1 o'clock by: Transcendent.
A.N.: This time it was only three months so I must be getting better. But since the last chapter was a pathetic excuse for a real chapter, I made this one longer. There's even a cute scene in here that would make me disgusted if I wasn't the one to have written it...but oh well. Please keep in mind that (again) this isn't editted. My editer wasn't on when I felt like updating so I just posted. Hopefully I'll get around to editing it, right? Hehe...
About the formatting: it sucks. I like my white spaces but I don't think FFnet does. They've stripped them! ALL OF THEM! So now you get lines. Ugh... I can't believe my nice pretty format is all ruined because FFnet doesn't like me.
Anyways, I'll try to start updating more regularly...school is going to be over soon so ...woho!
ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY. IF YOU ARE A MURDERER, SEEK A JAIL.Dedication: SilverCaladan, Almaseti, and SVZ. I'd dedicate it to Misty and Drea, but they don't read this!
Chapter Seven: Kiss Her Goodbye
One Hino Rei left her office, ready to go home after another long day of work. She neatly organized her papers and files into separate stacks to be looked at by her secretary, Iria Winner. Her secretary had been with her for as long as Rei could remember, maybe seven years. Iria, disable after a car accident, had started working for Rei when she was just a new reporter for ACE11 News. Over the years, Rei had been promoted and raised many times to a leading anchorwoman with many adoring fans with Iria as her loyal secretary. It had been Iria who had introduced Rei to her fiancé, Quatre Winner: Iria's little brother. Since then, Rei was glad she had hired and kept her secretary, for without her…where would she be now?
With Iria six years her senior, Rei felt comfortable going to her with her problems or confiding in her with personal things. But the death of Usagi had left Rei sheltered and she hadn't talked to Iria since late last night.
She stood up from her desk, picking the papers from her desk to put in her briefcase. She lifted it up and put the files in her other arm. Swiftly, she walked out the door and set the files on Iria's desk.
"Ms. Hino, you look much better than yesterday," Iria commented from behind her desk, stationed outside Rei's door. Her blond locks were pulled back into a tight bun at the back of her neck and her blue eyes sparkled behind fitted black rimmed glasses. Rei noticed that Iria always hid her body; today she wore a badly fitted black skirt suit.
"Thanks. I'm sorry I haven't spoken to you all day," Rei apologized. "Usagi's death was just…a horror."
Iria shook her head. "No need to be sorry, Mrs. Hino. I understand."
"Call me Rei, Iria." If Iria wasn't going to accept her apology, she could at least call Rei by her first and given name. Rei had been telling Iria to call her by her first name since forever and Iria had always agreed. They'd call each other by their first names until Iria slowly started calling her 'Ms. Hino'. It annoyed Rei but she knew about the whole "stay on boss/employee relationship", but Iria was more than that to Rei. Iria was like Rei's bigger sister.
A smile formed on the high cheek boned secretary's rose colored lips. "If you say so, Rei."
"Well, I'm going to be heading home now. I'll tell Quatre you send him love."
"Thanks. You two are so cute…" Iria loved that her brother had finally found love in none other than her cold-hearted but brilliantly beautiful boss. But his time with Rei and his job had left nearly no time for the two siblings to get together.
"Don't work too late, Iria, and I'll see you tomorrow morning."
"Night, boss."
Iria saw a smile flicker on the anchorwoman's face as she walked out of the office. Ever since Rei's good friend, Usagi, had died…Rei hadn't been smiling much. Iria knew that Rei was much more affected by the sudden death than she let on. Rei's fragile heart had been tore into pieces and it was up to Quatre to tend to her broken core. It always was like that when a loved one had died.
As tears blurred her vision, Iria remembered her many sisters. They had all moved on without her but she couldn't help remember all those times they had gone cruising for boys and gone skinny dipping in the Arabian Sea.
"Too bad life goes on," Iria whispered to herself before picking up some of the work she had just been working on. As she started tearing open the envelope the phone rang. Expecting it to be a stranger, Iria picked it up immediately and cordially greeted the person on the other line.
"Hello, you've reached the office of Hino Rei. She's currently unavailable, but I can most-definitely let her know you called."
Her pleasant, almost robot-like response was matched with silence and a bit of static.
"Anyone there?" Iria couldn't help herself from asking. Whoever was on the other line was either looking to talk to Rei directly and had hung up after realizing Rei wasn't there…or was pretending not to be on the other line.
After more silence, Iria replaced the phone back on the hook. Again, she picked up the work she had begun.
