Ok and here we go with the next chapter. My friend and I sat down last Friday night and completely overhauled this entire plot...so at least now I know where I'm goin with everything...hehe.

You might see it get a bit more serious from here on, but I won't completely kill the comedy.

As the two girls stepped inside, they were nearly trampled by Reno in his attempt to get to Valena. Yuki stepped off to the side, letting the two talk. She made her way to a darkened corner and sat at the table, periodically glancing up to check on her friend. Valena had the habit of talking with her hands so even without Yuki's "robot sense" as Valena called it, Yuki could always tell what her partner was saying. The conversation was just moving from the embarrassment of the prank to something about either pogo-sticks or jack-hammers when Yuki's vision was obscured by a very male torso.

Her eyes roamed north, catching on the clips and baubles on his cloak before meeting Vincent's eyes. There had been some connection this morning. The chill that had traveled down her spine had never happened before. She was prepared to write it off as a fluke. That was until his warm hand closed over her own, still clammy from the rain and chill outside.

Both Yuki and Vincent seemed shocked. Both staring at his hand as if it was someone else's. Clearing her throat, she motioned for him to sit. He obliged, sliding into chair just to her left.

"I didn't think it through." Yuki said quietly. When Vincent said nothing, she continued. "Why didn't I think far enough ahead to see where this would go?"

"And where did it go?" The man asked, his hand still on Yuki's. "You and Valena are still friends, yes? You still have this commission. You didn't ruin anything."

"I never said I ruined anything!" She nearly yelled. Vincent noticed the slight twitch in the corner of her mouth when she said that. It seemed he'd hit the nail on the head. "You don't have to be in control of everything, Yuki."

"Says you..." She said quietly. "You have no idea why I'm so upset right now, so just quit acting like you care and leave me alone."

Vincent didn't move, even when she jerked her hand away from his. He only sighed.

"Who knows, maybe you could explain this fear I have of letting loose. Maybe you could tell me why I'm so afraid of everything!"

"Yuki." Vincent started quietly. "From what I know of my life, I know that I haven't exactly been graced by the gods. Loved ones die, soul mates taken, friends turned enemy. I know what fear is. I know how eventually, you feel you have no other choice than to either give up or pull the reigns in tighter."

Yuki looked up at him but he was staring intently at the table.

"I know what it feels like to lose control of something... after holding the universe in check for so long."

"I only took this job for the control." Yuki admitted with a small nod, her eyes finding the familiar patterns in the wood table. "So many things were out of my control. My parents always fought. Usually over me. They never once let me forget that I was an abomination. That I was just some albino freak that plagued their house. My sister killed herself when she was thirteen, I was eight. My parents blamed me for her dying... They still do I suppose. My life was so out of control." She sniffed. "The recruiter promised me all of these great things...health care, free room and board, the chance to 'save lives.' But I didn't care about any of that. I wanted the control."

Vincent looked up at her then. The tears running down her cheeks seemed extremely out of place as the only testament that she was upset. Even her voice was eerily even.

"I can control when someone lives or dies. When I'm fighting, it's by my hands that they breathe or perish." Her eyes hardened slightly. "Do you know how addicting that kind of power is?"

He paused for a moment as her words hit home. "Yes."

"Then why don't you hurt like I do?!" She asked frantically. Her breathing was coming shorter, her voice finally starting to show her inner turmoil. In some small part of her brain, she told herself that she was overreacting about the whole issue, but this release felt too good to stop. She could almost feel herself becoming lighter now that the stress was gone. Now that she wasn't the only person on her lonely road.

"I do, Yuki. Every day of my life, I wake up and wonder what demon keeps me alive for his bidding. I'm no more of a saint that you." He moved his chair closer to hers before slowly sliding his arm around her shoulders. "You need to let go, Yuki."

She slumped onto his shoulder. "I can't." Her reply was pathetic even to her own ears.

"You have to. Otherwise you'll end up driving yourself insane or to death." He moved to look at her face. "And I wouldn't want to see either."

Silence fell between the two. Could it be that Vincent understood how she felt? Only one person had ever accepted her for who she was. Only Valena saw past the sickly white skin. Maybe it was time to let someone else in.

She smiled. "You're right..." She whispered, lacing her pale fingers through his own. "It is time I let go." With a playful smirk she stood and pulled him up with her. "Let's go erase that footage and focus on this mission."

She walked over to the (now turned off) TV and picked up her micron-tablet. She found the video file and deleted it with a small smile. As she was flipping through the folders on the small computer, Valena walked up with Reno in tow.

"What's wrong?" Valena asked when she saw her friend pale. The color change was nearly nonexistent, but after so long as partners, Valena could read Yuki easily.

"Our briefing for this mission isn't here." Yuki said, her voice once again monotone. The rapidly moving stylus was the only sign of her worry.

"Can't they send you the file again?" Reno asked.

"Yeah, just give them a call, Yuki." Valena suggested. With a nod, Yuki moved back to the corner, pulling her phone from its holster. It wasn't the normal, agency issue. Both her's and Valena's were custom. Her's was a black chrome flip phone with a white chrome, cross style design overlay. She preferred it over the more common style the other assassins carried, though who would want something the size of a shoe hanging on their belt?

Yuki flipped open the phone and held down the number one, the speed dial for the boss' private line. After ten or so rings, Yuki hit 'end' with a sigh then held down the two key, trying the main desk. Still no answer.

Her brow creased with confusion as she checked the time: just after one in the afternoon. She could understand the boss being out for lunch, but the receptionists too? Someone was sure to be in the office, she just had to call their private lines. She leaned back in the chair, getting comfortable for the long list of numbers ahead of her.

"So Vinnie, dude bro!" Reno rambled off, throwing a mock punch into Vincent's shoulder. "Gettin' lucky with the ice princess?"

Vincent moved to step past him, easily shoving the Turk's arm away. "We were just talking."

Reno grabbed Vincent's hand as the man attempted to walk away. He wove his fingers into the taller man's and brought Vincent's hand up to his chest, sandwiching the paler hand between his own. Reno's eyes widened and he put on a fan girl's voice.

"Didn't seem like 'just talkin' Vinnie-poo."

Vincent jerked his hand away with a growl and walked out of the room, leaving the red-head with his hands still at his chest and a laughing Valena patting him on the shoulder.

"There there...there are plenty more boys out there." She giggled.

And there ya go, the next chapter. We have the next one in the works, so you'll see it sometime later this week. AND GUESS WHAT!!!! I have my computer back! YATTA!

So we're good to go! Hope you guys keep reading. Tell your friends, family and enemies! And as always, review review REVIEW!

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