The heavy gust of winds slowly rippled a long white tail of a trench coat. It was almost like a banner with a large, black circle on the back. In the circle, which was split in two, held a bear on the left half of the circle, its arms raised as if it were growling and about to kill. One the right half of the circle their was a wolf snarling towards the bear. Just below the two fighting animals lay a few words in black, ‘To fight until both lay dead and even then they shall sink to the abyss scratching in clawing.’

Slowly the man who was wearing the cloak moved forward to the edge of the tall five-story building. His long dark brown hair blew slowly in front of his eyes before a hand brushed it away. “This night is cold with blood and heavy with death…” A smirk form on his pale lips. “Perhaps he has finally decided to stop running and hiding from me…maybe our dance with death will end tonight.”
~-~-~-~-~

Another man walked carefully through the maze of alleys, which seemed to go on forever through the city. His hair was cut shorter and was messily spiked in all direction. Suddenly he stopped dead in his tracks and then reached into his coat pulling out a long dagger with a bear carved into its blade. He looked at the blade as if would bite him. “I do not understand Mitchifer…why did you give me this weapon?” He looked around franticly as if saying the name would bring the speaker to him. “You play games with me don’t you brother?” He directed the question as he looked at the metal of the dagger almost like it would respond.
~-~-~-~-~

The man who stood on the building smiled as he looked down at the man below in the alleys near the building. “I am done toying with you Gabriel. I have flirted with death for to long to fear her kiss. I have embraced it and felt her icy breath. What about Gabriel? What makes you want to live? Why do you cling to life so?” He smiled and laughed slightly like a madman would. “Do you feel it brother? Will this be the night that I can finally die or shall you steal that from me as well?” He continued to laugh and his smirk formed again when he stopped. "I grow tired of this. Either we both die tonight or you will tell me what makes you cling like a mortal. I have done things with people that disgust me all in order to gain knowledge and power and now I am no longer your dog. Do not turn your back on me bear this dog has teeth and I will bite."

Rin pulled the fur coat around her as she stepped out into the night. The wind blew in from the north, it was cold and snow kissed ... like everything else. She shuddered and looked upon the ground irritably as she started to walk. 'I really need a car.' she told herself for the fiftith time.

There came a pause in her steps as she picked up a familiar scent on the air. She looked up slowly, pale optics searching the night.

Quickly she walked down the sidewalk, looking down each alley way and street she came upon.

Malicious laughter reached her ears and she stopped. The one from where the laughter came was unknown however she looked upon the other. Gabriel? Memories of the last time she saw him came to her and she clasped the steel bars of the ladder from the fire escape she stood behind.

There was a few things that where between them, obstructing the view, but she chose to stay still. She was afraid, not only realizing she had come upon a fight, but ... there was Gabriel, if he saw her ... she would never know what she would do or say.

Gabriel jerked at the laughter. "He is here." He looked around franticly trying to find a place to run...but he didn't even know where he was. For all he knew Mitchifer could be waiting around a corner. While he was looking around the alleyways his eyes fell on a girl. One he knew rather well in his opinion. "...Rin? Is that you?" He completly forgot about his elder brother who was hunting him as memories came flooding back into his head. Memories that were the only barrier on his madness. He was in shock at seeing this woman...the woman who seemed to be the only person he could trust. He took a step forward slowly.

Mitchifer walked to the very edge of the rooftop. His smirk had only grown from the thoughts of killing Gabriel and then dying himself. Slowly he slid his hand into the long white coat which he wore. His hand wrapped around the hilt of a sword. He pulled the sword from his belt and held the blade tip facing the roof below his feet. It's blade was wavy like a serpent and carved into it's blade was a wolf snarling at the tip. "With this blade I shall end your life Gabriel. I will kill you. No one else will have the honor of killing you. This is my last favor to you. I shall kill you before you go completly mad." To Mitchifer he was saving Gabriel, saving him from himself. This wasn't just a grudge match, no this was a fight of honor. He would save what honor his brother had left.

He stepped off the roof and began to fall through the air towards the alleys below. When he hit the ground he was on all fours. "Even after death that still hurts...slightly no more then the things I have done in the past while chasing the coward before me." He looked forward at a building as if trying to see through it. He knew already that beyond that building Gabriel stood and someone else aswell but whoever it might be was too young to be dangerous.

(Shorter then I had hoped.)

Rin felt her breath catch in her throat and she moved slowly from where she stood. He had seen her, she felt stupid in thinking he wouldn't. She was afraid to look into his eyes, obviously they both felt the same, somewhat shocked about seeing each other.

She walked to him slowly, 'I thought you were sleeping ...' there came a rush of emotion, and without saying more she embraced him.

Then despite all this she remembered the other, she looked around ready for anything ... at least she thought. 'Gabriel ... who is it?'

Gabriel held Rin wishing he never had to stop but he knew that he had something to do and someone to deal with. He had a calm smile on his face. His voice was calm and collected not at all like it had been in the past. "Rin, there is much that I want to tell you and I wish I had more time but...I feel that my time is growing short. I told you of some of my enemies in the past but those troubles are long gone now though someone else hunts me. Someone far more dangerous then any of the others. A man who is deadly to me and only me but...if he sees you he may come after you for information though I know you would never tell him I fear he would hurt you." He released her. "His name is..."

