Seeking Salvation

by TropicalRemix

Part Two of Simple Sweetness. A new life, A new beginning yet the journey remains the same. Loving, Living and Losing what matter's most...But perhaps this time they will find their Salvation. I did not write this story. Shaydoe did.

10. Chapter 10

Chapter 10: A life relived (prt 1)

Author's note: Lyrics. Armin van Buuren feat:Trevor Gutherie 'This is what it feels like'

Also contains very graphic descriptions of gore.

For an idea about the Institute in Caen, just look up any images of ruined Cathedral's in that city.

Nob ody here knocking at my door.

The sound of silence I can't take anymore.

Nob ody ringing my telephone now.

Oh how I miss such a b eautiful sound.

His entire existence had narrowed and fallen away into a searing, all consuming agony. The whole penthouse was now engulfed in flame and suffocating smoke. The bombardment of heat was like a physical blow, knocking him low to the ground in seconds. The air was so hot he could feel it melting his armour, cooking his flesh beneath. It stole his breath and burned his eyes. All that remained of his reality consisted of a blood red light. Glowing all around him, heating his skin to an insufferable level and then burning it all away. The heat was so incredible it was as if he was trapped inside the heart of a star itself. The indescribable pain of being burned alive was an experience so unrelenting, so unyielding in it's intensity and beyond his bodies capabilities to deal with. Every breath felt like hot knives flaying the soft skin of his larynx, the torture moving methodically up and down his throat.

The intolerable heat against his skin, soon faded, replaced by a frozen numbness. As his muscles and nerves were destroyed. His body trembled and quaked violently, as shock began to wash over him. Yet he continued to struggle through that unending world of red pain, refusing to give in and die. Even when his body started to betray him. His arms and legs baulking at urge to crawl forward, to badly damaged to respond his commands. He released a blood curdling roar of pure unrivalled fury.

(Move!) He shouted in his mind. (Move!, Move, Move!) He willed himself desperately to move forward. Trying to force his body to work through sheer will power. But nothing happened, the black smoke was so thick it was like the underworld had converged upon him. He choked and spit up ash filled saliva. Growling and swearing epitaphs that this was not the end of him. His stubborn ambition to extract himself from this hell, was all that was keeping him going. It was a fierce some determination, aggressive and commanding. It consumed his every thought, his intent toward the front door clear and unwavering. To live, to survive at all costs. Just to exact his revenge. He fought the fire, the smoke and his own exhaustion. Refusing to give in, urging himself to over come all the odds that were stacked up against him. He got his finger's to twitch, his legs to tremble. But still his body would not move...then he was unwillingly swallowed by darkness and he felt himself falling into nothingness...

"Kunsite!" A petulant, indignant call of a child echoed from the void. As slowly the world of the ancient past b egan to refocus around him. The dawning light over his head, was faint. The air crisp and cool, hinting of the coming change in season. Lush, ancient forests surrounded him on either side. The old trees looming like dark green phantoms, the aura of the place was timeless and somewhat scary. The twisting b ranches reaching towards him like the spindle like finger's of an old crone. Looking down he found small hands gripping the reins of a roan coloured pony. It's pale white mane fluttering and tossing in the morning b reeze. Casting his eyes upward he found two older b oys riding ahead on horses in full tack. Their worn leather saddle b ags packed near b ursting with supplies for a long journey. Twisting around in his saddle, he looked b ehind. Finding two more young men b arely into adolescence riding b ehind and just b eyond them he could make out a long line of soldier's. Various b anner men and men at arms all followed the five b oys in the lead. Their various coloured armour glinting in the fading light.

He knew instinctively that the oldest b oy, was the leader of their ramb ling party. The young man with pale b londe hair that was riding at the head of their parade. The leader had his long hair tied b ack with a scrap of leather. Wearing the dusky, grey leather armour and a pure white cape of the house of Tamonten. It was the stark colours of the far northern kingdom of Vaisravana. A stark kingdom of endless winter, gloomy and nearly b arren. A primal dark wood of old oaks and twisting pines guarded the region. Repelling b andits and enemy armies alike. It was an iron wood so thick that the dark green canopy b locked out all sunlight. Forcing the most intrepid of travellers who entered to endure days of

complete darkness. Castle Byakko was b uilt high amid the rocky peaks of the great mountains, that rose up at the northern edge of the five kingdoms. It was a somb er, colourless place of cold stone and deep silence. The castles countenance was that of a b rooding keep, of high walls and even higher towers. Grey and morose, the castle looked to have b een carved from the very mountain itself. Ascending so high the top of the castle disappeared into the rolling clouds ab ove. The people of Vaisravana were formidab le, stoic and cunning. Surviving on the edge of the world created strong willed, resilient people. Their prince was no different, with cold b lue eyes and pale hair as white as snow. He was a somb er, soft spoken young man of eighteen. With a keen intelligence and an iron resolve to his royal duties. Kunsite's family crest, was b randed upon this shoulder guards. That of a pure white tiger, coiled to strike and roaring in defiance. With two crossed swords one of darkness and one of light, thrust deeply into the animals b ack. A metaphorical sigil of the inner b attle all mortal men waged in life. Two ornate short swords hung from his hip, the hilts etched in silver filigree. One hilt was dark, supposedly forged from dragon b one. The other white, carved from the mystical horn of a unicorn. The

b lades made of strong northern steel, mined from the very b owels of the mountains themselves. Perfectly weighted and b alanced it was a weapon for a prince. Kunsite never looked b ack or even acknowledged him. Endy glowered down at his saddle in distaste. He had b een whining and pleading with Kunsite since last evening that this pilgrimage was a pointless endeavour. The old gods didn't listen and he doub ted their were even still alive. He had seen no sign of their powers in the five kingdoms in his ten years of life and the One true god was growing in strength and followers right across the Earth kingdoms. It was a restless time of transition for the people of earth. He felt the old ways were slowly b eing caste aside, the young turning towards this new religion that seemed to offer them instant salvation with out all the ritual aplomb associated with worshiping the old pantheon.

"We all started to travel to the shrines and pay homage to the old gods, make our vows and pledge ourselves to their service when we turned ten. The quest is a honourab le one, my little lord. " The younger man, riding just b ehind Kunsite turned to assure him with an indulgent smile. Urging their young prince to just relax, they had long journey ahead and complaining would only lengthen it. He already felt home sick and it had only b een several weeks since he had left the Western Kingdom to continue his own journey. He had many more months, perhaps years ahead of him on this pilgrimage. Nephrite was a stout, b arrel chested b oy of sixteen. With wild, flame red hair that tossed and fluttered in the b reeze much like his own horses dark mane. A rugged, scruffy looking youth who would fit in more easily with the

b rawling, b attle hardened soldiers of their vanguards then at court. Prince Nephrite had never truly fit in well among the fancy, well groomed lords and ladies of the five kingdoms. A gruff, socially awkward youth, more comfortab le sparing in the yard with his solider's or hiding out in the stab les tending to his great war horse. The kingdom of Virupaska was a rocky, unmerciful landscape. The days were short and tended to b e shorter, no offering much in the way of warmth or sunlight. So most days held a slight chill and the trees remained stead fast in their colourful autumn coats. The high lands only good for growing scrub grass and tending sheep. The low lands b arely fertile enough to grow grain and hardy root vegetab les. They survived on the wild game and migrant b irds seeking to escape their lands for more fertile pastures. What lakes they had, held only enough fish to feed their own people. It was a kingdom that b red warriors and many mercenaries. The only viab le resource they could lay claim to was war.

Castle Susaku was more like a moldy old keep, full of drafts and crumb ling mortar than a grand Palace. Built into the side of a hill, it loomed over the grassland surrounding it like an ever watchful guardian. The outer most stone skirt was b lackened in places, having with stood a great fire some years b ack. To west of the modest castle was a sparkling loc, the water shimmering like scattered jewels in the sunlight. A small river grew from the huge lake and crept around the outer edge of the Keep. Creating a natural mote to help protect the front gate. The wooden b ridge that spanned the river was well worn and ancient. Runes were etched into the support pillars and intricate knots adorned the wooden canopy. It was a warrior's castle, the towers and courtyards set up strategically to repel would b e invader's and protect it's people in times of siege. It wasn't a pretty or elegant it was simple and functional. Just b eyond the walls was the quaint village Susano, that was filled with small wood and mortar houses with thatched roofs. Sheep grazed upon the hills and the mournful b arks and howls of dogs echoed in the distance.

Dressed in the fall colours of the western Kingdom. He wore the traditional rust coloured mail, over his dark earthen brown leather armour. Two solid dull metal shoulder guards, were attached to a ornate chest piece with a long b lood red cape clasped with a finely crafted sigil of a red Phoenix. The symb ol of new life blossoming in a new form from the ashes of an old existence. Of a power so incredib le not even death can extinguish it. It's wings outstretched, the very tips of it's feather's reaching upward to form an arrows point. Illustrating how knights from the House of Komokuten were b red and trained to b e living weapons. A huge war hammer was sheathed and hung along the left flank of his great b lack stallion. A long b ow was within reach upon a strap on the right flank, with a quiver of arrows b elted to this b ack over top his woollen cloak. Various daggers and throwing knives were concealed upon his person. Highly trained for comb at, Nephrite kept a watchful eye upon the looming forest taking nothing for granted.

He was the youngest son of the royal house of Komokuten. He had no claim to the western throne, or responsib ility to lead their kingdoms army. His two much older brothers already had the realm of Virupaksa well in hand. One would think, with out any royal ob ligations Nephrite would have become a spoiled, pampered prince with out any sort of ambition or drive. Strutting around court like a entitled peacock, with out a care in the world. Instead, Nephrite had sought out his own purpose in life. He had the freedom to b ecome one of four royal knights who protected the crown prince of the Central, Golden Kingdom. A high honour he felt even his two b rother would envy. Only the most decorated knights were given that prestigious duty. In that way his future held meaning and honour. He was no longer the forgotten prince of Castle Susaku. He was paving his own future on his own terms and he had pride in his accomplishments.

They rode in silence, passing deeper into the old green wood. Endymion could feel the ancient magic of the place, it blanketed the air like a fine mist. Neither of the b oys raised their heads from an irreverent half b ow. Keeping a cautious yet nervous eye upon the over grown undergrowth of the forest now pressing tight against them. The dirt road having narrowed into a barely there, goat trail that the horses were having a hard time navigating. Endy glowered down the tangled undergrowth, not looking forward to the months perhaps years of travel ahead. The time would b e filled with feasting, parades and endless ceremony as they paid homage at each of the twelve celestial temples across the world. He would b e made to recite vows, memorize scriptures and b e anointed in the twelve oils of the heavenly pantheon.

He would rather be at home, running the endless halls of the Golden Palace. Tormenting the servants with silly pranks and small mischief. Harassing the stab le master into a right good temper or just goofing around with the other young squires. He would even take the sprains and b ruises of sparing in the central courtyard with old master Titus over this insipid pilgrimage. Or he would even choose studying the ancient scrolls. In the musty old lib rary with the ever plodding and snore inducing monks who had b een charged to educate him for the last six years. But most of all he wished to b e climb ing the old red woods that encompassed a vast majority of the Central Kingdom. The forest was b right and airy compared to this old, gloomy wall of forgotten trees he was currently trapped in. That seemed untouched for a thousand years. He could b e playing in the wide river that ran through his own forest, leaping through the dappled shadows that danced along the mossy earth when the warm b reeze of summer played with the b ranches. The b irds would b e in full song this time of day, the air heady with the aroma of roses and wild flowers. He already missed his b ed, hot meals and his parents. But most of all he missed his b est friend...he missed his Beryl. The little servant girl with b rilliant aub urn hair that fell in waves down her b ack. That followed him ab out, like a lost puppy. Soft spoken and as reckless and mischievous as he was. She had quickly b ecame his perfect companion. She had such a whimsical charm, as they galavanted ab out the castle and woodlands b eyond. Weaving flowers in her hair, telling tales of grand adventure she had learned from her travels here from the wild lands b eyond the five kingdoms protection. She was a fountain of entrainment and delight for him. Ab le to keep up to him in every way, b oth mentally and physically. She had a keen intelligence for solving riddles and could out wit him at times with a cunning turn of phrase. If he wanted to strip naked and go swimming in the river, she would find it a wonderful idea and follow. If he wanted to have a race climb ing up the tallest oak in the western gardens, she would already b e half way up the trunk b efore he reached for his first b ranch. She was amazing, light hearted and fearless. He wanted for nothing more then her company. Not having her here saddened him greatly.

Glancing morosely b ehind, he found the thirteen year old prince of the Eastern Kingdom of Dhrtarastra smiling kindly at him. Perched atop his white stallion, dressed in the spring colours of his Kingdom. His tanned leather hide armour with warm green filigree etched along his shoulders guards and b reast piece. Beneath the hide was long white flowing rob es, that b efitted a b ard more then a warrior. A long green cloak was tied smartly around his shoulder's, protecting not only his b ack but his Pipa as well. House Jikokuten was known more for its musicians then it's warriors.

A long green cloak was tied smartly around his shoulder's, protecting not only his back but his Pipa as well. House Jikokuten was known more for its musicians then it's warriors. His thick, curly dusty blonde hair tied b ack with a string of spring flowers. Warm green eyes watched him with kind amusement. Zoisite carried no weapons save one, a stringed instrument that he had strapped across his b ack. A huge b lack etching of an ancient Tortoise was inlayed along the body of the instrument. The tortoise stood strong and unmoving upon a rocky cliff, it's wise b lack eyes staring unwaveringly out towards the unknown ocean b eyond. It held no fear or trepidation in it's gaze, merely a calm acceptance of what danger's lay ahead in life.

