/All God�s children need travelling shoes Drive your problems from here All good people read good books Now your conscience is clear I hear you talk girl Now your conscience is clear/

�Sid, mind taking these flowers downtown later today? Mr. Goodwin wanted them but I�m still going to be busy,� Cressida�s distracted voice carried through the Nightwalker residence.

Cassidy sighed as she crouched in a corner, fiddling with the antique radio. �Fine, I needed to go check on my classes anyway. Leave �em on the ta�� She never got to finish the sentence as just at that moment their front door flew open. With a startled jump, Cassidy nearly hit her head on the overhanging shelf above the radio. She looked over and blinked in surprise.

�Where�s Cressida?� Duo demanded as he strode into the living room, Heero at his side.

�Uhhhehh�o�ver�� Cassidy stuttered, caught by the expressions of mingling fear and anger that covered both their faces. Before she could ask, they were past her and heading toward the hallway.

�Cressida!� Duo yelled, sounding impatient. Cressida appeared around the corner of the Greenhouse�s door, looking mildly surprised as she took in Duo�s disheveled state and Heero�s rumpled expression. (1) �Uhh... hey guys...?� she ventured as she slipped off the gardening gloves she�d been wearing and tossed them on a table as she fully left the room.

�Cressida,� Duo said a little too calmly and casually, �Did you forget to mention, ohhh, I don�t know, a little side effect to my powers?� Cressida barely looked over her shoulder as she wandered to the nearest bathroom, leaving the door open as she washed her hands. Her expression in the mirror was honestly puzzled. �Side effect? No... why?�

�Duo died this morning,� Heero explained in a quiet tone.

Cressida stopped completely, the soapy bubbles floating happily down the drain as her wide-eyed gaze peered through the mirror back at them. �He _what_?� she asked calmly. TOO calmly. At that moment it wasn�t hard to imagine Duo and her being related; their overly casual expressions warred with each other as their words continued in casual, calm, and friendly banter. Anyone who didn�t know the two would find it hard to believe that Duo was extremely pissed right then, and Cressida was shaken from the inside out. Heero stood protectively beside Duo, a glower fighting its way to strike out from his very stance itself. One hand hovered possessively near Duo�s, ready to grab and pull from harm at a second�s notice.

�Died,� Duo supplied cheerfully, but his eyes were poisonous and dark, �While I was sleeping. 20 minutes, Cressida... that has to be a _record_!� His smile was much too happy, as was his voice, and the sarcasm was nearly palpable in the air. Cressida�s eyes widened, her strange pupils flashing darker for a moment as fear and disbelief passed quickly through her gaze. The detail wasn�t lost on either Duo or Heero.

�I mean, we�re supposedly family here, right?� Duo continued, letting more and more of his anger show through, trying less to force the cheerfulness, �so I�m guessing there�s a DAMN good reason why you not only DIDN�T tell me I was going to sporadically kick the bucket, but why you�re also deeming it necessary to completely lie, straight to my face, or my reflection I suppose, as. we. speak....�

Cassidy had stopped with the radio and was now listening avidly from the other room, her eyes large in surprise. She still didn�t understand basically anything that was going on, or SUPPOSED to go on anyway, but, damn.... DYING?! For _20 minutes_? There HAD to be something wrong with that.... Completely forgotten, the radio sat alone in the corner as Cassidy crept nearer to the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Cressida had gripped the counter until her knuckles were white. She stared unseeingly into the reflection of her own eyes as she set her jaw.

�Duane,� she said firmly, �You couldn�t have died.�

�He did,� Heero said with finality.

�I did,� Duo nodded, gesturing to Heero. �He saw.�

Cressida slowly released the counter to slouch tensely forward and rub her temples, �Alright,� she said with a soft sigh, speaking as if she were humoring the two, �Duane, wha��

�Duo.� She rolled her eyes as she spun around and leaned against the counter, her hands loosely gripping the edges again, fingers drumming against the white marble. �Fine. _Duo_, what were you doing?�

�Sleeping,� Duo replied automatically, some of his tension falling away as he saw she was about to help. He refused to acknowledge it, but the main motivation behind his anger was fear. Fear that somehow Cano had done something to him, that after all the shit he�d gone through, it�d all drop from beneath him in the end and leave him with nothing but broken memories and a shattered soul.

Cressida barely suppressed the urge to growl. �Duh! You already said that!� She took a deep breath and looked away from Duo�s eyes before the fear could creep into her golden twilight gaze again, �I mean, were you just sitting stupidly in darkness, were you having some erotic wet dream of Heero, _what_?� She sounded unsettled and testy.

Duo�s eyes widened and for once he seemed too surprised to answer at first. Heero, instead of looking embarrassed, looked quite pleased and sated as he smirked. Cressida�s eyes narrowed, starting a death-track back to glare some answers out of Duo but before she had to look over he spoke. �Uhh... I was dreaming... NORMAL dreams....� He blinked, �Well, I guess.� He shrugged with one shoulder.

Instead of being more pissed, Cressida leaned in for the kill, so to speak. Hopefully, anyway. �Of what?� She made the question sound extremely important.

Duo�s eyes got distant as he remembered. �A... a field. And... a song.�

Cressida paled immediately, but only Heero caught it since Duo was looking into memories. �Song? What song?� Cressida demanded.

Duo shrugged. �I�m not sure. It was kinda creepy.�

�How so?� Cressida�s voice was far too casual again.

�Well, there was this lady singing... and instruments... and it just sounded really familiar�� Duo trailed off uncertainly, his voice as distant as his eyes. Heero took another step forward, his presence like warmth from the noonday sun against Duo�s back.

