Author's Notes: This is a fanfic I started ages ago... and somehow it got hosted on another site... but since it was just sitting there, not being reviewed, I decided to chase after it and rewrite the storyline. It's my own story, I guarantee it... and if you want proof, note that "Sephy" was used... I'll even give the addy to the website... and I might even ask the person to take the fanfic down, since I think it's a load of crap... but should you want to read it... The title has changed.

Details about the story: This takes place after the game. There are VERY MANY MANY spoilers... I wanted an OC in here, and originally his name was Shiro or something like that.. which meant "third son" or something. In any event, the name will be different... but how they'll meet? I do not know. I appreciate feedback, yesh!!

Breathe

Lilia lay Rion's body down on the metal grate floor. There was no breath in his body. She couldn't even feel his presence anymore. It was gone. Rion was gone.

The shock had hit her several times during that long hour, just sitting, holding him, rocking him back and forth, hoping against all odds that somehow he may miraculously breathe once more. But that was the cold reality. He wasn't coming back. Not even for a pretty girl named Lilia.

She left him, her hands clasped over her heart tightly. She just stood still, breathing unevenly until she turned and darted out of the room, down the narrow strip of crimson hallways and dark secrets. She burst through into the next room and fell to the floor in tears.

It's funny... she hadn't cried that whole time, holding Rion, but now that she couldn't see him, couldn't touch him, it seemed he was so utterly gone. She beat her hands in a sudden rage, but there was hardly strength left in her to do much. She screamed and wailed and beat on the floor so hard she thought she'd broken her hands.

What had she to live for? Where would she go?

The questions of her fate made short work of Lilia's emotional strength. She's been this strong so far, but now she simply couldn't do it anymore. She couldn't.

Rion was gone.

Long minutes went by, after she lay there quite exhausted. She sniffled, and lifted her eyes, and instantly it occured to her something wasn't right. She couldn't quite explain it, but...

Cain.

In her misery, she failed to notice that his body was gone. Where was he?

She sat up, instantly, and then slowly rose to her wobbly legs, peering around the room. She saw blood on the floor, a trail of it, not a big trail but... enough for her to see that it was leading somewhere. She bit her lip, her heart racing. Cain was still alive?

Part of her was afraid, and part of her was elated. She wasn't really alone. But Cain just might be dying somewhere.

She followed the trail to the shooter, where it sent her back down all the way to the 1st floor. The trail led then to the exit. She followed it, and outside the sky was clear. The rain had disappeared, but the mist had a bright yellow look to it. She hated it, as beautiful as everything was. It was as if the world was celebrating, all but those who were on the losing side, and Lilia.

What's to celebrate if you don't have anyone to celebrate with?

It was harder to follow the trail. How far had Cain gone? The moisture in the air kept the blood from fading. She followed down the street, under the fading street lights. The sun was coming up, casting a buttery gleam on everything... buildings, people, the mist. Even the blood looked beautiful.

Lilia went on, and the trail stopped, but continued in an alley. She stepped into the alley, slowly, her shoes clicking on the ground. She peered around, her honey-colored eyes adjusting to this alcove of darkness. "...Cain... A-Are you here...?"

The darkness hid the evil twin well. He made a noise, in his throat, between a growl and a moan of pain, as though trying to sound threatening was too hurtful. His voice came from the shadows, dark as burning chocolate fudge. "S-So it's the hero's girlfriend... how sweet..come to finish me off...?"

Lilia swallowed, and shook her head. "N-No, I'm not coming to kill you off. I don't have that kind of power. Mine is neutral... It doesn't do a lot.. but it does help..." She strained to see. "P-Please come out..."

For a second, the blob of darkness called Cain didn't move. Then he slid out from his hiding place, into the light that spilled in from the mouth of the alley. His pale skin was even more so, from the loss of blood. The blood stained bright against the side of his face. His eyes, once so brilliant at least an hour before, were now dulled, faded. Lilia didn't need to be a doctor to know he was bleeding to death. And how close was he to short-circuiting his brain?

"There...that..better?" he asked, a sneer to his voice, so much... like Rion's. But there was so much pain it. Defeated. He was beaten back, submissive. He narrowed his eyes suddenly. "...Why isn't..Rion with you? Did he die... just as I sensed his presence disappear..?"

