Forgotten Memories Chapter Fourteen

Chrono Crusade

Date Started: March 30th

Sora Kazuma

"Yugo, Julius, come on!" I called, racing down the boardwalk, my footsteps leaving loud thunks on the wooden pier. It was almost sixty degrees, warm enough that I didn't have to wear my heavy winter coat and it was a beautiful sunny day. We had taken a trolley into downtown and had decided to stop by the harbor to see the ocean and get some food.

"Sora you don't have to be so loud." Julius told me with a sheepish grin. He had rolled up the sleeves on his white t-shirt to right above his elbow, his slinged arm pulled up tightly across his chest. As casual as he looked he still had his blade sheathed at his side, silently telling me he was still wary of his surroundings. Yugo too, who was wearing his white shirt practically unbuttoned from the weather, had his pistol holstered on his hip, belted to his khaki pants. He caught me staring at him and turned his head, ponytail swishing behind him as those gold eyes blinked at me. My face went red and I waved at him before turning back around taking a step forward-

-and tripping over a ball, falling flat on my face.

"Miss Lady, are you okay!"

"Owh…" I whined, rubbing my butt. "What the heck-" I blinked, realizing there were two little boys probably not older then six or seven standing in front of me.

"We didn't mean it Miss, honest!" The first of the boy's said, his gray eyes tearing up. "We were just kicking it back and forth while we were waiting for our mother! Please don't tell her we were being bad!"

"Is this what you were looking for?"

I looked up at Yugo, who was holding the ball in his hand.

"Our daddy gave us that ball…" the second boy spoke up timidly hiding behind his brother. "Can we have it back please?"

"Here." He handed it to him. "Be more careful next time."

"Yes sir." The first boy nodded.

"I used to play kickball with my little brother all the time. Do you mind if I play with you all for a few?" Julius smiled at the two.

The boys grinned. "Sure. We're waiting for our mom to get out of the bookstore."

"There's a bookstore around here?" My eyes lit up.

"Yeah, right there." The first boy pointed to a small quaint shop across the street from the boardwalk.

I started to get up when a firm hand wrapped around my waist. "Don't even think it."

"Aw, Yugo, please?" I looked back at him. "We have more then enough money at the moment. Why not spend a little?"

"We're going to have to if the weather keeps up like this. I didn't bring any springtime clothes and this is pathetic. It's January. It needs to be snowing, not hot enough to head to the beach." He replied, irritated.

The elder of the boys laughed. "Are you two married?" he asked with a grin. "You fight like my mommy and daddy."

My face went three shades of red and I couldn't hide my blush. "M-Me! M-Married! N-Not right now…I mean we have things to accomplish first before I can even think about that-"

"Sora, you're rambling." Julius told me, trying to keep from laughing.

"So you're not married?" The kid blinked.

"We pretty much are." Yugo responded before my mouth would speak and I downcast my head to hide my crimson face against my crimson hair.

"There are reasons why we are and were not really. It's confusing." I admitted after a minute with a smile, before realizing that the boys had walked off with Julius and I sighed.

"Why are you so uptight all of a sudden?" Yugo blinked.

"I wasn't even thinking about getting married. It wasn't even a thought that had crossed my mind." I leaned my arms on top of the wooden railing, looking off at the ocean. "I take it devils don't have weddings?"

"It's a religious thing. Of course we don't." He leaned his back against the rail, looking over at me.

"Well, what do you do to establish a link between soul mates? Is there a big ceremony or anything?" I asked him.

"I'm not sure…but from what my instincts are telling me-"

"I figured." I cut him off looking over at him and blushing slightly. I could tell by the swirl of emotion in his head what he was getting at.

He didn't meet my gaze. "I made that promise to you…" He said after a moment. "And I intend to keep it. One day I will make you completely mine."

"I know." I whispered, barely audible but I knew he heard me. The more the thought crossed my mind, the less it bothered me. Six months ago, I wouldn't have even thought it possible.

"Sora! Yugo!"

I looked back, realizing Julius was calling for us. He was with the boys and a young woman with strawberry blonde hair and tan skin.

"Better see what's up." Yugo pushed off the railing, heading toward them and I followed.

"These are my teammates." Julius said as we walked up, flashing us a smile.

"I see." The woman replied. "Thank you for looking after Maxwell and Jacob for me. I left them outside hoping they'd stay out of trouble, but you know boys…"

"I have a little brother about their age." Julius nodded.

"It was no problem." I replied.

"Boys, say thank you." Their mother told them.

"Thank you." The older one grinned.

"Thank you mister for giving us our ball back!" the second looked up at Yugo shyly, hiding his mouth behind the ball.

"It was nothing." He said, ruffling the boy's hair.

