it. "You...you can't be."

"Yes I fucking am. Where is he?" I asked, feeling impatient.

"He's farther in. Don't hurt me, okay?" it pleaded as it looked at the dark holes.

"Thank you." I said nicely before watching the holes tear it apart.

I hurried in the direction it pointed in and saw Dongju curled into himself. I walked over to him and watched as he lifted his head.

"You-" he started, but I hugged him without warning.

"Don't run away. Just tell us and we'll do our best to help you. You mean more to us than you realize." I said softly into his back.

"I just...I don't want to hurt anyone. It's only going to get worse from here." he said as his voice cracked.

"Then I'll stop it. I'm your balance, aren't I?" I said as a small smile formed on my face.

"But how? I don't even know myself." Dongju said with concern.

"This may seem far fetched but, I feel that if I touch you with the intent of quelling your power, it will." I said then looked at him for a reaction.

He touched my cheek and I suddenly felt an immense amount of power flowing through me. We stared at each other, waiting for the other to speak.

"I feel a lot stronger..." I said in a whisper.

I don't know why I whispered, but he seemed to have heard me.

"Then your thought is correct. So, you don't have to kiss me anymore." said Dongju with a half hearted smile.

"That's true." I replied then felt the power surge disappear.

I pulled away, but he pulled me back. I pulled away and he simply pulled me back. I gave him a weird look to which he responded with a smirk. I opened my mouth to ask him, but he covered my mouth.

"Can we just stay like this?" Dongju said quietly.

"Eh, this isn't like you...Are you another shapeshifter?" I asked worriedly.

"Shapeshifter?" he asked.

"Yeah...It impersonated you." I said while pulling on his face.

"Ah, a herro*. Well, if I was, you wouldn't exactly be alive right now." he said flatly. "And in all honesty, I just want to be alone with you for a bit. I don't know if we'll ever get a chance like this again."

I looked at him in surprise and felt my heart flutter a bit. He wanted to be alone with me? I didn't mind it, but I was curious about his intentions.

"Suddenly you want to be around me? After keeping me at arms length?" I asked curiously.

"What are you trying to say? That I have feelings for you or something?" said Dongju with his arms crossed.

"Well, that's the only reasonable conclusion. Unless you're telling me that you just want to hang out with a friend one on one." I replied with a sigh.

"Geon!" a voice called out.

I heard Dongju suck his teeth then move away from me. He subtly confirmed my suspicions, but I was still a bit doubtful. Even if he did like me, that didn't mean he wanted to be with me. Youngjo ran over to us with the other three trailing behind.

"He's okay, so lets get back on track." I said with a smile.

ㅂㅂㅂㅂ

Seoho nudged me to get my attention.

"You're really something. I really can't believe it. Not only are you a spacial, but you're also a ni*." he said while shaking his head. "Spacials are rare, but ni are more rare than that. So you're like, the ultimate rare."

I heard a commotion going on behind us, so I turned around to see what was up.

"Woah, what happened to Hwanwoong?" I asked as I joined them on the ground.

"I suddenly couldn't breathe..." Hwanwoong said then looked at Youngjo. "What did you do to me?"

We all looked at Youngjo who looked confused and close to tears.

"I didn't do it. I swear. I just brushed his neck and he just..." he said in a raised voice.

"Youngjo...touch my neck." I said then slightly lifted my head.

"Youngjo, no-" Dongju shouted, but he had already touched my neck.

a/n: herro - a blue matter that takes the silhouette of a human and can shapeshift into anything it desires, from a blade of grass to an incuel/succel.