A/N: Chapter three is here! Woo! Just for the record, Vitorre, Fabio, and Johann are my characters. Mika and Raizo are not. Tell me what you guys think! This question may be a bit of a spoiler, but was it too soon? You'll know what I mean towards the end of the chapter. Please read, review, and enjoy~

Even a mistake may turn out to be the one thing necessary to a worthwhile achievement.

- Henry Ford

Chapter 3: Mistake?

Mika shrugged off her bullet-proof vest and flung it into her locker. She slammed the door shut and turned the dial on the lock just as a safety precaution. Then she pulled the elastic hair tie from her head and instantly sighed with relief.

So that's where that migraine was coming from.

"Yo, Coretti!"

Mika looked up to see her partner walking towards her. Johann Brandt. Possibly one of the most handsome, stunning German men she had ever laid eyes on. He had chestnut brown hair and sky blue eyes. His face was long and his cheek bones were high. He had a little stubble around his chin and upper lip, but it wasn't unkempt. If anything, it added to his rugged appearance. His shoulders were wide and his chest toned. By the way his shirt clung to his abdomen she could tell that he was packing tight rows of abs. And let's not even begin to talk about that ass.

"A couple of the guys and I were gonna go get some drinks at the bar. You want in?" His German accent was simply to die for.

"Well that depends: you treating?"

He grinned. He bowed and made a sweeping gesture towards the door. "Always for you. But only you. Those other bastards have to pay for their own damn drinks."

"Easy, sailor," she said with a wink.

"After you."

Mika rolled her eyes and walked out of the locker room. She passed by rows and rows of empty desks, piled high with papers and lined with photographs of loved ones. The officers stuck on the night shift were either patrolling or polishing guns in the armory. She pushed both doors of the Police Department open and inhaled the sweet summer air. She closed her eyes and allowed a warm evening breeze to caress her cheek. She opened them once more when she heard footsteps behind her. "So, where's your ride?"

He nodded in the direction of a bike. But it wasn't just an ordinary bike. It was a sleek, graphite, BMW K1300S—possibly one of the sexiest motorcycles she had ever seen. Well, manufactured by BMW, anyway.

The brunette's jaw went slack. "How?! Those didn't even come out yet!"

He shrugged and smiled. "What can I say? I have connections." He strolled over to his bike, swung his leg over the side, and grabbed his helmet. "Get on."

Normally, Mika would've protested and demanded a 'please', but decided to simply shake her head and comply. She gracefully mounted the bike. "So, where's my helmet?" He simply reached back and handed her the black head gear over his shoulder. She reluctantly took it from him. "What about you?"

"Eh, don't worry about it. Are you ready?"

Mika used both hands to wiggle the helmet on, ensuring it was secure. She flipped the visor up and said, "Ready," before sliding it back down.

"Okay, hold on." Without hesitation, she leaned in and wrapped her arms around his waist—pressing her chest to his back. He pressed a button on the left handle bar and the bike shuddered slightly as the engine revved. He swiftly kicked back the kickstand and they were off, immediately entangled in traffic. They shot down the roadways at what felt like light speed. They veered in and out of lanes, dangerously close to cars and curbs. At one point, they came to a congested area, so Johann jumped onto the sidewalk. Mika screamed and squeezed his abdomen. She was yelling and shrieking profanities, but he couldn't hear her. All he could hear were frightened, angry grumbles coming from behind. He threw his head back and laughed before twisting back on the handle and shooting forward even faster!

Eventually, as Mika got used to the pace, her heart beat began to slow and she finally opened her eyes (which she hadn't even realized were squeezed shut). She saw the beautiful city of Berlin pass by, so lit up and full of life even at midnight and on a Wednesday. When she felt comfortable enough, she lifted up the visor and yelled, "Hey! I thought we were going to the bar! We should've been there by now!"

"I know! I lied!"

"You what?!"

"I dunno, I thought we'd hang out somewhere else instead!" He looked back at her and smiled.

"You know, technically this is kidnapping!"

"You gonna arrest me, officer?"

"Oh, I'll do more than arrest you."

He chuckled. "Looking forward to it." She leaned her head against his back and enjoyed the rest of the ride. They zipped down the city streets at an incredible speed; the lights of the city a marvelous blur. When the bike finally slowed and rolled to a halt, Mika raised her head and looked around. They were at the far end of town now and parked in front of an abandoned warehouse. The brunette dismounted the motorcycle, pulled of her helmet, and shook her hair loose. The effect was not lost on Johann. He swallowed.