"Come on." Their mother told them heading off down the walk. "We need to be getting home. Your dad will be there soon."

I watched them go smiling, before my stomach began growling and I sighed. "How bout we stop for dinner? I'm hungry."

"Sure." Julius smiled. "There are tons of restaurants here along the boardwalk."

"Let's see if we can find a place with some Spanish cuisine!" I said, eyes darting at the shops as we headed up the boardwalk.

We found a vendor and got food while we continued walking. We stopped to watch the sunset set over the water and I resisted the urge to go check out the carnival further up the walk.

"It's getting late." Yugo reminded us as I sat staring at the ferris wheel lights.

"I know but I wanna go…!" I whined, looking back and forth between the carnival and Yugo.

"We have time Sora. We have a few days before we're expected to begin work. We'll get a chance." Julius told me, putting a hand on my shoulder. Immediately I felt the draw from him, the fact that he was really exhausted and frustrated with his arm and that he wanted to get back and go to bed.

"We need to get going. Let's find the nearest trolley and get back to headquarters." Yugo spoke up, probably sounding colder then he had intended to, but I knew he had felt Julius's emotions through me and he was worried.

The poor kid practically fell asleep against me on the ride back and we shooed him off to bed as soon as he got there.

"What are you going to do?" A pair of gold eyes and a handsome voice asked as I took off my shoes and socks, collapsing in the lobby of the dormitory building.

"I think…a bath is in order." I sighed, leaning back on the couch before I grinned at him. "Care to join me?"

"You're just not happy unless you're causing trouble are you?" He huffed.

"I think Father Sera deserves it." I snapped back. "Asking me out like that…honestly. He's our commander! If he catches us, what's he gonna do, send us back to New York? He needs us here and besides maybe it'll get the point across."

"And that point is?" He raised an eyebrow.

I stared at him. "That me and you are…well…close."

He lowered his gaze. "As long as you don't mind, I'll go with you."

"Of course I don't mind." I smiled, getting up and toting my shoes with me.

Grabbing towels out of the closet by the bathhouse door I went in first and undressed in one of the stalls.

'You're fine.' I heard the splash in the jets of the bath along with his reassuring voice in my head and instinctively I grabbed for my towel I had set on the rack behind me. As my fingers touched the material I wondered if it was even really worth it. Yugo had practically seen me naked more times then I could think of at the moment…I don't think a towel would really save me from his sensual gaze anyway.

I opened the door and walked out, my long crimson hair pulled up over my shoulders, the only covering on my body. I hid my face, as I knew it was going the same color as my hair but I couldn't help it. I could feel him staring at me and it wasn't helping.

I stepped into the bath water quickly settling myself so that everything lower then my shoulders was hidden by the foam. Yugo shook his head, a tigerish smile lighting his lips. "You're just a glutton for punishment you know that?"

"Oh?" I looked up, blinking my eyes innocently. "Did you say something? I didn't catch that."

I heard him growl in my head. "Don't play games with me. There's no chance-" His words were cut off as a wave of water smacked him in the face.

I laughed. "Looks like I win this round."

He hissed, racking his long cyan bangs out of his eyes. "You…!" He lunged at me from all the way on the other side of the circular tub and I kicked off the bottom of the floor, swimming away from him and spraying him in the face.

"Sora 2, Yugo 0. Is this the best a devil can come up with? And you're supposed to be a sinner?" I taunted him through my laughter.

"You better be glad you're my contractor. Anyone else would be dead!" He hissed, but his face was showing pure amusement. Those gold eyes were watching me hiding laughter behind them and I could tell he was enjoying this. He tried pouncing me again only to get another wave of hot water straight in the face.

"That's strike three!" I cried as he sank underneath to brush his hair out of his eyes like he had before. "Looks like you're out!"

"I doubt."

I tried to turn around when I heard his sweet voice whispering into my ear only to be pinned back against him, his arms holding me to his right side.

"Hey that's no fair!" I cried, trying to break free, but I couldn't get out of his iron grip. "How'd you do that!"

"You just left your guard down. You assumed I wasn't going to attack you from underneath the water because I hadn't before and that's where you made your mistake." He smirked. "Looks like I win the war. Can I claim my prize now?"

"Wh-" Before I could even reply he had leaned down locking his lips with mine. The feeling of his body against mine, his scent and his touch. I closed my eyes, savoring them.

He felt my hesitance and my relief and he pulled away, looking down at me. "Sora?"

"Nothing, nothing." I replied quickly shaking my head. "I'm just…I was so afraid I was going to lose you back there on the train. I'm so glad to have you by me still."

