Xin sat on the edge of his bed, playing with a small dagger.  He gently ran the tip along the flesh of his throat, seriously considering cutting into a vein.  He pricked his skin.  At that moment, he had very little desire to do much of anything, especially breathing.  The knife slipped from his fingers when his door opened and Aegis stepped in.  A thin line of blood trickled down Xin’s throat as he sucked in a breath of air.

“What are you doing, Xin…” Aegis said softly, sitting down on the bed and stroking Xin’s hair gently.

“S…Sikari’s dead,” Xin trembled.  Aegis stiffened.

“What happened?”

“H…he killed himself,” Xin said meekly, tears streaming down his face.  He clung to Aegis, sobbing.

“It was all my fault…I…I didn’t stop him…I…I was paralyzed, I g-guess…”

“Xin…” Aegis murmured, stroking his hair. “Shh..”

“Wh-what should I do?” Xin whispered.

“Stay here…” Aegis said. “I’ve got to talk to Riordan.”

Xin’s muscles tightened.  He opened his mouth slightly, but Aegis covered Xin’s lips with his fingers.

“Shh…everything will be alright… I promise,” Aegis said, brushing his fingertips over the skin of Xin’s upper lip.  Swallowing the lump in his throat, Xin nodded a little and watched as Aegis left.  He sat still for about five minutes, and then slid his dagger into its sheath.  Placing the sheath in his pocket, he exited the room and slipped up into the basement.  He climbed the staircase and stopped in front of the mansion’s entrance, glancing about.  Then, a few moments and muttered words later, he was gone.

“Now I’ve got to go all the way up to the bleeding attic,” he thought, trudging up into the basement.  As if it weren’t bad enough that he couldn’t seem to get close to Kaitlyn (mostly thanks to the writer, who he felt had totally forgotten him in the last few chapters).  He stroked the metal of his pendant, thinking of the Priestess as he knocked on the attic door.

“Yess?” Riordan’s voice came from within.

“Sir, I need to speak with you…” Aegis answered.  The door swung open.

“Aegis, you know you’re not to interrupt Rose’s storytime…”

“Yes, but it’s urgent, sir,” Aegis said demurely, clutching his pendant.  Riordan was one of the few people that always managed to toy with his nerves.

“Let’s hope so,” Riordan said.  He turned to Rose, his cape swishing.

“Daddy needs to talk to Uncle Aegis now, okay honey?” he cooed.

“OK!” Rose said, snuggled beneath her covers.

“I’ll be in the lobby,” Riordan looked back at Aegis and strode from the room.  Aegis lingered, watching Rose.

“Did your father tell you a nice story tonight, Rose?” he asked, gently stroking her red locks.

“Yes,” she said happily.  “It was about him and Mommy.  It was a nice story.  It made me miss Mommy, though.  But Daddy says he’s gonna take me to see her really soon.”

Perspiration broke out on Aegis’s palms.  Rose’s mother had been dead for three years.

Lani’s fingers dashed across the keyboard,  so absorbed in her typing that she failed to take notice of the doorbell’s chime.

“Yo, Lani,” her twin brother, Thani, leaned over the threshold of her room. “There’s some guy—or at least, I think it’s a guy, he looks a bit girly to me—at the door.  Says he wants to talk to you.”

Irritated, Lani glanced up at her brother, surprised to see him fully dressed.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Movies.  Then probably Mark’s.”

“Did you ask Mom and Dad?”

“They’re at work, dumbass.  They left money for a pizza on the kitchen table… I just called it in; I got what you like, don’t worry.  I’m taking the other car.  Have fun with your boyfriend,” he snickered, sauntering out.   Lani typed a few words of apology to those she’d been talking to and went downstairs.  Her heart jumped when she saw Xin, standing with his hands clenched together, on her front porch.

“Xin…” she squeaked, flattening herself against the wall.

“Aren’t you two cute together,” Thani said, pushing past Xin roughly.

“Sh…shut up,” Lani said, balling her hands into fists.  Thani laughed, waving a little as he strutted off their porch and into their car.  Despite only having his permit, Thani thought it was perfectly all right to take their parents’ car whenever he pleased—provided his parents never knew he was taking said car (and, thanks to Lani's innate fear of her twin, they usually never did).

“See you!” he called out the window before driving off into the quickly falling darkness, leaving Lani alone with Xin.

He swallowed, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him.

“Please don’t hurt me,” Lani cowered, already searching her pockets for her henshin pen.  Shocked, Xin took a step forward; his eyes were cast down as if he had been stricken.

“I’d never hurt you,” he said solemnly, reaching to touch Lani’s hair.  She recoiled.

“But…”

“Please,” Xin said. “Let me explain.”

He held his hands up slightly, his face pleading.  Lani shifted her weight from one foot to the other.  Nikolas—or, Xin, as she supposed that was his real name—had always been friendly to her.  But now…

“Please,” Xin said again, his voice somewhat strangled.  “Just give me a chance.”

“I can do that,” she thought, turning around and starting up the stairs, trying to calm the fear in her stomach.

“Come on, then.”

The two entered Lani’s room, settling themselves on the edge of her bed.  They faced each other.

“Explain.”

Xin nodded and began, wringing his hands as he spoke.

“My name is Xin..Xin Nikolai… I’m nineteen years old.  I work—or, I did work—with Sikari and a couple of other people…Our leader, Riordan, wants to use this thing called the Exitium Heart to purify the world. However, around the time of the Mana War the Heart shattered and since it belonged to the Priestess, its shards were sent to the future Earth along with her and the other elemental priestesses.  Riordan gathered the three of us together and he used sorcery to take us to this future Earth also.  We’ve been searching for the shards in the animus crystals of the people here, but so far we’ve found none,” Xin paused.  “Um… are you getting any of this?”

Lani pondered.

“Not really…”

Xin’s temples ached, and the pain showed on his face.

“What? I don’t understand this Mana stuff…and what do you mean, traveled to future Earth?  Where are you from?  And what’s an animus crystal?”

“It’s a planet called Fa’Diel,” Xin answered.  “Being that you’re Sailorsylphid, you probably originate from there as well.  You just don’t remember.  As for the animus crystals..well, they’re essentially pieces of your soul.  Riordan found that a shard likely exists in three of these, and his magic led him to this area, which is why we’re here.”

“Okay… so..are you also looking for the Priestess?” Lani asked, laying back on her bed.

“Yes…only the Mana Priestess can use the Exitium Heart.  But Riordan thinks that if the shards are collected, the Priestess will appear, drawn to the Heart’s energy,” Xin said.  He wrapped his arms around himself, focusing his eyes on Lani’s carpet.

“Well…purifying the world doesn’t sound so bad..what does it entail?”

