GAHHHHH!! I don't know what's wrong with the last chapter i posted but here's the same thing without all the annoying symbols!! Here's how it SHOULD be read! For some reason, I can't get that chapter to come off of Fanfiction.net. No matter what i do, it can't be removed! I'm really sorry, guys, thanks for the reviews anyhow... Does that sort of stuff ruin the story as much as I think it does? Next chapter is coming soon, I promise! It's already written and just has to be read through for typos and the like.
Sorry I haven't updated for a while! Big problems with the computer! lol Anyhow, I must say, I am disappointed by the lack of reviews. Hmph. Doesn't anyone think this is good anymore? *sigh* Just humor me, will ya'? lol Anyhow, I know everyone hates Mitayo because they'd rather Knives get the girl, but don't hate him! He's nice! lol Oh, and nothing is cemented in stone yet!! (hint, hint) ~_^
The song I use in here is off the .hack//SIGN soundtrack. It's called Aura, so, as usual, I don't have any claim to it.
~~~~~
Stormie woke up in a foul mood the next morning. Life sucked - especially for her. Her daughter was gone, Eleven was hurt, and Knives and Vash had tracked her down to watch her drown in all her shame. Mitayo had obviously risen earlier, for the spot he had occupied on the bed was empty, and Eleven was absent as well. Great. That stupid man had gotten his near-dead son up and taken him out to the kitchen for breakfast. Didn't he realize that the boy should be taking it easy?
Rising, Stormie combed her fingers through long, blonde tangles. No one cared if she looked presentable anyway. Then, she made her way out to the kitchen, marveling over how crowded the small house had become with the four unexpected visitors - all male.
With that thought, she sat down in the hallway, her back to the wall, and cried. She was so scared. What would happen to Faith? Would she ever find her? Would Naoshi hurt her in any way?
Naoshi...
Stormie jolted in surprise, sudden thoughts bombarding her. Naoshi had had the chance to kill Eleven, but instead he left him for dead, just like he didn't finish off her. He'd also had a run in with Knives, but had not killed him either. What was going on here? Was he...sparing them?
"Stormie?" Mitayo was standing in the hall, looking at her with an expression of cautious curiosity. "Are you ok?"
She pulled her knees tightly to her chest. "You took Eleven out of bed," she sniffled. "You shouldn't have."
"He was begging me, Stormie. He said he wanted to go eat breakfast with everyone else." Mitayo shrugged helplessly. "And he said from now on we're supposed to call him Xavier………whatever that means."
"Faith must've named him," Stormie sighed. "She names everything Xavier. Xavier the cat, Xavier the dog, Xavier the turtle, Xavier the house plant..."
"I'm really sorry he took her," Mitayo whispered, sliding down against the wall beside her. "I'll do anything you tell me to in order to help. Really. I wasn't ready before to risk my neck like that, but now...I'll do anything."
"Thanks, but look at what happened because of my dragging you and Eleven into the whole mess. I can do this alone..."
Mitayo leaned in, kissing her on the cheek. Stormie was so shocked she couldn't respond. "No, you can't," he said quietly, and stood up to leave.
Stormie remained frozen in place, hand resting over her burning cheek. "Alright," she murmured.
~~~~~
Mitayo ran headlong into Knives on his way around the corner. The other plant, exact same height, glared at him with ice blue eyes. "You like her, huh?" he muttered.
Mitayo eyed the other man defiantly. "Yes."
"And I suppose she likes you?"
"I'm hoping."
"Where's Eleven's mother?"
"Dead." Remorse rang in Mitayo's voice.
"You want Stormie to be his mother."
"I wouldn't mind. What are you getting at?"
"You better not hurt or disappoint Stormie."
"Trust me, I won't."
"You better not," Knives seethed. Mitayo began to shoulder his way past, but the other man grabbed him by the shirt collar, yanking him back into place. He brought them so close their noses almost touched, eyes wild with hate and jealously as he seethed, "Because if you do, I'll kill you."
~~~~~
"Order up, George!" Oriole impatiently rang the bell at the kitchen window, having already fastened the piece of paper she had written the order on to a string with a clothes pin. The cook was a bit hard of hearing and slow to respond, so she had to call him several times before he sluggishly dragged himself to the front to see what she wanted.
