A/N: This story takes place right before the episode "The Real-Folk Blues." In fact, we're going to assume that never happened…

Hi. I'm Kwara.

It's the year 2068, and I live on Ganymede. A fairly ordinary location… a fairly ordinary life. I lived with a friend, Byakko, in a quiet neighborhood where nothing strange ever really happened. It rained a lot.

It was raining the day Vicious came.

He walked into Byakko's and my apartment casually, as though he lived there. Byakko, of course, glided forward, her hand reaching to her boot, where she had a small dagger stored. Somehow, she knew, even then.

"Why are you here?" my demand came out more like a squeak than anything. I could tell that Byakko was tense from the set of her shoulders. And when Byakko was tense, I was afraid.

Vicious smirked, his eyes fixed on Byakko. "I think you have something I want?"

"What could you possibly want from us?" I said, trying to sound innocent. I failed miserably, of course.

"The old man betrayed you," Vicious said calmly. I felt a stab of shock. He…

"I know what's in the cube," he continued. "And I'd really appreciate you giving it to me."

"You know our answer to that," Byakko said evenly, still watching Vicious's face.

Vicious pulled out a long sword. I wondered about that. Who still carried swords when a gun was so much more effective? "I was afraid you'd say that."

"Wait!" I heard myself shout. It's not that I thought that Byakko would lose- Byakko, lose in close combat? Never. I didn't want to have to kill Vicious. You see, I was naïve then. I actually believed that Vicious was ordinary, that he could be killed by natural means. Now, I know that Vicious is as close to invincible as mortals ever get.

"What is it, girl?" Vicious snapped. He didn't seem to regard me as a threat. I gave off the impression of a scared child, although at that point I had been even stronger than Byakko.

Byakko spoke for me. "We'll give it to you. It means nothing to us, except as sentimental value." I froze. Byakko! One minute she was telling him that she'd never hand it over, the next she was saying she'd give it to him? What had gotten into her? But when I looked closer at her face, I felt a chill. The determination and iciness on her face had been replaced by something… thoughtful. And that scared me the most.

Vicious held out one hand; his other still held his sword warily. Byakko reached over to the small vase that shook precariously on the windowsill. She pressed a hidden button on its side and it seemed to split open. A small golden cube sat in the center of the vase. "Take it."

Vicious reached for it greedily, and I began to smile. Now I could see Byakko's plan! When he touched the cube…

Immediately, golden light shot from the cube and surrounded him, drawing inwards into him. Vicious screamed in pain and fell to the ground unconscious. I walked toward him calmly. If my experience was anything like his, he wouldn't wake for another day or so.

I turned to Byakko. "What now? Shall we finish him off before he awakens with it?" I shivered a bit at the idea. I had a thing about blood…

Byakko stared at me, her eyes cold. "Go! I'll take care of him."

Was she trying to protect me from the blood? Well, that was ridiculous. "I can handle watching him die, Byak-"

"Go!" she snapped.

I shrugged and left, trying not to think about the eeriness of the situation.

When I returned, Byakko was gone. There was no sign of a struggle, murder, or anything of the like. I wondered, but nothing was confirmed.

It took three years for me to find out that Vicious was still alive… with the magical powers the cube had bestowed upon him…