Chapter 0: Silver Lining~ "Her smile."

A/N: Hey everyone this is Katel (and my amazing Aniki Warlord of the West)s collaboration, and this story is a sequel to the one-shot "Need Me", Jo and Sei have just started to realize their feelings for each other. This is Jo x Sei. Non-canon (or so they say). Yuri~

Disclaimer: I do not own Burst Angel. If I did the manga would have much more Jo/Sei moments, and Sei's character would have been looked into more. On the bias of being a JoSei fan, I have to say the ending was depressing but overall touching, Jo would go to lengths for her leader =D.

-I love you? Need..you?-

It was a regular mission just like any other. Jo and Meg were working on reconnaissance and information gathering while the rest of the group stayed at their 'home'. Sei was mustering over some old paperwork when she heard someone lightly tap on the door.

"Come in, " her softly sweet voice came out.

Kyo opened the door uneasily. It was apparent by his beaming face he was emphatic about something, though he was desperately trying to mask his emotions as he ambled up to Sei's desk.

"Sei, I don't mean to intrude but I was wondering if I might be able to leave early today."

"Oh, and why would that be?" her voice was merely coy and curious not demanding.

"Well...I already prepared everyone's dinner and I was hoping on meeting a classmate later today." his

"Studying together?"

"No, not quite." His face drew red as the question seemed to pierce his resolve. "I just was planning on seeing them since we don't have much time to talk very often at school."

"I understand, don't worry about it. You are free to go on the condition you don't end up abandoning us to become their cook." Sei smiled warmly, as warmly as she could. She was a mature and serious woman, but she always made an effort to appear endearing to Kyo; he was one of the best cooks she had had in a long time. Some called him a 'pansy' or 'coward' but he's stuck to his position, and gave an effort, she's missed seeing in all her previous chefs.

"Thank you Ma'am, I really appreciate it. I will be sure to cook your favorite tomorrow to make it up to you."

"Have a nice-" Before, Sei could even speak Kyo dashed out the office, leaving the door ajar. It was more than obvious whoever he was meeting was of great importance to him.

Sei reminisced briefly about the rush of emotion and growth she went though as a youth of Kyo's age and the hardships and unforgettable memories she had. She had little doubt he was heading on a date. So she was only 19 ,her youth had been removed and deemed "unneeded" from the time her grandfather chose her to become a part of Bai Lang. Normal teenage worries faded out for her. Dating, meeting people without ulterior motives. Even the "family" she had now was brought together by a give and take partnership.

It is not something that she had abhorred; her job responsibilities simply dictated she could not afford to become close to anyone in that kind of a relationship; as a mercenary, she had to be logical, and focused, something she felt was required but left her heart lacking.

"We're just about wrapped up over here; we'll be heading back in a bit." The cold, emotionless voice of an angel of death coursed through the transceiver, her face as usual apathetic. A jolt shot through Sei's mind, as if her eyes opened.

Her team; she could lie all she liked about how she can't have relationships due to her job, but undeniably she was fond of her crew. She mulled over how her family of fortune slowly grew and how eventually they harbored a harbinger of death. Sleek and slender silver locks and lifeless smoldering eyes adorned the face that both drew respect and fear from everyone. Sei lost count long ago how many times she felt indebted to Jo's actions to help the team.

To call it admiration would be an understatement; Jo was everything Sei wished to be and attain: strong resolve, elegance in body and mind, but a steely will whose course of action was undeniable. Sei felt close to all her crew, but Jo was without mistake different somehow.

"Nice work, Jo." Sei called back towards her computer system, communicating to her "best girl." She could almost hear the pouting coming from Jo's line.. and was that Jo's laughter?

Sei reclined in her seat, filing the paperwork, waiting for the team to come barging in, Meg to contend that she was essential to the reconnaissance mission, and how her and Jo were a perfect tea-

A team, something Sei would like to have with Jo. No, that wasn't it, Jo was her teammate, but it somehow didn't feel right nor the same. She was almost certain that Meg and Jo were far closer than that, but sometimes the solitude of her office made her wish to be a bit closer too.

Her eyes glanced upon the computer, and without much though she scanned through the files of the next person, if that could apply to the creatures they have witnessed, that would cause harm to Tokyo. Then there was Jo. She was an angel. An angel of death, but still an angel. Sei can not remember the last time she felt so driven. She had to find her, just a picture in her files and as much information as she could grasp. Jo was needed.

