Hiya!

Hmm, gotta warn ya, this chappie is scary! Well, lets just say its very….wicked. I know some will really hate this chapter and will be really confused, and it was MEANT to be confusing! Oh and yeah, just wanted to say, While writing this chappie, I was listening to 'June Mermaid' of the Xenogears soundtrack. Maybe I'm just crazy, but I LOVE the….effect of it, or…I dunno, I just like it. How useful it is, the 'Repeat' fonction….LOL oh and yeah, I'll now try to update on a regular basis, because I've received so nice reviews, I'm so happy…. The next chapter will probably be on the site on….err….Friday. Anywayz, keep reviewing! And thanks a bunch!

On The Elsa

"So you think MOMO is there?" Jr. asked, scratching the back of his head nervously. "One thing, why in hell would Albedo attack the Woglinde II huh?" For some reasons, he was quieter than usual, and it was seriously worrying pretty much everyone. If the fact that MOMO was gone wasn't enough, now Jr. was acting like his age for one day. 26 years old…Damn it, Sakura….she'd be 25 now….Hey, now that I think about it, today's….her birthday.

---------------------------------------------------------- Flashback ------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey, what are you doing out there so late?"

"Oh, nothing. Just….thinking, you see?"

"Sakura…. Y'know Joachim said you should get to bed soon. Damn, you never know when the Gnosis will attack, or…."

The girl smiled softly, like she did every time he would talk to her about a precise subject. "Rubedo….You know that my sickness can never be cured. And for the Gnosis….well….It happen everyday…. Do not worry about me. How is Albedo?" she asked, frowning at his twisted, fake smile. She knew she was hurting him, but what could she do? She could not do miracle now, could she? Her sickness, or rather, decease….she had contracted it when she was in contact with a Gnosis. She wasn't dead yet, but fated to transform into a monster.

"He's alright, I think. Damn it, if I hadn't….broken the mental link….he wouldn't have been infected by U-DO." Rubedo whispered, sitting besides the young girl on the 'Balancing Chair' like he called it. His head sunk down as he thought of the day where his 'lover' would transform into a Gnosis.

"You should not worry about that. It was not your fault! You were scared, anybody would have done so…." Sakura replied, placing her hand on his shoulder hesitantly. "I think you are very courageous."

The red head drank in each word she spoke, locking it in his mind as a precious memory. The way she talked, the way she looked at him with her usual soft smile….To him, her voice was the sincerity, the wisdom even. Ever since his provoked birth, he had never felt that way toward anyone, but her…. Nigredo told him it was a 'normal human' feeling.

"I'm not courageous, I'm a bastard!" He retorted, feeling suddenly upset.

"I'm sorry…. I didn't mean to upset you, please don't be mad!!" She whispered, placing her hands on her ears, not wanting to hear any more of his anger.

----------------------------- End of Flashback -------------------------------------

She was like her in every way…. MOMO….MOMO….she was a painful sight.

------------------------------------ Flashback ----------------------------------------

"Jr.?"

"Jr.?"

The answer she was expecting never came. Her instincts told her to place her hand on his shoulder, hoping to catch his attention. They were in the Encephalon, hiding behind a wrecked car as they watched hundreds of blond U.R.T.V walking toward an unknown destination. MOMO noticed Jr. was pretty taken in it.

"Are you okay?" she asked again, the insecurity she felt at the moment showing in her weak voice.

"I SAID I'M FINE!" Jr. suddenly yelled, shoving her hand off of his shoulder.

He yelled at her….He yelled at her…. MOMO felt tears welling up in her eyes, not understanding why he was so mean to her. A reflex? Maybe. Her hands rushed to cover her ears as she turned around, letting a single tear roll down her cheek.

"I'm sorry!! I didn't mean to upset you, please don't be mad!!"

------------------------------------------End of Flashback -----------------------------------------

Jr. mentally slapped himself for thinking that. MOMO, a painful sight. Damn, was he getting crazy? But you know this is how you feel, a voice in the back of his mind said. Gaignun Jr., once called Rubedo, was currently feeling ashamed. Unfortunately, he forgot to block his thoughts and accidentally sent them to Gaignun.

"Still thinking about her?" Gaignun inquired in his mind, knowing Jr. would intercept the thought.

