Wow I almost forgot I had this account. Sorry guys. TT Anyways new chappie, and I am piecing together the next chappie to...so hopefully that will be up soon.

The usual, I don't own anything in here but the words that aren't owned by someone else.

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The moment Jr stepped onto the lift to the bridge he steeled himself for the coming onslaught, with a soft "whoosh" the lift ascended. As his head cleared the floor he heard Mary's high-pitched voice telling three 100-series to remember to keep someone watching the security cameras at all times while MOMO was onboard.

"And why would you want them to do that? Hmm Mary?" he asked loudly stepping off the lift.

"Oh! Lil' Masta!" Mary exclaimed whipping around causing her braided hair to bounce comically. "I just wanted to make sure that she was safe while she was here, since she always seems to be getting kidnapped and all." She explained fluidly.

"Suuure." He said rolling his eyes. "Speaking of MOMO she is coming up here as soon as she is done…unpacking." He explained, remembering her need to use the facilities. "Then we are going to get something to eat, and no it's not a date."

"Suuure Lil' Masta." Mary said knowingly, rolling her own blue eyes as the 100-series around her giggled merrily.

Groaning, Jr ran a hand over his face as if that would wipe away his exasperation. "She just got off the shuttle, she is hungry and I know she wants to see all of you but try not to overwhelm her ok?" He asked, knowing it was pointless.

All four of them nodded, the 100-series going back to their stations and leaving Mary alone at the command center. Jr walked up the isle and rested against the rail. "Where'd Shelley go?"

"Masta Guinn called her and asked to do some stuff for him and he wanted it done soon so she went down to the Foundation to see to it." She explained running her eyes over the instruments.

"Oh. ok, did he say what it was for?" Jr asked, wondering if he could get some hint as why his brother was so on edge and secluded lately.

"No, she didn't say. She actually seemed kinda upset, after he called she bolted outa here like a bat outa hell." Mary explained sitting in Shelley's seat and pressing a few buttons that brought up the ships security camera layout.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Jr stayed silent and watched Mary run checks on the Durandal's system. Soon he was lost in her rhythmic flow of keystrokes; losing focus on the outside world his mind raced. "We haven't heard from Yuriev since the Old Milta blew up, U-TIC has been pretty quiet since Ziggy started running things and there hasn't been many reports of Gnosis attacks. What's eating him?"

Unnoticed Mary had turned around to ask her not so pint sized boss a question and saw the far away look in his eyes. "Is he keeping something from us? I haven't seen Masta Gaignun in weeks and Lil' Masta hasn't been this focused in a long time." She thought worriedly, her forehead furrowed. "I had better keep a close eye on them."

Jr's cerulean eyes slowly closed as his inner universe blurred passed; soon he was standing on a circular metal platform that he knew all to well standing just where he had a lifetime ago. He quickly looked around, searching for either of his brothers. Strobe lights flashed passed the lip of the pit and far below the center of the area pulsed a soft red glow. Jr's eyes hardened into sharp slits. "This had better just be ambiance." He growled.

The sound of his own voice echoed around the enclosure until it faded beyond even his hearing. Satisfied for the moment that he was alone he sat with his back against a curved wall and rested his arms on his knees.

"What is getting to him? Did he finally ask Shelly out and she said no? Helmer hasn't told us anything disturbing. What the hell is going on?" He questioned out loud.

Frustrated he tossed his head back, banging it against the wall in hopes that it would knock a clue loose. "He asked Shelley to run some errands for him and she left visibly upset…damnit this doesn't make any sense!" He yelled.

"I don't get it, he has always been the cool one, now he goes all reclusive and short tempered and there isn't any reason why." He stood, ran a hand through his hair and began to pace the platform. "Ok think, Albedo said to beware of Nigredo's shadow, what the hell did he mean?"

He groaned and stopped in his tracks, "Is it a person? Of course it is a person, but who?" Yuriev is back but we haven't had any word from him in years, no rumors of someone seeing him. Besides, Gaignun would tell me if he called again."

