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


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"Of course! I'll comfort you till you can't be comforted anymore!" Para commented _very_ quietly into the phone. Thankfully, it seemed that this comment fully escaped her twin, as he had gone back to losing himself in whatever music he had playing on his headphones. Turning her attention back to the phone, she again let a rather joyful smile take her expression. "So, see you just as soon as possible! Don't miss me too much!"

"Don't miss me too much?" Dante echoed, once the connection had been closed between his sister and the person on the other end of the line. Not that he exactly doubted what the girl had said, but he could never be too careful when it came to Para.

"Yea!" His twin giggled as she rubbed at the back of her head. Slipping the phone back into her pocket, she took a few steps in the direction of the daycare where Cordy was currently waiting. "Poor Carm has _terrible_ seperation issues! It's kinda sweet, though, that she misses me so much, you know?"

"Mm." Dante replied only in a grunt as he started to walk by her side. For a moment, it seemed like he was going to make a huge, overblown issue of this, but, after a time, he simply shrugged. "Go get your stuff and go, then. I'll talk to you later."

For a moment, Para only watched in surprise as her brother turned the corner, but, soon enough, a rather grateful smile stretched her lips as she realized that she _would_ be able to meet with Dar in complete peace.

'Thank _God!' She thought with a broad grin as she started to run down the street. She'd have to hurry if she wanted to make the half hour deadline, but she was absolutely sure that she'd do it. 'This is the best. day. _ever_!'

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The fabulous world of business wasn't all the glitz and glamour that Kisoku Capulet made it appear to be. In fact, few of the top executives at Capulet Corp thought it necessary to put on good appearances at all. Sure, they wore suits and had excellent work decorum, but after many an ulcer and heart attack, some of the real veterans of the game fell into disrepair. Jenkins looked as though he hadn't seen a gym (or his toes for that matter) since his college days, and as he babbled on about projected yearly expenses, the young Capulet heir couldn't help but be mesmerized by his massive gut and the sweat that collected on his brow like morning dew.

The other executives around him had their eyes turned to him expectantly, and he realized that Jenkins had asked him a question. He found himself caught between a rock and a hard place. His eyes studied each of the faces. Well, Harper McPhearson looked positively thrilled, and he had been waiting for Jenkins to head into retirement so that he could get that sweet corner office. Cocky young upstart! And Jenkins looked white as a ghost.

'Oooh' Kisoku tipped his lips up into a smug smile. 'They're playing the approval game... well, Harper has just been pissing me off with the brown nosing lately...'

"Excellent work, Jenkins. Have an extra copy of these figures on my desk first thing tommorrow."

"Yessir!"

"Well, well, I think we've had enough of being couped up in this office for one day. This meeting's over. Have a nice day gentlemen." He slipped out of his chair and rushed out of the board room to avoid getting mobbed by any questions... and yet Harper persisted.

"Excellent way to handle that, sir. I could barely stand to be in that room for another moment really. And that Jenkins... brilliant mind, but a bit long winded with age, don't you think?" Kisoku rolled his eyes and continued to his office in silence. "And might I add Mr. Capulet, that you look absolutely stunning today!"

"UGH!" The blonde slammed the door in Harper's face before collapsing in his chair. He toed off his black dress shoes, sliding himself back and forth across to the floor in his sock clad feet. Once he had thoroughly calmed himself down, he peeled this footware off as well. Opening a drawer, he pulled out the sleek black shoes that he had come into work with. Their feminine style and slight heel made them inappropriate in the board room... afterall, so many people wanted his job. They'd look for any excuse. But now, it was his favorite time of day: time to leave work. Finally, he could be himself. He slipped out of his pinstriped jacket, leaving a dark blue silk blouse and matching pinstriped pants. Reaching into another drawer, he pulled out his office stash of make-up. He was already wearing foundation and eyeliner, so all that was left was to dust on blush and faint blue eyeshadow, gloss his lips and go! He finished this rather quickly, shoved the make-up away, grabbed his black velvet jacket from its spot on the coat hanger and headed out, not pausing for the world.

