Author's Notes: Yes, well so far I've gotten really good reviews. I forget to mention last time that a scene coming up in this was LARGELY inspired by la aspara's amazing one-shot 'Change'. I think that's the title. It had the Deftones in it. Yay! Seeing them 10/30!

Oh the stress of midterms upon me...I think my kidneys hurt. Gyah.

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Chapter 2: Everybody Wants Something They Can Cradle

She glanced down at the black Women's Dockers she wore and the red button up shirt and with an approving pat she entered the restaurant and looked around. Spotting the familiar form seated in a corner table, she fought the urge to scowl and made her way to the table. She sat down and thanked the waitress for giving her a menu.

"Hello Rei. How are you?" her father asked.

She forced a polite smile.

"I'm doing quite well, Father. You?"

"Managing with the votes coming up on some new issues."

"I see." she murmured, glancing at her menu.

She didn't want to be there. Ever. It was always the same every year since she was ten. Her father would ask her to meet him for dinner two or three times a year. She would go. And she would always want to leave.

He had abandoned her. Left her at the Shrine when she was a child. Perhaps that was the most merciful and loving thing he'd ever done for his only child. If she had to grow up with him, she would have probably gone insane.

She still couldn't quite forgive his part in what had happened four years ago with Kaidou. He knew, yet he didn't care. And she still hated him for it. He was selfish and greedy and had no time for his own daughter. The only reason he acknowledged her was honor. The small, warped sense of honor he still held. It was also good for his political image.

"You could show a little more manners, young lady."

Rei held her tongue.

"I don't think there's much we have to say to each other."

"I'm still your father, Rei."

"If you say so."

"Rei!"

"You didn't raise me. You were never there. You really don't meet the standards of parental qualification."

She could see he was trying to keep his temper in check.

"You've become such a rude girl. I wonder if leaving you with your grandfather really was a good decision."

That hit a nerve. Big time.

"Really? I think it's probably the only good thing you've ever done for me."

"That's enough Rei. I would hope you learn some manners if you're ever going to marry successfully someday."

"Oh, and I suppose you have one your little proteges already picked out? And how is Kaidou-san doing these days? Happily married still?"

She almost smirked at how tense he had grown.

She stood up and pushed her chair in.

"You have no right to dictate my life at all. Perhaps you should just forget about me. You do it well enough anyway."

And with that she walked out.

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"Ew! Your dad is a total bastard! I'm so sorry Rei-chan!" Minako's voice chirped over the phone as Rei rested it against her shoulder to sort through her closet.

She was currently only wearing her pants and a red bra as she looked for the right outfit for the club.

"It's ok, Minako-chan. I've already forgotten. He really should just butt out of my life. He's never been there for me and I really never think about him. So whatever."

"Well that's okay! Anywho, I'm hanging up and I'll be there in like 20 minutes."

"Okay, later!"

Rei hung up the phone and tossed it on her bed as she bit her lip, looking for the perfect outfit. She saw a dark burgundy almost brown skirt and grabbed it, then grabbed a red satin tank tops and found a pair of brown leather ankle boots in her closet.

She quickly dressed and then went to her vanity and sat as she dumped her make up bag out. She put on her concealer, foundation, and powder and then applied some goldish-red eyeshadow then black eyeliner and mascara. She finished with a red, glossy lipstick and debated on what to do with her hair. She always wore it down and tonight she felt like doing something different. Arranging it into a messy but intricate bun, she secured it with some ruby clips and was satisfied.

She waited down by the street for Minako, who made her presence well known by her yelling 'Rei-chan you look so cool!!!'.

Rei looked over Minako and replied with a like compliment. Minako did look very nice dressed in a soft gold sun-dress with strappy black heels on. It was simple but very sharp.

"So Minako-chan, you're not going to accidentally get drunk and attempt a pole dance again are you?"

Minako laughed nervously.

"No no. My pole-dancing days are over."

"Well that's good, the owners were soooooooo pissed over at Club Blu."

"Well Club Blu sucks! It smells like vomit!"

"That's true...but still...just don't do anything indecent."

