Disclaimer: I do not own any of the RK/WK/SM characters. I merely use them for my own amusement.

Tenshi’s Notes: Well I figured, for the few people who actually check out my website, here’s a bonus! LOTS of stuff happening this chapter, including Ken’s date, and further intrigue and characters introduced. *grins* Remember, feedback is good! I like feedback. Thanks to my usual crew of wonderful friends and imoutos!

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

He was starting to get heart palpitations. He couldn’t stop his head from turning around at every person that came through the front of the apartment. God he was so nervous at the moment that he felt as if he would jump out of his skin. He felt his palms getting sweaty and he rubbed them briskly on his dark denims. Adjusting his goggles yet again, he wondered if he was going to get stood up. Great, first date in ages and you get stood up. Way to go, Ken! He mentally waited for his brain to settle down when a soft voice spoke beside him, nearly causing him to raise his fists against her. (AN: not that he wants to beat her, but it would be an automatic reaction with his bugnuk if someone were trying to creep up on him)

"Ken-kun?"

Breathing a sigh of relief that she had shown up and that he had managed not to deck her on their first date, he nearly choked as he saw what she had appeared in. Her long golden tresses was half pulled back, leaving wavy tendrils that framed her face. Her figure was somehow contained in black leather pants, beige top, and her biker jacket. With her helmet tucked under her arm, she gave him a grin as he struggled to speak again.

"You look very nice, Usagi," he strangled out.

"So do you, Ken-kun. I hope you don’t mind if we took your bike instead."

He imagined her arms around him, and he nearly blushed. Mind? He wouldn’t be sane if he minded a woman as lovely as herself putting her hands on him. He wished he could smack the Yohji portion of his brain as he gave her a nod, not really trusting himself to speak at the moment for surely his voice would come out as a squeak.

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

As he made the way up the curving roads, the winds whispered lingering memories in his ears as if sharing secrets. He hadn’t been past this way, not since he had been there last with Yuriko. He had loved her, and for the first time in his life, he had wished so badly that he wasn’t who he was. As Yohji had brutally reminded him, he shouldn’t be smearing the blood of many on her hands. So he had let her go. It had nearly torn him apart, leaving the way he did, and in his mind, he had flown to Australia so many times to be with her. She had been a breath of fresh air, independent yet needing at the same time, much like Usagi was.

A smile crossed his face as he felt Usagi leaning her head against his back and wrapping her arms even tighter across his body. The smile faltered as they approached his destination as he was once again reminded of why he shouldn’t get close to her, and why he couldn’t allow himself to care for her.

Slowing down to a stop, he rested his heels on the road, and Usagi stirred slowly before stretching luxuriantly like a panther. She swung her leg over and removed the helmet and gave him a sleepy smile, one that sent his senses swirling in cacophony.

"It’s been so long since I’ve sat on the bike as a passenger. It’s nice to let someone else take over for a change."

The words were said so quietly, yet with a hint of weariness of someone who had stood on her own for too long, and at far too young an age. What had she gone through to take that happy light out of her eyes? He wanted to know more, so he could help ease her burden. But they had just met, and as such, he didn’t want to scare her away.

"It’s beautiful out here, Ken-kun."

As are you, he wanted to say but he held his tongue. With goggles firmly in place, he stared at the sun that was beginning its descent into its watery grave. Orangey-red beams cast across the ocean floor, sending its brilliance to be reflected magnificently upon her face. He remembered the woman he had met during the day, and how she had looked at night. At sunset, her beauty was truly remarkable.

Reaching out for her hand, she stiffened against his touch initially before relaxing. Tingles spread throughout him as he felt the smooth skin beneath his fingertips. She allowed herself to be led to the grassy hilltop that he had sat not so long ago with Yuriko. They both sat down, content to be awed by the slow process of light being devoured by dark blue depths. This sense of peace was something he had never experienced before, and he snuck occasional glances at her profile. She looked almost as if she were brooding.

"Is everything okay, Usagi?"

The words seemed to snap her out of whatever thoughts had held her captive. The breeze offered her silent comfort, stirring her fondest memories into play. She remembered everything that Motoki had ever done for her, and how she wasn’t doing anything about it at the moment. Time was of the essence. If she didn’t move soon, then she would surely lose the only opportunity she had. Takatori Reiji was dangerously close to winning the elections and if he didn’t, he would surely employ underhanded means just as he always had to guarantee his wins. So what was she doing here?