“The Exitium Heart was created to be used as a last resort.  It will destroy a world and then revive it, but the world will be returned to its beginnings—thus purifying it,” Xin explained, the throbbing pain in his head swelling.

“Oh,” Lani said, wide-eyed.

“I…I went along, at first…Riordan threatened to kill my family…” Xin said quietly. “So I just did whatever he said…but..after everything we’ve done…and then Sikari’s suicide..I just c-couldn’t t-take it anymore.”

The ache and sudden rush of emotion he felt were too much to bear, and he began to sob miserably.  Lani rose from her reclining position, hesitating just a moment before pulling Xin into her arms.

“It’s all my fault!” he cried suddenly, clinging to her and staining her shirt with tears. “Everything is all my fault…”

“No, it’s not… oh, Xin…I knew you weren’t evil,” Lani said, reaching for her bureau.  She supported his body with one arm as she snatched a box, drawing a few tissues from inside it. “Here…”

He sniffled, wiping his face as she held him.  She watched him cry for a few minutes, and then said, as if in realization,
“You knew about that night when Sikari attacked me, didn’t you?  That’s why you were so happy to see me…”

His body shook.

“Yes… that was my fault, too… I didn’t help you.  You could have died…” he gripped her shoulders. “I didn’t help Sikari, either..and he is dead.”

Lani ran her fingers through Xin’s hair, kissing his cheek softly.

“Xin…there was nothing you could have done.  Sikari doesn’t seem the sort who’d listen to reason.  Even when it was down to his end…”

“But Azura broke through, just a little…why couldn’t I?” he buried his face in her shoulder.

“I don’t know…but you can’t change what’s happened,” Lani said gently, and then she paused. “I sound like a self-help pamphlet.”

Xin rubbed his eyes, laughing a little.

“Thanks,” he said, kissing her cheek.  She blushed, adjusting the frames of her glasses.

“Umm…you..” she began, just as Xin started, “Listen…”

“You go first,” Lani said quickly.  Xin played with a few wisps of his hair, his eyes wandering around the room.  He wasn’t going back to that awful mansion.

“I was just wondering if maybe I could, y’know, stay here tonight…”

Lani nodded. “The, um, the pizza should be here soon, if you’re hungry…”

He smiled. “Thank you…”

The two talked over their pizza when it came, until their stomachs felt heavy and sleep pulled on their eyelids.  Lani slept on the floor, but she was awakened at around one in the morning by the sound of Xin’s bitter weeping.  Silently, she crept into her bed beside him.  She dried his tears with another tissue and held him tightly, still saying nothing.  He pressed his face into her hair and cried until he slept.

Fuu pawed at the black ribbon lying across Jada’s pillow.  He nibbled its edges, making a face as the tastes of silk and mud converged in his mouth.

“Cut that out,” Jada said, grabbing the ribbon.

“Where’d you get that?” he sniffed.

“School,” she said shortly, fingering the dirty silk.

“Someone was pawning used ribbons?”

“I found  it,” she snapped, pulling on his tail. Fuu squealed, skittering beneath Jada’s pillow.

“You’re psychotic, dude.”

“I don’t recall asking you,” Jada grumbled.  She set the ribbon on her dresser and slipped into a nightgown.

“I just feel as if it’s important somehow.  Like it belongs to someone I know,” she explained as she pulled Fuu from under the pillow.

“Well, it’s black silk,” he purred, rubbing against Jada’s neck.  “Maybe it belongs to Kiera.”

“She usually wears purple in her hair…and it’s not like her to lose things,” Jada murmured, absentmindedly removing Fuu from her neck.  “Oh well.  Maybe it’ll come to me in a dream.”

Fuu grumbled as Jada put the light out and curled up beneath her comforters.

“C’mon, you know the rules,” Jada yawned, setting Fuu on her other pillow.  He stretched his long tail down the length of Jada’s bed and close his eyes, his pink tongue poking through his fur. “Meh.”

“You could always go sleep in Rana’s room,” she said, flicking his ear.

“Maybe if I were in the mood to have my windpipes crushed,” Fuu muttered, lashing his tail.

“Heheheh…Goodnight, Fuu,” she yawned.  She just barely heard Fuu grumble ‘goodnight’ before her eyelids closed and she drifted to sleep.  At around midnight she awoke again, to the sound of something tapping on her window.  Her blinds were drawn, thus she could not see what it was, but she passed it off as a branch of the tree that grew nearby.  She was about to fall asleep again when a hoarse voice filtered through the windowpane.

“Please…”

Jada gasped, falling out of bed with a quiet thump.  Fuu, asleep on his pillow, muttered
“No…not the were-rats…zzz..anything but that…oh god…rabid lobsters…zzz..”

“What a nutball,” Jada said, relaxing.  She stood, blinking as she noted  that her forehead appeared to be glowing.  She gazed into the mirror on her wall, finding the sign of eternity glowing brilliantly on her tanned skin.

“My sign is reacting…maybe…an enemy?” she said, pulling up her blinds.  A man’s face was pressed up against her window, along with the blade of a…scythe?  Jada squealed and fell back onto her bed, scrambling for her henshin pen.  The man rapped the tip of his scythe against her window.

“Please…” he said hoarsely, clinging to the branch he sat upon.  His long, heavy trenchcoat fluttered in the night wind, and Jada saw red and gray flickering in the irises of his eyes.

“Who are you?” she hissed.

“Charon…” he answered. “Please…”

Jada sighed and opened her window.  He crawled in, settling himself on the floor.

“Please what?” she said crossly.

“Can I have my ribbon back?” he asked, brushing back one of the wild locks of brown-black hair that covered most of his face.

“That black ribbon—it’s yours?”

“Yes…”

“Oh…so it was you who cut the power line?  With that big scythe?” she asked.  She retrieved the ribbon from her dresser and proffered it to him.  He took it and began to tie back his hair, answering in a shaky voice,

“That wasn’t me…it was someone else…someone who pretends he’s me, sometimes.”

“Riight…” Jada thought, watching as he fixed his hair.  When he was done, she saw that the left half of his face was still obscured by a thick lock of hair, and the rest was shadowed by the darkness.  She turned her lamp on, and he cringed, covering his face with his hands.  Scars decorated what little skin was showing, and when he caught her staring, he quickly pushed up his sleeves.  This allowed her a better view of his face, which, from what she could see, was also covered in scars.  Charon whimpered a little and hugged his scythe.

“I know..I know I’m ugly,” he whispered thinly. “I’m sorry you have to look at me.”

“You’re damn right you’re ugly,” Fuu yawned, peering at Charon.  He waved his tail at Jada, tsking.

