Japan

On a seemingly normal morining a loud thump was the only thing breaking the silence in Katherine's bedroom. Katherine'a only response was an ow and a stumble while standing. She had to hurry or she'd be running late. She sighed before heading into the bathroom. She showered and was about to finish brushing her teeth when her older adoptive brother started pounding on the door. "Hurry up Kat!" his voice was muffled by the locked door but she heard it perfectly even over the running water. After finishing she finally replied. "Mikato how many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me Kat! I'm not an animal." she said right before opening the door abruptly making said male fall into the bathroom.

She sighed once again before walking out of the bathroom and downstairs where her father was setting breakfast on the table. "Sorry dad I'm running late can't stay and eat." she said apologetically and now it was time for her brother to comment as he walked out of the bathroom. "It's probably cause you take so damn long in the bathroom." he added and with a roll of the eyes she replied. "Oh shut up I'm a girl and I, unlike you, like to be hygenic." she commented making him glare at her. "Okay okay you too. Katherine don't worry I'll drive you to the clinic. I'm sure doctor Silverstein is used to our tardiness." her father reminded her and with yet another sigh she sat down at the table.

"Running late as usual I see." her younger sister, Misaki, had made an appearance. Lucky for Katherine she had no school for the day as she was given a day off as was her siblings and they had a day off for some appearant reason. Katherine didn't bother replying to the fact and stood up after hearing the resounding familiarity of her father's car keys. Katherine was outside quickly and made her way to the car parked outside in seconds. Within minutes they had made it to the clinic just in time for Katherine's dizziness to just start kicking in signalling her need for her treatment. Another few minutes had passed and she was lying in a hospital bed getting a blood flowing to her arm through IV.

Her father was outside the room talking to someone she didn't know and Katherine had just begun thinking what the importance of getting a blood like this every other day was necessary. For a year she has been unable to remember anything of the past and the reasoning for this is supposedly an accident she was in. In that time her two siblings were adopted and she was in a pretty normal family except for the part of having to receive blood so frequently but the doctor had said it was all part of the after-affects to her accident so Katherine never arugued this. Still she couldn't feel that something was missing in her life. Something important. Like if a whole huge important chunk of her life was missing and she's unable to remember it in the slightest.

Shiki stared up at the hospital, with a sad look on his face, just like he had done every day for the past year. Being one of Katherine's Chevalier, he had a burning desire to be near her. But this was as close as Red Shield allowed him to get. And for her sake, he had listened. But it was becoming too much. Unlike the days before, Shiki began pacing, something he rarely ever did. He took a hesitant step toward the hospital enterance, only to be stopped by a gentle, yet firm, hand on his shoulder.

Shiki turned to see Hagi, his mentor and closest friend. Hagi shook his head. "Not yet." Those two words said a lot more than they seemed. Shiki knew that Hagi understood what he was going through, he had gone through it himself before. Shiki looked down at the ground, his crimson hair getting in his eyes. "I know, its just so hard." Shiki said with a sigh. Hagi nodded, showing his understanding, then left Shiki to go do something else, knowing that Shiki would be there until Katherine left.

The Chevalier forced himself to stand still, and returned to staring up at the hospital.

Katherine's treatment had almost finished when she heard her father speaking to someone outside. To who he was speaking to she was unsure of. She has always for the past year felt that something was being kept hidden from her for some odd reason and she felt that was unfair but she never commented on it. Meanwhile her 'father' had quickly spotted Shiki and ws actually unsurprised to see him here. "Shiki you know how risky it is for you to be here. If she sees you I doubt it'll end well." he said but nonetheless smiled at the young male.

"I know it's been a long time but we just need to hang in there just a little longer. Any word on Amber's location?" he asked hoping there was some good news for now. He had hated keeping such a dark secret from a girl he took in as his own and it never helped with Red shield's cnstant interference but he understood why they kept getting involved. It was crucial because if she remembered anything it could help reveal where Amber is or more about their past. Shiki was someone he has gotten to know over the past year along with Haji but they haven't actually interacted with her as of yet.

Katherine's treatment had finished and she didn't bother waiting for the doctor before taking the IV out. She went over to the door and put her ear to it to attempt to at least try and hear what they were saying but all she caught was the name Amber and location. It was certainly confusing but for some reason she felt compelled to open the door. When she did she was met with the gaze of her father and a bright crimson catching her eye that belonged to a male that seemed oddly familiar. "Uh dad I finshed." she said as it was the only thing she could think of.

