Fan Fiction ❯ The Goddess Sagas ❯ Tormenting Memories ( Chapter 40 )

What do I do?

What can I do...

Does this pain ever end?

Will the hurting ever stop?

Pain...

Regret...

Loss of self...

Is there another way

Am I wrong?

Hate...

Anger...

Death...

Pain.

Is this good enough...

Is this really good enough...

We all make mistakes,

it's part of the game.

Chapter 40; Tormenting Memories

Saiyoua cursed, snarling with anger, on her knees weakened and in pain, Taromecika ran up to her.

"My love are you all right!?"

"Get away from me!" She hissed, hitting him back with her hand before getting to her feet, and stumbling over to the balcony, holding onto the railing weakly. Taromecika watched her as the wind whipped her hair back, she extended her hands up into the air, breathing hard with pain.

"The darkest regrets and pasts you hold reawaken inside of you! LET IT DEVOUR YOUR SOULS!!!"

Almost like stardust golden sparkles rained down from the sky, it was beautiful to look at, but one could feel the darkness surrounding it as it covered the city of Angeles.

***************************************

The group had buried Alex, his dead still pained them as they stood around his grave crying softly. Colt was still knocked out but he would live thanks to the healing medicine Carrie had given to him, but dispite that good news everyone was still lost inside of there sorrow.

Lima sobbed looking up at the sky, blinking she asked. "What's that? Is it snow...?"

The group followed her gaze as the sparkles rained down on them, shimmering on their skin.

Mimi stumbled off balance and shook her head. "I'm....I'm feeling tired..." she then closed her eyes slumping down to the ground.

"Me too...." Carrie yawned, eyes red and puffy.

Ryan , Mara and Genki watched as one by one each member of the group fell asleep, they shouted to them but none of them would stir. Suddenly Genki fell to his knees, an drowsy look on his face.

"I'm sorry....I can't stay awake either..." He curled up on the ground closeing hid eyes.

"Hey....Hey we can't give....we can't give up....we got to..." Ryan was not able to finish his sentence for soon he found himself under the spell himself.

"Rya! Everyone!! What's happening to you!?" Mara shrieked, but was left unanswered.

*************************************

~Lima's Regret~

Lima opened her eyes looking around herself panicked, she was surrounded by darkness.

"Where am I!?" She cried out, twisting around frightened. "Squall! Ryan! Mimi! Mara! Carrie! Genki! Colt!" she screamed running around looking for them but all she found was blackness. She stopped, panting for breath before raising up her head, tears shimmering in her large eyes.

"Everyone where are you?"

Suddenly an shadow flickered in the darkness and began to approach her, she drew back with an sharp gasp, trembling frightened. "W...Who are you!?"

The shadow transformed into Pai-Pai who stood staring at her with accusing eyes. Lima's eyes widened in shock, trembling all over.

"You dumb blond, you...You killed me!"

"I....I....Pai-Pai, I'm sorry....." Lima backed away as the dark skinned elf stalked towards her, rage shimmering in her eyes.

"All I did for you, and the only thing I get in return is you ruining MY life! Your completely useless Lima, you know that!? USELESS!!"

Lima sobbed, holding her ears trying to block out Pai-Pai's accessions. "I'm sorry...I....Pai-Pai!! I didn't mean to...please forgive me!!"

"You don't deserve forgiveness after what you did to me!!"

The blonde elf began to cry, falling to her knees. "It's true! It's true! I am no good for nothing, I am an idiot! I do let everyone down!!" she sobbed loudly as memories came flooding back to her.

******************************************

A man laid on his bed reading an magazine, he was middle-aged with red hair and strong built, but rather down-right ugly and a slob. Suddenly his telephone rings and with an sigh he picks it up.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Ricky? Lima's hear, do you want to go out tonight, Heh-heh, Lima knows a great French restaurant!"

The man frowned at the phone. "Who the hell is this?"

"Hey! You not Ricky! Lima must have wrong number, ever mind!"

The phone goes dead in his hands and he stares at it frowning, suddenly outside his house a train whistle blows, he gasps in fright.

"The train!" he let the phone fall from his hand, and with an shaking hand it grabs a gun which he always kept at close hand by the side of his bed, and kept it pointed frightened at the door, as he listened down the hall as footsteps approached. His fear grew as they came closer and closer to stand just outside his door, they paused for a moment, as though to mock him before the door slowly opened, he would shoot as soon as the figure showed it's self. First threw the door was came a slim dark brown hand...holding a gun! Before he had time to react it shot, hitting just near his fingers causing his gun to fall from his hand. In an heart-beat an figure dashed into the room, throwing it's foot down on his chest, holding him onto the ground with an sharp and pointed high-heal.

"Don't move, police!" Pai-Pai frowned looking down at him. "You have the right to remain silent, everything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law!"

"Yeah, that's righ---Ahhhh!!" Lima began appearing in the window but trip and fell on to the floor with an moan. "Ohhhhh, Lima hurt!!"

The other officer groaned. "What an idiot...Lima, all you had to do was phone him to make sure he was hear, I told you to stay in the car."

"But Lima wanted to help!"

"Ever mind that, you can help by staying out of the way, now let's haul this guy in."

"Kay!!"

*********************************

An old man, graying and thinning black hair sat on his bed, yawning, having just woken up in the inspector house which rested near the ship docks, it was his duty to check each shipment of fish and other goods, it was a boring, and not the most exciting job, but he had to make ends meet, besides it was the only thing he had left after his wife had passed away, leaving him only with his faithful dog Bursitis as company. As he stretched his arms, he looked out the window, blinking confused as he saw an group of people shipping crates on the docks. He glanced at the clock which read it as 10:30, instantly his eyebrows furrowed and he turned to look back out the window.

"A shipment, at this time?" He glanced at the shipping schedule which hung posted on his wall. "That's strange, there is no shipments scheduled today. Hmmm, guess I should go check it out." He tiredly pulled on a pair of brown pants over an bulging stomach and pulled on an wrinkly and smelly old jacket, topping his head off with the only near descent thing in the small house, an old brown hat.

"Come on Bursitis, let's go check it out." The old dog followed him faithfully as he waddled over to the door, opening it with a simple pull, he backed away confused as a woman with short bright blonde hair, her bangs died an dark orange, her eyes a pale blue.

"Gehen Sie mit Gott." She spoke in German, the man blinked confused, not knowing what she had said, how could he have known what she said translated to `Go with god.'

but he did find out soon enough that what she had said was an death message for a pistol was suddenly fired, the bullet launching it's self right between his eyes. The woman put the gun away into her coat pocket and walked down the steps, hands behind her back. The dog whimpered and cried over the body of it's master before turning at her and snarling. She glanced at it, pulling her gun out again pointing it at the animal which whimpered, tail going between it's legs as it tried to retreat.

"Eh, cowardly Tiere." She said with disgust, putting the pistol and continuing her stroll down the steps.

*************************************

Men were on the shipping docks, the crates they were unloading were marked `Blue fish Royal.' the name of an popular fishing company, however when they removed the lids to check on the cargo, fish were not the only thing in with the days catch, but a variety of guns also. The woman whom took care of the inspector idly walked up the docks and was greeted by two men in business suits.

"So, this is the new assassin our boss hired? How interesting, it's a woman, he must be running low on money." One of them said, studying the woman up and down.

The other turned to him with an sharp hiss. "Hey, shut up!"

"What? She only speaks German, she don't understand me. Hey, Babe, I heard you German women will sleep with anything that has money, is it true?"

"Quite that!" The other snapped, turning to the woman. " That was pretty good work, Helena, it's not many women out there whom can kill a man in cold blood."

"Wo ist mein Geld?"

The man laughed. "I almost forgot, hear..." he handed her a brief case, she opened it, it was filled with money, smiling she closed it and began to walk away with it, the man's phone rings and after a few moments of dialog he turns back to the retreating woman.

"Oh, Helena?" The man called, causing her to turn around.

"Our boss has two more jobs for you, he says he will pay triple of what he already has." He holds up a cellar phone, and she grins.

"Put him on the line then."

***********************************

Pai-Pai sat at her desk working on some paper work, yawning tiredly she glanced at Lima's desk and saw the chair empty. She frowned at the desk, it was cluttered with junk food, and stuff animals along with other things useless to a cops job. She shook her head

`Lima's a nice person but I don't see how she keeps her job, she's a goof....as much as I hate to think it, even though she is my best friend....I hate the fact I'm stuck with her as my partner...I would of been promoted years ago if it wasn't for all the mistakes that happened because of her....and I really need to money, with my parents gone I'm the only one hear to take care of Ryo. I can't take him back to the village in Ellen woods...the memories of the attack is too painful for both of us to bare.... Oh well....maybe she'll eventually start acting like a cop......."

Lima ran into the office, munching on two chocolate bars at once, holding an large bag of candy in the bend of her arm. "Hey, Pai-Pai! Lima find great candy store down the block, wanna com---WAHHHH!!!"

The Japanese elf covered her ears as he blond partner tripped, slamming into a desk, her candy bag breaking and the junk food flying out everywhere.

"No....the candy....." Lima whimpered as the other elf sighed drearily.

"Then again, maybe she wont...."

"Pai-Pai, Lima." A man approached them, dark black hair, dark skin and eyes.

"Oh, Quoin, what is it?"

"Um, Ms.Kasumie." He glanced at Lima whom was still whining about her candy. "On your feet, Waterflower!"

"Uh...yes sir!"

Quoin turned back to the darker elf. " The chief wants to talk to you, about the gun running case. I think he has more work for you to do."

Pai-Pai grumbled. " Darn...And I was hopeing to spend some time with Ryo tonight. I'll just feel terrible if I miss *another* one of his little baseball games."

" Well, he's a good little kid. He understands his sister is a cop, look, I'll go with him to his baseball game tonight, so he wont be alone."

"Hmmm....Thanks Quoin."

The Japanese elf got up and walked towards the chief's office, Lima scampering after her. Quoin watched them until they entered the chief's office, before smiling and leaving to pack up and leave.

********************************

"Your kidding!!" Both elves exclaimed at once.

"No, I'm not joking. More guns were smuggled in yesterday, the inspector near the fishing docks was found dead. These guns are being smuggled somewhere, and we need to get them before they are shipped out on to the streets. However we have no idea where these smugglers are keeping them right now."

Pai-Pai looked down at her feet thinking. "I know someone who might know. That gun runner we hauled in, his name was Dan Goodman."

The chief considered this. " That is a good idea, but what makes you think he's going to tell you?"

"That'll be the hard part. But I'll wing it when it comes up."

"Hmmmm, ok, good luck, Ms.Kasumi, Waterflower."

"Ok, Lima, let's go."

The blond blinked. "Go where?"

"To the jail cells!"

"Why? What did we do?"

The Japanese elf groaned. " No! Lima, were are going to go vist Mr.Goodman."

"Who?"

"The guy we took in for gun running!"

".......??"

"Wasn't you even paying attention?"

".....not really."

"ACK!!"

************************************

When they got down to the jail cells, they asked the guard to go away, for they wanted to talk to Goodman alone. Lima stood in the back as Pai-Pai tried to talk Goodman into spilling the beans.

"So do you always vist the men you put in jail?"

"No, but you have some information I want."

"Oh?" Goodman asked amused. " So you want to know about the gun running case? You know all the truth drugs and lie detector tests did not make me crack, what makes you think you can make me?"

"........"

He sneered at the frowning girl. "But I *might* tell something if the right offer came along."

"Oh, I hear ya. How much?"

"Maybe you should go ask the judge."

"Oh I get ya. You want me to pay your bail? Fine." Pai-Pai began to walk away.

"Hey there missy! That's not all! How do I know that you wont throw me back in the slammer once I tell you the info?"

"You slime! What else do you want me to do?"

"Well...I don't know..." The man grinned mockingly.

"You..." Pai-Pai growled loosing her temper.

"Lima take care of it!" The blond elf suddenly exclaimed.

"Your sure Lima?"

"YUP!!"

"All right, I'll go find out how much the bail is."

"So what are you going to give me?" Goodman asked, temptingly after the more serious cop left. Lima walked sexily over to the jail cell.

"If you come to our house tonight and give us information, Lima will be very pleased." As she said this she unbuttoned the top of her police uniform, causing the prisoner to turn red in the cheeks, eyes shimmering.

"ALL RIGHT!!" He exclaimed happily..

***********************************

Pai-Pai came back and blinked surprised as Dan exclaimed happily that he would come over tonight and tell them *anything* they want.

"Lima what did you do?"

The blond giggled and began to rebuttoned her shirt. "Oh Lima did nothing really!"

Pai-Pai looked ill. "I'm sure...."

**************************************

Goodman was true to his word, and that night while Lima and Pai-Pai waited for Quoin to bring Ryo home. They were relaying on the fact that Quoin would show up with Goodman there, for the gun runner was rather sexist and instead of telling them exactly what they wanted to know, began each answer with an series of flirts to the girls. Lima was eating it up, loving the praise, but Pai-Pai was getting rather annoyed.

"Stop flirting with us already and tell us what we want to know. Where are the guns being smuggled?" She slammed her fist on the table.

The man waved his finger at her. "Now is that anyway a lady should act---ahhooo!!" he cried out as Pai-Pai twisted his ear painfully. "I didn't pay your bail out of the kindness of my heart you know? Besides I'm not a lady, I can be a fucking bitch when I want to, understand? Now speak up!!"

"...........It was brought over on a fish boat, it's hidden in some fish shipments. It should be in the wear house by now. You know the abandoned one on St.Josh street? The one near Capsule Corp?"

"Yeah, I know what your talking about. So the guns are hidden there? Any more information for us?"

"No, not really, they should be shipped out in a few days."

"Good. Now leave."

"What? Hey girls, don't I get any goodies?"

The dark elf slapped him across the face. "NO!! What ever lead you to the idea!?"

"Uhh..."

"OUT!!!"

"Humph! Fine, You really can be a fucking bitch, man!"

The two elves watched him grab his coat and leave mumbling, but unnoticed by all three was an shadow peeking threw their window.

*********************************

Goodman was walking down the front steps, shaking his head and wrapping his coat around his cold body, looking up at the moon big and round in the sky above, he frowned bitterly.

"Geeze, that blond really ticked me. I hate being tricked by a couple of girls...well, at least their cute...aww, well, I better get out of town, the other guys are probably pissed at me."

"Indeed."

He twisted around to see Helena, the German assassin, he did not know her but he knew his boss had probably sent her...and as he saw her aim a gun towards him, he knew that she was hired to take him out.

"No! Please don't!" He fell to his knees, pleading. " I didn't say anything! Please for the love of god, don't----"

"Die with dignity, shameless dog." She snarled in English so he could understand her hateful words, as so he could die with more humiliation and anguish. Dan Goodman's eyes went wide as her finger slowly began to press down on the trigger.

*************************************

"Quion, wasn't my home run cool!?" Ryo asked happily, as he and Quion walked up the street, lucky for Ryo the baseball stadium was not that far from his house so he never missed practices because his sister was not there to drive him.

"It sure was."

*BANG!*

The two of them stopped in their tracks as a gun shot echoed threw the night sky. Ryo blinked puzzled. "What was that?"

Quion however knew exactly what it was, and reached for his own gun, looking around to see if anybody was around before turning to Ryo. "S...Stay, hear, ok?"

"All right..." The little boy nodded, watching as the man ran off towards the source of the sound.