Being with Ken seemed to settle her down. Unlike Omi’s boyish sweetness, Yohji’s charm, and Ran’s fire, Ken had a depth to him that spoke of suffering untold. Then again, each of them radiated pain, not quite unlike what she had gone through. Yohji’s aura was strangely bittersweet, as if he had lost something he hadn’t quite known. Omi’s aura was tragic, a lost soul with no one to guide him. Ken’s aura had an almost haunting quality, much like Yohji’s except that Ken had to give up something very close to his heart. But it was Ran’s fire that drew her back time and time again. The flames of vengeance and guilt blazed within, just like her own.

She clenched her fist and drew her knees up to her chest, allowing the salty tang of the ocean’s breeze to sweep the tendrils from her face, washing away anything that obstructed her vision of what she had to do. Ken. She had no right to hurt him like this. Not at all, not when she knew the truth in her heart. How was she going to tell him though? She knew she wasn’t flattering herself with thinking that Ken was interested. The truth of the matter was that it was extremely rare for her to make a mistake when it came to being a judge of character. That being said, there was always room for error.

Remnants of orange glows cast a shadow across face, revealing a man deep in thought. This area held some sort of memory for him, someone special perhaps. She didn’t want to probe too deeply. That was his business. If he had wanted to tell her, he would’ve.

"Not much of a riding date, is it?" he said, almost to himself. Turning around, she found herself temporarily arrested by a pair of sea-green (AN: his eye colour NEVER stays constant dangit!!) glancing in her direction. She shook her head to clear her mind as the day gave way to night. Standing up abruptly, she hated herself for what she was about to do.

"I think we should go now, Ken-kun."

The expression on his face betrayed his astonishment, along with the slight pangs of heartache.

"Why? Did I do something wrong?"

She turned around and sent the golden tendrils flying about her head.

"Iie. You didn’t do anything wrong, but… I think we’re better off as friends."

It was a good thing she had said it now before he had really fallen in love with her. Like the inky darkness of the ocean, she had taken his heart despite his best efforts, though it didn’t sting as much as he imagined. He could read the regret shining from her eyes, and her unwillingness to hurt him. It comforted him somewhat, but it still couldn’t reduce the dull ache that had settled in the corner of his heart.

"No worries. It was only a first date, right?"

She took a step closer to him, and to his surprise, she hugged him. As her arms came around him, he thought he had found a moment’s worth of peace. Even as friends, she was worth it to have around.

"Gomen, Ken-kun. I never meant to hurt you."

"I know…" he whispered back.

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

He couldn’t believe he was resorting to wandering around the streets at night. Alone.

He was resorting to such juvenile tactics in order to find someone to keep the ghosts at bay, so he wouldn’t have to think about how a pair of dark eyes beguiled him so much, and still made his heart accelerate at the mere thought of her. But she was gone. She had left him so long ago, with nothing except the biting taste of regret lingering in his mouth. Asuka. If only things could’ve been different… if only he could’ve realised the truth earlier on. Gritting his teeth, he fought to shake away the persistent thoughts. This was precisely why he needed a woman by his side. He could forget, if only for a moment.

He observed the moon hanging overhead, half full, being draped by a few lazy clouds. Where were all the women in the city? he wondered. Taking a shortcut, he decided to check out a bar on the other side of the city. Sure, it was a little bit on the shady side, but beggars couldn’t exactly be choosers. And right now, he certainly wasn’t in any position to be picky. He just needed someone. Now.

Veering off to the left at the fork, he was walking along this path when suddenly he saw the flash of golden hair, accompanied by a set of swaying hips that he could never mistake. Perma-grin plastered to his face, he brought his wrist to inspect the time. Nine o’clock only?? Rookies, he thought with a chuckle. His eyes brightened at the prospect of being with that extremely delectable blonde. Carefully brushing off imaginary flecks of dust from his black overcoat, he strode over confidently.

There was a sense of urgency building within him, and he knew that she would somehow ease it. He hadn’t missed the looks on his other team members’ faces. Except for Aya, interest had definitely shone from their eyes. Then again, Mr Popsicle had proven himself to be more than human. He knew that underneath that icy exterior, there lay an extremely hurt soul, one that was no different than what he had in him. They each had their ways of hiding it from others, and it had become such a part of life that they no longer thought twice about it.

So sure was he of his target that he didn’t even pause.

