Here's chapter 3! Thank you to all who reviewed, honestly it was you guys that rekindled the fire in my heart for this story. Without your passionate support I don't think I would have updated anytime soon.

Special thanks to Juli Ramos for such lovely words! n_n

On with the story!

Lisa was in a warm place, a place where nothing seems to reach her. There are no problems or worries in this open field of dancing flowers, in fact, there is no Twelve or Nine for that matter. She couldn't feel her arms or legs, and yet, somehow she could feel the gentle brush of petals sway next to her. It almost felt as though someone were running their finger over her skin, just barely, unlocking every fiber of her being.

It was a strange sensation, one that had her confused in many ways. Her lids are closed and they remain shut, as if they were born that way from the start.

Lisa is suspended with no one around, there is no one and yet everyone still exists, but they were far. Who 'they' were, Lisa was not sure, after all, she couldn't remember them. Not a soul was near her mind when she was in this comatose were far, somewhere distant where she couldn't hope to reach. A place that was reality yet abstract to her.

She was laying there, resting on the endless sea of white and lavender flowers with a touch of scarlet. Lisa opens her eyes then, and she looks up at the sky, a rich color of blue reflects back, clear like pellucid water and smooth like a pearl. Everything was perfect in this world yet everything was in chaos in another.

Those poignant nightmares don't touch her, they don't even skim the surface here because this was where she could hide and rest. Rest for an eternity, or so it seemed.

She didn't know where she was, all she knew was that she didn't wish to leave.

She blinks her eyes, unable to feel or know where her own body is laying. Suddenly, a soft gust of wind blows through the flowers, causing them to rattle back and forth, some stray petals skim her nose and carry off into the distance.

She smiles, wondering how exactly she got here, not caring to find the answer. She couldn't remember much, everything seemed to be drowning out as she closes her eyes. She feels a sinking sensation take over and then she really is sinking, her eyes snap open as she witnesses the flowers before her begin to distance themselves.

Further and further they became as she sinks through the dirty, only to land in open water below. It was like a whole other world altogether, a dark and cold world, a complete contrast from the one she had just been apart of. Lisa gasps for air, reaching out in an attempt to grasp onto something that was no longer there. The field that is now directly above her head remains, almost mockingly taunting her of the joy she was now deprived of.

Hope of oxygen was all she could think of as she fights fruitlessly, but in her struggle she loses more of her precious air. She was screaming but all that came out of her throat was air, her hope was draining out of her in beautiful circles of oxygen.

She was sinking deeper and deeper into the dark waters, she attempts to fight but fear takes hold of her then, her heart seems to sprout wings and fly through her chest as it quickens its pace.

She gasps.

Lisa jolts out of her sleep, her upper body quickly shoots erect on the bed as cold sweat coated her face, her labored breaths reach her ears. The faint sound of the fan creaking above her is the only thing she can hear for a while, until the sound of birds chirping outside make her head snap towards the window. A frail pale yellow seeps into the room, causing the snow white curtains to glow a strange orange.

For a second she doesn't know where she is, the girl turns her head and her eyes scan the room, beginning to recognize the familiar things in it. She sighs in relief, placing a hand over her heaving chest in an attempt to calm her frantic heart.

"A dream," she breathes out relieved, almost in a whisper.

Suddenly, she hears the faint buzzing of people outside of the room, almost as if a crowd was gathered behind it. The door was closed but she was certain she could hear the sound of multiple feet rustling and muffled voices, it was unmistakable.

Lisa stands hesitantly, wondering why there was so much noise outside of the room. It almost sounded like the busy streets of Tokyo during the working. The sounds suddenly peaks and all Lisa could hear is their piercing voices, she quickly puts her hands over her ears in a futile attempt to drown out the sound. She gnaws at the air, moaning out the pain in her head.

She wanted it to stop, she needed to get away. She needed them to get out of her head!

Lisa stumbles to her feet, she all but runs for the door as she opens it hastefully. For a second she couldn't believe her eyes, the pale girl believes that maybe she's hallucinating, she stares at the scene without a single blink. A cold breeze zips past her almost painfully, as if to show her how reality had slapped her like a cold wave.

Before her eyes could adjust to the light, she hears the clear, yet flat voices of many people out in the busy streets of central Tokyo, her room laid straight in the middle of the street where the massive crowd of mumbling people walked. All of them seemed to be unaware of her presence or the fact that her room was in the middle of their way, they carried on as if she were a ghost.

The ebony-haired girl stares at everyone in shock as they pass her, they pass so quickly that her eyes could barely keep up. Her dark orbs flickered from side to side, she witnesses some people talk on their phone while others laughed with their friends. It was as if she could hear them all at once in her ear, whispering to her but it sounded like they were screaming. A ringing started out faint and only progressed into something odious in her ear.

Lisa was about to run back into her room when she spots a familiar head of curly, brown hair walking amidst the crowd, the girl almost screams. Twelve had his hands in his pocket as he walks on ahead, a serene look to his face. Lisa searches for Nine as well, if Twelve was here then maybe the male had to be near as well, right? But Lisa doesn't catch anyone that looks remotely like the glasses-wearing boy though, it didn't matter, she had found someone she knew and that was enough.