Amber had been lying across the love seat set in the middle of her lovely, dark abode. Morning had come and awoken the still doll from her slumber. She stretched out, pale arms uncoiling from beneath her cheeks. Her lashes batted lightly, revealing ever pale, crystalline orbs of sea-salt blue. She didn't seem all that disturbed by the morning, rather she seemed to welcome it. She rose gracefully from her lying position, pushing up with her palms and raising only her upper torso. She perched herself that way for quite some time, her eyes locked out of the window to her far left. The morning rays spilled through the glass and splashed her ever pale features with a gentle warm glow. Amber almost looked majestic, like a bird pulling itself from the nest and readying for the day's first catch. Though that hadn't been her intention. Slowly, she moved her legs together and brought herself to sit up, her back pressed against the back of the love seat, her arms folded neatly across her lap. The Queen was alone in her chambers. The room resembled that of an empty ball room, the floors tiled with marble, the walls of the same polished fixtures, and one simple, large window acting as a wall to the left of the entrance door. The only furniture found in Amber's chambers had been the love seat she sat upon now. It was a simple room, fitting her comfort ever perfectly.

Amber brought her bare feet to meet the cold tiles, pushing herself to stand up. She she did, her covers slipped enticingly off of her form, nothing but that of a thin nightgown covering her being. Her dark locks fell like ribbons across her shoulders and her chest, down her back and strands occupying her and covering bits of her eyes. Her expression seemed no more than a fatigue'd seven-year-old, eyes vacant and fogged with the still lingering slumber. Amber had began to shuffle her feet across the tile, slowly striding towards the grand window of her room. It reminded her of bars to a cage; Allowing view of the outside world though confining her to only the secluded little place. As she came upon the glass of her window, she brought up her right hand, pressing the flesh onto the cold glass. She wanted ever so much to go out in the morning, to rush out into the dew veiled grass and to pick out the flowers she once so longed to receive in her childhood. Alas, it was all beyond her reach. It was beyond her only because she had to stay hidden. She wasn't allowed the luxury of a normal life, something she has wanted and wished for her eternity of living. She was jealous. Envious. Thus why she wasn't all that much of a nice girl to humanity. She loathed them for being free. She wanted what they had. She could never had what she wanted.

Amber turned away from the window with a flourish, puffed like a ridiculous child as if rejected a puppy in a pet store. She stormed off back to her love seat and threw herself upon it, lying back down upon her stomach. She wanted company. She wanted embrace. She wanted freedom. Why couldn't she simply have what she wanted?! It drove the Queen mad. Amber heaved a sigh and pushed herself back off of the love seat and went over to the corner of her chambers where her wardrobe was located. As she waltzed over to the wardrobe, she began stripping from her nightgown, tossing it carelessly upon the floor. Once at her wardrobe, she plucked out an outfit for her day and began dressing, humbling her ever desirable figure.

Amber slipped on a slender fitting top, as black as her hair and decorated with little accents of sea-green/blue lace at the cuffs of the hands and the collar of the shirt. She stepped into a pair of shorts, resembling that of bloomers, only these were as black as her shirt, decorated with the same lace, stopping at the mid of her thighs. She'd put on a pair of comforting socks and then a pair of dress shoes, buckling across her foot, the same color as the lace, only solid. She resembled that of a doll, fresh from the creator and fit in perfectly tailored clothing, ready for display. Only, Amber could not be displayed. She could not be held by others. She could not be seen as she so very desired to be. In her fuming, she huffed back over to the love seat, tugging up her long locks into a neat little bun atop her head, decorating it with a pin the same color of her eyes: misty sea-foam blue. It fit perfectly together; Her adornment and her being. It was a shame she couldn't show herself to the world, though. It was forbidden. Amber began to wonder if she'd ever even love.

Such thoughts were silly, though, therefore she wore them away from herself and remained in her love seat, poised with her hands folded across her knee, one leg crossed over the other. She sat, awaiting any company, should there ever be any this day.

"Shiki you know how risky it is for you to be here. If she sees you I doubt it'll end well. I know it's been a long time but we just need to hang in there just a little longer. Any word on Amber's location?" Shiki was talking to Katherine's father, Red Shield had finally let him inside the hospital. Shiki shook his head. "Nothing yet, sir. I'm going to fly out as soon as I'm done here and see if I can find any trace of them. But even a Chevalier can only go so far at a time without needing to rest."