"Don't wanna talk about it, okay?!"

This was the end of their silent discussion. Yep, they were STILL on the Elsa, thinking, thinking and thinking. Jr. noticed Gaignun staring at him and switched his gaze from chaos to him. Anyway, he was too lost in thoughts to understand what the silver-haired boy was saying.

"What, want a pic?" Jr. asked sarcastically, crossing his arms over his chest.

Somewhere behind them, a woman cleared her throat. "Ahem, hum, guys? Shouldn't we get going ?"

"You're absolutely right, Shion." chaos exclaimed cheerfully. "Lets go everyone!"

The Ruins of the Woglinde II

"God, this place is creepy…." Shion murmured as she crossed her arms over her chest, rubbing the upper parts of her arms, hoping to gain some heat. "It doesn't look like MOMO is here though. Are you sure this is the Woglinde II?"

"Affirmative. These ruins are actually only a part of the ship." KOS-MOS stated, her eyes widening every time she zoomed on something.

They were currently in a little room, which was pretty much the same as Shion's old room. Only this time the walls painting was peeling off, it had different shades of brown and black, showing that the room probably burned or something. On the left corner, a bed was up against a wall as if someone tried to use it as a shield to protect themselves, the blankets disheveled were also burned looking. On the right corner laid a broken doll, all twisted up as if someone had pulled onto each extremity. The doll had soft, though disheveled, short, brown hair. One of the eyes was out of its socket but you could easily see that it was emerald green on the other one. She wore a long, plain, yellowish dress with long sleeves, but you could also see that it was white before.

Jr. kneeled down and stared at the broken doll. "Its….impossible." He murmured to himself, not believing it.

"What is it Jr.?" chaos asked out of worry, looking at the younger boy weirdly.

"Don't you remember that doll?" The red head inquired as he rose up to his feet, throwing the doll at chaos who barely caught it. "It's the doll Albedo used to sleep with before he was infected by U-DO. The one Sakura had given him when he had a cold."

chaos smiled secretly at the doll as it brought much souvenirs to him. He had arrived on Miltia not much after Sakura had given this doll of her to Albedo, and everyone was telling him to stop sleeping with it because it was not 'manly'.

"I do remember. He loved this doll as much as he loved Sakura at that time." He declared, holding the doll by one arm then let it fall onto the ground.

"Albedo was sleeping with a doll?" Shion questioned, her eyes widened in surprise by chaos' last statement. Albedo, sleeping with a doll? That it pretty much unbelievable.

Jr.'s bangs covered his eyes as he lowered his head. "You wouldn't believe it….Damn that bastard…."

"Jr….?"

"It all began when Albedo, Gaignun and I were exploited as weapons to counter-attack U-DO. As you probably know, Joachim Mizrahi was the founder of U-TIC. One day on a meeting at his home, Joachim gave us the mission to protect his unique daughter. That's how we met her. "

"So you really did know MOMO's real self. Does she know?" Shion asked, tapping her foot on the floor impatiently. She felt a little angry at Jr., because by the face he made, it was obvious he never told MOMO about Sakura, or moreover, his past. Poor MOMO, I hope she's okay….MOMO….the poor girl is the one suffering the most….Why is everyone being so cruel with her? She do not deserve everything that is happening to her…. Shion thought, her eyes narrowed at the sad thought. "So? Does she know?" Not surprisingly, Jr. did not reply and went on with his story.

"We all looked like complete morons, not that some of us weren't naturally anyway….It all happened so quickly, I fell in love with her, and I think it was reciprocal. But I wasn't alone….Albedo also fell for her. Who could not love her? Well, except Gaignun. She was an angel. The kindness incarnated. One day, Albedo caught a cold and stayed in the laboratory for treatments. She went down there and gave him a doll she made of herself. He never let go of it after. Not long before the Miltian Conflict, the Gnosis invaded Miltia and we didn't have our guns on us, and failed to protect Sakura. Well, Albedo had a gun, but was too scared to shoot in case he'd miss and hit Sakura. The Gnosis touched Sakura, and she got cursed. I mean, damn, she was fated to transform into a monster!"

