"Why is it always you?!"

"Because you love me so much!"

"I love to pummel you, ya little rat!"

"You're the pervert here! I didn't ask you to join in!"

"I was drawn in, I didn't join!"

Erstin wiped the sleep from her eyes as she groggily sat up. Natsuki and Nao were rolling around on the floor hitting each other. She blinked at the sight. She hoped Nao won. She still hadn't fully forgiven Natsuki for trying to take Nina away. Go Nao! She cheered mentally.

Natsuki took a moment to glare up at her and she blushed as she realised that Natsuki being a telepath would of course have heard her. She still grinned when Nao struck the distracted brunette with a palm strike to the chin. Natsuki fell back dazed.

"Seriously though," Nao wiped at her nose that seemed as if it was bleeding but wasn't "how come its always my dreams you're in?"

"Trust me, I would rather not picture Mai like that…" Natsuki said huffing in an effort to get her breath back. "And what the hell were you going to do with that bottle."

Nao just grinned in an entirely too lusty way for Natsuki who shuddered. But it was an interesting question. She had been pulled into her gran's dream once before but that was when her gran was having a nightmare that made her think Natsuki was in danger. She guessed she was drawn due to her gran calling out to her mentally. But Nao never called out to her in anyway but she was always pulled into the pink haired girls dream when they slept in the same room. It hadn't been bad the last few nights as it was only vague half memories or just a wall of black that usually meant a deep sleep. Those hadn't really disturbed her and she barely noticed that she was in someone else's mind.

Tonight had been different. Tonight Nao had dreamed of Mai and silk sheets and positions that Natsuki wanted to wash away from her eyes. Mai was like a sister to her, thinking of her like that made her want to be sick. Shuddered again. As one they both turned to look at the only one with any possible answers.

Erstin smiled nervously as both girls fixed her with an intent gaze.

"You would know," Natsuki said standing up, unwittingly intimidating the blonde.

"Fix it, so I can dream in peace," Nao glared "without any voyeurs."

Natsuki flushed but was more annoyed than embarrassed.

"A telepath is only drawn into another non telepaths head if there's a connection between the two people, like lovers," Erstin said and grinned as both girls looked disgusted at the thought of being the others lover. "Or…"

"Or?" Natsuki jumped on the other explanation not wanting to think about wanting Nao.

"Or the minds recognise a similarity in the other person. I've told you before about minds that are always sending out stray thoughts that we can pick up on," Erstin said and Natsuki nodded while Nao felt left out "well, sometimes two minds with a similar thought process or experiences draw together. It's usually something deep or traumatic that creates this link. Its like they reach out for counselling."

"So you're saying that me and Nao have a bad experience in common?" Natsuki asked then rolled her eyes "what am I saying? Of course we have a bad experience; we met," she growled.

"Well that's better than us fancying each other," Nao said then looked quickly to make sure Mai was still asleep. She let out a sigh, the last thing she needed was for her to think she wanted Natsuki. "That still doesn't solve our problem though. How do we stop it?"

"I can seal up Natsuki's telepathy," Erstin volunteered. Nao seemed to agree but Natsuki flatly refused. Her empathy was sealed and she wanted someway to protect Shizuru should she need to.

"Is there another way?"

"You could talk about your experiences and find out why your minds are drawn together. If you find out when you're awake it might satisfy your minds when you sleep," she thought it was a long shot but it wasn't her that was getting pulled into someone else's head.

Nao and Natsuki looked at each other both feeling like they would rather walk on broken glass.

"After you," Nao waved Natsuki out the door. She didn't want to wake up Mai and didn't really want to tell anyone about her past.

XxXx

They sat in the living room on the floor. Natsuki used the couch that she had been kissed on by Shizuru as a back rest while Nao used the coffee table. Outside the heavens were thundering against the glass windows. Natsuki liked the heavy rain, it look pretty to her.

"Where should we start?" Nao yawned.

Natsuki was drawn away from the smashing rain to focus on Nao "what about family?"

