Third chapter. W00t

---

There was a chance she could get into college next year. She was hoping for it. Not a lot, but she began to pride herself in academics again. It was weird to care, but not care as she thought. Her parents were looking for colleges. Her sister would be going to one close to home, but far enough away to live on her own. It was an hour drive away at the least. She would probably go there, too.

Summer was ending. School would be starting soon. She could visit a college. Maybe.

---

They had been driving today. She still had more then a season left to wait, but she would get all her hours in. She was waiting for Daniel. They were in a part of town she was not familiar with. But he knew the area, so she did not question much. He wanted to treat her or something. Right now was visiting a relative or something. He did not explain much when he left the car. It was not so bad before, but she was getting impatient. And hungry.

She opened her phone. She was happy she got him to get a phone. Actually, she found his cousin's number and gave her a call that in turn convinced Daniel to get a phone. They only talked when looking for the boy, but they also talk about him. Never the less, he got a cheap phone due to the pressure from the two of them.

She dialed his number and waited for the pick-up. It clicked and he asked, "What?"

"You know you aren't supposed to leave children in the car? We can die of heat stroke." She said with a grin.

A huff on the other end. "If you can't open the damn door, I ain't letting you drive no moh."

"Where are you?" She asked, looking around just in case she missed him.

"I'm getting the best friend chicken you'll ever had, that's where I am." She smirked. She had a joke, but she kept it to herself. Racist jokes weren't beneath or above them, but she could save it when he arrived. "Just another left and a right. And-" A pause. "Oh crap."

"What?" She asked.

"Stay in the car. I'll be there in a few minutes." He ended the call and she closed her phone, but quickly jumped out of the car. He said a left or a right, so she needed to take a right and a left, if she figured it out correctly and if Daniel did, too. She ran on auto-pilot. The right. Nothing but adrenaline and fear. The left. She saw people, but she quickly scampered back. She peeked around the corner.

Two men had Daniel cornered. They did not see her. They were older then her, but probably around his age. She looked for any weapons she could grab. She heard her friend say, "Look, take the money. That's all I got."

"What else yah got, sucka?" She saw metal pipes to her side. She grabbed one and gripped it like a bat. She could rush them and possible end up dead. She licked her lips.

Then she thought about it. She grabbed another one, holding one pipe in each hand. They were not what she wanted, but they felt perfectly balanced. The man who spoke equaled a threat; he held a knife to Daniel's throat. The other man stayed as a watch out. But he did not see her. She rode on adrenaline. No fear anymore.

Maybe she should feel guilt for hitting a man in the head that could cause permanent brain damage. But she did not. She also did not feel bad that she caught him with his back turned to her. The pipe in her left hand struck right on the side of his face. His head bobbled for a second. It looked like he was on a free-fall. She brought her right weapon to his chest. It made a terribly hollow sound. He fell.

The man with the knife stared back in shock, whether from the quick attack, the girl wielding the weapon, how quickly his friend was pounced on, or a mix. She looked at him for a second then charged. The idiot pulled his knife away from Daniel and looked to attack her with it. Must have been instinct instead of the better choice of using his victim as a shield or a hostage. Too bad her instincts were better. She swung her weapon right onto his wrist. The knife fell with a satisfactory clink. The man grabbed his hand in pain and Daniel had enough sense to get the hell out of her way. She swum and connect with his shoulder, then brought her left arm to connect with his mid-section. He groaned. Then she went for his legs.

He was down.

She spun around and saw the other man. He got up. She glared at him and took a step. He reached into his pocket and she saw something gleam. She thought it might be a gun. It was a strange feeling, knowing that if she did not get close to him she would get shot. She was not quite scared yet.

The metal object was lifted and was half-way raised to point at her, but before it was aimed, something few by her head and shot right at the hand. She saw it had been a gun and she saw what flew was a garbage can lid.

She looked back and saw Daniel with a hand grasping a top and a free hand grabbing another one. She turned back.

So it was a gun.

He was trying to get it. He tried to get it. She brought the pole down on his fingers, then on his back. He lost his balanced and she kicked the gun away. Then she brought it across his head again. A few more times until…

He was out, for good this time. She turned back and saw Daniel being attacked by the one who held him prior. She watched with almost amusement at him handling the cans like a pro; as both a shield and a weapon. The man brought another knife out and into his hand, but it never got close enough to touch. Daniel used the cans to bat it away, and brought his elbow up to cuff him in his chin. His arms circled and reaped blow after bow. Finally he got a kick in. Rosaline never knew anyone could get a kick up to someone's neck. The criminal smashed into the brick wall and fell.

Though they were both on the ground, the attackers still made sounded and made movement. Daniel looked at her with wide eyes, "Go."

She turned and bolted down the way. She was not stupid enough to look back. Not until she got to the car. She finally turned around.

He came out of the alley. He carried the gun.

With him in her vision, she hoped into the passenger side, caught her breath, and looked at the pipes in her grasp. There was blood on them. He was next to her. They looked at the gun. He emptied the clip out, and then he opened the chamber and emptied that round. She saw Mr. Brian do it all the time, but did not know Daniel would and could and do it all in ten seconds.

She was breathing still, still alive. She started laughing. He looked at her as if she was crazy, but then he started laughing. It felt good. So good.

"What did we do?" She asked, still not getting enough air in her lungs.

"We kicked ass, li'l girl. That's what we did." He held out his free palm, and she slapped it, balancing her weapons in her other hand and legs.

Their breaths came off the labor edged. She looked out of the car. "Think they'll follow?" She asked. They turned to look at each other. Daniel cussed and quickly started the car. She felt the rush again. They already skidded a few miles before she grinned. "Want to try it?"

"Try what?" He asked, body no longer twitching anymore.

"With these." She raised her pipes.

He looked at her in shock.

She grinned.

"Yes." He grinned. "Hell yah."

It would be a fun day.

---

She had to sneak out for tonight. Daniel told her he wanted her to be in a sting with her. She was not too comfortable with it, but she was certainly curious. Too curious.

He told her to dress up. His words were, "Look more girly and less threatening. And try to grow a few inches." She was thinking of not showing up, just to spite him. She instead asked her sister to help her with the 'instructions.'

Now she walked down the street. Or more appropriately, wobbled on heals that made her about three inches taller. At least she chose thick heeled platforms instead of going strait heels. She also lost the headband for tonight. Some make-up and a dress instead of slacks and she was all set. The bar wasn't their bar, but close to town. She got a girlfriend to drop her off. She was supposed to be at a party. The friend agreed to do it if Rosaline agreed to come back and give all the drunken people rides home.