The girl shoots forward without a second thought. "Twelve!" she screams out to him but he doesn't hear her through the crowd of talking people, she takes a step forward and immediately bumps into someone, they curse at her and she bows, hurriedly making her way towards the curly haired terrorist.

"Twelve!" she yells out again but the boy didn't seem to hear her, he keeps walking forward unperturbed. Lisa struggles through the crowd of people, she finally reaches him and grabs the back of his shirt almost desperately, causing the boy to jump slightly. He looks back in surprise, complete bewilderment adorns his face as Lisa fights to regain her breath. She keeps her hold on his shirt as the boy looks around nervously.

"Twelve," she pants. "What's going on, Twelve?" she looks up only to see the young boy pull out some ear buds from within his ears, he gives her a perplexed stare.

"Sorry miss, is something wrong? Are you lost?" he asks, facing the girl as he looks down at her bare feet, raising a questionable eyebrow at her lack of shoe wear.

Lisa remains rooted to the spot. "W-what? Twelve, what's going on? Stop playing games with me, please!" she bites out, shaking the boy a bit with her trembling hands.

"Wow, Miss! Look, I think you got me confused with someone else, I don't know who this 'Twelve' guy is. Sorry." he says apologetically. "Here, use my cellphone to call—"

"No!" she cuts him off rather loudly, shutting her eyes in distress. "I don't need your cellphone because you are Twelve! You're Twelve!" she repeats, earning a few questionable glances from people walking by them. The boy that looks shockingly like Twelve glances around at them, mortified. He smiles awkwardly, almost as if to apologize for the disturbance. Clear embarrassment shine on his warm face.

He puts his hands on Lisa's shoulders and leans in a bit so only she could hear him. "Look just try to stay calm. I seriously don't know what your talking about miss, I'm sorry! I wish I did but I don't. I can try helping you find someone you know or something." he offers up genuinely, rubbing the back of his neck after he leans away.

"H-help?" she repeats incredulously, almost as if it were a sour joke. Twelve nods his head hesitantly, only to have Lisa shake her's vigorously.

"No! The apartment, our apartment—the room! I was in our room back there—" Lisa looks back and points at the room only to find it missing among an empty street; her room and all the people walking about had vanished, too. She hadn't realized when their voices ceased nor when they had disappeared. Her eyes slowly widen into round glistening orbs.

What was going on?

The girl snaps her head back to Twelve but he was gone as well, nothing but abandoned buildings and broken cars laid before her eyes now. She twists around in circle, looking in all directions to catch a glimpse of someone or something. Anyone!

Anything to assure her she wasn't alone. Forgotten. Abandoned.

"Twelve!" she screams but it's as if she has needles in her throat.

"Wake up, Lisa." she hears Twelve's voice say close to her ear, she turns but sees no one. "Please," she hears him again, her eyes sting as she keeps twisting and turning in hopes to catch a glimpse of him.

"Twelve! Where are you?!" she chokes out as she keep turning and turning, softly crumbling to the ground. "Tell me where you are please! I'm begging you!" she places her head in her hands.

"Please come back to me." his lips were right next to her ear and suddenly her heart stops beating.

Lisa jolts up on her bed, as if electricity had shot through her spine, rousing her from her uncanny dream. Her inky hair sticks to her face as her skin feels sticky and moist, she was breathing hard, evidence of her uncontrolled dream.

She hears the light padding of rain falling outside the apartment, she turns her head slowly to look outside. The day looked gloomy with gray and black patches of clouds in the sky, rain falls from the heavens and onto the awaiting earth. It was a deep contrast from her dream, she thinks with an air of relief.

The meek girl shifts her body to face the door, she places her bare feet on the cold floor, almost flinching when she felt the cool boards beneath her toes. Lisa stands up and takes uncertain steps toward the door, she halts in the center suddenly out of fear. Remembering her nightmare, she remains glued to the spot as she listens for any voices or feet scrambling outside of her room.

She hears nothing and her lips from into a thin line, her heart is beating rapidly without her permission as she inches closer and closer to the the impending danger that was reflected in her dream. Lisa takes hold of the knob when she reaches it, almost frightened to even touch the cool metal.

She didn't want to find Twelve on the other side and have him forget her.

He was the only one who truly cared, the first one to acknowledge her existence and consider her feelings as something valuable. Without him, what was she? Nothing, without him she was just an invisible force to the rest of the world. A memory even, but with him there she was more than just a memory, she was real.

She needed Twelve to be there and remember her, to acknowledge her existence because if he forgot her then there really was no one in the world that knew of her. No one else cared enough to notice her, she was easy to forget and it was likely that most of her classmates didn't even know who she was or even cared to remember. Her mother? Probably glad to get rid of her.

She needed both of them, Twelve and Nine, she depended on them almost in a frightening state.

With a shaky breath, the coy girl twists the cold metal and opens the door in a swift motion, she doesn't move from her spot though. Lisa hadn't realized when her eyes went closed but hearing the door creak open was enough to seal them . She was afraid to look.