"Oh come now. You give me far to much credit. I have hunted you for seven hundred years though and it is true that I am dangerous but I would hardly get this young and innocent woman involved. I know more then enough about you know and I know who is stronger. You know aswell don't you, is that why your so afriad? Will you beg to her for her to save you as you did with the elder? Will you cry and scream for help? Is your life really worth dishonoring the Lanorus name anymore?" Mitchfer stepped around a corner and looked at them. Not with anger but the way a perant looks at a young child after they did something wrong and he spoke the same. "Do not worry if you come now I will make it quickly. Stop running from me brother. Our sister hates you as well. You dishonor us so by running. I'm here to save you from yourself." He turned to Rin slowly. "Now child step away. I do not wish for one so young to see a man cry. Please leave here and never return. I will not follow and don't worry Gabriel will not die alone. I shall go with him. We cannot escape our fate." He seemed almost to calm. He made it sound as if he were just going to scowled Gabriel rather then kill the immortal. "Please I do not wish to make this harder then it should be."

Rin's eyes darted from one to the other. Standing beside Gabriel still she shook her head, 'I won't let you ... no matter what he has done.' She realized she knew nothing of their feud, but if anything she trusted Gabriel and all others as of that moment was wrong. 'I won't move ... if you want him you'll have to fight me first.'

She wasn't thinking ... her heart was making all the decisions. After all they were both much older than her, stronger, and one was much more vicious. There came a pause as her mind actually returned. 'Are you of the Tarepha?' She didn't want to make idle conversation to buy time, but this could give her an advantage. She recalled Nyx speaking of another Lanorus. And this one certainly fitted the role of the coven members.

Her hand was on Gabriel's that held the dagger. If she chose to get between them, and if this man was indeed one of the Tarepha, then he could not kill her without facing the wrath of the entire coven and perhaps more. She waited, her optics icily pale as she waited for a reply.

Mitchifer blinked slowly in confusion. Did she just ask me a question after saying she would fight me? She must be stalling for time but...well he did have to answer questions by his code of honor so he slowly nodded. "Yes, not one of my most favorable choices in my life but I am in the blood thirsty coven ruled by that...questionable leader but what the hell does that have to do with this!? It's not like they have any rules about me killing my brother. I mean if I remenber correctly the ruler dislikes him aswell so I don't see what your getting at." He leaned on the sword slowly letting the point rest on the ground. "I don't like you stalling either. I waited sevenhundred years to finally have the chance to get my revenge on that fool and I won't be slowed by some young vampire who has the foolish idea that she can save him."

Gabriel had come very close to backing away now. ~Why are you making idle coversation? If you want to talk to him about the coven matters then bring it up to him later. He is honor bound to the coven and since your not the leader of it or anywhere close I doubt he'll listen to you. I mean at this point he may not even listen to the leader of the coven for more then a moment.~ He clutched the dagger more tightly after relizing that Rin would try and help. He had to win now, not just for himself but now that she was involved he might hunt her down if she even survived the first fight.

~Rin you should leave now. I did things in the past that have cost him his life and his fight is rightfully with me not you. If you leave now you might be able to get away untouched. He isn't a cruel person all the time and he keeps his word but if you stay here he may have to revise his code to take out his rule about not attacking people alot weaker then himself. No offense to you in anyway but well I don't want you to be killed aswell.

(Short....sorry.)

Rin knew asking the question probably wasn't the best route she could take but she shook her head slowly in reply to Mitchifer. 'I wasn't stalling for time, I was just assuring myself that if I was harmed or even killed by your hand Nyx's wrath would be feirce. You can't kill other members of your coven, and I will do anything to keep Gabriel unharmed. Even if it means risking my life for his.'

She was frightened to, but after saying all this she looked to Gabriel. She wasn't to say anything for her expression held it all. She was staying, even if Mitchifer didn't back down.

Rin felt Gabriel's grasp tighten under her hand and she looked slowly to Mitchifer. This may have been a stupid and ridiculously stubborn move, and she doubted he would worry at all about what she had said, but at that moment it was worth it.

(do you want her to back out ... that might be a stupid question but I'll ask anyway.
And if you have any ideas please lemme know ... I'm starting to run out.)

His smirk grew. "Oh well I geuss I should remenber that when I kill you." He laughed holding his side. "Poor little Nyx finding out that I was just using her coven but I geuss she knew, she does know alot after all." He bowed and his grip tightened on his sword as he dashed forward with an ungodly speed he appeared infront of Gabriel with the point of his sword touching his forehead. Smirking he pushed forward a tiny bit and a small bead of blood appeared on his blade. "It looks like I have taken first blood dear brother. He lept backwards as Gabriel attempted to punch him with his left hand forgetting to use the dagger. Mitchifer laughed more at the failed attempt. "I do give you a compliment on the girl though. She would have grown to be a fine vampire which any vampire would have been proud to stand beside but now she will die just as you will all die. All of those who try to control me and tie me down will die. So you two won't be alone by any means."

Gabriel took a step back now. He was snarling but seemed paniced after seeing oh slow he had been compared to his brother. "If I could just keep up I could kill him!" He growled lowly but there was a strong sense of fear in his voice. "Rin you need to run now. I might be able to slow hime down enough for you to get to a safe place...if there is one around here."

