My paranoia reached its peak as I strode out of the train, pulling my cloak tight around my figure. Truth still wasn't responding, and it set me on edge. Did I just lose my backer? Am I on my own now?

Up until now, as long as Truth was there, I had never felt absolutely alone. But now, now that the little, reassuring voice was gone, I felt like I was a lot more vulnerable than before. I glanced around at the crowd, resisting the urge to pull my hood up.

"Are you alright?" I jumped slightly at Luka's voice as he appeared at my side. I sighed.

"Not really." I said, "I just... Haven't been to Central in a while." It was the truth, since I had left right after I recovered from the explosion meant for Gracia and Elicia, and moved North. That seemed like so long ago, but it still left a bad taste in my mouth to be back in the city that my very enemy controlled. With loss of contact with Truth, my confidence vanished, and I started to wonder if this was a mistake.

"Do you have a place to stay?" Luka asked, a slight edge of concern in his voice.

"I..." I trailed off, realizing that I hadn't thought that far ahead. "I... I do, don't worry." I lied, of course, to protect him. It would just be criminal for a handsome, innocent man to get charged with harboring a fugitive when he had done nothing other than politely offer his hospitality. I might have done some things, but I wasn't low enough to take advantage of a civilian who was clearly not involved with this whole scheme.

"You don't." He stated. "I have some extra room, so come with me."

"What? Seriously I'm fine-"

"No, you aren't. You're really in some kind of trouble, aren't you?"

"What makes you say that?!"

"You lie the same way I do," Luka sent me a rakish grin, sliding an arm behind my back to lead me along. He leaned in, whispering, "Let's talk somewhere with less people." I grudgingly agreed, sensing that he meant that in more of a serious way than a sexual way.

His apartment was a little run-down, but a whole lot neater than I expected it to be. Scratch that, if it was a better quality place, it'd be a commercial home.

"This is very... Clean." I gave Luka a weird look as he set his backpack down by a pristine, perfectly made bed. He smiled back at me.

"Thank you," He said, walking over to sit down on a black leather couch. He patted the space beside him, gesturing me over. I obeyed and sat down beside him, surveying the room with suspicion. He's not anything like me. I almost felt like I was choking on the stench of citrus and flowers, with a hint of bleach to it. I was tempted to just say something along the lines of, I hope you don't bathe your guests in the same bleach that you slather all over the rooms, but quickly decided against it, deeming that that was rude.

"So, what's your story?" he questioned, looking over at me. "It'd be wonderful if you started with your real name." He did know I was lying.

"How do I know you won't turn me in?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"So you were a criminal after all."

"I prefer vigilante, but whatever tickles your peach," I said, "And besides, I have a feeling you already knew who I was the moment we met." My response was met with clapping.

"Well done, Lynette," He said, looking at me with a new respect. "You're sharper than I thought you were."

"I'm a blade people mistake for a butter knife," I said, shrugging. "So I take it you won't turn me in, then. But I will remind you, that harboring a criminal is a crime."

"And you of all people talk about crimes," Luka pointed out.

"I can't say I regret any of it either." I replied, and Luka nodded.

"Fair, fair. I'll give you a chance." He said, "But in return, you owe me a favor."

"As long as there are certain limits on that favor, then yes, I do." I said. "Now that I know I'm staying here," I stood up, "I have some business to attend to, but I'll be back in a little while." I patted Luka's shoulder before striding to the door. "Thanks, Luka."

My business turned out to be slightly trickier to get done than I thought. It was obvious that there was an undercover agent standing guard near the Hughes' door, so I'd have to find a more inconspicuous way in.

Sadly, that inconspicuous way was through the window of my bedroom. The Hughes' apartment was on the third floor, so that posed as a little bit of a challenge. But at least it faced an alleyway, so it'd be less likely for me to get caught. With all the guards around the building, though, I'd have to be careful about my transmutations and make sure they wouldn't get too much attention. So, only small transmutations for me.

That ruled out having a giant rock hand from the wall safely lift me up. So that left me with no choice but to just make some small handles leading up to the window, making a small ladder. I bit my lip. This'll have to do for now.

