1.Strawberry Sundae

Anime: Devil May Cry
Title: Strawberry Sundae
Rating: G
Pairing/Character(s): DantexJade
Warning(s): Collection of OC drabbles with my Dante.... yes, he's MINE!!!! >.< Summary: The first time he met her...
A/N: Watched the first episode of Devil May Cry and I was like, WTF?! Dante likes Strawberry Sundae??!! But I wonder.. what has this gotta do with my drabble?
_____________________________________________________________________

The first time he met her, he had been given a mission to rid a church of a demon that was killing anyone that dared enter the premises. Surprising how everyone seemed to think that Holy Ground could keep demons at bay.... It totally proved that theory wrong.

Dante had burst into the church, only to find this huntress... this girl.... with Asian features, startling green eyes and long black hair, engaged in battle with it. The amount of concentration on her face was akin to his, and her eyes.... held an iciness that no girl as young as her should have had. How long had he stared at her, surprise on his face, when her voice cut through his thoughts.

"Hey, how long are you gonna stand there? Are you gonna help me or what?"

The demon took a swipe at her, and she leapt back, the crack of a whip filling the air as she lashed out at the demon. Dante grabbed his guns and began firing off rounds, making short work of the creature in no time.

Blood sprayed through the air, the last echoing howls of pain fading as the girl landed gracefully on the ground, the unusually long tail of her whip falling around her in a circle. Dante turned as she stood and began coiling up her weapon. "Silver hair.... icy blue eyes. You must be Dante, the Son of Sparda."

"I definitely am," Dante said, intrest written all over his face. Not many knew that he was a son of Sparda... the Black Knight that had turned against his own... but obviously, this intriguing female knew. She shook her hair back, brushing black bangs away, from her face, and he caught a small wing-like tattoo on the lower corner underneath her right eye. "Wait... I've seen that mark somewhere before..."

"The daughter of Mariya, head of the Kamaitachi clan." The girl said, a small smile curving her features. "And now... Son of Sparda... if you don't mind, I'm taking my leave."

Clearly Asian or half... and the name Kamaitachi rang a bell. But she gave off an aura that matched his. "Wait." Dante turned around.

"Yes?"

"Do you like Strawberry Sundae? My treat."

Beloved Always

A/N: I'm not a Leon basher. Seriously, I love Leon, not hate him. I don't mean to treat him so miserably in this fic, but think about his little girl Fana. Yeah, got the name off the booklet that came with the second DVD. She was about six when Leon was thrown into prison, so she must understand that her father "killed" her mother. I would resent him as well if I was in Fana's shoes. It's not easy to forgive someone, you know....

So, here's some Leon bashing..... and just for fun, let's twist things up a bit! Lol, also based on a day at school for me, so this is gonna be a bit wierd. Anyway, I warned you, so don't read it if you don't want to. >=)

Gomen neeeeeee, Leon-sannnnn!!!!!!!!!!! T__T
___________________________________________________________________

"Johanna, wake up."

"Geex, the alarm hasn't even gone off yet..." Johanna groaned and sat up, blinking sleepily at Anais. The blonde girl put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow. "Actually, the alarm did go off.... ten minutes ago. I had to endure "What Goes Around" twice. Not a song I'd like to hear first thing in the morning, unless I'm an emo like you."

"I'm not emo." Johanna yawned and stretched. "Get out of my room, Ana. Let me change in peace."

"Whatever." Anais rolled her eyes and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Left alone, the ebony haired teen scratched her head and turned on the radio, cranking the volume up a bit as Linkin Park's "What I've Done" came on. Active and slim, 17 year old (AN: i think she's 17... I am...) Johanna was lithe, an aura of mischeviousness and strength always around her. A student of the Albion University, she was a clever and quick-witted girl, scrapping through her exams most of the time. What no one knew.... was that she was part of a group speciallizing in Lost Technology, and was a capable hacker. (AN: Ahem *cough cough* ahem...)

The Vatican had somehow caught wind on this and had dispatched two agents to keep an eye on her and Anias, so they could get information.But the two girls were intelligent, and were careful in their actions. However, it left Johanna in an irritable mood.