"I don't want to talk about that," Nao said immediately stiffening up.

"I guess we both had bad home lives," Natsuki said relaxing against the sofa. She didn't want to get in Nao's head ever again so was prepared to do this "my mum died when I was young. My dad hates me and I lived with my gran until this year. She liked me. You?"

"Mother's dead and I don't know my father," Nao said stiffly "there, we both have dead mothers and family that hate us, that must be it."

Natsuki was dense, but maybe when she was kissing Shizuru she absorbed some of her sharpness because she caught what Nao didn't say. "You didn't say who hates you Nao."

Nao's jaw slammed shut with her teeth clicking together. She was literally barring her words from escaping. She stood up to leave but Natsuki grabbed her and stopped her "come on Nao, its not as if I really care. I just don't want you pulling me into your head."

"I don't want you anywhere near me so we're fine!" Nao said shoving Natsuki back. Natsuki only grinned. She hurled her thoughts like spears into Naos brain. They both fell to their knees the strength of the connection flooring them.

A woman on a balcony poised to jump.

An angry male teenager with dark pink hair and a glare.

A Gang dressed in the same cut off army gear as the angry teen.

A woman dangling by her neck on a white rope.

Small child like hands reaching over a balcony desperately.

Horrible bull like creatures chasing Nao.

A dark haired mother smiling exhaustedly from the sweaty comforter.

A wolf made out of wood broken as the dark haired woman fell.

Sounds of screaming as the nurse came into find the body and little Natsuki shaking it furiously.

Natsuki standing at the grave her father glaring at her.

An old woman breathing her last.

A boat ticket pushed into her hands as her father told her not to miss the boat to Fuuka.

They stumbled away gasping for breath. Nao glared at her and Natsuki realised what she had done. She never went into someone's mind without their permission. Nao was just aggravating her and she wanted the dreams to stop but now that the younger girl looked at her with murder in her eyes she couldn't apologise enough. Nao leapt at her, her shaking hands grabbed for her throat.

A woman dangling by her neck on a white rope.

Nao recoiled burned.

"She, she made me the toy, I forgot about that," Natsuki gasped clutching her throat her eyes faraway "she loved to carve. That was her power, she could make anything out of wood. Why did I forget that?"

Nao just stared in silence her chest heaving.

"I killed her, I wanted a wolf, he was right. I kept pestering her. I didn't understand how weak she was. I wanted her to make me the toy and she did. I remember how her mind just…just stopped. The silence, it was so scary," tears that were in both their eyes fell unnoticed.

"You didn't kill her she was already weak. I doubt one little toy had the power to top her," Nao said stating facts not comforting Natsuki whom she still wanted to kill for the invasion of her mind.

"Who was it? That woman in your head?" Natsuki asked.

"My mother," Nao answered after a long silence "my brother owned a gang, he was the only one that brought in money. My mother was depressed, it was my job to take care of her. I was late home from school one day and she jumped off the balcony," Nao's voice wasn't brokenly like Natsuki's but cold. She was merely stating what happened it didn't matter anymore "I tried to catch her with my web. The jerk broke her neck. My brother saw it, he thought it was me."

The teen with the army cut offs flashed into her mind and Natsuki swallowed. She dried her eyes and regained control of herself. "Let's never talk about this again."

Nao snorted obviously she wouldn't talk about this. She stood but was knocked on her ass when the yatch rocked dangerously to the side.

"What the hell was that?" She demanded stumbling to her feet.

"Iceberg?" Natsuki guessed stupidly.

Nao glared at her but felt better at the reappearance of the dense Natsuki. They made their way out side to peer over the edge. A gaping hole filled the side of the yatch and water was rapidly flooding in.

"Shit!" Nao cried pushing away from the edge "I'll get to the bottom to see if I can fill the gap, you wake up the others!"

"Right!" Natuski nodded but their heads snapped around at a strange sound they heard over the rain. Two grabble cords wound their way around the railing and with the sound of hissing two figures jumped onto the deck quickly followed by two more.

