Click for pictures of the newer characters so far. Also, refer back to the old image list, if you don't mind. Keisuke and Yuri's pictures were updated to fit their image better. 

Always Yours, 

HaruChi

Black Sheep 

Edge 

Hazard 

Anri 

Mamoru 

 Here's pronunciation. 

Black Sheep: . . .Obviously. . .

Edge: . . .Yup.

Hazard: Again, obvious.

Anri: Ahn-ree

Mamoru: Ma'am-more-uu

Volume Two::2 "My Brother"

                                                         Chapter Two

                         Roy was grinning up at the stunned Yuri and Ichihari. "Get it?!" he called up. Keisuke was already in the air, landing harshly by Roy. "E-Edge. . ." Keisuke said, his voice raspy and pupils dilated. "Oho, you look mad." Roy said, smiling. Keisuke clicked his tongue. "What is it you have against me, Edge? You and Hazard both. Don't tell me you're jealous." Keisuke said, sliding his foot to the side, then circling Roy. Roy knew Keisuke's footwork and copied, both of them in a standoff. "Of course I'm jealous. You got the job I had always wanted." Roy said, his eyes narrowing. 

                          Keisuke snickered. "Immature brat." he said. Roy gritted his teeth. "I got the job because I'm better." Keisuke said. He surprised Roy by suddenly walking forward. Keisuke put his mouth to Roy's ear. "In every sense of the word. Better at hunting, better at killing, better than you." he whispered sharply. Roy swung his fist into Keisuke's stomach. Keisuke gripped Roy's back, coughing blood over Roy's shoulder. "What's wrong? You're slipping, Requiem." he snapped. Keisuke shook his head. "I deserved that." he managed, blood leaking from his mouth. "What are you wearing? An iron glove?" Keisuke hissed, grabbing Roy's wrist and holding it up. He was wearing brass knuckles, only they were spiked and jagged. "God. You stabbed me." Keisuke shouted, throwing Roy's hand away.

                          Roy only glared at Keisuke. "Ichihari, take Yuri home." Keisuke called up to the two on Hell's Gate. Ichihari hesitated. Keisuke raised an eyebrow. Ichihari shivered, grabbing Yuri's waist, jumping down from the wall. "Yuri," Keisuke called. Yuri looked over at him, trying to hate him, but unable to do so. "Did Yiru ever tell you about me? About her job?" he asked. Yuri shook her head. Keisuke laughed, blood filling his mouth and spilling out. "She didn't love me." he said, waving her off. Then, in one movement, he had tackled Roy. Roy kicked Keisuke over Hell's Gate, then he himself leapt over out of sight. Silence reigned as Ichihari dragged Yuri out of the district, random Girls asking where Requiem and Edge had gotten to.

                          Yuri was kicking and screaming, almost nailing Ichihari. "Stop that!" he snapped, ducking from her blows. "Let me down! Ichihari!" Yuri shouted, only struggling more. Ichihari finally let her go, angrily shoving her away from him. Yuri stumbled backwards, then turned on her heel, looking wildly around. She didn't know for what, or even for who, but there, in the alley of Girls and Sellers, Yuri believed to be an answer. Then, Ichihari grabbed the back of her hair and tugged down. Yuri's head whipped back, her mouth open in surprised. A sweet liquid filled her mouth, almost like honey, only not as viscous. 

                           Ichihari finished pouring the contents of the little bottle into her mouth. "Swallow." he said, his hand covering her mouth. Yuri managed to gulp it down, shocked. "It'll calm your nerves." Ichihari said, frowning. "What is it? Medicine? It tasted like sweet honey. Too sweet." she asked. "PandorE." Ichihari answered. Yuri was sputtering in a second. "Y-You made me drink PandorE?!" she screamed, holding her throat. 

                           "Yea. That amount was like a shot of liquor. You might need another." Ichihari said. He took her hand and led her down the alleys. Yuri was aware that she no longer felt angry — only calm. She was thrust into a car, and Ichihari got in the front. He revved the car, then sped off. While they were driving, he offered her another shot of PandorE. Yuri took it, gulping it down. It coated her throat. Sickly sweet. Yuri was tired. She slept.

                             Yuri woke up, her head throbbing. She vaguely remembered Ichihari saying something like how she had no capacity for drinking. Yuri sat up, blinking hard. "W-What happened?" she muttered, as if someone else was in the room. Which no one was. She got up and slowly got dressed, then went into the living room. Ichihari was typing away at his computer as if his life depended on it.

                              "U-Uhm, hey, good morning." Yuri said. He nodded, his eyes never leaving the screen. Looking at all the numbers, Yuri remember something. "Hey, remember that time Keisuke was here and you hacked into my data and erased everything about me? You said it gave him a day. It's been well over a day, most obviously. What did he do?" she asked. "Oh, that? Well, when data goes missing, it shakes the company up. No one could find you in the digital database, so they went to the paper records they have of cases. While no one was in the technology room, Keisuke set up a bomb in that room. When the explosion went off, no one was in the library, obviously, as they were all trying to figure out what the hell happened. He set another bomb off in the library. They're missing everything. Fingerprints, DNA, anything you can think of. Except for the fact two of 'em Sweepers have already seen ya." Ichihari explained, turning to glance at her. Yuri frowned.

                             "I-I see." she managed. Ichihari only grinned and went back to typing.

 
                             "I want to go home." Roy said. The male next to him smiled. "Well, too bad. Requiem, even though you stabbed him, kicked the hell out of you. You're lucky your ribs aren't broken. He must have been holding back." he said. Roy's eyes narrowed, gnashing his teeth. "Face it. We're no match for him, not alone. We need to work together." the male said. Roy looked at him as he worked, wrapping a bandage around Roy's bloody abdomen and arm. When he finished, he stood up. "There. All done." he said. "Thanks." Roy said, admiring the handiwork. He stood up as well. 

                            "You wanna get back at Requiem, right? We both do. Well, why don't you take his girl? That one that you were talking about." he said. Roy blinked. Then, his face split into an out-of-character smile. "Oh. I like that. That's evil." the male said. "Thanks, Hazard." Roy said, waving. "Goodbye, Edge." Hazard said, smiling the exact same crooked smile like Roy. "My brother."

Extra:: Yiru's Death Seen From Keisuke's View

                I took the body home with me. I didn't know what I was doing. She tore my jacket right off, and now all my clothes are soaked in her blood. I'm actually kind of scared. Not of anyone finding out, not of anyone seeing me. Of the body. And myself. Her eyes don't look real. They look like doll eyes. Wide and starey-ish. Like, all glazed over. It's gross. Then, of course, there's me, who picked the body up. That's so stupid. Why the hell did I pick her up? I should have left.