It was a letter addressed to Rei, like many others, and needed to be read over before Rei did. Each and every letter sent to her anchorwoman boss had to be read to make sure of Rei's mental safety. Most of the letters sent to Rei were just pleasant feedback or perhaps some negative feedback, but all of the perverted letters, death threats, and so on where sent to security to be looked over again in case of emergency.
Lately, a lot of letters had been sent to Rei signed by "the Butcher". The character usually complained about Rei's outfit being too short, too low, or too flashy. Of course, none of the outfits Rei wore were picked out by her but this viewer obviously had missed that fact. The letters went on to describe what they'd do to her if she didn't stop wearing such "slutty" outfits.
Rei was a beautiful, traditional Japanese woman. A long raven black mane and bangs framed her fine, flawless, ivory skinned face. Her exotic amethyst eyes glowed like tiger eyes in the dark. Rei's long neck only made her seem taller, as well as her nicely muscled, long legs and arms. Her hips were wide and curved, as well as her breasts which, from what Iria could tell, were fairly ample and generous.
Rei usually wore a black and red ensemble seeing as those were her favorite colors. She'd have a tightly fitting, short skirt with a low-hanging blouse. Her jacket was just as tight and fitted to her curves like air. Sometimes her hair was pulled back, curled, or just wore down in all its lengthy glory.
Iria pulled out the letter inside the envelope and read it to herself.
Dear Hino Rei, the beautiful flower amongst dead weeds in the garden of my dreams,
I've been dreaming about you again, Rei. It's hard not to with that body of yours that you reveal so much of. Imagine stopping all of these fantasies of mine and of other men and just wear more appropriate things. Because if you don't I'll rip them off for you and you'll never wear anything else again.
I'll feel your smooth, pearly white skin beneath my calloused hands and with those hands I'll penetrate your every being. I'll stick one, no…two, no… I'll stick my whole fist up your tiny cunt and make you orgasm until you black out.
Then I'll stick my dick down your throat until I cum all over your faultless body just to see how elegant you'll still look. I'll take your cum in my mouth and wash you dry until I'm hard again. I'll use your damaged pussy as my new whole to fill you with my seed.
You won't even know it, honey. After all, you are a slut just like that secretary of yours. Along with that blonde, brick house you often hang around with at the underground bar where your other, slutty friend works. Not to forget that blue haired, blue eyed whore friend of yours who can't decide which man to be with.
I'll kill them all, one day, and you'll be sad that you didn't just mind what I said.
With Love, the Butcher.
Shivers crawled down Iria's back. What a sick, perverted man. He can't get a life or a wife, obviously. Iria was disgusted and quickly tossed the letter into the pile to be sent to security. She wished they would catch him and fast. Who knows if he was talking lies or…the truth?
The phone rang again and she picked it up, thankful to have someone to talk to.
"Hello, you've reached the office of-"
The voice over the phone cut her off, "-Hino Rei. Iria Winner, leave or die."
"What?" Iria was shocked to the edge of her seat. She put a hand over her mouth to stifle any cries that might find their way to her mouth.
"Leave or die, you heard what I said." The voice was rough, jagged and almost threatening. Whatever it was, it scared the shit out of Iria.
The phone line soon thereafter died. She put the phone back and picked it up again to find no dialing tone. She replaced the phone and looked around the office.
Iria cursed under her breath and felt heat come to her cheeks. Death wasn't something she wanted to look in the face twice; once was definitely enough for her. She fumbled through her things trying to find something that could be used in her defense.
"Anything…anything…" she chanted, digging through her drawers and mounds of papers, pens, and other office utensils. "Oh God, please!" Her hands felt something cold and gripped it as if it were the last remaining thing on the planet. Scissors.
Her fist tightened around the handle as she looked around. Iria didn't wonder if the person was just joking and was out for a good laugh. Even if she was making a fool out of herself right now, at least she could say she was trying to be safe. But what if the person wasn't lying? She didn't know…
Her eyes burned and her lungs wheezed on a sudden exhale as the electricity dwindled. She shifted her watery gaze to the door handle; a sound that she took as the rattling of the door. Someone was trying to get in and fumbled with the keys.
"Oh Lord…" Iria whispered. This was a nightmare. Had she committed some dreadful mistake in her past lifetime that she was now being returned? This couldn't be happening to her…
Iria rushed over and grabbed her chair, pinning it against the door. She ran to the closet and grabbed her coat, throwing her hands in the pockets and pulling out her cell phone.
