His gaze was focused on the man before him, a rather elderly man who owned a children's toy company that had sponsored and grown into an international sport at the time that everyone was in on the activity. Now the company floundered and relied on old hobbyists to keep the momentum alive. The man had his back turned to him, and he spoke heavily.

"We had a deal."

The man turned around hastily to him, swallowing and adjusting his suit. He was a man of his word and hardly ever went back on his promises. He had kept the identity a secret. He was the one who had played with the numbers, the figures, and even the media. They had no idea what was going on behind the scenes. They were all fooled.

As long as he was the one in control.

"We had a deal. You're saying you can't accept my cut now?"

"I'm sorry but… times have changed now… I'm no longer a part of that organization anymore… and I can't protect your assets…" the man struggled to answer him, and again adjusted the suit. The light from the moon illuminated the silent room they were in, the clock on the wall ticking twelve midnight.

"I've been here for a long time… much longer than you will ever hope to live… and yet I see no difference in you humans… isn't money supposed to talk? That's how things go. I give you your cut, you maintain the records."

"I can't do it anymore…" the old man said, turning to the speaker now. "I can't do it… I've done it for five years… and then some… when you were a part of them… and even when you weren't, just so nobody would ask questions… you have to tell them eventually."

"And do what? Admit that I've lied to them all these years? Admit that I'm not who I say I am? The records were burned… everything having to do with me… is gone. Now all I have is the fake identity that you gave me…"

He growled under his breath, his nose catching the scent of fear coming off the old man. A few sirens sounded in the distance, and he could feel that the man was becoming more and more afraid. He had reason to be afraid.

"Dickenson… I trusted you. You kept your word… but now this? After all those years… you spew this shit on me now? Now that they're adults?"

Realization popped in his head.

"You had no intention of keeping this deal up forever did you…" he murmured, his blood boiling. "You wanted to tell them as soon as they reached adulthood!"

"Now, now…" Dickenson wiped his face, backing away from his business partner and into the glass that looked into the outside.

"You want me to tell them… even after everything is said and done… those memories I have with them… and even the people I knew before them… I'm supposed to lie? I'm just supposed to lie down and lie? No, that's not how it works."

He picked up the coffee table and tossed the furniture out the window, smashing a car below and hearing a few people scream in surprise and fright. Glass littered the floor and Dickenson was found ducking behind the couch in the room. He turned to the old man.

"What'm I supposed to do? They'll find out the documents are fake… and then… and then what? Everyone will know!"

The old man lifted his head slightly and paused, searching for words.

"You've been playing this game for far too long Z-"

"I told you not to use my real name!"

A quick snap from the man called 'Z' shut him up quickly, and Dickenson stood up rather weakly, trying to get back on his feet using his cane.

Seeing the feeble old man try to get back on his feet made Z's heart twist, and he bent down carefully, helping Dickenson.

"I know… you did your best… but… I have no one else to talk to…"

"There is Zeo…"

"Zeo… Zeo I had forgotten about him." he murmured, breathing. "He's like me… only a little different… he was created by man… I wasn't."

"You could talk to him… I'm sure he'd understand how you were feeling."

Z breathed out and in heavily, taking deep breaths and sighing to himself. He knew that the others wouldn't be happy about this… but what was he to do? He had hidden his true self all these years… had become their friend and ally… even joined in a meaningless sport to get into the spotlight just so he could stay out of the media's capturing eye.

Everything he did was a cover up.

I've lived my life hiding in shadows… because of what I did in the past… and now it's come back to haunt me…

"You know the people of Japan… heck the whole WORLD hates me."

"You won't know that until you find out."

"I know because humans harbor hatred for things they don't understand and don't know…" he lifted his hand to his face and examined his claws.

"I have things… they can only dream of… abilities… what am I going to do? If you can't keep track of where the records are going… then how will I know I'm safe?"

Dickenson turned back to the outside, where a few police cars had lined in front of the building. Looking down he could see the building surrounded by people and cars, all confused and frightened.

No human could have such power.

Slowly, Z felt himself shrink into his human form, his eyes returning to their humanoid state. He knew he could hold his human form for a while, but how long would have to pass before he was found out? Before even his human disguise wasn't enough to fool anyone?

"I… I'm going back to his house…" Z said despairingly, turning his back.

"Dickenson… you can keep the money…" with his words he lazily tossed a stack of green onto the couch, the thing landing with a thump.

"I never had use for colored paper."

Z closed his eyes and shook his head, scratching his human hair.

What am I going to do…