Forgotten Memories Chapter Thirteen

Chrono Crusade

Date Started: February 12th

Sora Kazuma

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring down at the heavy crystal pendant around my neck, hand clasped around the clear stone. This was it.

The last six months had flashed by too quickly; summer had turned to fall and now to the dead of winter. The convent hadn't changed at all and yet it had. And I was leaving now and returning maybe never.

June and July of 1928 had been spent in the woods in upstate New York learning to live with a devil that I hated and absolutely hated me while I recovered from a massive accident. The end of August we were back at the orphanage, Yugo accompanying me as I returned to work and I found myself just hitting the beginnings of a possible relationship with a creature a year ago I would have never even thought possible. Late September brought Julius to us, and October our encounter with Aion. November got Julius through training, took Lena away from us and let us in on how Chrono and Rosette had met four years ago. Christmas had just flown past and now it was three days until January 1st 1929. I was supposed to be reporting to the San Francisco office on the 5th.

I sighed, running my fingers over the smooth polished stone of the necklace, tracing a line through the beautiful jewel. I had just noticed a day or so ago, but a huge crack had occurred inside the stone, stretching to the top and bottom. I figured it had something to do with our contract since I had begun to forget things faster lately. Anything before the age of ten was foggy and the last couple of days I had woken up to not recognize the surroundings around me before my mind would suddenly clink and I would realize where I was. I figured it was a lag since Yugo had regained a chunk of his memory Christmas Eve and my body was taking the blow from it, but it still had me worried.

Yugo himself was trying to figure things out in his head. It had taken a few days for the shock to set in about what Jin had told him, but when he did finally accept and realize that it was the truth and he had killed Rei Xi, he hit a state of depression and he got very temperamental and frustrated. I had been trying as best as I could to get him out of it, but I think the trip to California had something to do with it too, because he was just irritated about everything.

The door opened and that childishly handsome face poked in, amber eyes lighting on me with a smile. "Hey Sora." He opened the door farther and walked in, shutting it behind him. "Are you about ready to go?"

Julius has been a pillar of utmost strength the past few days. Between letting his brother and grandfather head back home and then watching Chrono, Rosette and Azmaria leave ahead of us, he had had every reason to be upset and yet he had shown no signs of it whatsoever. I think he knew something was going on between Yugo and me and that he would have to stay strong for us. Whatever it was that was keeping him from crumbling, I admired him for it.

I stood up, grabbing for my suitcase, which was sitting next to me. "Yeah." I managed a smile at the kid, reaching out to brush his shoulder length dark hair off one shoulder. "Thank you. Have you said goodbye to Fallon yet?"

"Yep, and Whiskers too. It's really kinda mean that I finally get my horse back and then I have to leave him again, but Sister Kate said she'd make sure he was taken care of until I get back." He went over to the bathroom door and opened it far enough to let the little white puppy scamper out before scooping him up in his arms. "How much do you think he's gonna grow while we're gone? He's already gotten pretty big and he's only five months old. He might be a full grown dog when we get back." He grinned at me as he brought him closer. "I want to take him down to the barn when we get back."

I hesitantly placed a hand on the dog's head, staring down at those ice blue eyes. Julius didn't understand…that we might not be coming back. Aion was a powerful foe…maybe to powerful even for us. We were marching off to battle and there was a chance we wouldn't return. This…might be my last chance to see my little puppy, the only real pet I had ever owned.

"Don't." Julius snapped suddenly, looking down at me. "Don't do that. Don't think like we're just going to die out there."

My eyes blinked wide. Had he possibly been able to read my thoughts?

"You were overcome by a weight of despair for a moment and I felt it. I bet Yugo did too. The three of us are connected, remember?" He smiled, placing the dog in my arms. "I'm not going to die. I'm not going to let Aion get that victory over me. We're going to take him down, and we're going to get Miss Lena back. Mr. Joshua too, for Rosette and Chrono. Don't worry."

I leaned over, hugging the boy to me. "Julius…thanks, for believing in us all. I…don't usually get so depressed or discouraged. I wonder-"

"I think its Yugo." He said quickly. "The two of you have really really powerful psychic links to one another. I think because he's so down it's starting to affect you."

I grinned, ruffling his hair. "You really are quite incredible."