After a while of silence she cracks one lid open hesitantly, the calm and quiet living room was the first thing that came to view. The girl let out a breath of relief as it washes over her system. Then, she spots Twelve sitting on the sofa near the front door, he was reading a book quietly, somewhat engrossed in his work.

Lisa's still eyes remain on him; he was the second task.

He would remember her...right?

With soft and tentative steps, Lisa proceeds towards him. Once again her heart speeds up unwillingly, it was until Lisa was directly in front of Twelve that he notice her presence. He looks up at her and she takes in a sharp breath as his gaze roams up her body to meet her eyes.

He gives a look of surprise to find the girl on her feet and standing there like a fish out of water, he lowers the book to a close and opens his mouth. However, two soft hands on either side of his face seal his lips almost immediately.

After a second of silence he speaks. "Lisa, are you well?" he inquires but the girl doesn't respond, she only stares at him with her dark, delicate eyes of wonder. Her hands run over his ears and into his hair soothingly, Twelve almost wants to moan out in pleasure at the sensation but he stops himself, he grabs her hands with his larger ones.

"What are you doing?" he says.

"You remembered me." she utters, visibly relaxing, keeping her delicate hands on his soft, wavy hair. Twelve raises an eyebrow at this, completely caught off guard and baffled, he wasn't expecting her to say that.

"Of course I remember you. Why wouldn't I?" he cocks his head to the side, giving the girl a stranger look.

"I had a nightmare where you had forgotten me." she says simply.

Oh, that's what it is. the boy thinks, his shoulders relaxing. "It was just a nightmare, you don't have to worry. Are you feeling better?" he stands, examining Lisa's form, he notices her bare feet and frowns.

"A bit, my head still hurts..." the girl trails off as she touches the spot that was tender, Twelve walks off into the room she had emerged from, he comes back out with a pair of black socks. He motions with his head to take a seat on the couch and the girl obeys without much verbal defiance, he kneels on the floor in front of her, probing on of Lisa's pale and cold legs on his knee.

"Your skin is cold to the touch." he claims, frowning slightly as he places a sock on her frigid foot. "You shouldn't walk around barefoot, just call me from the room or something." he all but scolds.

"But I wanted to find out something for myself. Plus, my feet and hands are always like that. Cold, I mean." she informs, looking down at Twelve's work with opaque eyes which were slowly drifting to a close. "I can do it." she says as she reaches for the sock in Twelve's hand stagnantly.

"It's fine, I'll do it. I'm just worried about you, ever since that time—" he was alluding to the time he had spoken about her mother, "you've been having these headaches, that pool incident didn't help you much either. I shouldn't have let you go. I swear to God, if I ever find those girls I'll—"

"I was being stupid." was Lisa's quick responds to the boy's self blame. She didn't want Twelve to blame himself, it wasn't his fault, she never thought of it as his fault. Only hers, it was always hers.

"Don't say that, Lisa." he looks at her with hardened eyes of indignation. "Let's just forget it for now." Twelve shakes his head softly as he slips the second sock on Lisa's foot but he holds her foot in his warm hands, attempting to give the girl some of his own warmth. "I hate to see you like this." he declares between clenched teeth and a downcast look, a worried type of air clung to him.

"You shouldn't be." she assures, unable to even retract her leg from his grasp due to fatigue, instead, she gazes down at Twelve who was still kneeling with a slight hint of worry to her features.

When had she gotten so drowsy?

The handsome boy looks at her then averts his gaze, unsure. "You just seem so—so out of it lately." he puts it in lighter terms. Then, suddenly he feels a light thump and some pressure on his head, inky hair tickles his nose and his eyes looks up at Lisa whose head had fallen on top of his.

"I'm fine," the girl moans out, "I just need a second to catch my head."

"I think I already caught it for you." the young terrorist sighs and smiles a bit, he would have found this whole situation rather cute if it wasn't for the fact that the girl was practically passing out in front of him. Then he looks sideways to the front door that is being pushed open.

"Hungry?" a new voice joins in, now Lisa turns to look(albeit lethargically), noticing Nine standing at the foot of the door holding a sack in his right hand. The smell of food overpowers the room and the teen's senses bloom into hunger. A loud grumble that could be compared to a lion's roar fills the room, Lisa grabs her stomach as a soft tint of red pricks her face.

"Yes," she says breathlessly, picking up her head from Twelve's soft bed of brown locks. The boy ruffles his hair and helps the maiden up.

"Let's eat then." Nine walks over to the table and takes out two boxes filled with noodles, pork and rice. Steam rises from the containers, adding to the alluring scene. Lisa almost wants to drool, she ambles over to the table and perches herself on a chair, her cheeks warm up happily. The two males in the room do the same and join the girl at the small makeshift table, they all clasp their hands together in a silent 'thank you'.

Nine grabs a pair of chopsticks and serves himself silently, he steals a few glances at Lisa and Twelve, and notices his partner's troubled gaze on the girl, who was eating rather hurriedly. She ate like a starved animal left in a cage for days, her untidy hair and bagged eyes didn't help her appearance much either. She truly looked sick.