Cressida sighed long-sufferingly as she slumped. �Duo, that describes probably 45% of all songs in existence. Be more specific.�

Duo shrugged as his eyes refocused in the present. �If I heard it I�d recognize it.�

Cressida frowned, immobile for a moment before she suddenly sprang into action, pushing past Duo and Heero and striding into the living room. �Anything else? Just a field and a song?�

Duo, the majority of his anger and fear lost now that he was sure Cressida would help find a solution, smiled quickly at Heero before padding after his cousin. �No, there was lightning, the sky was really weird, it got really windy and...� he paused to remember, �there was a burning village and someone in a cloak.�

Cassidy jumped out of the way as Cressida, Duo and Heero strode by her in quick succession, each with expressions as dark and serious as a stormy day. Cressida stumbled to a stop halfway through the living room. �Who was the person?�

Duo slowed and shrugged, �Not sure. I couldn�t see anything but their smile, and it wasn�t exactly happy either.� Heero glanced at Cressida and Duo then moved to one of the couches.

Cressida sighed heavily, rubbing at her forehead with a tired hand. �Damnit... I was hoping this wouldn�t happen....�

�Nani?� Heero demanded at the same time Duo protested, �You know what�s going on?? You said you didn�t!�

Cressida wearily eyed the two before turning to Cassidy, who was still standing in the corner with a rather confused and concerned expression. �Sid, take those flowers to town and if you see Bakari tell him to get back here immediately. He should be searching for new Nightwalker students so check all areas he may be. I�ll tell you everything when you return, ok?�

Cassidy blinked in surprise, hesitated only a minute, then shrugged with a sigh. ��K but like I said, I have to check my schedule so I�ll be gone awhile.� She smiled slightly at Heero and Duo before slipping into the Greenhouse for the flowers and disappearing out the door.

Cressida frowned and rubbed her eyes helplessly as a soft groan fell from her lips. With a heavy sigh she dropped onto one of the couches and eyed the two with a frown.

Duo raised an eyebrow. �What�s wrong?�

Heero sat on the end of another of the couches, tugging Duo down with him until the spiky-haired Nightwalker was leaning with his back against Heero�s chest. Heero loosely rested his hands around Duo�s waist, idly playing with his shirt. Duo rested his hands contentedly over Heero�s fingers.

Cressida watched their hands for a moment before looking both happier and yet more depressed at once. �First of all, I never mentioned any of this before because I was never officially educated on it, and anything dealing with this was long ago hidden in the dankest parts of history and denied ever since.�

Duo frowned as Heero tensed. �Why?� Duo asked slowly, suspiciously.

Cressida sighed. �Do you remember when I was talking about long ago, when the world was Pangaea and we all moved to different continents to spread our influence, etc?�

Heero watched calmly, letting Duo answer with a �Yeeaahh...�

Cressida paused and frowned. �Well... that�s all true... but not the complete truth.�

Heero�s eyes hardened, �What did you leave out?�

Cressida looked at him sheepishly then glanced away immediately. �Well... a large portion actually.�

�What is _with_ you people? You always speak in half-truths!� Duo moaned, pushing his body against Heero�s warmth as he readied himself for what was probably going to be a bombshell.

Cressida looked down to her hands, clasped in her lap. �I�m sorry... but protocol and... well, self-fulfilling prophecy....�

/In the morning I wipe my brow Wipe the miles away I like to think I can be so willed And never do what you say I'll never hear you And never do what you say/

Duo frowned, �What are you trying to say...?�

Cressida shrugged with one shoulder. �It�s hard to explain but the best way I can describe it is this: when Earth was broken apart at the time of Pangaea, like I said before, the Dreamers predicted the problem, and we can only assume the Nightwalkers did as well. But the most important thing is the Earth herself seemed to realize this, for at the very second right before Pangaea split, there was...� Cressida paused with a soft growl. �It�s impossible to explain correctly.... Think of a camera, I suppose. The flash was the knowledge that the very world would be changing soon, and the picture was taken the very last second before Pangaea split. While the supposed film was winding, the world broke and life continued as normal... at least officially.�

�Unofficially?� Heero prodded.

Cressida frowned in confusion, �I don�t understand myself. Actually, this was never taught to me, and if I ever asked it was vehemently denied; even Bakari never seemed to know about what I�m going to tell you. The only one who ever said anything about it, in fact the very person who brought it up and wrote it in her journal that I later found, was Willow Venetia.�

Duo�s eyes widened in surprise, �My mother? Why...?�

Cressida was already shaking her head, �I have no idea, Duo. Your mother was more intelligent than anyone realized until it was too late. I have a feeling she was the only one who knew anything of any of this, and with her death, the full knowledge was lost forever.�

�What knowledge?� Heero asked while Duo pondered this new information.

�Well,� Cressida began doubtfully, �I�ll explain as best I can but, like I said, it�s extremely confusing even to me. According to Willow, moments before Pangaea split into Godwanland and Laurasia, Earth panicked and sent an exact replica of her energy into time and space. At that moment, she, in essence, cloned herself while she was still whole, and before any of the Nightwalkers or Dreamers had moved. Willow claimed we all had a Dream Self and a �Real� Self that existed at every point in time. According to her, when we on Earth dream, we are experiencing our Dream Selves on the other world,� and she said a word that neither Heero or Duo could understand or repeat. She smiled lop-sidedly at them and explained, �... which basically means �Mother� and was the... mirror world, I suppose, of Earth.�

Duo idly ran his hand up and down Heero�s lower arm. �So... my dreams are my dream self?� he asked in confusion.

Cressida grimaced, �Even more complicated than that, actually. Supposedly, there is always another you, somewhere, sleeping and dreaming your life,� she paused abruptly and cocked her head. �Have you ever heard something that you were certain was there, but when you looked around yourself, you were alone?� Duo and Heero nodded so she nodded back decisively, though her voice was alternately confident and hesitant as she continued to speak, �That�s supposedly your other real self hearing something in its�I guess his or her�reality, and the noise comes through to their dreams... which is here. _Your_ reality.� Duo scrunched up his face and Heero watched Cressida with hawk eyes, his mind processing the new information at an incredible speed, �I guess Willow was convinced that Mother is the sleeping world of Earth, and Earth the sleeping world of Mother. She mentioned once that what happens there affects here somehow, which probably was just her way of, again, explaining the noise when there is no source.�

Cressida paused thoughtfully then continued before any questions could be asked, �In a way, one is always the Dream, Astral self, and one is always the Real, physical Self... but both are real and both are dreams at the same time... if you understand what I mean.�

Duo frowned, �Sorta.�

Cressida sighed heavily. �See? It makes little sense to me as well.... I mean, I can somewhat see where she was going, but she never finished with the thought. I didn�t see this until years after she had died, when I found her journal stashed away in my room in a corner I never check. It was really strange and I didn�t mean to read her personal diary, but I didn�t realize at first what it was. Besides, she shouldn�t have put it in my room unless she wanted me to see it....� Cressida grimaced, �Then again, she had been staying in others� rooms to avoid my father and just the night before she was sharing my bed... so maybe she wrote it then and forgot about it....� Cressida sighed.

