Okay i am so sorry for taking so long to upload this and my other stories, but i hope that this chapter will make up for that. Its really (okay not really) long! its longer then i usually write anyway....

Hmm.... im going to try and start on FP within the next few days...

Chapter 23: Room of Angel

I stared intently at the clock that sat on the bedside table next to Kyles bed. I ignored the hand that was lazily tracing circular patterns across my chest, and focused my will power on trying to get the clock to speed up and finally read midnight.

I supposed that I should be getting dressed, and ready to leave, as that would take up some of the time that I was waiting to pass. But I really didn't feel like waking Kyle up until it was midnight and I was off the clock, so to speak.

He had fallen asleep some time ago, maybe an hour or so. He was currently spooning me, ever the cuddler after sex, with his arm thrown over my side. I had purposefully turned away from him, in an effort to keep an eye on the clock, and forced myself not to nod off either. Though sleep really did sound good right now, I refused to spend anymore time here then necissary, and plus I had only two minutes left to wait.

I drummed my fingers against the pillow impatiently, wanting to smack those infuriating fingers away from my chest. It was always awkward, and uncomfortable, when Kyle, or any one of my clients for that matter, became touchy. Especially in their sleep…

I shuttered slightly when Kyle let out a breath of warm air across the back of my neck, and squirmed away as much as I could.

One more minute… one more minute… I repeated in my head, and this time I was even willing to beg the clock god to have mercy on me.

12:00

I blinked, well it looks like I'll have to pray to the clock god some more to tell him how thankful I am. But now wasn't the time. I hope the god of the clock could understand that…

I braced myself, tossed Kyle's arm off of my and practically bolted out of the bed in my haste to get to my clothes.

I picked through the pile of clothes beside Kyle's bed, trying to tell which pieces of cloth was mine, and what was his. Only the dim orange street lamp outside of the window was the source of light to see by. I glanced over at the lamp beside the alarm clock, and wondered if I could turn it on without him waking up…

I sighed, and decided not to. I quickly put on the clothes that at least felt like they belonged to be, and made my way to the door.

I was out of the apartment, and on the street in a record of two minutes. I breathed a sigh of relief, taking in the fresh night air, and relaxed. It felt good to finally be outside. The night was quiet and no cars were on the street.

Stifling a yawn with my hand, I dug my hand into my pocket, and pulled out my cell phone. I had no messages; which was strange, seeing as when I am out late and I hadn't told Fai about it, he'd text up a storm, trying to find out where I was.

I shuffled along the side walk, an wondered how long it was going to take to get back to the house. I only had a vague idea of where I was, which was somewhere in the east side of town. Now I really wished I'd gotten that phone with the built in GPS… oh well, all I had to do was find someone and ask them.

I opened up my inbox, making sure that I hadn't just missed a message from him. I sighed, feeling a little sad that he hadn't texted me after all.

Pouting I put my phone up, and glanced up at the nearest street sign. I was on May, and that meant that there should be a bar around here somewhere. And if I could find that bar I can find my way back to the house.

With a newfound motivation, I moved onward humming a small tune. Since Ashura owned a bar, and competed with the others around the town I knew where each of the were… vaguely. Though to be a bar, it was oddly quiet…

"You lie silent there before me… your tears may mean nothing to me." Though I kept my voice low, it echoed through the quiet streets. But I didn't mind, as I had never been a fan of silence, and I had finally remembered the first verse to Mothers lullaby.

"The wind howling at the window… the love you never gave I give to you. Really don't deserve it, but now there's nothing you can do"

I moved on, listening intently for the sound of drunks and loud music. Singing probably didn't help achieve that, but it was keeping me awake, and breaking the heavy silence around me.

"So sleep in your only memory of me my dearest mother. Here's a lullaby to close your eyes, goodbye. It was always you that I despised. I don't feel enough for you to cry, oh well. Here's a lullaby to close your eyes, goodbye..."

"Don't you think that songs a little depressing for this time of night?" A deep voice came from behind me, startling me and making me lose the second verse to the song.

I whirled around, heart pounding in my chest, and met eyes with the man who had scared me.

"Gah! What are you? A ninja?" I asked, holding a hand to my chest to try and calm my rapidly beating heart. I took a deep breath and slipped on a smile. "So you think that songs depressing Kuro-Kuro?" I asked, taking a step towards him.

Kurogane rolled his eyes. "Anyone would think that song's depressing, not just me. And stealth is something they teach us in the police academy." He pointed out. He had his arms crossed over his chest, and as I stepped closer to him, I could smell alcohol coming off of him.

"I don't think the songs depressing…" I mumbled, and it was true. To me it wasn't depressing. "So, anyway, is there a bar close by?" I asked glancing up and down the street to try and see it.

