Return To Me

by Hermy Jane Weasley

There was always one person in Kenji's life who he knew would be there for him, until she wasn't. KenjixOC

1. Part 1

Melinoe

I am going insane. I am going insane and I see dead people. "He's back" Eric says, my head shot up from the notebook I was writing in. I stared at him, well not really stared at him, contrary to popular belief it is actually really hard to stare at a ghost. They are really shimmery and they flicker a lot which can really hurt your eyes after a while. "Who is back?" I ask, hoping he will give me the answer I crave but don't want to vocalize for the fear that it would jix it. Eric raises what I assume would be an eyebrow "who do you think?" Eric was a spirit of a soldier that had been drawn to me for the past few months and for some reason refused to leave me alone. As much as I was annoyed by the presence of a person who would never leave you alone, I had been lonely since Kenji had gone on assignment and was kind of glad for the company. Most of the other people at Omega liked me well enough when Kenji was around but since he was gone they avoided me like I was diseased. I can't blame them, who would want to be around a girl who attracted dead people, it was a bad omen.

Kenji was back, I threw the paper and pencil on the bed and shot up pulling on my shoes as fast I could. Regardless of how we normally acted, Kenji is my best friend in the world, he is my world. He has been gone on an assignment to infiltrate the Reestablishment for about 6 months and I haven't had any communication with him. I half trip as I sprint out of my door, I don't know exactly where he is but I would bet my entire month on food rationing that he will be with Castle or at least he will know where he is. I turn the corner and almost crash into Castle, "what have I told you about running around corners Ms. Cromwell '' Castle says to me with a reproachful look.

"I'm sorry" I say half out of breath, I really need to get in shape, "I heard Kenji was back and I wanted to see him" I try to say the last part with a fake air of not really caring. Something flicked across his face but before I had the chance to address it, "where did you hear that? He gives a look like he kind of knows but he wants me to say it. See I'm not supposed to bring ghosts into Omega Point but it's not my fault they follow me but apparently they scare the other people and I am not allowed. Castle knows I can't help it but he still doesn't want to encourage it. I hesitate "uhh look I'm sorry but is he really back?" Castle is looking slightly worried now, which for someone with my level of anxiety is not a good sign.

"He is in the infirmary, he was shot but the girls are healing him now so-" Worry floods me and I tune out everything else. I knew this assignment was a bad idea, I had begged Castle to send someone other than Kenji. He is capable but an idiot, the guy probably said something stupid to a superior officer and got shot but no matter what I am still worried. The blood starts rushing to me ears and I can feel my vision blurring. I am running again, running as fast as I can in sneakers that basically have no sole anymore. I know Castle is shouting at me but I can't him, I can't hear anything but the voices in my head screaming.

I can see the infirmary doors and I make sure to stop just short of them, I straighten my hair out and calm to breath so it doesn't look like I'm rushing to arrive. Once I am confident that I can fake calm, I open the doors and scan the room. "MEL!" I hear a familiar voice call my name from the second bed on the left, I look over to see Kenji giving me a smile that convinces me that every atom in my body is going to explode. I put on my casual face, "Kishimoto I heard you came back," I am trying to keep my voice calm as I walk over to him. Sonia is finishing working on his leg, which is obviously where he got shot. She looks over at me and gives a small nod "you should be good to go now" and hurries off. This is about as nice as anyone here ever is to me, everyone except Kenji.

"You must have really missed me, no one other than Castle and the girls know I am back yet here you are" he is giving me that look that he always does that makes me bones melt. I try to clear my mind and keep the emotionless face that I have been so trained at maintaning "well I heard that you got shot and I had to make sure whatever officer you said something stupid to hadn't killed you." A genuine look of sadness passed over this face, "do you have so little confidence in me?" I raise my eyebrow at him, he might be very smart but like I said the boy is not the best at keeping his mouth shut.

There is a moment of silence that passes between us, "I got shot running away" I shot him a look the Kenji I know would never just abandon his assignment without a good reason. "Chill I had a good reason" just like he read my thoughts, "I was following another soldier that ran away with this girl." He saw the look on my face and continued before I would reply, "she is special and dangerous and they were torturing her so I decided saving them was more important than staying. "Kenji" my voice has an air of exasperation to it. "I really missed you Mel" my soul escapes my body with every word, he stands up taking my hand gently. My skin is on fire and I am trying to keep my cheeks from flushing, I look into his brown eyes that shine like deep voids in the lights.

I hesitate trying not to burst into flames, "well now that I know you aren't dead I am going head back to my room." I turned around kicking myself was that the best I could come up with? I want to tell him that I missed him more than he could imagine, I want to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him like every brush of his skin against mine would give me enough life for an eternity. "Come on Mel! After 6 months and that is really all you have to say to me?" he sounded kind of hurt. He jumped out of bed and began to follow me out like a little puppy, which I hate to admit but I really like.

I started heading back down the hallway back toward my room, listening to Kenji footsteps behind me. He wasn't speaking now, which for anyone who has ever met him knows is a rarity but he is still following me so I don't turn around. It is not that I don't want to talk to him but let's just say we had a complicated relationship before he left and I don't know how complicated it is going to be now that he is back. I reach my room and speak without turning around "why are still following me Kishimoto?" I squeeze my eyes close, why am I like this. "I would like to spend some time with my best friend who I haven't seen in months, or would you prefer a declaration of love?" I would actually I can't but think, instead I open the door "come in."

