Disclaimer: Nope, CCS is still not mine.
Author's Note(s): I know you guys are ready to kill me for taking so long. Sorry, this is kinda the. . . really important chapter. This one pretty much determines how the rest of the story is going to be. So, before I wrote it, I kinda had to figure OUT how I wanted the rest of the story to be. ^-^;
Azi: Wow, you've gotten two shout outs ^-~. You're on a roll. Heh, yes, that sucked. I'm still trying to cope with the loss of him. I wonder what the next book will be like. Gosh I wish he would come back, but I know he won't. It still sucks.
hOsHi HaNaZaKaRi: I'm sorry your computer has a problem with pop-ups, our old one had the same problem. I'm glad you did review though. ^-~ Mmm, yeah, he is a lot like Eriol, very. . . self-assured. If you want to know the truth, I've only seen one episode with Eriol in it so I didn't feel comfortable adding him in as anything but a small part.
Wolf Blossom- Thanks for the compliment. Sorry about the blind date, that really stinks. ^-^ At least you got rid of him. Umm, Syaoran has accepted Sakura in a romantic type way (he's no longer trying to push her away) but they haven't exactly had that little 'couple' talk. ^-~ Make sense at all?
****
She could hear him pacing through the bathroom door. With a light chuckle, she lightly sprinkled the eyeshadow on her right eyelid. She had been extra careful in applying it tonight. Because her hair was pulled into a loose bun, her face received special emphasis. Her makeup now done, she stepped back to get a good luck at herself.
She had chosen a simple sleeveless dress for tonight. The color of sapphires, it accented all of her curves, though she had insisted upon the high neckline. Ending at her feet, you could barely see the black heels underneath. A simple silver chain hung from her neck.
Content with her appearance, she opened the door and stepped through. Her gaze flickered to a restless Syaoran, perched on the edge of his bed. She coughed, smiling when he looked up.
His eyes took in her body quickly before returning to her face. His mouth wide open, he stood and walked over to her.
Stopping in front of her, he leaned down and kissed her softly.
"You look beautiful," he whispered in her ear.
Shivering from his closeness, she smiled at him. "Thank you."
Realizing she was staring at him, she quickly walked by him and dropped into a chair. Syaoran followed, sitting opposite her.
"What time are you meeting him?"
"Seven."
She spared a quick glance at the clock behind her.
'6:45. I better start really getting ready.'
She stood quickly and walked over to the curtain, closing it. Though she hated that Chang's men could see them, she knew changing rooms would be a waste of time. She also hated to leave the room dark and dreary, so she left the curtains open most of the time. Now, though, she wanted privacy.
Crossing the room in five quick strides, she pulled out her suitcase and rifled through it until she found the purse Eriol had given her.
Hurriedly, she slid a knife into its secret compartment. She checked to make sure the Agency's credit card was still safe inside. She then dumped some makeup, her driver's license, and other necessities inside. Her new gun was the next inside.
Reaching inside the suitcase a second time, she retrieved both the packet of gum and the pen. She dropped both inside the purse with a smile.
Now she grabbed a knife and its sheath and hooked it underneath her dress, near the top of her thigh. She was careful to keep her back to Syaoran as she did this.
This done, she paused for a moment, going through a mental checklist.
'Money. . . check. Tape recorder. . . check. Weapons. . . check. All other toys. . . check.'
With a grin, she turned to face Syaoran. The grin fell from her face when she caught his serious expression. Sighing, she walked back towards him.
"You know this isn't a date, right?" she asked, her voice kind.
He looked up, his eyes alight with anger. She braced herself for his harsh words. "Just because I'm not happy doesn't mean I'm jealous, Sakura. It's not about you."
She put a hand on his shoulder and leaned closer to him. She waited for him to look at her before speaking. "I'm doing this for the Agency. Chang has been eluding captivity for years. I need to stay in contact with him; I need to learn some information on this girl. I can't give up this opportunity. It may be the only one we get."
The anger left them and a look of defeat took over. "He's not going to just take you out to dinner, Sakura. He'll pull something the second you let your guard down."
She smiled and kissed him lightly. "Then I won't let my guard down."
Inspiration hit her suddenly. She raced to her purse and pulled out one of the devices from the gum packet. Placing on in a hidden fold, she handed him the wrapper.