The door next to them opened, Shiki looked over to see who it was. "Katherine..." Her name escaped his lips before he could stop himself. Katherine's dad shot him a look that said, get out of here now. But not in a rude way, simply out of concern for Katherine. For a brief moment, Shiki reached out his hand to Katherine, then caught himself and let his hand lay down by his side. "I, uh, gotta go." he said while looking off to the side. Shiki turned around to leave and almost crashed into a nurse. He quickly mumbled an apology and started heading down the stairs.

"Katherine..." she heard her name and looked to see it wasn't her father saying it. The other male had said it. 'How did he know my name?' she thought. As far as she could remember of the past year she had never met him. So why did he seem familiar to her? Yet with each other question she asked she could find no answer. It was odd yet not unusual but now she certain something was being kept from her. "Dad who was that?" she asked the question when the male had left but yet a small sliver of her was shocked she even asked that.

"Oh no one Katherine. Don't worry about it." he said before they left the hospital and drove home. Katherine hated feeling such doubt about her father but what else cold she do? That boy had known her name somehow and her father had no explanation as to why the boy did know her name. Could he possibly be someone from the past she could not remember? She was frustrated of not being able to remember him. Along with the fact that something she was unaware of was going on it was a bit overwhelming. Yet at that moment a flash of a memory hit her. In the quick flash she saw herself seemingly helping someone with bright crimson red hair up despite his bloodied form.

'Could it be him?' she thought. Katherine sighed for the umpteenth time that day. What was really going on and why couldn't she know about it? Katherine was offcially curious and she knew that curiousity killed the cat so what could possibly happen if she knew of the truth?

Nagari sighed audibly as Shiki walked out of the hospital, his face a mixture of self-doubt, anger, and joy. She was leaning up against the brick building, the top two points of her scar just barely visible rising up out of the low collar of her black tank top. He jeans were snug fitting and tucked into her combat boots. The decal on her shirt read: "Death is only the beginning" in bright red letters.

"You're going to get us in trouble, you know. She doesn't remember us yet, and to awaken those memories too soon would not bode well. You remember what happened to Saya when they went screwing with her? I'm sure Hagi does. Now come on, before she spots us together." Nagari walked away, not really careing whether or not her fellow Chevalier followed her or not. She made her way over to her prie possesion, indeed, the only thing she really had that was completely her: her cobalt blue 2002 Honda motorcycle. She swung her leg over it and sped off, heading back to headquarters.

Shiki saw Nagari when he left the hospital, she didn't look too happy. She too scolded Shiki for going in the hospital. "Red Shield let me go inside!" He called after her as she sped away on her motorcycle. He knew she would hear it. Shiki sighed and went to the side of the hospital building. He looked up at the building and saw no open windows. Good, that mean't no one was looking.

Shiki let himself shift, just enough for his wings to appear. His beloved black and red wings. He gave a few expirimental flaps to get the muscles going before taking off. For his reconissance he decided to fly Okinawa, see if he could find anything in town. Then he'd make his way to Red Shield. "I swear if they scold me too..." Shiki said to himself.

The entire flight would take about eight hours, even a Chevalier would get tired after flying none stop for that long. Especially at the speeds Shiki was flying at. Dr.Silverstein had clocked his speed before, out of curiousity. He could reach speeds of over 300 miles an hour. Against wind about 220, diving was almost 400.

Finally Shiki made it to Red Shield's headquarters, after about eight hours. He landed in front of the building completely out of breath. And of course, he had no luck finding any trace of Amber and her Chevalier.

Katherine was pacing in her room. What was she going to do about her father's secrecy? It all made no sense to her. Right now all she wanted to do was remember everything. She soon stopped pacing and went downstairs. "I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back by supper." she said before leaving and not bothering to wait for her father's reply. Right now she could use the fresh air. With that in mind she decided to go to the nearby park. She sat at the swings enjoying the fresh air. She hoped now she may be able to clear her mind.

Katherine knew she couldn't just forced the memories back but she wished she could. Dr.Silverstein said it would take time but how long? The blood transfusions were another things that confused her. What was that about? She hadn't lost a lot of blood. So why did she need it? None of it made sense. There were too many questions and no answers to any of them. None of these things could be pieced together to hopefully find an answer.

