Wutai, three days later.

Sunday, 8:00 A.M

I saw Zean's eyes widen as we watched the news from our quarters in the palace. "Oh man…" Zean exclaims. The hiccups soon start and then cover my face with my hands.

"Dad…" Zean says. I lift up my face and turned around.

Dad's standing behind me, with his full attention on the TV. There was an expressionless look on his face, but not his eyes. He was shocked and worried about Scáth...after all we tried to get hold of him and Vincent but the lines in Edge were cut off, and there's no way to know if he was alive or dead?

Finally he closes his eyes and sighs, I'm guessing he's preparing himself for the worst.

"Dad do you think he's alright?" I know it wasn't appropriate to ask, but I felt the need too. "I don't know. But if he didn't make it, we'll try and move on with our lives." He states simply.

"Move on! He could be alive in there and you're not going to help him! What kind of father are you?" Zean shouts. Dad turns to him and looks down on the floor, his eyes shifting in worry. "I'll tell you what kind of father you are! You're the worst! You're neglectful, a jerk! And selfish! You're a bast––" "Zean that's enough!" I snap. Zean and dad shot up and turn towards me, shocked at my sudden out burst. Tears ran down my face. I felt myself wheezing, but I ignored it. "I know what you're feeling Zean that gives you no right to insult him like that!" I add.

Zean's eyes widen and then he sighs. Scáth made me promise him that I would have to be strong for him, and that's what I'll do.

"But sis…he's the worst father that anyone can ever ask for." He grumbles. My eyebrow furrows. "He might be neglectful, he might not express himself that well, and sometimes he can be selfish especially when it comes to personal business." I paused and turned dad for a minute with a smile on my face, "But he protects, and he keeps secrets because he isprotecting us." "And I don't think that Scáth's dead…no, he's too stubborn to die." I joked.

"You're very weird, one minute you're crying and the next minute you're all happy and joking..." Zean mumbled. I chuckle, "Well maybe its because I don't want to stay sad all the time, after all it's better to face life's hardships with a smile on your face instead of a frown." I pointed out.

Soon I took a step forward, and then everything started to black out. Before I knew it I was on the floor, hearing dad's and Zean's footsteps rushing towards me. Within seconds I was in dad's arms as he rushes to the physician's ward.

A hand rested on my forehead, and at this point everything was blurred, I couldn't tell who was who.

Then everything went black.

"Spéire. Spéire." Mom calls. I turn my head to where I heard her voice, and open my eyes.

There she was, looking at me with a smile of relief on her face. "Thank goodness…" She sighs. I move my head around the room and blink twice. "What happened?" I ask. She smiles again and then explains that I fainted after intervening in an argument between dad and Zean.

I nod and replied that I remember. Soon I took a look on mom's bulged stomach. "So do what it is?" I ask. Mom chuckles. "I'd like it to be a surprise, but I feel that it's a girl, maybe two." She said.

I close my eyes and smile. "I hope so." I told her. Then mom faces the window, and stares in the south direction. "I wonder how your brother is? In fact I wonder how is everyone is over there?" She sighs in a sad note. I slowly sat up in bed and stare at her. Mom sees this and she turns to me again with a smile on her face. "Did you hear the news?" I guessed. Mom nods and she looks at me with tear filled eyes. "He's alive Spéire. Believe me, I would know if he's dead." She says. "Do you really know?" I asked to make sure.

Mom then shakes her head. "No, but it helps to say that I do." She says. I look down on the bed, and I see mom's hand clutching the blanket tightly. I covered her hand with mines and squeeze it tightly. Mom jumps slightly and she stares at me. "Onii-chan told me that I have to be strong when you or dad can't." I told her. Mom nods and then leans closer to the bed. I wrap my arms around her, and she did the same. "It's alright for you to cry too you know mom." I whispered. Mom nods, and seconds later I felt two tears hitting my shirt.

Three years later, in Edge.

"Beira can you get a clear shot?" I radioed from a W.R.O helicopter. "I can't, there's too many people in the way Scáth!" She replies.

"Kuso…" I cursed. Beira scolded me for swearing on the radio. But I don't really care. In fact I haven't been caring about anything lately (well except for work), but I wasn't there for Beira and Rothair's wedding (Rothair actually proposed to her on their third date).

I couldn't think about anything else but work, I forced myself to make that my only priority. Dating or starting a family would be the last thing on my list…

No it's probably not even on my list, I didn't want to go through that pain again, the pain of not being able to reach out to your loved ones…they could be dead for all I know and if they were alive, they'd probably think I'm dead.

Alright that's enough…Now it's time to find our culprit.

That's right, for the past two years the W.R.O administered the plan to eliminate each of the newly formed gang leaders, and that's what Beira and I are doing right now.

"Scáth! He's just left the building!" Beira reports. I nod and then unbuckled the seatbelt, soon I opened the latch, and look down.

"Scath do you know what to do?" My commanding officer asks me. I nod. "Now try to keep it clean." He jokes in a serious tone as he folds his arms. "Hai." I said as I got down on one knee in a bracing position.