"Yea yea! But really...I'm thinking of giving up on love. No one's really caught my eye is a long time."

"Since Yaten-kun left?"

Minako blushed.

"Yea."

"Minako-chan, you can talk about it you know. I mean I really only had a simple crush on him. I know you felt more."

"I...I don't know. I mean, he's a she anyway! But he was so cool...and even if he was grumpy it was endearing."

"I'm sure there's other surly femme boys out there for you."

"And you, Rei-chan? I mean, hasn't anyone caught your eye since Yuuichirou left?"

Rei sighed.

"Not really. I don't think I'm trying though. Maybe I just don't know what I'm looking for."

"Maybe what you're looking for will find you."

"Serendipity?"

"Huh? What does royalty have to do with it?"

"Minako-chan, serendipity means finding something you didn't know you were looking for."

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh."

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He stood up, feeling the cold stone of the throne become a memory against his skin. It was time. Time for his return to begin. He had watched, his living flame, and knew where she was going. A place he had passed long ago in that crowded, cramped city.

Seraphim.

He walked...and walked...shedding the worn, grey uniform as he willed a different set of clothing to appear. His battle armor was now black leather pants, a belt of chains, and a blue-grey button up shirt which he left unbuttoned.

A smirk graced his lips as he vanished from the cold, dark hall of ruins intent of feeling the warmth of his favorite flame that had once held him favor, once was his bitter enemy, was always there.

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Entering Seraphim, the two senshi blinked as they noticed almost everyone was wearing masks. And wings or horns. They walked to the bar and sat down, noticing the bartender wore horns as well.

"What's going on tonight?" Minako asked, smiling at the handsome bartender that has brown hair and green eyes.

"It's Angel/Devil Night."

"Ah...sounds like fun!" she said with a wink and ordered a Coke. Rei ordered the same and looked around. It was packed and several people were on the dance floor gyrating to the beat of the song. She recognized it as an old 80s song, but the version playing was a techno remix.

Came in from the rainy Thursday on the avenue

thought I heard you talking softly

I turned on the lights the tv and the radio

still I can't escape the ghost of you

What has happened to it all?

Crazy some say

Where the life that I recognize?

It's gone away

But I won't cry for yesterday

there's an ordinary world

somewhere I've got to find

and if I try to make my way

to the ordinary world

I will learn to survive

Minako quickly sipped her drink down and hopped off the barstool.

"Well I don't know about you but I feel like dancing."

"Go for it. I'm going to hydrate first."

"Whatever you say." Minako said, bouncing her way to the crowded dance floor where she began dancing with a couple of people.

Rei sometimes envied Minako's boldness. She never seemed to experience any awkward inhibitions that kept her from jumping in and grabbing life. Of course Rei would never admit that to Minako.

The bartender slid a drink in front of, her a translucent red liquid.

"I didn't order this."

"I know. It's compliments of the man at the end of the bar."

Rei glanced down and saw a masked man in blue-grey raise a drink to her. She merely smirked and quickly looked away in a somewhat haughty manor. She lifted the drink to her lips, and smelled...cinnamon. Sipping, the burning warmth of cinnamon and liquor filled her mouth. She looked at the man again, watching as he drank it down quickly and set the glass down. Then he smirked at her.

It was a challenge.

With a 'hmph' she lifted it to her lips and drank quickly. Setting it down, she looked back and noticed the man was gone.

'Oh well.' her mind sighed as she started feeling warm. Fanning herself, she stood up and walked to the dance floor and began moving to the beat of song as she felt the warmness grow. She felt almost comfortably numb and her mind grew hazy.

All along I was searching for my Lenore
In the words of Mr. Edgar Allan Poe
Now I'm sober and "Nevermore"
Will the Raven come to bother me at home

Calling you, calling you home
You... calling you, calling you home

She moved to the slowish beat and wondered briefly where Minako was. Oh how much her skin felt like is was burning. She wondered where that man went. She wiped a bead of sweat from the side of her neck.