Zoisite's kingdom sustained itself on the trade of spices, fine wines and the richest silks and satins. It was known through out the five kingdoms for their amazing musicians. The incredib le music they created with their stringed Pipa, was b oth harmonious and compassionate. Ab le to tame all manner of invaders and seiging prided b eauty and honour ab ove all else and sought to live their lives according to those particular dictates.

Their mighty castle stood guard over the Arian Sea, ab utting against the jagged, rocky cliffs of the b ay of Swords. Perched at the very peek of the highest b luff over looking the sea. A great a b asilica of grey stone, with stained glass rotundas and elegant towers. Archways and ornate b ridges spanned the upper b astions. Lush gardens, filled with glorious flowers of all manner and colour hid within the inner courtyards. With small, man made oasis's of sparkling pools to swim and luxuriate in. While gorgeous servants dressed in the finest silks, waited in the shadows to tend to your every need. One could dine under the stars b y candlelight, comfortab le in the warm paradise Castle Genb u provided.

While its b arren outer skirts of thick storm walls protected the fragile life deep within. They had stood strong for thousands of years, having never surrendered to siege b y either land or sea. Built to withstand the mighty spring squalls from the ocean and the deadly sand storms at it's rear. Castle Genb u was stunningly b eautiful, resilient and stead fast, much like the royal family that lived within it's sturdy walls.

"Do you miss home already, lordling?" Zoisite asked sweetly, his voice was b reathy and had a very well modulated tone.

He had b een trained as a b ard and even in simple conversation his voice couldn't help b ut sound like music.

Endy rolled his eyes and scoffed at his unwelcomed concern, "I am no longer a b oy, to scared and timid to leave my mothers skirts. I am simply b ored and find this winding trail we are on tedious and ill favoured." he stated. "We should have stuck to the main roads, this way will take forever to get to the Temple of Mercury."

"We take the b ack trails, b ecause the reb els would like nothing more then to kidnap and ransom a b old and rash young prince who does not heed caution or prudence when traveling b eyond the protection of his walls." A snide, jaded voice called up to him from the very rear of the party. Endymion glance over his shoulder giving his would b e critic an indignant scowl. Jedite rarely spoke and when he did, his words were usually b itter and venomous. A sour faced young man of fourteen, with golden b londe hair cut short to his scalp and trimmed along his ears. With piercing light b lue eyes that could b e as sharp and deadly as any dagger when provoked. Dressed in the light weight, armour of the samurai of the south. With deep b lue scaled accents painted in relief along the seams of his segmented cuirass and plated leather shoulder and thigh guards. His dark b lue cape was well worn and somewhat ragged, a heirloom past down from father to son. The sigil of House Zochoten, a great b lue dragon was coiled in fine azure thread upon the b ack of his cloak. The serpent was curled in a great circle, devouring it's own tale. A symb ol of the infinite, the cyclical nature of universe and the eternal return of all things. A primordial concept of unity, existing in or persisting from the b eginning with such vitality, such force that it can never b e ob literated.

It was said that this garment had protected it's b earer for a millennium. When ever the prince of Castle Seiryuu would venture b eyond the protection of it's stone walls. The queen would b id him to wear this ancient totem of protection, to ensure his safety until his return. At his b ack was a long intricately folded metal sword, known as a katana. Along with it's partner in arms the shorter, Wakizashi sword. Together they formed a Daisho, an unb eatab le comb ination of b ig and small. There sheaths merely wrapped in white silk linen that Jed could use as weapons as well.

The Palace of Heaven, Castle Seiryuu was a sprawling complex of b lue pagoda roofs, with guardian b uttresses mounted at every gate and doorway. Stone curtain walls with carved pillars and well shaded open halls, created small sky wells through out the various courtyards. It was a pristine, quiet sanctuary amid a turb ulent countryside. The southern kingdom of Virudhaka was once a lush, peaceful sanctuary of endless summer. They prospered for thousands of years in a temprid climate that flourished with ab undant agriculture and a wide prairie of wild game to hunt. The people had led a happy, sedated existence for far to many years. They had b een unprepared for the civil unrest to come. The realm of the dragon was now a heated cauldron of reb ellion. A game of b etrayal and assassination had b egun to b e played among the court of Seiryuu. The nob les falling prey to plots and whispered distention to the crown. The called Jed's father the miserly King, b ehind his b ack. Feeling his tight hold on the treasury and the modest lifestyle he forced upon his court and people was unjust. They wanted more, like spoiled children they did not see far enough into the future. Past their immediate wants and needs to see why the King of Virudhaka was hold b ack the remainder of their kingdoms wealth. All of his entitled court was vying for a position to strike, like a pit of cob ra's. Jedite as the only heir to the throne of Virudhaka, having grown up watching the cunning game of power surrounding his royal court. He was now a very shrewd, calculating young prince. Who took nothing for granted, naturally distrustful and overly cautious he remained alert and prepared for any kind of treachery.

Endymion sighed, knowing Jedites words were correct. He focused downward at his own garments. Dressed in fine silks of dark red and a b rown leather jerkin and leggings. He hadn't even earned the armour of his own kingdom yet. Still dressed like a royal princeling, in need of protection and stewardship. He picked at the hem of his cornflower yellow cape, noticing b itterly that all he carried for a weapon was a small dagger.

A child's weapon...

He released his cloak and stared ahead a determine scowl now twisting his b oyish features. Promising himself that b y the end of his journey he would earn his armour, he would wear the sigil of House Elysian. A pure white pegasus with a golden horn, proudly and b ecome a true Knight just like his four guardians. He would b ecome a great man, a honourab le warrior and a wise king ! Castle Helios would sing his praises and unfurl the rose b anner's of his honoured grandfathers b efore him. The Golden Kingdom of Koryu would forever rememb er his name. Endymion would b e synonymous with honour, righteousness and unparalleled might. He would b ecome the greatest ruler the five kingdoms had ever seen and he would heal all the strife and unrest currently sweeping through the outer kingdoms and b ring forth a time of great peace and prosperity. That was his true vow...the Gods b e damned.

(I will not die here! I refuse to let my grandfather win! I refuse to bow down, to submit to anyone! I am Endymion...High King of the Golden Kingdom and I was reborn to rule this planet. To protect it!

Focusing on his hatred, his unquenchable thirst for revenge. The lethargic sensation of freezing ceased. As if all that was left of his body had been burned away and he could feel nothing. He had become a vengeful, disembodied spirit, now slithering through the walls of flames. There was no up, no down or anything but the all consuming illumination.

Struggling to move even a finger took an insurmountable amount of energy and will power. The sheer agony now coursing through him was like nothing he had ever experienced before. Yet he pushed on, crawling through the unbearable heat one inch at a time. Resolved not to allow 'The Agency' to take his life. Refusing to give his vile, power hungry grandfather any peace or satisfaction with his death. He vowed to destroy him, to snuff out his life as easily as one blew out a candle. Ultimately was a surviver, a fighter, a conquerer. No one could determine his fate but himself.

Yet the crushing weight of the light and blinding heat was eating him alive. Endymion screamed, his strained voice breaking the dull roar of the light. Sounding hoarse and desperate, as cracked and brittle as his whole body now felt.

Barely making it out of the burning penthouse, before the roof caved in with a resounding crash. Now resigned to a painful crawl upon his stomach, through the small front foyer. Finding a horrifyingly burned corpse, blackened to ash. Laying in the doorway of his suite, blocking his escape. Grimacing in disgust and highly frustrated by the delay. He had no recourse , so he merely pushed through the burnt body. Which dispersed in a flurry of ashes, seeking to suffocate him briefly as he coughed and retched through the putrid cloud.

He would not die here... his hatred for Bella enough to keep him alive. She had destroyed all that he was, all his years of struggle and power plays to achieve his wealth and rank in the Yakuza. It was all up in flames along with his good name. Daiki, Shinoda was dead...all that remained was his true self...Endymion. He had nothing now but his desire for revenge.

He fought his way down the hall in an agonizing crawl, fighting the inferno towards the elevator. He had been placed in a weakened position when his grandfather granted 'The Agency' custody of him. He had been sold to that particular devil, like a sacrificial lamb. His grandfather had been playing an angle he had not foreseen. When he had petitioned the Kumicho to find a loop hole, to get him out of prison. He had been grateful, yet cautious when he had been released under 'The Agency's' guard. They were not known for there mercy concerning Genesis Born. Thankfully his persona as Daiki Shinoda, the human business mogul and nephew to Yamaguchi gumi had been a very convincing cover for the last few months. He never expected them to figure out he was a Genesis born? He had figured that all they knew about him was that he had stolen a serum from Tomoe in Korea and distributed in like a drug in Osaka. It seemed he wasn't cautious enough, the viper had sniffed out all his secrets had then snapped before he could put counter measures in place to protect himself.

Bella proved to be far more cunning and treacherous then even him. She had used his sense of superiority, his feelings of over confidence against him. He had thought he had become to powerful, to influential, that he had become untouchable. How big of a fool could he have been. Allowing that snake into his midst in the first place. Believing he could tame her, control her as easily as any servant. He should have never taken his grandfather's deal, but he had been desperate. Which was a grotesquely submissive position to be in. That wicked old man had taken the advantage over him, with silent glee. Eager to put his idealistic grandson back in his place by tossing him into the snake pit to die! This had all been a set up from the very start! Trying and black mail him, due to his ties to Ido. To have him work for her!That was no choice at all. He had taken the rudder of his life long ago and would rather die then be at the mercy of another zealot! So her plan had backfired and she had then no use for him.

Promising himself that she would pay, he would see her beg on her knees for mercy as he crushed the life from her, before he allowed his own death to claim him. Rolling into the open metal doors of the elevator, that were screaming and blackening from the intense heat. He screamed in fury, forcing his broken body forward that last inch, through the doorway. The sheer effort of will it took to command himself to stand had him screaming in pure agony yet again. He needed to be free of this living hell, needed to find a safe place to heal. He was stunned when his hand came into view, the gold armour dripping like so much melted wax from his arms and hands. The skin blistered and burned down to the slick blood soaked muscle. Oozing with dried brown coloured blood, coating the gold in a red tint. His body was sub coming to the flames slowly, as if cooking him alive from within. His healing powers just barely able to keep up to the flames seeking to turn him into ash.

Arm shivering in intense trauma, fingers twitching yearningly for the sparking panel for the floors. He pressed the button for the lobby before his trembling legs gave out. Crashing to the floor, blackened and flame seared. The small compartment filling with smoke as his muscles were still burning from the inside. A living corpse bent only on vengeance. His mind finally falling into the peace of darkness, unable to stay conscious any longer. He could feel his body shutting down all the unnecessary functions in order to save his life. His Genesis State going into overdrive. He knew if he survived the next few hours to awake again, he would be changed forever. He would be fighting to retain his humanity, as his powers fought to save his body. It would be a matter of time before the war now raging inside would have a victor. Until then Endymion remained trapped in a mental limbo of his own creation, a forced hibernation while his body repaired itself.

And I don't even know how I survive.

I won't make it to the shore without your light.

No, I don't even know if I'm alive.

Oh, oh,oh, without you now.

This is what it feels like.

Rayes screams of torment had fallen silent, leaving Mina's terrorfied voice to shatter the roar of the engulfing inferno.

"Raye!" Mina screamed, staring in horror at the living torch her girl had become. Panic, raw and electric jolted up her spine, as she gathered herself off of the guards prone bodies. Her heart hammer in her chest, breaking at the sight of her beloved being consumed alive by her own powers. Screaming her name in deathly fear, over the crackling roar of the flames, as they continued descending from the ceiling. A river of fire, raw and untamed, drowning Raye in it's fury. Mina's soft blue eyes were wide and filled with tears, her voice breaking into desperate sobs. Watching as the pillar of hellfire formed a living inferno with Raye trapped inside. The foyer was filling with poisonous smoke, the fire unable to devour this floor. Rayes powers like an elemental gravity pulling every fragment of flame towards her body. The inferno could only billow out toxic fumes, in it's fury at being contained.

Feeling helpless and utterly useless Mina slowly rose uncertainly to her feet. As Amy and Lita exploded into the main foyer. The four men bringing up the rear, all with matching faces of pure horror. The foyer looked to be melting, the sweltering heat creating a wavering mirage before their eyes.

"Oh...my god..." Lita breathed, her face draining of all blood. From her brief talk with Serenity on the subway, she understood that Raye's Genesis state was out of control.

Amy stood beside her, eyes narrowing in scrutiny. Calculating her risks of killing Raye if she used her powers to smother the flames. Glancing down at the modest ball of water she still held in her hands, bleakly assessing that it wasn't enough.

"Why isn't the sprinkler system on?" Jed shouted in panic, the bright flickering red light of Raye's flames casting his face in a hells glow.

"It is, the heats just to great." Amy answered, noticing the blonde man look upward past the grey haze to the pathetic layer of mist falling from above.

"We have got to get out of here!" Jed's voice was shrill, his body twitching as if ready to bolt in any direction.

The foyer looked like scorched earth, blackened and smoking, making it hard to breath and even harder to move forward. A primal fear of flame, riveting all their feet to the melting wood flooring. Amazed yet terrorfied at the pillar of fire that lay dead center in the large room.

Mina was screaming her girl's name, taking one tentative step then another towards the deadly column of flames.

Unwilling to just accept that she might be gone, merely ashes floating within the twisting inferno.

