[Chapter 7.]

Damn! Where is she? David asked himself as he surveyed the lot of cars abroad Otacon's premises. He advanced down the parked cars, looking into each vehicle, hoping that at least one of them held the kunoichi. Thirty-six cars and not one of them held the woman he was looking for. He cursed, scanning the perimeter once more.

"Found her yet?" a familiar voice arose from behind him. He whirled around and saw Meryl standing before him with her hands behind her back. He winced.

"Meryl."

"I bet you're tired of seeing me."

"I'm kind of busy right now." He grunted, turning back around. He started to look once more into the vehicles. Perhaps he may have missed a few. She followed, peeping into the vehicles as well.

"I see." She paused, stepping beside him as he continued to search. "Mind if I help?"

"As a matter of fact, I do mind. You've helped enough already."

She frowned.

"Fine. I'll just walk away and not even bother to tell you where she went."

He stopped and turned to face her. When he did, she turned and started to walk away.

"Wait a minute!" he yelled, grabbing her by the arm. He turned her to face him. "Where is she?"

Meryl struggled against him, but he held a good grip on her arm. "Let go of me!"

"Not until you tell me where Ayane went."

Those who were now heading to their cars turned their eyes toward them. Meryl smirked, finding this an opportunity. She granted him the same hard stare.

"You wouldn't want me to make a scene now, would you?"

He glanced at the passersby and his teeth gritted. He released her.

"Hm." She started, rubbing her arm. "...Didn't think you could get so aggressive beyond a bedroom."

He crossed his arms. "Where is she, Meryl? You're testing my patience."

"Why are you worrying about her? You should be with me."

" I don't have time for this..." He muttered, turning to walk to his vehicle. She dropped her arms to her sides, watching.

"There you go again, leaving me." She frowned, following him. He paused, turning around.

"Stop following me. I'm busy looking for someone important."

Important?!  That did it. That remark caused her blood to boil on a level exceeding "steaming hot." How dare he degrade her importance like that. She brought her hand clearly across his face, making him wince. His left cheek reddened, burning, accented by her stinging hand. She pulled her hand to her side and stepped back. Her eyes narrowed on him like he was a child.

"David Hayter, Solid Snake," she started, scowling as her words hissed at him. "Or whatever the hell you want to be called, I'm through with you."

"Meryl—"

She shot a hand into the air, silencing him as she stalked off. She didn't want an explanation, an apology. All she wanted now was his suffering. And she knew just how to do it. David brought a hand to his face, rubbing his jaw. He sighed, pulling open the driver-side door of his Ferrari.

My heart's still pounding. ...My thoughts, they're still running. And the Blood... so much blood.

Slowly Ayane's eyes opened, meeting that of Liquid's, although hers were blind with tears. Beside him on the floor was a train personel sprawled out in a pool of his own blood. Blood collected in a pool on her shirt, around her middle. Her right hand pressed against it, applying pressure. She winced when Liquid aimed toward her again. "Our friend here wanted to meddle."

"But I'll ask you this again." His eyes narrowed on her as her head lowered a bit. Her breathing became heavy. Still, she managed to lift her gaze to him. "Where is Snake?"

"I...I told you. I-I don't know."

He frowned. "You're not convincing me."

"I'm telling the truth!" she winced, arching forward with a small cry. "I-I don't know. Please... believe me."

"I don't." He said, looking down on the gun. He examined the weapon then turned it back to her. "I've learned that you know where he is."

She looked up to him, the blood loss started to show in her color. He saw the question forming in her eyes.

"How? Well, that's an easy one," He grinned. "A little voice told me. Quite the informer, that voice. Very persistent too."

She winced and he continued. "Now...Are you willing to talk?"

She shuddered, watching his aim rise. She shut her eyes once more. Her number was surely up. If the blood she already lost didn't kill her, the next gunshot would. She started to sob and he grinned.

"Am I scaring you? Sorry." He mocked, using the tone he took when he first saw her.

"But don't worry" He teased, "You'll die quickly. It's a little painful right now, but ya' know... you'll eventually blackout and then POW!" he startled her, "It'll all be over."

He watched as she started to shake.

"Of course, that's if you decide not to talk. My dear brother is here somewhere and I know you know where he is."

"I don't—"

"Haven't you learned anything?" He shouted. "Every time you say 'no' I go POW! with my little gun."

She found it hard to keep her eyes open.

"uh-uh-uh, don't start blacking out on me now. I'm not through with you."

His aim fell upon her again and the trigger pulled back.

"Snake!"

"Yeah, Otacon." David replied dryly.

"My guess is you haven't found her." Otacon sighed with a hint of worry.

"You guessed right. What's up?" He eyed a woman walking along the sidewalk as he drove by. It wasn't Ayane.

"Mei Ling. She has a sister."

"Mei Ling.... great."

"I think she can help you."

"Help me do what?—"

"Hi Snake!" Lee-Anne cheerily greeted.

"uh...Hello—Otacon how does she—?"

"She knows already. She insisted that she call you that."

"...."

"Okay, Mr. Snake." Lee-Anne started. "What's the problem?"

"Problem?"

"uh...I forgot to tell you" Otacon started "she's going to be your Advisor. Mei Ling suggested Lee-Anne. ...Since my quotes on the last mission didn't really help much."

"...."

"Mr. Snake."

"What?"

"What? Is that how you answered my sister?"

