A/N - Sorry about this chapter taking so long. If it makes you feel better, there isn't a cliff hanger this time.

shikigami-kun - You see the difference between your cliffhangers and mine is I try to avoid them. Glad you liked the chapter!

Gaeriel - Here's another chapter for you!

Aerlynn - Thanks! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

HeatherR - I was just wondering if anyone understood the chapter titles... I'm glad you did! Here's the next chapter for you!

Person - Thank you!

Fanyar - I'm glad you like the story-blushes-

Narijima - I'm glad you liked the scene with Sena and Aya. 'I told you so' is such an amusing phrase when it's not directed at you, isn't it? And you do have a point about Kritiker. Hope you like this chapter!

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Chapter 10 - Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush

Omi looked out across the silent compound. So far, so good. He carried Aya's katana and Sena's chakram on his back. He had to go inside to hijack the security system, so he would be the one to meet up with them.

Spotting the movement of the guards that he had been waiting for, he spoke into the radio, "Havana, Balinese, move out."

Silent as a shadow, he was in the building.

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The sudden light blinded him. Blinking several times against the pain, he tried to make his eyes adjust more quickly. Unfortunately being in the solid darkness for so long, the adjustment wasn't quick in coming. He tightened his grip on Ken.

"Grab that one."

Aya heard the approaching heavy foot steps. He tensed. He had fought in adverse light conditions before, but it wasn't his forte. He felt them try to jerk Ken away from him. He kept his grip and struck at where he thought the offender was.

Somehow, despite his bleary vision he scored a blow. He heard a grunt of surprise and pain.

"Just as I would expect from a Kritiker agent."

Aya's eyes narrowed. They knew he worked for Kritiker. The question was, how much else did they know?

"Don't worry, I just want to talk to the patient there with you."

"I won't let you take him," Aya curtly replied, stalling for time for his clearing vision to finish sharpening. He could make out a man somewhere in his late 20's standing in the door way and two large burly men. One of which was standing over him. He wondered what Sena was up to in the vent. Hopefully it wouldn't be one of his usual stunts.

He glanced over at Ken who he still had firmly in his grasp. Ken seemed almost a shadow of his usual self. His face was pale, and he seemed thinner. A few purplish bruises decorated the visible skin on his arms. His features were blank and a vacant look rested in his eyes. Aya nearly blanched. What had they done to him! Aya moved in front of Ken protectively.

"Don't worry, you will get your turn as well, my red headed friend. But for now, we just need your companion here," he signaled the other two men.

The closer of the two moved to grab Aya. Letting go of Ken, he viciously hit the man with a quick combination of punches. While he was distracted, the other man took the opportunity to grab Ken. Swinging down from the vent, Sena hit the man full in the chest, knocking him to the ground. When the large man tried to get up, Sena felled him with a blow to the neck.

"This is getting ridiculous."

The man in the doorway fired two shots. One dart hit Aya in the arm, the other took Sena in the shoulder. A wave of lethargy began to overtake them. Tranquilizers!

Aya had just enough time to make a mental note to painfully kill the man before unconsciousness took him.

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"Your probably wondering why you are here. Either that or why your awareness is here rather than wherever it has been residing. Did you know the director of this facility is a genius when it comes to psychiatric medicine?" Shiro swung a chair around so it faced the young man in a straitjacket. Sitting on it, his manner was that of one having a casual conversation.

"In case you're wondering about the straitjacket, it's asylum policy. You killed some one, you know. Do you remember that? You were pretty out of it at the time. You're quite the fighter. I must say, you are looking much better than the last time I saw you. I found you dying in the boxcar, you know. You were quite a mess. You look like something is bothering you... is it the memory of being hurt? Or perhaps the fact that you killed someone? Oh don't worry. I'm not a doctor," he chuckled, "I actually just came to tell you about a hidden war going on in the city."

The young man gave a slight frown.

"Hard to believe? Or maybe not so hard, depending on how well you know those two young men who were in the room with you. Or should I say, the two Kritiker agents. They've been checking out this place, you know. It's going to go down soon. The people who run this place have ties that Kritiker doesn't like. And what it doesn't like, it destroys. Kritiker masquerades itself as an organization that works for the benefit of humanity. But that is the mask. Underneath the glittery colors, it's just as twisted as any other corrupt organization. This land is in the strangle hold of organizations warring on each other. Each organization that goes down is taken down by one just as bad. Kritiker is no different."