"How are you feeling, Lisa? Better?" inquires the taller male with glasses, knowing that Twelve wanted to ask the same question but was unable to do so for some reason.

The meek girl looks up and swallows the rice in her mouth. "I'm not sure…I feel this pressure here at the front and back of my head." she places a hand on her head. "It's not too painful right now but sometimes it really peaks." she slurps some noodles into her mouth.

"Is that so?" Nine takes on a pensive look, examining Lisa's anterior.

"I'm also having these strange dreams. They feel so real, the anxiety that I feel in them is so realistic I can't control it at times." she says, taking a bite out of her pork. "Like that nightmare you just had?" Twelve chips in and the girl nods.

"Maybe you need to see a doctor, Lisa." Twelve adds, his grip on his chopsticks tightens. "But I don't know whether we can take you." he looks down almost defeated.

"No, I'm sure it will pass!" the girl says quickly, not wanting to burden the two boys with her troubles. She knew they had enough dilemmas on their hands already, she couldn't possibly add more. Guilt would plague her for years if she did.

Nine shakes his head, closing his eyes. "I agree with Twelve, if your condition is serious you need to visit a doctor."

Lisa's lips from into a thin line as her his flicker to the side, staring at the vacant air. Silence spreads around them like vines, clinging to them and growing thicker and thicker with each passing second. The girl's eyebrows knit together in distress.

She doesn't know what to say or do. What could she do? Why did she always have to be the one causing trouble?

Noticing her gloomy state, Twelve forces a smile on his face. "We can think about these things later, for now lets eat." he announces trying to mend the wound, looking at Lisa with an expectant expression, as if the sentence had fixed everything. The girls eyes flicker over to the young male, then they fall back to her hands, staring at them and finding things to do with them. She had lost her appetite.

The rest of the meal was eaten in silence. Lisa, with diminished efforts on her part, Nine and Twelve with tense shoulders on their side. The pressure was just adding up on the three of them, time would soon run out for the two terrorist but Twelve couldn't help feel incomplete. He had this desire to help Lisa, too. He didn't want to leave her knowing she was like this, but maybe in the end it wasn't his decision to make.

He just couldn't stand the idea of leaving her alone, though.

Just then, the girl of his thoughts stands up, the chair behind her screeches against the floor with a small cry, the two boys look at her. "Thank you for the meal." was all she says as she heads to the single room in the apartment. Twelve didn't stop her, nor did he tell her she needed to eat more. He clenches his fists as he resumes looking at his meal absentmindedly.

His ebony-haired partner sighs deeply and exhaustively. "Eat." he commands the younger terrorist as the boy stares at his food. "Eat I said." he repeats more sternly, Twelve shoots him an annoyed look.

"Do you want me to force feed you, then? Because I will do it, Twelve. Now eat." the older says while closing his eyes and taking more noodles from the box. The auburn-haired boy reluctantly takes hold of his chopsticks with an downcast look, he places some noodles into his mouth and chews mechanically.

He was tasting the food but not savoring it, that was how it was from the moment he was born into this world, or at least, from what he remembered. Nothing ever tasted right to him, the only things that tasted right was the horrible, gut-wrenching food that Lisa would prepare. That was reality to him.

Her food was disgusting and the girl could practically burn water, but her food detained something that all of his past meals lacked. Feeling, she put feeling into the food she made, emotion and dedication. That was what meant the most to him, the feeling she placed in each meal she made for them. He could taste it in his tongue, feel it coursing through his system.

He liked her cooking, his heart liked it, even if his taste buds didn't.

Meanwhile, Lisa lays inert on the small bed, she wants to close her eyes but she wields them open, the fear of having a similar nightmare like the one before kept her from falling asleep. She never wanted to have a dream like that again, not one where Twelve had forgotten about her. She wouldn't be able to bare it again. That was the scariest thing she could imagine, having him forget her completely.

Her heart caves into fear constantly, yields to depression almost instinctively and she despises it all. Why couldn't she be strong by herself? Lisa bites back the stinging in her eyes. She didn't want to cry.

She grips the sheets tightly with both hands and a sob escapes her nose. "No! Please don't be weak!" she commands herself softly. "I'm sorry." she whispers coarsely. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." she keeps repeating, wishing she could say it to both of her beloved roommates, but a coward was what she convinced herself of being. She couldn't do anything for them, she couldn't even prepare a basic meal.

What was she good for?

Lisa shakes her face into the pillow, wiping away the rebel tears that had slipped out without her say in it. She wanted to keep sobbing but she didn't want Nine or Twelve to hear her. The girl remains submerged into her pillow for what seemed like an eternity, she simply wished she could dissolve into the bed, like water, scatter and fade into nothingness.

Just then her phone buzzes, she ignored it at first, thinking that maybe it was her mother trying to reach her again but then it buzzed a second time, and then a third. She simply couldn't ignore it any longer after the sixth buzz so she raises her upper half with her wobbly hands, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. She frowns over at the light from her cell phone that broke the dimness of the room.

Lisa reaches for the device and stares at multiple text message from an unknown number.

Unknown: Hey!