Mina approached the column of swirling hell, her light blue eyes set and determined. Breath slow and shallow, totally focused on the blinding glow of the fire. Searching the blaze for any sign, a shadow, anything to hint that Raye's body may lay untouched within.

Raye was lost in a world of roaring flames, wild and untrustworthy. Surging around her like a massive wall that would burn her to ash if she touched it. Her eyes were stinging from the blinding glow, having to narrow them to protect her sight. The heat was stifling like being in an oven. Her eye's felt dry and itchy, eye lashes brittle from the heat. The only sound besides the howling of the flames was her intense heart beat. She always saw herself as a strong, passionate woman who could conquer anything. Trapped in this hell of her own creation, her fearlessness was finally given pause.

"Mina...What have I done?" She whispered, closing her eyes against the hellish light. Finding that it penetrated past her eyelids making them glow a bright pink. She could find no way to free herself. Her natural affiliation to flame the only power keeping its destruction of her body at bay. It had burned away all her clothes, leaving her naked before it's unrelenting might.

"I don't want to die..." She moaned, to terrorfied to move her arms from their crossed position over her bare breasts. Her thoughtless act of calling the whole inferno descending upon them onto herself now in doubt. She had wanted to protect her friends and any innocence still below the flames. Now she wished only to escape, the fire was becoming to powerful and she feared would soon stop listening to her.

Already it was licking seductively at her skin, testing to see how long she might last at keeping it from consuming her. Her endurance was waining, already she felt light headed and dizzy. Exhausting herself in an attempt to stay alive for just

a few more moments. She could feel her knees buckling, the flames beginning to burn her delicate skin as the last of her energy was slowly depleted.

"I'm sorry..." She sobbed, the world turning white as the flames lunged for her.

What surrounded her was absent of anything recognizable. Stark and lifeless, it resembled a blank void of nothingness.

Her soul was trapped in a limbo state, floating aimlessly through the white fog that billowed and curled around her.

(I have been unhappy my whole life...always searching for something to fill that void I felt inside my heart. My mother died when I was very young, my father was to busy, to ambitious in his own career in politics to raise a daughter alone. My grandfather tried to fill that role for me, but he was to old, to frail and mentally failing to do an adequate job as a parent. So I basicly raised myself and took care of him instead. I have always wanted to be happy, but I find my friendships are inadequate. My love life, is unsatisfactory. I pretend that I am happy, fulfilled, satisfied with how my life has turned out. When in truth I am just restless...

The first thing Raye noticed was how the unb earab le heat of the fire had tempered down to a comfortab le warmth. She raised a hand to shield her eyes from the b rilliant white glow over head. Slowly as if it was some historic photo gaining focus within a dark rooms, chemical b ath. A world b eyond her comprehension b egan to form b efore her eyes.

She found herself staring up at a massive palace of pearl white stone. Awestruck b y its sheer size and elegance. The magnificent structure seemed carved from eternity itself. So pure and timeless, it lines so sub tle and organic. As if it hadn't b een b uilt b y men's hands, b ut merely given lif eautiful thought. It sat upon it's own private island, with a narrow, solitary b ridge connecting it to the mainland. Floating upon an immortal sea of shimmering energy. Giant columns of ivory rose from the surface of the flowing energy. They flanked the elegant b ridge from the mainland to the palace, the energy cascaded from there floral capitals. The whispering hush of the liquids descent a reassuring noise. Slender spires of silver ascended into the clear white sky, along the astonishing expanse of curving b attlements. A massive glass rotunda dominated the center of the castle, refracting the light from the sky in b linding arcs over head. Her heart swelled with the familiar comfort of home.

Raye glanced around herself, finding that she was standing upon a b luff of grey sand that overlooked the sparkling b ay. A warm wind tossed her dark hair over her shoulder's. The temperature here in this world wasn't to hot or to cold. It was comfortab le...the landscape b eyond the palace was devoid of life. A b arren wasteland of rolling sand and nothing else. If she could put a name to what the land b eyond the palace resemb led, she would call it Purgatory...

She found herself feeling greatly relieved to see the Moon Palace again. She was tired, more tired then she had ever felt b efore. She had b een away for far to long. All the anxiety and fear she lived with during her journey was washed away. She felt relaxed and at ease, the natural aura of sanctity that surrounded the Moon Kingdom. Cleansing her soul and making her feel refreshed. A more positive outlook creeping like a healing tonic into her sub conscious.

Sharp cries shattered the calm atmosphere surrounding her. She recognized those calls, her heart rate increasing rapidly with excitement. She turned b ack the sky, surveying it's b lank white haze for her welcoming committee. Two dark shapes appeared in the distance, floating upon the eternal wind. Slowly coming into view as two large ravens, their great wings spread. Catching the updrafts from the b ay that lay far b elow the sand b luff she was perched on. They called down to her, again and again. The sharp shriek of their voices, echoing in her mind as clear and intelligent as any living b eing.

"Princess Mars!, Princess Mars!" They shouted, their high pitched voices filled with joy. "You have finally returned to us!"

Raye's heart b lossomed with love at the sight of them. Her most precious familiar's. Phob os and Deimos...By the gods she had missed them.

The two ravens alighted upon her shoulder's. Their b eaks, nipping playfully at her long b lack hair. She turned from one to the other, laughing happily.

They were nothing like the plain b lack b irds from earth. Larger, more regal. Their b one structure more slender and refined. They were b uilt for speed and great manoeuvrab ility in the air. With proud, graceful heads and long elegant

b eaks of a graphite grey. They had large mysteriously b lack eyes, that gleamed with a cunning intelligence unmatched anywhere in the cosmos. Set b etween their eyes, high up upon their b rows was a third eye. An all seeing eye that was capab le of peering into the spirit realm itself. Phob os eye was a pearl white, while Deimos, her eternal partner had a inky b lack eye. They were amazing creatures only found on her home planet of Mars. The emb odiment of the Tao, the eternal yin and the immortal yang of the universe. Forever b inding the souls of light and darkness together in a karmatic cycle that never ends.

"It is good to b e home." She offered, giving each raven a fond scratch under their chins. "I have missed you...b ut I have missed her the most." She gave the Majestic Palace out b eyond the energy sea a rueful smile. Knowing that her sweet,

little princess was waiting for her there. Anxious to get moving and b ask in her wonderful light again. She strode forward, navigating the loose sand of the hills with ease. As a descendant of a dessert planet, she had natural agility when it came to navigating the loose soil. Sliding down towards the b each that lined this side of the b ay, as if riding a wave of silt. As her two raven's took to the air once more, screaming to the heavens. Harolding the return of the Guardian of Mars, b ack to the Moon Palace.

Striding with a measured gait across the sprawling expanse of the b ridge. Raye glanced over the side to view herself in the sparkling energy of the b ay. The b attle hardened image that greeted her was startling. Her face held the fine, sharply sculpted features of a roman goddess. With dark mysterious b lack eyes, staring up at her from the surface of the b ay, with a grim sadness in their depths. Her elegant dark eyeb rows arching with a sarcastic humour. At how b attle worn and travel weary she looked. Her long eb ony b lack hair was elab orately b raided and twisted into a makeshift crown upon her head. The remaining cascade of dark hair, hung low over her shoulder's and b rushed down near her rear. Like a b lack, silken cape that fluttered and tossed wildly in the warm wind. Dressed in b oiled red leather armour,that was fitted perfectly to her curving frame. With silver b uckles and slender b elts. Her armour was light, but

blessed b y the stars, making it impenetrab le to mortal weapons. The narrow shoulder guards and wrist b racer's etched with an ornate design of an all seeing eye, similar to what the Egyptians had symb olized as Ra. But where the single curling lash at the end of the eye would b e in during their rule on Earth, her symb ol held the sharp, slanted arrow of truth. At her hip hung a long sword, with a carved b lack b one hilt of a spirit raven's skull. It's two hollow eyes staring b roodingly out upon the celestial realm, while it's third eye sparkled a deep b lood red. Her star seed, emb edded into the hilt of her holy weapon never left her side. Not even in sleep. The realm of the gods was to full of turmoil, the planetary kingdoms festering close to reb ellion. Mercury and Mars now roiling with civil unrest, the planetary councils b ickering amongst themselves. Unab le to maintain the peace, as riots and b loodshed reigned in the streets. It would onl matter of time b efore that insidious disease infected another planet.

Upon her b ack was a massive long b ow, the arching dark wood was as hard as stone. Harvested from the last forest on Mars b efore all plant life went extinct an epoch ago. The elegant b ranches that made up it's b ody, twisting and spiralling into intricate, natural forming knots upon the upper and lower points of the weapon. Bonded to her elemental magic, she was ab le to shoot arrows of fire from it at will. Her goddess power so incredib le she could reduce a foe to ash with one shot. For she was the Guardian of Fire, the Goddess of War and one of the four royal guardians to the Crown Princess Serenity. She had pledged long ago to protect this kingdom and her precious Princess. That was her sole purpose, her one true dream.

The sentry's at the b attlement wall near the gate, called down to the inner yard as she drew near. Their silver armour glinting b rilliantly in the soft white light of the sky. Slowly, with a low, monstrous groan the heavy iron portcullis b egan to raise. She glanced up at the ancient gate with a tight smile. Wondering b leakly if it would b e strong enough to hold b ack the darkness that was now lurking like a cancer in the hearts of their people. She was ab out to pass through the massive stone archway and into the secure emb race of the Moon palaces first courtyard. When shouts of alarm rang out along the wall ab ove. Her heart lurched into the throat, adrenaline spiking through her b ody. Her elemental fire surging like molten b lood threw every artery of her b ody. Her muscles coiling in reaction to the alarm, preparing for b attle as effortlessly as b reathing.

"Mars!, Mars!" A sweet melodic voice shouted from just b eyond the gate. As a little girl b arely five years old, shot out from the inner courtyard. Dashing through the open gate and onto the b ridge b eyond the storm walls, as if propelle cannon. She was a delicate thing, dressed in a frothy white gown of silks and satins. The long skirts b illowing and flowing like the froth upon the waves of a turb ulent ocean. Her ab surdly long, pale b londe hair was twisted and tied up in twin

b uns and tails. It was so soft in tone to b e nearly silver. Pearl darts adorned her hair, just ab ove her cascading b angs. Blessed with the angelic features of the White Moon Kingdom, she was ab solutely b reathtaking even at such a tender age. With startling crystal b lue eyes, wide and innocent as that of a new b orn b ab e. Her face rounded, almost heart shaped. Her soft features mimicking that of the queens, only in miniature perfection. Her skin fair, as that of ivory with cute rosy cheeks. Freshly flushed from her sudden sprint out of the gate.

"Princess...Serenity!" Mars laughed merrily, falling to a knee to catch her overly exub erant charge. Knowing full well how clumsy the little girl could b e, if she fell and hurt herself. The drama and wails to follow would only b urden her heart and hurt her ears.

Serenity b olted for her with all that she was worth, for those last few yards, charging into the Senshi a pull b oar. Mars wrapped her arms tight around her little princess, as the girl cried into the b reast of her leather armour. Clutching onto her desperately, as if she was anchor in a storm.

"Don't ever go away again!" She chastised, in a high pitched wail of distress.

"I hope never to leave your side again, My Sweet Serenity." Mars responded, her voice hoarse with emotion as well.

She was lost to the memories, the forgotten lives surging through her like a wild fire. Consuming her current self as completely, as the flames sought to devour her mortal body. Then she was bathed in ice, her hot skin shocked by the force of the freezing water exploding threw the flames. She could vaguely hear her voice screaming in excruciating pain, so detached from the sound she was unsure who it was. She felt sympathy for the poor woman, who seemed to be in such incredible pain. Her voice ragged and breaking in an unending cry of misery. Her mind lost in a haze of utter exhaustion. All she could do was wish and plead to the universe to end that stranger's suffering, because she had no power to save her. Then the feeling of comforting arms holding her close, the cries of her beloved hovering over her. All of those sensations were echoing out to her from the void, calling to her to return to the life she had temporarily left behind. Slowly as if surfacing from a dark, bottomless sea. Raye struggled fiercely back to consciousness, fighting for every breath, every fragment of awareness of her current life. Her complete exhaustion seeking to drag her back down into that mindless oblivion, she knew was her death. But she refused to give in, falling back on her last reserves of strength. Her unyielding pride and hot temper flaring to life. Fortifying her desire for life, urging her to never, ever allow death her due. It was her choice now to live or to die and she chose to live!

"Oh...God...you scared me!" Mina scolded, cradling Rayes naked body against hers. As she held her tight upon the soaked, singed carpeted floor of the foyer. Raye couldn't reciprocate the embrace, merely laying limp in her arms moaning gratefully to be free of the inferno, of the drowning memories of lifetimes she had no comprehension of.

Amy stood nearby, her arms slowly falling to her side. The fireman behind her stood in stunned disbelief, the heavy duty water hose still poised limply in his hands. Amy had dashed up to him just as he cleared the stairs and cranked the pressure level forward to release the water from the hose. Surprising him as she suddenly appeared out of the smoke and haze. Using her Genesis power's she thrust her palms towards his torrent of water and cast it with ten times the force at the living pillar of flames further in the foyer. That was surging wildly on the far end of the room, snuffing them out instantly. Leaving a naked woman to crumple to the carpet, as if she was a broken doll.

The whole surreal situation he was confronted by left him mouthing in silent bewilderment, his mind unable to grasp the madness. Of how flames could compress around a human being, or how another could command water as if by magic.

"Arigato" Amy bowed, respectfully. Dashing away from him, as her companions rushed to the elevator.

