White Rabbit

Note: Here it is! I swear! :gonk: (Ok, for everyone who's calling me a liar now...It's not midnight yet! I got this posted! Ha! *falls asleep at desk*)

Chapter Eighteen

Ashi’s smirk looked deadly, and in a sense, it was. It took a few seconds for Carlos to get a hold of the situation, but the instant he did, his entire expression changed. "Why you little-"

"Off." The man cursed. "Slowly. Let me see your hands."

"The ones that were just up your-"

"Yes. Those. Up." Carlos glared in silent seething, raising his hands slowly, hate and displeasure evident in his scowl. Ashi smirked as the other lifted a specific finger above the rest and chuckled. "I do believe that’s already taken care of. Amazing how easily distracted men get, don’t you think?"

The other man said nothing, getting off the other, slowly as instructed, till Ashi could roll to his back, keeping the gun firmly pointed to the man before him. For humor’s sake, he took that time to look over the man before him, still fully void of clothes, and smirked. "To bad. Really could have been fun." Lavender flickered up and he blew back a strand of pink. "I really do have places to be though." He said it with mock sincerity, as if he really were sorry to leave. Carlos snorted silently.

Glancing to his shorts, torn completely and obviously unsalvageable, the rabbit frowned slightly. "You know...really sorry, but I think I’ll have to borrow one more thing." The other’s eyes widened as he bent for the only other pair of bottoms in the room and Ashi grinned devilishly as he lifted them. "Sorry, love...only one’s here. Might have been a bit more careful with my clothes, hm?"

Carlos kept eyes locked on him, still perfectly silent as Ashi worked getting into pants, and holding the gun steady in one, sure to stay far enough away from the other to prevent any sudden lunges. If Carlos got a hold of him, he knew he’d never match his strength. Once fully dressed again, he chuckled. "So what do you think?"

"If I tell you it looks ridiculous are you going to shoot me?"

The rabbit grinned. "Nah. I’m in a pretty good mood considering I’m not dead or chock full of your sperm right now." The other man frowned in distaste. "Though these shoes are getting terribly annoying."

"What do you plan for now, conejo? Run out half-dressed in clothes that fall off you into a unit of my men? You don’t know, there may be guards posted right outside that door waiting, and-" Ashi shook his head in dismissal.

"There aren’t. You knew what you planned on doing with me. I heard you shout at those guards before. No one will be back in here for a good long while." Ashi clicked the pistol into place, ready to fire. "But just in case...how many bullets does this thing have?"

Carlos resisted the urge to swallow and answered lowly instead. "None."

The albiri rolled his eyes. "Yeah...and that’s why you’re standing there stark naked like a scare-crow, right? Because a man a quarter of your size and strength is pointing an unloaded gun at your head? Yeah. That makes sense."

Carlos frowned. "Whores are supposed to be stupid." It almost sounded like a whine. Ashi laughed.

"Ah. Sorry to burst your bubble but...I don’t fit that stereotype." He raised an eyebrow slightly and repeated the question. "How many shots?"

"It’s full. I loaded it this morning."

Ashi smirked. "Lovely. Now...one last thing." The man looked confused as he came forward. "Hands behind your head, and keep them there." Carlos did so, still confused till the man stood directly before him, gun up and pressed to his temple. "Now, what was it you told me not so long ago? That I’d better be a good kisser...or you’d blow my...’pretty little head off’?"

"I’m sure I didn’t mean it quite so-"

"Ah, but I think you did. Give me a kiss, Carlos?"

"You can’t be-"

"Oh, I’m serious." He leaned up and their lips met. Carlos glared in silent seething, but gave to the kiss, taking near completely uncovered lips in his own, the lipstick having almost fully faded away now and leaving only the flavor of the soft mouth beneath him. When Ashi finally did break, he smirked at the other man’s look.

"I could break you in half." It came out as more of a snarl than anything else, but Ashi looked unfazed.

"And I could blow your brains out...but I think we’d both rather live to see another day, hm?" At the other man’s silence the albiri nodded and backed off. "Thought so." He made for the door, keeping gunpoint at the other the whole way, but Carlos paused him once more at the door.
"Am I ever gonna get my pants back?"

