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Aria looked up at the canopy of stars, dangling tauntingly above her. She found herself reaching for the flickering dots in the sky, but they seemed to float away from her, wavering as if they were laughing. Aria sighed, a mist forming in the cold night air. She turned in her little bed of grass and dew. Staying outside like this was not her idea of a perfect, normal night. She had been dumped here.

Aria hoisted herself up, pushing against the ground with all her might. She looked down at her motionless legs. She trembled as the memory once again tangled her thoughts.

A small girl of no more than 7 ran outside, jumping and playing with her 'friends'.

"Bet you can't catch us!"

"Bet you I can!"

She ran after them, smiling and laughing. She looked across a small alleyway. The outline of one of the girls vanished around a corner. As soon as she turned the corner, she smiled as she found the girls.

"See! I told you I could find you!"

One of the girls smiled, then spoke in a cold voice.

"But you'll never catch us."

Only then did the seven year old girl realize that one of her 'friends' were missing. A screech of rubber on cement startled her. When she turned, she saw a car, being driven by that girl.

The petite child jumped, trying desperately to avoid it.

Her life was spared, but her life was changed.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Aria shook her head, still trembling from the memory. You would think that 14 years later, the memory would no longer haunt her. But it did. It tormented her.

"Well hello there, beautiful."

A man appeared, alcohol on his breath.

"Stay away from me!"

"You sure you don't need me to help you, little lady?"

Another man appeared from the corner of her vision.

"No! Go away! HELP!"

She closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable. There were thuds and groans as two pairs of footsteps fled.

When she opened her eyes, she saw another strange figure. He reached out his hand, offering to help her up.

Aria shook her head.

"I cannot stand. My legs are paralyzed."

The man nodded and picked her up, bridal style.

"Hold on tight."

Aria nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck.

The man ran and leaped into the air. He leapt from building to building, finally landing on her balcony.

"Here you go."

Aria opened her eyes as he entered her apartment. He gently laid her on her bed and pulled the covers up over her.

"Th-thank you."

The figure nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait!"

It turned back, tilting its head.

"If it's not too much trouble... Could you spend the night with me? I feel safer when you are here."

"...Very well."

"Also... Could I have your name?"

"...Noir. Fox Noir."

"Ah! You're the-"

"Yes. The 'hero' that has been in the news? It is me."

"I-I'm so sorry! I didn't recognize your mask!"

He had a black mask and a black suit. Noir also had what appeared to be a fedora and a cape, also black in color.

He had orange, fox-like eyes.

Eyes that pierced her heart.

She shook her head in disbelief.

This was going to be interesting, to say the least.