              So I got home and I went into the back room where I keep the PandorE (or what Genesis calls "my honeys"). I set her down on the hammock I have there in case of nap-and-ditch jobs. The white cloth was red in a matter of seconds. I kind of blacked out, because I drank at least a bottle of my honeys. When I regained consciousness, I was leaning over the tub. So I got up, took my shirt off, wet it with bathwater, then scrubbed the blood from my floors. I stayed up all night cleaning. Ichihari came over the next day. He wanted to know what happened. He saw the news, I wouldn't answer my phone. I slammed the door in his face, and he left angrily. 

               I went to the back again, and I almost gagged. She was decomposing. I had to get her out. Why did I bring her here? I called Ichihari and apologized, then asked him to bring a wooden box. I gave him her height and width, but I didn't tell him what it was for. He brought it and I gave him a bottle of my honey to get him to leave. I put her in the box and nailed it shut. 

              She's still in that room.

              

              I don't go in there anymore. 

                                                                                                     —Keisuke

Volume Two::1 "The Edge is Sharp"

                                      ...Welcome to Volume Two...

                                                 Chapter One

                                Yuri, by now, was sitting up and staring at Tomoki. More like glaring. He couldn't tell, as he was busy choosing a scalpel. Though he shivered and shuddered every once in awhile. Her gaze was powerful. "You seem to be mad. Allow me to fix that." Tomoki said, grinning. Her grabbed her wrists, which were still tied, and held her up, so she was standing. He pulled her shirt up to her abdomen, then took a marker out and marked her stomach with lines indicating where to cut. He fixed her, alrighty, because fear blast through her body, and she forgot her anger. Tomoki smiled, his mouth close to her ear. "You're pretty cute when you're scared." he said. Yuri started struggling, but Tomoki held fast. He threw the marker down and held a scalpel up.

                                Yuri was reminded of that time Keisuke had pulled a syringe out. This was the same feeling of horror, her body shaking. "H-Hey, let go!" she snapped. Tomoki smiled again. "Even if you say that, I won't let go." he said. Just then the door burst open. Anri and Roy rushed in. "A-Anri!!" Yuri said, relieved. Anri smiled reassuringly. "Roy. . .Where have I heard that name before?" Tomoki said, releasing Yuri, knowing he was no match. "Maybe you've heard my alias in the Black Market," Roy said, his dark eyes steely. "And that would be?" Tomoki said, smiling evilly. "Edge." Roy answered. Tomoki stopped smiling. "Don't toy with me." he said. "Shall I prove it to you?" Roy asked.

                                Roy leaned over, his hands touching the ground. He looked almost like a cat, on all fours. "This is the stance Edge uses. This is the stance I use." Edge/Roy said, trailing a finger down the floor. Tomoki winced, then stepped back. "Fight, then! Anyone can manipulate a stance!" Tomoki snapped. As if Roy was waiting for Tomoki to say that, he rocketed off. Tomoki blinked, stunned by the agility he displayed. Moving too fast for Tomoki to see, Roy slid on the ground, hitting Tomoki's legs to stop himself. Tomoki looked down and recieved Roy's foot in his face. In one movement, Roy hoisted himself up on one hand while his foot was in the air, and spun himself around. His other foot hit Tomoki in the nose. Tomoki stumbled back, covering his newly bloodied nose. "If I had used a little more force, it would be broken." Roy said, resuming his catty stance. Tomoki tsked, then ran at Roy. Roy responded with dropping himself onto the ground. Tomoki seemed to want this, because he easily leaped over Roy and he was out the door. 

                                "Pity. . .He escaped." Roy said, frowning. "Th-Thanks." Yuri managed, holding Anri's arm. "No problem," Roy replied flatly. He stood up from the floor, examining Yuri. He shooed Anri, pacing circles around Yuri. "So, tell me why he kidnapped you." he said, lifting her scarf and examining her neck. "E-Er, he wants my organs." Yuri said. Roy waited patiently, his stare even creepier than Yuri's. "T-That is. . ." she started, then explained the rest. He responded with a nod, then looked to Anri. "You there. Sweeper. Come here." he said. anri obeyed, blinking. "You're Edge, right?" she asked when he opened his mouth. He closed it, a little annoyed looking at being interrupted, but nodded. Anri's face lit up. "Dude, you're like my role model," she crooned, hugging his arm. "This one will be of no help. . ." Roy muttered to himself. Yuri looked outside, seeing Ichihari running over. "Oh, yea, I called him." Anri said when Yuri gasped. "Ichi!" Yuri called, running out into the snow and standing in front of him. "Jeez, are you okay? I heard what happened. Luckily Edge and Anri are here." he said, taking his jacket off and wrapping it around her. "Oh. . .And one other thing."

                                "I was rummaging through my old stuff and I found these." He produced two photos from his pocket. "Ryuji left them at my place when he was developing them. I dunno why, but I kept them. You can have them." Ichihara said, handing her the picture. Yuri stared down at the first. It was a different photo of Keisuke, but was taken the same day, because their clothes were the same. She didn't care about Yiru in the picture — she was doing something goofy and Keisuke was cracking up — but Keisuke's jacket. It wasn't the same he wore now. This one Yiru had bought for him. Yiru had showed it to Yuri one day, saying it was a present for her boyfriend. Keisuke wore it in the picture. And that jacket was found at the bridge when it collapsed.

                                 It was all falling apart, Yiru and Keisuke. Keisuke's story made little sense. Instead of grieving, Yuri obsessed over her beloved younger sister's death. The police said the body was missing, but there were traces of her blood on a jacket. . .Keisuke's jacket. Yuri investigated, stayed up nights at a time, trying to find Keisuke. But it was as if Keisuke had dropped off the earth. Yiru's cell phone, battered and broken at the scene, still worked slightly. They had Keisuke's phone number. When they dialed it, no one answered. Later, the phone number didn't exist. He had chosen another phone. Why? Why was her body missing? Why did he leave his jacket, stained with my sister's blood? Why did he cut every mean of finding him after her death? "Ichi-kun, thank you." Yuri said, staring hard at the picture. 

                                 "One question." Ichihari said, holding his index finger up. "Why did you start wondering about Keisuke and Yiru?" he asked. Yuri ignored him. Instead, she tore the picture of Keisuke and Yiru laughing, so she had a ripped piece of Keisuke in one hand and Yiru in the other. She gritted her teeth, throwing Keisuke's picture to the ground and holding Yiru's close. "LIAR."

                                 Keisuke had been pushed against the wall. The Girl smiled up at him, holding her hand out. "Come on, come play with oneechan," she said. "I'm busy." Keisuke hissed, pushing her and walking away. Several Girls called out to him, hoping for business. Keisuke ignored them. "Yiru. . .Why would you choose the path I walk. . .?" he muttered, continuing down the alley. His phone went off. He checked the ID, frowning. Ninomiya Yuri ♥ it said. "Stupid heart icon. . ." he muttered, flipping the phone open. "Yuri, what's up?" Keisuke muttered, his irritation to the max. "Can you come to Ichihari's place?" she asked on the other end. "No. I'm busy." he answered, his voice cold. ". . .Then I'll come to you. Where are you?" she asked. "I-Idiot, I said I'm busy—" he started, before she snapped, "I said I'll come to you!! Where are you?!" Momentarily stunned, Keisuke said nothing. Then, his stubbornness kicked in as well. "I SAID NO." he barked. "Yiru didn't fall, did she?" Yuri said lowly. Keisuke's eyes widened. He was silent. "Ichi-kun just tracked this call. We're already driving. See you." she said. "N-No!" he snapped, but the line was dead.