Ashi chuckled, but said nothing as he left the room. Considering the other’s complete state of undress, and his own continued hold of the only weapon previously in that room, he didn’t worry about Carlos coming after him anytime soon, and turned all focus to the halls ahead of him.

Thankfully, they looked mostly deserted, and he looked to be on the bottom floor or basement of some, very large, house. Carlos’s own house? He doubted it, but possible. He glanced around the corner to find another deserted hall before turning into it.

"Great, now all I need are some stairs...and a whole hell of a lot more luck." Glancing around, he found something satisfactory and smirked. "Good start." Making his way to the first stairs there, he kept a good eye on the area before going up with increasing caution. The further he went in fact, the more he reconsidered the very unlikely possibility of any true escape. Despite all this though, the option of going back looked even less likely to end well, and he continued on, regardless.

At the top of the stairs, he again found near complete desertion, but down the hall, people appeared and he cursed. Avoiding someone not looking for you wasn’t hard, but trying to sneak around in hooker’s boots on a tiled floor...not quite so easy.

Ducking around a corner, he paused slightly. Gauging the distance from his location to the nearest noise of commotion, he decided it safe enough, and bent to a crouch. The sooner he remedied the dilemma of his boots, the better, and he went to work as quietly as possible. Almost finished, he prepared to stand when sudden, unexpected voices made his breath catch, and he shut his eyes with a silent curse. Not now.

"But what if Carlos hurts him! What if-"

"Didn’t I tell you to keep your mouth shut!" Ashi crouched slightly, pressing himself back as if somehow he might disappear into the wall if he tried hard enough. One of those voices sounded like Lan. The other... He frowned as he tried to place it. "It’s no worry of mine what that fool does with his toys, but your continued sniping grows weary. I don’t lie when I say talking is not your mouth’s best skill. Now come. We-"

The man stopped, and Ashi tensed.

Lan watched as the dark immortal paused, and almost questioned when something caught his attention. A flash of white, gone in an instant, just around the corner. He stepped forward slowly, trying to keep the other’s attention away from what he thought he just saw. "Master..." He turned, now stepping backward, facing the immortal. "Master, is something wrong?" One flicker, he prayed it wasn’t noticeable, and he met pure violet vision. He quickly returned his gaze to the other, ignoring the million swirling questions brought about by his discovery. "Master, how about we-"

"Silence." Lan tensed, willing silently for some solution to present itself as his mouth shut tight. "Don’t move." He stood, frozen to the spot, helpless as the darker man moved forward. Slowly. Gold eyes implored, begged the man to stop, but one betraying glance to the side got the other’s attention and Jacques moved forward just enough, standing chest to chest with the younger now before he followed the fleeting glance. An empty hall greeted him.

"What were you looking at, little one?"

Lan felt his heart race, but his words came out perfectly even, steady despite the man’s prying eyes. "Nothing, master."

"Don’t lie to me, kitten." The smaller opened his mouth to object but his breath froze as a finger cut of his speech. Navy eyes felt like something hot and sharp as they raked his face for answers, seeking and discovering everything in one glance. "You know you can’t." Gold wavered, literally shaking as he tried so desperately not to betray anything.

Eventually though, Jacques smiled lightly. Even in it’s simplicity, it looked anything but friendly. "So Carlos’s toy has more brains than he thought..." He dropped his apparent hold on the younger immortal, letting his eyes scan the halls briefly. "...that, or the fool is far more foolish than I took him for." He shook his head, his smile wry now as white teeth flashed in his grin. "I could believe either. Come, kitten. We need to depart."

"W-wait...what?" Lan stumbled after as the immortal took a suddenly insistent stride.
"Where-"

"Police are already closing in on the residence....unless you like the idea of a bullet in your head, kitten? I fear you won’t fare so well as your friend." The boy paled slightly, quickly increasing his pace to almost a trot in order to keep up.

"But what about-..." He paused as he almost said ‘Ashi’, but changed his mind half-way through. "What about Carlos?" The immortal spared him a glance, and he knew the man didn’t miss the slip in tongue.

