AUTHORS NOTE: Please excuse any mistakes and strange word-phrasings, as English is not my.. first born :) Should any of it really hurt your eyes – let me know and I'll fix it!

Jada

Numb annoyance buzzes at the back of my head, as Ryodan keeps sitting behind his desk, doing paper work. Again. Didn't even give me a peek as I sneaked into his office. I bear no illusions he did not notice me. It does irritate though, how transparent his intentions are, acting as though to be caught by surprise, thinking I'll let my guard down. Fool. Now I stand right in front of him, arms folded, precisely two meters away from the desk and he still pretends to be swallowed in work. I watch his dark head through narrowed eyes. His wide shoulders are relaxed and slightly down, careless. Bent at the elbows, he slowly slides a pen across the white sheets, writing something patiently, almost bored. The muscles of his forearm ripple smoothly with each move. My teeth clench. I know this sight. Irritation builds up in me further. When this happens, there is only one possible outcome and I have no intention of controlling it – full-blown explosion of spite, the savagery of which can only be eased by the sight of blood. After all, I am here not for the sake of diplomacy. No. I'm here to uproot the problem, not solve it. Fully deny it the right of existence in the same non-negotiable manner it had overtaken my mind. Without any word I throw myself at the man in front of me.

Ryodan

She's on fire. Irritation and spite burn her. She may say she does not feel, but the heat that throws off her is like of a falling comet. And she won't burn up before reaching the end. No. She'd engulf everything around in her destructive flames, ashes falling all over and around, and then and only then she'd burn down to her core as well. The fuck if I let her. She's here for me. I give her time to make up her mind. I need her to make up her mind. Her anger towards me is her only weakness. The only way to Dani. The past fire of life is now transformed to fire of hate and revenge. Where once it shined of pure gold, crimson lava irradiates now. I don't let my smile slip out. But its burning power hasn't changed. She throws herself at me.

Jada

I know he'll react before I reach him, so I aim instead for the space he'll occupy next – between the desk and the wall, trying to move away from the corner. At the precise moment of my lunge, he lifts his gaze at me and I see a hint of a patronizing smile in it. Our bodies collide at the very spot I intended to, but it's obvious he stepped in it as though to pin-point my predictability. His hands are steel on my arms and we stand still, tight against each other. Next to his desk. Just like I meant to. Now he's just plain throwing that grin at me. I clench my teeth carefully, avoiding to betray any thought.

- Ryodan.

- Dani.

- Jada. Let go of me.

- You came to me on your own.

- I came for satisfaction.

- Satisfaction.

He notably stresses the word. A dark brow raises up. The lips in front of me are still curved mockingly. The blade strapped to my thigh is burning to sink deep in his throat.

- Of your blood. – Not a single muscle moves in me. – Let go of me.

He looks into my eyes for a moment. Then let goes. I don't move away while he passes between the desk and me. Our bodies touch. He does not try to find my weapons. I cannot care less for his. He will be able to touch me only as long as I permit it.

Ryodan walks away slowly and stops in the middle of the office, legs spread, arms crossed. I don't turn to him until he speaks.

- Why do you want my blood, Dani?

Full question. And again this name. Fool.

- You can stop trying to find in me she who is no longer. It's useless. Pointless. Purposeless. – I offer just to make sure he gets it.

- You didn't answer my question.

I turn to him.

- You stole mine.

- It was Dani's blood. I thought you're not she who is no longer.

I stare at him.

- I have always protected her. She was a child. You tried to control her, use her, just like the others.

His smile melts. I turn full front at him, ready for attack. But he just narrows his eyes and shakes head almost unperceivably.

- Turns out you care for her.

I keep looking at him attentively. The chance of successfully digging my blade in him is slim. Not if I just attack him. He wants to talk, thinks he can bring back something he believes still exists. This is my chance. I can play this game. Any game. Slowly I start walking towards him.

- As I already said, it would be inefficient for me to keep denying that once I was she who you so dully keep looking for. Once. I had felt everything she felt.

- Thought you don't feel, - he says quietly, watching me.

- I don't. – I do feel my irritation growing back. – But I was there and withstood everything that was done to her. I'm here now. To collect debts.

Now I stand right in front of him. His eyes never leave me. I want to stretch my hands, place my palms on his cheeks and snap his neck. Neatly. His smile is back. My palms are itching. The sound of a snapped neck is irreplaceable.

- What reason could you possibly have, - he murmurs. - So much effort for someone who, according to your own words, is no longer. This is so … emotional.

My reflex is lightning. The blade shines silently and stills millimeters from his throat. There is no tremble in my hand. His tightens on mine. We look at each other. My heart beats rhythmically. I feel it. I like it. I like fights. This will be hard, yet so much anticipated.

