Disclaimers: All characters belong to rightful owners.
Story concieved by Lee.


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"Well, at least he's a cheap date for you..." Mune muttered in Sui's direction as he slid back into his booth beside Tesu. Cupping cheek in hand, he took a long sip of his drink before rolling his eyes back toward the elder. "Still, I really don't think you should mess around too much with a guy like that."

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Arvel merely gaped after them. "They...they left us!" He spluttered finally.

"Good. Can we do something other than hunt men?" Jeremy pleaded, trying to prevent Stubby from wriggling out of his grasp. He was unsuccesful; the stray leapt from the boy's arms and bounded off down the street, nipping at ankles indescriminately and yelping at the pigeons.

The three exchanged looks of exasperation before rushing off after him.

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Shittsui gave Mune a cold glance, "And is it any of your business if I decide to date him? Nevan is cute, sweet, and I'm sure he's cuddly. And as my two favorites are off with cuties of their own, I must console myself in his arms..." He stopped as Willy took his order then returned to sit in a booth near Mune's. "But really, pet, what _are_ you doing with one of Ausar's toys? Plotting, I suppose..."

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"Console yourself my ass!" Mune snorted as he shook his head. "You just want to fuck him or do god knows what other horrible things to him. I'd hate to even think what you'd want to do to with a niave guy like him... and he probably wouldn't even know that you did anything wrong..."

"Oh yes." He rolled his eyes as Sui mentioned plotting with Tesu, but he did growl a little as his pimp called the other 'one of Ausar's toys'. "We're plotting the best ways to kill the both of you; have any ideas to suggest, Sir?"

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"Well, how could I? You were special... my very own secret." Lucia smiled, brushing her fingers across the other's face. "So now you know, why I need you. Why you're the one that I can trust..."

This was perfect. She remembered his devotion to her, their intimate friendship, but gone from the picture was his hideous betrayal. She could only hope that those memories never returned. "...I am willing to wait for you, Samael. I just hope that you don't let me down."

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"I'm... I'm glad too... he makes it better... but... it's also nice to have some one else as well..." Mousy squeaked contendedly at being stroked by both parties. Sasurai laughed gently, the peace overwhleming, her smile widening, "Some one like you... is always welcomed as company-"

Her thoughts were cut off by the sounds of barking and screeching pidgeons, "Nani-AHH!!!" Toppled over by a bigger ball of fur, the very timid and easily flustered young woman was... semingly attacked by... a dog? "Itai!! Tasukette!!" Though she was sure no one near by knew Japanese, she couldn't think of any other words to describe the predicament, not noticing three others coming along the way.

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"Yea. I... I can see, now, a lot of things I couldn't before..." Sam laughed softly as he smiled at the gentle touch of Lucifer's fingers to his face. "I'm glad to have those happier memories, now, on top of those bloodier sorts."

"Still, I... I appreciate that you're willing to wait." He nodded slowly as he offered Luc a faint smile. "I just need a little... time before I can jump into this, you know? There's a lot to think over and all..."

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"Well, of course! I mean, I've had--what was it-- centuries... millenia, really, to mull over things in my head. I certainly wouldn't expect you to jump on board after a couple of minutes of conversation. Just make sure you don't overthink things... that can be as dangerous as not thinking at all!"

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"Yea, you have a point!" Sammy giggled as he shook his head. "Though it's not really like anyone'd ever accuse me of thinking too much, you know?"

"Still, I really do appreciate your patience with his." He murmured a bit more seriously as offered the girl a sincere smile. "I... promise I'll get back to you as soon as I possibly can."

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Wincing slightly, Tesu shrank back into the corner of the booth. He'd hoped that Barano wouldn't recognize him, but of course, he had. Although he'd never seen the pimp before, to his knowledge, it made sense that Sui would know who he was... after all, Ausar had his spies and information gatherers, and would no doubt recognize Dante on sight. It only made sense that Barano would be equally well- informed.

At Dante's last comment, Tesu turned, gaping wide-eyed at his companion. What the hell was he doing? Trying to get them both killed? The boy must be either very brave, or very stupid... or perhaps he was merely as crazy as Alexei. Either way, the last thing he wanted was an angry pimp on his ass. Slipping his coat back on, he rose from his chair. "Um... m-maybe I should g-go..."

