NOTE: sorry for the long wait, I've been struggling some with the direction of the story. However I'm pleased to announce I have it figured out now. Also since I'm crossing over with the WC Universe I decided to cross over with my own WC story The Nightingale (written under Phoenix-cry) for the sheer self indulgent fun of it. You do not need to have read The Nightingale to understand what's going on though as this is just using some character names and elements in a added AU twist. That's right...this is now an AU inside an AU. I'm so meta ;)

Chapter Fourteen

"That wasn't so bad."

"Neal, I have *literally* had nightmares of that meeting that went better than that just did."

"We got out alive." Neal pointed out.

"Cheng knows your name."

"That was a surprise," Neal nodded thoughtfully "but not as big an issue as you may think."

"He is never going to let you go. Now that he knows who you are he can find you, and he will never stop using you."

"Peter if knowing my name was enough to find me the FBI would have locked me up long ago. Trust me, we're safe."

"Unlike Hsing." Peter replied morosely. "Cheng is going to kill her if you don't do as he asks, that was not a bluff."

"Hsing is going to be okay, I promise."

"Even if you manage to steal the Nightingale sword from the Yakuza that doesn't mean Cheng isn't just going to make more demands of you once you give it to him, and he will use the same threats over and over again if we don't find a way to stop him. Not to mention the Yakuza are not known for being forgiving."

"Just give me a few minutes to think this all through."

"There is nothing to think through, Neal, you can't steal from the Yakuza."

"Yeah, the first rule of a long healthy life as a thief is to never cross the Yakuza." Neal said seriously as he mulled over their predicament. "Breaking into the evidence locker at the FBI would be easier."

"And less dangerous."

"And less dangerous." Neal agreed.

Neal slipped his hands into his pockets as he suddenly stopped walking. Peter stopped as well and glanced around nervously at the grassy area of Central Park that they were cutting through on their way back to the apartment. There were a few people in sight mid-morning on a Friday but none of them were close enough to notice the gold in Peter's eyes and identify him as anything other than your average New Yorkers. even with the other park goers minding their own business Peter would rather they kept moving since people seemed to pay less attention to them when they were walking. Peter felt that when they were standing still people tended to give him a closer inspection as they approached. He tried to tell himself that it was simply an illusion in his own mind caused by feeling more vulnerable as a stationary object as opposed to actively moving past people, but either way he didn't like just standing out in the open.

After narrowly escaping the meeting with Cheng Peter just wanted to return to the relative safety of the apartment as quickly as possible. Thinking back to Hsing Peter had known something was wrong when she wasn't at the front door to greet them, although she hadn't been tossed out on the street liked he'd feared she had fallen from Cheng's favor and he wouldn't hesitate to kill her if Neal didn't return with the prize he wanted. Of all of Cheng's captive women who used to treat him with respect but at the same time knew to keep some distance from him Hsing was the one who had dared come a little closer. She didn't have the courage or the English language skills to talk to him but she often offered him a flower and a grateful bow before hurrying away. She had even tried to offer her silent assistance with his wounds the first time Cheng had beaten him to the point of blood, however Cheng had caught her and it had taken all of Peter's persuasion to convince Cheng that she didn't deserve punishment for her mercy. Cheng didn't want his women seeing the Animula as a source of strength and made it abundantly clear that didn't tolerate them interacting with him. At times Peter found himself under Cheng's cane not because he had done something wrong but in order to teach the women a lesson without risking damaging their skin and reducing their value.

Peter didn't begrudge the terrified women for not doing more to acknowledge that he was keeping some of Cheng's sadistic tendencies satiated, he just wished he could have done more to protect them. He had been trying to avoid thinking about how the women were fairing with him gone, feeling just as helpless to do anything about their situation as he was about any of the Animula he had met over the years. Now Hsing life was directly in his hands as Cheng had used her as a bargaining ploy to make sure that he and Neal didn't just leave and never return. Peter had never met the man they had been tasked with stealing from, Haru Yamaguchi, but Cheng often spoke of him with a bitter hatred. Cheng didn't really want the ceremonial katana sword known as 'The Nightingale' he simply wanted to take it from Yamaguchi knowing that it would bring the Yakuza leader a great deal of shame and disrespect from his connections back in Japan to have lost it.