She knew she hadn't charged it last night and hence left it off to save the energy incase of emergencies. This was what she'd call an emergency. Iria flipped it open and pushed the power button. Taking a few quick glances at the door, she waited for the logo to disappear and the display to take its place.
She quickly dialed the first number to come into her head, Rei's. Iria dialed in the numbers with the impetus of light and listened to the ringing. The moments went by much like days did; long, strenuous as if they'd never end.
The door jerked suddenly and the doorknob turned a few times. She realized that whoever was trying to get it knew there was something in the way. Iria managed to run away from the door and into to Rei's office. She raced to the corner trying to hide in the shadows after closing the door shut behind her.
"Hino Rei here, what do you want?" The agitated voice of her employer wasn't an instant remedy to her panic. But she felt the need to be calm around the younger woman.
"Rei, someone's trying to break in."
This caught Rei's attention. "What do you mean? Why haven't you called the cops, Iria?" She rushed out her response and was soon to yell to her fiancé, "Quatre call the cops! God, just get someone over to the office!"
Iria heard the door burst open, most likely broken from the hinges. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she heard more thumps: her computer being knocked over, papers flying, her computer being smashed into the ground.
"Stay on the line, Iria, Quatre is calling headquarters right now. Don't worry, Iria, you'll be fine…I promise. Where is he now?"
"He has broken into the main office. I could hear him destroying my desk and computer. He'll probably come here next…"
"We're on our way, Iria. Please…hide somewhere."
"There's no where to hide, Rei…God, I'm scared," Iria whimpered.
"Sshh," Rei shushed her. "Stay quiet. Just listen to me talking…We're in the car now and Quatre says the cops are on their way."
Iria, knowing Rei couldn't see her, nodded. She knew that Rei was wrong, she wouldn't live after this. The person breaking in knew Rei wasn't there and that she was. They wanted to kill her…they wanted her dead.
"The Butcher," Iria whispered into the phone.
Rei was fast to answer. "What?"
"It's the Butcher, Rei. He's been sending you mail for over two months. He's threatened to kill us all and now he's going to do it…he's going to kill me, Rei."
"No he's not. I will not let that bastard lay a fucking finger on you!" Rei yelled angrily into the phone. "Don't think like that! Why haven't you told me before?"
"A lot of people send you mail just like it…and I never though…no one ever thought …oh God Rei. Tell Quatre I love him."
The door to Rei's office burst open. A shadowed figure entered the room, an axe in hand.
"Poor Iria," a husky, masculine voice sounded from the doorway.
Iria desperately whispered into the mouthpiece of her cell phone, "Rei, please hurry…he's here."
"Quatre GO! Hurry the fuck up; this is your SISTER! Fuck fuck fuck fuck!"
"No one can save you now, Iria Winner. Not Rei, not Quatre, not Trowa, not Minako, not Ami…no one can save you, Iria. You've finally met your executioner."
Iria stayed silent despite her adrenaline; her blood bumped fervidly and every time she exhaled her breath would get stuck in her throat. She silently prayed, wishing the best future not for herself…but for her brother and Rei.
"Life is just a game, Iria, and you've lost."
Life could not be a game against death. Someone would have to win someday because no one is unbeatable. But death isn't a person, it's a nightmare. A nightmare that Iria had to live through not once…but twice. Slipping into coma for three years wasn't her brand of fun. She could remember the feeling of sinking deeper into darkness until one day she was pulled up onto an island. But her hero wouldn't be there to rescue her this time. It was just her and death, the match of the century and a predestined ordeal. Iria would lose and with it would go her life.
The shadow flipped on the lights to reveal a brawny, light haired man with eyes full of passion for his job; he was the messenger of death. Iria recognized this man but before his name could escape her lips a knife danced across her throat.
"Iria, are you there? IRIA!"
For the last night, Iria sank into the ocean of darkness slowly. Her pain slowly disappearing and her mind slowly slipping into a void of death and silence, she cried. His gloved hand reached down and wiped the single tear away.
"Too bad you had to die like the others. You were actually quite beautiful."
The man bent down, a rag in hand, and wiped down her throat. He placed his lips on hers and kissed them gently.
"Soft lips wasted on a creature headed for death since the day she was born," he whispered. He let the blood spool out of her throat as if it was pretending to be waterfalls. He dampened the cloth and applied it to the wall. His message had to get across.
