Koemi stormed down the street, brushing her hair out of her face. He's just an asshole. A horny, heartbreaking asshole. It's best that I don't get involved now. She was surprised to find hot tears had somehow magically appeared on her cheeks.

"Koemi!"

Koemi twisted around to see Eugene running after her. "Koemi, wait up!"

So Koemi ran too. She sprinted around the corner and disappeared from his view. She didn't owe him anything, and they barely knew each other. There was no reason for her to stick around. She obviously wasn't needed.

"Koemi!" His voice faded behind her, but she continued to run until the tears ran dry and she collapsed by an alley.

She panted, taking long shuddering breaths of air in an attempt to calm her racing heart. It felt as if it were going to explode, implode, bleed, or just stop. Maybe she should exercise more often…

A glass bottle tinkled on the ground beside her, shattering into a million different pieces. She glanced up and saw herself looking down.

"Hullo," she managed, her once spasmodically pulsing heart suddenly still with fear.

And then it was gone, replaced by the uneven footfall of a man. "Who's there?" He called, his words slurred into a more whosre?

Koemi prepared to stand, but let out a soft gasp as her hand landed on the shattered glass.

The drunk stepped over the remnants of the bottle and looked down at her, swaying. "Look at what I've found here, Bobby buddy," he looked pleased with his discovery.

Koemi dug the glass shard out of her skin and let it drop, too small to be used a weapon. The man that was presumably Bobby walked over. "A nice piece of ass," he agreed, his voice less slurred. His eyes were noticeably sharper too.

Instantly, Koemi realized the sort of danger she was in. She looked down and frantically searched for a shard big enough to be used a weapon.

Bobby grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to her feet. Koemi slammed her fist at him, but he caught it easily and twisted her arm behind her before pulling her into him. "Ah-ah-ah," he reprimanded. "This doesn't have to be difficult."

Koemi opened her mouth to speak but he covered it with the hand that had held her by the hair. "Can't have you sounding an alarm, now can we?"

"Koemi?" Eugene's voice sounded distant.

"Hmm, looks like it'll be time to take our leave," Bobby informed Koemi. His dark, nearly black, eyes flashed with amusement as he pulled her back into the alley. His friend drooled stupidly.

Koemi slammed her heel onto his foot and spun as he doubled over. In a swift movement, she brought his face onto her knee and pushed him over. Koemi then turned back around and sprinted the way she'd come from.

His friend took off after her without tending to Bobby. Koemi could hear his excited breath behind her and let out a startled cry. "Eugene!"

With startling grace, her foot caught on her ankle and she was sent sprawling onto the ground. She cried out in pain, traveling three more feet before sliding to a stop. The man landed on top of her with his knee. "Got you!" He roared triumphantly.

"EUGENE!" A new note entered her voice.

"Koemi?" The voice came closer, obviously bewildered.

Koemi began to chant, kicking and thrashing violently.

The man struggled to drag her into the alley. "Come on, I just want to fuck you." He complained, punching her in the throat. "Then you can go."

She clasped her hands around her neck and gagged, her chant falling away half-finished.

Eugene appeared around the corner. "Koemi!" He exclaimed, heading for her. "Hey!"

The man stood and retreated, sensing that he was outnumbered.

Koemi curled into herself, gasping for air.

"Oh my God," he knelt down beside her and helped her sit up. "You're bleeding." He picked up her hand and wiped the blood away. "What did he do to you? Where did he hurt you?"

Oliver slept in his own bed that night, though it could hardly be called sleeping. He lay awake, staring at his brother's empty bed furiously. It was nearly midnight. He rolled over and glared at the wall instead.

Koemi was his. He'd kissed her first. Martha was just a tool. Koemi was different…

He heard the front door open and Eugene's voice. "Our parents have a date tonight too," he said. "So you won't have to explain anything."

"They seem like nice people," Koemi informed him. "Enthusiastic."

Oliver jumped to his feet and stormed out there. "Where have you two been?" He demanded.

Koemi flushed and averted her eyes. "Put some clothes on, you whore." She mumbled.

He looked down at his boxer-clad body and back at her. "What happened?" he noticed her bloody hand and sobered.

"Koemi got attacked when she ran away from the café." Eugene looked at his brother pointedly. "She took one of the men out by herself, but the other one was on her when I got there."

Oliver strode forward and took her hand.

"Stop," she tried to jerk away.

Oliver pulled her into his chest and breathed in her scent, surprised by how much comfort he found in it. Koemi was warm against his skin. "I don't want to lose you, Koemi Walker."

Koemi was silent in the embrace. "I…You…Put some clothes on!" She glared up at him.

He laughed and kissed her. She melted into it, and he knew he'd won her over again. Traumatizing incidents seemed to have that effect on women. A few sweet words, and they swooned to their knees.

Eugene cleared his throat awkwardly.

Koemi jerked away and sniffed feebly.

"I'll get those cleaned up," Oliver offered, taking her back. "Gene, could you go find the hydrogen peroxide?"

He nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. Oliver led Koemi into his bathroom with a gentle hand on her back. "Did they touch you?" he demanded, his voice low and dark.

Koemi shook her head, earning a sharp look from Oliver. She scowled at him. "Hey, don't give me that look." She gestured to her bleeding hand. "This is from a broken bottle my damn doppelganger threw on the ground."

"It showed up again?" He questioned carefully. "You're sure?"

"I talked at the damn thing." She hmphed indignantly. "I think I'd know if it was my twin or not."

"I wasn't accusing you of anything." He defended himself. "Calm down." With a heavy sigh, he continued, running water over her wound to rinse away the blood. "We really do need to find out what it wants." He dried it off and applied pressure with a towel.

Eugene reappeared with medical gauze and hydrogen peroxide. "This may sting," he warned, uncapping the unassuming brown bottle before he poured it on her hand. Koemi scowled, but didn't care much as white bubbles foamed at the touch of her internal liquids.

Oliver continued. "I think you should stay here with us until this doppelganger business is resolved."

"I don't want to stay with you," she snapped, obediently allowing Eugene to secure the bandage tightly around her hand.

"The doppelganger was involved in this?" Eugene inquired.

Oliver nodded once and went on. "Or we'll stay with you."

Absently, Koemi flexed her newly bandaged hand. "That would be a mistake. I have a Hua."

"What's a hua?" Eugene asked innocently.

Oliver paled but managed a sly shrug. "You'll just have to stay with us, then." He put his hands on his hips.

She scowled. "I don't want to stay with you," she repeated. "I'll continue being find on my own."

Eugene chimed in again. "You should at least have one of us with you at all times. Our dad will know how to deal with this too. We'll talk to him in the morning. As it is, I don't want you going out on your own."

Olive smirked. "You can sleep in my be—."

Koemi flushed and pointed at him dangerously. "Don't even dream of it, Fetus Face."