She walked into the breezeway and looked at herself with the mirror provided. She looked different. She doubted she passed twenty one, though. She was a convincing enough eight-teen, but a very young eighteen. But she did not plan to order anything that needed or had proof.

She stepped into the main part and eyed him. He eyed her. She let a brief nod and took a seat next to a window. He was playing someone. She felt nervous. This was the first time she did something like this. All she had to do was look pretty and innocent. Pretty, innocent, but slightly interesting. Someone came. She only ordered water. She turned back to the table and watched Daniel was winning. He was supposed to keep his losses a little under his victories.

She watched a little. Not flirting because she did not want the man to like her as much as she wanted him to notice her. The man was tall. He was shorter then her partner, but he made up for it with some extra bulk.

She took a sip once she received her water and simply watched. She kept watching, but occasional kept her glances on Daniel from the corner of her eye. Rosaline waited for her queue.

And then it came: "Alright. If you think you can still win, I'll be willing to ante the game." Her friend gestured around the bar. "Pick me a partner."

She knew how to act. Shy, available, and without skill, but curious. Be interested enough to not say no. She took another sip. Then the mark looked at her. He grinned and she knew he bit. He nodded to her. She kept looking, but not really. Coy or something. This was her training.

"What? Her?"

"Her."

When Daniel cursed, she almost grinned. But she was taught better, she covered any lingering emotion with a napkin.

Daniel approached her. He leaned in. The man only had to think he was convincing her to play.

"So…you can just walk outright now." He said, eyeing the dress. "Then again, I'd feel tragic if some punk jumped yah."

She made sure to scowl. "I can poke out eye with the fake nails alone. I'm not very worried," Her face turned away, just as they rehearsed.

He pulled out a few bills, and then laid them out on the table. It was only a couple of singles, "Blue suits you."

She grinned; it was both on purpose and for show. "You, on the other hand, look like a criminal." She held out a hand. He shook it. She slid the bills down her top: A flirtatious act, an adult act, a perfect act. She walked over to the billiard table and grabbed a stick. "So…I hit the white ball and knock the other balls in the holes, right?" She left a frown out.

The mark grinned, "Si, all you have to do is that."

"It's like…the stripe balls versus the…not really…stripped balls?" She really did not feel too bad about sounding stupid. She might have over-played it, but the mark did not seem too notice or think anything of it. The results after the game would be amusing.

The mark sent Daniel a smirk. He smiled at her when he announced, "Ladies first." He still smiled when after she broke she was lucky to get a solid in.

He stopped smiling after she got her third ball in without difficulty.

She let Daniel call the eight ball. After all, he did not get a chance to play. He grabbed the money, and gave her a cut. She grinned a little. "Sorry boys, but next to be a little more careful on whom you choose." The line was corny, but for now she could not be associated with Daniel closely, in case they wanted to do this again.

Then she walked away.

She clopped out of the establishment. The heels were killing her feet. Never again, even for that little bit of a boost. She paused in the breezeway again and looked at herself in the merrier in the doorway.

Well, maybe she would. She did look different. It was…nice.

The next step was to wait for Daniel to come out inn about a half hour. He gave her the key to his car, just in case she did not want to wait outside his car. It was a safe enough area, she was told, but it was night and outside of a bar. Strange and possibly dangerous characters could be around.

She leaned against a car next to his, looking as viscous and unfriendly as she could. It was a bit tricky, as she wore a blue dress with big boots, happened to have one of the lightest hair and skin colors in the area, petite, and she happened to posses female parts that were indeed noticeable more so the usual. She paused over those facts. She went back over to the vehicle, opened the trunk, pulled out one of a familiar set of pipes, closed the trunk with her elbows, and went back to her previous spot. Now she felt better.

Indeed, a strange and possibly dangerous character came over. He had been the mark. She felt a slight chill, but she showed no fear. Maybe he wanted his money back. She would not fight for it, but she did not particularly wish to loose it.

"Hey, chico-sita. You play good. You practice?" He asked, looking her up and down, probably not caring about her skills so much as some of those facts she previously pondered on. She should be afraid. Maybe before she would be afraid, but all she held was light trepidation. She could not even raise a twitch. Maybe when he pulled a weapon or threatened.

"Look, if you want your money back, I don't care to make a deal out of it." She answered. There was not script for this part. She did not need one. "But next time, try not to bring strange people into your games."

"Nah, keep the money." He said, favoring to lean next to her on the car, yet turning to face her. Her opposite hand wrapped strongly around the pipe in her grasp. She bet by the time he decided to be rash, she could crack him upside the head or right between the legs. "But I gots to say, you impress me." He smiled at her, showing ivory. He had his all his teeth, except two that were gold, but it took a moment to spot them since the real ones were slightly stained yellow. And his breath reeked of something bad.

She already did not like him and she knew she already had enough justice just to smash him in a body-part with his proximity.

A car-door slammed to there left, causing her to jump (and pleasantly enough, the mark). Daniel stared, a new box of cigarettes in his hands. He glared. He did not say anything, but for a moment his eyes shifted down to the weapons to her side. He relaxed, if only briefly before keeping his guard up.

"What?" The mark asked, stepping to the other man and just barley past Rosaline, "You want somethin'?"

She raised her weapon slightly, but Daniel moved faster and used his slight height advantage against the beefier man. "Get away from my car, mother fucker." He mumbled.

The mark glared at him, yet obeyed. He took a few steps back.

Satisfied he would keep the distance, Daniel walked away and head back to the bar.

Not sure if she should stay, she decided not to tempt anything and headed back in. She was still afraid, but neither was she stupid. In the breeze-way, she dropped her pipe to the side, not believe anyone would take it. Even if they did, it was nothing important; just a pipe. She could get another one.

In the bar, Daniel already ordered a shot glass and swallowed the contents without much effort. She frowned. She could drive, but if he had too much, how would he get home? Rosaline had been counting on him for a lift back to the party.

She sat down three seats away from him. She did not order anything, but another glass of water was set in front of her. She sipped it. He waited exactly a half hour. He only did one more small class during the whole time. The rest of the time was spent tasting something else, probably beer. After he left, she sat in for five minutes before she stepped out. This part was planned; just in such an unforeseeable circumstance happened.

He sat in his car, watching and waiting. He spotted her come, but turned his gaze to everything else except her. She noticed that their mark was gone from plain view, at least. They did not need to worry about it anymore; if the rest of the bar did not know, that was okay. Besides, if they did see her climb into the car with him, there were other possibilities.

She approached the trunk. She noticed something on the driver's side of the car. It made her smile. "Nice decoration." She mumbled, tapping the car lightly.

