Disclaimer: Denial, it's not just a river in Egypt.

A/N: Damn is seriously tweaking with my formatting. Anger. My car is breaking again. My grades were not what I expected and I have no money. sigh Also, I am unsure as to the Japanese train system. I expect that the trains probably resemble subway systems. However, for this chapter, envision a western train, with cars and the like.

Meant to Live

by ShiroKitsune

Chapter 7 : MAN BORN IN ADO

I was always told that certain things in life are inevitable, are laws. That which goes up, must eventually come back down. An object in motion tends to remain in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. Gravity exerts a force which draws to itself.

Perhaps then, one could say, that gravity is a force of laziness. The river takes the path of least resistance. A ball sitting atop a slanted board, no matter how slight the slant, will be drawn inexorably downwards. This pull toward the Earth is quickly discovered and treasured by the young in the form of a slide. Such a simple joy. Climb to the top of the ladder. Sit down, and let the Earth take you on a ride.

Simply the path of least resistance.

That path is so easily followed. Not just gravity. Allow a river to run through a rock bed and eventually the rock will cut into a canyon. An obelisk placed in the desert will eventually become the very sands it is prey to. Water flows downward and around rocks. A tree grows around the fence abutting it. And two people, over time, their emotions and attitudes rubbing against each other, wear down the walls between them. It takes so little to stop that slide toward oneness. A simple word, a single action, can stop the erosion, can begin to reverse the effects. Yet the change is so gradual, how does one even come to notice it? And why would you always wish to stop the change?

Nonsense. One would have to notice the change first.

It had been a gradual shifting of bodies. Slowly, imperceptibly, Robin's legs drew up onto the bench beside her and her head leaned back. Her eyes closed like a sunset and her breathing deepened. Amon had watched the shift from the corner of his eye. The book he held in his left hand had long since ceased the turning of its pages. That shifting of his eye was minute, and yet was enough to cause his body to follow. A tiny shift on his part, a slight shift on hers, and then their bodies touched lightly at the hip and shoulder. Two objects leaning against one another, holding and supporting.

The light tension on Robin's face melted away as she fell asleep. Ever since the incident with the map, she had been, edgy and more withdrawn. As she slept, the tension fled and her face took on an almost unearthly calm. She shifted again and her head slowly lowered to his shoulder. At the sudden contact, Amon nearly moved away. One thin hand snaked around his arm before his mind could fully process what was occurring.

What did it matter? They were both tired anyway.

Slowly, curiously, Amon's eyes traced Robin's form. One hand gently but firmly around his arm. Her cheek lay lightly on his shoulder. Her soft coral lips were parted just the tiniest bit and her soft golden lashes rested innocently on her cheeks. His eyes traveled downward along the sweetly curved sweetheart neckline of her orchid colored shirt. Her skin was so pale, he could see the delicate blue veins that lie beneath. He followed the curve of her waist to where her shirt had ridden up slightly, exposing a thin strip of pale flesh. The skirt was so black that it removed all small lines of definition and became an unbroken black mass until it reached her boots. His eyes snapped back up to the skirt. There, was… what? A cut?

Yes. There, a tear in the skirt and a corresponding slice in the skin. As he watched, her hand came up to rest on the same spot, her hand falling perfectly into the cut. Amon's arm reached out and grabbed her hand away quickly. Her body, deprived of its previous prop, slid further against him until her head rested on his chest. Amon lay her hand down and let his arm rest on her shoulders.

They were both tired.

Robin woke with a decidedly warm and comfortable feeling coursing through her body. She wriggled closer toward the pervasive warmth and sighed contentedly. Her pillow smelled like rich cologne and with a hint of gun smoke. And then… her pillow breathed. Her eyes bolted wide open before the bright light caused her to wince and squint.

An arm was draped comfortably over her shoulder and Robin slowly opened her eyes to look at it, and then to the body to which it was attached. Amon had his right arm over Robin's shoulders, and his left arm holding a book on his lap. His face was calm and his eyes focused lightly on his book. At her startled movement, he looked down at her, suppressing a smile as she blushed and sat up, moving away from him. Her mouth opened, preparing for a stammered apology.

"Are you hungry?" he asked before she could speak. Surprised, Robin could only nod in reply. He stood and reached for their bags. "We should take our bags with us, just in case," he continued without looking at her. She nodded once again, not thinking that he couldn't see it. He turned back and looked down at her expectantly. She stood unaided and stretched tight limbs.

It was strange, Robin thought, following Amon down the hall. She could swear she could still feel his arm around her shoulders and his heartbeat beneath her ear. The rush of his breath in and out, ruffling her hair, comforted and relaxed her. She could have lain like that for hours. Amon was, surprisingly warm.

It's just nerves from the Factory

He led her to the dining car in silence, each carrying their own bag. They had slipped their bags beneath their table when they sat down and began looking at the menu. They had sat in silence for several minutes. The dining car was packed nearly full. They had been lucky enough to get a booth without waiting but had yet to have their order taken. Instead they were sitting, sipping ice water, and ignoring the uncomfortable silence as best as possible.

"Who is it that we're going to see?" Robin asked.

"I don't think this is the place to discuss that kind of thing," Amon's eyes darted nervously around. His posture was oddly relaxed but his eyes held a great nervousness. Robin cast about for another topic in vain. She realized, sadly, that outside of work topics, she had never really spoken to Amon before.

"Pardon us," a voice interrupted. Both Robin and Amon looked up to see a pair of young men, casually dressed, standing at the end of their booth. "There really isn't any other place to sit and we were wondering if you would mind us joining you." Amon looked at the taller of the two men, the one who had spoken, and then looked around the dining car. The man's words seemed to be true. The car was packed quite tightly, and, finding no good excuse for denying the request, Amon found little else to do but agree. He nodded tightly and slid out from his seat. The men looked questioningly at him but stepped back to give him room. Robin looked up at him then slid over to make room. Amon sat then slid his hand quietly into his pocket.

