• I wish this wouldn’t be my day of requiem.

    I rose from my bed, the girl I loved by my side. She was still sleeping… I loved this part of Kiri, she slept so peacefully and I didn’t want to wake her. I got out of bed slowly and went to the bathroom to take a shower and brush my teeth. I put some clothes on afterward. Today was probably the worst day of my life. Kiri had to move today and she was probably never going see me again. Both of us knew this and we decided to spend as much time as we could today, and that included last night. I would always wait by her side for hours until she woke up. Yeah, I know, I’m probably a punk, but I don’t care! Call me what you want!

    I sat by her side gently. I went to whisper in her ear with the very softest of movements. “Good morning, my love.” Her eyes open very slowly. I felt like being a jackass, but I ignored it.

    “Good morning, Nero.” Her voice is so angelic when she wakes up… Hell, her voice is always angelic. “… Why do I have to go today, when the morning today is so perfect?” I didn’t notice but she was looking out the window. “Why can’t I stay with you?” Tears started run down her cheeks. She was crying, in the morning? I couldn’t stand it! My heart was beating faster and faster every time she sobbed! It was almost to point of a heart attack!

    “Kiri,” I was still whispering. “If you really want to stay, you can… I just don’t think that your parents are going to approve, that’s all! And, with what I do-“

    “I don’t care about what you do, Nero.” She was still whispering. It almost sounded like she wanted to seduce me again... I should get this out the way first. “I want to stay with you… I love you too much to just go away.”

    “You don’t have to go, Kiri. I just want you be safe.”

    “… I’m not going to go unless you’re coming with me.”

    “You know I can’t go with you without… Well, let’s just say your parents need to lighten up.”

    “Don’t worry about them, then.”

    “I would, but there’s more than the just your parents, Kiri… Why can’t you stay?”

    “Because they’ll kill you if they found out that we’ve been having sex for the last six months, Nero.”

    “They won’t kill me, Kiri. And they won’t kill Gracia.”

    “I’m worried about all of us, me included.”

    “They’re not going to touch you, either, Kiri… Please, stay with me.” Ahh, this is annoying! I really don’t want to talk about this anymore! I wish she’d say she’ll stay already!

    “I can’t put your lives in danger, Nero.” She sobbed again. Her pain was always unbearable to me.

    “Don’t worry about us, Kiri. I don’t think that they’ll come after us like that. I want you to stay with us.”

    “They’ll kill us both if they find us, Nero.”

    “They’ll have to kill me before they get a chance to get to you, Kiri, I promise.”

    Right then, the phone rang. I picked it up, half expecting who it was already. It was a man on the other end. “Is this Nero?”

    “Yes.”

    “This is Jared from the branch of Demonic elimination. I called to tell you that you have an assignment.”

    “Alright… Give me about twenty minutes.”

    “This is an emergency, Nero! You have ten!”

    “… I understand… I’ll be there.” I put the phone on the receiver and faced Kiri. “… I have to go.”

    “Ok… You’d better come back soon, Nero! I hate to be away from you.” Another Sob took a few seconds for me to recover from… That’s how bad it was.

    “I’ll be back, don’t worry! Then, we can do whatever you want!” I was almost to the point of crying myself. I didn’t want to go, but I didn’t really have a choice. “I can’t stand leaving you here alone.” I said out loud, although I was talking to myself.

    “… Go.”

    I nodded, got up and started to leave, grabbing the blue jacket I always wore when I was on assignment. Kiri caught me before I had a chance to turn the doorknob, fully naked, carrying my blade, Loving Bloodshed, as if it was too heavy- and it was, it was a big blade- to carry. Luckily, she was carrying it on her shoulders. “You may need this.”

    “Thanks, you’re a life-saver!” I kissed her for what I wanted to be forever. I already knew I wasn’t going to get my wish yet, not until I came back to see her playing with Gracia or playing the piano, or something.

    I stopped myself before I got too deep. “… Hurry, you still have five minutes.” I said in a rush, even though I knew she didn’t want me to go.

    With that in mind, I left with a very loud, “I love you!!!” to the girl that I was sure I was going to marry.

    Chapter 2: Traitor

    I ran through the huge doors that led to my job. I was the guy who usually was sent into hostile situations like a guinea pig on steroids, and I very much enjoyed it. “Alright, what’s the big emergency!?” I yelled. I wanted an answer for rushing me over.

    “I was hoping you’d ask.” I heard someone behind me say, as if I wasn’t already pissed off. I marked him as Jared, although I only heard his voice once before.

    “Just tell me what the assignment is so I can hurry up with it and get back home.” I demanded harshly.
    “… Your assignment is to be under arrest for causing the betrayal of a royal family and the taking advantage of the daughter, Kiri Siena, of the royal family, Siena-Agendum.”

    “… Please tell me you’re kidding.” I wasn’t thinking about my death… I was thinking about Gracia’s and Kiri’s.

    “I’m afraid not. As soon we apprehend you, I’ll send a unit for the other two.” He said, unemotionally. “I suggest you come quietly, so we won’t have to hurt you.”