"Ja...ne..." he responded weakly still unable process what had just happened.

Kane had wrapped Raye up in his deep brown leather duster, carrying the now sleeping beauty in his strong arms. With Mina hovering at his elbow, as they slipped into the sluggishly opening elevator doors.

Amy was the last to duck into the elevator, the door grinding in complaint behind her. Pressed tightly into the crowded compartment with the rest of them.

The sharp smell of smoke mixed with a sour tinge of sweat and burnt flesh made her gag slightly. Amy meekly pressed a finger against her nose to block the rancid smell. Glancing tentatively around the mass of strong arms and well dressed torso's of the guys. Finding a curled up mass of crisp blackened corpse, curled up against the back corner.

It had only been a second since they had all crowded into the tiny confines of the compartment. Amy tried to be subtle, not wanting to alarm anyone over the dead body in the corner. Sliding through the throng as swiftly as she could. Making it only a couple steps before Jed screamed liked a frightened little girl in a horror flick. Finally noticing the ghoulish corpse laying behind him.

"Gah!., Gah!, gah,gah..." he stuttered in terrorfied distress, shoving through the crowd towards the far end of the elevator.

His face pale as rice paper, panting in fear and unable to find his breath.

"My hero..." Mina threw him a disgusted look. Before she turned back to Amy, watching the short haired brunette making her way to the corner. Crouching low over the body, her keen blue eyes searching for any sign of life.

The body was a blackened, charred mess. Gold metal was liquified over the singed meat of the naked muscles. Still wet and oozing blood, making it look as if the man had been pulled inside out. The man's face was burned down to the bone in places, resembling a death's head, staring up at them from dead, grey blind eyes. Patches of black hair was still clinging to the skull. A putrid mess of flesh and bone, yet the massively seared chest still rose and fell slightly, defying all rational sense. It was unbelievable, that he could withstand that much damage and still be alive?

"He's still alive..." Amy refused to touch him, swallowing back her bile. Staring at the ungodly trauma done to his man was hard to absorb without breaking into tears. She was in school back in the states to become a doctor, but had yet to endure anything this graphic. So far her experiences had only gone as far as pictures in text books. The fact that this man was still hanging on to life after being burned alive was incredible. The sheer magnitude of his injuries would have killed a lesser man. She didn't know if she should admire his resilience, or pity him the horrifying existence he would

undoubtedly have to live if he survived.

"Thats...just...wow..." Lita commented, hovering over Mina who was now crouched beside Amy. Mina and Lita were both made of stouter stuff, then Jed. Who was as far away from the body as he could get in the tiny elevator cab. The rest of the men had kept a discrete distance as they too, checked out the body.

Mina had her palm pressed against her mouth, eyes watering at the smell but more overcome by the gore.

"He's still alive." Amy stated, her voice calm and modulated. Pushing her emotions away, a tactic she knew well. Able to focus on a purely logical and reasonable level with no emotional connections to the situation.

"Don't touch him, if the Fire department is here so is the Trauma unit." She slowly stood, releasing a sigh of regret. The man may not last many more minutes but there was nothing they could do.

"We will let the professionals handle this. We need to find Sere and Darien. "She nodded to Mina and Lita. Needing them to confirm she was making the right decision. Unable to fully come to terms with how callous she was being. She couldn't help but feel like a heartless bitch just leaving this man behind. She hoped he was found and quickly. Coming to terms with her selfish decision that Sere and Darien meant more to her then some random stranger. She would just have to live with the guilt, some how.

"Yes. " Mina nodded back. While Lita just stared sternly down at her, silently accepting that they could do nothing for the dieing man. Amy steeled her heart, knowing she would not be alone in this guilt. All four of her dearest friends would shoulder this burden as well. They were a team, now and always.

Jed stared dumb founded at the girls. While Kane and Zac merely grimaced, having already figured out the girls with strange powers had an odd connection with their buddy. Having watched in astonishment as the girls had done a swan dive off the balcony to save a falling blonde. Then forced to run away as Darien and the mysterious blonde were then escorted away at gun point. Hollywood kept his peace, his face set in stone. Staring impassively at the elevator's closed doors. Of all the men, he was the only one who knew these four womens true connection to Darien. He had been the one to call them in to save Darien from himself when his life went to shit in Las Vegas. He felt no reason for pointless, added introductions, so figured he would allow things to forge their own course. All secrets would come into the open in time. He was in no rush for a full disclosure anyway.

Nothing to hold b ut the memories and frames.

Oh they remind me of the b attle I face.

Without your love, without you I drown.

Someb ody save me I'm going down.

Endymion's body was destroyed, needing to hide away from the agony of living. He had fallen deep into his mind, his last sanctuary while healing. Yet his dreams held no solace, only regret and loathing.

A world of white flooded over him, drawing his consciousness back through the veil of time to a much younger, much more innocent time in his life. When he had been a man of honour, of justice and had held a hope for a brighter tomorrow. The future had held promise and he had believed that nothing and no one would ever thwart his ambitions, or destroy his dreams. The howls of the helicopter's rotors and intense winds buffeted him. Standing on the glistening black tarmac of the Caen international airport. He stood waiting with his worn ugly green duffel bag slung over a shoulder. His simple black t-shirt snapping against his sides, jeans hanging low over his hips. The sky had been so blue out on the flat plain of the runway that fateful day. The airports hanger's and terminal so far off they were only shadows on the far off horizon. The sky had been a shimmering blue jewel that extended endlessly in all directions, with not a single cloud or building or tree to disrupt it's beauty. He remembered how breath taking that sky had been, how endless and peaceful it was. It had calmed his raging spirit in so many ways and for a time he had been lost in it's brilliant blue. The sun was glaring down at him, forcing his hazel eyes to squint to make out the coming glare of a black limo driving up to meet him.

The scene changed, like a pebble thrown into a pond. The vision of the airport rippling away only to reform into the shadowed interior of the limo. Two middle aged gentlemen sat before him on a black leather bench. The younger of the two a soft, gentle faced man with silver white hair and cool blue eyes, hiding behind a pair of modest black glasses. Dressed nicely in a pair of pants and a navy polo with a white lab coat draped over top. His outward appearance a very appealing guise. That hid the cold, unfeeling and ultimately detached persona of a pure scientist.

The geneticist Tomoe, Soichi

The elder man was in a dark grey suit and tie, with a mat of wild salt and pepper hair that hung down around his shoulder's. With a grim, fierce, almost aristocratic face of a wolf. Broader in the shoulder's and chest, from hours of rigorous physical training. His body still toned and well muscled from years of military service. A gruff, hardened man who could be as charming as a cobra and as deadly, as well. Yet he concealed a huge heart, and determination to forge a better future for mankind.

The senator Takahashi, Ido.

Daiki instantly knew which man was which. His grandfather informing him what his duties would be and how his time as a test subject would bring honour and power to his family. Daiki loved his grandfather fiercely, his devotion was absolute, bordering close to hero worship. He would do anything to please him. So donating his body and time to a lab for a few years wasn't to much to ask.

"Shinoda-san, Daiki is it?" Tomoe nodded to him, pulling out a folder that had been stashed beside him on the leather bench.

"Endymion-san, please." He boldly stated. Hating his birth name, having long since chosen something that suited him better. Forcing all he met to call him by it.

"Endymion?" Senator Takahashi raised his scruffy eyebrows in mild sarcasm. At Daiki's arrogance at re-naming himself after such an heroic mythical figure.

"Alright." Tomoe chuckled, taking the young man's measure. Finding the sixteen year old a strapping young man, with a broad chest and strongly muscled arms and legs. With very striking korean features that made him both handsome and exotic. His jet black hair hung long and unruly down around his shoulder's. Like a lion's mane, his hairstyle was both proud and powerful. He glanced around the modest cabin, his nearly golden eyes surveying his surroundings with a strong commanding air. As if he was royalty holding court here in this backseat.

His fringe falling haphazardly around his face, shadowing his light hazel eyes. He was the idealistic dark prince, with a regal air in his poise and stern resolve in his fierce eyes.

"Your family physician has sent a positive match for Transcendent Genetics. The shots you received as a child has flagged the existence of higher genetics. So you are now a perfect test subject for this project. " Tomoe smiled in a very excited and eager way, that made Endymion shift uncomfortably in his seat.

"We will let you settle in today, get acquainted with the living compound and the daily routines." Ido stated, pulling Endymion's eyes away from the scrutinizing gaze of Tomoe.

"Tomorrow we can start the preliminary testing." Tomoe urged, wanting to get started quickly.

"My grandfather has been compensated for my absence concerning the family business?" Endy inquired. His voice was a monotone, as if confirming a business deal.

"Yes, very well. " Ido nodded. Endymion's grandfather had traded his grandson for lucrative positions in legitimate businesses back in Osaka. Now his family had a way to place their own men into positions of power in the commercial scene of Japan. That would one day bring them even more prosperity in the future.

If Endy felt slighted about being treated as a soulless possession by his grandfather, to sell and trade away at will. Ido couldn't tell, the young mans face was emotionless, turned to the window watching the french country side of rolling green fields fly past. The city of Caen lay miles off from the airport. Only the faint hint of towers and industrial smoke stacks shadowed the far horizon gave any sign of it's existence. Endymion wondered if he would be able to do some sight seeing while here, or if he would be confined to the residence? This port city was supposedly very beautiful, with many sacred sights and heritage buildings that dated back into the eighteen hundreds. He was interested in seeing the war ruins and street markets as well.

Then reality shifted again, moving into another memory. He had been headed through the central courtyard of the living compound. A stone atrium that bordered the inner yard, with roman columns and vast archways ending abruptly at a modern building on the far north side. The bright sun couldn't penetrate the cool shade the covered, open hall provided. The smell of ancient mold and dust was thick around him. As he strode lazily between the columns, lightly brushing his fingertips along their smooth stone surface. As other kids milled past him, intent of getting to other more interesting places on campus.

The lab and dormitory was set up in an old abandoned Gothic Cathedral deep in the heart of this old world city. An ancient stone and mortar basilica with it's grande brooding facade, with glowering gargoyles high above among the

battlements. With flanking angels standing guard before the Churches great oak front doors. Their stone faces stern yet full of unearthly grace, swords of purity in hand. The vile serpent stomped dead beneath their feet. With long elegant stained glass windows, looming bell towers and gleaming spires. Which faced the unassuming modern streets of Caen.

Giving the populace of the city an undisputed guise of spiritual innocence, that nothing of moral debate was happening in their midst. The staff and test subjects made the old church their living area. While a large courtyard was rebuild out of the back, that led to a modern building of steel and glass. That held the lab and computer equipment. The grande Abbey's overpowering stone walls and elaborately holy structure easily hiding the smaller, less grande building erected behind.

Endymion squinted against the glare of the summer sun just beyond his sanctuary of shade. Taking in the yard beyond, that was filled with milling kids of all ages, along with a few attendants in white smocks. A large green space divided into sections was sprawled along the right side of him. A play park for the children who lived here was set up on the far side. The iron structure's painted in bright rainbow colors, the children's laughter was ringing in the air. The sound bubbled up over the somber courtyard, bright and uplifting. Masking over the unsettled feelings he held inside over becoming a test subject for banned research project.

Picnic tables were set up with bright checker board prints, giving the yard more of a park like appeal. Several huge oak trees sat around the yard, offering shade for any who needed it. He spotted a few kids colouring and reading beneath the waving branches.

It was the next afternoon and the summer sun was just as bright as the day before. The winds that blew threw the courtyard were thick with the scent of wild flowers. He had prepared himself for the sun better, wearing a pair of black and white basketball shorts and a white t-shirt with his favourite designer sunglasses perched on his nose.

Absently staring out over the park like courtyard from the central path, taking in every small aspect of it's design, when a crumpled up piece of paper bounced off his face.

He caught the wad of paper before it could hit the ground and unfurled it with out thought. Staring down at a math test with a glaring thirty percent inked in the top corner. Endymion glanced up from the test paper, finding a particularly cute little golden blonde girl pouting straight ahead, with her back to him. She had the oddest hairstyle of twin odango's and tails. Dressed in a simple white sun dress, that accented her shapely frame and perky breasts.

"You trying to put my eyes out?" He called to her with bemusement, adjusting his sun glasses irritably. Finding she was completely ignoring him, walking ahead scuffing her black strap shoes along the dirt path.

"You listening, little Miss. Dango-head? That hurt you know!" He called louder, not liking being ignored. Embellishing his pain in a vain attempt to gain her attention.

Finding this young girl rather rude, it irritated him that she would just throw her test away with out any respect for the cleanliness of their play yard.

She turned in irritation of her own, at his childish name calling. Her wide ocean blue eyes blazing with indignation. " I- I'll have you know these are not Dumplings!" She shouted back, her japanese very thick with a french accent. Waving her hands smartly over her buns. "They are called buns!" She finished in her airy, sweet voice.

Endymion smirked, glancing down at the paper again. His heart hammering in his chest, she was about his age maybe a few years younger and the most gorgeous creature he had ever seen. With an angelic beauty that held his gaze, every feature small and demure. Never had any girl affected him like this. She was utterly and completely mesmerizing.

"Thirty-percent..." He muttered in disapproval. Reluctantly tearing his eyes off of her to regard her test sternly.

She grunted back, indignant that he would criticize her. Her cheeks flaring with embarrassment over her failure.

"MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!" She screamed ripping the test out of his hands. Then in a huff turned on her heel and stormed away.