Jr gripped the safety bar that surrounded the pit and stared at the glow far beneath him, "Could there be another URTV? Citrine? Shit!" He squeezed his eyes shut; his knuckles grew white with pressure he exerted on the bar. "Fk!" he yelled, eyes opening to see a startled Mary and MOMO in front of him.

"Jr?" MOMO asked hesitantly taking a step towards him. "Are you ok?"

"Hehe, yeah. Sorry about that I guess I spaced out." He explained sheepishly, feeling the tension in his muscles as he uncrossed his arms.

"Are you sure, you sounded angry?" MOMO questioned. "Yeah Lil Masta you shouldn't be cussin like that around the 100-series, they could pick up your language." Mary scolded.

"Uhhh, sorry." He said turning to look at the wide-eyed girls on the floor below. "I didn't mean to…wait a minute!" Jr whipped back around giving Mary a smoldering look, "I have heard a few choice words come out of your mouth."

Mary gave him a big grin, "You bet I have, but I don't go yellin 'em out at random. Or at my special guests." She added with a wink.

Both MOMO and Jr blushed brightly while Mary grinned evilly. "Anyways, we need to get going or we will wait forever for something to eat." Jr stated taking MOMO by the hand. "If anything comes up, or Gaignun comes out of his office let me know."

"No problem Lil Masta! You two have fun." Mary told them with a wave. MOMO returned the wave as the lift descended. "Oh!" exclaimed Jr, "You wanted to say hi to your sisters! I am sorry, we'll go back up."

"No, it's ok, I saw you were thinking when I came up so I talked to them for a minute, we have plans tomorrow to catch up." She explained.

"Oh, good. I will give them tomorrow off then." The lift came to a stop and being a gentleman Jr went to let MOMO off first when he noticed he was still holding her hand. "Oh, sorry." He mumbled letting go.

She looked back over her shoulder as she exited the door and said with a small smile, "It's ok, it was nice."

"Yeah, it was." He said looking into her golden eyes. Stepping out he took her hand in his again and they made their way through the crowd to the tram. Finding seats they pressed together in tightly packed car; as the doors closed Mary smiled from her seat on the bridge watching on the monitor, "Good luck Lil Masta."

After a short ride down to the Foundation, MOMO stepped foot onto the bustling metropolis for the first time in six years. They had arrived just as the sun was setting; everything was bathed in a golden and red hue that made the old Lost Jerusalem style buildings seem even grander then they already were.

"I forgot how good it smelled." She commented, taking a deep breath as the other passengers flowed down the ramp to the exit gate.

"Yeah, we separated a section just outside the city for a new forest development, it helps cut down on the air purifiers and we funnel that money into other projects." Jr explained looking out over his much-loved domain.

Jr felt a tap on his arm and turned to find a shuttle attendant with a guilty look, "Excuse me Sir, but were you wanting to go back to the Durandal?"

"No, we will get off here, sorry to throw you off schedule." Jr told her laughing. "You ready MOMO?"

"Yes, can we walk? I want to see everything that has changed." She replied.

"Sure, that's what I was planning on anyways." He said leading the way to the gate. As they passed through, MOMO lightly holding his hand again, the crowd parted and watched in fascination as they passed by.

"Jr," MOMO whispered, "why is everyone looking at us?"

He turned his head, still walking, and told her with a grin, "It's not everyday they get to see me with a pretty woman on my arm."

"Oh." She said blushing yet again.

"Damnit," He thought, "I have to stop laying it on so thick and trying to impress her." He stopped at the bottom of the stairs that led to the up to the actual cities and faced her, "I am sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you."

Giggling MOMO said, "It's ok, it is nice to know you think I am pretty." Looking up at him she blinked as the light bathed her features, giving her an ethereal glow.

