When they exited the facility, nobody spoke at first. Mao had already assumed his cat body and was racing over. "There you are!" He called. "Are we clear?"

Huang winced in pain, favoring his injured leg. "They patched me up pretty good in there," he muttered. "Even you got in on the action, furball?"

"We'd all be lost without your charming personality," Mao said, glancing to Rin and Hei. "You're both alright, good. We have a safehouse that's a bit of a drive, but it's the best we can do." Mao turned his head as Koki's car approached. "We can leave the other car here. Huang, you drive with me and Yin. Rin, can you and Hei-"

"Yes," Rin said. "We'll retrieve the cellphone, too." She reached for Hei but saw him tense before quickly flinching from her hand. Huang blinked slightly at that. Mao's mouth set into a line as he realized his suspicions were confirmed.

"The doctor. Is she-"

"She got away," Hei said, the mask obscuring his features. Mao, however, could feel the animal rage deep inside Hei now. He thought of something to say, but quickly thought better of it.

Koki unlocked the car doors. "I don't think anyone's left, but others still might be coming. We should go."

Mao hopped into the car before Huang limped into the driver side. "Dunno who you are, but guess I should thank ya." He looked to Yin. "And you, too, Yin."

The doll instead turned her vacant stare on Hei and for a moment, Mao almost thought her lip trembled as her hands tensed. "Hei," She said softly.

"Hei," Rin said. "We should go, too. Koki, drive to the safehouse they mentioned. I'll take Hei back to the apartment. Meet me there after you make certain everything's fine, okay?"

Koki nodded before locking the doors and driving off. Rin watched the car vanished before signaling Hei. Hei sprinted ahead to where they'd left the car, Rin following quickly. At least they'd left her keys close by…

Hei ducked down, retrieving the cellphone before tossing it back. Rin opened it, punching in Mimi's number.

"Rin? What happened? We saw you go off and Koki-"

"We're on the way back. We got clear and we're safe. It's Sayara. Mimi, I need you to run through everything you can double time from here on."

"Right," Mimi's voice sounded worried. "I'll get back to the informant, too. Rin, do you know about anything-"

"A death cult, higan and Sayara? I know everything you do. Hei's with me, I'll be fine for now."

Hei got in the passenger seat. He'd already shrugged off the effects of the gas, but Rin could feel something inside him now.

"Take off the mask…it's too conspicuous." It was a stupid excuse. She wanted to look him in the eye, to reassure him it was over now. She didn't want him to bottle his feelings inside. She had suffered Sayara's ministrations before and knew what he had to be feeling. She remembered the helplessness on that table as she saw the humiliation and shame in his eyes.

Part of her wanted to reach over and put her hand on his, but she knew it wouldn't be welcome. Hei hesitated a moment before he reached up and removed the blank face, revealing his own features. His black eyes were cold, staring ahead without seeing anything, his mouth set in a thin line.

"We'll get her next tim-"

"Drive," He said flatly.

Rin breathed in as she set the car out. "Do you need-"

"No."

Rin closed her mouth, looking ahead at the road. "I didn't expect-"

"I didn't see it coming either," Hei said, keeping his eyes ahead. "I'd never screwed up that bad before."

Rin decided to just run the next red light after making sure there were no police in sight. "It's a long drive, you know."

Hei was silent for a short moment before he asked at last, "Apos. Who is he?"

"He's a man…always chasing immortality."

"He was the one behind Laura."

"He sent her to kill me a few times. I don't think he ever expected her to succeed. He's someone who preys on immortals like me."

"And he's behind Sayara as well," Hei concluded. Rin decided it was best to keep talking.

"Whenever he plans something, there are multiple levels to it. He knows of the Syndicate at least. Do you even know anyone high up in that organization?"

"No. The Syndicate's too careful to let people like me know anything about its top heads. The only person who knew any of them was Amber in South America during the war. She never told me anything, though."

"Apos could be there."

"He could be," Hei said. "He said he was an angel?"

Rin pursed her lips before she flushed in embarrassment. "Angels…Hei, you can't see Yggdrasil…the tree that exists between this world and the next…"

"I heard what Sayara said," he was forcing himself to focus on the mission, keeping his mind sharp.

"The time fruits are spores of Yggdrasil," Rin said. "Men become angels, our predators. What I felt there was…" she glanced aside, hiding the look in her own eyes. "Desire. We can't control it," She didn't even remember if she'd told him this before. She just wanted to keep talking.

