Author Note:

Here we are with chapter ten. This one Castiel learns a little bit about SABER and Yuzuki earns a few questions, I wonder what will happen there :P

Chapter Ten: The Deceased Laugh

Castiel POV

I woke up to hearing muffled crying in the room. Looking down I saw Yuzuki crying, face stained with tears.

'She must be having a nightmare.'

Shaking her gently I try to wake her, calling her name. She murmurs in her sleep and turns away from me.

"No... don't leave me... SABER, come back." I faintly hear her murmur.

'SABER? Who is she dreaming about?'

"Yuzuki, wake up." Shaking her a little harder. Finally she opens her eyes, looking confused as to where she was. I lean closer to her but face is blank.

"Are you okay?" I ask. Her goes pale and her eyes widen, as if she's just seen a ghost.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" She starts screaming at me.

"Whoa! Calm down Yuzuki. It's me, Castiel." Covering her face with her arms she continues to cry. Gently I touch her shoulder, shying away a little at my touch.

"Hey... are you okay?" She doesn't respond, instead she sits there and quietly cries. Not knowing what to do I sat there and watched, hoping she was okay, even though she never responded to me.

"Castiel?" A faint voice asks.

"Yeah?" I reply softly.

"I'm sorry for screaming at you. I was just having a bad dream and forgot where I was, so when I saw you I was surprised. But I'm okay now, so you don't have to worry anymore." Okay? How could she think I'd believe that, it was more than obvious that she wasn't okay. The way she looked at me wasn't surprise, it was complete disbelief, like she couldn't believe that it was me.

"Please don't lie to me Yuzuki. I know you're not okay." Lifting her gaze up to me she studies me for a moment. Waiting for my next movement.

"Yuzuki. Who is SABER." As soon as the question left my lips she stiffens. Her emotional barrier put back up.

"How do you know about him?" She asks breathlessly.

"I heard you say his name before you woke up." She turns away from me but I quickly stop her and pull back to me.

"Were you dreaming about him? This SABER person. What is it that made you cry so much. Please Yuzuki just tell me. I know you don't want people to know about you're past or anything. But if it causes you this much pain then I want to know. I want to be able to understand you." I plead to her but she shakes her head, a sigh sounds from her.

"Castiel... as much as I want to tell you... you'll never understand my past or what I've done. The only person who did was SABER... and he's gone now." She murmurs quietly.

Hearing this, I felt hurt, why didn't she trust me?

"So what? Am I not good enough to know? Is you're past so bad that I can't even know about it?" My voice starts to rise a little, anger seeping into it. "Or am I just a replacement? Because this SABER guy left you and now you've come to me. Damn it Yuzuki why won't you just tell me? I just..."

"Because it's for your benefit! The less you know, the less chance I have of losing you too! I don't want to watch you die as I watched SABER die!" She screams furiously. "I can't go through that again Castiel. It's not that you're not good enough, but in this world when you know too much about something it gets you killed."

She pauses for a moment to calm herself and speaking more softly this time.

"SABER and I learnt that the hard way. We knew something we shouldn't and he died. I'll never be able to see his smile anymore or hear his laugh. If I could Castiel I would tell you, but I don't want you to get hurt." Resting her back on the wall, she looks out the window. Silence falls between us, neither of move or speak.

Hearing rustling, I look at Yuzuki who quickly grabbed me into hug."Castiel... I never once viewed you as a replacement for SABER. While you two are uncannily similar in both appearance and voice, you'll never be the same. SABER was more like a brother to me, whereas you... I love." She whispers. I gently wrap my arms around her waist and rest my head on her shoulder, breathing in her scent. I was still upset that she wouldn't tell me about her past. I know I said I wouldn't push her for it but I couldn't take seeing her so fragile like that. Like a broken doll that had given up an everything.

"Okay Yuzuki. Because I trust you, I'll leave it to you as to whether or not you tell me." I say, a smirk starts to emerge. "But do you at least trust me enough to go back to sleep and not scream at me again?" She chuckles a little and lies back down on the bed. Laying down, I pull her back into my embrace and tickle her ear. She laughs and tries to get away but I hold her tight, eventually giving up.

"Hey Castiel?"

"What is it?" I ask.