"Wha?" He asked, peaked out unknowingly. He then cursed, "Fucker!" He slammed on his wheel, "He keyed my car!"

She giggled as she put her weapons down for the night. She kept a smile on as she heard more curses out of his mouth. She hopped in, buckled up, and watched him with a bright smile, "That bastard keyed-" He noticed her and glared at her, "You think that's funny?"

She nodded and replied with a smirk, "That's what you get."

He snorted, and started the car up without a reply. It made no difference if he made no other comments; He also smiled.

---

Fall was officially here and she was going to visit a college. She doubted she would go to this one, but if she went for a visit, it would look like she was trying.

Her father learned she worked at a gun-shop. That was not a fun afternoon. She did not even realize he figured it out. Then again, he had been asking why she smelled like fireworks and metal for the last week. The conclusion she figured was someone father saw her there, and told his wife, who told her mom, who told her dad. She already knew a few people at school knew she worked there. They found it to be odd and interesting, but not too surprising or upsetting. She was pretty sure even the one or two teacher who knew also did not care, so her theory was probably the correct assumption.

He just stepped in the shop one day; saw Mr. Brain helping two deer hunters getting ready for the season and Rosaline worked on her homework. Of course when he opened the door, the little bell went off and she had to look up to see if he needed assistance.

He just stared at her. She quickly looked down at the pen in her hand. Brain glanced at him and said, "I'll be with out in one moment, sir."

Her father sat in a seat near the front, looking at her. She only briefly looked up once and caught the glare. He at least waited for her boss to finish.

Brian knew her parents did not know she worked here, even though she required one of their signatures to legally work. That also meant that he had no idea who his 'next customer' would be. But the gun shop owner clearly noticed how intent the older man was on his employee. Rosaline saw it and hoped nothing bad was done over this. He made sure to get the two sportsmen out before he asked rather rudely, "May I help you?" He looked every bit the vet he was.

Her father stood up now and she gave up on her math assignment.

Brain was bigger and taller, but her dad was at least seven years younger, if not a decade. It was so…strange to think of her dad as younger then someone else.

"Nope, I was just seeing how my daughter's work environment was." Her father remained calm in his tone, but she glanced at his body language. His knuckles were turning white.

And then Brian looked between them briefly. But he visibly relaxed; she figured he no longer had to worry about something ugly happening, like the night she first met him. "Alright," He stated coolly, the tension he held gone. He waited for her father to reply.

"This isn't an office. She told me and my wife she was working somewhere like that." Her father informed, "She told us she was doing secretary work."

Brian chuckled, "Well, if that the worry, then yeah, she does all of the clerical services. She takes messages, answers phones, does inventory. I don't leave her alone to handle guns and ammo. She also gets me coffee." The part about the guns and ammo was false; she could take apart, clean, and load a few different weapons as good as any regular. Then again, that was not a job duty; that was a personal choice.

"She did not tell me she was working at a place that sells weapons." Her father probably did not know what he wanted to say. Neither did she, but she kept her mouth shut.

"Well, I receiver the paperwork from her school, so I figured that if they knew, her family knew, too." She was glad Brian did not sound like he was trying to belittle her father.

"Do you really think this is a good environment for a child?" Her father finally got to his point.

"Well sir, I can assure you, I'm teaching her about her country, including freedoms we, the people, have, including our second amendment rights." She knew what he was doing; Her father probably thought her boss to be a pervert and just wanted a piece of jail bait around, but now he could have thought him to be a crazy gun nut who wanted to spread the jargon or cause or some crack-pot government theory to the younger generation.

Her father sighed. Apparently, it worked for the moment. "Alright." He replied about. It appeared the word 'Alright' translated to, 'I am not happy, but I'll accept your answer for the moment.' He turned to look at her, but she already turned away, back to her school work. She hated the irrational fear and embarrassment she felt. There was no reason for it. "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure." Brian said.

"Alone." Her father stated, having yet to take his eyes off his eldest. "I want you to go outside."

She did not move. Frankly, she felt a bit angry now. She was at her job, and her father came in and told her she had to leave? He had no right. She was almost seventeen and she was not doing anything illegal or wrong. For that matter, neither was her employer and he did not to deserve to be scolded over his choice of a worker by her own damn father. How dare he. This was not some child matter about curfews. This was her being a responsible adult, at her first real experience in a work place, and he demanded she leaves because he has an issue with firearms? She knew her father was a man who used more of his mind as of his age, but this was irrational. Maybe she should have been more honest with her parents, but at the time she hid this place more out of the fear of keeping her family away from this part of her life that was not really her life. Yet she did not think her father would act so negative. No, they were not at home or anything. She would not listen.

There was a pause as she almost felt her father's gaze at her increase. So she did not move. He did not have the reason or rank to do so.

"Rosaline." He warned.

She did not move.

"Kid, go take a break. You got one coming up."

She got up and walked out, leaving all her work there. She stormed out, not caring if she acted like a child. Her father was treating her like one, so why should she care if she looked like one?

She may have stepped onto the street, but she had a key to the back office. She walked around the building, climbed on some wood crates, hopped over the fence, and walked to the back. She unlocked the door and stepped in, closing it quietly behind her. The door leading to the back office was open, so she slipped behind the wall, making sure not to pass the actually doorway, and listened. Brian probably already knew she was back there; he always knew. But not her father. How could he?

From what she picked up on, she did not miss much, "…permit from her school check out. I wouldn't hire illegally." Brian.

"So you really think it's safe for a minor to handle guns?" Dad.

"Sir, like I said, in the rare cases I need her to touch a weapon, I am there to supervise. None of the weapons are loaded. And when she handles the rounds, she merely does it for inventory purposes. I do not let her handle both at the same time."

"Look, she's only sixteen. Do you think it's safe for her to work here?"

"I think this is the safest place for anyone to work. Not many people will try robbery on people who sell guns." She covered her mouth. That was not the joke. The joke was nobody successfully robs a gun store.

"This is not a good job for a girl to have after school."

"Now wait, sire, is this about her being a minor or being a female?"

No reply from her father this time. Rosaline did not think she could be more annoyed with him, but he did it.

"Sir, I understand, but this should not be a thing about gender. Being taught weapon safety is something a lot of people should now about. She's very smart and she's a tough girl. I don't think you need to-"

"What makes you think you understand?"

There was a silence, but she heard a sigh from Brian, before he began talking again, "Well, I am a father of five children, with two girls of my own. They are a little younger then Rosaline and I understand that as a father of daughters you want to keep them safe and keep them gentle. But both my girls know how to handle a gun and know not to use it."

Another silence from her father. Rosaline was getting over the fact that Brian had five kids, some her age.

