I want to thank my reviewers who really make my day! Thanks again and enjoy! ~Liars

The Messenger and The Enemy

What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end

And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

~Nine inch Nails

I am a shadow. Someone you think you know, but don't. You never did and never will. You mistook my sickness and viciousness for frailty and protection. You were wrong. I am not precious. I do not have good intentions. It's simple. The innocence is far gone, besides did we really even have any to begin with?

"Get out!"

I hear him. I cannot forget. Since that moment I've walked aimlessly. Passing couples running for shelter from the rain and I can hear their voices, the laughter turns to screaming. They glance towards me and their eyes are black empty sockets with razor sharp teeth in devilish grins.

I don't want this. My mind is a disease. I'm scaring myself. I begin to run, running until it hurts to breath. I'm drowning; the rain is coming like a hail of bullets, thick wet droplets. I turn into an alley way and duck into a shady bar.

I locate the washroom grabbing paper towels on my way in and mop my face. There is a stranger in the mirror. A blue eyed, silver haired stranger. My eyes are accented with dark circles. And cheek bones gutting out like an Oliver Twist doppelganger, I look like shit.

And then on cue, the tears come and by this time I don't care. I just don't care anymore. Fuck it, fuck goddamn everything's going to hell anyway, why not me too?

The tracker on my wrist begins to flash red. I twist and turn it around and around. It squeezes tight until my fingers turn purple. With the pain I feel calm.

Shaking, from the cold I wrap my arms around myself and sink to the floor. My realization is no one wants me. I don't want me.

"Where is he going?"

The youngest member of Sleeping Forest inquired. The response she received was only an impatient shush. She grumbled something about not finishing her new doll. Mikan and Ringo, were too intent on the chase to pay her any attention. They abruptly stopped, causing Ume to lightly bump into her older sisters. They held their breath as they all spied Ikki stop just ahead of them.

"Someone's coming!"

Mikan whispered excitedly. A strangely dressed stormrider approached the Storm King. He was clad in trench coat, gas mask and pink feathered boa.

"Let's get a better look."

Ringo gracefully glided into the shadows followed by the others. On ground level they could hear the masked stranger more clearly. Something about the new arrival had Ringo searching, she knew him, she knew she knew him, she just couldn't remember who.

"You said you had information about the silver haired freak."

Ikki's anger resurfaced as he thought of his best friend laying unconscious in the hospital.

"His name is Ryu Hunter, or rather The Rabbit. Very little is known to the general public, but speculation to those unfortunate to have come across him is that he's with WIND, similar to the gravity children Hunter has curious abilities with his AT, origin is unknown."

The stranger pulled out a photograph. From their position Sleeping Forest couldn't see who was on it. Ringo only caught bright ocean blue and a flash of white as the picture exchanged hands. She furrowed her brow in deep thought. Ikki crumpled the photo in his fist.

"Akito-!"

With a swish of blue Agito appeared before Ikki and the masked stormrider.

"What about him?"

Ikki almost fell over from surprise. He began preaching how Agito should be at home after being in the rain. That received a kick to the gut but Ikki ever wary of Agito's violent outburst (sometimes disguised for affection) dodged it. The messenger coughed impatiently, redirecting Ikki's attention.

"Would you like to know where The Rabbit is?"

"At this moment The Rabbit is at the Westside construction bridge."

Man this mask is suffocating. Hurry up and leave. Come on guys. Go already.

"Where did you get this information?"

Before Agito could interrogate me I puffed out my chest and deepened my voice.

"A reliable source. My source also told me this stormrider is subject to frequent activity, he's always on the move."

I hate this, I look, feel, and sound ridiculous. I just want them to leave so I can change. Ikki finally takes a hint and rides away. A reluctant Fang King follows after giving me a death stare. I've got goose bumps. The bespectacled Apple and her Sleeping Forest sisters chase closely behind, I sigh and dump the costume in a garbage bin. Scratch my face like a monkey and take out my cell phone.

"There on the move."

"Good work Akira."