"Carlos, my sweet? Since when have you worried over him?" As the other’s cheeks flushed, and gold vision lowered, the elder gave a small smile. "Or are you more worried about the ‘nothing’...in the hallway?" Gold shot up and Jacques didn’t hold back a short laugh. "Must you underestimate me so, little one? Come, put him from your mind. The rabbit can take care of himself."

Ashi stared ahead blankly, the man’s last words echoing in his head before he shook it quickly. At least one person had faith in him. He grinned. How ironic.

*~*~*~*

"Wait...aren’t you gonna like...get back-up or-"

"Just shut-up." Garnen’s knuckles looked near white on the wheel and he jerked it into a turn, causing the smaller occupant of the car to make a startled noise as he tumbled roughly. As soon as he made it up he shouted his objection.

"Shit! What the hell?? You trying to get us both killed?!" The officer’s gaze hit him and it almost felt like a physical strike with it’s ferocity. When his lips twitched up into something resembling a smile, it looked worse, and Tray felt his insides ice. Cold panic.

"Maybe you shouldn’t have gotten in if you were worried about that." Molten gold narrowed dangerously, but Garnen interrupted before he got out a word. "You’re not gonna die kid. Just put on your seatbelt." He spun another corner, this time the opposite way, and cursed loudly as the smaller near fell on him. "Get the hell off!"

"You’re the one who’s-"

"I told you, put on the damn seatbelt!" Tray glared and folded his arms, but the next instant the car stopped dead and his body near crashed forward into the dashboard.

"Fuck!" He sprawled his hands out in front of him as the car jolted and almost shouted again when the officer snapped quickly.

"Get in there, tell them what you told me." He paused to consider. "And tell them to bring...back-up." He might have chuckled at the teen’s exasperated expression, but really didn’t feel the least bit in the mood. Before Tray even opened his mouth to argue, he pulled out.

Leaving the dark-haired teen at the headquarters of the police department as his only call for back-up might normally strike him as less than the best of plans to say the least, but, as little as he felt like laughing, Garnen felt much less like thinking, and it didn’t even cross his mind to come up with a better solution.

Surprisingly, Tray’s original directions served him well, and despite the fact that Garnen’d never gone even near the building the younger teen described, he made good time. In all reality, especially as he came up closer, he realized how little he knew. In fact, he knew nothing of the place. Once again, Ashi had brought him, unthinking, into a very possibly dangerous situation.

They killed him! They killed him, I swear...

His teeth grit and he instinctively brought a hand to his gun, debated only for a second, and then lifted it firmly to his grip. Dangerous, yes. Foolish, yes. But sane or not, someone was going to pay for their crimes this time. He felt in no mood to make the same mistake twice, and deal out no punishment for either.

Unbeknownst to the officer, two navy eyes tracked his path, and finally, Jacques chuckled, pulling back from the window and worrying his smaller charge with his expression, not for the first time. "See, little one? Look." Lan nervously moved to the window as directed, scanning quickly over the dark spans of moonlit grass till he landed on a single figure. From the second story, he could hardly pick out features, but he instantly recognized the man, despite only meeting him once. His eyes widened.

"Garon! That’s that...that...oh." He flushed slightly. "That’s very romantic."

"Romantic?" Jacques scoffed and shook his head, glancing back down and answering plainly. "It’s folly. Do you know he still thinks you killed that rabbit?" Gold widened, suddenly very worried for a good number of reasons. The immortal laughed at that. "Oh come now. You don’t think I’d let some foolish human harm you?" Lan glanced up. "You have nothing to worry about...unless I make it so. Remember that." The blonde only gave a faint nod, not sure which made him feel worse, the thought of himself in the hands of the officer beneath him but free of the immortal’s grasp, or safe, for the time being, in a grip he could never shake. It made him shiver, but he pushed the worry from his mind.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Sirens. Ashi felt his face pale, and a million instinctual reactions to that very sound took place. Sirens meant one thing, police. He hated police. Police locked him up, beat him down and abused him. They sentenced him to long periods of time in cold cells with scant food and unfriendly inmates. Not to mention uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.

He was moving to fast to allow his thoughts to wander to more pleasant thoughts of a specific member of the force though, and his body ran on adrenaline now, complete intuition and energy. He gave nothing a second glance and after one quick survey of the empty hall, he made a break for the only door in sight and prayed for the outside to be beyond. When his now bare feet met grass, he thanked whoever had decided to watch out for him that night.