    I made a split second decision not to let that happen. “… I promised someone that you’ll have to kill me before I let you take Kiri or my sister… And I’m going to uphold THAT PROMISE!!!!” At that exact moment, as if it was planned, someone lunged at me with a sword almost as big as mine with perfect timing. I swung my blade with as much force I could while I leaned backward so I can run back home faster. It worked better than I expected. I sliced the guy in half vertically and I ran home with as much speed as a panther.

    *****

    When I got home, everything still seemed in order, but I didn’t have time to feel relieved. I had to hurry up and find Kiri and Gracia and get the hell out of here!

    “Nero?” Gracia and Kiri both called my name at the same time. They were in the kitchen. I ran around the corner to make sure I wasn’t being tricked or anything. “What’s the rush?” Kiri asked, joking.

    “… They found out.” There was nothing else I could say about that, but they understood completely. “They’re going to be here soon. We have to go.” I felt so helpless. I tried to hold it back with no success.

    “What are they coming for? What happened?” The joking tone disappeared almost immediately.

    “I don’t know, but the guy that called me earlier said that he was sending a unit to ‘apprehend’ us. I guess that’s code for… Well, you know.” I panicked, but I calmed myself before they noticed.

    Kiri bent down by her knees, talking to Gracia now. “Gracie, I need you to go upstairs and grab your bags, ok?” She nodded and ran upstairs as fast as her little five year old legs would allow. I would’ve laughed if this wasn’t a life- threatening situation. Somehow I knew we were ready for this. “Nero-“

    “I can’t about this now, Kiri… Or am I jumping to the wrong conclusion?”

    “Yeah, you are…! I’ll go get my bags.”

    “Huh? I thought-“

    “I told you, I’m not leaving without you.” She laughed and ran upstairs. She was a little faster than I was.

    I caught her before she went into our room. She wasn’t that much faster than me, although, she always beat me in races. “Do you need help? I got to get my stuff, too.”

    Gracia had just rounded the corner with a large, bulging bag in her hands. “I’m ready!” She was more excited than horrified at the moment.

    Kiri answered. “Ok, just give us a few minutes, ok?”

    “Ok.” And she walked downstairs with a ton of clothes.

    Kiri waited until Gracia was out of earshot. “How did they find out, Nero? Was someone stalking us or something…? I’m scared.” Her voice trailed off on the last sentence. This is the first time I’ve heard her say she was scared, even when we were little kids. “How did they find out?” She asked herself.

    “You don’t need to be scared… Everything will be ok, ok? Please stop crying. I can’t stand it when you cry.” The tears streaming down her beautiful face was making my pulse bang like bass drums inside my head. I didn’t know if I was angry or not, I was too busy wincing at myself.

    She saw me, and worry replaced sadness. “Are you ok?”

    “I’m fine.” I said recovering from the worst headache I’ve had since Gracia moved in five years ago, and that was from excitement. “Let’s hurry and get out of here.”

    “Ok, just give me a sec. Do you want an aspirin or something?” Why she was still worried about my migraines when her abusive father had set charges against me and wanted my head on a stick, I’ll never know. Maybe she should worry about herself for two seconds and realize she’s in the same situ- What am I saying? I love that she worried about others and never herself! This is annoying! I don’t what to think anymore!

    “No, I’ll get it myself… But thank you. Do you need help?” I almost forgot that her bags were a lot bigger and heavier than mine.

    “Sure.” She said in an encouraging smile.

    At that exact moment, the whole house began to shake. I heard Gracia scream louder than I ever had before.

    “NERO, HELP ME!!!!!”

    Chapter 3: Sacrifice

    I practically jumped down all thirty-two stairs that led to the living room. When I got there, I saw what I didn’t think I’d ever see: Gracia in a headlock tight enough to snap her neck, which was strike one, and a pistol to her head, which made me screw the baseball lingo and go ahead and kill the guy!

    “Hello, Nero.” I knew her. Xing Hida, captain of the branch of demonic elimination, and unfortunately, my ex- girlfriend and, unfortunately still, she was also in charge in missions like these. She’s never failed yet, which, for us, is a bad thing at the moment. “I didn’t think that you would take so long to leave… Then again, I hoped you did!” Was it the smile or the fact that she was a total psycho that made me break up with her? I think it was both.

    I forgot about that for now. “I didn’t think you’d be willing to hold a five year-old hostage at gunpoint, but I guess I was wrong.”

    “You brought this on yourself, Nero.” That calm voice was driving me crazy! It was a good thing I didn’t do her!

    “Let her go, Xing.” I hoped the calm voice would work on her too.

    Thank God it did. “I don’t think so. I seem to have a bit of a conflict with people who CHEAT ON ME!!!!”

    Kiri had just walked downstairs, in curiosity, I guess. “Nero?”

    I heard her but I didn’t acknowledge she was there. I put my hand behind my leg and pointed toward the door. I didn’t want her to get captured too. But I was too late.

    “Ahh, and there’s the b***h now! I wonder how mad you would be if I told her what you did!”

