Bit of forewarning: This chapter is considerably more violent than any of the rest so far. I hope it doesn't sound too awkward, but it's necessary. Has it occurred to anyone else that the very word 'awkward' is itself awkward to write?

Mirai Juunanagou is not nice. He is a mean, evil, human-killing jerkwad. Especially in the subbed version. But God help me, I'm terrified he's OOC in this chapter…

A deafening roar shattered the silence and blinding pain tore into Avery's left arm right below the shoulder.

Avery, caught entirely by surprise, nearly choked on her scream. She jerked backwards, narrowly avoiding a second bullet that ricocheted off the brick.

"Shit!"

Avery had thirty minutes to make it to the first rendezvous point. She'd left early, hoping to avoid this very possibility. Running into Juunana -

Damn, Juunanagou's still around, Avery thought, clutching her arm. Blood dripped in rivulets from her limp hand. I hope he's got enough sense to get the fuck out of here before he gets himself shot.

Avery hesitated just a moment before taking off the way she'd came.

Men's voices echoed behind her, spilling into the ground of the alley and rushing behind her.

Avery ducked into a building, hoping to hide in the darkness and pick them off.

She saw the shadow of a man pass by a window, readied her gun, and when he burst inside after her, she pulled the trigger without hesitation. The bullet slammed into the man's forehead, sending him reeling back in an explosion of blood and gray matter.

She shot a second one in the stomach. Four more remained, and had spread out inside, carefully scanning the darkness with readied guns.

Definitely syndicate, Avery thought, noting the uniform attire they wore. Somebody's taking this seriously…

Avery couldn't stay in the building, it was too likely that they'd see her or help would come. It was not an option to fail in this job.

She raised her gun, aiming for the far wall, hoping to distract them.

She fired, shattering glass.

She sprang for the doorway as the four men whirled around, their backs to Avery, and she sprinted out the door. The men suddenly realized it was a distraction and gave chase again.

Avery spun around, and fired another shot that grazed a man on his leg, then a second that buried itself in his thigh. He went over with a howl, his comrade tripped over him, and Avery slipped around a corner.

The men quickly rejoined and fired at Avery, but missed.

She burst out onto the main street again, cursing her luck. She had no idea how she was going to get rid of these bastards, short of killing them all and that took too much time!

She glanced up quickly, and, seeing a figure standing with his back to her, raised her gun and pulled the trigger.

She realized, too late, that it wasn't a syndicate member - it was Juunana.

For one horrific moment, Avery was terrified she'd shot him, but then he started to turn around, slowly. Her aim was off…?

Avery threw herself backwards, narrowly avoiding a hail of gunfire.

"Juunana - get out of here!" she shouted.

Avery staggered backwards, and turned to flee down the street.

I turned around, almost a little surprised to feel the soft thud of a bullet land between my shoulder blades. Had I been human it would have killed me almost instantly.

I'd heard the humans coming, although I certainly hadn't expected to be shot. Idiots…

"Juunana - get out of here!"

I looked over my shoulder to see Avery falling backwards with a pained expression, spin around and spring away, narrowly avoiding bullets. Her left arm had been shot, and her lax fingers dripped blood as she turned and ran.

I turned around, stepped forward, and the first human that came into view lost his head in one fell strike, sending the body twisting to the ground, blood flying everywhere.

Startled at my sudden appearance, and their comrade's abrupt demise, the three remaining ones turned on me.

They were syndicate men.

"Who the hell are you!" one of them demanded.

I looked up at him, and moved with inhuman speed, grimly relishing the puffy crunch of skull underneath the heel of my shoe.

The other two fell back, shocked.

"Get the girl!" one of the men shouted at the other, and the man shot off. I could have killed him easily, but I chose not to.

I grinned at the remaining human, and he glared at me poisonously.

"You don't know who you're fucking with, asshole," the man snarled.

"Neither do you," I said calmly, though I was itching inside. My smile crawled all the way up to my ethereal blue eyes.

"What the - go to hell!"

He pulled the trigger, and I slipped easily out of the way, rushing the human and shoving him against the wall, arm outstretched and clenching the man's neck.

"What the hell - what are you!"

I could have laughed outright.

I let the human fall to the ground, and he raised his gun, pointing it up at my eerie, smiling face.

"Back off or I'll shoot!" the man demanded, fully intent on doing that.

I didn't back off.

He pulled the trigger.

The bullet glanced off my face right above my right eye, shot upwards, and buried itself in the brick above us.

The man paled, and his mouth fell open in stark horror. He dropped the gun.