************************************

Lima cried out dropping her choclate milk, as Pai-Pai let her book fall to the table, looking around confused.

"What was that Pai-Pai?" Lima whimpered.

"I don't know, I think it came outside. Whatever it was, was very close. It sounded like a gun shot."

"Oh!! Mr.Goodman!!" Lima suddenly exclaimed dashing towards the door, and swinging it opened, an frightened scream escaped her lips. Worried her partner ran up to her, and saw a figuring retreating down the street, and then looked down following the other's gaze, eyes went wide for a moment before she regained her compositor.

"He has been killed. Probably because he gave out to much information."

Lima fell to her knees beside him, using her tissue she always carried in her pocket to wipe away the blood from where the bullet had stuck him in between the eyes.

"Poor guy....." She whispered quietly. "He was rude and all, but Lima feel really bad, his eyes look so frightened..."

Pai-Pai frowned seeing a few tears escape her partners eyes.

"It...was really our fault...if we didn't make him tell us that stuff then he wouldn't be hurt now....."

The other turned bitter. "Lima don't say that! We did our job, it doesn't matter to us if a criminal dies once they give us the information we need."

"But....that just seems...."

Quion ran up to them and stopped staring at the body in surprise.

"He was killed by an assassin for giving away to much information about the location of the guns. He refused to tell us others invovled in the gun running business, but he did tell us where the guns are located."

Quion nodded. "Ok, Pai-Pai...we'll report this all in tomorrow."

"Where is Ryo!?" The other suddenly asked startled.

"Relax, he's safe, he's up the street."

"Ryo!" Pai exclaimed dashing down the front steps towards her little brother, Quion following her, as if to keep her safe. Lima still stared down at the body.

"It just seems kind of cruel, Pai-Pai...."

*********************************

A few children played infront of the warehouse, not knowing the highly illegal deeds hidden inside. Their were a boy and girl, giggling happily and playing a came with marbles. The children were rabbit kids, having buck teeth, and long bunny ears and fluffy tails. The boy had gray skin and ears while the girl had white, both with a rabbits red eyes. The boy dressed in jeans with a plaid shirt seemed no older then seven while the little girl dressed in a blue with white daises dress seemed to be around five years old. Suddenly a dark shadow loomed over them, ending their giggles and laughter, causing them to look up in fright, and Helena who smirked icyly down at them.

***************************************

In was setting on to dusk, Pai-Pai had hired at baby-sitter to watch Ryo, and as the two elves waited for her arrive and Quion to pick them up, the Japanese elf tuned up her gun, her favorite hobby next to dancing.

"Um, Pai...?" Lima questioned suddenly, almost meekly.

"Yeah?"

"Can Lima ask you something?"

"Uh...What is it? You've been uncharasticly serious since Goodman died."

"Pai, don't get mad at Lima for asking but, when did Pai become so cold?"

"Huh?" The other put her gun down startled.

"You didn't even care about that man....it's scary how cold you've gotten , you never use to be..."

"........"

"Pai...what would you do if you ever had an hostage situation? And the criminal was holding a kid, would you still shoot at him and risk the child's safety?"

The other frowned in thought. "I guess I would take the shot, I might not get another chance, if the kid gets hurt or dies it would be to criminal's fault."

The blond's face became sadder. "Is Pai mad about something? You never use to be so, loveless....you were so kind when we were small, you gave you love out to everyone freely, what happened to that love you had for everyone, Pai?"

"Hey, shut up!" The dark skinned one snapped. " This is not Ellen woods, remember? When I left that place I left my weakness behind, I'm a trained cop, and I would be at the top if....never mind."

"......."

A knock sounded at the door, and Lima got to her feet. "Lima will go answer it..."

Pai-Pai watched her frowning before adding mentally. `If it wasn't for you.'

********************************

They decided to park the car up the street and sneaked threw towards the wearhouse, not wanting to open the gate, for it could aware people of their presence, Quion brought a pair of wire cutters and cut an hole in the bottom big enough for them to fit threw. Getting into the wearhouse was easy, almost to easy, and just as Goodman had said there were tons of fishing crates, and inside of them were spoiled lobsters and guns.

"I bet this whole place is filled with illegal guns...." Pai observed.

"Whoever is the master mind behind this has serious time." Quion commented, folding his arms.

"It smells bad hear!" Lima moaned, holding her nose.

"Of course the fish is rotten."

"Ewwwwww....."

All chatter stopped when suddenly the wearhouse doors behind them opened and they were flooded with light in the back. They froze, all three reached slowly for their guns.

"Now, Now, Now." A man shook his finger. " I would put you hands up in the air if I were you, don't try any funny stuff or, the boy gets it."

The three turned around, holding their hands high, seeing the little rabbit boy being held in a slim and cheesy dressed man's arms, a gun pressed against his head, the boy was crying fearfully. An group of five men stood behind him, all armed.

"Oh!!" Lima exclaimed, shocked. "That poor kid!"

"What a coward, hiding behind an child, well it wont save you."

"That's right!" Pai-Pai exclaimed, holding out her arm, flicking her risk an gun implant in her arm came out, causing the criminals to back away shocked.

"You wouldn't shoot me." The cheesy man said unsure. "You wouldn't risk hurting the kid."

"I wouldn't?"

"PAI NO!!" Lima screamed as the other elf took the shot. "EARTH WALL!!!"

Pai-Pai took an step back confused, as a thick wall of stone came up from the ground, stopping her bullet from reaching the man and child.

"LIMA! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING!!? DON'T BE AN IDIOT, YOUR GOING TO LET THOSE GUN RUNNERS GET AWAY!!!"

"Pai-Pai...."

"YOU ALWAYS MESS EVERYTHING UP, LIMA!!! YOUR SUCH A DITZ!!! YOU ASKED ME BEFORE IF I WAS MAD OVER SOMETHING, AND YES, I AM!! I'M MAD THAT I HAVE YOU AS A PARTNER!! YOU RUIN EVERY CASE FOR ME, EVERY SINGLE TIME BY ACTING STUPID!!! YOUR NOTHING THEN A GRADE "A" MORON!!!"

Pai-Pai breathed heavily trying to calm down, but was unprepared for the fact that Lima, who would always fallow her around like a blind puppy defended herself.

"BETTER A GRADE A MORON THEN AN HEARTLESS ICE BITCH!!! YOU DIDN'T EVEN CARE IF THAT CHILD DIED, WOULD YOU BE JUST AS HEARTLESS IF IT WAS RYO THE ONE BEING HELD CAPTIVE!?"

Pai-Pai took an step back hurt, finally allowing herself to think about what she has just said, and felt horrible inside, she didn't mean to let her anger get out, she would never want to hurt Lima's feelings, but she just couldn't hold in how she felt anymore, but the thing that hurt worse was what Lima has said.

"...Lima...I'm sorry....Your right I couldn't hurt Ryo, I love him...but...."

The blond glared at her, something else Lima had never done before. " You use to love everyone."

Those words hurt more then anything else.

The man with the child laughed. "Oh, such a little drama!! To bad to end it, I would really like to see how this works out..."

Lima closed her eyes. "Hey, let that child go! Hold Lima hostage instead ,I mean. ..hey ....after all....that's just a little boy...wouldn't you guys rather....capture an...woman like...Lima?"

"Lima no!" He two police comrades exclaimed.

The man thought about it for a moment, then tossed the screaming child to the ground. "Sure why not!! Maybe we could even have a little fun with you before we kill you! Come hear baby!"

Lima walked forward, glancing down at the boy, whom laid whimpering on the ground. Slowly she reached in her pocket for something.

"People say Lima is an idiot....but she is not as big an idiot as you! Never throw away your shield until the battle is over!"

The man backed away with a gasp as Lima pulled out her gun and shot. Pai-Pai's eyes went wide as the bullet struck the man in forehead, killing him dead, hitting the ground, blood from his wound splashing against Lima's face. The other men grew angry of the death of their friend, but she ignored this and turned to Pai-Pai.

"Lima don't enjoy being cold, how can you?"

"Lima I...." She began.

"No time for apologies now, these guys look mad. Great the last thing we needed was a massacre." Quion pointed out.

"Hear they come!!" Pai-Pai exclaimed as the goons rushed towards them, in an fit of rage. Lima rushed over to the little boy to make sure he was all right. He was not wounded, but was hysterical.

"Kid, what's your name? Calm down."

"...My....My name is Billy..."

"It'll be ok. Go down the street, there is a police car there, You'll be safe inside, Lima promise."

"But my sister!!"

"Your sister?"

"A scary lady took her inside....Betty, you have to get Betty back!"

"....I will....Go now!"

Billy ran off, and in the chaos Lima turned to her two friends and shouted "Lima's going inside, a little girl is being held hostage!!"

"Lima!! But our case is hear!! Come on, obey orders from the chief for once!!" Pai-Pai shrieked over the gun fire.

"She's right, we'll go up together, after we capture these guys, it'll be to dangerous!!"

"Lima can't wait!!" And with that she ran towards the doors, leaving her freinds alone to fend of the mob, ignoring Pai-Pai's cry.

"LIMA!!!!!!!!"

*****************************

She had searched every room on the first and almost every room on the second. She paused though as she heard a soft crying, following it she came to an large red door, and turned the knob, where most doors had been locked, or had broken locks this one opened smoothly and she walked inside, then rushing forward as she saw the little rabbit girl, bound and gagged in the corner of the room. She instantly began working away at the gags and the rope unaware of the fact that Helena was coming up behind her. The Rabbit girl however saw, and began to screamed from under the gag, trying to warn the cop. Lima took the hint and twisted around, to see the German assassin aim the gun towards her, then turned it towards the child and shot. Quickly with an frightened cry Lima jumped infront of the bullet, taking it in the arm, she hit the floor with an yelp. Helena picked her up by her hair, allowing her to scream and dangle in the air.

"You nosy cops, I'm going to get these guns smuggled for the boss, you allowed yourselves to get to much information about this case, but my boss you will never know, and this case you'll never solve."

"Let the child go...."

"Worried about the baby? How caring of you, when your the one in danger!!"

The elf cried as she was slammed against the wall, then was beaten brutally in face, until it was a bloody mess, the assassin slamming her combat boots forcefully on her legs, until they snapped. Lima's agonized scream only brought a smile to the others face, taking pleasure in the pain she was causing.

"Don't worry, though, I wont kill you now, I still have your little friends to take care of, and you can be the perfect bait."

Grabbing the weakened elf she exited the room, and exited the building by the fire escape doors. A few moments later Pai-Pai and Quion ran into the room, spotting the child, they ungaged her, instantly she began to cry.

"The scary lady took the blond girl!! She hit her over and over!!"

Quion took the sobbing child into his arms, while an frightened look dawned Pai-Pai's face.

"WE HAVE TO FIND HER!!!" She screamed, dashing out of the room, Quion with Betty followed.

********************************

As they got outside Pai-Pai could see a car rush off, it was to dark to see it well, but she could just feel that Lima was there. Quickly, throwing Betty in the back seat, where her brother already was they took off after the other car. While speeding down the roads she picked up her police radio she spoke into it

"Lima's been captured! We are going after the car right now!"

"Hold it!" The chief whom was on the other line exclaimed. " You'll endanger people on the road, besides it's just your job to make sure the illegal guns are found. We'll send someone else in search of officer Waterflower later, report back to the station understand?"

"No!" Pai shouted back. "I'm not going to abandon her...she's...she's my friend!"

"You'll lose your job if you disobey me!!"

"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN!! I'M SAVING MY FRIEND, I'M NOT HEARTLESS."

Quion grabbed the radio from Pai-Pai. " Think responsibly chief!! An life is at stake, and if your going to fire her for doing the right thing, then fire me as well!"

"FINE THEN, YOU HEAR ME, OFFICER KASUMIE, OFFICER FRICK, YOU ARE BOTH FIRED!!!!"

"Whatever, you god damn bastard!!" Pai-Pai shut of the radio and continued in pursuit of Helena's car.

********************************

Lima opened her eyes with an moan, she must have passed out from pain, looking around herself she saw the sun coming up, glancing at the front seat, she saw Helena calmly driving, unaware of the fact she had woken up. Lima glanced behind her, she smiled brightly, seeing the police car, but the two officers inside had know idea which car she was in, glancing at Helena, and then at her bound feet and hands, she had an idea. Suddenly she jumped forward, landing across Helena's arms, causing her to loose control over the wheel momentarily. With an angry growl the assassin tossed her into the back seat, where she hit ruffly, landing on her sore arm. She yelped but smiled weakly, know that now Pai-Pai knew the right car.

*************************************

Pai-Pai's eyes went wide seeing a red car a head of her swerved to the right before the driver regained control over the vehicle.

`THAT'S THE ONE!!' her mind screamed out loud she cried. "LIMA, I'M COMING!!"

She saw an opening to the side, and drove up on the enemies car, almost like a snake creeping up on it's pray. Helena growled, glancing at the other car from the corner of her eye, before speeding up and turning onto another one way road, with an growl Pai-Pai followed her.

******************************************

Lima looked around nervously, before pausing, and looking down at her hands...when she regained her strength....and at the right time....

****************************************

The two cars turned sharply on the side of the street, both naturally ignoring the stop sign, the children in the back were screaming their lungs out, even Quion was frightened, not use to such reckless driving. Helena glanced in her car mirror, expressionless, spotting that the other car was still hot on her heals. The expressionless face turned angry as she stepped on the gas, gaining much distance between herself and the police, the road came to a split, and she choice to turn onto the Freeway, and it was filled with traffic. She cut infront of an yellow car abruptly, still going fast. The yellow car upsat, a young woman inside screamed out if fright, but being cold hearted as she was Helena did not care, but cut infront of a blue car, causing it to crash also.

Pai-Pai turned up the speed on her car, she was not going to let this bitch get away!

"Hey, Pai!! Don't go crazy!" Quion exclaimed, as the car began moving even quicker.

"Tell that to her!!" The other cop just snarled as the red car cut infront of a green jeep, followed by the police car, which refused to give up on following her trail, but was still getting much farther ahead.

"Oh no you don't..." Pai-Pai slammed the breaks on full, nearly crashing three times into other cars before catching up to the red one. Helena noticed this, and picked up the gun from off the seat next to her, waiting until they came closer. Quion leaned close to the window, trying to spot Lima to see if she was all right, but noticed another thing, and so did Pai-Pai. Helena lowered the window, taking aim with her gun. Panicked the dark elf swerved to the side, going right next to the edge of the bridge they now were on. The German woman tried to shoot but was stopped as the police car drove right infront of the sun, the light blinded her and when she turned back to the road, noticed that she was about to crash into a large tuck. Quickly she shot the truck's tires instead of her first target, causing the driver to loose control, and sway to the right, just missing the red car by a few inches, Lima's eyes went wide, as she saw that the truck was heading straight towards her freinds.

All four in the car screamed, and without seconds to spare Pai-Pai turned the wheel to the far right, hitting the side of the bridge, causing sparks to fly, and just barely avoiding getting hit by the truck which finally stopped in the middle of the road. Pai-Pai once again pressed the petal to the metal screaming

"NOW AM PISSED!!!"

As the car caught up to the red one, the girl shouted to Quion to open the window, as she got her gun out. Quion began to do as told but both cops jumped back as Helena grinned at them from the other car, and shot off servile rounds. They hit windshield, breaking the glass, and the car swerved to the left, Pai having lost control over the steering as she and everyone else ducked trying to avoid getting shot.