    “She already knows, and I didn’t cheat on anyone, especially not Kiri. I told you the same thing, but you were such paranoid son of b***h, you didn’t believe… Or anyone, for that matter!” Score: one for me, zero for the psycho b***h!

    Kiri answered… She actually seemed mad! Go, Kiri, go! “Why won’t you let her go, SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!!!?”

    “Actually, she has everything to do with this. She’s a witness, for one, and-“

    “And you’re a psycho b***h, now LET HER GO!!!” Kiri interrupted.

    “If one more person calls me that-“Xing started, annoyed.

    Kiri interrupted again. I’m going to enjoy this! “What, a psycho? You can’t stop me! Now why don’t you take your little team and back down to hell where you came from!”

    “Look, if you want me, you got me! Just let them go! No one else has anything to this!” I said, hoping I wasn’t sounding like I was pleading.

    “I’m afraid you’re wrong again, Nero. You see, with the crime you committed, it also counts for the spouse. And, since I know she did it willingly, it makes her have the same penalty as you. Your sister was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, a witness that was unwilling to testify against you… But she can change her mind at any time she likes!” She tightened her grip on Gracia’s neck, almost putting her to sleep, but then she lightened up, leaving Gracia coughing hard and gagging harder.

    She yelled as loud as she could, making sure everyone heard her answer. “NO!!!”

    That’s my girl… Be brave, I’m coming for you.

    She struggled against her captor, kicking, scratching, and biting as hard she could, which caused Xing to let go of her, bleeding. “NERO!” Gracia screamed, running toward me and Kiri, crying.

    I ran toward her, meeting her half-way. “Gotcha!” I said as I hugged her tightly against me, asking stupid questions like, “Are you ok?” or something like that. I picked her up slowly, my arms beneath her legs, like I always did.

    “Well, it seems we have a bit of an altercation.” Xing said, being a little b***h, like always. “I’m not going back a failure!”

    “You can’t win all the time, Xing.” I said.

    “You’re right… But I’m not going to lose this time!” She screamed.

    I knew what I had to do then, and no one in my family deserved to see me do it. “Kiri?” She looked up tears streaming her face. Was it from rage? And why hadn’t I noticed it? “… I need you to Gracia and get out of here.” I whispered. She sobbed again and nodded, extending her arms for Gracia… Or maybe a hug goodbye… Whichever came first!

    I handed her Gracia, who was asleep, from shock most likely. I whispered in Gracia’s ear a quick message. “I love you Gracia. Be brave for me, ok?” I kissed her on head and, with a good bye kiss from Kiri, they left as quickly as possible out the door.

    Part 2: Gracia
    Chapter 1: Where are you, Nero?

    I woke up from the best sleep I had in what felt like years, in a car, next to Kiri, in the front seat. “Kiri, where’s Nero? Is he going to meet us somewh-“I stopped talking after I saw the tears in her eyes, streaming down her admittedly beautiful face. I knew what happened then; Nero had stayed behind to protect us. I was halfway asleep then, wasn’t I? Why didn’t she argue with him? I hope I don’t pass out again. “Kiri, what’s wrong? Are you ok? Is Nero ok?”

    She wiped the tears from her face and rubbed my head, just how I liked it when I needed to be comforted. Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face. I tried not to show it but I knew I was going to fail anyway. If I going to do what Nero said, I… What did Nero say? Oh, now I remember;

    Be brave for me.

    Those words started ringing in my ears over and over again, making me flinch in surprise. Kiri tried to pull her hand away, but I grabbed it and put it around my waist. I moved closer to her lap- maybe she needed to be held, too- but there was something wrong. Why didn’t she try to stop me, like she usually did? I dismissed it and sat in her lap, hugging myself against her and putting hands on her chest. She hugged tighter, keeping her eyes on the road.

    “It’ll be ok, Gracia.” Kiri whispered, sobbing to herself quietly. I tried to stay with myself, but I ended up sobbing too. She rubbed the back of my neck as she turned into a gas station that looked like it just built twenty minutes ago, but was actually here for more than twenty years. I came here once when I was four and a half. They had a reputation of ripping everyone off, but I had a feeling we came here for another reason.

    “Why’d we stop here?” I was tired from crying so much, so I whispered-with my head buried in her chest.

    “I need to see someone here.” She said, sounding serious, but smiling. I looked up, smiled weakly for about ten seconds, and buried my face in her chest again. “Are you hungry?” She asked. I was about say no, but my stomach rumbled loudly in protest. She took my hand lightly and helped me out of the black Lamborghini look-alike. We walked together through the doors to find a man, probably still in his teens, behind the counter. I assumed he was new, because he greeted us with a light smile.

    “Welcome!” He said almost too enthusiastically.

    “Hey, Kyle.” Kiri said. She knew him? From where? I have to dig into this!

    “Anything you need?” Kyle asked, practically hopping in place. How much sugar did he eat? I to giggle to myself, but my stomach started hurting really bad, causing me to flinch. I know I’m not THAT hungry! I held my stomach tightly, as if it was going to explode in two seconds. What’s wrong with me!?

    “Are you ok Gracia?” Kiri asked crazy worried about me, as always.

