WARNING: People will die in this fic, if you do not want to continue, then stop here! (Although that means you'll never know what happens)

Episode 3: Betrayal

The rain didn't stop. The light thudding on the tin roof drummed into Ken's head. He wasn't going to be able to sleep tonight. The evening's events were still fresh in his mind. He had tried to kill Aya's little sister. He pushed the sheets away from his body, allowing the cool night air to wash over his tense muscles. Everything had gone wrong. God, the story of his life.

Ken got up and went down the hallway to the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face, trying to drown out the drumming on the roof. The accusing rain.

"It's not like I fucking knew." He whispered, glaring at his own reflection. The man looking back at him had circles under his cyan eyes and his brown hair was in disarray. He wanted more than anything to break the glass at that point. "Why does everything go wrong for us?" He couldn't stand to look at himself. Still glaring he flipped the light off and stalked back down the hall.

Stopping, he noticed Aya's door was cracked. Ken pushed the door open a little more and glanced inside. He had bandaged Aya up himself, trying to do what little he could for the red head. Aya was never one to receive help without a fight unless he was really hurt, but Ken hadn't even gotten a glare. He figured Aya would yell at him the instant they got back for nearly killing her, but he hadn't. He had sat there, looking past all of them, probably listening to the thunder and rain.

He was looking out the window now, watching the streams of water on the glass, not looking past the rain to the lights of the city below.

Ken didn't speak, but left the other boy alone to his thoughts, his memories. As he left he could faintly smell roses. Aya had always said that they were his sister's favorite.

"Did you know that there is only the rain?" A faint and broken voice asked from inside the dark room.

"What?" Ken asked, turning back.

"All there is, is the rain." Aya twirled a small white rose in his fingers, his violet eyes blank as they looked out upon the rain. "I hate the rain." He whispered.

"I do too. Lightning used to scare me when I was a kid." Ken smiled, letting some of the childhood innocence that he had lost shine back into his features. There was a mischievous glitter in his blue eyes and a wry smile on his face. Aya looked up at the boy.

'My God,' he thought, 'he's just like Aya. He and Omi are just like her.' The thought was not a calming one. For a moment he felt like he had turned into one of them, doing just what Schwarz had done to his little Aya- chan. He couldn't face those cyan eyes, so he turned away, drowning in the rain.

"Aya? Do you blame me?" Aya glanced at the boy again, masking the shock that he felt.

"No. Go back to bed Ken, you need to sleep." He shifted his gaze back out to the rain, wishing it would stop, not hearing the sharpness in his tone. Why did bad things always happen to him when it was raining?

Ken paused at the door, thinking of something to say. He couldn't say he was sorry. Aya would hear that enough from Omi, and he couldn't just say that his door was always open. Aya didn't like talking. This past month had been so weird. He had had conversations with the other man, he had seen Aya break down, more than once. Only Yoji could be blamed for that. Love had a way of melting ice.

"Aya? Don't blame yourself." And with that he was gone. When Aya turned around to the boy he was no longer there. Hopefully he would sleep.

"Hopefully I'll sleep." Aya muttered as he laid atop his bed, praying that the faint drumming would lull him to sleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nagi sat by their bedsides, watching them as they slept. The rain came down harder now, but it was soothing, calming. Crawford had not killed Tot, so Nagi assumed he was right. There was definitely something there between his leader and the German. It didn't matter now, not now that she was safe.

Tot stirred, moaning softly. She turned on her side and resettled in her bed. Nagi smiled as he watched her, delighting in the soft sighs that escaped her as she found that perfect spot. The medication was wearing off, but it seemed that she was tired and wouldn't get up even when she could. He kissed her gently on the cheek and brushed a strand of light blue hair off her brow.

Nagi left the girls' sides and walked into the back room.

"So Nagi? You still like that little girl. I told you what would happen, I thought you understood." Schuldig looked up at him, weary from the battle.

"I love that girl, so don't do anything Schuldig." Schuldig held up his hands in defense and sighed. How did Nagi suddenly become the one with all the cards? What did that boy know? It had to be more than Aya, because if it came to it he could convince her using his good ole telepathy. What could Nagi know? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ran-niichan! Where have you been?" Aya exclaimed, throwing her arms around her brother's neck. He smiled brightly, like he had on her birthday.

"I've always been here, waiting for you." Ran pulled her into his arms. Joyful tears streaked down her cheeks like stars in the sky. Then the grip became tighter. She suddenly couldn't breathe. She could feel the life draining from her face, as her eyes grew wide, then glazed over.

"But your brother is dead." The man said. He threw her weak body to the ground. It was still Ran, but his eyes were harsh and evil. His smile had transformed to one that reminded her of Farfarello, the man who scared her so much.

"Remember? I killed him." The man laughed. Ran appeared by his side, but he only stood there, unseeing and unmoving, his violet eyes looking past her.

The man before her began to change. A menacing smile graced his features, and he pulled a small blade from his belt.

"Ran. Ran move." Aya pleaded, wanting her brother to do something to get away from the mad man with the knife. She tried to get up to push him out of the way, to hit him, to do something, but she couldn't. The grin widened on the man's face as he jabbed the dagger into Ran's stomach. Life came back into her brother's eyes just as the blade made contact.

"Aya?" He whispered. Blood flowed from his side, dying the ground red. He collapsed to his knees, holding the wound.