Meanwhile, Grayfall was sitting at a table by the window, chin resting on the back of his hand. He often could imagine his father doing the same thing as he waited for Heather, Grayfall's mother, to get off work. One could say Grayfall was playing out the same scenes from his father's life, but there was a major difference. No Millions Knives to run back to. He clenched his fist angrily. They were still not on good terms.
Oriole dashed by the table, setting down a cup of coffee on her way. He smiled at her appreciatively, but she didn't see, just kept on running to assist the REAL customers. Turning back to the window, he began to sip at the hot liquid, intrigued by a strange sight just outside.
Oriole, now on break, slid into the booth to sit across from him, confused at his fascination by what was outside. "What are you looking at?"
He nodded his head in the direction of the road. "Look at that. That lady's car broke down."
Oriole squinted. Indeed, there was a smoking vehicle out by the shoulder of the faint desert path. A short, petite woman stood in front of it, her hands on the lifted hood, peering down at the engine in utter confusion. By her side was a tall, blonde girl, looking to be around ten or twelve, and she held by the hand a six year old boy with jet black hair.
"Maybe you should help them," suggested Oriole, and Grayfall nodded soberly. She smiled and waved as he walked off, very proud of her fiancé. He was smart and helpful and handsome and just all around perfect and she wanted everyone to see - including the poor lady who was stuck with a jeep that no longer ran.
Grayfall sensed Oriole's pride and squared his shoulders, but smiled and shook his head at the same time. She thought of him to be much more talented than he really was. They made each other happy - they understood one another. He mulled over all these thoughts as he strode out to where the stranded family was, and he was even considering them when he came up behind the woman and asked, "Need help?"
She stiffened at the sound of his voice, as if she recognized it. That immediately made him cautious, taking a step back. What next threw him was the little girl clinging to his legs, screaming his name in delight. And then he looked down. And gasped.
"Faith? What are you doing here?" he exclaimed, because there was nothing else to say. Stormie had been supposed to visit, but had never showed. "Where is your mother?"
The other woman turned around, and Grayfall stared at her for a while, puzzled. He recognized her... An image flashed through his mind. Dinner. Vash standing at the head of the table, serving. Knives expression when he was thrown back against the wall. A quick glance around the room. A family of three. The child, a girl with black hair, staring at him, horrified. Her name was...
"Billy?" he said blankly.
She nodded, looking away immediately. "Yeah. You remembered me, huh? Well, guess it's hard to forget the girl who ran away with the plant assassin. Might as well spill the story now. Oh, gosh, I'm so embarrassed." And her face showed it too, having heated up to a beat red. She pushed the boy in front of her, introducing him quickly. "This is Vincent. Naoshi's son. And I have Faith with me because, as you know, she's his daughter and he had this great idea of spending some family time with her. I don't know what he was thinking when he took up his sword again with her there to watch. Take your daughter to work day or something?" Billy groaned, her hand over her face in shame. "Listen, I had no idea he did that to Stormie. I'm sorry, and I know I don't deserve your help, seeing as how I was sorta on the enemy's side up until recently, but I really need a place to stay until I get home." She sighed in exhaustion, in humiliation. "Please."
Grayfall nodded, backing slowly away and then, upon finding his voice, "Follow me."
~~~~~
Woosh. A gust of cold air swept through the station as a newer train sped by on the tracks, passing an excited Faith and sending her long, white hair streaming across her face. She had been assigned to hold Vincent's hand to make sure he would not stray, and had already found that he was a quiet, shy little boy who rarely spoke unless it was to his mother. It was strange to think this was her half brother.
But she was going home!
Another train chugged by, this one slower, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Billy counting out the train tickets. Grayfall and Oriole were sitting on a bench only a few yards away, having decided to accompany them home for protection lest Naoshi show up.
Tugging impatiently on the little boy's hand, she dragged him over to Billy, smiling up at the woman in gratitude. "Thanks for helping me get home, Mrs...uh..." Now this presented a problem. What was Billy? Was she Mrs. Naoshi? Or Mrs. Plant Assassin? As Faith pondered the selection, Billy gulped down a lump in her throat.
"Just call me Billy," she said.
Vincent tugged on his mother's sleeve. "Momma!"
"What is it, Vinny?" Billy was tucking the precious tickets, her means of freedom, into her purse.
He pointed to a snow cone vender not far away. "Can I get one? Please?"
Since Vincent had been quiet and good the whole trip, aside from crying and pining away over leaving his daddy forever, for reasons he did not understand, Billy had not the heart to disappoint him. After all, how could she explain to the little boy, who adored his father and saw him as someone kind and generous and protective, that the man who had sired him was just a murdering villain?
