[R]RP (Masquerade) Modern Day Murder Theme

[Black]

Music for the moment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLk4vdY28Q



Masquerade: N. A: A social gathering of persons wearing masks and often fantastic costumes.
B: A costume for wear at such a gathering.
2: An action or appearance that is mere disguise or show.


Officers David West and Michael Ford raised their eyebrows in unison as they read the Websters dictionary term for the term "Masquerade" a case that had just been plopped onto their desks. "What nut job have we got now," asked Michael, turning to his partner in his small cubicle.

"Another nut job mass murderer with a false sense of justice, and their own agenda with the world, obviously" said David leaning back in his chair, his cigar letting off an acrid smell that made Michael wrinkle his nose in disgust.

"Can't you smoke that outside ass hole?" murmured Michael to himself as he read the case file. A quadrupole homicide while simultaneously saving the life of a would-be homicide/rape scenario. The boys killed belonged to a local Mafiya known as the Khans. Small-time criminals who had pulled off big-time heists and murders. The four brothers were the terror on the streets, known as the Four Riders of the Apocalypse. Religious mambo-jumbo.

It was no rumor that Michael and David were terrible cops, couldn't detect the heat in a room with the thermostat in front of them and a sign stating "LOOK HERE DUMMY!" and it was often that cases like this with psycho nut-jobs got pushed down to their desks while the brass handled the Mafiya and Yakuza.

However it was very rare that they were handed the quadruple homicide that cost a gang four of its most elite psychopaths. The brass obviously didn't want this case solved, the file, like many others, got shut in a drawer over flowing with non-essentials and left there, forgotten.



Or maybe there was another motive for sending it to a place where the file would be completely forgotten. . .



Butch bowed into Alexis Darya's officer in his black-and-white suit, with her dinner tray and a news-paper. He set the newspaper down on her night stand and placed the tray on her lap and then stood by her, but out of sight. "You'll enjoy todays story Miss Darya," stated Butch. He had read the paper all-ready. Front page was the mysterious murder of the Four, and ever more mysterious was the fact that the case was passed down from the brass to two idiots.

The purp had cut the four people down, excellent hit men and extortionists, with just a blade and he did it before any of them could fire off a shot. Heads and gun arms missing from three, and a GI knife sticking out of another. Curious to say the least.





Ripper was standing next to Kaiosuke's bedroom door, standing guard over his sleep and reading a news paper that contained the most curious story. His boss would have to read this. It was interesting, if not necessarily disturbing. Ripper knocked gently on Kaiosuke's door and waited for the come in before turning the nob and stepping in.



Special Agent Dan Miller surveyed the scene of the crime with little interest. If someone had felt the need to butcher these four psychopaths then he had no qualms about who did it or why. It was when the Murderer screwed up and attacked an innocent that he would be in trouble. It was probably some nut with deluded visions of grandeur anyways. Probably thinking he's batman or something.

Dan walked away from the scene and got into his squad car and drove down the street, turning left and driving past the Police Dept and into town. Stopping at a Denny's he stepped inside and ordered his breakfast, sitting down with a big case file involving a brutal Mafiya murder of a cops family. Business as usual.


Special Agents, McKenzie and Mickey, circled around the house, 9mm Glock Beretta's drawn and pointed at the floor so they didn't shoot anyone by mistake. That wouldn't be good for the record. Mickey circled around to another side of a door while McKenzie took up her position on the other side. Their dark-blue vests were coated with Kevlar and had FBI painted in yellow letters on the back. McKenzie nodded to Mickey and Mickey took up position in front of the door and holstered his pistol, pulling out the specially made shotgun designed to shred door locks, aimed it at the doorknob and fired. The door swung open as Mickey took up position on the other side again, shotgun in hand and ready to fire.

"Go" said Mickey and McKenzie ran through the door-way gun held at chest level and eyes searching, Mickey followed her in. They came to a doorway and McKenzie took cover by it while Mickey held the shotgun at a doorway opposite of him covering it. McKenzie checked inside. "Clear, move in, one meter spread" and she moved to the doorway Mickey was covering while Mickey switched to covering the other doorway.

Something moved and Mickey recognized a silenced 9mm go up and he lifted his Shotgun a little higher and pulled the trigger, turning his eyes away as the mans blood splattered everything in site. "Hostile down" reported Mickey, moving into the room and checking around a corner, seeing nothing but a wall.

Mickey turned to see McKenzie strike a man in the back of the head with the butt of her pistol and then he was spun around as a fist flew into his fast, the shotgun went flinging across the room. The man who had hit Mickey turned to McKenzie and put his foot into her chest sending her flying into a wall and losing her gun. He lifted her by her throat with both hands and began to choke her.

There were two quiet shots and the man suddenly let go as both his arms fell uselessly to his side, both his elbows having been shot through my a Silenced 9mm Mickey was holding. The man turned around and started to lumber towards Mickey before Mickey shot out both his knee-caps and sent the drug-crazed man tumbling to the floor.

"Clear, send in the cleanup crew" said McKenzie into her walkie-talkie.

[Higurashi]

Alexander Manston stood in his office, loking out of the window. It was another dreary day in his boring life. He took bribes, cut corners, extorted people, the works, but none of that excited him. Even being the city's police cheif only added a prinprick of edge to the whole ordeal. It had been the same thing for ten years now. People got murdered, more people went after the murderers and took revenge. It was all just one big shithole.


Turning back to his desk he eyed an unopened file. The title on it was simple. 'Masquerade'. As far as murder cases went, it was pretty out there, just like ever other murder was. No motive, other than that the victims were criminals. Weapon: a signle blade. The victims were in a vague circle, suggesting that the culprit was in the middle of them when he attacked, or that they tried to surround him and died before they could move. Either case was just as likely as the other.

Really though, Alexander didn't care. He had already handed the case of to two of his dumbass lackies. More than likely they would go out drinking, forget about it, and it would go unsolved. The only reason he still had it on his desk was to see if he could see a connection. It was one of his little hobbies, plotting murders and seeing if they were the same guy. Occasionally, if the culprit had already been convicted, Alex would slap the extra charge on him, just for laughs.

Even that was getting old. Both of the major crime societies in the city had been around since before he had gotten here, and Alex had no intention of taking them out. Oh sure, he might slap a couple in irons, but that was usually when one of the crime families wanted the guy disposed of. Once in jail, the guy or girl would end up stabbed, and no further investigation followed.

Sitting down at his desk, Alexander folded his hands, wondering what this new day would bring. If it was exciting, it might be welcome. But not to exciting, Alex didn't want to end up in a ditch.

[Kaiosuke]

"Come in." Kaiosuke called, annoyed as he was that his sleep was interupted, he new that Ripper would not disturb him if it were not important. He got up and through a robe on and sat behind his desk and waited for his gaurd to enter.

[Black]

Ripper stepped into the darkly lit room, news paper in hand. "Sir" he said bowing low before stepping closer and setting the front page of the news story on top of Kaiosuke's desk. "Take a look sir. Those four annoying boys who were trying to extort people on our turf have been taken care of for us. In a very interesting manner to say the least. . .," Ripper also signaled to a soldier to bring in the Yakuza leaders breakfast.

"Poached eggs, toast, milk, bacon, and sausage sir" said the soldier placing the silver tray on the desk and bowing out of the room.



Sergeant Tom Morehouse stepped into Alexander Manston's office, his eyes flashing angrily at seeing the dirty cop sitting in the chair that should be filled by his Lieutenant, a much better soul.

Tom Morehouse stood at 6"2 and was a very imposing guy, he was often accompanied by his side-arm and a mean look, but he was a honest to god good cop and he did his job best as he could. "Why didn't you order the S.W.A.T sent in? The FBI had to take over the raid and now the LAPD is the laughingstock of the entire federal world," shouted Tom, his neck veins standing out and his face an ugly shade of red.

[Kaiosuke]

Kaiosuke picks the paper up and reads it interested. "True this is interesting he said poking at his eggs. "However, I fail to see how this really effects our organization. True this is a help to us, but what shall I do? Offer the person a membership?" He said sarcastically then taking a bite of the sausage. He sat considering the new article. "However, this does seem a little odd. Sort of like a civilian trying to take the law into his own hands." He chuckles as he says this, "Perhaps they have been watching to much Deathnote." He said referencing the popular Japanese anime. He took a drink of the milk and promptly spat it out. "Ugh skim."

[Black]

Ripper beckoned to the trooper once more. "Bring him more milk, two percent this time" the trooper bowed once and hurried to the task. Ripper was silent until the trooper had come back with the milk and shut the door behind him.

"Sir if I may. Our head of Intel informs me that this mysterious man could be working for the Mafiya. If this is so, then we may have major trouble. If someone whose able to cut down four men without even being shot at or stabbed is working for the Mafiya then how long will it be before we have to try and take care of this man targeting our own soldiers. Im sure I don't need to remind you what happened the last time the Mafiya decided to cut themselves a slice of our territory. We lost the entire East drug cartel company," Ripper bowed.

"If this man is working for Alexis Darya, then we had best watch our step until we can find out more"

[Kaiosuke]

"Hmmm. You make a good point Ripper. See what the intel can find out. Also see if we can bribe one of the police in the LA force. If we can get our hands on the investigation files we can get more information." He sipped at the milk and was glad to find nothing wrong with it. "Good two percent is much better. Have someone make sure there isn't any skim milk anywhere in this house. I hate skim milk." He went back to eating his breakfast in silence.

[Black]

Ripper bowed. "It shall be so" he said backing out of the room and closing the door quietly behind him. Ripper strolled down the hall-way towards the intelligence center of the mansion. He put on his pinstripe Findora hat and strode down the hall, his shoes making going "Tap, tap, tap" on the floor while the cane in his hand produced a subtle click on the polished marble. He turned left and headed down a set of stairs into a dark hall which had only an iron door on the very end of it. He strode down the hall and tapped on the door with his cane. The door opened to reveal a dimly lit room with a large conference table sitting in the middle of it. Crammed around the conference table were row upon row of desks containing the newest computers and high-tech gadgets.

The Intel department also handled the distribution of weapons, and it showed that much because every guard in the room carried a M16 carbine. And even the scientists had the latest in the Beretta series. All the weapons were silenced and all the men were trained to use them.

"Hello Gentlemen" said Ripper, his eyes gleaming darkly from under his hat. "We have orders. I want to find out who this Masquerade is, who he is working for, and how best to strike at him. I also wan't our contact within the LAPD to be summoned. Hop to it," and with that Ripper turned and walked calmly down the room to take a position at the right hand chair of the conference table, waiting for Kaiosuke to get out of bed and join him. "Also" he added as an after thought "Replace all the skim milk in the house with two percent," and his orders were carried out without a second thought.

Ripper was not one to be trifled with.

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

"God damned newspapers," Sarah sighed, raking her fingers through her dark hair. Her eyes lingered on the ugly black-and-white print of the Los Angeles Times and several other newspapers like it, all telling a similar story of the Masquerade incident.

The lieutenant slid back from her desk and pushed her dark plastic framed glasses up closer to her face for a moment, fingers lingering there as she thought. Marr was rather torn about the situation; on one hand, the "Four Riders of the Apocalypse," as they'd been dubbed, Mafia members were dead. On the other, they had some kind of vigilante on their hands, killing criminals and saving the innocent - and that was the best possibility; it was also completely possible that this character was working for the Mafia itself, or the Yakuza, or one of the more ordinary gangs in the greater Los Angeles area (even though this wasn't their style, it still had to be considered).

Though restless, Marr sat back down and took off her glasses, trading them for her contacts which were far more convenient when on duty - they wouldn't go flying off her face in the middle of a fight or anything. Placing her things away and organizing the newspapers into a neat little stack on her desk, for a fourth time today, she went over a copy of the Masquerade case file. Her teeth found her thumbnail as she read it over, grimacing at the scene photos - they never got any less gruesome. A muffled shout made Marr's head whip up and she looked out of her glass-fronted office and across the expanse of cubicles into the chief's office. All the little heads in the cubicles had swiveled that way, too, and she sighed, recognizing the back of Morehouse's head. Standing, she closed the Masquerade file and tucked it into one of her top drawers. Grabbing her coat off the back of her chair, she slid it on and moved out of her office; her brown eyes caught those of several officers in their cubicles and passing by, and her gaze clearly said, "Get back to work, please, kthnx."

Her knuckles rapped on the chief's door and she tugged it open, stepping inside and then hitting the little button on the wall for the glass to frost over as soon as the door closed again. With a whisper, the glass frosted over and the three of them had some semblance or privacy in the busy LAPD offices.

"What's wrong?" Lieutenant Marr asked, a hand resting on Morehouse's arm, seeing the color his face was changing, she gazed up at the far taller man and raised her dark brows. "Calm down, Morehouse," she murmured to him.