"…When I came to, I was lying in your lap and Julius was sitting on the floor by the bench asleep, his head laying against my arm. I knew that it was the two of you that had taken care of me." He huffed. "I was more worried about the two of you."

"We were fine. At least I was…Julius's arm was bad by that point, but once Azmaria gets here I know she'll heal him. I…" I laid my head on his shoulder, wrapping my arms around his neck and burying my fingers in his hair. "I was just so afraid I had lost you…"

"Hey," He grabbed my chin, tilting my head to look up at him. "You'll never lose me."

"Sora?"

Yugo sighed, lowering his head and letting me go.

"Yeah Julius?" I spoke up, swallowing slightly. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. I'm just…I woke up and you guys weren't here…"

"Did you have another nightmare?" I blinked.

"Yeah. It's been a while. I thought I was over them. I just have a bad feeling…"

"Are you sure you're alright? There's no devil around is there?"

"No. The only aura I feel is Yugo's and I can sense he's with you. Can you guys…just hurry back?"

"Tell the kid we'll be there in a minute." Yugo replied, wringing out his hair.

"We'll be back in a few. Just hold on, alright?"

"A-Alright…"

By the time I was done talking with Julius Yugo was already out and getting dressed. I sighed. It was a failed attempt at getting time to ourselves.

'Don't think like that.' Yugo immediately scolded me. 'You love playing big sister.'

' I know.' I got out, heading over to the stall I had left my clothes in. 'But I don't like having you pull away from me.'

'I'm allowed to be upset that we don't get time to ourselves.'

I shook my head, pulling my sopping wet hair back into a ponytail. I pulled the chain out from underneath my dress, staring at the clear stone pendant. The crack in the stone had spread from the other day, forking out into two other directions.

'Don't worry about it little one.' Yugo responded as the stall door next to me opened. 'There's nothing you can do about it. I'll be waiting by the front door when you get out.'

'Wait a sec and I'll be right there.' I swung open the stall, catching him by the arm and smiling up at him.

Julius was waiting on his bed and he sighed in relief as we came in. I could tell he had been shaking and I went over to him, wrapping my arms around him.

"Give me a sec to get changed, alright?" I told him soothingly, running my fingers through his hair. I dug through my bags, pulling out a nightshift and running back into the back room.

When I returned I found Yugo collapsed on the bigger of the two beds and Julius still sitting huddled on the smaller one. I blew out the candles lit on the table, letting the moon fill the room with its pure silver light.

"Come here." I held out my arms. The boy grabbed his own blankets with him, collapsing in my arms, his head resting on my chest, his bad arm still tucked in a sling around him. "I'm sorry Julius. This trip is taking its toll on you."

"It's alright." He said softly into my neck. "I was aware of the consequences when I left." He lifted his head looking over at Yugo. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to steal Sora away from you."

Yugo looked at me and I exchanged the glance. The boy was getting more and more perceptive about sensing and feeling our emotions. "You're okay kid." He replied, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"You guys…" He closed his eyes. "Thank you for taking care of me."

"Get some rest." I replied, running my fingers up and down as his back, just like I used to when he first came to the convent. Yugo snuggled up to my other side, his fangs scrapping along my neck for a second before he dropped his head on my shoulder, content to sleep like this. I rested my head against Julius, convinced to nod off like this. Though we were three thousand miles away from home, not much had changed.

I woke up thinking I had heard a door open. I was having horrendous neck pains from sitting like that and my left arm had fallen asleep, but I was in bed with two incredibly good-looking young men…and I had no clue who they were, or where I was. I looked around the room, trying to figure out exactly what this place was, and what exactly had happened last night.

'Sora…? Are you alright?'

"Sora…" I repeated out loud. Had I heard that voice in my head?

"Sora," Fingertips grabbed my chin and I looked over into a pair of brilliant gold eyes shadowed by damp cyan bangs. The second my eyes met his I blushed but a shot rang off in my head and I was struck by a wave of dizziness so bad I put a hand to my forehead. My vision got blurry. I knew him, I know I did…the pounding in my skull was getting worse as I searched for the answer.

"Sora!" He had his arms around me in an instant.

"Sora…" I murmured despite the pain I was in. "Is that my name? And you…"

"Hmmm…?" The boy laying in my lap moved, another pair of gold eyes looking up at me before they blinked wide. "What's going on?" He asked, bolting up. "Sora, are you okay!"

'Sora, I'm here.'

'Who…are you? And why can I talk to you like this?'

'Calm down. Try to remember where you are…and who we are. Just think. Take it easy and think.'

As if my mind had been lagging, blocking me off, the pain finally lessened and it was as if everything clicked. I was Sora Maiko, sent here from New York on a case for the Magdalene Order, and the two next to me were the people I cared for most.