Rubedo's cheeks turned a nice shade of red as the anger filled him, the hatred toward Albedo growing by every minute. It was terrible for him to relive all those awful moments of confusion mixed with hatred and sympathy.

"Then….a few months after, the Gnosis attacked again, and Sakura….she killed herself. Nothing more to say about it."

"Jr….I'm sorry." Shion whispered, placing her hand onto his shoulder comfortingly. Surprisingly, he shoved her hand away and began walking in the direction of a darker corridor.

"Lets go." The red head commanded as he turned around, his cape flowing behind him as he noticed the doll on the floor. His eyes glowed red as he took his guns out of their holders and aimed at the doll. Two voices fought in his mind, the good side and the evil side. Shoot it, buddy, she's the source of your pain.

Don't be foolish, you loved her. You wouldn't dare shoot her. The real source of your misery is you….

SHOOT! SHOOT! Relieve yourself of your hatred, shoot!

Don't! Sakura is not the one causing you much grief, its Albedo and yourself. She's dead now, forget everything.

Come on Rubedo, shoot. Pain is misery, misery is reality. Wont you understand it someday? Rubedo, if you shoot her, you also shoot Albedo and that precious copy you care so much for.

Oh please, don't try to tell him what to do! You don't need to say it like that, he see Sakura in MOMO, yeah, that end here.

For one thing you are right. He keep trying to relieve himself of the pain of losing one by trying to love another. Pitiful. Damn, shoot!!

Rubedo….I know how you feel, but don't. Take it slowly in your hands and stuff it in your pocket for god's sake! Your priority now is to help MOMO.

Shion took a step back, watching Jr.'s facial expression change drastically every now and then, as if in a inner fight. KOS-MOS, sensing the fear of her 'master', walked right behind the brown-haired woman in a careful way.

"Jr….?" She called nervously, wondering what on Miltia was going on in his head. She didn't know why, but every time his facial traits hardened, her gaze automatically switched from his eyes to his guns. Perhaps because she knew his temper way too well. Jr.'s eyes expressed pure anger as he pressed onto the trigger, the first bullet transpiercing the doll's forehead, the second on the stomach, sending it flying on the other side of the room.

"Damn….you…." He muttered as he placed his guns back in their holders then continued to walk in the dark corridor, leaving an unsettled Shion behind, emotionless Ziggy and KOS-MOS and a wondering chaos.

"We should follow him." Shion stated, following Jr. slowly. Ziggy nodded and accelerated his pace to be next to Shion with KOS-MOS behind.

"This sure is going to be interesting." chaos declared aloud, knowing none would hear him. "What do you think about it….Nephilim."

His arms fell to his sides as the corner of the room glowed white, the shape of a young girl taking form. At first, her long pale, auburn hair blew gently around, then stopped when the light was gone. "You know I cannot stay long." She said, looking at chaos with emotionless eyes.

"I do. He's going down quicker than I expected. Its all too much for him, he's going mad."

"If this is his fate, then do not interfere. If he knew…."

"Don't worry. I wont tell a thing, but I admit I feel horrible about all of this."

On The Woglinde II....

"Hmm, the Rhyne Maiden. A magnificent ship, indeed. But there is no need for it presently…." His voice resonated through the empty room, echoing as soon as he stopped talking.

His sensitive ears caught footsteps noise behind him, and he turned immediately to see a gray-haired Kirschwasser.

"Sir, we have located the Second Song of Nephilim. It is situated right under the Old Miltia." The Kirschwasser declared, her voice as emotionless as….a machine. "Shall we head there?"

Albedo stared at the young girl-looking machine, beginning to laugh silently, wickedly.

"Hm. Mizrahi was always so preventive. Building another place like this. He was probably scared his precious replacement would not be able to keep it safe. Hm, who could have thought she would end up destroying it? What do you think….MOMO?" He asked, watching as the said pink-haired girl walked out of the dark, looking like a zombie by the way she walked. She simply contented herself of staring at him, tilting her head to the side in silent nod.

"What will you do when I will command you to kill Rubedo? Ah, you'll do nothing, you're too powerless compared to me!"

The other Kirschwasser simply walked away, her point being made anyway.