“Really, Jada, bringing men into your room…”

“Go back to sleep, you brat,” Jada pinched his neck.  He yelped, digging his claws into his pillow.

“What the hell was that?!”

“Well, it was supposed to be the Vulcan Nerve Pinch, but I guess it didn’t work,” Jada mused, flicking his ear again.  Charon watched this scene with wide eyes, still hugging the scythe.  Jada shoved Fuu under her sheets and sat down next to Charon.

“That’s a lovely mark on your forehead, there,” he said, touching the eternity sign gently.  “Sailor Lumina…” his voice became very soft.  Jada drew back.

“H-how could you…?”

“I just do,” he said, gripping her wrist.  His eyes burned.

“Okay, now you’re hurting me,” she winced.  He pulled her body against his, dropping the scythe.

“I’ve waited so long to feel your skin beneath my fingers,” he murmured, stroking her cheek.

“What do you mean?  I don’t even know you,” Jada said, shaking a bit.

“Yes, you do…you just don’t remember,” he said, kissing her lips lightly.

“Oh…” Jada’s sign glittered in the darkness.  Suddenly, Charon released her, grabbing his scythe and cringing.

“I’m sorry.  I’m so sorry.  That was the other person.  The person who pretends to be me.  I…I just wanted my ribbon back.  I’m sorry I touched you,” he spoke in a rush of words, fumbling with the lock on her window.

“Wait a second,” Jada said. “How did you know I had your ribbon?”

“The other person.  He knew,” Charon said, opening the window. “I’ll go now.  Goodnight, Jada.”

He stepped out onto the tree branch and jumped off, landing neatly on his knees before jumping up and running off into the night.  Jada  closed her window and climbed back into bed.  She pulled Fuu onto her lap, stroking his fur as he purred.

“What a freak…you shouldn’t have let him in, you know.  He could have easily decapitated you with that scythe of his.”

“No,” Jada murmured, kissing Fuu’s fur, a dreamy note to her words. “He wouldn’t do that to me.”

Riordan had taken the news of Sikari’s death better than Aegis had expected.  He made little verbal response, but his expression seemed more disappointed than angry.  Still, he had pushed Aegis against the wall in a show of frustration, his face close and intimidating.  But Aegis was neither fearful like Xin nor broken like Sikari, and he stared back at Riordan with cold defiance.  Riordan released him, but before he could be dismissed, Aegis spoke up.

“Sir…regarding the Priestess…I think I may have found her.”

“What?  How could you have possibly--?” Riordan spun on his heel, glaring.  Aegis toyed with the pendant.

“I just… I have a feeling, sir,” Aegis answered, attempting to keep his anxiety in check.  His nerves were shaking in spite of the ice in his eyes.

“We’ll find the Priestess when we’ve found the shards.  Focus on that,” Riordan said dismissively.  Aegis bowed his head.

“Yes, sir.”

“Tomorrow, you will find Xin.  You will not return to this place until he is with you.  Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

"You are dismissed."

Sun filtered through the church's stained-glass windows, dappling its red carpeting. A little girl dashed through the building, the patches of light shining on her hair and face as she cried out,
"Mister Dimitri! Mister Dimitri!"

The girl dashed into the priest's sacristy with blood trickling down her left leg. The cut on her knee stung as she looked about frantically, still calling for the priest.

"Mmm?" the priest was at the sink, carefully pouring communal wine down a drain that led the holy liquid back to the earth.

"I was playing and I fell and I hurt myself," the little girl breathed. She gazed up into his understanding green eyes and gestured to her knee, crying.

"Shh..." Dimitri fetched a cold compress and knelt next to her, applying it to the scrape. "Don't cry, Anna."

He pulled her close, cleaning the blood. She sniffled and pressed against him, clutching the collar of his robes.

"It's alright now," he murmured, kissing her hair. "But you know you're not to enter the sacristy without permission..."

"I'm sorry," Anna said, returning her attention to her knee.

"It's okay, Anna..." he said, lifting her up on his shoulders. "Let's see if your mother is here, hm?"

Anna giggled, playing with Dimitri's red hair as she nodded. He carried her to the front of the church, watching for the little girl's mother. Other cars pulled up, gathering children into them and then carting them home for lunch. At last Anna called out, and a young mother walked up to them, plucking her daughter from the priest's shoulders.

"Did you have fun at bible study today, honey?" the mother cooed, hugging Anna.

"Yes, Mommy. 'Cept when I fell and hurt myself, but Mister Dimitri cleaned it and made it feel better and..."

Her mother smiled as Anna talked. She turned to the priest, bowing her head and blushing slightly.

"You're so good with children, Dimitri."

"Please," he answered, touching the young woman's hand gently. Her blush deepened as he finished. "Call me Riordan.”

Azura stood nearby, fingering the beads of her rosary.  She felt suddenly uneasy when she heard the priest utter his first name.  Despite visiting the church regularly, she rarely saw him, as he was usually in the sacristy or watching the children.  Something about his demeanor unnerved her, but she couldn’t place just what it was.  Her heart quickened when he turned, fixing his gaze on hers.  Blood slid down her fingers as she realized that she had pressed too hard on the rosary’s metal cross.

“Be careful,” the priest was suddenly next to her, taking her hand in his and examining the wound.  Fear awoke inside her, and it twisted in her stomach as she felt his fingers press against her skin.

“It’s just a little cut,” Azura said softly.  He had pulled a cloth from within the folds of his robes, and her eyes widened when she saw that the white fabric was already stained with blood.  He noted her expression and responded calmly,

“Another child cut herself.”

He folded the cloth, using the clean portion to wipe Azura’s fingers.

“O-oh,” she said, fighting the urge to pull away violently and run.

“Have you come for morning mass?” he spoke in an easy, conversational tone, though the authoritative power in his voice was unmistakable.  It chilled her veins.

“A-actually, I’m… I’m visiting a friend…” she nodded towards the cemetery.

“Oh really?” he raised an eyebrow. “Might I inquire as to whom?”

“He…he doesn’t have a proper grave, really, it’s just a stick cross… His name was Egan…he…killed himself…” she trailed off, her fingers shaking.  Dimitri dropped her hand suddenly, stepping back.

“My deepest apologies,” he said, bowing slightly. “I did not mean to stir your grief.”

“It’s okay,” Azura said hastily, pocketing her rosary.  “I was just about to head home.  It was nice speaking with you, sir.”

“Goodbye,” he said, keeping his head lowered.  He listened to her rushed footsteps, waiting until they faded from his range of hearing.  Then, slowly straightening, he walked to the cemetery.