- We've already tried this once, Dani, - Ryodan says quietly. – You think it will end differently why.

His face reflects in the blade. Eyes shimmer the same color as the metal. I smile coolly.

- Had I wanted, you would've been dead then.

- And you want now.

- I want.

- I'm not stopping you. – His gaze jumps shortly to our hands and lifts up to me again. Provoking.

A smile plays on his lips and for a second I keep my eyes on them. Looking back, I meet the strange flicker of his eyes. His hand is fully relaxed. Holding onto mine, but only that. I tighten my jaw, trying to remember if there was any resistance in it before. I chase away the thought. Doesn't matter.

- If you want, you can try to kill me, - Ryodan repeats. – If you want.

- I want. – I don't lie to myself ever. I do want to kill him.

- The fuck you want. You want something else. Jada. What is it.

I narrow my eyes and hold my breath. I want to fight. I want blood and pain. His. Mine. I've been anticipating this moment far too long to pass it in plain useless talking. His hand slowly raises towards my cheek and for a second I think he wants to cup it. My fingers tighten on the blade handle. His hand passes me, without touching, and laces in the back of my ponytail. The strength with which he immobilizes my head equals the strength with which my hand presses on the blade. Now he is resisting my hand, not letting me cut a perfectly symmetrical opening in his neck.

- I know what you really want. Jada. – he says huskily. – You need to rid of me.

The look I cut him amuses him.

- You need to rid of me. Out of your head. But you can't exactly do it, can you. And you think that killing me might at least release you from the need to think of why is that. Is that it… little girl?

I switch to super-speed, push my leg between his, pulling forward one of them, and shove him back at the same time with my free hand. He rocks backwards and I lean with all my weight on his body to throw him off his feet. In result he falls and pulls me with him, still holding my hair. We hit the floor and, as our bodies collide, the air whistles out of our lungs. I fix myself on top of his chest and press with both hands on the blade at his throat. His hand is steel in my hair, the other immobilizes the knife. Neither of us makes a sound. I look at his calm, clean face, and it looks back at me coolly, almost indifferently. My gaze drops back to the blade. Now the thin metal touches almost unperceivably the skin beneath. Small drop of blood slides out and spreads slowly on the edge of the blade. Low gasp cuts through the silence. I'm exasperated to realize it came from me. The next moment I'm lying under his heavy body, knife, knocked out of my hands, clatters soundly across the floor, and Ryodan mounts my hands on both sides of my head.

- You can't kill me, little girl – he says in hoarse husky voice. – Even if you want.

Red-hot raging heat leaks through my body at this name. He cuts me before I say anything.

- But there is another way to get me out of your head, - his eyes still pierce me coolly. – And you know it.

I don't say a word. My hands are dead-trapped. There is no point in trying to release them with force. He leans forward and touches slightly my ear with lips.

- Come on. Show me how much better you are. Jada.

I stare at the ceiling for a second and something tightens in me. Weakly, I can almost ignore it. Still it leaves annoying aching feeling. I focus back my gaze. This is a fight I can win.

I close my eyes slowly and turn head towards him, forehead presses against his. And stay like that. His lips find my cheek, leave a burning trace. He let goes of my hand and carefully slides in my hair, holding the nape of my neck and brushing gently my cheekbone with a thumb. I open eyes and meet his gaze. Shimmering. I narrow eyes. Triumphing. My fingers lace in his hair too and in rough pull I reach for his lips. They are soft. Warm. Meeting me. The thumb presses my chin and forces my mouth open, tongue slides and slowly penetrates. Its tip finds mine and touches it lightly. It's wet and sleek and it gets a small moan out of me. Cut him into tiny perfectly symmetrical pieces, I vow. He remains still, mouth-parted, tongue in mine and hot breath reaching my lips. Never leaving his eyes, I touch him back. His gaze is crushing. We taste each other for a while, then his jaws push harder and seal fully our mouths. His tongue starts thrusting deeper, tangling with mine, letting go, exploring further and getting back to it. A feeling, starting from my chest and running down my body, makes me shiver and I try to calm myself.

Ryodan

I find her tongue and rub around it real slow, knowing. For long. The softness is mind-blowing. Her body relaxes almost unperceivably. The hand in my hair eases back and settles gentler. I push open with my jaws and start licking her hot mouth. Low wet sounds roll around us in the dead silence of the office. It's a strong turn-on. She shivers underneath me and slows down. I am in no hurry. There is nowhere else I am going to be. I suck her lip and pull it as she drifts away from me. Then lift my gaze and meet her cat eyes. She stares at me quiet, flashing scenes of death and pain at me. I betray no thoughts. She's playing a game, but has no idea what the rules are. This gives me an advantage. I place a mask of impassivity on my face.

