(PRESENT)

"Why can't that man just leave us alone." 88 said after 103 had turned on the television. Of course before the question, she had asked a thousand more. Most of which involved how they were going to get the little man out of the black box. Almost comically, she had almost gotten into a fight with 103 after she had changed the channel.

"YOU KILLED HIM! I THOUGHT YOU WEREN'T GOING TO KILL HUMANS!"

"I changed the channel."

"What?"

"You have a lot to learn Esperanda." 103 said shaking her head in disappointment. The news was on, displaying how soldiers were currently in town but what they were doing was unknown to the public eye. They were intent on looking for them, they knew that well enough. They weren't in the city, but 103 had the uncanny feeling that it wouldn't be long until Jericho managed to find them. It had been on pure luck that they had escaped Jericho before and even then they hadn't escaped unscathed either. Looking down at her prosthetic leg, 103 felt the chills run down her back. That man, a human had done that to her, and it he would've finished the job too. In truth, Jericho frightened her but not because of his actions.

Yes, she was surprised, as all Diclonius were when they faced Jericho's unnatural abilities to sense vectors. But it was his attitude that kept her anxious, as if expecting the doors to bust open and for him to walk in. It was those silver eyes.

Being in the facility for so long, she knew what anger was, and she knew it well. She knew that feeling when she looked at her fellow Diclonius, the ones who wanted to get out. Those brutal red eyes, preparing to rip humans apart, gouge out eyes and tear appendages off. But those cold silver eyes held nothing but an emotionless sense. They did not flinch and they did not beg for mercy. But the worst part of them, was how pitiful they looked.

And that scared her. She couldn't look into those uncaring eyes, devoid of nothing but his own self. She was no afraid of his abilities, though she was certainly impressed by them. She was afraid of him, because somewhere in her mind, she believed that he actually had a justifiable reason for trying to kill them. So she could not hate him, like she could hate some of the directors who came to Institution C. Those bastards who cared for being the superior race, who didn't give a shit about their wellbeing.

"I don't know…" She replied to 88's question, closing her eyes. "I…just don't know why."

*Knock!* *Knock!*

Intensity filled the room as the two Sipitets tensed up at the knocking on the door. 103 began to sweat, her vectors radiating outwards and her face rapt with pure seriousness. "Please let that be Doctor Keiro…" She thought. "Please…" If that was Jericho it was over, there was no way he would let them escape again. "Please…" She thought.

"Yes…" She called out timidly. 88 was huddled in the corner like a scared mouse, vectors shielding her body. 103 swallowed nervously and intelligently moved to the edge of the wall avoiding the door. If that was Jericho, and he began to shoot, he wouldn't be able to hit her or 88.

"It is I, Doctor Keiro." A familiar voice called at the end of the door. "Please, may I come in?"

Relief. Blessed relief. "Oh thank God!" 103 yelled. "Please, come in!" She sighed, falling onto the couch, her forehead dripping. Doctor Keiro stepped in, and was met by a fast moving pink blur before something caught around his midriff. 88 was pressing herself tightly around him in a deep hug, her face scrunched into his chest. She was shaking and the sobs were breaking into his chest.

"Hey there, don't cry. It's just me…" He said. He kind of figured that they might have been expecting the soldiers and gently loosened 88 from his grip. Realizing this, 88 felt her face blush again. She didn't realize what she had done really, she had been so afraid, and then seeing the doctor, she had instantly gone to him for warmth and protection. Awkwardly she rubbed the back of her head and stepped back and there was quite a sly smile on 103's face.

"I wanted to come and check up on you two, make sure everything is alright." Keiro said taking a seat in one of the chairs. "I was almost afraid when the soldiers came into the hospital they would find out about you. I'm pretty sure they know you were there, but I don't think they know about this cabin."

"Thank goodness!" 103 exclaimed.

"I'm glad that I could help, allow me to take a seat." He said. Considering this was technically his place, it wasn't like she could refuse his statement. The doctor sat on the couch, looking at the news. It had nothing on about the soldiers now, but he could see as the reporter spoke, the men walking back and forth, obviously searching.

103 sat back in the long arm chair while 88, quite coincidently, had to sit on the couch next to Keiro. Keiro was to intent on watching the television to notice, but 103 could see that blush on 88's face like a large target. She had to stifle her chuckles, she wasn't sure why, but she found such a amusement in this. 88 kept glancing at Keiro, then at the television, then at her dress, then back at Keiro. 103 had to put her hand in her face, she was laughing so hard, which caught Keiro's attention.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh nothing…" she said. "I just remembered a funny joke. That's all." She said. Keiro wasn't sure if she was telling the truth to that. "88, have you…are you alright?" He turned to see that 88 was bright red, head turned and sweating. As far as he knew, she was having a fever, a bad one at that. "You look like your burning up 88, here let me get a cold rag for you." He said, getting up. 103 knew that was no fever, but she didn't say anything, she was taking too much pleasure out of seeing 88 liked that.