"Well, well one of our quarry is ready and waiting for us, how nice," a male voice covered completely in a SEARRs assault mask said sweetly. His voice crackled with static in the heavy rain but they heard him clearly.

Both Nao and Natsuki recognised the uniforms of Handlers and Hounds. They crouched down in their defensive stances but tried to make their way to the door. Yukino and Haruka would be more suited to taking out Hounds.

"Aw, honey don't try to get away from me. It's not healthy," A female voice said behind her mask. She took out a strange ball and threw it at them. They dove to opposite sides but the slippery rain made them skid further than they would like towards the edge of the rapidly capsizing boat. A glitter of sliver cut through the night as the female Handler approached Nao. "Get the other one, I'll kill the spare."

Nao didn't know what to do. If this woman was anywhere near Yukino's level at fighting then she wouldn't have to worry about her Hound. She swallowed and her muscles tensed ready to counter the knife swipe. The handler went flying backwards as Haruka swung her away like a rag doll. She yanked Nao to her feet in time to watch as Yukino hurled herself over the railings of the captains cabin to land in a crouch on the deck. The rain poured down on the girl and gave her a faint shine as she stood. She calmly took off her glasses, folded them and placed them in her pocket.

"Nao, see what you can do about that hole. Natsuki wake the others. Keep Mikoto under control and tell Nina and Erstin to get up here. I might need them to life the bodies," Yukino said chillingly never taking her eyes off the invaders. "I need someone to steer the ship. The rest of you should help Nao with that hole."

"There's my Yuki, Always giving orders," the teasing voice made Yukino's eyes widen.

"Choko?!" Yukino said surprised and pleased "what are you doing here?! They did not send you after me? And who's this?"

"Hey Yuki!" Choko waved enthusiastically taking off her mask "this is Satori!"

The tense mood of a few moments ago was dispersed.

"When did you dye your hair blond?" Yukino asked "and you know blue suits you better than pink."

"I know but I was going for the valley girl look," Choko nodded.

Satori rolled his eyes in annoyance "can we please get on with it!" He said in exasperation.

"Sorry Yuki but we're taking you home. Your dad isn't at all pleased with you," Choko said.

Yukino nodded. They might be friends but they were SEARRs children. They both knew about priorities and responsibilities. Besides she hadn't really liked Choko but was the only other handler her age so her father forced them together. She would have always rather been with Haruka. They pulled on their Masks and got ready.

Yukino assessed the conditions. The rain and harsh wind all were against her. The other handlers wouldn't feel it due to their suits and their vision wouldn't be compromised due to rain. The rain and lack of glasses would blind her. She also didn't have protection of the suits and was already soaked with the rain. But she was the stronger fighter. Individually she could take them both. She swallowed and pushed the fear from her mind. She was not alone.

"Haruka, don't allow Mobina to absorb your powers. Use your speed to confuse her, simply grab her and throw her overboard. Never look Love Stick in the eye! Keep your eyes on his neck or body. He can't fight well physically. They'll probably use Mobina as the muscle to distract you while Love Stick tries to capture you. Be on guard for that!" She tried to think of what else she could say to Haruka. She wouldn't have time to issue her orders and fight her own fight. They just had to hold on until Erstin and Nina arrived.

Haruka nodded to show she understood. She jumped to the side as the air rushed towards her. Mobina landed where she had been only moments before a spear thrust into the wood. She jerked it up and swiped it in an arch at Haruka. Yukino who was stand near Haruka narrowly got out of the way in time. Satori seized his chance and struck at the sprawled Yukino. She thrust her foot up to stop the downward swipe of the knife then back flipped to her feet and away. She twisted frantically as Choko stabbed her giving her no time to recover. Satori went for her again and she drove her forearm down into his elbow and leap away. She cursed at herself for resorting to such basic methods but at least they didn't get her that time. She flicked the rain from her eyes and circled them warily.