She registers it immediately and does precisely what I am hoping for. Throwing me on my back, she slides on top of me and straps me with her slender legs, closely pressing to my body, and crushes back my mouth. We fight for the lead for some time and then I pretend she wins. Fuck. I laugh at myself. She's rubbing on my dick, sweet and slow. Her tongue is tangled with mine… she is winning, no pretend here.

I curse, grab her face in my palms and, pulling up, keep her strapped on me. She wraps her hands around my neck and responds with a violent kiss. After few seconds I push her under me, squeeze her tight and press close to her, pulling her hard to my dick. She lets a growl out and lifts her hips towards me. We start rolling on the floor like this, fighting for domination, in the end stopping to catch breath. She's on top. Fire hair sliding out of her ponytail. Fevered cheeks. Eyes shimmering in a green shade of gold. Dani. I clench my teeth. My dick is a stone. I need to finish with this as soon as possible.

Her gaze is smug. Predatory. Hungry.

I know what needs to be done. In a rough lunge I push us off the floor into the wall. She gasps in my mouth, angry, bites me. I slide a hand underneath her and grab her ass. Her legs meet me, open wide and pull me closer to her. I let air out through my teeth abruptly, bend forehead to hers and slowly begin to imitate fucking. My dick protrudes like a stick through my pants and thrusts openly across her pussy. Cloths irritate. I lift gaze and see her. Mouth-parted she's staring at the point where I'm sliding on her and two pink spots are blushing high on her cheekbones. It's a bigger turn-on than I can imagine. I grab her hair, pull back and suck her mouth. She can't answer at once, just stills for a while under the pressure of my jaws and follows their lead. My dick keeps rubbing her in the same pace. She begins to vibrate and I know it's now or never. There won't be any other chance.

The button on her pants pops open and flies to the side. I grab them and peal them of her ass, half-way down the tights. The silkiness of her skin drives me crazy and for a sec I'm afraid this will be impossible. Her impervious, widely-opened gaze doesn't help much. I hold her like that for few moments, bare ass, legs trapped in pants, hanging on both sides of my hands. I want her. All of her. My beast roars. With crooked expression I reach for my pants. Pop the button slowly. My eyes are mounting her, not missing a single detail. Her face is a mystery. I imprint every fucking expression running through it, analyzing it violently, looking for some sign…the sound of fly opening cuts the air between us. Her eyes shimmer brighter. The savagery in them is mingled with something else. My dick shoots up, freed from the fucking pants. I take it, not leaving her eyes, and, stroking slowly, direct it towards her. She's so still she might as well have stopped breathing. The head touches her wet flesh and I bite my tongue no to moan in ecstasy. She's hot and soft. Her motherfucking-mind-blowing lips are tight and sleek and my dick shivers just from touching them. The heat coming off her almost burns my skin. Her body vibrates lowly and I get she's trying to control herself too. No fucking chance, my girl. Holding my dick, I starts rubbing the painfully swollen head over her lips, spreading the wetness, feeling her everywhere. She sucks in sharp breath through tightly clenched teeth and throws her head backwards. I freeze for a small moment, watching with blank eyes the pulsating artery at her throat. Blood swells in my eyes. Fuck. Now or never. I cup her fevered cheek tenderly and turn her eyes on me, never stop rubbing.

- This is what you want? – The sound comes off husky and brute, barely legible from the fanged mouth.

It cuts through the silent room and startles her. She opens eyes abruptly and the pupils dilate across me. I press harder against her and continue rubbing. Smacking, sliding wet sounds start filling up the dead silence.

- This is what you want. Jada.

She stares at me silently, eyes wide, mouth slight-parted. Air running through it is scares and shallow. She licks her lips carefully and keeps staring at me with those big green endless crystals.

My dick hurts. I push it forward with the whole body, letting it slide over her pussy, and start thrusting slowly, as her clit gets caught in the rubbing. Her motherfucking body vibrates from head to toe in the taste of anticipation. I lean forward, placing my cheek next to hers, close eyes and say softly in her ear:

- Then give me Dani back.

One. Two heart beats. I'm holding back my breath, standing absolutely still. Jada shudders. Lets hissing air out and whispers in a shacking voice:

- Feck you!

Next an icy metal blade pierces my chest and in a powerful blow she pushes me away. I grunt in a low, gargling sound, mixed with the blood from my lungs, and in rabid realization try to stop her. But Dani is gone.

Jada

I shoot down the corridor and the stairs, fly pass Ryodan's men and explode off Chester's like a bottle cork. What the… My breathing is hectic. I glance sideways wildly and dive into the darkness of the night.