Peter had no idea how Neal could possibly think that he could go up against an enemy that even Cheng had never dared challenge directly. Concentrating hard Neal was staring at a small blue flower that was sticking up out of the grass on the edge of the path that they were standing on, lost in thought as he tried to figure out a way to salvage the most recent turn of events. Peter envied Neal's ability to feel at ease enough out in the open to become absorbed in his own thoughts, Peter could zone out for hours but only when he was in a confined environment. Peter tensed as a couple holding hands started walking towards them along the path. He considered alerting Neal to their approach but Neal did glance over at them having caught them in his periphery even if he hadn't appeared to be aware of his surrounds. Unlike the way the couple made Peter's heart race in a fight or flight response Neal instantly labeled the young humans as not being a threat and went back to his problem solving.

Peter told himself that Neal was having the more appropriate reaction to the situation but that didn't stop his mind from coming up with a dozen ways this casual encounter could quickly go wrong. Stepping back onto the grass to give them more room to walk by Peter automatically glanced up at the pair as they passed by, chastising himself for doing so as the woman caught his eye. A look of surprise lit up the young woman's face as she tugged on her partner's sleeve to get his attention. The man looked up and after a split second of confusion as to why she had brought his attention the men he noticed the gold as well and raised his eye brows in shock. Peter had tried to look away before the man could spot him but a moment of defiance had caused him to glare spitefully at the innocent man who had simply been caught off guard by the rare sight of an Animula in public.

Feeling guilty for the silent challenge Peter quickly looked away and offered him a sight bow of his head in apology. Looking like he felt just as guilty as Peter for staring the man smiled nervously at him as they continued on their way down the path. Once they were a safe distance away they started to chatter to one another in a hushed tone about the close encounter as they stole a few backwards glances. The entire exchange had only take a few seconds but Peter felt like he'd just run a marathon. He knew that he wouldn't have reacted as strongly to the humans passing by if he hadn't just come from a meeting with his former Master, but no amount of logic was helping him calm his jack rabbit heart. Shifting his weight uncomfortably Peter found himself starting to panic. Peter's sudden panting breath caught Neal's attention and pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Peter?"

"Can we please not just stand here?" Peter complained darkly.

"What?" Neal asked surprised by Peter's tone. He looked around and spotted the retreating couple. "Oh, I'm sorry. I've been in the city so long that people become almost like a background noise, they seemed harmless."

"They were, but that's not the point."

"Right. I understand. Let's go."

"Thank you."

"Peter any time you're feeling uncomfortable just tell me."

"You would quickly grow weary of hearing about it." Peter said only half joking.

"Peter…"

"I'm fine." Peter interrupted with a sigh. "I just need to keep reminding myself that the average human wants nothing more to do with me that I want to do with them."

"That's not true. I don't mean that everyone means you harm, far from it, but above all other traits humans are extraordinarily curious. It's basic human nature. When people who never come in contact with Animula see you out and about they are going to notice and they are going to stare. Humans are fascinated by the unique and different."

"But at the same time you fear it."

"Sadly that is also human nature." Neal admitted. "However the two aspects can work together to change perception. People being curious about Animula is going to be advantageous when we start getting the truth about you out there. Human thirst for knowledge eventually always wins out over our fear."

"We need to beat Cheng before we can even think about taking on the Market." Peter said to change the subject.

"I actually have a plan now." Neal said proudly.

"Already?"

"Well, half a plan, enough to get started. I think it's best not to over think this one." Neal explained. "We are going to use that same human curiosity to get our foot in the door with the Yakuza and win them over."

"Win them over? How do you suggest we do that?"

"We are going to tell them that we plan to steal from them."

"That's a terrible idea." Peter said flatly.

"I know. That's why it's going to work."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"Just trust me."

"Against my better judgement I do." Peter manged to smile.

"Good." Neal chuckled. "So are you up for one more adventure today?"

"Sure. Why not? You've piqued my curiosity."