Disclaimer: I do not own any of the RK/WK/SM characters.

Tenshi's Notes: All right, I stared at all my ficcies for a while as I was procrastinating studying for a midterm, trying to decide which to update. I probably won't be updating this one for a while again. As I've mentioned, though I have a lot more, I do like the idea of this fic, and as I read back on what I've written so far, I realise that there are quite a few points that I miss later on and don't elaborate on. So for those who are reading this, I do apologize! I'll try to update once I have things (and my life stops being so insane).

Omi fans, you'll like this part. And as for the other part, it features a couple I'm pretty fond of. ^_^ I know it's mysterious but be patient with me. It'll all become apparent later on. Plus, I'm evil and I enjoy making people squirm. Suffice to say, the main cast from WK and SM are there in some way, shape or form, and the only ones in from RK are Kaoru and Kenshin (aka the all mighty bishie hitokiri himself). And I only have one last thing to add… those who are all confused about the Usa/Schuldig/Ran bits… you will be for a little while ^_~ (a big cookie to you if you can figure out what I've done!) I've rambled on long enough. So I hope this tides you over for a little bit. To my wonderful reviewers out there, thank you soooooo very much for putting up with me, and continuing to review. It makes me wanna write more, even when I have no time to ^_^

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Chapter 10

He frowned, trying to get his concentration back. For once, his normally deft fingers were failing him abysmally. Staring at the arrangements of freesia, his hands were trembling slightly. It was only five in the morning, but he was already up. The nightmares had taken over his world once again, as it had since… she had died. It didn't bear thinking about. He didn't want to think about how he had always lost someone he loved so badly. He didn't want to confront all the sins he had committed in order to be punished the way he was.

Falling back against his chair, he leaned his head back, and stared at the ceiling emptily. He wished that he had only emptiness in his heart instead of this mind-numbing pain. For appearance's sake, he had pretended that everything was normal and that everything was all right. It was only until that yesterday afternoon that he had realised how far from the truth that truly was.

With Usagi by his side, they had stood on the rooftop, allowing the stronger breeze to stir up the buried emotions he hadn't allowed himself to feel. She had given him a curious stare, and with uncanny insight asked him if he was okay. A simple question that could've been taken at face value, but he had known better. She knew that something was wrong within him. The grief rose up without warning, and it had taken everything he had in him to shove it back down. Iie. Not now. He didn't want to face it. He didn't want to understand all the cruel jokes played on him in life. Not so soon. He had remembered her sweet face, and despite her demanding nature, she had such spirit. It was his first glimpse of that liveliness that had drawn him to her. He had remembered every moment spent with her, and how a mere touch from her would cause his heart to stop beating. She was his everything, and now, the Gods above had seen it fit to punish him for all the bloodshed he had wrought in his young life. He had taken so many lives, and sometimes it seemed easier to smear them all into one bloody mess. It was better than living with the guilt that ate away at him each day.

Without sunshine to balance him, he had found himself plagued with melancholy. He knew realistically that what he felt for Usagi wasn't the same as what Ouka had made him feel. No matter how wrong it was between him and Ouka, he couldn't change what he loved most about her. She had made him feel as if he weren't alone anymore. The memories of the past had resurfaced suddenly, and remembering the kidnappings, the tragedies that came with Takatori Mamoru, he had felt so lonely, and unwanted. With Ouka, there was someone by his side, be it friend, or half-sister. In his mind, it didn't matter. If she hadn't been taken away from him so cruelly, he could've settled for just being her sibling, because it meant he didn't have to face another day by himself. With her, he felt… needed. All his life, he had been used as a pawn in someone else's game. Takatori Reiji hadn't wanted him, and never bothered to pay for his ransom when he had been kidnapped as a child.

Takatori Reiji. He was an evil force, whose sole purpose was to gain the most amount of power to further his own selfish goals. He didn't care whose lives he destroyed, how many families he shattered, or how many innocents got caught along the way. He had claimed it was for the good of Japan, but Omi knew better. It wasn't for Japan. It was for him, as it always had been. The heartless bastard had sacrificed everyone on his quest, even his own sons.

Exhaling a deep sigh, he grabbed a few buckets of flowers, preparing to set up the outside. Though he knew it was too early, he needed something to take his mind off his current thoughts. As he juggled with his heavy burden, he felt the initial drops of rain that began spraying upon his skin. Setting them down carefully, he took a step out from beneath the awning. He lifted his face to the sky, allowing the rain to splash upon him, wishing it were as easy to wash away the blood from his hands, or the loneliness in his heart.