"Who - what - what are you!"

I lifted my hand, and held it outstretched. A small flicker of ki flashed, crackling like electricity between my fingers.

The man couldn't move, his eyes were locked onto my hand.

He looked up at me, shaking, "You - you're - "

I didn't let the miserable thing finish its sentence.

I stepped backwards, feeling quite self-satisfied. It had been a long time since I'd had the opportunity to kill. Outside repercussions were unlikely - the syndicate preferred to keep its business to itself.

I looked up sharply when I heard running footsteps. Avery appeared at the mouth of the alley, peering at me concernedly. She glanced down at the two dead men, wrinkling her nose at the acrid smell of charred flesh.

"Did he have a grenade on him?"

That was funny until I remembered she knew nothing of ki.

"Yes," I replied shortly.

"Uh…thanks for helping me," Avery said slowly, a little shaken. "…It's good you're alright."

I shrugged a little.

"You've been shot."

It was nothing except a statement of fact, and it caught Avery off guard.

"Yes, well…" she replied, clearing her throat and touching her injury lightly. "Um…I'll have to get that fixed, won't I?"

I stared at her. Surely the human was more intelligent than that, or else I'd been given the wrong impression.

"Juunana…can I ask you a favor?"

I stared at her incredulously.

"Please," she begged. "I'm too tired to argue. Just check on David for me, tell him not to wait up, and go back to your apartment. I know it's on the way."

"No. Why would that brat care where you are?" I shot at her.

"He'll care."

"Forget it," I snapped harshly.

Avery opened her mouth, but shut it again, and shook her head.

"Take care," Avery muttered, and disappeared again.

I glanced down at the dead man at my feet.

"Damn human..."

Avery's arm ached terribly. Unfortunately, her injury would have to wait until the transactions were complete and she'd been paid.

So, they were early, too.

Avery slipped into view, heart pounding thunderously in her chest.

I could kill the bitch right now, if she were here.

I stared at the shut door, without moving.

The door to Avery's apartment.

Was there any good reason I was here? Neither Avery, and especially not her annoying little brat were any of my concern. Even my apparent 'rescue' had simply been a brief distraction.

But damn it, I was here. And it wasn't like I had to go in and play patty-cake with the little shit.

I lifted my hand and knocked sharply on the door.

There was a small scuffle from inside.

"Who is it!" David's thin voice demanded.

"It's Juunanagou!"

A moment's silence. "Well…whad'you want?"

"Avery said not to wait up," I snapped, and turned to leave.

Abruptly, the door opened.

"Avery said what? Where is she!"

I turned back around, and gazed down at David.

"I don't know where she is," I drawled. "You heard me."

He was dressed in old yellow pajamas, which made him look even sicklier than usual, if that were possible.

"Well if she told you something you had to have seen her," David countered.

"She left," I replied flatly. "And so am I. Leaving."

"Don't you go!"

"Scared of the dark?" I sneered.

"No!" David replied, and stepped outside. "I just want you to stay until Avery gets back."

It was mildly amusing to realize that David held a hunting rifle that was too big for him.

"Not a chance in hell."

David sighed.

"Avery likes you," he said flatly.

Revulsion stirred within me. "I don't like her."

A ghostly smile lit David's gray features. "I know."

"So why bring it up?" I demanded.

"She'd never bring it up," David replied. "But I can't see what there is to like."

"Then what's the point of bringing it up!" I snapped angrily. "What makes you think I'd give a damn if Avery 'likes' me."

"Trying to get you to stay, I guess?"

"It's not working," I hissed coldly.

"She's gone and done something to do with the syndicates, hasn't she?"

"…Aren't you nine?"

"Doesn't mean I'm stupid," he replied shortly, "Why else would she be out in the middle of the night?"

I shrugged.

"Juunanagou, please stay until Avery gets back."

I glared down at the child, not bothering to hide my intense dislike. He was as bad as Avery.

Several hours later, Avery slipped slowly through the door, face weary and haggard. The sky outside was pink. She turned, and paused to stare at David and I. Her eyes were almost flat and dead, they were so tired, and her coat hung limply from her shoulders.

"What, did we have a party and I wasn't told about it?"

"Are you okay?" David immediately demanded.

"I'm fine," Avery replied. "You shouldn't be up."

"I was worried about you," David said, standing up. "You've been gone all night."

"I'm fine," Avery repeated shortly.

"What if you weren't?"

Avery paused for a moment. David probably couldn't see it, but what was left of Avery's patience was quickly eroding.