"Faith, do you want one?" Billy asked, looking to the girl.
Faith nodded enthusiastically. Anything cold on a hot day was a treat in her book.
"Grayfall, Oriole!" called Billy, successfully catching the couple's attention as both heads turned her way. "We're going to get something to eat! We'll be back in five minutes!"
Both nodded.
"I bet that girl's parents will be happy to see her," Oriole murmured, brown eyes bouncing along with the trio as they disappeared into the swelling crowd. It was a busy day. "Their marriage broke up when Billy disappeared."
Grayfall frowned. "If I were her, I wouldn't have the guts to go back home."
"It'd be hard, that's for sure."
And then he heard it. Grayfall's heart seized in his chest and he nearly doubled over. The din of the train station quieted and became silent. The hurrying people no longer made noise as they yelled and shuffled their feet. The movements continued, but there was no sound. Just a slow, metallic tinkling of a far away music box. Then there was a new melody, a slow, halting, tune with an eerie voice that sang of sorrow. Grayfall panicked. The song had never been like this before. The Death Song.
//If you are near ~ to the dark//
//I will tell you ~ 'bout the sun//
Oriole gently lay a hand to his shoulder, and he whipped his head around to stare at her, wide-eyed. Her lips moved, but no words came forth. What was happening?! She looked so concerned. She shook him a little.
//You are here, ~ no escape,//
//From my visions of the world...//
"You can't...hear it..." Grayfall couldn't even pick up on his own words; they were drowned out by the music. Who was going to die? Where was Naoshi?
//You will cry ~ all alone,//
//But it does not mean a thing ~ to me...//
Grayfall jumped to his feet, looking wildly about. He had not heard this music so loud in years. Naoshi was definitely near by, and the only person he could possibly be looking for was...
//Know~ing the song ~ I will sing//
//Till the darkness comes to sleep//
"BILLY!" Grayfall screamed at the top of his lungs, but it was just a faint whisper to his ears. He bolted off through the crowd, but it was so thick he could not progress as fast as he needed to no matter how hard he pushed. The beat was driving him crazy, driving him forward, demanding he pick up his feet and run for all he was worth even though he felt as if he was moving through jelly.
//Come to me ~ I will tell//
//Bout the secret of the sun//
Up ahead, Billy was just placing their order for the snow cones. While the man turned to get them, she knelt down before her son and wiped at a stubborn dirt stain on his shirt, trying to brush it away.
//It's in you ~ not in me//
//But it does not mean a thing ~ to you//
Grayfall saw them, but where was the plant assassin? His gaze darted wildly about until he spotted a flash of white hair moving stealthily through the crowd as if it was water. The man darted and weaved like a predator stalking its pray through tall grass.
//The sun is in your eyes//
//The sun is in your ears//
Grayfall's hand shot out to warn them, but only grabbed empty space. Drums, drums, drums. Urgently thundering inside of him as the flute whistled for him to reach them in time. "Billy!" he cried, shouldering his way past a woman with shopping bags and a man with a brief case.
//I hope you see the sun//
// ~Someday~ in your darkness...//
Oriole was beside him, leaping over dropped parcels and ducking underneath gates when she had to. Grayfall's path had near forced her against the wall, but the situation was too urgent to complain.
//The sun is in your eyes//
//The sun is in your ears//
Naoshi was upon them now, just coming out of the crowd, stepping calmly from behind two men who were waiting for their train. Billy, her back to him, was smiling and handing Vincent his snow cone, unaware of the danger.
//But you can't see the sun//
//Even in the darkness//
Grayfall broke out of the crowd, just across from her, staring past her with wide eyes at Naoshi. The Death Song raged on.
Billy smiled and waved to him.
Oriole burst out just behind Grayfall, crying, "Billy, run!"
//You are here ~ no escape//
But where could she run to? Billy turned around and gasped, coming face to face with a very grim Naoshi.
"You can't take away my children," he said quietly. "You just can't. They mean more to me than anything ever could."
//You will cry ~ all alone//
Billy sneered at him, pushing Faith back towards Oriole, where the girl sought cover, and taking Vincent firmly by the hand. "This is no life for a child," she seethed. "He is my son. I'm taking him someplace safe."