"Why don't you look at me?" he asks a little desperately "are you still mad at me?" mad at him, I forgot I told him when he left that I was mad he was leaving on a mission I thought was pointless. I take a deep breath and turn around, Kenji standing near the end of my bed looking at me expectantly like he is scared I might yell at him again. I can tell my eyes are glassy because my vision is getting blurring, I will not cry but I am so happy that he is back. He can read me like a book "Mel" my heart skips "I have missed you more than you can imagine I'm-" I couldn't take it anymore. Before I realized what I was doing, I ran at him wrapping my arms around his neck and clutching him like if grip slips even a little he might vanish into nothingness.

I can feel him losing balance a little but he wraps his arms around my waist holding me like that is the last thing he might ever do. I'm trying not to cry and I think he can tell because he buries his face into my hair and whispers "I knew you missed me." We break apart after what feels like an eternity, but he is still holding my waist and we are still so very close together. I look into the face of the boy who I have been in love with for almost a decade.

I met Kenji when he was 10 years old and I was 12, and had been on my own when I met him, he was also scared alone. His parents had just been killed and I could sympathize. I was also an orphan, we were on our own together for about a month before Castle found us. He knew I could summon ghosts and when we arrived at Omega the other's soon found out as well. They basically shunned me at that point, Kenji made friends fast but not me, no one wanted to be friends with the girl who talked to dead people. Even though I was older Kenji always looked after me, if I wasn't included in something he refused to join until I participated. People treated me better with him around and we became basically joined at the hip.

I was given my own room and I would often have nightmares or worse the spirits would come to visit and scare me beyond belief. Even though it was forbidden for girls and boys to share a room, Kenji would often sneak into my room to make sure I was able to sleep, we became a packaged deal. As we got older people would often ask if we were in relationship, so it became a running joke that Kenji would flirt with me even in private. I didn't mind of course but part of me wishes it were real but then again I would be to scared to ever risk of friendship so I am going insane.

Kenji smiles at me and flops on the bed, taking me down with him, I fall on my side next to him. "So how have things been since I've been gone?" he looks so curious, I half grin at him "nothing special but I haven't really spoken to anyone in 6 months so I would rather hear about what you have been up to." I prop myself up on my arm and he mimics me, his face becoming concerned "why haven't you spoken to anyone while I was gone?" I let out a sarcastic laugh "Kenji you know why." His face suddenly became angry "I thought we were all past that! I thought people would still be nice to you!" I gave him a pitting look "people were only ever friends with me because you were around."

He gave a deep sign and brushed a strand of hair out of my face "I shouldn't have left I'm-" "Kenji would you stop that, I'm a grown woman and you left to try and save us all including me." He is still looking at me bothered, "just tell me what's been going on" I say it with a gentle but finate tone. He concedes "like I said before I found out the Reestablishment was holding a girl captive who has a pretty crazy power and it seemed like they were planning to use her as a weapon of some kind. I met another soldier who wanted to rescue her, and they escaped so I went after then to make sure they were okay and that's how I got shot."

"I'm sorry" I say quietly and Kenji is looking at him with genuine confusion now, "wait did I miss something why are you sorry?" "Kenji I'm sorry for what I said to you before you left, I didn't mean it. I let you leave, going into incredible danger thinking I hated you" my voice broke on the last word and I choke back a sob and shut my eyes tight. I feel his warm hand cupping my cheek and I open my eyes to find him inches from my face. "I never thought you hated me, it killed me to leave you know" I can feel his hot breath on my lips. "I thought about you everyday, you look even more beautiful than when I left by the way" his breath was intoxicating, being this close to him was a kind a magic I never wanted to fade.

He had changed too since I last saw him, his muscles were firmer and there was a hunger in his eyes that I hadn't seen before. We used to tease each other like this sometimes but something about the way he was looking at me gave me the hope that maybe this time it might be more than just a hopeful thought. There was a sudden knock at the door and I let out an involuntary sign of frustration "who is it?" I yell at the door sitting up, the motion breaks every bit of my soul. "It's me" Winston "is Kenji there? Sonia said he might be with you" he hesitated "Castle wants to see him." Kenjo sat up and looked over at me "wanna meet my two new friends Adam and Juliette?"

Kenji

I am going to kill Winston, I was finally about to make my move on Melinoe after 10 years and he just totally ruined it. Mel is looking at me with those sparkling green eyes that no words could ever do justice. I just want to ignore Winston and kiss her, kiss her like I have been planning on doing for the past 6 months. I made a promise to myself as joining the Reestablishment as a spy that when I came back to Omega Point that I would finally make my move on her. I've never exactly told her how I feel about her, I flirt with her all the time, foolishly letting her believe it was all a play flirting. I was so scared she didn't feel the same but after I got shot I realized that I would rather her know regardless than die without ever telling her.

Mel stood up quickly and walked over to the door opening it to reveal Winston, who was looking between the two of us with a mischievous grin on his face. "It isn't what you think" she said to him in a tone that seemed rather uncaring, I knew better that was usually the tone she used with other people until she got to know them. "Come on Mel lets go see Castle and you can meet the new arrivals" Stretched and got up from the bed as well. Winston hesitated for a moment before speaking again, "Castle actually just asked for you" he glanced at Mel quickly. I sling my arm around Mel "it's okay Castle knows we are a packaged deal" I am grinning at him broadly and Mel is trying not to smile. "Whatever you say dude, he is in his office" Winston shrugged and began to walk in the opposite direction "good to see you made it back in one piece."