"Look, I know this will be between you and her, but I can assure you I am not some kind of creep. Now, I am not saying it is not good for business. I admit a young girl can bring in a few extra customers, but that's not why I hired her. If you want to talk later, or check me out, I'll give you references as well as anywhere to go to get a background check on me. Let me get my business card.

Her chief stepped inside the back office. He grabbed something from inside his desk. He closed the desk, looked straight at her, pointed to the door, mouthed 'Get out,' and stepped back into the room.

She did not mean to laugh, but she just did. It was funny; this whole situation felt funny. She made sure to lock the door before she walked back out the way she came. It was a bit tricky to get over the fence without the boxes to give her a boost, but just a little harder and more of a climb. She waited for her father to come back out.

He did, with her homework. So he got her an early day. She glared at him. "Come on, we'll talk about this when we get home." He informed her. She knew better. It meant they weren't going to talk. But she still climbed into the vehicle, wrapping her arms over her chest, and staring out the passenger window. She heard the door open, felt her felt her father get in, and watched them drive off. She did not try talking with him and he did not trying talking with her. She only announced, "I'm not quitting,"

"Alright." He said. She hated that word. Alright. None of this was.

They did not talk about it at home. Her father talked to her mother, and she talked to her sister.

The next day, her father drove her to work and stated, "If your grades go down again, you're quitting."

"Alright." She replied.

--

She had to be serious about graduating. Mattering on this semester, she might have to take extra classes to graduate. She was not thrilled about that information, either.

She already said she would pay for them if the classes were the only options besides repeating. She actually got an account with the good doctor as co-beneficiary until she turned eighteen. If she wanted money, all she had to do was have him make a call. She was not too worried. It was not like a doctor that charged over five dollars a minute would be stealing her ten dollar an hour paycheck (before taxes). He also made sure to remind her that though he had two ex wives he owed alimony to; he still had a nice glass of wine each night. Her parents thought she hid her money in a jewelry box or spent it willy-nilly. Right. She hardly touched the amount.

But to be able to keep earning her own wealth/freedom, she needed to but her educational duties first. A college run she would go.

--

It was somewhere upstate. She drove the whole time, knocking off over an hour just like that, with dad in the passenger seat for direction. She would be spending her weekend with him. She was not angry with him anymore, just a little bitter. At least he no longer complained about her driving.

The place looked new, but reminded her of a prison. Maybe she was being pessimistic, but it popped in her head. They found a parking-spot to the head office. Inside it looked nothing like a prison. It looked like a school. But just a school, not some better place for higher learning.

"Looks great," her father commented with something like pride.

"Yah." She replied, knowing she would hate this weekend.

They headed to the office. A lady greeted them. "You're Mr. Nolan, correct?"

Her father nodded with a charming smile.

"And you must be Rosaline." The lady now turned to her. Rosaline forced a smile on. She would not be rude.

"So," The woman grinned and pulled out some papers. "You want to stay for the weekend?"

"Mmhmm." She mumbled, keeping the smile on and wishing she was anywhere but here.

She felt her father's hand go over her shoulder and did everything in her will not to flinch. It was not as if her dad did anything to garnish such a reaction or she hated contact. But what he was doing was just bogus: It annoyed her. "I figured it would be good for her to have a taste of the college life."

"Well, I'm sure she'll find this to be a great school with great people and a great learning experience to give her life some great opportunities." The desk lady was so cheerful about it. "Now for this weekend, she can sit in with school events, a few classes. Oh, I hear you like basketball?"

"Yes." She replied trying not to sound as fake as her smile was.

"Well, the season does not start yet, but maybe you can meet some of the coaches. How about that?" Rosaline doubted this woman saw a game, let alone any of the people involved. She would give the woman credit for knowing the season had not started yet.

"Doesn't that sound fun?" Her dad asked, rubbing her shoulder. Oh right, he would want to take her.

"Perfect."

"Alright, well, we like to have the current students be involved with the new students, so we've assisted a student guide."

"Guide?" Her father asked.

"Yes. Sort of like a student who relates their experience and explains what the potential ones need to expect. Let's continue this conversation while we walk. If you would follow me." The woman nodded out of the office. Her dad looked down at her and she looked back up at him. They both actually smiled at each other identical smiles; not just about them having the same grin (which Rosaline did inherit from her father), but just the same knowledge behind it: All of this would be a big joke to them.

They followed out of the office. The lady kept talking about awards and history of the school. Rosaline still did not care. They viewed pictures and school made art and random cases with random names and random rooms.

She still answered when she needed to and paid attention when she also needed to.

"We also have the student guides available in case they would prefer to ask more on the peer level instead of an adult." The lady stated, as it appeared they were at the end of their journey.

"Sounds nice," Her father answered.

"Yes. We're heading to the dorms and you can meet your guide." They walked down another hallway of classrooms. "He'll show you around the campus, the outside area, the cafeteria.

"He?" Her father asked with light concern. She wanted to remind her father about the incidents in high school in which he bought her a CD player for, but that might leave a bad impression. If this was not one of the schools her sister might try to get into, she would bring it up and not care what the security or whatever thought. But she made sure to let out a loud sigh; she was getting sick of this sudden chauvinistic take he had about her as of late.

"Oh, I assure you, Ezra is a gentleman and a gentle boy. He's the top of his classes. When he first came here, he was shy and a bit younger then the other students, but he had grown up and matured quite nicely. You can meet him before we let them have some…alchemic bonding." The secretary said it as if it was a joke, but at the same time gave Rosaline a sympatric look, as if understanding the protectiveness he was exhibiting and understood how unfortunate if felt. She did not want sympathy; she wanted to leave. But, they pressed on. "Aaaand, this is our Library. It is open until two in the morning, though sometimes, especially around finals, it is kept open twenty four hours. Our students like to achieve, after all." The woman gazed around, almost in pride. "Ezra should be around here. Wait just a moment, okay?" And the lady took off around one of the many isles of books.

Her father glanced around, nodding a little, "It's a very nice place."

"Yah." She replied quietly, not caring if that was the same answer she gave before. She did think it was nice, too. Did not mean she wanted to spend the next part of her education here.

