Michael walked through downtown Tokyo for the first time in almost a year. Everything had changed, and he was having some trouble finding his way around. Damn, what a time to forget my way around, he thought with a grimace. Robin may be in great danger, and I'm blundering around like a lost tourist! DAMMIT ALL! In frustration, he kicked a can as far as he could down the nearly empty street. A policeman across the road gave him a chastising look, then continued down the sidewalk. Michael resisted the urge to vent some of his anger and flick him off. She could be anywhere…

"Hey, you're Michael, aren't you?"

"Who-?!" The hacker spun around, hand already resting on the butt of the gun he had swiped from the office.

Nagira put up a hand. "Whoa whoa whoa! I'm not here to cause any trouble. Put that thing away." The tall man took a few steps forward. "I just recognized you from the STN-J. You're the delinquent, aren't you?"

"How do you know about the STN-J?" Michael asked, taking his hand away but still eyeing the newcomer warily. "It's a top secret organization."

Nagira threw back his head and laughed. "I'm guessing Amon doesn't talk about me much," he said. "I'm Nagira, Amon's half brother. I suppose you're looking for Robin, right?"

Dumbfounded, Michael nodded.

"Then come with me. Amon actually decided to tell me what was going on this time; a first for him. Probably because it has to do with Robin…" He gestured to a building a few blocks away. "You probably forget your way around, right? Well, Amon's got her locked up in the Suzuki Hotel. We'd best go in after Amon goes out; I don't think that he wanted anyone to know about this, including the other STN-J members. Information leaks, you know. We'll grab something to eat and wait in the lobby until he leaves." He ran a finger through his hair, grimacing at the hour. Then he turned back to the hacker with an amiable grin. "Come on, let's get out of here; I don't like the city before the sun rises."

~*~

Robin still sat with her head down on Amon's side, watching the minutes flicker by on the digital clock. His breathing moved her up and down in time, but she didn't mind. It was kind of comforting knowing that he was close enough for her to be aware of his every breath. Silently she thanked God that the black haired hunter was there for her. I don't know what I would have done without him, she thought. Probably would have been hauled off to the factory, the way I collapsed. Not to mention nearly burned to death. Her hands tightened on Amon's cloak. I really AM useless. I can't even protect myself…

The hunter beneath her stirred again, turning slowly onto his back and sliding an arm behind his head. Black hair spread across the pillow, creating a dark halo around his head. His lips were parted in sleep, giving his face a peaceful look about it, without its usual coldness. Robin could hear his soft breath rustle across his lips in a hypnotic rhythm. She sat back and just watched his sleeping face, hands folded neatly in her lap.

"Robin, why is the time an hour earlier than when I went to sleep?"

The blond girl nearly jumped out of her skin, clutching at her heart and the bedspread for balance. "A-Amon! When did you-"

"Just answer the question." Amon propped himself up on an elbow and watched her, amusement twinkling in his blue eyes.

Robin poked her fingers together in embarrassment. "Well, you didn't go to bed until after two, and that would be less than three hours' sleep, and-"

"Ok, ok, I get it." He reached over and tapped the alarm clock a few times, resetting the time. Then he let his hand fall back to his side, eyes clouding over in thought.

"I-Is something wrong?" Robin asked tentatively. She silently hoped that he hadn't noticed her leaning on him before.

Amon's fingers traveled to the Orbo cross he wore at his neck. After a moment's hesitation, he dropped the trinket with finality. "Nothing is wrong."

Awkward quiet fell over the two. Robin fumbled with her skirts, straightening and restraightening them over and over, avoiding Amon's eyes. A few moments slid by wordlessly.

Finally Robin got up the courage to say something else. "Amon, I don't know how to thank you-"

"For what?" The hunters eyes still stared across the room, but she could tell his attention was full on her. She fumbled for the words she couldn't find.

"For everything…for saving me from that fire I started, for bringing me here, for going through all this trouble…" A tear slid down her nose and dropped onto the sheets. "You don't know how useless I feel…"

She started as a soft, gloved finger stroked her jaw line. "You're not useless," Amon said softly, letting his finger continue its slow course. "In all actuality, you have more potential than most of the world combined. It's just that people don't see it as that."

Robin put a hand to his, cupping it against her face. "Sometimes I could just kiss you," she said with a slight laugh.

Amon's face hardened. "Make sure that you do not." Then he turned over without another word.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Weird, huh? I want predictions!! Why do you think that Amon is against a kiss? I'll give a free orbo bomb to the person with the closest prediction! (Orbo bomb from my and SanoGirl's original story, 1000 Ways to Kill Zaizen. Written under crystal suns; make sure you check it out!) R&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!