A/N: This whole story was on hiatus for the longest time, along with others I've been working on. Fallen Snow in particular was in hiatus for a major plot revision. My first plot did not make sense and sadly, I lost motivation to continue on just right after I came back from vacation 8C I do apologize for that but I re-read this story about ten times over the following year and have a new plot in mind merging with the old one. It just makes more sense this time. Hopefully. XD

(Have not edited thoroughly.)

Read, review, enjoy!~ ^w^

Disclaimer: Don't own anything but the obvious

I was at the bed blankets huddled with me in replace of pillows. Mr. Smoker was leaning against the wall near the door while Merkel the strange sat grinning on the broken chair at the window. He sat arms and foot crossed each other. The pain had left hours later after Merkel explained the agony was natural so I had to just wait.

Easy for him to say! He wasn't the one in PAIN.

I said that out loud only to gain a laugh and a pat on the head. Mr. Smoker had demanded how he found us. The ex-soldier replied it was easy to find someone whom you've worked before, especially when they are your commander. That part I literally screamed I wasn't a commander. He just laughed at me again. The man loves laughter…I hate it. We didn't ask questions due to the fact I was writhing in agony and Mr. Smoker was dazed by all of this.

Who could blame him? Suddenly your friend is in pain then a strange ex-soldier proclaims he is at your service and that you were his commander.

Life, why are you full of surprises?

"So…now that my pain is gone, hopefully, mind telling me why you call me commander?" I asked wincing as I shift to the side. Merkel shrugged the grin faltering into a decent smile. One that doesn't look like he's about to eat you. "Vell, to make story short, jou vere a prisoner of science but escape by me and a couple other people. I vas soldier back then. Jou vere…strange, ja. I remember claws on your hands to be specific." He replied with a curious look on his face as mine turned into shock.

Claws? I had claws?!

"I zee jou don't have dem right nov."

I slowly looked down to examine my hands spreading them apart. Thin, pale skin, lines…Everything looked normal yet I can't help but feel he was right. Merkel shifted his foot apart suddenly serious. "Jou cannot remember, can jou?" I shook my head. "I shall tell jou then, ja?" I could nod. He opened his mouth and started.

—

"There was something different about you that made my superiors shake in fear and voice out their worries in squeaks. They weren't the only ones. The scientist, they were edgy among strangers who ask about you except for one. I forgot his name but he was the Head of Science. Strange man he was. He talks about you like friends, brothers even."

Merkel stood there raising an eyebrow at the crazy man. Well, he sounds pretty insane even for him. The Head Scientist give no indication of stopping about his tale of ancient healing method and how it relates to the man they just found. They call him 'Ripper' because he mercilessly ripped out five soldier's heart out when they got too near for comfort. He finds it exciting that he was going to meet him!

"-and his non-human cells are amazingly-" Wait..what?

Merkel puts a hand to stop the rambling, face confused. "Vhat do jou mean non human?" He asked. The man shrugged. "It's what I said. He's not human." That makes perfect sense. He scowled at the scientist crossing his arms. The man rolled his eyes. "Birthed from lady of the sky, a meteor in shape of a man fell just two weeks ago. People thought it was a hoax, a stunt or only space debris. Logically, I thought it was space debris 'till my team saw the man himself. Seems crazy, I know. I still couldn't believe what I saw but….he knows who he is, what he is and what he seems to be capable of doing. In some levels he trusts me." He explained eyes looking distant as if revisiting a memory.

…Was this guy drunk? And they call him a mad man.

Insanity seems to be spreading like a wild fire.

Merkel was about to remark something insulting to the man when the door opened behind him revealing a frantic looking scientist. The poor man had sweat all over his face, eyes wide in panic and was trembling violently. The Head man frowned walking towards his colleague warily. "What's wrong?" he asked.

The scientist started to babble about 'the demon running lose' and 'must get the army' while flailing his arms wildly. 'He escaped I tell you! Escape! We're all doom!" He yelled out in panic. The Head tried to calm him down to no avail. Merkel saw this opportunity to leave.