"Ran!" Aya awoke in the dark room. One more room to add to her list. She trembled, the after effects of the nightmare. She looked around and noticed Tot sleeping in the corner. The girl's bunny was not there, and when Tot got up there would be hell to pay. Speaking of which....

"Where are Hell and Shoen? Where am I?" Aya wondered aloud. She slipped out of the bed, trying not to wake Tot. Thunder roared outside. Aya flinched despite herself. She would never be right about storms again, not after that night.

She lightly pushed the door open and listened to what was happening outside. Everything was quiet. All she could hear was the thunder and the rain. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ran-niichan! Where have you been?" Aya asked, her hands on her hips, blue eyes sparkling.

"I've always been here, waiting for you." Ran felt a happiness sweep through his body as he pulled her into his arms. It was his sister. He wanted to break down and cry as he held her, unsure of how it had happened, but glad it had.

They stood like that for only a moment. "But my brother is dead." Ran pulled the girl away from him. Her glittering blue eyes went blank, her skin was colorless. The body went limp in his arms.

"Aya. Aya! Aya wake up." He shook her body, and prayed that she would look up at him and smile. Tears formed in his eyes. He couldn't find a pulse. He felt his heart drop into his stomach. His head dropped slightly and his body trembled with sobs.

"Such a lovely girl." Ran's eyes popped open. The body he was holding was no longer Aya, but Schuldig. The orange haired man laughed at him and stood. Aya-chan appeared by Schuldig's side, and took his hand, and they disappeared.

"Aya!" He cried out into the night.

The rain was still coming down. By God he hated the rain. He felt a hand run through his hair and down his cheek. When he looked up he found his violet eyes swimming in a sea of jade.

"Yoji?" The red head asked, not sure if this was just another of his mind's illusions.

"Shh." Yoji leaned down and gently brushed his lips against Aya's. Yoji was slightly shocked. They were cold, his hands were cold, but he was sweating, and his eyes were haunted.

"What did they do to her?" Yoji pulled Aya close to him, no longer wanting to fall into the haunted violet eyes. So much sadness, more than his own, lay behind those deep eyes.

"We'll figure out a way to convince her and get her back."

"She said that I wasn't her brother. They've turned her into an assassin. Brought her into this life. All I've thought about since that night was her waking up. For her to look back at me and smile." Aya pushed away from Yoji, determination replacing the sadness. "I am not letting them get away with it." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nagi sat watching the others in his group. Farfarello and Schuldig were both staring at him, trying to figure him out. Crawford had locked himself inside his room since they got back, and neither of the three guys knew when he would come out, or why he was upset.

Farefey stood, and walked out. He didn't tell them where he was going, but he was too bored to stay in that apartment any longer.

"So, when will hit them at home?" Nagi asked as he flipped on his computer.

"I don't know. Crawford is the one who is supposed to make all of the decisions around here, remember?"

"Of course I remember, but I just want to know when we can permanently get them out of our hair."

"Soon Nagi. By the way, how did you get Brad to agree to your little game?" Schuldig placed a hand on Nagi's shoulder and leaned in close to the boy's ear. "You must know something I don't know." He whispered.

"He sees into the future, but he's truly blind. You can read people's minds, but not their hearts." Nagi replied, smiling to himself.

"Now what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Schuldig asked. He groaned and fell back onto the couch.

"Whatever you want it to mean." Nagi said. He smiled and turned his attention from the other man to his own job. He would email Bombay, and set a little trap for him and his buddies. It would be fun.

"Nagi?" Aya whispered from the doorway. Schuldig and Nagi both looked up at the girl and smiled. Aya glanced inside, only to find that the room had no floor, or walls for that matter. In fact, it didn't resemble a room at all.

"It's a great room for parties." Schuldig said, his smile growing. Aya nodded slightly.

"Where are the others? I saw Tot, she's still asleep." Aya said, pointing over her shoulder.

"I was hoping you'd sleep the night through. You were pretty wasted after you saved me." Nagi replied, giving her a genuine smile. His smile slowly changed to one born of sadness.

"What's wrong?"

"They died in the fight Aya. It was pretty gruesome. Brad was glad you were unconscious so you didn't see it." Schuldig replied, his voice full of sadness.

'Well, for once he told the truth. It was gruesome, they did die, and Crawford certainly was glad she was unconscious so she couldn't see Schuldig and Farfarello do it.' Nagi thought to himself. He would have laughed, but that would bring on suspicion.

"You should go back to bed Aya." Nagi said instead, handing her his handkerchief. She nodded and made her way back down the hall, in shock. Schuldig went after her, trying to console the girl as best he could.

'Tot is going to freak.' Was all Aya could think about. That was Tot's whole family.

Nagi turned back to the screen and smiled. He would give Aya her revenge against Weiss for killing her brother, for killing Hell, and for killing Shoen. All he had to do was set the trap. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You've got mail! You've got mail." The computer bleeped in its monotonous voice. Omi sighed and clicked on the blinking icon.

"Email from: Prodigy. Subject: I have something you want, Bombay." Omi's eyes grew wide. Why was Nagi emailing him? How did Nagi know his email address?

"Questions for later." Omi whispered. He opened the file, hoping.

