(Author's Notes): I worked long and hard on this chapter, and I think it's the best one yet. I try to make them as long as possible, but I run out of ideas if I put too much into one chapter. I know this is getting old, but thank you so much for everyone who keeps reviewing. I've lost count of the number of times I didnt know what to write next, then read a review which inspired me to write more. Oh, and another thank you for everyone who added me to their favourite author's list, it's a real honour to know that you care. :)

It is no surprise that darkness and shadow incite fear. Darkness conceals and entraps, hiding whatever might be lurking within. The gloom inside the dusty lab was nearly toxic, clinging to the walls, floor and ceiling like a leech attaching itself to its prey. The only light came from a single computer screen, its bluish white hue obliterating the murky blackness. The lab assistant working at the computer typed furiously, beads of sweat trickling down his face. He was the last one. All the rest were dead, and soon he would be too.

It had been no easy task, hacking into the government's database. He had deleted a few records here, altered a few lines there, all the while avoiding the firewalls and security probes that periodically swept the system. His job finally finished, the assistant hit the enter key, leaned back in his chair and admired his work. Nobody would ever know he had been there. Even as he thought this, he knew that by the time the sun came up he would be dead. He accepted this, knowing that it was a light punishment considering the things he had done in the past.

The lab was silent except for a slow dripping of water from somewhere above., probably from a cracked water line. It didn't matter now. The sprawling complex had long since outlived its usefulness. The Director had arranged for a little 'accident' to occur six hours from now, where a burst fuel pipe would incinerate the building and destroy all evidence of the activities that had gone on there. Abruptly, footsteps began to echo along the floor, drawing nearer and nearer. It looked like it was finally time for the last phase of the operation.

"Is it done?" It was a cold, hard voice, straight to the point and accepting no questions.

"Yes, Director. All the files you asked about have been erased or altered. But…"

"But what? Is there a problem, Mr. Lab Assistant? Not that I care."

"…Why was there already a profile for the original already on there? I thought…"

"You thought wrong. I had that profile created seven years ago, so that nobody would become suspicious. If you're finished asking questions, it's time for the last stage to begin." The Director's small, beady eyes were focused on the back of the assistant's head. Slowly, he raised the object in his right hand.

A gun was cocked. Oddly, the lab assistant didn't feel afraid. His own desire for knowledge had led to this. The man standing behind him smiled, a cold and sadistic glee coming into his eyes. The gun barked, jumping a little in the Director's hands. Blood splattered over the computer screen as the lab assistant slumped over the keyboard. It was a regrettable loss, since he had been a valuable asset to the Director's efforts, but in the end all of his workers had ended up the same way.

Soon, his dream would become reality. Who cared what sacrifices he had to make to get there? The end justified the means. Unable to contain himself, the Director began to laugh hysterically, the small fragments of insanity inside his mind slowly merging like a tumour. With a great effort, the Director stopped himself. He was old, and there was precious little time left before his body gave out. Breathing slowly and heavily, he turned away from the scene of his murder and walked away. It was time to retrieve the last Number, as she was the lynch pin of the entire operation. Yes, her 'ability' will be essential to me when that stupid mercenary fails in his mission.

Six hours later, a massive explosion ripped through the infrastructure of the facility, tearing it apart from the inside out. Research notes, data sheets and lab records were all consumed in the fiery blaze, leaving no traces of the activities that had gone on there. News Stations would later report that a run down laboratory on the edge of Kamakura had caught fire due to a ruptured fuel line, and that luckily, it had been deserted at the time. The authorities would never realise that the only victim had died several hours previously, as his body was never found. Neither would they realise that the fuel pipe had been ignited by state of the art explosives. The entire incident would be written off as just another unfortunate accident.

The sun slowly fell in the sky, turning the day into evening, and evening into night. By the time it came to go to sleep, everyone was exhausted. The first day had been awkward, with a lot of pauses and people avoiding each other's eyes, but slowly the barriers were beginning to break. As Kouta lay on his side in bed and thought about the previous hours, he came to realise just how much everything had changed. Yuka is working now, and Mayu has a boyfriend…That's a surprise, considering how shy she used to be. Before he could ponder these thoughts any further, he felt two arms wind their way around his shoulders, and a warm mass attached itself to his back.

"Is that you, Lucy?" He mumbled, not opening his eyes. The arms squeezed in confirmation. Kouta sighed and opened his eyes, rolling over so that he could look at her. The only light source was a small reading lamp by the bedside. Half of Lucy's face was in darkness, but the half he could see looked pained.

"Hold me…" She whispered, resting her head on his chest. Kouta put his arms around her shoulders, drawing her slowly up so that her head lay under the crook of his neck. She wormed her way deeper into his warmth, both her hands gripping his shoulders to lock herself into position.

"What's the matter?" He asked. Lucy rarely actively sought affection, even from him. When she did it was usually after a nightmare. She was obviously upset about something.

"I'm tired." She lied, trying to make it sound convincing. I'm going to have bad dreams again tonight, I can feel it. She pressed herself against him, taking comfort from knowing that he was there for her. Kouta seemed to know that she wasn't being truthful and reached down, stroking her upturned cheek softly.

"Then I wont ask." He reassured her gently, using his other hand to reach across and turn off the light. Lucy remained where she was, trying desperately to stay awake. If she could, it would be a double blessing, since she could remain in Kouta's embrace whilst avoiding the horrors that plagued her sleeping hours.

Outside, the wind picked up. It grew from a silent moan to a long, low whistle, surging softly through the streets and buildings nearby. Street lamps flickered on and off, the few people still wandering along the pavement speeding up in order to avoid the wind chill factor. It seemed as if the weather itself was afraid, eager to abandon the cursed city, almost as if it knew that the area below it would soon become a battleground once again. The stage was set. All the pieces were in place. The only thing left was for the first move to be played, and it soon would be.

She sat in darkness, waiting, listening. She could no longer walk due to extensive brain damage. She had no name, only a number. If one were to look at her, lolling absently in her wheelchair, one would wonder whether she was truly self aware. But she was, one tiny spark of consciousness fighting back against the all consuming nothingness. Blood poured from two open wounds on her head, the sticky red liquid matting her hair and flowing down her neck and over her back. If the girl sitting in the wheelchair felt any pain, she didn't show it.

Slow footsteps reached the girl's ears. She responded slightly, turning her hair a fraction, one pupil drifting lazily across to see whatever it was that approached her. A harsh white light clicked on overhead, but her blinking reflex was slow. The man standing above her was old, with white hair adorning his hard, weathered face. He stared down at her through beady eyes. Slowly, the girl felt her eyes close, the hypodermic needle in her right arm releasing a dose of tranquilising fluid. The Director watched her coldly.

"It's time." He stated bluntly, almost arrogantly. He grinned maniacally, to the point where the skin stretched over his face became contorted like a skull.

"It's time for you to lead me to your Queen."

(Author's Notes): It's been slow paced up till now, but after this things will start to move more quickly. After this story is over, you might want to check out the fics by people like Warui Usagi, Fox of Anubis and Fresh Meat, even though the latter is no longer around. They are all excellent writers and I reccomend them to everyone. Please R&R as usual, and expect an update next week at the usual time, unless I die before then or something.