"Oh don't be silly. I'll leave for now. I have all the time in the world now and my plan is not finished yet. I still need to use this coven or it's leader I should say, so I don't have time to have to worry about some girl ruining my plans." He vanished again coming around behind the toy of them. "Now little Rin take care of him for me. I shall be the one to kill him no one else will be allowed the joy of slaying this man." He turned around slowly walking away calmly humming to himself.

Rin attempted to move, but the movements of Gabriels brother were far to fast. Before she knew it he had left. Her optics were pale as she watched him leave, the urge to follow and tackle from behind was overwelming.

Then silence, the opponet was gone for the time being, and Gabriel still in one peice. She was afraid to look to him, fearing a bombardment of harsh words due to her lack of thought during the events. But slowly, and quite fearfully she looked up to him. 'Forgive me ... I couldn't leave you to him, even if you would have been alright. I would never be able to look at myself after I knew I ran from a chance to keep you safe.'

She looked to the ground, taking in a breath of cool night air before she had the courage to speak once more. 'I especially couldn't leave, knowing that months ago I thought you where gone ... and chances were great I would never see you again.'

She wanted to embrace him at that moment and tell him how she felt for him. But fear struck her once more and she waited silently for him to respond.

Gabriel was still tense for a moment. He cluntched the dagger as if it were a lifeline. "Why...didn't he kill me...it doesn't add up he has always been a little weird but...using a coven? Now that is just foolish even for him...I saw Gabrielle again...maybe she is holding his leash again...if that is the case maybe it would have been better if I had been killed." He didn't seem to even realize Rin was there for a moment. He was far to lost in thought to have noticed her. "Last time I ran into him he was slightly afriad of his coven...or the leader but now he speaks of it like he owned it...what is that fool up to now." He turned to Rin and smiled as he did the dagger in his hand fell to the ground and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Why would I be angry with you Rin? You stood beside me even when I told you I would lose. You have done much for me and I am forever in your debt young one. I'm sure that if my brother would meet just one person like you he would stop this search for power." His grin grew. "You have always been there for me and I will not be leaving now though the thought is very tempting now that my siblings have found me. Now though I have you to protect or atleast however much that I can." He kissed her cheek and looked up at the sky for a moment. ~I have to wonder though...who is more dangerous...the hound with his teeth and claws or the woman holding his leash as if he were a puppy...but who hold her leash?~

Rin had to admit, she wasn't expecting a hug but she smiled and embraced him as well.

'Gabriel, I don't want you to feel as though you owe me ... there is no debt. I didn't do it because I felt I had to, I did it because I-' Love you? the words couldn't come, no matter how much she wanted them too. Not now. Perhaps later when the timing was better, he was in thought now, distracted by his sibling's ploy. 'Because I wanted to.' she finished smiling to him.

She quickly found herself startled once more when he kissed her cheek and she looked to him quietly. A slender hand rose to his cheek, fingertips caressing his flesh. 'Perhaps we should leave ...' she whispered, optics turning from him to the mouth of the alley.

He smiled nodding slowly though calmer now. "Yes, I do believe that would be wise...while he never lies the truth that he says isn't always what you think it is." He turned to the mouth of the alley and took a step only after picking the dagger from and ground and sliding it into his belt so it was hidden from view. "Do you have any ideas of a place even he would not be stupid enough to attack? I cannot think of any of the top of my head but you know the city far better then I do." His voice was almost on the verge of being nervous but it stayed at a slightly calm tone as he turned back to Rin. His mind was still racing with different reason for Mitchifer to have attacked now...he knew I was here awhile ago and has run into me several times...so why attack now...and why did he let Rin get rid of him so easily...it seems strange like maybe he planned this all ahead of time. He laughed slightly though it was half hearted. No, not even he is that crafty I doubt even with his luck that he could judge the actions of people who be had never spoken too...unless he had grown even stronger than before.

(...I feel stupid it's so short...)

(you feel stupid?! ~points to her post~ mine was shorter than yours)

Rin nodded and pulled her coat around her. 'I think someplace public would be safe ... depends on how far he's willing to go. Though judging from earlier, he would be willing to risk exposure ... along with death.' She shuddered slightly and looked up to the rooftops. 'I would also say a coven ... but he is a member of the Tarepha ... any others might be willing to take us in ... but I doubt it.'

Her gaze returned him. He was thinking hard about all this and she knew throwing herself in probably made the equation more complicated. She sighed softly and pulled her hair back in a pony tail so she could think easier. 'Perhaps we should sort out where we are to stay and plan on our offense then.' She smiled and gave a soft laugh. 'It seems everytime we have met Death has followed you.' She began to walk and looked over her shoulder. 'I just won't let him take you.'

It was a feeble attempt to lighten his mood, but she didn't want him to worry for now. Especially when he had worried for so long, she was making plans as they spoke. Being young and unskilled she didn't have much hope of helping him but she hoped that would change soon.

