AN: Oops, forgot to stick in a translation for chapter 10! Niisan means "older brother" in Japanese.

Chapter Eleven: Meditation

Black velvet strung with diamonds dominated his view, all lights off save for the ship's exterior. Silence reigned supreme, not even the hum of machinery inside the bulkheads could be heard. Sighing, Jr. sat up from his perch on the floor in front of the Park's massive window, his face solemn.

"Jeez, Albedo…" He muttered. "Why'd you have to go there? Now you've gone and made Gaignun mad." His right hand rose to his heart. And out of all of us, he's not the one you want mad at you…ever. The red-haired U.R.T.V. had only seen his younger brother truly angry one time…and it hadn't been over the catnip incident either.

The night we saved Mary and Shelley…The Kukai Foundation itself had just been finished, the Durandal's construction almost completed, when Gaignun and Jr. had learned of a ship carrying humans who were owned and experimented on by a pharmaceutical company was heading for a secret laboratory on Second Miltia. The two U.R.T.V.s hadn't had any qualms about attacking the transport, wanting only to free the poor people who had been imprisoned and tortured simply because of their abilities. But when they had found the Godwin sisters…

The metal door hissed open, revealing a black void beyond the frame. Gun in hand, Gaignun took the lead, stepping inside and sliding one hand along the side wall to find the light switch…

"Don't move." A sound of a gun cocking. "Put the gun down and your hands up. Same goes for your little friend." Jr. shot a look at his brother, who nodded.

"We're not here to hurt you." Calmly, Gaignun put the gun down before lifting his hands in the air, Jr. following suit. "May I turn on the light?" Hearing no response, he cautiously reached over for the light switch once more, pressing the button. As the shadows dissipated, Jr. heard his younger brother inhale sharply in shock, horror echoing clearly down their mental link. Not that he couldn't blame him…he couldn't believe what was in front of him either.

"Brother…" He whispered. Her slender fingers tight around the cold metal of the gun, Shelley Godwin stared at them with defiance in her eyes. Cradled in her lap was Mary, who was barely nothing more than a sack of skin over bones, needlemarks and bruises all over her arms and legs. Electrical burns, needlemarks, unhealed wounds and blood marred Shelley, her purple hair cropped short like a boy's. She was kneeling on the floor, her right hand gripping the gun while the left held Mary close to her.

"I know. We're not a pretty sight. Don't let that fool you into thinking I'll pull this trigger, though." She snarled, her lavender eyes flashing.

"We're from the Kukai Foundation." Jr. said, finding his voice. "We're not with these people; we came here to rescue you and the others being held like this!" His eyes darted to the side as Gaignun started to step forward. Shelley's attention turned back to the black-haired man.

"Move again and I'll shoot!" She cried, clutching Mary closer to her. However, Mary's sapphire-blue eyes shot open, her breath coming out in sharp pants, her body spasming… Shelley's attention was diverted to her sister, and Gaignun took the opportunity to dash forward, knocking the gun out of her hand.

"Mary, no! No, no, no!"

"What's wrong with her?!" Jr. cried, rushing forward and grabbing a tattered blanket off the dingy cot near the two.

"It's a seizure…the medication they've been using on her reacts with her powers and this happens!" Gaignun took the blond's body in his arms, his eyes glowing.

"Rubedo, call for backup." He ordered. Jr. reached in his pocket for the radio as his younger brother sent a healing Ether throughout Mary's body, cutting the seizure off before it could become full-blown. As her sister's body stilled, Shelley threw herself at Gaignun, sobbing in relief. Silently, the raven-haired U.R.T.V. handed Mary back, standing up.

"As soon as help arrives, get out of here." He said; looking down at the gun he was loading. His voice was remote, that of a stranger. Shocked, Jr. looked up from where he was speaking into the radio.

"Gaignun? What are you…?" A chill ran down his spine as his younger brother looked up. Those eyes…they were cold, merciless, the eyes of a predator. He stayed where he was, rooted to the spot as Gaignun brushed by.

"Just get them out." Jr. had obeyed, and had gotten the Godwins to the escape ship…Gaignun had been the last to arrive. The look in his eyes had warned Jr. that whatever he had done, it was best not to ask…

"But who wouldn't be angry over what happened to them?" Jr. muttered. "Still…"

Pray that I don't get to him before you do niisan. Pray. The red-head suppressed a shudder. The same look that he had seen that night had been in Gaignun's eyes when he had said that. A thought occurred to Jr., and he snorted. Despite that, talk about dropping the proverbial bomb…his younger brother and Shion?

Gotta admit, they would look good together as a couple. And I've never seen Gaignun so ga-ga…never! His lips twitched. Maybe a little well-intentioned meddling was in order…Mary and Shelley would be all too happy to help, even though it was rumored Gaignun was dating the both of them, the relationship between the three was strictly brotherly/sisterly. A relationship would be good for both Gaignun and Shion…but there was the matter of Albedo. A frown crossed the older U.R.T.V.'s face. Why was his twin after Shion? Granted, you couldn't deny that there was something odd about her…

Could he have picked up on what Gaignun and I sense about her? No, but… His mind flashed back to when he had used his powers to blast Albedo away from MOMO. His brother had gotten up, that damn laugh ripping itself from his throat and those maddened purple eyes staring at KOS-MOS…and then they had shifted over to Shion.