[Black]

Morehouse looked down at the petite frame of Lieutenant Marr. He nodded his head in acquiescence and then turned to the chief of police. "We had that house surrounded. Everything was in place. We could have gotten Ripper along with two of his top soldiers. But instead you forced us to wait until the FBI arrived and they took over the show and allowed Ripper and his cronies to escape unscathed," Morehouse's tone was deadly now, icy as his glare.

"A five hour stakeout gone to waste because you're on the bloody payroll of the bloody Yakuza," Morehouse said. He looked down at Sarah beside him. She was the bane of him. Every time he was angry she had to pop up and ruin it before Morehouse could pull out his side-arm and put the chief into his grave.

Morehouse had already been the target of several hit attempts, and hit-men had learned to stay away from the towering Sergeant after he put several of their comrades into their graves with apparent ease, most of the time with nothing but his fists or a kitchen knife.

[Higurashi]

Alexander pressed his fingers to his temples as if agitated, which he was. 'Why did thaat idiot have to come in now.' He thought. 'Its just like him to come barging in here while I'm trying to think.' Of course, Alexander didn't actually have anything important to do, yet even that took priority in his mind over speaking to this fool. Thankfully, Lieutenant Marr came in.

In Alexander's twisted mind, the Lieutenant was a peice of work. Being more competent at her job than Morehouse, he tried to shove anything actually worth going after on her. In addition, she was a looker to, desirable to most if not all straight men, even some gays were giving her a lookover. She seemed to be the only one who could calm the idiot in front of him down, and for that, Alexander was greatful.

As soon as the glass had turned frosty, Alexander rose from his seat. He moved over to a series of file cabinets on the left wall and opened one of the drawers marked 'Special Orders'. He searched through this before pulling out a certain folder, which he moved over and handed to Morehouse. "Theres your reason." he said. "Enough evidence pointing in certain directions that drew the fed's attention. Thanks to you. They took control before I even blinked."

Alexander moved back to his desk and opened another drawer. This time he pulled out one of his personal files. "And here is the other reason Morehouse." He said coldly. Handing the second file to the idiot, Alexander went back to looking out through the window. His personal file contained a series of incriminating photos of most of the police force. The file was marked 'Feds got us by the Throat'. "Also, for accusing me of such a thing you're being put on parole. I've had enough nonsense officer. Slander such as that can get you booted."

[Anne Bonny]

Cold blue eyes glanced towards Butch's feet, not bothering to look all the way up to his face. Alexis frowned at the newspaper that sat next to her breakfast. What could possibly be so interesting that she hadn't already heard about? The Four had been murdered, she had woken up to that message late during the night... or had it been morning by then? But Lex couldn't possibly imagine that the reporters, always one step behind as it was, had uncovered anything new.

Without a word, she picked up a piece of toast and shook the newspaper to unfold it as she took a bite. The story began as predictably as possible; a foiled assault on a civilian and mysterious killings in the street. Lex ignored the frustration that was already building inside at the incompetence of the Four Horsemen. They should have been more careful. They should have known how to fight off an attacker by now. She had never cared much for the bunch, the eldest had always given her looks that made her a bit uncomfortable. But still, Lex had thought that they were capable enough to handle such a simple task without incident.

But as she continued reading, a smile began to tug at the corners of her mouth. "West and Ford?" Lex finally asked, her accented voice silky smooth in the morning light. She looked over to where Butch stood in the shadows. "We will not wait for the police to solve these murders then. We would be waiting for years."

The girl put the piece of toast back down on the tray, having suddenly lost her appetite. She took a moment to offer the small side plate of bacon to Czar before rising to her feet. "Who is the likely suspect here, Butch? Is the Yakuza trying to get to us with some sort of vigilante?"

[breannalucy]

Oblivious to the internal conflicts currently waging inside the police station and mob houses, Karina was enjoying some time off, and was sipping away at a venti mocha frappé from starbucks. Her weakness, she would joke.

Unfortunately for her, her peace was interrupted by the blaringly obnoxious ringtone her boss had programmed into her cellphone. Sheepishly ignoring the annoyed glares of her fellow customers, she answered the call. Her break was over.

"Yah, what do you want? I thought I was on vacation time?" she said, slightly cheekily.
"You can have your break once you've covered this story. File sent to your laptop. Be ready for a press conference at any time. Oh, and just for the record, that masquerade ball you were hoping for, for the Christmas party? After you see this, you are not going to want anything to do with masquerade for a long time...."

With that, the conversation was terminated, and Karina stared dejectedly at her half-finished drink, before tossing it in the bin and heading home.

After she looked at the file, she was slightly disappointed. Sure, the guy had pretty epic skills, but he took out mob... Gangsters, yakuza, mafia... They all blurred in her mind. As long as they didn't hurt innocents, let them destroy each other. Not that she expressed that attitude on screen. No, tonight it would be 'Protector of the innocent, or another weapon in the already too strong arsenal of this who plague the city's streets? ' hey, she knew what viewers liked, and it wasn't what was going on inside her pretty little head. If they thought there was anything going on in her head, that would be news to her. But hey, it put bread on the table.

[Black]

Butch smiled at the audacity of it. "No ma'am. While we may not have been successful at placing a spy within the Yakuza," he grimaced and continued "Im sure you remember how we tried to get Johnny in with them," Butch did. They sent him back chopped to bits. "But we know that they already suspect that we are the ones with the new assassin in town," he smiled again. "We could take this opportunity to advance your territory beyond just the East and South sides and take a large chunk of the Northern Drug territories," he waved to a nearby maid to bring forward a selection of cloths and he himself tilted his hat down while his Boss changed.

"If they want to give us credit for a quadruple murder and a pretty classy assassin then I say we let them. We've all know the Chief is in our pocket as well as the Yakuza's. No one will be investigating it much, In fact i heard it was already pushed through to David West and Michael Ford" he tipped his hat back up after she was finished choosing her dressing, then he pulled a PDA out of his pocket and checked it. "We have a meeting today at 12:00 AM with the Casino bosses. You'll recall that they were all getting a bit cheeky, and we also have a meeting with the father of the Four who got killed," he looked up and slipped the PDA back into his pocket. His reading glasses glinted maliciously in the dim light of the room, hiding his black cold eyes from view.

"I think it's time we buried the man, he's got way to secure about his own importance,' Butch's voice was low and deadly, and his blood-lust obvious.

[Anne Bonny]

Lex didn't bother to check to make sure Butch's eyes were averted before slipping out her nightgown. They both knew he would lose the very thing that made him male if he decided to sneak a peek, and one doesn't get to be in Butch's position by being stupid. And the man proved it again as he spoke, saying that he had but West and Ford in place. Lex chose a black pencil skirt and light blue, button-up blouse, dressing in silence as she listened.

"I'm not worried about the casino bosses," the girl said as she turned to face Butch, finishing the top buttons on her shirt. "They're not out of control, they just need a reminder of where they stand. Deep down, they know they need us."

Czar nudged her hand and Lex reached down to pet his long muzzle as she considered their other meeting. "You are probably right about the old man, though. Besides, after losing his sons, it might be..." She trailed off. What was the word she was looking for? English was such a difficult language to remember.

"Charity," she finally decided. "It might be charity to put him out of his misery I think."

[Black]

Butch bowed and smiled, his pearly white teeth flashing briefly in the darkness. "I shall take care of the old man personally. As for the Casino bosses. How about I remove a digit or two from the cheekiest one," he inquired as he stepped out of the shadows and went to stand by Lex. "And Charity for what I had planned doesn't exactly fit" behind his glasses and the scar that stretched across his face, a trophy he won in a knife fight to save Lex's life and her business, lay a cruel and cold calculating mind. He would take advantage of the opportunity to make an example out of the old man. A public example.

Butch was one of the reasons the Mafiya now had such a firm grip on LA. Lex was the other reason. The two of them together on the open streets made LA seem like a war-zone. If there was any duo the FBI wanted more, it was the Yakuza leader Ripper and his boss, nicknamed Kaos by Butch and the FBI.

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

"Morehouse!" She barked halfway through the man's payroll rant, but her voice was run over by his. Her hands grew tight on his arm, painful, even without her nails digging into his arm. Her brown eyes locked on the S.W.A.T. Sergeant's profile until he looked down at her and at that point the chief was spouting off and handing Morehouse case files. Chief Manston was a bad cop and the man sent chills up Sarah's spine, but he wasn't stupid and he showed him the respect his position deserved.

"'Thanks to you?'" Marr parroted, straightening up a little and peering into the file Morehouse opened in his hands. The brunette frowned at the contents of the manilla folder and looked back up at the Chief, promptly intercepting the second folder. Opening it, her complexion blanched and she closed it again promptly; shaking her head a little, she took a step forward, as if to protect the Sergeant. Morehouse was thick- and hot-headed but he was a damn good cop and Sarah trusted him.

"Chief, please - you know I need Morehouse. He's just peeved right now and talking out his ass," she looked back at Tom then, eyes hard. "I'll take him out for a spar, whoop his ass and get him to vent. That's what he needs right not, now to be put on parole and marinate in this shit."

Sarah Marr never had many qualms about cussing, unless it was in front of her parents or small children; otherwise, she'd been known to make bikers blush.

"All right gentlemen? All right, thank you!" And with her grip back on Morehouse's arm, Marr moved to haul the much taller man out of the Chief's office, both files in hand.

[Kaiosuke]

Kaiosuke walked down the hall with his sword cane and his own custom 9mm in his pocket. He did not knock on the door he just walked in and sat down next to Ripper. "Ok, what have you all got for me?" he asked. He was wearing his usual white suit and fedora and looked past a pair of small glasses that glinted in the dim light. He stared out at his top intelligence men and wondered who would be murdering gangsters as well known as the four horsemen. "Oh and I also want an update of what is going on in the streets. How are our drugs and weapons doing? Is there anyone who needs... pursuading?"

[Black]

Morehouse's eyes flashed. He unpinned his badge. "Fuck parole, Im done" he said and tossed his badge and his gun on the table. "I got an offer from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. At least they're honest to you when they screw you over. And at least they get shit done, good day Chief, Lieutenant I want to talk to you outside, away from this blundering idiot," and with that Morehouse opened the door to the office and tugged her out, leading her all the way down to the bottom level of the multi-complex Police dept. Many officers noticed the mans missing badge with some dismay.

"Sarah, I know you got the same offer as I did. Join the FBI with me. We can do more good as Federal Agents than as cops working for a dirty chief. Hell half the cops in there would do better as FBI agents than as LAPD," Morehouse's frame was concealed slightly in shadow but his intelligent eyes peered out of the darkness at his childhood friend.



Ripper sat up and pulled a case file and plopped it on the table in front of Kaiosuke. "According to our intelligence, the man known as Masquerade works for the Mafiya. This is second hand information and if being checked into. I personally do not believe it. This isn't their style. They're Russian, not Asian. They are more likely to beat someone to death with fists than to slash them with a sword," Ripper looked at Kaiosuke. "As for the streets, I think it's time we re-take the East side," his eyes flashed ominously in the dimly lit room.

[Kaiosuke]

"Masquerade? Mafiya? No, like you said the Mafiya are not as elegant as this. What realy sells it to me is that the Mafiya's four horsemen are the ones who were murdered. I do not think Miss Alexis would do something like that to her own." he said touching his fingertips to gether and leaning forward. "As for the East side, I believe you are right Ripper. It has been far to long since the Mafiya took control and I will not be pleased until it is taken back. We have lost more than enough revenue from such a mistake to allow it to continue." He stared blankly thinking about what could be done about the East side. "Yes, we need the East side baack under our control. Any ideas on how we should do this?" he asked Ripper.

[Anne Bonny]

With a grimace, Alexis reached for her shoes. She had seen Butch at work before, and didn't relish the idea of whatever he had planned for the father of the Four. But she remained silent. Despite the gruesome practice, Butch was probably the best the Mafiya had to offer.

"Alright," she finally said, straightening to glance at herself in the mirror. "But that still leaves us with a rogue on the loose who just single handedly murdered four men."

Lex twisted her chocolate brown hair up into a bun and turned to face her comrade as she pinned it up. "We can take credit for his work, say he's ours. You're right, he might be the key to expanding our territory. But I still want to find out who he is. And I want him either out of our way, or converted to our cause."

Finally satisfied with her appearance, she took a step closer to Butch, her voice quiet but laced with deady certainly. "Every man has a price. We just need to find out what this Masquerade's is, and perhaps do some convincing. A man of his talents could be a useful ally, no?"

