PENALTY
Storms-Winter

Disclaimer: This is a Crossover story from differing shows and magna. I own only the plot, songs, poems, (if any) random ideas, and of course my four characters: Ayame, Miriko and Kyoko Kimura, and Sachi Yoshi. Anything else is up for grabs.

"Come to the Asakura shrine every full moon at eleven thirty, you'll find something of interest there."

I can't believe I'm doing this… Glancing back uneasily to the road where her faithful chauffer had dropped her off, Ayame looked around once more warily, before closing her silver eyes briefly.

Slipping through the shadows to the other side of a courtyard, stepping silently through the pillars, she paused to gaze around carefully, continuing on when she was sure that there was no one around. Moving along through the shadows, Ayame moved through a small tunnel carrying in further into the old shrine. She saw a light ahead, and slowed, eying the torch of fire. Gazing out, she felt her heart speed up when she saw a figure sitting casually on a bench in the middle of the old ravaged garden.

"I know you're there." A dark masculine tone spoke with a hint of amusement to his cold edged timbre. Crimson eyes glanced over, narrowing slightly.

Ayame swallowed before licking her lips and stepped out into sight smoothly, trying to keep herself calm. How was it that he was able to get out of the prison and to this place without being caught, let alone found out? Uncertain of her part in this, she approached slowly, and not without wariness.

"I came like you told me to. What do you want?" She demanded coldly, her voice sharp without meaning to be from her conflicting emotions.

Kai looked away and shrugged, a subtle rolling motion of his shoulders. "Come sit," he ordered almost absently. "And take off that cloak."

She stiffened as her eyes flared angrily. "No."

His eyes swung back. "No?" He stood slowly rising to his full height and stepped towards her. Pausing he regarded her for a long moment, staring into the hood which she had up to hide her face, a frown morphing across his face. "I made you mad," he observed. "How?"

Ayame stood stiffly. "I don't like being ordered around," she ground out.

He blinked before he abruptly turned and walked away. Confused she stared after him; he glanced back briefly. "Come if you want."

Pulling back her hood, she frowned darkly, muttering a soft curse under her breath at her stupidity before she sighed, and followed after. Heedful to keep a certain distance between them, she studied his figure carefully, noting how even as his movements were fluid and eerily silent, however, his gait suggested he was hiding, or recovering from an injury.

Disquieted further, she kept her silence as they advanced into the ruins of the shrine. Quietly she took the chance to look around while walking. She hadn't been here in many years, and saw that it had become a refuge for weeds, and other sorts of plants to start growing. Oddly enough, she liked the look of it; it made the place seem…wild.

Like him.

The moonlight reflected off of the stone and differing plants, interested, she regarded the way the light created different affects with the shadows of the night. Glancing up, she saw Kai slip into the darkness of another tunnel out of sight leading on past. Curious as to where he was going, she continued to follow, stepping into the darkness afterwards.

Blinking, she slowed to let her eyes adjust to the pitch black before she ventured forwards again. A small frown decorated her face as she walked; she reached out to the wall to feel along the side and to brace herself in case she lost her footing. But instead, her hand was taken in a warm, firm grasp and tugged closer to a taller frame gently. Startled, she let out a small inaudible gasp; before she relaxed as he silently guided her through a crevice within the wall she hadn't seen.

Silently they walked on, she noticed the walls came in closer and uneasy she pressed closer to him, feeling claustrophobic. He said nothing but she felt him slip his arm around her and rest his hand on her back lightly. It wasn't much, but she appreciated it all the same, as she really disliked small spaces.

She grew accustom to being close to him, and took comfort in his solid, strong presence, taking no mind after a while the damp feeling of the air, the coldness surrounding her, and the feeling of the wall and what felt like spider webs brushing against her.

After a while she heard a distant sound, which sounded oddly like the rushing of the surf. Specks of light could be made before them before he lifted up his arm and brushed aside vines that grew on the outside edge. Glancing up at him as he stood patiently, she slipped past taking a deep breath of the clean air, and a confused expression filled her eyes. Salt?

Looking around her bewilderment grew. "Where is this?" She murmured softly.