He hangs up and pockets the phone, turning to his partner he nods. A small smirk spreads over his otherwise emotionless face. His partner takes out the lighter again, clicks it a few times as he drags on his cigarette.

Yoko turns as two handsome males walk through her dingy bar. She greets them and is waved away. She's miffed and goes back to wiping the tables with her greasy cloth. The men seat themselves in a table hidden in the corner of the bar.

As Kaito exhales he places a metal briefcase on the table. He slides it over to Zero. Who receives it and exits from the booth, casually walking to the washroom, glancing at his silver watch.

Yoko watches from the kitchen window as the men leave with the limp body of the teenage boy. She notices handcuffs had been placed on his wrists. She wonders to herself if maybe they are police or Yakuza, either way she wasn't about to get involved. Her cell phone rings absent minded she answers; soon she will go home to her sleazy boyfriend and have makeup sex. And all is forgotten.

As the RV speeds down the highway, Ryu Hunter is jostled from his sleep. Finding himself in Akito's old cage, with his thin body slumped over his knees in an uncomfortable sitting position. He tries to speak but duck tape has been placed liberally over his mouth.

He attempts to take off the tape but his hands are unusable as he is in a straight jacket. Slight claustrophobia was taking hold of Ryu so he began rather unwisely writhing within the cage. The rattling noise attracted the attention of Zero who had been scolding Kaito about his unsafe driving practices.

"Fuck! Watch where you're going!"

Kaito ignored him as he slammed the breaks at a cross walk while an old lady slowly hobbled in front of them. The Crocodile took this opportunity to light another cigarette, his seventh pack today. All the bumps and turns had worn Zero out as he stepped away from the passenger seat to go take a leak, he heard rustling coming from the repossessed teenager.

Pushing past Zero, Kaito locked the bathroom door behind him. Realizing that the RV was still in motion Zero dashed to the front of the vehicle. Kaito, the ever devious had never needed to piss, he also had been the first to know the little rabbit had awoken. He could hear muffled screams from a mile away.

"Long time no see."

Ryu Hunters glare was no match for The Crocodiles grin. The only similarity between the two was pure hate. Kaito reached his slender hand into the cage, grasping Ryu's silver hair between his claw like fingers. Gentle caressing the strands he exhaled. Smoke lingering in the air.

"I want you to listen closely, you fuck."

Kaito spits, griping the silver hair ferociously. Ryu began to squirm under his grip leaning to the other side of the cage to break the stronger man's death grip. His attempt from immediate pain is futile. With one sharp yank, Ryu stops struggling learning quickly that with obedience the pain will lessen...usually.

"You broke my brother's heart. Running away like a goddamn dog, did you not listen; I said he's a slave to that bitch bird Minami. Now I'll repeat this one last time because apparently you need it fucking spelled out to you. He's f-u-c-k-i-n-g him! When I told you this, I meant for you to r-i-p his fucking throat out! Are we clear now?"

Ryu's scalp was released as he gave what Kaito assumed was a positive response.

"What did you say?"

He rips the duct tape from Ryu's face. Fighting the temptation to cry out in pain Ryu answers warily.

"Your right, I left. It's my fault."

Kaito smirks and unlocks cage. Lifting the teen easily from the circular prison, he lets him go and walks towards the front of the RV.

"I lied when I said Akito never wanted to see you. That was Agito, he hates you. And that's the truth. You wanna know why? Agito is Akito as Akito is Lind. You should know this Ryu, being a MPD freak yourself, by the way how's that going for you?"

Without turning his back Kaito could sense the quiet anger emerging from his puppet. This was all too easy for him. Maybe the drugs won't be necessary but...you never know, especially with genetically engineered psycho freaks. Better to be safe than sorry.

"Zero, I'm ready to drive now."

"Ikki! Ikki, wait up!"

The Storm King turned puzzled to find his housemates chasing after him.

"Ringo, what are you doing?"

It took The Thorn Queen a nano second to reach the Crow.

"I know who that was! Ikki, that stormrider in the gas mask-"

"How long have you been sneaking behind us!"