“So this is where they hid you,” he said, kneeling at Sikari’s makeshift grave.  He pulled out the cross and snapped it in half, proceeding to claw at the dirt with his hands, quickly covering them in black earth.  He kept at this until his fingers touched bone.

“Hello,” he said to the corpse, sitting beside it. “I suppose you thought this was your escape, then?"

Riordan leaned over, pressing his lips against the stray bit of gray flesh that still clung to Sikari’s forehead.

“Dear boy…no one departs from my service until I give leave,” he murmured, brushing away bits of soil.  Riordan’s priest robes disappeared, and a shovel materialized in his hands.  He created an illusion so that anyone looking over would see only a peaceful grave, and then, pushing the shovel into the moist earth, he began to dig.
 
 

“I have a serious hangover,” he mumbled, taking a swig from the bottle.  A sudden knock on his door caused him to start, and he spilled wine all over his bare chest.

“Damnit,” he muttered, setting the wine on his dresser and stumbling into the bathroom.  “Who is it?!” he called crankily, splashing water on a rag and wiping his chest.

“Kaitlyn!” her voice resonated concern.  Etienne’s head throbbed, and he fell to his knees, feeling ill.

“Can’t let her see me like this…”

“Have I come at a bad time?” she said nervously.

“N-no!” he cried, pulling on a wrinkled gray shirt.  Staggering out of the bathroom, he proceeded to fall against the door, just barely catching the knob on his way down.  He slunk to the floor, gripping the knob stupidly.

“Etienne?” Alarmed, Kaitlyn pushed on her end of the door.

“Owww,” he moaned as the it squished him against the wall.

“Oh, dear,” Kaitlyn said, quickly pulling it shut after entering.

“Hey,” he muttered, falling over.

“Did you get drunk last night?” she said slowly, pulling him up.

“I get drunk every night,” he grumbled. “Sometimes in the morning, too.”

“Oh, my,” she said, hugging him.

“Well, somebody’s liver is going straight to hell,” Jada said, stepping in.

“I’ll be sure and meet it there,” Etienne answered, watching as Kiera trotted in behind her friend. “What the hell are they doing here?”

“What a rancid scent,” Kiera muttered, lingering on Etienne’s threshold.

“Bugger off,” Etienne curled up.

“Well we thought you’d like an update as to what was going on, but I guess not,” Jada said, making a face.

“Be nice,” Kaitlyn chided, wrapping her arms around Etienne.

“Kaitlyn,” he murmured, pressing against her.

“How precious,” Kiera said. “Etienne, you would do well to be careful.  I feel that it is highly likely that Xin will run to you for safety."

“Whaddaya mean,” he said, clinging to Kaitlyn.

“He has a crush on you,” she said bluntly.

“Oh.  Yah.  Um.  So what do I do?”

“Try to get him to tell you about what his cohorts are plotting.  Be kind and do not make him nervous.  It’s imperative that we learn the enemy’s objective,” Kiera said, pacing.

“Y’make it sound like we’re in a war or something,” Etienne said, playing with Kaitlyn’s green ringlets.  She blushed, stroking his hair back.

“Hmph.  I suggest you shower and put on some decent clothes.  You don’t want him to see in your boxer shorts, do you?” a twisted smile played on Kiera’s lips.

“Lighten up on him, you guys,” Kaitlyn said defensively, hugging him again.

“You’re the only one that’s nice to me, Kaitlyn,” he sniffed meekly.

“Whatever, Negaboy,” Jada rolled her eyes.

“I’m gonna go shower,” he mumbled, ignoring Jada and pulling himself to his feet. “See you later, Kaitlyn…”

“Oh…okay,” Kaitlyn smiled thinly, ushering Jada and Kiera out.

“Gee, I guess we’re not special enough to get a goodbye, huh, Kiera?”

“I suppose not.”

Etienne made a face at the exchange, which was quickly muffled by Kaitlyn’s shutting of the door.  Massaging his still aching temples, he shed his clothing and stepped into the shower stall.  Warm, soothing water drenched his body, and he closed his eyes, trying not to think of what was to come.

“Nuh?” Xin’s eyes fluttered open, and he jerked back at the sight of Thani’s amused face. “Nuh!”

“Sleep well?” Thani said dryly, prodding his sister’s arm.

“Go ‘way,” Lani grumbled, opening one eye.  She saw her brother and then noticed Xin sitting up next to her.  Panic swamped her mind and she bolted, almost falling off the bed.  She hissed a word that tinged the tips of Xin’s ears pink.

“Relax, I don’t care,” Thani yawned. “Just better make sure Mom and Dad don’t come up.”

Xin slipped out of bed, flattening his long, mussed hair.

“I…I’ll go,” he said, glancing from Lani to her brother.  Thani shrugged and sauntered out.

“Whatever, man.”

Lani buried her face in her hands.  Seeing this, Xin walked over to her and hugged her.  “Thank you…” he said, squeezing her a little.  He stood there for a few minutes, holding her.  Lani felt the weight of his palm on her hair ease, and when she at last looked up, he was gone.

“Well, it’s not like I’ve got anywhere else to go,” he said to himself, pushing on the building’s revolving entrance.  He slunk across the lobby and into the elevator, pleased to find that no one else was currently occupying it.  He pushed the button for Kaitlyn’s floor and then rested against the elevator’s back wall to wait.

“I hate this,” he grumbled, pushing away from the table and starting to pace.  He peered outside his door, surprised to find Xin walking slowly down the hall.

“Etienne?” Xin said, stopping short.  Etienne cleared his throat.

“Hello, Xin,” he said with forced calm. “Would you, um, like to come in?”

“Oh…” Xin blushed a little. “I’d like that…”

Etienne stood aside, holding his door open and gesturing with his hand.  The two settled at Etienne’s little plastic table, staring at each other until Etienne coughed.

“So, uh…what’s up?”

Xin examined the table, tapping his foot against the tiled floor.

“Ummm..well…”

Etienne swallowed as he reached out and gingerly touched Xin’s hair.  His blush deepened, and he leveled his eyes with Etienne’s.

“I…I didn’t think you liked me very much…”

“Aw,” Etienne said, hiding his surprise at Xin’s frankness.  “Don’t think like that.”

“Well…you were going to bludgeon me with a flashlight…”

Etienne fidgeted.

“I’d..never really do that…”

“Mrrm,” Xin squirmed in his chair.

“Sorry,” Etienne murmured. “…do you need a drink or something?”

“No…”

“Oh,” Etienne set his head on his arms, eyeing the wine. “Well I sure could use one…”

Xin stood, entering Etienne’s kitchen.  He returned with a glass goblet in his hand, and he quietly set it down in front of Etienne.

“Oh, I can’t…” he nudged the glass away. “Not ‘till it gets dark.”