Because one of the agents staying at their quaint little house was Leon Garcia de Asturias, her father.

And Johanna did not want to admit that he was. After all, he caused the death of her mother.

Coming out of the shower, dressed in a red and white top with long black trek pants, Johanna towelled off her hair and grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder before tying her long hair into a ponytail. "Hey, Ana!" she called out as she ran down the stairs. "Have you seen my Mp3 anywhere? I can't leave without it because I promised Derek I'd bring it with me today..." her voice trailed off when she saw Hugue and Leon sitting at the table.

Anais immedieately saw the danger sign and waved a spatula at her. "You left it next to the computer last night," she said pointedly. "If you search around, it might be there. And don't run out of the house like you did yesterday. It's not going to help if your stomach keeps on growling like a tiger."

Johanna was almost out of the kitchen when Anais stopped her, and sighed grumpily in defeat. "Yes, mom." The slight mocking tone caused Anais's eyebrow to twitch slightly, but she didn't say anything and returned to making scrambled eggs instead. Leon looked at Johanna. "Good morning, Fa... Johanna," he said quietly.

A scowl appeared on Johanna's face and she just turned away without replying vanishing with a swish of her hair. Leon's face contorted in pain. Across the table, Hugue reached over and gave his hand a single squeeze. "Give it time, Leon. You can't expect her to overcome her shock that easily."

"Ten years..." Leon's voice was full of anguish. "Ten years without being there for her. I... don't know what to do anymore. I knew she wouldn't forgive me easily, and yet...."

"Well, you're quite right about that." Anais came over and set their breakfast in front of them. "Johanna hold grudges for a long, long time. Jo!!! Breakfast!!"

"Bring it out here, would you, Ana?" Johanna called back. "It's cooler in here."

"Are you listening to music again?" Anais said in exasperation. "What is it? Hamasaki Ayumi? Oh boy...... When will you ever stop?"

"Mada mada da ne..." Johanna grinned, her ears plugged with her Mp3. "This is what I do best."

"I bet..." Anais snorted and gave her her plate. "Get eating or you'll be late."
___________________________________________________________________

Derek was waiting for Johanna by the University Gates, leaning against the wall and ignoring all the glances girls were shooting at him. Spotting the girl from afar, he straightened and smiled. "Hey, Jo!"

"Derek!" Johanna called, grinning breathlessly. "Hey, waited long?"

"Not really." Derek slipped an arm around her waist just as her hand went to grasp his shoulder. Scandalized gasps of girls went up around them, followed soon after by jealous growls, whines and whispered statements, but the two barely even looked up. "Ready for today's match, girl?"

"Always ready." Johanna flashed him a smile and slipped him her Mp3 under the pretext of giving him a kiss. "Track 16."

"Got it." Derek nodded and released her. "Hey, meet you at the field, okay?"

"Okay." Johanna watched him go.

Vampires' Lust

A/N: Just a little story I've been thinking of for quite a while. I don't know how good is it, cause I made it up myself. Okay, here's what I have in mind:

Do you belive in the Magickal? Well, you better believe it. For centuries, Witches, Werewolves, Vampires and the like have been hiding among society, posing as normal Humans. Meet Solene D'Cruz, 21, Witch extrodinaire. Her best friend is a Clairvoyant, her ex-boyfriend is a Were (and they are the Alphas of their pack), and she's a Shapeshifter, a Witch rare enough to be born once in a few centuries. Now a Vampire has set his sights on her, and will stop at nothing to have her. The question is... Is it for love... or power?

I haven't really figured out how I'm going to sart this because my mind's all jumbled up, but here's a thought I had in mind, told in Solene's POV.....
___________________________________________________________________

The moon was full that night, and dimly, I heard the faint howls of wolves in the forest behind my house. I sat on the porch in nothing but a robe, sipping at a mug of hot chocolate and blew a black lock out of my eye. The pack's party had started full blast and probably wouldn't stop until sunrise. Should I be out there? I wondered. It's been months since I ran with them...

"Love? Aren't you coming with me?"