Dear Bombay,
I have something you want, Bombay. The girl. That's right. We've decided she just isn't worth our time. We'll have fun executing her in the same place where your precious Ouka died tomorrow night at 11:00 PM. How funny. Two little sisters in the same place. I hope you don't think I'm joking, because it very well could be a trap. Or it might not. Could you live with yourself if it wasn't, Bombay?
Yours Sincerely,
Prodigy

"Well, this can't be good." Omi muttered. He stared blankly at the screen, trying to will the words to change. "Well then. Better go get the team prepped for tomorrow." Omi walked up the stairs, not even noticing that it was 3:30 in the morning. He walked past Ken's room and noticed that the other boy was sleeping. He wasn't sleeping well, however. Omi could also hear muffled speaking from the other room. Yoji and Aya at least were up, but he would let them have tonight before he broke the news to them.

Omi made his way to his room, noticing that the rain had calmed down, and the thunder and lightning were all but gone. He sighed and moved under the covers, not even bothering to change into his night clothes.

The next morning came too soon. Omi awoke to the sounds of banging doors and clattering pots. He groaned, rubbing the last traces of sleep from his blue eyes. He made his way downstairs, but what he really wanted to do was go back to bed.

"Morning." He moaned, sitting at te table. He laid his head on his arms and closed his eyes.

"Morning? My friend it is well into the afternoon." Yoji smiled. He found the tea kettle, finally, and shut the door with a bang.

"Afternoon? I never sleep late though."

"Well, you were tired Chibi." Yoji ruffled his hair as he moved to the sink. He set the kettle on the stove and sat down.

"Where is everyone?"

"I left Aya and Ken alone in the shop. We're busy today! And there was even this one hot chic with really nice legs that came in. And she was over 18, man I would have liked to..."

"Yoji." Omi lifted his head a little, glaring at his companion. "I don't want to hear it, cause you're dating Aya. Remember, you two don't have to act around Ken and me." Yoji smirked. The kettle screamed in the background and Omi groaned again. Why couldn't things be quiet around him?

"Go back to bed Chibi. We'll handle this." Yoji flipped off the stove and poured two cups of tea. Omi moaned, moving back up the stairs, not even thinking about the email on his PC in the basement. Yoji thought he looked like a zombie.

"If you're not buying something get out!" Aya stated. God some days he hated working in this little flower shop.

"Girls, I'd be glad to help any of you if you would just let me put this down!" Ken cried, trying to keep his balance and not drop the heavy pot he was carrying as fan girls pulled at him, begging him to help them.

"Ken what plants do you think are best this time of year?"

"Ken I need a bouquet for my mother's birthday, what would you suggest?"

"Do you need any help Aya?"

"Or aren't they so dreamy?"

"Ah-huh! And strong too!"

"Aw, but where are Omi and Yoji?"

"There's Yoji!" One of the girls screamed. A small bit of the group flocked his way, stopping him before he got down the stairs. They started chattering so fast that Ken couldn't keep up. Aya looked like he was about to throw something. His week was not going well as it was.

"Aya, why don't you go take a break. Yoji and I will handle things here." Ken offered. He forced his way through the group of girls to the taller man.

"I don't need to take a break Ken." He stated flatly.

'Well,' Ken thought with a slight smile, 'At least he's acting normal again.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What's Nagi up to?" Tot asked, leaning over the boy's shoulder. She looked down at the computer, watching the numbers fly by the screen. "Ooh."

"I'm not really doing anything." He flipped off the screen and smiled at her.

"Tot does not like it here, Nagi. Tot wants to go back home to Hell and Shoen." Tot hugged herself, the empty space were her treasured toy should have been. She never felt so alone. Nagi put his arm around her shoulders.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. Tot nodded and placed her head on his shoulder.

Aya looked through the crack in the door and smiled. At least Tot had Nagi to help her through all of this. She was happy for the girl, and watching them she wished more than anything that Ran was alive. She knocked twice on the door, smiling slightly when Nagi opened it using his gift.

"I have a present for you."

"Present?" Tot asked. She pulled herself away from Nagi and walked up to Aya, trying to peak behind the girl's back to see the mentioned gift. Aya smiled and knelt down beside the small girl.

"I know it won't replace your bunny, but I thought it might help you sleep." Aya smiled when she heard the kitten mew behind her. Tot's eyes lit up as the other girl pulled the live kitten from behind her. It was a small calico cat, with a white face and orange ears. It had orange, brown, and black patches all over it's fur, and the tip of the tail was grey. Tot cooed, gently taking the kitten in her arms.

"Tot call kitten...Otohime, youngest princess." Aya furrowed her brow slightly, trying to hide the shock and hurt on her face. "Aya no like Otohime?"

"No, no honey, I think it is a perfect name for the little kitten." Aya scratched Otohime between the ears, and tapped Tot on the nose. Tot giggled. She sat down with her kitten, her light blue pigtails bouncing.

"Nagi." Crawford called. Nagi glanced at the door, wanting to slam it shut, but he suppressed the urge.

"Yes?"

"Oh, hello girls." Crawford smiled at them both. Tot beamed up at the man as she stroked her new kitten. "Why is there a cat in this apartment?"

"Oh, that's my fault Crawford-san. Tot was really lonely, especially since you couldn't find her stuffed rabbit, so I thought I'd get her something to cheer her up." Aya smiled hopefully. Crawford's glare was colder than she would have expected. He was furious.

"What makes you think we can even afford a cat?" He asked, trying to mask his anger.