Lilia nodded. She began to relax a little bit. She went forward though. She knew in her mind she had to help him. Cain didn't move, but remained slouched over slightly in the darkness. His hand was pressed against his head, and blood stained his fingers and his hair. He seemed so pitiful, it was a shock to even look at him. He suddenly drew back as she reached out with a handkercheif to wipe the blood away from his face. He hissed at her. "Why are you helping me!? You're the one who killed mother! Because of you, I...I'm....."

"Don't you care about anyone else but yourself!? I didn't want anyone to die! I never wanted to be part of this! But I had to! What choice did I have? It wouldn't be right if I was selfish and decided to run away! And I couldn't let Rion down....." She sounded angry, and defended herself verbally and mentally. But he didn't have that strength, she realized. He couldn't harm a fly even if he tried. "I feel responsible... for everything. I don't like it when people die. Even if you were born from Dorothy, you're still people. And why did you come out here? Look at you... I want to help you... Because if you die, too, I.....I don't know what I....."

Lilia trailed off. She couldn't continue without crying. She could feel the tears burning in her tearducts to come out, but she blinked them back and reached out to clean the blood from his face. She felt so terrible for him. "You need to go to a hospital..."

"NO! I will not!!" he shouted suddenly. He skittered back, but he backed into a trash can and knocked it over, and he fell down with it. He cried out, and held his head slightly. Lilia instantly went to him, and cradled him. "I know some people who will help you... You don't have to go to a hospital. But I know some people who are honest-to-goodness nice who will help you... okay? Just..please..don't die..."

He nodded his head, and fell silent, though he was still alive. For a moment, she thought she saw his eyes brighten, but then he closed them and fell unconscious.

Evening fell like a warm blanket over the weary, relieved city of Michelangelo. Yet, despite the stillness that came with it, people worked very busily in the Marion apartment building on Corelle Street. On the 12th floor, two figures were speaking in the hall outside one of the rooms.

"--pretty far gone."

"Do you think he's going to make it?"

"I'm not sure. Lilia said he was bleeding to death. But for some reason, he's not dying yet. We gave him a transfusion, and for now he's just sleeping."

"He's getting along okay, then?"

"Yes. He's fine. Lilia hasn't got a wink of sleep. Poor girl... I can't help but wonder if she's gotten a wink of sleep or even a bite to eat last time we saw her, 2 weeks ago."

"I should go check on Lilia..."

"No, man. Let her be. She needs to be alone right now..."

The voices trailed away, and meanwhile, in the apartment, in the best bedroom, Lilia was laying on the large queen-sized bed, next to an unconscious Rion look-alike. You wouldn't know it was Cain, because his eyes were green, not blue. But his eyes were closed. Lilia dozed on and off, never ever leaving his side. For some reason, she felt so safe, so secure next to him, even if it wasn't Rion. And Cain was a victim. All the Galerians were victims here. Even the ones that were so evil that there was no turning back to good, if they had any good in them.

The lamp next to her was on a soft setting, so that Cain could sleep without that blinding light. He had a bandage wrapped around his head, to allow the cuts on his head to heal. He looked so terribly peaceful; like the peace that comes with death, he was still, and his breathing was very slow and very discreet.

Lilia reached up a pale slender hand and brushed a piece of hair out of Cain's face. Her heart was pounding. She just didn't... have any idea what to do with him.

Suddenly he murmured, and like an angel ressurrected from the death, with the breath of God in his lungs, he opened his eyes. He could only see out of one, since the other was covered partially with bandage. His one green eye focused, and he slowly took in his surroundings. Then he gazed at Lilia, blinking as he struggled to see her better. Then his thin pale lips twisted into a cold sneer.

"...So you did end up helping me after all..."

Lilia swallowed, and nodded. She smiled. She found it getting easier to smile, but now when he gazed at her like that, she felt the hate just pouring out from that one eye. "Yes..."

"I was hoping that I wouldn't wake up..."

"Don't speak like that! I saved your life! Whether you like it or not, I couldn't let you die..."

"Why?" Cain demanded in a low voice. "You think you save me, it makes it all better? Make you feel good about yourself again? And when I'm better, what then? Why don't we pretend I'm Rion... tell me, you think a ... a thing like me is capable of love? After all that's happened?" He forced out a hoarse laugh. "Sure, sure... you loved Rion... and he's dead now... but don't try to stuff me into that place left in your heart. I won't fill it!"

Lilia's throat temporarily constricted. For a second, she couldn't speak. Then, tears in her eyes, she spat the words out. "What makes you think I love you? Cuz I don't! I don't blame you for Rion's death! I only blame my parents! But I don't hate them either! I don't hate you! Don't try to make me!!"