I smelt rather than heard Leon come in, and turned slightly. He was bigger than the average human now, with shaggy fur, wicked claws, sharp teeth and the head of a large wolf. Typical Were. His voice had also turned low, growling, dropping an octave lower than it usually was. I smiled at him. "I broke up with you, remember? Anyway, I don't know if the pack will run with me again... It's been so long since I left."

"The fact still remains that you're the Alpha female, Solene. " Leon padded out to sit beside me and the smell of dog intensified. I wrinkled my nose. "Take a bath, Leon."

"I can't help it if I smell like a dog!" Leon exclaimed, pretending to be wounded. "It's just my fur when I Were!"

"Then I'll drag you to the bathroom and bath you now, you mangy cur," I teased. "You don't mind cat shampoo, don't you?"

Leon's tail thumped on the wooden porch in annoyance, and he sighed, growling a bit. "You sure you don't want to come? The pups miss you."

My eyes narrowed. "Please don't tell me some Humans got bitten."

"Never, love... just join us. One Moon." His yellow eyes looked imploringly at me. "Please."

Sighing, I reached out and took his muzzle in my hands, making his ears twitch. "It's over between us. My days running with the pack are over. I'm sorry."

Leon's ears drooped and he stood. "We're in the usual spot if you change your mind," he said softly before leaning down and snuffing a little in my ear as a goodbye gesture. I just sat there and resumed drinking my chocolate as he left.

A soft wind rustled through the trees and I looked ap at the star-studded sky. Shifting was painful, and I usually Shifted only when I had too. When I was still in school, I remembered how often I'd Shifted to get out of trouble, untill my bone-weary teachers called in my parents. Needless to say, they weren't very happy about me misusing my abilities.

I'd sobered enough when they gave me a talk and admitted that I was a rare Witch. A Shifter only born once in a few centuries, possessing extraodinary skills and abilities. I learned the truth about my abilities that night, and I'd vowed never to misuse them again.

It didn't stop me from falling in love with Leon and making a Pack, though. I wasn't worried. Were's don't usually make Witches concieve. It was a one in a million shot. A tingle rushed up my neck and I froze, stiffening. "Alexandru."

A man with long black hair and ice blue eyes sauntered out of the shadows. Alexandru Dragos was Romanion, tall, seductive and always in dark clothes. Even as I stared at him with narrowed eyes, a spell on the tip of my tounge, I felt him nudge my mind gently, telling me to calm down. Yeah, right. Like I would. "Go away, Alex. I'm not in the mood to let you have my blood today."

Alex silently glided over to kneel behind me, brushing my neck with his lips. "I'm not here to taste your sweet blood today, my dear. I've already sated myself. I'm here to tell you to run with the pack."

I whirled around to face him in disbelief. "You bastard! How long have you been standing there in my house?"

Alex shrugged. "Since sundown. And remember, draga... you promised me your blood in exchange for you friend's."

I stared at him, suprise and anger cascading over me. "Get out of my house..." He had been standing in my house for a few hours and I had never noticed! How could that happen??!! Standing, I pointed a shaking finger towards him. "Genitus!"

"A projecta!" Alex threw up his own defense as I banished him. Faster than the eye clould blink, an invisible wall was between us, lightly tinged with blue. Damn, he shielded with water. "There's no use trying those Latin words on me, Witch." He said smoothly. " I've been alive for centuries, and my abilities at controlling Magick are better than your untamed ones. Haven't they taught you anything, or are you just plain childish?"

I stared mutely at his spell, my eyes suddenly begining to tear up. There was no mistaking the faint disgust in his voice. "Just go away, Alex... Leave me alone...."

The vampire's shoulders slumped slightly with the realization that my feelings were hurt, and he dropped the spell. "I'm sorry, draga... I shouldn't have..." His arms went around me comfortingly, but I didn't return his hug and neither did I push him away. "Acesta este meu greseala.... I durete tu..."

"You know I don't understand Romanion, Alex.." I whispered miserably, furiously blinking back my tears as I breathed in his scent from his cardigan. I couldn't let him see my tears. "You can have my blood... I don't care now..."

"Nu, draga..." Alex breathed against my hair. "I told myself I wouldn't take your blood often. Do you still want me to leave?"