He gave a start and laughed slightly. "Even he wouldn't attack you in the coven house but...I don't think I would be safe there unless Nyx wouldn't notice. Not on the best of terms. I mean I know that Mitch thinks he is using her but if he is I bet she knows that he is, she seems the type to know that sorta thing." He shivered slowly and followed her quietly. He smiled as he caught up and glanced at her happily. "I doubt he'll come back right this second. Even if what I think is true Mitch may resist attacking a woman and the fact that you are younger then he helps aswell. Gabrielle will have a hard time using our older brother if what she says conflicts with his precious little ideals, if you can call them that." He crossed his arms though it was apperant he wasn't so tense now. ~No point in worry yet, I don't even know what that fool is up to much less how much he has changed sense my last encounter with him. Atleast I know he won't attack an unarmed person...atleast unless he is attacked first.~ His gave went to his belt and the dagger that hung there.

"Rin...will you do something for me?" He turned from looking at her and then went to staring at the sky."If he does kill me before I can stop him...I want you to forget about me and him. If he thinks you're going to get someone to fight him he may silence your lips and I don't want that to happen because of me." He looked back at her in a distant way. "Please don't argue. I don't plan on going after him but I want to know that you'll be safe if I have to do what I really don't want to do." He looked ahead of him. ~Maybe it would have been better if I had gone to sleep...atleast then she'd be safe and I wouldn't have known I was dead until I saw the sun.~

Rin nodded in agreement then paused as he spoke. Her eyes looked into his and quickly fell to the ground. 'I wish you wouldn't speak that way,' she whispered softly, gaze returning to his.

Becoming silent she watched him carefully for a few slow minutes before she closed her eyes, turning her head slightly to face the city. 'Gabriel ...' She didn't know what his reaction would be after she had said this but continued anyways. 'Even if you did die, you know I would never forget you ... you don't forget the ones you love.' Her body trembled as the last word parted from her lips, and she became silent once more, her eyes looking to his. 'I understand your request ... and I will not go seeking revenge ... but until then I refuse to cease protecting what I've tried so hard to keep.'

"Rin, you know I love you and that I would protect you until my dying breath but I want you to be very careful. Dispite what it looks like he isn't insane and he isn't even the badguy in this situation...I am...I left him to die tending our ill perants while I went off to try and become something..and what have I become...a betrayer, a murderer, and a vampire...all because I didn't stay and help those who raised me.." He looked away only for a second. "I trust you and I just want you to be careful." He looked at the moon and then to the city ahead of him. "So where do you plan on going. He knows where I live and even though he said he would leave me be for now, I don't know how long it will last before he decide to come and kill me anyway."

He hated this. What could he do about it! In the past he would have just gone to one of the elders he knew and they would help but now...all his past allies had been betrayed by him...Rin was the only one who had not left though he knew she deserved to leave him. He had done the unspeakable...killing a man he had promised to save...thank god Mitchifer doesn't know to much about that otherwise he would have plenty of people who hate me that he could have hunt me and kill me...yes given the past in this city maybe it was a blessing that only Mitchifer had come to kill him. Some of his enemies could do it without even getting close.

"Rin, thank you for this, for all you have done for me. I do not deserve the loyalty you have given me but...I thank you for it anyway. You are the only person who hasn't left my side, though they had had a right to leave with what I have done..."

Rin had to admit, after going on thinking he had left her, finding him and hearing how he felt for her she realized she couldn't have been happier. The timing of course was all wrong but with alittle time and healing it would work out. She smiled to him warmly, wanting to embrace him and never let go.

Tenderly she grasped his hand, azul optics resting upon his. 'That was the past ... I see you now and I know you are no longer that way, you've learned and if Mitchifer seeks revenge I think it is foolish.' Her hand squeezed his gently and she combed silken fingertips through his hair.

'I don't Mitchifer will find my home ... I barely know where it is I've changed places so much. It's not here, there enough people to where if trouble occurs it'll be noticed and it's comfortable. Do you think it's alright?'

She pulled her coat around her and shifted lightly in the snow as he spoke. 'Your most welcome ... Gabriel.' Gently she leaned close and embraced him.

He smiled back at her. "Compared to the grave I've been living in I'm sure it will be a palace." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "After all that is what you deserve, a palace." He seemed to have nearly completly forgotten about Mitchifer. "And I'm sure that it will be very safe, he may be persistant but if something catches his eye he'll forget all about hunting me until he sees me again." Gabriel laughed before smirking slightly. " Oh yes he is very foolish but all I have to do is save his life once and he'll leave me and everyone I tell him to alone. Some stupid part of his honor code I bet, everything about that man is honor bound."

He leaned back and took a deep breath before getting a calm look on his face. "Well Rin, I surely do not know where you live so will you take the lead? Otherwise we'll just end up standing here all day and I doubt that will be very safe. If Mitchifer doesn't come the sun surely will show up."

(Shortness...)

Rin's eyes closed as his lips touched her cheek, a sensation long forgotten, but most welcome. Laughter parted from her lips, 'A palace ... well it would be nice ... but I am quite content with what I have now.' She gave him and wink and a smile to match before looking out onto the barren street. 'Luckily it isn't far from here ... I've had this fear of going too far from it lately.'

Hesitantly she turned, sauntering to the street before turning the corner. As she did her gaze fell upon Gabriel, a smirk curved her lips and with an extended hand she beckoned him to follow.

(sorry for the shortness and I've been watching Cat Woman ... so if she seems different ... it's the cats fault.)