"You should," Cain insisted in a growl. He rolled his eyes up toward the ceiling, gazing up at it. He closed his eyes and he seemed to be catching his breath. When he could continue, his misery echoed in his voice. "Denial is so evident in you. You don't love me..but you don't hate me. Why are you so upset, Lilia Pascelle?"

"I don't want to see anymore death... Damnit, but Cain, why are you doing this to me? You're dissecting me and I hate it!"

Cain said nothing else. He opened his eyes, and stared at the ceiling with just his one. He smiled slightly, a lazy, tired smile. "Don't you cry for me, Lilia... I'm sure Rion wouldn't want you to cry for him either... Some people are happier dead. And I'm not going to die. It's obvious you won't let me. But I should hope you'll let me sleep." He paused, wetting his lips, then he reached up weakly and touched two fingers to her lips. "So quit your blubbering and be quiet... I'm going back to sleep."

Three days later, Cain woke once more to find food for him, set aside on a tray on the large bed. He sat up, and felt his head, which still had a bandage around it, but it was a smaller bandage. His eyes carefully explored his surroundings, now that he could see by the strengthening daylight. It was a nice room, with soft wood furnishings. You don't find those often in such a high-tech city like Michelangelo City. It gave him the impression that this building was on the fringe of town, built by humans, and humans lived in it.

He began to pick at his food. He was alone, but he could discern voices on the other side of the door. Must be playing poker or something. He heard the jingle of coins, and felt a stab of loneliness. He couldn't help but wonder who they were, and where Lilia was.

Lilia......?

Cain?

"Wh--... you again? Where are you? If you want to talk to me, come into my room... my head hurts from your telepathy!"

I'm...I'm sorry...

He waited, while he picked at his egg and ham sandwich. He didn't know what it was, of course, but then again, he never ate regular human food before. But it was good, and he found himself wanting more once he ate the entire thing.

The sunlight spilled like golden honey into the room. He found himself growing bored quickly. He wanted to move. But his head hurt every time he moved too much or too fast. He realized his clothes were gone, except for a pair of pants he didn't even recognize as his own. Someone must have changed them. Damnit! He hates being unconscious - who knows what people might have done to him?

He pushed his tray aside. Suddenly, his door cracked open, and Lilia's soft voice came to greet him. "...Are you decent?"

What kind of question was that? Maybe she wasn't there when they changed his clothes. She probably thought he was naked. He was sitting up, and his chest was bare. "Well, yeah... I've got pants on. That's enough for now, right?"

Lilia agreed and she came into the room, wearing fresh, new-looking clothes. She wore a soft blue dress, and a navy blue wool coat over that, with boots. She smiled when she saw him, and she seemed relieved that he was moving about better. She walked over to him, and held out a brown paper bag. Smile unfaltering, she spoke, her voice cheery, no trace of tears on her face at all. She seemed to look much more healthy.

"Present for you!"

He took it, slowly, with suspicion. He peered into the bag, and gave a light cry of alarm. He dropped the bag into his lap. "Where did you get this? It smells good... w-what is it?"

"It's a brownie. What, did you think it was a piece of crap?"

"...Yeah..."

Lilia covered her mouth, smirking a little. "Silly...!!"

He began to eat up the brownie with a ravenous hunger, his green eyes glaring at her as he protected the brownie possessively. Lilia thought he looked kind of ridiculous. She then produced a larger, white bag that read "Matron" on it. She put it on the bed and took off her coat, holding it over her arm.

Cain eyed the bag, somewhat tiredly. "No more food.. please--"

"No, no!" Lilia interrupted, shaking her head. "Just look. I bought them for you. Your other clothes were torn and just about falling off of you by the time I brought you here."

As Lilia explained, Cain took hold of the bag and pulled out a few boxes, which contained two pairs of pants, three pairs of T. shirts, and a black leather jacket, also with a box of shoes. All black. Figuring that he liked the coloar, which he did. Smart girl, he thought.

Cain's eyes turned toward her, and he smiled. "Thank you..."

Silence.

Cain cleared his throat. "...Can I get changed?"

"Oh!" Lilia nodded, and hurried to go out of the room. "Yes, yes... I'll just be outside the door. Take your time."

Three minutes later, Cain came out of the room, looking snazzy in his new apparel. He moved around a bit in his clothes. Then he looked at Lilia who was watching the three men play poker around the living room table.