"PAI-PAI!!!" Lima screamed as she heard her two friends and the children in the back scream in terror.

"I'M NOT GIVING UP YET!!!" Pai-Pai exclaimed regaining control of the wheel, and once again coming up behind the other car.

Helena turned to look behind her with an snarl as the police car repeatedly slammed into the back of her car. "Not again..." She turned to the right, and went onto another road, this lucky more empty then the last, Pai-Pai followed, her still refusing to give in "You hear me? You wont get away."

Helena was just thinking she got away when she glanced into car mirror and saw the police car gaining on her again. "What the?"

Pai-Pai aimed her gun threw the broken windshield. "Well hear I return the bullets!" she shot, braking some of the window and causing Helena to cry out, dropping her gun. The German assassin trembled, looking down at her hand covered with blood, feeling intense pain, but it was not coming from her hand in the gleam of the sun she caught glance of a blood stained ruby earring laying near the steering wheel, shaking she lifted her hand to her ear, where a chunk of it was missing and screamed out in pain and rage.

"I'LL KILL HER!!"

She twisted around to shoot Pai-Pai threw the back of her window, but noticed Lima glowing with an magically energy, growling as she realized she had been summing up an magical attack, but it was to late to do anything.

"Magic bomb!" Lima exclaimed weakly, releasing the attack.

"NO!" Helena cried out as the car was filled with an explosion. The back window broke as Lima flew out of the car, to frightened to scream,.

"GRAB HER!!" Pai-Pai exclaimed panicked.

Quion jumped forward, grabbing Lima's bound hands as she crashed against the roof of the car, it was lucky the windshield was broken, or else he would not have been able to pull her in. Lima grinned up at him

"Nice catch."

"ARE YOU COMPLETELY CRAZY!?" He exclaimed.

Pai-Pai suddenly screamed, slamming on the breaks, as they came closer towards the closed bridge, however Helena was not able to stop, having lost complete control over the car, she crashed threw blocked off road, and went off the bridge which was opened allowing a ship to pass threw. She screamed as her car blew up in a fiery explosion in midair. The three cops and two rabbits watched dazed.

"Woah, what did you do Lima?" Pai-Pai finally found her voice.

"Eh...heh..heh...well, let's just say...knowing magic comes in handy.."

"The gun running case is far from over...but it's over for Quion and I, it's time to turn in our badges."

"Pai-Pai? What do you mean...?" Lima asked fearfully.

"Quion and I lost are jobs...." Pai-Pai began.

The world turned dark and present day Lima was still sobbing on her knees, infront of the cruel hateful image of Pai-Pai who screamed to her

"BECAUSE OF YOU!!!"

Lima burst into bigger sobs, burying her face in her hands

~Squall's Regret~

The man-beast gazed around himself, everything was pitch black, and he was standing in a dark ocean, he was all alone.

"Where is everyone!? Lemon!?! Are you hear!? LEMON!!!"

A pair of strong arms wrapped around his shoulders, embracing him. But it wasn't the sweet tender embrace of Lemon...it was...

Squall spun around facing Ganderdof, and pulled away.

"What are you doing hear!?"

The other man-beast looked hurt. "Squall...How can you pull away from me? How come you want to let go and deny you past? Did you really hate it that much? You couldn't of. Don't you remember all the good times we had with Lunga the gray wolf and Runga the brown wolf, Colita the sliver wolf and her husband Quzecolt the golden wolf? Do you remember the others Squall? They are all dead now...all of our old pack except for you, and I do imagine that little boy that is traveling with you, Colt. Does it hurt to look at such a close tie to your past?"

"Colt is a good kid...he is not a killer like the clan was...like I was. Ganderdof, I let the past go, I'm not who I use to be anymore, do you understand?"

The other shook his head, almost with pity. " I always knew you were different from the rest of us, but you can't just let go of your past, no one can let go of their memories. You should just stop fighting against it, you never changed, your still my same little puppy, Squall."

"I'm not your puppy, and I don't love you Ganderdof...Not anymore."

"Still in love with the little flirt?"

"Don't call Lemon that! You tried to trick me once into mistrusting him, I swear I wont make that mistake again!"

"You only love him because you want to pretend you moved on, you hate yourself and your past, you want to change yourself, become someone else, but admit it to yourself, you enjoyed killing, you enjoyed slaughtering men, women, and even children. It was fun wasn't it?"

"......."

"Did you ever tell you little Dampire how our kind would kill vampires? Did you tell him how many of his kind you help slaughter?"

Squall's eyes widened and he could feel his hands go cold. "No...I didn't...."

Ganderdof crossed his arms, smirking. " Did you tell Angie how you slaughtered her parents and her sisters as they begged us to spare their lives? What was it about that baby that made you betray us? What was so special about her? And what is so special about Lemon?"

"Shut up."

Ganderdof reached outward, gripping Squall by both his shoulders. "I still remember the day you left...it still hurts...it's been such a long time...." He reached out stroking the scar near his eyes. "I gave you this, when you tried to leave...." His eyes trailed down to some scars on Squall's cheeks, and brushed his fingers against them. "How'd you get these? Did you make your new love mad? Yes I do believe, he slashed you across the face with his claws when you were mistrustful with him. Do you always have your lovers scar you, Squall, as so they can leave their marking on you? Are these two sets of marks the only one's you will have to bare, or will there be more to scar you?"

The younger man-beast tried to pull always from Ganderdof but he drew him closer, embracing him. "How old are you now Squall? Seventeen? Hmmm, do you remember how we would set back and think about what age we would be wolf years and what age we would be in human years...even after all this time, we really don't look to old...only seventeen years old...but we've been around a couple of years more then that, right?"

"It's doesn't really matter...."

"Sure it does, it's only because we are seventeen in wolf years that we look young, if we went by human years, we would be old grandfather's by now...we are at least twenty years younger then what we would be if we were humans."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Good question, Squall. I don't know, maybe I'm trying to get you to remember what it was like being a man-beast, being with me, talking with me? I miss having my little puppy around....but even if you were my little puppy...you could always defeat me in battle....I hated it....I really did."

".........."

Squall shuddered feeling his hair being stroked, and a hand running down his back, it felt nice and he was tempted to fall into the embrace of his old lover, and if he hadn't met Lemon he might of. But he loved Lemon now...not Ganderdof.... But as he went to pull away again, Ganderdof, forcefully pulled him closer, and held him tight in a hug."Your right you did change since the days of our pack. You could never refuse me...you were so much more at ease, more relaxed and care free...your not a puppy anymore, but a wolf. But still..." Ganderdof ran his fingers threw Squall's hair. "Your still my little puppy in my eyes. My little puppy who always bested me in everything."

"I told you, I'm not yours anymore...I'm not like how I was anymore, I am who I am now."

"Squall, think back to your past, you'll see that your true happiness was with our clan. Trying to become human has only left you miserable...and everyone around you the same."

"............." Squall closed his eyes unwillingly but his past came flooding into his mind all the same.

****************************

A younger Squall, around the age of fourteen laid on a rocky hill side, arms flooded under his head, chest bare, wearing only a pair of simple red pants. He stared up at the moon, yawning tiredly and contentedly, breathing in the rich smell of the pine tress. It was bliss out hear, he loved it. He loved all of it. He closed his eyes, letting the wind play with his bangs and the moonlight wash over his body, bathing it in light. He was half asleep when he heard some footsteps approaching him, just by the scent in the air and the way they sounded he knew who it was.

"Hey Ganderdof...." He said in a youthful tone, opening his eyes to see the older staring down at him with an amused stare.

"Hey, puppy, come on, it's out turn to get dinner tonight, there is a few humans camping out in the woods."

Squall yawned again, pushing himself up sleepily. " Isn't it Lunga's and Runga's turn?"

"No, now come on."

"Hn, just a few more minuets." Squall whined, curling up like a puppy in a little ball. Ganderdof rolled his eyes but smiled, scooping the other up into his arms and began to carry him towards the lake.

"Squall, get up or else I'll throw you in...."

"............."

Ganderdof kept his word, and after coming into contact with the cold water, he was awake in a heart beat. He splashed around in the cold water before finally pulling himself back onto the ground, Ganderdof was chuckling as he frowned.

"C...C...Cold..."

"Don't worry, I wont let my little puppy catch a cold." Ganderdof whispered, wrapping his arms around him. Happily and contentedly Squall leaned his head against the other's chest, closeing his eyes, sighing happily.

"So warm...."

Ganderdof petted his hair back for a few minuets, before smiling. "We have to get hunting, but I promise when we get back...we'll have some fun, ok?"

Squall looked up at him threw sleepy eyes. "All right..."

****************************

Three men sat around a camp site, they had rifles with them, most probably hunters, they were laughing and chugging bear, a dear laid on the ground shot and bleeding, however still alive, eyes sad, face twisted in pain, she glanced at it's mate dead and gutted, before looking over at it's children, also dead in the same fashion as their father.

"Humans....such disgusting creatures, we hunt, but we hunt to eat...they have plenty of food back in town...they don't need to kill these dear...and if they do, they could at least not be so cruel...." Squall mumbled, distastefully, voice filled with pity for the suffering animal.

"Hey Squall, your to soft hearted...but I agree with you, shall we make the hunters become the hunted?"

"Sure."

"You change first, ok Squall? I like seeing you transform."

The other blushed and nodded. "All right"

No matter how much times Ganderdof saw it, he never could stop himself from staring awe. Squall was just so beautiful when he transformed, when other men beasts changed the transformation always look painful, but when Squall did so, it looked....like an angel becoming a angelic wolf. Squall was the first and only white wolf ever known in any pack...he was a special jewel, and acted alot like a young puppy....he looked like a puppy when he transformed....he always looked so fragile and pure, so cute and small that he always wanted to embrace him, and pet his hair, and just...caress him. Ganderdof sighed dreamily as he watched the beautiful transformation. Squall titled his head to the side, and nudged him with his nose, making an strange sound that sounded like

`Well, come on.'

Ganderdof glanced down at him, almost laughing for Squall was desperately trying to get untangled from his pants which had fallen off in his change. Before changing himself he knelt down next to Squall and helped him out of the tangle. As Ganderdof transformed he knew it was not beautiful like Squall's was, but still it did not bother him, as a black wolf he was much bigger and stronger looking then the younger, he quite enjoyed being the more manly and older of the couple. Glancing at the little white wolf, he nodded his head, it was time to strike.

The hunters did not know what hit them, one moment they were setting around, laughing and drinking the next, two wolves attacked them, the youngest of the men, was killed instantly by an large black one, while the eldest got his arm bitten badly by the smaller white one.

"What the fuck!? What's wrong with these stupid animals!!" The older hunt growled, throwing Squall to the ground, whom lunched himself back at the man's heals.

"I don't know, man!! Get them off of me!!! ARGHHHH!!!"

"JOHN!!!" The man Squall was attacking screamed as Ganderdof pinned the younger man to the ground, biting out his throat, shaking his head, splattering the man's blood, sprinkling against his black fur like rain drops.

"BEAST!!" The last remaining hunter screamed, grabbing his rifle, and aiming it at Ganderdof, whom growled back at him, challengingly, then suddenly the man turned the gun on Squall and shot. The little white pup fell to the ground with an yelp, whining pitiful as blood stained his beautiful fur. Ganderdof's eyes widen before turning into little slits, with an howl he leapt forward, knocking the gun from the hunter's hands and pinning him to the ground, ripping him to shreds. Turning away from the mutilated bodies Ganderdof changed back to human form, and knelt down beside Squall, who gazed up at him painfully threw his gray eyes. Felling anger inside of him the older growled, picking up the little white wolf gently, as not to cause him more pain and held him close. stroking his fur with his hand as to try and calm him down as he carried him back to camp.

**********************************

Colita pregnant with child, and in the form of a sliver wolf, looked up at Ganderdof as he walked into camp, watching the smaller white wolf, fur stained red. She did not say anything, but frowned bitterly, humans had once again hurt one of their kind, they always sought to hunt them down.

Quzecolt switched to human form as he saw Ganderdof approaching, his eyes traveled down to gaze at Squall.

"Hunters?" He asked simply.

"Yeah, damn humans, what a coward the man that shot him was, turned his gun on me, and then at the last moment switched it on Squall, catching him completely off guard."

"Where was he shot?"

Ganderdof looked down at the wounded puppy, and caressed his fur, finding the area of the wound, a bullet embedded into his side, sticky red blood dripping from the wound. Quzecolt gazed down at the wound.

"Take him to Runga's hut, he'll bandage that up, it's not a serious wound."

Ganderdof watched as Quzecolt passed by him and then looked back down at Squall who had closed his eyes, passed out from the pain, but breathing softly in his arms. He held him close for a few moments, feeling the heart beat pounding inside his little chest, and feeling the hot blood from the wound flow down his arm.

"I don't need Runga to take care of you, Squall. I'll watch you."

***************************

Squall opened his eyes weakly, the first thing he felt was a dull throbbing pain in his side, forcing himself up on the bed, he looked down at his body, he was in human form, and his side was covered with blood stained bandages. He closed his eyes trying to remember what happened. He remembered the human hunter aiming his gun at Ganderdof, then he remembered a great deal of pain. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts and looked around himself, he was in a hut, he knew whose, it was Ganderdof's.

He looked around for the man but did not find him, sniffing the air, he located that he was not in the house either. With a sigh he laid back down, pulling a blanket up over himself to hide his bare body. Closeing his eyes sleepily, still weak from blood lost he waited for Ganderdof to return.

He must have fallen back asleep, for sometime later he felt someone shake him gently awake. When he refused to budge, the person nuzzled him under the neck, licking his ear lobe with a ruff, warm thoung. This got Squall to open his eyes, Ganderdof smiled down at him, stroking his bangs back tenderly.

"Hey, there Squall, I saved you some food if your hungry, I made sure to make sure they didn't eat all of that guy who shot you, you deserve to be able to rip threw his flesh, after what he did to you."

"Hn...." He mumbled tiredly, setting up in bed, throwing his bare legs over the side. "Did you put these bandages on me?"

"Yeah, I wasn't going to hand my puppy over to some one else to take care of. Now come on, you should eat something to help regain some of your strength."

"......."

It took Squall no more then two days to completely heal from the gun shot wound, before he was back to his old self, but still Ganderdof frowned, watching him. A wound like that would have him down for a week at least, he began to wonder, just how strong was his puppy, really? Squall had often went hunting by himself...and always came back with something, but whenever someone else was with him, they always did the work, and protected the young white pup because he was the youngest of the clan, and in human form acted and looked so fragile. But if he could heal from a wound so quickly then...was he really as weak as he looked? Ganderdof was determent to find out, but never in his wildest of dreams did his ever imagine that Squall could beat him.

He found the younger laying down, by the lake, eyes closed, breathing quietly, as though asleep.

"Squall....Squall!" Ganderdof called quietly, waking the boy from his light slumber.

"Hn?"

"Squall, how do you feel about having a little training?"

The younger man-beast sat up and blinked at him surprised. "M...Me?"

"Yeah, I'll train you, what do you think of that?"

"............."

"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

"............All right....."

Ganderdof took Squall to a cleft side, which would be their training ground, both changed into their wolf selves, before striking. At first Ganderdof went easy, but before he knew it he was fighting with his max skill, trying to avoid Squall's attacks. He was taken back and shocked, the other boy was just too skilled...no...just too strong..