"Ah, um, well yeah of course you are." He stated, suddenly flustered and noticing his sweaty hand in hers. He slid his hand from her grasp and gestured grandly up the staircase, "Shall we?"

Looking slightly disappointed she nodded and began climbing the stairs. Jr followed a step behind watching her hair bounce as she ascended. "I want to hold her hand, and it feels right to do it, so why am I so nervous?" He thought.

Reaching the top MOMO stepped onto the street and turned to watch Jr take the last few steps. Where she stood she was backlit, reminding him of an angel from an old motion picture he had collected. "No matter what I am going to tell her how I feel, even if she doesn't feel the same." He realized.

Stepping up beside her winked and said, "Look."

MOMO turned and saw the street and all the buildings on fire with sunset; through the tunnel that led to the other side of the city the light focused and bounced off the stonework, flaring from windows and cars creating a dazzling show of multi-colored flashes, splashes and pools of radiant beauty. "Oh!" she exclaimed softly her breath catching in her throat.

"I always wanted to bring you right here to see this," Jr explained in a soft voice, "I never took the time to, I'm sorry."

Tearing her eyes away from the fading light show she looked at him, seeing the last twinkles and burst of light reflected in his eyes, as well as the self inflicted pain, "Thank you for showing me that, it was…I don't even know the words for it."

Jr smiled, the pain of his own follies stifling the smile, "Come on, I don't want to keep the restaurant open just for us."

Nodding MOMO followed at his side as he led the way. Passing through the crowds she felt her stomach twist, "I can't do this, I can't tell him why I really left, he is going to hate me." She thought, the street lamps humming to life around them. "He is still punishing himself for what he thinks he did."

"Here we are." Jr said slowing, "Do you care what table we sit at?" He asked looking over the tables covered in checkered cloth.

"Umm, maybe that one there?" She said pointing to the last table farthest from them that stood slightly apart from the rest.

"Ok, I'm gonna go tell the waitress we are here, be right back." Jr said.

She gave him a little smile and watched him enter the candle lit restaurant.

"I don't want to lose him, maybe I should just tell him I want to be friends." She wondered anxiously. "But I want to be with him, and he wants to be with me…at least I am pretty sure he does, he wouldn't have held my hand if he didn't, right?"

She clasped her hands and felt the bracelet bounce, looking down she watched it twist and finally settle. "He loved me, maybe he still will after I tell him. I have to tell him, even if he never speaks to me again he deserves to know he didn't drive me away."

Scenes' of Jr standing quickly, his face twisted in anger and contempt filled her mind causing her eyes to grow heavy with tears. I can't…I can't lose him again…I just…have to."

"MOMO, are you ok?" Jr asked.

She looked up suddenly, startled. "Yes, I am fine, just some dust in my eyes, sorry I didn't hear you come back." She said quickly wiping her eyes.

"Do you need to use the bathroom?" He asked.

"No I am fine, don't worry." MOMO explained hoping her eyes weren't too red.

"Ok, I'll take your word for it," he said cracking a grin. "Our table is ready, the waitress will be out in couple of minutes to take our orders. I just got you a water for now, I hope that is ok?"

" Yes, that's fine." She replied as they weaved through the tables. Jr made it first and pulled out a chair for her. "Thank you." She said smoothing her skirt under her as she sat. Jr stepped around the table and sat in his own chair.

They sat staring at each other over the lit candle, both realizing for the first time exactly how "official" this little outing really was.

"So…uh…" Jr tried

"Jr I need to…" MOMO started just as Jr asked her "How's Shion and Allen?"

"Sorry, you can go first." He told her, trying to be polite.

"No, it's ok I didn't mean to interrupt you, you go first." She replied, not sure if she could tell him what she needed to after trying once.

Again a silence filled the air as both waited for the other to start again, "I asked how Shi..." Jr began at the same time MOMO said, "I wanted to…"

They looked at each other and laughed, "I have an idea." He said, digging into his pocket. Pulling his hand out a coin flashed in the flickering candlelight. "We'll flip for it."