His arms tightened slightly and I shook my head, suddenly unwilling to let him go. "No. Stay."

"Then I won't." Alex released me. "Run with the Pack, Solene. Stretch your legs. Howl to the moon. Run as fast as you can with the wind in your face. Trust me, it'll make you feel better. I'd forgotten how easily your feelings can be wounded."

Howls rose from the forest behind me, one of them rising above the rest, and I regconized Leon's cadence. Turning away from Alex, I hesitated. "I hate you, Alexandru Dragos. And you'd better not touch my cat while I'm gone."

"Believe me, my Solene, I'll be watching and waiting while you run." Alex made a mocking bow.

"I'm not your Solene," I protested as my face flamed. Turning my back to him, I began the painfull process of Shifting into a Wolf. The howls got louder and lifting my head, I howled in return. It was done. I shook myself free of my robe as Leon's answering howl, surprised and eager, filled my head.

The Alpha calls. His female must answer.

I ran into the forest.

MGS Ghosts

A/N: Well, since I'm in the mood for ghosts and whatever else, I thought I might put down some true stories me and a few bunch of friends had.
_____________________________________________________________________

The Ghosts of Methodist Girls School, Klang

Our school, also known as MGS Klang, was used once before to harbor wounded Japanese soilders during the Japanese occupation in Malaysia. At least that's what all the teachers tell us. The Primary School was the place where they kept the wounded, and the Secondary school where the soilders stayed.

Our school, like other Missonary Schools were runned by nuns, though that time is over now. And lots of stuff happened during the Japanese Occupation.

Starvation, sickness, extreme injuries and suicide were common at that time, and the nuns buried the dead right in our school field. Behind the Primary school is a little garden where we as little kids liked to dare each other to go for fun. There's a grave there, though the words are faded, and it's still there to this day (Me and two other good friends went to take a look at it again to spook ourselves) . There's also a jambu, banana and plam tree, where it's fabled to have a penunggu/pontianak and langsuir (watchman/vampires). None of us know how true is that, but we never stick around to see for ourselves, especially at 7:00pm!

The corridor behind my ex-class connects to the Primary School classes, and it's shady and dark, perfect for a horror movie setting, my friend once said. My ex-class however, has tiny baby-feet imprints that appear in the middle of the class, and go all around it (the middle only), with no sign of the tracks going in or going out. According to the old gardener the school has, that corridor behind our class was a place where young girls that were raped by the Japanese used to hang themselves... and some of them were pregnant too! That accounts for the small footprints in our class.

I was witness to a possession as well. It happened when I was in Std. 5, (nine years old at that time), and the girl who was possessed was in Std. 3. She was in class, when out of the blue, she started screaming hysterically and yelling in another language. Everyone was scared, and though the teachers tried to restrain her to a pole, she flung them off easily, all the while shouting stuff in Japanese. They finally had to call her parents and a bomoh (witch doctor) to help her.

Could it have been the spirit of a Japanese soilder disturbed? (shivers)

There are other stories of spirits going around the third block, which is rather deserted, and more than one girl who stayed back for camp ran into a woman dressed in white in our school toilets at night. Then there's the popular story about the piano in the hall playing on it's own, and figures walking the corridors.....

I've never experienced this first-hand (Except for the possession part and the grave thingy), but these came from workers that have been working at the school for more than 30 years. To believe or not to believe, that's the question. As for me... I believe it.

Sleeping Issues

"Leon, stop hogging my side of the bed..." Stephanie Summers grumbled drowsily as the body next to her rolled over, almost squashing her in the process.

"I am not..." Leon Garcia de Asturias's sleepy voice muttered from somewhere behind her head. "I'm sleeping..."

Stephanie sat up, for what seemed the hundreth time that night, and looked down at Leon, who had taken up more than his side of the bed. "I never knew you were such a bad sleeping partner." She pushed him back over, where he gave a dissatisfied grunt and took her pillow instead.

Stephanie threw up her hands in exasperation before getting up quietly and left her room, making sure to grab a robe to keep warm.