    “I’m fine.” I replied weakly. Am I sick? I hope not.

    Kiri put her hand on my forehead for about ten seconds before saying, “Sweetie, you’re burning up.”

    “I am? I feel fine though. I guess I-“ I clenched my stomach tighter, doubling over like I was hit in the stomach a thousand times really, really, hard. The last thing I remember was when I hit the linoleum floor headfirst, blood pouring from me, like a waterfall.

    Chapter 2: Help me please!

    I woke up… somewhere. I didn’t know where I was! Why was it so dark? “Kiri!?” I yelled, hoping she’d answer.

    “I’m right here, baby.” She said as she rushed to my side.

    “Where, I can’t see you.” I whispered. I know she’s close.

    “I’m beside you.” There she is!

    “Why is it so dark? Can you turn a light on or something?”

    “Try opening your eyes.”

    “Oh.” I opened my eyes and almost immediately closed them again. It’s so bright! I opened them back, only to a squint, so I can just see Kiri. “Kiri, where are we?” I asked, still a little scared because of the unknown surroundings.

    “We’re in the back of the store. It’s like a little hospital room… Or an actual hospital. How’re you feeling?” She pushed back my hair that was in my eyes to no success- It always sprang back.

    “Like I just threw up a horse. What’s wrong with me? Why did I just fall out like that?” Why was I asking so many questions?

    “We don’t know yet, sweetie. Kyle says you might be amidic or something. Do you need anything?”

    “… Something to eat, if I can hold it… How long was I sleep, or unconscious?”

    “Just a few hours. I think it might be midnight by now… Anything in particular you want to eat?”

    “Anything that doesn’t have onio- AHH!!!” The pain was back in my stomach like a train crashing into me at the speed light, knocking the wind out of me. I clutched my stomach even harder than before, trying to keep myself from throwing up my skeletal system. I screamed again, while Kiri called for someone to come help. I puked up what I had to eat for the last twenty-eight or so hours. Someone finally came. It was Kyle, with someone- the manager, I assumed- by his side.

    I screamed again in pain. Talk about added effect! I puked again, but what I threw up was yellow and tasted really bad. Please, don’t let that be what I think it is!

    “What’s wrong with her?” Kiri yelled.

    “We still don’t know… Has this happened before?” Asked the other, older looking man.

    “No, I don’t think so.” Kiri answered, sobbing.

    “Well, this just a theory, but I think that this is just her body adjusting to the stress levels, or, she may have skipped that part and went straight to the development of a tumor that’s been growing for a while… Has there been a traumatic incident recently?”

    “Not recently, no.” YOU LITTLE LIAR!!!!!

    “Then, there’s really nothing to worry about. Just give her a few days, a week tops.”

    “Ok.”

    A tumor? How could I have tumor? I say it’s just stomach virus, or the flu.

    I sat up, trying to stay as relaxed as possible to keep the pain from coming back. Kiri hugged me tight enough to make me gag, but I didn’t- thank God! “Why didn’t you tell them about Ne-“ Kiri put her hand to my mouth, telling me to, basically, can it.

    “I know what you’re thinking, Gracia,” She said a little too silently. “No one can know about Nero, ok?”

    “What, like he doesn’t exist?” I whispered back, starting to get really angry.

    “No, not like that at all! Nero just wants us to be safe, ok?”

    I nodded still clutching my stomach, in case the pain came back. For some strange reason, I’m always curious when something new comes out of me- you should’ve seen Nero’s face! “What was that yellow stuff I threw up earlier?”

    “You really don’t want to know, Gracie.”

    I nodded in agreement and laid back down. I still had a bad feeling about this place, but I’ll have to worry about that later, until I get well.

    “Do you want anything before you throw up again?” Kiri joked. Did she have to play around right now…? I guess I do need a laugh.

    Once again, my stomach rumbled like lightning, answering her question AGAIN! “ I guess so.” I giggled weakly.

    “Try to rest, ok? I’ll bring something back.”

    “Thank you.”

    “No onions, right?”

    “Right.” I said as if I was on my death bed. I let my eyes flutter close lightly while Kiri left out quietly. When she left, I could’ve swore I heard him… Nero was here? Was I imagining it?

    “Nero?”

    “Rest, my sweet, sweet baby… Rest and get well. Stay strong for me.” He whispered so softly in my ear. I wanted to hug him tightly, hold him and never let go, just to know that he was real.

    I woke sweating, crying with my arms outreached, trying to hold empty air.

    Chapter 3: Why Did You Leave Me, Nero?

    I got up from my bed, still sweating rain. I was considering telling Kiri about my dream, but she would only think I’m crazy. I had a night gown on… Had I changed last night? I’m too confused to think about it. I wanted to find Kiri and bear hug her. Do I smell eggs? Maybe Kiri is there! I ran, following the smell of what I could identify as eggs… or an omelet. “Kiri, are you here?”

    “I’m coming, hold on!” I heard her yell from somewhere. Was she behind me? I turned around to see, but she wasn’t there. Instead, in her place, I saw him again.

    “Nero?”