We make it to Castle's office and I knock on the door, after a moment I hear "come in." Castle is sitting down with Adam and Juliette in chairs across from him, they all turn in our direction when I open the door. "Mr. Kishimoto, I am glad you brought Ms. Cromwell please come in" I glanced over at Mel to see that she looked surprised, like she really thought Castle didn't expect her to come with me. We make our way into the room, Adam is giving me a look and glancing at Mel, crap I forgot to introduce her. "Adam, Juliette this is Melinoe, Mel these are the people I was telling you about Adam and Juliette."

There was a pause for a moment before Juliette smiled "it's nice to meet you Mel" that was all it took. "It's really nice to meet you too, both of you" Mel was smiling in a way I hadn't really seen her do in a long time. "I take it you guys are probably the reason Kenji is still alive so thank you for putting up with him" she lightly nudged me in the shoulder. I love when she does stuff like that, she may be an adult now but she has never lost her humor. Juliette laughed softly "it's not a problem though if Adam had his say he probably would have left him behind." Mel smirked "I honestly wouldn't have blamed you, he can be a bit hard to handle sometimes."

"Hey!" I wanted to protest but before I could Castle interrupted "it is very nice to see everyone getting along but introductions weren't the reason I called you here." We all went silent and turned to Castle, "like I was telling Ms. F before you arrived this is a safe place for people with unique gifts." He looked over at Mel, "Ms. Cromwell, I was hoping that you could help show Ms. F around and make sure she settles in and feels welcome." A slight blush crept over Mel's cheeks and it made her look like she was glowing, she really is breathtaking. "Sure" she stammered like she was completely caught off guard by this request, "she can room me with me if that's okay, I have plenty of room."

Castle cleared his throat, "that is quite alright I actually think it would be better to have her room with the twins." Mel looked a little disappointed, I know how badly she wants to make friends but honestly I can't help feeling a bit relieved that she isn't getting a roommate. I mentally kick myself, I'm such a horrible person here I am happy she gets to be alone just so I can have a private space with her when in reality she is probably sad because she wanted another person around. We stand around and talk for a little while longer going over the plans to adjust Juliette, Adam and James. Castle also asked me to go over the intel that I gathered from the Reestablishment and asked Adam to add anything to it that might be important. All in all this lasted about another hour before Castle said it was time to get some sleep and prepare for tomorrow.

"Okay Kent lets go, I'll show to our room I'm sure the girls have dropped James off by now" I turn around and wave goodbye to Mel and Juliette before continuing on. We almost make it to the room when Adam snickers "you know Kenji you never told me that you had a girlfriend, I'm honestly a little surprised she is way out of your league." I know he meant it as a joke but the words still grip my heart and squeeze it, like they are trying to see how much pressure it can take before it crumbles. "Who Mel?" I try to laugh like it was actually someone that was ridiculous "she isn't my girlfriend."

I didn't realize that I must have quickened my pace a bit because Adam had to take a few extra long strides before he was beside me again. "You aren't serious, is she really not your girlfriend? Sorry I just mean the way you two were acting I just assumed." I wish she was my girlfriend, I can't help but think to myself but every time I get close to telling her how I feel something comes up and it makes me wonder if maybe the universe is trying to give me a sign that she isn't into me. "Nah dude your good, we have been best friends for a really long time so we are just really close to each other that's all" that's not but that's all I plan on telling him.

"Whatever you say man" he threw his hands up "all I'm saying is I know the way me and Juliette look at each other and it pales in comparison to the way you and Mel were looking at each other. If you don't have feelings for her that's cool but I'm just saying if you do like her then you should definitely tell her." The way we look at each other? I mean I know how I look at her but I've never gotten the same feeling when she looks at me, maybe I really am dumber than I thought. "Earth to Kenji" I blink and see Adam staring at me with a look of confusion, "what?" I mumble trying to shake off the train of thoughts I had been lost in. "Are you okay? Because you just kind of got this distant look and stopped walking and I was beginning to think you had a stroke." I rub the back of my neck "I'm fine just lost in thought" I look up and realize we are already back at my dorm "here we are, home sweet home."

Melinoe

Kenji and Adam had just turned the corner out of sight and I looked over at Juliette, she is definitely younger than me, probably not older than 17. She is very pretty and looking more than a little bit nervous, I know how she feels being in a strange place and only really knowing one person. "I can show you to your dorm if you want" I ask her, breaking the long drawn out silence left by the boys. She looks over at me and nods, we start walking down the corridor again in silence. "So I know you just arrived but what do you think of Omega so far" I am trying to make small talk but I am not very good at it. "It's amazing" she looked over at me with a small smile, it's honestly the best thing I have seen in a very long time. I had no idea the world was this different, that there were other people like me."

I stopped for a second and Juliette turned to me with a look of terror like she had just said something wrong. I don't know why her words took me by such a surprise but I have never heard any other gifted children put it that way. "I'm sorry" I said trying to refocus and put on a smile, "do you have special powers?" she hesitated for a moment and nodded her head but didn't elaborate. We kept walking after a few moments of silence. I decided to try starting up a conversation again. " You are really going to like it here don't worry, I have powers to know so it's really cool to meet another girl with abilities right now. It is just me and the twins." She didn't speak for a moment, I sounded like an idiot. I probably just screwed up my only opportunity to make a new friend.