"Yugo…Julius…" I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment trying to stable myself. The pain was gone but I still felt a little dizzy. "Thank you. I'm sorry about that."

"You scared me." Julius wrapped his arms around my neck.

"And so it begins." Yugo murmured, before shooting a murderous glance over to the door. "Come on in. You can't even try and hide from me. I know you're there."

The door opened and Father Sera entered in a sheepish smile on his face. "I was just going to see how you all were doing this morning. I didn't mean to intrude."

"Wow, Yugo, how'd you know he was there?" Julius looked over at him in awe.

"I can smell his aftershave." He looked over at the boy. "Wolf demon remember? One of my best skills is tracking using my nose."

"Are you alright there Sora?" Sera asked me, those pale orange eyes lighting on me.

"Yes sir. I-"

"She has times where she's going to get like this. Her memory is being eaten away and it's becoming harder and harder for her to remember things." Yugo replied before I could respond.

"Because of your contract." He leaned against the footpost of Julius's bed. He smiled. "If you guys are hungry the cafeteria's open this morning."

"Yeah, food!" Julius grinned. His cheeks flushed slightly. "Actually I want to go take a shower first. Yugo…will you come with me?"

"Yeah kid, get your stuff." He nodded.

Julius got up and grabbed his thing from his suitcase, Yugo following behind him. "We'll be back soon Sora." He smiled at me.

"I'm trusting you alone with her." Yugo said sharply, looking at Sera. "Don't do anything stupid."

Sera waited before they had left before he let out an exasperated sigh. "He sure is an over-protective one, isn't he?" He looked over at me and his arrogant smile disappeared. "I actually came here this morning, because I owe you an apology for the way I acted. I looked into your team's records and the things I found out about the young boy, Julius…no child should ever have to endure that. And after that devil-"

"His name is Yugo." I said cutting him off, my eyes narrowing.

"Alright, alright. After Yugo explained about your condition, I can see why you all requested that the three of you share a room. I acted without thinking over things and I want to say that I'm sorry." He grinned. "How bout I take you out to lunch to make up for it?"

I huffed. "Commander Sera, please."

"Call me Bryant, if you would, at least." He said defeatedly, smiling at me.

"Alright then. Bryant, Yugo and Julius are my family, and they're the only ones that I have. Julius is like the brother I never had and Yugo-"

"Is your lover?" He said, crossing his arms.

My face went completely red before I could even reply. "Yugo is…is…"

"I get what he is to you. You don't have to explain." He cut me off again.

"Well if you understand, then you have to realize that I don't take it lightly when you brush them off as nothing and insult Yugo. If you're our commander then, sir, you should act like it!" I looked up at him. "I know you would stick up for your family too sir if someone was bothering them. Don't pick fights with Yugo please, that's all I'm asking."

He stood up, heaving a sigh. "I didn't mean to be offensive. I don't take lightly to devils, but I figure I'll tolerate this one at the sake of a pretty woman."

"Thank you." I managed, heat flushing my face.

"Commander Sera?" Someone in the hall was calling his name and we looked up and over to the open door. "Sera?"

The father turned his head, pale eyes looking to the doorway. "Si?"

Two operatives appeared in the doorframe and immediately the second backed off while the first bowed his head, muttering what seemed like an apology to me as he was barging in to my bedroom while I was without proper dress, but I couldn't understand what he was saying.

Bryant spoke up sharply, casting the boy's attention away from me and clearly asking what he wanted…though I was guessing. The handsome commander's tongue had switched over into another language that I was assuming was Spanish.

The boy answered back, a sheepish tone to his voice as he answered him in the same language. I saw the commander narrow his eyes while the operative gave his report and he said two or three words to them before they left, shutting the door behind them.

"Wow." I smiled at him. "I'm impressed."

He looked back at me, a golden eyebrow arching slightly. "To be honest I can't tell you what language I spoke first- Spanish or English." He stood up straight. "Anyway, I have matters to attend to-"

"What happened?" I asked. I could tell something was bothering him.

He blinked at me. "A case just came in…a very weird case. I'm going to go look in on it."

"If you give me a couple minutes, I'll go with you." I told him, pulling the blankets off from around me and standing up. "It doesn't have anything to do with Aion or Joshua does it?"

"It's to early to tell, but I doubt it. Still…we don't see things like this very often." He responded. "I'll wait for you then."

I smiled. "Alright then."

I got dressed as quickly as possible before joining Bryant out in the hallway. He was silent as we walked to his office and he let me in behind him, closing the door quickly. The two agents from before were there as well.

"Jose, Alberto, this is Miltia Operative Sora Maiko from New York." He said, heading over to his desk. "Try and stick with the English please Jose. She can't understand Spanish."