Silent communication passed between the handlers and they splint up taking opposite sides. They were trying to get behind her. She grinned, she wasn't stupid. Instead of waiting like most people would do she rushed towards Choko, the weakest link. Her booted foot landed in the other girls chest and she fell back but kept a hold of the foot. On her back Cho brought her leg up to wrap around Yukino's thigh she pulled downwards and Yukino dropped. If she didn't her leg would have been snapped. She rolled on the ground to release her captured foot. Her hands flew up in an X block as Satori came down with the knife. She flung hands to their correct sides and disarmed Satori. If he was a little slower dropping to her knees and twisting with the motion she would have broken his arm.

She jerked as Choko sat up and wrapped an arm around her neck in a choke hold. "Why go for the hands when the head is all it takes," she whispered silkily into Yukino's ear as the dark clad body hovered over her. She could dimly make out softly Satori's eyes, the rain gave them a shiny shine and they looked like they were glowing faintly.

She threw herself backwards landing heavily on Choko. She rolled back just as Satori thrust down with his knife. Both handlers got to their feet. They relaxed and pulled off their masks. Yukino frowned then jerked as Haruka landed in front of her. What was she doing she was supposed to fight-

"Urg!" Yukino felt blood fill her mouth as Haruka retracted her bloody fist from her stomach.

"Gomen, Master," Haruka said toneless as she fell to her knees "senior Master Smith told me to find you."

Disbelief filled her eyes as she looked up at Haruka. Her collar shone dully about her neck.

XxXx

"Where's Nao?!" Mai said as they halted at the stairs of the cargo area.

"She must be down there!" Natsuki said staring at the rapidly rising water. It had already covered half the staircase.

"What are we going to do?" Kazu asked "its to dark down there. We have to get torches before we even think about finding her!"

"Step back!" Midori said with none of her usual humour "leave it to the one with bright eyes." Her moment of glory had finally come and she didn't want it.

"Can you swim?" Natsuki asked.

"Can I swim!?" Midori laughed then said "Youko used to spend hours in the pool," as if that answered the question. She dove into the water then resurfaced spluttering "forgot my breath that's all! God its cold, why couldn't we be in the Mediterranean!" She dove under again.

"What do we do we have to stop the water?" Natsuki asked as the water rose at a worrying pace.

"We have to shut the door, build a blockade to slow the water down," Kazu said but was grabbed roughly "Nao and Midori are down there we can't leave them! I won't!" Mai glared at the boy fiercely.

Kazu broke her hold and thrust her back "there's nothing else we can do our powers are useless!"

Mai cursed the fact that her powers were fire instead of water. Fire was no good against water! Damn it Nao needed her! Stupid fire! Fire…"Fire!" she cried climbing down the steps and crouching until she was water level and plunged her hands into the water. She tried to create a flame. Her hands became unbearably hot and the water boiled "fire and water they make steam!" she cried happily "go get the furniture and stuff. I'll slow the water down to give Midori time to come back with Nao, then we'll seal the door."

Natsuki and Kazu smiled at each other and rushed away to get something to block the door with.

XxXx

Midori's eyes illuminated the water creating ghostly shadows on the walls. She spooked herself twice with her own shadow. She swim determinedly on looking out for anything that would prolong her air supply. Luckily for her the next room had a higher ceiling for some unknown purpose so she was able to catch her breath. She surfaced and then sank quickly as something hit her on the head. She floated downwards dazed. Two hands grabbed her and pulled her back up,

"Damn it Midori! You scared the crap out of me with that weird way you swim!" Nao cursed hoisting the still light headed woman up.

"Nao that hurt," Midori pouted. And she had come all this way to rescue the other girl too.

"How did you get here? I can't see a damn thing in the dark," Nao said then blinked as Midori opened her shining yellow eyes "neat trick."

"What about the hole?" She asked finally able to swim on her own. Her head thudded in pain and she glared at the other girl.

"I sealed most of it up but I don't think my web will hold for much longer," Nao said "this place was pretty flooded by the time I got here and only slowed slightly after I sealed up. You wouldn't believe what the hell made the hole. It looks like a giant fish, it must be what the others used to get to us."