He smiled, blushing hotly. "As long as I can make you happy, big sister."

I glowed, squeezing his shoulder, before looking back down at Fallon who was resting in my one-armed embrace. "Well little guy, I'm going to miss you. You listen to the girls and have fun alright?"

The puppy panted as it looked at me and I walked back to the bathroom, locking him away behind its door.

"Let's go." I nodded, picking up my suitcase again.

Julius nodded. "Yugo's waiting for us."

We left the dorms, trudging through the three inches of snow that was lying around on the ground. It had started on Christmas and snowed off an on the last couple of days, satisfying Julius's need for it. We walked into the garage where Yugo was packing down the car with luggage. He turned to us, that long gray trench coat of his sweeping behind him as he looked at us. "You ready Sora?" He asked after a minute, watching me.

I hesitated under his gaze, my inside automatically melting even though he was still upset. "Yeah." I said, my voice cracking as I tried to speak up. I handed him my suitcase and silently got in the car. Julius climbed in beside me, flashing me an odd look, but I just smiled at him and waited for Yugo.

The back slammed down and then he arrived at the driver's door, opening it and sliding in on my other side. He took the keys out of his pocket and put them in the ignition, revving the engine as he closed the door.

"Let's get out of here." He murmured as he backed it out of the garage.

We left the car at the train station with an operative who was waiting there for us and then got help loading out things by the attendants. Walking on board we found the seating compartment that had been reserved for us and at down, Yugo next to me and Julius across from us.

"I've never ridden on a train before." The boy admitted after a minute, smiling at us.

"You're in for a real treat then." I replied with a grin.

"It's not that big of a deal." Yugo muttered.

I snorted, looking over at him. "You be quiet. Do you remember what happened the last time we rode a train?"

"How could I forget?" He snapped back, his handsome voice dripping with sarcasm.

"It won't be happening again! So stop being all moody and depressed and deal with a nice quiet train ride!" I reached over, tapping my finger to his nose.

It was at that moment that the train rumbled to life, trembling below us as it started up. Startled by the sudden shaking I practically jumped in Yugo's lap. Clutching the side of his coat sleeve I heard him chuckle softly and I couldn't pinpoint whether it was out loud or in my head. He looked down at me with those gold eyes of his, smirking. "Do I have to save you from everything?" He replied, and I couldn't tell whether he was playing around with me, or not.

I let go of him, pretending that what he said hadn't hurt, even though inside I was recoiling from what he had said. "Damn Devil…" I hissed, scooting over to look out the window. "You run you're mouth way to much."

I could tell Julius was surprised and confused from the emotions radiating off him, but he wasn't going to say anything. Instead he undid the clasp on his scarlet coat and slid it off of him setting it down on the seat beside him. Silence fell between us and the only thing that broke it was the whistle of the train as we rolled out of the station and the thunderous pistons working underneath our feet to keep the engine moving.

A few hours passed and we were still keeping quiet, distance, between ourselves. Julius was watching out the window as was I on the other side and Yugo was facing toward the hallway, those eyes staring at the compartment door. Neither one had made any motion to say anything, neither out loud nor in my head and I wasn't going to be the first to speak up. Yugo had irritated and annoyed me by trying to drag me into his depression and he had ridiculed me like I was nothing but a child. That jerk…who gave him the right?

Julius finally stood up an hour or so before dusk, stretching. Yugo and I both looked over at him, but he just smiled at us. "I'm hungry. I think I'm going to go head down to the dining car for a while. I'll be back in a few, alright?"

"Sure." I nodded as he slid open the door, closing and latching it behind him.

I huffed looking over at Yugo who wasn't going to meet my gaze. I knew what Julius was doing- giving us time to talk so he didn't have to be bothered by the silence. I was starting to get dark, and although he would never admit it, the kid got really nervous still from the dark quiet. He was tying to help us so that we could help him, and I wasn't going to let his effort go in vain.

"…That was really mean you know." I told him after a minute. He sill didn't even acknowledge me there and I gritted my teeth. "Yugo, stop being an ass, damnit!"

His eyes blinked and he jerked his head up, cyan bangs falling in his face as he looked over at me. "…What?"