"Do you need reality? 'Cause that is what I shall provide you with!" He shouted as he outstretched his arms to his sides, the room suddenly flashing white. The man contemplated his work, admiring the scenery before him. Their surroundings was not the room on the Woglinde II, but Miltia, 14 years ago. "Be awake for that spectacle!" Albedo merely stared at her for a little while as she 'woke' up from her 'zombieness'.

"Wh….where am I?" MOMO asked aloud, a hand on her forehead. She gasped as soon as she noticed Albedo in front of her. "G….Go away!" she yelled out of terror, backing away.

"Aahh, I've been wanting to talk to you since a while. How do you feel?" The silver-haired man asked, smiling wickedly as usual, admiring her terrorized eyes. "Your eyes….They are shining of fear! Don't be afraid….just see m…." His voice was cut by a yelp coming from nowhere.

"Damn you bastard! I'm gonna kill you, I swear I will!"

MOMO's amber eyes enlightened as she recognized the voice. Only then did she realize Albedo was holding her wrist. "Nnh!!" she groaned as she tried to get out of his grasp, which she did successfully. "Let the reality begin…."

"Jr.!!!!!" she cried out, running in the opposite direction. Around her, cherry trees' flowers were falling as the autumn was slowly coming. It seemed like a dream as she located the place from where the voice was coming from. "Jr.!!" she repeated, then turned a corner as she saw him. "Jr.!"

Her sweet laugh echoed as a smile spread over her face while she ran. His red hair literally flashed amongst the white, blurred buildings and streets. She noticed his rather strange clothes, which were now a pale blue, white and gray suit instead of his usual dark red trench coat, his red sweater and brown pants. But MOMO didn't have the time to think as she literally threw herself in his arms, but ended up faaling onto the ground. She had jumped through him.

"Jr….The man….he's there!" The Realian exclaimed as she rose up to her feet, trying to pull onto his sleeve but in vain. It was like Jr. was a ghost or something.

"J…Jr…."

His eyes….They held the same anger she had seen earlier, when she had seen him cry over the girl. 'Rubedo' cracked his fingers as he punched a younger white-haired boy straight in the jaw, causing him to fly to the ground.

"Jr.!"

"You bastard….you killed her, you killed her! It's all your fault. If you had shoot, she wouldn't have been cursed! Now I'm gonna kill you with my bare hands!"

MOMO gasped at such foul language as her hands instinctively reached her mouth in disbelief. Its wasn't like him at all….well….maybe a little, but not THAT much! Many things went through her head at the moment. That man….Albedo….was he still behind her? Was he still after her? And Jr. wasn't even looking at her, his anger solely directed toward the crying boy on the ground, who had a hand on his cheek.

"Jr., stop!" She yelled as a blow of wind passed by, causing her hair to fly in front of her eyes. Without seeing, she heard a SLAP and a faint yelp again.

"Jr., stop it!" she repeated as she placed herself in front of the boy on the ground, outstretching her arms in a protective way. "He's hurt!" She closed one eye as she saw the punch coming, but did not move. It never came. Her eye opened reluctantly, only seeing the big fist in front of her. He had stopped at the last moment. Did this mean he could see her?

"Rubedo, what is it?" An exact replica of Jr. appeared behind, only, his eyes were dark green and his hair was black.

"I….It feels like something's pulling me back…." He whispered hesitantly, then turned back to his old self. "You bastard, that sure isn't the end of it, I swear. You're gonna pay…."

"Do not think so, Rubedo." The once crying boy declared, his voice weirdly resembling Albedo's one, but sounded younger. "You think you can beat me?! U-DO gave me infinite powers, you'll never be able to get rid of me, no matter what your serial number is….666."

Suddenly, MOMO's eyes began burning. "Whoa, my eyes…."

Behind her, she heard the sound of snapping fingers as her body went limp, falling unconscious onto the ground.

"You should worry about me, not her!"

That voice….

"I'm the real one, the one you love!"

It cant be….

"Care about me, Rubedo!"

I already do….

"NO! You currently care more about her than me!"

Its….not true…. Sakura….You're not the Sakura I used to love….She was kind, gentle and sweet….while….you're acting like a bitch….

-gasp- "Rubedo, SHE will pay for YOUR mistakes!"

No….M….MOMO….Sa....kura....

TBC…..