"A warehouse? Pretty shady, Brandt."

He chuckled and propped his bike up on its kickstand. "I always bring beautiful women out here. Can you tell?"

She shot him a playful glare in response to his sarcasm. "Are you insinuating that I'm not beautiful?"

"Yes," he stated simply. Upon seeing her blink in genuine surprise, he grinned. "How could I dare refer to you in such a way? The word hardly does you justice."

Mika rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh. Nice try."

Johann shrugged. "It was a damn good one, though." They both broke out into a fit of laughter. After he caught his breath, he wiped a tear from his eye and roughly hooked his arm around hers. "Come with me." He more or less dragged her inside the decrepit building. The inside was full of dusty crates stacked to the ceiling, spider webs, and objects with white sheets strewn over them. "The place was supposed to be torn down years ago. Something about a weak infrastructure."

"So you mean to tell me the roof could cave in on us at any moment?!"

"Adds to the excitement, doesn't it?" He winked.

If it was up to her, she would've turned around right then and there and walked out, but he had a vice grip on her arm. He led her to a door on the far side of the warehouse and pushed it open with his free hand. A stairwell. He led her up a few flights of stairs until they finally ended up on the roof. The sight she saw made her breath catch in her throat. Once he observed how taken she was by the scene, he released his hold.

"Wow…this is beautiful." Stretched out before them was the magnificent city of Berlin in all its splendor.

Johann shoved his hands in his pockets and enjoyed the view. "Yeah. I come up here whenever I have something on my mind or when I just want to be alone."

"Well, it certainly is breathtaking. But I have to ask: why bring me up here?"

He shrugged and fidgeted slightly. "I just wanted to spend some time alone with you—get to know you. Outside of work and outside of the bar. The real Mika."

She shook her head and frowned. Chestnut brown eyes gazed at the twinkling lights before her, suddenly indifferent. "Trust me, you don't want to know me."

He walked to the edge of the roof and carefully sat down, allowing his legs to swing over the side. He patted the concrete space next to him, signaling Mika to follow suit. Once she was situated, he wrapped his arm around the bare shoulders that her red halter top left exposed. She tensed at the sudden contact. She could feel the warmth of his body as he touched her arms. She shivered against her will.

"Just from what I see when we're on duty together, you're a passionate, intelligent, diligent, charming," he smiled, "woman. So, yes, I do want to know you."

Mika turned her head and solidly looked him in the eyes. There was no playfulness in her gaze, but an air of solemnity. She was trying hard to keep anger from bubbling up inside her. The last thing she needed was another person to break her into pieces. Why did he even want to get to know her? Did he really care? A part of her knew that whether he did or not didn't matter; she would not trust him. She couldn't. The least she could do was humor him, though. So, after a while, she sighed and looked away. "Fine. Whaddaya want to know?"

He tapped his chin with the index finger of his free hand. "Hmm…what's your favorite color?"

"White."

"What's your take on the perfect date?"

This earned him a pointed glare. "Well," she started with an exasperated sigh, "we'd have to go somewhere where we could talk and really get to know one another. Like on a boat ride or on a walk through the city."

"Or something like this?"

Mika looked into his beautiful blue eyes and blushed. She looked away. "Yeah, something like this."

He grinned. "Well, what would you look for in the perfect boyfriend?"

"Nobody's perfect, Johann."

"Okay, okay. A great boyfriend."

She found herself laughing and started to twirl a curly lock of hair between her fingers. "He'd have to be able to make me laugh. That's a biggie. He'd also have to be handsome, witty, laid back, caring, compassionate, trustworthy and, above all else …honest."

"Huh. I believe I have seven of those qualities."

Mika thought back on what she said and counted. "But I only listed seven."

"I know."

This caused another round of laughter from the two. They both laughed until their sides hurt and until they felt nauseas. Mika was finally regaining her composure when she leaned her head against his shoulder. The two sat in silence for a spell, just enjoying the warm summer night. Johann unconsciously began running his fingers up and down her bare shoulder.

He broke the silence. "We've been partners for three months now, and I have to say that this time together has been the best time of my life."

"Johann…"

"No, I mean it. Mika...you are just so wonderful and I love everything about you. I cannot stay away from you when we are at work and when I am at home I cannot wait to see you again. I don't intend to alarm you or come off as strange, but you make my life considerably more bearable."

I make his life considerably more bearable? Who the hell talks like that? Mika bit back the urge to chuckle. He expresses himself just the way…Raizo would…

"So," he continued, "I was wondering if you would do me the honor of allowing me to take you out. On a date."