"Apos's kept himself alive by preying on immortals. He tortures them, takes their time fruits. I've seen him do it. He's always looked for a path to permanent immortality…I've known him for centuries."

"And his regeneration is superior to yours. Even you'd take time to get up from a bullet in the brain."

"You saw that when Wei killed me," Rin said, looking to him.

Hei was looking at her. "This isn't the first time I've seen you in a dangerous situation."

"Look who's talking," she tried a smile.

"You enjoy this," Hei said. "The danger. I saw it before things went wrong. When you were at the Wong party, a lot of that wasn't fake."

Rin's smile turned gentle. "When you live as long as I do, Hei, what do you think you have after a thousand years? I've experienced more than you can even imagine. If I just retired quietly, I'd lose most interest in living before long. Boredom's the real worst enemy of immortals. Living dangerously is what I have to do."

Hei just accepted this with a simply nod. Rin breathed in. He didn't understand, but how could he? She'd lived a solitary existence for most of her life. The rush of danger was what reminded her of being alive. The satisfaction when she won at the end…

But sometimes, it went wrong. Tonight had been one of those times. She unconsciously reached out and slipped her hand on his. Hei tensed, but didn't withdraw this time.

"There was someone I cared about," Rin said. "But he left me a long time ago. He said it was for my safety…he taught me a lot…how to read, how to write…about immortality…"

"All I remember now is back to the night the stars vanished," Hei said. "After that, I learned to kill. I killed for Amber. I killed for the Syndicate."

"You didn't kill me," Her hand clasped his gently. She didn't want to be pushed away this time.

"No," He shook his head. "Amber used to say we should run away together." He closed his eyes. "Running to a place where we could see the stars. It's just another lie she told me. There aren't any more stars now. There never will be."

She squeezed his hand and was relieved he let her this time.

"Does this make us partners?" She asked, locking her eyes to his.

He was forcing his pain down now. She realized this was due to what had to be years of practice. For that matter, she still didn't know what she was feeling.

He gave a nod. "For now…I need to find what Apos knows about Amber."

The car soon arrived back at Rin's apartment. She parked it and let them back in, taking a moment to confirm from Koki he had safely dropped Yin, Mao and Huang off before Mimi raced in with Genta.

Genta gratefully leaped at Rin, licking her face. Rin managed a laugh, heaving the huge dog off her as Carmine and Mimi filled the doorway.

"Rin, my god!" Mimi pulled her in to a hug, pressing their bodies together. "You…you had me freaked out!"

"It's alright…" Rin hugged her before embracing Carmine as well. "Sorry to worry you."

Hei faced Carmine for a moment. Something must have passed between them because Hei gave a short nod. "I'm glad you're still safe, Carmine."

Rin saw the warmth return to him for a moment before she put a hand on his shoulder. Hei tensed for a moment and Rin cursed herself. "If you need a minute, there's a room down the hall and to the left."

He gave a short nod and walked out. Rin turned to face the others. "He's going to just wait for confirmation before he goes."

Carmine frowned. "What happened?"

"Sayara did," Rin realized that wasn't sufficient, but Carmine realized enough and she puts a hand to her mouth.

"My god…" For a moment shock and horror gave way to fury and something lit behind Carmine's gentle green eyes: a fire that Rin had never seen in her before. All of a sudden, Rin realized how this gentle woman could once have been the most feared killer in Heaven's War. The hatred and rage were terrifying to behold. If Sayara was in the room then, Rin had no doubt Carmine would have torn her apart

"You shouldn't leave him alone," Carmine said after a moment.

"You're the one who should-"

Carmine breathed in. "Rin…I know how I feel about him…but I know how you feel about him."

Rin was taken aback for a moment. "How I-"

"You were there tonight. You've been through the same thing. The person he needs most right now is you. Hei's done everything for me, but…" she looked at her hands. "There's too much blood here for him to forget right now. I can't sit back again…if I have to-"

"Wait, you CAN'T leave here and get closer to the Gate," Mimi said. "If-"

"If it's far enough, I can still fight. I haven't forgotten everything, Mimi. I won't let the next mission go."

Rin bit her lip. She knew Hei's feelings towards Carmine were…warm to say the least, but…

How do I feel, then? And how long should I sit here wondering then?

She took one step forward and set down the hallway.

She opened the door. Hei had removed his coat and was standing at the window, resting a hand on it as he focused his gaze in the direction of the Gate.

"Hei…" She said after a moment. Hei turned to see her.

