She jumped slightly when the phone rang.

"Hello, Amicitia residence."

"Hey Jenifer. It's been a while." Came a male voice.

"Dad?!"

"The one and only."

"How are you? Where are you?"

"I'm fine. How's Mom doing?"

Jen was quiet.

"Jenny?"

"She…she died."

"Oh. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you and Mark."

"Its okay, Dad."

"How is the boy doing?"

"He…he was killed. Mom and Mark are gone now."

Tears began to fall.

"Both of them? Oh God no."

There was a silence.

"I want you to drop out of school. I'll come get you as soon as I can. I'll take care of you."

"Dad, I'm not dropping out of school. I can't just throw everything away because something happened. Mom would never let that happen. She kept fighting to get well. Mark kept living to hear me sing one last time. I can't stop."

"You can and you will. You can't just throw yourself into your work to escape your problems. It's best to deal with them."

"I am, Dad. I am in my own way. I'm not going to leave because everything's not the way I want it or it's not perfect. I'm not you, Pater! (Latin for father):

There was silence.

"Is that what you think? That I left because everything wasn't dandy?"

"Pater you left us when we needed you the most. Mom was sick and dieing. You left Mark and me."

"I know I shouldn't have left you like that. I want to make things better."

"By taking me away from my friends? By taking me out of school? How is that going to help?"

"I'm going to take you away from there and that's final!"

He hung up. She held the phone a moment longer then hung up. She slowly sat down on the couch next to the phone. She fought back the tears. The horrible memories of when her Dad left came flooding back. She didn't want to remember that horrible day. The phone rang a moment later.

"Hello?"

"You okay, Jen?" Yuhi asked.

"Y…yeah."

"You don't sound okay."

"It's nothing really."

"When you coming back?"

"I've been thinking maybe I should stay here, Yuhi. I don't want to be a burden."

"Are you sure? It's no problem if you want to stay here. You might not want to stay at your place after what happened last time."

She felt like he wasn't telling her something and the feeling of being watched was beginning to scare her.

"Okay, Yuhi. I'll be there in a little bit. Thanks.

"No problem. You want me to come pick you up?"

"Sure."

"Be there soon. Bye."

"Bye."

She hung up and stayed sitting on the couch.

"I won't let you take away what little happiness I have left, Dad. I'm not going to run away." She thought.

She opened her locket and looked at the picture.

"I promise Mom and Mark, I won't give up."

Then there was a knock on the door. She barely noticed.

"Jen, you ready?" Yuhi called out.

She didn't respond.

"Jen?"

He walked into the living room and saw her sitting on the couch looking at her necklace. He went and softly sat next to her. In her hands was a locket with a picture of her family.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

She looked up. She put on a small, fake smile.

"Yeah."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You wouldn't cry if it was nothing." He said wiping a tear from her eyes.

She hadn't realized that she was crying. She quickly turned and wiped her tears.

"It's nothing."

"Jen please tell me. I want to help in anyway possible."

She was silent.

"Jen."

He put a hand on her shoulder. She turned and looked at him.

"Please."

She looked at him a moment, debating on whether or not she should tell him.

"I…it's my Dad." She began looking down. "He called right before you."

"What did he want?"

"He wanted to know how my Mom and Mark were doing. I told him they were…were gone. He said that…he told me to drop out of school and he would come get me. I told him I didn't want to. That I couldn't just throw everything away because something bad happened. I said I wasn't going to run away and that I wasn't going to give up."

"Why are you crying if you stood up to him and said you're not leaving?"

"He said he's taking me away from here. He's going to make me leave. I…I don't want to go. Even though there are sad memories of my Mom and Mark, I've found happiness. My friends make me happy and he wants to destroy that. He wants me to 'deal' with their…their deaths. I am in my own way, but…I can't. If he takes me away, I can't do it."

The tears were now flowing in streams.

"Jen its okay. He can't take you away. If you don't want to leave, then don't. He can't force you."

He pulled her into a hug in attempts to comfort her.

"Yes he can. He's my Dad. I have to go with him. He's my only family. I can't lose him to."

"I heard what you told Aya."

She looked at him confused.

"What do you mean?"

"About what you said about friends. You're Dad might be your last blood family member, but Suzumi, Aya, and I are still here. You don't have to listen to your Dad."

