Ken was first to break the silence due to impatience and fury. "Aya! Would you please just tell us what is going on already?!"

Omi squat down to the floor to pick up the fallen pieces and chucked them together despite a few being upside down.

"I.. can't explain", the redhead muttered, one hand clasping his upper arm in slight shame. He knew that the younger two would have loads of questions to ask, but he had his own that were driving him mad already.

"Aya", Yoji said firmly, making Ran look up at the three. The blond jerked his head towards the other two. "You can't hide it forever, anyway."

I wish I could… He thought to himself with a mental sigh.

"Hide what?" Ken frowned, clearly annoyed by the mysterious conversation between the two.

Ran took a deep breathe. "Don't freak out or I'll kill you", he threatened. Or at least, he tried to. He pulled off the coat and angled his wings a little further from his back, somewhere a little more comfortable. When the coat thoroughly slipped off his body, he could see the awe of the other two.

"You've got to be kidding?"

"Aya-kun!!! They're really nice!!" Omi piped, momentarily forgetting about why they were out to behead his teammate. He went around Ran, smoothing down the runaway feathers which pointed upwards when the redhead attempted a speedy dressing.

"No. They're not nice Omi", Ken said with his arms crossed. He stared at the brown, inhuman things. "Okay, maybe they are but that's not the point. Aya, why did you hide it from us? All these time?!"

"I thought you guys would… you know. Disregard me or something… It's not as if holding the reputation for being 'cold' and 'heartless' wasn't bad enough…" he grumbled.

"Whaoh, Aya spoke more than twenty words in a single time", the brunet commented, amazed. Ran glared at him.

"Mou, Ken-kun, we've got bigger matters in hand now", the younger blond said, waving the pieces of paper in their faces.

(author's interruption: Actually, I just ruined the initial mood… crap…)

Everything was explained from the start. Now, all four Weiss members were sitting in their mission room, trying to form a plan that would avoid getting Ran killed.

"The easy way out for now is to let Kritiker be convinced that we have yet to come in contact with Aya. If they do, they expect us to do away with him right away."

"Ne, Aya-kun. It's a little harsh, but I think you have to stay away from home until we figure a way out of this."

Ran raised an eyebrow. "I'm getting chased out of my own home?"

"Kritiker is less likely to make a move on your in public, not with everyone watching", the younger blond said again.

"But wouldn't they at night?"

"Ever tried a pub?" Yoji offered.

"Shut up Yoji", the redhead snapped.

"Maybe, just for the nights, you can sneak in. Avoid areas with road cameras Kritiker is able to get the videos from the traffic authorities", Omi reminded.

"... I need to find someone anyway…"

"You mean GX009?" Ken asked.

"Height. His name is Height", Ran said, twitching in slight annoyance. He didn't even know why. "I'll leave first. I place my trust in you guys." He stood up, ready to leave.

When he exited the mission room, Ken started tugging his hair. "Omi! How are we supposed to help Aya?!"

"Oh chill Ken", Yoji barked bluntly, lighting up a cigarette. "To deal with the problem we must find the root of it."

"And the root it shall be!" Omi piped up, eyes glittering with glee. "If we can remove all present information on Aya-kun and Height, Kritiker has no details to allow them movement!"

Ken and Yoji's jaw dropped.

"Are you insane? And where do we find- Oh no. No way. You can't be thinking", Ken dreaded the line he just said since Omi graciously continued.

"We're going to HQ", said the blond confidently.

-------

Ran took to the streets after picking up his coat and katana. He wasn't sure why he brought it along, but he guessed that it would make him a wee bit safer. After all, the existence of the un-betray-able sword had saved his butt countless of times.

One hand gripped the area slightly below the hilt, keeping it firm beside him. He altered the wielding position of the sword, making it lay vertical against his leg so as to not attract people's attention to something long sticking out at his side. His surrounding was highly crowded and all the more he kept his katana closer.

