Schuldich padded to the front door from the kitchen. He was still in his white jeans that he slept in. They were undone and halfway unzipped. His wild orange hair stuck out in all directions; needing to be combed down.

" Who is it?" He scratched his shoulder.

The little girl with the white hair, beige skin and wide amber eyes looked up at him with complete innocence. He didn't know where, but he knew he'd seen those eyes before. Otherwise he had no idea who she was. He guessed this was Nagi's idea of a joke.

" Oh very funny. But what makes you think she wants me?"

" Are you my daddy?" The little girl continued to rock back and forth; this time looking at Schuldich.

" Ah!" Schuldich fell flat on his face.

" Oh I don't know." Nagi said in a singsong voice.

" That's not funny!!" Schuldich popped back up and glared down at Nagi.

" Hm." He simply shrugged and went on his way to school with his case in his hand over his shoulder.

*********************

Nagi walked along the boardwalk towards the stairs. He recognized that little girl some how. He knew he'd seen her somewhere before. He had to; she looked so familiar.

As he neared the stairs, he saw a woman coming up them. Being gentlemanly, he stood to the side and let her come up first.

She had brown hair that had been dyed red in some sections. Her skin was the same beige as the little girl he saw. Her eyes were coffee brown and behind a pair of shades riding her nose. She wore a black skirt, black heel boots, a white dress shirt and on her shoulder was a black purse. Around her neck was a simple, silver crucifix. On her lips was cherry red lipstick.

She seemed to be in some kind of hurry. She kept looking around herself as if she was being watched or expected some one to jump up and attack her.

As he waited for her to come up the stairs, he vaguely noticed Brad walk up next to him. He too stopped to let the woman walk ahead of them. (Hey, they're assassins, not pigs!) 

" Excuse me," She stopped in front of them," Do you two live here?"

Nagi noticed she spoke English. So he said nothing. He would leave her to Brad.

" Yes. Can I help you?"

" Does A Farfarello Jei live here?"

Whoa, hold on! She just said the secret word! A woman was looking for Farfarello? First of all, it was a surprise she was even alive if she knew him. He didn't like to deal with women and usually killed them. He complained about them being too noisy. Second, she must have a death wish to look for him. Third, if she knew of him, she might know of Schwarz. They would have to tread lightly from there.

" How do you know of him?"

" Well, I asked for Jei at the asylum and they said that he lived in this apartment complex. I guess you could say I'm an old friend of his." She smiled slightly.

" He does live here." Far be it for him to keep a woman from her death wish.

" Do you know wher-" She looked around them and got a shocked look on her face." Aidan Lucrezia Bloodrayne!! You leave that man alone this instant!!"

" That's your daughter?"

" Oh, yes. You see, that's why I'm looking for Farfie. See, she's his daughter too. Excuse me," She brushed past them. " Aidan! I know you hear me calling you!"

Several car windows busted and car alarms went off; courtesy of Nagi's shock. Brad stood in shock too. She actually slept with Farfarello?!! She had his child?!! She even got to touch him long enough to have a child?! And both were still alive?!!

" Work can wait a few minutes. I have got to see this for myself." Brad did an about-face and went towards the apartment.

" Watashi mo (Me too)." Nagi walked after him.

*********************************

 " Yo! Farfie!"

" What are ye so happy about?"

" Not happy. Blissful! And all thanks to you!!"

" Don't hug me!!"

" Sorry. Forgot the 'don't touch me' rule. But I went to the doctor today. Guess who's pregnant?"

" I canno' imagine."

" Sarcasm. Cute. Now, I need one more thing from you before I turn in my term paper."

" What now?"

" What happened to your family?"

" Donno' eva ask about me family. I swear ye'll be dead 40 times ova before ye hit tha ground!!"

" Okay! Okay! I'll just make it up! One question."

" *Glares*"

" It's not about your family I promise!! I just wanted to know why you warned me. If it bothers you that much, you wouldn't hesitate to kill me. But you warned me and will probably kill me next time. Why did you do that?"

" Ye are livin' for two now. All that work would be for nothin' if ye died at the moment."

" Good answer. Well Hannibal, you're secrets safe with me."

" Now I have a question."

" Shoot."

" Why do ye call me by that name?"