The man's cheeks blushed slightly and he nodded over to me. "Very well. I'm sorry for entering your room earlier Miss Sora." His voice was heavily accented, almost slurring his words together, but at least now I could partially understand him.

"So boys, what do we have?" Sera collapsed in his seat, opening the folder that had been set on his desk along with several other ones I could only thin to be other cases.

"One of our apprentices, apparently out last night for an evening stroll." The second man, Alberto responded. He yet again, had the heavy accent but his English was more defined in his voice. "He was found this morning in an alley. His heart had been ripped out of his chest and there were multiple wounds on his arms, chest and neck. We think he was still alive at the time and that he tried to fight back. His pistol was found next to him, the clip empty."

"It's Aidan." I spoke up, glancing between the boys and their commander. "If what you said is true then there's no way it isn't. The injuries are way to similar." I looked at Bryant. "Is this the first case like this? Or have there been others?"

Those pale orange eyes stared at me and I shivered. I had never gotten chills from him but the way he was looking at me right now… "You mentioned this Aidan when you arrived yesterday. What is he?"

"He's a devil, more overly known as one of the sinners. He's been tracking me and keeping tabs on me for a while now. He has some little obsession with me and I'm truly beginning to believe he's insane. There are times when he's calm, quiet and surprisingly friendly and cute, but equally he has a bloodthirsty, murderous side that seems to crave mutilation and death. If that side of him appeared while he had run into this kid…there's no doubt that he could be capable of doing this. He actually tried to do the same thing to Yugo when he confronted us on the train and he barely survived. Bryant," I looked at him. "Have there been other cases like this?"

He sighed, glancing down to the folder. "We've lost three operatives in the last month or so. This makes four, but this is the first time it's been like this."

"I want the chance to make up for this." I told him and he jerked his head up, long blonde bangs falling into his eyes.

"You plan on fighting him yourself?" He asked, racking back his shaggy hair.

"No. He's a sinner at full strength. Chrono is not here to back us up and Yugo is still recovering. Getting other operatives involved is only going to mean more people are going to get hurt in the process. I'll do this alone." I explained.

"You want to confront a sinner, alone?" He sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Very well. I'll leave it to you then. I owe you anyway."

I smiled. "Thanks Bryant. Don't let Julius and Yugo know I left without them, alright?"

"Are you trying to get me killed?" He said, his voice serious but a smile was playing on his lips. "You better come back alive or that devil of yours is gonna start planning my funeral."

"Yes sir." I nodded before turning and heading out of his office and down the hall. Maybe Father Sera wasn't so bad after all.

I took a trolley downtown, putting up a barrier in my head. The plan was simple- I was going to get this over with as quickly as possible before the others even knew I was gone. I was going to call out Aidan myself.

The city was still half asleep. It was overcast outside and fog was still settling heavily by the harbor. It was probably only seven am at the latest, but my body was still programmed on eastern time, making it nine-thirty, ten maybe in my mind.

I cut across the boardwalk to one of the observatories and leaned against the wooden railing, looking out on the ocean blanketed in white. The connection was there in my mind…I had found him and he wasn't blocking me off which meant that he heard me when I called for him.

It took me a minute or so to realize someone was standing behind me and I turned around to see him there, hands stuffed in the pockets of his black duster. Despite the calm look on his face, his clothing and neck were covered in blood, smeared up the side of his jaw and matting his long onyx bangs to his cheeks. My stomach lurched, but I refused to crumble now. "Aidan…"

"You called, my dear?" He smiled at me, those crimson eyes glancing over me.

I swallowed. "Aidan, you really did kill that kid last night, didn't you?"

"Kid? Oh, you mean the choirboy?" He smirked. "I got hungry."

"What?" My eyes widened and my wall crumbled at that. Despite how calm he was acting, I could still tell he had yet to revert back. Those eyes were watching me as if I was his next target and that dark smirk was unsettling. "I can't believe it…you…feed on humans?"

"Only when I want something different to eat. And the kid knew I was a demon. I couldn't possibly let him go whining to the higher-ups about me. Besides I figured you would know it was me when the case finally came in." He shrugged. "Oh well."

"That…" My eyes were tearing up despite how I was trying to hold up. "That boy had a home, and family and friends! And you decided you wanted to throw his life away? How are you to decide that? You're not God!" I wiped at my face as the tears started falling, but I didn't dare take my gaze off him. "You really are a monster, aren't you?"

His scarlet eyes widened and then closed and he heaved a sigh. He put a hand to his forehead and for a moment I was ready to recoil, thinking that maybe he was going to snap but he just racked back his dark bangs before looking at me again. "Sora."