Minako sat at her desk going over the information on Usagi's case. She had already gone over it several times but she had to make sure she hadn't missed important details. Anything missed could prove fatal and right now, if anything went wrong the dominos effect would take place. One more murder and Minako would collapse in mental anguish. She wouldn't have the energy to continue her work for a few days and it'd be left up to her workers and that wasn't fair. As much as she hated to say it, people needed her so she had to stay strong.
A knock on the door awakened Minako from her revelations. She looked up to see the well-toned body of her partner-like-comrade, Trowa Barton. Earlier that day he had left her to think and she had thought he would've left her alone until the next day. One thing came to her mind: more trouble.
"Mr. Barton?" she questioned, replacing Usagi's papers back into the clearly marked folder.
"Hey," he answered. Trowa leaned against the doorframe, his dark brown hair shading his eyes. He watched Minako lean back in her chair, blonde tresses falling down the back of her chair. His eyes took up the way her chest raised when she gathered air in her lungs and how she closed and let it all out in one, long breath.
"Today has been really long, Barton. What's wrong?" He watched her lips move and her tongue wet them down afterwards. Minako sniffed once and rested her arms across her chest.
"No, Aino. What's wrong with you?"
"What kind of question is that, hm?" she asked. Her dainty eyebrow over her right eye rose slightly in question.
His hands found his pant pockets and his leg pulled over the other. "It's not polite to answer a question with another question."
Minako huffed and tossed her head, trying to remove some loose bangs from her view. "I'm perfectly fine, Barton. Thanks anyways."
After all the years he had spent with Aino Minako, he knew when she was 'fine' and when she wasn't. At this point, he knew that she was lying far more than she had ever planned on.
"Lying isn't a solution, but thank you for trying."
"Since when have you known me to tell you how I really feel, Barton?" A very right question.
Trowa had only seen Minako cry once, for Usagi's death, for which she was now obviously still mourning over. "Minako, I'm concerned with you." He took a breath, much like she had earlier. "I've never seen you like this and I know it isn't healthy for you."
She was close to giving in to his insistent implorations. But Minako knew that she couldn't. If she told him that Usagi had been her best friend for a good part of her life because she has having difficulties in school. She couldn't tell him about her childhood without any friends. Not to mention her first and second loves dying before her eyes… That her father had been trying to kill her for years and had instead taken up the hobby of killing other blonde haired, blue eyed girls…such as Usagi.
Minako's life was too complicated to get another innocent person involved in the repercussions of life. She had been a mistake to her parents and now they wanted her gone. She could deal with that. But wanting her dead so much they would kill others? Other people that had families and lovers?
She couldn't possibly imagine the look on Mamoru's face when he had to find out the love of his life had been killed. But to tell him that it was HER father that had killed Usagi? She could picture her father sneakily watching her now and what he would do if she told Trowa. He would probably kill him.
He would probably end up killing everyone. One death had been enough for her…actually, it had been overwhelming. She could never go through Rei dying, or Makoto and Ami. Trowa had been there for her since they had met, but this time she just couldn't confide in him. Too many people knew already and she was thankful no one else knew.
"It's nice to know you're concerned, Trowa," she smiled at him. As much as she liked to smile, she didn't do it much on duty and when she did it was like the sun coming up on Pluto; when she smiled it brightened everything and everyone.
Trowa shrugged. "Anytime."
"I've got to get going. I think I've read over this case enough times…but you never know."
Minako placed her pager on her belt around her petit waist once again and put her coat over her delicatee shoulders. She proceeded to pass Trowa in the doorway but stopped at the sound of his gruff voice.
"Minako?"
She turned on her heal and faced Trowa. "What?" She watched his eyes for a sign of emotion. Perhaps she'd fine concern, passion, maybe lust. But she watched for it even though it had never come before.
It looked almost as if he had lost his words, something rare for Trowa. But he relaxed and said, smoothly, "I'm always here if you need me."
Minako leaned in and brushed her plump lips on his. She felt Trowa's brawny arms encircle her waist as he slowly led her nimble body to his. Her head leaned on his buff chest and her graceful arms looped around his neck. He held her close, savoring the feeling of Minako's body pressed against his as he let his hands slip to the small of her back and his head rest close to hers.
She put her lips against his ear and whispered, "and I'm always here for you." She let go of him and he let his arms come back to his pockets. Somehow, her breathing was a hard time coming normally and she had to force her breaths to be as silent as possible.
Trowa's phone rang and he picked it up. "Barton here."
A few moments went by. His hand traveled to her back again and his face darkened. "On my way."
Minako needn't an explanation as Trowa pushed her in front of him towards the exit of the morgue. She only wished that it wasn't her father this time.