She looked to Kai, but he said nothing, merely starting up a slight incline, silently making his way over the rocky ground. Biting her lip she shook her head and followed afterwards. Coming up after him, her eyes widened as she came to the edge of the cliff, and saw the rushing power of the sea below race into the shore and pound against the rocks, splashing upwards as the moon shone down brightly to illuminate the dark blue depths. Further out to sea, the waves were calmer, a contrast to the violence just below.

Standing silently, staring out as the wind blew past, crimson eyes scanned the waves patiently as if waiting for something. Curious she looked around the place in wonder, and picked out a shadow of a building in the distance down and inland. She recognized the juvenile prison and a dark look entered her eyes as the wind stirred her hair around her. In comparison to that jail…she looked around her again taking in the wild, free look of it.

She wrapped her arms around her under her cloak and dipped her head feeling remorse. Closing her eyes to listen to the pounding of the waves below, she let herself relax and felt a sensation of absolute freedom fill her. It was something new to her…to be able to escape…leave and just go to some new place…like this…

"Have you ever seen a moon dance in the waves before?"

Startled she looked up, as he suddenly spoke quietly, and found his gaze riveted on the sea below. "No…" she answered confused. "What…?"

"Look." He nodded out to the sea. Turning her gaze to the waves, her eyes widened once again as she heard chattering of squeals and whistles sound as sleek bodies raced through the waves with ease and leap high into the air.

"Dolphins…" she whispered with delight, a smile blossoming over her face as she watched. The mammals played in the water and fascinated she saw they fell into a kind of pattern as they moved through the moon lit waters. Suddenly she understood his question. "They're dancing…" she murmured, awed.

"Every full moon." Kai answered quietly.

Ayame looked up at him and saw a silvery sheen to his upper cheek; a healing scar, brightened by the moon as he faced it. The wind stirred his mess of two-toned hair, and she swore his crimson eyes had lightened, giving him a more relaxed expression.

He stood casually with his hands in his pockets of the black pants he wore, and it was then she realized that both times she had seen him, he wasn't in the uniform of the juvenile prison. He wore civilian clothes. Entirely black of course, something she could expect. He wore a fitted shirt and pants beneath a long jacket, which hung open and fluttered in the wind as he stood.

"You're missing the show," he spoke with a low hint of amusement in his voice.

Half annoyed and embarrassed, she looked back at the dolphins she debated with herself while watching their antics before she let out a sigh of weariness. "What did you want?" She finally asked. "There had to be a reason to this."

He was silent for a time before he casually asked. "Have you ever heard of the Twin Teardrops?"

Ayame froze. "Yes," she finally replied, keeping her voice calm despite her uneasiness.

"I've heard rumours that they have a special power of some sort to them," he slid a glance at her. "Their connected to a blood link, to a family supposedly…"

She said nothing, keeping her eyes firmly fixed on the dolphins as they played and danced in the waves. Studying her for a moment he looked back as well. "I would like information on the Teardrops, I can't get it from within the centre, it would cause too much suspicion for them."

"You plan to steal them." Ayame said flatly.

"Eventually," he didn't try to deny it. "But first I need to know which family is connected to the Teardrops."

"You won't be able to steal them with ease."

He looked over at her soft whisper, interested. "Why is that?"

"The Teardrops are protected day and night," she spoke softly. "Even if you get past security…" she paused and an odd look entered her eyes. "Well…it's a good thing you're such the criminal," she murmured lightly, "I hope you can live up to all the things that have been said about you…"

"Why?" He asked again, trying to curb his interest.

She glanced at him with dark sorrowful moonlit eyes. "Because in order to steal them," she told him softly. "You'll have to kill their holder. The Teardrops are hidden within a member of the family to protect them."

He stared at her hard. "The Teardrops are inside a person?" He repeated.

"It was a safety measure taken long ago," she looked away out to the sea once more. "Every few generations, the Teardrops are placed within a selected child of the family, it can be either male, or female. No one is sure of who holds the sacred Twins within them; the only person that knows is the head of the family."

He studied her. "You seem to know a lot about this."