He nodded. "Oh yes I understand the feeling. These times can be very dangerous lately though I have made several enemies over my long lifetime." He walked slowly after Rin, his feet moving with a slight grace to them as he walked as if ready at attack anything with moved around him. He glanced back at Rin happily though. ~It's nice to be able to forget about the rest of life when she is around. Though sometimes I question that I should do that...~ He looked up an alley and nearly attacked a cat before relizing that it was only a cat. He shook his head sadly. ~I'm getting way to jumpy lately.~ He turned back at Rin and sped up slowly to walk next to her. "So Rin what have you been up to lately? I havn't seen you in what seems like ages."

She watched him as he followed, a smile playing on her lips as he went for the cat. It disentigrated though the moment he had asked her of the happenings in her life since they had last seen one another. 'To tell you the truth ... It is proving itself to become better ... but since it has failed to rise above miserable.' Her gaze fell to the pavement as they continued to walk not wanting to see his expression as she spoke. 'I have been told that mostly elders feel the pain of immortality ... the loneliness that can drive one to the sunlight. Though ... I have been told that it is odd if one such as myself feels such agony.' She trembled slightly eyes straining to keep from turning to him. 'When you left ... I found it to be too much ... my sister had gone ... my closest friend ... gone ... Lionel ... gone.'

A sigh left her and she permitted her gaze to rise. 'It was when someone pulled me from the sunlight that everything fell back into place. I found my sister, Tynaix ... and you.' She stopped and looked up to a building, it was smaller than the surrounding others, about six storys, but nice none-the-less. 'This is it.' she said softly looking to him finally. Quickly she walked up the icy steps and pulled open the door. She could feel the warmth come in a wave over her as she held the door open for Gabriel and she gasped softly. It was a pleasant change from the snowy cold.

He nodded until she spoke of her attempted suicide and frowned at her. "Well I am truly sorry that things happened that way but, I am glad that your life got back together and do not worry, I will not run from my problems, not again." He looked around slowly as they approached the home and then scanned over the face of the building. He walked smoothly up the steps and stepped into the building nodding a thanks to Rin, it was clear that he could no longer tell a change in temperature as he moved into the building. He turned back to Rin with his smile returning to his face. "Now then Rin, what of this city? Has anything other then the seasons changed? Have coven powers began to shift? Speaking of covens how do you stand in the eyes of your leader? High enough for her to pick you over Mitchifer if it comes to that? I'm not worrying but I would like to know all the options before I begin to think of a way out of his grasp atleast for a time. Of course the easiest would be to kill the leash holder or find him a new one but that would be harder then other options plus it is not a answer that would last forever just until he's anger gets the best of him." He sighed and looked around changing the sbuject. "This is a nice place, so this is where you live? I'm glad to see your moving up in the world while until now I kept moving down in it." He seemed more relaxed now that he had walls around him. Mitchifer may have been strong but not enough to go through walls.

Rin let the door swing close behind them, as she listened she gave a light laugh and pressed a slender finger to his lips. 'Too many questions Gabriel ... none that I can answer here. Especially when there is the risk of exposure.' She let her hand slip to his and she guided him to the elevator. 'I'll tell you everything when we are in my appartment.'

Once inside she pressed the button for the top floor and watched the doors as they began to close. She had turned her gaze away for only a mere second, not noticing another figure step in ... A gun was pointed to her head and the one who held the object was a tiny man. He was rather obese, sweaty and his eyes where bloodshot behind coke bottle lenses. 'Miss Hart ... I knew it I damn well knew it.' Rin's eyes narrowed slightly as she ignored the gun. 'Herald what the hell ar eyou doing?' He shook the gun menacingly towards Gabriel but kept his eyes on her. 'Why is he so special huh? I gave you money off ... I brought your mail up to your door when you where out working ... I even pretended not to notice your odd habits. He doesn't like you for who you are but I do!!! Why him!?!?!'

Rin sighed softly. 'Your drunk.' He shook the gun back in her face, shouting in his high pitched voice. 'Answer me or I'll shoot!!!!' The elevator stopped but Rin didn't move, her eyes were pale as they rested upon the man. 'Herald ... don't do something stupid ... please.'

He glanced from the gun to Rin calmly and nearly laughed when the man started to threaten him but then when he began to threaten Rin, now that could not be allowed. He had begun to glare at the man with the gun, not with a glare to an equal but one of a king looking at a stain on his clothing. "Rin you shouldn't let people talk to you like that much less threaten you in such a cowardly way. Using a gun is a fools way out, you need no skill to pull a trigger. He is not even worthy of your breath." He smiled at Rin before turning his glare back onto the man holding the weapon.

"Now listen here boy you put that gun away and tell her you are sorry this instant before I have to cut off your hand to prove my point. If this woman does not wish to answer you then she does not have to. She is a lady and should be respected as much. Even if she wanted to kill you I would not let her at this point as it could stain her clothes. If you want to fight with someone let her leave and I will provide more then enough of a fight." Of course he did not intend on letting the doors close behind him if Rin got out. It would be a waste of his time to let a fool like this have control of his time. "I do not care what you think you know but Rin is a friend of mine and she is simply helping me out of the cold. Nothing more and Nothing less so if you want to have your illusion of love with her feel free I certainly won't stop you. She is a big girl and can handle her own matters as she wishes but right now this isn't her matter, it's mine. Now the only reason I haven't already killed you is simply because she may want you alive and you may be able to stay that way if you leave right this instant.""