Keiro returned with the rag and placed it on 88's head soothingly. It was remarkable that 88 didn't faint on the spot and it was remarkable that 103 wasn't holding a straight face at that point. He brought out an instrument that 88 didn't recognize and brought it to her mouth. "I'm going to check your temperature, I need you to open your mouth, please."

She did, and 103 had to again stifle her laughter. She wasn't sure what was better, 88's reaction, or the doctor's reaction. "Excuse me…ummm…bathroom." She said, chuckling. Might as well leave them alone for a minute or two."

"Your temperature is fine, normal actually." He said. 88 wasn't looking at him, but she was still red. It wasn't hot in the cabin, perhaps she was worried about something. With soldiers looking to kill her, she must have been scared. "It's alright, Esperanda…" He said remembering that name.

He had said her name. Just a name but she felt herself tense up at the thought.

"I'm not going to let those soldiers get you. I'll protect you as best as I can." He said, putting a comfortable hand on her shoulder. Esperanda closed her eyes, still red in the face. She wasn't ready to admit to him that her face wasn't red because of the soldiers. But she took this moment to at least rest her had against his shoulder. 103 came in, and surprisingly kept her face straight when she saw 88's head leaning against the doctor's shoulder.

*BOOM!*

And that did not last long as the door exploded from the force of the kicks and the soldiers came in.

(PAST, specifically at this point this takes place about two years before Celia escapes Institution A This is also where the PRESENT is near too)

Nine whole years passed since Frederick had given the location of Celia and her parents. There was something missing in his life, something that he needed to quench. He didn't want to do this anymore. He didn't want to see humans or Diclonius get hurt anymore, he didn't want to see them suffer. Yes, he despised what happened to himself in his past, but he just couldn't take this anymore.

If they noticed he was gone, they didn't bother to check. He was just another member of an Institution, a man who could die. As far as everyone else was concerned, he was jut another weak human who would've died eventually. Nobody noticed he was gone, nobody cared.

The afternoon sun dipped over his head as he sat on a cliff contemplating his life. He wanted to change his life for the better, as a very young boy, before he was sent to the Organization, he had wanted to become an artist. Staying in Japan wouldn't work, he would make himself a new life somewhere else. Perhaps Spain or Italy, perhaps the United States. He couldn't stay here, not for long.

Frederick didn't hate humanity or Diclonius, he hated his past, but he didn't hate the ones who caused it. He thought he did, but he realized that he couldn't hate a whole group just because one person of that group started it. He would never forgive or forget what happened to him in the past, but he was willing to go on.

*BAM!*

But for now, there was something else he had to worry about. Specifically the large hand that had slammed against his face, picking him off his feet, and bringing him forward. Shocked, his eyes turned to see who was holding him, and his heart sink.

"I finally found you…" Crease muttered, bringing Frederick forward with the momentum of his strength.

"Ridini Frederick!"

With a loud roar, Crease chucked Frederick off the cliff, sending the man flying off and then plummeting down. Dropping down, Frederick saw the large white haired man leap off the cliff, a large blade poised in his hand. This was no time to lose focus, and Frederick got into position. He grabbed the edge of the cliff, slowing his fall and kicking off. Good choice as the blade barely missed his head, slicing through the rock like butter.

"Crease?" Frederick yelled as he landed on his feet, eyes widening. "What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious, fool? I'm going to kill you!"

"But why? I don't have anything against you! Why do you want to kill me?"

The smirk vanished. "You've got some nerve!" Crease yelled, slamming his blade into the ground and sending up chunks of rocks. "You left me there to die, to satiate your own desires. I trusted you, but you ended up being just another bastard in that Organization. I will never forget or forgive you for that. You are the only thing left of that Organization, and I must kill it. But more importantly…"

He heaved his blade, bending forward to charge.

"You cared for those goddamn Diclonius, then you did for your fellow super human. I thought we were brothers, ready to live and die for each other. I thought you a friend. I was wrong."

"Crease…I am so sorry but…"

"YOU BASTARD!" Crease screamed, charging forward. Frederick vanished, avoiding the blade and appearing behind Crease with his daggers. He rushed forward, the blades empowered with his speed to handle Crease's strength. The massive sword swung around and parried the attack, pushing Frederick back.