"Now you can track me in case Chang tries something."
He looked up first at the wrapper, than at her, a pleasant smile on his lips. "It's hard to believe you're the same girl who ran into me about a week ago."
She blushed, remembering their first encounter.
'Why do I always manage to embarrass myself in front of him?'
Before she could answer, there was a knock on the door. She threw a look at the clock, sighing as she realized it was the appointed time.
Smoothing her dress, she approached the door. With each step the butterflies in her stomach seemed to multiply. She heard footsteps behind her and realized Syaoran was following her to the door. The thought was oddly comforting.
Taking a deep breath, she flung the door open to find the person she had been expecting. Chang's dark brown hair was now combed neatly back, causing his brilliant blue eyes to shine even brighter.
'I prefer the 'just-out-of-bed' look on my guys,' she thought, stifling a smile.
"Hello," he said, his eyes taking her appearance in. She felt herself blush under his gaze.
'At least Syaoran was more discreet about it.'
She heard a growl behind her and watched as Chang's head snapped up. His eyes zeroed in on the figure behind her and a smirk began to form.
"Ahh. . . Syaoran! I should've known you'd be here to see the girl off on her date," he said, placing special emphasis on 'date'. His smirk deepened. "I suppose she has a curfew?"
Feeling him stiffen behind her, she spoke up. "I've set my own curfew. I'll be back by eleven." After a pause, she added, "And it's not a date."
Chang laughed-the same laugh that always managed to make Sakura's blood boil. It reminded her of the self-assuring laugh a father might give a foolish child. And from the look on his face, it was as he intended it to be.
"Shall we be going then?" he asked, the mirth still in his voice. Casting an amused look at Syaoran, he added, "That is, of course, if I have your permission?"
Once again Sakura broke in. "I'm ready. Let's go."
As she moved to step out, she felt a firm hand on her waist. Surprised, she let Syaoran pull her backwards, turning her in a graceful motion. He pressed his lips to hers in a bruising kiss. He let go suddenly, looking into her eyes.
Dizzy and dazed, it was all she could do to stare back. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Be safe."
With a last frown to Chang, he released her. Chang laughed lightly, though Sakura thought she heard an icy undertone.
"Placing your claim a little forcefully, aren't you, dear cousin?"
Syaoran slammed the door behind them, leaving Sakura even more stunned than usual. Chang's laugh echoed through her thoughts, helping to clear them slightly. She stared at Chang's offered arm before taking it and letting him lead her down the hall.
"Your cousin?" she asked faintly.
He looked at her, raising an eyebrow. Then he smiled. "I take it Syaoran didn't tell you we were related, then?" He dropped the smile, letting a overly sad look replace it. "I just don't understand. It's like he's not proud of me or something." He let out a short bark of a laugh and reached out, pressing the elevator button.
"What happened?" She was still getting over her daze.
"Well, his mother is my aunt, and. . ."
When she glared at him, he dropped it with a laugh. Shaking his head, he started speaking again. "We grew up together, actually. Always had a little rivalry going." He eyed her for a second before adding, "Especially with the girls."
The elevator door opened behind them. It was empty. She stepped in and let him press the button.
"You stole his girlfriend?" she asked quietly, her dislike of the man growing rapidly.
"Fiancé, actually," he said carelessly.
Sakura's jaw dropped. "Why? Why would you do something so awful to your own cousin?"
He raised an eyebrow, his mouth hardened. "Because I could. She wanted me more than she wanted him."
As the door sprang opened, he added carelessly, "She's part of my organization now."
Sakura stared after him for a minute before letting him lead her through the lobby and into the street. She didn't speak again until they were climbing into a taxi.
"Don't you miss your family?" she asked quietly.
He turned to her quickly, eyes angry. "My family never understood my talent, Sakura. Of course I don't miss them."
She pulled back, startled. She decided to let the subject drop.
'At least until I can use it against him.'
Cursing, she realized she had forgotten to tape that.
****
Chang refused to discuss anything until halfway through the dinner. Sakura felt her anger rising, but fought to control it. Somehow she knew the man would just find joy in her obvious discomfort. So she ate her dinner, making light conversation, but remembering this time to press the button on top of her purse. The tape recorder was now free to record everything.
"You know, I've missed getting presents from you, Sakura. They were always amusing," he said suddenly.