"Rin," He said.

"Hei…I should've done something-"

"It wasn't your fault," He responded, shaking his head. "I've dealt with worse, Rin. I'll get through this."

She realized he was serious. He'd lost his sister, his home, his childhood after the Gate. One more pain like that….how much did he have to hurt to just label something like this just another day.

"Not alone. Not if you don't want to." She took a step forward.

Hei watched her before she looked to him. "Can I?"

He gave a nod after a moment and Rin gently reached over and slipped her hand in his, feeling his warm skin to her own as she entwined their fingers and squeezed gently.

Hei allowed it for a moment before he reached up and gently put his hand over hers as well. Rin realized at once he was not the only one being comforted now. How much had she been hurt in the last years, decades and centuries? How much did she recognize from him because she saw it in herself?

She let him hold her hand, neither making any move to do more.

She didn't realize how much time had passed for a long while, but the question remained: are we partners now? Or is it more?


Sayara was asleep when Apos left the room, walking out to the balcony that overlooked the towering, snowy mountains in the distance. Laura gave a quick nod. "Apos," she said. "Didn't go well?"

"It went fine. I learned enough, and the Syndicate isn't set back from its goal," Apos gave her a smile as he extended a hand, a time fruit in it. He'd acquired it earlier that evening. He raised it over his head and squeezed until it cracked, opening his mouth to catch the warm, white fluid.

His red eyes rolled back in pleasure as the memories of pain, suffering and sadness enveloped him. The taste of such things was simply addicting. He licked his lips to catch every delicious drop before throws the shell off the balcony.

"The Doctor?"

"Resting. I'll send her back later. She'll go along with the plan until she succeeds or gets stopped, of course," Apos grinned. "As for you, I'll think of something."

Laura gave a nod, looking relieved enough. "And Rin?"

"I'll put together something really special. As for Hei…do you know him, Laura?"

"By rep," she said. "Everyone knows about the Black Reaper. He's got a body count big enough to fill that gorge down that."

Apos glanced down. The bottom wasn't even visible this far up. "Rin seems fond of him," He mused. "I've heard of him before of course…"

He remembered the mocking, arrogant smile of that woman, her liquid amber eyes locked on his five years ago. And her words…You still don't understand, do you? I've seen how it ends…you're going to die screaming.

A shudder of fury hit him and his smile vanished. Laura paused, taking a step back from him. "Apos?"

"Momentary lapse," He hissed. Remembering her tone before she'd vanished. There's nothing in you. You are inferior to Hei even now.

Apos, the immortal angel? Inferior to some half-baked Contractor? It was absurd, it made no sense. That damn woman always made it her objective to ruin his plans. He wondered how many times she'd made the attempt...but her price was a heavy one. If she was active now, there could only be several payments remaining to her.

He thought of Rin, imagining her writhing underneath him, body twisting with pain and desire as he prepared the finishing touches on a delicacy shaped by a life of over a thousand years' worth of pain. What was more…the preparation of his final ascendancy.

"I'm sending you back, Laura. You know what to do."

Laura had time for a nod before gold light enveloped her. Apos reached out and had it envelop Sayara as well. Her little virus was fun, but he had one more visit to pay.

In the grand hall of the old castle lodged into the snowy mountains, the man sat at the head of a huge table, eating the time fruits from a bowl in front of him. Despite his incredible age, the man looked a vigorous, handsome forty, with chin length black hair and a short beard. He leaned back in his seat. "Tonight didn't go as well as you expected, did it, Apos?"

Apos gave a chuckle that built until it was a full roar of laughter before the laughing stopped and he focused on the man in the chair. "Shut up, you relic," he hissed in a voice colder than the snows surrounding the castle.

"I know how you've called Rin all these years. I know how you've tried to protect her from me. The time is drawing close, old man."

The man frowned at him. "You are a fool, Apos. You do not deserve the honor at which you stand."

"The guardianship of Yggdrasil? I'm afraid I see that a little differently than you did. You viewed it as your burden, your responsibility. Yggdrasil belongs to me to enjoy now. I will probe the mysteries it holds, and what is beyond the Gate. They say you gain what you've lost there if you pay the price."

"You've lost nothing," the former Guardian said venomously. "You take from others. That's all you've ever done. You steal their lives, their hope, their bonds…"

"And it makes them taste wonderful," Apos chuckled. "But we can debate philosophy all day, you know. I'm going to take what's rightfully mine then: the permanent guardianship of Yggdrasil. The Gate…everything."