"I thought you'd be happy, we were trying to help-"

"Help, you don't think I can beat this fucker? I'm the fucking Storm King Ringo; in a real match I could have killed that fucker."

"I never said-"

Leaving a furious Ringo in the dust. Sleeping Forest waited for her word to continue following the bird and the Shark. When it didn't come they idled anxiously.

"Ikki's right. It his fight, let's go home."

All Ringo could do was clenched her fists and turn away. Turn her back from his road. For so long she had seen only his back. The sky is much too far away for a gnarled and twisting Forest to reach. The Forest is connected to the ground, with deep roots and that is what makes it strong. She had to let him go.

For so long I had buried the past. And everywhere I turn I am only reminded of the hurt. The hurt I have caused. The impulse is a defence. It is anger and power.

The grinding wheels of The Clover follow as I pursue any enemy with acute speed and deadly force. When the technique is executed at one hundred percent it can cause death. Or near. I had nothing against the team Kogarasumaru.

Like I said it's an impulse like an addict, I cannot control myself. Anybody who gets in my way will find themselves in the ground. With the impulse all emotion is pushed aside. The only rational mind is the one finding the most efficient way to decapitate the enemy. That's what I do best. I decapitate.

My name is Ryu Hunter.

It's my birth day. Not my real birthday. It has been three years since I was born. Perfected. Three years ago they poked, prodded, injected, tortured, and abused the innocent orphan out. I endured all of that hell, for years, for this one moment. I amthe perfect weapon, obedient, empty of only fear, filled with only malice.

Hunter, my female counterpart is the wise mind of my sick mind. Even from her I had been abandoned. I cannot rely on her, so in turn I cannot rely on myself. My existence is meaningless. How can one person cause my dark heart to flutter, to cry out in sadness and rage at the same time?

Is this love, or obsession?

If it is love then it obviously one-sided. The solution is simple I'll kill Itsuki Minami. If it is only obsession, I'll still kill The Storm King. Isn't love just obsession anyways?

This is my decision; as I ponder from the RV as Kaito speeds down the highway. I should have known this was their plan. In the end I will be the bad guy.

I grin as Zero places The Clover on my feet. After he is finished lacing, he looks up his face is cold, distant. What's new? His emotionless face does not change as he undoes the straightjacket. He doesn't utter a single word.

Once I'm free he gets up and takes something small like a car starter from his pocket. He pushes a button and I feel a prick on my throat. I reach up to touch it but all I feel is metal. I grab with both hands at the collar.

Immediately I can tell what it is, my body becomes numb. I slump forward and Zero catches me he lays me on the bed and walks back to Kaito.

Photographs had been tacked on the ceiling. Kaito and Akito looking like normal siblings. Smiling and laughing, in Kaito's case smirking with a cigarette in his mouth, and his hand affectionately on Akito's head, ruffling his little brothers' ocean blue hair.

My eyes glaze over the many glossy surfaces and spot one photograph. It was a family portrait with, a professional and somewhat emotionally reserved male. In his early thirties with a crop of dark blue hair slicked back in a no nonsense manner and pretty woman with long white-blonde hair pulled back tight in a bun.

She had grey eyes and unhappiness in them, despite her polite smile. At the man's side is a young child of about ten. A boy, whose looks were identical to his slender mother, holding his hand is a one year old baby whose hair was even lighter than his brother and mother. His attention is to the sleeping bundle in his mother's arms. It was a new born baby boy, the only child in the photo to take after the father.

I could recognize that blue hair anywhere it was Akito, or rather at that time Lind Wanijima. Which meant that the one year old baby holding onto Kaito's hand was...Me? It couldn't be I don't remember them. I don't have on memory of my parents at all. Zero told me I didn't have any. I was born in the facility, that could be true but I must have been in that beautiful woman's womb. The most I can remember is waking up in that padded room in a straightjacket. Screaming, and fighting and seeing Zero's face...Did she even want me? She looks so sad.

Is it raining? Why is their water on my cheek? There must be a leak in here. Am I crying? Why am I crying? I can't, not right now, why now? I blink and the tears continue to roll down my face like a little river.