[Black]

Ripper leaned back in his chair for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I could take a contingency of soldiers and begin an assault on Don Carlito's Drug Cartel thats currently under Mafiya control, while you lead a direct assault on the Mafiya's main house in that area. It would be costly, and the Police Chief could only look the other way for so long before having to order the S.W.A.T out to deal with the matter," he rubbed his chin again.

"But that is Basta's way. He'll be expecting that..." Butch whispered to himself, almost completely uncompromisable by Kaiosuke. "We should do it with more finesse. I say send me into Miss Alexis's house with four of our best people and take out the problem at the source" he said. People around the table were startled. That would be hard, even for Ripper.

"Give me the green and i'll have her body on display for you in your office by morning," Ripper said in a deadly voice.





Butch smiled. His gleaming teeth flashed briefly. "Miss Alexis, tonight I suggest you take up residence in my room tonight. I do believe that we're not the only ones planning a hostile take over, and I shall inquire as to who this Masquerade is," Butch smiled and whispered. "It would be just like Jack to chop your head off while I was away," he bowed. "Please accompany madame, you must be there for the Demonstrations, otherwise the people will see it as me dealing out power," Butch bowed as he opened the door for her. At his side was a Cane.

Butch signaled for a soldier to come over and he whispered "Call the LAPD Chief, tell him to be at the Darya residence in fifty minutes," Butch knew his Master would want to take her dog for a walk around the premiss's. It would also be when he laid out his plans to her.

[Kaiosuke]

"I don't know Ripper. I like the idea do not get me wrong. However, a man like you is hard to come by. Not to mention we could use this murderer to our advantage. We could start a copycat routine." He sat for a moment thinking, his smile growing the more he thinks about it. "Hmmm... I think we should cause them some damage first. Start petty then build up. I want this to be savory. Kill a few Mafiya soldiers in the same style as Masqurade. Make them focus more on the murderer then we hit them hard." He sat back satisfied with his strategic thinking.

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

Morehouse may as well have picked Sarah up and carried her out of the building. She gave a helpless little look to the chief as Tom pulled her out of the office, then followed him - rather obediently, for Marr - downstairs. She avoided the curious glances from passing officers, her own badge glistening on her breast, the shield suddenly too heavy on her black button down over her heart.

"Tom," she murmured, softly for a moment before she looked up at him, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Why didn't you tell me you got an offer? Who contacted you?"

The lieutenant ran her fingers through her dark hair and paced a little, standing with him. His words rang in her ears, "Join the FBI with me."

"I..." Looked up at him, eyes searching his handsome face. "I hadn't seriously considered it." Her voice dropped to no more than a hush and she moved slightly closer to him as a pair of officers passed, murmuring, "How am I supposed to leave? Did you see that file?"

She raised it; the manilla folder was hot in her hands, like some awful burning sin of the LAPD. She paced a few steps and then turned sharply on the ball of her foot, pulling him into a nearby office that was unoccupied and shut and locked the door behind them. "If... If! I go to the FBI, will you help me take down Manston, clean up here? Please?"

Sarah hated what the LAPD had become, but she did what she could without crossing the line. Her brown eyes lowered for a moment from his face to the empty spot on his shirt where his badge had been. She frowned slightly and raised a pale hand, placing it over that spot, over his heart. "You shouldn't have done that," she murmured.

[Higurashi]

Alexanders smiled as the man left his office. That gave him the perfect excuse to have the man killed. The perfect opprotunity would only be for a short time however. As long as he wasn't FBI or LAPD, Manston would be able to toss his murder into the trash, or something quite similar.

He picked up his phone and dialed the number that he had been given for the Yuzaka. When the phone was answered, he said this, "A birdy has left the nest. Time for the fox to play. Morehouse wants to fly." It was a simple if not stupid code, obviously meaning that Manston wanted the Yuzaka to dispose of Morehouse. He then shut the phone off, and put it in his desk.

Turning back to the window, he pulled out a copy of the photos he had given to Morehouse. There was nothing the bastard could do against him. If he went to his new masters, they would want the photos, and then Morehouse would have many innocent men's misery on his head.

[Anne Bonny]

"That could start rumors," Lex said, giving Butch a sideways glance. "I hate rumors."

She paused to adjust Czar's collar, and the dog smiled up at her. Sweet, faithful Czar, Alexis mused. He had been her companion in Russia, and she had spent a lot of the mob's money to bring him to the United States. But unlike any man, soldier, partner, lover or otherwise, Czar had remained faithfully at her side no matter what happened.

Finally, she gave a shrug and turned back to Butch. "I will accompany you, certainly. I will not be absent from the meeting with the casino bosses at least. I am curious to see the others' expressions when you make an example out of the most outspoken of them.

"As for the invitation to your room, I will consider it. You know Czar will have to come too if I decide to accept, don't you?"

[Black]

Ripper nodded. "That is all very well, but I do not with to be a chihuahua snipping at the heels of a bigger meaner dog. I'd rather be the wolf eating the small chihuahua. A direct strike would be more advisable," Ripper bowed his head and whispered, "Plus there's a chance that Masquerade might just show up for our little ball, then I can capture him," Ripper said this very very quietly indeed.



Music for the Moment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPBzTxZQG5Q


Tom looked down at Sarah. Affection bright in his eyes. He put his massive hand on her head and said in a quiet voice, "Sarah, join the FBI with me, and I promise you that the Chief will fall. And any other corrupt cop in this city," He pulled his hand away and turned his back on her. The darkness of the office made his back only a dark outline. "And I refuse to wear a dirty shield, It's against company policy," Morehouse smiled and stepped to the door-way and unlocked the door. "I'll see you tomorrow Sarah," said Tom, closing the door with a soft click.

Somewhere someone seemed to be walking over Toms grave, and an ominous feeling was left in the building.



Butch bowed. "Of course Madame," said Butch in his silky voice. "I would expect you to be there for the mod bosses at least, if not for the old man," Butch bowed again even lower. "Please, follow me, they are waiting for us now" and with that butch turned on his heel and began to lead the way to a conference room at a brisk business like pace that was generally hard to keep up with.

Butch was a good 6"4 and he wore a pin-stripe suit at all times with the same pin-stripe Findora. He has black eyes and vision like a hawk. He moved at a very quick pace and his stroll was that of a man trained to kill. If there was anyone more dangerous in the city physically it was Ripper who, before Butch got his scar, was said to be Butch's exact twin. It was even rumored that the two dealt death in the same way at the exact same time.

Butch's phone rang and he picked it up. "A birdy has left the nest. Time for the fox to play. Morehouse wants to fly," the phone hung up as Alexander clicked it off. Butch smiled. He dialed a number, "Mickey, Kyle, Johnny, Kent, and Zeus, Target Morehouse and send him to his grave," Butch said it in such a casual way he might have been greeting an old friend, and Indeed. Murder was an old friend.






Morehouse headed down the alley to his car when four men stepped out of the shadows, each one holding a different type of weapon. Morehouse tensed, then recognized that none of them were projectile. He could handle melee, but not long ranged weaponry. As the first man rushed him, something hit him in the back, a powerful blow that send him spiraling into the man who swung his police baton and hit Morehouse in the face. Reeling Morehouse spun around to receive a base ball bat to the lower abdominal.

Kneeling over he felt a steel-tipped toe come into contact with his rib-cage and felt several ribs crack. He knew he was dead. His last concious sight was a man in a top hat and cloak, with a gleaming blade in hand.

[Anne Bonny]

With a quick kiss on the top of her borzoi's head, Alexis followed her companion out of her room. Lex was two strides behind the taller Butch, easily keeping pace with his quick steps. Her blue eyes bored into his back as they walked. She didn't like it when he spoke in code, as he did on his phone call. English had been difficult enough for her to master, and sorting through meanings in his many symbols just took too much effort. Whenever he did, she couldn't help but wonder if he was talking about her.

Butch had seemed to have shrugged off the Masquerade murders quickly enough, but the whole situation had put Lex ill at ease. Like it or not, the Four Horsemen were skilled and capable workers, and should have been enough of a match for one man. Someone of the masked man's talents could be of great use to her clan, of that Lex was certain. But if he couldn't be turned, he would have to be exterminated. It was as simple as that.

Still, seeking out and killing off such a man might pose a challenge. But then again, had Lex ever backed down from a challenge? Even if she often chose not to do the dirty work herself, Alexis had earned a reputation of being cold and calculating. Since she had taken over as one of the heads of the Western Mafiya, her ideas and sheer stubborn willpower had been a big part of the mob's recent success. The newspapers had called her the "Ice Queen", a title Lex had relished, since it reminded her of her homeland. Her cruel refusal to ever give up combined with Butch's unrelenting love of violence had done wonders for their organization.

The pair drew to a halt outside the conference room, and Lex glanced up at her comrade expectantly. "Are they already here?" she asked.

[Black]

"Indeed, and the most outspoken of them is apparently Rodrigo. That idiot needs to learn his place, and his place is now as an example for the rest of them," Butch opened the door and bowed Lex through. He waited for her to take her seat at the head of the table and he stood behind her, masked in shadows. Only his legs were visible above the table, as well as the glint of computer light off his glasses.

Rodrigo spoke up at once, his cocky attitude grating against Butch's ears like nails on a chalk board. "Ah, here comes the insolent little girl and her faithful striped dog, come to tell us how to run businesses that we have run since before either of them was born!," The sheer audacity of Rodrigo shocked the entire room into silence. Only a slight movement was seen from Butch, and what followed was a cold and cruel laughter.

[Anne Bonny]

With a flutter of dark eyelashes, Lex raised her gaze to meet Rodrigo's. The man was even more insolent than Butch had reported him to be. Insolent, or just plain stupid. A cold smile crossed over the girl's features.

"I would never be so pretentious as to tell you how to run your business, Rodrigo," Lex said, her voice eerily calm in the dimly lit room. "I will, however, tell you how I run mine. I expect much from my partners, certainly. I expect a steady income and a safe, secretive house to secure some of the many dealings we have on a daily basis. And in return, I offer safety, respect, and a promise to keep your business alive and thriving."

The girl waved her hand as if brushing off a fly. "Since you continue to demand more and more from my operation, I am inclined to offer less and less. You've already lost my respect, Rodrigo. And with your comments today, I withdraw my protection. My dog, as you put it, if free to do with you what he wishes."

She turned to Butch, her smile never fading, although inwardly she dreaded the blood that was sure to follow. "I wonder if my 'dog' would like to play fetch? What will you bring me?"

[Black]

Laughter kept echoing, growing slowly and slowly more sinister. Butch's legs were missing from their spot by Alexis's side. The lights suddenly flared and Butch was standing behind Rodrigo. For everyone else in the room Butch standing behind Rodrigo sliding a gleaming sword into the soft flesh of Rodrigo's neck was the scariest thing they would ever see or hear in their entire life. For Rodrigo the last thing he saw was the cold dead eyes of a Russian girl, and the last thing he heard was the devils own laughter.

Rodrigo slumped over dead onto the table, his life's blood spilling onto it and pooling in the middle. The table was specially designed so that all the blood would run to each chair in a small groove. Butch was definitely a theatrical person. At Alexis's end of the table the blood stopped, as if by some unknown force, and began to receded backwards into the mans body. It was eerie and the room was dead silent. A ring flew out of the darkness from where Alexis was sitting and it landed with a dull thud on the table and skittered across to a man of low rank.

Butch's voice rang out.

"Congratulations my friend, you've just been promoted to head of the Casino's. Don't mess up" Butch's legs were once again visible by Alexis's side.

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

Sarah's knees all but weakened as she gazed up at Tom and he asked her again to join him with the FBI. She nodded and watched him turn away, admiring the figure he made for a moment.

"I refuse to wear a dirty shield," he said.

"Be safe," she told him as he was leaving. In the silence of the office now, she was left to think. Fingers of both hands combed through her dark locks of chocolate brown and rested there for a few moments. Her eyes turned hard and when she left the office, the door slammed so hard it shook in the framing; as she walked through the offices, the look in her eyes was obvious and the lieutenant turned heads, even drew some out of their seats to follow her like high school students about to witness a fight.

Walking into the Chief of Police's office, she did something she never thought she'd do willingly. Her nimble fingers went to her breast and unpinned her badge, stripping it off the dark fabric of her uniform's button down and sent the shield skidding across Alexander's desk, her gun following it.

"Next time I see you, Manston, you'll be in cuffs," she stated very simply and turned on her heel, walking out of his office. She went to her own office - her old office now, she thought - and gathered her things, tucking them all away into her backpack and duffel bag, both of which she slung over her shoulders. Next, she went to Morehouse's desk and gathered a few of his things she knew he'd want. She briefly said goodbye to a few friends and promised she'd be in contact before leaving.