Ganderdof, blindly backed away from a swipe of Squall's claws, and lost his footing, and went over the edge of the cleft, his claws latched onto the edge, desperate to stop himself from falling the far height.

"Ganderdof!!" Squall screamed, changing back to human form, and grabbing Ganderdof's paws, trying to pull him back up over the edge. The other though could only find himself staring into the others eyes, gray eyes....powerful eyes. He couldn't believe it, he couldn't understand it...all this time, all these years he looked at Squall as his little puppy, the little one who needed his protection. Young and fragile Squall...the puppy, the weak one. But now he realized to his shock, and even anger that he was the weaker of the pair, that the puppy was stronger then the wolf, but the most pain realization was that...he never was the stronger. He was pulled up onto the ledge, he breathed heavily for a moment, before getting up and leaving an confused and worried Squall behind.

**********************************

Squall laid his hands behind his head in his small little hut, he thought about what happened with Ganderdof that day. It had been a few weeks since that day, and the other man-beast seemed to grow distant, almost...almost sour of him. He shook his head, that day replayed it's self in his mind over and over again, but try as he may, he could not understand Ganderdof's anger. Was it something he said? Was it something he did?

The way the older man-beast had looked at him, the look was...was hurt and angry. Was it because he proved to be stronger in training? Was that why Ganderdof was angry? He felt bad inside, but at the same time he felt a sense of pride at his physical strength, but...he did not want the other man to be angry with him...he loved him, and he did not want to be alone. Ganderdof had always been there for him...since he could remember.... since the day he was found in the woods, laying next to the bodies of his parents, both dead....killed by humans. Squall clenched his fists, he hated humans, they were such selfish and disgusting creatures, he could not stand them, and could not forgive them for what they did to his kind. Vampires were also creatures whom were cruel to man-beasts, but he didn't feel hate for them, though he participated in Vampire slaughtering with the rest of the pack, he id not hate them, for no vampire had ever harmed him personally, but all his life, he was harmed and hurt by humans.

His hand went down to touch his gun shot wound, his face turning bitter. He was still

being hurt by those sinful and selfish creatures even now. Ganderdof knew how he felt....for Ganderdof's parents were also slaughtered by humans. He truely could understand his hate, he was the only one who could truely understand what it was like to watch your parents die, just because of what they were. He hated those killers....those human bastards.

He closed his eyes, with an sleepy yawn he stretched his arms out, laying flat against his straw mattress, when another scent entered the room, and made it's way over to his bed. Opening his eyes, he smiled up at Ganderdof who looked down at him.

"Hey, Gan...*yawn* I thought you were mad at me...." He mumbled tiredly.

Ganderdof forced a smile. "Don't be silly Squall. I could never get mad at you. Sorry about how I acted before, I was just a little hurt that...you didn't need my protection anymore....you grew up from a little pup to a wolf so quickly...but...."

"But?"

Ganderdof, scooped the younger up in his arms, planting a deep kiss on his lips. "You'll always be my pup."

Squall smiled. "Gan...."

"Squall, I know this beautiful place I found in the woods, I want to take you there, come with me."

"All right." Squall went to get out of Ganderdof's arms, but the other man beast held him tighter.

"No, allow me to carry you."

"........hnn" Squall smiled wider, contentedly leaning his head up against Ganderdof's bare chest.

******************************

As the black wolf carried the younger deeper into the woods, he thoughts went awry, he knew what he said before to the boy was a lie...he was angry with him....and his anger easily transformed it's self to jealousy and hate....he was giving it his all in their training, no...their battle, and he still lost...lost to a...a puppy. Not any puppy, but his puppy.

He could feel hate in his heart for the boy, but still he felt love...so much love, which over powered the hate, but then again the line between the to were thin, but as he stared down at the smaller boy he felt love, and he was all intent of showing Squall his love physically. Make the boy squirm under him, make him the dominant one again...He would show this puppy who the stronger of the two was, he'll make sure Squall knew.

He shook his head. His train of thought was going crazy, why was he feeling like this? He knew he had a sense of pride in his strength but he never knew he was this obsessed, but then again, someone never knows whom they really are until they are confronted with it, and right now for the first time in his life his was confronted with defeat....defeated by his little lover. Defeated by Squall.

Squall frowned, noticing the strange expression plastered on Ganderdof's face. "Gan....?"

The other shook his head and smiled down at him, ruffling his bangs. "Nothing Squall...We're soon there, ok, sweetie?"

"Sweetie..." Squall repeated. "It's been so long since you called me that."

"Hmmm, it seems like I haven't been giving you enough attention lately...but that's going to change, look we're hear."

Squall turned to look, eyes widening in awe. Ganderdof had brought him into a part of the woods he had never seen before, and it was beautiful, it was on a cleft, which over looked all the forest below, tress towered all around them, bloomed with apple blossoms, and the grass was a bed of sweet smelling wild flowers. The moonlight washed over the area making it seem almost mystical.

Ganderdof put Squall down, allowing the boy to gaze around himself in complete wonder.

"Wow...this place is beautiful."

The black man-beast approached the white as he stood near the cleft edge staring out and the moon and put his arms around his waist, holding him close.

"Squall...what do you feel for me?"

The mentioned blinked, twisting his head to look at Ganderdof, puzzled. "You know how I feel for you Ganderdof."

"Why don't you say it?"

"......Why don't you?"

"..........Do I only have to say it?"

Squall looked at him surprised, and nervously took a step back, as Ganderdof reached out to him.

"Gan....I'm....I'm not ready for this." He shook his head.

The other man-beast wasn't going to take a no for an answer, and reached out, grabbing his arm and pulling him close. "Squall, how long was it, we knew each other? We love each other right? So why do you still refuse to show our love physically?"

"..........."

"Are you afraid Squall.....or...." Ganderdof stroked his hair, before cupping his shin in his fingers, titling the other boys head back slightly. "Could there be another I don't know about?"

"Of course not Gan...You should know that."

"Then why do you continue to refuse me?"

"..............."

".....You yourself don't even know. That's a shame, Squall, you know the life of a man-beast is not a secure one. We are the hunters as well as the hunted. We could be attacked tonight, tomorrow. We are hated by humans, we are hated by every other species of creature on this planet. We could be hunted down and killed tomorrow, hunted down and killed like your parents, and my family....why wait when we never know when we are going to die?"

Squall didn't say a word, but gave up his defense and allowed Ganderdof to pull him closer. He shivered slightly as the other boy laid rabid kisses on his neck, before slowly lowering them to the ground, where Squall laid silently, allowing Ganderdof to caresses and kiss his body.

*********************************

In the peak of it, Ganderdof was lost in a lustful passion, giving more to Squall then the boy cold stand. He listened with satisfactory to Squall's moans and yelps of pleasure and pain. Gazeing down at the boy, he smiled, the boy lay under him, eyes closed, panting heavily, face flushed red as sweat dripped down his body, plastering his hair to his face. It was nice to have the boy in such a vulnerable postion, but still...he knew that he was weaker then him....and it filled him with such rage. Ganderdof lost his tenderness in his touches, and caused Squall to cry out. He would show this boy, he was stronger, he would put him in his place. He was below him, not the other way around!

Squall laid on the ground, sorely, eyes gazeing up at the moon, tried and weak, he just laid there, not even seeming to see Ganderdof leaning over him, face unreadable, his lips were moving but he could not hear the words. Slowly the image began to blur and his vision went black.

*************************************

Squall awoke that morning, all alone in his hut. He gazed down at himself, almost shamed, and shook his head.

".....The reason why I don't say how I feel....Ganderdof....it's because....." He sat up, allowing his sheets to fall off his bare body, he went to grab a pair of pants when Ganderdof walked in to the hut, his face showing a since of urgency.

Squall involuntarily took a step back, but fortunately the other did not seem to notice.

"Squall, transform."

"Why?"

"Humans are approaching our village. Leader Quzecolt has ordered us to attack. His wife Colita has finally given birth to their infant son, Colt. We can't let the humans harm the young prince, by orders of our leaders."

"....How many....how many humans are there?"

"It's seems to be a traveling wagon of Spanish gypsies. There were two wagons, but one of them took the longer path to town, the one's coming hear decided to take the shorter route. We can't let human's enter our village again. Last time human's entered our home they slaughtered and killed of many of us."

"I still remember the day, though I was only a baby, it's engraved into my mind."

".....We have to make them pay for what they did Squall."

"Yes, we will make them feel the same pain they made us feel."

************************************

The battle was a bloody one, bloody for the humans. Though they were skilled at magic, they were caught of guard and easily slaughtered. The men-beasts enjoyed ripping the human's flesh apart in their teeth, enjoying spilling their blood on dry soil.

Squall had killed a man and a woman who had been cowering in the wagon, ripping them easily apart with his claws, and was about to leave when he heard a whimpering, curiosity he used his nose to push away a few blankets in which the sound was coming from. His eyes widened, seeing a infant baby, crying, gazeing up at him threw pitiful golden eyes, flat pink hair went to the middle of her ears, orange dress stained with the blood of her parents...

FLASH

It all happened so quickly, he was being held in the arms of his mother, his father was standing next to her when he heard a sudden loud noise. His mother screamed as his father fell to the ground, he remembered a loud scream before his mother to fell down dead. He laid under her, covered in her blood. The attackers kicked the her, leaving him laying on the ground exposed and frightened. Some human faces gazed down at him laughing mockingly, before aiming a gun down at him. He could not remember what happened next clearly, but the men were killed and he was being picked up, looking into the eyes of another man-beast, one a few years older then him.

"Gan...."

"Humans came and killed almost everyone, Squall."

The younger began to cry, but forcefully Ganderdof made him stop.

"Don't cry, don't be weak. Instead focus on hate, focus on revenge. We will make them pay, someday, we will make them pay for what they did."

FLASH

`And in doing so, we are just the same as them....' Squall thought changing back into human form. 'I have done to another what I hated them for doing to me. How can I hate humans when I did exactly as they did? I killed an innocent child's parents. Parents who have done nothing to me but be human....and in turn this child will grow up with the same hate for man-beasts which I have...had... for human's. I...I wont let that happen again.'

He hid the baby back under the blankets as Ganderdof walked into the wagon.

"Hey Squall, what are doing in hear? They are all dead, you missed out on some fun."

"Hnn..." The other just hunched his shoulders.

"So Squall, come on, let's get back to the village."

"Ok, just a minuet, I want to make sure there are none of these humans left alive."

Ganderdof smirked. "Ok, but I'm pretty sure we killed them all, but go a head. I'll see you later."

Squall waited until all the man-beasts were gone and picked up the small baby, holding her close to him as if to try and comfort her, he was surprised when she stopped crying and looked down to see her looking up at him with curiosity.

"Hey, what's your name?" He asked, but did not get any answer as he expected.

"....Then I call you my mother's name, Angie."

The baby cooed, reaching out holding his fingers, smiling happily, and dispite himself, Squall smiled too.

****************************

It was hard sneaking the baby into camp, on his way into his hut he caught a glimpse of Colita holding a red head, golden eyed baby, probably the new prince Colt, Ganderdof had mentioned. What was so different about this baby and Angie? They were both innocent, both pure and both helpless by themselves, so why did his fellow man-beasts think it was right to kill an human child but it was so wrong to kill a man-beast child? Shaking his head, he walked into his hut, laying Angie down on his bed, she had fallen asleep. Watching her Squall knew that if she was found they both would be killed....he did not want to leave the pack...but....he did not want this child dead either. And, if his pack just wanted him to be a killer then....With this child he could start over...he would not...ever have to kill senselessly again. What would he be leaving behind....? Ganderdof.....but....

"Angie, you don't deserve to be in danger, and I want to make up for my sins. I don't ever want to kill again. But I know that if I stay hear I will. I'm weak, I was always dependent on someone....Always needed someone to lead me....That's why I needed Gander....." He closed his eyes looking away. "Angie, let's leave this place and start over."

He picked up a pair of black pants, pulling them on, zipping them up he reached for a white shirt, before finally taking an black jacket with fur surrounding the collar. These were his father's clothes, he had always kept them, never intending on wearing them, but as he left forever he couldn't bare not having something to remind him of home.

Suddenly a knock sounded at the door, and the knob turned, but lucky he had locked it but still his heart raced.

"Squall!? What are you doing in there!? Let me in!" Came Ganderdof's voice.

He picked up the baby, and glanced around quickly, there was a small straw area on the floor, in which he used to nap in while in wolf form, he laid her down there, throwing some of his old clothes on top of her to hide her and hopeing to mask her scent. He walked towards the door, and unlocked it allowing Ganderdof inside. Instantly the older man-beast blinked surprised, studying the younger as he back away nervously.

"Squall? Why are you....dressed like that?" he asked slowly.

"............"

Ganderdof took a step towards him, titling his head curiosity to the side. "You seem flustered....not quite like yourself....what's wrong?"

"Nothing....What makes you think that?"

"Hmmm." Gan narrowed his eyes at him doubtingly. "Is there somebody else hear? Squall your my puppy remember that."

".....There is no other man-beast hear." Squall forced a smile. "You know well Ganderdof, that I care for you. Only for you."

"So you say..." Ganderdof forced him near the edge of his bed, Squall kept backing away until he lost his footing a fell onto the mattress, the other man pinned him down smirking. "Let me have you again Squall, prove to me your words."

Ganderdof started kissing his neck, Squall struggled slightly, but as he felt the other's hand reach for his belt, he cried out "No!" and sat up abruptly, throwing the other to the floor. Squall sat on the bed, breathing heavily, as Ganderdof stared at him in shock.

"What? Squall? What are you....." Suddenly he stopped speaking, sniffing the air, an confused look became a look of alarm, then disbelief, denial, lastly followed by anger.

"Stop!" Squall cried out as Ganderdof dashed towards where Squall had hidden Angie, throwing the clothing to the side, the older paused staring down at the sleeping infant, body trembling. Squall stood behind him looking defeated, as Ganderdof twisted around to look at him he pointed an accusing finger at him.

"You traitor!" He exclaimed, sounding betrayed and hateful.

"If traitor is the term you wish to use then so be it, but Gan....I still remember how my parents were killed when I was an infant...must we do the same as what they did? This baby, her parents, their people had done nothing wrong, but yet we killed them anyway. Just because...they were human."

"............."

"How many more lives will be lost until one side of us ends this senseless hate! I may only be one man-beast and she may only be one human, but it has to start somewhere."

"HOW COULD YOU!?!?" Ganderdof screamed, suddenly slashing Squall across the face with his finger nails. The younger stumbled back with an cry, gripping his face where blood ran down a cut, and slowly he removed his had, revealing a scar on his once perfect face. Ganderdof stared at it, feeling remorse and shock for a moment before suddenly having these feelings consumed by anger. He twisted around facing the sleeping baby, bringing up his hand ready to strike her.

"I'LL KILL HER!!!"

"NO!!" Ganderdof found his hand gripped by his once loyal puppy, he twisted around, batting the boy away.

"SQUALL HAVE YOU BETRAYED YOUR WHOLE RACE!?"

"..........."

"Lesson, I'll give you one last chance. Kill this baby, I wont tell anybody, we can go on living like we did before, ok? Let's just forget this happened."

"Gan...." Squall said quietly approaching him, glancing down at the baby the back into the older one's eyes. "I'm sorry..."

"It's all right, I'll forgive you, just get rid of that...that human and we will forget this whole thing happened."