"Yuhi, I don't know what to do. If I leave, then I lose the little happiness I have left. If I don't, I'll never see my father again. I feel like I don't know anything anymore."

He hugged her tighter.

"Its okay, Jen. Let's go back to my house. We can figure everything out later."

She nodded. He let go and they began walking home. She didn't say a word as they walked. When they walked through the door, Jenifer went straight to bed. Yuhi almost stopped her, but didn't. He figured that she needed to rest and she probably wanted to be alone for awhile.

Jen laid in bed. She couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about conversation she had with her Dad. She then heard Aya yell.

"Aki!" She screamed.

Jenifer didn't move. It wasn't any of her business. Aya sounded happy. Jen couldn't ruin it for her.

"What am I going to do? Should I choose my Dad or my friends?" She thought as she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

When she woke up, she found out Yuhi had been gone all night. She was a little worried, but went to school regardless. She could barely focus on the work. Her mind was swimming with all her newly discovered information. Finally the day ended and Jenifer left. When she got home, Suzumi explained that Aya had spent the night at a guy named Toya's house and Yuhi had spent all night searching. She understood and cooked dinner.

The nest day after they had helped Yuki Urakawa, Jen went to class leaving Yuhi and Aya in the clinic. The day came and went with no word from her father. With her mind swimming, she didn't really catch anything about the nurse dieing.

"Are you okay?" Aya asked.

"Hm?" Jen asked.

"You've been spacing out a lot."

"I have? Sorry. I didn't realize it."

"What's on your mind?" Yuhi asked.

"I haven't heard from my Pater. I guess I'm a bit worried."

"Pater?" Aya questioned.

"Pater means…father. I haven't heard from my Dad in a while.

"You need to get your mind off that and relax. Okay?" Yuhi said.

"I'll try." Jen replied.

She tried to be more cheerful the rest of the day. A couple days later, while she was sitting in English staring out the window, the fire alarm went off.

"Okay everyone. Let's go."

Jen was about to follow the teacher as the last to leave, when someone went by screaming.

"Fire! It's not a drill."

She quickly went back to her seat and grabbed her mother's family heritage book. At that exact moment, the wall burst into flames.

"Ah!" She screamed and jumped back.

She ran out the door and began trying frantically to get out. She turned around to see another fire. She was trapped.

"Help! Someb…" She yelled then began coughing.

The smoke in the air was beginning to get thicker. She got down on her hands and knees where air was cleaner.

"Can anybody cough hear me? cough, cough Help please!"

No answer.

"Oh no, I'm going to die!" She thought.

The fire crept closer. She clutched her mother's book for dear life. She soon heard sirens.

"I…have to get out of here!" She thought. "I wish I understood my stupid powers more. Maybe if I yell, the fire fighters will here me."

She gathered as much air as she could.

"Help! I'm trapped! Somebody help me please!"

She listened. In a couple of minutes, she heard a return call.

"Miss are you okay?" A male voice called.

"I think so. I can't get out."

"Keep talking so I can find you. What's your name?"

"My name is cough, cough Jenifer cough Amicitia."

"What's your favorite subject?"

"Latin."

"Can you see my hand?"

In the flames was a gloved hand stretched out to her.

"Y…cough, cough yes."

"Grab it and I'll take you to safety."

She was scared. Then she felt her leg begin to get burned and grabbed the fire fighter's hand. He pulled her threw the small wall of fire. She fell, almost dropping her book into the flames. She grabbed it quickly and held it close. The fire fighter picked her up (bridal style) and began making his way through the flames. They were almost out when they were confronted by a large wall of fire. The man did a quick jump through and was safely outside. Jen was sat next to an ambulance. Her ankle was burned and so was her right arm.

"Miss, we're going to take you to the hospital for..." Said one of the paramedics.

"No." She said quickly. "I'm fine really. Others got hurt much worse and need the care more."

The paramedics looked at each other unsure of what to do. Then a handsome doctor walked over.

"Is there a problem?" He asked.

"She says she won't go to the hospital. We think she should have her burns checked." Another paramedic answered.

The doctor knelt next to her and looked at her arm.

"Your arm should be fine in about a week. You just won't be able to use it for a while."

Then he noticed the maroon book clutched in her arm.

"What's that?" He asked pointing to the book. "Aren't you told to leave everything in case of a fire occurs?"