"With the clothes you wear and the amazing apartment we live in I figured you could afford a small kitten. Or you could deal with the crying that will come since her family was murdered last night?" Aya shook her head and sat down beside Tot, putting her arm around the girl's shoulder.

"Otohime won't take up room!" Tot replied. She was glowing with happiness.

"I'd keep the girls happy Brad." Nagi said, smiling at his leader. Crawford shrugged, a look of total indifference on his face.

"Fine. Nagi, can I see you?"

"Absolutely." Nagi replied. Aya placed her hand over her mouth and tried not to laugh. Nagi had gotten bold all of a sudden.

Crawford grabbed the boy's arm and dragged him from the room. "You are being a nuisance." He hissed once they were safe behind locked doors.

"I'm sorry?" Nagi asked, sarcasm slipping into his soft voice.

"I can't believe you would do this to me." Crawford began. He sat down on his bed and placed his glasses to the side. He had another migraine. He had been getting them so much more frequently now. "I took you in, I kept you safe. I basically raised you, and what do you do? Betray me. Sell me out to the first girl you see. Hell, the first two girls that you see, and for what? A short lived happiness. You are an assassin Nagi, you can't just leave the life you have chosen!"

"Can't I though? Can't I just walk out of here with them and keep them safe? I'm so tempted to." Nagi replied. He stood over Crawford and glared down at the American.

"Nagi you can't. You aren't as powerful as you think. You need us. We're all you know." Crawford met the glare, and even in his withered state he overpowered Nagi. 'Keep him busy a little longer Brad. Just a little longer.'

"Nagi she doesn't even love you. Neither of them do."

"They love me more than you do." Nagi replied shortly.

"But Nagi, emotions do make you weak. They've made me weak, but we can make you strong again. I need you to be strong while I'm weak. You have to pull me through Nagi. For once the son needs to help his father." 'God I feel like Schuldig.' Crawford thought. 'Messing with people's minds, not my style, but it is necessary.'

"Your...son?" Nagi took a step back. Could Brad really think of him as a son?

"Of course. I raised you didn't I? After that accident. After everyone died."

"I don't want to talk about that." Nagi placed his hands over his ears, trying to push out the memories of his past. Children screaming in the streets, running in fear of him. And he was just a boy, only five years old. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hello ladies." Schuldig said. He waltzed into the room and sat in the chair across the way. Tot ignored the man, as she unlaced her tennis shoe. She pulled out the string and swung it in front of the kitten, laughing as it attacked the moving object.

"She's cute." Schuldig smiled. Aya glanced up at him. What was he up to?

"Farfarello and I buried them today. We found some pretty disturbing stuff. I'm glad you didn't come Aya."

"I should have come anyway. I saw the bodies of my two murdered parents, I could have handled it."

"I know. I know, but I didn't want you to handle it. Aya, I have to talk to Tot for awhile. Would you be a dear and get us some tea?" Aya looked into Schuldig's eyes and shrugged. She walked back down the hall to her room and sat down. There were no windows in this room and it felt more like a prison.

"Tot, we found something in the building." Schuldig stared directly at the girl. He could get a clear reading from her. People with gifts were so much harder to read. "Hell had a letter written to you incase anything happened to her. She had just enough money to send you away. She wants you out of this life, and out of Japan."

"Tot not leaving Japan. Tot stay with Aya and Nagi." Tot stated. She tossed the string to the ground, watching with delight as the kitten pounced at it.

"Tot, do you do everything that Hell tells you to?" Schuldig asked, knowing the answer. He smiled when she nodded.

"Well, Hell is telling you to do this. She wants you to go to New York. She has a summer home there, and enough money in an account under your name to keep you living off of the interest. This is what she wanted for you."

"Could Tot take Otohime?" Tot asked. She looked worried, but she believed him. Perfect.

"Of course, Tot. Hell would want that." Schuldig took her hand in his and smiled. "Nagi wants you to go. He's in love with Aya you know." There's the clincher.

"Nagi love Tot."

"Like a sister dear. Nagi loves you, but he is in love with Aya. See the difference?" Tot shook her head weakly.

"Nagi doesn't want to say goodbye. Neither does Aya. They just want you to leave. They think that Hell was right. Oh, don't cry." Schuldig wiped the tear from her cheek.

"Nagi promised to always be with Tot." She sniffled.

"Shh. Let's go get your things and Otohime's things, and get you on a plane to New York. Here's the address of your house, and your account number." Schuldig helped her to her feet. Tot reached down and picked the kitten up, hugging it close to her body. Otohime mewed.

Farfarello already had her things in the car, which was running. Schuldig rushed her outside and hoped in the driver's seat. Farfarello glanced down at his knife, gleaming in the afternoon sun.

Schuldig drove fast around every turn, every curve, not letting other vehicles slow him down. The windows in front were open, letting in the summer air. Tot laughed happily as the speed blew her hair around her face. Kitten in her arms, Tot felt content.

She didn't realize that they were not heading in the direction of the airport. They were heading into the mountains on the outside of the city. The brakes of the car squealed as Schuldig pulled to a stop on a deserted dirt road.

"Why Schuldig stop?" Tot asked. She looked nervously at the two men in the front seats. She couldn't get out without passing them. The car only had two doors.

"I lied. I'm taking you to see Hell and Shoen." Tot looked at him, confused. Her blue eyes grew wider when Farfarello turned around in his seat, wicked smile on his face.