"How'd you know what size I wore, Lilia? Did you use your accursed power, hm?" Cain sneered slightly, looking toward Lilia with a mocking grin.

Lilia stole a look at him. "Yes... Actually, I did. And there's nothing wrong with using my power like that. I'm not hurting anyone."

Cain went 'hmph' to himself, then he leaned against the doorway. "What am I to do now? You going to set me free now? Or keep me a prisoner and feed me brownies and... whatever that was before, for the rest of my miserable days?"

The young girl blushed slightly, as she fought her embarassment. "I'm not sure what to do right now. Dorothy is dead... and so is Rion... I don't know about you, but I'm not going to stay here for very long. I think I may have relatives in Michelangelo City, but I don't want to stay here. I have so many horrible memories in this place..."

"I think I understand. I, too, have so many memories I wish I could bury. There's nothing for me here now... or anywhere, as a matter of fact."

"So where will we go?"

"Damned if I know."

"Let's steal a train to Seleria!"

Cain blinked, looking at Lilia, her out-burst so startling and unpredictable that he didn't know what to say for a few seconds. Then he burst out laughing, cackling so hard he thought his head might burst open again. "Good God, Lilia! What did you just say!?"

"I don't have any more money. I only borrowed some from my friends here. So we'll have to be stowaways."

"Excuse me... 'we'? Since when was I a part of this? You ever considered that I might have my own agenda?"

"Well, what do you have in mind, Mr. Bitter-And-Confused?! You have no friends or family. Like it or not, all you have is me now. And you're stuck with me." With that, Lilia pulled her coat on and went toward the door, calling over her shoulder to the three men playing poker. "I'm leaving now, Uncle Darl. You probably won't see me again, but I just wanted to thank you for being so kind to me!"

Cain's eyes seemed to gleam a bit from slight anger. He knew she was right. There was no one else but him and Lilia. This strange young girl who had brought him in and made him better. She seemed determined to shine him up so he'd sparkle like a new dime. What else was there to say? Fate had dealt him a decent hand of cards; who was he to deny the luck he's had so far?

At the trainstation, the large clock struck noon. Cain snuck along behind Lilia who led the way. She obviously seemed to know her way around quite well. They took the darker parts of the trainstation to reach their destination. Lilia had found a train for them that would take them to Seleria, and it left at 12:15. It took time for the people to check the cars, and make sure the passenger's pass-ports were valid. It only was a matter of waiting until the right moment to jump on the train, just before it would move off.

Trains of this day and age were high-tech, yet still there were plenty of ways to stow yourself away on one. Underneath each individual car, there was a platform, enough for small children like Lilia or Cain to slide onto. Then, above that, on the floor of the train there was a metal plate that was bolted to the bottom of the car. The plan was to slide underneath, and Cain would then demonstrate his psychic abilities by the simple task of unscrewing the bolts, and moving the plate out of the way, allowing them access into the car above.

Cain crouched close to Lilia, watching the train from the shadows of a little niche in a wall somewhere. He had already discarded his bag for a decent bagpack just lying in the street on the way here. Lilia checked the large clock up on the wall behind them, until she pulled on Cain's sleeve. She whispered to him, her warm breath fanning against his cheek.

"It's time. Let's go!"

They made across the platform toward the car they had chosen, like two cats in the darkness. It was shaded and cool in the train station, and there weren't many people leaving Michelangelo City, but the darkness was enough so they could get past without detection.

Lilia went first, and then Cain. She moved over, allowing him some room. He searched for the plate, then he reached out his hand toward it, and all the screws at once began to unscrew. Suddenly a loud HISS exploded near them, and Lilia nearly cried out, had Cain not reached over to cover her mouth. Then he continued to unscrew the bolts, until they dropped out, one by one. Then he blew the plate away from the floor.

"Go. Up." He pointed, barely audible over the sudden noise that the train started to create. He slid over, and Lilia crawled her way up through the narrow square hole in the floor, then she reached down a hand to help him up as well.

They sat, crouching and shivering, while the noise went on. They felt the sudden jerk of the train, and instantly Cain was relieved. He sagged against a crate near him, and closed his eyes.

"Thank God... I thought we might have been caught," he breathed.

"Nonsense. I've done this many times before... except I had to unscrew the bolts the hard way." She flashed him a smile, and he grinned back, although he was now uncertain.

He could only go where the rails of this train would take him. Fate gave him this wonderful, strange girl, yet at the same time stolen away his only family. Now where would his meaningless life lead? As a child of a machine, what could this world possibly have to offer him now?