Unknown: I know you're there. Just listen. I have a proposition for you.

Unknown: Hello?

Unknown: Answer the phone.

Unknown: !

Unknown: Hey

She blinks away her confusion, the screen was blurry from the salty tears that lingered in her eyes. She wipes them away and straightens her self on the bed, sitting crisscrossed while grabbing her phone and gazing down at the messages. Who is this?, she thinks confounded, her brows coming together. Should she answer it?

Lisa: Who is this?

She replies with trembling hands, she didn't know if it was a good idea to be answering strange text messages from someone she did not know. She wished she could take back her actions and erase her reply but it had already been done, she decided that she would just ignore the next one if the person decided to reply.

Lisa almost crosses her fingers in desperation, hoping the person would not though. Then, out of sheer misfortune her phone buzzes in that instant, frightening Lisa. She grabs the device and stuffs it under her pillow, hitting it repeatedly for good measure. Then, a few seconds later, curiosity bit at her and she peeks at it from underneath the pillow.

Unknown: Oh I knew you were there! Listen, I have proposition that you simply cannot resist. I can help you save your friends. You know, those two boy's you're with.

Lisa's eyes widen. How did this person know about Twelve and Nine? Heck, how did this person even get her number? Beads of sweat began to glisten on her brow.

Lisa: Who is this? Tell me.

Unknown: So demanding, you can say I'm a friend of your two buddies.

Lisa: A friend? I find that hard to believe.

Unknown: It's true, I've known them ever since they were little...but all that is irrelevant. Do you want to help them?

The ebony-haired girl is beyond confused, no, this person had to be lying. As far as she knew Twelve and Nine didn't have anyone but each other, she never saw them contact anyone else for help. Unless, they never told her about anyone else.

Lisa: Why should I believe you? I don't know you. You could be lying.

Unknown: Believe what you want Lisa Mishima, but let me tell you this: I'm the only person keeping your friends alive right now.

She clamps a hand over her mouth, how did this person know her name? And what did they mean about keeping them alive? How was that possible?

Lisa: My name...how did you…?

Unknown: Oh that? I know a lot about you, almost everything actually. Which wasn't that hard considering how plain your life was before you met those boys. I even know about your dear mother.

The silent girl's eyes widen in shock and her teeth clench out of pain and anger. How dare this person go as far as to talk about her mother. Lisa was infuriated.

Lisa: How dare you! You have no right to divulge my life.

Unknown: How dare I? How dare you! Acting as though you're part of their team, feigning composure when really all you are is a complete disaster. How dare you carry them down along with you. Truly, you are more cruel than me? You will most likely get them caught and killed.

Lisa: No! I...I won't do that. I could never.

Unknown: Oh but you will, it's inevitable. Don't worry though, if you help me then I'll help you.

She bites her lip, it was true that she wanted to help Nine and Twelve somehow but not like this, how could she get help from a stranger, much less know if this stranger was telling the truth. Lisa decides enough was enough and she tosses her phone on the bed but then another text comes in a few seconds later.

Unknown: I'm telling you the truth. I know everything about you and your friends. Actually, If you don't listen to me then the outcome is very simple: I'll get them caught and you will have no one to blame but yourself. If you try telling Twelve and Nine about me then I'll kill you and get the police on them later, make it look like it was their fault. But, you may be able to save them if you listen to my every word. Maybe.

Lisa's begins to shake her head back and forth slowly out of disbelief, tears of anger swell in her eyes again.

Lisa: Why me? I don't understand...why are you doing this to me?

Unknown: Because the world is cruel.

She reads the message over and over and grips the phone with such force it shook, she imagines the neck of who ever was texting her under her grip.

Unknown: Tell you what, I'll give you some time to mull it over, I know all this might be a bit too much for your fragile brain to comprehend. I'll contact you at 1AM and I do hope you answer with a yes. After all, you really have no other choice. Till then!^-^

The girl has the strong desire to throw her phone against the wall, the only reason she didn't do so was because she didn't want to alarm her companions in the living room. Another text message causes her to jolt up.

Unknown: Remember, our little secret. :x

The threatening message rang clear in her mind, her eyes gloss over and her head hangs low. She felt a tight pressure in her throat, almost strong enough to cause it to burst open.

How could she be thrusted into something like this? What was she going to do?

She places her head in her hands, she didn't want to tell Twelve or Nine in fear that the stranger might be telling the truth. She didn't want to cave into the commands of the unknown person either, but what else was she to do? Ignore it all? What if their words are true, what if they do contact the police and get Twelve and Nine arrested?

Lisa glances around the room suddenly, looking outside the uncovered window, it's dark outside already and she gets this eerie feeling down her spine. She felt as though someone was watching her every move at the moment.

She crosses the room and draws the blinds harshly, standing there for a second longer hugging herself, her perpetual worries plaguing her mind. She clenches her teeth and grinds them together out of pain. She felt something, something growing inside of her. What it was, she didn't know nor did she want to find out.

A knock came to the door and it makes her retract, at first she didn't quite hear it, she let a few seconds pass by and soon another knock was heard.