I stood up, standing right in front of him. "You have been like his for almost week and I'm getting sick and tired of it. This ends now." I swallowed when his eyes narrowed slightly. "You have been so oblivious to everything else but your own self guilt that you haven't been doing anything then making everyone around you depressed. Look at me- I never get like this. And Julius has been feeling it through me, because he can read and sense my emotions too. You've been drowning in your sorrow and you're taking everyone else with you. Well, I'm telling you right now I'm not going." I crossed my arms. "This happened over a thousand years ago. There's no need to fret on it now. You have to-"

"Will you shut up!" He snapped suddenly, fangs showing as he glared at me. When he realized he had caught me completely off guard by that one, he looked away. "…I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, since I believe what Jin told me to be true. I killed…my sister-in-law. By my own hands. Right in front of my little brother. It makes me wonder how many other people close to me I slaughtered, and I never even realized."

"What?" I blinked. I tried touching him through his mind, but he had a barrier up, blocking me off from his true emotions.

"I've hated humans because you all care so much…about everything. And you're so weak yet you fight…you try so hard. You fight for things that in any other case wouldn't even seem deemable to fight for. Honor…faith…love…human emotions and feelings I'd never felt before…until I lost my memory. They were things I felt through you and because I didn't know any better, about who I was or what my own thoughts or feelings were on the matter, I clung to you and adopted those rights as my own. They seemed right in my mind, and yet now that I'm starting to piece together things of the past I'm left confused as hell." He stared down at his hands, face hidden by his hair. "The only thing I ever fought for was myself. To become stronger. But…how many people did I kill to get the level of strength that I had before I left Aion's ranks? How many friends died by my hand? The past is still so blurry…there's a lot I don't understand and a lot I need to find out. What was this pandemonium Aion spoke of? What exactly are the sinners? Why are Chrono and Rosette important? The more I think about it, the more my head hurts, and the more I think back on the incident Jin spoke of…the more my chest begins to hurt. I've been so lost these last couple of days…"

I collapsed beside him on the bench, wrapping my arms around his neck. His body shuddered slightly in response, in shock too, I think. The barrier in his mind dropped and I took the opportunity to see what I was up against. Latching onto his thoughts I realized he really was torturing himself over this. I held him closer. 'You don't have to figure everything out on your own. We're a team. Stop trying to burden all of this on your shoulders, because you can't take the weight.' My hands clutched the back of his coat as I suddenly shook, tears falling. 'I'm sorry. I really am sorry that I've done this to you. I've ruined everything you ever knew but taking it away from you. I know…that you hated humans with a passion before you met me. And now…slowly you've begun to tolerate us more. But that meant tolerating our way of life and I'm sorry that I unknowingly pushed my ideals on you.'

I had begun to realize that the more Yugo learned, the more like a true devil he became, and now it was starting to seriously affect him. ' A devil with human compassion…I'm sorry that it hurts.'

I felt his hands slowly wrap around me, holding me to him. 'This must be how Chrono feels. Why he acts the way he does. When I first met him again, I thought that he had grown weaker then my initial memories of him, but now I understand…he's gone through the same thing I have. I've never had a contracted before you, but Chrono has known Rosette for some time now. He was already like this when I met up with him again…I see now…' "Sora," His voice spoke my name softly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so harsh. You're right…I should stop trying to figure this out by myself and let you help me. I don't want to hurt you too." He pushed me back, wiping at my face with his fingertips. "Just…don't cry anymore. I don't like it at all."

I smiled at him. "It's a deal then."

The door opened then and Julius blinked at us, before blushing hotly. "Oh…sorry…was I interrupting?" He ran his fingers through his chocolate brown hair sheepishly. "I figured I'd come back and see if you all wanted to eat. Food looks really good, I can tell you that much."

I grinned sheepishly as my stomach growled in response. I hadn't eaten all day…

"You talk about food and you've got her attention." Yugo shrugged. "She eats like a-" His words were caught off by his own rumbling stomach, which caused his face to blush slightly.

I laughed. "And you're making fun of –me- because –I'm- hungry?"

He growled. "Don't even start."

"You two seem to be in a better mood. Come on. I'm hungry too and I want to get some dinner before it's all gone." Julius grinned. "I'm stealing your plate Sora if you guys don't get moving."