Sure enough though, as the sirens dictated, swirling red and blue filled the air. White flashes, unnatural color distorting the night’s image and he cursed, backing up, gun still in hand as he tried to make it to a tree. The thought of where to go, or what to do once out of Carlos’s grip never really came to him. At the time, he’d been proud of finding a way of getting the man’s dick out of his ass, but that momentary stoke of brilliance (or luck), didn’t help him now and his eyes narrowed critically over the scene.

At least five cop cars, and from the sound of it, likely more on the way. He frowned slightly. Who the hell called them here? His thoughts landed on Garnen, but he shook his head to himself. No. Garnen knew about as much about Carlos’s location as he had, and in fact, he still didn’t know exactly where he was. How would the officer? No.

In the end though, the brain puzzle became too distracting, and he decided to ignore that worry for the time being and concentrate on more important matters. Looking over the scene again, this time his gaze fell not on the cars, but a motorcycle, some distance from the rest and to the side. Abandoned. He smirked. If he could just get over there, escape might not turn out as hard as he thought.

The main swarm of attention focused on the front of the building, and from his stand-point, he made it with little trouble across the empty grass unnoticed. With everyone’s attention focused on the front of the building and night as his cover, he figured he could make it across the empty grass unnoticed. He arrived at the side of his goal and found a pleasant surprise: keys in the ignition. He grinned to himself.

"Surely you officers won’t miss one bike..." He added teasingly to the darkness, inspecting the more specific workings before nodding his approval. Just as he decided he could in fact manage the thing, slipping on easily and forgetting his gun for that one second, his entire body tensed on reaction to gunpoint at his temple. He cursed.

"I’m afraid we will miss that bike...Miss."

"Don’t make me shoot you." Ashi muttered lowly, glaring ahead and tuning himself to the man’s every movement behind him, gauging him. How had he missed him? Police, or at least the police he’d come in contact with weren’t exactly made for stealth. "Slow, clumsy, bastar-"

"Drop the weapon. I want to see two pretty hands on your head and-"

"Did you call me a miss?" Ashi suddenly interrupted as the words sunk in and, despite the other’s threats, turned backwards in his seat, literally straddling it and putting both hands down. He never dropped the gun. The officer stuttered for a few seconds, then blinked with a frown.

"Wait...haven’t I seen y-"

A shout from across the field interrupted promptly. "JAROD! Garnen’s gone insane! You’ve gotta come over here and-" The speaker, a slightly heftier version of the officer previously before him came up panting, and braced hands on his knees for support as he continued. ‘Jarod’ looked positively confused. "...and...he..." The panting officer looked up and looked eyes with violet, momentarily frozen for a few seconds. Finally, he got out unsurely. "Who’s this, Jar?"

Ashi rolled his eyes and in one second re-situated himself face forward, hands on the keys. "If you officers don’t mind I have places to be."

"Wait!" The rabbit glanced up as his original trouble raised his gun again. "I can’t let you-"

"Stealing isn’t punishable by death, love. Shoot me and see what happens." Jarod made a step forward. "I on the other hand..." Ashi lifted his own weapon once again, eyes cold. "Am not in a good mood, and am not afraid to shoot some bastard’s ass right now. In fact, it might just make my day. So back off, and don’t you dare touch me."

Jarod looked hung in indecision, flickering his gaze between the man’s eyes, his gun, and his fellow officer. Finally, he lowered his gun, and Ashi smirked.

"Oh, and for the record, love. I’m that testosterone-less figure you met oh...a month ago?"
Jarod’s eyes widened, and right as the man drove off he cursed, shouting loudly. "Fuck! I knew I’d seen him somewhere, god dammit."

"Who?" The man beside him still looked confused at the interaction, but at least breathed normally now, or close to it. Jarod glanced down to him, firm look of frustration in place.

"Well you better get a hold of Garnen...his little bitch is about as dead as I am..."

O-o-o-o-O

The cold felt a million times more intense with such a rush of speed, but Ashi paid it no mind, his mind far from the temperature as everything flew by. The air whipped his hair about, and he needed to squint to see, but none of it mattered. When was the last time he rode like this? He grinned at the memory.