"I love you." Smiling, I kiss her forehead and tell her to sleep. At first she was hesitant, considering what happened earlier.

"It's okay, I'll be here for you."

We lay there, attempting to fall asleep. She seemed calm enough, but I knew that she wasn't sleeping. I knew she was too scared to, so I held on to her. It was the only thing I could do.

Yuzuki POV

The sun stream through the window, illuminating the room. I snuggle closer to Castiel, enjoying the feeling of his arms around me. But feeling guilty too. I had broken down in front of him, told him about SABER. I never wanted Castiel to know about him, afraid he may try and find out more. Because of my distressed state I almost told him everything. About what I am, what I've done, the people who want me dead.

He lazily grabs a pillow and covers his face with it, trying to block out the sun. I giggle a little at his actions and he murmurs something unintelligible in his sleep.

'I don't think he's a morning person. But at least he can sleep peacefully...'

Castiel can sleep however he wants to unlike me. After last night I only pretended to sleep, frightened that I might have that dream again. He doesn't have any worries, doesn't have to listen to his surroundings for suspicious noises at night. While there hasn't been any signs of GALAHAD for a while now, I still can't relax.

Sighing, I turn over onto my back and run a hand through my hair, staring at the ceiling. I don't know if I can protect Castiel and the others. I've thought about leaving a few times before, but I've become so attached that I don't want to.

'I don't want to leave Castiel behind.'

But I can't bring him with me, that would only make the chances of him getting killed higher. If I could somehow work out a way to get them off my case I could stay here. I turn the thought around my head over and over again, every time getting the same answer.

'Kill them.'

Hit them head on and bring them down. If SABER were still here we could probably do it too, but he's not and I can't do it by myself. If could get help from somewhere I may have a shot at it. To get back at the people who took him away from me, make them feel the pain we feel every time we fought.

'But at the same time I may not come back.'

"Hey Yuzuki, how are you feeling?" Snapping out of my thoughts I turn my attention to Castiel, eyes still drowsy from sleep.

"I'm better now." I smile. He snorts and sits up, stretching his arms and back.

"Well that's better than last night." He smirks. Again I began to feel guilty about it, scaring him so much. Feeling my uneasiness he squeezes me in a tight hug, one I quickly return.

We hear a knock on the door and turn around, finding Lysander peeking his head through.

"Hey guys, breakfast is ready if you want any." He grins at us.

"Yeah we'll be down in a minute." Castiel replies and Lysander quickly disappears behind the door.

"I don't know about you but I'm starving. Let's go get something to eat." I laugh at Castiel as he jumps off the bed and heads towards the door. Motioning for me to follow, I stand up and take his hand and walk down stairs into the kitchen.

We're greeted by Iris who was busy making something in a pan. Having no idea what it was I timidly sit down on a chair at the table. She brings a plate over and sets it down on the table.

"So what will it be? Bacon and eggs or pancakes?" Iris asks cheerfully. Not knowing what either of them were I chose pancakes. Cakes seemed like a safe choice. I watch as Castiel and Lysander chat together, not really talking about anything in particular. Castiel notices me staring and smirks at me, causing me to blush.

Snapping my head away I notice the others start to come down, the room fills with sound of voices, laugher and bickering. I start to eat the pancakes Iris gave me, surprised at how nice they tasted. I starting eating them like a starved dog, earning a few strange looks from the others.

"Jeez Yuzuki. The way you're shovelling those pancakes down it's either you're really hungry or you've just discovered them." Dakota laughs.

"Well actually, this is my first time having them." I murmur quietly. Everyone stops and looks at me, only Castiel laughs.

"Wow Yuzuki. First chocolate cake and now pancakes? You've missed out." I smile at his comment. While he's still teasing me he at least took everyone's attention away from me. The soon fills with voices once more, Dakota and I staring an eating competition to see who could eat the most pancakes and everyone cheering us on. In the end I won, shaming Dakota and making him clean all the dishes as punishment.

As the morning progressed, Iris suggested we all go out together and go to the park, earning cheerful replies from everyone. We all disappeared to out rooms to grab out things, taking turns to have showers. Considering the size of Iris's family, consisting of only her and her parents, I felt the house was too big. Having six bedrooms and three bathrooms for a family of three seemed odd to me. As I went to undress I noticed the switchblade still strapped to my thigh.

