Here's chapter 4 of my fanfic, I think the characters may be a bit off character here but I still hope you like it. Oh, and if you have any suggestions on how you want this to end, (happily), please tell me…

Chapter IV: Silver Chains

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Rei woke up from the sweet aroma of an American style breakfast. He realized that he had been lying on his bed. Arcueid. The thought of her made him smile. He got up and headed for the bathroom.

After locking the door, he saw in the mirror that his hair had gone all silver-white.

After his bath, he went to the dining area. Arcueid had already finished making breakfast and was waiting for him at the table.

"Ohayo." She smiled at him. "Thank you…for what you did last night."

"Huh? Oh…that." Rei quipped. "It's nothing really." He lied. It's only a matter of days before…hmmm…let's not think about it.

"It suits you."

"Huh?"

"Your hair. I like it."

"Oh, thanks." Rei was about to adjust his glasses but he wasn't wearing them.

"Anything wrong?"

"I think I lost my glasses but…" Rei was puzzled. The reason he hadn't realized that he lost his glasses was because… "…I can't see the lines anymore."

"That's weird. Maybe you gained control over it. Maybe because of last night."

"Maybe…but I hope I didn't lose them." Rei stopped. "Gomen, let's eat. Itadakimasu."

"Itadakimasu."

"This is delicious."

"I'm glad you liked it. Don't forget, you still have to cook for me."

"Sure. I'll cook lunch later."

"I look forward to it."

They finished eating a few moments later. Rei stood up to gather the plates but stopped when he felt a sharp pain in his left arm. He felt a cut near his elbow. Arcueid noticed he was in pain.

"What's wrong?"

"I seem to have a cut in my left arm."

A cut? The last I time I saw a cut was… she remembered how the urge to drink Shiki's blood had almost taken over her. She wouldn't want to let anything like that happen again.

Without looking at Rei, Arcueid gathered the dishes. "I'll wash the dishes." She left quickly.

"Arcueid…"

Arcueid couldn't focus while washing the plates.

"Arcueid." Rei called out to her.

"How are you?" Still, she didn't look at him.

"Arcueid, I want you to look at me."

"I…don't want to."

"Why?"

"I might lose control if I see blood and…I don't want to hurt you."

"Just look at me, please."

"No."

Rei grabbed her arm and Arcueid faced him. She closed her eyes but seconds later, she opened them. She saw silver fluid oozing down from the cut and yet, her impulse was not surfacing.

"Arcueid…"

"I-I don't understand…"

"What happened last night created a bond between us."

"A bond?"

"Yes. You see, I took some of your death and gave you some of my life. Its effect on me is that my blood and hair turning silver. Plus, the possible lost of my powers. I wonder what—" Rei stopped when Arcueid suddenly began to topple to the ground. He caught her before she fell. "Arcueid, are you al—"

"I'm seeing them. I'm seeing lines everywhere."

"That could be the effect on you."

"I don't like it. They're everywhere."

"Arcueid…"

"I don't like this!"

Rei wrapped his arms around her. "Close your eyes."

"Rei…"

"Just close your eyes."

She closed her eyes. She felt like some energy was being taken from her. She opened her eyes and didn't see anymore red lines streaking across the surface of everything. That's right. I forgot. His mother was a Synchronizer.

Rei let her go and they stood face to café.

"Whatever impulse you have, I'll help you gain control."

"Rei…" she smiled at him.

Rei pulled her hand. "Let's go."

"Where?"

"We're going to town to buy some ingredients for lunch. What do you want to have for lunch?"

"Anything will be just fine." I hope.

"Ikuwayo. We have a lot to buy."

Arcueid felt she couldn't walk a few steps. Rei seemed to have noticed.

"I'm fine. It's nothing."

"Actions speak louder than words, you know." Rei carried her over to the bed. "You should rest for a while. I'll just be a while, ok?"

"Alright…"

Rei finished buying all that he needed. He carried the two bags with his right arm. His left arm was supposed to have regenerated already but it strangely didn't.

"That's a little too much for one person."

He turned around and saw a girl with long purple braids wearing a purple blouse and a miniskirt.

"What do you want, Atlasia?"

"Oh, you still call me so formally."

"Just get on with it. What are you doing here?"

"I just dropped by for a visit. You don't mind, do you?"

"I appreciated your help last time but that doesn't mean we're 'friends'."

"Hmp!" She put her hands on her waist. "Shiki would react so diff—"

She stopped when three Black Keys were thrown at her but they turned into blank pieces of paper before she was hit.

It was Rei who had thrown them. "I'M NOT MY FATHER!" He turned around and headed back to his apartment.

Rei arrived only to see Arcueid on the floor trying to get up. There were broken pieces of glass on the floor.

Rei dropped the bags and went to assist her. "What happened?"

Arcueid sat down on the bed with Rei's assistance. "I tried to walk but I felt so weak that I had to lean on the wall. When I saw myself on the mirror, I saw the lines again. The next thing I knew, I was on the floor, trying to get up."

"I'm sorry…"

"Hmmm?"

"I'm sorry for giving you such a burden."

Arcueid put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

Is it possible that I had transferred my powers to her? Rei just sat there for a few seconds. Painter's brushstroke, Bringer of Dusk. In an instant, he began seeing the lines again. He closed his eyes, concentrated and opened them again. The lines were gone again. He looked at Arcueid, who had now fallen asleep. If there was only a way for you to gain my Synchronizer capabilities. Then an idea struck him.

Arcueid woke up and saw Rei looking down on her.

"Let's eat, Sleeping Beauty." Rei tried to imitate her childish smile.

Arcueid appreciated the effort he had put into it and smiled back.

The appetizer was a serving of mushroom soup. The main course was a sizzling steak with a soft-boiled egg on top. The side dish was a serving of mashed potato and cheese macaroni soup. Their dessert was chocolate mousse with vanilla ice cream.

After Arcueid had finished dessert, she placed her elbows on the table and her hands on her chin and looked at Rei with her weight-of-the-world-guilt stare.

Rei choked on the ice cream. "What?"

Arcueid shifted her look to the kitchen which now looked like an aftermath of World War II. She looked at Rei and saw a few bandages on his arms and hands. "I thought you don't know any of this fancy food."

"I don't…"

"Hmmm?"

"Alright, you got me. Just don't stare at me like that."

Arcueid smiled.

"I know a little about desserts but I just invented our main course for today. I thought it would taste nice."

"It is…"

"Oh…ummm…" Rei blushed. "I'm glad you liked it."

They sensed a guest at the door and looked at the doorway. A small black cat with a bell and a bow came in.

"Hmmm?" Arcueid seemed to be familiar with the 'cat'. "Is that—"

"That's not my pet." Rei explained. "That cat just always visits here. It's a weird cat."

"That's because it isn't a cat." Arcueid picked up the 'cat' by the nape as it passed by her. "What are you doing her, Len?"

"Len?"

"Yes." Arcueid put Len down. Len immediately changed into her human form.

"What?"

"Now I've seen everything." Ciel entered through the window.

Both Rei and Arcueid stood up.

"Starting without me?" Sion commented as she entered the doorway.