"I'm sorry but I can't." Squall suddenly sent a punch to Ganderdof's face, sending the other crashing to the ground. Gripping his swollen lip, he wiped away a trickle of blood, he growled, staring up at Squall who gazed down at him, expressionless.

"Squall, so you show your true face you....HUMAN LOVER!!!"

As the older dashed forward, Squall sent a punch followed by a kick to the other, sending him crashing back on to the ground. The other did not get back up this time, but instead laid there breathing heavily, wheezing painfully. Squall stood directly over him, gazeing down at him.

"Gan, I am so sorry, I wish you could have understood, but I guess you never will. I can't go on killing, I can't bare it anymore. If you truly loved me, you would understand that. Ganderdof I can't tell you to remember me, but still I don't want you to forget me, but...when you remember me, don't think of me with hate, I could not bare that, but I know that you probably will. Remember, just one thing though, I'm not your puppy anymore, I am...am a wolf, a lone wolf, and I don't need someday there for me anymore. Goodbye Gan, if our paths cross again, may you forgive me."

As Squall left picking up the baby the only think Ganderdof could remember was those ice, those cold, mocking, powerful gray eyes. Clenching his fist, he swore

"Squall, you'll pay for this, someday, I swear it...."

Glancing behind himself only once as he left the village, he thought about all what he was going to leave behind, then looked down at Angie, closeing his eyes, smiling sadly, and continued forward ready to embrace a new future

******************************

Squall stood back in the dark ocean, still being held by Ganderdof.

"But that new future was not what you expected was it? It was filled with pain, and agony. You killed more now then you did then."

"........."

"Squall, I'll still forgive you, just say you'll stay hear with me. We can go back to our beautiful place, we can be with the pack again, Pan can come with us too. You can be happy again, don't you want that Squall? We can all be happy again...."

"Gan..." Squall whimpered.

******************************

~Carrie's Regret~

Carrie looked around herself, confused, seeing nothing but darkness. "Where am I? Colt! Mimi! Is anyone there!?"

"I am hear."

The young girl could feel her blood stop as she twisted around seeing Kathy standing before her. A smile spread across her face and she dashed forward, throwing her arms around her older sister.

"Oh Kathy! I'm so glad to see you!! I missed you so much!!"

The teenage girl though did not return the joy but instead pulled away from the younger.

"No, Carrie. Don't...Don't touch me."

The young Fernandez took a step away, looking hurt and confused. "But, why?"

"You killed everyone, mom and dad....and all our friends..."

Carrie gasped, eyes going wide in shock, and began to tremble. " Kathy...I didn't mean too..."

"You killed everyone, then you make friends with the people who killed me....then, you make lovers with a boy whose pack destroyed half of our family!"

Genki's eyes went wider. "What? My friends did not kill you, they told me what happened, you were under the control of Taromecika, but what do you mean, Colt...? He never told me about....No, Colt's family was bad, but they did not kill half of our family."

Kathy shook her head. "Yes they did. Squall helped too. You know that girl, Angie, Squall's adopted sister, yes, she to, was a Fernandez."

"No way...."

"Squall's and Colt's pack killed off everyone in one of our wagons. It was horrible how many were slaughtered. It was horrible how your friends slaughtered me, and it was horrible how you slaughtered everyone!"

Carrie whimpered, covering her ears with her hands to block out Kathy's words. "I didn't kill them! It was an accident! I didn't mean to!"

"Really, look Carrie, look." Kathy pointed somewhere off into the darkness, forcing her eyes open Carrie looked to see where Kathy was pointing, and gasped as in the darkness she saw that night when he wagon was attacked, and where she had unleashed her power, where which had gotten the enemies to retreat and which had killed the remaining members of her family.

"NO I DIDN'T KILL THEM!! I--!! THAT NIGHT...."

**********************************

"CARRIE!!!"

A voice cut threw the air, and the girl opened her eyes wide in horror as she saw a woman run in front of her, taking the blast

full force. In all seemed to happen in slow motion. The force of the blast sent the woman spinning all the way around and then

finally fall in a burnt heap. Threw the river of tears that ran down her pale cheeks, The girl shouted only one word as she fell on

her knees next to the woman...

"MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Oh, how SAD!! Shakespeare would be jalousies!" Lounaru laughed as he watched Carrie sob over her mothers body.

"Her death was meaningless, she died for nothing, the fool. She should of knew that we would kill you right after her anyway."

The small girl stared at a Carrie, a smirk forming on her face. " A foolish daughter for a foolish mother."

Carrie's wails broke down into angry sobs as she climbed to her feet, her eyes down caste.

"You will pay..." She said threw her sobs.

"Oh and what are you going to do, little girl? Run and cry to Mommy? Oh wait! I forgot, we just KILLED your mother, didn't

we?"

"You...You..." Carrie stuttered threw her tears.

"But then again, she would not have died if she did not have to protect you. It's your fault." The little girl taunted bitterly.

"You...You..."

"Freya, I DO believe that you are right." Lounaru grinned. "But then again, we probably did that woman a favor. Having to live

with an homely little thing like that for a daughter."

"You...You..."

"She was very ugly herself, and wimp too. Imagine dying from one little fire blast. Not to mention, threw the whole battle she

was hiding, the woman was a coward, she deserved to die."

Carrie raised her head to stare at Lounaru and Freya threw hateful and vengeful eyes that shown with bitter tears.

"YOU...YOU BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Carrie screamed throwing her head back as her body began to glow with a white

energy.

Freya and Lounaru drew back in surprise.

"What is this!?" Freya demanded in her small voice.

"SUCH....!! SUCH POWER!!!!"

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!" Carrie screamed at the top of her

lungs as power that was fueled by her hate and rage began to fill her body. The pain was horrible but her lust for revenge

pushed her forward. She make them pay!

'I'LL KILL THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' Carrie's thoughts screamed as more and more power entered into her body, creating a

column of light appear around her.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

'I DON'T CARE IF I DIE!!! I'LL GET MY REVENGE!!!!!!!!' Carrie's mind screamed as more power filled her body.

"I'm getting OUT OF HEAR!!" Lounaru gasped, her eyes wide with fear as he teleported away.

"Master Lounaru, what about me!?" Freya gasped in fear as she watched the only one who could have brought her to safety

disappear.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU'LL PAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Carrie screamed threw burning tears of pain

and rage.

Freya stared down at the girl horrified. "NOOO! STOP!!"

"FINAL FLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Carrie screamed at the top of her sore and burning lungs.

When the light faded Carrie was the only one left standing. Freya had disappeared, she could not find her among the bodies.

Carrie's eyes darted around to find the Fernandez family members that had not been killed by Lounaru or Freya but all she

could spot was their burned bodies. Instantly Carrie's eyes widened in horror as she realized what happened.

"Oh my god...I did this...I killed them...The rest of my family that had remained...my blast...I...What have I done?

N...NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Carrie screamed, before falling on her knees and passing out onto the blood drenched

soil.

**********************************

Carrie allowed her arms to fall limp at her sides. "I did kill them...but I didn't want to, Kathy, I lost control over my power. I'm on this journey to avenge you and my family!"

"You keep living in denial Carrie, I know the truth, The truth is, that you hated us Carrie. You couldn't stand us."

Carrie's eyes went wide. "THAT'S A LIE!!!"

"Is it?"

"Of course it is...I would never....."

'I'LL KILL THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

Carrie closed her eyes, as her own hateful words came back to her, hauntingly.

"When you unleashed your attack, in your subconscious you were fully aware that the attack would kill everyone, you wanted to kill everyone. In your own vein denial when you saw what happened you covered up your joy with anguish and began to believe your own lies.That is why you continuously said things like 'because I coulden't control my power they all died.' or 'I feel so bad, I didn't mean too.' All in an attempt to fool yourself. Not only that, but the reason why you asked Mimi to adpot you...you didn't want to be a Fernandez...you want our family to be wiped out. And that is why you fear your power...if you hated your own family, you may start to hate your friends as well...and you will end up killing all of them, like you did our own family."

The young Fernandez girl fell to her knees, lowering her head shamefully.

"It's true...I hated the family, I hated the traveling, I hated my life. I hated mom and dad, they always treated me weak, and useless, I hated you to Kathy, you always were the liked one, you always were more talented and more beautiful then I, you always had things better then me because....you weren't a half blood. Everyday the other children from the wagon would taunt me, telling me how a...a man came and raped my mother and how I was born of unpure blood. They called me trash, they thought I was flit. They said I was bad, and inpure just like my father. They would tease me everyday, throw stones at me, I wanted them gone, I wanted them all to leave me alone. I wanted them to feel the pain they caused me everyday. I was angry that night Lounaru came and attacked us because he got to kill them, not I. So when I attacked I decided to take out all of my enemies with one single blast. Your right, I made myself believe the opposite, but I have been fooling myself all this time. I feared that I would kill again, that I would once again hurt people I was close to like Mimi, and Colt. I did not want to be a Fernandez anymore that's is the real reason why I asked Mimi to adopt me. To them I was the poor girl who lost her family, whom wanted vengeance against the forces of evil for killing them, I began to live that delusion, tricking myself from the very start, telling myself that I did not want them dead, that it was an accident, that I was really hurt. I believed my own lies all along, but there is no denying it now. I wanted you all dead, I hated you all. All of you! Are you happy now!? THE TRUTH BE TOLD, PURITY WAS LOST ON THAT DAY!! I'M A KILLER!!! AND IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME TO THAT NIGHT, I WOULD STILL HAVE KILLED EVERYONE!!! I HATED YOU!! I HATED YOU!!! I HATED YOU ALL!!! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW!?! YOU FOUND OUT THE TRUTH!!"

"............."

"So what now, are you hear to punish me for my sins? For what I've done." Carrie began to sob. "Go ahead, kill me, I don't care....I deserve it..."

"Vengeance be served." Kathy spoke quietly, creating a magical sphere and impaling Carrie threw the stomach. The girl's head tilted back as she fell to her knees then into the black water, turning the black water red.

"Where your going to go, you'll be punished forever for what you've done. Your going to go to hell Carrie."

"..............Everyone, I'm sorry......."

************************************

~Mimi's Regret~

Mimi looked around herself confused. "This is that black ocean, I was hear before...why am I hear again?"

Infront of her, her parents appeared before her, looking at her hatefully.

"Mom! Dad!" She exclaimed, taking a step towards them before backing away. "No your not real. Your hear because of Saiyoua's magic, I wont fall for any tricks."

"We are real, we are the ghosts of Fifi and Roundy." They said together. " Mimi you caused us so much pain, from you illness, to your running away, to you luring those creatures to destory us."

"......." An hurt look crossed Mimi's face. " I know I'm useless and that I'm not good for much, it's hunted me all my life, being born a half-breed I was hated by so many, I was made fun of in the fairy-village because I was so much bigger then everyone else, and in the real world I was made fun of because I looked like a little midget. As if that wasn't enough I could never do things right, I was not strong enough to help anyone out. I was hopeing to be able to go to the magic school like you and grandma did, and become strong, but when we found out I had cancer and only a few years to live...five more years left to be excact, you wanted me to stay in the village, marry someone who would support me, but I didn't want to cause anyone else pain about my death. I did not want to accept I was going to die. I wanted to live my life like I would of if I didn't have cancer, I wanted to live....pretending that I wasn't going to die...."

"But you are Mimi, you are going to die." Roundy said harshly. "And there wont be anyone around to grieve for you because you caused us all to die."

"It wasn't my fault, Taromecika and Saiyoua's forces attacked, I did not do anything to the village."

"They attacked because they were after you." Fifi accused.

"You allowed the village to burn, you were to weak to do anything about it. Even Link, your only friend died that day, because you were to weak to help him."

Mimi's eyes filled with tears, looking down at the magical bells she had used to summon her Pegasus Link. He had been her first real friend...it was true she let him down. She always seemed to let everyone down...she was never really any help to anyone...

She looked around herself, gasping as the darkness around her began to grow thicker, but she couldn't seem to stop herself from thinking depressing thoughts and with every sad and guilty thing she made herself feel, the darkness grew larger, choking her.

"Mom, Dad, I'm sorry I put you threw so much pain, I always put everyone threw so much trouble, I never do anything to help anyone, I try to but I'm just to weak...I wanted to be strong so I could make a deference." She fell to her knees choking and gasping for breath which was being taken away from her by the dark mist. " I wanted to live...I wanted to be happy, I wanted to be strong, to raise a family....but...Mom, Dad." She sobbed, burying her face in her hands. "The pain from the disease grows stronger everyday, I pretend to the others that I don't feel pain, only Carrie knows the truth but...she does not know how serious it is. I know that when it gets worse I'll be confined in a hospital, the doctors will try and keep me alive, making a nice little profit of me, and between the drugs and the disease I'll look like a...a monster. Genki thinks he cares for me but....when he sees what I'll become with the disease he'll end up hating me, I couldn't bare that. I want to die, the longer I live more pain my friends will feel when I die, that is if they don't end up hating me, they probably will. I mean, I'll be a pain, in a hospital, can't move, dying, causing them to suffer...it would be a wonder if they don't end up hating me." She began to cry harder. "Just leave me alone, go away!! I don't want anyone around to see me die! I don't want to cause anyone pain!" She gazed up at her parents, seeing her all her friends standing there staring at her, expressionless. "ARE YOU ALL DEFT!?" She shrieked. "GO AWAY!!!"

Her parents along with all her friends disappeared into the darkness, sobbing Mimi reached out to them. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean what I said! Please, everyone come back....I don't want to be alone....I don't want to die, please somebody, tell me I'm not going to die, tell me everything will be ok...! Come back....come back!"

She fell to the ground in a pitiful heap sobbing as no one came, but together, all around her their voices echoed.

"You always kept everyone away from you, you tried not to let anyone close, hiding behind an shy exterior, you got what you wanted, your all alone, and you will die all alone."

As the voices disappeared the only sound in the dark world was the sound of Mimi's pitiful sobs.

~Rose's Regret~

Rose looked around herself, clenching her fists angrily. "What trick is this!? I know this darkness, It's one of Saiyoua's spells, but what is this place? It seems so dark and alone...everywhere is darkness."

"This place is only an outer image on what you feel on the inside."

Rose turned around shocked, and trembling. "Tommy!" She exclaimed happily and took a step forward to rush into his arms but held back. "No! Your not Tommy!! Your just an image created from Saiyoua's dark magic! How dare you take on his form!!"

"Rose, how can you say that to me? How can you betray our cause? We were on Saiyoua's side, sure we were going to leave, but, how come you joined the one that killed me? I thought you cared about me Rose. I guess I was wrong."

"Your right, I don't care about you, I don't give a damn about you because...YOUR NOT TOMMY!!" She screamed, throwing a punch at his face, but he easily grabbed her fist, stopping her.

"Even if that is true, why are you fighting Saiyoua?"

"To save the world I love, to save Gaia!"

"Have you forgotten, Saiyoua is also doing all this to save Gaia, humans are destroying the planet, look at all the wars and battles they caused, look at how many times they wounded the earth. With all their Factories and machines, the earth was slowly dyeing."

"........"

"What is the definition of a Parasite? A creature whom live off and in most cases eventually end up destroying what gave them their most vital source of life. Take Gaia, and picture it as a single host, and millions of us humans living on it, digging up the earth and polluting it's skies, killing it slowly, we in turn become parasites as we grow rapid and more careless. This in turn can only end up in utter destruction for ourselves and Gaia it's self."