"Don't even start," I stepped back before I had even realized it. "Aidan, I don't even know…why? Why do you kill people for me?"

"I don't do it for you." He hissed. "Not intentionally. I just…can't get you out of my mind. Every possible thought in my head, everything that flashes through my mind…if I can do it just to get to see you for a few minutes…it's worth it."

"That's cruel logic. Nothing should ever make you have to take someone's life!" I shot back. "That really doesn't mean anything to you does it?"

"I've been a killer for thousands of years. To try and feel something for a child…"

"You're horrible!" I cut him off. I knew I probably wasn't helping his already unstable condition, but my mouth refused to stay shut, and the tears wouldn't stop rolling down my face.

He vanished in front of me and before I could even register it had pulled me into his arms. "Do you honestly believe that?" He asked softly.

I wanted to jerk away from the smell of blood drenching his clothes, but my body froze at his affectionate touch and his pained voice. This was the Aidan that had visited me on Christmas Eve, bringing me a single black rose. This wasn't the killer who had nearly massacred Yugo two days ago. "I…I do!" I tried to sound defiant and angry but my voice faltered, and I knew he had picked up on it.

"You're lying." He responded and his voice sounded so wounded my hands clutched the thin, soaked material of his shirt. "If you believed what you were actually saying you wouldn't be hurting so much."

"You're the one who's lying!" I snapped back. He had been able to read my emotions through my mind, and I realized my guard had completely dropped. I pounded my fist into his chest half an anger at him and half angry with myself. "You're the betrayer! You feel you have to destroy everyone close to me-"

"Only out of bitter jealousy." He caught my hand in his one, stopping me from beating it into him a second time. I glanced up, surprised at his iron grip, afraid I had woken up the murderous side of him, but he just smiled down at me and raised my hand to his lips, softly kissing my fingertips. "Hirelena, Mia, Remington, Jin, Julius, Chrono, Rosette, Azmaria…they're all people you care about deeply. You hold them close to you, and you think about them when you can't seem them. I don't have that luxury. For me, this is as good as it gets. And Yugo…" Even with his voice calm, I could hear the bitterness there as he said his name. "Yugo is one hell of a lucky bastard. He beat me to it and stole away with what should rightfully be mine." Those crimson eyes stared down at me and for a second it felt like my heart had stopped. "You."

"Aidan…" I swallowed. My cheeks were flushing despite my own attempts to hide everything away where they couldn't be used against me. "You keep saying that. And that…you had no other choice but to kill my sister. Still she was all I had left. And you knew that…why? Why won't you tell me anything?"

"Because of my demonic pride." He said with a hint of a smile. "I'd rather you hate me for what you think I've done, then have pity on me when you find out the truth. Believe me the day will come when you will find out everything…and the day soon after that where everything you found out will be lost. I'm waiting for the day when you lose everything, so that we can start out with a clean slate again." His hand left mine, tracing up the side of my neck to my chin. "Memories come and memories go. You'll forget more and more but you'll make new ones along the way. I want to forget about the old ones in the past and start again."

"Aidan…" I blushed even though I was trying not to. My defenses crumbled. I looked away from him, pulling out of his hot gaze. I needed away out of here quick, because things were starting to steam up. "Aidan," I steadied myself, looking up at him with a smile. "I need you to do a favor for me."

Evidently that caught him off guard because those scarlet eyes of his blinked wide and he looked so taken back that I wanted to hug him. "W-What is it?"

I giggled. "Please, stay out of the San Francisco area right now, and stop this killing. I've got enough on my hands without worrying about you running around slaughtering people."

"You just want me to back off until your pet puppy is finished licking his wounds." He shot back suddenly, venomously. I know he was saying it in all seriousness but he sounded like a small child throwing a temper tantrum.

I smiled at him before reaching up, tugging on a piece of his long onyx hair. "I'm telling you this so that the order doesn't do a city-wide search to hunt you down. Apparently Aion's been stirring up trouble with them recently too and their not happy. Keep yourself out of trouble. That's all I'm asking."

He shot me a wary look but when I wouldn't budge from my stubbornness he sighed. "If I lie low for now and don't do anything will you not cry anymore?"

"As long as I know you're safe and that everyone else is free from your wrath." I nodded.

"Then consider it done." He replied. "I'll withdraw for now."

"Thank you." I leaned up, ruffling his thick black hair and as I went to pull away he pulled me back in, his lips kissing my forehead. I blushed hotly, pushing against his chest, but the only thing my mind was registering at the moment was the rock hard muscles of his chest underneath that shirt and it wasn't helping my situation at all. "Aidan…" I was suddenly feeling overly guilty and I hadn't even really done anything. "I have to get going…"

He let me go silently without an argument, stepping back, shoving his hands in the pockets of his coat. I turned away from him, back towards the boardwalk and the main part of town.