                                Keisuke stared at his phone, shocked senseless. Yiru didn't fall. . .How. . .? Why. . .? Wait, what?! Keisuke thought frantically, looking around. Ichihari had already tracked him. He couldn't make it out of the alley fast enough. Causing a scene by jumping over skyscraper buildings would suck. Keisuke, in the middle of the Girls and others, sat down, sighing. "This sucksssss. . ." he whined, burying his face into his arms. He muttered some colourful words, angry. He held his phone up, examining the wallpaper of him and Yiru. "I wish I could erase you. . ." he said to his phone, staring at Yiru, frozen forever in a photo. "That's an awful thing to say." a female said behind him. "What are you doing, so suddenly?" Keisuke asked, turning to look at Yuri. "I need to talk to you." she said. She was squirming, however, uncomfortable in the alleyway. ". . .Let's go to a more sightly place." Keisuke sighed, taking her hand and leading her out the way she entered. Ichihari followed not a foot behind, his eyes watching every moving object. 

                                 "What do you want?" Keisuke said finally, the three of them sitting on Hell's Gate. Yuri smashed a ripped piece of photo in his face. ". . .O-Ow. . .That hurt. . ." he muttered, wiping his nose. He stared at the photo. It was him, laughing. "Where did you get this?" he said darkly. "Not the point. Point is, look at your jacket." Yuri commanded. Keisuke looked at the jacket he was wearing. ". . .!! N-No, stupid, in the picture!" Yuri snapped, holding the photo closer to his face. "Yea, great, a jacket." he said. "Not any jacket. . .Your jacket." she said.

                                 ". . .Okay, you lost me. What are we doing?" Keisuke said, sighing. "You utter moron. This is the jacket Yiru bought for you. This jacket was found at the bridge, on top of all the rubbish. This jacket had Yiru's blood all over it. And Yiru's body wasn't there. You said they found her. You made a mistake. They never did. Why would you lie to me? Why was your jacket there?" she said, her teeth bared. Keisuke stared at her, dumbfounded. What do I tell her? Lie to her? Tell her the truth? God. Yiru was much easier to deal with. 

                                  ". . .Y-You're overreacting. You're freaking out." he managed. "You're lying!" she snapped. Keisuke was now squirming himself. Icihari stared at Keisuke, his mind connecting what Yuri didn't want to believe. "R-Ryuji. . .No way. . .You have the body. . .?" he asked. Keisuke's eyes looked wildly at Ichihari. "Oh, you didn't know?" someone called from below them. Roy stared up at them. "Edge. . ." Keisuke spat. "Requiem. And if it isn't Requiem's little sidekick, the nerdy little hacker." Roy fired back. Ichihari's glasses flashed as he raised an eyebrow. "Anyway. You don't seem to know about Requiem and his girl." Roy said. "I was there, ya know? Keeping tabs on our little ditcher." he said. "Get. To. The. Point." Yuri snapped, standing up. Because she was, like, I don't know, standing on a wall, she lost her balance. Keisuke caught her, avoiding eye contact. "Requiem pushed Yiru." Roy called up. Yuri's mouth dropped. Roy grinned. "The edge is sharp, isn't it, girlie?" 

  

Volume One::9 "Enter: Roy"

                                                               Chapter 9

                          Keisuke's phone was lying on the table face up, and it was open. Just a minute ago, he had taken off his jacket, and removed any metal. Then he got on his knees and let Yuri punch him three times. The third time Yuri's knuckles started hurting, and she told him to go away. She picked the phone up, swallowing hard. His wallpaper was a photo he himself had taken. It was him and Yiru, Yuri's twin sister, squished together in a mugshot. Their cheeks pressed together, they squeezed in to be in the photo. Keisuke was smiling a real smile. Yiru was grinning like an idiot and holding her index and middle fingers up in a V-for-Victory sign. 

                          "That's none of your business," the Sweeper said from behind her. Yuri swiveled her head and saw Keisuke glaring down at her. He reached for the phone, but she held her hand to the side. ". . .What are you doing?" he said. "I dunno. . ." she replied truthfully. He tried again, and she moved it from his grasp. Now he was annoyed. "Give me the phone. . ." he said, sounding calm. "Don't tell me you're mad 'cause I hit you. Jeez, you said I could order you around." she muttered. "You know, you should really mean something if you say—" Yuri started, before Keisuke leaned forward and kissed her on the mouth.

                            In her shock, he swiped the phone. But he didn't stop. Yuri had seen kissing in movies and in manga before, but it felt different than what it looked like. She was dizzy, and there was this fog. And then she realized she hadn't taken a breath yet. "Oh my God!!" she was aware of Anri saying. Finally, Keisuke pulled his body away. "So that's what regret tastes like." he said coyly, shutting his phone and licking his finger. ". . .DIE!! GO ROT IN A HOLE AND DIEEEEE!!" Yuri shrieked, her face flushing about four shades of red. "I'm off. I've got another job." Keisuke said, waving. He glanced behind his shoulder. "Of dire importance. Cheers." With that, he opened the door while tugging his jacket on and left. "Anri, go kill Keisuke." Yuri said, falling onto her back. "U-Uhm. . ." Anri said, startled. "That Ryuji. He's so cool." Ichihari said, making his voice high, obviously teasing Yuri. "Shut it." Yuri snapped.

                            

                           "Early this evening, the police found a body a few blocks away from a local high school. The woman appears to be in her late teens, and she was killed about three hours ago. Witnesses said there was screaming for a few minutes, and they thought the teenagers down the street were being too loud. The girl appeared to be stabbed with a large sword. We aren't sure how big it was at the moment. There were carvings all over the body that read, 'I am Black Sheep'. Police are trying to figure out if Black Sheep has struck again or if the body is Black Sheep. The body has horns attached, and her DNA is no in the database. . .If you have any information. . ."

                             "Keisuke did that, huh?" Yuri wondered. "Yea. He said he would. He don't lie, let me tell you." Ichihari said, cracking up. ". . .What do you know about my sister's death, Ichi-kun?" Yuri asked. "Hmm. I don't know much. Just what Ryuji told me. I knew they were going out, then that stupid bridge collapsed. Took his eye." Ichihari replied thoughtfully. "What if I told you Keisuke was lying?" Yuri said lowly. Ichihari had a smile frozen on his face, obviously confused. "What?" he asked. "Nothing. Do you have a picture of Keisuke and Yiru together?" Yuri asked, standing up. "U-Uh, no." Ichihari said, startled. "I see. Thank you. I'm going to bed. Good night." Yuri said. Ichihari stared at her as she walked into a different room.

