Before I start this, I'd like to ask the hardcore fans of this story to please take my poll that's in profile. It's regarding a possibly new story with new characters.

Thanks!

--

Ryuzaki ran into the room, slipping and falling on the floor because he was wearing socks. I chuckled and helped him up as he had a panic look of terror. He touched my face wildly and turned my head several times.

"Is something wrong? Are you hurt?"

"Hurt! Hell no! Mommy's alive!"

"Alive? But--"

"She'll explain it all when we get there." I grabbed his wrist and ran out the door, not even bothering to lock it.

Malak followed behind quietly, and I wondered if he knew that I knew he loves me. I wondered if he was even jealous of Ryuzaki.

Would he go so far as to kill him?

I shook aside my morbid thoughts and knocked on the door my mother was supposedly staying in. A window slid open, revealing bright blue eyes.

"Can I help you?" He asked monotonously.

"I'm Rouge. I'm here to get Scarlet."

The door opened partially, and the man said in a low tone that Ryuzaki had to stay outside. He obeyed reluctantly and buried his hands in his pockets, turning away from the door. I walked inside and the man coyly introduced himself as Coil. I shook his hand and activated my shinigami eyes, seeing his name was actually Aber. He also had only a few months to live.

"What a shame." I blurted out.

"Hm?"

"You're handsome. It's a shame I have a boyfriend." I replied, thinking quick on my feet.

He smiled, and looked down, rubbing his nose a little. He then looked up the stairs and called my mother's name.

"Your daughter's here to see you."

A silhouette appeared on the stairs, and a woman walked down. She was my mother, but the recent events had taken a terrible toll on her body. She walked with a painful limp, one that was not physical, and her hair was completely grayed out. She held me in her arms and even her hug was different.

"You have no idea how glad I am to see you." I sighed and hugged her back.

"Me too dear, me too."

Hell, she even lost that annoying regal tone. I never thought I would miss that. We walked outside into the brilliant sunshine when I felt time slow down again. I heard Aber scream 'wait', and a bullet barely zipped by my mother's head. I stared at Malak who didn't do anything, and watched as Ryuzaki and my mother slowly fell to the ground.

"Malak, what's happening?"

"I'm slowing down time for you. Hurry up."

I took advantage of this and covered my mother's head as we ran through the streets. Time sped up to normal speed as we rushed desperately through the streets, the shooter leaving pockets behind us. We ran into the house when the shooting stopped and heaved a heavy sigh.

"I'm calling the police." My mother said frantically and rushed to the phone.

When she picked it up, Ryuzaki calmly put it back on the receiver.

"Mrs. Namida, I'm part of the task force here in Japan. I promise I will look into this."

My mother looked to me, and I noticed the dullness creeping in on her beautiful blood red eyes. They barely held a luster anymore. I nodded to show her that he was telling the truth.

"I'm going upstairs to rest. Wake me around eight."

I looked to the clock and noticed it was three. I nodded and she walked upstairs and disappeared before I could ask her where Marie was. I ignored it anyway and Ryuzaki and I plopped down on the couch.

"We should watch a movie." He sighed.

"Yeah, let's watch a sappy romance flick!"

"Like?"

"Like The Titanic!"

Ryuzaki frowned at me, but I gave him the puppy dog eyes, which made me smile and grab me roughly into a hug.

"I can never say no to you." He chuckled and kissed my head.

I leapt from the couch and popped the DVD into the player while grabbing a box of tissues. Ryuzaki looked at me strangely as I rested them on the coffee table while curling up into his arms.

"I have to warn you now," I said, clicking the play button, "I cry like a baby whenever I see this movie."

Ryuzaki drew me tighter into his grip and smiled.

"Well that's why I'm here. To dry up your tears."

--

We were up to the scene where Jack starts to draw Rose naked, and I giggled, covering my eyes with my hand.

"Oh my poor virgin eyes!" I screeched to Ryuzaki's delight.

"Heh, I'd love to draw you naked anytime baby." Ryuzaki said coyly, failing miserably at an attempt to be a perverted asshole.

I leapt up from his lap and laughed loudly.

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?" I screamed between laughter.

Before he could repeat what he said, I started laughing again until my stomach started to hurt.

"I just can't believe you said that." I giggled, curling back into his lap.

We were coming up to the scene now where they have sex in the car, and I wondered what Ryuzaki was going to say next.

What I didn't realize in all the fun I was having with Ryuzaki, Malak was tapping a pen against his open death note, staring at Ryuzaki.