Woo-hoo! It's chapter nine!

Keira sat in the lush, green grass in Haven Forest. Through the mask she wore she stared across the sparkling lake that was illuminated by the moonlight. She drew up her knees close and wrapped her arms around them. She turned her head up and stared at the stars.

"Look at the mess I've created..." She said to no one. A curious fox poked its head out from a bush. "everything...it's all my fault. If I hadn't been so foolish. If only I'd thought things through first...Jak...wouldn't be this way. He wouldn't be so angry, vengeful, or anything like that. He'd be... happy..."

The rather small fox came closer to Keira. It was curious about what she was. She looked like a cat, but to the fox, sure didn't have the scent of one. The fox warily came closer as it sniffed the fresh, crisp air.

"How can I ever tell him now. He'll hate me for this. I could have freed him sooner and maybe have stopped this monster (Dark Jak) from becoming a part of him. He'll blame me for it...and I...can't live with that." Tears flowed down her mask and dripped neatly onto the ground. She buried her face in her hands.

That curious little red fox, who had been alerted by her presence, gave the air a long sniff. And in that air the fox could smell Keira's tears and feel her sadness. The little fox threw all caution to the wind and jogged up to Keira. It came up to her and began to gently lick her arm, in an attempt to make her feel better.

Keira was startled at first, but then reconized the efforts the kind animal was trying to offer her. Keira picked up the fox and gave it a hug. The fox licked the tears off of her face. Keira smiled gently and put the fox down. "You're so sweet. We're you listening the whole time? 'Cause you made me feel a whole bunch better. Even if you can't say anything back, at least someone was listening."

Keira layed down in the soft grass and the fox curled up next to her. "You know, maybe I should tell him..." Were the last things that Keira said before she drifted off into sleep.

-Approx. at dawn-

The sun filtered through the trees and the birds sang sweet songs to the gentle breeze. Keira could feel a nudging at her arm, but turned over. She felt it again. Keira stretched herself out and sat up. "Oh, it's just you." She said to the fox. But strangely enough, the fox seemed unnerved. It was running circles around Keira and then dashed to the edge of an overlook that lead down into more forest.

Keira followed the fox to spot someone walking at the bottom of the small overhang. She peered over to see blonde hair and the person wearing a blue tunic with beige pants. "Oh my, Jak." the fox ran off into the thick brush and Keira leapt into a tree.

Jak ascended the slight hill that lead up to where Keira was. 'Must be a mission...' Keira thought to herself, noting the gun that he was carrying. 'But what could be out here that he is looking for?' Keira withdrew further into the tree so he couldn't see her. Suddenly a shot rang out. Keira didn't see anything, but when the bullet struck the 'target' it became visiable.

"Cloakers!" (If you're lost, it's a type of metal head with a cloaking sheld) Keira hushedly whispered to herself. But when Jak shot one of them, a whole lot became visiable. Jak ducked and dodged and made skillful shots that connected with each one of his targets. But Keira couldn't help the instinct to help him, she pounced from the tree and landed on one of the metal heads. She grabbed underneath it's chin and pulled it backwards, a loud snap echoed among the trees.

Jak's head turned around to see her. "Oh, it's you!" He yelled above the sound of ringing shots. Both of them together, side by side, fought the onslaught. Keira slashed and clawed her way, while Jak shot his way clearing a path. The worked so well together, as if they could anticipate each other's moves, as they unleashed their fury among the metal heads.

In no time at all, they had finished the job. Metal heads were scattered about, many missing body parts, which had landed elsewhere. "Nice job." Jak complimented to her. "I've never really seen skill like that before."

Keira was blushing underneath the mask, "Umm...thanks. You have great aim." An awkward silence ensued.

"Look out!" Jak yelled.

Keira spun around only to have her face met by the powerful claw of a metal head. "Ahhh!" It tore across her face. Tearing her mask in two...

Jak expertly pulled his gun back out and gave the metal head a clear shot to the center of the head. The metal head fell to the ground and Jak ran over to the crouching 'Catwoman'. He knelt down beside her. She had her face buried in her hands. "Are you ok?"

He grabbed her hands and gently pulled them away from her face. The mask slid off and Jak could clearly see her face. He was shocked, he didn't know what to say. He stared into her green eyes and could see the tears well up in her eyes. "Jak, I'm...I'm sooo sorry!" she cried. She stood and began to walk off leaving Jak in shock.

"Keira...wait." A shakey voice silently said. "Why, why didn't you tell me? How..."

Jak stood and Keira stared at him wide-eyed. "I was...I was going...I was trying to save you! And I failed! One year ago, I was friends with Kana and she told me about you and what was happening to you...and I...I had to try and rescue you! I couldn't stand hearing about the way you suffered and Kana, she told me about an unused piping system that I could access to find you. Well, she lied. It was used and I got flushed down into the rocky bay! Last thing that I remembered was waking up in my house...with a new life!" Keira shouted the story above her crying and Jak's fists began to clench.

"Kana..." Jak whispered it so low, Keira couldn't hear it. But he spat it with a vengence and he could feel the anger rising in himself. He tried to control himself, but it was becoming harder, knowing that Keira had been 'hurt' (hurt is putting it lightly...) and she had given it her all for him and it was all his fault that she was this way. Jak couldn't control his feelings, now that he was vulnerable, Dark Jak took over.

Dark Jak stalked towards Keira. "Jak, I'm so sorry!" Keira cried once more. She backed up as he came closer to her. Keira kept repeating "I'm sorry." But the beast didn't hear her. But little did Keira know that Jak wasn't angry at her, he was really angry at Kana and himself for letting this happen to her. But now that Dark Jak had taken over, Jak had no control.

Keira was backed up to the edge of the overhanging cliff. It was a bit of a steep fall and Keira either would break every bone in her body or she wouldn't make it at all. Dark Jak came closer. Keira instinctively took one step backward...and began to lose her balence.

Keira was starting to fall. 'Don't be afraid to say it...' A voice whispered in her head. Keira took a breath and screamed out, "Jak, I love you! And I don't care about these 'powers' or anything about them! I'm glad I tried to save you, and I wouldn't change a thing!"

Keira completely lost her balence and began to fall away from the edge.

I love cliffhangers! But I'm sure your ready to hurt me for putting one right here. How convenient. But it looks like you'll have to wait for the next chapter to find out what happens to Keira and Jak.

thanks for reading. And as usual...

Please R and R:)