The only area less busy was the roads, where oddly, lesser cars were speeding. Series of car honks would occur, probably due to reckless beings attempting to cross the street. He would very much prefer to avoid the roads.

He had been walking for some time, with an aimless destination. Maybe he would spend the night at the park, or kill time finding Height. In any way, it didn't matter...

The redhead heard a bird cry and looked up at the sky, stopping amidst the crowd. People around him started grumbling and cursing at him for just standing there, holding up the flow. But he didn't care, because for some reason he heard the deep craw as a single word 'danger'. He never knew he could understand them...

A strong hand grabbed him by his upper arm and he was forced to turn over. He gave a scowl, pulling his arm back but froze when he saw who it was.

Fang.

"Thought your friend got rid of me that easily?" He growled, tightening his grip until Ran felt his arm a little numb.

"How did you... You were hung!" Ran hissed softly.

"So you don't know? We won't die, birdie. You ought to know that."

A loud honk of a car sounded beside the duo and Ran, seeing that Fang dropped his guard, used all his might and pulled away from the vice. He broke into a dash, darting in between people. He heard fang gave a howl and he looked over his shoulder, eyes widening when he saw three of Fang's kind, in their wolf forms, barking and growling as they ran on all fours. His head snapped in the direction his body was facing when another three barked.

He was caught in the middle. To his front and back were Fang's pack and to his right were solid buildings with no alleyways. The only direction he could flee was through the risky traffic.

At the moment, he could hear people screaming and see the crowds split paths for the humongous animals.Leaving, himself no choice, he jumped over the short metal barricade. He had eight lanes to get through and he would be a little bit safer. Or at least, he would have a little more time in finding a place where he can fly off without being seen.

He cleared past the first lane, unharmed, hearing a roar of 'you asshole!', followed by a series of honking that deafened him. He caught a quick glance of one wolf jumping onto the road carelessly when a car was about to hit it. He was about to smile but felt dread overcoming him when the wolf faced the vehicle, crouched a little before literally pushing against the metal junk, having it's front heavily dented while it stood in its positioned unharmed.

"This is not going to be good..." Ran uttered to himself as he crossed the next two lanes. He could already hear the scrapping of claws against the cement grown and he was struck with fear.

The next this he knew, he was down on the ground, right in the middle of the two-way traffic where thankfully, was a small empty lane. People were still shouting and screaming but his attention was the wolf who was pinning him down, large paw on his back. His breathed hitched as he tried to drawl air, but was finding difficult since his chest was sandwiched between the ground and a very strong paw. He didn't even recall the wolves being this strong.

Ran heard a gunshot and he felt the pressure lift. He took a deep breath and his assaultant fell by his side. He covered his mouth in shock as a trail of blood made its way down the wolf's snout, starting from a hole between its eyes. He stood up slowly, screening the area and saw several snipers on top of buildings. They were far, but with his special eyesight he saw them as figures who were standing right in front of him. He could identify them as Kritiker agents easily, by their clothing and sniper guns.

He cursed under his breath, jumping aside when a bullet nearly hit him, bouncing off the ground right beside his foot.

The redhead leapt up from his position, seeing half of the wolf pack running vertically up buildings towards the gunners. It was half-appreaciating, knowing that they would do away with them, but overall they were also hunting for him.

He took the chance to run.

However, in midst of the commotion there was some woman screaming about her baby. In the distance, Ran saw a lady down on the ground, where Fang had just ran through. A small child was running across the road to retrieve something small and he cursed under his breath. A truck driver was talking on the phone and looking at the opposite traffic, oblivious to whatever was in front of him.

Ran grit his teeth, knowing it would be risky. No, it was risky, but the girl was blindly fondling about blindly. He pulled out his wings from under, momentarily forgetting about Fang, his pack and the snipers who had the height advantage, clearly able to shoot him down easily.