"H-Hey! That's not fair!" I cried, hopping up off the bench. The kid laughed racing down the hallway. "Julius Weyr, that's not funny! How dare you even think about taking my food away from me?" I raced after him. I heard Yugo chuckle in my mind and I smiled. I knew he was right behind us.

My eyes blinked in the dark and I got that overwhelming panic again. I didn't know where I was. My heart began racing and I shut my eyes again. Think…what had we been doing….

'You're still on the train.'

My eyes opened and I looked up and over. I had fallen asleep laying against Yugo, and Julius was huddled up beside me on the bench, his head resting on my hip as he slept. Our coats were pulled up around us, the gray duster tucked in around me.

'Yugo…' I spoke in my head to avoid waking the kid up. 'What time is it?'

'It's about 7:30 in the morning. We had a lay over in Chicago a few hours ago but we're still moving on. The attendants told me we had about another 56 hours or so until we reach San Francisco.'

I stretched slightly, my arm coming around to wrap around his. 'Man another two days on this boring thing… and all we literally have to do is watch the scenery roll by.' I gestured to the window and then blinked. 'Wow…looks like a rainy day for whatever part of the country we're in.'

Yugo nodded. 'Foggy and overcast.'

'Maybe they'll get snow. I hope New York gets more. Fallon should have fun playing in it.' I smiled as I thought about the convent. I wonder what everyone was doing right now. Probably at mass no less. 'Hey Yugo…do you think Rosette, Chrono and Azmaria made it okay?'

He blinked. 'Yeah…probably. Unless Rosette did something to wreck the train, which is kind of expected when she left in the mood she was in.'

I smiled. 'Yeah… she had to make a big deal about leaving the day after Christmas. They just better not find Joshua and Lena without us!'

'I doubt.' He huffed, staring out the window. For a second I felt a ripple of fury within him and then it was gone.

'Yugo…?' I looked up at him, but he just shook his head.

"Don't let your doubts fool you Yugo, you're sharper then you think."

I bolted up. 'That voice!'

'Did you miss me sweetheart?'

Mist filled the compartment and then took form…Aidan was sitting right across from us.

"Owh.. Sora… what…" Julius muttered sitting up. The second he saw what was going on he gasped, eyes widening. "You!"

"Such rude manners boy. I do have a name after all." The handsome devil replied, brushing back a strand of long onyx hair.

"Aidan…" Yugo hissed. His entire body was shaking with rage, those gold eyes narrowed.

"You do remember names. I'm surprised, since you seemingly forgot everything. I have to say I'm impressed." He grinned.

Something was different about him then before. Unlike the last time I had seen him, he was cold, distant and dangerous. It felt like he could crush us all and he wouldn't even be trying. I swallowed. His strength… he had been hiding most of it. "What do you want Aidan? Did you finally come for a fight?"

His crimson eyes widened slightly. "A fight? No, not really." He stood up. "I came… for a beat down of sorts."

Before I could even register it he had grabbed Yugo by the throat, holding him off the floor and up to his height. "You're not worth her time." He growled, his hands squeezing tighter. "You're not worth much anymore anyway. You're a traitor to Lord Aion and a fool. I won't let you stand in his way, or mine!" With that he casually slung him to the side, taking out the compartment door and throwing him through the hallway and through the door across from us.

"Yugo!" Julius cried, unsheathing the blade at his side. "You bastard, who do you think you are!"

"Julius, no!" I cried as he rushed him but the sword was knocked carelessly out of his hand as Aidan grabbed the boy's wrist.

"Do you think a mere human can stand up against me if that pathetic excuse for a demon isn't even a challenge!" He grinned.

"Don't you hurt him!" I pulled my gun, pointing it point blank at the back of his head. "I swear to the god above, you harm him and I'll send you to meet you friends in another life!"

Aidan chuckled, looking over his shoulder at me, those bright red eyes amused. "That fiery spirit of yours is what I love about you. Go ahead…shoot. Don't you think I deserve it anyway?"

"You're the betrayer…you're not even worthy of life. You killed my sister…it was you." My hand shook, my aim getting shaky. "Why are you so hell-bent on hurting everyone close to me!" I asked him after a moment. "What did I ever do to you that sentenced me to have my friends and family slain by your hand? You say that you want to be close to me, and then you honestly want to kill these people!"