"Oh! Ashi...what’s this?" Lan’s eyes looked enraptured, scouring over the strange vehicle before him with wide-eyed intent, taking in every detail in some sort of awed fascination. I laughed at his expression and grinned when he looked up in confusion.

"It’s a motorcycle. Think Toni’s trying to make up for something, kid?" I watched his cheeks tint, even as he giggled. So girlish; it only made me laugh again. "What do you think? Wanna... borrow it for a bit?" His eyes widened, large and beautiful, and I felt my chest flutter in excitement. He always looked so innocent, so young, I didn’t even fool myself into thinking it didn’t affect me. Not for the first time, I promised myself I’d never let anyone hurt that kid. Damn, he deserved so much better than this hell hole. I pushed that from my mind and forced a grin. "Come on. Let’s try it out."

"B-but...what if Toni-"

"Don’t worry about it. It’s my idea anyway, you won’t get in trouble."

I heard him mumble something softly, but didn’t catch it as his cheeks pinked even further before he finally nodded. "Ok, Ashi...but-"

"Great!" In one instant, I jumped into the seat and snatched the keys. "Come on. Get on behind me..." I grinned gleefully as I added. "...and hold on." I could only imagine his startled expression behind me as he circled my waist, tight against me for one flashing moment before we took off, going anywhere I pleased, and for one brief second, I really did have the control. I smirked as his screech muffled in my shoulder.

"ASHIII!"

The albiri chuckled, but the happiness faded as the thought of Lan’s current situation, and his own, came back with renewed reality. He sighed and shook his head, glancing around the dark, empty spans of road before him. First things first, he needed a place to ditch the bike, pick up a new ride and- Sirens. He swore.

"Shit." Police after him already? Didn’t they have better things to worry about than chasing one damn bike? Glancing over his shoulder, he cursed again. "God dammit. Great day." He braked to a stop and braced out a foot for balance as the vehicle pulled in front of him.

"Put your hands on your head, drop your weapon in full view ahead of the stolen vehicle...and keep your playboy’s ass firmly on that seat." Ashi gave a confused look of ‘what the hell?’ He tried trying to see who spoke, but in the dark he couldn’t make out a face and the megaphone messed with the voice. He followed the instructions. The car door opened and he glanced to the sky, shutting his eyes with another curse.

"Why don’t you bastards just shoot me and get it over with already. I’m sure no one would give a fuck...and in fact...come to think of it, you’d probably solve a lot of trouble, money, and-"

"I’d sure give a fuck."

Violet widened dramatically and his gaze snapped down to a very bemused looking officer, megaphone on his hip and Ashi’s gun firmly in hold. "Garnen...but-"

"You’re under arrest, Ashielori Tekieri, for prostitution, threatening an officer of the force, operating a stolen vehicle-" As he said each thing Ashi watched, in shock, as the man placed him in cuffs, locking them into place around his wrists, still on his head, and continued steadily. "...use of an unregistered weapon-"

"Wait a second! I haven’t used this gun yet! And-"

"You have the right to remain silent." Ashi glared. "You have the right to an attorney-"

"Hell I do! Quit the crap, Garnen! What the fuck do you think you’re-"

"Would you like harassment added to your list of charges?" The albiri snorted, lifting his arms in an instant and using the cuffs to slip behind the other’s neck, firmly tugging him forward till they hung a breath’s distance apart.

"Make that sexual harassment, and you got it." He purred lowly and Garnen’s eyes narrowed, even as their breath mingled, fogging in the cold air.

"Yeah? How about...trying to seduce a police officer...not to mention...." Their lips met and Garnen only grumbled lowly. "You were driving over the speed limit..." Ashi’s lips parted and he laced his hands tightly, ignoring the cuffs as he gripped around the other’s neck. He shook his head lightly.

"Speed limits are for gullible do-gooders...and what’s this about trying to seduce a police officer? It seems to be working pretty well..." Garnen’s tongue took him, hands slipping behind and trapping him to the bike’s seat. He gave a tiny moan and shifted his position, moving to better face the other. "...my, my officer...just a little-"

"Oh, shut-up." Ashi smirked, and almost replied when the officer’s tone changed.

