Hi, This chapter is dedicated to Zaryenna! You should all go read her stories and right lots of comments and also look at her deviantart page and do some major faving/llama giving. Her dA name is edelmirachan^^ Other than that, enjoy^^ and remember to review, Review, REVIEW!

"Tell me what is wrong."

He really thought he was going to cry again. Not from the strike, but the stress he was now feeling. He looked up at Mangetsu and spoke, his voice cracking only once.

"You'll hate me."

Her eyes widened and her jaw fell slack.

"Why would you think that? You're the only person I don't hate!"

Fai shook his head, mute.

"You're not allowed to stop talking now, you know that, right?"

No response.

"Hey," She tried, regaining his attention.

"Do you remember what I called you earlier? When this was all starting?"

Another shake.

"I called you my little brother, 'cause that's exactly what you are to me, even though we don't share blood. I'm your big sister and it would take a hell of a lot of effort on your part to make me hate you. Get it?"

Unable to suppress a small, shaky smile, he nodded.

"Now tell me what the fuck is going on."

And he did.

By the time Damien returned, he had told Mangetsu everything. About his brother, his curse, Fei Wong Reed and the inevitable journey. Everything.

"Do you know when you'll have to go?"

"No."

"Do you want to go?"

"I want my brother."

She sighed. He was leaning against her shoulder, tears dried. It felt impossibly better, letting someone else know.

"Angel, you know more about technical magic then I'd ever care to, so I know you know how hard that would be. There's no way to know that-"

"Mang-mang?"

"Yeah?"

"Let me have this."

Another sigh, followed by a reluctant smile.

"Alright, I won't interfere. But… never mind."

Fai drifted to another topic. He was tired with the type of exhaustion that comes from a good cry.

"I don't know if this is a good idea."

"Well, we're screwed if we stay here. For you, literally…"

Fai looked mortified and she giggled.

"Sorry, couldn't resist. It's true anyway."

He shook his head and let it fall back to her shoulder.

"We're gonna be fine." She assured him. "I'm not gonna let anything happen to you."

"I'm not worried about me…"

"I don't think you're cursed. Meeting you was the best luck I've ever had! I think our lovely Fei Wong made up a bunch of B.S. to get you to do what he wants."

"No, it's true. Remember twins are cursed in Valeria."

"Hmm… Well, then, I'm the best person for you to hang with!" She grinned, "In Russkia, twins are exceptional luck. I bet when we're together we cancel each other out! Besides, if you're worried about me," She grabbed a discarded knife lying on the ground beside them and drove it through the back of her hand. She didn't wince once, not even when she pulled it out and blood pooled over her hand. She held it up.

"don't be."

She took her injured hand in her other hand and it glowed. In seconds it was exactly as it had been moment before. Not even a scar.

"I'm indestructible."

"Hey," Damien jogged up to them, "Quit mutilating yourself and put this on. You can change over there."

He gestured towards a curtain that female soldiers were expected to change behind. Because women weren't affected by the draft there were so few serving in the army that they weren't even given separate barracks.

"No thanks," She stood, "I just needed to see it." Her hand rose and sparks began to form.

"No don't!"

Damien shot forward and grabbed her hand out of the air. She shook his hand off like he had the plague.

"Problem?"

"If you use such strong magic so close to the palace, Ashura will sense it and know you're out. Go change like a normal person."

"Fiiine."

She disappeared for a moment and Damien sat down next to Fai.

"Okay, you've been in the city before, right?"

"Just once, with you."

"Oh… that's right." Damien clicked his teeth, thinking. When he caught Fai staring at him, he spoke, "I'm trying to think of the safest place for you guys. The wealthy sections are out, they're completely loyal and they'd turn you over in a heart beat. A lot of Celes is off limits too. They're poor and unhappy, but they're under a lot of supervision and policing. That leaves…" He grimaced and sighed.

"Do you remember that one area on the east side of the city that I told you to never, ever, under any circumstances to go to?"

Fai bit his lip.

"Yeees…"

"Go there."

"Why?"

Fai thought back more than a year. Damien had insisted on avoiding an entire section of the city. It seemed darker than the rest, and when they passed through the outskirts, Damien keeping a hand on him the entire time, Fai noticed that it was comprised of hundreds of twisting alleys, packed with weapons dealers, drug dealers, brothels and other such charming features.

"It's the safest place for you right now. The entire population there hates Ashura. He doesn't even send police patrols there anymore 'cause they kept turning up dead."

"And you're sending us there in guard uniforms?"

"Think of it like this; you guys are pretty well known,"

"I've noticed…"

"Don't act like Mangle." He chuckled, either at Fai's words or his new-found nick-name for Mangetsu, and gave Fai a nudge, "Anyway, if someone approaches you, explain who you are and what's going on. People who hate Ashura are bound to sympathize with you. Also, in the center, there's a huge black market called Black Moon. There are stands and shops and restaurants and it's completely unregulated. They don't keep employer records or anything. You could get a job as a cook; Mang could work as a waitress… Actually, she probably shouldn't be dealing with people. Maybe a bouncer…? Anyway, the point is, you're least likely to get caught if you're there. Get yourself there, then figure out the rest, okay?"

"Okay…"

"I love this dress! It's so easy to move in!"

Mangetsu walked up to them, beaming. Fai's mouth fell open and Damien put a hand to his head, muttering.

"I didn't think about the size…"

Apparently Chloe was a very petite young woman, because a one piece dress that was supposed to fall to her knees barely graced her thighs. The fabric was stretched was stretched skin tight everywhere, including her chest; especially her chest. There was a key-hole just below the collar that Fai suspected came much lower than it should have. The boots were flat and thigh high, which Mangetsu quickly remedied, giving them a towering stiletto heel which, to Fai's amazement, she had no trouble moving in. When Damien started to speak, she raised a hand and cut him off.

"I know, I know, I know. But it wasn't enough magic to leave a signature. Can we go now?"

"Yeah-"

"Wait!"

They both froze as Fai jumped up.

"I have something I have to do."

Damien scrunched up his face, having missed the earlier conversation.

"Wha' doya have to do?"

"I have to say goodbye to my brother."

So, whatcha think? Little sad, no? ah well, it's gonna get fun in a little bit, then I'll probably do something horrible to Fai... Then fun, then angsty, then fun. Okay, I have links for you ( remember to take out the spaces^^):

http : / / shingetsuxmangetsu . deviantart . com / gallery / # / d2v069p

http : / / shingetsuxmangetsu . deviantart . com / # / d2y6zma

Take a look and let me know what you think! Remember to REVIEW!

ありがとう

ShingetsuXMangetsu