"Thank you for offering me to have me room with you" she said in a more cheerful voice giving me a small smile. "It's no problem" I smiled back at her with a genuine smile this time, "any friend of Kenji's is a friend of mine." "Speaking of Kenji" she laughed "he didn't mention to me that he had a girlfriend" I almost choked on the air in my lungs. I sputtered for a second trying not to seem as frazzled as I was "what makes you think Kenji is my boyfriend?" "Oh" she said now looking embarrassed like maybe she had said the wrong thing, "I just assumed you two were a couple by the way you were acting."

I must have really looked confused because she said "I mean you two just kept glancing at each other and there was this energy like if someone lit a match the whole building might blow up from it." I can feel my face getting hot and I try to fake a laugh, "Kenji isn't my boyfriend" but I wish he was. "Sorry, I don't mean to pry but you do like him don't you?" I love him, I want to say her words about the two of us still ringing like bells of joy in my ears. Were we really looking at each other with such a graze that made a total stranger think we were a couple.

"Kenji is sweet but we have known each other for a really long time so that's probably why you thought we liked each other." We had stopped in front of the door to her new dorm and Juliette gave me a long look. "I've known Adam for a long time and trust me when I say that look doesn't come from just friendship alone." I can feel my face getting red again and blurted out "do you really think Kenji likes me, you as more than a friend?" I don't know why I said that, I sound like a whiny teenager who is trying to get everyone she meets to agree she looks cute with a boy. "I mean I haven't really seen you two together normally but I think he would be crazy not to" with that she opened the door and was gone.

After I returned to my dorm, I stripped down to just my underwear and crawled into bed. Normally when I was trying to sleep is when the spirits would get extra cranky and start whaling again, though honestly I couldn't blame them. I did most of my crying at night too. Tonight however it was silent and I am thankful for the break, it wears down my soul being the only person who hears almost constant sorrowful voices from dead people. I shut my eyes and begin to relax trying to let my mind wander and drift into nothingness. Crack, I shit up fast my heart pounding so hard that all the blood rushed to my head making me incredibly dizzy. It is too dark in my room to see but I know something dropped and I know that means I am not alone.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, I decided it must be a spirit, "look Eric, how many times have I told you to leave me alone especially when I am sleeping." I had forgotten about him after this afternoon and had hoped he might have moved on and wouldn't come back. "Who's Eric" the voice sounded incredulous and was coming from only a few feet away. I grabbed my pillow and slung it at where the voice had come from, it made contact with something invisible and dropped to the floor. If it had been a spirit it would have passed straight through, "Kenji I swear if you better show yourself now!" Sure enough Kenji appeared right where the pillow had hit, he picked it up and looked over at me with a very guilty expression on his face.

"Why are you sneaking into my room invisibly in the middle of the night?" I demand, trying not to raise my voice. He is standing about 3 feet in front of me, wearing only pajama bottoms. It seems that his shirt is no were to be found. Even though I have seen Kenji shirtless like a million times, my heart still does mini summersaults everytime as I imagine pressing myself against his bare chest. "Who's Eric?" He crossed his arms and kept staring at me, eyebrows raised looking a little accusatory than is appropriate. "I asked you first" I cross my arms now in a mock imitation of him, "no actually I asked you first" he won't stop looking at me like that.

I cave, sometimes it's better to give in than continue to argue with someone who acts like a child. "Eric was a soldier, he's been keeping my company for the last few weeks since you have been gone." There is almost no light in the room but I can still see his forehead wrinkle "how exactly has he been keeping you company?" his voice sounded tight. I'm a little confused about why he seems to be getting so upset, he knows spirits talk to me it's nothing new. "He's just been talking to me, what's wrong?" "He's talking to you in the middle of the night, why is some random guy coming to see you in the middle of the night?" he was raising his voice a little.

I suddenly realize that he might not understand that Eric is spirit, but you know even if he was alive why would it matter? I stand up for that where eye to eye, his eyes are so beautiful, I put my hand on my hip in what I hope looks like a commanding manner. "I could ask you the same thing" there was a long pause and I can see color blooming on his cheeks. He looked like he was trying to find the right words but couldn't, I decided to put him out of his misery, "Eric is a ghost." Now he just looks embarrassed, "but my question still stands Kishimoto" he knows he is in trouble when I use his last name "why are you sneaking into my bedroom in the middle of the night?"

"Can't a guy just come visit his best friend in the middle of the night?" It was a nice attempt but still isn't going to work. I sigh "If you just wanted to come see me then why did you sneak it invisibly instead of just knocking on the door? Also why did you pick the middle of the night to come see me, couldn't wait till breakfast?" I can see his brain desperately trying to come up with something and I realized that I am enjoying this way more than I should. He looks at me and then his gaze drops a little, his face starting to get even redder and he is slowly starting to resemble a tomato. "You are in your underwear" he said obviously trying not to stare, sure enough I am just standing here in a bra and panties.