Naoshi's eyes narrowed. The music in Grayfall's mind came to a sudden halt. And the plant assassin did something everyone had expected, but no one saw coming. He pulled his hand out of his cloak, raised the gun to Billy's forehead, and shot the woman point blank.
//But it does not mean a thing ~ to me...//
Sorry I haven't updated for a while! Big problems with the computer! lol Anyhow, I must say, I am disappointed by the lack of reviews. Hmph. Doesn't anyone think this is good anymore? *sigh* Just humor me, will ya'? lol Anyhow, I know everyone hates Mitayo because they'd rather Knives get the girl, but don't hate him! He's nice! lol Oh, and nothing is cemented in stone yet!! (hint, hint) ~_^
The song I use in here is off the .hack//SIGN soundtrack. It's called Aura, so, as usual, I don't have any claim to it.
~~~~~
Stormie woke up in a foul mood the next morning. Life sucked - especially for her. Her daughter was gone, Eleven was hurt, and Knives and Vash had tracked her down to watch her drown in all her shame. Mitayo had obviously risen earlier, for the spot he had occupied on the bed was empty, and Eleven was absent as well. Great. That stupid man had gotten his near-dead son up and taken him out to the kitchen for breakfast. Didn't he realize that the boy should be taking it easy?
Rising, Stormie combed her fingers through long, blonde tangles. No one cared if she looked presentable anyway. Then, she made her way out to the kitchen, marveling over how crowded the small house had become with the four unexpected visitors - all male.
With that thought, she sat down in the hallway, her back to the wall, and cried. She was so scared. What would happen to Faith? Would she ever find her? Would Naoshi hurt her in any way?
Naoshi...
Stormie jolted in surprise, sudden thoughts bombarding her. Naoshi had had the chance to kill Eleven, but instead he left him for dead, just like he didn't finish off her. He'd also had a run in with Knives, but had not killed him either. What was going on here? Was he...sparing them?
"Stormie?" Mitayo was standing in the hall, looking at her with an expression of cautious curiosity. "Are you ok?"
She pulled her knees tightly to her chest. "You took Eleven out of bed," she sniffled. "You shouldn't have."
"He was begging me, Stormie. He said he wanted to go eat breakfast with everyone else." Mitayo shrugged helplessly. "And he said from now on we're supposed to call him Xavier………whatever that means."
"Faith must've named him," Stormie sighed. "She names everything Xavier. Xavier the cat, Xavier the dog, Xavier the turtle, Xavier the house plant..."
"I'm really sorry he took her," Mitayo whispered, sliding down against the wall beside her. "I'll do anything you tell me to in order to help. Really. I wasn't ready before to risk my neck like that, but now...I'll do anything."
"Thanks, but look at what happened because of my dragging you and Eleven into the whole mess. I can do this alone..."
Mitayo leaned in, kissing her on the cheek. Stormie was so shocked she couldn't respond. "No, you can't," he said quietly, and stood up to leave.
Stormie remained frozen in place, hand resting over her burning cheek. "Alright," she murmured.
~~~~~
Mitayo ran headlong into Knives on his way around the corner. The other plant, exact same height, glared at him with ice blue eyes. "You like her, huh?" he muttered.
Mitayo eyed the other man defiantly. "Yes."
"And I suppose she likes you?"
"I'm hoping."
"Where's Eleven's mother?"
"Dead." Remorse rang in Mitayo's voice.
"You want Stormie to be his mother."
"I wouldn't mind. What are you getting at?"
"You better not hurt or disappoint Stormie."
"Trust me, I won't."
"You better not," Knives seethed. Mitayo began to shoulder his way past, but the other man grabbed him by the shirt collar, yanking him back into place. He brought them so close their noses almost touched, eyes wild with hate and jealously as he seethed, "Because if you do, I'll kill you."
~~~~~
"Order up, George!" Oriole impatiently rang the bell at the kitchen window, having already fastened the piece of paper she had written the order on to a string with a clothes pin. The cook was a bit hard of hearing and slow to respond, so she had to call him several times before he sluggishly dragged himself to the front to see what she wanted.
Meanwhile, Grayfall was sitting at a table by the window, chin resting on the back of his hand. He often could imagine his father doing the same thing as he waited for Heather, Grayfall's mother, to get off work. One could say Grayfall was playing out the same scenes from his father's life, but there was a major difference. No Millions Knives to run back to. He clenched his fist angrily. They were still not on good terms.