I felt a wave of jealousy ripple through my mind. At least Yugo was still feeling well enough to get overprotective.

Aidan's eyes widened and then he let go of Julius. His hand reached up to touch his forehead his eyes closing slightly. "The pain…doesn't go away…" He muttered. "She…it just doesn't… He's the one who deserves it! It's all his fault!" He yelled before vanishing straight in front of me.

"Sora…" Julius said, clutching his arm to his chest. "Behind you…Yugo!"

I turned around to see the black-haired devil grab Yugo's body again. "You're the cause of all of this!" He demanded, holding him up in one hand. "Everything is your fault!"

"What did I do?" Yugo replied raspily, trying to get out of the death hold that was wrapped around his throat. "Why is it my fault? How did I ruin your life?" His hands tried to pry Aidan's off him, to no avail. "Honestly…"

"You took her away!" He screamed. "We had everything planned and you…you and her sister…always in the way…I should have killed you back then…" His other hand was clutching his forehead…he seemed to be in pain and he wasn't making much sense. I was prepared to shoot him…but my body wasn't moving. The gun was pointed but my arms were trembling so much I was afraid I'd miss and hit Yugo. He deserved it. He really did deserve to die. But…I couldn't. Not when he was already in pain and I could remember that cute half smile of his. I was frozen and if I didn't do something Yugo was going to…

My mind kept telling me to unlock the seal. It was the only reasonable way to win this. But I could feel the dread of that coming too, and Yugo's insistent 'no.' He was going to fight me if I tried that, even in the position he was in.

"I'll fix it…I'll fix it all…" Aidan's soft mumblings were getting worse, as it seemed so was the pain in his head. His body began shaking. "I'll fix the problem!" There was a bright crimson light and it left the true form of a sinner in its wake. Horns exposed, fangs, talons and the crimson mark in the center of his forehead, his body had transformed, giving him tremendous power. He was going to crush Yugo in a matter of seconds. The teal-haired devil stared at him, still clawing at his hands but I could see he was running out of time and strength.

Aidan grinned, bright gleaming fangs exposed in his creepy smile. "I can fix this…I just have to rip out your heart first!"

"Yugo!" Julius cried from behind me. I wanted to do something, anything, but I couldn't move. I was paralyzed and I could do nothing more then watch him die. I called for the seal to break, begging in my head, but I felt Yugo's barrier grow stronger, more stubborn.

'You're just going to let yourself die!'

'This way keeps you from hurting.'

'Yugo, you can't do this!'

'I probably deserve it.' I could hear the sound of an awkward smile in his voice. "Sora, I-"

His words were cut off as Aidan's other hand left his head and tore straight through Yugo's chest, a shower of blood splattering all over the car.

I gasped, the first sign my body had made to get over the shock. And then the tears started falling. My cheeks felt the warm water as they continued down my chin, dropping to hit the ground below.

Yugo's body had tensed and then gone limp, but I could tell Aidan was not done there. He grinned, pushing his hand further in. Nothing could be done at this point. He was gone.

"Yugo…" My head felt empty, as did the rest of my body. The fear was gone. Feeling was gone. And where my head had ached there was now nothing. "You bastard…" I gritted my teeth, tasting the salty aftertaste from my tears. "You will pay for that, I swear it!"

I started to rush towards him and was stopped, shoved to the side by an incredibly fast-moving force. By the time I had hit the ground, the figure had punch Aidan, upper cutting him straight in the face and was now holding Yugo's lifeless body over one shoulder. I stared in awe at that form, those same amber eyes, brilliant crimson hair and white wolf ears and tail. "Jin…"

The man glared at Aidan, watching him recover from the blow to the face. "I think you've done enough damage for today, wouldn't you say, Destroyer?"

The raven-haired demon was holding his face in his hands, but even still he grinned, cackling slightly. "The White Wolf…my it's been a long time Jin. Seems like time's been good to you." He stood up straight, wiping at his face and smearing the blood that had splattered there. "I thought you and Yugo had a falling out. I'm surprised you'd come to his aide, not that there is much to aide in. He's as good as dead."

"I didn't do this for Yugo." He replied. "I could care less what happens to him." His gold eyes glanced to me. "But I owe someone for risking her own memories for me and I always pay back my debts."