Suddenly, he froze, feeling another presence nearby as a figured dashed for cover. Turning around, he found himself confronted by a pair of beautiful blue eyes. She gave him a charming smile, and pointed upwards at the shelter, before giving him a quizzical look as if asking what he was doing outside in the rain.

"It's refreshing," he replied softly, unable to stop his pulses from racing.

Scrunching her brow, she tried to remember where she had seen his face before. Then, she observed the store's name. Koneko no sumu le. Her eyes brightened as she recalled snatches of conversation she had heard about four extremely cute guys working there.

"Omi-san, right? I think we're in the same grade," she said with a slight tinge of red covering her cheeks.

Omi found her looking familiar as well before a piece of the puzzle finally fell in.

"You were in my computer classes, ne?" At her nod, he continued. "Your grades were pretty good, and you finished top of the class, didn't you?"

Her blush deepened, and he thought she looked adorable. Grabbing a hold of himself, he wondered where that thought had come from. He was still trying to get over his love for Ouka, not to mention his slight crush on Usagi. Hadn't he learned his lesson anyway? Those who got involved with him invariably got hurt… Ouka… he had lost Ouka because she had found out about him. His eyes darkened in anger as he thought about Schuldig and Farfarello, the assassins responsible for her death. Schuldig had told her the truth about their relationship, and Ouka had avoided him because she hadn't been able deal with it. She had fallen in love with her own half-brother. (AN: Remember, as far as Ouka and Omi were concerned, that was their relation. Only Reiji and Schuichi knew the truth.) Bittersweet tears threatened to blur his vision as he recalled his own confusion. He hadn't known what she had. And that night… when they had found out the truth, Farfarello had wound up accidentally shooting her. He could still remember the warmth of her nature flowing out as blood upon his hands. He could almost swear he had died with her that day. Knowing Ouka, she would not have wanted this for him. He choked back the emotions, swallowing them again.

"Omi-san? Omi-san?"

He felt her gentle fingers upon his shoulders, shaking him lightly. Through his thoughts he could feel the sensation slowly spreading, the warmth of her nature filling him. He shook his head, disoriented for the moment as he observed concern shining from her eyes.

"Huh? Daijoubu Ami-san. Daijoubu." He gave her hand a little pat absently before he froze, realising what he had just done. His hand lay above her own smaller one, and he couldn't explain the conflicting emotions that had appeared without warning. A wave of protectiveness rose within him, and he felt the strangest urge to safeguard her against someone like him. He was not meant to be with anyone. So after a lifetime of loneliness, why did it all of a sudden feel like a terrible thing?

Because you were never meant to be alone… the voice within him whispered, sounding strangely like Ouka's. He knew in his heart that she would never want him to grieve. Theirs was a love never meant to happen, not in this life anyway.

In his line of vision, Ami's face peered at him in concern, and he found himself blushing. Moving away slightly, he was astounded to find that the rain had stopped. From beneath the heavy gray clouds, the slightest hint of sunshine peeked through. All around him, everything sparkled and shone, having been washed clean. He caught his breath, wondering if that were possible for him.

"It stopped raining," he said in awe, with a note of reverence in his voice at the beautiful skies above him.

She gave him a smile, turning his insides into a churning mess, nearly robbing him of speech. Had the gods decided to take mercy upon him for once in his life?

Turning around him and reaching for a lily, he turned around and gave it to her.

"For you," he spoke, shyness overcoming him momentarily.

She flushed, and simply stared at the flower. Nobody had given her flowers. Ever. There was a purity about lilies, and the delicate scent that teased her nose as she reached for it. Tsukiyono Omi. She would've never thought it were possible that he would be as nice to a nobody like her. He wasn't much taller than she was, and his boyish good looks were only enhanced by his sunny personality. His light brown hair was more unruly than usual, and his deep blue eyes reflected a grief that she would've never thought possible. There was a loneliness to his soul that she couldn't quite explain how she knew, but she just did. And she wanted to do something about it, though what exactly she didn't know either.

Scrunching her brow in concentration, she struggled to come up with something that might cheer him up. Then her face relaxed as she remembered. Reaching around her neck, she unclasped the chain that had always hung there. He stared at her in confusion, wondering what she was doing.