As Marr crossed the polished cement floor of the building's lobby, she slid her cell phone out of her pocket and hit her speed dial. "Special Agent Dan Miller? It's Sarah Marr. I quit, and so did Morehouse. We're with you."

Outside, Sarah secured the duffel bag to the back of her bike and tightened the straps of her backpack as she straddled the black Yamaha TRX850, slid her key into the ignition and started the bike. The brunette tied back her hair at the nape of her neck before she slid her helmet on and took off, leaving the LAPD behind her, for now. She'd be back to clean up later.

Whooping ass sounded about right at the moment. She stopped off at her flat and dropped her backpack and duffel bag off, changed out of her uniform and headed back out. Her jiu jitsu school held morning and afternoon classes and she headed toward Inglewood. After stretching, warm ups and five rounds of pinning guys twice her size to the mat, her phone went off from across the room in her duffel bag. Frowning, Sarah waved her turn and went to her bag, digging out her phone and answering the call.

"Sarah Marr, hello?" Her brown eyes grew wide, grip tightening on the phone.

[Kaiosuke]

"Yes alright Ripper. However, I will personally accompany you. I will not put my soldiers into such a large scale battle and not lead them myself." He said putting his head into one hand. "If we take out the Ice Queen then we can take all of thier territory. Ripper I will leave it to you to decide when we strike. I will need information on the mansion and grounds to planthe strike." He sat back leaning in his chair. "However, I do want Alexis captured alive. My blade will be the one that goes through her heart." He says with a finality in his voice while drawing his sword from the cane he carried, watching the gleam of it in the dull light.

[Black]

Dan Miller picked up the phone "Special Agent Dan Miller? It's Sarah Marr. I quit, and so did Morehouse. We're with you," Dan smiled as he hung up the phone and slid both their files back into his Filing cabinet. Things were running smoothly. His phone rang again, and this time it was a cop working undercover for Dan in the LAPD, "Sir, just checked in. Sarah and Tom are both on board. However theres a problem. Alexander dialed something in, couldn't hear it, but now there are five bodies outside of the LAPD District office, and they have all been diced to bits. And Morehouse is missing from his home, car, and his usual haunts. We've found trace amounts of his blood among the five bodies, but his body is no where to be found,"

Dan sat back in his chair. A frown creased his lips and he wondered what happened. "Right," said Dan sitting forward. "Ill inform Sarah, you find me my Agent," and Dan dialed Sarah's number. "Hello, Miss Marr, we have some issues. Tom is missing and we found some of his blood in the alley outside of the District LAPD Office. There was also five slashed up men. It seems that Masquerade has struck again, and not only that, but he kidnapped Tom," Dan waited for a reply patiently.


"Of course, but I must warn you. There is a high chance that Masquerade might show up, and I cannot guarantee your head will stay on your shoulders for long" Ripper stood up and began to walk away. "I'll meat you at 8 PM out front Kaiosuke" said Ripper, using his bosses name only when he thought his boss was having a bad idea. "It's entirely up to him, however this wont be as easy as I reckon. Chances are I'll end up dead, and if I bring that idiot along then theres a sure chance that I won't be living for long," Ripper said to himself, inaudible to everyone in the room. Ripper strode out of the room, Cane in hand tapping maddeningly on the floor.

[Kaiosuke]

Kaiosuke stared angrily at the door. It seemed as if Ripper had been threatening in his words. His use of Kaiosuke's name was also inexcusable. Not to mention he had not been deismissed. This was not liek Ripper and he wanted to know what was going on. He looked to the rest of the men sitting around the table. "I want to know what Ripper is doing twenty-four seven. If he so much as sneezes I don't want him to reach for a tissue without me knowing. Understand?" He stood and walked out of the intel room and towards his office. He had much planning for his own protection to plan.

[Black]

Ripper strode out of the mansion with his steady gait. Already his beeper had notified him of Kaiosuke's orders. Ripper had loyal men on the council, and Kaiosuke didn't yet know that he was a pawn in a much bigger game of chess, and that Ripper was the Knight. They would find out soon enough though. Rippers true master had set everything into motion. His phone rang, and Ripper picked it up. A Voice said on the other end. "The hit team is dead, Basta has Tom, check in as soon as you lose your tail. And Ripper. Get some sleep, you look tired," and the phone clicked off and Ripper smiled. He turned the corner and noted the silent foot-falls of a spy all-ready on his tail.

His sword inched out of his cane as he turned down a dark alley and disappeared into the shadows. A scream rent the air and blood splattered across the walls of a building. Ripper picked the body up by the foot and dragged him to a man-hole cover. No one would find the body until it was too late.

[Anne Bonny]

Cold, blue eyes never left Rodrigo's as Butch spilled the man's life all over the conference table. Alexis said nothing as the other casino owners gasped and shuddered. She didn't even move her slim hand off the table as the puddle of Rodrigo's blood expanded, reaching out toward her before suddenly stopping just before it could reach her sleeve.

The only movement the girl made was to shift her eyes toward the man who accepted Rodrigo's ring. He picked up the piece of metal with a trembling hand, staring at it as if it was going to bite him. But after such a display, what choice did he have? The man looked up at Lex with a terrified expression, as if begging for a reprieve. But still, she said nothing.

Butch was gruesome in his love for theatrics, and his drama always got his point across without question. While Lex didn't care much to get her own hands dirty, there had been a few instances where she had been the one to pull the trigger, literally or otherwise, on some unfortunate soul who crossed her path. However, she didn't have such a flair as Butch did. Even the man who had brought her to America, the Mafiya boss who had been her lover until she had done him in, who had a perverse love for pain and suffering, couldn't top Butch's creativity. As a right hand man, he was priceless.

And while she had grown mostly numb to the sight of blood, it would probably be several hours before Lex felt like eating anything after such a display.

Someone knocked on the conference room once, then twice more, a suble call for her presence outside. Lex smoothly rose from her chair and pressed the wrinkles out of her skirt. "I believe our business is concluded, gentlemen," she said. "Butch will be happy to show you to the door if you cannot find your way."

She let out a long sigh as she exited the conference room. It was unpleasant business, but it was necessary to squash the little problems as they arose, before such complainers gathered followers. Lex shook her head, a physical way of dismissing the matter before turning to a maid who was standing nearby. "Phone for you, Miss. He didn't give a name, but asked for you specifically."

Lex nodded and took the phone from the woman, who quickly exited the hallway. "Yes?" she aswered shortly.

"It's Jensen," a husky voice came from the other end. Alexis rolled her eyes. Jensen was one of her informants, who always insisted on speaking to her directly, no matter how trivial the news. Fat and lewd, the man was too caught up in his own self importance to care that he was disturbing her day with what would probably be nothing.

"Four, maybe five men found dead in an alley downtown," the man panted into the phone. "I heard it straight from an eyewitness who saw them cleaning up the bodies. Cut 'em up real good, too. The witness said that she overheard one of the EMT's saying it might be Masquerade again."

Lex straightened. Perhaps Jensen was some good after all. "Who were the victims this time?"

"Dunno," the man replied. "I don't know all the details yet."

Well, perhaps he wasn't some good after all. She pressed a palm to her forehead in frustration. "Can you get the details?"

There was a pause on the other end. "Think so."

"Do it," Lex ordered. "And don't call me again. I'll meet you at MacArthur park in an hour."

She hung up the phone without waiting for an answer and set it on a nearby end table. Lex moved to get her suit coat and Czar's leash. Both she and her dog could probably use some fresh air anyway.

[Black]

Butch walked out of the meeting room after giving strict instructions of what to do with the body and what business will be going on. Butch's pager went off and the conversation Alexis had with her contact appeared on his screen. His purpose for keeping tabs on Alexis was different from Rippers purpose. Unlike Ripper he liked his boss, and he went through extensive lengths to keep her safe. He would go even so far as to say he loved her romantically, but he was excellent at keeping his emotions under control.

To be honest he didn't enjoy murder as much as he lead people to believe. In his child-hood he would actually stand outside for hours and allow himself to get lost in the simple majesty of nature. This also helped him to be aware of everything happening around him. There is very little Butch would miss in a room even as big as the Sydney opera house. Visually he would miss almost nothing.

But as was proven. Butch was one for theatrics, and Examples had to be made to keep her safe. Butch dialed his phone. "Ripper, two hours. Begin the operation," and Butch hung up with a grim smile.

[Kaiosuke]

Kaiosuke walked out from his study and outside into the front grounds. He awaited Ripper there with four armed men gaurding him. Each had a M16 and a katana sheathed on thier side. The Yakuza are known for thier use of swords when dealing with rivals and trouble makers. They were more finese with thier killings often using execution style so that thier high priced suits would not get blood on them. Only the lower soldiers were brutal and barbaric, but that was because all they got were bats chains and glocks. One had to rank up in the Yauza to obtain the fantastic hand made katanas. Kaiosuke unsheathed his own looking at the fine edge and the engraving. It was the same blade he had killed the last leader of the Yakuza with. The engraving said "名誉があなたの衣類なら、スーツは寿命を持続させる。" meaing "If honor be your clothing, the suit will last a lifetime." Which was an old proverb passed down through his family. He continued to look at it while awaiting Ripper.

[Black]

Ripper advanced through the darkness, at first only his shoes were visible in the darkness walking towards them. Then slowly his legs, lower torso, upper torso, and finally his head appeared out of the shadows. He had added black gloves to his out-fit and there was a crooked smile on his face that seemed to say "I'm going to kill you" without having to open his lips. "Hello Boss" said Ripper pushing his glasses up with his middle and pointer fingers.

[MikeZZZ]

Gabriel yawned loudly as he drove down the highway to LA. A phone call at night had roused him from his bed, and the person on the other end gave him an adress, and 10 mintues to get there. Upon arrival, he was met by an FBI agent, who gave him a folder, and another adress in LA. "Get there as fast as you can, read the folder on the way." The man said and then walked away.

So here he was, on his way to LA, doing god knows what, with no idea of what he was walking into. Reaching over, he opened the folder an began to read.
Greetings Gabriel,
You are on temporary assignment to the LAPD, your mission is to uncover a dirty cop that we know is in the higher ups somewhere. When you find this cop, eliminate them. There is to be no court case, and no jail time for this man. Also below you will find your alias and rank in the LAPD.

Name: Gabriel Thompson
Rank: Lieutenant
Bio:Just another cop, enjoys harmonica and rock climbing


Gabe groaned at that, he hated Rock Climing, and didn't know the first thing about a harmonica. Oh well, in the list was a place where he could learn to play the harmonica, and how to rock climb. "Least I know that my alias won't be hard to remember. he thought cheerfully. LA-1,150 Miles He groaned again, and settled in to read the rest of the folder. It was gonna be a long drive.

[Kaiosuke]

"Ripper? What's gotten into you?" He said noticing the smile and tone of voice. He gripped his katana more firmly with one hand and put his other down to the side near his 9mm. He was afraid the only person he trusted fully would be the one to try to take his life, just as he did to his predescessor. He turned to face Ripper completely. "Have you come up with any ideas for when we attack?" he said firmly as if nothing were wrong.

[Black]

Ripper slowly slid his sword out of his sheath. His eyes locked onto Kaiosuke and he took two rapid steps forward, his sword sliced through Kaiosuke's neck and sent his head tumbling to the ground. His laughter echoed out at the stunned look on all the guards faces, before his sword cut them apart too, splattering their organs and limbs all over the virgin lawn. . .


Ripper seemed to jerk out of a day dream and he bowed low. "Sorry, please follow me" he said and led the way to a car. "The attack will begin as soon as we can get there, and by nightfall you will have Miss Darya," Ripper opened the door for Kaiosuke and the four guards waiting for them to get into the car before he took up a seat as far away from all of them as possible, and turned his eyes to stair out the window.

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

"Oh God," the brunette whispered and gripped the fabric of her white pants, all she could do to keep herself from visibly trembling. "Is there anything else we know other than "maybe's" and "seems like's?" Anything?"

Her emphasis was on the last word. Her chocolate eyes flashed an apologetic look to the jiu jitsu instructor as she stood, slid into her shoes and slung her duffle bag over her should. She was already headed out the door and down the street to where she'd parked her bike.

Sarah held her phone against her ear with her shoulder as she straddled the bike again; tears were welling in her eyes, but her voice was steady, fear clenching her chest for Morehouse. She'd known him since she was a kid - he'd always been there for her, the towering (at least, he'd hit towering freshman year of high school) protective shadow of the brother she'd never had - for awhile, she'd thought of him as more, but he'd never seemed to return the feelings so she'd settled comfortably in friendship. Tom Morehouse was a good man and she was proud to have him by her.

