AN: Okay, we're set and ready to go for chapter nine. There shouldn't be any more of that romantic stuff for a while, we're hitting a little twist in this chapter. Beware for drama and suspense! The half-way mark is coming up next chapter…

"Holy crap! She's good! Why'd the boss let her go?"

"I dunno, but she ain't lost her touch, that's for sure."

"Naw, she's a devil girl right to the bone. Boss made a mistake not keepin' her…"

Loud footsteps made the three monitor men turn around. "Shut up, you fools. I didn't let her go on purpose. Would you like to try chasing a six-year-old while you lay in a coma with a bullet lodged in your head?"

"No sir," replied the first.

"We're sorry, sir," chimed the second.

"Won't happen again, sir," murmured the third.

They all turned back to the monitors they were manning, each watching the scene displayed on them.

Io didn't want to wake up. She didn't want to get out of bed or steal the REACTOR codes, or leave the subconscious Rufus where he lay. She didn't want to go that park or meet Deimos, she didn't want to betray the one person she could trusted most. She didn't want to render that whole night worthless.

But she had to. Rufus wasn't ready to die.

With the stealth of a cat on the prowl, Io slid out from under Rufus's lazy grasp, carefully placing his arm around a pillow to replace her body. She slipped out of his bed and tiptoed to his drawers, carefully opening them to find some clothes to put on. She had to dig to the bottom to find casual street clothes, throwing on a pair of jeans, much too big for her, and a dark hooded sweatshirt, also baggy and sagging from her slender curves. But Io figured the more out of character she looked, the easier it would be for her to go unnoticed to the public eye.

After she'd situated street-walking appearance, Io grabbed her heels and dress from the floor, gently padding her way across the hardwood floor to where the doorway lay. The floorboards barely moved beneath her nimble toes. The only sound that was heard came from the handle of the door as she turned it and slipped out the crack she'd opened it to.

Io immediately closed the door and dashed across the cold marble floor, swinging around the other side of the desk, pulling open the first drawer she came to. It was filled with office supplies and loose papers. The second drawer revealed pads of note paper and several pens, but nothing more. The third, Io finally stumbled upon actual files. She sifted through them but only found A-C. She was about to close the drawer when a name caught her eye…her name. Bellanger. Her mind filled with curiosity, she reached in and took the file out, opening it gingerly.

"February 20th, 2006:

2:30 PM

Bellanger is set to arrive today. No time set. Schedule freed all day for her arrival.

6:35 PM

Bellanger arrives at front office alone, unarmed. She is escorted to top floor by Karly Celestyn. She enters and observes paintings, especially Meteor mural. First encounter at 6:38 PM.

Bellanger reveals full name willingly, no middle name recorded. She explains of her past. She has never known her mother, and was incised from the womb three weeks before her due date. She accompanies brother, Reno, into unnamed gang for six years. Received scars at year six, ran drugs for two months. Turks interception 14 years ago. Killed all but her and Reno. Tseng spared them."

Io's narrowed as she read. So this is what Rufus had been recording all along. She skipped a page, shifting her mug-shot of a photo, taken several years ago while living with her aunt.

"February 21st, 2006:

10:30 AM

Second meeting with Io is planned. She arrives at 10:35 AM with Karly Celestyn once more, dressed in gift garments. She seems angered by the gift, and yet indecision seems to lurk with her. Offered first attempt at education…"

Io skipped down again.

"February 23rd, 2006:

12:55 AM

Meeting planned to set up Io's first classes. Hostility waning. She is analyzed by fellow students. A luncheon is also planned, whether she accepts or not is unknown…"

"February 24th, 2006:

9:12 PM

Just returned from armed showdown with unknown assailant. Io reveals him to be a man called Deimos. She claims he is her former mentor…"

"February 26th, 2006:

Some slips have occurred. Io's identity is revealed. Deimos continued contact. No further information has been obtained. Fear is running high."

"February 27th, 2006:

10:40 PM

Kiss is exchanged, promise established. Collaboration Ball invitation underway."

Io sighed and sat back on her heels, setting the file down on the floor before her. So he'd been tabbing her all this time… No doubt he would record what a great roll in the hay they'd had last night, and how she'd completely come onto him, no provocation necessary. She felt like a fool now. A real, deadbeat fool.

Growling, Io threw the file into the drawer uncaringly, immediately shifting through the rest of the drawers for the R section. When at last she found it, Io pulled out all the files labeled "REACTOR" and stuffed them under her heavy sweatshirt, grabbing her heels from his desk before she turned to leave. She stopped however, and turned back to the desk, grabbing a piece of paper from second drawer, as well as a red pen. She scribbled a note and placed it on the surface of the desk, laying her shawl beside it. Throwing her pumps over her shoulder and pulling up the hood of her sweatshirt, Io glided toward the large double doors, glancing up at the camera mounted above them. Knowing that both the W.R.O. and Deimos peered at her from behind it, she sneered and quickly flipped them the bird before striding out angrily.

Rufus's eyes parted to the morning like any other day, only this time he felt more exhausted than ever before. It was for a good reason, of course, and he wasn't complaining either. He'd purposely shut off his alarm to avoid waking Io, but it seemed she didn't need the favor. She'd already left his side.