                             "Yuri, where were you yesterday?" Mamoru asked the next day, frowning. "You and Anri were both gone." he said. "I'm going to the bathroom." Yuri said, standing up and walking away. "H-Hey! Anri, explain!" she heard Mamoru snap. I can't tell him I ordered "Requiem" to kill Black Sheep. she thought, staring at her hands. Just then, she ran into somebody. "S-S-Sorry," she said, her natural timidness kicking in. She looked up. Tomoki grabbed her and covered her mouth. "Found. You. You're little friend sure is bold, lying to Sweepers." he snapped. Mari stepped out from behind him, her eyes glaring. "You're just stupid for believing him!" Yuri managed, before his hand covered her mouth again. Mari gritted her teeth. "Where should I cut?" she hissed. "Not here. Wait. We gotta get outta here for now. Give me the bonds." Tomoki said. Mari handed him rope and such, and he bound Yuri's wrists and feet together. Throwing her over his shoulder, they started down the hall. "What are you doing?" a voice asked from behind them. 

                             A regular student stood in the halls, looking all emo and whatever. He didn't show any sign of fear at seeing Yuri being kidnapped, his black eyes calm and dull. "Don't get in our way, kid." Tomoki said. The male raised an eyebrow. Sighing, he rolled up his sleeves, looking prepared to fight. "Mari, take Ninomiya. I'll deal with him." Tomoki said. Mari obliged, grabbing Yuri and managing to drag her down the halls. Yuri struggled, but this stupid kid had an iron grip. Finally, Yuri managed to spit her gag out and scream, "ANRI!! MAMORU!! HELLLLP." Tomoki, who looked ready to fight, angrily whirled on his heel and began to run after Mari. "Go! Keep her quiet!" he said, trying to avoid opening doors.

                             "Stop," the male said, his black eyes flashing. "Listen, kiddo, just stop trying to be a knight in shining armor. It's touching, blah blah blah, but your life isn't the exchange for hers. We'll end up getting her anyway." Tomoki said, his eyebrows furrowing. "S-Somebody call the police!!" a student shrieked. Mari clicked her tongue. "Tomoki! You take her! I can't go fast carrying her. I'll deal with our little hero." she said. Tomoki scooped Yuri up and was out the door. Mari stayed behind, glaring at the male. "The little girl and Roy are facing off. . ." someone muttered. "So your name is Roy. . ." Mari muttered. Roy raised an eyebrow again. "Roy! It isn't worth it. She's just a kid." someone called. "She's no ordinary girl." he answered. 

                             Mari smiled, then she was in the air. Almost instantly, she had produced a hammer twice her size and swung it downwards. Roy dodged easily. "Slow." he said. Mari gritted her teeth and started swinging again. Roy kept dodging, his hands in his pockets. "Fight back!" Mari snapped, swinging the hammer harder. Roy caught it with his arm and tore it from her hands. He threw it aside. "You're a hundred years too early, brat." he murmured. "Tch! Whatever! We got our prize." Mari said. She abandoned the hammer and was out the door in a matter of seconds. 

                            "MOVE!!" someone snapped. Anri pushed several people aside and called, "Yuri!?" Roy looked at her. "I think she was kidnapped." he answered unconvincingly. "You think?!" Mamoru hissed from behind her. "Yea. Thatta way." Roy said, pointing in the direction she was taken in. "Oooh, Requiem is going to be so mad. . ." Anri muttered, following Roy's finger. "Requiem. . .?" Roy mumbled, turning to see Anri rocketing off. "Interesting. . ."

Volume One::8 "Contract II"

                                                             Chapter Eight

An artificial left arm. Is anything not artificial on this guy?! "Orchilam. The strongest metal on the Earth. It is said that Orchilam is the metal of the Gods." Keisuke said, throwing the lance (and Black Sheep) to the side with a flick of his arm. "Which explains everything, since my birth mother is God Genesis." he said, wiping the metal down. There wasn't even a scratch on his arm where her lance struck. Black Sheep smiled, though her eyebrows furrowed angrily. Anri had taken this momentum and swung her foot down onto the back of Black Sheep's head, the force enough to break her skull. Amazingly, Black Sheep retaliated; she grabbed Anri's foot and tripped her. They were both on the ground now, Black Sheep's head bleeding badly and Anri getting strangled. "Keisuke, help her!" Yuri snapped, panicking. 

                                           "Pay me." he said. Yuri was in shock for a second. "P-Pay you?! What?!" she shouted, stepping back. Keisuke turned to face her, his eye cold. "Pay. Me. I'm not free." he said. "W-Why now?!" Yuri demanded. "Because you're breaking the Rules." someone said from behind them. They turned. Ichihari, red, sick, and panting stood there, his glasses lopsided. "If you don't pay Keisuke for his services, even Anri would have to kill you." Ichihari said. "The only reason Anri is free is because she isn't owned by PandorA, and you signed a contract with her." he explained, coughing. Anri and Black Sheep were still struggling in the snow, only Black Sheep was winning. Anri's face was going red, as she tried to remove Black Sheep's hands from her throat. "H-How much?!" Yuri demanded. Ichihari said a number so big, that if I put it in this blog it would give readers a heart attack.

                                             "I-I-I-I. . .I can't possibly pay that!! That's insane! No normal person would be able top pay that! Give me a discount or something!" Yuri snapped. "Oh, not to mention, because of my genius father, I have a debt of three FREAKING million!!!" she screamed. ". . .I do have a discount. For you alone. It only lasts an hour. But dealing with Black Sheep, I only need a few seconds." he said. "What?! What?!" Yuri said. Keisuke looked away. "WHAT?! Can I afford it?" Yuri demanded. Anri was hardly struggling anymore, making only a few breathy noises. "She's dying! Please, I'll pay anything!!!" Yuri was screaming. "Ryuji!!" Ichihari snapped, looking wildly from Anri to Keisuke. "Kiss." Keisuke said, turning to face her. "One kiss. That's all. And you can order me for an hour." he said. "FINE, done deal! Save Anri!" Yuri said, pointing. Keisuke shrugged, then walked over to Black Sheep. Black Sheep looked up.

                                                Yuri was unable to see Keisuke, but Black Sheep's hands released Anri's throat. Her face drained of colour, and for once she stopped freaking smiling. "R-Requiem, don't be m-mad. . ." she managed. "I was paid to do this." she said. Anri was staring up at Keisuke like God had come down and started juggling. Then, it happened. Yuri's eyes couldn't keep up, and even Ichihari had a hard time seeing what happened. Black Sheep's lance, lying only inches from her thigh, was scooped up. This was where it got fast. It appeared as if Keisuke flicked his hand, and Black Sheep flew back, cut in four places. The lance was then lying on the ground again, and Keisuke was in the air beside Black Sheep. Using his Orchilam arm, he elbowed her to the ground, but stopped her inches from impact by grabbing her shirt. Black Sheep looked up, terrified. "R-R-Requiem. . .?!" she hissed. Keisuke hesitated. Anri, over the side, was struggling to breath. Her trachea had almost been broken by the force of Black Sheep's death grip. "KEISUKE!!" Yuri snapped, suddenly furious at Black Sheep for hurting Anri. "KILL HER!!" she screamed, before she realized what she was saying. Ichihari swiveled his head to stare at Yuri, then started, "Ryuji, no—" 

                                               Anri snapped, "Yuri?!" Keisuke stared at Black Sheep, then his face split into an awful smile. "Yes, my Lady." he said.