"Give me your hand, onegai?"

Omi was puzzled as to what she was doing, and hesitantly he offered his hand. Placing her palm gently over his, she released the slim chain. He could still feel her warmth upon it, and he felt familiar waves of sensation spread through him once again. So much like his reaction towards Ouka, there was a gentleness to the surf this time that promised never to hurt. He looked blindly at the chain with the dull silver cross standing out sharply, appearing almost white.

"Ami-san…"

"My mother gave it to me when I was a young girl. I'm not a religious person but it seems to give me comfort when I needed it the most."

He was completely dumbfounded, momentarily taken aback by the sweetest of such an action. Then, he was struck by another thought. How was it that she could see and sense what he was feeling so easily? All his classmates had seen was a happy seventeen year old in front of them. Yet she could so easily tear apart his façade and know what lay beneath, even when he didn't even know himself?

"Demo… demo, I can't take something like this from you. It obviously means a lot to you."

She shook her head and gave him a look of understanding.

"It's just something to tide you over. When you don't need it anymore, just give it back okay? Mou! I need to go to practice now. Ja ne, Omi-san!"

Staring at the chain in his hand, it was almost as if her body's heat and essence were still somehow contained there. He couldn't explain why he felt that way, or why his heart felt like it was being assaulted by a barrage of warm sensations he had no right in experiencing. Yet he couldn't resist the sweet nature singing its siren call as he clenched the cross tightly, feeling it sear his skin. Forgiveness. And Love. It was all he ever wanted in his young life.

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Curling up against her lover's side, she found herself unable to fall asleep despite the night that they had had. Unwanted memories came flooding back and she struggled to keep them away. It would not do to remember such a past. It served no purpose and distracted her from the true mission at hand. Pressing a soft kiss upon his hard chest, she watched him sleep, settling her mind somewhat. Frankly speaking, she was being torn at the moment between duty and desire. She had thought that when she had met him her life had been sealed, and she had believed her destiny to be him. After what happened before she had met up with him last night, she wasn't sure anymore. Life had decided to take an unexpected turn. She remembered the mysterious stranger and the expressive eyes that he had, and how he had tried so hard to shield his emotions from the world, but she knew better.

When had her life fallen out of her grasp? A series of wrong decisions and mistakes had led her down this path, a hell of her own making really. She had no one to blame but herself. And for so long, it had been so easy to drown in the series, her independent and narcissistic behaviour keeping everyone away. It was easier that way than to care for someone, have them find out the truth, and leave. Just like they always did. Alone. She was so tired of being alone.

She could feel him stir beside her, and she nestled even closer, wishing his warmth could somehow seep into her. But he had none to give. Just like she was incapable of the normal range of emotions that accompanied most humans. She had learned at a young age to forsake them in order to survive. She had sold her soul to the devil, so she could live another day without any real purpose or meaning in life. She remembered the once bright-eyed little girl, hair sparkling like sunshine, and her mother's laughter that had been so full of life. It was all gone now. It died the day she found out her mother wasn't who she had claimed to be. Her beautiful, wonderful mother was a prostitute. It was also on that day that she had found the body arranged so thoughtfully in death, her mother's eyes never to open again. Never would there be the warm hugs, or dolls that she had loved so much. It was the end of childhood, of innocence, and emotions.

From that day forth, she had survived on the streets, with no one to depend upon. Dirty and frequently hungry, due to her smaller stature, she hadn't been able to find much though she had always been left alone. Then, when she turned twelve, her body had blossomed, betraying her. The streets looked so dark and dangerous all of a sudden and she had tried so hard to survive on her own. With the last of her strength, she had lain upon a corner, skin barely hanging onto the bones beneath. It was at that point that she had forever lost any ounce of humanity that she had in her. She had sold herself.

She could still remember the first time when she had performed the vile deed. She had sobbed endlessly, while crumpling the crisp bills in her hands, hating herself for what she had allowed herself to become. She was indeed her mother's daughter, cursed with that same haunting beauty that was sure to fetch a lot of money in the market. Her boss hadn't failed to see her potential, and he had only reserved her for his best clients. She was revered and as her beauty grew, so did her arrogance and the icy walls surrounding her heart. Never again would she allow herself to be hurt in such a way.