    “Hello, my angel.” He said, smiling a smile that I’ve missed for so long. Was there an echo somewhere?

    “Is that really you?” I can’t believe this real!

    He looked down examining himself. “… I’m here, aren’t I?”

    “… I’ve missed you so much, brother… I have to go tell Kiri!” I started to run, but he stopped me.

    “No… It’ll cause her too much pain. Besides, she won’t be able see me, not like you can.”

    “What do you mean?”

    “…Do you believe in angels, Gracia?”

    “Wha… No, NO!!! YOU CAN’T BE GONE!!!” I cried, I sobbed, I yelled all at once.

    “Please, Gracie,” Nero pleaded, placing his hand on my tear- drenched cheek. “I’m not gone, not yet. I just need to talk to you, and only you. This may seem crazy right now, but I need you to be strong for me and Kiri.”

    “How can I be strong without you here?” I sobbed hard enough to pull my stomach up out of me.

    “You don’t need me to be strong, Gracia. I don’t know where you are, and I want to keep it that way, ok? So, if another me ask, say you don’t know… We’ll all be together soon, promise… Kiri’s coming… I was never here, ok?”

    I nodded.

    “That’s my girl.” He kissed me on my forehead, then left, leaving me breathless, confused and, most of all, alone.

    Part 3: Kiri
    Chapter 1: Empty

    I walked down the hallway to see Gracia standing there, as if she was frozen. Of course, my motherly instincts kicked in, and I ran over to her and hugged her tightly against me. “Are you ok? What happened?” I said as I put my arms under her legs, like she likes.

    “… I don’t know.” She said softly in my ear, resting her head on my right shoulder. “… I guess I just… Froze.”

    I started to walk back to her room, when I heard something… Sobbing? Was Gracia crying? This five year-old never seizes to amaze me. “Are you sure you’re ok, Gracia?”

    “I’m sure.” She said in a voice that proved my suspicions. “… Where were you?”

    Was she changing subject? “Looking for you!” I joked. I always joked when someone needed to be comforted. “You weren’t in your room. Why did you wonder off like that?”

    “… I smelled eggs somewhere, and I thought you would be there, so I followed it and… Then I froze, because I thought I saw something.”

    “Something like?” I asked. I had a feeling she was hiding something.

    “… Something unnatural. I didn’t know what it was. I got scared and tried calling you, but it felt like I couldn’t breathe… Then it left.” I can’t believe she saw something. She was hiding something! Whatever it was!

    “Well, I hope it’s gone now.” I laughed. I felt her smile and we walked to the kitchen… Something was going on. Want to know how I know?

    I didn’t smell anything.

    “Gracia? Are you sure you smelled something?”

    “Yeah! It smelled the same way when Nero makes them.”

    “You really shouldn’t joke about that Gracia.” I said in a calm voice, trying to keep myself from crying.

    “I’m not! I swear!”

    “…Ok, whatever.” She sounded way too serious to be lying, but I just couldn’t bring myself to believe that she just saw something out of the blue. “… Are you still hungry?”

    No answer.

    “Gracie?”

    “Hmm?” She mumbled. Was she asleep?

    “Were you asleep?” I asked softly.

    She nodded.

    I turned my head slightly to right to see if she was sleep again. How could she sleep so much? I heard something, a voice, that sounded too good to true… The voice I was in love with, the voice I cried over every night, the voice I couldn’t believe was really there. “Nero?”

    “Hello, my love.” Did I just hear an echo? How could he be here? He sounds so close, but where is he?

    “Is that really you?”

    “Yes… You may not believe I’m here, but I’m really close to you.”

    “Why can’t I see you then?” I asked. I felt the slightest of touches on my lips. Either he was kissing me, or he was stopping me from talking by putting his finger lightly on my lips. Either way, I enjoyed it highly.

    “… In case you’re unsure, I was kissing you.” He said lightly in my left ear, the ear Gracia wasn’t right against. The touch came back, and a sensation came, which surprised me. The feeling that I have right before “It” happened, almost overwhelmed me, And I almost dropped Gracia. Then “It” happened, and I almost screamed in surprise and happiness. Then it stopped. “I’m sorry… You don’t how much I want this to keep going… But how can we when you can’t see me? You know I love you, and you know I’m coming for you… God, I miss you so much!” His voice sounded broken. “… We’ll see each again soon… Good-bye.”

    “Nero?” I whispered.

    No answer.

    “Nero, please leave me!” I yelled. Gracia wiggled a little, but she didn’t wake up. I dropped to my knees hard, not caring if I was in pain, and constricted Gracia tightly against me.

    For the first time in my life, pain actually felt good.

    Anything to stop the pain I was feeling now.

    Chapter 2: Hidden Power

    I was pretty much free for the day. Gracia was sleep in her room- which I picked out and had plenty of room for her stuff AND had its own bathroom. Kyle was running the store upstairs and Doc- the manager- went home sick with the flu. I knew what I was going to do mostly; cry in my room. I checked on Gracia a few seconds after I got out of the shower, so I was still in a towel. I’ve been worried about Gracia’s sleep habits, that and some of my clothes were in her room, but it was mostly the sleep habits. I changed into some clothes, checked on Gracia- that nocturnal little girl never wakes up- and left weeping on the inside from worry. I went to my room from force of habit, sat on my bed, and cried my eyes out. I missed Nero so much! I wish he was here. I heard someone coming down the hall, which made me sit frozen in Tear Lake. The door opened slowly. It was Gracia’s voice I heard.