"Study harder Odango-Atama!" he shouted back, laughing at her fury. Damn was she cute, when she was mad!

His arrogant comment rankled her, making her turn back to face him.

"Pretentious jerk!" She called back, flipping him off by raising two fingers. Before strutting away in defiance. Her long tails snapping behind her, disappearing into the more modern compound on the other side. Through a set of glass doors into the lab building. He realized she was headed in the same direction as he was, towards the lab that lay on the north

side of the institute.

With a resigned sigh he understood that he would have to attend some kind of class room while here. His heart skipping at the thought that he would get another chance to talk to her again. Glancing at his plain silver wrist watch he found he had at least forty-five minutes to kill before he had to report to the lab.

Quickly bored with doing laps around the outer yard, Endymion headed towards the lab. Entering into the hallowed plain corridor of off white. The air conditioning slammed into him like he had just been driven under frozen water. His head instantly hurt, his hot skin aching from the sudden cold. Light headed and slightly dizzy, he held a palm to his temple to keep his balance.

Then her high pitched screams echoed to him from down the hall, strangled and shrill as if she was being killed, in a slow and agonizing way.

With his heart exploding in his chest he lunged into a sprint down the hall. Cornering to sharply as the hall abruptly ended, slamming his shoulder into the unforgiving brick. Not breaking stride he ran full speed down the adjacent hall towards a double set of black doors. A glowing red sign above in french stated that the lab was in use.

He rushed the doors finding them locked, his gut twisting as her painful cries continued to stab at his heart.

He began to ram his shoulder into the heavy metal door, creating an echoing banging within the lab.

He was stubborn and relentless, pounding the door with his fists shouting curses and epitaphs of vengeance against those hurting the innocent girl within.

Her screams were suddenly silenced, leaving him heaving at the locked door glaring uncertainly at it. As if it might contain some kind of monster that was laying in wait to attack him. Then as if nothing strange or cruel had happened behind those doors. A sweet natured nurse merely pushed the door open, she had long wavy black hair clipped up behind her ears, with soft blue eyes that held such gentleness. He slightly put off guard by them. The golden blonde girl was walking under the nurses guiding arm, her legs unsteady, body trembling from an unseen trauma.

"You did very well, Usagi-chan." She smiled down at her with approval. Holding an arm securely around the shorter girls smaller waist.

"Arigato...Ikuko-san..." She groaned, staring with dull exhausted eyes down at her feet. They would have moved past him with out a single thought if it wasn't for his intrusion.

"Usagi...are you alright?" he bent low to meet her eyes, pushing in front of the nurse to stop them from ignoring him.

"You..." The young girl snarled. "You do not get to call me Usagi. That is an endearment only Ikuko-san gets to use. To you my name is Serenity!" She lifted her head with such fierce eyes, it made him take a step back. There was a silver glow swirling in the depths, that spoke of a power hidden just below her conscious mind.

"Hai...Serenity." he merely nodded, so startled by her eyes. He was felt unsettled and somewhat disturbed by them. They left him in the hall, staring after them uncertainly. Then reluctantly he turned back to face the unassuming metal doors of the lab.

He was about to push through the doors to find out what tortures lay inside, when Tomoe burst threw next. Forcing him to walk back down the hall, with a guiding hand on his shoulder.

"I wouldn't worry to much about her, my boy." He smiled tolerantly. "She has a very low pain tolerance...kinda a cry baby if you ask me."

Endymion was left nodding in agreement, still to stunned to offer much resistance to his callous statement. Tomoe took him back to his office and began debriefing him on the less then humane procedures and brutal tests he wished to run upon him. Endymion sat frozen in his chair before Tomoe's metal office desk, merely blinking in disbelief. Suddenly feeling more like a helpless lab rat then a human being with rights and privileges. He hadn't known exactly what kind of hell he had been sent into by his grandfather, till it was to late.

Serenity ignored his very existence for the next few weeks. There were only a hand full of teens their age, but she never seemed to interact with any of them. Choosing to eat alone under the trees, absorbed in a book. He had tried several times to keep her company, but she would merely stand up and take her things. Preferring her lonely world to his company.

It bruised his ego and left his heart yearning for merely a word from her. Anything to keep his hope alive that she might

eventually allow him into her heart. She seemed cold and unfeeling, somewhat detached from life and people her own age. Except around the younger children, with them her spirit came alive. She dotted and fawned over them, like a big sister always ready to help when needed. Walking the dormitory at night, he often found her in the old english furnished common's room. Sitting before the long windows, in an over stuffed arm chair. Telling stories to the kids surrounding her on the rugs along the stone floor, about ancient gods and goddesses, of princes, dragons and sleeping princesses. A fountain of adventure stories and romantic fairytales, that kept the kids captivated till the very end. Then she would help each of the little kids to bed, giving each a kiss and snuggle before finally retreating to her own room for had never witness such tenderness, such love and devotion before. Even his own over protective mother could not hold a candle to the intensity of her kind heart.

She was amazing to him, a sweet, loving creature who filled his jaded heart with hope. He had been undergoing the gruelling tests as well now. The mental and physical tortures he had to endure in the lab felt like dieing every day. He knew she was further along in those god awful procedures, that her testing far more painful then his own. Yet she remained so light hearted and idealistic outside of the lab. As if she was able to forgive Tomoe and his nurse everyday for the agony they inflicted upon her. Her resilience to the torture and unyielding spirit not let the horrors she endured affect her humbled him. She seemed to have such a fierce conviction to see Tomoe's project through to the end. That it astounded him, that such a selfless heart could exist.

He was not so kind or forgiving. He hated Tomoe and Ido, he did not seek to understand the so called greater purpose they were destined for. He resented that they had to suffer for this goal of Ascension. He had no interest in bettering the future of humanity with his gifts. Or pleasing Tomoe or Ido with how resilient he could be with seeing the testing through to the end. The only reason he stayed was to honour his promise to his grandfather. But perhaps, Serenity was now a larger reason he hadn't sought to escape yet too. Getting her to notice him was a goal he strived for daily. He was stubborn, prideful and hated that she could so easily ignore him. No woman had ever disregarded him so effortlessly. She was an unconquered land to him. He craved her, wanted to get to know her. Willing to be friends at first but in time he knew he would reach for more.

A month in found him wandering around the courtyard at dusk. The failing light leaving the inner yard in a perpetual twilight. Fall had set in bitter and cold. The evening's growing frigid, the trees bronzing in the cooling air. Listening absently to his tape player, lost in his restless thoughts. Concerning his latest efforts to please his grandfather and the old mans lack of reciprocation to his family, for his sacrifice. His large grey headphones were hugging his ears, the harsh death metal guitar riffs throbbing throughout his whole body. Grateful that the angsty rhythm was drowning out the dreary reality surrounding him. Helping with his wallowing, in his new found loathing of the old man's over blown sense of entitlement. Wearing jeans and a black v-neck sweater, the last ray's of the sun burning upon the crest of the stone walls of the outer yard. When a crumpled up piece of paper once more connected with his face.

"Hey!" He shouted in irritation, angry that the ball of garbage had disturbed his angry contemplations. Pulling his head phones down around his neck, gruffly.

"I am not your trash can, Odango-Atama!" He growled at the paper in his hand. His disgruntled focus slowly migrating from the paper to the somber angel, kneeling as if in atonement over a stone bench. A small note book open before her. Her golden hair as always in her typical buns and tails. Glowing in the dieing light of day as if made of golden strands of silk. Dressed in a thin sun dress of soft pink, with long translucent sleeves. A heavy cotton grey pea coat, buckled up around her waist. Her legs bare and full of gooseflesh from the frozen dirt beneath her. Wearing nothing at all on her bare feet, her skin looked pink and slightly frozen.

"Ah..." She shot her head up startled by his furious voice. "Ohh...gomen. Your that guy from before." She nodded mildly, returning to her writing. Chewing on her gnawed pen tip completely ignoring him once again.

"I have been here for a month and you haven't even bothered to find out my name?" He sighed, pretending to be hurt as he sat down heavily on the bench.

She merely shrugged in an apathetic, uncaring sort of way. Which then did hurt his feelings.

"What are you writing?" he asked, reaching for the note book. Ignoring the discourteous brush off he had received yet again from her.

Her cheeks instantly bloomed a fresh pink, as she scrambled to close her book and jump to her feet.

"Nothing at all." She held her book close to her chest, protectively.

"Byeee..." She called back nervously, turning on her heel and darting away down the dirt path. Disappearing in the fading light as she crossed the courtyard back towards the old beige stone Cathedral that held the dorms.

Curious he picked up the forgotten crumpled piece of paper from the bench and unrolled it. Thinking he was going to find some flowery poetry or even a sad little drawing. Finding a humble letter, was surprising he had to admit.

The lettering was poorly scrawled across the page in french, with many lines of scribbled out words. As if she just couldn't find the right words to express her feelings. It was a messy confession of love and confusion towards an absent mother. Asking when she could come home, wondering what she had done wrong to be imprisoned here. How she was sorry for what ever it was. Sorry that she could not even remember what the slight had been. Hoping that one day if she could find forgiveness that she might come looking for her and take her away. That she missed her everyday, worried about her health and ultimately just needed her love.

The letter was kinda sad, sorta pathetic, but mostly just filled with that lost pain of abandonment. Endymion's shook his head, licking his bottom lip in bitter sympathy. He had been raised by a large family for most of his life. Sent away by his grandfather, against his own mother's wishes. Even though his grandfather saw him only as an opportunity to exploit. He at least knew he was wanted and loved by at least one of his parents.

Then he smacked himself in the forehead with his palm, he had forgotten to tell her his name. She truly did act as if he was just an after thought for her. That bruised his ego terribly and irritated the hell out of him. He desperately wanted her to notice him and he had totally choked when the perfect opportunity had arisen.

Another week past with him just staring at her discretely. Keeping his distance as it was certain she really wanted nothing to do with him. His first impression had been so incredibly arrogant and self absorbed, she avoided him like a plague. Leaving him to stare at her subtly, during those quiet moments during the day. Sitting at his desk in the study hall amid the hushed whispers of the other teens in the project. Admiring how the sunlight cascading threw the tall windows of their shared classroom. Seemed to glow like a halo around her head.

Leaning in the archway to the outer yard, watching how she huddled in her cotton jacket out in the fall wind. To stubborn to give up sitting and reading under her oak tree in the open courtyard. Fiercely independent and amazingly resilient she acted as if she was totally fine with being alone. That friendship and attachments here would just be an annoying distraction from her real purpose. She seemed so head strong, as if the harsh reality of her life just rolled off of her like water. Yet deep down he knew, she was hurting, that she was so emotionally fragile it wouldn't take much to shatter her completely. All he wanted to do was hold her, protect her and never allow anything or anyone to hurt her ever again. In some strange possessive way, he already felt as if she belonged to him in some way.

Dressed in faded jeans and a wool, rust red sweater, with a white dress shirt untucked over his hips. The shirt tails peeking out beneath the edge of the sweater. Endymion crossed the yard, his black sneaker's crunching on the dried dead grass. Determined that this time he would make a better impression. Silently, cautiously he sat himself down beside her. Crossing his legs and leaning back against the tree, feeling rough bark scratching against his back. As he gazed up bleakly at the slate grey sky above, as sure sign summer was on it's way out. She never noticed him, never even twitched, so totally absorbed in her book. He never expected her to acknowledge him, this silent rebuttal of his company becoming a common tactic of hers.

He waited a few minutes, his heart beating rapidly in his chest, feeling awkward and uneasy. Working through what he was going to say. How he was going to break the ice, it seemed like lately she was like a frightened deer around him. More ready to bolt then talk to him.

Minutes past as she kept reading, he glanced sideways at her. Finding her cheeks flushed, eyes riveted to the pages refusing to look up at him. He smiled knowingly, adjusting himself to be more comfortable against the tree. She was ignoring him on purpose, trying to hide away in her book.

So he began to stretch out, making soft groaning sounds to alert her that she had company. Enjoying how her cheeks flared even brighter as he purposefully drew closer.

Still with no response he huffed and sat back up, snatching her book out of her numbed fingers impatiently.

"Seriously, Odango. You plan on ignoring me forever?" He commented with a charming smirk.

"That was the plan." She leaned over his lap to retrieve her book, as he now held it high out of her reach.

"What are you reading anyway?" He fussed, flipping the soft cover over to read the title.

"The Art of War by Sun Tzu?" He stated in bewilderment. "You have got to be kidding me?"

"Well..." She started indignantly, lunging over his lap yelping when she over reached and was forced to sprawl out over his lap. With her heavy coat as a makeshift barrier, he felt none of the subtle softness of her breasts against his thighs. It

was somewhat disappointing, as this was the most physical contact he had ever received from her even if it was by accident.

Endy began laughing as she scrambled off his lap, giving him a dirty look. Her face glowing in embarrassment. He sombrely handed her the book back, waiting for her explanation.

"I want to learn how to wage war, to be more prepared for my destiny. The genetics Tomoe is trying to activate will make me some kind of super soldier." She shrugged. "I want to be an honourable warrior, to help the human race towards a better future. To be a guardian of Justice."

"Guardian of Justice...huh." Endy crossed his arms, casting her a disbelieving look.

She was blushing even more, nervously picking at the corner's of the books pages.

"I've been studying all kinds of books on being a soldier, philosophies about war. The histories of all the great wars and anything battle related really. I just want to understand what I am going to become after all this." She blew air up into her long bangs, making them flutter up, away from her clear blue eyes.

He turned to stare up at the sky, wondering himself what he was going to become when his own power's were activated.