"Nagamuna Tsuyoshi," said the taller, more vocal, man as he sat down and extended his hand across the table. After an unresponsive moment in which Amon only nodded, he retracted it. His shorter and silent partner sat down next and introduced himself as Nagamuna Akito.

"My name is Amon," Amon spoke shortly. "This is Robin."

"No last names?" Tsuyoshi asked teasingly.

"Kimihara," Amon said.

"And you Robin?" Tsuyoshi asked.

"Kimihara. She is my wife." Amon interrupted. Robin looked down at the table and blushed. For a moment, her racing thoughts stopped her from recognizing the press of cool metal against her hand. She looked at her hand to see a soft gold ring being pressed to her palm. She closed her hand around it quickly and looked back up. The brothers were looking at her and she offered a shy little smile as she slid the ring on under the table.

"I'm sure you made quite the lovely bride," the younger brother, Akito, said. Amon lifted his gaze to the boy. Their eyes held steady for long moments before Akito flushed and looked away. He could not bear the fierce stare of the ex-hunter.

"Are you on honeymoon?" Tsuyoshi asked.

"No," Amon said.

"Heading home?"

"No."

"We're going to visit our parents. They live in Osaka," Tsuyoshi offered, nonplused by Amon's apparent unsociability.

"You don't have an Osaka accent."

"We were born in Hokkaido. We're on break from work to visit. We work for the Tokiota Company. Have you heard of it?"

"I believe so. Engineering, correct?" Amon said politely. Something about these men set him on edge. Robin was merely sitting with her head down and her ears alert.

"Yes," Tsuyoshi confirmed. "Tokiota Engineering. Where do you work?" The question was abrupt. Almost hurried.

"Pioneer," Amon said without hesitation.

"Electronics, correct?" Amon nodded. "So how long have you been married?"

"Two months," Amon said. Robin could feel his unease growing and she tried to think of a way out of the situation. Gently she reached over and laid her warm hand on his cold one.

"Amon," she said quietly, "I don't feel very well." She lifted one hand and pinched the bridge of her nose. Amon reached out and pulled her hand away from her eyes. His gaze was piercing, sending a chill down her spine and a tightening in her chest. He looked at her for a moment more, then stood, bringing her up with him. He turned to the two surprised brothers.

"I apologize, but my wife is not feeling well. I'm afraid we have to retire for the evening." He grabbed their bags and put both over his left shoulder.

"Of course," Tsuyoshi murmured. "It was nice to meet you."

"I hope your wife feels better," Akito added with sincerity. Amon nodded.

"Ah, yes. Thank you," he said and proceeded to walk out of the dining car with his right arm wrapped around his 'wife.'

"At the next stop, we are getting off," he whispered in her ear. His tone was all business, that of a serious hunter.

And yet, as they walked down the hallway and back to their room, even though there was no more need for their married pretense; Amon's arm remained wrapped around the girl beside him.

It was supposed to have been simple. Amon and Robin would disembark at the next stop, then decide how best to either get to Osaka, or contact Zakuro. They would then continue as planned.

There is another law observed in the world. A law of physics perhaps, or maybe a law of statistics. Though not a formal law, it is regarded as such, if jokingly, by millions of people. Murphy's Law says in its own inimitable way, "Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong."

The plan of Amon and Robin was supposed to be easy. It was supposed to be simple.

That which can go wrong, will go wrong.

The gunshot had come from dangerously close as the pair moved toward the exit. The trained reflexes of the hunter, manifested in Amon as he dove forward to cover and protect Robin.

"Go," he said and reached for his gun. It was no longer an orbo gun that he carried, but a standard 10mm, Auto Glock 29. He pushed Robin ahead of him and scanned the milling and hysteric people for any sign of the gunman. He pushed her into the car ahead and followed quickly. They were nearly to the end of the car when a door, midway down, opened and the Nagamuna brothers stepped out.

"There they are," Akito said in a loud and excited voice.

"Oi," Tsuyoshi called out. "Come on with us."

Another shot rang down the hall. It hit the wall beside them, spraying the pair with fragments of wood and metal. Before the last slivers fell to the floor, Amon and Robin had escaped the cart and jumped from the quickly slowing train. Their bodies rolled to a stop on the dew soaked ground. For endless moments, they lay motionless and panting with the water slowly soaking into their clothes. Robin's hand crept into her pocket and pulled out the case containing her glasses. She opened it silently and slipped the half moon glasses on. She scanned the darkness with her eyes and ears. She slowed her racing heart and held her breath.

The next bullet that came flying toward them was incinerated fifteen feet away. Robin was prepared to fight. Yet, oddly, it was Amon who grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the woods. Their flight was rough, clumsy, and made more precipitous on Robin's part by her loose skirt and heeled boots.

"I should have… changed… into those jeans… and shoes back… on the train," she gasped out as she tripped and fell once again against Amon. Once again he caught and steadied her before plunging forward again.

"We'll stop soon," Amon said. "Just hold on a little longer. We'll call Zakuro when we stop. I want some information." Robin nodded and hurried her steps. When she started to fall behind again, Amon reached back and took her left hand in his right.

"Not to much farther," Amon assured her. "Not to much longer."

Robin looked at the ring shining lightly in the moonlight.

Her right hand worried the cell phone in her pocket, then she slipped her glasses off and put them away. There was no enemy to fight now.

They didn't have much farther to go.

A/N: Che! It's 1:44 am and I can't get to sleep. Plus I hurt my arm earlier and I have to take my car to get inspected at 8 am. This isn't my day. Oh well. Omake Theater is coming in the next chapter.

All loves!