Earlier on, Leon had showed up at her front doorstep, looking like he had just fallen down three mountains. He had grinned and said that his new make-over was courtesy of a few vamps he ran into on his latest mission, and now he was so... so... tired, so could he spend the night here instead and return to the Vatican tomorrow.

Stephanie had taken one look at his cuts and bruises and ordered him into the kitchen.

That was before she'd figured out that he was a bed-hogger.
___________________________________________________________________

"Ow!! Now that hurts, sweetheart!"

"Well, I'm not the best doctor you've ever met.. And neither am I a doctor either, so this is the best I can do. Hold still and I'll try not to make it hurt."

Leon grinned. "Love, you make the best doctor in the world. I couldn't ask for more."

Stephanie paused in the act of dabbing his cuts and smiled faintly. "Thank you, Leon... Let's continue, shall we?"

"Ow!! Careful there, love!"

"Oops...... sorry.. hehehehe....."

"Heh. So, how's life at the cafe? Ow!!"

"Ahhhh!! Sorry!!!"

With that, the the evening passed with painful exclamations, sarcastic remarks, and words of love.
___________________________________________________________________

Stephanie ran a hand through her messy hair as she sat at her dining table, sipping a hot mug of milk. Was she really dreaming of leaving Leon alone in bed like that? Maybe she had been a little selfish... Stephanie had never really shared a bed before, and this was probably her second or third time, so she should learn how to give.

Sighing, she drained her mug of milk and left it in the sink. This whole house, big as it may be, was hers and hers alone. Memories happened here, good and bad, and she didn't- no- couldn't forget them. And upstairs, in that little barred room.... her darkest memory was recorded there...

All alone, with no one for her now....

Poor child.... first her mother, then her father....

Alone.... in that house....

She's always alone...

No one... alone...

Alone...

Alone......

"No... shut up.... go away...." Stephanie leaned on the sink, balling her hands into fists as she shut out the voices of her demons. She wouldn't give in to them, not now.

Taking a deep breath, she turned around and walked up the stairs to her room, opening the door quietly to see that Leon had indeed taken her space again. Eyebrow twitching, she pushed him aside and got into bed, earning a groan from him.

"I wish you would stop doing that, love..." Leon mumbled drowsily.

"And I wish you would stop taking my side of the bed," Stephanie grumbled yet again, turning on her side. She had just managed to fall asleep when true enough, she felt him press up against her back again.

Sighing, she gave up and turned, fitting herself into his curves, melting her body to his so she was comfortable. In an answer, Leon 's arm went around her waist and he too, shifted so they were both comfortable.

"Mmmmmm...." he murmured from somewhere above her head, his chest vibrating. "That's better...."

Stephanie laughed quietly. "You sneaky little cheat.. you've been waiting to do that all night, haven't you?"

Leon chuckled sleepily. "Maybe... Good night, love.... I love you..."

"Night, my dear Leon.... I love you too..."

Within minutes, they were both sound asleep.

Slumber of the Shinigami

She lay unmoving in a glade full of Sakura tees, with floating pink petals falling down to surround her. Her eyes were closed, her black hair strewn about her shoulders, and her expression one of peace. Her skin was pale porcelain, cold to the touch, without any signs of life. Clad in white, the young maiden slept on in an eternal sleep, her chest barely moving, no sound of breathing to indicate that she was alive. But she was. Not in this world maybe, but she was.

With her hands folded neatly across her breast she lay, a cold sword next to her. This was a place where dawn's light could never penetrate, yet the dark Sakura glade was lit with an unearthly, mystical light, that cast a glow on the maiden's face, taking her to an etheral realm. A soft wind blew through the trees, rustling their branches and causing more petals to drop on her, but still, she never moved, never stirred, not as much as a finger.

She was safe here. Very and extremely safe. Her soul being pure, here she slept peacefully, waiting to be reborn, waiting to join the ranks of those she knew and loved, to live forever more immortal as one of them. One of them.... one of those whose duty was to protect the Living. But the maiden would not stir, would not move... till the one she loved returned for her.

"Sayonara, my sweet...
He now comes, She now comes...
To bring you to join the Thirteen
May your Blade ever stay true, O Immortal ones..."