He sighed, easing the car to a stop. The traffic light was red. "...Otacon."

"Can't help you here, Snake. She's a tough one."

Lee-Anne giggled and the light turned green. He started forward, once again looking to the streets for any sign of Ayane.

"I think you should choose from your heart."

"What? What're you talking about?"

"If you really love a woman, let your heart decide if you want to be with her. Not your mind."

"...You call that a quote?—Otacon where did you find her?"

"Mei Ling." He laughed. "Give her time, Snake."

"I don't appreciate you two mocking me." Lee-Anne said, giving time for her voice to rise. "If you don't need my help, then why am I here?"

"...." David pulled into a parking lot of a late-night bar.

"Sorry, Lee-Anne. We do need you." Otacon collected the empty liquor bottles from the living room and crossed into the kitchen.

"That's what I thought." She answered back.

"Hey Otacon." David looked around as he stepped out of his car. He put his hands in his pockets and made his way toward the Entrance. Blatant Intoxication was the sign he read above the entrance doors. Hmph, great title, he thought.

"Yeah, Snake?"

"Can you try to reach Ayane on Codec? She wasn't answering my call."

"Sure thing."

"Ayane. Is that the girlfriend, Snake?" David paused at the girl's question.

"Um...no."

"No?"

"No."

"Is she the mistress then?"

"…Otacon." He grumbled, pushing open the entrance doors.

"She's your advisor, Snake. Deal, would ya?"

"She's a kid."

"She's Mei Ling's sister."

He sighed. "Otacon, reach me if you hear anything. And Lee-Anne?"

"Yeah?"

"I'll call you if I need any ancient scriptures."

"Okay. But you don't have my frequency—"

"Don't worry, Otacon will fill me in."

"Oh. Okay."

They all said their over and outs and ended transmission. Inside, the bar was full of men and a few women. David glanced around, his eyes scanning over every face turned in his direction. Compared to the men in there, he was clean-cut and looked very out of place. He cocked his head to the side and cleared his throat. "Alright, listen up."

Few turned their heads in his direction, and a few didn't. Voices still filled the room. He fished around in his pocket and removed a photo of Ayane. He held it up so everyone could see.

"Has anyone seen this woman?"

Most of the guys shook their heads while others were so drunk that they lied and said they had her in bed the night before. David rolled his eyes and the murmured voices slowly erupted into loud chatter. He returned to the entrance when a familiar ring filled his ear.

"I know where she is." A distorted voice said. David turned around, looking over the faces. Any one of them could be using the codec system. He just needed to know who. He placed a hand to his ear to drown out the sound of the others.

"Who is this? How'd you get my frequency?"

"That's not the issue right now, is it?"

"…."

"She took the train." He looked around the bar once more. Every one there seemed to be doing the normal activities a bar-goer would do. Drink and be merry. He pushed himself out the doors.

"She took the train where?"

"To heaven… or hell. I really don't know."

"What?!"

"Bye, I'll call soon."

"Damnit!"

The contact was lost, and empty space filled his ear. He punched the wall beside him and wiped a hand over his face, cursing. For minutes, he stood there thinking. He had to find her quick. Weaving through parked cars, he dived into the driver seat of his Ferrari and tossed the key into the ignition, starting the engine. Quickly, he reversed and sped out of the parking lot, flying into the vacant streets.

Is it over? The pain? Is it gone yet? Did I die? Liquid rested his hand against her face, tilting it up. Slowly her eyes opened, still blind by tears and pain. At the corner of her mouth, blood crawled freely as she took slow breaths of air. He smirked.

"You're quite the survivor. Now will you talk?" She didn't reply. "I don't think you'll be able to take another shot."

She began to sob in his hand. "I…I told you. I don't…don't know where he is…I—"

He sighed, his thumb running softly along her lips.

"There you go again, lying." He watched her, wiping away at the blood along her mouth. "You must be enjoying this."

She didn't say anything, only sobbed.

"Tell me where he is, and you're free to go."

"I—"

"Don't say you don't know. I'd really hate to see you go." He smirked "The last woman I killed…well…lets just say, they still haven't found her."

"He…"She paused, and he waited, eagerly and intently listening. "He's… dead."

"Dead?" He repeated. She sobbed, struggling to move a hand to wipe her tears. He did it for her. "How?"

She shrugged. "…accident. Car accident."

Even though this was a lie, he enjoyed playing her little game. For she played his game and took two of his shots, it was his turn to be a pawn in her game of chess. He turned away from her, grinning as he brought a hand to his chin. She shut her eyes and breathed in slow paces.

"So Solid perished at the hands of the wheel… I applaud you, brother." He said, looking to the ceiling. "You were always so reckless."

He picked up the handgun, cocked it back and turned to Ayane. He waited for her eyes to slowly open and return to his. When she did, he aimed at her once more and she frowned.

"You said I'd be free to go…" She murmured. He gave a light shrug.

"I lied. And since Solid's no longer living, you're no longer needed."

"But—"

"Say goodnight."

"…damnit."

As he'd planned, he ended the night on a sad note, pulling the trigger twice. She fell back, sprawled onto the seats in a pool of her own blood. Her image: discolored, apparently dead. He frowned, holstering the gun behind him, as it was in the beginning, and turned to leave. He stepped over the other, careful as to not step in the young man's plasma, and pulled open the room's door, making his exit.