Katherine had been able to clear her mind and decided to go home and was shocked to see an unfamliar black car parked outside. She saw some strange man in a suit talking to her father. It was an odd and an unexpected sight. When she walked into the house she saw the man slide a sall brown envelope to her father and she wondered briefly what it was. She quickly glanced over at her father and the strange man stopped talking. "I'll see you soon Jack." the starnger said before leaving. Katherine simply shook her head and went upstairs.

---

Akito was walking as normal as he could but the smirk on his face betrayed his feigned normalcy. He had walked into Amber's room with a grin adorning his features. "How has your morning been Amber?" he asked in a cheery tone. For some reason he was happy which wasn't unusual for him but right now so early it was odd. Last night he had gone off in search of blood and like his usual sadisitc personality he happily inflicted pain on someone for what he needed and did so without hesitance and without faltering.

He walked over to the wall directly across from amber yet not too close to her and leaned against it. "So what are the plans for today?" he had wanted to start the day off already but really he was hoping she had something in mind that had to do with hurting someone in some way though even if it didnt he'd still carry out her orders successfully.

No light could reach the darkness which was Chi's room. Others thought of this as somewhat creepy, but to Chi this was absolute paradise. He enjoyed his bitch black room that felt as if it was a volcano filled with boiling magma. It was like being wrapped in a warm blanket of warmth, which he loved to the point he never wished to leave. Sadly, this desire was cruelly dismissed upon hearing the soft chirping of a small blue jay, and the trickling light which sneaked in through the cracks of his shades.

The light mischievously hit his face, causing him to groan loudly in disgust. He lazily reached for a pillow,and throw it at the blinds. As if the rays of light were trying to anger him, their brightness grew upon the impact of the pillow. Now a swarm of bright rays was hitting Chi's face. Reluctantly he opened his eyes, revealing cat-like pupils which glowed a bright yellow. This was a normal action, especially in the morning time. Though at these times he hated his yellow eyes, since it gave him better vision making the light even worse. If he had a tail you would imagine it going from side to side in slow long strokes. His fingernails like sharp deadly claws, ready to attack at any moment.

Everything about Chi would remind you of a large feline. His movements were swift-like as he pushed himself and stretched out his body, the bed softly creaking with each movement. He rolled over, flopping himself at the edge of his bed, letting his right arm swing back and forth until it came in contact with the ground. Surprisingly the floor was cold...in Chi's standards...and as if it was a sign he quickly pulled his arm back and wrapped around his waist. This gave Chi the decision of staying in bed for a while longer. The rays of light were still hitting his face as he looked up to stare at them. His eyes started to grow round, revealing his natural violet color. Soon the cat-like pupils had left, leaving behind hazed over and unfocused violet eyes.

Chi dreaded the fact that it was morning, as he knew he would have to get up and get ready for a new day. Chi groaned softly as he rolled his body to the middle of the bed landing on his back, facing the ceiling he began to think about what he did last night. Chi reached for the necklace, that laid around his neck, holding it tightly as if he feared losing it. Chi had been out all night trying to search for more clues on his family's death and brother's disappearance. He had gotten a clue from a local store, saying there was a man from Chi's description that had came through a few days ago. It seemed as everything was looking bright, but Chi knew it wasn't that easy...and he was right... the man had come in and came out leaving no trace of his existence behind. It just seemed as Chi was going around in circles.

Chi shakes his head as if to remove the events of last night. He was brought back by the strengthening light of the outside world, he groaned louder, curling himself in a ball to block out the light in his eyes. His tall frame didn't even hinder his chances of circling his body, as he laid there like a large cat falling slowly back to sleep.