He saw no reason to stay especially since he had 'the demon' to capture. He's a soldier after all.

"I was a fool, I will admit. I ran around the base with no weapons but a cocky grin. I thought I could take you on thinking you were just human and that Head of Science was just loony. Ha, I was dead wrong! I found you in the hallway staring at a vending machine. Of course, I didn't know it was you at that time."

The boy was no more than fifteen years old, as it seems. He was wearing a huge grey shirt hanging loosely on his body although the jeans fitted him well. Black messy long hair shone in the light.

Eyes, his eyes were snow white.

Merkel stared at the boy amazed of how he even got in the base and how no one seems to notice that there was a civilian inside. Perhaps everyone was so focused on getting 'the demon' that no one saw this kid. Sighing tiredly, he walked towards the kid in hopes of getting an answer.

"Hey kid." He greeted with a friendly smile. The boy jumped a little, eyes wide as if he just got caught red handed. He looked at Merkel in surprise, body frigid for a moment then relaxed slightly. "H-hello…" the kid murmured shyly as he rocks left to right. Merkel's smile grew broader seeing the child unafraid.

'Does no good if he's scared' I thought. Fear never does any good though give courage sometimes.

"What are you doing here?" He asked. The kid shrugged then put a palm upon the surface of the vending machine. "I was thirsty I guess. Everyone left in a hurry so I couldn't ask." He replied with a crooked smile. Merkel suddenly felt uneasy, smile faltering into a frown. Could it be..? No, that's just…stupid. He shoves his hands inside his pocket, grabbing change from his last lunch. He took five silver coins then puts it into the slot of the machine. The kid stared quizzically as if it was the first time he saw someone do this.

Perhaps it was.

The soldier looks at the kid for a moment, finger hovering on top of a button. The boy looked at him expectantly with eyes shimmering excitedly. The man chuckled before pressing the button. A soda then fell to the hole. The kid grinned lunging at the machine to get his soda. He looks at the red can in wonder, head tilted to the side. Merkel rolled his eyes grabbing the can and opened it then hands the soda back to the shy demon.

He knew but no longer cared. The boy was just a kid regardless of his race.

The kid gulped down the soda in one chug that would make his best friend proud. He chuckled as the kid burped heavily and blushed in embarrassment. The boy looked at him and smiled. "Thank you."

"We became friends not long after. I visited you every day at the lab when no one was around or only a few scientists were there. The Head of Science seems to be happy, cheery even, about our friendship. I tried not to pay attention to his enthuastic claims of new discovery because it involves you and these crazy experiments. I have a very soft spot for kids (Shut it, Smoker!). The way they acknowledge you was as if just a test subject. I hated it and you had enough."

"We decided to escape."

Merkel looked at me with an intense expression I couldn't decipher. I raised an eyebrow in confusion whether he wanted something or was he continuing. He said noting but continued to stare. I sighed angrily feeling a small headache coming.

"What do you want me to say? Good job for getting us out and I'm sorry that now I have amnesia?" I sarcastically asked. The stupid ex-soldier just chuckled, shaking his head. "Nien, I suppose not." He replied too quiet for my liking. Merkel eyes me for a moment, as if looking for something then shook his head again.

"Get some sleep, kommandant. Zee pain can make the body tired." Merkel suggested standing up in the process. I wanted to argue that he did not know my capabilities, or maybe he did seeing as he knows my past rather than I do. I sighed restless and exhausted.

Maybe he was right. I do need some sleep.

I laid myself back down, trying to get comfortable as I could then closed my eyes embracing the warm darkness.

Merkel studied the already sleeping figure. He knew the boy was tired as hell just like the first time. Although this time, there was no death. Maybe it could be contained? Rave is human after all and humans make mistakes. It was deathly silent between him and the infected.

No one dared to say a thing.

They were scared to wake the sleeping demon, afraid of what he might let loose again. There can't be a next time for their chances were gone.

A next time would mean humanity's true end.

If Vameir ever found out he was lying, manipulating even, his memories, God forbid the creature lets hell come to earth for one last time.