"YOU DARE TO APOLOGIZE TO ME! YOU DIDN'T GIVE A SHIT BEFORE AND NEITHER WILL I!" He screamed, demented and cruel. That large sword swung vertically, slashing across the ground as Frederick as before dodged it with his inhuman speed.

"This will never change until one of us is dead. I have searched for you for years, I have held this grudge. It's over…RIDINI FREDERICK!" Frederick was forced into the defensive, he had to dodge and block the attacks, knowing full well that if one those sword strike hit him head on…he'd be dead. This was not like fighting a Diclonius, who were inept in fighting. This was a superhuman, like himself who had been trained and bred to be the strongest.

But he Frederick, was the fastest.

"Miserable fool." He growled. The dagger slid into his Crease's chest, spurting blood into the air. Thank goodness for his incredible speed, otherwise he would not have been able to pierce Crease's flesh. But Crease wasn't going to be beaten by a mere stab in the chest by some dagger. His blade was already in the air and slammed into the ground.

"Quick little bastard…" He smirked, turning his eyes to the left. Glaring reproachfully at Frederick who took a few steps back, preparing for the next attack. There was no getting by it, he would have to beat Crease now. A roar, and Crease rushed, blade held high. His eyes were unnaturally confident, and Frederick knew that Crease was no idiot. He should know that a direct attack would never hit him.

*Thip*

*CRASH!*

The smoke exploded into the air, Frederick appearing behind Crease and ready to stab him. But instead his attacking arm was caught by Crease's hand.

"What the?" Surprised, Frederick couldn't pull himself from Crease's grip. He tried to attack with his other arm, but Crease merely dropped his blade and grabbed the hand too. Holding him tightly, Frederick did his best to push back, but against a man who held absolute strength, that wasn't possible.

"You are incredibly fast." Crease mumbled, tightening his grip. "I could never keep with your speed. But my reaction time I think is pretty damn good wouldn't you say. Hahahahaha!" He tightened his grip even more, he could feel the bones beginning to crack.

*BAM!*

Frederick nearly lost consciousness when Crease slammed his forehead into Frederick's own. He was released, his head throbbing and had he not had a natural super human endurance, his head would've been cracked right open. He was blinded by a white light, he couldn't see nor could he see the fist that slammed into his face. His nose broke and blood shot from his face. He managed to open one eye just barely and avoid the sword strike coming to his face.

"Damn you." Crease growled. He had been hoping that would end it.

"Vetus Crease…" Frederick said sternly, raising his daggers. "I can't let you kill me, I finally have something to live for."

"Then I will kill you." Crease replied. "For that is what I now live for." Their blades met, clashing against each other. Frederick's speed allowed him to attack and hit Crease, but Crease's overwhelming strength and endurance was obvious. Crease could take far more damage than Frederick.

*BAM!*

The kick hit Frederick in the ribs, breaking two of them. "I like that bravery…" Crease said, smiling. Despite is wound, Frederick didn't falter, he was prepared to keep on fighting. "Come on Freddy, prepare for your death. I want to see you die on your feet. Come on, my dear brother!" Crease yelled. His blade swung, and Frederick dodged, only to barely avoid the next swing.

*Thip*

*SLASH!*

He could see the blood coming from his chest, the blade had cut him. Any slower and he would've been split in half.

"What do we have here?"

Both of them stopped. Up on the cliff, vectors unseen but certainly there, was Brutus. He was confident but unsmiling, his horns elongated unlike a normal Diclonius. Floating down with his vectors he landed in between the two, facing Frederick.

"It's you…" He said, raising his head as if to get a better look. "It's been a long time human."

"What are you doing here, Brutus?" Crease demanded. "And more importantly what happened to you, you're different."

"I am different. I am pure." He said. "The pure form, I've attained it. Frederick." He spoke the name with mockery. "I see Crease has found you, that's good. I've wanted to kill you for your betrayal."

"Bullshit." Crease cursed. "I will be killing him, stay out of this boy." He muttered.

"Boy? No human, I am not a boy. I am the King. You might have got the better of me before, but not now." The wind kicked around his body, dust spiraling into the air. "This is the pure form that I, the King possess. And I've kind of gotten pissed off with your attitude, human Crease."

"What the hell?" Crease thought. "Since when were Diclonius capable of doing this? Is it just a royal thing? Even I couldn't beat him, at least not yet." Crease grudgingly admitted. "Shit…I'll have to change that soon."