"Lisa, its me. Open up, please?" came the muffled voice of Twelve from the other side. She instantly panics. No, why now? she thinks, scrambling from side to side like some wild deer.

She makes sure to wipe her eyes for any residue, she didn't know if they were red or not but she hoped Twelve wouldn't notice her crying. She looks around frantically and hastefully hides her phone underneath the pillow.

After one last look at the room, Lisa slowly makes her way to the door, unsure of her own feet. She opens it slightly and peeks from behind it, like a child would do when they are in trouble.

As soon as Twelve sees her worried expression his shoulders deflated, he gives her a small loopy smile and his eyes glisten with warmth. "Come here," he opens the door and pulls her into his chest, the girl gives out a light squeak as the young male wraps his arms around her.

"It's alright, Lisa. You can cry." he says reassuringly, speaking into the softness of her hair. He feels the girl shake her head on his chest. "It's not bad to cry, its actually really good for you to let it out." he says, tentatively pulling away to look at her face, but her eyes were downcast.

"Look at me." he says in that voice she could not yet resist, he tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear and the girl unwillingly looks up with her round wet orbs.

"Tell me what's wrong." offers the young male, hugging Lisa back to his chest. He hates seeing her shut herself off from him and the rest of the world. She resembled the girl he had first met, back when he had jumped in that pool for her.

Back then she had looked so devoid of emotion, she was broken and numb to everything, closed off like nothing could ever hope to reach her. But he wanted to reach her. Maybe that was the reason why he jumped into the pool, maybe Twelve wanted to get some sort of reaction from her. That and the fact that he wanted to get those snobby girl to leave her alone.

"Lisa you need to eat something, you didn't eat much back then." Twelve tries dragging her out of the room but the girl is relentless and tugs back. "No," she bites her lip, causing him to look at them almost mesmerized. She almost cowers in his gaze.

"Please stay with me." she says under her breath and to young male's dismay her inky bangs obstruct the view of her tender eyes, the pearls he desired to see the most. The boy looks back, wondering if he should keep insisting or if he should just drop it and stay with her. He feels Lisa slip her hands behind his waist and she clings to him, her soft breasts pressing into his chest.

Yup, I'm definitely staying. He thinks as he begins to walk forward while holding Lisa to his chest, the girl stumbles but he keeps her upright with his arms. "Nice and slow," he whispers in her ear and he can practically feel her red cheeks. He only smiles, knowing the loving effect he was having on her.

They keep ambling forward, each step was almost a slip up for the girl as she walks backward but Twelve was there to make sure she doesn't stumble to the floor. Then, the back of her knees hit the mattress and they fall with a laugh and a slight bounce. Lisa's back hits the bed and her head bounces up as Twelve's falls forward, they bump foreheads and their lips meet accidentally.

The auburn-haired boy's eyes widen but they soon settle into a more needing look as he takes his opportunity to deepen the kiss. A sudden hot desire begins to course through his veins, feeling Lisa against him, oh so warm and oh so soft, you couldn't really blame him for wanting more. A young man like himself couldn't be tempted with a greater sight.

Caught between the bed and his body, Lisa shifts underneath him, not expecting the kiss at all. She grabs onto his shirt as he presses his chest closer to her and then she hears him moan her name softly. The sound was something so different, so fragile yet explosive within her ears, it carried a heat throughout her chest she couldn't explain.

A sound Lisa had never heard before yet awoke something deep with in her. She was suddenly frightened of the idea. The next thing she knew she pushes him away, a forceful shove that sent the boy off of her.

"Lisa!" the boy calls out, shocked. "God, Lisa, I'm sorry I got carried away." he searches for the girls eyes and she looks over at him guilty.

"No...it's my fault...it's just…I just—" she mumbles out a bunch of nothingness, smoothing out her skirt back to its original position near her lower thighs. When did it get so hot in here? she thinks. Tentatively, Twelve reaches over and places his palm over one of her hands.

"It wasn't your fault, you were perfect." he declares with those same eyes that could melt her instantly.

I'll get them caught.

The text message from earlier rings in her head and the girl's lips form into a line, she places her head on the young terrorist's shoulders. "Say you'll stay with me?" came her quiet voice, the request surprises Twelve. He looks away in shame, knowing he couldn't keep that promise. Not with the way he was directing his life, the boy knew where he was plummeting to but he had a feeling Lisa didn't.

Soon he would have to...soon him and Nine would...

The meek girl extracts her head and looks at him, but it is now Twelve who is unable to meet her gaze. "Say it, please. I need to hear it." Lisa whispers again.

He couldn't lie to her about this, not to her. How could he?

"I can't…" he breathes out, feeling the girl next to him tense and scoot away in bewilderment. "I can't make a promise I can't keep." he says as softly as he could, hoping that maybe she hadn't heard him.

"Listen, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about." he says after a moment of silence, he shoots a glance at Lisa who is hugging her chest.

"I want to stay with you forever." came her small declaration, she looks up at Twelve and meets the rather large eyes of her beloved. She didn't give him enough time to respond though, ever so slightly she leans up and presses her warm lips against the boy's soft ones.