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"Well then, we're fine and dandy, aren't we?" Lucia giggled, wrapping her arms around the taller boy. "Anything else you'd like to do on this fine day?"

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"Mm. I dunno." Sam shrugged a bit as he tilted his head on side. Of course, he knew that he should probably go look for sempai and Lukie, if just to make sure that both're alright and maybe to apologize for what'd happened; still, there was a good chance that doing that could make things worse, if either even wanted to talk to him at this point. Of course, beyond that, he also had his promise to Gleda to consider, even if he didn't exactly feel like playing around with little kids.

"What does the lady suggest?" He managed to chirp in a tone much more chipper than he currently felt. Tipping his head at Lucia, he wrapped his arms around her in turn and, dipping, he laid his cheek atop her head. "Or have you already dedicated your day to your friends, lovers, admirers, and all?"

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Jesusfuckingeverlovinggoddamnedchrist, did he have a target painted on his back or something?! Kein spun around, fully ready to dump hell on whatever unfortunate had been number three to physically crash into him that day, and got more than he bargained for. He only needed a second to take in bleached blonde hair and big teary eyes he could've identified, anywhere, in a heartbeat... oh, fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. "What the _hell_ are you doing here?" he spat out before he could catch himself and assume the icy contempt with which he usually faced that miserable bastard of a Capulet.

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"Oh no... there's nothing that I could've possibly planned that we more important than you, Sam." Lucia felt her heart flutter with true happiness... probably the first taste of it that she had had in a very long time.

She stood on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against his. Heavens, he was so warm... she felt a wave of nostaliga wash over her, drowning her in each lost moment. After a moment, she pulled away, a smile etched onto her face. "Well... we could just walk."

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Oh shit...

Kisoku wanted to die right then and there, but unfortunately, God wasn't about to send a bolt of lightning to kill him on the spot. Therefore the only option left was to automatically go on the defensive. "It's a _park_, Kein. There's plenty of people in a park!"

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Sam gasped softly against her lips as Lucia kissed him and, quite automatically, his arms twined about her waist. Still, he, too, found a strange sense of notaslgia sweeping over him and, finding this to be rather sweet, he exhaled in a content sigh.

"A walk sounds really nice." He agreed readily as he groped for the girl's hand. "It'll be... just like old times."

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Sophia silently stood her ground before the man's stare, glaring back her distrust in no uncertain terms. But that would have to wait; before he could be dealt with, Mr. Alraune needed to be told first.

"Mr. Alraune," she began, "you know that in the course of the work I've been doing for my father, I've come to know when someone is honestly good or not, as well as hear of certain infamous people in New Eden. Please, trust my judgement when I say that the man you're with has nothing pleasant in store for you."

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"Yes, I realize that you must know such things for your job, but I really can't believe that Mr. Barano is a bad man." Nevan shook his head slowly as he offered the girl a concerned frown. Of course, he couldn't quite guess why an honest, upfront girl like Sophia would be dishonest about such a thing, but he couldn't resolve that someone who'd, hereto, been as nice as Shittsui planning _anything_ unpleasant. "He's been nothing but kind to me from the moment I met him..."

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"Stubby!" Jeremy trotted over to the unfortunate victim of his new dog's enthusiasm, "I'm really sorry, Miss, he's kinda hyper..." the boy apologized, prying the dog off the girl.

"Ah! He's got a rodent in his mouth!" Arvel pointed at the bedraggled mouse dangling from Stubby's jaws, "Bad Stubby, bad! Drop it! Now!" He smacked the poor dog's head until he dropped Mousey, who scrabbled up into Lemy's curls, to sit disconsolate and dripping saliva.

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Lem cried out in suprise as Sasurai was suddenly bowled over and, upon seeing her distress, he culd gues what she was calling, even if he couldn't speak the language. Still, just as he was reaching to remove the hyperactive dog, a group of three trotted over and, withdrawing quickly, he glanced fearfully amongst the unfamiliar faces. One hand automatically reaching for his curl, the other lifted so as to pet over the diconsolate and dripping Mousy.

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