She had gotten sidetracked for a few years as something unexpected came up. It had changed her life forever. She closed her eyes briefly, the memories too overpowering, and too dangerous to remember at the moment. His arm shifted against her waist, pulling her closer and she went willingly.

He was such a selfish bastard, preoccupied with whatever agenda he had in his mind. Yet as she said that, she knew that they were identical souls, burning with a never--ending flame. She recalled their first meeting and nearly laughed. He had been so arrogant, more than a match for her. Their fiery tempers clashed frequently before combusting in an extremely physical relationship. She tried to tell herself that that was all that it was, but she knew that strange sensation near the icy region of her heart was more than that. And she knew that he was feeling the same way as her. She always went his own way, and the same was true of him. Was it possible that she had somehow… fallen…

Snapping out of her thoughts quickly, she found his green eyes staring right at her, his hand trailing leisurely down her back, sending shivers racing up her spine.

"You're thinking… a lot," he noted huskily.

He could've easily read her mind had he chosen to, but he hadn't. An unaccustomed sensation flooded her heart at the thought.

"Can't sleep?"

She shook her head against his chest, resting her cheek back against the hard muscles beneath. If she allowed herself, she knew the pain would be too unimaginable. Iie. She refused to let those walls crumble. It was all that she had left, and all that she could do to protect herself against him. It wouldn't do for him to find out.

"Sometimes, I can't tell where my own thoughts begin, and when someone else's ends."

Her hand that had begun stroking the nape of his neck stilled. Bedside confessions? There hadn't been anything of this sort happening in their relationship so far. Come to think of it, he had been acting a bit strange. As a lover, he was demanding, yet he always gave as good as he got. Last night, there had been a tenderness in his eyes that she hadn't known that he was capable of, and it frightened and thrilled her simultaneously. This was new territory, and she wasn't sure if she liked it.

He could feel the tension entering her body as he cursed himself inwardly for saying what he just did. Bedside chatter was taboo, in his books at least. Then again, he wasn't in the habit of remaining in the same bed after he had relieved his body of its urges. However, something about her always drew him back, yearning to feel her skin against his, the reassuring beat of her heart beneath his ears.

Last night had been different however. His mind had been filled with the images of another, the taste of her still lingering upon his lips. Both their faces seemed to swirl about in his head, each taking turns to fade in and out of his thoughts, driving him to a point where it seemed he couldn't tell who either of them was. That innocence. When had he ever experienced something like that? He wasn't prone to thoughts such as this, and the only joy he had ever taken was from inflicting pain upon others. Sometimes, it was the woman beside him that gave him that strange feeling fluttering in his heart. It felt as if it were beating again. It felt as if it were alive.

She shifted, and propped her head up against her hand. "Does it hurt?"

Her voice was soft, far more gentle than he had ever heard it sound. He almost swore it sounded like she was worried about him.

"Not the act itself. Sometimes, it just feels like a tornado in my brain…" Why was he telling her all of this? She was just another body to warm his bed, although she had lasted the longest out of all the string of women who had come and gone in his life. His hand reached out and try as he may, he couldn't help himself or the tender light that had appeared in his eyes.

She watched as his hand came around to tangle itself within the luxuriant curtain of her hair. It was almost as if he wanted to grab the silken strands for himself. The look in his eyes completely took her aback, and her pulses began racing just as it always did whenever she was near him. Her blood hummed with an emotion she could not bring herself to name, throbbing with anticipation. His hand had wandered to the nape of her neck, stroking the soft skin. Touching her, he began stirring the flames of desire within her as only he could.

What is it about you…

…that makes me feel like…

I could lose myself…

…in you?

Lightning flashed between them as he propelled her forward, lips meeting together hungrily, as if they hadn't had spent most of the night making love. Want and need flared between them, powerful and all-consuming. Sunlight glinted off her beautiful golden hair as she moved over him, glorying in the purely male grin that crossed his lips.

Answers were never needed since their bodies already realised the truth. They were in love with each other.

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Blurb: Has anyone figured it out yet? *grins wickedly* And feh, I never thought I'd do this but I'm whining LOL. It gets depressing when you've released that many chapters, and I don't think my writing is that hard to take. Otherwise, you wouldn't have read all the way till here, right? ^_^ Take two seconds out of your time, and write a little blurb. It makes me a happy camper. *Sesshie-chan snorts* Eh, meet my newest muse, along with my merry band of additions. Did I mention I collect bishies? :D