"It was researched long ago by my great-uncle, after the Teardrop Massacre sixty years ago," she replied distantly. "Why are you so interested in them anyways?"

"The power." He shrugged.

She cast an incredulous look over him. "That's it? Just because of a mention of power?"

"Power is everything." He countered flatly.

Her eyes flashed as she looked away and stared out stonily at the dolphins, unable to take joy in watching anymore. "I agreed to come only because I trust my instinct," she looked over with a cold gaze. "Apparently I was wrong, you care for nothing but yourself and power."

She turned away. "I will not be a pawn to you."

His hand lashed out and caught her as she stepped away and hauled her back. Looking back as his hand went around her slim neck, she glared icily in silence, not bothering to fight, knowing it was hopeless, and felt a hint of fear enter her at the dark expression on his hard features.

"I don't think you understand what this power can do for me," he drawled silkily.

"Power corrupts." She stated flatly.

He tilted his head regarding her. "And how would you know?" He asked bored. "You live in a peaceful world…" he fell silent at the scornful laugh that emitted from her.

She cut her hand up and threw his hand away, surprising him. "Please? A peaceful world? I wish!" She cast him a coolly disdainful look. "I'm a Kimura, my entire life has been filled with power and corruption."

A bitter gleam entered her eyes. "Don't patronize me about how power is everything, I know firsthand what it is in this world."

He was silent, observing her. "I thought the Kimura's only had a son."

He saw a flash of deep pain in her eyes before she looked away. "No. Kantaro died." She whispered. "A year ago, in a gang shooting."

His eyes narrowed. "Your cousin?"

Ayame looked at him with a cold look. "My brother," she corrected with a slight tremble to her lips. "My twin brother..." she looked away blinking hard as tears rose up, stinging. "He wasn't supposed to leave," she whispered to herself. "But he always did…and fell into a gang," her fists clenched tightly, "he swore he would quit and stop his dealings, but he had to go to that last meeting, for an exchange." She glared out angrily. "He was cheated, the diamonds were fakes, and so was the trust of the boy who pulled the gun on him."

"You were there."

Shooting a wary look over, she nodded. "Yes," she whispered. "He told me to keep out of sight while he made the exchange…I watched…and I saw…" she stopped abruptly and stared out blindly, trying to control her emotions with difficulty. Flashes of the memory rose up and she choked remembering the blood.

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath to calm herself. Becoming aware of her surroundings once more, she found that he had moved, and placed himself in front of her. He didn't quite touch her, but the warmth of his body radiated to hers, and she felt herself relax.

Confused, she stared at the material that covered his shoulder. Why? Why was it that she was so comfortable around him, even though she knew who he was…what he was…why could she speak to him of things that no one else knew of?

"If you had the power to…would you go back and stop that exchange from happening?"

Ayame stiffened. She knew why he asked that. "That is something of impossibility."

"Not with the Twin Teardrops," he countered lowly.

"No one knows if the Teardrops actually contain any sort of magical power to grant wishes or have the ability to change the past, or the future." Ayame turned away back to the sea staring out with a maelstrom of emotions lighting her moonsilver eyes. "No one should have the power to do such things," she whispered. "It would ruin the balance of life itself."

"Or bring back that balance of a lost life."

Ayame looked back sharply, her eyes flaring. "Kantaro is dead!" She hissed. "And it will always remain so. As much as I miss my brother, you cannot bring back the dead and I will leave his soul in peace!"

His crimson eyes stared at her without revealing any of his thoughts. "For a Kimura…you have strong values," he observed.

She drew away, looking at the still playing dolphins. "I never said I had my family tendencies," she replied softly.

"You've made that clear."

His voice sounded closer behind her, before she tensed feeling his hand slip into the mass of her hair and cup the back of her neck, drawing her against his frame. Hesitantly she leaned into him, unsure of what he was doing, or wanted, but he merely stood closing an arm around her, while staring out over the dark waters crashing into the rocks of the cliff below silently.

"Why are you doing this?" She whispered, hearing the uncertainty in her voice.