Oriole dashed by the table, setting down a cup of coffee on her way. He smiled at her appreciatively, but she didn't see, just kept on running to assist the REAL customers. Turning back to the window, he began to sip at the hot liquid, intrigued by a strange sight just outside.
Oriole, now on break, slid into the booth to sit across from him, confused at his fascination by what was outside. "What are you looking at?"
He nodded his head in the direction of the road. "Look at that. That lady's car broke down."
Oriole squinted. Indeed, there was a smoking vehicle out by the shoulder of the faint desert path. A short, petite woman stood in front of it, her hands on the lifted hood, peering down at the engine in utter confusion. By her side was a tall, blonde girl, looking to be around ten or twelve, and she held by the hand a six year old boy with jet black hair.
"Maybe you should help them," suggested Oriole, and Grayfall nodded soberly. She smiled and waved as he walked off, very proud of her fiancé. He was smart and helpful and handsome and just all around perfect and she wanted everyone to see - including the poor lady who was stuck with a jeep that no longer ran.
Grayfall sensed Oriole's pride and squared his shoulders, but smiled and shook his head at the same time. She thought of him to be much more talented than he really was. They made each other happy - they understood one another. He mulled over all these thoughts as he strode out to where the stranded family was, and he was even considering them when he came up behind the woman and asked, "Need help?"
She stiffened at the sound of his voice, as if she recognized it. That immediately made him cautious, taking a step back. What next threw him was the little girl clinging to his legs, screaming his name in delight. And then he looked down. And gasped.
"Faith? What are you doing here?" he exclaimed, because there was nothing else to say. Stormie had been supposed to visit, but had never showed. "Where is your mother?"
The other woman turned around, and Grayfall stared at her for a while, puzzled. He recognized her... An image flashed through his mind. Dinner. Vash standing at the head of the table, serving. Knives expression when he was thrown back against the wall. A quick glance around the room. A family of three. The child, a girl with black hair, staring at him, horrified. Her name was...
"Billy?" he said blankly.
She nodded, looking away immediately. "Yeah. You remembered me, huh? Well, guess it's hard to forget the girl who ran away with the plant assassin. Might as well spill the story now. Oh, gosh, I'm so embarrassed." And her face showed it too, having heated up to a beat red. She pushed the boy in front of her, introducing him quickly. "This is Vincent. Naoshi's son. And I have Faith with me because, as you know, she's his daughter and he had this great idea of spending some family time with her. I don't know what he was thinking when he took up his sword again with her there to watch. Take your daughter to work day or something?" Billy groaned, her hand over her face in shame. "Listen, I had no idea he did that to Stormie. I'm sorry, and I know I don't deserve your help, seeing as how I was sorta on the enemy's side up until recently, but I really need a place to stay until I get home." She sighed in exhaustion, in humiliation. "Please."
Grayfall nodded, backing slowly away and then, upon finding his voice, "Follow me."
~~~~~
Woosh. A gust of cold air swept through the station as a newer train sped by on the tracks, passing an excited Faith and sending her long, white hair streaming across her face. She had been assigned to hold Vincent's hand to make sure he would not stray, and had already found that he was a quiet, shy little boy who rarely spoke unless it was to his mother. It was strange to think this was her half brother.
But she was going home!
Another train chugged by, this one slower, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Billy counting out the train tickets. Grayfall and Oriole were sitting on a bench only a few yards away, having decided to accompany them home for protection lest Naoshi show up.
Tugging impatiently on the little boy's hand, she dragged him over to Billy, smiling up at the woman in gratitude. "Thanks for helping me get home, Mrs...uh..." Now this presented a problem. What was Billy? Was she Mrs. Naoshi? Or Mrs. Plant Assassin? As Faith pondered the selection, Billy gulped down a lump in her throat.
"Just call me Billy," she said.
Vincent tugged on his mother's sleeve. "Momma!"
"What is it, Vinny?" Billy was tucking the precious tickets, her means of freedom, into her purse.
He pointed to a snow cone vender not far away. "Can I get one? Please?"
Since Vincent had been quiet and good the whole trip, aside from crying and pining away over leaving his daddy forever, for reasons he did not understand, Billy had not the heart to disappoint him. After all, how could she explain to the little boy, who adored his father and saw him as someone kind and generous and protective, that the man who had sired him was just a murdering villain?
"Faith, do you want one?" Billy asked, looking to the girl.