Amber could hear the footsteps the moment they had been seven yards from her area. Of whom? She hadn't known yet. She simply sat and waited, poised like a doll waiting for her girl to pour her a dainty cup of imaginary tea. Amber wondered who might have stopped by to see her. Most of her chevaliers carried on their own agendas for the day unless she summoned them otherwise. It was the lonesome life Amber seemed to carry, therefore hearing the footsteps both startled and excited the Queen. She turned her head just enough to look out the window, watching a faint breeze rustle the trees and rose bushes just beyond her dainty reach. Upon hearing the door open, Amber turned and adjusted her gaze. Bursting through, with an uncharacteristic smile, had been one of her faithful chevaliers, Akito. The smile was odd on his features and almost disturbing, then again his lively air added to her suspicion. It was then that she began to realize he'd fed and tortured some people last night. He had to have, or else he wouldn't be all too chipper. He might not have even visited her if it hadn't been for his late night snacking and oddly good mood. Amber, however, adorned a precious, dimpled smile and tilted her head aside to the left. Her crystalline orbs remained upon Akito as he moved further into her chambers, easing himself into a wall from herself. It almost hurt that he hadn't sat beside her; She'd been accustomed to it, however, and let the hurt pass on by.

"Plans?" Her voice was as delicate as that of a song bird's, misleadingly sweet and gentle as trickling honey. Being manipulated by such a honey-sweet voice could lead you into a sticky, fatal situation. "I want to go out today. I want to feed." Amber seemed to want quite a bit. It was in her nature, though, to do so. She couldn't help it. She almost didn't want to. amber was a Queen, therefore why not want and receive? Amber pushed herself up onto her feet, striding gracefully in front of Akito, standing toe to toe with him. With swift movements, she pushed her hand into his, her fingers filling the spaces between his. Her opposite hand lightly grasped his shoulder, both hands tugging him from the wall and spinning him round. Amber had intentions to dance with him. She was, after all, bored beyond any bloody measure. "Where can we go to feed, Akito?" Amber fixed her pale, sea-foam gaze onto his eyes, the menacing and deceivingly sweet gaze boring into his own. Amber had such a sweet, innocent front to her, though beneath it all she could crush any being between her thumb and forefinger. Menacing, the beauty was, indeed. "Can we go out to the town? Maybe the beach? I like when their blood is nice and warm!~" Amber's voice was sing song and eerily cheery, something slightly out of character for her, as well. Then again, most wouldn't be able to tell. She did, after all, have more than one side to herself that she rarely lets others see.

Akito had shcukled a bit but nonetheless danced with her and listened to her. "We could go to Okinawa. It's close to the beach." he recommended. In truth he wasn't very hungry but he was more than willing to feed with Amber especially seeing as how it would only benefit him. He wasn't concerned with Red Shield as they have yet to be spotted so as of right now they didn't have worries about that. His grin grew wider at the thought. "So are you planning on telling Chi or Morgan what it is we intend to do?" it was simple question really. He didn't have any isue with either of them tagging along why would he? If it's what Amber had wnted then why not?

---

"So who was that?" Katherine had asked after coming downstairs for supper. Her siblings hadn't the slightest clue who it was she was talking about but her father did even so he pretended to not know what she was talking about which irked Katherine a bit. "Who are you talking about Katherine?" he asked and got in response her rolling her eyes. "That man that came here. Who was he?" she asked this time clarifying more and he had sighed. "No one important." he replied and it was now Katherine's turn to sigh. "The same answer you gave me to at the hospital. Nice dad." she said and stood. Right now she could use another walk. She wasn't hungry surprisngly.

Katherine is able to eat a lot and yet not gain the weight of it all for some reason but she forgot about that thought once she left not bothering to answer her father's questioning of her intended location. She wasn't going to go far. In the recent ear not much had happened in Oinawa so she wasn't scared to go out at night besides she could hold her own if needed. Right now no matter the time she needed time away from the secrets plaguing the house she lived in and whatever it was her father was covering up.

Shiki made his way inside the Red Shield headquarters, then to Joel's office. To report his reconissance. He knocked on the door and waited the man behind it to let him in. "Ah Shiki, any luck?" Joel asked when he saw the Chevalier. Shiki shook his head, "Sorry sir, nothing. I flew the entirety of Okinawa, and nothing. But I plan to walk the island tonight, it has been too long since a Chiropteran was spotted." Joel pat Shiki's shoulder, "Your paranoia just may pay off. But please, do try to stay away from Katherine." Shiki nodded, "Yes, sir."

Shiki was walking the streets of Okinawa, keeping his eyes open for any signs of a Chiropteran. So far there was nothing, but Shiki had the feeling that it was only a matter of time before he encountered one.