"The young are always the first to die." He whispered, brandishing his blade. Tot screamed out, and the kitten jumped up at Farfarello, trying to scratch him. Schuldig grabbed the cat and slung it out the window against a tree. It fell to the ground with a thud, and didn't move.

"You killed her!" Tot screeched. She tried to climb out of the vehicle but Farfarello grabbed her. He yanked her out of the car and Schuldig snagged her kicking feet. They dragged her into the woods.

"You'll be with all your sisters, you should be happy." He was saying. Once they were in far enough Farfarello flipped his knife up and slit the girl's throat. Tot saw red for a moment, and then she never saw again. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aya came out of her room just as Nagi was coming out of his little conference with Crawford. She smiled at the boy.

"So, what did you talk about?'

"Nothing really. Just a new mission tonight. I have to go over things with you and Tot. Where is she anyway?"

"She was talking to Schuldig." Aya stated as they walked into the kitchen. She turned to get them both some tea, so she missed the look of horror on Nagi's face.

"I'm gonna go check on them." Nagi whispered. Aya turned around to watch him leave. She shrugged off the feeling in the pit of her stomach and turned back to the tea.

"What do you want for dinner?" Brad asked. "I don't feel like cooking."

"What's wrong? You sound tired."

"Just a headache. So what do you think?" He asked, sitting down at the table. Trying to shut out the spinning room Brad closed his eyes. Aya looked at him. He didn't seem like the type that got sick easily.

"I'm not really hungry. Besides, maybe Schuldig will go pick something up."

"Maybe."

"She's not there, and I can't find Farfarello or Schuldig anywhere." Nagi whispered.

"I'm sure she's fine."

"The cat's gone too, and all of her things." His voice grew fainter with every word. Cooked spaghetti stood where his legs had once been and he fell to the ground. Aya ran to his side, pushing her own questions to the back of her brain.

"Maybe Schuldig took her for a ride." Crawford offered. Nagi's glare could have frozen hell itself. Crawford held up his hands in defense. "Just a suggestion."

Crawford glanced up at the door. "Their coming." He said quietly. Nagi looked up, raising his hopes enough for them to come crashing down again.

The door opened slowly. Schuldig looked exhausted, and Farfarello looked normal, his lone eye twinkling slightly in the florescent lights. "We couldn't find her." Schuldig whispered.

"Why should she need to be found?" Nagi cried.

"I was trying to explain things to her, and she got mad and ran out. I thought it would be good for her to come to grips with things on her own, but when she didn't come back I asked Farefey to come look for her with me, and I just couldn't find her. Anywhere."

"What?" Aya asked. Hadn't she lost enough within the past 48 hours.

"We'll discuss it later, right now we have a mission to prep for." Crawford piped in. He fixed his hair quickly and straightened his coat. "Come on Nagi." Nagi looked at Crawford blankly, trying to pull himself together. Whatever had happened would have to wait for later. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Aya, how much does a bouquet of pink Daisies cost?" Ken asked, holding a black marker over a blank white sign.

"Whatever you think sounds good." Aya replied as he watered the last of the plants. Ken shrugged and scribbled a number down on the board which he placed outside the pre-cut bouquets.

"Have you seen Omi today Yoji?"

"Yeah, I sent the Chibi back to bed. He's beyond wasted, worse than me on my blitzed nights." He laughed. Smoke curled up from his mouth, and red embers fell to the ground. Ken thought he would be used to the smoking by now, but he wasn't.

"Those things are going to kill you one day." The brunette joked. He wiped the sweat from his brow and took off the apron.

"Yeah, if I don't die in the line of duty!" Yoji replied. Ken shook his head. Yoji always had to have the last word.

"You two going anywhere tonight?" Ken asked. He tried to push back the smile on his face.

"Why?" Aya asked shortly.

"It's your one month anniversary silly." Ken replied. The other boys looked at each other, then at Ken. "You can't be serious. You both forgot!" Ken burst into laughter.

"I've never been good at dates." Yoji replied. Aya blushed slightly.

"You two are hysterical. Glad I get to see it all." Ken left the two lovers alone to go wake up Omi. It wasn't healthy to sleep all day, no matter how tired you were.

"One month only? Man feels like longer." Yoji smiled.

"Really? I hadn't noticed the time go by." Aya replied. He glanced down at the flowers he had been watering for the past three minutes. He growled and switched off the water. "Did you love her?"

"Who?" Yoji asked. He put his arms around Aya's waist and smiled. He wasn't losing weight anymore.

"Asuka." Yoji recoiled. He took off his sunglasses and placed them on the table.

"Where did that come from?"

"I just want to know Yoji." Aya explained. He pulled out of the other man's embrace. "Unless you don't feel like you can tell me."

"Of course I can tell you. Yes, I did love Asuka. She was all I had for a really long time."

"No Yoji. I mean were you in love with her."

"Why does it matter Ran?"

"Why are you avoiding the question?"

"I am not."

"Are too."

"Listen, I loved Asuka. But she's my past."

"Aya-kun!!!" Omi screeched from the top of the stairs. He bounced down, taking three steps at a time. He was still in his pajamas, and the sleeping cap swayed from side to side. "Aya-kun!"

"What is it Omi?" Aya asked. Yoji silently thanked Omi. What was with the third degree anyway?

"I completely forgot about this email I got last night. It was about Aya-chan." Omi took a few gasping breaths.