Duo grabbed Heero�s arms and gently pulled them tighter around his waist, burrowing into his koi�s chest contentedly. He knew better than to take this information with the expectation to understand it immediately, and he didn�t want to think about his mother�s demise right then so he tried to distract himself by bringing the topic back to what was important to him. �What does this have to do with my dying?�

Cressida frowned. �Willow talked of these worlds as if they affected each other in certain ways, though she never specified how. What I�m assuming is that maybe something is happening with your Dream Self, which to himself is his Real Self, so that maybe this something is affecting you when you sleep because that is when you are connected to him most.�

Duo frowned, �So when I�m awake he�s connected to me most?�

Cressida nodded reluctantly, �I... guess.... I really have no idea....�

�And you said Bakari didn�t understand either?� Duo questioned incredulously, thinking of how Bakari seemed to know everything. Heero moved his arms up Duo�s chest until they were crossing his koi�s body, loosely holding him close. Duo snuggled into his warmth, the sight bringing the slightest of smiles to Cressida�s face.

�No, he didn�t. Apparently Willow didn�t explain this to anyone, not even the Council, but after what they did to her I have no idea why she�d go to them again anyway.� Cressida shifted, becoming less frustrated and much calmer as the conversation progressed. She glanced at the doorway, idly wondering where Bakari and Cassidy were before she realized they probably hadn�t even seen each other yet.

/Look my eyes are just holograms Look your love has drawn red from my hands From my hands you know you'll never be More than twist in my sobriety/

Duo leaned his cheek against Heero�s shoulder, eyeing Cressida out of the corner of his eye. Heero shifted slightly, holding Duo firmer as he continued to monitor the conversation closely. Since this all revolved mostly around Duo he felt it better to let him do the talking.

�What they did? What�re you talking about?� Duo murmured, closing his eyes as he drank in the comfort of leaning against Heero. He had never realized before how important a simple heartbeat against his skin could calm and ground him, or how the breath of his love wafting softly through his hair could bring that much more meaning and clarity to his life and struggles.

Cressida stared at Duo incredulously, �Have you already forgotten?� she protested in surprised disgust.

Duo blinked in confusion as Heero glared at her and tightened his arms protectively, �We haven�t heard this,� Heero replied calmly, but slightly coldly.

Cressida looked between the two with an expression that could only be described as boggling. After a moment she suddenly rolled her eyes and hit her palm lightly to her forehead with a soft groan. �Auuuggghh, I�m so sorry! I forgot... we didn�t finish the story!�

Duo tensed slightly, �What happened?� he asked in a detached tone, sensing that this was going to be rather important.

Cressida looked away, suddenly uncomfortable, �I�m sorry... this is mostly my fault; I didn�t want Bakari to tell you everything at once, or at least not parts, but I guess that was rather stupid....�

/More than twist in my sobriety/

Heero narrowed his eyes, �Speak now then.� Cressida raised her eyebrows with a sheepish but uncomfortable look and nodded. She glanced helplessly at the front door, then slumped and shrugged. �I guess... you should first know that there are more than just Nightwalkers and Dreamers. We are the main tribes, I suppose, but there are others out there who have special abilities. In a way, there are truly no normal humans as you know it, for many have distant relations to tribes. However, for all practical purposes, that watered down blood means nothing, so I guess technically they�re regular humans in the end.� She paused very slightly then continued, �Anyway there are too many for me to bother with so I�ll just leave it at the fact there are others. Beyond that, within the Dreamers and Nightwalkers there are tribes, or, more accurately, kingdoms. Recently the kingdoms have all pretty much disappeared, but around the time we were all born, the kingdoms were much more prominent, with a few kingdoms that were more powerful than the others. Our kingdom, Duo, was the most powerful simply because we had not only the Sandman, but also the Dreamweaver Trinity and the Prophecy Children, which, if you�ll remember, simply was our mothers and us.� Duo and Heero nodded so she continued.

/More than twist in my sobriety/

�Across Pangaea there were other kingdoms. One was the greatest kingdom of the Nightwalkers, a rival to our power in their own realm, though we would have won any war simply because we had more people who held such grand power than they did. They were known as the Lowe Kingdom, named after its leader Odin Lowe, and our kingdom was Maccus Kingdom, which was our mothers� maiden name. When my father and mother married, they chose not to decide whose last name to use, for back then it didn�t matter. I have no last name myself, though if I wished I could call myself Cressida Maccus. Cassidy is the same, since we don�t know who her dad is, and I imagine you are as well. Since two of the sisters had no husbands with last names to use even if they wanted, and the third chose not to change hers, the kingdom was named Maccus by default.�

Cressida paused and looked significantly at Heero, who glanced down at Duo then up at her and nodded slightly. She smiled faintly then took a deep breath to continue her tale. �Lowe and Maccus were the closest allies of all the kingdoms back then. This was partially due to the fact that Maccus was the Dreamer headquarters, and Lowe the Nightwalker, and also just because the leaders were friends. Odin Lowe�s very close friend was Bakari, who soon became the Nightwalker Ambassador and eventually simply moved into our castle, sending information back to King Lowe through his own means. It�s slightly amusing, actually, because Willow became the Dreamer Ambassador shortly after Bakari moved in, and spent much of her time over at Lowe Kingdom talking with the King.

