She didn't know why but that feeling that she was being pushed aside kept haunting Aomi during her flight. She didn't know what it was but she noticed that each time it happened each episode would last longer than the last one. And it happened every time she tried to focus on a voice she kept hearing. It was like someone was whispering in her ear just loud enough to get her attention. But when she tried to concentrate on the words, that was when her mind would go blank. It worried, and embarrassed, her when the flight attendant had asked if she was okay. Aomi looked around on the plane and saw that everyone had already gotten off.

Maybe I'm just stressed about Dark and Eden, she thought to herself. Perhaps I'm worrying too much about the two of them. But she hoped these episodes didn't interfere with the art appraisal she had to do for her boss. Her boss, Mr. Connors, had come to depend on Aomi's expert eye. He usually never bought anything that was a major investment without her taking a look at it first. Fortunately, all went smoothly and Aomi was able to call Mr. Connors with an approval for the painting that had been the whole reason for the trip.

It was on the return flight that things began to take a turn for the worse. Aomi had managed to fall asleep on the plane but she had such disturbing dreams that when she woke up, she found she was covered in a cold sweat and she couldn't remember what the dreams were about. She could remember images but most were too hazy to distinguish what they were. There was one in particular, however, that Aomi remembered clearly. It was of a woman draped in a velvet red cloth and she was stretched out on a bed with satin sheets. One arm was stretched casually along her hip while the woman rested her head on the other arm. Aomi remembered the woman was extremely beautiful with dark mysterious eyes. It almost felt as if the woman was speaking to Aomi through those dark eyes. The more Aomi concentrated on the image she was able to actually hear what the woman's eyes were saying to her, Do not trust them. They'll say they love you but they'll only hurt you in the end.

Aomi shook her head to clear the vision from her mind. The words scared her but at the same time she felt they spoke the truth. But Aomi couldn't be sure if that were her true feelings or if she was being influenced by the words she heard in her head.

She was so caught up debating with herself about these feelings as she walked through the airport that she ended up running into someone. As she looked up apologizing Aomi was surprised to see that it was Eden. She had forgotten that Eden would pick her up.

"Hi," Aomi said looking away from Eden a little embarrassed that she had forgotten he would be there.

"Did you forget that I was going to pick you up?" He asked looking a little disappointed.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I just got so caught up with the appraisal for Mr. Connors..." she lied, her voice trailing off as she stared out into the crowd.

"Aomi?" Eden said taking her by the shoulders and turning her around to face him. Her face had suddenly gone blank and paled like she was going to be sick. It worried Eden to see such a change happen so quickly. "Aomi, are you okay?"

She seemed to shake herself back into reality and when she looked at Eden her entire demeanor changed. Her naturally rosy cheeks returned, her eyes refocused on Eden and she gave him a warm, genuine smile.

"Yes, I'm fine. Must have been the plane ride," she assured him with another smile. But this smile seemed different from the one before. It felt almost devious and it sent a chill down Eden's spine.

"Come on Eden, don't look at me like that, I'm fine." Aomi persuaded. "Let's go, I'm starving." She grabbed his hand and pulled him along after her.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Eden asked catching up to walk beside her.

"Yes," Aomi said firmly. "It was just a little nausea from the plane ride. It passed."

"Okay," Eden muttered wanting to believe her as they walked toward the exit.

"I can make you something to eat or do you want to go out?" Eden asked trying to keep the mistrust he was feeling from being obvious.

"I'm in the mood for my favorite place. Will that be alright?" She asked looking at him.

"Of course, whatever you want," Eden said taking her carry on bag from her. He relaxed a little upon seeing that Aomi was now acting like her usual self. Maybe I'm just paranoid, he thought to himself. I really don't know her all that well to judge whether she was acting out of character. But the chill he had felt down his spine a few minutes ago still left him with a little bit of doubt that he wasn't able to shake.


Eden didn't know how it had happened. How they had ended up in bed together within each others arm. He remembered the two of them sitting in the cab where he finally asked Aomi about the bracelet and whether she had worn it yet. She told him she didn't have a chance yet and he wanted to believe her but he couldn't. He wasn't able to tell if she was wearing the bracelet at that moment since she was wearing a long sleeved sweater and a trench coat over that. He had reached out for her left hand to check when everything in front of him seemed to fade in and out of focus. He knew Aomi was talking and he was responding butit felt automatic and flat to him. But he was unable to do anything about it. His entire body and his thoughts began to feel slow and sluggish but when he was able to focus on Aomi she didn't act like she noticed anything unusual about him. Then time seemed to be moving forward quickly and Eden couldn't keep up. It was a whirlwind of voices and movement and all Eden could do was remain still and hope it passed soon. He thought he remembered stepping out of the cab and sitting in the restaurant with Aomi but he wasn't so sure if any of it had happened at all because of where he now found himself.

It wasn't that he didn't like where he was. It just unnerved him to find how quickly they had ended up like this. That he couldn't remember the events that led to this moment. But he was beginning not to care. He loved the way Aomi felt in his arms. The feel of her bare skin against his made his heart ache for her even more and he held onto her even tighter. He ran his hands through her dark, silky hair and whispered in her ear that he loved her. She pulled away and looked down at him.

"Do you really love me?" She asked looking him in the eye.

"Yes," he said a little out of breath reaching up to place a hand on her cheek. He moved his hand to the back of her head to gently bring her back to his lips but she resisted.

"Would you die for me?" She questioned innocently.

"What do you mean?" Eden asked suspiciously. There was something different about Aomi. Something in her eyes that didn't feel right. He sat up quickly to move away from Aomi and as he did so he saw the knife in her hand aimed for his heart.