"These aren’t your pants..." The rabbit flushed and caught his lip with a nervous chuckle as the other backed off, giving him a curious expression. "What happened?"

"I-..." He frowned slightly. "It’s a long story..."

"I thought you died, Ashi." The officer finally got out, keeping his voice steady as he spoke. The last thing he needed now was a giant show of emotion, but telling himself that failed to lessen his anxiety and worry as he struggled for his words. "I thought...I-"

"So you did miss me?" For a few brief seconds, Ashi expected the man to snort, continue arresting him, or worse, push him away like he probably should, but Garnen only sighed and shook his head.

"Come on, it’s cold out here. Get off that bike and I’ll take care of the charges." Ashi blinked in confusion as the elder man aided him off the bike, and only stood there staring for a time afterwards, cuffs still on and draped over the man’s neck. Garnen frowned slightly as Ashi made no move to untangle himself. "Ashi-"

"You sure as hell better get these damn cuffs off me, Garnen." The rabbit quickly tugged him down, pulling him onto his lips for one more brief moment before removing his arms and whispering hastily. "...and don’t pretend you didn’t miss me." He smirked at the officer’s look before turning abruptly toward the car. "Happy Halloween!"

Garnen, for the sake of argument, glanced down to his watch and grumbled lightly beneath his breath. "It’ll be Monday in seven minutes..." He shook his head. "Damn, I hate Halloween."

Note: *let's out deep breath* Phew. Glad that's over.

Alright, here's the deal: I'm never making anymore promises cause fate conspires against me. I always, always try my hardest to get my chapters out to the best of my ability on time. My internet keeps dying on me and without a stable connection, I really don't know when you should expect your next chapter...I have yet to write it.

Christmas is busy for me right now, I'm trying to run errands for family, friends, buy presents and all that jazz, and now my parents want me down for the holidays so I don't know how much I'll be on. In addition to all that...I'm still thinking about trying to come up with some sort of Christmas fic...so. Yeah. Who's interested in a Christmas fic by the way? Just so I know. Would you prefer a sooner update of this...or a stuffed in bit of fluffy holiday smut? ^^;?

Review Replies

FlamesEmbrace: Sorry I haven't been reviewing... flame wars. :P I stay away from them. This one had a happy ending, though. Sort of. Kinda confusing if you think too much.... Those there were some very biting fake flames, though; kudos to the person who thought them up. :D

It's been an entertaining few chapters, though. You had me worried for a little while there... one reason why I like amateur fiction so much; it can be just as good and the kind you haveta pay money for without the guarenteed happy ending or three-hundred pages, so you never know what's gonna happen. I'm pulling for a happy ending, though. That's just the kind of person I am.

Many kudos! And other such things! Until this weekend~

No problem. I'm just glad you started back up again. ^_^ *chuckle* Yes...she has a very...creative way with words. I'm glad you're enjoying it...I know what you mean though. I'm just to lazy to go out and pay for the stories when I can find 'em free...that and I don't think they even sell the slash stories....so yeah. *sigh* Too bad.

Everyone seems to be hoping for a happy one...and I have to say I'm that kind of person too. I don't mind a rough story, teary and angsty even...but I always want it to have a happy ending. ^^;

Paige: I know, I know. I'm kinda weird about reviews >_> But I did enjoy the love scene as well ^___^;
Fiesty! Jeesh, scare me again with Ashi being shot and I think I'll be having a heart attack x_x That scared the crap out of me. And thankkk GOD you didn't kill him! He's too cute to die :D
Ooh, Garnen's off to save the love of his life :} how cuteeee. Whoo. Can't wait for another upate!!!

*chuckle* At least you reviewed in the end! Sorry about the heart attack...Ashi has a tenancy to do that to people...kinda his nature. :smirk: But yeah...can't kill off the cute one now. Sorry it took so long to update! I hope it's satisfying...^^; Maybe I can try and make up for it next chapter...