MOMO giggled, "Ok, it's a deal."

Winking Jr told her, "You call it." He flicked it with his thumb; watching it tumble in the air she calculated it's arch, speed, rotation and called it just before it landed in his outstretched palm, "Tails!"

"You think so huh?" He asked cockily. Slapping it against the top of his other hand he looked and she saw his grin freeze on his face. "Damn." He muttered looking back up at her beaming smile, "Guess that's what I get for playing with a Observational Realian."

She giggled, "Ok, so what did you want to ask me?"

"Well…" he said, stopping to take a deep breath. "It wasn't so much I wanted to ask you as to tell you..."

"Excuse me, are you ready to order?" asked the waitress walking up to the table and setting down their waters.

"What? Oh! Crap!" Jr blurted out. "Hang on just a second." He said grabbing the menu and quickly scanning it. "Um, I'll have the goat cheese stuffed schnitzel with the salad and a glass of your darkest beer. MOMO?"

'I'll have the Cesar salad and a small bowl of broccoli soup please." She said looking up from her own menu.

"Ok…and to drink?" The waitress asked while she wrote down the order. "Oh, just the water is fine." MOMO told her, then noticing her nametag. "Thank you…Yuki."

"Not a problem, should be about 10 to 15 minutes and I'll have it out to you." Yuki said, smiling.

As she walked away Jr looked around cautiously, "You see anybody?" He asked.

"No." MOMO said questioningly, looking around herself.

"Good, cause it seems like we have a bad habit of being interrupted." He said chuckling.

"Yes, I guess we do." She replied smiling. "I don't see anyone now, so you were saying?"

Oh, yeah that." He said, pausing to take a long drink of water. "I guess the easiest way is just to jump in…"

Jr's heart was already racing but now leapt into overdrive, "I know I wasn't the greatest person back when we were together, and I am sorry. Some things have happened to me in the last couple of weeks that made me think…"

Up till now he had been staring at his hands, but glanced up to see her reaction so far; she wasn't laughing and seemed to be paying attention so he continued. "I want to try again, I loved you back then and have never stopped. When you sent me that message my heart nearly stopped just hearing your voice."

Now at the meat of it everything flooded out. "You are the only one who really understood what it was like to be trapped in your body, and the promise I made to Sakura means that much more now. I want to be with you for you, not just to do as she asked." He reached across the table and grasped her hands, his voice rough with emotion. "Your heart and soul, how kind you are to everyone, how you look at the world, I want to share that with you. I'm sorry I neglected you before, I promise I won't do that again, I know what I lost. Even if you don't feel the same I had to tell you. I love you MOMO."

"I love you to Jr." MOMO said, eyes filling with tears.

"Yes!" he exclaimed, body flooding with joy.

"But…there is something I have to tell you." She continued pulling her hands from his.

"What?" He said excitedly; so full of happiness he hardly noticed her tense withdrawn attitude.

"I…love you to Jr, but I don't know if you will feel the same after I tell you." She said softly.

Jr's heart dropped to the pit of his stomach, suddenly aware of her lack of eye contact and almost frightened manner. "What MOMO, what's wrong, please tell me. I will always love you."

She gazed up at him, "You shouldn't say that, maybe you won't."

"Please MOMO, tell me, it'll be ok." Jr said gently.

Wringing her hands in her lap, acutely aware of the bracelet and what it meant to her, she told him. "I told you that I couldn't be with you anymore because I wanted to find myself and I needed to do it alone. That was partly true. After the Y-data was extracted from me I was just a person, not this object everyone needed anymore. But that's not the point." She stopped and took a sip of her water and pushed her hair back behind an ear, still avoiding his gaze.

"I know you blamed yourself, it's what you do. You put everything on yourself because you think you have to. But it wasn't you, it was me. I left because I was a burden to you. You were always worrying about me; you felt guilty that you had work to do and couldn't spend all day with me. I understood, but I saw how much it hurt you being torn like that." She clarified.