".......Tommy...."

"But if Saiyoua kills everyone then Gaia can breath again, it can regain it's power so that planet would not have to die to. Remember why we joined Saiyoua in first place, think back to that day...."

**************************************

Rose, Tommy, Karl, and Rex stood around their post they had just battled off some black mages and were resting for no one else was around, from where they stood they could see the other team standing on a cleft in the distance, this other team consisted of three girls and one boy, the boy was a very lucky guy for these three were known to be three of the four cutest and popular girl's in school. The other team consisting of Keith, Ryan, Genki and Mimi were no where to be seen, they would all be heading back soon? Where were they? It would be a shame for them to just be left behind hear.

"Hey." Tommy suddenly spoke, looking around uneasily. " Something's wrong, I feel a change in the wind."

"Tommy?" Rose blinked. "What change? What do you think is happening?"

"I don't feel anything." Karl commented, looking at Tommy as if he was stupid. "It's probably all in your imagination. Don't you agree Rex?"

"......" The kick boxer was silent, and turned to look back at the cleft, his team mates followed his gaze and gasped in horror as they saw the other four students Richard Moysa, Teri McGee, Grace Nakumura and Alice Walker under attack, but not by the black mages, but by a group of savage lesser demons.

"We got to help them!" Rose exclaimed, about to dash forward when Rex caught her arm, throwing her to the ground. Karl backed away from the giant frightened, as Tommy went to pick Rose up off the ground, snarling at the big giant.

"What you do that for!?"

"No point in saving stragglers, if they can't save themselves then we have no use for them." Rex spoke harshly.

"We? Who...what are you talking about?" Karl blinked.

"Rex! Damn you! We can't just let them die!" Rose jumped to her feet, ready to once again reach the other teams aid, when Rex sent his fist flying towards her face, Rose froze, with an sharp cry, but before the fist made contact Tommy jumped infront of her, taking the blow in the chest, staggering back painfully from the blow.

"Oh shit!" Karl cried out, shaken.

"Rex what the hell do you think you doing!? Your just going to watch them die!? You coward!" Tommy hissed.

"My son is no coward." Laura spoke calmly coming up behind them.

"Miss.Lena, Laura, Lexy." The three confused and frightened students gasped, twisting around.

"Consider this the final test of being coming fifth rank." Lexy grinned.

"What are you saying....?" Rose whispered, trembling.

"Long ago Two Goddess existed, One was Key the giver of all life on the planets of Earth and Gaia, the second was Saiyoua the one who gave birth to the worlds. Life was created on the planets and at first things were going well, but then humans changed and became a disease, poisoning the worlds, scorching and staining the ground with the fires and blood of wars, fighting to lay claim to the goddess. Both worlds and all things on it would have been destroyed if it was not for the Life Stream, everything that died, their souls went to heal the planet, and from many innocent souls that died, a third Goddess the ultimate existence called Messiha was born, using her powers she created something called the Goddess stone, the stone having the power to do anything, even reborn and merge goddesses, or even if she wished to destory all life in the galaxy. In the battle that took place forty years ago with the five great hero's the goddess walked the earth disguised as humans, one took on Cid's sister's form, a girl called May, Saiyoua took on a form of a woman named Aya whom captured one heroes, Taromecika's heart. Key appeared many times two the group before laying out her master plan, she and Saiyoua would merge, as to prevent Saiyoua from summoning Oisa, the darkness that would devour all life, and both would be reborn as a human infant. This would end the war, for there would be no more goddess for the people to fight for. Traveling to the life stream, Cid found May or rather Messiha and she gave to him the goddess stone, warning him that once it was used twice it would shatter into different pieces and enter the hearts of four pure beings. However, there was a second stone made when Saiyoua and Key merged, this stone could be used to either make Saiyoua stronger, or Key the ruler of the two, depending on the condition the stone was in when the reborn child held it. Knowing it was dangerous, Cid spilt the stone into seven different shards, Friendship, Hope, Innocence, Truth, Kindness, Purity, and Love. However Saiyoua and Key were not the only Goddesses to disappear, but Messiha as well. What happened to her remains a mystery. The goddess stone was made from her power and spirit so perhaps when it shattered she died? No one truely knows."

"Yeah, So Miss.Lena, what is this story suppose to be about?" Tommy questioned.

"Key was in the wrong, by allowing humans to live she is condemning the worlds to a slow and painful death. Saiyoua's soul still exists and their is one man still in love with her whom wishes her to be reborn so she can save the world. Tommy, Rose, Karl, and Rex, you four are powerful, we can see that you four would serve well in our mission. Those other four are weak, they cower at the sight of enemies, and Ryan, Genki and Mimi...They seem to be destined to be against us....they seem to be chosen by Key as you four, no five were chosen by Saiyoua. You see Keith is also chosen by Saiyoua, you five are the strongest in the school, and it is up to you to help save the worlds. Keith will come along with us eventually, but we need you four now."

"To save the world?" Rose questioned, confused. "But isn't Saiyoua the evil one?"

Lena laughed. " That is what foolish human's wish for you to believe."

"Hey now just wait a minuet!" Tommy snarled. " Why should we help to destory all humans when we are human ourselves!?"

The three teachers stared at him, before Lexy slowly smiled. "There is much more to being human then just being born as one."

".............."

"They know what they talk about." Rex spoke, causing his team mates to look over at him.

"......Well, would we be counted as heroes?" Karl asked thoughtfully, causing Rose to look over at him shocked. "Because if so, I could probably get lots of girls that way....besides, I think I understand what they mean, why must we live life as nobodies when we can serve a goddess."

"Karl!" Rose exclaimed bitterly.

"You have a point." Tommy spoke causing Rose to whirl around looking at him threw wide shocked eyes. " Why live as nothings when we can be something. I always thirst for challenge, to do something really important, that is why I came to this school, I want to make a difference in this world, and what better way to do that then by saving it?"

"But Tommy, are you sure this is the right thing?"

"Rose, am I ever wrong? Think about it."

Rose frowned, an pained look crossing her face. "No your never wrong Tommy...but...." She turned around looking at the tress and soil, Gaia was a beautiful place, were human's really going to destory it. Drops of blood fell onto the grass she was looking at, glancing up at the cleft she saw her four schoolmates were killed, being ripped apart by the beasts, Teri's head was titled back so she could look into her empty eyes, blood was dripping down the girls had, landing and painting the grass and flowers red below.

"I don't know....wouldn't killing everyone stain the earth even more?"

"No, Rose." Lena shook her head. " It will give the earth time to breath, to heal it's self and return to the splendor it once was, wouldn't you want that?"

"Yes...I love Gaia, I want to see it alive and healthy, not destroyed and barren...ok, I'll join...."

*****************************

Rose gasped staring around at the darkness which surrounded her once again. Tommy walked towards her, laying his hands on her shoulders.

"Do you want to see Gaia and earth's death? Don't you care anymore Rose?"

".......I care....but I'm....Tommy I'm not sure what's right or wrong anymore. Everything I believed in has suddenly disappeared....I was never good in trusting myself."

"The trust me Rose, like you always did. I would never make you do the wrong thing, you know that."

"..........Tommy...."

****************************

~Genki's regret~

The young boy opened his eyes, looking around himself but all he could see was darkness, he shivered, wrapping his arms around himself.

"It's so cold hear....I can feel pure evil coming from this place...but it's not just all Saiyoua's power.......It's not Saiyoua's power at all..."

"Correct, little lost lamb."

Startled he turned his head slowly to the right, eyes widening he backed away spotting his winged self looking back at him.

"All right, now why am I seeing myself?" He spoke calmly.

"In this world you see the one whom will punish you the most. The one whom you feel as though you most harmed, the one who'll cause you pain and suffering." His other self said back to him.

"Oh really?" Genki put his hands on his hips. " And I see myself, I wonder what that is suppose to mean, huh?"

Winged Genki growled, pointing an accusing finger at him. "I'LL TELL YOU WHAT IT MEANS!! YOU FOOL!! YOU BETRAY BOTH KEY AND SAIYOUA!!!"

"............."

"WHY DIDN'T YOU JOIN SAIYOUA!?"

"Because I have my beliefs and I wont join someone who is going to destory everyone I care about."

"You really are stupid you know that? You could of had so much power, you always had a thirst for it, that is why you went to magic school, that is why you trained your body everyday, isn't it?"

"Well, yeah, I like being strong and I knew I would someday need to be, but I would not join the dark side just for power. If your me you should know that."

"Yes, that's right, you were aware of the fact Ruto was the goddesses all along, why didn't you say anything?"

"I....." Genki paused. "I don't....I don't know...."

"Aha!" Winged Genki exclaimed. "I knew it! You hate Key and Saiyoua! You wanted them rid of so you could gain ultimate and absolute power over them....haha, just like Messiah. You also thirst to be the ultimate existence!!"

"I don't thirst to be the ultimate anything! But your right, I do have bitterness just like Messiha did for Saiyoua and Key, both tried to get rid of their problems by wiping them out, Saiyoua's trying to wipe out all living things and Key she tried to wipe out herself, and all of people beliefs in their religions and gods."

"So you hated Marie-Maya! That is why you let her be captured! It's easier to wipe out one goddess then two, right?"

"NO!!" Genki shrieked. "I did not hate Ruto, she was my friend. Unlike the other's I know what is meant by Marie-Maya is Marie-Maya. I may be bitter to two of the three goddesses, but I am not bitter to Ruto."

".........Hmmmph, you are smart for an idiot. But Genki, why did you accept such an horrible faith for us? We don't get power, we just get discarded, we are useless, we don't belong. How many times did you try and kill yourself? Tried to die to excape your faith?"

".......Many, but I stopped giving up now, I am ready to accept my faith. I will do as Messiah asked of me so long ago!"

"But Genki, now I see, you don't want power, you just want to be human."

"............"

"That is why you tried to kill yourself so much, you did not want to be Messiah's little pawn, you wanted to be normal again. You wanted to escape the destiny you had before you...think back to the day, think back to when you first lost you humanity."

*********************************

A young ten year old Genki was crying loudly, wiping at his nose and eyes with his fists, Keith stood next to him an shocked a hurt expression plastered on his face.

Bra sat infront of them, tears running down her own cheeks.

"Genki, Keith I am so sorry, but they all died in a car crash. I'm really sorry.....They were dead before the ambulance got there, there was no way to save them."

"But....but...br...bra!!" Genki wailed.

"Don't worry, Genki, Keith both of your moms and dads are in heaven now. They died quickly, they did not feel much pain before they died. I'll take care of both of you from now on, ok? You don't need to worry, everything will be all right..." Bra reached out to take Keith and Genki into a comforting hug but Genki pulled away with an angry sob

"It's not ok!! Mommy and Daddy are dead!!"

"Genki!" Bra cried as the boy ran away and out the front door. Keith turned to look at him and frowned before looking back at Bra.

"Bra....Why did Mommy and daddy die? Did they do something bad, is that way they died?"

Bra bit her lip to try and hold back the tears. "Keith...no they weren't bad, god don't take people because they were bad, he takes them just because, their time is up, they did what he wanted them to do...you see once a person lives up to their destiny, they can go the heaven, god takes them away from earth, heaven is a very ni---"

Keith's face became sour. " So my and Genki's mommies and daddies were not bad people, god is the bad guy!"

Bra drew back shocked. "No, No Keith you misunderstand."

Keith pulled away from her, balling his hands into tiny little fists. "No! No, I understand! Once people are no more use to him, god kills them, he gets rid of them! He doesn't care about how others feel about their death, he doesn't care if I am alone. God is a cruel bastard!"

"Keith!!"

"The dark forces has more kindness then god, at least, according to what you told me."

"What I told you!?"

"Yes, you said Satan punishes those who did wrong, he punishes only those who deserve it, but god kills anyone, even if they don't deserve to die! How can you worship something so heartless, so evil!?"

"Keith, god is not evil he...."

"Or maybe God is just something you made up." Keith suddenly accused voice going low and changing, becoming dark as the night it's self. "After the goddesses left the earth, humans had nothing left to believe in, they lived their lives like turkeys who lost their heads, making things up to themselves to believe it. Is this how they salvage their hearts? How very foolish, trusting in their own lies and fake delusions."

"Keith..." Bra stammered. "What are you saying?"

"God is pure they say, Key is the goddess of light, their has been many gods and goddesses during the period of time, how do you know which one's are real, how do you know which ones are really pure?"

"Keith, what are you talking about!?"

The little boys face became confused and blinked at the trembling girl bewildered. "What's wrong Bra? You look frightened?" he asked, his voice back to normal. Bra could not answer however, she could not find her voice to form the words.

*****************************

Genki ran down the streets sobbing, as he ran past people, people who did not even seem to notice him, he finally turned the corner and ran into a trash yard, slumping against the side of an wrecked car, he hugged his knees close, crying bitterly.

"Mommy...daddy...why? Why did you have to die....why did you have to go to god so soon...? Bra says heaven is a peaceful place, but....I believe in god, Bra told me to, but why did he have to take you away from me?"

Rain began to pour from the sky, mixing in with his tears, so filled with sorrow, he did not hear somebody come up behind him, until he felt an ruff hand grip his shoulder. Twisting around he looked up to see an older man, face covered with an clown mask. The little boy blinked confused, before the blinks stopped as he eyes widened in pain as the fingers tightened, finger nails sinking into his skin. With an cry the boy pushed away from the attacker, staggering backward, he griped his shoulder, trembling as the man approached him again, reaching into his pocket the clown man produced an sharp screw-driver and lunged at the boy, who tried to run, but was caught by the wrist being yanked backwards, the screw-driver stabbed him deep in the side, causing him to scream out in pain, giving his assailant an kick to the shin he dashed forward, trying to get away from the man, staggering and gripping his side, the pain slowed him down and he was caught again, being grabbed by the mouth as the clown man drove the screw-driver into his chest, not once by three times. Each time the burning pain grew more and more, the weapon came down again piercing his flesh. He struggled but the man was far to strong, the weapon came down again, and that was when Genki saw his chance, when he saw the man's arm come close enough, he bit, sinking his teeth into the flesh. The man yelped, letting him go, and thought, stumbling and in pain Genki ran forward, terrified, all he was focusing on was getting away from that man, he pushed past some people, still frightened, still thinking the clown man was fallowing him. He pushed past two middle aged women, dashing out into the street, he could see Capsule Corporation ahead of him, he was almost there...almost...

A bright light filled his vision and as well as a few shrikes and an loud beeping noise, turning to fallow the light he saw a truck coming towards him, his eyes widened and he froze then all the light faded and all he felt was pain.

******************************

Genki floated in some kind of silver void, he was all alone yet he did not feel cold or empty, but instead warm and restful, the darkness was water, he felt as though he was floating in a pool. Closeing his eyes he wanted to stay submerged by suddenly he felt light shine on his face, opening his eyes he saw a glowing woman standing before him, beautiful brown and golden hair, eyes the same color of an real ocean, she smiled at him, embracing him suddenly. She felt so warm and so loving.

"Where am I? Did I die?"

"Yes little one, you died. But, I wont let you enter the life stream this easy."

"Life stream, don't we go to heaven when we die?"

The woman laughed almost in disgust. "Oh boy! What kind of stories are humans making up? No, let me explain about the lifestream, when we die our souls go to this eternal ocean, and help heal the planet, help keep it alive. However..."

"However?"