"What's the big deal? You've seen me in my underwear loads of times" he is acting kind of weird and I am wondering if he finds this embarrassing. "I know it's just that we're both adults and I'm half naked and you're practically naked. It might seem a little suggestive to other people." I am trying hard not to laugh "to who? It's just us and you are the one who broke into my room in the middle of the night remember? Like I've said you have seen me in my underwear loads of times I don't understand why you find it weird now." He looked at me and it just hit me how right he actually was, we've been adults for a few years but honestly it wasn't until this moment that thought really hit me. Here was Kenji, the boy I grew up, who I have always had a crush on but he isn't a boy anymore, the person standing in front of me is a man. I could see the muscle definition in his arms and chest, his face had become more set and solid. He wasn't my childhood friend anymore, he was my adult friend and it was weird for two adults to be standing around in their underwear in front of each other.

I can feel my face getting hotter, I take the pillow out of hand and pull it to my chest, "I'll go put some clothes on then" my voice low. "Wait that's not what I meant" he ran a hand through his hair. "I just haven't seen you in a long time and well remember when I used to sneak into your room to make sure you weren't having nightmares again?" I remember that all too well, it was honestly the only time I could sleep for more than a couple of hours, I nodd. "Well I just kind of thought I would sneak in like old times and check on you" he looked at me timidly, which was a look I preferred not to see on him. I sign in defeat "come on let's go to bed" he gives me a broad grin and walks past me flopping on the bed. I sit down beside him and he starts taking his pants off, my mind is racing and I am not sure what is going on when he looks up at me and laughs "come on you sleep in your underwear I might as well sleep in mine."

I lay down beside him and pull my side of the blanket up to my chin, I roll over to look at him and suddenly it's like nothing ever changed. It's like we're teenagers again and I am suddenly no longer worried about the screams that come in the night. I scoot closer to him and place my palm on his chest rolling him onto his back, I can feel his heartbeat quicken beneath my fingers. I adjust myself pressing my bare skin into his, the sensation of our skin touching creates a ball of fire in my heart. I feel him tense up a little and I lay my head on his chest listening to his heartbreak. Kenji relaxed a little and I can feel his hand resting on my waist, his fingertips gently pressing into my waist. I close my eyes and I can feel myself falling into a deep sweet sleep.

I'm not sure if I ever make it to sleep or not but I am brought back to the moment by the sensation of a hand against my face. I open my eyes a little looking up to see Kenji smiling down at me, "what's wrong?" I ask, my voice sounding groggy. "Nothing it's just, there is something I have been wanting to do for a long time and I don't think I can wait any more." Before I got the chance to ask what that was, he lowered his face and pressed his lips against mine gently. His lips were soft and his mouth tasted of warm ginger, my mind was spinning into nothingness and I never wanted it to stop.

He tightened his grip on my waist with his right hand and his left hand left my face with a tender strength as if I was an egg he was afraid to drop. After a moment our lips parted by our faces stayed only inches apart he whispered "I love you," three words, the three worlds that made my entire existence suddenly matter again. A second later I'm on top of him, pressing my lips against his with a passion I didn't even realize I possessed. I began kissing his jaw, then his neck until I was at the nape of his neck "I love you too" I whispered into his skin.

I could feel his hands snaking up my back and before I realized what was happening my bra was unhooked and on the ground. As if a switch had turned I was now laying on my back, Kenji positioned between my legs kissing every inch of my bare chest and stomach. He kissed down by body and every brush of his lips was like miniature volcanoes going off against my skin. I felt the tug of fabric and something being tossed, my underwear was no longer an issue. His tongue brushed my inner thigh and I let out an instinctive moan of pleasure. With every flick of his tongue against my raw flesh, I became more convinced that this is how I was going to die and I wouldn't regret a thing. He moved back up my body and found my mouth, without missing a beat I wiggled his parts off and he kicked him off the bed. He pressed himself into me and I never knew I needed him inside me so badly. The way his body curved into mine, fit like the missing piece of a puzzle that I was never able to find until this moment. I rolled over on top of him and SMASH, I felt a sharp pain on my left side and shot up to realize I was now on the ground. I looked up at the bed to see Kenji's smirking face looking down at me, "did you have a nice dream?"

Kenji

It wasn't very long after we had gone to bed when I could hear Mel's breath slow and tiny snores almost inaudible come from her direction. I can't sleep, I know I should. I've been through alot in the past few months and I am exhausted but I can't shut my brain off. I was hoping that doing something that was familiar and safe would ease my mind, spending the night with Mel always did that to me when we were growing up. Now I am realizing that it is quite the opposite, watching her lay there asleep, her chest rise and fall with each delicate breath. Has made me realize how much really has changed since I have been gone and how much was already changed before I left but I just never noticed it.

Before I would have made a sly remake about her being in her underwear, of course I would have liked seeing her in them. This time when I saw her like that all I could think of was how badly I wanted her, how badly I wanted to be in her. While I was undercover, I grew up alot and I realized that even though I still act like it, I am not a teenager and neither is Mel. Seeing Adam and Juliette together has really started to put into perspective what I want. I was planning to tell Mel before I left how I felt but now that I am back, I can't seem to find the courage. I don't want to mess up what we have but I know that we can't go on pretending like this forever.

I am knocked out of my train of thought by Mel "Kenji" she whispered in a heavy voice. Before I had a chance to reply, I noticed her eyes were still closed, was she dreaming about me? While I was contemplating this, she began to start moaning but it doesn't sound like the moaning of someone in pain more like moans of pleasure. Now I am starting to question whether or not she is actually dreaming of me. If she is then from the sounds she is making I hope that it is a very good dream and that I am a good kisser in said dream.