"I'm headed over to the FBI headquarters downtown, I'll be there soon," she told him as she shrugged on her riding jacket, waiting for him to say more before she started the bike and put on her helmet. Her eyes roamed the parking lot and the streets and alley's of the nearby buildings.

[Kaiosuke]

((Lol i was about to be like BULLSHIT that's godmodding lol))

Kaiosuke sat in the car eager to start attack. He made a call to have more soldiers come along in different cars. He also ordered them to park a block away and walk the rest. "Now we can be rid of these damned russians once and for all." He said, excitement edging his voice. He was ready for the battle to come and new they had the upper hand of surprise.

[Black]

(( I totally just woke up from a nap and I feel even more tired. It's so annoying and blah and This is my angry face ---> -,...,-, also I figured you would be like that XD. Thats why I did it.))

Ripper smiled at his bosses enthusiasm. Then that smile fell a little as his eyes locked onto a tall and imposing figure standing not far away with several men with him. Butch's eyes wandered around and counted all the men Kaiosuke had brought. Then he smiled innocently as he disappeared into the shadows before anyone could take a look at him other than Ripper. Rippers skin seemed to tingle a little bit. Something very bad was about to happen, and it scared Ripper which was an oddity in itself.


Dan hung up the phone and looked about his office. It was filthy from all the case files he had handled and not bothered to put back. "I should really clean this up some time, but it helps people along their way because they cannot stop to chat" he said, smiling a bit. Dan hated talking. Hated it when people sought him out to talk about anything but work. He'd even punched a preacher once who kept going on and on to him about how he was doing god's work for solving these cases. It was now quoted a lot by FBI locals "Am I doing gods work now that I've broken your nose," which is what he had said after punching the priest.

In all likeliness this would be another emotional woman who would break down and cry and tell Dan all about her feelings and oh boohoo. People died. That was the way of the world. Dan just wished it wasn't so damn inconvenient. . . .

[Anne Bonny]

"Mommy, look at the dog! Is that a grey hound?"

A young girl, maybe around eight or nine ran up to Lex with a grin on her round face. The child's mother in tow, looked a bit apprehensive at her daughter approaching a strange animal. She glanced up at Alexis, an apologetic look in her green eyes. The mob boss simply smiled back in return.

"Not a grey hound, child. We call him a borzoi," she paused, trying to decide how to describe the breed to the young girl. "He is a Russian hunting dog."

The girl cooed, her eyes never leaving Czar. "Can I pet him?"

Her hands were moving to the dog before Lex had a chance to answer. She felt Czar tense through the leash. "нежный," she commanded, gentle in her native tongue, and the dog relaxed. The blond girl petting Czar forcefully on the forehead, making the dog's head bob up and down.

"He's so nice!" she exclaimed.

The girl's mother added that he was a beautiful dog, something Lex already knew, before taking her daughter's hand and leading her away. Alexis checked her watch and sighed. Jensen was late.

How annoying. She must remember to take a percentage off his payment.

She pulled a cigarette from her purse and lit it. MacArthur park was one of her favorite haunts on her walks with Czar. It was large, and circled a small, man made lake, filled with ducks that the dog loved to watch. There were several other men and women around in suits and slacks, all using their lunch breaks to care for dogs of various sizes. Lex, in her Gucci suit and heels, easily blended in with the crowd. Just as she liked it.

"You shouldn't smoke," a deep voice came from behind. "It's bad for you."

The girl turned to see Jensen, cheeks flushed with the exertion of simply walking to catch up with her. "In my country, it's considered patriotic to smoke," she replied evenly, flicking a bit of ash on the ground. "Just as eating another cheeseburger is patriotic in yours."

The man laughed, unaware of the jab she had made at his weight. "Wanna hear what I've discovered?"

"You mean what someone else has discovered and repeated to you?" Lex replied. But despite her loathing for the man, the eagerness to hear his news was apparent in her voice. "Go ahead."

[Black]

"Go that way and circle around to the back door. Catch anyone who comes running" said Ripper as he lead Kaiosuke and the raiding party to the front door of the Darya complex. All around them lay dead Mafiya members, cut to ribbons by a sword that didn't belong to any of the Yakuza. As Ripper and the five men (including Kaiosuke) approached the front door it opened silently to allow them entrance on silent hinges. Inside the house sat Mafiya bosses scattered all around the house cut to shreds before. It seemed not a shot had been fired and not a single cartridge case lay on the floor. Even Ripper was surprised, and that was evident on his face.

Something had gone very wrong here. Or maybe very right.






In the park Butch was walking with slow purposeful strides towards Alexis. He was covered in blood from head to foot and he held a gleaming red sword in hand. His stride was that of a man who came to commit a murder and regretted that he had been chosen to do it dearly. His glasses glinted in the sun.

[Anne Bonny]

Jensen eagerly spilled all the details of his story with great pride. There were five victims who were killed, and one man who was missing. An LAPD officer some said, and FBI agent others claimed. Jensen suggested that this Morehouse could be both; perhapse some sort of undercover agent. And, he said, some officers had already been mobilized to search for him. The whole things suggested a kidnapping.

Lex took one last draw of her cigarette while Jensen finished his tale before stomping it on the ground with her black heel. It was intriguing information, but it left too many questions. She opened her mouth to suggest he work on getting more answers, but before any words to come out, she caught sight of Butch over his shoulder.

Her right hand man was bloodied, and carried a weapon out in the open. Some passerby's stopped and stared, while others ran, but Butch took no notice. He steps were resolved, determined, and his gaze was fixed upon her. Lex's breath caught in her throat, and the words she had meant to say evaporated with her cigarette smoke.

"Oh my god," was all she could whisper, stunned into silence, unsure of what to do or say as the man approached. But Alexis Darya was a woman of action overall, and finally she stirred. She took two steps around Jensen's large form, not registering his questions about what she was doing, and moved toward Butch.

She drew to a halt as the man approached her, one hand over her mouth, as if in an effort to cover her obvious surprise. Yet with all the questions and fears that loomed in her mind, Lex was shocked at the one that seemed the most important of all. It was as if she had never realized how concerned she was for this single man.

"Butch, are you hurt?"

[Black]

"Are you hurt" that single phrase seemed to shock Butch. His eyes were wide with surprise, his glasses slipped down his nose, and for the first time ever his eyes seemed to have a glimmer of emotion. They were also no longer black, but piercing radiating blue with flecks of green through them. His hand was numb, he couldn't hold onto his Katana. It slipped through his fingers and impaled it'self into the ground. He reached up with his hand and pulled his glasses off, along with his hat. A single tear ran down the side of his face.

"No I am not hurt physically. . . But Miss Darya," his face tilted downward, the sun at his back shadowed it. "I have come here to kill you," and his other hand raised his 9mm and pointed it to the exact place her heart would be. His thumb flicked the safety off and his finger began to squeeze the trigger. But it failed him. His arm dropped to his side, numb. "And I'm afraid I cannot do that," his voice was nothing more than a whisper.

Jensen pulled a side-arm out to shoot Butch before he could work up the nerve to kill Alexis, but Butch was having none of it. His hand flicked simply and a knife flew out of his sleeve and hit Jensen in the tendon, paralyzing the arm, another flick of his hand sent a knife spinning into Jensen's throat.

[Anne Bonny]

"I have come here to kill you, and I'm afraid I cannot do that," Butch said.

As if events couldn't get stranger, as if Lex couldn't feel any more shocked and surprised, Butch had said the unthinkable. Even if he did say he couldn't complete the action, her heart felt as if it had already been pierced by his bullet. He had always been at her side. He had always protected her. He had even gotten that scar to save her once. Alexis' lips parted, but she couldn't speak the question that pounded so fiercely in her mind. Why?

Jensen drew a gun, but even as he did, Lex knew he was no match for her comrade. The man was cut down before he even realized Butch was drawing a weapon. But the girl didn't spare him a passing glance. Her eyes remained riveted on Butch. Czar was snarling at her side, sensing his mistress' impending danger, but Lex gave his collar a tug to keep him at her side. Her heart pounded in her chest, ever instinct, every nerve in her body telling her to run. But instead, Lex took a step, then another, toward Butch.

Her blue eyes never wavered, never left his as a trembling hand reached up to touch his cheek. Lex brushed the tear from his face as she whispered his name. Her resolve had crumbled so quickly, and the girl didn't understand why. The man who stood before her was a traitor, an enemy. Yet that agonizing, naked pain in his eyes swayed her heart. There had to be something more to this story. This didn't make sense.

"We need to leave here, there are too many people," she said, her voice quiet and pleading. "Let's go somewhere else, somewhere private. Just tell me why, Butch, and you can do whatever you want with me then."

[Black]

Butch stood there, numb. He reached his bloody hand up and covered her hand with his. He nodded numbly and reached down and picked up his weapons. He sheathed his cane blade and handed his cane to Alexis, and then he handed over his 9mm. "I'd give you the rest of my weaponry, but we'd be here all day. . ." he began to walk towards Jensen. He reached down and picked up his 9mm and pulled the two blades out and tossed the 9mm to Alexis and hid the Knives up his sleeves. "And please, call me by my real name" he said turning around, pulling a mask out of his suit and putting it on his face. "Cornelius Grim"

"Known to the world as Masquerade"

[Anne Bonny]

Her slim hand trailed downward from Butch's, or rather, the man she knew as Butch's cheek to chis chest, and finally released him to hold the gun he handed to her. Lex stared down at it in wonder. Why was he telling her all of this if the Masquerade's identity was supposed to be a secret? Why was he giving her a weapon if he was supposed to kill her?

Her blue eyes moved upward again, searching his face for the answers she knew he must have. What else had her closest partner been holding from her? The pain of betrayal tightened in her chest, and Alexis suddenly found it difficult to breath. Despite all the things she had seen Butch do in the past, she had never feared him. Been wary, yes, but never feared. He had more than proven his loyalty to the Mafiya in the past, and had done everything to protect her. But had it all been an act?

Finally, the girl squared her shoulders. Whatever her fate, Lex knew she could not escape it now. Even if she were to run, Butch knew every hideaway, ever ally, and every secret code and key that kept her safe. Running would do her no good. It seemed the time had come for Lex to face the Masquerade.

"I don't understand, B-" she almost said his name, that same name she had called him for so long. "... Mr. Grim," she finally finished. "What do we do now?"

[Black]

Grim stopped for a moment. "I'll be taking you somewhere safe. I was your body guard for many years, it won't stop now. You can still trust your life in my hands" Then Grim opened the front passenger seat of a black 11959 Dodge D500 painted in all black. Inside the seats were made of a gorgeous red velvet and the steering-wheel and dash board were made of handsome red-wood. The windows were tinted and the general feel of the car let you know that every inch of it was bullet proof.

Before grim got in the other side he pulled off his pinstripe suit to reveal under-neath it common faded jeans, a black t-shirt, and a tattoo on his right arm that read in black italics "Death before Dishonor" He pulled out a gas can that had "NAPALM" written in sharpie on the side and poured it all over the clothing which he had tossed on the ground, then got into the car and pulled out a match, lit it, and dropped it on the clothing which burst into flame. He also took the two guns from Alexis's hands, emptied the bullets and dropped them into the napalm fire.

"No evidence. Ever" he said to himself as he started the car and drove away. Later when the police would review the security feeds on the park, they would find nothing but a sunny day without a cloud in site, and people calmly walking their dogs. A video feed that had been spliced into the FBI Security cams.

As Grim drove he stole nervous glances at the girl in his front seat, but he said nothing. He was driving for only thirty minutes before he pulled into a multi-parking complex and parked the car. He got out and opened the side door for Alexis. "Ma'am" he said bowing, an old habit of his. Without his hat one could notice that his hair was pitch black, and they contrasted amazingly with his piercing blue-green eyes. "Step this way" he said and lead the way down the street and into a neighborhood of apartments. He was walking for five minutes before he came to an apartment complex. He buzzed room number 15, the very top-most room.

"Come in" came Tom Morehouse's deep voice.

[Kaiosuke]

"Ripper? What's going on?" He was worried about this. It was definetly the work of Masqurade. "Was... this masqurade?" He drew his katana in one hand and his 9mm in the other. The four gaurds around him closed in tighter with thier backs to thier leader. "What's going on?" he whispered thinking the murderer would be near by.

[Black]

Ripper looked around startled. It was evident that he had forgotten Kaiosuke was there. "Yes, this is indeed the work of Masquerade," he turned around and surveyed the bloody scene. "And I already know that there will be absolutely no evidence we can use to find out who Masquerade is. We need to leave. Now," and Ripper turned on his heel and flat out began to run out of the house.

A deep rumbling began and purple-green fire burst from the floor-boards. It was obvious that the house had been rigged to blow, and judging from the purple-green flames, napalm had been set to light not long after the murder, thus erasing all evidence in an inferno.