"I couldn't leave it. It's all I have of my Mom. I don't care what we were told to do."

He said nothing and moved to check her ankle.

"You should stay off your ankle for a while. With a pair of crutches, you should be free to go home."

"Gratias tibi. I mean thank you."

She then saw Aya and Suzumi with a badly hurt Yuhi.

"Oh no." She whispered.

She got up and began to run to them. She didn't get far before falling. Pain seared through her ankle. She pushed herself up and forced herself to keep going. The doctor stopped her before she got too far.

"You need to stay off your ankle. You could seriously damage it."

"I don't care. Let go."

He led her back to the ambulance despite her protests and struggles.

"Jenifer?" Suzumi asked and walked over.

"Suzumi!"

"Are you okay?"

"What happened to Yuhi?"

"He's fine. He's waiting in the car right now."

"Jen, are you okay?" Aya asked.

"I'm fine."

"Toya? Did you help her?" Aya asked the doctor.

He didn't reply, but finally released Jen. When he did, he handed her a pair of crutches.

"Use these for a while and stay off that ankle." He said and left.

Jen had reluctantly taken the crutches before he left.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Suzumi asked.

"I'm fine. I went back for my mom's book and…"

She stopped.

"Oh no, where is it?" She said and began searching.

"What are you looking for?" Aya asked.

"My mom's book on our family heritage. I had it and now it's gone. I must have dropped it when I went to go see you guys and Yuhi. I have to find it."

She started frantically searching for the maroon book.

"It has to be here. It just has to."

She got down on her hands and knees and was still searching after most of the people had left.

"Jen come on. Let's go home. Maybe someone picked it up." Aya said.

"That's even worse! If they find a translator, they can know everything my mother wrote."

"We need to get you and Yuhi home to rest. We'll find your book. Just take it easy." Suzumi said.

After another minute or two, Aya and Suzumi managed to get Jenifer into the car and begin driving home. Aya told Amicitia that while Yuhi was protecting her (Aya), he got singed. He was extremely lucky because the blast from Urakawa should have killed him.

"How did her powers awaken?"

"The Mikage have created a vector using my blood. It awakens powers of descendents. If they aren't compatible they…die."

Jen was silent. Soon they arrived at the Aogiri home. Jen went and began cooking dinner. When Aya saw this, she quickly tried to shoo Jen from the room. Jen refused and finished cooking. Then Aya and Suzumi got Jenifer to lie down, getting her off her ankle. In a few days, her hand was healed. She got up and began cooking a lunch. Aya told Amicitia to rest her ankle. That day, Yuhi's dad and Tomonori came by. Jen and Aya were introduced. After Yuhi's dad, Tomonori, and Suzumi left, Jen used her crutches to take her to the kitchen to clean the dishes. Yuhi came in while she was putting the dishes away.

"Hey." He said.

"Hey. How you feeling?" She asked.

"Better."

"What was Aya yelling about?"

"Her cousin is going to go after Suzumi and give her the vector."

"You know you can't let that happen. You have to get to her before she gets hurt."

"What good will it do? I'm not welcome there."

"It doesn't matter. You can't just stand by and let Suzumi get hurt. Even if you're not welcome there or never want to go back, you have to put it aside if you want to save her."

He seemed to consider it a minute, then left. She smiled and worked her way to the car and waited.

"What are you doing?" Yuhi asked as he and Aya got in the car.

"I'm coming. I might not go inside, but I'm coming regardless." Jen answered simply as Mrs. Q sped away.

After Aya and Yuhi had been in the house for awhile, Jen got up and quietly snuck around. She saw a guard. She tripped him then quickly hit him on the side of the head with all her might, leaving him harmless. Her heart was racing. She was terrified. She finally made it to the room where Suzumi lay on the ground. She hopped in just as Ceres destroyed the hypnosis device.

"What happened?" Jenifer whispered.

Ceres explained that Suzumi would be trapped in her dream forever. When it seemed like all hope was lost, Yuhi managed to get through and wake up his sister in law. Yuhi and Ceres left and Jen stayed with Suzumi.

"So the Mikage want to capture people like us?" Jen asked.

"Yes. That's why we need to be careful."

Jen was quiet a moment.

"Do…do you think they killed…necatum…my little brother?"

"That's a possibility." Suzumi said sadly. "Jen look out!"

Before Amicitia could turn around, a man grabbed her.