The man still held the gun as Gabriel spoke. There was a hint to his voice that caused him to freeze. The gun wasn't loaded ... at least he didn't think so. And it was only meant for threatening. He looked to Gabriel slowly ... almost fearfully and lowered the gun. 'Hey,' a crooked smile ran over his pimple populated face and he loosened his grip on the gun. 'I was only fool'n ...I mean look it's not even-' he had pulled the trigger to prove his point of it not being loaded, but as soon as he had a loud shot rattled the elevator.

Rin froze, pain shot up her left arm and she looked to it with a shocked expression. Her coat had been sliced through and so had the blouse beneathe. It had just niched the flesh of her forearm but none-the-less. Suddenly she grabbed ahold of the man by the throat, teeth gritted and she fighted back her fangs. 'Damn you.' she snarled, her eyes the same icy pale they had been when he had pointed the gun in her face. The man trembled, big red eyes wide from fear. Rin almost started laughing when he passed out.

She pressed the open door button and the doors slid open. She let the man drop and looked at him for a second. 'He has never gotten this bad before.' Her eyes looked up to his, 'I'm sorry about him.' She stepped out and opened the door that was only a few feet from the elevator. 'Well here's my home.'

Gabriel blinked at the man and then at Rin. ~Note to self, don't piss her off.~ He followed her slowly looking back at the man again before pushing it out of his mind. That had been slightly scary, not the gun but the way Rin had reacted to the shot. That wound would be gone without a scar within the night or atleast by morning and it wasn't bad enough to cause her much of a threat at all. He stopped thinking like that and shook his head to regain his calm as he headed towards the door and went through. Then he only waited a moment for the door to close before questions began to bubble out of him. "Who the hell was that guy and why was he acting like he was your wanna-be lover or something? So what about the covens anyway? I've noticed alot more tarepha members around lately have they gained any power? Plus murders are going crazy do you know why the amman haven't stepped in to stop what ever is going on? I mean what has happened while I went into hiding? You've changed I've notice and I hope it's for the better. I mean you seem stronger now and more independent though that elevator action has me wondering some things. So are you going to answer me or just leave me here to babble on like a fool?"

He saw her injury and flinched slightly. Ok it was worse then he had thought. Before he even noticed what he was doing he had gone over to her to get a better look at it. "Are you going to be alright? Do you want me to do anything to help? I've never tied off a bullet wound but I could try if you want me too." He looked up at her and sighed. "I should have done something before he pulled the trigger...I just didn't want to kill him and lately I don't know my own strength. I mean what if I had tried to knock him out and ended up snapping his neck..."

Rin was shocked with all the questions. She laughed again and kissed him fully upon the lips to stop him from saying more. She smiled, pulling back only an inch so that her lips slightly brushed against his as she spoke. 'For one thing ... that guy out there is my landlord ... When he wakes up in the morning he will have forgotten it all, he's drank way to much.' Her gaze fell upon her wound and she sighed. 'I apoligize for my reaction, I lost it, this isn't the first time he's done this ... well maybe the first time he actually shot me.'

She let her right hand push the door closed and she slowly removed her coat then looked to her blouse afraid to pull back the sleeve. 'As for the covens ... well, I haven't been with mine in awhile, there have been many unions between them all, huge parties. And the leader of the Amman seems to be slowly slipping from his high pedestal joining others in orgys I've heard.'

She released a sigh and looked up to him 'I guess I've gotten stronger since I last saw you ... I don't like it ... I've noticed a change in my temper aswell.' She bit her lip as she started to pull up her sleeve. 'Don't worry about what happened there ... even I didn't know he was going to do that.' Blood trickled down her arm. 'It should heal ... I hope soon ... But if there is anything you know that would help it go faster.' She gave him a light smile. 'And if there are any more questions that need to be answered ... by all means.'

He seemed even more shocked at the kiss then at the wound but smiled then frowned and sighed. 'I do know of a way to speed the healing so it takes...well around minutes. If he had shot me it would have healed in about five minutes because my blood is more vampiric then yours just because I'm older. A long time ago vampires gave blood oaths to those who were wounded almost to the point of death. When vampire blood mixes a reaction takes place and wounds heal in a fraction of their normal time." He had already drawn his dagger while he was speaking and was making a small cut on his wrist. "Then the vampire who was healed who owe the vampire who spilled his blood for the healing." He smiled at Rin as he let some of his blood drip on the wound. "But your helping me out as it is so lets just call this even ok?" His cut was clean so it had already began to heal as he sat on the ground legs crossed rubbing his head. "So the mighty amman's leader is falling down and vampires are becoming more and more unruly well that explains alot but I can't worry myself with those matters it's not like I could do much with my siblings chasing me anyway but as for you anger issues I may be able to help with them. I went through them too. Every vampires handles them differantly though. I had a war at the time so my lust for blood and love was quenched quickly while my brothers is still there today but others who indulge the lust to make them go away get trapped in them so as to how to handle it I'm not sure but I'll be there is things get to bad."