Through his constant practice, he took off into the air without much difficulty, making a quick ascent. The surrounding engines of cars deafened him, but he knew people were watching. Hell, somewhere in him, he regretted his action.

He was so close to the girl, but so was the truck. Ran made a mistake of landing. He managed to grab the girl but looked over his shoulder at the truck. There wasn't enough time to take-off again. He didn't know what to do, so he just hugged the girl close to him, hoping that he would be the one receiving most of the hit and damage.

But the collision never came. He distinctly heard a loud crashing noise, though. He opened his eyes and was shocked to see Height, white wings open as the other had did the same thing the wolf before did. The only difference was the truck didn't fly.

"Height…" Ran uttered.

The truck's load had turned due to the inertia, ceasing the traffic flow.

Height removed himself from the dent in the front of the truck, his arm red, scorched from the heat of the large engine.

The redhead snapped back to reality when the small girl broke away from his grasp and ran crying to her mother. He watched her and his eyes came in contact with many, many more. They were staring at him and at Height.

He flinched from their gazes and found Height by his side.

"Ran, let's go", he growled, half-annoyed. He latched onto Ran's arm and pulled him. Fang's pack was gone from sight and so were the snipers.

Height let go and opened his wings, crouching a little before beating them. Ran turned away, feeling a little ashamed and doing the same.

When they were a short distance into the air he heard a loud 'thank you' and turned over his shoulder, seeing the mother whose child he had so-called rescue saying with a smile, tears in her eyes. The people around her weren't staring at him with confusing eyes.

They were watching the two with awe and jealousy.

"They can't be like us, Ran', the crossbreed ahead of him said.

Ran looked up in confusion.

Height looked over with a smile on his face. "The birds have always told me how many people wished they could fly." He slowed down and Ran accidentally flew into in, but was caught in Height's embrace.

"I thought I was going to lose you."

Ran's gaze softened, secretly smiling into the neck. "You saved me… Thank you…" He said and returned the hug.

------

The both landed in the park, away from human eyes. Height was leaning against a tree as usual, Ran sitting on the branch instead. They kept silent for some moments and for once, the redhead broke it.

"Height…?"

"Yes?"

"I've… thought about it."

"… And your answer?"

"I… agree", he said softly, face a little red. He didn't know why. To him, Height was different… Even though Yoji and Height had saved in on separate occasions, he felt safer with the crossbreed. Yes, he was arrogant and possessive… but he secretly liked it.

He intertwined his own fingers, waiting for a response from the other…

And jumped when he felt a pair of arms around his neck.

"Thank you… I really appreciate it…" Height breathed against his ear. "I'll never let you go…"

Ran leaned back against the other, resting his head against the strong physique. Once more, the sense of security swept through him. He just hoped he didn't make a wrong decision, as he felt Height kiss his neck, followed by the collar bone.

"Height…?"

"It's alright. I just want to make you mine", Height whispered.

Oddly, Ran didn't refuse. He couldn't. Something was tugging at him, telling him that it was okay. Instincts? Probably.

Both crossbreeds had their bodies close to each other. So that very night, under the clouds and above the waters, they became one.

OMFG i shouldn't swear but OMFG i updated. school's in, so i'm late, but the long chap makes up for it.. not really.. but deal with it lols! my wireless crapped up on me and well, i lost me previous stuff.. retyping now crap comp. crap wireless!! anyway yay for HeightXRan fans.. sorry to those YojiXRan ones. O-O eep i have a feeling you might kill me. anyway hapy days...

Yes, ALTHOUGH i didn't mention it, Height and Ran are a thing now.. meaning yes, they did -it-. If you have brains you'll know what it is. hahahahahaha

review replies:

hitomisure: basically, kritiker knew what Ran was and used him to fish out the others. Well, Height being th emost dangerous I suppose.. review again!!

alicia: i updated!! yay!! review me again!!

evalita: wee you made a sequel to chibies in the house too!! i love jooo thanks for liking this story i love it too! thanksss cyaaa