Rei followed Quatre closely as they wound up the ACE11 News building to her office. At times her hands would find the back of his shirt and clasp it hard until they could proceed once more. She was scared to death; she loved Iria as if they were sisters and she couldn't possibly imagine Iria being gone as well as Usagi. But in her heart she knew Iria was long gone and so was her killer.
Quatre walked into the door of her main office and checked around, gun ready to fire. He led her and the other officers to Rei's office and once again checked around. The only person there was Iria…dripping with her own cold blood, sitting in the corner of the office.
An arm placed around Rei's torso kept her from running to Iria's lifeless body. She turned and wept in the open arms of her fiancé. "Quatre, I promised her everything would be okay."
He let her cry, knowing of nothing else to do. "We won't let him get away."
"I'll kill that bastard myself," she whispered. Rei's sobs took control of her body and she rocked with tremor after tremor. "I'll kill him with my own two hands. I'll rip his flesh as if he was just a book. I'll break his spine and send him where no man has ever gone."
"I know, honey…" Quatre whispered in her ear. "He'll pay for what he has done."
She growled, her anger boiling. "Oh will he pay…" She knew who had done it. She wouldn't hold back anymore. That man had killed too many people to even be able to walk on the planet, to be equal as if he were just as good as everyone else.
Quatre stroked Rei's raven black hair softly and slowly, trying his best to calm her down. He had never seen her so angry in his life, but it was to be expected. Rei didn't handle emotions too well, and ones that required one to be something other than happy she'd treat them like anger and hatred. As much as he hated violence, Quatre knew that if he ever got his hands on Iria and Usagi's killers, he would kill them just as brutally as they had killed the two girls. Although he had a feeling they were the same, he would treat the person as if he were two; he would die twice in the name of those two women.
"Captain, Chief Barton and Dr. Aino are here to see you."
Rei lifted her head to see Minako holding back her tears. "I'm so sorry, Rei. I'm so sorry." She opened her arms, finally letting go of her barriers. Rei embraced her dear friend, letting her cry in her arms just like Quatre had let her earlier.
"It's not your fault, Minako."
Trowa watched as Minako cried into ACE11 News' anchorwoman, Hino Rei. He wondered why Minako would be apologizing but brushed it off. She was probably doing it out of courtesy, but why cry? He hadn't known Minako to cry for every little thing...
Rei pulled back and put Minako's face in her hands. "It's okay, Minako. It's not your fault."
No matter what Rei said, Minako still cried. Her father was the devil and he aimed to tear Minako apart. He would go through anyone to do it, even people totally uninvolved. As she cried, she looked at the wall, noticing a bloody message.
She pointed to the wall opposite the body, shaking her head at Rei. "One Step Closer…he's one step closer, Rei. This can't be real…"
In the other corner, Heero Yuy stood and watched Minako. She was less involved than she had let on but he knew that she was right. It had been her fault.
Aino Minako should've been the one to die instead of Relena, instead of Tsukino Usagi, and instead of Iria Winner. It was his job now, to either kill her now or to keep her safe. A decision he wished he didn't have to make…
A.N.: Longer than you expected, huh? This thing is fucking HUGE! Alright, I'm out. I'd say more but what's there to say? Finals are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday...and I'm finally seeing Harry Potter today. The seniors left us last Friday and I almost cried...I had to walk in the pitch dark with Tia from Katie's house to my mom's car because she was lost. That sums it all up, eh?
Not to mention my mom limiting my online to an hour a day. I'm already over...but I HAVE to get this thing up. Anyways...I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know if you'd like to be on my email list.
With almost all the love in my puny, pathetic heart,
Transcendent, the almost-mighty.
SVZ: Hey darling. Yeah, I updated (and look, I'm doing it again!). I'm glad you're so happy and I'm thrilled that you think it's great. I always love your reviews; you know just how I like them, don't you, my little friend? Well, since I talk to you so much, I don't feel the need to respond to you ANYMORE! You've taken up enough room on this page anyways (since AINO is complaining).
Aino Yuy aka Usagi-Hater: No problem; anytime I get the chance. And yes, I do think you'd be positively enthusiastic if you saw a nice email sitting in your inbox that tells you of my nice, sporadic updates. It's like a miracle, really, how that email could get to you. But, we won't get into that...shrugs If you're so bugged by it, dearest Aino, I shall take you off :) And no, I'm not telling you anything. Go back and read the context clues. That goes for all of you. But it's your problem if you don't see them...you just suck then.