"Their are two other goddesses out there. One of them is Key, the proclaimed goddess of light, the other is Saiyoua the one with an heart of darkness. Wars has been fought over them in the past, she was reborn as a child but now...certain forces are determent to see the final battle carried on. But...if Saiyoua wins, all life will be destroyed...all the souls from the life stream will be sucked dry, the earth will crumble like dried mud. Oisa will suck everything dry. Saiyoua will destory everything if she wins the battle..."

"What if Key wins?"

"If Key wins? Let's just say, it's complicated to explain, but...if Key wins, sooner or later Gaia will die because of humans and the fact she loves them to much to care about them."

"What?"

"The only hope we have is to destory both Saiyoua and Key, then Gaia and Earth can be in peace, for since the beginning both goddesses caused strain on the planet as both fought for control...and if one lives, then the balance between good and evil will be tipped to much and to suddenly and Oisa will come, no matter what the goddess wishes. The only way the planets can be safe is with the death of both of them."

"How am I suppose to help?"

"I'll return you back to life, but you will have to know something you will no longer be human, you have the blood of the goddesses flowing inside of your veins now."

"H...How!?"

".........You'll find out, someday."

"Why me? Why?"

"Your the only one left in this world as innocent as me."

"Who are you?"

"Messiha."

"Messiha?"

"The lost goddess, long ago I gave a stone to Cid, called the goddess stone and told him to use it to kill the goddesses, but instead he used it to merge and reborn them. He had good intentions but instead he may of doomed the worlds."

"What will happen to me?"

"You will.....become part of me. Saiyoua has a part of her alive in this world...Key...she doesn't...yet. But soon I can see the three Neo Angels together...in battle. It'll be a hard faith, but it is your destiny. From now on you will have a sense of the goddess, and my knowledge, but don't ever reveal this to anyone, except for those who are also part of the goddesses or is part of the final battle."

"Messiha, will I change? Am I still going to be me?"

The woman smiled. " Your personality will change, a little, for Messiha is not good or evil, you will half to choose yourself which your going to be. Now wake up child!"

***********************************

Genki groaned opening his eyes, all around him were machines, the walls were white, he was in a medical room. Glancing down at his arm he saw a needle sticking into his arm, traveling his eyes upward he saw a bag containing blood. Hearing a groan, he turned his head weakly to the right to see Keith waking in the other bed. Genki felt different inside, it was hard to explain, but setting up in bed, suddenly finding the unknown strength to do so, he looked down at the golden cross on his neck, Bra had always told him to wear it, with an bitter sound he pulled on it, snapping the fragile chain off of his neck as he threw the crucifix to the floor, turning his head he spotted Keith staring at him. Genki spoke, but not in his own voice, something like how Keith did earlier

"God is pure they say, Key is the goddess of light, their has been many gods and goddesses during the period of time, how do you know which one's are real, how do you know which ones are really pure? Maybe none of them are pure? Battles has always been fought over religion, humans always slaughtered each other in the name of god. How can gods be pure when all they cause are death?"

Keith smiled and answered in the same different voice as before. " It's ironic that people always fight to gain the favor of the good gods, it's the light that causes the pain and the suffering, darkness does not, yet they are called evil, and the side truely wrong is called good, how strange."

"Hmmm..." Genki smiled. "Perhaps, or perhaps, it is not the religion which is evil, after all religion is something people just made up, the battles fought are their own ideas, and are fought by their own hand."

"Then humans are the ones that should be destroyed, you agree with me, don't you Messiha?"

"No...I don't, and I don't agree with Key either, someday maybe you will understand, Saiyoua, but till then, let's enter back into our true prison and allow our children to rest until the day of the faithful battle. It will be Genki's choice if he helps out the light or the darkness."

*************************************

Bra walked in an hour later to see both boys laying on the bed, sleeping quietly. Keith had been the only one able to give the transfusion. She wondered who had attacked her little brother, it was Tenki who found him laying on the street after the accident and had brought him to her, and he said he didn't see anyone. She was glad that he was alive though, but she didn't expect him to be able to even sit up for quite awhile. As she went to leave the room, he eyes caught a shining glint on the floor, kneeling down she picked it up and saw the small little golden cross Genki always wore, chained snapped, laying discarded on the floor, looking over at her little brother in shock, she squeezed the tiny gold crucifix in her hand, before letting it fall back to the floor where she leave it lay.

************************************

Genki stood back in the darkness, speaking to his winged self.

"Genki, you still want to be human. You were and are nothing but a pawn of Messiah."

"............"

"But, hear Genki, I'll do you a favor, take this." Winged Genki reached into his pocket and took out a kitchen knife, stained red. Genki's eyes went wide as he saw it.

"This is the knife I used to try and kill myself the first time."

`Yes, But Keith found you and saved you, but you can do it now, you can kill yourself and be free of your destiny!"

"But I..." Genki suddenly felt a weight in his hands, looking down he spotted the knife, slowly he brought it up, staring at the blade.

~Ryan's Regret~

As Ryan saw where he was he fell to his knees, trembling in horror. "No, not this place again."

"Yes, Ryan, this place again."

He gasped looking up spotting Ruto staring down at him, hatefully. He shook his head.

"Your not Ruto! Go away!"

"True, but...this place brings out your most painful pasts, twists it allowing the darkness and regret in you heart to overcome you...but I can't do that to you."

"........Why not?"

"Because, you don't have a past, you don't have memories, are you even Ryan? Are you even alive?" Ruto laughed mockingly. " Your greatest hurt is what you did to Ruto, how you lost her because of your foolishness, and how you was not able to save your dear little sister Parfait, but I need not remind you of that, for it hunts you every minuet of every day, not a moment goes by that your pain does not haunt you. You are always trapped hear Ryan, even when you do not see it, you are always trapped in this dark ocean and you will be forever."

Ruto disappeared, leaving Ryan alone, still fallen on his two knees. "That's right...I was always lost inside...."

**********************************

Saiyoua laughed, Taromecika standing at her side. "They are all dying, dying from their own regrets and pains...ha, ha, ha....Oisa thank you for alowing me to trap them into your blissful dark ocean."

Unknown to them an small bat flew up behind them, as it got close to Saiyoua who stood at the edge of the balcony it shimmered, transforming into...

Saiyoua screamed as someone wrapped their hands around her neck, Taromecika alarmed twisted around to see who the attacker was, and growled angrily.

"LEMON!!"

The blond Dampire, now returned back to his true form, no longer part devil, twisted around to snarl at Taromecika.

"The one and only! LET MY FRIENDS GO YOU EVIL WITCH!!"

"NEVER!" The evil goddess roared, grabbing the boy by the edge of his wing, prying him off of her back. With an angry toss she threw him, ripping both wings off of his back, his blood raining down below sprinkling onto the faces of his freinds whom laid below the building, unmoving. With a grunt he grabbed onto the railing trying to pull himself up but had his wrist grabbed and gripped by Saiyoua who held him in the air, dangling him like a worm on the hook.

"Lemon, you stupid fool." Saiyoua spat. "You were trouble right from the beginning. I should have taken care of you then, but I thought we could use you, the devil inside of you was powerful and easy to control because of your many sins, but now I can see that you are no good to me. Goodbye, little pest once and for all!" With those words she flung Lemon from off the balcony, sending the boy crashing down to the ground, he wouldn't scream...he wouldn't...

He crashed into the ground, body filled with pain and unable to move, eyes wide as his body twitched, he could hear Mara's screams as she ran towards him, but he wasn't focusing on them. He wheezed painfully, hardly able to breath, his ribs and back were broken, blood poured from underneath him. The cat girl ran up to him, falling to her knees at his side.

"LEMON! LEMON!" She shrieked.

"Mara...I....am....going to save....them. I'll use the last bit of....of my devil power...to dive...into their minds.....by doing so....I'll loose all devil in myself...but since...the devil replaces the human component in me....I will also....loose...my...h....h...human side....but I'm willing to make that sacrifice....to save everyone...watch...watch them, and if I die...tell...Squall....not to cry....not to be alone...and to take care of Pan."

"Lemon." Mara sobbed. "Don't!!"

"I'll be all right, I'm going to save our friends now." Lemon closed his eyes, going limp.

**************************

Lima sobbed burring her face in her hands, Pai-Pai's cruel words still echoing in her ears.

"Lima! Don't lesson to her!" A sudden voice called threw the darkness, Lima and Pai-Pai turned towards it and Lemon appeared out of the darkness, shining bright, not being part of the darkness that surrounded them.

"L...Lemon? What are you doing hear? But Pai-Pai is right...It is my fault...."

"It is not! That is not Pai-Pai! That's just an image created by your own self-guilt!" Lemon pointed to the image of Pai-Pai whom began to back away frightened. Lima gasped, looking between the two figures puzzled. "But still...I did cause Pai-Pai, Quion and Ryo to all die...."

The darkness grew thicker, engulfing the young elf, Lemon tried to reach out to her but was stopped by the darkness. He couldn't reach her.

"Lima, try and remember what really happened! REMEMBER!!" Lemon shrieked.

Closeing her eyes, the elf tried to remember what happened on that day...what really happened.

~Lima's story continued

"The gun running case is far from over...but it's over for Quion and I, it's time to turn in our badges."

"Pai-Pai? What do you mean...?" Lima asked fearfully.

"Quion and I lost are jobs...." Pai-Pai began.

Lima backed away, tears filling her eyes. "Lima so sorry!! It's all Lima's fault!"

"No, don't say that." Pai-Pai said softly, taking the other's hands in her own. " Lima, you did the right thing. I would have just let those children die....you are so kind hearted, though you may not be the brightest bulb in the factory, I know you are the one with nicest heart. You'll be a good cop, one that actually loves those whom she has to protect. I don't understand how you can give your love to perfect strangers but...I envy it, because I know I'll never know how it feels. Lima I want you to know you did the right thing, and promise me Lima, promise me that you will never stop caring about people."

"Lima promise."

"Good, Lima." Pai-Pai smiled. " We will always be best friends, right? Goodbye, we'll meet again someday, ok? So don't be sad Lima."

~End Lima's Story~

Lima's eyes snapped open and the darkness around her began to disappear, turning to *Pai-Pai* she spoke voice thick with anger.

"How dare you try and twist the memories of Pai-Pai's and my friendship? I did not cause her death...She gave me the orb of love not to punish me, but because she thought, she felt that I deserved it. I don't need you anymore to make me feel guilty, I know the truth now, and I'll never be bothered by it again."

The fake form of Pai-Pai slowly disappeared, and so did the darkness as Lima was finally able to open her eyes again.

********************************

Mara turned towards her elf friend who sat up, gasping for breath looking around wildly, she spotted Mara and the half-dead Lemon, with an cry she dashed towards them.

"OH MY GOD, LEMON!!!" She cried, before forcing herself to calm down. "He saved me...in that dark world..."

"And he'll save the others." Mara finished. "I just know it."

Both girls stared down at Lemon as he continued to breath weakly and dive into the mind's of their freinds, trying to bring them back out of the darkness in their minds.

*************************************

Squall shivered, being held unwillingly by Ganderdof, he just could not escape his grip, the darkness just seemed to grow thicker, part of him wanted to go back to the pack and live like he use to.....he almost gave into that desire but then he saw a shining figure running towards him, eyes growing wide, it was...

"LEMON!!" He cried out happily, Ganderdof gasped growling angrily.

"SQUALL!!" The Dampire cried out, stopping as he got a few feet away from the pair. "Oh Squall! You have no idea how much I missed you!! Squall come on, let's get out of this place!"

Squall tried to escape Ganderdof's embrace but was pulled back, the older man-beast snarled at Lemon.

"No! He's mine! He was mine before yours, let him stay hear, he was happier in the past, let him be happy."

"Happy? Right." Lemon turned sour, narrowing his eyes bitterly. " Your not even Ganderdof, your just a fake. Squall decide your own happiness!! Don't listen to the ghosts of your past! Come back to me and Pan!"

"Lemon...." Squall whispered, before smiling. "I will!!" with a new found power Squall pulled away from Ganderdof's embrace and ran over to Lemon whom hugged him thightly.

"But Squall..." Ganderdof began hurt, Squall turned to his smiling.

"The past is over Ganderdof, I let go of it, and I have an happy future ahead of me, with my sweet N'sour Lemon and my beautiful daughter Pan. I don't need to hang on to the past anymore, not when I finally have a real future."

Ganderdof disappeared and the world of darkness vanished with him.

**********************************

Squall opened his eyes, setting up, he felt puzzled and empty....Lemon had been right in his arms, but he could not feel him anymore, but, it all felt to real to be a dream. Looking around he could see his friends still passed out on the ground, before finally spotting Mara and Lima setting beside the body off...

Squall's blood froze and in a matter of moments rushed over to Lemon's side, he wanted to scoop the boy into his arms, but stopped as he saw the pool of blood under him.

"Internal bleeding...we can't move him...." Squall noted, voice shaking with fear.

"His back and ribs were broken...If we pick him up, one of the broken bones could pierce his heart and kill him."

"No, Lemon..." Squall whimpered, setting back he noticed for the first time that both the boy's wings were missing, turning towards the two girls, Mara shook her head.

"Saiyoua tore them off his back, that is why he could not stop himself from falling...right now he using the last of his devil powers to enter into our friends minds and save them from the darkness..."

"He saved me." Lima spoke softly. " And he saved you, I know he'll be able to save the rest."

"I just want him to be able to save himself." Squall's voice shook, as he caressed the boys face, tears filling his eyes.

*****************************

Lemon kneeled down beside Carrie's body, the girl laid on the ground bleeding, she was all alone, the darkness had practically buried her....she was almost to far gone to reach.

"Carrie, wake up, snap out of it."

"............."

"Carrie, come on!"

"..........I killed them all.....I killed everyone...."

"It was an accident Carrie, you didn't want to kill them, it was..." Lemon began but was cut off.

"I did want to kill them, I hated my family, I killed them on purpose."

Lemon's eyes widened shocked. " Carrie, that is not true."

"Yes it is...I lied to you guys all this time, lied to myself....I made myself believe that I was sad, but I was really happy, I began to live my own lie....Lemon, I don't want to hurt anyone ever again, let me die...."

"Carrie...Do you really hate your family?'

".......Yes I told you....I only pretended to be sad, but I accept it now...."

"Then why do you still seem so sad?'

"................"

"Carrie, I know how it feels to hate...to be filled with rage and pain, I once killed someone I truely cared about, I told myself over and over again it was because I was being controlled, that was part of the reason, but the truth was I hated her because, she wouldn't love me....because she abandoned me....but then as I looked inside myself even more I found that I didn't hate her, that my hate was only felt on the inside but when I looked truely deep in my heart, I found that I was making myself believe I hated her, to try and get over the pain I felt."

".............." Carrie wheezed, choking, the darkness was still strangling her, but it was starting to clear up just a little.

"........Maybe.....Maybe then the true lie is that I hated them....maybe I hated them inside, but maybe my hate is not real, maybe I started telling myself I hated them because...because I did not want the pain to hurt me. No....I really did hate them.....but....I didn't hate them entirely. I would never want to kill them....Mother, she gave her life to save mine, I did not hate her, I did not hate father either.....I did not hate them so much, just a little....I didn't..." She smiled. "I didn't kill them on purpose, I just made myself believe so, so I would not feel the pain.......Lemon, get me out of this place....I can accept what I did, but I can be at peace now, knowing that I did not kill them on purpose, knowing that I did not truely hate them...." She reached out her hand taking Lemon's hand and the darkness faded.