Faith nodded enthusiastically. Anything cold on a hot day was a treat in her book.
"Grayfall, Oriole!" called Billy, successfully catching the couple's attention as both heads turned her way. "We're going to get something to eat! We'll be back in five minutes!"
Both nodded.
"I bet that girl's parents will be happy to see her," Oriole murmured, brown eyes bouncing along with the trio as they disappeared into the swelling crowd. It was a busy day. "Their marriage broke up when Billy disappeared."
Grayfall frowned. "If I were her, I wouldn't have the guts to go back home."
"It'd be hard, that's for sure."
And then he heard it. Grayfall's heart seized in his chest and he nearly doubled over. The din of the train station quieted and became silent. The hurrying people no longer made noise as they yelled and shuffled their feet. The movements continued, but there was no sound. Just a slow, metallic tinkling of a far away music box. Then there was a new melody, a slow, halting, tune with an eerie voice that sang of sorrow. Grayfall panicked. The song had never been like this before. The Death Song.
//If you are near ~ to the dark//
//I will tell you ~ 'bout the sun//
Oriole gently lay a hand to his shoulder, and he whipped his head around to stare at her, wide-eyed. Her lips moved, but no words came forth. What was happening?! She looked so concerned. She shook him a little.
//You are here, ~ no escape,//
//From my visions of the world...//
"You can't...hear it..." Grayfall couldn't even pick up on his own words; they were drowned out by the music. Who was going to die? Where was Naoshi?
//You will cry ~ all alone,//
//But it does not mean a thing ~ to me...//
Grayfall jumped to his feet, looking wildly about. He had not heard this music so loud in years. Naoshi was definitely near by, and the only person he could possibly be looking for was...
//Know~ing the song ~ I will sing//
//Till the darkness comes to sleep//
"BILLY!" Grayfall screamed at the top of his lungs, but it was just a faint whisper to his ears. He bolted off through the crowd, but it was so thick he could not progress as fast as he needed to no matter how hard he pushed. The beat was driving him crazy, driving him forward, demanding he pick up his feet and run for all he was worth even though he felt as if he was moving through jelly.
//Come to me ~ I will tell//
//Bout the secret of the sun//
Up ahead, Billy was just placing their order for the snow cones. While the man turned to get them, she knelt down before her son and wiped at a stubborn dirt stain on his shirt, trying to brush it away.
//It's in you ~ not in me//
//But it does not mean a thing ~ to you//
Grayfall saw them, but where was the plant assassin? His gaze darted wildly about until he spotted a flash of white hair moving stealthily through the crowd as if it was water. The man darted and weaved like a predator stalking its pray through tall grass.
//The sun is in your eyes//
//The sun is in your ears//
Grayfall's hand shot out to warn them, but only grabbed empty space. Drums, drums, drums. Urgently thundering inside of him as the flute whistled for him to reach them in time. "Billy!" he cried, shouldering his way past a woman with shopping bags and a man with a brief case.
//I hope you see the sun//
// ~Someday~ in your darkness...//
Oriole was beside him, leaping over dropped parcels and ducking underneath gates when she had to. Grayfall's path had near forced her against the wall, but the situation was too urgent to complain.
//The sun is in your eyes//
//The sun is in your ears//
Naoshi was upon them now, just coming out of the crowd, stepping calmly from behind two men who were waiting for their train. Billy, her back to him, was smiling and handing Vincent his snow cone, unaware of the danger.
//But you can't see the sun//
//Even in the darkness//
Grayfall broke out of the crowd, just across from her, staring past her with wide eyes at Naoshi. The Death Song raged on.
Billy smiled and waved to him.
Oriole burst out just behind Grayfall, crying, "Billy, run!"
//You are here ~ no escape//
But where could she run to? Billy turned around and gasped, coming face to face with a very grim Naoshi.
"You can't take away my children," he said quietly. "You just can't. They mean more to me than anything ever could."
//You will cry ~ all alone//
Billy sneered at him, pushing Faith back towards Oriole, where the girl sought cover, and taking Vincent firmly by the hand. "This is no life for a child," she seethed. "He is my son. I'm taking him someplace safe."
Naoshi's eyes narrowed. The music in Grayfall's mind came to a sudden halt. And the plant assassin did something everyone had expected, but no one saw coming. He pulled his hand out of his cloak, raised the gun to Billy's forehead, and shot the woman point blank.
//But it does not mean a thing ~ to me...//