She brakes the chaste kiss after a while, she wasn't as bold as Twelve when it came to showing her affection, but she had her moments.

"Lisa," came his husky voice soon after, it made her want to disappear out of embarrassment. She doesn't look at him, she doesn't even bother responding because she feels like nothing but gibberish will come out of her mouth.

"Will you marry me?"

That wasn't what she was expecting at all. The girl does a double-take, her eyes shoot open and her heart almost stops, her neck snaps towards Twelve so quickly it made it burn tremendously, but she ignores it. Staring bashfully and quite wide-eyed at the boy with curly hair who was, for his part, looking into space with a frail smile on his face, Lisa blinks.

"W-what?" she stutters.

The boy knew he wasn't supposed to get this attached to her. He hadn't wanted to say what he did at first, or maybe he did, he probably did but the problem was that he shouldn't have. He knew he shouldn't and yet he had done it. Done the unthinkable.

He was doing it again, letting his emotions take control or his actions. The exact thing Nine had warned him not to do. He knew this was a decision he would come to regret in the future, not the part where he would have to marry Lisa, no, he loved and adored the idea. It was the fact that he was going to die soon that, to put it bluntly, unsettled him.

What was a bride if her husband was dead? Not much a bride, obviously.

The question was, did he really feel it wrong in his heart? The answer was simple, no. Did he regret asking her to marry him? No, Twelve loved her with every fiber of his being, he was sure.

Wanting to say with someone this bad had to account for something, right? he thought. Yet, his hope was only a silhouette in the distance.

"Marry you?" Lisa repeats.

Twelve turns to her slowly, his playful smile never faltering. "You don't want to?" his eyes almost shine with shame.

"That's not it! It's just—" Lisa trails off. What was stopping her from saying yes?

"Ah, it's okay. You don't have to say yes, the question just came out of nowhere. I know it may have sounded ridiculous, I don't know why I even asked." he began to chuckle but she could tell it wasn't a genuine smile, he did those kinds of things when he was really hurting.

"I do want to marry you." Lisa declares. "I do want to because—because I never want to be away from you. I don't care what happens, I just want to remain by your side as long as I can."

"Me, too." the boy turns to her, blessing her with a sorrowful smile, that smile that killed him little by little every time. he laughs a boyish laugh then, the kind of laugh you would hear from a high school student during lunch break, he scratches his messy hair. "I don't even know how its done, I mean the marriage part. What do you even do?" he blows a strand of hair from his nose and his grin widens.

Lisa begins to chuckle, too. "I don't really know either, this has never happened to me before." she places a hand over her lips to stifle her chuckles. Honestly, she didn't know why she had the uncontrollable desire to laugh so much.

"Aren't I suppose to take you on a date or something? Give you something? Didn't really pay attention, wasn't interested in these kinds of things back then. Not until you showed up, that is." he seeks her eyes, wanting to get lost in them.

The pale girl smiles sheepishly, almost coyly. "A ring." is all she says as she wiggles her wedding finger in her lap, this makes Twelve perk.

"A ring, huh? Oh yeah, that is what the guy gives the girl isn't it?" he says, making out the important object as not so important, he leans back and a sigh escapes his lips. "I don't have one." his smile drops.

A moment of silence passes by them like a gust of wind, then Twelve comes up with bright eyes. "I know!" he announces, causing Lisa to glance at him in curiosity. The young terrorist gets up from the bed and sits on the ground, his hands move to the ankle bracelet around the base of his leg. He's careful to remove the small trinket and when he does get it off he smiles up at the maiden on the bed, a wide, white smile.

Not a maiden for long, he thinks.

"I don't have a ring, but this means a lot to me." he says, motioning to the bracelet he had in his fingers. This being his first time he did something like this, Twelve crouches awkwardly before Lisa on one knee, she gives him that warm smile he missed so dearly. It was these small moments when he could truly let go of his anguish and focus on the good things in his life, despite the fact that they would come to an end soon.

"Lisa Mishima, will you marry me?" he says in a more formal voice.

The bracelet is held close to her tender eyes, she stares at the worn down bracelet as if it were a mountain of gold, and that's what it is to her. Gold.

Her heart clenches and something within her gives out, the bed of security she had laid on crumbles before her and it was in that moment that Lisa realizes their happiness will end. She realized that no matter how hard she wanted everything was going to be okay in the end, she knew everything would turn down hill.

She had to do something to keep her happiness in tact. It was time she began to fight for her future, for their future. Not only her's and Twelve's, but Nine's as well. She had to fight for them, they at least deserved that much.

Lisa glances at her pillow momentarily, knowing her phone laid there, knowing that stranger was going to contact her later tonight. And now, she knew the answer to both questions.

"Yes, I do." came her strong voice, placing her wrist near the bracelet Twelve held out for her. The boy's white smile seems to grow wider as his eyes fill with light and pride. He carefully positions the bracelet around her wrist and connects the two ends, slowly grabbing hold of her soft hand when he was done.

"You may now kiss the bride." Twelve mimics an old man's voice, he puffs out his shoulders as if to catch the character better. She chuckles softly, a feathery chuckle that had the boy smiling from ear to ear.