**************************

Carrie opened her eyes weakly, looking around herself she spotted Colt, he was still alive, she breathed relived and turned to her right where she heard sobbing, she spotted Mara, Lima and Squall crowded around Lemon.

"Lemon." Carrie smiled sadly. "Thank you..."

****************************

Mimi still sat in the dark water crying, all alone, then like an illusion she heard a voice, but was to heart broken to look for the source. Lemon ran up to her, falling on his knees beside her alarmed.

"MIMI!! What's wrong!? Why are you crying? Are you ok!?"

The fairy-half looked at him, blinking confused. "Lemon? I thought everyone went away...."

"Mimi, what you saw is not real, none of us would ever leave you, come on, let's get out of this place." lemon grabbed her hand trying to pull her out of the darkness but she forced herself back onto the ground, refusing to budge.

"Lemon....It is real...I am going to be alone.....No one will want anything to do with me."

"Mimi, that is NOT true!" Lemon exclaimed.

"It is, no one will want to be around an helpless dying person, ugly and twisted, laying on a bed, doped up on drugs."

The Dampire blinked startled. "What are you talking about, Mimi?"

"I have cancer, only five years to live. Why do you think I try not to get close to anyone, why I don't want boyfriend, I don't want to cause people pain when I die, but I don't want to be alone....how selfish of me....I'm going to cause everyone pain because I don't want to die alone...what does it matter? Everyone will hate me, they will be happy when I die, I'm bound to be a bother when I become to sick to move....everyone will be better off..."

Mimi looked up startled as she heard a sob, and saw Lemon's eyes glistening with tears.

"Oh Mimi, don't say that, we will all always care about you, even if you can't get out of bed but....Oh Mimi, I don't want to see you die! I...I don't want you to die, your my friend. Your such a kind and sweet person, that is why everyone in the group likes you so much, we will always be with you, we will never hate you, but, I can't say we wont be hurt, I can't say we wont cry, we will be in lots of pain but, people do have pain when someone they care about so much passes on, but Mimi, the worse pain in the world would be not to know you. Mimi come on, don't die hear alone, come with me, we can be with the group, all right. Everyone and of course Genki is waiting for you! Come on, let's get out of this darkness."

Mimi smiled, still crying. "Really, all of you will still be my friend even if...if I become a pain in the neck, sick in a hospital?"

"All of us will always care about you."

And finally the darkness left allowing Mimi to wake up with an new hope in her heart.

************************

Mimi walked over to where four other team members were crowded around Lemon and landed softly on her knees.

"Lemon, thanks for being there, none of us will leave your side until you wake up, thank you so much....."

**********************

"Tommy.....What should I do?" Rose whispered softly.

"Join Saiyoua again, come on Rose, take my hand."

"NO!!"

Rose turned around, blinking confused as she saw Lemon standing before her.

"You? Lemon...One of Lounaru's warriors who turned traitor, what are doing hear?"

"Rose don't lesson to that fake image!" Lemon warned. " You escaped from Saiyoua don't fall into her trap again. I was played with by the dark forces way to much, and I don't think I could stand to just set back and watch as another Mauls Yamersa is made! Don't keep falling into the trap of the darkness like I did! Stay far away from that trap, don't suffer like I did!! Don't get poisoned with evil and blood on your hands! Rose run away from him!! Run now or you will never be able to escape!!!"

Rose froze, looking back at Tommy, then at Lemon then back at her lover.

"Rose don't lesson to that two faced looser, come with me." Tommy reached out his hand to her. Rose stared into his face, his eyes and suddenly backed away, shaking her head.

"I was tricked....You aren't Tommy, the reflection I see in your eyes is all evil and coldness, it shows no warmth or love, besides I am fighting to save Gaia, and what makes a planet beautiful is the things that live on it! What would be the point to saving a planet so only bugs and scorpions can walk on it's surface!?" Rose turned away from him and began to walk towards Lemon behind her Tommy cried out to her before disappearing, closeing her eyes she whispered ".......Tommy, may your soul rest."

***************************

Rose opened her eyes looking around and spotted the group setting beside Lemon, smiling weakly she looked up into the sky, thinking to herself

`Lemon, thanks for stopping me from making a horrible mistake...'

***********************

Genki stared down at the knife in his hands, weighing the blade, testing the sharpness he brushed his finger against it, the skin sliced instantly, though he applied no pressure. The blade was sharp really sharp. He considered....he did not want his faith......he never wanted it, as a child when Messiah came to him he did not really understood what she had meant but he understood fully now, by accepting his faith, he had in turned signed away his soul...his life. He did not want this....He closed his eyes, prepared to swipe the blade against the bare skin of his wrist, his winged self watched intently, an smile plastered on his face, as though happy from the thought to be relived from his destiny as well.

"Genki!!"

Both Genki's turned towards the voice and saw Lemon dashing towards them, panting tiredly as though he had just ran a mile.

"Since when do you give up?" The Dampire panted, putting his hands on his hips.

"....I...um..."

"Of all people, I never thought of you to be the suicidal type. Come on, I know the future does not always have good things in store for us, and I know you just want to escape. But if you did kill yourself, what would be the point? Saiyoua would be able to destory everyone...All your friends, Mimi, every living thing, and where would you be? You would be gone, leaving us all by ourselves."

".......!!"

"You said once you would never betray your friends, and that the people you care about are the most important people to you in the world, so don't leave us, come on, you still have to tell Mimi how you feel about her!"

Genki smiled, dropping the knife, winged Genki looked at this in horror, eyes became pleading as he spoke

"Don't do this! Don't condemn both of us to this horrible faith!! PLEASE!!"

Genki shook his head. "No...The worse faith would be to leave my friends behind, to betray them, I could not bring myself to do that, I will not abandon them!"

"NOOO!!!" Winged Genki screamed as he faded from existence and Genki woke up.

*****************************

The fiery fighter sat up abruptly, looking around, spotting only Ryan and the hurt Colt still passed out on the ground, everyone one else was crowed around Lemon's unmoving form. Genki walked over, kneeling down next to him, studying his injuries with horror.

"Oh my god, Lemon!!"

Squall turned towards the boy, with an pained expression. " He's dying.....We can't move him or else, we stand more of a chance of killing him....if only we could do something..."

"Bra will know what to do...I'll go and get her, maybe she can help!" Genki exclaimed, uncapsueling his air board, rushing off to get help, praying he wouldn't be to late.

Lemon groaned, turning his head to the side, the last friend he had to save would be the hardest...for both Ryan and himself.

************************************

"Ryan." Lemon whispered approaching the boy who just sat on his knees in the dark water, an blank expression on his face.

"Ryan, tell me what happened with you, what regret is it that haunts you?"

"None...."

"........"

"I don't have a past to regret...I don't remember anything about anything...and the memories of Ruto and Parfait hunts me constantly, this dark ocean does not need to remind me of that pain. I've been in this place so many times before, when I close my eyes, I can see myself standing hear, lost in this darkness. Who am I? I don't remember...."

"Ryan...."

Ryan clenched his fists, and when he opened them his hands were covered in blood, Lemon gasped, falling to his knees beside him, taking the bleeding hands in his own.

"Oh my gosh!! Ryan what happened!?"

Instead Ryan just lifted his hands calmly to his face, staring at his blood as though it was the most fascinating thing in the world. "Lemon is this my blood? Is all this real? Maybe I am really dead and this all has been a dream, I just can't make out the difference anymore..."

Lemon had turned pale and was trembling slight, an strange look etched on his face, something caught his attention and he glanced down seeing Ryan's large red locket fall into the water, it laid opened revealing a picture of a young golden hair and blue eyed woman. Ryan glanced at it to, both boys stared at the picture until Lemon broke the silence, picking up the photo and handing it to Ryan.

"Tell me, does this face look familiar?"

".....Yes, but I've only saw it in dreams....no in nightmares...."

"Ryan, can you tell me the nightmare?"

"I see a woman walking in a snowy dessert, she has two demon-half's with her, both has red hair and green eyes, one of them is a little boy, he's walking beside the woman, the other is still just a little baby. They spoke calmly about something then the woman suddenly screams and pushes the boy to the ground, getting shot by something in the back, she falls down, and as she dies she gives a sword to the little boy, the boy with the baby sees the misty form of their attacker, he tells them to run away, they do and then a portal to Angeles opens and this woman comes running out as the attacker picks up the dead woman, after a few words, angry words The attacker and the dead woman disappear."

Lemon gripped the cloth of his robes in his fists, trembling, tears gleaming in his violet eyes.

"....Ryan, If you can remember that then....then you do have a past."

"..........."

"Ryan your demon sword, that is the sword in the dream, the sword that goes by the name Oisa."

Ryan gasped, looking down at the two swords he had buckled to his belt, the sword of light and his demon sword. Lemon was right, the demon sword was the sword in the dream.

"But how....? That little boy in the dream is not me."

"It is...not, your right. But...the story is to far complicated, and if I tell it now the darkness will devour me in an instant, for the memories you have forgotten is the memories which hunts my heart. Point is...you do have memories, you remember our adventures, you remember all the funny things which happened with the group, you remember all the times Mara hung off of you, you remember every silly thing Lima says, you remember what I said a minuet ago. It doesn't matter where memories begin, but you have them, now come on, this darkness is starting to choke me...let's get out of this place before it kills us both."

"All right...but I never truly leave this place, I always end up back hear."

".............Let's go."

Lemon and Ryan disappear, but unlike with all the others, the darkness did not disappear, and according to Ryan, it never would.

**************************************

Ryan woke up in a soft bed, looking around himself he spotted Mara setting in a chair next to him, she smiled when he saw whim set up and threw her arms around him.

"Good! Lemon got you back safely, he got everyone back safely too!"

"....Where is he? Where are we all for that matter?"

"We are back at Bra's place and Lemon.....I don't know if he will make it or not...."

Ryan gasped, feeling his blood run cold, everything else faded from his mind, he could only hear Mara's words ring threw his head `I don't know if he will make it or not...' He had to make, he just could not die...Alex...that was one of their team members that was gone, they did need to loose another friend. Not another!

"No!" Ryan cried, throwing himself from the bed dispite Mara's protests for him to stay and rest, he rushed out the door, Genki was in the hallway, glancing at him with an small frown, seeing his urgency, silently pointed to a opened door down the hall, Ryan ran pass him quickly, taking note of the usual cheerful ones dreary attitude. He dashed into Lemon's room, freezing in his tracks, spotting Lemon laying in the bed, eyes closed, oxygen mask covering his face, needles in his arm and bandages wrapped entirely around his stripped body covering only with a thin sheet.

"Lemon..." He breathe horrified at his friends poor state.

For the first time he noticed that he was not alone in the room, Squall along with Pan was setting at the bed side, Squall did not even so much as glance in his direction but the words he spoke showed all to clearly the anguish that must have been plastered on his face.

"They don't think he will live. He was hurt horribly in the fall...hit ribs and spine were broken in many places, and when his wings were ripped away he lost lots of blood. Maybe he would of been ok if he had conserved his energy but instead used his last remaining bit of power to save us.....He is only holding on by a thread.....Mimi and Genki used healing magic on him but, it does nothing to help improve his condition. We don't what to do..." Squall shook his head, keeping his eyes focused on Lemon, refusing to move them away for even a second.

".........." Ryan also looked down at the boy, his face was paler then usual, he seemed to be sweating quite alot, he seemed to be in great pain. He saw something wet hit the boy's bed sheets and looked startled, then sadly to see that the wet spots were coming from the tears that freely rolled down Squall's face. Looking back at the boy sadly, Ryan was about to let a few tears of his own go but then noticed something so faint that he almost missed it, something that Squall was to pained to spot, Lemon's mouth was moving slowly, mouthing silent words underneath the oxygen mask.

"Squall...."

"........."

"He's saying something, don't you see his lips moving?"

The man-beast looked at Ryan startled before whipping back around to stare at Lemon, his eyes widening as he saw that Ryan was right, the boys lips were moving, very slowly, mouthing each word carefully. Both boys knelt close beside their ill friend trying to make out the words, together they slowly said together what they could read from the silent lips.

"The truth is, there is none, it all has been a lie, memories are easily twisted, don't believe your own lies...believe the truth that......." Lemon's mouth stopped moving and went limp, he was still breathing, but very slowly.

"The truth is, there is none, it all has been a lie, memories are easily twisted, don't believe your own lies, believe the truth that....' What are you trying to say, Lemon?" Squall whispered, petting the boy bangs back softly, Ryan trembled, remembering what he and Lemon talked about in the dark ocean, Lemon was saying these words to him, but what did they mean?"

"Ryan." Squall muttered, looking at him, eyes red and puffy. "I'd like to be alone with him right now, I'm sorry, but....."

"I understand." Ryan nodded still shaken. "I'll hope gets better."

"Thanks.....Ryan?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you go to the room across the hall to check on Carrie?"

"Carrie?" Ryan asked startled.

Squall sighed drearily for a moment, lowering his eyes to the floor. "It's Colt, we all saw how he was badly injured."

"..............."

"He's going to live but." Squall shook his head. "His nerves and bones, on his left side was shattered...leaving him permanently paralyzed from the waist down."

Ryan's eyes went wide and his mouth opened but no sound came out.

***************************

Carrie sat by Colt's bed, wiping away tears with her fist, Colt was awake, but looked as though he was in a state of shock, he wasn't even blinking. Mimi was with them, trying to comfort both of the children. The fairy-half turned to Ryan as he entered the room, he eyes shades of pink and red. She shook her head, walking pass him, whispering

"It all seems so hopeless...Alex, Lemon, Colt..."

As she left Ryan walked up to Carrie, laying an hand on her shoulder. The young Fernandez turned to look at him, face stained with tears

"Why wont he talk to me?"

"....Carrie, he is probably is a state of shock. Don't worry he'll pull threw."

".........." Carrie sighed, getting to her feet and without another word left the room, Ryan sat down beside the young boy.

"Colt...don't give up, you have to stay hear for Carrie, for the team."

"..............."

"Colt, what is going to get though to you? Doing this is not going to help anything. Snap out of it."

".............."

Ryan shook his head. " Who am I kidding? I don't know what to do to help anyone hear. I'm sure Mimi and Genki already used healing magic and it did nothing. I really should not have been chosen as being the leader of this group, maybe if I hadn't maybe Alex would still be alive, maybe Lemon and you would not be hospitalized and maybe even Ruto...maybe even she would be safe now."

"Ryan don't think like that." A voice came from behind him, startling him, turning around he saw an sad looking Lima.

".............."

"Ryan don't put all the blame on yourself." She said coming up behind him. "I know I'm not smart, but I know when someone is putting to much weight on themselves. Ryan you did the best you could for this team, and it is not like you forced anyone to do anything, you were open to ideas, we all just did what we thought was right. If Genki, Me, Alex, Squall, Lemon, were the leader then we would most probably just be right up to this point again."

"..........."

"......Ryan, if you keep this up, your going to go in a nervous breakdown."

Ryan got up from the chair, and began to leave the room. "Lima, thanks, but I need to be alone now."

As he left the room Mara spotted him in the hall and went to go after him, but as she passed the door, spotting Lima standing in the doorway, the elf just shook her head slowly, and Mara understood, lowering her eyes sadly to the ground, she clasped her hands together and prayed to whoever was listening that everyone would be all right.