"Hello!" The woman called, walking back to them, clearly leading a student back to the rest of the group. He was barely taller then her. He also looked too thin, maybe thinner then her. Rosaline was petite, but only a hint of ribs showed under her skin if she stretched just right and her ankles were smooth with muscle, not gaudy with bones. She got a glimpse of the young man's wrist. They were like reeds and probably so was the rest of him. He wore a hoodie that, surprisingly, was just a little too small on him. It did not make him look any bigger. It made him look like a big kid trying to fit into clothing that did not fit anymore. She would have called him oriental; dark and slanted eyes, rounded face, and straight hair in a bowl-cut. But he had to be mixed; freckles married every inch of his visible pale skin. His hair was dark, but in the light it flashed a brassier color that highlighted too subtle to be dyed. She had to wonder how bad he got it in high school. "Ezra, this is Ms. Nolan and her father. Rose, this is Mr. Ezra Xue.

She held her hand out. "It's Rosaline. She hated being called 'Rose' or 'Rosy.' Too cute. Rosaline was female name, but it sounded noble and proper enough that she could bare that without seeming adorable. The only abbreviation she accepted was…Rosa. She accepted for…a reason, but not one she would ever acknowledge. When she was younger, it was because it was easier to say and had a nice flair. Other reasons presented themselves, of course.

He took her hand and nodded to her. Against his wishy-washy skin-tone his dark circles hanging under his eyes were more prominent. She wondered how much rest he could only manage. Or let himself get, depending on the case. When they let go, she stood up.

"Alright, dad, let's leave these students to mingle. They'll join us in a little bit at the cafeteria." She felt thankful to the escort at the moment. She made sure to smile at her father brightly, like a good daughter should. Her father looked the boy (or man) over, but still had to be slightly persuaded to wait for them in the teacher's lounge for a free meal and free conversation. And then it was two.

She was not sure how to start this interaction, but since she was waiting and ready top listen, maybe that was all she needed to do. Luckily, he asked the first question. "Shall we?" He asked politely. She nodded and followed. "Do you have any questions?" He asked.

"Yah. Is this volunteer work or are you trying to get out of trouble?" She asked. Might as well be honest.

He did not even flinch. Or smile. "I do get credit for it, but I do enjoy the volunteering."

"Why?"

"I enjoy seeing the next set of pupils." He glanced and took in her appearance. "It probably won't be you."

So he had some wit to him, or he was just an ass. Either way, he was being honest with her, too. "Well, I just had to look like I cared."

He made a confirmation noise, but she made no other retort. They left the library. Once outside its doors, he did inquire, "What would you like to see?"

"Your dorm." She replied. Again, he did not flinch, just gave her a narrowed and questionable look. She smirked, "My dad wanted this. If he comes looking for me and finds me alone with you, he might freak.

"Ah, rebellion." He mumbled, but guided her away from the Library, "This way, then." It took about five minutes to head to another wing of the school. She passed by more rooms, an auditorium, a café, several classrooms, and a few rooms she did not know their use.

Then they came to the dorms. There were colorful posters and campy and complaining pictures. Other items were splotched everywhere. The dorm was named 'Colt' and the visible portions of the walls were painted in an almost Native American theme with horses running around. Made her briefly wonder if all the other dorms were like this. Maybe the broachers she was supposed to read had that information in them. They stopped at a room 95.

He opened the door and she gazed inside. The first thing she noticed was the scent. It smelled clean, but something like old paper smell and something spicy hung in the air, but the spicy smell did not remind her of food. She followed him in and noticed how…tidy his room was. Not a piece of cloth with a crooked edge. No garbage on the floor. This boy was not a frat. The word 'nerd' came to mind, but he gave off no awkwardness in his movement. More like a piteous child with purpose in hi steps. Not nervous, but not friendly.

He sat down on his bed, not watching her, but clearly waiting for her to do something. She investigated his shelf. It, along with his desk, was crammed with books. Tomes of knowledge and other ideal research items were scattered on the shelf. They were also neatly stacked or put away, but as far as she could tell, they were not organized in some pattern. She noticed many books were on translations. And none were the ones she remembered being taught at school, like French and Spanish. Two most common were Latin and Aramaic. "Wow."

"I major in languages." As if he already knew her next question before she asked it.

"How do you get into that?" She had with true curiosity. She would never go into that for a steady or even a minor, but why would anyone want to?

"My father was a historian and my mother works as a part-time editor. I always pickled up on grammar and word modification well. I started to look up Greek and Roman linguistics first, but I've branched of somewhat." He pointed to a few books on top of the shelf. Probably the first ones he read.

She touched them and a word suddenly popped into her head. She nodded and mumbled the word.

"What did you said?" He asked, staring at her shoes for a moment. He probably had a problem with the dirt on them. Once upon a time, they were white. Then again, he was Asian; maybe she should have shucked them before entering. She only now noticed he had slippers on, which she knew he must have switched on at some point of entering because they would not have made the hard sound walking down the hall she heard him make before. "I didn't hear what you said."

"Cool Lexicons." She mumbled a little louder, seeing one about something that did not follow the Alphabet she knew.

"I think you are the first person outside my classes to call them by their correct category. Most people call them dictionaries." He looked impressed

She smirked, "Guess I'm not a total dunce."

"Any particular set of lexemes in other languages you like, or were you just curious about English's own?" He asked genuinely interested.

And she slightly felt bad (and a little stupid) answering, "…Lexeme?"

"…The forms a base word takes depending on usage?" He asked, any pleased look on his face washed away.

"To be honest, I only own a pocket dictionary." She received that in exchange for a pair of boots, too.

He stared at her stilly for a moment, then sighed, "I suppose you saw one on a movie, and then typed it up on some online encyclopedia."

"Actually, I knew a boy who had one. He…had a Lexicon…" She wanted to say 'He used a Lexicon to fight with' but that would put off any future conversation, "But I don't know what type of langue would be in it." She turned, recalled this familiar dialogue from someone else. "Technically, I didn't, I guess."

"What do you mean?"

"Because…I don't know number VI, except while sleeping." She intentionally mumbled her words. They were uncomfortable to say, yet it was a habit she was learning to do. Just throw out numbers at random. She saw Mr. Brian do it several times, and she guessed she was suppose to repeat the action. It was a good queue to use; say just a number if something particular was exchanged, and that way if no one understood, it could be shrugged off. Also, saying the number made it less personal. Names had meanings, after all. Yet only the few of them would know the numbers.

She glanced back at him, always curious with the reaction, and saw he was watching something that was not there. "Sorry if I-" Then he started shaking. She watched with a sick gut-wrenching fascination as it changed from small shudders to borderline seizure motions. Oh, she hoped he was not epileptic. She knew to shove something in their mouths so they would not bite their tongue off, but beyond that… "Hey, what's the matter?" She remembered you had to ask that first.

"Noo…nooo…" He just kept mumbling.

She did not want to get closer incase he had something or would do something that would end up with her having bodily harm. She simply asked, "What?"

"No…no…no…" He reported. The she heard a small mutter, "Dreams…just dreams..."