He stood as well, facing Xin.  He hesitated, and then wrapped his arms around the smaller boy, hugging him tightly. Xin blushed and pressed against Etienne’s body, closing his eyes.  His discomfort thusly swallowed, Etienne moved on to his pride.

“Thanks, though..and I’m sorry…for treating you so poorly…”

Xin gazed up at him adoringly.

“It’s fine,” he said, trying to ignore the skeptical portion of his brain that was wondering why Etienne was suddenly showing him such kindness.  Etienne stroked his hair, kissing it very lightly.

“So…Xin,” he said, making an effort to sound trustworthy, “Are you here for any special reason?  Maybe trying to get away from those guys you always hang around with?”

Xin winced mentally as his hope that Etienne was being genuinely friendly was crushed.

“He just wants information,” that skeptical little voice spoke harshly in the back of his mind.  He pushed it away and nuzzled Etienne’s neck, scooting a bit closer.  Perspiration broke out on Etienne’s forehead as he felt Xin’s lips brush his skin.

“Yes…I was running from Riordan…and Aegis…”

“Wh-Who’s Riordan?” Etienne said thickly.  Xin snuggled against him.

“Can we sit down?”

“O-oh…yeah, sure,” Etienne mumbled, leading Xin to his couch.  He flopped down upon it, and Xin sat daintily, curling up against him.  Xin had no doubt in his mind now that Etienne was only allowing such close contact because he wanted details on Riordan and the others. He also knew that exploiting the situation to his advantage was decidedly wrong, but this was probably the only time they would ever be this close to one another.

“S-so…tell me about Riordan,” Etienne said, pushing back into the couch's cushions as if he were attempting to melt into them.  Xin ran a hand down the front of Etienne’s chest.

“Well…”

The expression on Etienne's face was the same as that of a small, frightened animal who has just spotted the headlights of an oncoming car.  Depression, guilt, and his own anxiety merged in Xin’s heart, and he found that he was unable to bear seeing Etienne so unhappy.  The knowledge that it was because of his actions made him sick.  But even so…

“Etienne…” he said, leaning in close.

“Y-yes?” Etienne squeaked.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.  Before the other man could react, Xin pushed against him, kissing his lips deeply.  Etienne’s eyes enlarged at a rapid rate as Xin held the kiss and clung to him with an unnerving amount of strength.

“Mmn!  Mmmphh!” he managed, and Xin pulled back, dazed.

“That was really nice…” he said softly, closing his eyes.  Meanwhile, Etienne shook with shock and anger as he fought the urge to cause Xin severe and lasting physical damage.

“How dare you!” he spat, digging his nails into a cushion.  “How dare you take advantage of me like that!”

“You were taking advantage of me, too,” Xin shot back, snapping back to reality at the harsh sound of Etienne’s voice. “You didn’t really want me around at all…you just wanted me to tell you stuff about the Aegis and Riordan!”

Etienne’s indignation deflated.

“Damn it..why the hell am I always wrong,” he muttered.

“It doesn’t matter, anyway.  I already told Lani everything last night,” Xin said sulkily.

“What?!  So there was no need for any of this?!” Etienne cried, his eyes now almost bulging. “Then why did you even come to see me?!”

“I wasn’t coming to see you.  I wanted to see Kaitlyn.  You just called me in before I reached her apartment.”

“Ah.  So this really is all my fault, then,” Etienne said bitterly, pushing a cushion onto his face. “Of course it’s my fault.  It’s always my fault.”

Xin looked at his hands.

“I…I did take advantage of you, though.  I’m sorry.  Really, I am…I..I just wanted..”

“It’s okay,” Etienne said gruffly, cutting him off. “It never would have happened if I hadn’t dragged you in here.”

An awkward silence followed, and then Etienne tidied the couch and got up.

“Let’s just go see Kaitlyn, okay?”

“Yes..yes, okay,” Xin said shakily, and Etienne held his hand out, helping Xin to his feet.  The two left Etienne’s apartment and headed down the hall, knocking on Kaitlyn’s door.  Jada answered.

“Kaitlyn’s not here, boys.  She took a walk or something.  Said she needed to relax because she’s getting rather frustrated that the writer has hardly focused on her at all lately.  I think all this stuff about you,” she nodded to Xin, “and your friends trying to destroy the world is getting to her, too.”

“Oh,” Etienne said, disappointed. “Well, can we come in, anyway?”

“Sure, why not,” Jada let them in and went back to watching television with Kiera.  The two sat on the floor near the set, watching as Jada stared at the screen and Kiera took out a book.

“I suppose we wait, then,” Xin said sheepishly.

“Or you could phone Lani and get her to explain everything to us, since you obviously don’t seem keen on sharing the information…” Etienne said mildly, proffering the phone.

“Oh, yeah… I think it would be better for her to tell it,” Xin said, remembering last night’s tearful scene.  He accepted the phone and began to dial.

“Feeling tired?” a soft voice asked.  A light weight touched one of the ringlets of her hair, causing her to pull back abruptly.

“Oh!  Damarius….” She said, pressing her hands together as she gazed up at him.

“You might as well call me Aegis, Kaitlyn,” he said placidly, moving to the front of the chair and sitting down next to her.

“O-okay,” she said, bewildered.

“I’m an associate of Xin…and Sikari….” He said, rubbing the metal of the pendant around his neck as he spoke.

“Oh,” Kaitlyn said, realizing the meaning of his words. “Oh my God.”

She gripped her henshin pen and pulled it out, surprised to find it disappear a few moments later and then reappear in Aegis’s hand.

“Telekinesis!  No fair,” she cried, grabbing for the pen.

“I’m not here to battle,” Aegis said harshly, keeping the pen out of her reach. “I just want to ask you a few questions.”

“Well, I suppose that’s okay,” Kaitlyn said meekly, withdrawing.  He smiled.

“Good girl.”

She frowned and spoke in a sulky, defeated tone.

“Don’t talk to me as if I’m a child.”

“Sorry…” he said, surprising Kaitlyn with the sincerity in his tone.  He bit his lip and removed his necklace, holding it out to her.  The pendant swung from side to side in front of her face as he continued, “Do you…do you recognize this pendant at all?”

“I…” Kaitlyn blinked and touched the metal with her fingertip.  A sudden warmth flowed through her blood, her pupils dilating.  Images of a life that had been gone for centuries crackled through her mind, and she gasped, clutching at her throat.

“Kaitlyn!” Aegis cried, gripping her shoulders.

“Wow…what a trip,” she said softly, as the searing memories faded.