The young terrorist gets up from his crouched form on the floor, he seizes both of Lisa's hands in his own. He leans down slowly as her eyes flutter closed, they both breath in and then their lips touch. It was a sweet, endearing kiss, one that carried true love and supported any difficulty. A gentle kiss that felt like a thousand suns, a kiss that Twelve, for his part, would never forget.

That night they fall on the bed and stay together, Twelve held Lisa in his arms while Lisa held Twelve in her's. He had fallen asleep near her chest, unable to fight the incredible bliss that overtook him in that instant. The girl remains awake while stroking his hair, he had fallen into such a deep slumber he had began to snore lightly. The girl next to him smiles bitterly at the ceiling as her hollow eyes never stray.

She lays there and waits, waits for something she know will come. She waits for the start of the end. Then, at exactly 1am her phone vibrates under her pillow. With on hand, careful not to wake Twelve, Lisa gropes for her phone. She touches the cool metal and inhales deeply, preparing herself mentally.

Unknown: So, what's your decision?

Lisa bites her lip, looking down at the boy on her chest.

Lisa: First, show me that your real. I need to know that your threats aren't just empty words.

Unknown: Empty words, huh? Fine, you asked for this, remember that.

The girl begins to panic, maybe she shouldn't have asked that. The ominous words on the screen had her feeling as though she will come to regret every word she had typed out. A few seconds later her phone buzzes and she almost has a heart attack.

Unknown: Look outside your window, darling.

Lisa can hear her heart sink, she slowly slides out bed(making sure Twelve doesn't wake) and inches towards the window. Drawing back the blind partially she stares, almost frighteningly. Her eyes roam the dark streets, she tries to see something that wasn't there but after another minute of searching she almost gives up. Then, a loud explosion in front of her erupts, almost sending her to the floor. The ground beneath her trembles as the shock of the explosion pass through them like a wave.

Twelve is thrown out of bed, he lands on the floor with a loud thud as he jolts awake. He groans, arching his back up as he hisses in pain, then he witnesses Lisa on the ground as well, holding her hands to her ears as she bites back a scream.

"Lisa!" he screams out, he gets up but another set of explosions erupt close to them and he stumbles on his knees, he hears the girl's piercing scream. Their apartment building rumbles again with tremendous force, as if thunder had chosen their area to strike.

"Make it stop!" Lisa screams without thinking, hands to her ears, she shuts her lids tightly, desperately. Feeling hands on her arms she shakes them off as if they were going to attack her, she shook with such fright she could be compared to the rattle on a snake.

"I'm here! It's okay! It's okay!" Twelve repeats over and over again, shielding the girl with his own body. He was steadily moving her to the door but the girl was caught in terror, rendering her body stiff and immobile, making it difficult for him to move her at all. "Don't listen to that!" he screams out with haste as he realizes Lisa's fear came from hearing the building next to them collapse. "Don't even feel it! J-just feel me," he offers, fighting the fear in his words as another wave of shock hit them.

He swallows and comes to a halt, he settles them on the floor rather harshly, he was nervous, wanting to get out of the room was his first objective but seeing as how the fragile girl in his arms went rigid to the touch he guessed it better to calm her down first. He needed to slow down her racing heart.

He was use to these tremors, use to the sound of crumbling buildings and scattering debris. But she wasn't accustomed to it all, and he could only imagine the dread she felt.

"Listen to me, move with me," the terrorist moves Lisa's head to connect with his chest, he breathes in deeply, making sure the girl could feel his every move. "Just focus on me, the way I breathe, the way I feel." he hugs the girl to his chest, taking deep breathes as he did so. Soon, Lisa mimic his actions, taking deep, shaky breaths, her muscles relax just a bit.

She looks up, determined to get a sight of Twelves eyes. If she was going to die in that instant, which she was not but it felt that way to her, she had to at least get one more view of those warm eyes filled with the sun. Then she could die at ease.

"That's right," he breaths in nice and slow for her to witness, he grabs either side of her face, forming circles on her cheek with his thumbs. "Eyes on me." he steadily brings them to their feet, now sirens can be heard in the background and smoke can be seen outside the window.

For a second Lisa's eyes stray to the outside, they widen as soon as the see smoke. Witnessing the brightness of the flames outside practically lick the window sets her transfixed once more. Twelve snaps her head to him before she can see more, catching her attention abruptly.

"No peeking." he presses on, bringing her head to his chest once again, shielding her with his arms.

"Hey!" it was Nine, he stood at the foot of the room while motioning with his hand to get out. He had this panicked-stricken face that spoke volumes. "Come on, move!" he commands. Twelve begins to walk towards him, all the while making sure the girl in his arms accepted every step they took. "That's right, nice and slow." he repeats into her ear as her steps become more willing. He feels her relax and he relaxes, too, that is, until he hears her utter something that causes him to freeze.

"It's all my fault."

There's chapter 3, so someone in the reviews asked me to make a lemon. Should I? I don't know if those actions fit Lisa and Twelve...it's just...I don't know. Odd? But, maybe more would like to see that?...maybe even me...hehe

Tell me what you think in a review.

BTR.