The wind and nature sang a quiet psalm to calm her soul, a lullaby to prepare her for what she would go through. And she was calm. Even in everlasting sleep, she was calm, but she refused to be reborn, till "he" was by her side again.

A sudden stirring of the branches rang out a gentle warning. "Intruder.... disturb not the sleep of the Angel.... Leave.... leave now...." they murmured.

At the edge of the clearing, a woman stood in faithful vigillance, watching over her beloved as she slept, not daring to come close lest the peace be broken. She would wait... she would wait.... till the maiden was ready to wake up and return to those she loved.

"Sayonara, my sweet....
Sleep till the heavens meet...
The Soul Reaper will bring you over....
To live as one of them for now till forever...."

And the maiden slept peacefully............

Ghost Hunt (Part 1)

Ghost Hunt

"Ooh... there, see that?" Esther excitedly pointed at the screen. "That's a spirit floating down the corridor! The man said it was the spirit of his deceased mother coming to protect her grandchild!"

Abel shivered. "Ano... why ARE we watching this, anyway...?"

"Becuase it's fun!" Esther said happily. "Come on, Father! We rarely ever get a holiday, and this is the best oppurtunity to have some fun!"

"It really doesn't seem fun..." William chuckled softly to himself. It was night and raining heavily outside while on the inside, a group of Vatican agents watched tapes of ghost documentaries Esther had pulled out of nowhere. It seemed that the red-haired nun loved getting a good scare. Poor Abel was terrified, and Solene was hugging Leon tightly, and was hiding her face in either his arm or chest while whimpering, "Don't let me see it... Don't let me see it... Oh, please don't let me see it...", but the Hispanic wasn't complaning, and had a smug grin etched on his face instead. "But these documentaries really are intriguing," William continued. "Real ghosts of Albion... Interesting... How long have they been there, I wonder? They're all around us, yet we never notice."

At that, Abel whimpered and hid while Solene let out a wail and hid her face in Leon's shoulder, trembling. Leon laughed and patted her back. "Oh, don't worry, sweetheart... They won't disturb you since we're children of God." Esther clapped her hands gaily. "Ah! I wish I could meet ghosts one day!"

"No, please stop, Esther..."Abel moaned. "That would be terrifying..."

"Father!" Esther coecred. "There's nothing to be scared of! It's just-"

There was a sudden clap of thunder and lightning lit up the darknened room, illuminating a dark figure with glowing red eyes that wasn't there a minute before. "AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Everyone freaked out and screamed, including William and Leon.
___________________________________________________________________

"Why me? Why, why me?" Solene moaned as she trudged beside Tres to the railway station. "Of all people, why me?"

(Flashback)

"AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" Everyone screamed to high heavens, Abel dropping to his knees and praying loudly.

"....... Status report?"

"........" Silence for a few seconds. "Huh.... what?"

"Status report. Why are you screaming?" The figure moved forwards, and there stood, Gunslinger, frowning slightly at their actions.

"Oh, Tres!" Esther laughed sheepishly, her heart hammering in her ribcage. "You... You scared us!"

"Yeah, tin-can," Leon growled, trying to keep himself from shaking. "What do you want?" He was holding a trembling Solene to his chest, whispering comforting words in Spanish to her. Tres's gaze landed on him and the android said icily, "Lady Catherina has ordered me to bring Sister D'Cruz to her office right now. She has assigned us a mission."

Solene raised her head. "A mission?" Her voice was small and weak.

"Positive." Tres nooded and looked at her expectantly.

Solene let out a sigh and released Leon whose shoulders drooped. "Alright, I'm coming."
___________________________________________________________________

Catherina looked calm and serious, but she just laughed her holy butt off on the inside as she saw the look on Solene's face when she gave them the mission briefing.

(End of Flashback)

Tres boarded the train and held out a hand to Solene. The Priestess's grip was shaky and slightly weak, very unlike her. "You will have to hasten your speed, Sister D'Cruz," he stated. "The storm will be likely to return in approximately 2 minutes."

"Solene... just call me Solene...." Queen of Heart hauled herself up with his help. "Why do we have to leave now, anyway? It's night, and it's raining... we could have waited until tomorrow..."

