Yeah, I'm on a role; four updations in like 32 hours. But that probably means after FinalSymphony leaves, I'll go back to my several month breaks. ^^' oh and some one PLEASE REVIEW! I'M BEGGING YOU!

Chapter 18—

R2—6

Eve stared in up in horror at the man hovering over her as he stroked her face gently.

"…A…Abe…what are y…what are you doing here…?" she barely managed to make her voice audible.

"'What am I doing here?' I came to see you of course," he said seductively. "Isn't that what best friends are supposed to do..?" He pulled a knife out of his pocket and placed it under her jaw. She swallowed nervously. "But…you never wanted to just be…friends, did you?" He pressed the blade harder against her jaw. The skin broke, and the blood slowly dripped from the cut. She began to hyperventilate.

"It's a pity… you're skin is just like hers… and I have to cut it up to make her perfectly… but, a couple scars are worth it… to have her back… And it does seem fair for you to give something up, since you're the reason she's gone," he said, pulling the blade across her jaw a little more. She held back a scream.

Just then the door opened and Gino stepped in, carrying a take out box. "Hey Eve, sorry I took so long; had to go clear across town to—what's going on here?" he automaticly turned offensive when he saw Abe. Then he noticed the blade. "I'd put the knife down if I were you," he said, setting the food on the table, and reaching for his gun.

Abe smirked, and pressed the knife even harder.

Eve clenched her teeth, and her body arched up with the pain as she let out a muffled scream. "Gino…!" she gasped.

Gino didn't hesitate, and grabbed his gun, shooting at the stranger. Abe jumped off of Eve, and then jumped through the window into the dark.

Gino ran to the window and looked out, but the guy was gone. He heard Eve gasping, and quickly went to her side.

"E—" he stopped as the words caught in his throat. The cut was worse than he thought. "Oh god…" he quickly ripped off his shirt and pushed it up to her neck to try and stop the bleeding. "Damnit…" He'd cut her jugular…she…she wasn't going to make it…

"Gino," she said between gasps. She reached up and grabbed his arm.

"Its going to be okay," he said, knowing it was a lie.

"Gino..!" she said, pushing him away.

"No, you shouldn't move!"

She sat up and pulled his blood stained shirt away from her throat. Gino's eyes went wide.

"It…it's healed?" he said in disbelief.

"Yeah…" She rolled over, and scooted as close to the wall as she could.

"Eve?"

"Leave. Now."

"But—"

"Just go!" she screamed at him. Her entire body shook, as she sobbed silently.

Gino looked at her with a sad expression. He rested a hand on her shoulder and leaned over her. She looked up at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. He gently wiped them away.

"Now what kind of guy would I be if I left a crying girl all alone," he said smiling kindly down at her.

The tears welled up again, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder. He gently patted her back.

"It's alright…I wont let him hurt you again," he promised.

Dai rummaged through a box in the control room. They'd just arrived in the Chinese Federation, and she'd had to organize the boxes while Zero and the others were figuring out what to do about Odysseus marrying the Empress. It was absolutely disgusting. I mean, seriously, he's what, 35? And she's some where from 10 to 12. It was just gross.

She saw something shiny at the bottom of the box, and when she pulled it out she discovered it was her old mask that Zero had had made for her over a year ago.

Zero walked in at that moment.

Dai turned to him. "I didn't know you'd kept this," she said.

He took off his mask. "Oh, I wondered where that had gone. You can wear it tonight if you wish," he said.

"Tonight?"

"Yes. We're crashing a wedding party," he said smiling.

At the party…

Dai stood off in the corner behind Zero, who was now playing chess with Schneizel. Everyone had stared at her funny when they'd seen the mask that she wore. Some people were still staring at her oddly. She pulled the kimono top that was draped over her shoulders around her.

Just then Nina came at Zero with a knife. Dai took a step forward, ready to defend him, but Kallen was there. She watched as Nina screamed at Suzaku and Kallen, then collapsed to the floor. Even if Nina was a little obsessive, she felt bad for her, they had been friends, sorta… Nina had helped Dai with some of her Sakuradite purifying liquid, well without knowing it...

Dai walked up and knelt down next to the sobbing girl.

'What is she doing?' Zero thought.

Nina looked up and saw her. "Get away from me…!" she screeched, striking at her. She made contact with Dai's helmet, and the force in that tiny little fist set her helmet bouncing across the floor. It bounced in the silent room… once… twice… three times, and rocked back and forth before it fell completely still.

Everyone had wide eyes, especially Suzaku. Eve shook her head.

Dai stood up slowly, her expression almost bored.

Suzaku stumbled forward a bit. "D…Dai…? Y-you're…a Black Knight…?"

Dai's bored expression turned to a glare. "Please, Suzaku. You mean you really never guessed?"

His eyes got even bigger. "You do remember... then, why?"

"Because I hate you."

Abe sat in a dark room, sharpening the knife he'd just tried to kill Eve with.

"I've gotten all I need… her hair… eyes… her bones… her voice… all that's left is the skin… that beautiful skin…" He smiled devilishly. "Then I can have her again… and she'll be all mine… Amelia…my love…"