Sakura looked up, slightly surprised. With a smirk, she said, "Well, perhaps I'll send you one tomorrow. As a thank you for a nice dinner." After a short pause, she added, "And hopefully, for information."
He raised an eyebrow, watching her with an amused expression. "Of course."
Something about his expression made her uneasy. She pushed it away angrily.
'Everything about him makes me uneasy.'
Finally, Chang pushed away his plate and watched her. Sakura took a careful sigh before speaking. This was the reason she had even agreed to come.
"You obviously know why Syaoran and I are here."
He nodded, waving his hand carelessly. "To end my mischief. The same thing the WPO's been trying to do for years."
Now it was her turn to raise an eyebrow. "You sound very. . . sure. . . of your ability to elude capture. Surprising coming from a man who's ransoming a girl off for papers detailing his planned capture."
His face changed into an almost proud smile. "I knew one day your wit would actually show."
Clenching her teeth, she forced herself to answer. "Where is the girl?"
"At my headquarters."
"And where would that be?" she asked quietly, watching his movement.
He broke into a light chuckle. "Well, I can't tell you that."
Expecting this response, she tried another angle. She let herself laugh lightly in return before leaning forward, keeping her voice very low. "Don't tell me the wonderful Li Chang needs to hold a helpless girl hostage just to get what he wants."
To her surprise, he let out another, heartier laugh. Then he raised his hand, summoning the waiter over. The man came obediently.
"The check, please?" he asked politely.
With a nod, the man turned and started toward the kitchen.
Sakura's eyes widened and she jumped forward, hissing, "I came here to get some answers, Chang. This meeting is not over."
He raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say it was."
She watched him cautiously. He chuckled again before answering.
"How about we go get some ice cream? There's a little shop just around the corner." He pause, eyeing her before he continued, "Although we do appear slightly overdressed."
"They serve desert here, don't they?" Then an idea suddenly hit her, making her stomach queasy. "Unless you've got something like. . . my capture. . . planned along the way?"
He let out a laugh that made her think he had reached a new plane of evil. He motioned carelessly around the restaurant. For the first time, Sakura saw something move in the shadows. She looked back towards the door and saw the doorman watching her carefully.
"I don't need to lure you away for that," he said lightly.
When the bill came, Sakura was still trying to come up with a plan. She watched numbly as Chang handed the man a few bills before standing.
Realizing she was making a fool of herself, she hurriedly stood, letting him lead the way outside.
They walked down the street in silence, Chang looking cheerful while Sakura carefully kept her expression blank.
Chang broke the silence suddenly. "Do you really want to know where Nicole is?"
Sakura looked up quickly, surprised. Her eyes narrowed quickly in suspicion. "Yes," she said slowly.
"That can be arranged," he said lightly.
Sakura's eyes caught a flicker of movement to her left and whirled, already in a fighting stance. Two more flickers to her right made her turn back. She was vaguely aware of a black car pulling up beside them. The flickers became full-grown men. She cursed lightly, watching as Chang stepped out of the circle and into the front of the car.
Sakura braced herself, avoiding the first guy's lunge. She felt strong arms grab her from behind and kicked the man in his shin. His grip slackened and she slid from him. Two more pairs of hands grabbed her. She kicked and punched wildly, but rarely landed any.
In dismay, she felt herself being lifted from the ground. She watched as the car door was opened. She was shoved in the backseat.
She threw herself against the door, hitting it just a second after it was closed.
Hearing sound behind her, she whirled and realized that was someone here with her. She watched as he pulled a needle from his coat.
Someone opened the door and slid in. Strong hands held her still and she watched helplessly as the needle punctured her skin.
Within seconds, the world went black.
****
Syaoran watched the grid carefully. Sakura had been stationary for a short while. He presumed they were eating dinner. Then he had watched as she left, puzzled slightly. It still seemed normal, however.
His pulse quickened when he saw her speeding off suddenly.
"She's in a car."
With a cry, he grabbed his coat and ran out of the room, dead set on tracking her.
When he glanced at the grid again, the green icon was gone. A message flashed in the right corner.
'B.u.g. F.a.i.l.e.d.'
****
Author's Note2: Blah blah, sorry for typos, blah blah, not much time, blah blah, lightning storm. . .
Hope you enjoyed it! Finally things are starting to get more exciting.