"Well, I don't know if those old musty books will teach you about what kind of fighter your going to become in the future. I think it's your heart that will guide you when the power comes. Your own judgement good or bad will shape what kind of soldier you'll become. Truthfully we never know what the future holds for us. So how can we really prepare?" It was quite a pragmatic world view, but it had saved his sanity many times in the past. Being from the blood lines of gangsters, ones moral ground tended to be rather shaky. Endy could feel her eyes boring into him. He crossed his arm behind his head, lost in his own troubles. Wondering if he was honourable enough or even worthy of having such great powers as what Tomoe promised.

Serenity sighed heavily and leaned back against the tree joining him in his silent contemplations for a while.

They talked about simple things at first, finding very little in common. Her views were the white to his black. Idealistic and passionate while his was more jaded and rational towards his approach to life. They debated, argued and laughed at one another. Walking together back to the indoor cafeteria for supper over an hour later. The cafeteria was set up on the far side of the lab building. For the first time Endymion felt content about entering the modern building, when before it only held pain and torture. Now he was looking forward to sharing his first meal with the young woman who had stolen his heart.

Finally building a foundation for a real friendship. They sat together speaking of more mundane things over supper, facing each other over the long table. Their plastic yellow trays touching, lightly picking at the fried contents thrown upon the white plates. Leaning towards each other as if a magnet was now drawing them closer. Sitting before the large windows that over looked a barren lot behind the compound of yellow dieing grass. The dim light of dusk falling outside, while the cafeteria was warm and over bright with the halogen lights humming high above. The very plain room filled with long tables was soon over flowing with kids. The high ceiling filled with metal beams echoing their soft words into the cacophony of sound.

Endymion loved her iridescent smile, so warm and honest. When he complemented her. Enjoyed her quiet laughter, that fell upon his ears so sweetly. The precious sparkle in her eyes when he pleased her with a witty remark. This was the most alive he had felt in years. Just being near her had washed away many layer's of bitterness. That had once laid so thick over his heart. To many years of ungrateful struggle, trying to gain even a small morsel of approval from his grandfather. At growing up being seen as an outsider, as a hoodlum and not good for anything but petty crime and bad luck by his peers. The only people who had ever accepted him had been a part of the Yamaguchi-gumi. But to him they didn't count, they were just pathetic yes men of his grandfathers. Using him a means to gain better standing in the family. He wanted to be accepted by someone he categorized as a civilian. Some one who would see him as him and not as the grandson of a powerful mob boss. Finally he had hope that someone would truly see him for who he was and not what sort of family he was tied to. Someone who really wanted to get to know the real him, to try and understand him with out any prejudices getting in the way.

Never running out of things to talk about, they soon found the cafeteria empty and night had fallen outside. At the end of the evening he walked her back up to the dormitory back in the Cathedral. Standing somewhat awkwardly before his door, gripping the knob to his bedroom with a sweaty palm. Smiling nervously down at her wondering if he should do something, say anything more. While she stood staring down at her finger's, avoiding his gaze in a very timid, very cute way. Biting at her lower lip just as uncertainly. Wondering what to expect from him, how this oddly romantic farewell might turn out. Finally she had the courage to take charge of the moment and took a step back, then gave him a curt wave breaking the closeness.

"Can I walk you to class tomorrow? Serenity?" Endymion offered with hopeful eyes.

"Sure...I'd like that... " Serenity nodded, taking another committed step backward. Keeping her head down, looking perplexed as if searching for his name, before giving up, turning and walking gingerly down the dimly lit corridor.

She was half way down the hall, the gentle light of the moon penetrating through the large arched window built into the hall. That divided the boys side of the upper transept to that of the girls side. When he called out in a panic.

"Endymion!" He shouted in desperation. "My name is Endymion."

"I know..." She called back sweetly, never turning back, her stride confident. Continuing on her way, hands braced demurely behind her, giggling mischievously. When she got to the other side of the transept, she glanced over her shoulder. Giving him a beaming smile that warmed his whole body. The moonlight glittering upon her pale satin like skin, giving it an angelic sheen. Then turned on her heel and dashed away out of sight down the long hall.

He didn't know if she had pretended to forget his name on purpose, or if she was being to proud to admit that it had slipped her mind. Either way, he found her behaviour endearingly precocious.

He found himself giggling like a love sick fool as he entered his darkened room. The startlingly gorgeous image she made in the moonlight his companion into sleep that night and many nights to follow.

Several months later upon Christmas Eve, Ido had put on a feast and grande festive ball. His gift to all his treasured children who had been giving him their best, all year. Towards achieving a better future for mankind. None of them were ever allowed to leave, all ties to their family severed long ago. They lived in secret, imprisoned and forgotten by the outside world. Ido had converted the Cathedral's naive into a ball room. The old dark polished benches pushed against the walls. The large arched windows with their stained glass design's glowing merrily from the street lamps outside. The high dome ceiling decorated with white lights, twinkling like stars down upon the bone white marble floor. A huge pine tree in all it's glory of decorations and glowing lights, stood tall in the centre of the great room. A small orchestra was commissioned to play up upon the priest's stage at the back axis of the church. Filling the cathedral with the familiar songs of the season.

Everyone was dressed in their finest, dancing and enjoying the party. While Daiki had been hold up in his room, ready to meet Serenity several hours prior. Yet he was stuck slumping upon his simple iron bunk, worrying the gold pocket watch she had given him for Christmas in his left hand. Staring forlorn down at the phases of the moon upon it's surface, his mind on her as it usually was. Serenity had given his present to him a few days back, thinking he would be leaving for Korea to spend Christmas with his family. His mother had become a major pain in his grandfather's ass. Harassing him endlessly that her son needed to be home for the holidays. As far as she knew he was sent to some high class private school abroad. She had absolutely no idea, what was really happening to her son. In the end his grandfather was forced to pressure Ido into getting his grandson released for a brief period of time to return home. Ido and Tomoe in turn had a major difference in option about wether he should be allowed to leave. The kids at the facility had either been kidnapped, sold or given up to the project. They couldn't afford for any information of what was happening here to go public. Even the most mundane slip about his experiences here could bring scrutiny and eventually criminal charges down upon both Ido and Tomoe alike. But Ido couldn't have Daiki's grandfather blackmailing him either. He was all about self preservation, being a senator and a very public figure he couldn't be associated with the mob. It would destroy his reputation and very certainly his career in politics. It had ended up as all out war between them as Tomoe refused to give in to Ido's demands.

It bothered Daiki endlessly how easily Serenity had just accepted he was just going to leave her and go home. Stating she had no plans, for winter break. Assuring him that she would be just fine holed up in her room with a few good books over the winter break. She had kept a brave smile on her face as she stated her lonely plans. He had wanted to stay with her, as she was starting to mean more to him then his own family. Thankfully that hard decision was made for him. Now he was stuck talking to his mother on the phone. She was crying and raging that Tomoe had denied him his request to come home for Christmas. He had been soothing her for hours, growing more and more frustrated as he knew Serenity was waiting for him. The longer he was absent the more angry she might be with him.

It was closing in on midnight by the time he managed to hang up on his mother, fed up with her waisting his night. He had dressed in his finest black tuxedo jacket and pants. A crisp white dress shirt with a bright red tie for a festive touch. All that she had asked for from him for Christmas was to dance with her on Christmas Eve. It was an easy present to provide and he was eager to give her that dance. He headed down from the dormitory towards the lower Cathedral a joyful bounce in his step.

His excitement was quickly dowsed when he dashed through the heavy oak doors. The party was winding down, most of the younger kids long since guided away by the dorm attendants to bed. The few older students were milling around the

huge christmas tree, speaking softly. As the band on stage was cleaning up and packing their instruments away.

"Dammit!" Endymion hissed, his heart aching with disappointment. He had wanted to spend this night with Serenity. He really hated his mother's melodrama right now. Most times he was able to just ignore her, but being christmas he had felt charitable and had endured her far longer then he should.

Which had royally screwed up his plans and most likely broke his best friends heart. They had been spending every waking moment together since early fall. Never tiring of one another, always finding ways to be near each other. They would eat together, walk to and from class. Study in his room or her's. Each day filled blissfully in each other's company.

He would wait for her in the hall every time she went into the lab, always there to comfort and help her back to her room to rest. Ikuko had backed off a bit, seeing how much he cared for her. Approving of the budding relationship. Ikuko was the closest person to Serenity, a sorta mother figure so he was proud that she approved of him.

Endymion barely glanced at the magically decorated church, his hazel eyes dark with brooding emotions. Searching in a panic the empty benches and milling crowds for her. Moving slowly from one end of the church to the other. Acid burning in his stomach, with dread clenching his chest and his throat growing dry. She had really been looking forward to tonight and he had ruined it. Blaming his mother, his own responsible nature to have waisted the night with her drama. All because he felt guilty about not being able to spend the holiday's at home.

Serenity had no one, but him. He should have hung up on his mother long ago...he felt so horrible.

Slowly crossing behind the stage that had once held the alter. He moved into the rounded back of the cathedral that held the over hanging choir balcony above. The ambulatory was filled with one huge round stained glass window that would cast beams of coloured sunlight down upon the alter. The window was dark now, showing only a hint of the starlight above. Three small rooms were built on either side of the back of the church and one in the middle just below the circular window and balcony.

Curtained off by long red velvet drapes, the tiny apse's held only one stone bench with matching velvet cushion's on top. He had spent many hours hiding out in one of those cosy rooms, reading books with Serenity when the snow had began to fall. They were one of her favourite places to retreat too.

He checked them in order, finding the first two empty leaving only the last one on the far side. Taking a deep breath, worried he was going to hear the soft sound of crying as he neared the curtain. He just couldn't handle any more drama tonight even if he deserved it.

Hearing nothing at all, now nervous she had gone up to her room furious, and disappointed with him. He lightly pulled the curtain aside, moving into the tiny rounded room tentatively. His breath hitched as he found her laying curled up on the cushions of the small bay window. Dressed in a beautiful red velvet and satin gown. With a princess bodice that hugged her curves. Pushing up her modest breasts making them look larger and more appealing. The gown was sleeveless, yet she wore a white floral crocheted shawl over her slender shoulder's. Knowing the cold got to her easily, she had added the little touch for warmth. The pointed toes of her black leather boots peeking out beneath the heavy hem of her gown as she was curled up tight against the frozen wall of stone.

The old stone church's only means of heat was from wood fireplaces set here and there through out the structure. Which left many places still cool and damp not able to fully absorb any heat. The Apse at the back of the cathedral was one of those illusive places that remained cold. Her golden hair was curled and pulled up into a cascade that fell like a waterfall around her shoulder's. He could see the dusting of makeup glittering over her angelic face.

Marvelling for a moment at how elegant and graceful she looked. His heart fluttering as he admired her rare beauty now in repose upon the bench. The three narrow slits of windows in the back wall, that provided light into the alcove were casting soft moonlight upon her. Making her flawless pale skin glow, accenting how her beauty seemed to out class every other woman he had ever known.

As he neared the bench, he noticed wet trails of tears down her cheeks. His stomach sank like a lead weight with guilt.

He knew she had given up on him. Had missed the last half of the party, hiding out in here when he never showed. He had broken a very important promise to her. He ruined a very special night for her. He felt about six inches tall, as he sat humbly at her feet upon the cushions.

Raking a hand through his thick dark hair, he cast her a pained glance. She had shifted in her sleep, her shoulders falling back against the stone work of the benches back wall. Her face now pointing upward towards the tin domed roof.

Endy was lost to her sweet features, staring in awe once again. Her full lips were parted, calling to him to kiss her. He had never kissed a girl before, never had the need or drive to even try.

Something strange and exhilarating overcame him and like a man drunk, he lost his fear and leaned forward over her curled form. Needing to feel her lips upon his, more urgently then he needed to breath. Inches away from her face, the shadow of his body overwhelming her's. He swallowed hard, setting his courage and understanding the consequences of what he was about to do. Everything might change after this if she was even conscious enough to feel his kiss. They could become more then friends or awkwardness might reign between them. She would no doubt be mad that he had missed the party and when she did wake up he would be in for an ear full.

Then like plunging into the ocean he closed his eyes and ducked his head the last few inches. Pressing his lips tenderly against hers. Then suddenly he felt her lips caress firmly against his, reciprocating his kiss with her own. Alarmed his eyes flew open, finding her smiling slightly, as her arms snaked behind his head to hold him near.

"I thought you weren't going to show?" She whispered. "I am so glad you came."

"I'm so sorry, Serenity." He pressed his forehead ruefully against her's. He should have known she would just forgive him. She was the kindest, most loving person he had ever met. "I got caught up with...other stuff." He kept to himself that it was his family who had stalled his coming. Knowing it was a painful subject for her during the holidays.

"But you finally came...that's all that matter's. Endy." She giggled, her voice still hoarse from crying.

The fragile sound only made him feel even worse.

"Ok...stand up." He pulled her hands away from his neck and rose off of her.

She turned her head in confusion as he urged her to stand.

"What are you doing?" She asked, with a nervous laugh.

"We are going to have our dance. Princess." He smiled, inclining her gown with a charming grin.

Her smile widened, brightening the small room.

He placed her arms around his neck once more, holding her close. His own arms crossed behind the arch of her back, rocking her back and forth to music only they could hear. Slowly her head fell against his chest, basking in the comforting warmth he provided. Endymion sighed, pressing his cheek into the soft cloud of curling blonde hair at the top of her head. Taking in her gentle floral scent, letting it lull his mind. Wanting to forget his worries over how upset his mother was, wanting to just enjoy this simple sweet moment with her. This was to be the beginning of the happiest time in his life.