Jo seemed as if she would go anywhere with her partner. Meg was harder to convince that Jo would be living with someone else other than her. Sei had yet to grasp such jealousy. Its not as though Sei was entirely crazy over Jo. Not at first. Finding her was like a mission.

Sei yawned stretching back into her chair, as she heard the sound of the door being slammed open by Meg.

"Were back! I can't wait to actually have some food in my system I'm starved!" she called out with her usual enthusiasm though she all but collapsed into her seat. Sei walked into the main dining room of their 'home.' Smiling at Meg, a small smirk forming its way to her lips.

"He's out on a date." Sei said, her grin bearing. "We have plenty of food left over from last nights meal, all you need to do is warm it up."

"A date! How does a date suddenly give him time away from his job!" Sei breathed out forming a small sympathetic smile towards the girl. Hunger really can get the better of people. Deep down though Meg did have a heart for others, they just never were in the same place Jo was.

After their meal, Sei mentally decided to go back to her "office" to study more on the creature/monster they needed to abort.

Before she could turn on her heel, away from another scene of Meg clinging to her partners arm and cuddling up to the face of apathy, Jo responded. "You're not afraid are you?" It made her body turn around, looking at those crimson eyes.

Ah, the movie. Sei couldn't help it as she placed her palm over her mouth, her voice expressing much needed laughter. "Hardly, Jo. I've seen enough mutants already for a lifetime." The mercenaries eyes were stuck on her, even while her much loved friend clung to her arm, as the title sequence started.

It was a long pause, Jo's eyes communicating words that Sei would need several days to fully grasp. "Alright then." her voice, a bit softer, defeated? Though her trade-mark smirk returned.

"Good night, Sei." Jo's voice carried over in what felt like hours on earth. It was simple, short and Jo being.. Jo.

"Good night girls! I'll see you early tomorrow morning, alright!" Meg smiled a bit, before clenching her jaw a little as the first 'victim' showed onto the screen of their TV. Jo stared into her. Everything felt frozen, as long as her gaze could hold. This is what an Angel of death was like on her side, she couldn't imagine the fear being against her. It was terrifying. That same smirk returned to her.

Amy came into the kitchen around the time Sei set to leave, her eyes looked bloodshot. Too much time staring at video games... "Hi Sei,!" the youngest member greeted with an energy purely reserved for her. Jo's gaze left the movie, swiftly at Amy.

"Uh.. Horror movies again? I might pass!" Amy laughed a little her eyes shining towards Sei. Her idol in many aspects. Jo looked unamused and simply waited for her leader's response.

"I'm going to call it a night girls." Sei announced again, finally noticing the chilling stare of those deep red eyes onto her. She was waiting patiently.

"Good night, Amy, Meg-" her voice caught itself before she looked directly into Jo's eyes. Time reversed itself, and Sei tried her best not to reflect on that shivering feeling all across her body. She was not a child anymore, only biologically a teenager but still, she did not have the time to look too deep into things. At last she breathed. "Jo." her voice was less confidant then she thought, she turned on her heel as soon as she felt her will come in to pull away from Jo's gaze.

She was afraid is she looked back she would be immobilized. It was hard to think tonight, their very introverted chef was going out on a date, would continue through this to live a semi-normal life..and could very well fall in love with the woman he met.

Her team wasn't like that. Anything outside of Bai-Lang was un-needed. She repeated in her mind, as she walked herself into her bedroom, enjoying the silence. She had never needed someone. Never needed anyone as much as her team..her family. Yet what held it together, was certainly Jo she had a strength unlike any fighter she has ever encountered.

What seemed like a mere tool became progressively more intimate even if they did only share a few conversations. Mainly involving their missions or them arguing amongst one another who's form of justice is truly right.

Sei could not keep reflecting on Jo, her gaze..and the rarity of a smile. All three things made her invincible for Sei to give up on. No matter what Jo had done to effect her life, she could never strike any nerve to truly feel disdain.

A chill aggravated through Sei's body in the night as her sat on the edge of her bed, clinging her fingernails into the soft comforter. The way her eyes held onto her. It was something she hoped would never come up again.

Why did Jo bring out every possible emotion in Sei? Even ones she thought never should have existed. Around one another there was always a spark.

The leader had come to many conclusions in her brain, but there was a chance..Jo wanted her to watch with her? To be around her more?

I should have watched the stupid movie..Sei convinced herself. Maybe then she could think of something other then Jo, her eyes, and how the hell she could break away from their hold?

A/N: The next chapter will be briefly descriptive of "Need Me" where Jo and Sei start to realize their own feelings..but it will go on into Jo's Point of View. :)