The marker said 'go' and I jumped off and landed on a building rooftop. Soon I found the target greeting a woman… a woman with red hair. I smiled, that was my former classmate, and now a W.R.O member, she's our secret weapon.

Her job is to get in and close with the enemy, find information and report back to us, and that's where I come in, when the information is gathered, I come into the building take care of the defenses and arrest the gang leader, that is if he comes in willingly, if not then I have to use brute force, and last time I did that it didn't end well.

I follow her and the target. They stepped inside a small bar. I heard a click from the radio, and I listened in.

"So how do you feel about the arrestments of other gang leaders?" She asks. "Well it is kind of worrying but then again it's good for business if you know what I mean?" He replies.

She smiles and then nods. "So you're not worried about being captured at all?" She asks. He waves it off and tells her not to worry. After the basics, he made some seductive hints. She just chuckles and asks if it was alright for them to go to his place?

The process of tricking and drugging him was somewhat disgusting, but it wasn't my place to question her skills.

Soon they left the bar and I followed them by jumping the rooftops.

Afterwards I saw his house, and stopped on a building next to his. Afterwards I reached for a pair of binoculars from the pocket of my uniform. Soon I watched as she slipped some pills in the gang leader's wine.

Soon she brought the cup of wine to the leader. It wasn't long till he took the first sip, and almost instantly the drug begun to take effect.

Within minutes he was finally unconscious. Soon I jumped to that rooftop and landed, trying to be as quiet as possible. Unfortunately that didn't work as well, and the sensors went off.

"Dammit…" I muttered under my breath, soon I pulled out my rifle and got myself ready.

Man this would be so much easier if I had a sword with me. The guards came up with their guns and swords.

I look around, counting mentally.

Great there's thirty of them and only one of me. The firing started, and I leaped in the air. They tried to shoot me in the air, but it was little avail, and landed behind of them and shot him on the shoulder. I moved quickly and shot more hitting them in places like the shoulder, neck, stomach and foot.

When the firing squad was down, it was the close range attackers turn. I tossed my empty gun away and got into a fighting position. The first one came with his claws. I forcefully snap it, before throwing him backwards. The next one was right behind him and I punched him in the stomach and then threw him off the building.

Finally two came at me at the same time. My expression remained serious and I backflipped into a handstand, then kicked them both on faces.

"Shit this guy is strong…" One of the two remaining fighters says in fright. "So this is the skills of WARRIOR…I'm out of here!" The second exclaims. I leaped and then landed right in front of them.

"Shit he isn't just a WARRIOR…This is the Shadow WARRIOR…the strongest ones of them all…" The first one cringes in fear.

"That's right…" I said in an unholy voice as I slowly walked over to them. "And no one can escape from Shadow." I add while I stood in front of them.

The first one makes a 'Tck' sound and shouts "DIE!" While charging at me with a knife at his hand.

I grabbed his wrist and crushed it hard before finally ending the fight with a punch to his gut.

His dagger fell on the floor, and then I picked it up, and turned on the side to block the other fighter from injuring me. With one swing, I sent his dagger flying from his hand and to the air.

He fell backwards in fear, and then scrambled backwards on his feet. "P-Please don't kill me!" He begged, "L-Let's talk something out…I have money, you can take all of it! Please don't kill me!"

I narrowed my eyes and pressed the knife against his neck. He instantly paled and the eyes rolled in the back of his head.

Seconds later he fell on the ground instantly unconscious.

Two thumps came from behind me and I turned around and there was my commanding officer.

"Looks like you've managed to restrain yourself this time." He points. I saluted and said. "Sir." In a respecting manner.

"I've heard a lot of about you Scáth, you're presumed to be an orphan––have you tried finding your family?" He asks. I shake my head. "No sir, I'm pretty sure that they are no longer alive…as much as I hate to admit it, but I don't think they made it pass the gangs all those years ago…" I said as my fist automatically clenched. "If your family were alive, then will you go looking for them?" He asks. I nod without a moment's hesitation. "Without a doubt." I replied.

"Where did you say you're family were planning to go?" He wonders. I told him that they were planning to head to Wutai.

"What a perfect choice for a residential spot…yes it's a perfect place for one of our division bases…" He adds.

"Bases sir?" I questioned. My commanding officer chuckles and excuses himself. "That's right, though it's not actually confirmed, however I will tell you this, the W.R.O has some interest in expanding it's central roots to other parts of the world, just for international safety of course…but like I said, it's not confirmed, though it will be taken to consideration, and who knows you might get the chance to help out if there will be a base in Wutai that is."

My eyes widen, go to Wutai? No I can't…my family was dead…but maybe they're alive? Of course…they must be alive!

No, no. Stop and think clearly for a minute Scáth, they haven't heard from you for three years…maybe it's not a good idea to meet them. I sighed and closed my eyes.

Wutai.

I opened my eyes to look at the docks of this amazing country. A breeze came and blew on my long ribbon tied brown hair.