“It’s you, isn’t it…you’re the one,” Aegis said, incredulous.  “No one else would react like that…” he paused for a moment and then mused, “Unless they were taking crack at the time, of course…”

“What?!” Kaitlyn choked, still trying to regain her composure. “I’m the one what?  And what is up with that freaky pendant, huh?!”

“Y-you…I mean…the priestess..she gave it to me when I was young,” Aegis began.  “You’re the Priestess.  Reincarnated.”

“So you’re saying you knew me in a past life?  I don’t even want to know how THAT’S possible,” Kaitlyn said, staring at Aegis.

“It is a rather complicated story,” he said, sighing heavily.  “But the fact is..you are the Mana Priestess…”

“Gosh, and here I thought I was going to turn out to be princess of Fa’Diel or something…”

“Um, well, sorry to disappoint you,” Aegis said, rising.

“So now you’re leaving?”

“Yes…and you’re coming with me,” he answered, offering his hand.

“Er…no,” she said, pressing herself against the chair.

“I have your pen,” he said calmly. “You will either follow me or you will not get it back.  I have no intention of using violence, Priestess.”

Kaitlyn squirmed in the seat, trying to decide if she should take his hand or simply get up and run for her life.  She remembered that Kiera and Jada were likely still hanging around her apartment, and a thin thread of a plan formed in her mind.

“Can I at least go back to my apartment first?  I…I need to feed my fish,” Kaitlyn said weakly, forcing a smile.  Aegis’s cool expression faltered, but he nodded assent.  He was well aware that she probably intended to try something, but he saw no reason as to why he shouldn’t indulge her.  Relief flooded Kaitlyn when she saw him give his approval, and she reached for his hand.

“Perfect,” he murmured, nuzzling Sikari’s lifeless cheek.  He fetched a small crystal from off a nearby table and let it float above the boy’s chest.  The crystal was slowly absorbed into his body, and after a few moments his eyelids fluttered.  He spat, covering his lips with a thin layer of blood.

“Wh-what…” he croaked groggily.

“Sikari…” Riordan’s voice came as a low, satisfied hiss. “Welcome back.”

“Got any sevens?” Xin asked.

“No,” she said, watching Kaitlyn’s door.

“Aw, you’re not even looking,” Xin mumbled, taking a card from the pile in their circle’s center.  The door burst open at that moment, causing him to drop his cards and jump to his feet.

“Aren’t we skittery today,” Jada said, earning herself a reproachful glare from Lani.

“A-Aegis,” Xin stammered, and they all looked up, surprised to find Aegis standing behind Kaitlyn.

“Um…hi, guys,” she said nervously. “I, uh, just wanted to feed Umi, yep…”

“I’m surprised I haven’t died of starvation with all the attention I’ve been given lately!” Umi’s voice screamed into the minds of all present, startling even Aegis.

“See, he’s very cranky when he’s not fed,” Kaitlyn sweatdropped, inching towards her room.

“I don’t think so,” Aegis said, gripping her arm.

“Uh, yeah, I think so, blue boy!  Come on, Seymour!  FEED ME!” Umi yelled.

“He’s awfully loud for a fish,” Kiera remarked, rubbing her temple gently.  Meanwhile, Xin had dived behind the couch in a fruitless effort to conceal himself, as he was too nervous to teleport.

“Stop hiding, Xin,” Aegis said boredly, causing the couch to issue a high-pitched ‘neep.’

“You’re not taking him!” Lani said viciously. “Sylphid Power!”

“Damnit,” Aegis watched Lani transform. “Why couldn’t you have waved the pen around dramatically like everyone else?”

“Shadow Power!”
“Lumina Power!”

“Three against one, that seems somewhat unfair, don’t you think?”

The girls were ignoring him, however, and instead examining their uniforms.

“What the hell is this?” Lumina muttered, poking the mesh that now covered the missing midsection of her bodysuit.  Long, thin ribbons fluttered out behind her, and she found that she was missing her shoulderbands and two of her armbands.  The others were in a similar situation, and they stood there, pondering what could have caused this change to come about.

Aegis coughed.

“I suppose I had better transform, too,” Kaitlyn said, holding up her pen triumphantly.

“H…how did you…?” he cried, shocked.

“My hand was right next to your pocket,” she said, looking pleased with herself. “Mana Power!”

The four called forth their weapons, brandishing them menacingly.

“I told you, Priestess,” he said softly. “I have no intention of fighting you.”

He disappeared, reforming behind the couch and gathering Xin into his arms.

“I’m afraid I must take my companion, however…I hope he wasn’t any trouble…”

Xin cried, pounding on Aegis’s chest.  Sylphid ran for him, but in vain—they were gone when she reached the couch.

“Damn it!” she shouted, punching a pillow.

“Hey, don’t beat up my furniture,” Mana said, fluffing the abused pillow.

“I lost him,” she moaned. “I should have been standing closer.”

“Dude, no offense, but that guy would have kicked your ass,” Lumina said. “Don’t blame yourself.”

“I..I’ve got to find him,” Sylphid said.

“Where do you suggest we go first?” Shade said, raising an eyebrow.

“Check Vinton’s forest,” an airy, androgynous voice interrupted.  A person—for they were unsure as to the nature of the speaker’s gender—stepped out of Kaitlyn’s bedroom.  Long, shimmering hair fell around this person’s shoulders, each strand shifting color as he walked.  His skin was a beautiful, honey-brown color, the ethnicity of which they were unable to determine, and the irises of his eyes shone with all the colors of the rainbow.

“Who the hell are you?” Sylphid said.

“Omnes,” the person responded. “Otherwise known as THEM.”

“Are you a guy or a chick?” Lumina said, poking Omnes’s shoulder.

“Technically, we are neither male nor female.  We are a combination of seven consciousness,  with four leaning towards male tendencies and three leaning towards female.  Though it would be best to refer to us as an ‘it’, a ‘he’ pronoun will suffice,” Omnes said.

“Um.  Okay.”

“Would someone mind feeding me now?” Umi said crankily.

“Wait a minute,” Lumina gestured to her uniform. “What’s up with this, huh?”

“How would I know?” Omnes said crossly. “I’m not the writer.”

“Some helpful all powerful being you are,” she said, still poking at the mesh on her stomach.

“Hello!  Starving!” Umi called again, frustrated.

“Oh, you poor thing,” Mana said apologetically, entering her room and sprinkling a few flakes over the surface of his water.

“Selfish creature,” Omnes muttered.

“I can’t help wanting sustenance, man,” Umi said, snatching up the bits of food.

“There are far more important things at stake here than the condition of your stomach,” Omnes said acidly. “Don’t you care about Kaitlyn and her affairs?”

“Sure, sure,” Umi said.  Kaitlyn sweatdropped.

“He just has a hard time showing his feelings,” she said sheepishly, rejoining the others.