Apparently they were pretty good friends, mostly because he had no romantic interest in her. He was rumored to be a very cold man, but after I met him a few times I decided he was just very controlled, and I still think to this day that it was that control that kept Willow�s charm from ever catching him off guard. She was beyond happy that someone finally was looking at her as a person and not a prize, so it makes sense she would spend days on end there.�

Duo snuggled more into Heero�s chest, wondering why the name Lowe sounded so familiar and assuming it was just because he was having a flashback of memory from long ago. Heero caught Cressida�s eyes, giving her a look to know to pause for a moment. Duo blinked when Cressida suddenly nodded, looking over his shoulder. He glanced up only to see Heero�s contemplative Prussian eyes watching him with a soft shine. Duo smiled automatically, �Hey,� he offered softly, acknowledging Heero�s gaze, but not pressing.

Heero�s lips quirked up on the edges. Leaning forward, he whispered with warm moisture into Duo�s ear, �You wanted an explanation earlier that I didn�t entirely comprehend. I wanted you to know I didn�t forget, but Cressida will say it instead.� He kissed Duo lightly on the side of his head above his ear, then rested his chin on his head again.

Duo tried to look up into Heero�s eyes but wasn�t doing a very good job so instead he just pushed himself more against Heero and sighed contentedly. �Thanks,� he murmured before turning his shining violet eyes back to Cressida�s form.

Cressida grinned at the two with an expression that made Duo blush and Heero hold Duo more protectively, a slight smirk on his lips. �It�s so funny seeing you two like that,� she said in a light tone, �because when you were children you were always challenging each other to fights and insulting the other kingdoms. Odin had to restrict your access to each other eventually since he was afraid one of you would permanently harm the other....�

Duo�s eyes widened. �You mean... Heero and... but....�

Cressida�s smile widened. �Heero Yuy as you know him was from a neighboring kingdom. You were friends as kids, if you could call it that, and spent a lot of time together. Of course, Heero was actually Odin Lowe Jr. at the time, but he never answered to that name either. I always thought it was funny that you were both so angry about your given names, and Willow thought it was the cutest thing she�d ever seen. Unfortunately, King Odin never seemed to find it too amusing.�

Duo closed his eyes for a moment, trying to picture the scene, a young Heero and Duo running around, attacking each other in childlike manners until one had bested the other. The thought brought a smile to his face.

/We just poked a little pie For the fun people had at night Late at night don't need hostility Timid smile and pause to free/

�Of course,� Cressida added as an afterthought, �Heero isn�t the only one you�ve known for quite some time.�

Duo blinked but it was Heero who spoke, �Who else?�

Cressida smiled lop-sidedly, �Surely you two don�t think you pilots were randomly chosen?�

Duo�s eyes bugged out, �You mean...�

�Yep,� Cressida smirked, �Quatre, Trowa and Wufei are all pretty damn old as well.�

/I don't care about their different thoughts Different thoughts are good for me Up in arms and chaste and whole All God's children took their toll/

Cassidy sighed in annoyance as she kicked a few stones across the sidewalk. Mr. Goodwin�s flower delivery went well but then her college had decided to be a pain in the ass. She had already been sent to just about every office on campus because there were always new problems popping up in the stupidest spots. With a sulking grumble she shoved her hands in her pockets.

It wasn�t fair.

She was older than Duo yet they treated her like the child! Cressida was always explaining everything to him as if the fate of the universe rested in his hands, and Heero, who had _nothing_ to do with _ANY_ of this, got to listen in too just because he was attached at the hip!

Cassidy scowled at the ground as she walked but then sighed. �That�s not very fair,� she observed softly to herself, lifting her soft brown eyes to gaze at the sky. �Not fair at all,� she mumbled.

With a soft smile, she still remembered how she met the two. Heero had run through the streets screaming Duo�s name and yanked her around while she and Rikki were on their way to some dance clubs. He was so upset, so determined but lost... it was heartbreaking at the time, but heartwarming now to see him and Duo finally together.

And then there was Duo.

Cassidy smirked to herself. Only Duo would show up at a nightclub using his powers to make her look insane as he revealed himself only to her. A soft laugh fell from her lips before she shook her head. No, she really couldn�t blame any of them. It wasn�t their faults, it was just...

#It�s just....#

�I hate being left out,� she murmured aloud miserably. �Especially since they�re supposed to be my family, and Heero�s a friend, and of anyone they should know how scary all this shit is....�

She forced herself to stop thinking aloud when she saw the building she needed rising before her. She wasn�t even thinking about which office she was going to now; she�d been volleyed around far too much to care anymore. Instead, she swiped a weary hand through her hair as she mounted the steps.

Before she reached the landing, though, someone suddenly called her name from behind her. She turned around immediately, surprised and delighted to see Rikki grinning and waving madly. Cassidy glanced once between the building and Rikki before muttering, �Fuck it!� and sprinting down the stairs.

She wanted to be a normal college student talking to her normal friend.

Just for that day, just for that conversation... ...Please....

Duo nearly choked. �Seriously?!� he cried out in surprise and joy.

Heero�s eyes widened in shock. �Were they from other kingdoms?�

Cressida nodded to them both. �Yep and yep. Quatre was from the prominent Winner Kingdom, Trowa from the mountainous areas though he came from a small tribe that had no name that was well known at least, and Wufei was from the warrior clans that didn�t have an official kingdom but worked as a unit anyway.�

Duo let out a long, soft breath. �Damn. This is a lot to take in....�

Cressida nodded with a wince, �Sorry... but there IS a lot of history to go through. It�s a shame Bakari never taught you all this.�

�At the time I think the point was to let me remember on my own,� Duo observed in amusement.

Cressida grinned, �Probably. That�s usually how Bakari works, but if you ever talk to him, he�ll be the first to admit that he hates doing that to people.�

�Well,� Duo shrugged, �Shit happens.�

�Rikki!� Cassidy beamed, running toward her friend and throwing her arms around her in a bearhug.