"Stay where you are and she won't get hurt."

"Let her go!" Suzumi said standing up.

The man tightened his grip on Jenifer.

"One more move and she's gonna get hurt.

"Let go of me!" Jen yelled beginning to struggle.

"Not a chance. The chief should be pleased when I bring back this celestial maiden."

Fear washed over Jen's face. She gripped her crutch and swung at the man. It hit him in the knee. In pain, he released her. She fell immediately to her knees. She turned and hit him again. Aogiri security then came and took him away.

"Jen are you okay?" Suzumi asked kneeling next to her.

"My ankle just hurts a little bit now, but other than that I'm fine."

Suzumi helped Jenifer up and handed her the crutches. With a last good-bye, they left.

"Is that…is that why Yuhi was so insistent on me staying and not going home?"
"That's probably one reason. He wouldn't want to see any of us get hurt."

"Why? Why would these people go to such lengths to get the descendents? What good does it do to kill innocent people?"

"I don't know. Some might call it survival of the fittest. Others might just call it a great sacrifice. All I know is that no reason can justify killing people and they have to be stopped."

When they arrived at Suzumi's house, they found Chidori who was looking for Yuhi. Chidori explained about her brother. Then she asked Aya and Yuhi if they would come visit him. Jen said they should. She said that she would stay back with Suzumi.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Yuhi asked.

"Yeah, I mean I'll just end up slowing you down."

He stayed a moment longer then left. The next couple of days were fairly quiet. When Yuhi came back, Jenifer was off her crutches. He explained what happened with Chidori and her brother. This included telling her about how it had been a scheme to discover celestial maidens and Toya trying to capture the newly found descendents. He also told how Shouta (Chidori's brother), who couldn't walk, would be able to walk again. The Chidori piped up saying that she was going to stay with the Aogiri's. Aya also chimed in saying Chidori wanted to go out with Yuhi. Jen laughed.

"Well Yuhi," She said. "Looks like you finally got an admirer."

"Jen!" He yelled.

"Yes?" She asked putting on an innocent face.

"Hey no fair!"
She smiled.

"No one said we had to play fair. Besides, you use that face all the time."

They all laughed. School resumed the next day. Classes were a little quieter. Jen figured it was because they were still mourning over the students who died in the fire. Aya was beginning to worry about not finding the hagoromo. Then Shuro from GeSANG came on the news. When he said that he was a descendent and had a hagoromo, Aya jumped at the opportunity. Soon they were off to Okinawa. Jenifer went along enjoying herself. Once inside the studio, she looked around amazed. She didn't think she would ever be in a studio. Soon they ran into Kei and Shuro. Not long after, Shuro ran off with Aya.

"So what do you want?" Kei asked.

"We just have a couple of questions about the celestial maiden announcement." Yuhi said simply.

"Well you're wasting your time."

Jen tuned them out and was looking around.

"See something you like?" Kei asked her.

"Hm? Me?"

"Do you see another beautiful girl around?"

"I'm just amazed by the studio in general. I never thought I'd actually be in one."

"You sing?"

"A little. I've been told I'm really good, but I don't think I'm that great."

"Why don't you sing for me and I'll tell you how great you are?"

"Thanks, but no thanks. I really don't have time."

"I'm sure you could make time."

"Sorry. I have too much to do in too little time. Come on, Yuhi. Don't we have to go do something?"

She hinted at the fact she didn't want to stay any longer, which he didn't catch.

"No I don't think so." He said.

"Yuhi did you forget already? We have to go find Aya and get back to the hotel." Chidori piped up.

"Okay, let's go." Jen said.

She quickly followed Chidori and Yuhi. Once they were a good distance away, she let her pace slow and spoke.

"Kei gave me the creeps. Yuhi why did you say we didn't have something to do?"

"Until we find Aya, we don't." He said.

"So you were going to leave me alone with him?"

"Well no. I thought maybe you could find out if he knows anything about celestial maidens."

"With the way he was hitting on her? No way! She wouldn't have gotten one word in." Chidori said.

"Well…"

"Oh I see. You were too jealous to say anything." Chidori said.

"What?!" Yuhi shouted.

Jenifer laughed.

"Aya there you are." Jen said when she stopped laughing. "What happened to you?"

"Nothing. What's so funny?"

"Nothing. Come on; let's head back to the hotel."