"I see…so Sora was playing the sweetheart again was she?" He huffed. "No matter. You're not a Sinner so I have little to worry about from you. There's no way you could beat me in a fight."

"I can't." He admitted after minute. "But I can guarantee the Broken Horn can."

"Chrono?" His eyes widened. "That's impossible. Rizel went after them days ago. He should be nothing more then ash and that brat of his should be with Lord Joshua by now."

Jin smirked. "Rizel's dead. You should keep up on your information more often."

"What?" He blinked and then smirked. "You always know to be the best when it came to gathering information. The shinobi of the Sinners. I guess I'll have to take you're word for being true."

"Sora has a psychic link with Chrono, as she has a psychic link with all devils who were once connected to my brother. All she has to do is say the word and you'll know he'll be here. And between him and me…there's no way you can win." He glared at him. "I'm giving you a chance to get away."

He huffed, but glanced between the two of us. "There's no need to rush then. Since Yugo is no longer a threat I can do this at any time. I think it's better for me to fall back now. Sora," He grinned. "See you soon." The fog within the train cleared and he was gone with it as well.

Jin took Yugo into one of the empty compartments. "The rest of the passengers on the train will be waking momentarily. Aidan's spell will wear off and someone will quickly notice what's happened if we don't take care of this immediately."

I got up, my legs still shaking. "Julius, how many other compartments on this train have people on them?"

"Two, I think." He got up off his knees, wiping at his tear-stained face.

"Go tell the passengers to move to the next car. Some thing has happened and that this car it off limits. Then lock the doors." I headed towards Jin. "This is going to be bad."

"Right." He dashed up the hallway while I walked into the small room with Jin, who was stripping what was left of Yugo's tattered shirt off of him. The wound was not pretty. About the side of a man's fist and you could see straight inside…I had to look away as tears started falling again.

"He's alive, but just barely. He's not gonna make it for much longer though." Jin had transformed back, ears and tail disappearing along with the marks, claws and fangs. "The only chance we have is that we break the seal and hope he has enough strength to heal his internal organs. If he can't do that, he's done for."

"I can do that." I nodded to him. Without him to fight me I could unlock the seal myself but with him hanging on my just a thread…we'd just have to wait and pray.

"You'll need about fifteen minutes, which will be hard on you. Have you ever had the seal broken for that long?" When I shook my head, he swallowed. "We'll just have to try and go with what we got."

I closed my eyes, holding the chain of the necklace. The clear stone began to glow, the wire around the jewel prying open. Immediately my head began to throb and I gritted my teeth, opening my eyes slowly so I wouldn't get to dizzy.

His body was incased in a blue light and he was in the middle of transforming. The tail, the ears…his wings folded up behind him. The rune in his forehead began to glow and he gritted his teeth, his body tensing. He began trembling; shaking, and he tossed his head from side to side, long wild teal hair falling over his shoulders and face.

"Jin, what's going on…?" I swallowed as his brother watched him.

"He's trying to heal, but with so little energy he doesn't have enough strength. I'm afraid…he might not be strong enough to get through this."

"No." I huffed. "Don't give up on him just yet." I went over to the bench he was laying on, sitting down beside him. I picked his head up gently, sitting it on my lap, an arm on his shoulder to steady him as he thrashed about and one hand running through the silky strands of his hair. "He can do this, I know he can. He's stubborn. Just as stubborn as me, and maybe even more so. And I know," My eyes began to tear up again as I watched him struggle with this, teeth clenched, groaning and growling as he tried to find the power to get through this. I leaned down, my lips softly brushing against the rune in his forehead, before resting my forehead against his. "I know he won't leave me behind. He has to much to accomplish now to die here." I closed my eyes. The pain in my head was getting worse. "Jin…he wanted to tell you he's sorry. Sorry for what happened all those years ago. He's been feeling really bad about it the last couple of days and he wants to make it up to you." I smiled, looking up at him, still crying. "I know these are things he wanted to say, so don't tell him I told you, alright?"

He stared at me, those gold eyes wavering as if he was going to burst out in tears. "Fine." He said coldly after a minute, trying to regain composure. "I won't say anything."