                                               The last thing Black Sheep saw was her beloved lance going straight at her face. 

                                               Yuri covered her mouth, stepping backwards. She felt Ichihari come behind her and slam his hand over her eyes. Anri stared. Keisuke removed the lance and threw it to the side. "W-What do I do? I just killed someone. . ." Yuri managed. Ichihari's hand tensed, and it was snapped to the side. Keisuke had gripped his hand and threw it to the side. "I'm not so good at the advice. . .Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?" he said, bowing. Yuri was speechless. I just ordered someone to kill someone else. 

                                                "R-Ryuji! Was that necessary?!" Ichihari snapped. "She bought me. What could I do? You know what would happen to me if God Genesis found out." Keisuke said. "You scared her half to death!" Anri said from behind him. "She ordered it." he replied flatly. "Yea, but—" Anri started. "How did I become the bad guy? Have the two of you, Sweepers, never seen death? And if Yuri is to survive. . ." Keisuke said, his voice eerily low. Anri and Ichihari were silent. Keisuke raised an eyebrow, daring them to tick him off. 

                                                 "Y-You really d-did it." Yuri said. Keisuke only nodded. "I ordered you to do it." Yuri said, as if making sure that this was indeed what happened. Again, a nod. "What now?" Yuri asked. "You pay me." Keisuke said. "Unless you have another order." he said. "And you'll do whatever I want?" Yuri confirmed. Another nod, only this one more amused. Yuri stared at her feet. "I don't think I have any other orders—" she choked. "Good. I can't wait to see what the sister tastes like." Keisuke said. Yuri somehow knew he wanted to make her mad, but she didn't know why. And she was, indeed, angry. "Keisuke! Take me back to Ichihari's house. And when we get there, let me drop you and kick the daylights out of you." she snapped. Anri and Ichihari were surprised by her rage, but they were more surprised from Keisuke's reaction. Yuri expected something different as well. Keisuke smiled, as if he had won something, and said, "Yes, my Lady." 
                                                   Yuri had it in her. She had given Keisuke a black eye and a bloody nose. It wasn't just the sister thing. Somehow, she had let pent up anger out on Keisuke. Anger from her father, from her situation, from being alone at school, everything. She felt bad for Keisuke, after seeing his face. Bloodied and bruised. But she noticed something again. His real eye was strange. Not because of the purple colour, though that was weird, but because of his pupil. His pupil was purple too. The only way Yuri could tell he had a pupil at all was because his black iris outlined it. Hmmm.
                                                   The most memorable thing about that day, however, never left her mind. Is Black Sheep gone? Forever? Of course she is. She's dead. Yuri gritted her teeth as Ichihari and Anri spoke silently to each other, Keisuke in the bathroom cleaning the blood from his face. Anri and Ichihari considered themselves the sanest people there. Innocent Yuri and not-so-innocent Keisuke had just committed murder together, in one form or another. Now they only spoke to each other, whispering back and forth. Then Yuri saw it.
                                                  

Volume One::7 "Contract I"

                                                               Chapter Seven

                                        "Once more, the serial murderer Black Sheep has taken three more lives. Black Sheep has kept up their pattern, as the police force found two of the bodies in bags. As in previous Black Sheep killings, the first victim the police found was hung, and the second partially eaten. The first body is yet to be found, but Black Sheep has left the blood stains, therefore we confirmed that there is three bodies as usual. If you have any information to help, please dial the number. . ." 

                                        The TV kept blaring, Yuri zoned out. "Black Sheep strikes again, huh?" Ichihari asked from behind her. Yuri turned, startled. "Huh? Oh, yea. I don't know much about it." she said. "Would you believe me if I said Ryuji knew her?" he asked.

                                        "He does?" she wondered. "Yea. She's a Sweeper like him. Though she breaks the Rules." Ichihari said, shrugging. And that was all he said on the matter. 

                                        

                                        "Yuri-chan~," Mamoru cooed, hugging Yuri from behind. "I thought I told you to call me Ninomiya-san," Yuri said, sounding annoyed. "Well, yea, but we're friends, so it's okay." he said. "And I have something you might be interested in. Well, someone."

                                         "This here is Anri." Mamoru said, pointing at a girl. Anri pushed his finger away. "Hey. I'm Anri, as this idiot just said. I heard about your problem from Mamoru, and a friend of his is a friend of mine. I'm a Sweeper." she said. Yuri wondered how she never noticed them before. "Ninomiya Yuri." she replied flatly. If Anri was offended, she didn't show it. "Anyways, I'd like to help ya." she said, offering Yuri a slip of paper. Yuri took it. It looked like a contract.

                                         "What's this?" Yuri asked. "It's a contract." Anri said dully. Yuri stared at her. "Oh! You're not much of a delinquent, huh? If you sign this, you're buying me." Anri said. Yuri continued to stare. "U-Um, well, it won't cost you anything, since I want to help you, but you need to sign it. If you don't show ownership of me, you and I would be breaking the Rules." Anri said, unnerved by Yuri's silence. Anri couldn't tell if Yuri was staring, but Yuri was facing in her direction, her mouth a flat line. "Creepy. . ." Anri thought. 

                                         Yuri stared at the slip of paper. She signed it.

                                         "La la~ Black Sheep," the girl sang, walking down the alleys of PandorA. Someone grabbed her arm. Black Sheep turned, smiling. "I have a job for you." the person said. "How much will you pay me?" Black Sheep asked. "As much as you want." he said. His face was covered by the shadows. Black Sheep didn't know who he was. He wanted it that way. "Okay. What is the job?" she asked. "There is a girl named Ninomiya Yuri. Find her and bring her to me. Alive. You can kill her friends, but Ninomiya must be alive. Understand?" he said coldly. "Okay." Black Sheep said, pulling from his grasp. 

                                          That was how things worked. If you hired a Sweeper, they didn't need any information besides a name. If they had a name, they'd find the person. When you told Sweepers who it was, they left just like that. No negotiating, besides that of payment. Black Sheep walked down the alleys. She passed someone walking by. He was slumping, his hands in his pockets, and staring ahead. "Ni-no-mi-ya Yu-ri." she said as they passed. He turned. Black Sheep continued walking, while Keisuke stared hard at her back.

                                          Ichihari had caught a cold. Yuri said she would walk, since Anri was walking with her. So, that morning, Yuri and Anri departed on foot for school. About halfway there, however, their epic journey was forced to stop. Someone was standing in front of them with a little minidress that was made out of wool. She had ram horns on her head, her hair coal black. However, her eyes were the strangest. It was like they were mixed up. Her pupils were white, and the would-be whites of her eyes were black. 