And she realized his fit. A strange…maternal feeling or something spread inside her at once. She came over to the bed and…hugged him. Perhaps not a decent hug, but this was not something she usually attempted. She draped an arm around his front. He was not that big, though, so it was not too hard to wrap both her arms around him. Her sister and her use to do this with each other when resting was near impossible those night. Rosaline started rocking him slowly, whispering 'it's okay.' She had not idea what she was really doing, but hoped her intentions were good.

He stopped shaking, but kept his gaze down. "Are you lying?"

"What?"

"Are you just teasing me?" He said, voice a little raspy, "Who put you up to this?" He sounded bitter.

"No. I was not put up. I'm not teasing you."

"How can I know?"

"Because…" She wanted the right words, but she would not say the name. She heard Daniel call her it once, and even though it would not have the same affect as then with him, it was…she just could not say that name. They needed that moment of weakness. This was different. Yet the number would be too impersonal here, as they were making body contact. So…she compromised.

"…I'm…the Key of Destiny."

His body stopped rocky, but now it was like holding a statue. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "XIII."

"Yah."

--

The school's electronics community met. She went along, even though the only thing she used a computer for was to down load music and look for awful crap on the internet to laugh at. This was a way for her to get away from her dad and speak to Ezra alone. The members gave her an assortment of looks. Most tried to ignore her, but she could tell they wondered on why she wanted to come. Ezra, thank goodness, directed no questions or the like to her, even if one or two members tried to ask.

Once everyone left, they spoke alone. Interesting group." She mumbled.

"I think you scared some of them." He mumbled back.

"Or they probably thought I was a dyke." He gave her an off-looked at her comment. She shrugged.

He took a deep breath and she knew this was the start of the real conversation. He turned his chair to face to her. "How many?"

She opened her mouth to ask what he met, but it clicked a few seconds later. "We…umm." Who to talk about first? She decided to go by age. "IV…he's a doctor. His nephew is IX, surprisingly. Oh." She reached into her pocket and pulled out her wallet and reached for a small paper card. "He seems to be keeping track of everyone. Guess you should give him your information." He took the card, but said nothing else. "Back to what I was saying…I actually, um, kind of work for II. Don't ask. Um…I've also met…VIII and X." The first time he flinched today, and it was after she said one of those numbers. She did not. She could already guess who he flinched at and she could not handle hearing why. She continued on. "I do know…VII is dead."

"Dead?" He seemed surprised more on the word then who it was.

"Yah…in prison. He was…he did bad things. Maybe ask IV about it. He was his patient." She did not want to relate the grizzly details. It was not her…taste. She hoped he would not ask.

"Anyone else?" He asked instead

"I don't know…you would have to ask the band guy." She indicated to the card. "Look at the name of his band. He flipped the card over, stared and actually snored before placed the card back down. "Yah, that's what I thought, too." She garbled elegantly. Rosaline licked her lips. "Can I ask you something personal?"

"Yes, but I might not answer it." He remarked coolly, but his eyes shifted nervously.

"Right now…everyone was older then me when I met them…except for my sister." She laughed a little, "She's actually younger then me, but it's only but a few minutes, so I guess that doesn't out."

"Your sister?" He asked, confused.

"Oh, yah, sorry." She licked her lips again. "May, ah, sister, she's…she wasn't a member, but…" It was hard to describe what she wanted to state. "She was…" Well, might as well use the analogy she used before, "An…artist." She hoped she did not need to illiterate.

"…I see." He nodded. "Sorry I interrupted.

"My fault. Um…as I said, us two were the youngest so far, and I guessed the ages, but I only know there is about a ten year window. So…" She bit her lip, wondering if she would be over-stepping a boundary. "You were one of the first, but you're barley that much older then me. How…how old were you when it started?"

"Ah." A simple sound. She wondered if that was the line, but before she could apologies, "I was eight. My parents are good people, but they had a set definition of normal that I did not meet. I know they were simply scared for me, but approached it in a…complicated way." His lips twitched and this was the first smile she saw on his face, but it was a sad smile. "I've been to several different types of medical centers, from psychologist to neurologist, and even a few non-descriptive ones. I cannot blame them for taking me around everywhere. Your nine year old wakes up one morning and ask you even though it beats, does that mean he still have a heart? My whole childhood was spent in some not so wonderful places in order to try to cure or treat me." His voice started to break and she hope she was not going to make him cry. She hated it when older people cried. But he cleared his throat, "Even though I only went to school half the time, I was always a brilliant child. I believe the last test I took said my IQ was over 157. I was able to take some extra classes and I graduated high school early. My dreams ended around the same time I entered this secondary school and I was able to…become myself more." He gazed around with something she could only describe as fondness. "I like this school."

"I'm sorry." Rosaline muttered, not sure if she could understand why she could be sorry.

"Not your issue." He replied with a small movement that she assumed was a shrug.

"Did…the therapy ever help?" She asked, less worried about formalities.

"Did it help you?" He asked in turn.

She opened her mouth, and then closed it. She thought on that answer before she replied. "I…well, I guess not." She shrugged. "Inversely, it helped. It wasn't like people thought I was fanatical, just angry."

"Angry." It was a statement, not a question.

"I my defense, the first time I got in trouble was with a guy who pinched my ass and the family just got a little up because I nearly snapped his arm clean off, but trust me, he had it coming. It wasn't until I knocked the center's teeth on my teeth out that…well, I had to go."

"How long?"

"A few times…but I only counted the first time." He looked interested, but made no comment. "They put me on medication for a bit, but I just flushed the pill. But I figured I didn't need it. Found out who my sister was, so I had someone to help me through the night. I presented myself better and showed I was calm and improving now that I knew I have a problem. The therapist blamed it on something physiological development I was going through and said I would be fine." She felt comfortable, and asked a final question, "You still go to therapy?"

"Part of what I must do to receive money to go to school. I take courses full time and it's hard to find a job. I might be able to eventually do something for myself through the school, but as of now…I still have to take sessions." He finished with a strange affect. It sounded drained, but at the same time emotionless. Like defeat.

"Is there anyway out of it?" Rosaline thought it felt strange to ask. She wanted to help. "Don't you have any freedom?"

"Well, I am nineteen, so they cannot force me to see anyone I don't want to. I never thought of looking for another doctor."

"So…"

"I can choose my own doctor, so long as they are sound."

This was too perfect. Of course, she had no idea how 'sound' in the medically community he was, but, "I know one. If you don't mind a drive." She felt the smiled on her face. "I never said what kind of doctor he was."