Rin listened as she watched his wound dropped tiny droplets of crimson upon her own. 'Thank you.' she said softly, the wound was healing fresh skin eventually replaced a bloody mess. She let a semirk curve at her lips as she looked to him. 'I suppose it's been awhile since you've been with someone who didn't expect you to repay them for anything. Like I told you before ... I did it because I love you ... not because I have to.' He had sat on the floor and she shook her head slightly. 'I guess thats habit too.'

She sat on the couch about a foot from him and looked around at the boarded windows that kept the sunlight from entering and catching her during the day. 'Just how many sibilings do you have and why can't they get over the past ...' Her eyes looked to him and she tilted her head slightly. 'I think it a waste to hunt someone for years just because you wish to settle a score ... but then again I have not lived quite as many years as any of you. Only a few months.'

She turned slightly so that she brought her legs upon the couch and rested her head on the arm. 'It would be nice if you could help those issues ... no death ... no anger ... and I wouldn't have to lose you.'

"Old habits do die very hard and scream the loudest when they do finally die." He sighed and shook his head slowly. "Not everyone wants immortality, my eldest brothers is one that doesn't. He is an honorable man and will live and die by his honor. He will not kill himself nor go out of his way to die but he knows inside that it is my fault this happened to him. I have two siblings both of them vampires. Mitchifer was my eldest brother and he did alot for me and my sister when we were mortal. He always looked out for us and he still does in a way. He won't let me die unless it's by his hands. Gabrielle on the other hand is a very depressed psycho. She loves death but rarely kills, she is my twin and if my theory is correct is the reason that Mitchifer is after me. Lastly we have Tristan, he is not my sibling but my ancestor. He is nearly five thousand years old now and he controls all of our lives in a way. He is the reason we are all vampires even though Mitchifer could have avoided it had it not been for me leaving our ill perants in his care. " He looked at Rin and sighed. "One choice I made long ago haunts me still to this day and had cursed my brother for eternity and yet I don't feel guilty for doing it. It was so long ago that it seems like it is nothing more than a blur in the far distance."

Rin's gaze rested upon him as he spoke. She was afraid to speak, as if the situation would worsen and she had already given all she thought would help. But she so deeply wanted to say more, just to take away the pain, even if for a minute or two. Giving a soft sigh and a light smile of warmth as he looked to her she extended her hand combing slender fingers through his silvery hair.

'Gabriel ...' her voice had come out in a whisper, unintentionally due to her caution in words. 'I wish somehow I could take your past away ... put to rest the sorrow and regret in your eyes. Living immortal and dealing with such memories is not the most unhealthy path you can take, though I have seen through your words what there has been. I can only tell you that I know that is no longer you, I understand how you feel about Mitchifer and I will not leave your side no matter what happens.' Her smile broadened. 'And also that you have strange family.' this was a feeble attempt to lighten his mood.

She wanted to end the talk of his vengeful sibilings, though she knew the thoughts of them would still remain even if he was silent. And she couldn't stand to watch his pain, watching him alone made her wish to go out and take on Mitchifer. Though wether she liked it or not she knew Gabriel deemed his vengance just. It was a huge friggen puzzle.

A soft beeping noise bounced off the walls of the living room and her gaze turned to an alarm clock on the bar. 'About an hour or two before dawn,' Her gaze fell to him and she smiled lightly. 'Got any ideas on how to pass time?'

He smiled back at her and laughed slightly. "You know I'm sorta glad that Mitchifer chased me. If it hadn't been for him I wouldn't have ran into you again." He smirked and looked at the clock with a sigh. "Well there are a few things that come to mind but most of them are even more boring then sitting here and staring into a shadow." He turned and looked at his dagger in his clothing and pulled that out setting it on the ground next to him then began to pull out a few other items including a silver six chamber magnum which he set down on the dagger. "Well I'm not sure what to do that would be better then enjoying your company. I've already been foolish enough to waste some of the time we've had by talking about my crazy family." He laughed and looked back at her. She really was quite pretty, sure she would get a darker set of eyes when she got older but they way she looked now was all the more attractive now that he knew she could look after herself. He hadn't even relized that he had began to think about her in ways which weren't decent for him to even consider but before he could push them out of his mind more came in and before long he was so put up trying to keep them out that his mental sheilds had weakened before falling leaving him open to looks on his mind. Then one thought which he would allow right this second entered and he couldn't help but kiss the woman infront of him. He blinked at himself seemingly seeing himself in third person. ~Now that isn't at all like me.~ Around that time he relized his mental sheilds were down and began to try and force them up, but then the thoughts entered so he fought them away and the sheilds fell. ~Come on, can't let her get into my head now, not with these thoughts hanging around.~

Rin watched him and smiled, 'Yes ... I'm glad I found you again.' She hadn't really thought about how her question might influence his thoughts but her attention was drawn to the gun. She had a few in her studio, a fancy name for the extra bedroom she had trouble finding a purpose for. The windows were the only ones in the loft that weren't boarded, for inspirational purposes. 'Yeah I suppose theres alot that would be boring.' There came a pause and her gaze went to his. She didn't want to admit to it but she could see the thoughts behind his eyes, he was fighting it. It only took her a few seconds to realize she was too.