"Show me." Aya's voice reverted back to its ice cold tone. Omi led the man down the stairs to the basement and flipped on the computer. Aya paced around the room as it loaded, fearing what the message might say.

"Are you done yet?" He hissed. Omi waited a few seconds and turned around.

"Hai." Aya ran over to the computer and leaned over Omi's shoulder. Reading the message once, and then again.

"I'll kill him." Aya stormed out of the basement and up the steps, pushing past both Ken and Yoji.

"Guess you aren't going out tonight." Ken stated. Yoji sighed and shook his head. He flinched when the door down the hall slammed shut, rattling the pots in the shop.

"Boys?" Yoji opened his eyes and tried to smile at Manx. She was a sight in her red suit and manicured nails. "We have a new mission."

"I don't think tonight is a good night." Ken replied.

"Watch the tape and see." Manx flashed the tape and tried to smile.

"Unless it has to do with his sister Aya won't want in." Yoji said softly. Manx nodded and led the remaining boys down the steps.

Persia's computerized image appeared on the screen. The voice of the man who had led them through so many missions started to talk, same message as usual.

"Your targets are a group of men who are taking young children, raping them, then crucifying them on metal stakes. After a few minutes they send electrical currents through the stakes. It's a very long and painful way to die.

The men led by Kamei, Hiroko, and will fall once their leader has been eliminated. Hunters of the night deny these dark beasts their tomorrows."

"So, are you in? It has to be done tonight." Ken glanced over at Omi. Talk about your bad timing.

"I'm in." Ken replied softly. Omi and Yoji glanced at the soccer player. One was stunned, the other hurt. "I'll take it alone if I have too."

"I don't want you going alone Ken. You can handle it, but I'd prefer someone to be with you." Manx smiled. "Anyone else?" Silence. Ken felt his heart sink. What was the use of saving one child at the sacrifice of a dozen? Maybe more? Was Aya-chan more important because she was Aya's little sister? Because her death would actually touch the group? The answer to that, was of course.

"I'm in." Omi sighed.

"No Omi, you go with Aya tonight, and I'll go with Ken. If we split up we might as well have you fighting the psychos from long range."

"And they don't trust us Omi. Might as well split it up so there is one good person on each team." Ken stated. Omi glanced up at him, vaguely shocked. Ken hadn't been in a good mood lately.

"But ranged weapons aren't any good against those guys. One doesn't feel pain, one can see the arrow fired before it even gets put on the line, one can stop it in mid air, and the other is super fast."

"Then maybe Omi should come with me. We might be able to pick them off faster with a sniper anyway." Yoji offered.

"Sounds good to me." Omi replied. Ken shrugged.

"They finished it yesterday Yoji. Just in case he sees his sister." Manx whispered. A small silver circle rested in her hand. Yoji took it and smiled.

Ken stalked up the stairs so that Yoji and Omi could go over mission objectives, and so that he could change.

Hidden deep inside his chestnut closet lay his outfit. Bright orange sweater and goggles greeted him with that oh to familiar feeling. Blood stains from countless victims lay on the jacket, but only in his mind. No longer orange, it was a rusty brown from the dried blood of many, innocent and evil alike.

To open the wardrobe further would be to look into Ken's heart. Candles were set up in the back, bright colors, and a picture of his once closest and truest friend, Koichiro Kase. His old jersey hung in the background, and pictures of his old life, a life he had hidden from the others. None of them knew of his own family. His twin sister, his little brother, who all thought he was dead. And behind even that lay a small gold chain.

"It's better this way. You won't get hurt, not like Aya's sister." Ken twisted the jumper around his waist and sighed. How old was Lei now? Was he ten? Eleven? "He's 13 Ken. 13 today." He muttered. Ken touched the golden links behind the picture, revealing the dragon on the end.

"I got you something!" Hana smiled and held out the box, her cyan eyes, just like his, glimmering with excitement.

"Why did you get me something?"

"Because it's your first finals! I thought you could use a little luck." Her smile grew as he opened the box, revealing the dragon pendant inside.

"You are a dragon freak!" Ken laughed. She slid the chain into her hand and placed it around his neck.

"Now I'll always be with you, just like you are always with me." She touched her own chain, a silver Phoenix. The dragon's counterpart. Its other half. He had given it to her the day of her first recital.

"I'll always be with you..." The golden dragon flickered in the dim light. He ran his thumb down the intricate design of the scales and sighed.

"You ok?" Omi asked. He walked in and sat down on the bed. Ken pushed his every day clothes in around the shrine. He shoved the goggles on his head, turned, and smiled.

"Fine, why wouldn't I be?"

"You're just not acting like yourself." Omi replied. His legs swung aimlessly against the bed, filling the silence with soft thudding sounds.

"Omi, how do you know what I act like? How do you know that I wasn't always like this back in my life?" Ken said, noting the sharpness in his tone. Omi flinched slightly. "Sorry Omi."

"What's wrong?"

"I just can't shake my memories, that's all." 'I promised I would be there. Said I would always be there. I was the older brother, even if it was only by a minute.'

"Sure you're up to tonight?"

"I'm with Aya. I screw up then he can more than handle it on his own. He'll be in a mad rage anyway." 'I missed prom, missed your recitals. I said I would always be with you when you sang. I hope you haven't stopped. When did I screw up Hana? Was he like that from the beginning?'

"I guess you're right. You've just been kinda hard on yourself lately."

