Choice of Music: Martial Law - Bear McCreary, One Last Wish (piano version) - Casper OST

Chapter 15 - Love Is A Lie

"Poor, poor Kia-Kia," Risa cooed, petting her younger twins head. "You had to kill those poor girls. But you did a good job, my dear Kia." Kia leaned up against Risa's chest, her head laying upon the older twins' shoulder. "After all, that mean, mean Ritsuka was going to make you do all that hard training. And you were injured."

"I'm sorry, Kia-Kia." The older started to haphazardly tie a braid into the younger's hair. "I had to make you do it. There wasn't another choice."

Pulling out a small jar, Risa began to undoe the lid. A slimy green substance lay in the jar, moving with every shake. Once the lid was gone, she placed it upon the ground and dipped one hand into it. Using the other, she slowly began to raise the hem of Kia's shirt. "I'm sorry I had to hurt you like that," she whispered, kissing Kia's forehead. "Daddy made me doing it."

"Dad...dy?" Kia hissed, feeling the heat of the substance touch her skin as Risa smeared it over flesh of her chest.

"Yes, Daddy," she stated. "He wanted me to hurt you, but I didn't want to. I said 'Daddy, I don't want to hurt Kia.' But he didn't listen. I think I know why he wants me to hurt you, though. Would you like to know why?"

Kia didn't answer.

"I'll tell you," Risa giggled. "It's because he hates Vice."

Her breath hitched, hearing the other's words. "Yes, Kia. Daddy doesn't like Vice. Did you know that Vice used to be Daddy's Douji? Before he betrayed Daddy?"

"Vice...dad's?"

"Yes, Vice was Daddy's Douji. Daddy wanted him to protect us and mommy, but Vice disobeyed his orders. He killed me and mommy, and he tried to kill you too. But Daddy got a new Douji that made bad, bad Vice go away."

Kia still said nothing, taking in her older twins' words. Vice...was father's old Douji? And he purposely killed Risa and mother?

All was quiet for a moment as Risa wiped the substance upon Kia's injuries. The silence continued on as Risa slowly removed the stuff from her hand and replaced the lid. "I know that you still love Vice," she mumbled.

The younger girls' heart stopped. "It's okay, I don't care about it. But I should tell you this. He doesn't like you." Risa smirked, knowing that the younger of the twin's would not see her face. "Vice doesn't like me or you. He doesn't like anyone."

"I know."

"I thought you would think that. He just doesn't have what it takes to love, Kia. I don't want to see my baby sister hurt, after all."

Risa kissed the side of her sister's head again. "I have to go now, Kia-Kia," she stated sadly. She began to gently lay her back upon the ground. "Daddy is calling me. Don't worry, someone will help you soon. I can feel them coming." And with those last words, the girl was gone.

Kia lay on the cement, thinking. She knew Vice didn't care for her. So it was true.

Moving her hazel eyes towards the left, she saw the bodies of Tsavera, Lanae, and Ritsuka laying in a slumped pile upon the pavement. Blood splattered the ground, her, and their corpses.

"Kia, stop!" Lanae screamed, clutching a bloody arm. She had tears running down her face, and her onyx eyes were wide with fear. "Kia, do"-BANG!

'I killed Ristuka,' Kia thought. 'Tsavera and Lanae. I killed all three of them. They only wanted to help.' Hazel eyes filled with tears, blurring everything out of existence. Vice didn't love her, didn't even remotely care for her. She was injured and nearly left to die, she killed three innocent Dolls in cold-blood, and she misunderstood her father.

"Help?" she whispered, feeling the tears escape. A dull throb started from where Risa had smeared that green substance upon her skin, and she felt dizzy. Dizzy, hurt, miserable.

God did she want to die.

Her breathing became more ragged. Everything started to seem out of porportion. 'Am I dying?' she wondered.

Footsteps. A face, too blurred to recognize. Was it from the tears or from something else?

Black, slightly-curled short hair. Maybe the outline of glasses. The figure leaned in closer, kneeling upon the ground. An arm reached underneath her, pulling her up towards it. Yes, those were glasses. Dark eyes, buck-teeth-

Buck-teeth?

"K-k-k-kay?" she asked, trying to focus.

"Kia, sweetie, everything's going to be alright," he spoke, brushing his hand across her head. "Everything's going to be alright."

The girl opened her mouth to reply, and soon realized she couldn't make a noise. Panting heavily, she felt her eyes close and her head roll back.

Darkness.

Darkness. More darkness.

'Am I dead?' A warm, numb sensation all over her. Voices all around her, none that she could understand. Kia felt the exhaustion surpressing her again.

Oblivion.

Darkness.

No, not complete. There was a source of light.

Where? Where was it?

Kia tried to move, tried to force her body to react.

Nothing.

'At least let me open my eyes,' she huffed in her mind, slightly irritated. Almost on commanded, she felt her eyelids twitch. 'Open. Open, dammit! Open!'

Slowly but surely, her heavy eyelids opened, hazel orbs adjusting to her surroundings. By now, it felt as though her body was starting to get some of its' feelings back.

And strangely enough, one leg felt extremely heaving.

Looking down, Kia saw a small, blonde-haired baby girl clinging to her leg. She wore a small dress and her hair looked like it wasn't brushed for weeks. 'Hana,' her mind noted. forcing herself to move her arm, she gently placed her hand on the small child's head. 'I'm so sorry I left you, honey.'

Voices.

Eyes moved towards a door. A small, rectangular strip of light shone underneath it, brighter than the current dull purple one just barely shining in her room. Once voice definately was Tansen. Another she recognized as K's. She thought she could recognize Yamato, and silently questioned why he would be there.

A small shuffle in the corner startled her. Glancing over, she saw the edges of wild black hair laying against the wall. Vice was sprawled in an armchair, sleeping away.

He doesn't like you.

'I know,' she answered. She knew Vice would never be able to care for her the way she did-used to- for him.

A small sliver of pain shot through Kia's system, and her breath hitched.

"Ouch." Even after she had been moved, Kia still couldn't help feeling there was something else behind Risa's need to help her sister.

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