"Fascinating," Midori said more worried about the rising water and their shrinking oxygen patch. "Let's go, hold on to me so you know where you're going. Don't let go."

"I won't Jack," Nao said breathlessly and Midori grinned "Titanic?"

"Yeah," Nao nodded laughing.

"Let's go then Rose," Midori smiled making sure Nao had a tight grip on her jeans then dove under. They were over half way there and the strain on Midori's lungs double due to the extra weight. She looked back at Nao who had her eyes screwed shut and was kicking at more or less the same rate as she was. She was caught totally off guard as a violent rush of water surged through the yatch and broke them apart. Nao's web must have finally broke under the strain of the sea.

Midori hit a wall and her some of her valuable air supply was lost. She felt the influx of water hitting her like so many punches in the face. She tried her best to look around despite the force that hammered at her. She saw Nao a little way off furiously trying to turn and fight the water. She was afraid because she was losing her air but Nao was also loosing air but unlike her she had no way to see where she was. She quickly made her way to Nao her lungs shrieking at her to move with the current that was flowing towards the exit. She ignored that response her only goal was to get to Nao. She grabbed a flailing hand then pressed her lips against Nao sharing her small supply of air. Nao stopped fighting her in shock then tried to punch her for kissing her. Midori glared at the idiot even though she knew it was futile. She pushed them both to the exit. The water helping greatly with the journey. She didn't even have time to notice the boiling hotness of the water before she exploded from the water by an angery surge of water to land painfully on the stairs.

She lay gasping for air not minding that her spine was almost smashed on impact. When she felt like she recovered enough she pulled the fussing Mai away and thump Nao hard on the chest. Nao cried out and rubbed the injured area "the next time someone's trying to save your life shut up and keep still!"

"How was I supposed to know it was you?!" Nao tried to defend herself but ended up wheezing.

"I didn't know you got regularly kissed by mermaids!" Midori growled.

"Kiss?" Mai said with a frown.

"I'm glad you guys are okay but hurry up and get up here so we can seal the door!" Natsuki called from the top of the stairs. They saw sense and ran upwards away form the rapidly rising water that seemed to give chase.

XxXx

Shizuru shifted Akane's weight as Mikoto tried to rush ahead dragging them forward. Akane tried to help by taking slow shuffling steps but she still wasn't fully heal. Mikoto seemed to be trying her best to hurry them along. "Slow down Mikoto," she snapped impatiently.

The younger girl growled but slowed to a pace that Akane could reasonably keep up with. They eventually made it to the control room and sat her down at the seat. Akane wheeled herself to the consol and started to talk to the machine.

"I forgot how useful you are," Shizuru grinned.

"I'm just glad I could actually be of use," Akane said back not taking her eyes of the screen.

Shizuru turned as Mikoto scrambled out the door. She puffed up in vexation and made to go after the girl when a harsh scream of thunder made her head snap towards the window. The rain poured in heavy sheets assaulting every thing it touched. She peered through the gloom and had a clear view of the fight on the deck. Haruka was throttling two figures but someone else was on their knees and she could make out the familiar shape of Yukino.

"Have you got this?" She asked.

"Yeah, go!" Akane said.

Shizuru ran to the door and down to the deck. Yukino was in trouble and Haruka's hand were too full for her to helping her Master. She was only doing this because Yukino was a good source of knowledge that would help them escape SEARRs. She could help keep Natsuki safe. A small part of her refused to acknowledge the idea that she might actually like the other girl if she would only learn to keep her nose out of her affairs.

She paused by the axe above the fire extinguisher. She grabbed her weapon and threw open the door to the deck and entered the curtain of rain. She was soaked in the heavy down pour in a matter of seconds. She made her way slightly unsteadily towards the kneeling figure. She whacked the towering figure above Yukino with the fire extinguisher hard across the side of the face. The mask flew off and long raven hair unfurled like a sail in the wind. The slightly feminine man stumbled away and fell. She turned her attention to the dark figure holding Yukino still. She smacked the body away but while the blow separated the two most of it was absorbed by a block. Yukino fell forward gasping. She looked up to see who had rescued her and groaned. "Not you, anyone but you."