Venus Of Love: Hey chica :) Yes, everyday I update must be your lucky day (I'm sarcastic today, aren't I?). Thanks for the pleasant review, VOL-chan.
Jewels14: lmfao Cool :D I know like four people from my school with my birthday. Maybe whatever month our parents had sex in, was like this high time for horniness? Sorry if I scared you, overactive brain...
Hiei Rules: NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU! :D It's nice that I fuck. Because sex is the shit. Being a bitch, also, isn't as bad as you make it out to be. I'm proud to be a bitch :) Do I need to wear a nice sticker for you that says "PROUD TO BE A BITCH?". I haven't touched your story; it was too horrible for me to even begin criticizing. I realize no one is forcing me to read and review these abnormally incompetent stories, but I do it anyways. I deserve some kind of honorary medal...really. Second chances, yes! I've heard of those. I give them all the time; you're just too dense to see it or to even pay attention. If the stories in this section are so boring, shitty, old, and fucked...why do YOU post here, my dear? :) Another time, ma'am!
Summer Firefly: I cannot display how happy I was after I read your review. But, I can try! Here would be me dancing around on the keyboard if it was possible not to break it: aljca;lk2jwd;lajdflkjadfjic jhgpjoihgjpdhjdfl;sjviueyhrjknv lk japoeiufr048uq0597rufiojcuxby9vc vjhp0dav98n30p5nuaf. .. ..... .. .......... How was that? Did you get my feelings through all of that jabber? :D Hope so! Well, I was hit with a sudden streak of inspiration. I wrote a little with this streak, but it didn't last long... SIGHS But I finished, didn't I? Yep. Oh, yeah...You may not want to decide on the couple just yet. I still have more relationships to develop! SO MANY POSSIBILITIES, SO LITTLE TIME! 'Til next review/chapter ;)
AznxAngel: OMGGGGG. That's all you give me? BITCH! -- I'm expecting more next time, if you miss me oh-so-much.
SilverCaladan: snorts back for you review so late Thanks for the unrefreshing, illiterate, stupid review. /END SARCASM! I know you had more to say than that, and I thank you for everything you say. bows You are like the ozone layer on this very earth I stand on: rare. Love you like I love you lol
Venus Smurf: You never fail to surprise and inspire me with your reviews. I'd say more, but I'm near that point where you can't say anything but "thank you" and smile a smile you'll never smile as brightly again because the occasion is simple too once-in-a-lifetime.
Shinjin Chronicler: Man, I've missed your reviews and ...stuff. Where the hell have you been? Yeah, that's right, this is going to be a nice response DISCIPLINING YOU! : You cannot just leave this section like that; we cannot be ditched! We only have so many of "us" and too many of "them" and you've disabled us further, you horrific person you! Now! I'm expecting you to 1) REREAD CHAPTER TWO! Doofus, I killed Relena! 2) Get your ass back in this section 2) Write despite what the imbeciles ..um...other authors are writing 3) Review nice and big like that again :D Hilde, Sally, Dorothy, Iria (Quatre's sister), and a whole bunch of others will be making appearances. There's actually such a minor character in SM that I'll be using that I can almost bet most of you won't know who he is. I plan on incorporating ANYONE and EVERYONE in this fic, darlin. :D You should know me like that, really.... glares
FairDrea: Thank you a bunch for those reviews. You probably won't get around to reading this little note since you're still at like chapter five…but that's alright! I love you to pieces anyways! I loved your comments so much I could love them, too. I know you know me very well. But if you knew me so well, you'd understand that I have many tricks up my sleeves. "One thing I dont quite understand is how quickly we know who the key is to solving the murder cases." My answer is this: you don't know. You may think whomever is the key is…the key, but perhaps they aren't. "…maybe things are moving too fast…" I like fast. Besides, there's so much that's going to happen in this fic it'd be like 4000 chapters long if I didn't go fast.
ShadowStar21: I appreciate your review but I'd appreciate it more if you would've left more for me to read.
WishfulThinking2: Thanks a million. This chapter is obviously longer…so enjoy because I'll tell you know the next one won't be. I have patterns (not really).
eventidespirit: Thanks for the compliments :D Especially the criticism. For the first bit: I'm a "young" teen and I'm writing this. If someone can't handle what is being written, they can just simple press 'exit'. I do warn people when something big is going to happen, like for the first sex scene (which I didn't...get around to...writing...eh)
Xtreme Nuisance: Well, here you go! A nice, healthy, heaping chapter of 1 o'clock with more romance than I'm used to.