"All here by yourself, beautiful?"

"Get lost, asshole."

It should’ve been her, but imagine to his surprise when he realised it wasn’t.

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

The afternoon had been uneventful, but he couldn’t have allowed her to worm her way even deeper into his heart. Emotions were weaknesses that he had frequently exploited. He had made damn sure that his enemies paid for caring for somebody. Like Ouka and Omi, though he hadn’t meant for her to die. He had only wanted to torment Omi as he raked through Omi’s brain for information. What he had found there had nearly knocked him off his feet. Combined with what he knew, he would’ve shuddered with disgust if he had that wide a range of emotions being housed in him. For him, it was either pain, or none. Or her.

His footsteps faltered as he noted the shimmering hair just ahead of him, combined with that sexy sway of hips that never failed to stir his interest. Admiring her figure that was displayed marvelously in a pair of leather pants, it clung to her long shapely legs, making his mind race in anticipation. He approved of the new change in clothes. This was more to his liking, and if anything, it fanned the flames of attraction into a blazing hunger that needed to be satiated. He watched as the moonlight cast its worshipful beams upon her hair, rendering it almost silver in the dark.

Stealthily, he moved up to her, suddenly eager to claim what she had offered so generously this afternoon. He dimly noted the scent of fresh flowers that clung to her instead of her cloying musky perfume and found himself liking the changes more and more. His hand reaching out, he spun her around quickly.

In the darkened path, only lit by a few lampposts too far between, he could only sense her surprise as he stared down hungrily at her. Her lips were so soft and rosy, untouched by lipstick for once. It would be nice to savour her taste without the waxy taste that accompanied. He wanted the sweetness all to himself.

"I’ve missed you," he murmured huskily, as he bent his head to drink from the lips that he had tried so hard to forget but couldn’t. Her mouth had widened in surprise, allowing him easy access to the honeyed interior. Ambrosia. He felt as if he were drowning in the exquisite sensations. He took the startled moan that came from her, the arms that came up to his chest to push him away. Then he changed the pace, and began wooing her with his lips, delicately tracing her lush lips with all the sensuality and tenderness there was in him. His arms went about her tiny waist, lightly running his fingers up and down her ribcage, and he smiled against her lips at the shiver that went through her, as well as the murmur of approval that came from her.

It was only when she kissed him back that he realised that something was wrong. It wasn’t her.

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

Golden eyes gleamed from the dark, almost predatory in nature. Insanity shone from each scar on his face. Unlike so many of the others he had worked with or destroyed, he was incapable of feeling any pain. Pressing the blade of his knife so that it was within reach, his tongue snaked out to lick the cold metallic tang. It brought reassurance and was essentially the only sensation he could feel.

"This new girl may just pose to be a threat," Crawford said thoughtfully, an enigmatic look upon his face.

He didn’t care about such things. All that mattered was the silence that existed in his head. It was only when the voices and the memories threatened to resurface that would upset the delicate balance. It was then that he needed to kill the most, the urge to make others feel the pain that had once existed within his body. Feed. The taste of blood upon metal was so addicting, accompanied by the surge of adrenaline that would follow as soon as he ended the other person’s existence. It was only then he could find the stillness and the silence that allowed him to live another day.

"I could kill her easily," he spoke whimsically, the note at odds with the cruel twist of his lips.

"You know, you should stop doing that," Crawford said disgustedly. Brushing his immaculate suit, he stood up. "Then again, even if you slit your own tongue, you wouldn’t feel the pain then, would you?"

How well Crawford knew them despite the short amount of time that had passed by. They had been assembled together, just like Weiss was.

"I think she bears investigating. We can take care of her easily if she’s too much of a threat to our position."

Looking at him in revulsion, Crawford adjusted the glasses, the rims catching the glint of moonlight, sending the beams into his long deadened eyes.

"You be somewhat good tonight. Try not to kill too many tonight," he said half-heartedly before departing.

Not tonight. Not tonight. Not while she was here.

"Farfarello?"

From within the shadows, she appeared, light escaping as soon as it attempted to touch her with its silvery beams. Her voice was soft, and gentle, belying the true nature that lay within.

"Can’t we go play now?" she asked with a pout, her eyes reflecting the same emptiness that he had in him.

His lips crooked in an insane grin as he brought the blade to her lips, watching her taste it with the same sort of satisfaction that he had taken out of it.

"Of course, little sister."