Once outside, he let out a deep sigh. He didn't hate business. He didn't mind being the Capulet prince, really. But there were those rare days that made him question how much he could take before he snapped. He patted his pockets and found his pack of smokes. He placed one of the sweet nicotine sticks of salvation between his lips and patted himself down again for his lighter... and found nothing.

He had left it back in the office that he was desperate to escape.

"FUCK!"

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"Sophia, I..." Nevan sighed as he noted that Sophia didn't seem willing to let him through this without some sort of answer. Not that he could blame her; it wasn't often that one saw one's teacher have a breakdown in a public place.

"No, it... isn't just a prank..." He agreed as he slowly, reluctantly, turned his eyes back to the broken doll and, as his eyes fell upon it, he winced terribly. Gnawing at his lower lip, he tried to sort through suddenly odd and panicked thoughts. How much should he tell her? Would it be right to lay such a burden on a child? Could he even tell her without... without...

"I... I don't think you know this, but, a while ago, I had a wife and a daughter..." Nevan managed to begin in a small voice as he warily closed his eyes. It would be best to just be... honest. To be upfront. "I lost them both when someone broke into our house while I was away to a teacher's convention."

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"Hu-- oooh!" Sam had only the briefest second to regiseter the gleeful squeal before he collapsed to the ground under an unexpected pounce. Still, instead of trying to figure out who his evil attacker might be, his overtired mind seemed to have taken the first route to wondering about where the lolly in his hand had gone and, as such, his hands groped the ground nearest to himself. Still, he did manage the whole 'who are you' trail as an afterthought.

"Oh, Luc!" He laughed a bit as he finally recognized the voice and, moving to wrap his unoccupied arm around her, he grinned as his hand fell upon the much-desired sugar. Yess. Just what he needed. "What's up, babe?"

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Dante sighed as he let the growing chorus of 'Ode to Joy' fill his mind. Yes, he should rather be getting to work, but he never felt any real need to hurry when it came to that. Besides, someone had mentioned to him that Barano had a meeting, so he probably wouldn't even be around. No need to hurry there. Of course, he could _try_ to see what his sister was up to, but he wasn't in the mood to be chewed out by her for the millionth time that week. Ever since she'd met that fucking assassin...

With a growl, he shook that thought away. No. He wouldn't let the fucking Tiger Claw ruin another fucking day. Not going to happen. He'd just keep walking along until he found something to distract himself. That would be perfect.

Fortunately, it was about this time that a rather loud FUCK broke through even the crescendo of the music and, blinking around himself, he soon spotted the source of the sound: a young businessman in as much need of a nic-fix as anyone he'd ever seen. Smirking, he decided to have a bit of fun.

"Hey." Dante called as he paused by Kisoku's side and, rooting a standard lighter from his pocket, he held it up enough so that the unkown guy could likely see it. "Looking for something?"

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Maybe it was the stranger's natural good looks.

Maybe it was the fact that the last man to make a pass at him was *ick* Harper McPhearson.

Maybe it was the lighter that the stranger had produced from his pocket right in the nick of time.

...but Kisoku wanted this guy... wanted him _bad_.

"You are my golden god!" He grinned, snatching the lighter from the boy's hand and lighting his cigarette. After a few desperate puffs, he breathed out a sigh of relief. Nodding thanks, he placed the lighter back in the guy's hand but not without brushing his fingers ever so daintily across his skin in a inconspicuous, yet lingering caress from wrist to middle finger.

"So..." He eyed the boy up and down. Definately some potential here... that is, if this guy wasn't totally repelled by Kisoku's shameless flirting. It was really suprising that more men didn't try to give the young Capulet a black eye on a daily basis. His glossed lips stretched out into a small smile. "...since you're my new god and all, I'm going to need something to call you. Y'know, something to engrave in a plaque underneath the golden calf that I'll inevitably make in your name..."

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"Nothing much. Just happy to run into y-- Oh my god! You are not going to eat that!" Lucia snatched the dirt covered lollipop from out of Sam's hand before flinging it a good distance away.