                                          "Ninomiya Yuri," she said, smiling. Her face seemed glued into a smile. "Er, can I help you?" Yuri managed, trying hard not to stare. Anri had taken a step forward, inching in front of Yuri protectively. "If you'd be so kind as to come with me. . ." she said, tilting her head. "Uhm, I don't think so." Yuri said, stepping back. The girl didn't stop smiling. "Well, you have to be alive, so that's troublesome. He didn't say you had to be awake though. It'd be nice to make you bleed." she crooned, pulling a huge lance from behind her back. 

                                          Almost immediately, Anri had sprung into action. She had reached Black Sheep in three strides. Black Sheep swung the heavy weapon around like it was a feather. Anri had no weapon, and all she could do was dodge and try to get a punch or two in. Yuri watched, stunned, having never seen anything like this, except in movies and manga. There was a squishing sound, and Yuri snapped back to the fight. 

                                          Anri had gotten her arm stabbed. This made an opportunity. Anri grabbed the lance, keeping it penetrating her arm, and launched her foot at Black Sheep. When the blow connected, Black Sheep flew back, unable to hold onto her weapon. Anri tore the lance out and flung it to the ground where it landed with a large thud. 

                                          "Don't get in my way," Black Sheep said coldly, standing up. She had moved slow before, but now she was insanely fast. Anri had a hard time seeing her movements, let alone keeping up with her. Black Sheep confused Anri, and while Anri was clearing her head and trying to stop her dizziness from spinning around, Black Sheep tore the lance from the ground and jumped into the air. Yuri's eyes followed Black Sheep, stunned. Black Sheep swung the lance downward. At Yuri. Ooooh, snap. Yuri thought, pinned to the spot in instant fear. "NINOMIYA, MOVE!!" Anri snapped, running at her. 

                                          Yuri shut her eyes, the lance seconds from skewering her shoulder. There was a loud noise, like metal clanging. Yuri opened her eyes, beyond confused. Keisuke was in front of her, his left arm blocking the lance from slicing down. Anri froze, almost tripping. "Black Sheep," Keisuke said coldly. "Requiem." Black Sheep greeted, her smile widening. 

                                          "Oh my God, it's in your arm! How is your arm not cut in half?!" Keisuke tore his jacket off, and his left sleeve was so damaged by the lance, it came off, all the way to his shoulder. Yuri's eyes widened.

                                         

Volume One::6 "Black Sheep"

                                                               Chapter 6

                                    "I was once a person roaming the alleys of PandorA, a man whom you'd want to avert your eyes from." Keisuke said, frowning. "One day, I was just sitting around and she was running by. She was such a klutz. She spilled her tea on me. She freaked out, and followed me for the rest of the day. It was annoying. To scare her away, I told her that I loved her and asked her to go out with me. That idiot said 'kya, really?!' and accepted." He looked like he had a headache. T-That's Yiru all right. Yuri thought, groaning. 

                                     "Anyways, everyday, she would go to the same spot we met and wait for me. I felt bad watching her from afar and ended up going over there everyday too. Sooner or later, I ended up really falling in love with her.

                                      Then there was that day. I was walking her home. She was a few feet behind me. The bridge collapsed. She had managed to grab onto the side. I took a step forward and the rest of it fell. She fell. I went down to the ground level. I couldn't find her. I stayed there all night until the police made me leave. I also got a call when you guys did. The same call. That Yiru died." Keisuke said in a monotone. Yuri stared ahead, taking this in.

                                       "Well, that's that. I told you." Keisuke said, stretching. The humour was back in his voice. "Thanks." Yuri said. But. . .there was something that didn't make sense in his story. . .

                                        "Can I ask you one more thing?" Yuri asked. "Why not?" he said, rubbing his neck. ". . .I met a Seller in school. His name is Mamoru. He told me all about PandorA. he said that you're called Requiem and your mother is a—" she started, before Keisuke got up. His hair cast dark shadows over his eyes, making him look rather malicious. "Don't ask about that." he said coldly. Yuri blinked, startled. She had crossed the line. "S-Sorry," she stammered, standing as well. Keisuke glared at her, but then tsked and walked into the other room. Uhm. . .oops?

                                        How strange. Ever since Keisuke got mad, Yuri had noticed the tiniest details about him. Firstly, she had caught on to the fact that Keisuke didn't walk. He limped. The way he moved suggested his left leg had been either permanently damaged or just recently. She couldn't tell. He looked used to it, however, and he limped very proudly, almost like a stride. 

                                        Next, she saw that he never showed any skin on his left arm. When he took his jacket off, one sleeve would be short, and his left sleeve would be long, stretching to his palm. His fingertips were covered with gloves. Kinda weird.

                                        She had already seen his eye, the artificial one. She had even asked him to see it. He was confused at first, then a little hesitant, but with some pressure he pulled the long strip of hair that covered his right eye up. She had seen it close up. It was eerie. No shine, dull, dark. It was like his right eye died. Kinda gross, but kinda cool too. Yuri asked him how he lost it.

                                         "When the bridge collapsed, and I tried to get to Yuri, some metal fell from above. You can imagine what happened after I looked up." he told her. Now that's bad. she thought, wishing she hadn't asked.

                                          The next day, when Yuri woke up and pulled her uniform on, she had noticed Keisuke was gone. He had left. Ichihari said, "He'll be out of here as soon as he comes." Yuri must have looked defeated, because Ichihari offered to show her where Keisuke was at a very safe distance and she was not to leave his side or let go of his hand for an instant. "Jeez, how old do you think I am?" Yuri said coldly, pulling her boots on.

                                            As Ichihari promised, he picked her up after school and drove her to the slum of her urban town. As soon as they stepped from the car, Ichihari's fingers were locked around Yuri's. He led her to a wall and climbed up, then hoisted her up. Carefully, like a cat, he led her farther down the wall and finally sat down. He pointed. "See that alley? That's like the Red Light District. Every single girl you see is either a Madame or she works in the brothel. We call the brothel workers 'Girls'." he explained.

                                             He pointed to the next one over. "That's the main PandorE alley. There are smaller ones, but many people use this one for quality." Ichihari said. "I see Mamoru-kun!" Yuri said, squinting. Indeed, Mamoru was nearby, holding a vial of the red liquid up and holding his hand out. The person he was speaking to paid him and Mamoru handed over the vial. Whoa. I just saw a drug dealership. she thought nervously. 

                                              And so it went on, Ichihari naming the alleys they could see from the wall. "This here wall we're sitting on is known as Hell's Gate. If you look behind you, you see the area where you live, right? The good part of town. Look ahead and you see the ghetto, the slum. This wall is what keeps little misses like you and innocent people from seeing, basically, Hell. Hence the name Hell's Gate." Ichihari said. 