" Oh Hannibal? Well, there's this guy named Hannibal Lector. He was a cannibal. But that's not what makes me think of you when I see him. See, people don't just let you eat them alive. This guy was really smart. I'm talkin' genius. And he was caught and put in an asylum. When they transport him, it's on a dolly because he's in a straight jacket and there's a mask over his face. He was 'crazy' so they say, but really smart. And that's why I call you that."

" Ye can go now."

" Oh thank you master! I was waiting on your permission!"

" Shut up and git out American. Ye're too amusin' for ye own good."

" Yeah, goodbye to you too Hannibal."

" VAS?!!! What do you mean you're looking for Farfarello Jei?!! Gurl, are ya cwazy?! He's dangerous!"

Farfarello paused in eating his breakfast at the sound of his name. Someone was looking for him? That was a first. Usually, it was the other way around. Maybe he should check it out.

" Mommy, is this my daddy?"

A child, he thought idly and retrieved his butterfly knife, I love tha taste of blood in the mornin'. Goes good with toast.

" No, sweetheart. He has red hair and green eyes. You father has white hair like yours and amber eyes."

" That voice." Farfarello froze in his tracks. He knew that voice. He never thought he'd hear it again.

" Shall we move this conversation inside? Farfarello lives here." Brad walked into the apartment with everyone else in tow.

They went past him, towards the kitchen. He ducked into the hallway to remain unseen. Brad sat at the table with Nagi on his right.

" My name is Bradley Crawford. The boy is Nagi,"

" Ohayo."

" The redhead is Schuldich."

" Hallo." ^_^

" Nice to meet you all."

" Have a seat miss….?" He trailed on purpose.

" My name is Cherry. Cherry Ashaki. This is my daughter." She gestured to the little girl who stood obediently next to her; holding her hand tightly.

" Yes. Miss Aidan Lucrezia Bloodrayne." Schuldich kneeled to her height.

/ You look like Farfarello's brat. / His lips didn't move at all when he said that.

Aidan gasped and got behind her mother's legs.

" Behave Schuldich." Brad was glaring at him.

" Best behavior." He pulled out a chair for Cherry.

" Thank you." She pressed her skirt and sat down.

" Sie sind willkommen." He sat down next to Brad.

" Nagi, doki na." Brad motioned to Nagi to go towards the hallway to get Farfarello. He nodded and went off without a word.

" So, Miss Ashaki, that's an African name I believe."

" Yes it is. I'm impressed Mr. Crawford. My name means 'beautiful'."

" Good to know. Would you like anything to drink?"

" Oh no thank you, we just had breakfast."

" Yea, yea, yea, enough idea chit chat, when were you and Farfarello doing the vertical tango?" Schuldich broke in.

Cherry stared at him; totally embarrassed. Brad had his face in his hand and shook it in shame. Schuldich was utterly shameless. Nevertheless, Cherry readjusted her shirt and crossed her arms.

" I don't think that's any of your business Mr. Schuldich."

Schuldich knew she would say that. He started to probe her mind, but Brad gave him a threatening look. Perhaps it would be better if he left and came back later.

" Nice meeting you Ms. Cherry." He stood up and pushed his chair in. Then he walked down the hall singing to himself in German.

******************

Nagi came down the hallway, back into the kitchen with Farfarello walking behind him. He told him Brad wanted him to come to the kitchen. He wordlessly went with the prodigy.

Several thoughts were going through his mind as he walked. Like why did she come and find him? Why after 5 years would just drop in? Why would she come and see him? What would make her come to him? Why were Brad and Nagi still there? And who ate his sweet milk pocky?!

As he turned the corner to enter the kitchen, he halted. Standing there was the last person he expected to ever see again. And next to her was a small little girl. She had his hair. It was clear she was related to him.

As soon as she caught sight of him, the little girl broke away from her mother and ran to where he was. She wrapped her arms around his leg and pressed her cheek to his knee.

He looked down at her with a blank face. She smiled up at him innocently; amber eyes meeting amber eyes. Farfarello was about to say something, but at the sound of a chair being pushed in, he looked up. The mother came over and peeled the girl off his leg. Then stood in front of him with the girl holding her hand.

" Farfarello, I believe you already know Cherry." Brad was on his way out. But he told Nagi to make sure to take notes; seeing as how the shock had given him a headache and he wasn't going to school.

" You." Was all that the Berserker could say.

" So nice to see you again Farfarello Jei. Glad you remember me. This is your daughter, Aidan Lucrezia Bloodrayne." Cherry lifted the little girl up and held her on her hip.

" Hi Daddy!"