--

It took over two weeks, but she waited outside the familiar coffee house without worry. Ever since she appeared to be serious about continuing her education, her father was less strict with many things, including her job and the locations she walked to. The whole fight had officially blown over. Even she was no longer angry, though she would remember.

Ezra pulled up. The car looked new. There were only two people she told that she found another person.

He rolled down his window and popped his head out like a cautious turtle out of its shell. "Why outside here?" He asked.

"So Danru can say hello." She articulated, looking at the car with interested. Maybe she would find one in that color.

"I'm sorry?"

"Like I said, he's keeping a rooster." She found humor in all of it all of a sudden.

"You mean…what do you mean?"

"Go talk to him."

"Why?" His confusion changed into a glare.

"Just humor him." She stated with a shrug. She hope he got the message that she was not going where until he went and talked with the musician. He stared at her; she knew that type of glower, but she did nothing but munch out a complimentary pack of treats she receive for bring Ezra. She stared at up at him as he stared down at her through the door. There was no rush, after all. He finally got out of the car, but then he merely stood against the car, folding his arms and clearing his throat. She gave him a cheeky look and simply started at his car. She would give him credit; he lasted a full minute before he dropped his arms and wondered inside. She liked it when she won.

She finished the bag, daydreamed for a bit, then she pulled out a bottle of water. She promised her mother that she would be home for a girl's day out. It was her mother's way of shopping for their birthday gift; see what they liked, put the item on lay-away, and get it for their birthday. They all went out to eat somewhere nice afterwards, just the three of them. She knew she was in no rush, but she still wanted to get home at a decent time.

It took under a half hour before he waltzed out. She stood up, brushed off the crumbs, and smirked at him, "Did you have fun?"

"He is…a character." He stated politely. "His uncle…?"

"Like water and ice." She replied smartly. She briefly thought about Daniel and his 'cousin,' but none analogy came to mind.

He made no comment on her statement, but instead handed her an envelope. "This is for your sister, he told me." She took it and slipped it in her pocket. Curious, but not her place. "Shall we?

Rosaline shrugged. "I walked, so you'll have to drive."

"Very well." He moved to the driver's side. She hoped into the car without any other invitation. She was getting too use to this; climbing into stranger's vehicles. But as of yet, she felt no concern for her safety. Maybe apprehension. But nothing that qualified as fear. "Don't spill anything. I rented."

Nothing else was added as they drove, save directs. Nothing was added as they entered the building. She saw the familiar woman greeter buzz them in. They entered and…Rosaline observed.

The familiar round face turned and stared at Ezra. Ezra stared back. There was a…glimpse of something. Just…a moment passed between them. She remembered quite suddenly that she was not one of the original six.

"My nephew said young Rosa found someone, but not the who." The doctor played with his glasses. "It is good to see you again."

"You too." The college student mumbled quietly. He took a seat. There were several still available.

She stepped out, shut the door behind her quietly, and waved a farewell to the secretary. They might have looked at her departure, but they did not call her back with them. She really did not want to be in there, anyways. When it came down to it, her conversations with them would be nothing helpful. What she did was enough; she found Zexion, and while Saïx could not have been saved by Dr. Morris, maybe VI could.

She probably would not go to that college. She probably would not see much of Ezra. Maybe her sister would. But…that was okay. Actually, at this moment, as she walked out and headed home to pretend to care about clothing and be grateful that her parents let her become who she needed to be come and grateful her time was only over a year and she had someone to keep her sane that whole time, she felt more then okay.

She felt fine.

--

She did not feel fine.

Last night she had a dream. This was not a crazy flashback or just a subtle flash of senses. This had been a plain dream. No, a plain nightmare, altered by a chemical released in her brain that for some odd reason cause her un-wakeful mind to think up devastating memories re-imagined. It was based on the past, but it added elements to the present. She needed to see Daniel.

It was true they had called one another, but never to make a time to see each other. The most they ever came close to was, "I'll be at this place at this time." Never saying, "I need to see you." Not like she did today.

And he came. They were at her school, though not at the building. They were at the entrance to the nature center down from the school, but it was the same property. He came, just regular Daniel. He must have been at work early today and took a lunch break. He still had a black apron on. She felt a little guilty. He also looked uncomfortable, but his gaze kept going to the parking lot and any open areas. She thought she understood; she was under age and he was in an area of prominently white. It did not apply to them, but it, unfortunately, would be everyone else's problem and the blame would go on him.

"Hey," She commented, asked, and greeted all at once. He made a noise, but nothing else. He took a seat next to her on an old log used for camp fires. "I'm...I'm sorry. I had to talk to you." She wanted to say she just had to look at him, but that was strange to admit. She hated how she sounded, how desperate she felt.

"What's the problem?" He asked, already reaching for something to light.

"I had a dream." She looked at the ground, this time not going to scolded him for smoking in an area that clearly says no smoking.

That peaked his interest. "Dream?" It made him lower his hands and starve off the addiction.

"Not like that…Just…" She already felt the pain from last night returning. It ached, especially with him here. "It was…in a place. A between place. And…there were a lot of them around, all around in a circle. And they just kept coming. It was, me and you…but…not like how we are now. Like the dreams. And…eventually…you, the not-you, ignited. Just like that. Just telling me to watch, as if it was you lighting fire-crackers instead of your body." She bit her lip and could not look at Daniel quite yet. She could see the flames, and she did not want to see them around him this second. "And as you faded, it wasn't not-us, but really us. Like, Rosaline and Daniel." In the dream, it had not been strange for his skin to turn it's almost deadly white to its currently russet coloration. She also saw herself in the dream. Her change was no so dramatic on the skin level, even if it was a whole gender. Subtle changes, as she considered them. Just her hair curling down instead of up. "I watched you die."

It seemed that even the forest went dead silent. Daniel first spoke, "What did…" He took a deep breath, "Why did you tell me this?"

"Because…" Because are you going to do it again? Because will you do it again? Because can you be reckless? Are you bold? Like that? Like you once were? Do I need to be afraid for you? Do I need to be able to protect myself better? Am I the only one you would do this for? Could you do it again? With now having a life? A real one? Would you leave me? After everything? "What were you thinking?"

"I don't-"

She cut him off, "What did you think you were doing?' She felt a strange chilled anger and something close to hate in her stomach. She was more worried about holding back the tears.

He did not reply right away, maybe waiting to see if she had anything else to say. But he chocked out a few words, "I…wanted to…be able to see…" He hissed on the 'e' vowel, and then stopped. She would have stopped, too, because she realized it: They had this conversation before.