But Frederick had other things in his mind.

"Bastard!" Brutus yelled, sending out his vectors as Frederick began to disappear and reappear away. Crease raised his blade, letting the light gleam in other directions to see at least 50 hands reaching out for Frederick. They were too slow and they would never reach Frederick, but it wasn't certainly something to watch out for.

"Damn you Diclonius…" He thought savagely. "I had him on the ropes, and you decide to show up. Damn you all. This isn't over Frederick. Run while you can…I'll never stop. Until I find you again, and crush you. I'll never stop, until you put me down for good!"

(PRESENT)

They came in like the plague, their black amour blocking out the sun that came into the window. 88 screamed and backed off, 103 keeping quiet but still just as frightened. Doctor Keiro rushed over to them, and spread his arms out as Jericho stepped inside guns poised to shoot.

"How did they find us?" 103 mumbled, bringing out her vectors and wrapping them around Keiro, 88 did the same. "No, this can't be happening, dammit." 103 cried in a low voice. "How did they know."

"Dammit, I was afraid that this would happen." Keiro thought. "I should've taken the girls and ran away, I was confident that they wouldn't find this place. Shit, I can't let them die."

"I'm so sorry." he muttered, 88 leaning as tightly as she could against him. Jericho stepped forward, his cold silver eyes locked onto the girls. 88 glared hatefully at him, but 103 couldn't keep her gaze on him. If she was going to die, she didn't want to look into this pitiless silver eyes. "Just make it quick…" She thought.

Jericho made a motion with his hand, unspeaking. Doctor Keiro wasn't sure what he meant. He did it again, he was telling the doctor to move out of the way. Like hell he would ever do that. "I'm not going to let you kill them. Why can't you just leave them alone!"

Jericho didn't reply, he merely made the same motion with his hand. When Keiro didn't reply, Jericho began to walk around, his gun pointing but Keiro kept the girls directly behind him.

"I don't' get it." The doctor thought. "He could shoot right through me, it's not like I could do anything. What's he trying to do."

"Get out of the way, idiot!" One of the soldiers yelled. "Dammit, hold on Commander Jericho I'll deal with him." He growled, aiming his weapon. He stopped when Jericho held up his hand.

"Huh?" the doctor mumbled.

"Sir? What's the meaning of this? Why don't you shoot him, he's in the way!"

But Jericho, although his gun was pointing right at Doctor Keiro did not fire. He held it tightly, his trigger finger ready, but he did not shoot. "He won't shoot me?" The doctor thought. "I don't understand, I'm no importance to any of them. What's he trying to do."

"And then he turned, brought his hand forward. His soldiers knew what it meant but were perplexed. "Leave!" Akira yelled, looking at the doctor. "We found them! They are right there! We can't just leave, what kind of leader are you!" Jericho made no response, but merely signaled them to come back.

"Fuck this shit." Akira cursed, pointing his gun. The three tensed, ready to for the bullets to start flying.

*BANG!*

The other soldiers gasped as Akira slumped forward, his brains outside of his skull. He plopped to the ground, unmoving as the other soldiers were left in alarm. "C-commander! What the hell are you doing!" Was he betraying them? Of course the soldiers reactions were just like the other three.

"H-he, killed him." 88 muttered. "What in the world is going on here?" The doctor thought.

Then at last Jericho spoke.

"The order was to kill Number 88, Number 103 and Doctor Von Jacques. I will not allow those who are not part of that order to be killed. As long as there is a risk of an innocent being killed, I will not proceed with the action."

The doctor could've believe it. He was refusing to shoot, because of him? "You…" He yelled. "What do you mean by innocent. These two are far more innocent then me, but you won't kill them because I'm in front?"

"That is correct. I was not ordered to kill you, and so I will not shoot you just to get to them. Unless you attack, or I am given orders by Torino to kill you, I will not shoot. But…

…the moment that an opening is there to kill those two, I will do so. I will not shoot, because to shoot them would mean shooting you."

"You'd kill two innocent girls like them, but not someone like me?" The doctor growled, but he kept the two shielded.

Jericho didn't reply to his question, so the doctor thought of something else. "The two of you, stay right behind him, make sure you aren't in open fire. We're leaving. Apparently he won't shoot you if I'm in the way."

"I'm scared…" 88 cried.

"It's alright. I told you I wouldn't let them hurt you." Keiro said, but even he couldn't help but just be horribly surprised. This man honestly wasn't going to shoot, because he was in the way. He was willing to shoot two Diclonius girls and his friend Jacques, but not him?