"Does he mean that much to you?"

I swallowed when I heard him speak up as I took a step away. I looked back at him, but his face was a mask and he had blocked me off from talking mentally to him. My face blushed and for a moment my mouth failed to answer.

He huffed, down casting his head. "No answer, eh? Is it because he's not worth one? He means-"

"More to me then my own life." I practically snapped back, cutting him off. "If I had been paying in days like Rosette is to Chrono, I'd be happy to go if he was right there with me when it happened. Don't you even dare try to put a label on my feelings."

"I'm sorry." He said after a minute, looking at me apologetically. "Sorry that I'm going to have to hurt you again when I sever his head from his body."

"I'd like to see you try." I hissed before turning and marching away from the boardwalk.

I could hear the echo of his laughter in my head as I maid it up the concrete walk. 'That fiery personality about you is probably what I love most.'

My cheeks flushed as I gritted my teeth. Damn Aidan! He had just done it to piss me off before I left!

"Sora are you alright!" Julius asked, rushing to my side as I entered the lobby of the dorms.

"Yeah, don't worry, it's not mine." I told him, looking past him to the devil leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. He looked absolutely livid and his eyes were staring straight through me. I smiled though. I knew he was going to be mad, but I mine as well deal with it now. "What, no 'welcome back'?" I asked him.

He growled before pushing off the wall and heading up the steps. "I don't even want to look at you right now." He spat.

I cringed from the hit. No matter how much I had been prepared for it, it still hurt. "I'll be taking a bath if anyone wants to know where I am. If Sera asks, I'll give him my report when I get out." I told Julius. "Also, can you make sure Yugo brings a change of clothes down to the bath with him?"

"Uh, sure thing." The boy nodded.

"Kay." I smiled heading off in that direction. "Oh…Julius…you're not mad at me too, are you?"

"No…I probably would have just gotten in the way if I had gone. You guys didn't fight, did you?"

"Nope, we just talked." I told him.

"I figured." He smiled. "I think that's why Yugo's so mad…that you don't really hate Aidan despite all the thing he's put you through."

"I…don't like him, but I'm beginning to understand him more and more the more I talk to him. There's seems to be a reason for everything he does."

"I think Yugo thinks there's more going on between you two. I don't know whether he's just mad or if he's upset too. For a while he seemed like it."

My stomach lurched and I felt completely guilty again.

"But Sora," The kid started again. "I know you wouldn't do anything like that. You care about Yugo to much for that."

I smiled. "You're right. Thanks Jul, I'll see you when I get back."

"Alright!" He nodded. "I'll send Yugo down to see you too!"

I was enjoying my bath about twenty minutes later when the door opened and slammed shut. Yugo came in, tossing a stack of my clothes carelessly in the stall I had been using, leaning against the wall. "Is there anything else you want before I head back upstairs?" He replied, his voice as cold as ice.

I tried my best to ignore it. "Yeah, stay a few. I want to talk to you."

"I have nothing to say."

I snorted. "Oh really? I figured you'd be screaming at me about him by now."

He growled. His hot temper couldn't stay locked behind that cool figure forever.

"What?" I went on. "Are you just jealous?"

"I am NOT jealous of him!" He snapped and the dam broke. "Why you even stand him I have no clue! He's been all over you more then once, he's nearly killed me and yet you keep finding yourself going back to see him. I'm really starting to wonder where your feelings for him lie, Sora."

"If I hadn't said something to him he was going to continue to kill people to try and lure me out to him!" I found myself yelling along with him despite my attempts to hold back. "And taking you and Julius with me would have put both of you in danger! Julius can barely fight in his current condition, you're still weak and I knew the two of you would be at each other's throat in an instant! I needed to talk to him and convince him without world war two going on!"

He growled, hissing at my remark. "Still…you could have at least said something to me about it…"

"And we'd have been having this conversation before I left instead of now." I leaned up against the side of the tub. "You worry to much."

"About you." He responded. "If something had happened to you-"

"I think you're just worried that Aidan's better looking then you are and that you're going to lose me to a stereotypical tall, dark and handsome." I replied teasingly, turning my back to him.

His face flushed. "He is NOT better looking then me!"

I turned and laughed at him, attempting to splash him, but he saw that coming and moved out of the way. "No, he's definitely not better looking then you." I got out of the tub, heading into the stall. Since last night I had gotten a little bit more confident about being in front of him naked and I wanted to see the awed expression of his jaw dropping again.

We walked into Sera's office in conversation and he immediately bolted up, those pale eyes flashing. I could tell he was ticked.

"Sora, you were supposed to head right back and report to me!" He snapped, slamming his hand down on the desk.