    “Can I come in?” She asked quietly. I have a feeling she was excited about something.

    “Yeah.” I was straining to keep my from voice breaking.

    She ran in my room in excitement. She was practically jumping. “He’s here, he’s here!” She yelled.

    “Who’s here, Gracie?”

    She grabbed my hand and pulled hard. How strong is this little girl? “Come on, get up! Get up!”

    “Alright, would you stop pulling me and tell me what’s going on?”

    “He’s back, he’s found us!”

    “Who’s found us?”

    “Hey.”

    I looked up in curiosity, still a little teary eyed. His face sent a shock down my body-to a place I knew pretty, anatomy wise. I immediately started crying again. Nero, my love, was back, and looked better than ever… If that was possible. I didn’t even see a scratch on his face! “Nero?”

    “Hey.” He said again, smiling that lovely smile that I missed so much.

    I couldn’t react, couldn’t speak, I could hardly breathe! Just like the day when we first made love, I froze, hoping he’d make the first move before I clothes-lined him on an impulse. I shuddered, “N- Nero!” Then I did what I didn’t want to do; I ran, jumped and hugged him like a little girl. I kissed him; I cried on his shoulder, I put my hand on his face and caressed it softly. Gracia eventually jumped in on the one-woman hug fest. I didn’t stop her-She deserved to get in this too.

    “That’s what I’ve been waiting for.” He said my ear lightly.

    There was that surge again. “I missed you so much, Nero,” I said through tears. “We both did, didn’t we Gracie?” I said smiling down on her.

    She didn’t answer; she was too busy crying. Then, without warning, sobbing hard enough to make her lungs implode, she jumped and grabbed onto Nero neck, where he caught her like it didn’t even faze him. I guessed that was a yes. “…Please don’t leave us again, Nero.” She whispered.

    “Never again, Gracie.” It whispered back, rubbing her hair back, just like before. Then I saw the weirdest thing; Nero cried.

    It was then that I sensed something was wrong.

    “What’s wrong, Kiri?” Nero asked.

    “… I think I smell… blood.” I heard heavy footsteps coming fast down the hallway.

    “Yeah me too… We should hide.”

    “There’s nowhere to hide.” I panicked, but I shut it down quickly.

    “Damn… Looks like we’re going to have to fight out of this.” He said, a little of excitement in his voice. I’m sure for a long time for good fight, but he always put me and Gracia before anyone else.

    “This should be fun.” I admitted, smirking. “But what about Gracia?”

    “Is there another way of out here?” Was he getting scared all of sudden?

    “I think there’s one upstairs-“

    “FREEZE!!!” I heard someone yell behind Nero, who turned around in surprise. I guess it was they got here so fast.

    I gasped when I saw what he had in his hand; a gun made of- I assumed- platinum, shining brightly in the lamp’s radiance. I stepped back just a little, trying to get out.

    “Gracia?” Nero whispered.

    “Hmm.” She mumbled.

    “I need you to-“

    “I SAID DON’T MOVE!!!” Did he see me?

    I heard the radio he was wearing go off. “Are the targets apprehended?”

    “Yes, sir. Do you want me to keep them where they are?”

    “Yes, keep them right where they are… I want to see them cowering.” He said in a menacing voice that scared me just a little more than most people did.

    “Nero.” I whispered.

    “Yeah?”

    “I have an idea, but it’s probably going to hurt us physically… All of us.”

    “… What’s the chance of us living?” He asked in a calm voice. That soothed my tension just a little bit.

    “Pretty high, if we hurry before anyone else gets here.” I whispered. I wasn’t sure if I was lying to myself or not, but I was always good with statistics.

    “STOP WHISPERING!!!” The gun-toting son-of-a- b***h yelled.

    “Hey, no need to yell, my sister’s asleep!” Nero said confidently.

    “Am I really suppose to care? You’re good as dead, anyway.”

    “… I highly doubt that… Can you answer a question for me, as last request?”

    “Go ahead and ask… I really don’t think I should be conversing with convicts, but I guess a last request couldn’t hurt.”

    “… Do you believe in demons?”

    “What the hell kind of question is that?”

    What I saw next was unreal; I saw an arm extend, a black and red arm, from Nero’s left hand. I immediately started bleeding at the mouth and nose, and my stomach felt like it literally knotted up. I fell to my knees, crying and clenching my stomach as hard as I could. The last thing I remember was Nero picking me up from the floor, while Gracia was on her feet, holding my hand tightly.