"Run!" Shouted Ripper over the sound of the fire escalating into an inferno as it's heat caused the gas in a car to expand then explode.

[Kaiosuke]

Kaiosuke ran towards the door. "What the fuck!" He cried as he jumped out of the door through flames. He tossed his hat to the ground as it was in flames. "Damn it all. That was favorite god damn hat." He brushed the soot of his suit as he walked up next to Ripper. He had dropped his gun in the house and now shots rang out as the heat forced the gun to fire. He still held onto his katana. He would rather die than lose it as it had been his fathers before him. He looked behind him to see his four gaurds panting and patting out flames on the clothes. "This guy is smart. To burn the evidence to keep his identity a secret. Not to mention the napalm, I am sure, was made of gasoline and styrofoam. But how did he get the chance to rig it all. Those bodies were fresh there is no doubt about that." He wondered if maybe the guy behind it all was a part of the Russian Mafyia. Perhaps masqurade was Alexis. He had so many questions going through his head.

[Black]

Somebody read the Anarchist Cookbook.


"I believe we're not dealing with an ordinary murderer" said Ripper as he turned to his boss. His bi-polar tendencies annoyed himself. At one moment he wanted to kill his boss, but back in the flames he wanted nothing more than to save his boss from danger. How annoying. "I believe we are dealing with someone of military background. A terrorist cell who has it in his head to try and take justice into his own hand. And obviously he is capable of doing it, those men were all killed by the same man, cut down hardly an hour ago. And to have rigged the explosives wouldn't have been too hard. Dynamite fuse into a gas-can, or a suit-case rigged compacted napalm bomb" his eyes searched the flaming ruins. "Lets get out of here" he said finally.

[Kaiosuke]

<.< Maybe <.<

"Agreed, we need to get out of here before it is thought we did this. That is the last thing we need." He walked over to the car and got inside. "I want this man dead. Who is to say he won't come after us next." He would have to stay ready at all times. He knew he would put up a better fight than the Mafyia had, but what if the murderer cm after him while he slept. He would be damned if the LA branch of the Yakuza would fall to this trained killer. The thought of military frightened him. He would definatly lose some sleep over this.

[Black]

XD I have a written copy I keep in a hidden compartment in my desk. I never did find out if owning those things was considered illegal. o.0


"Ill have men put out on the street to find him. But Boss, he'll find us. We will not find him," said Ripper as he pulled off his burnt gloves and replaced them. "This is quite unprecedented. The Mafiya are no punks. The man who killed them obviously had skill. But to do it without even a shot being fired... That alone is a unique skill," Ripper put his hand to his chin. "There cannot be many people in this city with that level of skill. It narrows our search down majorly, plus the man has probably been to Japan or China, maybe Taiwan and learned to fight," Ripped looked around.

"You may not have noticed but several bodies were displaced, and it seems to me that they were hit with a fist or a kick, meaning that our man is very strong and trained in hand-to-hand combat. I saw a mans bone sticking out of his elbow, and his neck was snapped. A tell-tale sign of hyper-extension followed by a elbow around the face and a quick jerk, which would snap the neck. I've preformed such a move a few times myself. This narrows our search even more," Ripper pulled open a lap-top and began to type.

"Tom Morehouse, Bill Peevehouse, Myself, David West, Michael Ford, Dan Miller. Those are the pre-dominant people on the list. Sarah Marr is also a candidate, but she is being trailed. Tom Morehouse is missing, but we know for a fact he is injured. That leaves Butch, who kills every spy we send at him, David West, whom we have a constant tail upon, Michael Ford, who also has a tail, and Dan Miller who has been in his office all day.

All that leaves is Butch, the Mafiya Kingpin. But he nearly sacrificed himself for Alexis and her Mafiya. I don't see him doing this. . .," Ripper sighed. "Damn it all!"

[Anne Bonny]

Only a half an hour in the car, but to Alexis, it felt like an eternity. She sat perfectly still for the drive, both hands in her lap, eyes staring at nothing through the window, legs pinned together, with perfect posture. She had never felt so uncomfortable in her life, and it probably showed by her stiff body, but Lex was beyond pretending. Butch had always seen her for her true self, why should Cornelius Grim be any different?

There were times she felt his blue-green eyes on her, and others when Czar nuzzled her arm with his wet nose from the back seat. But Lex ignored them both. Her mind had been spinning all day, and she felt dizzy. It was too difficult to focus on the here and now.

Finally, Grim pulled to a stop near a large apartment complex, and with a polite bow, ushered her out of the car. Lex murmured her thanks, carefully watching the man as he retrieved Czar and handed her the dog's leash. It occurred to her that she had never seen him in anything but a suit. In his tee-shirt and jeans, and a even tattoo she never knew he had, the man she knew as Butch did appear to be a completely different identity all together.

Someone answered his call at the front of the apartment complex, and the two made their way inside, with the dog closely on Lex's heels. With every step her anticipation grew. Who was the man waiting for them in the room? Was it someone Grim was working for? Or the other way around? And Grim had said he was supposed to kill her, but that he would continue to protect her instead. So what was her purpose here? The girl's stomach twisted into knots, but she remained silent as they took the elevator upward. She had a sudden craving for another cigarette.

Apartment 15 was on the very top floor, and the hallway leading to it was empty. Alexis hated her heels as they clicked loudly on the ground, as if their very sound added to the tension. Grim lead her to the door, carefully withdrew a key from his pocket, and held it open for her.

Lex moved into the room, her ice blue eyes quickly finding not only the deep voiced man who had answered their call at the door, but three others as well. All four men looked up expectantly as the pair came into the room, surprise evident all over their faces.

"Why is she still alive, you idiot?" one of the men spat, who's voice Lex immediately recognized from the call box. He bore a striking resemblance to Grim, but the way he looked at her was much different that her former second in command ever had. The hostility in his voice alone scared her, and Lex involuntarily stepped backwards, behind her protector, trembling.

[Black]

"Tom, do not forget that you are injured, and that Grim could easily make you crippled" remarked David West lazily. He had expected this. Despite his reputation, David West was one hell of a detective and spy. Quite obviously he was a good actor too. He flipped the page of his magazine and pretended to read, but his eyes were not moving.

Suddenly the lights flicked brighter as Michael ford adjusted the lighting. One could now see the apartment clearly, and could tell it was enormous. It took up the entire top floor easily, and judging by the stairs in the corner it took some of the bottom floor and the roof as well.

Tom was staring Angrily at Grim, and Michael Ford had a curious look on his face. Agent Dan Miller was on the phone with Sarah Marr, and they waited for him to finish before speaking. "Yes, Miss Marr please... Yes I'll hold... . . . Ah, miss Marr, Special Agent Dan Miller, I have changed our meeting spot. Apartment 15 of the Davidson Complex, downtown LA. Please hurry. Thank you," he clicked off the phone.

Dan looked at Grim. "Okay Grim, please explain yourself,"

Grim took a deep breath. "The Operation went as planned. I waited until Ripper approached the Darya residence. Once they were two blocks away I pulled out my sword and mask and cut down all of the key Mafiya members, as well as all the Soldiers. The Mafiya is pretty much no more, except for a few minor soldiers and drug dealers. I rigged the Napalm explosive to detonate in Miss Darya's house and continued on my way to the Park where my contact told me Miss Darya was. However, I was, obviously, unable to kill my former boss," he looked sideways at her, and his face was grim.

"Fucking idiot" said Tom as he struggled to get over to Grim and strangle him. Dan held him down with a hand and looked at Grim. "We have to kill her" he said into the silence.

"No we do not. She has no more Cartel, No more Mafiya, no more Allies. She is now just a civilian, and we don't kill Civilians," said Grim. His voice hardened and his hand twitched ever so slightly.

This was not unnoticed by the other four men. Each one tensed in response, and everyone but Tom was standing. It was the perfect time to get a good look at them all. All of them were 6'1-6'5 in varying heights, all of them had the same body build, and all of them fit Masquerades profile.

"She lives or I kill you all and walk out of this building" said Grim, and the threat wasn't an Idle one. His hand was flexing and un-flexing.

[Anne Bonny]

The mixed reactions from other other men had been anywhere from confusing to frightening, and Alexis was more than thankful to have the strong and tall Grim at her side. That is, she was glad for him until he shared what he had done at her home.

"You killed them all?" she repeated, her voice barely over a whisper as her throat had suddenly gone dry. All the blood had drained from the girl's face, and she released the grip she had on Grim's arm. Her cartel was gone, she repeated in her mind. Her guardians gone, her home gone. Everything...

In her mind's eye, Lex saw the string of pearls that her mother had given her going up in smoke. Grim was right, she was nothing but a common girl now. To say it was a startling thought was a gross understatement. Where was she to go from here? Back home to her family in Russia? The Mafiya was even stronger there, and they would never allow the single survivor to last long in their home country. No one would believe that she was innocent in the killing of her comrades. If what Grim had said was true, she had no living associates remaining, only enemies who would love to turn her in to the police or the FBI. Now that Lex wouldn't be paying them for information, her ransom probably looked pretty good. Or her enemies like the Yakuza, who wanted her head.

Lex's knees suddenly felt weak. Maybe Grim should have just ended it all in the park.

Czar pressed his nose to her hand, shaking her out of her self pity. Alexis Darya had never been one to surrender so easily. "Do you have a spare room where my dog can rest?" she asked Grim, doing her best to keep her voice even. She had to show Tom and the others that she wasn't afraid, that she was used to calling the shots and wouldn't be pushed around. "He's had a long day, and needs to rest."

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

Sarah tore down the streets of Los Angeles on her bike, blinking tears out of her eyes all the way on the inside of her helmet. She wouldn't cry. Tom was still alive, she just knew it - the bastard couldn't die, he simply couldn't. She pulled the bike up to the doors of the FBI building, deciding she could be given a ticket later for inappropriate parking and tugged off her helmet. A vibration in her pocket caught her attention, something she hadn't felt while the bike had been on; she slid her cell phone out of her pocket and unlocked it, peering down at the screen.

1 Missed call - Dan Miller. 1 Voice mail.

Marr hadn't yet disconnected the call-forwarding she had on her phone and the call had probably gone to the LAPD receptionist. Obviously, the receptionist had forwarded the call directly to her voice mail; with a soft smile, she mentally thanked whoever it was. She selected "Call" under the voice mail notice and raised the phone to her ear, brushing back her dark locks.

"Ah, miss Marr, Special Agent Dan Miller, I have changed our meeting spot. Apartment 15 of the Davidson Complex, downtown LA. Please hurry. Thank you. *Click*"

She sighed and ended the call. Sarah loathed chasing people around the city. Turning her phone on its side, she brought up the Internet and Google'd the Davidson Complex for directions. After a moment of memorizing street names, she tucked her phone away again and brought her glasses out of her bag, trading her contacts for the frames right there as she sat on the bike. Carefully, she slid her helmet back over her head and headed to the building Miller had mentioned.

It took about fifteen minutes of illegally weaving through traffic to get to the complex and once she arrived she parked her bike, slid off, grabbed her duffel bag and headed inside. Turned out, fifteen was the room at the very top. She stood in the lobby of the building just before the gate to the stairs and elevator, without a key; she reached out and jabbed the button to buzz the room.

[Black]

Grim looked at the camera that lead to the apartment complex door and saw Marr. "Sarah is here, I'll show her up" said Grim quickly as he fled the room. Dan looked at Alexis for a moment as if indecisive. "This way Miss Darya, if you will" Dan said finally, earning a dirty look from Tom.

"Miss Darya, you're probably very confused about this all, and you probably hate Grim with an ire. However I must ask you to be patient. Our newest recruit is here, and she's going to want to know just as much as you do, and it'll save time if we only have to tell the story once," Dan lead the way down a very long hall-way with only one door at the very end.

He opened the door and ushered Alexis in. Inside was a studio room nearly as big as the Mafiya meeting hall. There was a bed nearly the size of an executive desk against the far wall. Above the bed was a window that could be tinted and un-tinted via remote control to allow view of night-sky or daytime sunlight. In the far corner of the room sat a complicated set of machines. In the exact center of the room was a table low to the ground with no chairs, and in the far left corner was a door that obviously led to the bathroom. All along the walls next to the entrance to the room and up to the bathroom. On the only space left in the room was an entertainment system with a huge flat-screen and white sofa's surrounding a table.

Under the system showed the only link that Grim knew how to have fun, as there was every entertainment system from the original Atari to the newest and latest in Xbox games. That was the only part of the room that looked like it had recently been avoided, as if the owner had had little reason to enjoy life. Over the windows surrounding the room was black-velvet curtains and his bed was also covered in black-and-gold colors. His floor was a red hardwood that mixed beautifully with the contrasting black and white decor with gold tinges.

