[Around Moon-Era]

He felt warm arms wrap around him from behind. Startled, he looked over his shoulder; Cha's dark eyes stared back at him. Masa sighed and looked back to the stars and sighed, leaning into the older man's embrace. The guitarist in turn leaned forward, wrapping his arms tighter around the youth, and pressed his cheek against the other's.

"How long did it take you to build up your courage to come out onto the balcony with me?"

"Not long enough, to be honest. But you're my chief concern at the moment. My blind terror can come later."

They sat in silence then for a time, staring at the night sky and the stars, which twinkled from so high in the heaves, looking down upon the grief of mortals, and laughed. Cha sighed. "You don't shine, Masa..."

The youth shifted, uncomfortable. "What do you mean?"

"You don't shine - your fire's going out." The older man moved his head to the youth's shoulder. "You have to get away Masa, far away, from all of us so you can burn bright again."

Masa felt tears welling in his eyes once again. "You...you want me to leave?"

"Yes. For your sake."