    Part 4: Nero
    Chapter 1: Promise

    I ran to the car as fast as I could with Kiri in my arms, and Gracia holding her hand, just like I asked her to. Bullets were speeding past our heads at the speed of light. I saw the light that would be our way out, and the beginning of a new life. I knew that it would be hard for us all, but I would commit suicide if I left them again, or if they were to die here. I busted out the door toward the Lamborghini-I don’t see way people think its fake- opened the door, laid Kiri down softly, but swiftly, got in front and drove it out of the parking lot- turned hell guard palace.

    “Nero? Are you ok?” Gracia asked beside me.

    “I’m fine sweetie, how about you, are you hurt?”

    “No, I’m ok… What happened back there?”

    “I wish I had an answer to that, kiddo.” I really wished I did, but right now wasn’t the time to try to find answers.

    Gracia slid over to my side and sat in my lap, while I was speeding, and fell asleep, burying her face in my chest, and hugging as close to me as she could without wrapping her arms around me. You may not have noticed, but a lot of what Gracia does is force of habit, and this was no exception. I didn’t stop her; in fact, I embraced it. I don’t know why, but I always kept a second jacket folded up in the glove compartment. I took off the one I had on, and laid on top of Gracia like blanket, and did the same with the other one, only I put it on Kiri. You may be wandering how I did that. It’s quite simple, but very complex on my part. I have this thing I do, to where I make sort of a spiritual shadow with a physical form. Sounds simple enough, right?

    “Nero.” Kiri, very inaudibly, said. I would be enjoying her peaceful voice more, if the tension wasn’t so high.

    “Yes, I’m still here.” I said as softly as I could.

    “... Then it wasn’t a dream.”

    “No... I’m sorry it took so long to get to you.”

    “Don’t apologize... I’m just glad you’re here.” Everyone that’s reading this knows that she should be scared out of her damn mind, but I didn’t say that out loud.

    I heard her sigh and fall back asleep. Gracia nudged me a little- I guess to get my attention-, twisted her body sideways, and fell back asleep. Why did she nudge me? She twisted again, but stayed on her side. Her elbow was jamming into my ribs, but I ignored it. We were close to a house that I had prepared, just in case we were discovered. Something had made me wonder about what happened earlier; Why did Kiri writhe in pain like that after what I did? I decided to just dismiss it and be more careful.

    “Nero.” Gracia said softly.

    “Yes, sweetie, what’s wrong?”

    “Nero.” She said a little louder. Was she shaking?

    “I’m right here, Gracie.” I wrapped my left arm around her and shook her lightly. I couldn’t tell if I was moving her or not.

    “Nero... Please don’t go, please!” She said shaking and crying. She was dreaming. “... Mom, Dad, please! Tell him not to go!” She cried again.

    Kiri had just woken up to Gracia’s screaming. “What’s going on?”

    “I don’t know, I think she’s having a nightmare.” I answered. I was trying frantically to wake her up, but she wasn’t cooperating. I pulled over to the side of the road. “Come on, Gracia, wake up.”

    Gracia was crying so much, that I didn’t realize that I was the cause of this nightmare. If I hadn’t left her, she wouldn’t be having this bullshit excuse for a dream. “NERO!!!” She screamed as loud as she could, sobbing enough to make my chest burn as if a fire had been ignited inside me. Just then, when I thought it was over for both of us, she bounced up, looking as if she didn’t know what just happened… Then she looked at me, and cried even harder than before. She dropped her head on my chest and hugged me as hard as she could. “Why did you leave us, Nero!?”

    I couldn’t even answer her. I was never good at trick questions, but I thought I could at least give her an answer, even if it was stupid.

    “PLEASE DON’T LEAVE US AGAIN!!! PLEASE!!!” She screamed.

    “… Never again, my angel.” I said softly in her ear. “I promise.”

    Kiri hugged me from behind softly, just tight enough for me to know she was there, listening to what my decision to leave had caused. “Don’t beat yourself up, Nero.” She whispered in my ear. I couldn’t hear her at first, but I think she was telling me something important. “She knows that you didn’t mean to leave like that.”

    Gracia had stopped crying, and was looking up at me, tears still streaming down her cheeks. “Nero… I’m sorry.” She said softly.

    “No, I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to leave you guys. I didn’t want to cause you pain, not like this.”

    “No, I mean I’m sorry that cried in front you like this.” Well, it was true that Gracia never cried for any reason.

    “That just means you’re normal… No matter how far from the true that is.” I smiled.

    “Shut up.” She smiled back.

    “Nero?” Kiri called.

    “Yeah, what’s up?”

    “Their right behind us!” She yelled.

    I turned around to see a speeding SUV heading right toward us. Those bastards won’t quit, will they? “Alright, hang on!” I hit the gas hard, pushing us forward at speeds that could’ve pulled out skins off our bodies. “Gracie, Co-yin!” I asked. You may not know what I just said. Well theirs a story behind that. When Gracia was three years old, we made up a secret language so people wouldn’t know what we were talking about. That was after I told her that Kiri was part of a royal family, Siena-Agendum, and that it was illegal to date anyone from that family unless the parent chooses them, so we had to keep what we say very secret. Gracia moved off of my lap, went to the passenger side, and strapped in. I looked at the speedometer. It read 165 MPH.