Rikki smiled and ruffled Cassidy�s hair. �Hey Cassi-Baby! How�ve you been? You weren�t in school or the dorm all week!�

Cassidy glanced away nervously, �Ehh... yeah, my family was in town so I stayed with them awhile....�

Rikki blinked in complete surprise. �Family? I thought you didn�t really...?� Her voice was laced with soft hope and hesitant joy.

Cassidy shrugged uncomfortably, �Well, it�s not really important. What�s important is you found me!� She smiled brightly then turned decisively from the building. �C�mon, let�s go talk.�

Rikki gave her an odd, concerned look then smiled understandingly. �Sure... but do you mind if we�?� her question was cut off as she suddenly violently shivered, her eyes squeezed shut and face scrunched in pain.

Cassidy grabbed Rikki by the arms. �Rikki! Are you ok? Do you need a nurse?� she asked urgently, frightened.

Rikki slowly relaxed, her body slumping against Cassidy for a moment before she straightened and opened her eyes. They were a very pale blue, which seemed slightly wrong to Cassidy though she couldn�t for the life of her remember why, and they looked withdrawn. Almost... dead�

Cassidy�s eyes widened. �Rikki...?� she asked in fear.

Rikki shook her head slightly, her dark black hair bouncing around her face. �Yeah, sorry. I�m sick and I keep getting chills....�

/Look my eyes are just holograms Look your love has drawn red from my hands From my hands you know you'll never be More than twist in my sobriety/

Cassidy frowned. �Should you be out then...?� She stared into her friend�s face, searching for something though she wasn�t sure what. Rikki�s dead eyes observed her emotionlessly, even the color seeming somehow wrong. �Your eyes....� Cassidy breathed without meaning to.

Rikki smirked. �I�ll be fine... and I got contacts. You didn�t notice before?� she sounded offended so Cassidy immediately went on guard.

�Oh! Sorry... I guess I was just so excited to finally see you....� she explained quickly.

Rikki smiled and shook her head. �Don�t worry, I was mostly kidding. Now, about that talk, how �bout we figure things out?�

Cassidy smiled. �Sure, though I don�t know what we�re figuring out.�

Rikki chuckled softly but didn�t answer as she lightly grabbed Cassidy�s arm and began pulling her across campus. The walk was silent, though somehow immensely comfortable because of that fact. Finally they reached Rikki�s destination of a small clearing with a tranquil fountain and a small wooden bench. They were extremely secluded in the spot, but it was the most comforting thought to Cassidy right then. If she had to tell Rikki anything about what had been happening recently she preferred to do so where no one else would hear.

�So you found some family?� Rikki prodded.

Cassidy sighed. �I�d rather not talk about it....�

/More than twist in my sobriety/

Cold silence immediately descended on the two as Rikki glanced away, her arms crossed and a drawn expression staining her features. Cassidy knew Rikki was upset but she thought she should probably be keeping this all quiet and she hated lying....

�I tell you everything,� Rikki said softly suddenly, �I even told you when my boyfriend tried to rape me. I never told anyone that....�

Cassidy winced. �Rikki...� she began in a pained tone.

�When my grandma died and my dad beat my mom to death, I told you. When I first got my period, you were there. When you were first adopted into a foster family, and everyone was being mean to you at school, I was there to protect you. I watched over you until we were friends, and since then, I told you everything. And you usually trust me enough to tell back....�

�Rikki...� Cassidy groaned softly, �I... it won�t....�

/More than twist in my sobriety/

Rikki turned to Cassidy, her eyes shining with the tears that were falling down her face. �I thought you trusted me, Cassidy. Are you ashamed of me? Don�t you want your family to know me? It�s Toby, isn�t it? When he tried... tried to�� she caught a sob in her throat and turned from Cassidy, burying her face in her hands, �I�m dirty now, aren�t I? You don�t want me near your new family....�

Cassidy�s eyes nearly bugged out of her face. �Jesus! Rikki, NO! Not at all!!� She reached for her friend but Rikki pulled away, sobbing harder.

�I�m sorry, Cassi! I�m sorry I�m not the best friend always! I�m so sorry I let you drink too much that night! You�ve never been the same since! It�s all my fault!� She cried harder, collapsing onto the bench as her entire body shook with the sobs.

Cassidy felt guilt claw its way up from the pit of her stomach. �Oh, God, Rikki, no, please, no!� she murmured, sitting heavily next to her best friend for as long as she could remember. Before the orphanage she knew only vague memories, but now she knew even the vaguest were untrue. She must have awoken in the orphanage or shortly before it after being sent to now from the past. Cassidy grabbed Rikki abruptly and held her close as her friend cried. God, that sounded like sci fi. God, she hated being a freak....

�Rikki, no, please, Rikki, it�s ok,� she murmured comfortingly, rubbing Rikki�s back calmly, �I didn�t mean it that way! It�s just....� #It�s just that my family isn�t exactly normal by any means...# she thought helplessly, #and I�m REALLY afraid to say anything.... What if Bakari gets mad...?#

Rikki only cried harder, trying to curl away from Cassidy�s touch. Suddenly, the rejection that Rikki felt from Cassidy was too much for the Dreamer to handle. She didn�t want her best friend so miserable over something so insignificant! She thought briefly of Heero, how Bakari had let him hear everything about their lives and never blinked. Surely it would be ok if she spoke to only one person about it....

�My... family is really strange, Rikki,� Cassidy abruptly explained, �And I�m not being mean to you, I promise! It�s just that I don�t believe most of it myself....�

Rikki calmed down slowly beneath the gentle hands of her friend and the obviously sincere words from her mouth. Sniffling pathetically, Rikki looked up with a blush. �God, Cassi, I�m sorry. I�ve just been having a really shitty week and then you showed up and....� she trailed off in embarrassment, rubbing furiously at her eyes. She tried to act like none of what she said about herself had mattered but Cassidy knew it was the truth, so she decided trusting Rikki was the best way to give her friend her confidence back.

�No, it�s my fault... it�s fine....� Cassidy smiled.