                                              "You can't see PandorA, because that's underground. I'm not taking you underground. That'd be insane. Anyway, let's go home." he said, grabbing her hand and taking her back.

                                               

                                               She walked lightly, her footsteps ringing throughout what appeared to be a subway tunnel. However, this was just one hall of PandorA. Her voice was high and melodic, perhaps even sweet, if not accompanied by the sloshing of the contents in the three bags she carried (one in one hand and two in the other) and the sound of her footsteps. She sang the song over and over. Only she had used different lyrics. In the dimness of the hall, red stains seeping from the bag, she sang eerily.

                           "Baa Baa Black Sheep, have you any kills?

                                     Yes sir, yes sir, three bags filled.

                                     One for my master, one that was hung,

                                     One for the mouth out of which this was sung.

                                     Baa Baa Black Sheep, have you any kills?

                                     Yes sir, yes sir, three bags filled."

                                       

Volume One::5 "Myrmidon"

                                                                 Chapter 5

                                Yuri walked down the school steps slowly. Apparently, there are Gods. Whaddya know? That's not weird at all. Ichihari honked from his car. It struck Yuri just then that Ichihari looked not a day over seventeen. Appropriately, his bumper sticker read: How am I driving? Yuri quickly walked over to Ichihari. "Hey, are you all right? I saw those Sweepers." she whispered as he opened the door for her. "Psh. Sweepers will believe anything if you act scared. Remember that. Just get a little tremble-ey and they'll believe you. They think you're on a plane to Hawaii." Ichihari answered, cracking up. 

                                Hawaii, eh? I wouldn't mind being there. She looked around, then leaned closer to Ichihari. "There's a Seller in my class. By his title, I'm guessing he's a drug seller." she said. "You have a Seller in your class? Not surprising. I wouldn't be surprised if one out of fifty of these students were Sellers." he said. "Anyway, why bring that up?" 

                                 Yuri told him about PandorA, the God, "Requiem" and his birth mother. Ichihari whistled. "Ryuji won't be happy to hear that." he said. "Why do they call him Requiem?" Yuri asked. "Simple. Every time he makes a kill, he sings for them."

                                 Once back at Ichihari's atelier, Yuri was alone. Ichihari had dumped his keys into a random dumpster, leading Yuri to believe it was stolen. Before he locked himself away into his otaku-zone room, he had left Yuri with a haunting comment. "You look like her, you know. I can tell just by your figure and the contours of your chin and cheeks." Yuri wondered if he meant Yiru. 

                                  Yiru. . .The Sweeper had called that name the day after Yuri's fateful encounter with him. Everyone seemed to have known Yiru, and it was unnerving. Keisuke had even called the name with slight affection. Yuri shivered. She wished she could ask Keisuke, but he was gone now.

                                  If you ever need me, call me. he had said. Yuri looked down to her phone. Swallowing, she picked it up and flipped it open. She vacillated, her thumb inches from pressing 'Send'. "Ugh, forget it." she snapped, crossing her arms angrily.

                                  Keisuke sat high up on a wall, watching the sun set. Down below, the crowded alleys were filled with noise, erupting in horror-streaked screams and dealings for the drugs they sold. Hearing those screams was like hearing a car pass by. They lasted only a second, then they faded slowly, and it was one of the most normal things in the world. 

                                  He was tired. That's why he hated this place. Every time he saw the winding, tortuous alleys, he felt drained. When he managed to man up a little and walk through them, he was approached by PandorE Sellers, men wanting to hire a hitman, Sweepers for hire, basically anything found in a Black Market. Any vermin you could find, any lesser of society, any diseases on mankind itself would be found in this drug hole.  

                                   Because of the clouds, he could hardly see the orange sky. The clouds, however, were stained purple and orange, pink and red. Then, the last bit of sun was covered up, and it was like the colour on the clouds just dripped off. Soon everything was gray and dark, as usual. A snowflake drifted down. As if that snowflake encouraged the rest of them, it began snowing. Keisuke looked up, seeing bright specks of white fall from the dark, melancholy gray.

                                    Just a day later, Keisuke showed up at Ichihari's apartment. Yuri had glanced out the window and saw Keisuke looking kinda like a lost cat. A really bright, bright red cat, that is. Yuri had always wanted red hair. . .She snapped back to reality and called to Ichihari, "U-Um, excuse me, Keisuke's outside!" Ichihari glanced at from his work, looking exhausted. He stood up and opened he door, then walked out, closing the door. Yuri glanced at his computer. There were a katrillion freaking numbers. She had no idea what they were. Cheats to a game, maybe? 

                                    She didn't have time to wonder though, because then Keisuke and Ichihari walked in. She stood up and trotted over to Keisuke. He rubbed her hair, taking his jacket off. "So, tell me what we got." he said to Ichihari. Ichihari led Keisuke to his computer and showed the screen. Keisuke looked thoughtful.

                                    "Yea, I have no idea what this means." he said a moment later. Yuri tried to hide her grin. Ichihari let out an exasperated sigh. He sat down and typed away, adding to the numbers. Suddenly, a new number popped up, and it was only noticeable because the other numbers were yellow. This number was blue. "I cracked it. All the information they have on Ninomiya is gone. Her birth date, blood type, skin colour. Everything." he said. "And how much time will that give us?" Keisuke asked. " 'Bout a day." Ichihari said, pushing his chair back. He rode on his chair into his room, and the door shut. Keisuke raised an eyebrow, but then he turned to Yuri. "Hey." he said simply.

                                     "Hello." she replied, blinking. Keisuke laughed, then sat down by her. "Man, it's cold." he muttered, closing his eyes. Yuri noticed he looked drained. She stood up, motioning for him to wait. Keisuke raised his eyebrow again. She returned a second later, throwing a blanket on him. Almost drowning in it, Keisuke pushed it down to his waist, blinking in sudden surprise. "Wha?" he managed, looking to her. Yuri only sat down by him, adjusted the blanket so it was shared between the both of them, and no one was "drowning". "Hey, don't tell me you missed me. How cute~," he cooed, pulling her cheeks. She angrily turned her head to the side. "And now you're mute?" he asked. "W-Well, there's something I want to ask. . ." she said reluctantly. "Ask away. I can't guarantee I'll answer it."

                                      "Did you know Yiru?" she asked. Keisuke stared ahead of him, looking thoughtful once more. "Hmm. No." he said. Liar. "You called her name." Yuri said. Keisuke looked the other way. "Ichihari knows her too. How do you know her?" she said, her voice cold. "No lies?" he said. "No lies." she agreed, nodding. "I used to date your Yiru. I met her while ditching a job. I was no myrmidon." he said. Yuri didn't show it, but she was shocked.So, Keisuke's the boyfriend? No matter how hard me and Dad tried, we couldn't find the rumoured guy. Now he's right in front of me. "You were there when she died, right?" she asked. "Yea." he said flatly. "She fell."

Volume One::4 "Requiem"

                                                                 Chapter 4     

                      Yuri was tugging nervously at her hair. Keisuke and Ichihari were in the next room, most likely discussing her.