By the door you said you had to go
Couldn't help me anymore
This I saw coming, long before
So I kept on staring out the window

Calling you, calling you home
You... calling you, calling you home

I am a natural entertainer, aren't we all
Holding pieces of dying ember
I'm just trying to remember who I can call
Who can I call

She began dancing a little faster as the beat changed and saw Minako at the other end of the dance floor dancing with a red headed man. Rei wiped her forehead and above her lips and her collarbone.

Home.... calling you, calling you

I run a secret propaganda
Aren't we all hiding pieces of broken anger
I'm just trying to remember who I can call
Can I call

Born in a war of opposite attraction
It isn't, or is it a natural conception
Torn by the arms in the opposite directions
It isn't, or is it a Modernist reaction

People in front of her parted as someone pushed through the crowd and she blinked and gasped as the man in leather and blue-grey appeared before her again with that smirk.

Born in a war of opposite attraction
It isn't, or is it a natural conception
Torn by the arms in the opposite directions
It isn't, or is it a Modernist reaction

Is it like this
Is it always the same
When a heartache begins, is it like this
Do you like this
Is it always the same
Will you come back again

Do you like this
Is it always the same
Will you come back again
Do you like this

Do you like this
Is it like this
Is it always the same
If you change your phone number, will you tell me

Is it like this
Is it always the same
When a heartache begins, is it like this

If you like this
Will you remember my name
Will you play it again, if you like this

He just stood before her, not moving and she slowly stopped dancing and merely looked at the man. He had blonde hair...very familiar but her mind wasn't quite processing the connections to people she knew.

He walked towards until he was an inch away from her and grabbed her and pulled her close as a new song began.

Everybody wants me to be their angel
Everybody wants something they can cradle

They don't know I burn
They don't know I burn
They don't know I burn

Maybe there's a devil (or something like it) inside of me
Devil (or something like it) inside
Maybe there's a devil somewhere really deep inside me
Devil inside of me
Jealous angel deep inside me

The way danced was almost lewd...so close to being sexual. His hips were moving against hers as he place one hand on her lower back and the other against her ribcage. She wasn't sure, but being held like that was vaguely familiar.

You don't know cuz you're too busy reading labels
You're missing all the action underneath my table
I'm waiting for my turn
Waiting for my turn
Just waiting for my turn
Just waiting for my turn

Maybe there's a devil (or something like it) inside of me
Devil (or something like it) inside
Maybe there's a devil somewhere really deep inside me
Devil inside of me
Jealous angel deep inside me

"Mmmmm...you still feel the same." he murmured into her temple as she breathed a soft moan.

Time to make it burn
This is how I burn

"W..Who are you?" she asked, blinking as his face was suddenly very close to hers.

Maybe there's a devil (or something like it) inside of me
Devil (or something like it) inside
Maybe there's a devil somewhere really deep inside me
Devil inside of me
Jealous angel deep inside me

He did not reply, but slammed his lips against hers making her gasp, which he used to slide his tongue into her mouth as he pressed a hand to the back of her head. She felt so much like she was on fire as she responded, her fingers reaching up and grasping the material of his shirt.

It was explosive and passionate. And so achingly familiar.

Finally he moved away trace his hand against her cheek.

"Does that remind you of something, fire bird? From a long long time ago?"

She blinked, feeling herself sway as rubbed her eyes.

"I...I don't know. I..I really don't feel so..." she couldn't finish as she groaned holding her head. The drink, Lava, it was strong.

"I'm sure you don't. Let this be a warning Fire Bird. I'm going to take back what's mine...and your little friends can't stop me. And soon you won't want to stop me."

He lifted his fingers to his mask and brought it down for a moment and then put it back into place.

He smiled as her eyes widened and he left her side, making his way back through the crowd and disappearing as Rei tried to follow only to bump into Minako.

"Rei-chan...what happened?" the blonde asked concerned.

"I..It's..impossible..I can't..."

And then her eyes closed and everything went dark.

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Songs used!!!!!!!!!!!

Ordinary World- DDR Remix

Kremlin Dusk- Utada (Hikaru)

Devil Inside - Utada (Hikaru)