Shizuru grinned and reached down to help the dazed girl to her feet. "I was tricked. Satori and Love Stick traded places. I didn't think to watch out for his eyes." Shizuru nodded like she had some idea of what Yukino was babbling about. She handed over the fire extinguisher "if you would like to wrap this up, we are on a sinking ship after all."

"With pleasure," Yukino said as she snatched the weapon from the blonde. She advanced with menace on Choko who was cradling her arm she had used to block Shizuru's swipe with. She glared then spun quickly and threw the fire extinguisher at Satori's back. It hit hard and he fell leaving Haruka to fight Mobina. She wouldn't be much harder if her handler wasn't guiding her. Haruka could handler her alone. She gasped as she was tackled by Choko. Choko straddled her waist and threw a flurry of punches.

Master we're here!

Erstin! Are they wearing the helmets with the teleblock?! She dodged as Choko punched then weaved to one side then the other throwing her off. That was why you never straddled someone's waist.

No one Hound has his helmit off. I've taken care of him but I can't do anything about the others.

Damn it! She scrambled upright and went into her guard. She was about to attack when Satori's voice cut through the weather.

"STOP!" He clutched his bleeding head "STOP! OR I'LL BLOW THIS BOAT TO PIECES!"

Yukino halted "What?"

"We came in on StingRays honey," he growled "they both have remote control self destruct features."

Yukino reared back and Shizuru crossed to stand beside her. "If you blow this up you'll be stranded here."

"No, our ship will pick us up soon. We radioed in your co ordinates they'll be here within hours," Satori said smugly then eventually turned his attention towards Haruka who had Mobina by the neck and looked ready to hurl her into the sea. "Release her."

Haruka looked at Yukino and waited for her nod before doing so. Choko went to Satori's side and took out her own remote. Yukino gritted her teeth and tried to catch Nina's eye. Nina was hunched due to the rain but otherwise looked undisturbed. She kept trying to get Nina's attention but didn't want to draw Sasori's eyes. "What do you want."

"You and your pet and the little politicians daughter," he said easily.

Shizuru's attention caught on that and then drew together "I'm afraid that won't be possible."

"Who the hell are you?!" Satori demanded hating big mouth females.

She separated herself from Yukino who was looking at her as if she was crazy. She wished right then for Natsuki's telepathy. She crossed the deck until she picked up the fire extinguisher. "I won't let you take Natsuki, the politicians daughter, as you so crudely put it."

Erstin get Nina to use her power on Satori.

Erstin turned to Nina but Nina looked at her blankly. What powers? she asked the blonde.

When you make people fall down, do that to Satori, Erstin said.

Nina nodded and reached out. Little Erstin flashed into her mind. The coldness of the little body. The absolute stillness. Natsuki's lessons on death came to her and she frowned. She shook her head. She didn't want to use her power. Erstin looked at her expectantly. She tried to do it she really did. She didn't want to hurt Erstin but the stillness frightened her. She didn't want to do it. She buried her head in Erstin's shocked shoulder.

"Nina!" Yukino hissed.

"How the hell are you going to stop me blondie?!" Satori demanded.

"Oh, I'm not," Shizuru said lightly "I'm going to attack you and you're going to blow up the yatch and we're all going to go into the water, make no mistake," Shizuru's eyes were steel as she stared intently at the arrogant man "I would rather Natsuki die than go back to SEARRs."

Yukino seeing Satori letting his temper get the better off him and realising that Nina wouldn't act had to take the chance Shizuru had created. "Haruka get that remote!"

Haruka moved with super speed but Mobina was suddenly in front of her handler. The two Hounds tackled each other and fought like grappling dogs. Satori pressed the button just to spite the blonde. The boat blew up in a shower of fire and smoke and everyone was thrown backwards.

XxXx