Argh, short chapter. I loathe short chapters with every fibre of my being- but I hope it's interesting nonetheless. And I'm incredibly sorry about the long waits here, but a lot's going on. I can practically feel my grades sliding. Okay, so maybe that's a slight overstatement.

I absolutely hate long waits. Yet I somehow always justify them for myself... ha, double standard. Sorry.

Disclaimer: Yeah, I actually own DMC now. Kidding.

The sun glared down with blinding rays which glittered on the deep blue ocean. He was standing with his back to the sun's rays, and from where Aline stood he almost seemed to be surrounded by a soft aura of light.

Cruel irony... Aline thought. She kept her dark grey semi-automatic pistol trained on a spot comfortably between his eyes.

Blue eyes. They were so clear, like twin chips of ice...

He wasn't saying anything. Most people reacted with fear or bravado, when faced with the receiving end of a gun. Some would have a cold, calculating look in their eyes. But he just... stood there. If anything, he looked slightly confused. And underlaying that... was that a shadow of betrayal?

I'm the one that should be feeling betrayed... her grip on the gun tightened.

He didn't react. He was just standing there, like... like a child, waiting to receive a punishment.

Aline's jaw clenched. How dare he look so... so innocent! He had had her trust, and...

"So," she spat from between her clenched teeth, in a false tone of lightheartedness. "Mind telling me who you really are? Or what you are, for that matter?"

His eyebrows, the same pristine color as his hair, knitted together for an instant.

"What?"

Aline almost did a double-take. But on the outside she remained calm. Even though she was seething inside.

"Don't play dumb with me," she growled. Then, slowly, she reached into the pocket of her jacket and, still with her gun trained on Nelo, pulled out a small object, which she tossed at him.

Catching it easily in his hands he lowered his gaze to examine it. He recognized it easily- it was the rubbery sleeve of a grey diving suit. His grey diving suit.

And an irregular gash ran almost halfway round the side.

"You..." He looked up as Aline began to speak again. She was tense, almost shaking. A cold- no, a frigid anger was reflected in her voice.

"You had my trust."

To her surprise, all he did was bow his head.

"I'm... sorry."

He said this almost like a question. Like a child attempting to placate a wrathful adult. He wasn't trying to run, he wasn't trying to attack her- at least not yet. She still had her finger firmly on the trigger. But all he did was stand there.

She didn't quite know how to react. I'm sorry? Part of her felt a flicker of a doubt. But it was quickly swept away. She covered it with a derisive laugh.

"Sorry... right." Her voice was a sarcastic as she could make it.

Remember Aline, they trick you, then they kill you.

"You got-" her voice sounded shaky for some reason. She shook her head and started again, making her voice stronger.

"You got hit by that demon, too." It wasn't a question. "But somehow, you're still alive." Her voice gained strength as she continued. "So I'm curious-" she tilted her head to one side. "What's your secret?"

The tension permeating the air was almost palpable in the silence that followed; if tension were flammable, the merest spark would have caused one heck of an explosion right about then.

Nelo, meanwhile, remained motionless, like a marble statue. His gaze was firmly fixed on an interesting something on the floor.

"Go on- I said I'm curious." Aline's voice was like a honey-coated razor blade.

"...I don't know."

"Eh?"

The sound of surprise cam out before Aline could catch herself. Mentally she kicked herself. 'Eh'? What the heck was that

"I don't know," Nelo said again. Then, he slowly brought his hands up to his pale head.

"I... can't remember." He raised his head to gaze at Aline with those ice blue eyes.

"The memories... they're there, but I still can't... You must believe me-" there was a slight note of... what? Urgency? Desperation? Something- in his voice. "I would never hurt you."

Aline stood still a moment as the full meaning of those words sunk in.

Never. Never hurt me. She sighed.

"Maybe..." she paused. "Maybe I believe you."

Then, she calmly pulled the trigger.