Endymion's tired mind finally fell into darkness, the energy needed to heal casting him beyond dreams and into a self inflicted coma.

And I don't even know how I survive.

I won't make it to shore with out your light.

No, I don't even know if I'm alive.

Oh, oh,oh without you now.

This is what it feels like.

Amy stood just down the block from the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Watching the emergency crews bustling in and out of the front doors. Guiding guests and staff to waiting Ambulances, all in different states of distress.

The valet parking area with its grand stone awning and columns, was illuminated with strobbing colours from police cars and ambulances. Fire trucks lined the avenue behind, shooting water as high up as they could, while Helicopter's were hovering high over the gutted and smouldering remains of the roof.

They had escaped through the main foyer at least fifteen minutes prior completely unnoticed in the chaos within. Mina and Kane had headed off to the parking lot to get her Corvette and lay the sleeping Raye in the back seat. Lita, Jed and Hollywood had headed with them to retrieve Jed's rental vehicle. Amy had wished to stay and monitor the search and rescue operation, wanting to make sure the nearly dead man they saw in the elevator got found. Perhaps get a better look at any of the guards hopefully being escorted out in police custody.

Zac stood behind her, monitoring her stress level with growing concern. As she was barely breathing or even blinking. Eyes narrowed, her mind filled with racing thoughts. All chasing each other around like a dog after it's tail. Her true past was now a clear, crisp reel within her mind's eye. She understood why she was researching Japan's politics and social elite back in High School. Could recall with perfect accuracy every moment she spent growing from a girl into a young woman with a blonde once known as Usagi...Serena Tsukino. Who was now a woman known as Serenity Moon. They all had unearthly powers, making them more then human. How was Sere connected to all that? Yet it wasn't her memories of Serena that plagued her but the woman who had taken her and Darien. Her face was not her face, yet Amy could not recall why. It was as if she was only a doll, wearing a fake skin.

Then it was the mystery of the guards who had mowed down the party guests and this powerful man known as Endymion? How were they all linked. A gurney was just rolling out of the main glass doors, when Serenity's accursed cell phone began to call out in a electronica beat.

"Oh...Hell!" Amy shouted in exasperation, completely forgetting about Serenity's angry friend.

Pulling the small device from a pocket of her navy pants, she quickly glanced at the screen finding several more missed texted. The digital clock in the corner of the window read half past midnight.

Taking a deep breath she answered the phone, knowing she needed to soothe this strange woman's fears or she would be plagued by her all night. She had enough to worry about right now, so she would solve this issue now.

"Moshi, Moshi." Amy sighed barely giving voice to the acknowledgment. Passing Zac's confused look a brief smile before turning her back fully on the man. Squinting her eyes, trying to make out the body on the gurney. Now being pushed into the nearest ambulance. Hooked to wires and tubes for life support. She wagered it was the badly burnt body they found in the elevator.

Still the police had not returned with any of the guards in custody, she wondered what had happened to them? The injustice of them just getting away with mass murder burning inside her like acid.

"Serenity! For Kami's sake why are you not answering my texts. Your half an hour late, Koneko! We can't be playing this game with Beryl out there hunting you down!" The woman on the other end was in hysterics, cursing and rambling on about how disappointed and worried she had been.

Amy knew as soon as she opened her mouth the stranger on the other end was going to go completely ballistic!

"This is not Serenity..." She stated, quickly pulling the phone away from her ear in preparation of the coming scream. It never came, so she lightly pressed the phone back to her ear.

"Who the hell are you." The woman's voice was deep and deathly calm. Amy could hear the heavy beats of a dance club in the background.

"You can call me,...Mercury." She answered quickly, remembering how Serenity had used Mina's old street alias and going along with it. She figured the rest of the girls should come up with code names until they knew whom to trust.

"Mercury is it." The woman laughed with out any kind of humour. "Well, how did you get Moon's phone?" She replied, using Serenity's stage name. Feeling if things were going along these secretive lines she would play along too.

"I'm a friend." Amy chewed on her inner cheek, with out a face to look at she couldn't read the woman's expressions and gauge how she was going to react. It left her feeling very nervous and uncertain as to what information she should give.

"So am I." The woman's voice was husky, barely holding onto her rage. "Where is she?"

Amy sighed, "That I don't know. Lets meet somewhere and talk. Perhaps we can figure out how to track her down."

There was a long silence, finally the woman spoke. "Where are you?"

"At the Hyatt Hotel in Ropongii." Amy responded quickly knowing her patience was nearing the end.

"I'll be there in ten minutes!" The woman shouted back, killing the call.

Amy tapped the screen cancelling her end and tucking the phone away again. Slumping against the beige brick of the hotel's facade. Things were going to get more intense and more complicated very quickly. She would have to inform the girls when they got back. That they were about to get more company.

And I don't even know how I survive.

I won't make it down the road with one headlight.

No, I don't even know how I'm alive.

Oh, oh,oh, without you now.

This is what it feels like.

It had taken over twenty minutes of mindless walking through the streets of warehouses and factories to make it back into civilization. Quickly losing themselves along the long avenues of apartment complexes and small shops. The greater more commercial area of Ropongii still lay in the distance as a skyline of tower's and flickering lights.

Darien was highly agitated, sweating profusely his whole body was aching with a bone deep hunger. Never had he felt so drained and so ravenous at the same time. Serenity kept giving him sad, sympathetic eyes that was only pissing him off more.

"What's wrong with me." He growled, striding a few steps ahead of her. His prowling gait, looking more like a predator on the hunt then a human being.

"You need to eat." She glanced up and around the barren, dimly lit street for any sign of a convenience store or restaurant anything to alleviate the angry pain she knew he was going through.

Five minutes of agonizing walking later, salvation was seen in the glowing sun yellow icon of two arches. Hovering over the far end of the busy avenue they were approaching.

"This way!" She grabbed his arm with a huge grin, yanking him down the adjacent avenue at a full sprint.

Several minutes later, Serenity sat in stunned disbelief, nibbling lightly on a chicken nugget. While she watched her beloved devour his fourth double cheeseburger in a blissful abandon.

"I don't normally...eat...like this." he muttered out between huge mouthfuls of food and air. Polishing off his last burger with a basketball flourish of tossing his crumpled wrapper towards the black plastic garbage bin set beside the outer door of the restaurant.

They were seated at a round cement picnic table, the molded cement bench framing the table as a outer ring. Out on the front patio, of the only restaurant open in the middle of night on the fringe of Ropongii. An American Classic burger palace, with the golden arches glowing high above them, in bright contrast to the dark of the night.

Serenity laughed softly in understanding, not noticing the small crowd of teenager's pressed up against the wide front windows behind her. Whispering and gawking at her, all in varying states of either approval or appalled shock. As she was still only dressed in nothing but a black tuxedo jacket. Darien licked his upper lip and gave them a cocky wink, wanting to acknowledge them that they had been found out. Hoping that they would disappear and find something else to stare at.

Most blushed and moved away from the windows, while a few boys remained riveted to the windows staring with out shame. While one bold if stupid young man with a very dopey face snapped a picture of her with his cell phone.

Darien narrowed his eyes in anger, wondering if he could make that boy eat his phone. He was already laying bets that his motorbike stunts earlier tonight, were already on Youtube. He didn't need their faces plastered up again on some social networking sight. The fact that he knew how horny a teenage males mind worked didn't help his boiling rage. He knew within a few minutes his sweet girls image would plastered up on that moron's face book page with some lewd comment attached. Only spurned the extreme need for him to protect her.

"Excuse me." He jumped to his feet, leaving Serenity in mild confusion out on the patio.

The boy was scrambling out of the yellow plastic booth, smart enough to sense how much trouble he was in. As Darien exploded back into the sharp lights of the restaurant. A round pig faced, soft framed, young man in baggy jeans and an overly large white t-shirt. With creepy smiling fruit ironed on the front, an internet classic that only spoke more loudly how this kid was probably some online troll. The kid had just gathered his feet under him to sprint for the side exit, when Darien's foot struck out and tripped him up. The boy shouted in fright as he landed face first onto the sticky orange lino.

"I am getting really sick of you voyeur's." He sighed, kicking the boy over harshly with a toe of his dress shoe.

Swiftly crouching down and ripping the phone out of his limp grasp.

The kid lay half dazed, blinking nervously up at him. As Darien slammed the phone onto the hard floor and then crunched it into junk under his heel.

"It is highly impolite to take someones picture when not given approval." He shook his finger mock admonishment down at the stunned young man, before punting the broken phone under the nearest side booth out of reach.

Then left with out comment, leaving the place quiet and shamed. The teens now finding much better things to do then stare out of the windows. In fear he was going to lay a beat down on any one of them if they didn't stop staring at his girl.

"Lets go. " Darien gathered up the brown takeout bag and tossed it in the garbage.

Serenity had finished her meal, grabbing her coke she followed him back out to the sidewalk. Heading ever onward deeper into the midnight tower's of Ropongii.

"Honestly, Mamo-chan, you take me on the strangest dates." She commented brightly. Paying homage to the fact they ended up on spontaneous dates in the past.

Making him laugh, as fond memories of the Chinese restaurant warmed his thoughts. He slowed down enough for her to move in at his side. They proceeded down the sidewalk. Enjoying the simple joy of just walking close to one another, content in the late night embrace of suburban Tokyo. The white noise of traffic and low hum of over hanging street lamps serenading them.

"I feel like crap..." He groaned a few minutes later, rubbing his belly. His pained grimace almost comical.

"I guess you over ate." She shrugged. "It takes time to get used to regulating your need for food after using a great deal of your powers. "

"Getting this crazy hungry is going to be normal then?" Darien commented bitterly. His athletes diet was completely ruined now. He had felt like a starving animal after all the tension had faded. The need to eat gnawing at him like withdrawal from some kind of heavy drug. He had been completely single minded about searching out any kind of food, even tempted to eat out of a dumpster. If that burger place hadn't come along.

"You will learn to endure the pain of energy depletion in time. Learn to use just what you need of your power's so your not weakened by hunger to quickly. " Serenity took a long suck from her straw, her tone somber.

"So earlier tonight when your stomach was growling so badly?" He scratched the back of his neck wondering if she had been in as much pain as he had been.

"Fighting Fish-eye and then Hawk-eye took a lot out of me, so yeah. I got real hungry, but thankfully Endymion noticed and fed me. " She glanced hesitantly up to him, worried that the mention of Endymion's care would piss him off. Finding his face stark and unreadable, she felt she needed to reassure him yet again. Slipping her hand into his, confirming silently that she was his. "The fall from the hotel used much more of my energy." She moved on, "You have to be careful that you don't use to much and weaken yourself to severely. It only increases the chances your Genesis State will consume you."

Darien merely nodded. Accepting the thin line he would have to tread when using his power's. She had grown so strong and self reliant over the years apart. He was so proud of the woman she had become. He wondered now if he had matured and changed enough to have her take pride in him. As she had so often when they were kids. She had been an open book then, wore her heart on her sleeve and never held anything back from him. He had bared his heart to her tonight, in its entirety. While she still held part of her own heart protectively. Sharing her feelings and history only under duress. This new version of her was to reserved, to self reliant and independent. He was having a hard time feeling welcome in her world. He felt her love, she had even said the words. He could see it in her eyes every time she looked at him. She made sure to show her affections in any number of small touches and lingering glances. He didn't know why but it wasn't enough, she was still being so guarded. Her silence now was some what nagging feeling that even after everything, she was till holding back...keeping secrets. It was like the soul binding connection they had as teens was not fully healed. Perhaps after everything she had lived through it might never heal.

A bright green and silver transit bus was just rolling up to the curb across the avenue, the street lamps setting the metal roof a glow as it past underneath.

"Com'on!" he shouted, pulling her along after him. Sprinting across the wide street during a pause in traffic.

Serenity was left skipping and stumbling on her heels to maintain pace behind him. Dropping her drink half way across the street with a startled yelp.

"Before this night is through, I bet I'll have rode on every kind of dingy piece of public transit Tokyo has to offer." Darien sat

down with grumpy distain upon the old worn out grey plastic bench at the back of the bus.

Serenity sighed and sat herself down beside him. Feeling the cruel eyes of every old lady and leering young man currently riding on the bus with them. Nervously tugging at the extremely short hem of the black cotton jacket. She was tired of feeling on display before the public eye.

"You have had the worst luck with clothes tonight." Darien draped a protective arm around her shoulder. He smiled down at her with sympathy for a moment, before passing every passenger a deadly protective glare. The fierceness in his eyes, making the gawking passengers clear their throats nervously and quickly avert their gazes. Finding other more interesting things to stare at out of the busses windows.

"Tell me about it." Serenity grumped, leaning forward to scrutinize her reflection in the window. Finding her hair was wind tossed and knotted. She looked horrible in damp black cotton, wrinkled and stained with mud. Her face looking quite pale the food doing nothing to improve the fading pallor.

"Are you feeling ok?" Darien asked quietly, brushing his fingertips down her cheek in concern. Noticing again how withdrawn and tired she looked.

"Fine...can I see your phone?" She asked, changing the topic. As she held out her hand.

Darien reached into the side pocket of his dress pants, pulling out his phone. Which started to drain out murky water from the bottom corner.

"I doubt it still works." he offered, placing it in her palm.

"I just need to figure out what time it is." She responded flipping the top open, since the top screen looked cracked and dead.

"A retro man, huh?" Serenity commented, studying the phone that looked right out of the late nineteen-nineties.