'Did you ever like Kase? No, no Hana you always felt like something was wrong. Do you know I'm alive? Twins always know. Did you search long for me? Did you ever give up?'

"Ken?"

"Hmm?"

Omi sighed and left the room. Ken followed him with his eyes until he was gone. Still thinking he turned off his light and walked down stairs on autopilot. 'I am so sorry Hana...Lei.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You want to tie me to a tree?" Aya asked, trying to contain her laughter. "So that you can draw them into a trap?" Her attempts failed. "Why in the world would they care?"

"Aya, they care because you have power. That little blaster you have is nothing to laugh about." Schuldig replied. "They'd do anything to get their hands on it."

"They'll come Aya. One hour and you can have your revenge. For Ran, for Hell and Shoen, and even for yourself." Brad put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. "For all of us."

"All of you have gifts. What did Ran have?"

"Ran?" Schuldig asked. He glanced over at Brad. They hadn't thought about that question. Crawford glanced back at Schuldig.

"He was a telekinetic like me." Nagi replied. Schuldig and Crawford looked to the boy, smiles on their faces.

"Yup, wow Nagi-kins. You did do your homework." Schuldig laughed. Nagi shrugged, a slight smile gracing his features. Aya smiled at the boy across from her.

"So, an hour? Can we have something to eat first? I'm starved."

"Sure Aya, anything you want." Crawford replied. He nodded at Schuldig, who stood and left. "He'll probably grab a pizza."

"What about a four course french meal?" Aya laughed, forgetting that they had no idea what she was talking about. Ran would have understood. "Never mind." She whispered. Schuldig glanced over his shoulder at her and smiled. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One unbearable hour passed. Aya paced back and forth around the basement, clutching the hilt of his sword. When his hand began to cramp he would relax it, stretching it, then clasp the sword again. Ken watched him nervously. He was afraid he would blow up before they even got there. Would he have been different if it was Hana out there?

The soft tread of his shoes across the floor was slowly driving Ken insane. Thud. Thud. Thud!

"By the Gods will you stop!" He hissed. Aya glanced down at him, grunted, and started to pace again. 'Shoot me now.'

"It's 10:30, let's go." The red head raced up the steps before Ken could even argue.

"Yes, so we can sit in the park for a half an hour instead of in the house. Aya! This is a trap!" Ken cried out after the boy, but it was to late. Aya was gone. Ken groaned and gathered his things.

His motorcycle was leaning contently inside the garage. The goggles fell into place over his eyes as he revved the engine. Aya couldn't have gotten far.

When he saw the red head down the street he sped up. "Hop on."

Aya did as he was told, placing his blade against the side of his leg so it wouldn't bang into him. Ken sped down the deserted street, knowing in his heart that something bad was going to happen.

It was only 10:39 PM when they arrived at the park. Everything seemed quiet. Crickets chirped in the grass and fireflies flew around their heads. They strolled cautiously, awaiting the surprise attack. Both could feel the impending trap that lay upon them.

"There she is." Ken whispered, pointing to the tree at the top of a set of steps. It was the same place Schuldig had put Ouka that fateful night. It was also susceptible to attacks. The gold earring flashed in the moonlight as Aya moved toward his sister. Ken snagged the other boy's hand and shook his head.

"We are not rushing into this Ran." He hissed. Aya knew that when they used his real name they meant it, so he stood down. A crisp breeze blew across the park, ruffling Aya-chan's hair. It was the kind of breeze right after a nice long storm, still sizzling with static electricity. Aya's violet eyes were barely slits. He surveyed the area.

"I don't see anyone. I'm going in." He whispered, running toward his little sister.

"Just cause you don't see them..! Ran, Ran!" Ken hissed back, watching the boy run toward his sister. A gleam in the forest beyond caught his eye. A dagger.

"Duck!" Ken screamed. Aya dropped to the ground. The dagger flew through the space where his heart would have been, finding its sheath in a nearby tree. Ken sighed with relief.

Aya was back on his feet and running up the stairs. Ken moved to the side, watching for the living shadows that he knew were there.

"Looking for us?" Crawford asked as he came out of the darkness. The moonlight caught his glasses, shimmering on them.

"Maybe?" Ken asked, smirking. Crawford laughed at him as he slid his jacket off of his shoulders. He clenched his fists, smirking at Ken.

"Well, are you going to look at me, or attack?" He asked. Ken clenched the bar inside his glove, extending the metal claws. "Wow, nice. I probably shouldn't let you hit me with those." Ken glared at the American. He tried to fake left and go right, but Crawford could see the future. Every attempt to even hit him failed miserably. He caught Ken's leg in mid air and twisted it sharply. Ken spun and hit the ground, getting the wind knocked out of him. Crawford laughed again. "Pathetic." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Yoji, why do I have that weird feeling that we're being set up?" Omi whispered over the link. He glanced around the small room he was in, and over his shoulder.

"I don't know. Just watch my back ok?"

"Yeah I got you. Security is off...now."

Yoji slid the door open and slipped inside. There was nothing. No children, no bad guys. It was completely abandoned. Dust drifted on the still air and rats scurried across the filth covered floor, which no human feet had tread on.

"Omi, I think you're right about the set...Whoa!"

"Yoji? Yoji!" Omi hissed over the line. Clashing metal and grunting sounds were all he could hear. Yoji was breathing hard. Omi slipped his computer back into its bag and left the small closet. He fingered the darts inside his pocket, ready if necessary. A scream rang in his ear.