Stepping up onto one handle and grasping the next with both hands, I steadily climbed, nervous my sweaty hands would slip. Thankfully, by the time I reached the top, I hadn't slipped, and as a bonus, my window was propped open, just like I had left it.

Stuffing myself through the open window, I fell on the floor with a small thump. I sighed in irritation, getting up and looking around my room. I walked over to my bed, lifted my mattress, and took out my gun from underneath, missing the way it felt in my hands.

"It's so good to have you back," I whispered, nuzzling the gun against my cheek. I quickly strapped my gun into it's holster, setting it on my bed before I rummaged around my room for all my other hidden weapons. I

had stored my collection of assorted small knives under some wooden boards in the floor, a katana and short sword behind the mirror on my dresser, two more handguns complete with mufflers inside my big piggy bank, and of course, my extendable staff with a pop-out blade.

Laying all of my weapons on my bed, I picked out some clothes from my dresser and decided to change. As I changed, I began to think.

I kind of miss Envy... I cringed, realizing what would happen. He's going to die... And I never got to say goodbye. He might have been the enemy, but when I had last seen him, it was almost like he had changed somehow. It almost felt like... He didn't want me to get hurt. Once I pulled on all my clothes, I slid down to sit down limply on the floor and lean on the foot of my bed. I'm never going to see him again. Even if he hurt me sometimes, he... He protected me. He covered up my arms when that woman stared... I'm never going to argue with him again, I'm never going to spar with him, and I'm never going to go to sleep with Frosty all curled up on my stomach, purring softly. Even though I knew it was completely inappropriate at the moment, I found myself tearing up.

"I never even got to say goodbye." My words sounded so sad, barely a whisper as I rested my head against the edge of my bed, knees pulled to my chest. Tears slid down my cheeks as I closed my eyes, giving myself a moment to cry. I was in my own room, alone, the light shining in refracted through the tiny drops that streaked down my face. It was the first time in a while I could really let myself feel, let myself sort some things out and try to bring some closure.

But with Envy, I felt like there was no closure. That it was just an empty goodbye to one of the people I had spent the most time with in this world, someone who had somehow become important to me. I was upset because it left a hole in my heart, the same way a friend would if they left. Just like he had done for me, just like he had saved Hughes for my sake, I wish I had been able to do something for him. Even though he was the enemy, even though he was a bastard... He was my friend.

When people say friend, they mean someone they would occasionally chat with, sometimes hang out with. But friend, to me, had meant you were someone special, someone I loved.

So I cried. I knew there would never be closure, that with Envy gone so quickly, that I would feel that I left something unfinished, a goodbye still yet to be said.

I just hoped he could find peace in death, and that he'd be happy in his next life.

Wooooooo! Happy birthday to me!

And before you all get snotty with me for the short chapter, I am doing a mass update! A oneshot for my birthday seemed like too much work, so I just thought I'd put up a few more chapters in celebration! (oneshots are more work than they seem guys!)

Chapter 75 everyone! Seriously, do you see how much I've written I mean my own loyalty to this story surprises me, but I guess I've come so far, and I feel like I need closure to this. But as always, I love hearing from you guys, and I love your reactions to my twists and turns, so I do this for you guys too!

Alright, Envy's going to die! I know some of you were starting to like him just a little (I said some not all don't get your panties in a twist Envy haters out there) And I was really depressed for a few hours when I realized there was no way in hell I could let him live (I cried writing this chapter), so here's a little something for you guys who'll miss Envy and Lynette's banter and friendship just as he started to open up to her (end of chapter 46 anyone?) because I will miss him like junk food lovers miss twinkies okay the world just isn't the same.

Okay, Lynette has a place to stay and Luka is perceptive as heck and then there's his clean-ass apartment that smells like someone flooded it with bleach and flowers. And thank god he's turning the hormone switch off because it was all a front to get information from her to confirm his suspicions blah blah NEXT CHAPTER PLEASE!

My lovely readers, please review~!

Next chapter, everyone!