(A/N: Here we are. I know the suspense is killing you. This chapter may not be as good as I'd like, but then again, I've been distracted. New country and all. Now that I'm getting used to it, I've been writing better, I think. Chapter twelve should be up soon. And please, feedback is always appriciated. [And questions of course. I love questions. They make my think.]

Anyway, enjoy!)

Eleven: Baek Ae Chung

The rain felt fantastic. Even just stepping out into the street. Now and again, When it rained I would run up to Regents park to play in it most of the time. Sometimes I didn't but more or less, I play in it when ever I get a chance.

I ran up to the park and to a favorite pavilion next to a field, tossed my jacket on the bench, and ran out into the field. I ran through the rain, feeling it fall on my face. It was cold as it was mid-September, but it felt good all the same. I didn't feel stupid, a grown woman running through the rain on a Saturday morning. I did at first, but I got over it easily. As long as I was having fun, I didn't care who watched me.

Then, I turned around and I just about died laughing. Standing there, soaking wet, slowly venturing farther away from the pavilion, was Sherlock. I can't believe he followed me. I can't believe that he's standing there in the rain. Eyebrows raised, I jogged over to him.

"You can't be serious." I said

"Clearly, I am. Considering the fact that I am standing here in the bitter cold rain instead of under the pavilion making fun of you, I'd think that I'm serious, wouldn't you think?"

"For me?" I asked in my "you've got to be f**king kidding me" voice.

"No." he said sharply, "It's an experiment."

"Really?" I crossed my arms, "Do tell."

"You wouldn't understand."

I looked at him. He looked back. I gave him a look that said "Oh, come on. Spill."

"Of, fine. I'm trying to observe the traditional way of functioning in this highly sophisticated planet through the taste and point of view as a conventional individual to see what a routine would be."

"So, basically, you're trying to see what it's like to live life as a normal person to see how other people without your brilliant mind even function in the world?"

"Yes, basically. How am I doing?"

"This isn't even close to what normal people do when it rains. The classic way is, I don't know, an umbrella?" I suggested.

"Oh. I see. What does one usually do in a normal routine?"

"Ah, lexicon dart loan!" I sighed, throwing out a random three words that came to mind that weren't really random at all, "Do I have to explain everything?"

"O-of course not. I could just ask someone else."

"Who? Everyone else has an abnormal life because they're so involved with you."

"What?"

"None of your 'friends' lead normal lives. My life is about as normal as it gets." It was difficult to lie, but I kept on going.

"Well, tell me. What is normal?"

"Get up, go to school, go to work, do homework, dinner, bed." I shrugged, "It's all very normal. Right now, with a part time job and school just when ever, I don't have a stable schedule right now. However, when I finally start teaching, I'll get a more stable schedule."

"It sounds so dull."

"It is dull." I said, "I've always longed for adventure, so I've been considering teaching over-seas."

"And leave John?"

"I'd have to. The long-distance thing would never work. We'd grow apart."

"You did just say that you didn't want to go overseas."

"It's an on and off thing."

I'm going to be honest here... I have been considering moving away from London for my job. It's too hard to have Sherlock just THERE all the time, and I haven't gotten a fun case in years. I was thinking of Paris. Or Seoul. Or New York. I could do it. I speak French and Korean and several other languages, but I just haven't had the heart to leave London. I'd miss it far too much. My family is here. My friends are here. I have a life here, and I sure as hell don't want to leave it. But... what if I have to?

"Ah, I see." Sherlock's eyes narrowed for a moment.

"Oh, just get used to it." I said, stepping closer to him, "I'm a very spontaneous, mysterious girl." I smirked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, watching me.

"It means," I paused for dramatic effect, "I have your keys."

There was a moment where we just stared at each other as he processed my words. In my head, I counted to ten. Exactly on ten, it clicked in his head and I held up the key chain with two keys on it. What the second key was for... I have no idea. Sherlock's eyes widened and made a grab for the key. I turned and I ran as fast as I could away from him. He followed suit, nearly catching up with me a few times.

"See?" I called, "You're not the only one who pick-pockets when they're annoyed."

I didn't look back to see if he processed that. We ran around the field, dodging each other as he chased me. Clearly, we were two very fit people who were running around without tiring out. We ran a lot, obviously. So, how would a school teacher be this fit and able to run for this long? They should be breathing hard and a bit out of shape because of all the studying nessicary.

A few times, he'd get too close and I'd cry out...

"Certain load lax!" "Declaration Lax!" "Lilac trade axon!"

All of those random expressions had a common anagram. It was getting fun, messing with him. Screaming out my name, but not saying anything at all. I tossed back my head and laughed, unable to hold back.