"Stay close." The doctor said to the two, moving to the door. Jericho moved too, keeping his gun pointed at them, but the doctor was always in the way. "HE passed a glare at the soldiers, his intent was clear. Unless their was opening, they were not too shoot no matter what."

"Get behind…" The doctor mumbled, leaving the door. He couldn't believe this, Jericho followed but still wouldn't shoot. They went outside, the soldiers following along with Jericho. There was a brown car waiting outside, one that the doctor drove with to the cabin.

"I'm putting you inside, stand on the floor. It'll be tight but…" Sweat dripping from his face, he looked right at the Tungsten. "It's better than getting shot." He said. Jericho followed them, his men clearly not understanding the situation. If they had a choice, they'd just shoot the man for getting in the way. Though of course, what happened to Akira, Jericho wasn't playing around and they were no fool question his order then.

"103, opened the door." He whispered. There so much tension in the area. "Lay down and get inside…do it. And don't leave yourself open for him to shoot you." 103 crawled in on her belly, laying at the very bottom of the car and bringing her legs up so that she held herself tightly wrapped in a fetal position.

But 88 was still frightened, unable to move. "Get inside, Esperanda." He said slowly.

"I can't…" She said. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"He won't hurt me." He said. "Who is this man?" Keiro thought. "Even though he's made himself clear that he'll kill them, I didn't expect this kind of…mercy from him."

"Please…I'm scared. I don't want you to get hurt." She said.

"Just get inside with 103."

"Please Esperanda." 103 said. "Get inside."

88, at last got in.

The doctor closed the door.

"COMMANDER! THIS IS OUR CHANCE! SHOOT HIM!" The soldier yelled.

"No." Jericho replied coldly. "The order was specific, I will not endanger the lives of those who we have not been permitted to kill. Lower your weapons." The soldiers looked at him in disbelief.

"Lower them." He repeated emotionlessly.

They dropped their guns. The doctor looked at him. "So you're letting us go?"

"No." Jericho replied casually. "I told you that I was given order to kill those two. If you attack or am I given order to kill you, I will not do so. But the moment that I am given an opening on those two in which there isn't anybody in the way. I will kill them."

Keiro narrowed his eyes.

"I don't understand. You're willing to kill them, two innocent girls, but not me? What kind of man, even thinks of something sick like that?"

Jericho didn't reply.

"Why can't you let them be? Are you such a monster that you'd kill these innocent girls because some bastard told you to shoot them. Don't you have any…morals!" Keiro spat.

Jericho narrowed his eyes. He held the gun steady. "Morals? What are morals?"

The doctor was taken aback. It was the way he had said it. He obviously knew what it meant, but he had asked it as a real question. "Do you have morals, what are they?" Jericho asked. His soldiers were in the same predicament. What on earth was Jericho talking about.

And then Jericho asked something else.

"Do you have children?"

The doctor didn't answer at first. What kind of question was that?

"I…do not."

"You don't." Jericho repeated. "So you have never a child of your own in your arms. Or seen their happy faces? You have never seen a child of yours grow up, seeing their joy. And you have never seen a child of your very own, killed right before your eyes?"

"What do you mean?"

"My daughter, Elena was killed five years ago by a Diclonius. My daughter herself, was a Diclonius and she was everything to me. I watched her die before my very eyes. Do not dare…"

And his voice lost the lack of emotion. There was clear disgust in it, although his expression still had not changed. "…talk to me about innocence. I am not going to kill you, because it is a choice I made. Do not dare, speak to me, as if I am a monster. I have watched my own child die before my very eyes. And the one who did it, said she didn't have a choice in the matter. They are innocent?

There are a lot of people who are innocent. But that doesn't stop them, from dying like everything else. This is a search and destroy mission, I will follow them, and kill them.

That is my choice."

Jericho glared at him, leaving Keiro speechless. Then at last the man got into the front seat and closed the door. Jericho didn't move, he stood there, watching him, gun still ready to strike. He could hear crying in the back, 103 tried to comfort 88.

"Sir…are you sure about this?" The soldier asked.

An answer didn't have to be given. The tension would last for the rest of the day even as the doctor and the girls were miles away. Jericho followed suit, uncaring, unconcerned and emotionless. But despite what he said, that had still been an act of mercy.

Author's note: Jericho has surprisingly allowed the doctor and Diclonius to escape, but has made sure on his word that he will continue to hunt them down. 88 and 103 might be able to live another day, but the Doctor Keiro will not be able to be by their side forever. It is only a matter of time, before the real showdown begins.