He shouldn't have any quarrel with her! Though… Jr. blinked. He and the others had gotten into one hell of a fight with Albedo in Proto Merkabah, yet everything had come to a screeching halt when Shion had jumped forward and summoned Erude Kasier. Who knew that crazy old coot could build something as powerful as that? The mystery behind that particular ability of Shion's wasn't what he was focusing on now though, but it had to be addressed at a later date. Sighing, he got up, dusting off his pants. KOS-MOS and the others had to be informed of this latest development, and when Shion came to, she had to be told as well.

The problem is; how are we going to protect her? I can see why Gaignun didn't want to tell anybody, we end up stumbling from one briar patch into the next! His blue eyes were somber as he placed a hand against the glass pane, feeling it's coolness against his palm. Unless they could come up with a plan in a hurry, the next time Albedo made an appearance Shion wouldn't be getting off with just a headache.

----

After his brother had left he had headed back to the medical bay, his mind whirling. Who knew four simple words like that could rock the very core of one's existence? Yet…His eyes darkened, and he shook his head. He'd already had experience in that department.

Don't go there. The door hissed softly as it opened, and he stepped inside, looking at the small figure on the bed. It hurt to see her there…she should be in her regular bed…

Or mine. Gaignun stopped suddenly, red creeping into his face. Of course, being a man, his thoughts promptly proceeded to go gleefully down the road of that idea…the black haired man shook his head again, this time violently.

No, no, no! Totally improper, you idiot! A touch of red still in his cheeks, he pulled a chair close to Shion's bed, sitting down in it. This is not the time for fantasizing about such things, I shouldn't even be thinking about that! His green eyes glanced over the brunette's face.

"She awoke an hour ago." Startled, Gaignun looked up to see one of the medical Realians standing next to him. "Complained of a headache, as soon as we gave her something for it, she dozed right off again. She'll be asleep for another six hours."

"Thank you." Gaignun murmured. "Has anybody…?"

"Her brother was here when she awoke." A frown crossed the Realian's face. "She called him a…baka?" A small smile crossed Gaignun's face.

"It's Japanese for stupid or idiot. Though in this case I think she might have meant idiot…"

"Ah. Please forgive me Master Kukai, my translator program has not yet been…"

"It's alright." The U.R.T.V. said, waving a hand. If she was able to insult Jin, that means she's herself. "How did her brother react?"

"He just laughed and patted her hand." The Realian looked over at the clock on the wall. "I must leave now. Uh…"

"Don't worry; I'll go before the doctor comes back." Gaignun said. The Realian bowed, and then left the room. Alone once more, the black-haired U.R.T.V. turned his attention back to Shion, reaching out and gently cradling one of her hands between his own.

"I'm so sorry…" He whispered. Closing his eyes, he pressed Shion's hand to his cheek, its warmth reassuring him on some deep primal level. "Because of me, you were hurt." The rage resurfaced, and his fingers tightened around hers. "I swear, if it even costs me my life, I'll protect you. From him…from anyone who tries to harm you." He opened his eyes, the irises glittering bright green. "I promise."

----

Giggling madly, he ran clawed fingers through his sweat-soaked hair. He had gone and done it now, hadn't he? He had grabbed the tiger by its tail…now the green-eyed monster had arisen, out for blood.

"Oh Rubedo…" He sang, a violet eye peeking out between two white-clad fingers. "Will you finally pick up on the secret our dear younger brother hides? I've found the key…" Pleasure and guilt warred within him, the memory of Shion's screams of pain echoing in his mind. Just the slightest brush against her mind had confirmed that long-ago thought, she truly was an unborn child…

"Just like ma pêche… Shall I be the one to deliver you, to give you life?" He leaned forward. "You are so comfortable within your womb, mon ange. Your birth would only bring you pain, and such a delicate soul as yourself would not last long in this cruel world. But…" His eyes narrowed; a cruel gleam sparkled in their depths.

"Pain is necessary for all souls, pure and impure. You are not meant to be his, you're meant to be mine! I know who and what you are…you should not associate with such company." He cackled with fiendish glee. "I shall be the one to open your eyes, to expose you to reality! When I was a child, I spake as a child…but when I became a man, I put away childish things…ah Nigredo! You cannot hide if you wish to protect her. How will you guard what's dearest to your heart and yet hold onto Rubedo?" A thought occurred to him, and he howled with delight, the thought oh so amusing to him.

"You'll have to choose, little brother! Choose!" His laughter echoed around him, bouncing off the walls and echoing down the hallways, the laughter of the mad…

Or the dammed.