"That was gross. There are germs and dirt and bugs on that thing! Jeez..." She sighed, rolling her eyes. One again, she was the only voice of reason in this insane world. Yet, turning her eyes back to Sammy, she felt her irritation slipping away. She snuggled in close to him, getting a few raised eyebrows and whispers from the stragglers who were just leaving the school. "Anyway, I'll buy you a fresh bunch of candy to replace the dirty lollipop, since I'm assuming that I knocked it out of your hand, and I know that I flung it onto that ant hill."

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"Golden God, huh?" Dante chuckled at that bit of exaggeration as he eyed the poor young nicotine addict. No. Looked like the guy had another golden god, entirely. Though the man didn't look like any he'd met, there was still the traces of the much-hated businessman about him and he knew just how well businessmen, even young ones, behaved.

"Well, that's unnecessarily just as long as--" Whatever would have finished that sentance was lost in something of a sharp gasp and a bit of a tremble at the stranger's dainty and brief caressing of his wrist. Still, fighting down a bit of a blush, he did manage to continue steadily, when next he spoke.

"You can keep the golden calf and plaques, just as long as you have a cigarette to spare." Dante snerked as he tucked his wrists away for safekeeping; he wouldn't let that happen again, if it could be prevented. Still, he shrugged a bit as the stranger asked for his name. "Just call me Dante. And you are...?"

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"Hey, wait! That--" Sam began to protest as Lucia snatched the candy from his hand, but it turned out to be all a lost cause as the lolly was tossed off, never to be heard of again. Sighing at the lost of rejuvination, he nodded to Luc's reasons for throwing it away, even if, at this point, he wouldn't mind if the thing were covered in poison; if it were sweet and if it'd make his brain think straight, then it was okay. Still, he let that go in a sigh as the girl snuggled against him and, smiling a bit, he wrapped his arms tightly around her.

"You don't have to do that, babe." He shook his head to her latter comment about buying candy for him. Then, after remembering that that was his _last_ bit of candy, he grinned. "Just walk me to the nearest candy store and I'll restock myself."

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"Well, I need a light, and you need a cigarette. Sounds like our lucky day." Kisoku grinned, fumbling through his pockets and held out his ciagrettes for the other. Now that he had some nicotine in his system and he had calmed down a bit, he finally took a good long look at the boy.

'Hmm... pretty cute. Not in the conventional ways of cute, but cute in his own right.'

Kisoku couldn't help but grimace a bit when his name was brought into question. He never knew what to expect in these situations. If the boy didn't know who the hell he was, it'd be a blow to his ego. If he knew who he was and got all stammery and stupid, then he would've thrown out any chance of a real conversation. Worst of all, if he knew who he was and hated the celebrity behind the Kisoku Capulet machine. He could always lie... but that had never really worked out for him in the past. 'Oh hell! Might as well just see what happens...'

"Dante... hmm... that's a nice name. Mine's Kisoku." A first name. An offering. Let the fellow connect two and two if he wanted to, but Kisoku wasn't about to offer Dante more than what the boy had given him to begin with, which was one simple name.

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"Deal!" Lucia giggled, tapping a kiss on Sam's cheek before squirming to help the boy to his feet. Even as she tugged him up, she fussed with bits of dirt and dust that had gotten onto his clothes, making soft noises of frustration whenever a piece of filth was being particularly stubborn.

"Still, I feel really bad about knocking the lollipop out of your hand..." Her lips tilted downwards in a pout, as she gave one last tug to the hem of his shirt. She was sure that these tiny affections that she showed Sam would eventually become schoolyard chit chat, but for once, the normally mysterious and elusive girl make no attempt to hide the fact that Sam genuinely made her happy. "You're gonna have to let me make it up to you somehow.

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"Lucky sounds about right." Dante agreed readily as he pulled a cigarette from the offered pack. Lighting it quickly, he drew a long draught as he mentally cursed his twin for her endless efforts to turn him non-smoker. Whenever the fuck would she learn that he was _happy_ ruining his lungs? "Or maybe fated if I have the key and you have the lock."

Still, he watched the man in silence as he seemed to fumble for a name to give him and, almost immediately, he wondered if maybe the guy could see him for what he was. After all, a lot of men tended to hem-and-haw about giving their proper name to a whore and, really, he could see why; generally, it wasn't something you wanted getting around, that you had to pay someone to screw you.