Katherine wasn't completely sure where it was she was headed but as of right now unfortunately anything was better than home right now. She continued walking until she ended up bumping into someone thanks to the fact that she wasn't paying attention. "Oh I'm so sorry." she said but when she looked up again she was shocked to say the least. It was the same boy from the hospital. The same one that uttered her name unexpectedly then left after doing so. "It's you...from the hospital." she wondered what he was doing here now but she didn't ask as it wasn't any of her business.

"What a surprise seeing you here of all places." she noted but didn't know what else to say.

Shiki had been so worried about a Chiropteran attacking had hadn't actually been paying attention to where he was walking. He was looking anywhere but in front of him. He bumped into someone, or they bumped into him, he couldn't quite tell. "Oh I'm so sorry." Said a very familiar voice. Shiki looked down to see that it was Katherine. "It's you...from the hospital. What a surprise seeing you here of all places." Shiki had no idea what he was suppose to do. Anything he said might trigger her memories. Then she might go insane. Things were not looking good. Shiki finally decided to give one of his trademark goofy smiles and make up some BS lie. "Its Katherine right? I live nearby and was just out on walk."

Before Shiki could continue the coversation he heard a growl to his left. He looked and saw glowing red eyes from an alleyway. "Aw crap." he said as he got between the Chiropteran and Katherine.

Katherine was about to reply back to what he said when she saw his gaze travel elsewhere. She didn't know what it was that made his expression change the way it did until she turned around and as well saw what he was looking at. When she did see it she wished she hadn't. "What the hell is that?" she asked hoping he would hopefully know. Seeing such a creature had her more than spooked. From what she could remember she hasn't seen one of those things before. Yet a small part of her found the thing to be familiar somehow. For some unknown reason she hadn't run yet and she didn't want to. Her fear was now gone replaced by curiosity and some other unknown feeling.

So what was she to do? For a moment she wasn't in control any longer once she gazed down at a sharp slab of a rock. She picked it up and cut her hand on it staining the slab with her blood. The creature came at her and Katherine had yet to regain control let along intake on what was happening before her until the slab was imbedded in the creatures chest and she was on the floor from it pushing her. When she finally did regain control she saw the odd creature cystalizing right in front of her. 'W-What the hell did I do?"

Shiki partially shifted, letting only the curved blades appear on his forearms. But before he could do anything Katherine stabbed the Chiropteran with a sharp piece of rock covered in blood. The Chiropteran immediately started crystalizing and Katherine asked what she had just done.

Shiki got out his cellphone and called Joel, not shifting back, just in case there were any other ones close by. "Um Joel, we have a problem." Shiki said, "I was walking the island and bumped into Katherine. Oh and I found the Chiropteran. Katherine stabbed it with the a sharp rock. Covered in her blood. I need a team out here quickly. And send Dr. Silverstein too." Shiki then hung up and looked at Katherine. He carefully pried the rock out of her hands and set down on the ground. Then made her sit down on a nearby step. "Don't worry, everything's gonna be fine." He said, flashing another one of his trademark goofy smiles. "Just stay put until help shows up."

Katherine was still in shock and barely heard what he had said. She heard the conversation on the phone somehow and was even more confused. "Chiropteran? Joel? Dr. Silverstein? What do they have to do with any of this? Who are you and how do you know my name?" she looed over at him unsure of what to feel. "None of this makes any sense." she stated. More questons were beginning to arise. Who was Joel and what did Dr.Silverstein have to do with any of this? It was all too crazy for her that she almost forgot about her wounded hand but when she looked at her hand where the wound was just a few moments ago it had completely healed up.

This only served to further confuse her. Just a minute or two go she wanted some fresh air and to get away from home for a minute but now all she wanted to do was go home. This made her start thinking if maybe her father was involved with all of this as well. It was all too much right now for her.

" Dammit! " he slammed his fist against the brick wall that hindered his progression. knuckles were as white as bones and the color had all but drained from his face entirely from exhaustion as he realized, there was no escape, this was the end of the road for he had been fool enough to run right into a dead end. He'd known this place like the back of his hands and still he had allowed panic and fear to ultimately blind him at a most critical time. His chest which had formally been rising and falling rapidly with panicked breaths, froze at the sound of footsteps behind him.