“Or he just hasn’t got any,” Omnes grumbled. “At any rate, I’m not really supposed to do this, but for the sake of plot advancement I’ll tell you that Aegis took Xin to Vinton’s forest…so if you’re planning to go after them, you’d best check there first.”

“Thanks,” Sylphid smiled.

“Yes, well…don’t expect me to help like this too often, it makes me feel as if I’m only here to push this wretched excuse for a plot,” Omnes said. “And that just makes me feel dirty.”

“Oh, you mean you aren’t?” Lumina blinked.

“I’m here to be beautiful.  And occasionally impart my vast, unending wisdom,” Omnes said, tossing his hair.

“You just keep telling yourself that, honey,” Lumina rolled her eyes.

“Could we maybe get going now?” Sylphid said, tapping her foot against the floor.

“Yes, let’s be off,” Shade was already walking out the door.

“D’you suppose we should call Azura and Roan?” Lumina asked, her hand on the phone.

“Go ahead.  But hurry up,” Sylphid said, flouncing out.

“Yeah, whatever…”

“I’m not going back there,” Xin cried, pulling away from Aegis violently.  Tears welled up in his emerald eyes as he struggled against the taller, stronger man.

“Calm down,” Aegis said, setting Xin on the forest floor.

“N-never.. I’m never going back,” he sobbed, tearing at the grass beneath him. “You don’t know…the kinds of things he did to Sikari.. he’ll.. he’ll do them to me…”

“I know what he did,” Aegis’s voice was hard. “I won’t let him touch you, Xin.”

Xin tore the blades in his hands to shreds, still crying.  “You c-can’t stop him…”

Aegis knelt next to him, pulling him close.

“Why do you think I brought you here, Xin?” he said, brushing back Xin’s bangs.  Xin hiccuped, staring into Aegis’s eyes.

“I.. I don’t know…”

Aegis held him close. “So we can decide what we have to do…”

“Or possibly just to die,” a woman jumped down from one of the trees.  Spiked bands adorned her wrists, and her body was covered in shining gold armor.  Long, wild red hair framed her body, and her yellow-green eyes were wide with cold triumph. “Oh, I’ve always wanted to say that.”

“It’s that woman!” Xin squeaked, clinging to Aegis. “She threatened to kill me!”

“And now it’s time to make good on that threat,” she said, advancing.  She drew a dagger from the sheath on her ankle and smiled icily.

“Why do you want to kill me?” Xin whimpered. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know what you and your disgusting friend—“ Sailorknight waved the knife at Aegis, “have been doing in this town.  It’s amazing that you would run to this place…almost like flies, wandering into the spider’s parlor…heeh…”

“I think she’s crazy,” Xin whispered.

“Well, we have been killing people,” Aegis said, holding Xin protectively.

“Yes… and now you’ll pay for the innocent lives you crushed…” She threw the dagger with a quick flick of her wrist.

“No!” Xin said, pushing Aegis out of the way.  The dagger made impact seconds later, burying itself deep into Xin’s shoulder.  He screamed as warm, red blood surged onto his skin, and a fresh rain of tears began to fall on his lips and cheeks.

“Xin!” Aegis gasped as he fell, his blood seeping into the dirt beneath him.  Sailorknight laughed hideously.

“Too bad you both moved around so much…or that knife would have gone straight to the heart,” she hissed, suddenly slamming Aegis in the back.  The spikes on her armbands cut through the fabric of his shirt, and he cried out, grasping at the hilt of the dagger.  Xin’s panicked screams escalated as, despite his own pain, Aegis freed the weapon. He fell next to Xin with the dagger in hand, breathing heavily.

“Leave them alone!” Sailormana called breathlessly, running up with the rest of the senshi in tow.

“Oh, Xin,” Sylphid said, covering her mouth with her hand.

“I’ll heal him,” Undine said, holding up a hand.

“N-no…” Xin coughed, shaking his head slowly. “Don’t waste your energy…”

“Xin…what are you saying?” Aegis asked.  It was the first time Xin had heard fear in his voice.

“Perhaps he’s realized the truth of himself, like that other fellow,” Sailorknight grinned.

“You’re bloodthirsty,” Mana said, appalled.

“I am only delivering justice to these murderers,” she shrugged.

“She’s ri-right..I..I am a murderer…” Xin’s voice was thick with regret and pain.  He fumbled in his pocket for his bauble, pulling it out and pressing it against his chest.  “A…worthless murderer…”

“No!” Sylphid cried, trying to grab the bauble, but too late—the animus crystal  had already burst forth.

“A shard!” Aegis choked.  A jagged piece of purple diamond rested in the crystal’s center, spinning slowly.  Before anyone else could react, Sylphid snatched the crystal, pressing it back into Xin’s chest.  The shard fell out onto his shirt as she did so, and Aegis picked it up, staring at it.

“I won’t let you do this,” she said fiercely, kissing his lips.

“L…Lani,” he said, touching her cheek.

“Well, this is all very heartwarming, but I’m afraid that if you intend to obstruct me, I’ll have to kill you as well,” Sailorknight said, holding up another dagger.  She pulled her arm back and threw the knife in one swift, violent motion.  Xin cried out as the knife went through Sylphid’s back and she fell over, coughing blood.

“Stop it!” Mana stepped up to Knight, summoning the sword as Undine healed Lani and Xin. “There’s no need for this bloodshed.”

“Valiant words, Sailormana,” Knight said, grabbing the sword’s handle and pulling it from Mana’s grasp. “However idealistic.”

“Hey!  Give that back!  Mine!” she said indignantly, jumping back.  Knight examined the sword, turning it over in her hands.  She spat, throwing the sword down and stepping on its blade.

“You can have it.  It’s not the real thing.”

“What the hell does that mean,” Mana muttered, reaching for her weapon.

“Why are you doing this?  Aren’t you on our side?” Undine asked, leaning over Sylphid and Xin.

“Yesss, you’re not very friendly, are you?!” Salamando bounded up to Knight, peering at her as if she were some sort of insect.

“I’m on my own side…” Knight answered coldly. “Obviously you all are too weak to deal out retribution properly, so I suppose I have to do it.  If it means eliminating you in the process, then that is the way destiny has plotted it.”

“You’re acting like they’re sub-human or something,” Mana said, pointing to Aegis and Xin.

“I love how she’s talking as if we’re not here…” Aegis murmured as he petted Xin’s hair, causing the other boy to laugh lightly.

“Sorry…” Mana winced. “But she is…”

“Murderers are sub-human,” Knight answered.  She leaned against the tree she was standing by, playing with yet another dagger.

“But wouldn’t killing them make you a murderer, too?” Mana asked.