Date. Dates lead to romantic feelings, romantic feelings lead to relationships, and relationships lead to heartbreak—a path she was not willing to go down again. She had just barely gotten over Raizo. Another man in her life was the last thing she needed. "Look, Johann, I like you too, but only as a friend. You are a wonderful partner and a great person, but I'm just not ready for a relationship right now."

If he was disappointed he didn't show it. He simply nodded and allowed a small smile to curve the corners of his lips. "Ok, I understand. At least let me take you out for coffee Saturday. As friends?"

The whole idea of being 'taken out' left her feeling uneasy. She'd rather just be alone. But he looked so innocent, so hopeful, that she couldn't bear to say no. "Fine. But just as friends. Nothing more, okay?"

He nodded eagerly and grinned. "Understood!" He hugged her tight. "This is gonna be the best not-date ever!"

She grimaced and tried to wiggle away. What had she gotten herself into?


The coffee shop they were to meet at was typical. No one waited on you at a table. One simply ordered at the counter and your beverage would be waiting at the other end. Smells of freshly ground coffee beans permeated the air and New Age music filled the room.

When Mika waltzed into the shop, all eyes were on her. She wore a pair of denim shorts that ended just below her cheeks, a snug white v-neck that left some midriff exposed, and a matching pair of white stilettos. Her voluminous, wavy tresses fell to one side. She nonchalantly removed her shades and placed them on top of her head. She looked around the room with a cool gaze, her lips a serious line. All who had been staring quickly averted their gaze.

Well, all except for Johann. When she noticed that he was the only one left ogling, jaw agape, she strutted to his booth, sporting a beautiful smile. She slid into the seat opposite him and casually crossed her legs—playfully kicking his shin in the process.

"Mr. Brandt, you do know it's impolite to stare?" she asked with a raised brow, in a teacher's tone.

He swallowed and shook his head as if to clear it of dirty thoughts. "I beg your pardon, madam. How could one look away when faced with such raw beauty?" Such words alone were cajoling. But his German accent made them captivating.

"Sir, you flatter me. Please continue."

Johann tried hard to maintain a simple smile. But then, the corners of his mouth started to twitch and his chest started to constrict with restrained laughter. When Mika waggled her eyebrows at him, that caused the crack in the dam. He closed his eyes and let loose a laugh that turned heads. The sound was hardy and boisterous and Mika chuckled right along with him.

After five minutes of non-stop laughter, Johann took in a shaky breath. He shook his head, a wide grin on his lips, and put a finger to his chin. "Why are you so amazing?"

Mika batted her lashes and ran a hand through her hair. "Oh, c'mon. I'm not amazing. I'm just…me."

"I know. And that's what makes you so great. There are no false pretenses with you. Everything about you is honest and sincere. For my whole life I've dealt with liars and people who do whatever it takes to get what they want, so to find someone like you? Its…its refreshing."

She blushed and looked away. "Thanks. You dealt with that kind of people for your whole life?"

His eyes flitted to the ceiling before returning to hers and he took in a deep breath; annoyed by the mere thought. "Unfortunately. My father is a very well-known senator and my mother a famous fashion designer. An interesting pair, I know."

Mika's eyes widened. "Oh. I never would've guessed."

"Yeah. So, ever since I was young, I was surrounded by superficial, artificial people who just wanted money or fame. The whole thing just left me feeling disgusted. My mother offered me a job modeling for her clothing line, but I declined. I guess you could say I followed in my father's footsteps, instead, by joining up with the law enforcement." He sighed. "But still, corruption followed me there, as well. I was offered several promotions and pay raises—even when it was obvious that I wasn't ready and that I hadn't earned them. So I declined every single one of them. I told everyone that I wanted to be just like the other officers. I wanted to get promoted when I had truly earned it—not because they wanted to be in my good graces or that of my father."

Mika's warm brown eyes were locked on him, fully impressed by his words. She suddenly had a new-found respect for him. She knew of many people, from back in her days of working for Eurpol, who would jump at the chance of a promotion. The majority of her colleagues were sleazy and dishonest. But Johann was so different. He was genuine and compassionate. He was…

Suddenly, Mika's heart was beating faster than normal. Was she actually developing feelings for this guy? Sure, he was a great friend, but she wasn't ready for their relationship to take a turn down that road.

"So, what about you, Mika?" She shivered against her will. The way her name rolled off of his tongue was like music to her ears. "When we were assigned as partners, I was told that you came from Europol and that you were Head of Operations. What made you want to slum it?" he jested.