"Negative. It's takes at least twelve hours to reach Altoona ((OOC: Alright, let's just say Penslyvania is close.... It's a damn, freaking story, people! Use your imaginations!!!)), and we need to rest and recuperate before we commence on our mission." Tres took her hand and led her to their cabin. They had barely gotten inside before there was a flash of lightning and Solene gave a startled scream as the thunder boomed into her ears. "Solene? Status report?"

"G-Gomen ne.... Gomen nasai, Tres-kun...." Solene dropped to her knees, her hands pressed over her head. "B-But I really don't feel good now... I'm scared.... I only said yes because I... I didn't want to look like a coward in front of Catherina-sama....."

Tres watched her for a second before he closed the door silently, then coaxed her up and made her sit on the cushions. "There's nothing to be afraid of, Solene. Thunder is merely a sound, nothing more than that." He sat on her left so she was between the wall and him. "And if you ever feel afraid, I am always here."

Solene shook her head and pressed against him, leaning her head on his shoulder and curling up. "When I was only eight... I had my first brush with the unexplainable. My drawer pulled open by itself in my room one night, and something shook my bed. I was alone at that time, and I was utterly terrified.... a paralysing fear I've grew up with and carried till now."

The rain came down hard as the train started moving. Solene continued her story while Tres listened, silent as ever, but comforting. "I've always been afraid of ghosts, more then vampires, and more than dying. I cried on that night, curled up in a little ball under the covers, but no one came to help me. I never knew what caused those paranormal activities, but I only knew one thing; it was a ghost, and I didn't like it." The gentle rocking of the train and hypnotizing beat of the rain began lulling her to sleep. "I was afraid... so afraid, but I had no one..." Solene's voice was growing fainter. "I was so.... alone......."

"No, you're not." Tres recalled the words that Abel so often had said to those he helped, pulling them out of his database to comfort the now sleeping girl. "You're not alone. I am your friend. I will always be there for you," He whispered into her ear.
___________________________________________________________________

It was later during the night that Solene gave a violent shudder, bringing Tres out of his standby mode. Looking at her, the android gently brushed the hair away from her pale face. She looked like she was having a nightmare, but he couldn't tell as she buried her face into his robes. Frowning a bit, he wondered if Solene was alright. She had definitely expressed fear and a bit of terror eversince she left the Vatican on the mission, and it was starting to worry him. Even now, her hands were trembling. Was it out of fright? Or was it because she was cold? Tres didn't know and couldn't analyse it without waking her, but the sight of her sleeping was heavenly to him. Her expressionless, serene face with hair falling partially on it.....

His farthest hand reached out to close over hers. Once they made contact, her hands stopped their trembling. Curiously and lovingly, he looked over her delicate fingers and ran a gloved hand over hers, not allowing any exposed skin to escape his gentle roaming. Solene gave a soft moan in her sleep, and her hand moved on it's own, her fingers doing the same as his, brushing across fabric and synthetic skin. It made his shiver slightly, though he knew not why, and he watched their fingers do a dance uncontrolled by their minds. She gave a little sigh, and her fingers found it's way up his sleeve, burying itself in warmth. Yes, she was cold. Cold from the air and the after-effects of fright, Tres could tell. It wasn't as if he had never felt Solene's bare skin before, but every touch made him feel almost... no.... positively human. Her hand searched for the perfect, comfortable, warm spot, brushing against his skin, and he trembled slightly. She was so beautiful... and she was his...

Removing his hand from hers, Tres reached behind her habit and ran his hand through the dark waterfall of her hair, revelling in it's softness and the sweet aroma of shampoo wafting up to his senses before smiling a genuine smile and returning to standby mode.
___________________________________________________________________

Solene woke as warmth heated her cheeks, grumbling a bit before opening her eyes. She had a nightmare during the night, and was just happy to wake up, safe in her room with Tres nearby.... Wait... This wasn't her room... This was...

"Good morning, Solene. Status report?" Tres breathed into her ear.