His thumb shifted and stroked his thumb over the smooth skin of the back of her neck lightly as he glanced down to look at her. "You're interesting."

Her composure spoke of her scepticism to his answer, drawing a dark rumble from his chest. "There are not many things that catch my attention as you have."

She nearly jumped when she felt his lips brush against her jaw and sent tingles through her of awareness causing her to shiver delicately. He felt it and paused, before turning her to face him. Breathlessly she looked up her silver eyes wide with uncertainty and something more.

Drawing the pad of his thumb over the softness of her cheek, he observed her with a dark look before he abruptly bent and touched his mouth to hers. A soft sound escaped her before she melted into him, lifting her face to allow him to deepen the kiss as he drew her closer.

Running his hand up her back, he tangled his fingers into her locks of black silk as his mouth dominated and possessed hers, hungrily feasting from her sweetness. He drew back, biting her lip lightly, releasing for air and stared at her as she panted softly.

Unconsciously stroking her cheek, he regarded her. "Do you know I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since the last time? And I don't know why."

Ayame felt a blush rise up in her face. She turned her face away. "I shouldn't be doing this…" she muttered. "I shouldn't have come…"

"Afraid to live on the dangerous side, Aiko?"

Shocked, she looked up at him wide-eyed. How did he—? Calmly he regarded her before he drew back showing nothing of his thoughts to her.

"It's time to leave." He ordered quietly, drawing her with him. In silence she let him take her back, this time on a different route. When she realized he was heading back to the juvenile prison, she stopped him, confused.

"Why are you going back?" She shook her head. "You obviously can get out, why go back when you can escape?"

He glanced back, than to at the towering hell he resided in. "Let's call it an obligation."

Ayame frowned. "And the attempt of running just last week?"

A small dark smirk decorated his lips. "A test run."

Understanding filled her. "A challenge."

"That too," he murmured before glancing into the forest that surrounded the area. "There's a direct path that leads back to the shrine. You should return without trouble."

Eying the black forest, Ayame nodded slowly before glancing back to the towering prison so close, yet so far away. She hesitated, glancing back at him. His eyes narrowed, filled with amusement. "Don't worry, you'll see me again." He stated with dark assurance.

Embarrassed she scowled. "I wasn't worrying about that."

"Uh huh…" He reached over and wrapped her hair around his wrist drawing her closer as he bent. She leaned into him unconsciously as he kissed her, feeling the small smirk that rose before he pulled away. "Go, Aiko." He ordered softly.

Blinking she gazed at him before she turned and walked away, slipping back into the shadows and drawing up the hood of her cloak found the path returning back. Deliberately she made sure not to look back, and missed the growing smirk on his face as he watched her go before he lazily turned and moved back in the direction of the prison, vanishing back to hell.

"Where did you disappear off to tonight? Go to see a girlfriend?"

Glancing over at the mocking tone, crimson eyes narrowed slightly with malicious amusement. "Wouldn't you like to know?" He taunted quietly.

Sniffing the air, golden eyes narrowed as he passed. "I can smell perfume on you."

"Really?" The shadows shifted as another male turned his attention over with interest. "So, Hiwatari, who's the lucky girl? Is she hot?"

"Typical, should have known a female was involved." A cold mutter sounded blankly annoyed.

Lying back on a cot Kai folded his arms behind his head staring up at the dark cold ceiling. "She's out of your league," he answered.

"And yours too, I bet." A caustic mutter sounded. Ignoring the comment Kai remained silent. With a snort the others pulled away knowing he wouldn't offer any other details to them.

"Did you get any information?"

Glancing over to the onyx eyes regarding him Kai didn't answer for a moment. "I have a source. Maybe."

Onyx narrowed dangerously. "The girl."

Shrugging Kai didn't answer. He didn't have to. Silently the other regarded him before shifting to lie down for the night. "Don't let your emotions rule you for this."

The low warning made the other's jaw tightened. "I won't." Kai promised closing his eyes.

I can't.

Thanks to the following lovies: Caz, Death-Scimitar, Fireworkmage, and lastly xCrystalx. Darlings I love you, you've faithfully read and reivewed almost everything of mine.

Storm