Then, he caught me. He grabbed my wrist, turned me sharply and pressed me against the nearest solid mass, which happened to be a tree. We were both breathing hard, our breathing feeling like ice as we inhaled. He stood not three inches from me, both hands pinning my hands to the tree, my hands even with my head. Our eyes locked. My green ones kept a firm hold with his icy blue eyes. God, he was hot.

Yes, I hate him. Yes, I think he's hot. It's happened before. Shut up.

Unlike some people, I managed to keep eye contact. Even Lestrade has a hard time looking him right in the eyes. I could tell that this eye contact annoyed Sherlock even more. Oh, good god, this is so much fun. It was so much fun, I was able to ignore the pain in my back.

As I stared into his beautiful blue spheres, something clicked in his head. Oh, here it was. I saw it inside him. It had to be. Counting down...

"Do you... have an uncle or a cousin or a grandfather with the name 'Alexander'?" he asked.

"Phsaw." I scoffed, "Really, now. Is that a question to ask a girl who you're pinning up against a tree with people watching?"

"It is for me. You see, I'm very spontaneous." he said in a low voice.

"Fair enough. To answer your question, no. No, he was not my father, either. My dad's name is Ronald." I sighed, as if bored.

"Who is Alexander Colt?" Sherlock practically shoved my away, exasperated.

"You know, you could be looking in the wrong place." I said, walking towards the pavilion.

"What the hell do you mean?" he asked, following me, "Are you related to him? Oh, that's too in the place I was just looking in." he said pointedly.

"I do have some sort of... relationship with him." I said suggestively.

"Are you cheating on John?" Sherlock asked.

"Of course not. I just know him. I'm close with him. I haven't seen him since he was in that explosion." I nearly gave up and dropped an even bigger hint then that, but this game wasn't over yet.

"Damn." he muttered as we walked up the two stairs into the pavilion.

"Keep on looking."

"Why won't you tell me where I can find him?" he asked suddenly as he pulled on his coat.

"Because." I shrugged on my jacket, "I've been sworn to secrecy." Sherlock ran a hand through his hair, groaning. "Mmm... tough break." I patted his shoulder.

"I guess I'll keep looking. I just need to pop by my flat to change first." he set off towards his flat. I cleared my throat loudly, and he turned as he descended into the rain again.

"You'll need these." I held up his keys.

Wordlessly, he took two long strides, took the keys from me, and rushed out into the rain towards his flat. I smirked as I watched him go. After a minute of watching him, I followed, needing to change before my meeting today. I wasn't sure exactly what time it was, but I'm sure it was past nine. Still a few hours, but I had work to do.

As I pushed through the door, my phone rang. God, he was so clingy. He wasn't even my boyfriend?

Damn it, phone, what the hell do you want?

"Hello?" I practically snapped.

"Goodness, Alexandria." Lestrade sighed on the other end.

"And what would you like, my good boss?" I asked, putting on the innocence act.

"You're never going to guess what got taken to the morgue no less then ten minutes ago."

"What?"

"An old 미녀 operative." he said in a low voice as if others could hear him, "She had the tattoo on her shoulder and the tan spot where her necklace used to be."

"So..." I trailed off, "They're back?"

"I'm not sure. All I know is that one of them is dead. I don't know which one yet. Their assassin is using a different technique."

"Interesting... Now, I have one more question for you..."

"I'm on leave for two more weeks. Why the hell are you calling me?" I asked.

"B-because..." he trailed off and he wa silent for a long minute.

"Riiight. You didn't think of that, did you?"

"No. No I didn't."

"Exactly. Well, now that you've mentioned it to me, inform me every time a body is found."

"Fine." he sighed, knowing I would persist until I got what I wanted.

"Did you find anything with the body?"

"No. Just their symbol. But the funny thing was... her necklace was gone."

"Her necklace was gone?" I exclaimed.

Each member of the 미녀 had a necklace that was a piece of a puzzle that was made completely of expensive rocks. They kept it close to them at all times. I'm pretty sure that they slept with them to keep them safe.

"The team couldn't find it anywhere."

"She is a former member. She could have given it back."

"Once a 미녀, always a 미녀.." Lestrade said, "She'd never just give it back. At least not without a fight. Besides, that place on her chest where it would usually be is pale, so it's been recently removed."

"Interesting. I'll keep my eyes open."

"No. Don't do that. Rest."

"I feel fine. I was just running in the rain." I scoffed.

"I'd imagine that your back hasn't entirely healed." he said and I winced, "Well. I should go. Talk to you later."

"Of course." I hung up the phone without another word.

My back honestly hadn't healed all the ay, but I was really good at pretending like it wasn't killing me. Being pressed up against a tree didn't help, either. I wouldn't be surprised if it was bleeding a little in places. It was just the way it worked. I wished that it would heal faster so I could go back to work. I long for the thrill. I long for Sherlock Holmes to be stumped on a case, or about me, and I will have to swoop in and kick his ass.