"MOMO I..." Jr started reaching for her hands again.

"Please Jr, let me finish, then you can go." She interrupted, cringing away from him.

Pulling his hands back like a child scolded Jr let her go on. "I was a burden to you, made you worry all the time, lose focus on your work. Your work is so important, all these people depend on you." MOMO sighed and found the courage to look into his eyes.

"I was the problem, so I lied to you so you wouldn't have to decide anymore, I took your problem away. Or that's what I thought. I hurt you again at Shion and Allen's wedding; I saw your face after we danced. I know now how much pain I caused you when I left, I am sorry. I am sorry I lied and that I hurt you all these years." Holding back the tears that threatened to spill out she finished, looking down at the bullet that was shrouded in darkness below the table, "I still love you Jr, I always have, since I first met you, but I understand if you don't love me now. I just had to tell you in person, I'm sorry."

Sitting in shocked silence he watched MOMO's control break; putting her face in her hands the sobs shook her.

He stood, the chair scrapping on the cobblestone road, causing MOMO to cry harder, her breath ragged between sobs.

Jr moved slowly around the table and squatted beside her. "MOMO…" She twitched away when he put his hands on her wrists. "MOMO, look at me." He said gently.

She shook her head and continued to weep.

"Damnit MOMO, look at me." He said more forcefully, pulling softly at her hands.

Slowly she raised her head and let her red-rimmed, watery eyes meet his. He looked at her and moved a hand to wipe away the tears that stained her soft cheeks. "MOMO…" He started then stopped and shook his head.

Taking it as a bad sign MOMO lifted her hands to her face again, but stopped as Jr used his hand to raise her face. Gazing intensely at her he smiled softly. Confused MOMO cocked her head to the side questioningly.

Then he kissed her.

It was soft but firm; full of everything he couldn't say. MOMO was surprised but it only took a second before she returned it.

Jr broke the kiss, rocking back on his heels and looked up into her smiling, dancing eyes. She leapt at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, knocking him off his feet and onto his back. "Oh Jr!" She exclaimed into his ear.

Jr tried to laugh but it came out as a wheeze. "MOMO, I can't breath." He gasped through a grin. "Oh! Sorry." She said blushing as she stood up. Now Jr did laugh while he stood himself, brushing what little dirt was on him. "It's ok, I feel the same way."

MOMO stood red-faced; hands clinched in front of her, rocking back and forth on her heels, skirt whispering softly in the breeze. Jr stared at her smiling, tear-stained flushed face and was overwhelmed with love for her. "MOMO." He murmured taking a step forward he enfolded his arms around her waist lifted and kissed her again.

She wrapped her arms back around his neck, lips parted slightly she melted into the kiss and both got lost in the moment.

"Ahem."

"Ahem."

Both Jr and MOMO broke the kiss and looked over their shoulders to see Yuki standing with a platter full of food. "You want me to get this to go?" She asked, barely hiding her smirk.

Blushing furiously Jr set MOMO down, "No thank you, we'll eat it here." He said.

Setting the food on the table Yuki made a quick exit, probably to go call all her friends Jr thought, not unhappily.

They sat and picked at their food for a couple of minutes before Jr asked her, "Are you really that hungry?"

Smiling she replied, "No." "Me either." He said with his own grin.

"Be right back." He said, standing and walking into the restaurant.

MOMO swiftly wiped her eyes with a napkin and took a long drink of her water before Jr strode back out. "You ready?" He asked beaming, as she stood.

"Yes." She said sliding her hand into his, bracelet tinkling gently against both of their wrists.

Far away, sitting on a silent bridge Mary grinned to herself. "I knew you could do it Lil' Masta."

Reaching over to turn off the video feed she noticed the light that indicated Master Gaignun's door lock blink out. "I don't want to interrupt them…I'll tell him tomorrow." She thought.