Rikki nodded once, then glanced down at the water. She immediately looked away in a manner to suggest she saw something strange. Cassidy glanced at the reflection and noticed something odd but before she had the chance to think about it Rikki spoke again.

�So tell me about your family,� she smiled.

Cassidy originally planned just to do an overview of all she�d recently heard, but Rikki seemed extremely interested and urged her to continue with as many details as possible. When she was finished telling the complete story, Rikki nodded thoughtfully. She suddenly paused and leaned forward, her eyes closed as she got a look of extreme concentration on her face. A few moments passed before she opened her eyes again then glanced at Cassidy. Her face was a little drawn as if she were still concentrating on something, but before Cassidy began to suspect it was anything but the sickness hitting her, Rikki suddenly relaxed and glanced away. Cassidy completely missed the fulfilled smirk that crossed her suddenly cold, triumphant face.

Cressida rolled her eyes. �No kidding shit happens. I think it happens more with you around, actually, Duo.� She winked playfully.

Duo stiffened in mock indignation but Heero�s soft chuckle stopped his thoughts in their tracks. He moved forward enough to suddenly twist around and lay chest to chest against Heero. With a soft smile Duo kissed Heero�s collarbone, then laid his head down sideways, closing his eyes. Heero looked down with the softest eyes Cressida had ever seen him show. She felt a beam of happiness growing on her face, but it abruptly wilted. She still hadn�t said a few things. A few _important_ things....

She let the moment continue for a few seconds before she realized the sooner she said it the sooner Heero and Duo could come to terms with it and maybe leave for their apartment again.

�Eh... Duo? I hate to bring up more, but....� She trailed off unhappily.

Duo glanced over, able to see Cressida if he moved his head a little. �Something tells me I�m not going to like this, am I...?�

Cressida grimaced slightly, �I highly doubt you will.�

Duo sighed heavily. �Damnit. Why can�t our fairy tale have some happy shit in it?�

Heero rested his head against Duo�s. �Then it would be a fairy tale, not life.�

Duo sighed again, �True.� He glanced at Cressida once more, �K, I�m as ready as I�ll ever be. Shoot.� He let his eyes slide closed as Heero tightened his grip on his back.

Cressida hesitated only slightly. �I... said before something about Willow going to the Council....�

Duo nodded into Heero�s chest. �I remember. They did something to my mother....�

Cressida nodded reluctantly, though only Heero had his eyes open to see. �When Willow was pregnant, she was the happiest I�d ever seen her, aside from after the birth. But the Council wasn�t very happy with her for running off, and demanded to know who the father was.�

�The Council?� Heero questioned, rubbing Duo�s back idly in a motion that would have been petting his braid were his hair that long anymore. Duo sighed contentedly.

Cressida nodded. �They consisted of a representation from each of the tribes, or races, or whatever you want to say, from all over Earth. Each kingdom also sent a representative. The meetings were fairly regular and rather large, but extremely boring. They watched over everything with hawk eyes, and allegedly they had their own Prophets to foresee the future. Some say it was because they had those Prophets that they tried to guide the world to the best possible course, but we�ll never know because the Prophets, if any existed, were never seen.� Cressida paused to swipe some hair from her eyes before she sighed and continued.

�The Council was paranoid of Willow from the start�she always seemed to know more than she should, way before anyone else found out. We never figured out how she did it but I�m guessing she discovered one of the Prophets and became friends with him or her. I wouldn�t be surprised, actually... your mother was as good at getting in trouble as you are,� Cressida smiled jokingly at Duo, who grinned faintly. Heero let his eyes smile but his lips didn�t move.

�Anyway...� Cressida hesitated again, �...What I�m going to tell you next is all rumors, plain and simple. If Bakari knows any more about this than I do, he never said.�

Heero nodded and Duo sleepily urged her to continue. He was so warm, so comfortable, and so incredibly tired suddenly. Heero�s body heat next to his was lulling him to sleep but he refused to give in until he heard what Cressida had to say.

�From what I gather... Willow gave birth shortly after a Council meeting. She was unable to make it home so a nursemaid helped her in a room near the Meeting area. I... don�t know if this is true... but....� Cressida hesitated again but Heero stared hard at her so she took a deep breath and continued. �I�ve been told that she actually had twins, but one of them was stolen by the Council and immediately put to death. There was never any explanation as to why they would, but apparently it�s simple luck that Duo was spared and his twin was the one chosen to be murdered.�

Heero drew in a breath in surprise, and Duo felt a jolt run through his system. A twin...? Murdered?! But the more he struggled to wake up, to yell or cry or demand explanations, the more he was pulled under to sleep, until... Darkness.

�Yeah, that _is_ rather strange.... But it�s also kinda neat!� Rikki smiled ironically after she turned around again, �That is, if you�re telling the truth.� Her voice lightened to a half tease.

Cassidy looked to the ground with a shake of her head, �I wish I was lying.�

Rikki nodded. �So, you said there was a house you�re staying at with... Bakari? And... Duo and... Cressida and... that one guy, Heero?�

Cassidy shook her head. �Just Cressida and Bakari. Heero and Duo have their own apartment.�

�Really?� Rikki asked thoughtfully, �So would I ever be able to meet them all? I know this all sounds really weird, so I guess I want to see them to be sure you aren�t... well... going insane....� She smiled apologetically.

Cassidy grinned. �Actually that�s a great idea! I can take you there sometime!�

Rikki considered that. �Why don�t you just tell me where? That way it�s less walking for you.�

Cassidy blinked, wondered briefly if it�d be a problem, but then remembered Heero being there so it must be ok. With a half smile she nodded and gave Rikki the address as well as exact directions to Bakari�s house. �I don�t know where Heero and Duo live but Bakari and Cressida will,� she admitted.

Rikki nodded. �Anything else interesting? Nature been kind to you?�

Cassidy blinked at the odd question, then looked off across the clearing to stare at the trees. �No... nothing else... and nature�s been the same as always....�

Rikki nodded, her hand surreptitiously reaching into her shirt for something, �That�s good,� she noted idly, fingers closing on the object of her search.