"It's none of your fucking business what I do," Avery snarled, rounding on the child.

"What happens if you die, huh? Where does that leave me?" David shouted, pain in his sullen eyes.

"Don't worry, you won't be out on the street! There's always gullible idiots like me who're going to feel sorry for you!"

David reeled, cruelly stung. "That's not what I meant!"

"Bullshit!" Avery spat, fine drops of blood flying across her cheek, "You'd have died in the street if it wasn't for me!"

"Avery!" David protested, and suddenly collapsed into his seat, ashen faced and wild eyed. The human cringed into himself, clutching his chest.

Avery gazed down on him in fury, then turned away and stalked into the kitchen.

I watched the scene rather numbly, stunned at Avery's callousness.

Avery stormed back into the room, clutching an inhaler and a bag.

"Open your mouth!" Avery commanded, and pried the gasping child's mouth open. "Deep breath - one - two - now!"

Slowly, David's agonized hacking subsided and he lay weakly in the seat, worn out.

Avery turned away and stood very still.

"Don't say anything," Avery said slowly, when I opened my mouth. I had no idea what I was going to say; why would I say anything?.

"No," I snapped back. "The brat stayed up all night for you." That should matter?

Avery wouldn't look at me.

"Idiot!" I hissed. "You're as spineless as the rest of your miserable race!" No, really?

Avery looked up, dark eyes afire.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"…You're bleeding…"

Avery blinked suddenly, distracted, and stared down at David. "What?"

"You're bleeding."

She touched the dark stain on her arm. "It's alright. I got Alan to fix it up for me."

Avery turned her gaze to me, it was tired and beaten.

"I'm sorry…you'd better go."

I stared at her icily, spun around and stalked to the door.

"Juunanagou!"

I stopped, and looked back at Avery.

"Thank you for looking in on David."

I snarled at her and stepped out the door, slamming it behind me.

Avery sat down slowly, and peered up at David, who was staring back at her.

"I'm sorry."

David said nothing.

"I'm so sorry…"

"…Where were you?"

Avery sighed, and stared up at the ceiling. She'd never told David about losing the job at Nuremberg's. "I…had to work late."

"And you got shot on the way home?"

"Yeah."

David stood up unsteadily, and slowly shuffled over next to Avery, looking down on her quietly.

"…I know you were fired from Nuremberg's."

Avery cringed, shame and agony tearing through her heart.

"…How long have you known?"

"Couple of months, I guess…Avery…why…"

"I'm running out of money," Avery murmured, every word hurting. "I haven't found another job, and I was offered a one-time stand by a syndicate."

David recoiled, and gasped sharply. "Avery - "

"My association with them ended last night," Avery said flatly. "It was just a one-time thing."

David couldn't say anything, he was numb.

"I don't mind the risk…I promised your mother I'd take care of you no matter what, and I mean to keep that promise…"

At a loss for words, David climbed onto the couch next to Avery, and leaned against her. It was something he rarely did anymore. Avery's good right arm hugged his shoulders.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't make you worry…"

Avery trailed off, and David looked up at her. Her head rolled back, eyes shut, and her body went limp. For a moment David was stricken with terror - and then Avery's chest rose, and then slowly fell.

She'd fallen asleep.

Is this chapter any good? I don't think so…worried if Juunana's out of character, if I've rushed it…if I've fucked up in any way…

All hail the Ein…because he's sitting at my feet and warming them up so I have the strength to finish this monster of a chapter…

I just remembered where I got the name Nuremberg from. The Nuremberg Trials at the end of WWII…God, I'm such a loser…XD;;

Review replies:

Chibihoshichan: Long enough for ya? I feel so loved, lol. Probably wouldn't have gotten this chapter up so quickly if it wasn't for you and your threatening to shoot my head off…then again, wouldn't killing me defeat the purpose of getting me to hurry up? Hehehehe…

Nekogurl: Thank you, I've tried. 17 is a little smartass pill, though, and this chapter was hard to work with.

Dacheran: I didn't think your first review was stupid at all! I actually thought you meant for me not to introduce Trunks in this chapter. However, 18 is really dead. I'm sorry if that disappoints you…I originally developed the idea for this fic because I was so sick and tired of seeing so many 18-survives (and-maybe-gets-with-Trunks) stories - and if 17 ever appears he's the bad guy. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate 18, but I just wanted to write a 17-centric fic.

Bishi-Gojyo: Ahahaha…and that's why I love writing 17, because he's such a smartass! Thank yous so much! And as for you, you must continue with your fic!