"Spéire!" Anemone called. "Sissy!" Antheia calls at the same time. I smile and bent down to greet my adorable three-year-old sisters. "Is daddy here yet?" They asked at an unison. I patted both their heads. "He's not here yet––" "Wrong again sis!" Zean announces.

"Zean!" The twins squealed without warning they ran and tackled him to the ground.

"Ow!" Zean exclaims as he bangs the back of his head on the ground. He sits and rubs the back of his head while going 'ow ow ow ow…' over and over. The twins just chuckled.

And so did mom. I stood up to look at her. She walked over wearing a nice white long sleeved shirt and a long yellow colored skirt. "Mama!" Antheia calls happily as she runs to her arms.

Mom opens her arms to her, and caress Antheia's shoulder length chocolate brown hair.

It was a miracle that mom was able to give birth to identical twins, especially at her age, and it was fun having little sisters, especially when they're as adorable as this.

"Mommy I want a hug too!" Anemone says as she walks over to mom gently. Mom smiles and opens her arm to her as well. Anemone smiles and snuggles against her arm. Suddenly the sound of a bag dropping came, and everyone turned to where the sound came from.

I slowly walk towards him with my arms behind my back. "Dad are you okay?" I ask. Dad nods, "I'm just a little tired from the journey back." He assures. I chuckled. "You're getting old dad." I joked lightly. He forced out a small chuckle. But then looked away to see a eighteen year old boy hugging, and greeting his parents. They're laughing and reuniting after being separated for three months.

"Okaerinasai." Mom greets. "Okaeri!" The twins greets. Dad nods again. "Tadaima." He replies. Mom smiles.

Anemone goes over to dad and tugs his pants then looks up. "Pick me up." She requests. Dad smiles lightly and lifts her up, so she could ride on his shoulders as they walked to their recently bought house.

9:00 P.M

Mom tucked in the twins as they rested on their futons. Anetheia subconsciously sucked her thumb while she was gently pulling on Anemone's hair. Mom chuckles and tucks away a strand of her hair.

Meanwhile I was out at the porch, serving dad some of my home made dinner.

"You know didn't have to make this." He said. I nod and said. "But you look tired."

Then I chuckle, and added. " But I wanted to, after all you're my dad and if it weren't for you and mom, I wouldn't be the person I am today…so it's alright if I could help you out like this." I said wholeheartedly.

Dad remains quiet for at least ten minutes. I blink twice and look over. His eyes were closed, and he looks at peace for once. I watched his chest breath in and out. "After all the hard work you've done dad, you deserve a break…" I whispered.

Soon I heard a shushing and I look up to see mom coming standing up with a blanket in her arms.

She goes on her knees and wraps the blanket around dad. "He must be exhausted from the journey back." She points.

Zean then snores loudly as he lies asleep, with his blanket dismantled, his pillow kicked to the floor, and his body resting on a twenty-five degree angle. "He's not the only one who's exhausted." I chuckled.

Mom smiles in agreement, and then she looks up at the starry sky and then she closes her eyes and folds her hands in prayer. I look at her and assumed that she's praying till the day Scáth can come back to us.

Finally she opens her eyes and stands up. "I'm going to bed now, try not to stay up to late alright?" She tells me with a gentle voice. "Okay." I replied. Mom says goodnight and I said goodnight back.

Then I look up at the stars too, and gets into a praying position. Soon I closed my eyes. "Please…Please keep everyone I care about safe…" I prayed, then I open my eyes and saw a shooting star. Soon I closed my eyes again and made that silent prayer.

In Edge.

11:00 P.M

"Cheers!" Beira and Rothair hollered as the three of us cling our wine glasses together. "That was a great mission! Scáth you were totally awesome!" Beira praised me before she took a sip.

I scoffed at myself. "No…we did it as a team, so you deserve a reward too." I told her.

"Awww come on, you don't have to be that generous!" Rothair says. Beira looks at him with narrowed eyes.

"What's that suppose to mean? I don't deserve a little praising?" Beira looks at him with a glare.

Rothair clasps his hands together and begs for her forgiveness. And then something unusual happened. I managed to muffle one laugh, but the next one was hard to conceal, and before I knew it I was laughing out loud.

Beira and Rothair blinks twice and stares at me like I grew a second head. Beira chuckles happily and then said. "It's been awhile since I heard you laugh like that Scáth…it's really good to hear your laughter again." Rothair nods in agreement. "Plus girls like guys who know how to laugh!" He says as he slaps my back. "You really need to get a girlfriend!" He jokes.

I shrug and simply replied. "Yeah maybe…but then again they'll probably see me as a poor guy hanging around with his fool for a friend." I tried to crack a joke. Rothair nods and then jumps as he realized what I meant. "Hey I'm not a fool!" He shot back. Beira and I just laughed as his 'offended' look as he looked away with arms folded.

But after a few minutes he gave in and just laughed with us. "Not a bad joke for your first try…but I'll give you a few pointers first." Rothair assures me.

"Like I'll come to you for advice." I told him. Rothair growls and looks at Beira. "Beira say something!" He begs her.

Beira chuckles and said 'No.'