"Yugo…" I looked up at the sound of that voice, seeing Julius standing in the doorway, crying. "He always has to play the hero, doesn't he?" He said coldly though he was trying hard not to break down. "He's saved me so many times…"

"That's just how he is." I smiled over at him.

"Yeah…I have to become stronger…so we can keep a running score." He grinned through his tears.

"He's…" Jin blinked. "He's settled down. I think he's going to be okay now."

I looked down to watch him. He seemed to be resting more peacefully now. I smiled, brushing the bangs out of his eyes. "I'm glad."

I leaned my head against the wall, watching him. My eyes were getting heavy and my head was still pounding. Right now…all I wanted to do was sleep…and make sure Yugo was okay.

I opened my eyes with a start, bolting up. Sunlight was shining in the compartment and I was the only one there. The train had stopped moving too. Where…were we and what was going on?

I panicked, thinking maybe Aidan had come back while I was asleep and finished them all off. No…that couldn't be possible. I would have woken up if a fight had broken out, wouldn't I?

I threw open the compartment door, looking down the hallway. All the other doors were open and the place was empty. The door at the end was open and I could hear voices.

"Hello?" I called, taking a step forward. "Is anyone there?"

"Huh?" A pair of big gold eyes looked around the corner, shadowed by dark brown bangs. "Hiya Sora, you're finally awake!" He smiled.

"Julius, what the hell? I thought you were going to help me carry-" Another familiar voice spoke up and then stopped as he stepped up the steps into the hallway. Another pair of big gold eyes, and a bright cyan ponytail, outfitted by a long gray trenchcoat. He blinked and then smiled slightly. "Afternoon."

My heart had stopped along with my breath at the sight of him. He was…okay. Relief washed over me as I dashed toward him with enough forced to slam him back against the wall. "Yugo, I was so worried! If you ever do something like that again I'll kill you!" I demanded, pounding my fists into his chest.

"And that's supposed to be a comforting thought?" He replied, grabbing my wrist. "Watch it will ya? I'm still very weak at the moment."

"Oh…" I swallowed. "Sorry."

"Are you gonna help me out Yugo?" Julius headed down the steps to the platform outside. I saw him lift one of the bags with one hand and then noticed his other was wrapped up in a splint, close to his side up against his chest.

"Julius!" I rushed down the steps wide-eyed. "What happened?"

"Aidan did it when he attacked the other day." Yugo, explained, stepping past me to grab three of the bags.

"I broke my arm in two places." Julius added with a smile. "The first near the wrist when he grabbed and apparently further up from having my strike repelled."

"…" I lowered my head. "We have to find Azmaria. She's about the only person I know who can heal injuries quickly. Are you okay?" I asked him weakly.

"I'm fine, really. I've developed a tolerance to pain." He replied. "Don't worry about it to much Sora. I'll be okay."

"You'll need to grab the other two bags yourself. Sorry, but my hands are full." Yugo told me, heading for the steps. "Let's get going."

"Okay…" I grabbed them, pulling them with me. "So, where are we? Are we on another lay over? Do we have to switch trains?"

Julius laughed. "Sora, this is it. We're in San Francisco."

I blinked. "WHAT!"

"You've been asleep two days, lazy." Yugo huffed as we headed through the lobby.

"LAZY! I'm LAZY!" I glared at him, but he just smiled back at me. He was picking on me for the sheer purpose of doing it and it caused me to smile back.

We hailed a taxi and asked him to take us to the Magdalene Order West Coast building. The city was completely different from anything I had ever seen. In many ways it was like New York and at the same time…

I gasped at the building. The New York office was nothing in comparison to this castle. I would be happy staying here for a while.

We were met at the front gates by officers who took our bags for us and directed us toward the main building. Walking down the hallway toward the main door, I glanced at Yugo and then Julius. Who knew what our new boss was going to be like.

Opening the door, I bowed my head slightly. "Excuse me," I replied. "We're the team from the New York Branch. The operatives outside told us you were waiting for us."

'Sora…this is weird…' I could hear the confusion catch in Yugo's voice.

"Please my lady, raise your head. You shouldn't be bowing."