"It's Hollywoods old phone. I'm not retro, I'm cheap." Darien shrugged, not at all ashamed of his rather spend thrift ways.

Serenity laughed and shook her head, smacking the side of the phone with her hand smartly. As if that might wake it up to display something. Finding a faded menu on the tiny grey green screen with small digital numbers up on the far left corner.

"Crap!" She shouted, noticing it was closing in on one in the morning.

"Haruka's going to kill me!" She whined, her thumbs franticly going through the menu looking for the texting screen.

(Haruka's state of mind is of little concern, Serenity.) Setsuna's voice invaded her panic.

She snapped her head up from the phone, finding the ghostly image of a naked woman crouched down in the aisle of the bus. Her long dark hair shielding her breasts and privates demurely.

She swallowed hard, noticing Setsuna's dire expression. Her deep lavender eyes now a fathomless deep purple with intense anxiety.

(You need to get to the Onii Arena right now!) She announced.

"I don't know where it is, Setsuna! I've been trying to get there but my last two contacts were dead ends." She couldn't contain her rage and frustration any longer. Shouting back at the invisible phantom. Attracting even more attention to herself from the other riders on the bus.

"Sere?" Darien questioned nervously, glancing to the empty aisle she was currently yelling at.

(Shingo was just caught stealing from the safe, in the Arena Master's office) Setsuna was never one to cushion the blow of bad news. Cutting straight to the point.

"Why!" Serenity blurted out in frustration to the heavens then began scrubbing her hands down her face. Trying to rid herself of the crushing anxiety now smothering her.

(I do not know, but right now a couple guards are escorting him down to the holding cages. The Master wants to teach a lesson to anyone else stupid enough to try and steal from him. He is forcing him to fight in the last match of the night.) Setsuna stood up, making Serenity jump to her own feet.

He would be dead by sunrise!

"Find out where it is and tell me!" She screamed, as panic jolted through her body. Inclining her head towards the bus's roof. Blue eyes glazed with dread, before confronting the less then helpful soldier of time with a fierce glare.

(What do you think I am, some kind of cosmic GPS!) Setsuna snarled back, she hated having to always be the messenger of strife. Hated seeing her friend so worked up and terrorfied and not having any real power's to help.

(I'll see what I can do.) Setsuna gathered her calm and faded away.

Serenity merely nodded, her whole body trembling with pent up stress and anxiety. She was so fed up with feeling two steps behind all night she was ready to explode.

"What the hell are you all looking at!" She raged at the the crowd of gawking people on the bus. Who were watching her with wary eyes as if she was some crazy nut case. Slamming herself down hard on the plastic bench, crossing her arms and glowering down at her scuffed up white strap heels.

The crowds immediately found other things to stare at out the windows or in their purses or backpacks.

Darien stared at her in pained confusion, only catching half of the conversation but astute enough to gather it was about her brother. That she was talking to another soldier named Setsuna, who was also hunting for her brother. She was trembling, holding herself so tightly her knuckles were white. Her body look coiled as if she was about to bolt. He pulled her in close, cradling her cheek with a hand and forcing her to lean her head down upon his shoulder. When she had calmed enough that he thought she wasn't going to jump off the bus and blindly go running into the night. He relaxed his grip and moved his hand lower around her shoulder's.

She breathed in steady bursts, her mind roaring with turmoil that she was going to loss Shingo tonight.

Blinking away frustrated tears, as Darien attempted to sooth her with soft words of comfort. He was just relaxing into the long ride when she did exactly what he didn't want her to do. Leaping to her feet with a jolt, she dashed away from him. Just like in the subway, she made for the back door uncaring that the bus was going full speed down the busy boulevard. She kicked the folding doors open and dove out of the bus, amid startled cries from the driver and patrons.

"What the hell, Sere!" He shouted, uncertain as to what to do for all of a second before he to was leaping off the bus as well.

Finding her finishing a forward roll off a red Lexus sports car's hood that was pacing the bus. It slammed on the breaks, just as he leaped over the low elegantly curving cab, landing on his feet in the far lane. Having to use his Genesis enhanced balance and agility to pull off a spin and leap, so not to get creamed by on coming traffic.

Making it to the sidewalk in time to dash off after Serenity, who was now a blur of flapping coat tails far ahead.

The street was now lined with small shops, their awning's hanging in bright colors over the sidewalk. Window's filled with novelties and books, shoes or jewelry. Narrow alleys ran between them making the street look like something out of an old European market.

Then he saw them, three young women sitting smugly upon the over hang of the traffic light at the end of the block. The traffic light was swaying back and forth wildly, as the three trouble maker's were kicking their feet as if merely sitting upon a park bench.

"Serenity-senpai!" The tallest of the three jumped to her feet. With a long reddish brunette braid down her back, black tight leather pants and combat boots. A orange tank top that barely contained her large breasts. With a sleeveless navy blue vest, that hung low around her hips. Leaping off the iron pole with a forward flip.

To land just before Serenity, her gold bangles on her wrists clanking with a sharp tin like ring. Her gold hoop earring's swinging merrily in her ears, as she regarded Serenity with a petulant air. Who stoutly ignored her sour demeanour, to busy glowering furiously up at the other two still crouched up on the arching pole.

"Get down here!" Serenity yelled up there, like a frustrated older sister.

"Nope, not until you introduce your handsome friend there." Cere's called down tauntingly. An impish smile on her sweet face. Her strawberry blonde hair fluttering over a shoulder, warm brown eyes a glow with adoring admiration towards Darien. What remained of her thin accent braids snapping in disarray amid her loose hair. Her brown leather pants now torn in several places, yellow wrap style vest having spots of blood around the hem. Serenity didn't know it was her's or someone else's. It could have been the monks and she just didn't notice till now. The stains clearly visible thanks to the

sharp light of the nearby street lamp casting the remaining two girls in brilliant fake white light.

Serenity glanced over her shoulder, realizing guiltily she had yet again just left Darien behind. He was glaring down at her, panting for breath.

"This is getting to be a really bad habit." He muttered bitterly.

"Gomen..." she moaned, giving him a sorry half smile. Before returning to keep a close eye on the girls.

"He's my new partner. Uhm...Tux" She shouted, not noticing the slight smirk appearing on his face. Not having much time to come up with an alias and make it believable.

"Fits." Cere's shrugged, jumping off the pole to land behind her sister.

"We told you that we would be back." Jun stated, landing beside Cere's. Her long wavy green tinted hair tossing in the wind, the black leather of her pants and short vest shining like metal in the half light of the lamps nearby. Her black fingerless motorcycle gloves now gripped a long steel pole, no doubt stolen from a nearby construction site. Currently her bow staff of choice, already splattered with blood from being used to bash someones skull previously, Serenity assumed.

"Man, Senpai. Your looking different?" Ves chuckled sarcasticly, her deep brown eyes raking smugly down Serenity's body appreciating the sexy costume.

"She looks like a Strip..." Cere's began, soft blue eyes flying wide as Jun clamped a hand over her mouth from behind, deftly silencing her.

Both Ves and Jun had noticed the dangerous look they were getting from the man behind Serenity. Wanting to protect their sister by forcing her to shut up.

"It's doesn't matter." Ves shrugged, "We have business."

"Fine, give me the crystal. " Serenity offered her hand.

"Nope, we want a promise that you'll break Hotaru free." Jun commanded, crossing her arms over her chest. Her emerald green eyes cold, holding a fierceness that made her look very formidable.

"I can't promise that!" Serenity declared. "When both Beryl and 'The Agency' want to get their hands on it!" She snarled, lunging blindly for Cere's who now had the jewel hanging from her throat on a thin silver chain.

Cere's leaped back out of her reach with a startled yelp. Never expecting Serenity to act so aggressively.

"Do you seriously want that kind of trouble." Serenity huffed, placing her hands on her hips in irritation.

"Mistress, these little ladies haven't experienced real trouble yet!" A low baritone rumbled out from the heavy shadow's between a set of small boutiques.

The three girls whipped around in time to find a large asian man, striding towards them in full battle dress of an ancient Samurai. A dark crimson kimono with black accents wrapped around his great girth. With black leather, wide angled shoulder guards. With long dark flowing pants underneath that matched the leather vest that overlapped the Kimono. Daggers were tucked into his obi sash, with twin Katana's crossed upon his back. His jet black hair tied back into a single top knot, dark eyes nearly black in rage glared down upon the now highly intimidated girls.

"Po!" Serenity exclaimed in both surprise and happiness. His appearance as an alley made things a bit easier. Now she just needed to get that crystal away from Cere's then she could give it back to Po. It would be one less crisis to deal with.

"Crap, it's the Sumo Samurai!" Ves shouted in alarm, leaping up onto a blue and white striped awning, set just above them.

"Scatter!" Jun screamed, leaping onto the curved hood of a parked silver BMW beetle. That sat on the street in the opposite direction to the awning.

"You do that..." Serenity called her disc's into her hands, narrowing her eyes to a pin pointed focus upon the delicate chain now around Cere's neck. She was not getting away with the Silver Crystal this time.

Ceres crouched low in a defensive stance instantly realizing she was the primary target.

"Ok...this isn't fair..." she moaned, her legs trembling as if straining to keep her balance.

Both Serenity and Po, understood by her staggered stance that she was hurt and hiding it. This battle would go quickly in their favour.

Darien took note of Serenity adjusting her legs to spring, her weapons coming alive in her hands.

"She's just a kid?" he muttered uncertainly. He didn't sign up to beat down little girls?

As Cere's called upon her own Genesis Power's. He clutched his head in agony.

Ceres had tossed a tiny ball of dark insanity, about the size of a marble from her palm seconds earlier. When her sister's had created a diversion of jumping in apposite directions. It had hovered in the shadows of the alley, until called upon. Now sinking into the dark haired man's soul threw his shoulder blades.

Suddenly Darien felt boiling hot, sweat formed upon his forehead, beading and rolling down his temples. His body began to ache as if tossed back into the frozen canal of water. His dress shirt, vest and pants was now damp from his rapidly over heating body.

Swallowing rapidly, his mouth having gone dry. His vision began to sway and blur. Struggling to focus his eyes upon Serenity now in battle with Ceres. Who was awkwardly avoiding Serenity's attacking discs, with sluggish tumbles back and forth across the sidewalk. Po's twin blades gleaming in the half light from the street lamps as he engaged with the two remaining sisters. Darien was having trouble following the course of the battle. The reddish brunette had two dagger's in her hands, concealed somewhere on her person. Moving with a fluid unbelievable speed, able to evade Po's swords strokes as if she was reading his mind. Knowing what he was planing before he did.

The green tinted haired girl in the black leather, was now deflecting Serenity's disc's of light with her metal staff. Coming to her hurt sister's aid as quickly as she could. Her body becoming more muscular as every strike connected with her metal pole. The last sister, known as Cere's had moved to a discrete distance. Standing with a calculating air upon the glass roof of a bus shelter that sat dead center in the battlefield. Merely staring at him, her sweet blue eyes glowing with an inner illumination that sent his mind into a dizzy trance.

He could hear the metal clang of Serenity striking relentlessly against her opponents staff. The grunts and battle cries of Po, thrusting his blades in whirlwind kata's against his own adversary. It all sounded hollow and far away to him. A distance set apart from reality.

"Tux..." Serenity's voice called out to him, sounding heavy and strange. Darien turned from staring transfixed on the girl, Ceres. His breath was instantly sucked out of his lungs, blinking uncomprehendingly upon his true love. Who had transformed before his eyes into something utterly horrific. She looked like some cross between a bat, lizard and snake. A demon made flesh, with red pupils of flame hidden in hollowed out black holes that were her eyes. It was like looking upon the very bowels of hell itself. With a lipless mouth full of razor sharp teeth, long leathery ears twitching at her every breath. "What's happening to you?" Her worried voice echoed out of the monsters face as if in a surreal dream. Then the clang of combat echoed out unseen. The world a swirling vortex of light and sound soon surrounding him.

"Sere..." he croaked, the sight of her making him sick, like he was going to throw up.

Steel tip roses coming to life between his finger's, the need to protect himself from her so fierce he couldn't control it.

"Darien..." The hell beast reached for him with large claws, the crone like finger's elongated towards him. The image ghastly distorted as if the demon was twisting in a mirrored cylinder.

He heard himself scream, twisting away from her. He wasn't sure why he felt so terrorfied of something he knew damn well wasn't real. But the raw terror surging inside him was like a living thing, devouring his sane mind. He couldn't bring himself to attack her, so he ran.

Cere stood pursing her lips perplexed, usually her insane minions obeyed her. She had commanded him to attack Serenity, not run screaming like a little girl? She had to gain control of her new toy, or he would only cause more trouble running around the city like a lunatic. Like the perfect gymnast that she was, she flipped off the glass bus stop, to bounce upward upon an red awning across the sidewalk. Catapulting herself onto the flat roof of the shop.

"Don't have to much fun with out me." She called down to her two sister's currently quite busy keeping a very enraged giant Samurai from pounding them into the cement.

Neither paid her any mind, so she ran off. Leaping from roof top to roof top in Serenity's wake. Who was running and shouting in a panic towards her partner. Darien was using his own Genesis state to it's limits pulling far ahead down the

side walk. Then leaping into the night up the cement balcony's of an apartment tower across the street.

"Well, that couldn't have gone worse." Ceres grumped like a disgruntled child. Standing at the end of the block on top the last shop. With Serenity near tears down on the sidewalk below her. Staring in awe struck disbelief towards the set of apartment tower's across the boulevard.