Glaring at the pillow that replaced her warm body, Rufus sat up with a start, springing out of bed and into the nearest pair of garment he could find, which happened to be his tuxedo pants, rolled up in a ball in the corner of the room. Dashing out into his office, Rufus gazed around in search for any sign of Io, but came across none. Her dress, her shoes…gone… But her shawl. It still lay crumpled on his desk. Crossing the floor to it, Rufus took the silken garment from the surface of the desk, causing a piece of paper to flutter to the floor. He leaned down to pick it up, reading it aloud.

"Hey Rufus,

Thanks for the company last night. Or should you be thanking me? Gotta run, sorry.

Io."

Rufus sighed, collapsing back into his chair. He tossed the note onto his desk, watching it flutter to the surface softly.

"What did she write? Idiot! Zoom in on it!"

The lackey behind the camera quickly did as he was told. He enhanced the image of the note on Rufus's desk, allowing for Deimos to read it. After a chilling moment, the dark man gritted his teeth and grunted. "Analyze it," he ordered. "Make sure there is no hidden messages. The last thing we need is an army crashing our party."

"Roger that," replied the goon. He immediately began filtering the image. He subbed in the negative, reversed the text, and rearranged the message to form new words. Nothing. Deimos was surprised.

"She's smart," he remarked, crossing his arms in interest. "She really is a devil girl." He chuckled at the finger she flashed him.

Io's bare feet began to ache. The morning sun was masked by a gloomy cloud, adding to her depressed mood. The hand supporting the files beneath her sweatshirt began to sag and she almost dropped them a few times. She'd ditched her expensive pumps back at the dumpsters… Relief was the only thought that came across her mind as she reached the park. She treaded along the grass to give her worn feet a break from the concrete.

To her surprise, the park was still decorated with the furnishings from the ball, making it easier to recall the spot she'd encountered Deimos the night before. She'd never forget that spot…the spot where her whole life was turned upside down.

Quickly dipping across the velvet ropes, Io weaved through the trees glancing about nervously. Her apprehension shot through the roof at the feel of a silence pressing against her head from behind, making her stop in her tracks. "It's nice to see you too, Deimos," she muttered, trying to keep her cool.

"The codes," he demanded as she slowly turned to face him.

"Yeah, yeah," she grumbled, letting the files fall out into her hand. She lazily fanned through them to make sure none were missing.

"Don't make me ask you again," Deimos threatened, pressing the barrel of his silencer harder against her forehead.

Snarling sarcastically, Io reeled her head away from the gun. "Relax," she snorted, holding out the files. "Just call off your goonies, will you?"

Deimos snatched the codes away, glaring at Io skeptically. "You actually trust me?" he sputtered, almost unbelievingly.

"I did for six years," Io replied with a shrug. "If you're still the same Deimos I know, you're trustable."

Scoffing, Deimos lowered his gun and lifted his hand to his cheek, pressing an earpiece against his head. "Stand down," he barked.

Io smiled and gave a nod of approval. "That's more like it," she sighed. "Now let's talk about these REACTOR codes you've got."

Deimos's eyebrow shot up. "What are you talking about, woman?" he grunted with annoyance. "You've done your job. Get the fuck out of here before I shoot you!"

Io crossed her arms at the threat. "But Deimos—you said this would all be beneficial to me in the end. I'd like to know how before I wander off to my boring old life again."

The assailant's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying you want to be one of us now?"

"That depends," Io replied nonchalantly. "I never had any alliance with Shin-Ra. I already told you that back in the alley. I just don't want be caught up in legal and media shit when you murder the president. And that, I'm afraid, is inevitable. So let's try and avoid that route, shall we?"

Deimos was shocked. For a moment, he'd actually been fooled into thinking Io was actually in love with that chump of a president. But if she was willing to sway, this could make things loads of easier for him. He'd just have to hold the same trust for her as she had for him.

"Come on, hun," he said at last, wrapping his arm around her waist loosely. "I'll show you the ropes."

Rufus sat in silence and thought behind his desk, turned away from the high, midmorning sun that beat down upon the back of his chair. The morning hung with an awkward air without Io, although he couldn't help thinking that it might be twice as awkward if she had still been there. The previous night had been a result of high emotions, too much alcohol, and his move on her two nights before that. He had expected some retaliation from her eventually, but this…this was just plain shocking. But maybe he shouldn't be so surprised… Reno had warned him that Io lived a totally different life than him. He should have guessed that meant…unhealthy professions as well.

Rufus twirled her sash gently around his hand, relating the silken feel to the way her skin grazed along his fingertips the night before. He shivered at the thought. He had to get her out of his head! Begrudgingly, released his grip on the material and threw it onto the desk before him, leaning his head into his hand with disgust at himself.

His eyes lingered on the garment for a moment, narrowing at the sight of a gentle glint on the material. Brow furrowing, Rufus slowly reached out and took the sash into his hands again, holding it up to the sun. An arrangement of symbols revealed itself to him, looking like pure gibberish… But he realized it was backwards. Turning the garment around, Rufus's eyes went wide at what he read. There, scrawled messily on the surface in Io's lip gloss, was the word "Park."

Edge City Park.

AN: This chapter's a little shorter, but I'm afraid I'm going too fast. Sorry for all the cliffhangage… Better get used to it though, this is around the time when they start becoming more abundant… Thanks for reading! Reviews plz? Kthnxbai.