Author's Note(s): I know you guys are ready to kill me for taking so long. Sorry, this is kinda the. . . really important chapter. This one pretty much determines how the rest of the story is going to be. So, before I wrote it, I kinda had to figure OUT how I wanted the rest of the story to be. ^-^;
Azi: Wow, you've gotten two shout outs ^-~. You're on a roll. Heh, yes, that sucked. I'm still trying to cope with the loss of him. I wonder what the next book will be like. Gosh I wish he would come back, but I know he won't. It still sucks.
hOsHi HaNaZaKaRi: I'm sorry your computer has a problem with pop-ups, our old one had the same problem. I'm glad you did review though. ^-~ Mmm, yeah, he is a lot like Eriol, very. . . self-assured. If you want to know the truth, I've only seen one episode with Eriol in it so I didn't feel comfortable adding him in as anything but a small part.
Wolf Blossom- Thanks for the compliment. Sorry about the blind date, that really stinks. ^-^ At least you got rid of him. Umm, Syaoran has accepted Sakura in a romantic type way (he's no longer trying to push her away) but they haven't exactly had that little 'couple' talk. ^-~ Make sense at all?
****
She could hear him pacing through the bathroom door. With a light chuckle, she lightly sprinkled the eyeshadow on her right eyelid. She had been extra careful in applying it tonight. Because her hair was pulled into a loose bun, her face received special emphasis. Her makeup now done, she stepped back to get a good luck at herself.
She had chosen a simple sleeveless dress for tonight. The color of sapphires, it accented all of her curves, though she had insisted upon the high neckline. Ending at her feet, you could barely see the black heels underneath. A simple silver chain hung from her neck.
Content with her appearance, she opened the door and stepped through. Her gaze flickered to a restless Syaoran, perched on the edge of his bed. She coughed, smiling when he looked up.
His eyes took in her body quickly before returning to her face. His mouth wide open, he stood and walked over to her.
Stopping in front of her, he leaned down and kissed her softly.
"You look beautiful," he whispered in her ear.
Shivering from his closeness, she smiled at him. "Thank you."
Realizing she was staring at him, she quickly walked by him and dropped into a chair. Syaoran followed, sitting opposite her.
"What time are you meeting him?"
"Seven."
She spared a quick glance at the clock behind her.
'6:45. I better start really getting ready.'
She stood quickly and walked over to the curtain, closing it. Though she hated that Chang's men could see them, she knew changing rooms would be a waste of time. She also hated to leave the room dark and dreary, so she left the curtains open most of the time. Now, though, she wanted privacy.
Crossing the room in five quick strides, she pulled out her suitcase and rifled through it until she found the purse Eriol had given her.
Hurriedly, she slid a knife into its secret compartment. She checked to make sure the Agency's credit card was still safe inside. She then dumped some makeup, her driver's license, and other necessities inside. Her new gun was the next inside.
Reaching inside the suitcase a second time, she retrieved both the packet of gum and the pen. She dropped both inside the purse with a smile.
Now she grabbed a knife and its sheath and hooked it underneath her dress, near the top of her thigh. She was careful to keep her back to Syaoran as she did this.
This done, she paused for a moment, going through a mental checklist.
'Money. . . check. Tape recorder. . . check. Weapons. . . check. All other toys. . . check.'
With a grin, she turned to face Syaoran. The grin fell from her face when she caught his serious expression. Sighing, she walked back towards him.
"You know this isn't a date, right?" she asked, her voice kind.
He looked up, his eyes alight with anger. She braced herself for his harsh words. "Just because I'm not happy doesn't mean I'm jealous, Sakura. It's not about you."
She put a hand on his shoulder and leaned closer to him. She waited for him to look at her before speaking. "I'm doing this for the Agency. Chang has been eluding captivity for years. I need to stay in contact with him; I need to learn some information on this girl. I can't give up this opportunity. It may be the only one we get."
The anger left them and a look of defeat took over. "He's not going to just take you out to dinner, Sakura. He'll pull something the second you let your guard down."
She smiled and kissed him lightly. "Then I won't let my guard down."
Inspiration hit her suddenly. She raced to her purse and pulled out one of the devices from the gum packet. Placing on in a hidden fold, she handed him the wrapper.
"Now you can track me in case Chang tries something."