                      Just as she stood up, Keisuke came out and shut the door silently. "Hey." he said simply, looking annoyed. "G-Good afternoon." she stammered, nodding. Keisuke walked over to her, sighing, then he pulled out a vial of some red liquid. PandorE. He kneeled in front of her, so his face was level with her collarbone. He looked up at her.

                      "You know what this is, don't you?" he asked. "Yes. . ." Yuri said worriedly. "You need to act like nothing has happened. You need to go to school. If you don't, the police will get involved. If the police are involved, my boss's name will be made public. And if his name is made public, a lot of innocent people are going to die." Keisuke said. "What does that have to do with PandorE?" she asked. "I'm getting to that."

                       "So, if you go to school, you're in danger. Ichihari will drop you off, then wait all day to pick you up. This is stupid, because then he'll lead Sweepers straight to his house, but he insists. Ichihari is powerful, so I'm sure he can handle whatever the Sweepers throw at him anyway." Keisuke said. ". . .But in case Ichihari fails, and you're captured," he said. Yuri's heart throbbed. Keisuke was silent, then he went on. "If you're captured, drink this. It's enough of a dosage to kill an elephant. You'll be dead in no time, and it won't hurt. I'd rather you die painlessly than have your organs ripped out." he finished. Yuri was silent.

                        "Thanks, I guess?" she muttered. "Can't you just come with me?" she pleaded. Keisuke stood up, shaking his head. "I'm going away for a few weeks. I'm going to try to stop this contract between your father and my boss. If I succeed, you won't have to worry ever again." he said. Yuri stood up, grabbing Keisuke's shirt. "Then just take me with you." she said. "Where I'm going? Pfft! It's even more dangerous there." he said, removing her hand. "I don't care. You'll be there!" Yuri wailed. "Look, I can't, I'd be putting you in dange—" he started, before a choked sob from Yuri interrupted him. 

                          She grabbed his shirt again, only gripping it as if she were going to fall. He stopped, startled. Yuri moved closer, burying her face in his chest. "I'm scared, Keisuke-kun! Please, don't leave me. I'm scared." she begged, crying. Keisuke opened his mouth, helplessly, then closed it. Again, he removed her hands, but he held onto them. "Yuri, don't be scared. Ichihari will protect you with his life. I'll come back." he said, smoothing her hair down again. She was silent.

                          "Promise?" she managed. Keisuke grinned, raising an eyebrow. "Sure. Yea, okay. I promise." he said. How convincing. Yuri thought. He patted her head, and said, "You're cute, and you're pretty feisty for being so shy." Yuri's face flushed deep red. "Point being: I'm sure someone at your school must have noticed you." Keisuke winked. "And they could be a good guy." With that, he left the room. 

                          

                            "I feel like a dad." Ichihari murmured giddily. Yuri got out of his car, rolling her eyes. "Thanks, Dad." she said, waving. Ichihari smiled, then said, "I'll be at this same exact spot. If something's wrong, call me." he said. Yuri nodded, then shut the car door. School has never looked so good. Yuri trotted inside, snow crunching under her feet.                  

                             Yuri stepped inside the classroom, nervously shuffling to her desk. 'Someone at school must have noticed you. They could be a good guy.' Yuri thought about that, wondering where exactly Keisuke went. Yuri looked out the window, her usual habit, and screamed. 

                              She had seen Ichihari down below, but Tomoki and Mari were facing him, aiming a gun. Ichihari pointed them in the opposite direction, talking frantically. Ichihari-san! "Ninomiya-san? What's wrong?" someone asked from behind her. She whirled, startled. An unfamiliar boy stood in front of her, straining to look out the window. Yuri stood up, blocking his view. She wondered why she did that, but she grabbed the boy's shoulders, thinking fast. "A—A bird just ran into the window. It startled me, that's all." she said, trying not to pant. "O-Oh, I see." he said, raising an eyebrow.

                               He tried looking around her and out the window, but Yuri pushed her face into his. "Y-You look familiar." she said, praying for Ichihari. He brightened. "My name is Mamoru Hiroshi." he said. "Ninomiya Yuri, nice to meet you." she said, shaking his hand. She glanced out the window and saw Tomoki and Mari were gone, Ichihari sitting on his car hood typing on a laptop. Sighing with relief, she timidly released Mamoru's hand. He looked out the window as well, and seeing nothing suspicious, he returned his attention to her. 

                                "S-So, anyway. . ." Yuri said, hoping he'd get the hint to leave. He stayed put, then leaned over. His smile broadened. "You smell of PandorE." he said. Yuri's eyes widened, and she stepped back, shocked. "I'm a Seller." he said, as if this cleared everything up. "S-Seller?" she wondered. "I sell PandorE and other drugs. I basically work for a black market type business." he said. And you just tell me? "Good for you." Yuri said a little coldly, looking for an escape. "Hey, don't be scared. Tell me how a girl like you came upon PandorE." he said. "A girl like me? What's that supposed to mean?!" she hissed.

                                He didn't answer. Instead, he waited patiently for her explanation. She told him. "Harsh." was all he said. He was silent for a minute. "How did you survive for so long?" he asked. ". . .I was helped." she said simply. "Who helped you?" he went on. "None of your business, that's who." she snapped. ". . .Not a nice thing to say." he said, frowning. 'They could be a good guy.' Again, that sentence. Hesitantly, she said, "Ever heard the name Keisuke?" 

                                 Mamoru's hand slammed onto Yuri's mouth. He looked stunned. "Don't say that name aloud. People would kill you for information on Requiem." he whispered. "Requiem? Is that what you call him? How. . .cheezy." Yuri said. Mamoru opened his mouth, then closed it angrily. "Look, that's what everyone calls him. But never say his name aloud. It's rumoured that, if you do, PandorA will come after you." he said. "PandorA?" Yuri asked.

                                  "PandorA is the company for which Requiem works. Kinda like a big mafia company. PandorA owns over a third of the PandorE supply, and controls all of the trade and selling of Black Markets. If PandorA revealed itself to the public, it would be the most powerful and wealthiest company in Japan. Maybe even in America." Mamoru said matter-of-factly. "W-Whoa. . ." Yuri managed, stunned. Keisuke works for that hellhole? He kills for that place? 

                                   Mamoru had one more thing on his mind to tell Yuri. "I want to help you, anyway. I've watched you before and you're nice, and I don't want a nice girl like you to die for a cruddy organ donation." Mamoru said bitterly. "Yea, donation." Yuri said sarcastically. "E-Er, anyway, one of the main reasons PandorA is so powerful is. . .well, you won't believe me, but here goes:

                                    There are Gods. Gods are everywhere. There could be one in this classroom, in the next one. PandorA has captured one of these Gods. She uses the power of, believe it or not, Creation. She sews the fabric of matter and all together, and she creates things. With her, PandorA has an unlimited supply of PandorE. Why am I telling you this? Well, that thing, that so called God, is Requiem's birth mother."