Chapter 12:

And the Truth Comes

"Cyn. Cyn! Wake up. Come on! Wake up!"

"Unn..." Cyn shifted on her back, "Ugh... ... Tony.... Mmmmm... To..ny..." Her eyes shot wide open and stared straight into the face of the Mexi-American. "TONY?!" The boy grinned and blushed slightly.

"I didn't know you felt that way." Cyn looked to the wall.

"How long have you been in here? And.... Where is HERE?"

"An old monk found you inside the old temple and started to take you to the Police station but I intervened just in time. This is my apartment." Cyn sat up and looked around at the bedroom, painted in beige with blue sheets on the bed she was in.

"How... What did I say in my sleep...?"

"You... Heh,...Well, you called for me...." Tony looked at her, his face turning a slight red. "But, you called me by my fake name. And you seemed more.... passionate, I suppose you could say.... for Jin."

"'Fake'? 'Passionate'? What?" Cyn blushed and looked him in the face.

".. My.. Real name is Montiegro." He looked away, "Montiegro Carlos." Cyn sat wary for a moment, uneasy at what was to come next. "I've... always sort of had a 'thing' for you ever since we met. I thought it would just blow over in a few days. I was wrong. On the contrary, I... It grew. But you probably wouldn't believe me if I said I loved you." Cyn's heart skipped a beat, and frankly unable to speak for her lack of words, Tony continued, "But you would hate me if I told you the truth so... give me one last moment.... Just one.. Before you run to Jin." He leaned forward and took her lips softly at first then firmly. Transfixed on his closed eyes, Cyn stared in shock. He pulled off just barely close and looked back at her. Montiegro sighed heavily and retreated off the bed.

"Wha... Why... Whe.. Huh?" Still at a loss for words, Cyn looked confused and dazed by the afterglow of contact. Montiegro turned slowly back to her and leaned close,

"Hit me."

"Wh-What?! Why?!" She was shocked at his sudden request.

"That's what happens when a guy kisses a girl and the girl doesn't like him, right?"

"Who... Who said I didn't like you?" Montiegro paused,

"I know you don't. I can see it. You love Jin, and it doesn't matter to me that you don't like me, as long as YOU'RE happy." He blushed, "If you're happy then I'm happy." Regaining herself, Cyn responded rather cocky,

"Well, I'm happy." She grasped him quickly and flung him face up onto her lap before aggressively kissing him. Montiegro, clearly in heaven, pulled her closer, sliding his tongue into her mouth and messaging the inside of it. After a moments passing they parted, Cyn's turn to blush.

"And.. Now I am, but..." Montiegro looked away and sat up. "What about.."

"Jin? He's my Master. He's like a big brother figure; nothing more." His eyes flickered and she sighed, "It's the truth. Please. Please believe me!" Cyn flung herself on Montiegro's chest. She felt a strange lump in his breast pocket and pulled out a golden badge. She sat back in surprise.

"You... You.." He looked at her sadly. "You're a... You were going to hand me in weren't you?!"

"Only after I found enough evidence to prove your innocence."

"How do I know you're telling me the truth?" He looked her straight in the eyes,

"I love you." Her heart skipped a beat and she looked away to keep her heart from bursting out,

"You know... You say the truth sometimes but... You ALWAYS leave me speechless." She fumbled and rubbed her thumbs over the golden badge.

"Does that mean, you'll trust me?"

"...."

"I guess not."

"I never said that."

"You didn't have to."

".... How do you always... Nevermind." Cyn handed the badge back.

"You know, not all cops are bad."

"...."

"There's Lei Wulong. He helped you out. Gave you a home with Jin. Gave you a new life. Then there was Zack Angeles."

"... Zack... He was.."

"Yeah, he was. He was undercover at the time. He swore to protect you with his life. He... asked me to do the same. I would have even if he hadn't asked."

".... Then there was you." He raised an eyebrow at Cyn's statement. "You helped me. You.. Love.. Me. You.." She stuttered over her words, "You're a really great singer." She ended quickly. Montiegro laughed outright.

"You think so? Well, cops have to learn all types of skills. The best way to catch a crook is to be one. Ever heard of it?"

"I find it hard to believe YOU were ever in trouble."

"Many a times. I was prankster and class clown back in elementary, Jr., and High school. Not to mention I was a really psychotic pyromaniac and set the cafeteria kitchen on fire." Cyn shook her head in bewilderment. "Heh. I'll have to tell you some stories sometime."

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Where is she?! UGH!" Steve kicked the light pole and looked at his watch for the fifth time and it still said seven.

"I'm afraid Cyn won't be joining us tonight." Steve whirled around to stare the blonde haired, blue-eyed woman in the face.

"You're..!"

"That's right. Remember me?"

"From the fourth tournament..."

"The name's Nina. Nina Williams."

".... Steve Fox." They shook hands and Nina studied him.

"I'm sorry."

"For what Miss Nina?"

"For what you were made from." Steve looked at her strangely and eyed her with a sense of questioning. She continued, "You were made from me."