"You died for me." She stated, "You died." She took a breath, but it sounded like a sniffle and she knew that she was already crying. But it hurt. She did not sleep after that dream and scatted through today barely. Her friends wondered, but she gave an excuse of a restless night. But why did that life seem so distant to the distant life that may never have happened effect her? Right now, the memories were all too vivid. Because he died and neither of them truly believed he would be alive again. They hoped, but not believe. And he died, committed suicide, not for an honorable reason, but just for her. Maybe if she had been a boy, this may not have upset her so much. Or maybe boys are just taught to hide their hearths better. Or maybe this had nothing to do with gender and if she had a heart back then like she had now...

She cried and looked up at him, hating how weak she felt, hating him a little, too. "You died…but aren't, are you. 'Cause you're alive and…you're alive and here. And…" She kept speaking, but even she did not know what she was saying anymore. There was so many words she wanted to say in an 'once upon a time.' But she lost them here.

Rosaline did not move, but it was Daniel who scooped her up. She buried her face against her chest, not caring about the flour that she felt against her cheek. Because he was alive. Dammed, he was alive! She more cried for a lot of things at this moment. She felt happy and sad all at once, but most of her tears were dedicated to the relief that he was there.

Because when it came down to it, they really did it. They got it. And it was not just her who got it, like he called her silly over when she said yes, she would meet him.

In her defense, he brought it up in the first place. He said he wanted to meet again, after all.

--

There was something Ezra asked her before, but at the time she was not overly-curious. But…she wanted to know.

"How many have you found?" She approached Danru one day. Actually, she was dropping off something her sister gave her in return for the paper she received. She thought it might be a letter. Felt like one.

"Whah?" Danru cried loudly. She did notice the headphones, but figured he would not be playing them in a 'minimum price entrée is at least 10 dollars' kind of place. They were not at the coffee place, but some India restaurant owned by an uncle or a friend or someone Rosaline would never meet. She originally did call the coffee house, but they informed her that the band was not playing today. She would have waited for her question, but she did not want her sister to wait on whatever she wanted delivered. So, she made other arrangements.

He turned the music off or paused the machine with a press of a button, then focused on her. "What did you say?"

"I said how many have you found?"

"Oh," He replied, quite sedated now. He seemed to think for a moment, "Maybe all of them. Most, at least."

"All?" She was surprised at that statement.

"Yah, as of now…pretty much done." He commented. She would ask more, but their curry came. It smelt good, so she started to drop rice and her veggie mix on the large plate provided and stirred it around. Danru only ordered the curry. He dipped their spicy chip-things into this and began crunching. Once satisfied with her mixture, she took a bite. It was delicious.

She ate a couple of bites. But once her hunger was sated, she took a sip from her canned drink and cleared her throat. Danru looked up at her, and she hope she was not breaking any cultural etiquette, "Who is missing?"

He swallowed what is in his mouth, "Oh, I and III, but I guess I don't count."

That meant that she had not met everyone, but…she was not exactly eager to meet any of the others left. Neither did she give much thought about III, except for mild curiosity. "So, you think he'll pop up?"

"He might…but maybe not." He grinned at her, "As tragic as this seems, everyday around 275,000 people die. Under 10,000 of those figures are from this country alone. Meaning that at least one hundred people died in this state today. And males are always more likely to die then woman; I think it's around 1.5 time more likely, depending on age. So, he could have been one of those." He paused, looked her over, then laughed, "Well, if he were a man. He might not have been a man. You kind of prove that."

"What's you're proof that he's dead, though."

"Um…well, I figured out ages and such. VII died before his dreams ended. So who's to say someone didn't die during that time, or even before then?" He replied lightly.

It was a sound theory. She tried to picture what III could have looked like. Age, gender, ethnicity; all different for them. She looked at her plate, but she was not done talking. She just had one more question, "Danru?"

He already dipped a chip in and her voice paused him from lifting it the rest of the way to his mouth, "Huh?"

'Why would you want to meet these people, especially eat dinner with the one who technically destroyed you?' She wanted to say, but decided that was not…polite. She instead asked, "Why…are you doing this?"

He blinked, but set the chip down. He caught her off guard with a smile, "Don't you find it a bit of a weird coincidence that we all live in the same general area?" She opened her mouth to argue, but his tongue was too quickly, "We all live in the same state, besides some of use who travel for business or because family lives across the world. I checked. All the backgrounds are different, yet we all just…ended up here. This whole big world and all of us are here. Heck, me and you both have blood relatives that were also members! And Danny and Walter are family, too. Too big of a coincidence." He looked up at the lights and looked to be thinking something. "So, I consider this, for all of us, try number 2. Kind of a do over. Maybe wherever that place was did not have a good place to put our souls, so it wanted to start us from scratch. Maybe it's a bit more complicated then that, but yes, let's call it a do-over." He reached down for his dipped chip and took a bite. She followed suit. After a few moments, when he finished chewing, he stated, "I do it for hope, too." She looked up at him, but did not say anything. "If it happens again…If it was all real and not some crazy delusion share by a dozen people, then…Those who become like we were…I want them to know they'll get a second chance. I was hopeful back then, so I guess I'm even more so now." He grinned, "I mean, if the plan worked out before, then they wouldn't have to worry. But just in case it doesn't…well, they could have now. This is what they will end up with. And I like this." He waved around to the restaurant. "It's not my dream, but I don't know if I would believe in living in a dream. I think I like reality better. Understand?"

She remained silent, thinking of the subject, but of words told to her by "Another." He probably took her pause wrong since he smile good-naturally and shook his head. "Okay, I know the words might not get out. If it ever happens, I'll have to put it up as lyrics or something. Then again…it's enough I got them somewhere, right?"

Rosaline nodded this time, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Something bugged her. Not about what he planned to do, but the hope he held in the past. She knew right now that her and her sister were probably the only ones that knew their overseer, who they followed and they hope to…was a liar. She never thought about mentioning it, because…she did not dwell on that moment that much.

But seeing the hope the older man displayed, the somewhat loyalty to all of them in a strange way, she would not say anything. In dreams, in darker times, that was the hope they had. What they did was not just half-monster's struggle for power instead of their hope. Even though the past was not wakeful, it clung to them all just a little behind their eyes.

No, she would not break it.

She put on a smile, "This is really good." And they enjoyed their meal.

--

The last part of this chapter was something I though up recently. With the talk of 358/2 Days, it got me thinking about motivation behind some actions. It fits so perfectly, though. And it's a good way to end this chapter as well as a way to see Danru's motivation.

There is only one more chapter after this, which is currently being written. Quite a many things will happen and that will be the end of this following story. There maybe a short bonus chapter after it, but that probably won't be written for a while, so as far as mentioned, the next chapter is the last chapter.