" run out of places to hide? "

His words were thick with an unmistakably Russian accent that made him sound all the more formidable. As he began to turn to face the dark figure at the end of the ally, silhouetted by the dim light of street lights he realized his knees were shaking and his breath had stopped; fear gripped his heart, fear that he had never felt before in all his life. But why was he afraid? Everything was backwards; He shouldn't be running from this man, this man should be running from him, should be fearing him not the other way around. Something inside him snapped and his fear was replaced suddenly by anger at the outrage " I am the hunter and they are they prey " he began to mutter to himself over and over again as his chest began to rise and fall with much greater haste than before. His eyes became a luminous yellow color and he could feel the change from deep within himself. His bones began to snap and stretch beneath skin and muscle that also thickened and grew rapidly as his entire self became to transform into a creature meant to be the perfect killing machines. This was not where he would die.

He reared back his ugly head which now had the makings of a disfigured snout forming where his mouth and nose should be and he charged with reckless abandon at the figure, who inexplicably remained otherwise entirely stoic. That was fine by him. by the time he reached the man he would be fully transformed and would tear his fragile human body limb from limb and feast on his innards. However he never made if half way before the man's hand swung upwards from it's former position at his side and only seconds later he felt the cold steel of 6 inch daggers penetrate his body and stopped him dead in his tracks. He looked down with a sickening expression that seemed to be an attempt to form a smile.

" To think only moments ago I was afraid for my life. Ha! If that's the best you can do your as good as d- " the slurred speech of a man transforming into a speechless monster was cut off when he took notice of something very peculiar. Usually the healing would be relatively instantaneous, the daggers would have been forced out of his body as the flesh repaired itself. Instead he could feel a coldness spreading through his body, the points of origin being the three daggers in his chest he could see his skin slowly crumbling away.

" What kind of trick is this?! " he shouted as he looked up expected to be eye to eye with the dark figure; Instead he found himself staring down the darkness a hollow cylinder. By the time his mind registered that it was the barrel of a gun there was a click, then a bright flash and he was no more than chunks of brain matter and ash scattered about the ground, a mural dull grey and brilliant red.

---

---

The dark figure, who's fuzzy hat was pulled down and casting shadows over his face, lifted the hand to his mouth that wasn't holding the shotgun that he now held at his side and he spoke into his wrist. To be more precise he spoke into a device worn around his wrist that served as a two way radio. " Mr.Black reporting in. The beast is finished, my mission is complete ".

For several moments he stood there in silence waiting for a reply and he just about to begin worrying when he heard the device beep, indicating someone on the other side was about to speak " Well done comrade Black, I trust the chemical performed flawlessly yet again" The voice continued without waiting for an actual answer " Report back to headquarters immediately, a new mission awaits your return. Do not worry about the clean up, someone has been dispatched to take care of it, we need you back here as soon as possible. This can't wait..."

While Nagari rarely shifted to her chiropteran form, she didn't have much choice at the moment. She had been in Joel's office, playing a game of chess when his phone had gone off. She grit her teeth together as she heard the conversation, not able to block it out. After all, it had been Shiki who had called.

"One day, he's going to be the death of us all." She muttered before going over to one of the large bay windows. "I'll get there first, and secure the area. I'll see to it nothing else happens." Se opened the window and flew off into the night sky. It was the only way she'd beat anyone there.

She saw Shiki within a matter of time, and flew down to him, landing almost silently as she stared at him in the dark, her eyes glowing green as she folded her wings in and they disappeared. She scowled at the red-haired man, but said nothing. She glanced at Kathrine, but also said nothing to the girl. She stood perfectly still, cocking her head from side to side, as if she were listening for something. Indeed she was, but she heard nothing. As if she felt satisfied, she turned back to Shiki, opened her mouth, then glanced at Kathrine and snapped it shut again, a loud hiss of air escaping from between her clenched teeth. She suppoed she didn't have to say anything. Shiki had done nothing but make her angry from the day they had first met. But then again, nothing ever really made her happy, not since her father had been murdered.

She froze for a second, a familiar smell flooding her nostrils. She turned around sharply, and saw a shadow dart into the alleyway a few yards away from where she stood. She hesitated for a moment, and then darted after it, but when she turned the corner, there was nothing there. She stood there, glaring into every dark corner, but there was nothing to be seen.

She walked slowly back to where Kathrine and Shiki were, and leaned up against the building. The smell had been his, but how? It wasn't even possible. For all she knew, he was dead. But then, there had never been a body. What if...she shook her head, muttering to herself and running a hand through her short, choppy black hair. She sighed, and then decided to return to other matters.