Sarah Bridget: Ooh. I get compliments on my flaming skills. ^_~ Awesome. Sorry again for all the nasty words, Eric. A girl can get bored. Nice update. Jacques intrigues me...and now you have me tossing Carlos and Jacques together in my mind. Oh, and are you puttin' up anything for the holidays? X-mas fic! Best part of Christmas...besides maybe all the presents...and money! You make me look forward even more to the weekend.

*sigh* Ah, yes. Lovely flaming skills. No problem...at least now you're not biting at me...o_O ^_^ Thanks. I like Jacques too, mainly because he actually has a nice long history with me...(not shown in this story). A Carlos/Jacques pairing? I can't say I haven't considered it.

So you're rooting for a Christmas piece? I don't know whether I'm doing one or not...I guess it mostly depends on my readers and their response to the offer. ^^;

Trickster Kitsune: Yay! Ashi isn't dead! And Lan isn't a total bastard! And Garnen is having... Issues... O_o... Understandable issues, but still issues. ^_^

But Ashi has skills... o_o... Getting raped and thinking of a plan to escape. He better shoot that bastard good! ^^ And I could see how Carlos could be a pain in the ass. ^_~

Sorry my review isn't longer, but I'm tired. ^_^; I can't wait for the next update!

No problem. Any review is a good review! Yes, I tend to enjoy getting Ashi into situations where he has to think under...less than favorable circumstances. ^_^; Garnen just has issues period. o_o Silly officer.

Falcon Bertille: Great update! Very exciting and suspenseful. Poor Garnen, crashing around his apartment and breaking things. You did such a good job of conveying how worried about Ashi he is -- even if he won't admit it to himself! And I loved the confrontation between Jacques and Carlos. Jacques is one seriously sexy badass. I wonder what sort of creature he is? Not typical "portal trash" obviously. Kudos to Ashi for keeping his wits about him, and figuring out how to get Carlos's gun. It's nice to see him being so resourceful. Although I can't help but think that he's still going to need Garnen's help to get out of this mess. Eagerly awaiting the next chapter!

Love,
Falcon

^_^ You always ask such wonderful questions, it's so encouraging. (c: Anyway, Jacques is one of the two dominating races of immortals across the portal border (yeah, not typical portal trash). It's a really (literally) a whole nother story, but basically, he's a Mirah, and the conflict between that race and the other (Imphr), is what caused the whole break between the mortal and immortal realms in the first place. (Not sure if that helps or just makes it more confusing, but yeah.)

But of course! Ashi always needs Garnen's help...(and he's gonna get it whether he wants it or not ^_~). I hope this chapter turned out satisfactory, my editor seemed very happy with it and that's great encouragement in itself. ^_^

memorietrail: it was just great and i want more but not going to be here this week end.see if i can't find a way don't want to miss any thing.keep up the great work!

Well...you didn't miss anything! ^^; Thanks for the encouragement, and sorry for making you wait!

Petrez: I love it. BUNNIES!!! Thnx for being the only reviewer of "Parent" ^_^ I LOVE Falcon Berftile's (spelling??) writing to, I'm just way to lazy to rember to not be lazy to remeber to put her on my recomended reading list.

Wow! I have a new reviewer! Thanks for stopping by, you're very welcome for the review. ^_^ Did you just now start reading it or have you just finally decided to review? Either way, thank you very much! (c:

memorietrail: its okay i understand it was a wild week-end and this week is not looking much better.hope u do get time to put up the next part of the story.more please.

Yeah. Instead of better...it's getting worse...but oh well! I'll make it! Gah! ^^; *nervous chuckle* Thanks for your forgiveness...I know my posting's become a bit spotty. o_o T_T I'm trying! ^^;

End Note: Wow. That took a long time to write, a long time to post, and even longer to get it done right. I must have re-written that chapter five times...(no, I'm serious...at least that), and now it's finally up and posted! Just so everyone knows, if the first note didn't make sense...I stared at my stupid router for I don't know how long last night waiting for the internet to come back up just so I wouldn't break my promise. ^^;

I'll honestly tell you I'm not sure when the next chap will be up...I'm rushed and clamoring busy...not to mention I really don't have any of it written yet. I've got no back-up left. None. *sigh* So I hope you enjoy this! I'll work as best I can...maybe I can make it up to you next chapter but, no promises! ^_^; Until then...have a great holiday!

-Moonstar