Well, there I go again. I have to stop that... Sherlock Holmes can't occupy my head all the time. I have better things to do. Better people in my life. And a lunch meeting in half an hour. Shit. I'd better get going.

I pulled a nice, dark red blazer over my tank top and slipped on my black business heels to pull everything together, grabbed my black purse and a random umbrella I found laying around. The next thing I knew, I was running through the streets of London, remembering my jacket five blocks too late. The place we were meeting was just a small, cute little place. It wasn't going to be a lunch, I guess. More as tea and a pastry.

From the looks of things, I was early. There was almost no one here at all. Just an old couple who looked like regulars, and a very focused collage student on the free Wi-Fi were scattered around. Luckily no one watched me as I stepped inside. I ordered my tea and went to sit down. However, before I even started to sit, the cashier stopped me.

"Wait a moment. Are you Crystal Greene?" she asked, looking a bit scared.

"Yes... Why?"

"We have a special table for you."

"F-for me?" I asked, "Seriously?"

"Of course. Right this way, please."

No one in the coffee shop seemed to notice as I left. To think that they could be my last witnesses as I walk to my death. Oh, she won't kill me. At least not yet. She could be the one who kills me when the time comes, but it's doubtful she'll kill me now. She has no motive to. At least none yet.

I was led to a room on the second floor, which I wasn't aware they actually had access to. The second floor was one large room with peeling wallpaper and a hard-wood, freshly polished floor. In the middle sat a table that looked like they had taken it right from the Grammy's. Sitting behind one of the two chairs sitting very far apart, was an average looking Korean woman who looked to be about thirty five and she needed to get her cat to the vet soon. Jeez. Poor thing.

She looked about Hwa Eun's age, give or take a couple of years. She didn't seem to be under any stress, but deep in her eyes, I could see that she was stressing over her cat. I wondered if Hwa Eun would flinch if I mentioned this woman's name.

Respectfully, I bowed, introducing myself in Korean. She turned to look at me with light golden eyes. I didn't know that Korean's could have gold eyes, but here is a perfect example. The woman smiled and nodded for me to sit down. Cautiously, I sat down across from her.

"Relax." she said, "I'm not going to kill you. I don't like to get my hands dirty."

"I have to be careful of who I trust." I said.

"I understand. As a very powerful detective, I would assume you're always on your guard. Go get this kind woman her tea, Gustav." Gustav, looking terrified, left in a hurry.

"There is never a moment where I am not completely on my guard."

"Then you must like this man, Sherlock Holmes, a great deal."

"Trusting someone doesn't always mean liking someone." I put in.

"Why did you wish to see me?"

"I'm surprised that you agreed to meet because I am aware that you are a part of the 미녀.."

"Of course. I am aware that you are a detective. What of it?" she looked at me quizzically.

"You are aware that one of the women from the group was killed recently."

"Of course." she said casually, "I had no strong personal connection to her."

"Who was she?"

"She was a woman of a poor life, which was probably why she turned to us. I don't think she'd ever made more then eleven thousand pounds at a time, and she lived in the riskier part of London, which wasn't very good for her, considering that she's Korean. She left because the life as one of us was far too difficult for her and she couldn't handle it. Even after she left, she lived poorly. I wouldn't be surprised if she just got fed up with it all and ended it herself."

"Did she seem like a bad person?"

"I didn't really bother myself with her very much. As far as I could tell, she seemed a bit... sad. She couldn't seem to get her life together, so I don't blame her."

"What about you? Do you have your life together?"

"Of course. Why would I not?"

"I thought all of the 미녀 weren't well off, and that's why they joined. Poor living situations turning them resentful of everyone."

"Usually. And then they go seek refuge at the theater where they train to be one of us. They train until they become powerful enough and they join us, bringing to the table only what they know best."

"And what do you know best?"

"I know lots of things. What do you know best?"

"I know many things. I wonder if I know more then you."

"Why would you think that?"

"Because I know more about you then you'd ever think."

"Are you certain of that?"

"You're voice in scratching slightly. You've been singing a lot, and there are circles under your eyes because you haven't been sleeping well. You've been worried about your cat, but she just needs to be neutered, so I don't see why you're losing sleep. You should probably take him to a vet. You're wearing heels and you're not comfortable in heels. You probably take dance and you never wear heels higher then an inch, in and a half. You know, jazz shoes. Judging from the fact that you can't stop fidgeting, they're really hurting. Your father, who still lives in Korea, is having a bit of a hard time, you know, with your brothers passing, so you might want to give him a call. Maybe you should fly back to Korea and leave this whole thing behind, but I know you're not going to do that."

"Why?"

"Because I am the greatest detective of all time, and you want to see me fooled. That, I'm afraid, is not going to happen. I think I have all that I need." I stood and started to move towards the door to leave, when her voice stopped me.