I can turn my head a little which means the drug is wearing off. We must be close now. What am I going to do? I promised long ago that I would protect him, if I hurt Minami, Akito will never forgive me. I want to see my little brother look up at me with happiness not sadness or anger. If he hates me I don't know what I'd do.

My life would be over.

I would die.

The engine stops and I'm lifted from the RV. Zero carries me into a half demolished building. Smoke drifts into my nose and the sound of locks clicking echoes. I'm dropped on the hard concrete floor.

"Everything's according to plan, Sir, on your word."

I could only see the man's feet. There was a bulge in his pant, hidden AT's. He was a G-man.

"Good, set up the perimeter. I don't want any one getting in the way."

Kaito nodded at the other cop, dismissing him. One last puff of his nicotine stick and he ground it out with his snakeskin boots.

"Let's get started."

Still in a semi-paralysed state I could sense another needle injected into my arm. It was like heroine, this intense energy that filled my whole body was what drug H had been designed for. It was so extreme I began to physically shake like I was having a seizure.

Everything blurred and in that same instant become so much clearer. Any doubt I had had about annihilating The Storm King was gone. I had a purpose again. I was as alive as I could ever be. This building heat had to be released. I had to run, to taste the sky and paint it red.

Red with Minami's blood.

"I want you to listen closely Ryu. Itsuki Minami must die. Kogarasumaru must die. Stormriders must be punished. After all they killed our parents."

There was no traffic passing them on the bridge. It was still under construction, so the way had been detoured. Agito stood next to the rail as they waited impatiently for The Rabbit to show. They had been there for about ten minutes already. The rain had fully stopped but everything was slick and wet.

Ikki had been very quiet since he had been joined by Agito. He was trying to keep to himself, but questions need to be answered.

"How do you know that guy?"

He meant for the question to be innocent but it came out more hostile.

"What does it matter, he's not gonna be here for much longer."

Ikki ground his teeth at the response and sighed.

"Fine, then tell me how we crush him."

The Fang King grinned.

"Miss me?"

The two kings whipped around to find a teenager with silver hair, one blue eye and one blind eye. Black pants complete with hooks and black straightjacket, the sleeves reaching his knees. A similar image of what Agito used to wear.

"Fuck."

Agito spat as Ikki rushed at his enemy. With incredible speed Ryu dodged ever attack Ikki launched at him. He yelled at him to get away, it was too late Ikki's body came flying in Agito's direction. He knocked into his small frame winding him. Ikki was unconscious, breathing but useless now.

A chance they had at formulating a plan with a twenty percent success rate vanished once The Crow was down. Ryu advanced upon them as Agito struggled to get Ikki off of him. Rolling his teammate on his stomach Agito jumped up and sent a flying fang at Ryu. Who stopped in his tracks, glancing from Ikki to Agito.

He settled on Agito. He rushed suddenly forcing Agito to flee and regroup. He raced along the rails, sending out fangs with every opportunity. He knew he had to get himself into a more dominant position. Abruptly he stopped. Facing Ryu head on, stunned at Agito's change of course, Ryu smirked welcoming the challenge.

Both poised to strike, Agito sent out a kick that sliced Ryu leg. As Ryu sent his own kigh kick that grazed Agito's arm. Neither injury stopped them as they continued. Attack, defend, attack, and defend. They were so caught up in their personal battle that no one noticed Ikki stirring awake.

He sat up to see blood everywhere. He could see they had been fighting as hard as possible, without killing each other. Why were they restraining so much, didn't they hate each other? The one who seemed the most damaged was Ryu, he was restraining the most.

There was something going on with him. While both were shaking and panting Ryu's leg was never steady. It wobbled beneath him and he noticed Ryu only kicked out with it leaving his uninjured leg firmly on the rail.

Sensing an opportunity to strike, Ikki shot up straight aimed at The Rabbit's good leg. Knocking Ryu off balance he was sent flying over the side of the highway. Agito sighed, he looked at Ikki and smiled for a split second and he disappeared.