"Yoji!"

"Damn." Was the only reply he got. Omi slid past the turn, noting the three guards down the hall. 'Where did they come from?' He wondered, pulling out three of his darts. They ripped silently through the air, hitting their targets. The three men fell to the ground without so much as a groan.

Omi turned and ran down the hall. He stopped in front of the door Yoji had entered. Two men were hanging from the ceiling.

"Yoji?" He whispered, sliding the door open. A thin piece of wire shot past his face, skimming it. Blood trickled down his cheek. Omi looked down at his partner, confused, until he heard the gasping sounds of a man behind him. The nameless man fell to the ground, suffocating. His lips turning the faintest shade of blue.

"Hey, Chibi..." Yoji groaned. He was bleeding from his side and his left leg.

"Yoji. Come on." Omi helped the brunette to his feet, placing the extra weight on his own shoulder. Omi dragged Yoji out of the building. They managed to avoid most of the other guards.

"You were right Chibi."

"Who cares? Come on, we better go find Aya."

"But if we were set up doesn't that mean that Aya and Ken are probably being set up as well?" Omi looked up into a pair of worried jade eyes. Yoji quickened the pace, putting weight on his injured leg. He moaned with every step, but sped up anyway.

Seven was parked right where they had left it. Yoji pulled himself into the driver's seat. Omi jumped over the door and fastened his seat belt. This would be one wild ride. The tires squealed as Yoji pulled out of the warehouse parking lot. The smell of burning rubber hung in the air where they had just been. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A flash of light lit up the twilight sky. The electric feeling in the air intensified, and had it not been a cloudless evening Ken would have thought lightning had struck down on the ground. "Aya." Ken struggled to his feet and ran toward the steps. The scent of burning wood came to him, and he noticed the same tree that had the dagger in it was on fire.

"Damn it." He muttered. He glanced up the steps and Aya was standing there. He was glaring at his sister, and she was glaring back. Both were breathing hard and neither were moving.

In the next instant sharp pain coursed through him. He had forgotten about Crawford. Ken toppled to the ground, and attempted to roll out of the fall, but the pain was intense. He flopped to his side, unable to get in a proper breath. He couldn't tell what hurt. Everything hurt.

"Get up Ken!"

"But my knee hurts Hana."

"I don't care. You have to train! The pain will go away."

"You are worse than coach."

"Get up."

Ken rolled, tripping Crawford. He pushed himself off of the ground, ignoring the pain. Crawford looked up at him with mild shock.

"Can't see everything, can you." He stated. Crawford stood and jumped backwards, looking just past Ken. A bolt flew by the brunette's ear, landing where Crawford had been. Ken peered over his shoulder and watched as Omi came over the ridge.

"Too crowded." Crawford smiled. He whistled, and the Schwarz team disappeared into the darkness, including Aya-chan. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Fight Between Aya & Aya)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rope was hurting her arms and the tree was less than uncomfortable. Aya tried to slip into a light sleep so that she would appear unconscious, but she couldn't find that right sleeping spot.

"This is ridiculous." She muttered under her breath. Crawford was off to the left, Nagi was in the getaway car, incase something went wrong, and the other two were deep in the shadows, waiting for their perfect time.

She could hear one of them getting closer. He was running.

"Duck!" The knife went past her, slicing the air like it yearned to do to the person it was aimed at.

"Aya?" The man whispered. It was the imposter, she could tell. Presuming he could trick her by sounding like Ran, acting like Ran, looking like him. It didn't matter whether her brother had to go hell and back again, he would have been there when she woke up. "Aya. I'm taking you home." He whispered. He untied one of the ropes and glared at the other.

"Who uses two ropes!" He hissed to himself.

"Brad does." Aya-chan replied. The man took a step back, staring into her blue eyes. "Surprised that it's a trap? And I thought you guys were the best." A wicked smile crossed her face, lighting her eyes with an inner darkness.

Farfarello came out from behind her and smiled at Ran, his one golden eye gleaming in the moonlight. He cried out into the night and attacked Ran, pushing him back down the steps. The katana flashed in the moonlight with every parry.

"Aya! Aya it's me! Ran!" He called, pushing Farfarello back up the steps. He sliced the man across his chest, but Farefey just laughed. The silver-haired man jumped back, emitting a cry that resembled one the Indians of North America must have used. Ran raced back up the steps, and Aya was waiting. The color in her eyes began to drain away as she pulled in energy. She held out her palm.

"Murderer!" She cried as the beam of pure white light shot from her hand.

Ran moved just in time. The beam shot past him into a nearby tree, setting it on fire. He glared up at his little sister and she stared back down at him. Both exhausted they stood like that for a moment, one trying to find the little girl he once knew, the other trying to find a weakness.

Schuldig waltzed out of the shadows and grinned down at Ran. He finished untying Aya and gently pushed the girl behind him.

"Don't wear yourself out my dear." He whispered back to her. She nodded slightly.

Ran flinched when he heard Schuldig call her dear. What right did that forked tongue German have to call his little sister dear?

A shrill whistle broke the silence and the two people in front of him disappeared. Ran moved to catch up with them, but Schuldig's speed was too much for him.

"Damn you!" He cried out to the night.

A/N: Ok, and that is the end of chapter 3. I feel bad about killing Tot....oh well, I am an angst writer you know! :) anyway, please R&R.