"Wait, how did you know about my brother?"

"Because no one loses sleep over their cat being neutered. Not that much sleep, anyway."

With that, I left. I ducked into the rain and I ran down the block a little, but a voice stopped me.

"Alexandria!" I stopped and turned around. Baek Ae Chung, the woman who was just inside, stood there, getting her really cute outfit wet. Hey, I'm a girl. Shut up.

"Yes?" I asked, holding my hand over my eyes, protecting them from the rain.

"Sherlock Holmes has finally met his match."

"What about it?"

"Respect that. You have an advantage. Use it. What are you afraid of? What have you to hide as Crystal Greene? I know how much you love to have fun."

~!~!~!~!~!~

What are you afraid of? What have you to hide? I know how much you love to have fun. That phrase echoed in my head over and over. Even with Nickelback playing in the background, I could only hear Ae Chung's words. "I know how much you love to have fun." What did that mean? Could it be related to the case at all, or could it be a normal exchange. But... she knows who Sherlock Holmes is. She knows that I know him.

How do they know me so well? Is there a mole in my life? Someone who is leaking this information out. Of course not. I haven't seen anyone from my normal life in ages. I haven't seen Vanessa in nearly a month in a half. That needs to change. I suppose I'll call her up tomorrow or something. Right now, I have too much on my mind.

"Ah!" I exclaimed, jumping up off of my couch. I started to pace. Phantom? A familiar quote. Words about a fact of my life that no one should just KNOW like that. What do I do now? I have an appointment tomorrow with another 미녀 operative tomorrow evening. I think she's a bit older then Ae Chung.

I feel like I got nothing from Ae Chung today. She's a dancer, she's been singing. Musical theater? Well, that's not much. She quoted... something. Maybe something from her script. I don't know. God, I hate not knowing. It's an awful feeling. I want to know. What are they up to? They're bribing me to figure out what they're doing. Normally, they wouldn't tell anyone what they were doing, but instead, they told me right up that they were doing something and I had to figure it out.

Why would they do that? What do they have to gain? Well, they're killing my family and friends in order for me to hurry, so it must be massive. It's almost like they want me to figure it out. They WANT me to stop them. Why would they do something like that? Unless they didn't want to go through with it or something. Like, it was a nuclear bomb sitting in the center of London, but that scenario is unlikely. Even they wouldn't go that far.

Then, snapping me out of my revere was my phone vibrating in my pocket.

"Hello?" I asked, still pacing.

"Something is on your mind, clearly." said my boyfriend.

"How did you know?"

"Your curtains are open. I can see you."

"Really?" I ran to the window and looked down on the street where John stood in the light of the streetlight.

"Yes." We grinned at each other.

"Hey, it's raining. Why don't you come up?" I offered, "I'll make you tea."

"It's getting late..." John trailed off.

"I know." I grinned.

"Oh. I see. I'm coming up then."

"See you in a few. The door is open. I'll be in the kitchen putting the water on."

"Alright."

I ventured into the kitchen and pulled a kettle and two mugs from the cabinet. I filled the kettle with cold water and John was opening the door by the time I had started the fire under the black kettle. I turned around, leaning against the counter, a good distance from the stove. I crossed my arms and smiled at my boyfriend. He came over to me and put an arm on either side of me.

"How was your day?" I asked him, lightly kissing him.

"It was good. A bit slow. I just needed time away from Sherlock." John grinned.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, "Next time take me with you!"

"I will." he laughed.

"You're still all wet." I said running my hand down his sleeve.

"It's only been two minutes since I've been inside."

"Would you like me to help you get a bit more... comfortable?"

"How would you do that?" he asked, a glint in his eye.

"First of all, we have to get you out of those clothes," I smirked.

"Gladly." John said, kissing me.

A mere five minutes later, he was only in his boxers and I was still fully dressed and he was leading me towards my bedroom. Soon, we collapsed on my bed and I tossed my t-shirt away and kept kissing. However, a moment later, he stopped. He looked at me. At my torso and arms, noticing something he clearly hadn't before.

"Crystal." he breathed, running a finger over a scar on my stomach. The white gashes were everywhere, varying in size and pink-ness. They were on my arms, shoulders, and my stomach.

"Yes, John?" I asked, knowing this was it.

"What happened to you?"

"You could say I'm accident prone, I suppose." I said, touching a scar on the opposite arm.

"You mean to tell me you tripped and fell multiple times, resulting in the scarring of you... everywhere."

"Yes. I guess you could say that."

"Crystal, seriously. What happened?" he was sitting next to me now, so I sat up, "What happened that made you like... this?"

"I just fell. Walked into a few things by accident as well. Being a teacher is more dangerous then you might think." I smiled reassuringly.

"Well... If you say so, but we are going to talk about this later." he said as he pushed me back down on my bed, locking our lips once more.