What was that. I play the event over and over in my head. It's all correct. This was the plan. I wanted this. The guttural rattle of Ryodan chases me. I have heard this sound before. I know how people die. But the sound of dying Ryodan is unique. It messes with my head. Shit. I shake my head irritably. Collecting the most spiteful memories I managed to gather in life, I submerge myself blissfully in them. Yes. Exactly. All this. I open my eyes. Death flickers in them quietly. It's all correct. This was the plan. And he deserved it. The annoying dull feeling of dissatisfaction interferes with my thinking. The sight of his pulsating head, slowly sliding over my wet flesh… I clench my teeth and close eyes.

- Mega?

The quiet voice cuts like a knife on skin. No-no-no! I can't do this now. Not now. Not ever.

- Mega!

The pain and shock in his voice bounce down the street and pierce my chest in a cascade. I think over the possibilities frantically. Galloping down the street is highly tempting. Too bad I don't run. Too bad I don't step back. I meet, full-front. Crush and step over the left-overs of what stood in my way. This is the only way to move forward. The rest simply doesn't work.

Drawing a deep breath, I slowly turn and meet Dancer.

He stares at me in complete horror and for the first time since I have known him he has nothing to say. My face tightens. Looking at him like that-, I bite my tongue, because all I can think of saying is: "Dude! Look at your face!". Just the sheer thought of that makes breathing hard, my throat constricts and with brutal effort I try not to burst out laughing. I squeeze my lips. Jada is incompatible with Dancer. So is Dancer with her. Friendship, need of connection, approval … they limit. Deprive of freedom. They are as dangerous, as any other enemy. As Ryodan at our next meeting.

- She who you once called this way no longer exists, - I say quietly. Patience and compassion mostly limit the communication. The meaning often gets lost in politeness. I want to be very clear with Dancer.

He still stares at me across the street, not saying a word.

- Dani went through the Silvers five and a half years ago. In this time, the things she went through made her emerged as a different person. Me. She is no longer. Long time now.

I pause for a moment and add carefully, picking my words right.

- You meant the world to her. You never hurt her. For all the time she knew you, you were a true friend to her. Perhaps, the only one. This will not be forgotten. I wish you no harm, and should you require an assistance of any sort…

- What the hell are you gabbing, Mega? – Dancer interrupts. He crosses hurryingly the street and approaches me carefully, watching me from head to toe. – What the hell have you done to yourself?

- I am Jada. I need no other names. Remember that. – I need him to hear me. I incline my head and go on: - Dani is gone. I could imagine that for you this is uneasy to accept…

- Uneasy? – Dancer's eyes widen, he opens mouth to say something, but then closes it.

We stand like that, silently, and it feels like a small eternity. I wear a stone mask, he studies me slowly. Perhaps, because my body is taller now, but Dancer seems somehow different. Taller, leaner. He steps right in front of me and I have to lift my head, no to break the eye contact. His eyes are moving from one side to the other, fast. I know he is thinking intensely. The expression on his face is unreadable. I don't register hostility. Neither do I sense emotional outbreak. I relax a little. Suddenly, he stretches his hand and takes my palm in his carefully. His warm fingers squeeze mine softly and stay like that.

I don't move, letting him touch me, knowing this will give him some closure, get him to accept the reality. This is an exception. I don't do exceptions.

- How long…? – his voice sounds a little hoarse. – For how long was Dani there before you came?

Insignificant questions.

- Fourteen months and seven days.

His thumb is brushing my palm. Eye are trying to get more information. But he does not insist. Only slightly bends his head and kind of nods. I try to release my hand and step away, but he holds me back, pulling me softly towards him. I am not worried. I can take him down in one move. But I don't. Just keep watching him silently. Dancer pulls my hand around his waist and lays it there, sort of showing me how to hug him. Then he opens his big hands and carefully pulls me in his embrace. I am surrounded by Dancer's warmth and smell. His arms wrap around me and gently squeeze at my shoulders. Head leans on the side of my forehead.

- Thank you, - he utters quietly. – For saving her.

I move no muscle in my body. My hand lies stiffly on his waist.

- I want you to understand – I am grateful you exist. Without you Dani would never be. You are the only one who has always been there, protecting her. – Dancer whispers and tenderly rocks us in his hug. I clench my teeth, giving him few more seconds. I never make exceptions. Exceptions precede regrets. His next words confirm that. – I know you are in there and hear me. These words are for you. I will never forget what you have done. Thank you.

A chilling sense runs down my spine and I abruptly tense. Dancer let goes off me and steps back.

- I know what you are doing, Mega, and why. And I won't ask you not to. Remember, if you need anything, you know where to find me.

And just like that Dancer sinks into the darkness.