Her laugh was soft and light. "Believe me; my being here was not willing." She paused. "I was let go."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Please, forgive me. I didn't know."

She nonchalantly waived his apologies off. "Its fine. I kinda deserved it," she said with a playful smile. "I didn't show up to work for over three months."

He dropped his chin and raised both eyebrows. "Three months? Dear God, woman! What were you thinking?"

Mika's expression suddenly grew cold. The smile on her face flat-lined and her eyes became unfocused; distant. She was recalling that time from long ago. Her time with Tanjao. Her time with Raizo. The memories that once brought her pain now made her feel numb. She felt stupid for wasting so much time, for throwing away everything she had ever worked for. What had she been thinking?

Sensing that he had struck a nerve, Johann's smile faded and he reclined in his seat. He patiently waited for her to speak.

"I don't know," she finally replied.

"Look, if this is a sensitive subject for you—"

"No," she said quickly, "it's ok." Her smile was halfhearted and she nodded her head slowly. "I want to talk about it." She looked into his sapphire eyes and found a sense of sincerity in them. For some reason, she felt safe. Like divulging her deepest, most dark secrets to him wouldn't be a mistake. As if she had finally found someone—besides Ryan—she could trust. "Well," she began, "about a year ago I had my first encounter with a ninja." As she spoke those words, she searched his eyes. Did he think she was crazy? Did he believe in the fabled killers of the night?

He nodded in agreement. "So I was told."

"He was supposed to kill me, but for some reason he spared my life. To this day I'm still not sure why. Perhaps he thought I could help him? Anyway, we went through this whole ordeal with his clan called Ozunu. They were a vicious, remorseless clan. Long story short, he saved my life and killed all of his fellow ninja. Even his Master."

This, apparently, was news to Johann for his eyes had widened. "Really? He must have been quite the trained assassin. Did you catch his name?"

Again, Mika paused. Why was it so hard to say his name? "…Raizo…," she eventually managed. She sucked in a calming breath before continuing. "A few months later, not fully satisfied with escaping death by a hair's breadth," she spoke those words with bitter sarcasm, "I decided to research some other clans. One night after I began my research, a ninja was waiting for me in my apartment, ready to take my life. But he didn't."

Johann was completely silent; arrested by the excited tale. To her, it was none too amazing. In fact, it was a horrible, dreadful experience that she seldom recalled of her own volition. But she didn't blame him for being so interested. She had felt the same way in the beginning.

"It was Raizo."

"Interesting," he murmured beneath his breath.

"Another long story shortened, he had joined a new clan called Tanjao. They were out to get me because I knew too much about them. So, I was brought to the clan's dojo where I spent the obscene amount of time that got me fired. I was nearly killed, Raizo saved me, and now here I am."

"Did you ever see Raizo again?"

"…No. I never saw him again."

Johann hadn't realized that he had been leaning forward. When Mika ended her story so abruptly, he blinked and sat back. "That's quite the tribulation you went through."

The brunette rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it."

"Well, I don't mean to be inconsiderate, but I'm glad things ended the way they did."

Mika squinted her eyes in a mix of surprise and frustration. "Why?"

"Because I was able to meet you."

The line was cheesy and she should have seen it coming, but nonetheless it left her feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Her eyes softened and she laughed. "Yeah, I guess there's one good thing that came out if it."

Johann grinned. "This was one hell of a date, if I do say so myself."

"Wait a minute."

He suddenly reached across the table and grabbed her hands. Instantly, crimson danced across her cocoa skin.

"You can't possibly tell me that you don't want this."

She was a nervous, stuttering mess. "I…I…"

"Please, Mika. I promise to take things slow. It's just…now that I have you in my life, how could I ever let you go? I want you. I need you."

First of all, was this even allowed? Wouldn't a romantic relationship between two police officers—who were partners, at that—overcomplicate things? But the longer she gazed into those azure eyes, the more her resolve melted.

"Damnit, Johann."

His eyes lit up and his grip on her hands tightened. "Is that a yes?"

She trained her eyes on the table in front of her and nodded.

He immediately got up and dragged her out of the booth. Knocked off balance, she practically fell into his arms and he suffocated her with a bear hug. "Hey everyone," he shouted, "I have a girlfriend!"

Someone in the shop hollered out while others lightly applauded. Mika's cheeks were burning and she had the fabric of the shirt that covered his chest balled up in her fists. "Johann, I'm going to kill you!" she whispered angrily.

"Love you too, babe."

She closed her eyes and groaned. Make three disastrous mistakes in her life? Check.