Before I realized what was happening she rolled straight off the bed and crashed onto the floor waking her up instantly. She rubs the side of her head and glances up at me, her face a beautiful shade of red like a newly bloomed rose. "Did you have a nice dream?" I ask, smirking at her, I didn't think it was possible but her face seems to be getting redder. "What? What do you mean?" I love it when she gets flustered. "You were dreaming about me, you can admit it, it's okay I find it really flattering" god who says something like that, I sound like a teenager from a bad rom com. She stood up trying not to look at me, "I wasn't dreaming about you" my heart dropped "I'm sure it will be morning soon and you might want to get back to your dorm before someone wakes up and realizes you are gone. I wouldn't want you to get in trouble right after you get back."

What is she talking about? Castle used to give me a pass on visiting her at night, he knew nothing was going on between us "what are you talking about?" She sits down next to me on the bed "Kenji you know Castle has a rule about men and women being alone together if they aren't married." "I mean yeah but he knows I check on you at night sometimes, so why would that be a problem now?" She is looking down at her lap and I am getting an odd feeling in my chest "Kenji" she says my name like it's hurting her. "You've been gone for 6 months, a lot has changed in that time, I've changed. You were right what you said earlier, we are both adults heck I'm almost 23 years old. It does seem inappropriate to other people that we would be half naked sneaking into each other's rooms and sleeping together without something sexual happening."

Shit why did I have to say that before, then it kind of hits me what she said before that. "I understand" I lower my head to "you said you changed while I was gone, how have you changed?" I ask the question, my heart now beating faster, do I really want to know the answer. I have always known that one day this would all stop, we couldn't do this dance forever at least not the way we have been, keeping everything at a comfortable distance. I assumed one day one of us might meet someone and get married. Though I had kind of held onto the hope that things might change and maybe we would get married instead. "Kenji" she said my name again and I came back to reality "I realized that I don't want to just coast through life, I want to have a future to look forward to and I want to leave a legacy worth something in this miserable life. I want a place to call home, a safe place" she looked up at me holding my gaze "I want a family."

A family, that was a concept I hadn't thought of in a while, to me Omega Point was the closest I have had to a real family since my parents died but it's dawning on me that Mel has never felt like a part of that family. My soul actually felt like it was aching, she didn't consider me her family and while that shouldn't bother me it really does. I think she can tell, she could always tell when I was upset even under my mask of goofiness. She placed her hand on my cheek and gave me a small smile, "I'm not saying we need to stop being best friends or start acting different with each other. I just think it's time to start treating our relationship as more of an adult relationship, let it mature a little like us."

Our relationship, she wants us to have an adult relationship, but what exactly does that mean? Does she want us to be together like romantically or does she mean a relationship like the ones other members of Omega Point have. I notice she isn't saying anything else and she is looking at me expectantly like she wants me to talk now. I don't know why I am so nervous, I love her and I am pretty sure she at least likes me but the thought of actually putting it out there is terrifying. "We can talk about everything later, I suggest getting back to your dorm before Adam wakes up, we've got a long couple of weeks ahead and you need your sleep."

Melinoe

"Daughter" the words echo in my ear and bounce around my skull like a marble stuck in a jar. I jolted up in bed and immediately regretted it because now all I can see is silvery sparkles in my vision. The voice had sounded like it was coming from my room but I couldn't sense anyone, not even a spirit. It had been a deep, commanding kind of voice and even though I can never remember hearing it before it seemed so familiar. I had given up hope a long time ago of finding my father, I had never met him and if he was dead I feel like he would have answered one of my summances by now. Still I was starting to get an uncomfortable feeling that the voice had been there and that it might have really been my father.

There is so much to do at Omega Point just to keep daily operations going, my main job is combat training for the members. That used to be one of Kenji's jobs but I took over after he left, it may sound like a laid back job but it was vital to make sure everyone was ready for combat at any moment. I wasn't really feeling all that well this morning so I had skipped breakfast, I was supposed to meet with Juliette today to work on her training. I really liked having her around, she wasn't scared of me and actually liked being around me, she was like the little sister I always wanted. I arrived at the training complex before she did and started doing my stretches.

"Hey, what are you doing here? No one is authorized to be in here unless they are scheduled for training." I had been doing a toe touch and nearly fell over at the unexpected voice, I steadied myself and stood up turning around to see who it was. "Kenji" I was a little surprised, it has been a couple of weeks since we had our late night conversation and I had only seen him in passing once or twice even at meal times. He has been really busy since he got back and I was honestly starting to think he was avoiding me. "Mel, I didn't recognise you" he was staring me up and down and for a horrifying moment I thought I might have forgotten to get dressed this morning.

"Why not? I look the same as I always have" I start walking over to him and I can see a slight pink starting to bloom on his cheeks. He gave me one more quick up and down before saying "no you don't, normally you have a uniform on, what is that?" he pointed at my torso. "You mean my jumpsuit? Castle had it made for me right before you got back when he was making Juliette's, do you like it?" He let out a long whistle "if looks could kill sweetheart I think all of us would be dead after one glance at you wearing that." I am trying now to laugh, there's my old Kenji, "smooth, I guess I better take it off then because the last thing I need is more ghosts keeping me up at night."