"This is Grim's room"



Grim opened up the door out front. "Miss Marr, I am Cornelius Grim. Please follow me, I'll show you to Special Agent Dan Miller," and Grim turned around and lead the way up the stairs. It was a full fifteen minutes before the two of them reached the black door with the golden number 15 on the front. Grim knocked, and it sounded very Solem and resolved. However, when the door was opened by David West and as he stepped to the side he gave her a clear view of Tom sitting on the couch reclining with his feet up on the coffee table.

Dan was leaning against a wall that was covered with pictures of Mafiya and Yakuza members. On another wall in the far corner of the room was a black cabinet with golden trimmings and a window. Inside were four suits of varying size. One was a Pin-stripe outfit, another was a Black suit with a golden tie, another was a top hat, a cloak, a black velvet shirt, black leather pants, and the Masquerade mask. The final suit is a former Reich master suit from WW II and must have cost a fortune. He had brought Alexis's with him to hear this.

"Hullo Marr" said Tom casually.

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

Marr arched a dark eyebrow at Grim as he answered the door, introduced himself and started to lead the way up the stairs in what seemed like one breath. She followed him up, taking two steps at a time to keep up.

Ten minutes later, she decided she didn't have to take a second jiu jitsu class today. Three minutes after that, she realized how strange she must look, wearing her white jiu jitsu pants and black sports bra, leather jacket half-zipped up her torso, canvas black duffel bag bouncing against her hip. Two minutes after that, they reached the apartment and Cornelius knocked. Someone on the inside opened the door and then an emotion she couldn't clearly identify gripped her stomach and crushed her chest in a vice.

"OH my God!" Sarah raised her voice, her chocolate brown eyes widening as she saw Tom lounging on the couch. The rest of the room blurred and she crossed it to him, practically pouncing on the man. She didn't know whether to slap him or kiss him so she just stood over him, hands balled into fists to keep from trembling, looking infuriated.

[Anne Bonny]

Lex stared around the room in awe. One surprise after another, she mused. And to think that this man Grim had been working alongside her for years and she had never suspected him of anything. Perhaps Lex shpild have been ashamed, maybe even offended. But in truth, she felt impressed.

"Maybe I have been paying him too much," Lex said with a joking half smile. She had been afraid when Grim had left her side for the door, and one of the men who suggested they kill her offered to take her into a room. But without Grim around, she felt it easier to regain her composure.

She removed Czar's leash and let him settle himself against the back of the couch. With a gentle pat on the head and a few words in Russian, the girl stood and turned to follow Dan out the door, her blue eyes boring into his back as they walked. She couldn't shake the feeling she had seen him, and the others in the room before. But how was she to keep track of all the names and faces she came across? That had been Butch's job.

A girl had entered, looking just as surprised as she had felt herself. That gave Lex some comfort as she quickly moved to Grim's side again.

[Kaiosuke]

As they arived back at the Yakuza mansion, Kaiosuke didn't wait for the door to be opened for him. He walked quickly to the mansion calling out orders to his men. "I want 24 hour gaurding and survailence of the building. If so much as a feather flies in through a crack I want to know about it. I also want the entire building checked for anykind of bomb that does not belong. I will be sleeping in the guest room and I want a group of gaurds in my personal bedroom and my office. I also want at least ten gaurds in the room before the guest room. I want all the intel reps in the confrence room in five minutes." He stormed to his personal bedroom to prepare his own weapons so that he would be ready if anything were to happen anytime soon. He would be damned if he went down without a fight.

[Black]

Tom stood, with more than a little trouble, and it suddenly became clear that he didn't have a shirt on. Instead he was wrapped in bandaging and around his neck he was black and blue and his body looked really beat up. He looked at Sarah with a sheepish smile, and said "So, Wanna go out Friday night?" it was a long standing joke from their friendship. Tom had asked her out freshman year if she wanted to go out and she had responded by kicking him in the nuts. Thats what he got for asking a stupid question in the middle of Jujitsu classes. He smiled nervously, and his hand was hovering close to his nards to stop an incoming foot.


Grim meanwhile had slid back to his customary spot in the shadows. Only his gleaming eyes were visible in the darkness surrounding him. He began to speak. "I imagine you both want to know what is going on, which is understandable. You've both been brought here, for very different reasons. Sarah Marr, the person who stands before you is Masquerade, and the people around him excluding miss Alexis Darya, are his accomplices. They are the reason I am not in jail or dead. My other alias's are Butch the Mafiya Kingpin, and Bill Peevehouse. It has been my organisations goal to combat crime in this city. The Mafiya is now non-existent, and the Yakuza will soon go that way. However, it has been made clear to me and my colleges that there is a man in the world who, if allowed to live and breath un-checked, will toss this nation into chaos"

[MikeZZZ]

Gabriel parked the car on the corner of some LA street, and paused to think. During his couple hours in the car, he had only managed to get halfway through the folder of material. As he mentally reviewed what he had managed to read, he noticed that any police he saw had downcast eyes. “That’s odd,why would they not be looking around, alert?” he thought to himself. ”I mean, this is LA, a hotbed for Mafia members….” Trailing off, he took a good look around, and didn’t see a single Mafia member on the streets. “Something is very wrong here, and I’m guessing, I’m going to be assigned to it.”

He groaned and tried to get out of the car, no such luck. After a few hours in the car, his muscles had frozen up. Stretching in the seat, he waited for a minute and tried again. Getting out of the car slowly, he pulled out his phone and stretched one more time. Dialing the number he had, he started talking soon as the man picked up. “Yo Rodriguez, it’s Gabriel, I’m in the city now, where do ya wanna meet up?” Taking another look around, he noticed a few (wanna be) mob guys, but still nobody serious at it.

[Anne Bonny]

With her hands free of Czar's leash and no one calling for her head, Lex was able to absorb all the details of the apartment as she stood at Grim's side. She listened to the Masquerade, but also took the time to mentally investigate her surroundings, and the people in it, while all attentions seemed to be focused on the speaker.

Most of all, Alexis found herself wondering about the pretty brunette that seemed to be the newest recruit to their secret club of avengers. Grim had referred to her as Sarah Marr; yet another name that seemed disturbingly familiar to the former Mafiya head. Marr was clearly surprised by the meeting, and had an obviously close, perhaps even intimate relationship with the man who had earlier expressed such anger that Lex was still breathing. Yet despite her shock, Marr stayed mostly composed. She was athletic looking, with hands brought into fists that looked capable of doing some damage.

And the man she apparently knew was at least moderately injured, Lex realized with a twinge of satisfaction. But no time to gloat, she reminded herself. There was something about these two. A woman who was authoritative and strong, physically and mentally, and a man who had recently been hurt. Hadn't Jensen just told her about a police officer who had been kidnapped by the Masquerade?

Flushed lips parted ever so slightly as Lex came to her realization. They were both LAPD, that had to be it. This was Morehouse, the kidnapped officer. And that was how Sarah Marr must have known him. That would also explain why Marr seemed so familiar, as the police and Lex's boys were always at odds with each other.

She fought to keep from tensing up and shifted her gaze back to Grim before it gave away her distaste. It was second nature to loathe the police in Lex's line of work. Or rather, in her former line of work, Alexis reminded herself. She had no more Mafiya beneath her. And Grim seemed to trust the two well enough, and for some reason she couldn't explain, Lex was inclined to trust him.

He spoke of an upcoming threat to the nation, and the girl listened patiently, as did the others. She watched the man she once knew as Butch as his eyes glinted in the shadows. He seemed like a new person instead of the right hand man she had known for so long. His voice had an edge to it that was... what was the English word for it... Intriguing.

Lex clasped her hands behind her back to keep from fidgeting, waiting for Grim to continue, finding herself hanging on every word.

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

As soon as Tom asked, the far shorter woman reached up, took his strong jaw in her hands and practically yanked him down to her; the brunette rose on her toes and, closing her chocolate brown eyes, Sarah kissed him. It was a chaste kiss, no tongue or anything, but a loving, lingering, more-than-a-friend-would-do kiss.

Apparently, Marr had decided.

When Grim's voice filled the room, Sarah drew away and opened her eyes, composed and even brushing her hair over her shoulder, adjusting the black frames of her glasses. As the man told her they'd both been brought here for very different reasons, she glanced around and found who he must have been speaking of - Alexis Darya, who Sarah recognized from the pictures of her in the Mafia files - and she physically bristled. In the same moment, Grim informed her that the man Sarah had just kissed was Masquerade; her head whipped toward him and then she realized there were more people in the room, David West, Dan Miller of course - she'd come here to see him - and Michael Ford. She did a brief double take at the two LAPD members and pursed her lips ever so slightly, calculating whilst she listened.

Grim carried on, naming his aliases and her eyes glided back to him as the fact he'd just admitted he was the Mafia kingpin registered in her head, regretting she didn't have a wire for a fraction of a second. He continued and her eyes roamed briefly to Tom and Dan, only to turn back as he spoke of a man who was capable of tossing the nation into chaos. Sarah's brows raised, disappearing under her long side-swept bangs.

"Who?" It was a simple question, but no one had said it and Sarah wasn't one for cliff-hangers.

[Black]

Grim's eyes slid over to Sarah Marr, then back to those settled in the room. "First you must know the relationships between me and these people in the room. Tom Morehouse is my Brother, as is Ripper. We are Triplets all born a few minutes apart. I am the eldest by 5 minutes. Tom is older than Ripper by 2 minutes. Dan, Michael, and David are all our childhood friends. As children me, tom, Dan, Michael, and David were all fascinated by law enforcement. Or rather, justice itself. Tom, Dan, Michael and David all entered their variants of the FBI/LAPD,"

I however joined the Army and was put on the fast track. After a year I was recruited by the Navy Seals, and a year further by the Delta Force. After that I was contracted by an old Yakuza Mobster to protect his daughter, and ultimately I helped her kill him, even though she didn't know it till now," he nodded towards Alexis.

"After Alexis took power of the Yakuza I approached my fellow's and proposed a plan to put the Yakuza out of business, as well as cripple the Mafia. We formulated a plan and I donned my outfit as Masquerade for the first time. The US Government knows full well who I am, at least the brass do. It would be kind of hard to miss because my code-name in the Seal was Masquerade because I was often the masked man who was sent in as a double agent," he looked at Alexis and bowed his head in apology.

"I was only doin my job lady Alexis. My affection for you is real enough, but I could not accept your job because it conflicted with mine," he bowed once more.



"Ripper however went a different way. He joined the organisation that opposes the world itself, they style themselves the Fourth Reich," Grim turned and walked to the display case. "Im sure you remember Hitlers Germany, or rather the history lessons. This isn't about simple racial differences this time. The leader is a German/Russian man named Basta, and that is as far as our knowledge goes," Grim turned and faced his audience. "We have permission granted from each country's patriarch or matriarch or leader to operate and incorporate their officers into my team," Grim turned around and faced a window that looked out into the city. "We have a credible and serious threat. If it is not handled we will be looking at World War Three, and I need a few more players in my game,"

Grim walked to a wall that had many pictures plastered all over it. Among them was Alexis, Sarah, Ripper, Kaiosuke, and various other pictures. Alexis, Kaiosuke, and Ripper had red tacks through their heads. Sarah and some other pictures had blue tacks while some had green. "The red signifies a target, to spy and kill. The Blue signifies a possible ally. Green means this is a V.I.P to keep tabs on, as of this moment Kaiosuke has been upgraded to a Green and possible Blue, and Alexis has no choice but to aid us now, else be put to death or hidden away," his eye wandered over to her.

[Anne Bonny]

As Grim unwound his tale of the Masquerade's history, Alexis found herself simply staring at him. A tangle of thoughts and feelings were trying to sort themselves through her mind.

He had directed her movement through the Mafiya, he confessed. Her coming to America, her undoing of the man who brought her there, probably everything that she thought she had accomplished this man had done instead. The Masquerade had been behind it all.

The Mafiya queen inside of her felt a twist of betrayal and the anger of being lied to for goodness knew how long. But the woman inside her, the girl who listened to this stranger Alexis thought she knew confess that he had feelings for her. Her heart fluttered in her chest and suddenly she felt dizzy. She put a hand on the wall nearby, just next to her picture that marked her as a dead woman, to help steady herself.

And then Grim went on to say that he had to take down his brother. Alexis had always known Ripper to be one of her most dangerous foes, just beneath his master who commanded him. It was a daunting, even a frightening task to take on, but it was easy for the Mafiya woman to commit to. The hard part would be protecting the man who was now dubbed to have a green tag.