/Cup of tea, take time to think, yeah Time to risk a life, a life, a life Sweet and handsome Soft and porky You pig out 'til you've seen the light Pig out 'til you've seen the light/

Cassidy smiled, turning back to Rikki as she opened her mouth to say something, but she never got the chance. In an abrupt blur of motion, Rikki had shoved the long, thin dagger straight into Cassidy�s stomach.

Cassidy barely had a chance to gasp in shock before Rikki removed the dagger and stabbed her again, higher this time. The air pulsed suddenly around them, the very flowers and trees drooping and shrieking in pain, though only Cassidy heard it. Blood flowed from her wounds in waves that only weakened her more and more. Cassidy slipped, starting to fall forward off the bench as she hunched over the stab wounds in her abdomen, a soft, pained groan falling from her lips along with crimson drops of blood. Instead of letting the blood drip to the ground, Rikki reached into her shirt and removed a jar of grey-brown stone (2) that she immediately used to collect all the blood she could. Glancing in annoyance at Cassidy, who was feebly trying to escape Rikki�s grasp, the dark-haired girl hit Cassidy on the head hard enough to knock her unconscious. Slowly, Cassidy stopped moving, even breathing. As the darkness took over Cassidy�s consciousness, she distantly realized what was so strange about the water: Rikki cast no reflection. But the moment she knew that was the moment she lost her grip on the world.

With a delighted smirk, Rikki placed the jar to her lips and tasted the coppery blood. The second the crimson liquid touched her tongue she felt a powerful surge of energy. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned water from the fountain and hot air from the clearing, using both to singe and wash all the blood from the area. Flicking her hand upward, the water suddenly disappeared, and the air lit on fire around Cassidy�s wounds�cauterizing them before they bled more.

Smiling to herself, Rikki bent over and threw Cassidy�s body over her shoulder, walking back the way they came. With every step she took, Cassidy became less solid and more transparent, like a ghost. By the time she reached the path from the clearing, Cassidy had disappeared altogether.

Nature itself seemed to droop, wilt, and slowly die with every time Cassidy�s body faded. By the time she disappeared, the trees looked too heavy for their own weight, the birds and all animals had stopped moving or making noise, and even the wind seemed unable to force more than a feeble breeze.

Rikki dropped her hands, not needing to support any weight any longer. She looked around herself, noting with pride the way the natural life had died down. Softly, she spoke under her breath with a pleased look, �Two down, three to go.�

/Half the people read the papers Read them good and well Pretty people, nervous people People have got to sell News you have to sell/

Heero tightened his grip on Duo in surprise. He and Cressida both looked at the spiky-haired Nightwalker incredulously. �He fell asleep!� she said loudly, shocked. �I can�t believe he fell asleep after hearing he had a dead twin!�

Heero paused then smiled slightly, �I can.�

Cressida glanced up at Heero�s face, seeing the wry amusement there. She threw her head back and laughed, about to say more when suddenly the door flew open.

�We need to work quickly!� Bakari yelled, not even taking the time to shove the door closed behind him.

Heero and Cressida sat up completely straight, but Duo was still dead to the world.

�What happened?� Cressida asked fearfully.

�Something terrible,� Bakari explained, �I fear�� He was already in the kitchen, struggling with something. For a moment he hunched forward, completely still other than a slight shiver that passed through his body, but immediately he stood again and strode out of the kitchen. In his hand he held a simple amulet, an onyx stone with two goats among myrtles carved into its smooth surface. Instead of a chain there was a simple wound but thick and very sturdy-looking string of bright red. Bakari held the amulet out to Heero with an almost pleading look. �You must put this on immediately, Heero, and listen.�

Heero glanced up at Bakari at the command, but didn�t resist. He slipped the string over his head, glancing at Bakari for further instructions. Cressida leaned forward anxiously. �Bakari? What�s up?� she asked with a shaking voice.

/Look my eyes are just holograms Look your love has drawn red from my hands From my hands you know you'll never be/

He barely glanced over at her before speaking. �I will explain in a moment.

It is of the utmost importance that Heero follows these directions first.� Bakari barely glanced at Duo, a strange light shining in his eyes for a moment before it disappeared within the green-brown depths. Heero blinked, staring closer at Bakari�s eyes. Something seemed off.... Before he thought too much about it he realized it had to be because the light was shining off the amulet on his own chest, reflecting into Bakari�s eyes, who was just leaning for Heero.

Bakari gently pressed Heero back and pulled him down the couch until he was lying flat on his back, Duo still crumpled on him. Cressida stood, hovering behind Bakari as she watched them apprehensively.

�You must now close your eyes, Heero,� Bakari instructed, continuing when Heero did so �and allow your mind to wander. There will come a tug at your consciousness. It is imperative that you follow that tug, letting it lead you. Never leave its path, despite what you see around you. You MUST listen to your intuition, Heero Yuy.� Heero frowned slightly, but didn�t move otherwise, his eyes still closed. �There will come a darkness�embrace it. Let it flow through you. When you awake, I wish for you to follow one simple instruction. Are you listening to me, Heero? My voice is all you hear, all you understand and follow. There is nothing else but that around you in the world you stand now, and my voice, leading you and guiding you. Do you understand, Heero Yuy, formerly Odin Lowe Jr.?�

Heero�s voice came from a vast distance when he finally replied, �...Yes....� It was barely a soft exhalation.

�Very well. Upon awakening, you will seek out the Guardians and kill each of them. You will kill a woman known as Zo�. Once you have eliminated these threats, it is imperative that you follow this next command completely.�

Cressida was staring incredulously at the two. �Bakari...?� she began softly, her voice wavering, �Bakari, what are you telling him to do?� Her voice gained in urgency. �Stop it! Don�t tell him to kill them!�

Bakari completely ignored her, however, instead focusing on Heero. �Finally, this is the most important part after you have eliminated the other obstacles, you must sleep with Duo and kill him at the moment of his climax. Do you understand, Odin Lowe Jr.? You will destroy Duo while you have sex with him.�

/More than twist in my sobriety/

�NO!� Cressida cried, tears slipping from her eyes, �What are you saying?! Heero! HEERO! Listen to me�you CAN�T kill them!�

Heero apparently couldn�t hear Cressida as he repeated, �Kill... climax....� His voice was even more distant, barely a whisper from across time and space it seemed. Bakari nodded in satisfaction, stepping back just in time to avoid being thrown aside as Cressida overcame her shock and shook Heero helplessly.