    “Nero?” Gracie said, worried.

    “Yeah? Need something?”

    “Will we be ok?”

    “Of course, I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

    “I was talking about you.”

    “But you said ‘we’.”

    “You knew what I meant.”

    “… True… I’m not going anywhere, Gracie. I thought I promised you that already.”

    “I had to be sure you meant it.”

    “Have I ever broken promise to you?”

    “… Ok, you got me there!” She laughed.

    Just then, something rammed into us from the side, sending us flying in the middle of nowhere.

    Chapter 2: Father-To-Be

    I woke up in pain galore, blood trickling from pretty much everywhere. “Is everyone ok?”

    No answer.

    “Kiri, Gracia, say something!” I yelled

    “Nero!”

    “Where are you!?”

    “Over here! Hurry!” I saw Gracia waving a few feet to my left.

    I got up, stumbling hard, but I balanced myself and ran over to where she was, hoping that the worst hadn’t come true. “Are you ok?” I asked after I got there.

    “Yeah, I’m fine. Kiri looks really bad, do you think you could fix her?” She said in a rush, breathing as hard hurricane winds.

    I looked down at Kiri, trying as hard as I could to see through the dust. “… She’s fine, just knocked-out, thank god… We should find somewhere to hind.” I looked into the distance, looking for a cave… If we’re that lucky. I found some mountains in the distance, probably ten miles away. “There,” I said pointing. “We can stay there, until Kiri wakes up… You think you can walk that far?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

    “Yeah… But I don’t think that’ll be a good idea.”

    I started listening, reviewing my own plan in my head. “Why not? The next town could be a hundred miles away.”

    “No it’s not, in fact we’re three miles east of Nagashiro, believe it or not.”

    How the hell? “How’d you know that?”

    “… I don’t know… I guess geography is worth taking sometimes.” I said, tilting her head a little and smiling. Then I remembered that Gracia had photographic memory, and I had maps of Japan… Somewhere.

    “Ok… So which way’s east? We were headed that direction, weren’t we?”

    She nodded.

    “Good, we just have to find the road now, then.”

    I heard a groan of pain coming from Kiri. “… Nero… I have to tell you something… It’s really important.”

    I put a hand on her shoulder lightly- She tried to get up. “Save your strength. Tell me while I’m carrying you toward town.” I picked her up, hearing the little surprised Ahh, and started walking.

    “Uhh, Nero?” Gracia said, trying to keep up.

    “Hmm.”

    “Town’s the other way.”

    I stopped quickly, mentally smacking my forehead- I stopped when I got a headache. “Uhhh… I knew that!” I turned around, trying to play it off, until Kiri ruined it.

    “No you didn’t.”

    I changed the subject. “What did you need to tell me earlier?”

    She looked away, as if she was ashamed for some reason. “I… My… I’m foreteen days late, Nero.” She managed.

    I shuddered, confused. “Late like…? What are you trying say, Kiri?”

    “… You’ll just get mad!” She cried. “I shouldn’t even have mentioned it!”

    “…Okay-“

    “Why are you yelling at me!?”

    Mood swings: check. “… I’m not yelling.”

    No answer.

    “Kiri, you ok?”

    “I’m not talking to you right now.” She said angrily.

    “… Kiri, I think you should tell me what’s going on, because you’re making me more confused.” I have a thought on that, though. I think-

    “… I think you should tell Gracia… That she’s going to be an aunt… Or sister.” She smiled.

    Believe it or not, I was actually happy, but still confused. I froze mentally, lost for words. I put her on her feet lightly, about to do what I wanted to do since the day I met her. I dropped to one knee- which hurt like hell, by the way-, took her hand in mine, and almost passed out. “… Kiri… I wish this would be under better circumstances… And I know that you may think that what I’m about to ask you is because I just found out that I’m going to be a father, which is part of it… But I love you so much that I can’t put it into words, nor do I need or want to… I love everything about you, Kiri, and I don’t want to wake up one day, dead, and not have you by my side, not know that I didn’t love you like I wanted to… So I want you to be there by my side, walking down the aisle, as my wife,” I froze, trying to find the right words. “… So you would make me the happiest person in history if you would marry me.”

    No answer.

    “… Can you hurry, my knee’s killin’ me!” Well, that eased the tension a little!

    As I sat in pain, I saw her lips move so slightly I almost missed it. “Yes.” She whispered almost imperceptibly, tears streaming violently from her beautiful eyes. “Yes, of course.”

    Once again, I was lost for words; all I could do was hug her tightly and kiss her for what felt like hours. “If only I had a ring.”

    “I don’t need a ring… I just want you… I love you… And I’m sure our daughter will too.” She smiled, still crying a little.

    “Yay! We’re sisters!” Gracia exclaimed loudly, hugging Kiri tightly by her neck- How strong is that little girl!?

    “Hmm… ” Was all I could manage at the moment… I had three reasons to live and fight for now.

    One: I had to keep Gracia and Kiri alive.

    Two: I needed to talk to Gracia about something so important, it could may well save-or destroy- the world.

    Three: I finally had something worth dying for; I was a father-to-be.