That voice made a hot blush spread to my face, but I did as I was told. Staring at my new superior I couldn't help but let out a small gasp. 'He looks like…'

He was watching us amusedly, his chin resting in the palm of his hand as he leaned on the desk. He had dark tan skin, golden blonde hair that fell in his face and unsettling orange-gold eyes that seemed to reflect every color in the room. He smiled, lifting his head as he sat up straight. "Well, well, well, I'm surprised. You must be Sora Maiko from the looks of it and you're team. I was thinking Rosette's team would get here first."

'…Remington.'

"You mean, they're not here yet?" Julius's eyes widened. "B-But-"

"They're train, or what was left of it, was reported to us about a day or so. We have no clue where they've gone." He shrugged. "We're just waiting now."

I immediately thought the worst but then I remember what Jin had said…Rizel was dead. They must have escaped and been okay. "I'll pray for them." I said softly.

"Excellent idea." The blonde-haired man nodded. His pale orange eyes widened slightly. "Oh…forgive me. I'm Bryant Sera, top Militia officer here at the West Coast branch."

"I'm Sora Maiko." I nodded. "And these are-"

"So it is true then." I was cut off as the man grabbed my hand. "You are quite beautiful Miss Maiko if I may say so myself. It's seldom we see women like you here."

The wave of jealousy coming from Yugo at the moment could have choked me and everyone else in the room, but I just smiled through my blush. "Thank you, for the compliment, but we really have a report to give sir."

"Oh?" He blinked, dropping my hand. "And what of it?"

"The sinner Aidan attacked us on the train." I replied. I reached back, fingers locking with Yugo's. "If it hadn't been for Yugo and his brother Jin we probably wouldn't have survived."

"Hmmm…I see." He headed back to his desk. "So what are you doing this evening Miss Maiko?"

"What?" I blinked.

"You're new to California, are you not? I could take you out on the town and show you the sights." He grinned.

Yugo was shaking, gritting his teeth. "She's-"

"Sir!" I snapped, cutting Yugo off before he could say anything. "We have an emergency situation right now! A Sinner is tracking my team and you want to go out on a date!"

"Precisely." He leaned back in his chair, feet resting on the edge of the desk. "Sister Sora…we do not know where Aion is nor we have the current power or ability to track him. It's already two in the afternoon and starting a search today would not be wise. You would like to go out sight-seeing, wouldn't you?"

I swallowed. "Well yeah, but…"

"Then why don't you go out with me for a little while?" He said, resting his hands behind his head.

"There's no way I'm letting her go away with a pervert like you! I don't care if you are our superior! You're not putting one hand on her!" Yugo hissed before I could shut him up.

Bryant leaned forward, taking his feet off the desk. "And there's no way I'm taking orders from a devil, nor am I losing to one when it comes to a girl's heart."

Yugo's growled. "Bastard…"

The blonde ignored it. "Let her decide, shall we?"

I swallowed. "Sorry sir, but I think I'd rather spend the afternoon with my team."

He sighed. "I see. Well, then I'll see you all bright and early tomorrow morning. Your rooms are already prepared."

"Wait…rooms?" Julius looked over at me.

"Yes…three rooms." Bryant blinked. "For the three of you."

"We only need one." I spoke up, glancing at our superior. With a full-sized bed and a twin bed."

"Sister Sora are you saying that-"

"If I don't get it, I'm sure there's a hotel somewhere in the city where I can get what I want." I said, my voice not wavering. I knew what he was going to come back with and I didn't feel like telling him the reasons why Yugo and I slept in the same bed, or why Julius needed to be close to us. He might look like Remington, but he didn't act like him.

"Fine." He snapped back. "Consider it done."

"Good." I headed for the door, practically throwing it open. "See you tomorrow morning, Father Sera."

So far, this trip was turning out to be just loads of fun.

Well, that was fun…I cried when Yugo got hurt… it made it hard to type. Wow I am such a sap Anyway Chapter thirteen turned out okay. It was sad and all but I plan to make up for it. Fourteen will be a tour of the city and some stupid fun stuff. Pretty much a dumb chapter with a lot of storyline, romance and history stuff. It'll be cool I promise. Meanwhile Rosette's team and Sora's team will meet up and that means the alliance between the pursuers and the Magdalene Order is going to take place. But I'm spoiling too much of the next chapter! Until I write again!

Sora Tokumi Kazuma