He looked up first at the wrapper, than at her, a pleasant smile on his lips. "It's hard to believe you're the same girl who ran into me about a week ago."
She blushed, remembering their first encounter.
'Why do I always manage to embarrass myself in front of him?'
Before she could answer, there was a knock on the door. She threw a look at the clock, sighing as she realized it was the appointed time.
Smoothing her dress, she approached the door. With each step the butterflies in her stomach seemed to multiply. She heard footsteps behind her and realized Syaoran was following her to the door. The thought was oddly comforting.
Taking a deep breath, she flung the door open to find the person she had been expecting. Chang's dark brown hair was now combed neatly back, causing his brilliant blue eyes to shine even brighter.
'I prefer the 'just-out-of-bed' look on my guys,' she thought, stifling a smile.
"Hello," he said, his eyes taking her appearance in. She felt herself blush under his gaze.
'At least Syaoran was more discreet about it.'
She heard a growl behind her and watched as Chang's head snapped up. His eyes zeroed in on the figure behind her and a smirk began to form.
"Ahh. . . Syaoran! I should've known you'd be here to see the girl off on her date," he said, placing special emphasis on 'date'. His smirk deepened. "I suppose she has a curfew?"
Feeling him stiffen behind her, she spoke up. "I've set my own curfew. I'll be back by eleven." After a pause, she added, "And it's not a date."
Chang laughed-the same laugh that always managed to make Sakura's blood boil. It reminded her of the self-assuring laugh a father might give a foolish child. And from the look on his face, it was as he intended it to be.
"Shall we be going then?" he asked, the mirth still in his voice. Casting an amused look at Syaoran, he added, "That is, of course, if I have your permission?"
Once again Sakura broke in. "I'm ready. Let's go."
As she moved to step out, she felt a firm hand on her waist. Surprised, she let Syaoran pull her backwards, turning her in a graceful motion. He pressed his lips to hers in a bruising kiss. He let go suddenly, looking into her eyes.
Dizzy and dazed, it was all she could do to stare back. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Be safe."
With a last frown to Chang, he released her. Chang laughed lightly, though Sakura thought she heard an icy undertone.
"Placing your claim a little forcefully, aren't you, dear cousin?"
Syaoran slammed the door behind them, leaving Sakura even more stunned than usual. Chang's laugh echoed through her thoughts, helping to clear them slightly. She stared at Chang's offered arm before taking it and letting him lead her down the hall.
"Your cousin?" she asked faintly.
He looked at her, raising an eyebrow. Then he smiled. "I take it Syaoran didn't tell you we were related, then?" He dropped the smile, letting a overly sad look replace it. "I just don't understand. It's like he's not proud of me or something." He let out a short bark of a laugh and reached out, pressing the elevator button.
"What happened?" She was still getting over her daze.
"Well, his mother is my aunt, and. . ."
When she glared at him, he dropped it with a laugh. Shaking his head, he started speaking again. "We grew up together, actually. Always had a little rivalry going." He eyed her for a second before adding, "Especially with the girls."
The elevator door opened behind them. It was empty. She stepped in and let him press the button.
"You stole his girlfriend?" she asked quietly, her dislike of the man growing rapidly.
"Fiancé, actually," he said carelessly.
Sakura's jaw dropped. "Why? Why would you do something so awful to your own cousin?"
He raised an eyebrow, his mouth hardened. "Because I could. She wanted me more than she wanted him."
As the door sprang opened, he added carelessly, "She's part of my organization now."
Sakura stared after him for a minute before letting him lead her through the lobby and into the street. She didn't speak again until they were climbing into a taxi.
"Don't you miss your family?" she asked quietly.
He turned to her quickly, eyes angry. "My family never understood my talent, Sakura. Of course I don't miss them."
She pulled back, startled. She decided to let the subject drop.
'At least until I can use it against him.'
Cursing, she realized she had forgotten to tape that.
****
Chang refused to discuss anything until halfway through the dinner. Sakura felt her anger rising, but fought to control it. Somehow she knew the man would just find joy in her obvious discomfort. So she ate her dinner, making light conversation, but remembering this time to press the button on top of her purse. The tape recorder was now free to record everything.
"You know, I've missed getting presents from you, Sakura. They were always amusing," he said suddenly.