“That’s not murder.  It’s justice,” Knight spat.

“No, it’s not!” Mana balled her hands into fists in frustration.  “Everyone deserves a second chance.  No one…no one should have to die.”

“Only weak bleeding hearts like you would say something like that.  Try arguing with me when you’ve woken up from that idealistic dream world you live in,” Knight said bitterly.  She glared at Aegis and Xin.

“I’ll leave you alone for now.  But if I ever see either of you in this forest again, I’ll kill you.  No matter what it takes.”

“But I love this forest…” Xin whimpered as Knight disappeared into the trees.  Sylphid face-faulted and hugged him.

“What do we do now,” Mana sighed.

“Is there any particular reason you came to this forest?” Shade asked.

“We can’t go back to our house…or at least, I can’t…” Xin said quietly.

“I’m not going anywhere without you,” Aegis said, helping him up.

“How sweet,” Shade said. “I suppose, since you have nowhere else to go, you can stay at my home for the time being.”

“Really?!” Xin smiled.

“Why not…” she said, yawning. “Come on, then.”

She detransformed, and the others followed suit.

“Well, I’m glad everyone else is so calm,” Kaitlyn said, feeling shaken.  The group exited the forest and stood in the fading daylight.

“Want to get something to eat?” Jada asked, hugging Kaitlyn. “Food always makes me feel better…”

“Nah…thank you, though,” she smiled lamely. “I think I’m just going to go home and read or something…see you tomorrow, everyone.  I guess we can come up with a plan then.”

Kaitlyn slunk down the hallway of her apartment building, feeling sick.  She paused by Etienne’s door and shrugged, knocking.

“Whosshh theerree?” Etienne drawled from inside.

“Urh…it’s Kaitlyn,” she said nervously, opening the door.  Etienne was hunched over at his table, periodically taking swigs from a bottle of wine.

“Etienne,” she began, trying to ignore the fact that he was obviously drunk, “Do you think I live in an idealistic dream world?”

“Naawwh, Kaitlyn..you live..in..thish world.. yeshh..” Etienne mumbled.  Kaitlyn sat next to him, frowning.

“I can’t believe you do this every night.”

“Shometimes I..abshtain… on..ur… Shundase…” Etienne answered, licking a bit of wine from off the bottle.

“I can see that I came at a bad time,” Kaitlyn sighed.

“Noo.. don’t go…plesh…” Etienne suddenly grabbed her arm, clinging to her. “plesh don’t leaf me…kaitlynn…”

“Oh, Etienne,” she said, hugging him.

“I’m making a..fhool..of myshelf…aren’t I…” he muttered, pressing his face into her hair.

“Well..somewhat,” she answered, biting her lip and glancing sideways at the door.

“I’m shorry,” he whimpered, starting to cry.

“Oh, Etienne..Etienne, don’t cry…”

He sobbed into her hair, clinging to her tightly.

“I c-can’t help it..”

Kaitlyn gently removed the wine, slowly pulling away from him and returning it to his kitchen.

“Maybe you should rest,” she said.

“Yesh… I will..” Etienne said, falling out of his chair.

“Oh, dear,” Kaitlyn said.

“But firsth you haf to help wif someshing… I… I have a problem…” he muttered, scrabbling at his chair as he pulled himself to a standing position.

“Yes, you do,” Kaitlyn thought nervously.

“Y’shee..” he said, limping to his bedroom as he talked.  Kaitlyn followed him, straining to hear his muttered, slurred speech.

“Today I wash, you know, minding my own bushiness… and zen…Xin came in… and he.. we talked and stuff.. and then I shat down on the coush in there,” he waved towards the entrance of his apartment as he crawled onto his bed. “And we talked shome more..and shtuff… and then…he kished me…”

“He what?!” Kaitlyn blinked.  Etienne shrank, holding his arms over his head.

“Don’t yell at me,” he whimpered.

“I’m sorry…but…he kissed you…?” Kaitlyn sat next to him on his bed, petting his cheek gently.

“Yesh.. I didn’t want him to…he just did it..” Etienne started to cry again, clutching at his pillow.

“Well…did you like it?” she said, smiling slightly.

“What?!  No!” Etienne cried. “Kaitlyn, I… you…”

“I know…”

“I jusht… I don’t want to hurt his feelinsh… but I dunno what to do…” he sniffled.

“Well, you’re just going to have to talk to him, is all… but you have to be nice about it…” Kaitlyn said.

“When do you shuggest I do thish?” Etienne said, twiddling his thumbs.

“Um, I think you ought to wait a while, seeing as how things are getting pretty heavy right now,” she looked out Etienne’s window, seeing that night was creeping up on the city. “Maybe I should go…”

“Noo…shtay with me…” he wailed.

“But…”

“Plesh…” he mewled, enlarging his eyes purposefully.

“Argh… I can’t resist the sympathy face,” she twitched, getting up.

“But you’re shtill leaviinggg…”  he moaned.

“No, I’m just going to put on my pajamas… I’ll be back in a minute.”

She returned a few moments later, outfitted in a long, baggy shirt and thin, blue silk shorts.

“Seksay,” Etienne said, squirming beneath his covers.  She blushed, flicking a lock of his hair.

“Be quiet.”

She climbed in next to him, blushing.  They lay silent for a while, until Kaitlyn, her cheeks burning, finally spoke.

“You know…this is the first time I’ve been in bed with a man before…”

Etienne didn’t respond.  Kaitlyn leaned over him, poking him gently.

“Etienne?”

“Zzz…”

“He’s asleep already?” she made a face and considered creeping back to her room.  Before she could move, however, Etienne reached out and pulled her against him, clutching her as though she was some sort of stuffed animal.

“Eep…okay.. scratch that plan,” she said, resting her head on her pillow.

“Goodnight, Kaitlyn…” he murmured, his fingers tangled in her hair. “Thank you..”

“Goodnight, Etienne.  You’re welcome…”

"Zzzz..."

Shite, man...this motha was long. ^^; I hope it didn't suck... anyway...um... notes... yes...I suppose that, giving the content of this chapter, if you've read it through and are not offended and/or do not think I'm some kind of crackhead, then...you're... tolerant?^^;; I won't say you've seen the weirdest that could happen cos you probably haven't...but I think traces of necrophilia, full on shounen-ai, drunkenness, and everybody being so DAMN SUICIDAL in an (otaku senshi) fanfiction is maybe a sign that the writer is somewhat touched in the head...^^; Anyway, once again, this thing is really long and I feel like I should apologize and hope I didn't put anyone to sleep...^^;;

Okay...have school and an Algebra II test tomorrow, so I'm going to get my beauty rest in preparation to fail it.. ^^;;