He smirked "if I knew that was all it would take to get your clothes off, I would have tried that a long time ago. But speaking of keeping you up all night, you don't have to turn me into a ghost for me to do that, all you have to do is ask." Okay so I think I'm having a heart attack, the blood rushed to my face so fast that I have to put all my energy into staying conscious. Images of us in bed, making love, all flood into my mind at once. While it might only have been a dream, just the residual thoughts of it are making me dizzy. I try to hide my embarrassment, "Kishimoto you're lucky I like you otherwise I would have killed you by now, what are you doing here anyway?"

"Castle asked me to come to train Juliette" he was still looking at me with that smug expression. "I was told I was supposed to be training with Juliette" I tell him putting my hand on my hip. "Wanna fight for it, the winner gets to train with her?" I ask remembering how we used to be combat training partners growing up. He pondered that for a moment, "deal but we can use our abilities, it's only fair since she is training her abilities as well." He was trying not to look cocky but Kenji has always thought he was the better fighter when our abilities were involved. I give him a half smile "you're on Kishimoto," what Kenji doesn't know is while he was gone I practiced a lot and even discovered another very handy power that he doesn't know about.

I took my standard defensive stance, Kenji tossing me a wooden sparring pole, I caught it lightly in my palm. Without missing a beat Kenji took the first strike nearly hitting me as I ducked and rolled to the left. I was always much faster than Kenji and the only way he was ever able to beat me is when he used his invisibility. Like he read my mind, he suddenly vanished, this is normally the part where I swung the pole around hoping I would hit him before he hit me, but not this time. I stood still, waiting and listening. "Left" a soft whisper hissed, I jumped to the right and heard the pole make contact with ground right where I had been a moment ago. "Right" I dodged to the left, I could hear him breathing a little harder.

I had learned to try to focus on the voices of the spirits around me instead of trying to ignore them and by doing that I gained the advantage of knowing what moved my opponent was making. I might not be able to see Kenji but the spirits that follow me around can. I could see a corner of the room that was shadowed so I decided to finally take the offensive. I I dogged a few more strikes from Kenji as I slowly backed myself into that corner, the patch of shadow was large enough to hold several people and was on the floor and wall. I stepped back so my body was just covered when I heard Kenji voice "it's over Mel you've literally backed yourself into a corner." Judging by the closeness of his voice, I determine that he is within the shadow as well. Without missing a beat I focus all of my energy into being one with the shadows darkness, imaging myself melting into it and reforming on the other side of Kenji.

"What the?!" I would hear Kenji said in a very startled voice clearly startled by my sudden disappearance. I casually poked the end of the pole into the small of his back "gotcha," Kenji jumped like a kid that touched an electric fence and spun around to face me. "How did you do that?!" he stood open mouthed gawking at me and then glancing at the floor and wall where I had been trying to see if there was a trapped door or something. I giggled a little "I call it shadow travel, it's something I just recently learned, I can travel between shadows and other dark areas." Kenji blinked "how did you figure out how to do that?" "Well I was sneaking out at night to get some air and I heard a guard coming down the hallway. I pressed myself against a wall and kept thinking I wish I could just disappear back into my room and when I opened my eyes I was standing in my room again. Castle thinks it could be gone of my abilities that I never knew I had because well who just thinks to try something like that. That's why he made me the jumpsuit so I can blend better."

"Wow you have two abilities that's pretty cool" he actually seemed impressed. "Well I mean talking to ghosts isn't really a cool gift so I guess the universe decided to give me a better one." He looked at me for a long moment. "I've always thought that was a cool power, much cooler than any of the other ones around here." I smiled and started walking past him, stopping to place my hand on his shoulder and turning my head to look at him. "That Kenji is why I love you" and without taking a moment to see his reaction, I turned and walked out.

Kenji

She loves me, I couldn't help but smile as Mel walked away, raising her hand in farewell. Her pale blonde hair pulled into her normal ponytail swishing side to side behind her and her body in that jumpsuit that left little to the imagination. She seemed confident and happy which I was so happy to see, the Mel that I grew up with was so introverted and timid. She would kick your ass in a heartbeat but she was so worried about people disliking her that she always seemed so scared. It also made me happy to see her embracing her power, I could tell she as listening the spirits to tell where I was when I was invisible. She had spent the entire time I've known her trying to ignore them and that has caused her so much emotional pain denying herself. She is far out of my sight but I can't help but stare at the place she left, it is like she is a totally different person and I love her more than I did before, which is pretty hard to do trust me.

Juliette is getting so better at focusing her powers, not as perfect as we all hoped but alot better and that gives me hope. "Your'e getting better J, just a little more practice and I think we stand a pretty good chance" Juliette suddenly looked happier.

Kenji (later chapter)

"I have something important to tell you," Nazeera said, cornering me in the hallway after the meeting "follow me" she headed for my room, my empty room. It feels a little weird the way she is going about this but if it is important then maybe it's something she doesn't want others to know. When we got there she opened the door and we both stepped in, she closed it and stared staring at me again, why is she always staring at me. "What is it you need to tell me?" I am confused and starting to feel anxious.

She placed her hands on my chest and began pulling up on my shirt, "hey what are you doing?" my heart is going a million miles an hour. My head was in a daze and my mouth felt like someone had stuck a wad of cotton in it, before I realized what was going on my shirt was off. I back up a little and she steps forward following me, "I don't understand" is all I could manage to get out. "I want to look at you" she is touching my face and I can feel my skin getting hot, she is very pretty.