Shiro leaned forward as if to divulge a secret, "Kritiker was created as part of a power struggle between two brothers. It's purpose is only to rid itself of those who get in it's way."

He leaned back and resumed his normal, conversational tone, "I'm not saying that all the people they've killed have been innocent. Most were cruel and part of countless crimes. But their reasons are far from virtuous. You have these layers upon layers of associations each as corrupt as the last. Even if an organization starts out benevolent, it quickly becomes as rotten as the rest. Once an establishment starts to kill, there is no redeeming it."

He studied the inmate for a moment before continuing, "This brings me to my point. We must smash through the layers of organizations strangling the people. Only then can we truly breathe. Ironically, we must organize to do this. But once our purpose is accomplished we will disperse. Our purpose is to free, not control.

"You are a good fighter, with your help we could bring down the violent organizations. I know this is a lot of information all at once, I don't need an answer now. I'm not like Kritiker or Takatori, I won't threaten you or those you care about to make you work for me. But, think about what I've said. And, if you decide you wish to join my cause, just come to this town and look for me, I'll find you."

"Unfortunately, our time here is just about up. The drug I gave you is beginning to wear off. And the Kritiker agents should be awake by now as well. This place will fall tonight," Shiro stood, "Until we meet again, my friend."

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Blood dripped down from Kyo's tomahawk. All the targets save for the director, who was already inside the building, had arrived all at once though in separate cars. A foolish move on their part. Kyo had taken care of the guards and Yohji the targets.

"Bombay, we've taken out the targets outside," Kyo reported.

"It's up to you now Chibi," Yohji chimed in, "Have you found Abyssinian or Laperm yet?"

"Not yet, I haven't found the director either."

"We'll come and help you look."

"Negative Havana, I can handle it. It doesn't seem like anyone heard the commotion outside. Either that they thought it was the inmates causing a ruckus."

"Well that's one advantage to this place, I guess."

"I just found our teammates."

A brief crackle signaled two other radios coming online.

"Both of you in one piece?" Yohji cheerfully inquired.

"Aa," came Aya's curt reply, "What's the mission status?"

"Just the director left."

"Almost done then."

"I saw Siberian."

"...Are you feeling okay?"

"I thought he was dead."

"...that inmate might have looked like him to you doesn't mean that was him. That was the inmate that gave us letter," Sena commented.

The inmate that gave them the message? Well he did look like the boy in the picture... But their teammate was dead. There was no way they could be the same person.

"They may look similar but there's no way it's possible."

"It was him."

Yohji sighed, "Let's take care of the mission first. Then we'll worry about everything else. Bombay, Abyssinian, find the director. Laperm, you do the same. Sheesh... I never thought that I'd be the one to have to do that..."

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Omi and Aya stalked carefully down the long white hallways, their eyes open for their elusive target. They had already checked the office, only to find it empty.

"Found the target! She's making a run for the outside. She's trying to get out the back!" Sena's voice came over the radio.

"We'll get her, we're going around to the exit now."

The radio fell silent.

"Mission Accomplished," came Kyo's somber voice.

"Let's get out of here," Sena's voice sounded relieved.

Omi looked up at Aya with sympathy in his eyes. Aya noticed his gaze. Straightening his shoulders he continued searching down the hall.

"Aya..."

Aya turned and silenced him with a look.

Omi shook his head. As much as he wished it were true, it would never be. But it seemed there was no convincing Aya, nor had he the heart to. Instead he trailed along behind Aya.

Using the radio, he contacted the others once again, "You guys go on back, we'll catch up."

"No way Chibi, we're staying here until you two get your butts out."

"You're enjoying this too much."

"Everyone else is just being irrational."

"Heh, but you didn't deny it."

"Sorry kid, but you and Aya can keep the job."

Omi watched Aya open a door to check yet another room. Aya paused and then rushed in.

"Ken!" At the sound of Aya's voice, Omi rushed the rest of the way to the door and looked in.

He found Aya crouched next to a familiar figure in a straitjacket.

"Ken!"

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A/N - Well I didn't get to everything I planned to in this chapter but hey at least there's no cliffhanger!

The Review button has been a bit lonely lately. It's too depressed to write a preview of the next chapter...

I'm sure you can make a pretty good guess what's goign to happen in the next chapter though.