Kurogane nodded. "Yeah, it s on the next street over, just got out of there a couple of minutes ago." He looked over at me then, his red eyes filled with suspicion. "Why?" He asked.

"Because, I just wanted to know where my Uncle's competition was, is all." I lied.

For a moment, Kurogane looked like he didn't believe me, before he said. "So you're Uncle owns a bar?" He asked.

"Yup, it's Celes, about a couple of blocks from your house." I commented. "Hey, I didn't know police officers went to bars!" I said, making my voice full of awe.

Kurogane rolled his eyes. "Well it's not as if it's against the law…" he grumbled.

"So…" I trailed off, eyeing him up and down. "Are you drunk?"

"No," he answered, and I could tell that he wasn't lying. "It takes a lot more than a few beers to get me drunk."

"Could you drive me home then?" I asked, giving him my best pleadingly helpless face that I could. "It's terribly cold, and you wouldn't want me to freeze to death right?"

Once again Kurogane rolled his eyes. "Haven't you already got a ride from a slightly drunk person today?" He asked, turning his eyes back to me. I blinked, confused, and tilted my head to the side a bit. "That text message you sent me earlier." He explained.

I blinked again… and then once more before it hit me. "Oh yeah!" I cried, remembering the message I had sent him that he hadn't responded to. "Oh I was just messing with you, he wasn't drunk!" I said, waving my hand in the air to brush off the subject. "Anyway will you take me home, Kuro-wan?"

"I will if you stop calling me those damn nicknames." He snapped.

"Sure thing, Kuro-burrow~!" I chirped, giggling at the growl Kurogane let out. He sounded so much like a dog just then!

I blinked, remembering something Yuuko had told me earlier. "Don't let the big puppy get bored."

"Hey, moron, if you space out any longer, I'm going to leave you." Kurogane's voice interrupted my thoughts, and I came back to the present.

"Well okay then, Big Puppy, where did you park?" I asked, ignoring his protest at the name, (all thanks given to Yuuko for that one.), and grabbed onto his arm.

"A couple of streets that way…" He answered reluctantly. In this town, you parked wherever you could, even if it was quite a ways away. Which is why most people in this town are so skinny.

I nodded, and pulled Kurogane along.

"Would you let go of me?!" Kurogane snapped, trying to tug his arm out of mine.

I shook my head. "Nope, all big dogs need to be kept on a leash when out in public." I said sagely.

Kurogane growled, his hand clenching into a fist. "I'm not a dog!" He snapped again. "Get that through your thick skull!" For emphasis he poked my temple rather harshly.

I whimpered, and gave him a teary eyed look. "Bad Kuro-puppy! You shouldn't hurt your master like that!" I whined, and grinned up at him.

He slumped, and avoided my gaze, glaring off to the side, mumbling something under his breath.

I continued to drag him along, before the sound of sobbing caught my attention. I blinked, and came to an immediate stop, causing Kurogane to curse and almost run into me.

I peered down the alley way I had stopped in front of. It was very dark, and the light of the nearby street lamp didn't help illuminate it at all. "Do you hear that?" I asked, looking over at Kurogane.

He glanced down at me, and nodded.

"Okay then, let's go check it out!" I said enthusiastically, once again pulling Kurogane along.

"Wait a minute." Kurogane said, grabbing a hold of my bicep and pulled me back towards him.

"B-But Kurogane! They could be hurt!" I whined. For some reason I really wanted to find out who was crying.

"Yes they could be, and it could also be a trap made to lure helpless guys like you in." Kurogane said logically. I was about to say something else but he cut me off. "That's why I'm going in first."

He moved past me, and then it was him who pulled me along, grabbing a hold of my wrist tightly, before my mind had the chance to catch up.

Kurogane rummaged through his pocket, and pulled out his cell phone, using the dim blue light to see by.

I really wanted to go 'Awwww!' at the corny line Kurogane had just sprouted, but kept quiet, as the sobbing got louder.

Then it stopped, and was gone. Kurogane stopped walking, and a small gasp came from in front of him.

I leaned over to the side, trying to get a glimpse of who it was in front of us. What I saw made my eyes widen and my blood run cold.

Sitting on the ground huddled in a corner was two small children. A boy and a girl. The boy was clinging desperately to the small girl in his arms, dirty tear stains ran down his cheeks. He was looking up at us in fear in his dark eyes.

The fact that there was children in the back alleyways wasn't what startled me. No, it was the fact that the girl was limp in the boy's arms, and I wondered if she was dead. I hoped not… god knows I've seen enough corpses to fill a lifetime, but for this kid to be clinging to one too…

"P-please…!" The boy croaked, his voice coming out chocked. But he cleared his throat, and the fear in his eyes turned into determination. "Please help us!" He cried.

The blue light of Kurogane's phone disappeared, leaving us in complete darkness.

Mwuahahahaha Cliffy XD

Hope you like it!