Solene flushed red to find that her hand was buried warmly up his sleeve, and that during the night she had practically curled up all over his lap. "This isn't a dream, isn't it?" She asked by way of answer as she distangled herself from him. "We're on a mission to go.... ghost hunting."

"Negative." Tres caught her hands, stilling her actions. "Not a ghost hunting mission, but an investigation of an old prison where rumours of a vampire or more were seen in the site, and where people has gone in but never come out." He tilted her face up to face him. "Do not think about it any longer, Solene. What one must be afraid of is fear itself."

Solene relaxed again in his lap, expression thoughtful. "Maybe...Maybe you're right. How long more till we reach Altoona?"

"Three hours, forty minutes and twenty-one seconds."

A fast expression of fear flitted across her face, but it disappeared as soon as it came. "And it's still raining eventhough it's morning? Wonderful.. this has got to be my most enjoyable mission ever. Let's get breakfast, Tres. At least it'll cheer me somewhat and get the ghosts off my mind."
___________________________________________________________________

The trip passed in considerable boredom, and the pair was somewhat relieved to get off the train. Solene gave a weary grumble as she stretched on the platform. "Couldn't we have gotten Sister Kate to transport us in the Iron Maiden instead? She's done it beofre, and we're AX agents, after all."

"Negative. I do not think Sister Kate would consent to that," Tres said. "The Iron Maiden is a battleship, and it isn't made for transportation or travel. Futhermore, it's grounded due to monthly repairs." The android paused to get his bearings, then headed off in the direction of their hotel, his laser eye flashing slightly. "We have approximately two hours and ten minutes left before our mission. It's best that we get some rest and freshen up before commencing."

Solene glanced at the slightly pinkish sky and shuddred slightly, a look of apprehension dawning on her face. "God be with us tonight.... especially me...."
___________________________________________________________________

Back at the Vatican, Leon and Abel were having a row with Catherina. "Catherina-san! This isn't right! Solene has a terror of the unexplained!" Abel swung an arm about. "She may be one of your trusted bodyguards, but even she has some kind of fear in her!"

"Abel," Catherina said slowly. "There is no such things as ghosts. Solene will have to realise that and face her fears."

"Your Eminence, this isn't a laughing matter," Leon suddenly said, causing her to raise her eybrows in surprise. "I've witnessed Solene's terror first hand, felt the shaking that wracked her body, heard her helpless whimpering. She's really terrified. It's not a joke."

Catherina sipped her tea thoughtfully. How the hell did Leon know about me laughing? Did he... no, it must've been his damn intuition at work again... "I understand both of your concern, but it's too late. Tres and Solene would've arrived in Altoona by now, and the next train leaves only tonight. There's no way for the both of you to join them in their mission, except by plane, which I think the both of you won't be able to rent with your limited pay. The Vatican will not fund you for a craft."

Abel looked at Leon. "What are we going to do?"

Leon srcatched his chin for a while, then gave him a feral grin. "Don't you worry, Father Four-Eyes. I think I know what..."
___________________________________________________________________

"Absolutely not!" The hologram of Sister Kate was furious. "You are not using my beloved battleship as a trasport to Altoona!"

"But Kate!" Abel whined. "It's an emergency! Solene and Tres need our help!"

"I hardly think they do." Kate said icily. "Besides, I just got a report from Tres. They've begun the mission and has entered the prison."

"Damn!" Leon swore and ran a hand through his hair. If Solene were next to him, she would frown a little and remind him to mind his language.... though he had heard her swearing and cussing at Gunslinger for waking her up too early before. The thought almost brought a grin to her face, but he sobered immedieately again when he remembered where she was. Real worry swept through him. Strangely, he was getting worked up over her............ "Alright Kate, how about this. You give us both a lift in the Iron Maiden, I persuade the Professor to remove his Christmas Jingles from it's databases. Deal?"

Kate eyes him. "I won't have to listen to "Deck The Halls" a thousand times a day?"

Leon did his best to look innocent. "No."

Kate leaned back, contemplating. "For this one time, I agree... But if I ever hear another "Jingle Bell" before Christmas again... you're dead."

Leon grinned. "You got it, baby."
___________________________________________________________________

((OOC: This is getting too long, so I'm splitting it into parts.))