Jin watched his brother walk with Saya to go get water from the well. Jin had been in a bad mood that day, so he wasn't invited to come along. Jin crossed his arms and sat defiantly on the ground, not bothering to join any of the other kids in their games. As Ragna disappeared over the hill, the hope that he would change his mind and let him come along faded. Jin grunted and drew in the dirt.

Jin drew a picture of him, Ragna, and Saya. They were all happy, except for him. Jin scowled at his drawing. Just then, he saw another stick drawing something in the dirt next to him. Looking, Jin saw the boy with purple eyes drawing himself next to Jin, smiling. When he was finished, he looked up at Jin blankly. Jin scowled back at him.

"Hmph." Jin turned away from him. The boy gave him a puzzled look.

"What… is… wrong…?" It was the first time Jin had heard him say anything besides his name, and it was a bit shocking. His speech was cautious and halting, as if speaking was something he wasn't supposed to be doing. Jin turned back to him. The boy's purple eyes were filled with concern.

"Nothin'." Jin replied, hoping he wouldn't question it.

"Don't believe…" The boy spoke quietly, but not quite as halting. "Want truth…"

"Why're you being nosy?" Jin fired back. "It's none of your business!"

"Family?" The boy guessed.

Jin's eyes widened. The boy tilted his head slightly and read the question on Jin's face. He pointed to Jin's picture. He leaned in closer and touched the Jin in the picture.

"Unhappy. Alone." He then pointed to Ragna and Saya. "Happy… Together." The boy straightened his back and looked back at Jin.

"T-that's not it! Big Brother… he…" Jin's voice trailed off as his face turned bitter.

"Saya." The boy murmured the name. Jin became alarmed and stood up, looking down at him.

"How do you know her?" He demanded. The boy tilted his head curiously and then stood up with Jin. They were about the same height.

"Met." The boy said. He pointed to Jin. "Sister."

"… Well… Y-yeah…" Jin hesitated. "T-that has nothing to do with anything!"

"… Okay." The boy's voice was more cautious.

"Why do you keep butting into our business?" Jin exclaimed at the boy. The boy's eyes widened slightly. "You're always watching us!"

"Alone." The boy pointed to himself.

"I don't care about your sob story…" Jin turned around and was about to leave when the boy caught his wrist. Slowly, his thin, pale hand slipped into Jin's.

"Friend." He said. Jin yanked his hand away and bit his lip. The boy looked disappointed.

"I understand…" The boy's voice trailed off as he turned around to leave. "Another day." He said before he disappeared behind a few trees. Jin wanted him to wait. He didn't mean to hurt his feelings. He never expected that he would be the one that lonely boy would open up to. And he never expected to kill that boy in the fire.

Jin ran out of his apartment and into an alley. He took a deep breath and took a moment to adjust his coat and fix his hair, if only a little. Whoever this mystery guy was, if he was going to attack today, Jin would have to try and look calm and prepared. Jin tested his ice powers to be sure they were working as usual before heading out of the alley in full stride. After that, he contacted Vermillion.

"Lieutenant Noel Vermillion standing by." The childish voice on the other end of the receiver squeaked.

"Lieutenant, you forgot to turn your transmitter off when you were done talking!" Jin scolded. "I heard you talking to yourself about where some guy went off to!"

"U-uhm… oh… I-I'm so-"

"Who is this man?"

"U-uh…" Noel hesitated. "J-just some guy… wearing a lot of belts…"

"Belts? You scum, is that all that identifies this stranger?"

"I-it was a lot of belts… pretty distinct feature…"

Jin was quiet for a moment. So, a guy with a lot of belts. How could Noel be so vague? Anyone could wear a lot of belts! Jin forcefully hung up the receiver and mindlessly chucked it out of anger. Jin walked out of the alley and instantly realized that he shouldn't have done that, because he didn't see where it landed. Now anyone could contact an NOL member and get classified information! How could he be so careless?

"Dammit!" Jin swore to himself. "Where the hell did that stupid thing go! I gotta go find it!" Without a second thought, Jin took off faster than a rocket, not caring about the people he bashed into or things he knocked over. He had to get that receiver back or face consequences. And getting punished was NOT the kind of thing that would help the Hero of Ikaruga's image.

"Demondemondemon…"

"diediediediedeathdeathdeath…"

"Demon…m…u…st…die…!"

Darkness was all around him, the area void of any light. Sorn's breath became sharp intakes every time the devil whispered in his ear. He couldn't get the voices to stop. Sorn put his hands to his ears, but it didn't help. The voice was inside his head, screaming at him, demanding death to the demon. This wouldn't be happening if he hadn't listened to the devil in the first place. But the repercussions could've been so much greater for all of Kagutsuchi…

"diediediediediediedie…"

Sorn bit his lip. "Shut up…" He murmured.

"deeeeeeaaaaaaaaatttthhhhhhhh…" The voice hissed.

"Leave me alone…"

"SSSSSOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRN!" The little devil was screaming his name, desperation and a commanding nature behind his voice. "DEAAATHTOTHEDEMONSOOORRRN!"

Suddenly, something came flying through the air above Sorn. A whack was heard as something metal struck him on the head. Sorn lurched up. He was on the roof of a tall building in Orient Town. Besides him was the thing that saved him from the nightmare. A receiver… one from the NOL. Sorn picked it up, thankful for it's lucky arrival. Usually those nightmares crushed his mind with screaming of death until he let the little devil's have his way.

Sorn picked up the receiver and examined it. It was battered from the fall, but very functional. Would it be against the law if he called someone with it? Sorn shrugged and fiddled with the buttons. Suddenly, the receiver activated and began to ring. After a few seconds, someone picked up on the other line.

"Who the h**l is this?" The voice was clear and a little deep. He sounded impatient.

"…" Sorn hesitated. "My name? It's Sorn."

"You got a last name?"

"C-Crows. Sorn Crows. Who's this?"

"Heh, If you're looking for Vermillion, she's… out."

"Ah… I called Lieutenant Vermillion…"

"Tch." The other man sneered. "What, are you a newbie NOL member?"

"No. I found a receiver and picked it up. I didn't intend to disturb you…"

"Tch, don't worry about it. I just got finished beatin' up Vermillion when you called. I'm not part of the d**n NOL either."

"I… see. Who are you?" Sorn hesitated. "You sound familiar…"

"Hmph, are you a bounty hunter?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sorn's voice cracked slightly.

"I see no harm. Bloodedge." The man said. "Ragna the Bloodedge."

Sorn breath became sharp. It was a name he recognized too well.