"So that's it. You require a sacrifice to make it yours, with the blood of the Guardian. As well as-"

"A tragedy large enough to make it occur, yes. Sayara is, of course, plan A. Plan B? Well, I let the Syndicate have their fun, too." Apos smiles. "No telling Rin, either. I will monitor you, old man."

Apos moved so he could put his hands on the old man's shoulders. "Tajimamor: the one who found the fruits at the tree's roots and became immortal. And now he sits, helpless to affect a thing. Rin's moving on, you know. She's quite taken with the Contractor. BK-201, I believe."

Tajimamori met Apos's crimson gaze. "Then I wish her the best. Is such a notion beyond your understanding?"

Apos smiled. "You have a front row seat to watch the world you love so much burn, old man. You can see Rin die, too. And her new lover. The best part is, you can't do anything."

The golden light rose and swallowed Apos as well. Tajimamori took a breath.

He'd never felt so weak. Apos had all the power over him since he'd taken the guardianship years ago. He did the only thing he could now: have faith.


Itzhak glanced to his partner as he arrived back at the van. The area was a deserted one near the bridge, filled with vegetation that swayed gently in the breeze. To all appearances, Itzhak might have looked like a shabby drifter, with his tattered clothing, unkempt black hair and several days' worth of stubble, but one look in his eyes would reveal the cleverness and calculation there.

"Got a cigarette?" his partner asked. Bertha wore her light hair in a short bob that seemed oddly out of place on her head. She was a thick, heavy set woman, the image of the opera singer she had been a life time ago.

"Why do you need one now?" Itzhak frowned. Bertha pointed back under the bridge. A man lay facedown by the small pond near the bridge.

"Is he dead?" Itzhak asked dispassionately.

"He was spying on me, so yeah," Bertha shrugged. "I need to make my payment."

Itzhak reached into his pocket, removing a cigarette case and passing it to his partner. "From what I've gathered, there was an incident not long ago at an old hospital."

"Did our orders change?"

"More or less. We're to investigate it now," Itzhak shrugged before glancing up. Near the bridge, in the grass…he saw the faint, unmistakable glow of doll observation…"

His pupils began to glow and he extended a hand, beckoning the specters to him before he pulled his hand. The ghosts launched at him and he accepted them. The moment they touched him, they vanished, absorbed into his body.

"There…I've got some more information now," He said with quiet satisfaction. "Nobody knows what really happened, but some recovered footage could indicate one of our targets. And…" He glanced suddenly at the water. "I see I missed one."

He jerked a hand at the specter….and his eyes widened. He grinned. "What luck. I think I just got information on our first primary target…"

A distance away, Yin's eyes flew up and her hands clutched at her chest. She slumped to her knees and then fell over. For the first time in ten years, she was truly blind..

Ten years ago, the girl felt gentle hands guiding her own. "See? Just like that, Kirsi…"

"I don't get it, Mr. Kastinen!" She protested with all the haughtiness and stubbornness of a little girl, folding her arms and puffing her cheeks.

Her teacher was a patient, caring man, and was not to be deterred. "You have to feel the music, Kirsi. Let it flow through you…"

Another voice came, gentle and caring. "It's okay if you don't understand yet, Kirsi. He-"

"Don't treat me like a child, mother!" She snapped suddenly. As always, her world was darkness. Her purple eyes stared ahead while seeing nothing. She had long since memorized every key on the piano.

She took her mother's silence for surprise and hurt, but Mr. Kastinen's gentle voice came again. "It's alright, Kirsi. I never understood it at your age, either. Why don't we have a break and have some tea before we continue?"

The girl looked ahead before asking. "Is it a full moon tonight?"

"It might be…" Mr. Kastinen said before… "You're right, it is! How did you know?"

For the first time that night, a true smile blossomed on the girl's face. "I knew it! I can just feel it…I always do…" She lowered her hands to the keys and began to play: a soft, sweet and haunting melody sounded through the room, filling the silence as, driven by the light of the moon, she let the music flow through her.

She could remember it all, even though her face made no expression. She felt it, deep inside, though she could not smile, nor laugh or cry. She had the memories etched into her soul of the night the stars faded: the night her mother had died.

Yin, once known as Kirsi, lay on the ground, memories flooding through her: she whispered a single name again and again, screaming for his help against the darkness that absorbed her now.

"Hei. Hei."

Help me…her mind cried.

Don't leave me all alone….