"You're right," Alexis said, physically gathering her courage and turning her blue eyes upward to face Grim again. She had no choice but to aide him, but it wasn't for the reasons he referred to, being killed or hidden. But she wasn't about to reveal her own feelings here in front of the other men around. Like Sarah Marr, Alexis mused with slight satisfaction.

"So we have to get rid of Ripper. Sounds like fun."

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

"I never thought I'd say this, but I agree with princess Mafia over there," nods her head towards Alexis, "Sounds like loads of fun."

Sarah had loads of questions and Michael and Dan were in for a raosting, but she wanted to get Tom on her own to grill him personally. She'd known him since... Since she could remember. How did she not know about this? She stopped herself from letting her eyes roam over him again and instead directed them at the wall of pictures.

Her teeth caught her lip as she thought and shifted her stance, weight from one foot to the other. Her crisp white jiu jitsu pants swayed around her legs, black Adidas with white stripes shuffling quietly on the floor; she unzipped her jacket, finding herself warm in the apartment, but not totally comfortable with taking it off - she was only wearing her sports bra under it and didn't feel like practically flashing the whole room. Her movements were slightly agitated and she squirmed, tucking her hands into the pockets of her jacket.

"What's the game plan?"

[Black]

"First we have to pull Kaiosuke out of the situation in. Ripper will probably take his life tonight. We have to pull him out now, and we're headed that way now," Grim looked out a window towards the setting blood-red sun. "Dan, Mike, David, you need to be on your way. Alexis, with me, and Sarah," he looked over at Tom. "You'll stay here and make sure he doesn't do something idiotic," and grim smiled, then held his hand out to Alexis. "Miss Darya. This way if you please," and then lead her away towards his bedroom to prepare for the extraction of Kaiosuke.

Dan, Mike, and David all said they're goodbyes to Tom and Sarah then filed out of the building. Tom looked over to Sarah with the same surprised dumb founded look on his face. "Uh..." he reached a hand out to her. "Can I get another one of those," he asked, his face pulling into a coy smile.


(Not much longer now and we'll get everyone involved!!!))

[Kaiosuke]

Kaiosuke continued to wait in the conference room. It had now been fifteen minutes. Nobody was late when given a meeting time by the boss. He drew his katana and backed into the corner. He knew the room was empty because he had been watching the door waiting for his informers. Where was Ripper? He was always on his rightside as if he was a hidden weapon in his pocket ready to be pulled out at the first sign of danger. Now he felt like Ripper was the danger. That can't be. He thinks to himself. He is my right hand man. My most trusted advisor.

[MikeZZZ]

After waiting for a while for Rodriguez to call him back, he decided he would be better off waiting in comfort. Getting into his car, he drove to the nearest store and picked up some food, then he went to a hotel and booked a room. Once he got settled in his room a few hours later, he decided to drive around town and see what was up. Getting his weapon, he got in the car, and bought a map of the city. He also turned his cell phone to vibrate, you never knew when the feds would call.....

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

Nodding a little as Grim dished out orders, she found it easy to settle her feet comfortably on the ground for the first time since inside the apartment. Grim had a good natural leadership about him and she didn't mind - it wasn't a taken, dark power like the Chief of Police's, but one he'd almost been born with. Tom had a similar command he demanded and a smirk played on her lips as her mind warped like a teenager's for a moment.

"Nothing idiotic, right," she laughed softly, looking from Grim to Tom who towered over her in his shirt of bandages.

"Be safe, guys," she told Dan, David and Michael as they left, closing and locking the door after them before returning to Tom's side and placing her hands on her hips.

"Uh... Can I get another one of those?" He extended his hand and Marr cocked an eyebrow, a coy little smile playing on her lips.

"Another one of what? Hey, where's the kitchen?" Her humor sparkled in her chocolate eyes, lingering on him before looking around, looking for the kitchen as show.

[Anne Bonny]

Alexis' heart was pounding furiously in her chest, so loud that she was certain the man she followed could hear it too. In the span of a few hours her entire life had been turned upside-down, and now they were to plan how to rescue one of her greatest adversaries. The anticipation made her stomach twist into knots, but she said nothing during the short walk to his room.

Grim entered the bedroom and held the door open for her, and for the briefest of moments Alexis felt as if nothing had changed between them at all. Here was the ever-faithful Butch, always at her side, doing everything in his power to keep her safe and cared for.

Lex turned to face him as he shut the door behind them, feeling as if the spacious room had suddenly gotten smaller. He was standing so close in front of her...

One hand raised to trace the black writing tattoed on Grim's arm. "I never even knew you had this," Lex said softly, almost to herself. "We've spent so much time together and it seems that I hardly know you at all."

Ice blue eyes moved upward to meet the blue-green gaze of the man in front of her. "But you know me well enough, don't you? You've been at my side at my worst. I've done horrible things, for money or power. And all this time you've been waging this secret war for justice. It's no wonder you thought you had to kill me. Maybe you were right."

Lex paused, swallowing against the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. "But whether Butch or Grim, you've always given me loyatly. You've always been the one person I could count on without question. It's my turn to do the same for you."

[Black]

Tom reached up and caught her by the wrist and pulled gently. "Come now, no games Sarah. You know what I mean," Tom was all for the coyness of Sarah's Personality but at the moment he had little patience. "I've waited for years for that to finally happen and now that it has I must have another, and another," Tom pulled gently and his grip was relaxed, so if she wanted to she could pull away in an instant.

"I don't know if that kiss was because you were worried or because I might be something more, as you well know im Socially awkward and retarded and im as dumb as it can be when it comes to things like this but-" he faltered slightly.

(Romance. <3)



Grim turned to her, his eyes lingered for a moment on her physique before finding her cold blue eyes. He thought, for a moment and for only a moment, before answering. "To kill you would be the death of all meaning and joy left in my life, leaving nothing but a monster with a mission, a man with nothing to lose and nothing to gain. Truly this would cause more harm than good, this is not the Punisher, nor is it any other comic book story of vengeance and justice. I would become a monster, little more than a rabbit dog given leave to tear at the worlds enemies, and eventually like all rabid dogs, I would turn on those who I was sworn to protect, and I would need to be put down but It would not be before I had caused serious harm. No, a man without a reason to live is like a murderer without a Motive. Both deserve nothing better than death," Grim turned his back on her and wandered over to a window and looked out of it.

The sunlight streamed in on him, giving him a golden, ageless, and timeless appearance as he watched the bustle and flow of the city. He put an arm on the windowsill and rested his head against it, looking for all the world like an old man approaching the end of his time, an old man who had a life full of uncompleted tasks and regrets. He whispered something just barely audible and recognizable as Latin, "Si vis pacem, para bellum. . . If you want peace, prepare for war,"





Ripper walked into Kaiosuke's Conference room, which had been emptied out. He shut the door behind him, and locked it with a click. Turning to his boss he looked at him before sighing. "It must end here, Kaiosuke. I have a small measure of respect for you so I will fight you with a blade and when I am about you kill you, please do not beg for your life and ruin your honor and respect," and with that Ripper pulled out a sword fashioned like the old Katana used by the Samurai of old. "This room is sound proofed, as you know, and I have sent away the guards. We will not be disturbed, and when you are beaten I will give you the honor of Seppeku as an escape," with that Ripper brought his sword up holding it with his right hand against the grip and his left hand close to his right hand, positioning above his head in the traditional eagle (or hawk) strike, as well as a ready position.

"As the defendant I will give you the choice of first attack or not," he was very formal about killing leaders, and he did it with enough integrity and honor to be called respect for an adversary.

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

Sarah smiled and gazed up at Tom, letting him pull her in, enjoying the sound of his voice as he babbled. Her free hand lifted, very lightly touching his bandaged torso; the worry came into her eyes then as she looked him over once more, leading back up to his face.

"But? But what? But I'm not allowed to let you do anything idiotic, remember, Tom?" She reminded him, trying to be funny. He'd waited years for that? He could have just done it himself, she thought, a light blush coming to her cheeks. Then again, she wasn't really sure why she hadn't done it any earlier, either.

"How bad are your wounds?" Sarah asked, her touch still feather-light on him, afraid to do any more lest she cause him pain.

[Kaiosuke]

Kaiosuke shifted a bit bringing his blade down infront of him. He postioned himself in a ninjato stance holding his katana in both hands in front of him. He spread his feet apart aquiring better balance. "Shinu Kikai O Motomo." He says staring at Ripper. "Looking for the opportunity to die, it is the Samurai motto. You may strike first, but know, it will be I who stands above your corpse, mourning the death of my dearest friend."

[Anne Bonny]

Lex listened intently to Grim's description of his future alone, what he claimed his life would be without her. His words took her breath away. She had never known, never even imagined she could mean so much to someone. Especially someone as strong and powerful as Grim, someone who's every movement spoke of certainty and purpose.

Yet now, as his blank eyes stared out the window, she saw him as vulnerable for the first time in the many years they had known each other. He had always been strong, loyal, and polite, of course. But as Butch, he had never shown weakness. He had never seemed so... human.

While it was Lex's feet that carried her across the room, it was her heart that moved her. For a moment, everything else was forgotten. Her fallen Mafiya empire, their dangerous mission ahead, all the news of the Masquerade; nothing mattered except being by his side. Her slim fingers entwined with his free hand, fitting together with a surprisingly natural comfort.

"You are better than all of that nonsense," Alexis said as she reached up to turn his face gently towards hers. "You won't be alone."

She paused, struggling inwardly with all the words she wanted to say that simply didn't seem good enough. "I'll fight alongside you in this war you speak of," she finally said.

[Black]

Ripper moved fast as a snake, hopping up onto the conference table he shot towards Kaiosuke with cheetah speed, his steps oddly made no noise, as if his feet were padded, and as he struck with a downward slice the sword slicing the air was the only noise heard from Ripper. As his sword swung with fatal speed for Kaiosuke's neck line Ripper pulled back and switched direction and grip so the sword was held backward and he was spinning to the right instead of striking to the left, the sword blade as it was would decapitate Kaiosuke if let unchecked.



Tom pulled her onto his lap, her body pressing up against his. It must have hurt a helluva lot, but he didn't even wince he was so absorbed with the woman on top of him. His lips desperately sought hers out as he pulled her close.




Grim had nothing to say. He looked at her, a faint smile splayed across his features. He squeezed the hand momentarily then turned and stalked into the darkness of his room. "At this moment, our major danger out there is probably trying to take off Kaiosuke's head. We need Kaiosuke's men and his influence. We have your vast fortune accumulated over the years, as well as my small fortune. Im afraid thats all we have at our disposal currently. At least until we have solid proof that they are trying to uproot the law," He stopped, facing the bed. "Im sure you have questions for me. Ask anything and i'll answer. Request anything and i'll comply," Grim turned to face her and sat on the bed.

[Kaiosuke]

Kaiosuke laughed as he read the feint easily. He thre hiw blade up to the right blocking the decapitating blade and performed a thrust of his own switching the thrust into an upward slice to cut his head in half. The razor sharp blade made no noise when cutting up through the air. "You must do better than that!" He had cried.

[Anne Bonny]

Ask anything?

Alexis stared at the man before her as he sat so casually on his bed. His words carried so much weight, speaking of Ripper and the few resources they had to stop him, but he spoke as if they were simple facts instead of worries that surely would have plagued her mind had she known all the of the Masquerade's plot. Questions flitted through her mind, each one seeming terribly important, and at the same time, not so vital compared to the dire situation they faced.

"There are many things I would like to know," Lex said slowly, her blue eyes moving to glance at Czar who rested comfortably beneath Grim's coffee table. "How long I've been a part of your plan, what we need the other girl and Kaiosuke for, and what the plan is from here."

With a sigh, she leaned against the back of the couch and looked back up at her companion. "But what I want to know most of all is who this man Cornelius Grim is, and how he differs from Butch, who I've come to know so well."

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

"Tom!" Sarah gasped as he drew her down, hardly fighting - afraid of hurting him. "Your wounds..."

His slightly chapped and world-worn lips were pressed against hers and suddenly everything was fire. Her protests fell quiet as Sarah yielded to Tom's mouth, the kiss deepening into a slow but open-mouthed kiss; Marr's body fit against Tom's in a way the brunette could never have imagined it would. Her eyes closed and it seemed obvious she was made to kiss this tall man with warm, strong arms and... Inhumanly perfect lips and never, ever let him go.

Gasping as she pulled away, she sucked in a breath like a swimmer surfacing for air. Sarah didn't draw away far, less then an inch, her nose brushing Tom's softly as she lingered there, blushing; she cupped his strong jaw in her hands, eyes still closed.

"Tom," she murmured, almost dreamily. Sure, Sarah had kissed men before, but nothing like this. It... Rattled her.