�Stop it! Don�t kill them! Heero! HEERO! Listen to me�it�s important! DON�T hurt them!� She screamed at him, shaking Heero so roughly Duo was beginning to fall off his chest. She was shaking her head helplessly, tears streaming down her face, almost blinding her.

�Destroy... sex....� Heero said very softly before he suddenly ceased moving.

His chest rose and fell so minutely he almost looked like he wasn�t breathing. Suddenly he tensed, his entire body arching as if his veins were filled with quicksilver fire. Duo, still asleep, was unbalanced by the movement. His body slipped from Heero�s chest, toppling to the ground even as Cressida tried to save him. The moment Heero slumped down, relaxing his muscles, his form shimmered and disappeared completely. Duo�s body suddenly jerked painfully, a gasp pulled through Duo�s suddenly ashen lips. As Cressida watched helplessly, shaking him in a vague hope to wake him at least, thin lines of deep crimson blood fell from Duo�s eyes like bloody tears. He barely whispered one word before he, too, shimmered and faded from view.

�Heero,� he�d murmured, nothing more.

/More than twist in my sobriety/

Cressida trembled violently, whipping around to face Bakari with an expression of pure malice. �You fucking _bastard!_� she screamed at him, tears still streaming from her now molten twilight eyes, �Who the hell _are_ you? What did you do to Bakari?�

Bakari looked at Cressida in amusement before suddenly kneeling beside her, reaching out and grasping her cheeks. She growled furiously, her pentagram necklace and Soul Bloodstone flashing once in brilliance as she drew massive amounts of power from within. With a power so strong it slammed the very air into the walls, forcing the entire building to shake around them, she attacked Bakari�s mind, hoping to catch whoever was holding him.

Bakari convulsed once, bent over and barely holding onto her head still. She felt more tears slip from her eyes as she drew more power to obliterate the intruder. She still had to somehow contact Heero and Duo but she was convinced she could reach them through the Dreamland once this threat was dealt with. Taking in a deep breath, she prepared herself to lose 1/3 of her energy in a single attack.

Suddenly, before she could release her power, Bakari looked up at her with a huge grin on his face. She froze, heart skipping a beat then racing wildly as she stared into his eyes.

His suddenly dead, bright green eyes.

�No...� she whispered, unconsciously releasing the power to dissipate into the air, forgetting to attack Bakari with it. She brought her hands up to her face as if to hide from him. �No!� she said louder, her voice catching and cracking with the tears held in her throat still. �Oh, Gods, leave me aLONE!� She tried to shove at Bakari but he was holding her tightly, the grin still on his face.

�And so it begins,� he whispered to her in an intimate voice. She started to shake her head, but Bakari caught the movement and yanked her forward. He spoke, barely centimeters from her face, his grass green eyes boring into her terrified golden twilight. �Come with us, my Dana�.� She tried to pull away but Bakari was stronger and faster. He pulled her close, kissing her on the lips. Her eyes opened incredibly wide as a sinuous power seeped through her skin, dancing along her teeth and over her tongue, racing throughout her entire body. The longer the contact continued, the stronger the power was, until she felt it reaching for her mind itself. Her pentagram necklace pulsed once, strongly, before suddenly shivering and jumping. Wisps of smoke uncurled from its burnt umber coils, twisting into the air and staining her senses with the smell of blood and burnt flesh. Her Soul Bloodstone suddenly screamed her father�s voice as it pulsed once, twice, then fell limply against her chest, vague impressions of lightning twisting around its cold, dead form. Cressida jerked with each pulse of her pentagram and Soul Bloodstone, spasming almost out of control.

Bakari pulled away abruptly, shoving Cressida into the now empty couch where she bounced against the edge. Her back hit the hard edge roughly, leaving her gasping for air. She brought a shaking hand up to her eyes, which were still wide but now unfocused and unseeing.

Blindly, she reached for her power, only to find it completely gone. Her eyes widened until her eyelids ached, but she didn�t notice. She reached again and again and again for her power, but there was nothing.

lways nothing. A void. A black hole....

She hadn�t heard herself when she was murmuring over and over, �Nononono not again not again nonono please nononononononono....� Now, there was no chance she heard herself suddenly shriek at the top of her lungs, her very mind warping and twisting out of her reach. Her voice caught but she kept screaming, rocking back and forth, eyes wide but unseeing. Soon, all over the world, screeches echoed her own until the very world was alight with faltering echoes of soul-raping shrieks.

Slowly, Bakari took a few steps back, his face alight with a beatific grin. His bright green eyes intensified for a moment before he abruptly buckled forward, falling limply at Cressida�s feet where he lay completely still.

Somewhere, amidst the screaming, a dark haired girl walked through the streets of shrieking lunatics. She pushed her hair from her eyes and smiled. �Five down.� She glanced idly around the street and tossed her hair behind her shoulder. �But the game has just begun.�

/More than twist in my sobriety/

(1) Hey! I wasn�t sure where else to stick this ^_^;; Ok I know this is belated but if anyone was wondering what the layout of Bakari�s house is, I VERY CRAPPILY drew it in Paint just so you guys could get an idea. If you�re wondering, check it out here: www.fortunecity.com/athena/nightingale/236/id239.htm Otherwise, just keep going ^_^

(2) if you know what the stone �jet� looks like, that�s what the jar is made from. If you know what jet�s magical properties are, it will slightly make sense. ^_^

To be continued ^_^ (eh heh... if you guys don�t kill me first ^_^;;)

MUSIC LISTENED TO:

Era � Infinity�s Ocean