Ryu's hooks hand ripped into Agito's legs pulling both of them off the side.

"No!"

Ikki dove off the edge and grabbed Agito's arms. Agito grunted in pain. The hooks started too slid down his shins ripping the flesh more.

"Let me go!"

Sweat built up on Ikki's forehead his was determined. The combined weight wouldn't have been an issue if he hadn't been so tired. Blood and sweat loosened Ikki's grip and Agito had started to fall again. The fall was considerable he had time to reach down and tear the hooks free from his legs.

Concentrating on not biting his tongue he released himself. It was too late to do more than break his fall he tried to slip into a wind stream but there was none. Ryu was descending directly below him causing the air to flow around them. His AT's were useless in this moment. He closed his eyes as he expected to greet the concrete below.

The air had shifted, his hair was being pressed down against the wind, and he was rising. Ryu had caught him and now he was running up the side of the metal rail. Agito couldn't believe what he was seeing. As soon as they reached the highway Agito pushed himself from Ryu's clutches.

He took a few steps away before collapsing, between his enemy and his teammate. He shakily stood up and sent a powerful fang at Ryu. The fang caught him square in the chest. He smiled before he collapsed himself. Ikki rushed to Agito side, helping him stand. Together they limped over to Ryu.

"Agito...Please, let me talk to Akito..."

Ikki looked suspiciously at the fallen form of Ryu then to Agito.

"Whatever you have to say to him, you can say to me!"

The once mysterious Rabbit now lay broken before them. Shamelessly he stared at the sky accepting defeat.

"I'm sorry."

Agito pushed Ikki away. And walked a few steps before falling on his knees. Ikki tried to help him up, but his hands were swatted away.

"That doesn't change anything."

Without looking from the night sky Ryu coughed. Agito could see the blood spray. Why was his happening now? He wanted to kill this guy, he had hurt Akito and now he was feeling empathetic?

"I know. Here, you don't trust me then take my Air Trecks."

Agito looked at Ikki, who nodded in agreement. He hurriedly removed his nemesis precious Clover, then backed away.

"See this?"

Ryu fingered the metal collar.

"What about it?"

Agito knew what it was.

"They're tracking us. They're going to take you both in for murder. I was the bait."

Agito knew who it was.

"Who?"

Agito spat out, as Ryu hacked up some more blood and smiled.

"Our big brother Kaito and Zero. Don't worry I won't let them do that."

Protectively Ikki moved in front of Agito as Ryu rolled onto his side. His mouth was dripping with blood. And his leg was still damaged. But he stood up and limped to the rail. He leaned against it his lonely gaze moving from Ikki to Agito who stood closely together. He smiled again and like his mother the smile did not reach his eyes.

"I understand now. If I stay here they'll fill me with drugs and I won't be able to control myself. I'll hurt you again. And I don't want to, not anymore. I'm trying really hard to restrain it, losing all this blood has helped to, but it comes at a price. Your happy with him aren't you?"

"Yeah, I am."

"I just wanted to say goodbye. Protect Akito for me, both of you. I couldn't, I broke my promise. I'll have to break it one more time."

He laughs easy and takes a shaky deep breath, suppressing more violent coughs. With eyes still lingering on the full moon, he vanished. Falling, falling, and falling down the rabbit hole.

Ikki moved to help his enemy, to save him from death. Agito held firmly to Ikki hand, unable to move his eyes from his brother's spot. Somehow he was still gazing up at the silver moon. Still searching with lonely eyes for someone to care for him, to love him in a way no one but Akito could have.

Akito could find the blue sky at the bottom of the well. Ryu would have drowned in it. And there was nothing else they could have done for him. Agito started to limp away from the scene. He was scooped up bridal style by Ikki who ran at top speed all the way to the hospital.

Akito had been awake. He had seen everything. And now he continued his silence as he pretends to stay asleep. Tear slowly rolled down his cheeks. He hugs himself in the dark and silent place that was his mind.

"No, I wasn't the one who needed protection, Ryu-kun. It was you."

The End.

R.I.P.

If you find mistake let me know. Liars.