That night while everyone else was sleeping, Jen quietly went out on the balcony. She sat down and looked at her locket.

"Mom, I really wish you were here. I'm so afraid. Dad could come at anytime and take me away. The Mikage could kidnap me. I just don't know what to do. I really need you Mom." She thought.

She looked at the stars for a moment, and then let out a long sigh.

"singing Hard to remember summer or winter when she hasn't been there for me. A friend and companion I can always depend on, my mother that's who I need. Taken for granted the seeds that she planted are always behind everything. A teacher a seeker a both arms out reacher, my mother that's who I need. Wish I could slow down the hands of time. Keep things the way that they are. If she said so I would give her the world if I could I would. My love and my laugher from here ever after is all that she says that she needs. My friend and companion I can always depend on, my mother that's who I need. My mother that's who I need. That's who I …need."

She sat the letting the wind play with her hair and a few silent tears fall. She didn't know it, but Aya had listened to Amicitia's song.

"I never knew that she and her mom had such a close bond." Aya thought and went to bed.

Jen then came in and quickly fell asleep. The next day, they all went down to the beach.

"Come on, Jenny. Let's swim!" Chidori said pulling her toward the water.

"Okay, okay. I'm coming."

Jenifer put down her towel and took off her glasses.

"Race you guys!" She called running for the water.

"Hey no fair!" Chidori and Yuhi called running after her.

They had a blast. Jen made a sandcastle after swimming. Then she noticed that Chidori and Aya were missing. She got up and went to look for them.

"Chidori! Where are you?" She called.

Then Jen found Chidori as she fell.

"Chidori were you spying?" Aya asked.

"Hey Aya!" Jen said walking up.

"I can't believe Shuro's a girl!" Chidori said.

Jen gave them a confused look.

"Come on. I'll show you the hagoromo." Shuro said.

After getting Yuhi and Mrs. Q as well as explaining that Shuro was really a girl that dressed like a guy because she was really a descendent, everyone went to Shuro's house. It turned out to be a bust for the hagoromo and they were invited to stay for dinner. Amicitia was the only one who didn't drink. (Please forgive the fast forwarding)

After the concert, it was discovered that Kei consumed the vector. He seemed compatible; his body then rejected the vector and died. Shuro, grief stuck, began to sing a sad song. The song used her power causing pain. It felt like the heart was getting ripped. Jen stood with Yuhi covering her ears. Shuro's powers were strong. Jenifer knew exactly how her friend felt. After losing her (Jenifer) family, she was miserable. Jen fell to her knees, the pain becoming unbearable. Aya then managed to calm Shuro down.

"Jenifer are you okay?" Yuhi asked.

She nodded and stood up. She then went over to Shuro.

"Shuro. I know how much it hurts." Jen said softly.

Shuro looked ant her. Tears shone in the young singer's eyes. Jen knelt down next to her poor friend.

"I had to watch my mom die of an illness. When I got home from work one night, I found my little brother shot. It hurts. I know it does, but we can't give up. We use the memories to make us strong. We learn to do better because we know that our loved ones would never want us to quit. I know it hurts, but you will get through this. I know you will."

The three girls hugged. Before too long, it was time to go back home. Everyone grew close as the friendships blossomed. One day, Jen took a picture of Yuhi, Aya, Chidori, and Shuro. Then she placed it inside her locket. The day after the picture was secured in the locket, Jenifer went to her house. She had just put her bag down when a man was suddenly in front of her.

"Hello, Miss. Amicitia." He said.

"Who are you? H…how did you get in here?"

"My name is Wei. I'm here to take you to join the C-project."

"St…stay away from me. I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"Please make this easy on both of us and come willingly."

"Get out! Leave me alone."

She turned to run and he grabbed her arm.

"I'm afraid you don't really have a choice."

"Let go! Let go right now or I'll scream!"

She managed to get out of his grip. She turned as he went to grab her again, catching her necklace. In one swift motion, she pulled back as her pulled her necklace and it broke.

"My…my necklace." She whispered realizing it had been broken.

In Wei's hand was her necklace. He dropped it carelessly and grabbed Jenifer. Then her pulled her out of the house and took her to join C-project.

A/N:

necatum: Murdered.

I think that's all the latin that is unanwsered in this one. If I left something out, please contact me and I'll change it.

Rinoa-san.