'Oh shit I forgot about that. I'm amazed Castiel didn't end up finding it last night. I'll have to remember to be more careful next time.'

Removing the blade, I step into the shower and turn it on. Having always been used to having short showers back at GALAHAD, I finish in record time compared to the other girls. Drying myself off and getting dressed, replacing my switchblade back onto my thigh I walk out of the bathroom to put my stuff away and sit in the lounge room with the guys.

"I must say I'm impressed Yuzuki. The other girls will no doubt be in there for at least another fifteen minutes." Lysander casually says to me.

"Well time wasn't a luxury in the military. You had to learn to be quick. If you failed that, you'd regret it." I chuckle.

"I'm sure you would." Nathaniel speaks up. "Which leaves the question as to why you were in a military academy to begin with. Castiel said you had a nightmare last night, something about someone close to you dying." Castiel told the others about what happened last night?

"Ah, yeah. It's nothing to worry about though." Shrinking into the seat a little, I hoped he would leave it at that.

"How did it happen?" He asks. Castiel quickly jumps in and tells him to leave me alone. "Come on Castiel, aren't you at least a little curious? You're her boyfriend right? Don't you deserve to know these things?" Nathaniel says, Castiel glares at him.

"If she's not comfortable telling me she doesn't have to." He growls at him. Nathaniel moves closer to me.

"Look Yuzuki, we only want to help you. But we can't do that if we don't know anything about you." I ponder of Nathaniel's words.

"Alright guys let's go!" Iris comes charging into the room, saving me from an awkward situation. Jumping up I grab Castiel and follow Iris out of the house. We make our way over to park, a bounce in everyone's step. I admit that once I got outside I felt much better. Being inside he never really been something I liked, too cramped. Holding Castiel's hand we walk along the path and make it to the park.

"Dibs on the swing!" Peggy screeches, Iris and Kim chasing after her. The rest of us sit around and bask in the sunlight, talking about what ever came to out minds. Out of nowhere, someone screeches out loud, a little dog runs by.

"Well that was odd." Says Leigh.

"YOU THERE!" Jumping in our seats, we face the direction of the voice and find the principle waddling towards us.

"YOU! WHY DIDN'T YOU CATCH MY KIKI?! YOU GET HER BACK RIGHT NOW OR IT'S DETENTION FOR ALL OF YOU!" She screams at us before walking back the way she came.

"Ah man this sucks." Dakota complains. "Why do we have to get her stupid dog back?"

"I think we better move it." Lysander replies. "I know what she's like with that dog. She will give a detention for sure."

"But that's not fair, she can't do that right?" Dakota whines.

Castiel then cuts in. "Idiot she's the principle. She can do what ever the fuck she likes the cow. I don't know about you but I don't want a detention so we might as well just get the damn dog." He stands up and heads in the direction Kiki went. The rest of us lazily got up and followed.

Having tried everything to get Kiki to come back, everyone eventually gave up. It's been two hours since we started chasing her around the park and she refuses to come anywhere near us, even after tempting her with food.

'Normally I'd just run up and grab her but if I showed everyone my true speed that'll just make them ask more questions. I really tired of people getting onto my case.'

During the small break the group took, Kiki ended up disappearing. Groaning in annoyance, we broke off into different areas of the park to find him. Unlike everyone else I was able to pick up on his trail leading to the edge of the park, far away from the others.

'At least these trees will hide me from the others. I'll be able to use my abilities normally instead of holding back.'

As I search Kiki behind the trees, I could sense someone watching me. Observing my surroundings, I try to pinpoint their location, unable to do so.

'I know they're out there, but I can't pinpoint where.'

Out of nowhere, Kiki comes running towards me and jumps into my arms.

"Kiki? Now you decide to come back?" Shaking my head at the dog I move to turn around until something catches my attention. Something flashes in the distance and I focus my attention onto it.

'What the hell...?"

I swiftly step to the side, the bullet whizzing past me. Kiki jumps back out of my arms and runs away, leaving me to face them alone.

"Target has been located." I hear them say.

'You're not taking me out that easily.'

Author Note:

OH NO! They found her! What will happen next?

Find out next time in chapter eleven :)