Hi^^ Sorry once again for the short chappy, but since I just posted one I think I made up for it... remember to review. I'm on fire, I'm gonna keep typing

"H…hey! Don't cry, I was just asking."

Fai glanced up at her, wrapped up in his own tears. She looked genuinely concerned for once and Fai felt terrible. After all, she'd told him everything about her past and he hadn't said a word. Didn't that make him even more selfish than he already was? He was about to spill his guts, to tell her everything, and then she jumped up and started pacing. As soon as his tears had stopped, her mind had apparently moved elsewhere.

"Okay," She was talking more to herself than to Fai. "Think, think, thinkthinkthink. We need to get out. We only have two weeks until he full moon. We need to get now. Tonight." Suddenly, she looked up at Fai.

Slowly realizing that he was being asked for input, Fai shook his head.

"Mang-mang, I don't think we can. Even if we could it would take some preparation, we couldn't just leave tonight-"

"No!" She snapped, "We can. I know we can, I'll figure something out… you're the smartest person I know-"

"I'm the only person you know!"

"Even so, I don't think the staff is as loyal as Ashura would have us believe. But it has to be tonight."

"Why?" Fai asked, watching as Natalia materialized and fell instep with Mangetsu pacing.

"Because he's distracted; the palace is crawling with dignitaries, not all of whom are allies, and I've just realized how paranoid he's getting. There's no way he's completely focused on us. Plus, he won't expect it; He thinks we're scared little kids, who'll be too shocked and afraid to think clearly and handle ourselves. But he's wrong, because we are capable. Think of it this way- We've known about this for years, we just found out the details."

"I-I guess…"

"Well I know." She stopped pacing, "Fai, we can do this. All we have to do is get out of the palace. You've been outside; you know your way around the city."

He winced.

"Well, actually, Ashura always told me to avoid the main city. I've only been there once; the one time he let Damien be my escort. He insisted on taking me strait through the city… I'm pretty sure that's why Ashura said never again."

"Huh," Her tone was one of cheery realization. To Fai's horror, she seemed to be enjoying herself.

"Well, how hard can it be?"

It was then that Sylvia entered.

"You're back early," She turned to Fai, "didn't kill anyone, did she?

"N-no…" Fai looked away, unsure of what he was supposed to do. Mangetsu crossed her arms, ever sure, and leveled a glare at Sylvia who looked confused.

"What?"

"We know. We know why we're here."

Her mouth formed a perfect "oh" as her eyes flipped back to Fai, then to the floor, then back to Mangetsu.

"I see."

"You knew? This whole time? And you didn't even bother telling us? What kind of-"

"Do you think I didn't want to? Do you really think I enjoyed watching this happen?" She had begun shouting, and now looked around quickly, lowering her voice.

"I didn't want to hurt you, but there was nothing I could do. I have a family I have to think of. Do you know what he would've done to them if I told you against his orders?"

They stared at her.

"He'd have killed them. He's done it before."

For the first time since Fai had met her, Sylvia looked guilty. She directed this look at Fai.

"Fai, I am truly sorry. You didn't deserve this. You're kind-hearted and sweet and it was difficult for me not to tell you. Mangetsu…" She turned. "I don't believe you deserved this either. I believe that, despite the way you project yourself, you are a relatively good person."

"I don't give a shit about your opinion of me."

Sylvia shrugged.

"Regardless, I hope you don't resent me-"

"Of course we will!" Mangetsu looked over, eyes flashing. But then, a cunning, calculating, cat's grin spread across her face. Fai bit his lip at the sudden personality change.

"But then again, I don't know… You see, I've just thought of a way you can help us. It would be quick and easy and make up for everything. Best of all, there would be no way to prove it was you."

Sylvia sighed.

"Our King is not exactly stable; I doubt he'd wait for proof to exact punishment."

"It doesn't matter. It'll take no time at all and after we're gone, you can 'sound the alarm' or whatever so no one'll guess."

Her eyes widened.

"What do you mean, 'after you're gone,'?"

"What, you didn't think we were just going to sit here, right?"

"And, just what were you planning to do once you got out?"

"Well… uh… you know…" Realizing that she hadn't thought that far ahead, Mangetsu declined to answer.

"You don't need to know, it doesn't affect you. You just have to get us out."

"And how do you propose I do that, hmm?"

Her regret seemingly gone, Sylvia was quickly becoming annoyed.

"All you have to do is escort us out from the suppression."

Fai could see the strain of controlling herself clearly on Mangetsu's face. She probably wanted to start screaming and force Sylvia across the suppression. But that would attract too much attention and she was smarter than that.

"I can't do that."

Mangetsu's mouth fell open.

"You unbelievable bitch! All this talk about how you regret doing this to us and you wish this weren't happening and-"

"Mangetsu-"

"Shut your face! All this fucking talk and you still refuse-"

"I physically cannot!"

"…oh."

"King Ashura placed the suppression over me as well."

Mangetsu looked around the room.

"Well you could have said."

"I did."

"Hmph."

Mangetsu crossed her arms and plopped down on the floor. She sat for a moment before groaning and rocking onto her back.

"Only guards then…"

She muttered, closing her eyes. Fai was worried for a moment that she was going to dose off, but just when he thought she was asleep her eyes snapped open.

"Sylvia!"

"Oh what did I do now?" She sighed, Mangetsu ignored her.

"Do you still have your ring?"

"My ring…? Oh!" She held up her hand, displaying the silver band with the tiny sapphire. "You mean the Câblage?"

"Yeah that! Can you use it to contact individual guards, or does it automatically contact everyone with a piece?"

"I can call individual guards, why?"

"Call Damien!"

Please review^^

ありがとう

ShingetsuXMangetsu