"What are you doing here, Shiki?" She asked, her tone short and clipped, clearly displaying disproval, but it didn't seem like she was as angry as she usually got. Indeed, she seemed almost, distracted, which wasn't normal for her.

---

---

Morgan grinned down at his little sister, his eyes a deep crimson color. She had almost caught him. He wondered if she suspected him at all. Or maybe her confusion was real. Maybe she had no idea he was alive. The thought sent shivers down his spine. He spread his wings, stretching them out to their full length, and then flew off. Amber would be angry at him if he revealed himself too soon. So, with only a slight twinge of regret, he flew off, flying back to the refuge that had been their home for a while now. As he walked inside, he noted that he was the only one there. Amber must have gotten Akito to go out with her. Amber always did have a flourish for getting her Chevaliers to do what she wanted. Then again, it may be more of an impulse. At least it was for Morgan. From day one, he hadn't ever been able to deny her anything, as if he tried, it felt as if something where ripping his chest apart from the inside out.

He smirked to himself, flipping his cell phone open and calling someone. They answered quickly. "Yes, Master Thorne?"

"How are the plans going?"

--------

The following conversation had put Morgan in a very pleseant mood indeed. His buisness was going well, and Thorne Industries was producing faster than he had anticipated. Plenty to help fund any type of plans Amber and Akito could churn out. Morgan tended to stay out of that. As long as he got to play and keep hold of his buisness, he was happy.

Nagari arrived before anyone else did. She didn't look too happy. But then again, she never did. "What are you doing here, Shiki?" she asked obvious disapproval is her tone. Shiki's almost non-existent temper snapped. All day people had been blaming him for things he couldn't control. How the hell was he suppose to know that Katherine was there, or a Chiropteran? He let out an unitentional growl. "I've been working all day on finding Amber, or her Chevalier, or a Chiropteran. Anything that could get us a lead. I just happen to crash into Katherine. What, you think it was my choice? Yeah I want to be near her, but I know the dangers. Remember I've been with her for twenty years." After that Shiki turned away from Nagari and focused his attention on Katherine.

He knelt down beside her and took her bloody hand in his. Checking the cut. Relief flooded through Shiki as he saw that it was gone. She still healed quickly. "You probably want to go home right? You just gotta wait a few more minutes, then we'll let you go. Just wait for Dr. Silverstein to get here and make sure you're okay."

Katherine had kept her gaze from them though she heard the conversation between the two. Suddenly her thoughts were focused on key things that were said. First was the female's revealation on his name next wer things that made no sense at all to her. Amber? Chevalier? Then she began thinking of the fact that he stated that he wanted to be near her and that he'd been with her for twenty years. How is that possible? She was only 16 so how could she have been doing anything for twenty years.

It wasn't until he had adressed a question to her that she was brought out of her thoughts. She stiffened once feeling him grab a hold of her hand but quickly realized what the purpose was. "I-I don't understand. How is any of this possible?" that was the only thing she could manage at the moment. She was still pretty shaken up a bit. All of a sudden her already confusing life has come to a screeching halt. She just killed a monster using her blood, the cut she had just moments ago healed almost instantly, and so much else has happened.

Katherine had been outside for a bit until people had begun showing up. She had wondered where it was she'd be going now. She guessed she wasn't able to just return home and be normal like before. She was right she was taken off to some large building a little while away. Her father was there as well but she wasn't even able to greet him before Dr.Silverstein took her off to get checked out and to get yet another blood transfusion. She had remained silent through all of it. Even after she left the room where she was given her blood transfusion she remained silent.

Katherine was standing outside the room and slid to the floor with her back up against it. So much was very different than what she thought. She wasn't normal so then what was she? Who was she to become? None of those questionshad been answered yet.

---

Akito had gone out with Amber like she had wished but after a bit something was off. They had fed like Amber wanted but that was when something felt a bit off. Like if something was coming or if someone was near. Oh and how right he was. He and AMber were travelling back home when he caught a glimpse of two long blonde ponytails and saw Katherine. After so long and from the looks of it she had just killed something. He just hoped Amber didn't see her as well because there was no telling how she'd react.

(OOC: I was a tad worried that this may die if there had continously had been no posts so I posted in a way where others can fit in as well for now. Hopefully TheLittleOddity can post soon.)