She nudged me down on the bed and I lay there without refusing, my head feels so off right now and my thoughts are jumbled. She sat down on the side of the bed and kept examining me, like I'm an animal at a zoo. The way she is looking at me gives a pang of guilt in my gut, Mel looks at me like this. I am tempted to run out of the room but she is just looking at me, it's perfectly harmless, it's not like we are doing anything sexual. She climbed onto my lap and my argument was starting to shatter, this definitely feels like it was inappropriate. She leaned down tracing her finger across my chest and pressed her lips into mine.

My head is spinning and I grip her waist kissing her deeper, enjoying the warmth of her skin against mine. We break apart long enough to switch, I'm on top of her now kissing her neck and unbuttoning her jeans. There's a knock at the door and I jump "Kenji," it's Winston. "Yeah" I call trying to climb off of her and falling onto the floor. "What are you doing?" Nazeera giggled. There was silence then he spoke again "Castle is waiting with Mel and the others for you in the meeting room." Mel, my chest is getting tighter and I think I may throw up. How could I forget about Mel, I'm a terrible person. I know we are not officially dating but we did kiss and this absolutely feels like I cheated on her. Why would I ever think this was okay, I love her, I just really liked the feeling of being wanted, but doesn't Mel want me? Damn I'm such an ass. I throw my shirt on and open the door, Wilson is gone, I leave Nazeera behind without a word.

I feel like such a complete asshole, I rub the back of my neck out of nervous habit as I am walking to the meeting room. Mel is going to be there, I should tell her what happened. I should tell her but I'm scared that if I do she will hate me forever, it means nothing and after all we aren't in a relationship but if I really believed that then I would feel like this. I take a deep breath, my heart pounding as I enter the room. Everything seems normal, well as normal as it can be considering Juliette and Warner have been kidnapped and we are all in danger. I am scanning the room when I see Mel sitting on the arm of the couch, looking sad, she's been looking sad since they went missing.

"Nice of you to join us Mr. Kishimoto" Castle said as I walked in and took a seat next to Mel on the couch. She gave me a small smile, I don't think she knows yet, then again Winston may not have heard Nazeera so he might now know what was going on. I glance over at him trying not to give away that anything out of the ordinary has happened. He is holding his girlfriend's hand and not really paying me any attention. I stiffen a little as I see out of the corner of my eye Nazeera walks into the room. I noticed Winston stopped talking and glanced over at her then me. Before anything else could happen Castle spoke.

"Now that we are all here we have very important business to discuss. As you are all probably away Juliette and Warner were kidnapped and we have no idea where they are being held." The air in the room got colder "we are no longer safe here, no doubt the other parties of the Reestablishment will be sending reinforcements to retake this area, most likely as we speak. We need to figure out how to get everyone out safely before the soldiers revolt and we can't escape."

"We need to also have a plan to figure out how to find Juliette and Warner so we can get them back" Mel spoke up which took me a little by surprise as she normally doesn't give input unless asked. "I agree but right now getting everyone to safety should be our top priority." "I'm not running away not anymore" Adam had spoken from across the room, the first time he had spoken in a while. "I understand but-" Castle started. "You guys can go all you want but me and James won't run away again, I'm tired of this we are going to stay here."

"Kent don't be stupid" I say to him, doesn't he understand that if he and James stay here they will most likely get killed. "I'm not being stupid! I am just tired of running away" with that he left the room without another word. Everything was silent for a moment, the silence was broken by the sound of a girl giggling. I looked over to see Winston's girlfriend giggling as he kissed her, they were acting like nothing bad or dangerous was even going on.

"Can you knock it off, this isn't the time to be doing stuff like that" I was trying not to lose my cool. Winston looked up at me and smirked "well you didn't seem to think it was a problem when you were hooking up with Nazeera like 10 minutes ago." It felt like all the air got sucked out of the room and replaced by a growing white hot silence. I felt the couch move as Mel stood up, I can feel my heart shattering into a million pieces and it feels like I am dying. I can see Winston's girlfriend shove him, it takes all of my focus to look over at Mel who is now standing up. Her face was blank, the usual trace of joy or sadness in her mouth was missing, replaced by a set jaw. I looked at her eyes that were looking straight forward refusing to look at me. No matter what was happening there had always been a glimmer, a light in her eyes even when she was upset. Now, now there was nothing, her eyes were blank and hollow, they looked like the eyes of someone who had died with their eyes still open.

"Mel" I managed to choke out, not sure what I was planning on saying, I couldn't lie to her but I also didn't want to admit it. She was already walking away from me, her face progressively getting harder as we went. I had thought the temperature increase I was feeling was from my shame but it was getting hot, really hot in the room and it was not just me that felt it. She was gone within a blink of an eye and my heart was gone and I had no one to blame but myself. "Oh my" I heard Sonya gasp, pointing to the ground, everyone was staring open- mouthed. When Mel had walked away there were burn marks in the shape of footprints, the last set were still smoking, blue flames still barely visible around the edges. Had she made those? Fire wasn't one of her abilities and what was up with it being blue? What was I talking about, why did it matter, why was I just sitting here.

I stood up, not looking at the other's walking toward the door, I don't really know what I'm going to say to her but I need to find her and explain. "Kenji" I heard someone call from behind me but I didn't care who it was or why, I have something much more important to do. I am not really sure where Mel went off to but I think the best place to check would be her room. I feel like I am walking in a nightmare, a nightmare of my own creation