Sakura looked up, slightly surprised. With a smirk, she said, "Well, perhaps I'll send you one tomorrow. As a thank you for a nice dinner." After a short pause, she added, "And hopefully, for information."
He raised an eyebrow, watching her with an amused expression. "Of course."
Something about his expression made her uneasy. She pushed it away angrily.
'Everything about him makes me uneasy.'
Finally, Chang pushed away his plate and watched her. Sakura took a careful sigh before speaking. This was the reason she had even agreed to come.
"You obviously know why Syaoran and I are here."
He nodded, waving his hand carelessly. "To end my mischief. The same thing the WPO's been trying to do for years."
Now it was her turn to raise an eyebrow. "You sound very. . . sure. . . of your ability to elude capture. Surprising coming from a man who's ransoming a girl off for papers detailing his planned capture."
His face changed into an almost proud smile. "I knew one day your wit would actually show."
Clenching her teeth, she forced herself to answer. "Where is the girl?"
"At my headquarters."
"And where would that be?" she asked quietly, watching his movement.
He broke into a light chuckle. "Well, I can't tell you that."
Expecting this response, she tried another angle. She let herself laugh lightly in return before leaning forward, keeping her voice very low. "Don't tell me the wonderful Li Chang needs to hold a helpless girl hostage just to get what he wants."
To her surprise, he let out another, heartier laugh. Then he raised his hand, summoning the waiter over. The man came obediently.
"The check, please?" he asked politely.
With a nod, the man turned and started toward the kitchen.
Sakura's eyes widened and she jumped forward, hissing, "I came here to get some answers, Chang. This meeting is not over."
He raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say it was."
She watched him cautiously. He chuckled again before answering.
"How about we go get some ice cream? There's a little shop just around the corner." He pause, eyeing her before he continued, "Although we do appear slightly overdressed."
"They serve desert here, don't they?" Then an idea suddenly hit her, making her stomach queasy. "Unless you've got something like. . . my capture. . . planned along the way?"
He let out a laugh that made her think he had reached a new plane of evil. He motioned carelessly around the restaurant. For the first time, Sakura saw something move in the shadows. She looked back towards the door and saw the doorman watching her carefully.
"I don't need to lure you away for that," he said lightly.
When the bill came, Sakura was still trying to come up with a plan. She watched numbly as Chang handed the man a few bills before standing.
Realizing she was making a fool of herself, she hurriedly stood, letting him lead the way outside.
They walked down the street in silence, Chang looking cheerful while Sakura carefully kept her expression blank.
Chang broke the silence suddenly. "Do you really want to know where Nicole is?"
Sakura looked up quickly, surprised. Her eyes narrowed quickly in suspicion. "Yes," she said slowly.
"That can be arranged," he said lightly.
Sakura's eyes caught a flicker of movement to her left and whirled, already in a fighting stance. Two more flickers to her right made her turn back. She was vaguely aware of a black car pulling up beside them. The flickers became full-grown men. She cursed lightly, watching as Chang stepped out of the circle and into the front of the car.
Sakura braced herself, avoiding the first guy's lunge. She felt strong arms grab her from behind and kicked the man in his shin. His grip slackened and she slid from him. Two more pairs of hands grabbed her. She kicked and punched wildly, but rarely landed any.
In dismay, she felt herself being lifted from the ground. She watched as the car door was opened. She was shoved in the backseat.
She threw herself against the door, hitting it just a second after it was closed.
Hearing sound behind her, she whirled and realized that was someone here with her. She watched as he pulled a needle from his coat.
Someone opened the door and slid in. Strong hands held her still and she watched helplessly as the needle punctured her skin.
Within seconds, the world went black.
****
Syaoran watched the grid carefully. Sakura had been stationary for a short while. He presumed they were eating dinner. Then he had watched as she left, puzzled slightly. It still seemed normal, however.
His pulse quickened when he saw her speeding off suddenly.
"She's in a car."
With a cry, he grabbed his coat and ran out of the room, dead set on tracking her.
When he glanced at the grid again, the green icon was gone. A message flashed in the right corner.
'B.u.g. F.a.i.l.e.d.'
****
Author's Note2: Blah blah, sorry for typos, blah blah, not much time, blah blah, lightning storm. . .
Hope you enjoyed it! Finally things are starting to get more exciting.