I glared at him. "Sorry to inconvenience you but I didn't feel like walking around covered in blood. It's kinda sickening if you ask me." I snapped. I could feel Yugo's hot temper beginning to boil and he squeezed my hand tight in his.

Bryant must have realized this was a fight he could not when because he backed off, dropping back into his chair with a sigh. "What do you have to report?"

"Adian's retreated with his word that he will not kill anymore innocent civilians." I replied.

Our commander ran his fingers through his golden blonde hair. "And how can we take this demon's word as being true?" He said after a second, leaning back on his desk.

"Aidan would not do anything that would have Sora go against him." Yugo spoke up before I had a chance to. "As much as I hate to admit it, he seems to be in love with her."

That caught Sera's attention. He smirked, hiding that smirk behind his hands as he rested his face on them. "I see. So Miss lovely, you're caught in the middle of a demonic love triangle."

"Not like I wish to!" I snapped back blushing, but he just chuckled.

"What are your plans for today?" He asked after a second.

Yugo and I looked at one another. "We were going to head downtown to do some shopping, if that's alright."

"Go, go." He waved it off. "You're still on vacation time."

The late morning became afternoon and afternoon faded into night while the last rays were or a brilliant sunset. My feet were killing me in the end, but this had to have been the first time in almost two years I had actually went shopping for clothes for myself. I normally just got by with my convent outfit, but after staring at the lacy forest green dress downtown I decided to crumble and actually by something for myself. But…was that okay?

'Will you knock it off?' Yugo muttered. 'You're gonna kill yourself with guilt.'

"So which way to the next trolley?" Julius asked, gold eyes peering up and down both sides of the street.

"That way." Yugo motioned with an elbow since his hands were full of bags.

"I think we bought to much." Julius said, struggling to carry three bags in his unbroken hand, which also happened to be his non-dominant hand.

I looked over at him. "You think so? I knew I-"

"Sora, give it a rest." Yugo replied. "Lets just get back to the convent."

We threw the bags on the floor as we entered, me dropping by them as I finally caught my breath. "Wow it's late." I murmured as I realized most of the other rooms already had their lights out curfew.

"I know. If we were home, Father Remington and Sister Kate would have grilled us!" Julius grinned, sitting on his bed.

"We need to get some sleep. We're supposed to start official work tomorrow." Yugo said softly, undoing the last few buttons on his shirt.

"Do…you think Father Sera's going to give us orders without Rosette's team being here?" Julius asked, looking over at me.

"…Huh?" I was finding it hard to concentrate on anything else while Yugo was stripping off his shirt. When Julius broke into laughter I blushed, glaring at him. "Don't even start on me, or else I'm gonna tell Azmaria how much you've been missing her."

His face instantly flushed. "W-What! I haven't-"

"Kid, it's written all over your face." Yugo huffed, untying the black ribbon that was keeping his ponytail together.

The boy hung his head in defeat. I smiled, leaning over to put a hand on his shoulder. "I dunno what Sera has planned for us, but I guess we'll find out tomorrow."

"Yeah, guess you're right." He looked up at me with a sheepish smile through his flushing cheeks.

I was sound asleep when I suddenly felt panic rush through my head. It wasn't mind, but it was someone close to me…and I could here the frantic beating of their heart.

"Sora! Sora, she's-"

I bolted up at the same time Yugo did, going for a candle while he lunged from the bed across the room, taking down a shadowed figure who was waiting out of the moon's pale light.

I got a candle going and then immediately rushed to Julius's side. The boy's body was shaking so badly his hands couldn't firmly grab mine and he was crying silently, hiding his face through his hair. I pulled him into my arms, hugging him tightly and running my fingers through his hair.

At the same time I hear Yugo growl and then let the figure go. "Jin! What the hell-"

A wave of relief washed over me as I could feel Yugo relax to and even Julius's stopped shaking so much.

"Jin, you can't come creeping around at night like that." I snapped at him. In the amber glow of the candlelight, his eyes shined like jewels, matching Yugo's with their pale luster.

"I…am sorry Sora. I didn't mean anything by it." He sounded sincere but at the same time urgent. "But I had to find you as soon as I heard the news. The pursuers have found Chrono, and they're willing to make a deal."

Sorry to leave you all at such a cliffhanger but if I went into anymore, I would be spoiling what I want to do for the next chapter. The more I write about Aidan, the more he grows on me. I dunno why…I just…kinda…like him. Anyways, next chapter is all story, more about Yugo's, Sieg's and Chrono's past and how Jin played into the assault on pandemonium. And of course we meet the pursurers, Count Dufeau at the top of the list. Until I write again!

Sora Tokumi Kazuma