"Kisoku?" He repeated, once the young man had given him the name and, though it sounded familiar from somewhere or another, he didn't really feel like trying to figure out why; at least not until he really had to do so. "Nice name, too. Japanese, is it?"

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Sam couldn't help but smile as Lucia kissed him on the cheek, then even moreso as she doted over him, trying to get every last bit of dirt. It was odd, but it felt pretty good when she was like this with him and, to be completely honest, he rather appreciated these small, intimate gestures as much as anything else. It was calming, in a sense.

"Well, I'm sure I can find _some_ way for you to make it up to me, babe..." He purred in probably his most suggestive manner as he tipped his head at her. "We'll just have to wait until it comes to me."

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"See you, babe," Darran replied, grinning practically enough to split his face in half, then hung up the phone.

"So? C'mon, who _told_ you. You were _all set_ to just sulk your little heart out and fuck, I was _so_ right--" Kein's half-laughing, half-gloating speech was rudely cut off as Darran seized his arm and forcefuly marched him out the door.

"Save it for later and get going, buddy," he laughed, "we've got ten minutes to get you back to the office where you belong." *'Cause _nothing_ in heaven or hell is gonna make me late for this one...*

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"You know what I want," Sui didn't want to waste more time here than necessary, "You killed Drew; you're hired hands confessed everything. You're encroaching upon _my_ territory. I do not appreciate your stealing and harming my property and if this does not stop I will be forced to take... measures."

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Ausar's eyes widened in a perfect simulation of wounded innocence, "I...?" he repeated, "And why, according to these mysterious 'hired hands', would I do any such thing? And while we are on the subject-- just who _are_ these hands you speak of?" Obsidian eyes narrowing, he leaned slightly foward over his desk, his gaze piercing the other pimp, "And before you resort to these... measures... you speak of... think well, my friend as to how much you are prepared to risk... and to lose..."

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Well, that had gone nicely. Dante seemed to be unaware of Kisoku's notoriety, and the young businessman was content to have it be that way for as long as their pleasant conversation lasted.

"Hai hai! Yes, it's Japanese. Wish I could say born and raised, I've heard the homeland is quite lovely. Dante is to the best of my recollection... Italian?" His eyes traced the other's dark skin. "I could see that... but you look more Hispanic than anything. Am I right?"

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"Ugh... men." Lucia rolled her eyes at Sam's suggestive tone, before letting out a small giggle. Taking hold of one of his hands, she proceeded to lead him in the direction of the nearest corner store.

"So how was your day, darling? You looked a bit troubled before. Something on your mind?" She hoped that the problem was some small, inconsequential matter that was normal to teenage life. Bad grades or broken friendships, she could deal with. However, if he was worried about more important matters, she would have to do her best to comfort him while coercing him to her side. Samael was someone that she could not afford to have as an enemy. She rubbed a bit at the back of her neck, which was pulsing with the dull throb that usually accompanied her final memories of the angel of death. "Anything you might want to talk about?"

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Perhaps breaking the land speed record, Para managed to pick up Cordy and to get him home all within five minutes. Carefully dropping her youngest brother into the care of her second eldest, she hurried through the hygene bits of getting ready before pulling on the first outfit she grabbed from her closet. Of course, seeing it on, she had to try on three others before she settled on one which would be perfect and she took another few spare minutes to do something with her hair. Finally somewhat satisfied, she hurried out of the house and toward the appointed meeting place, all the while hoping that she hadn't kept Darran waiting too long. After all, considering what had happened _last_ time they got together...

Still, this thought was banished as she hurried through the front door and, tucking a bit of stray hair behind her ear, she glanced around for any sign of her... well, she supposed it could be called date. Or was that wishful thinking?

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Lem's breath caught in his throat as the other pimp spoke his last sentance and, shuddering a bit at the implication, he again moved in close to Sui's side. No. He didn't like what that could mean _at all_. He hated to think of Master Barano losing or risking anything, to be honest, but it became all the worse when he thought that, maybe, it could imply that he be seperated from his beloved pimp.

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