His lips pressed against hers and a chill trickled down her spine. Oh god, the thought filled her mind, she let it. 'Gabriel ...' Her eyes looked to his. 'We ... we shouldn't.' Yes that would be the best thing, would it? Her eyes watched his still, somewhere inside she wanted him to ignore her.

He nodded slowly and turned to a clock and sighed. "Yes I suppose you are right. It's my fault I'm not used to dealing with these emotions. It's been a long time since I had anyone talk to much less someone that I loved. Besides I think my illness is starting to act up a little so it may be best that I just relax and go to sleep earlier then expected." He could feel his skin drying under his eyes and on his joints and it would only be moments before the small beads of blood came out of them aswell. It had been awhile since the virus which was as old as he was had acted up but the activity must have awoken it. Nothing a few pills wouldn't fix when he got them and went to sleep and even before then he would been fine it just wasn't the best thing for his looks and he needed them to trap mortals more then he needed much anymore. His charm would only get him so far. "I'm sorry Lady Rin. I over stepped my boundries without thinking. please forgive me." He had gotten control of himself and his mind was once again blocked off and the thoughts long gone and masked by embaressment which was a strange feeling to the vampire had he had more blood in him he was sure his cheeks would have been bright red but he could feel them warming slightly most likely showing even more on his pale cheeks. "I'm sorry he muttered.* He had lost his superoirity and now sounded like a child who had gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar.*

She watched him, she wanted to take back what she had said, even if he agreed with her. 'There isn't a need to be sorry.' Slowly she slid down beside him. 'Truth be told I was thinking exactly as you were.' Her eyes fell upon him and since she had drank that evening a fine blush rose to her face. Gently she tucked a hand beneathe his chin and rose his face so that he looked upon her.

She gave a warm smile seeing that he was embarassed as well and leaned into him nezzeling his nose tenderly with her own before kissing him. It was more than she cared to part but she pulled back an inch from him so she could speak. 'Gabriel ... for now is there anything I can offer that would help your illness?' She gently combed a few strands of his hair back before looking back to his eyes. 'Just let me know if there is alright?'

He nodded slowly and turned away reaching into his coat pocket to pull out a small vile of liquid. "No I will be just fine, atleast aslong as I have these to help me." The vile was plastic rather the glass and he quickly drank the chemicals before shivering slightly and catching his head on his hands. That chemical wasn't the best for his blood supply but he would live through it no problem though. "No Rin I did over step my welcome and I am sorry, I will take it that you forgive me though. Now as for my illness I will be perfectly fine. There is nothing you can do about that, nothing that I know of atleast."

He looked around her home and nodded. This was indeed a nice place for her, though that land lord would have to go. Maybe he could 'convince' him to leave the building to Rin in a will though? That would work and then it would be as simple as bring a hungry vampire this way then he was drunk and all would be solved...now he would have to get to know the neighbors before he deemed them worthy of leaving her. He might have to arrange for them to be moved out and people who were worthy could then be moved into this building. "Thank you for letting me into your home Rin, it was very kind of you." Yes this was just like the Game of Houses back at home, use the right people, get the right blackmail, frame the right people, and you could have anything you wanted.

Rin watched as he removed the vile from his coat and drank. She was somewhat taken back with his reaction but as soon as he bagan talking once more her muscles lost their tenson. She gave him a slight curve of the lips indicating a smile, her eyes held it more than her actual expression. 'Alright ... I understand, I just didn't want you to pull this totally on yourself ... after all I did tell you I felt the same.' She sighed softly. 'I guess I fought it back since I saw that you were too. I felt like I might have been taking advantage and ... I couldn't do that.'

Her gaze fell to the vile and she pondered as to what had been in it. 'It's good to see it helps so quickly.' Her voice was a soft whisper as though she was afraid to talk about it. She shifted and looked back up to him a smile this time filling her lips. 'Gabriel ... I should be thanking you. This place is lonely when it's only me,' she kissed his forehead. 'I would be happy to know that you are out of that cemetary and have you here with me.'

Gabriel almost instantly blushed again when she kissed him again it seemed that had broken down everything all over again. He began to fight back thoughts once again while trying to hold up a crumbling wall that had gaurded his mind while trying to gain control of his outward expression. He heard her coment and stopped to think about it before relizing the thoughts had come in and the walls had fallen. He quickly tried to fight off the thoughts and put his walls back up. "Oh Rin don't worry about ever taking advantage of me. I'm a grown man...though I don't always act like it and well I can handle myself enough to keep you away if I wanted too. I mean if anything I should be the one worried like that I mean I'm old enough to make your great great great great great great great grandfather look young. I mean if it wasn't for this ageless body well I would look rather old." He laughed slightly which was enough to make all his work fall back through. I mean it wasn't his fault, she was a lovely woman who was sitting very close to him. I mean his last physical contact with a woman that hadn't been violent had been with Alexia and that was hundreds of years ago. Needless to say he wasn't used to dealing with contact with the opposite sex.

She was smiling before she realized it. He was struggling with his actions, in her entire time of knowing him she had never seen him fight so hard with himself. She gave a soft laugh upon hearing his words and looked to him. 'Well it's good to know that I won't intrude over any forbidden boundries.'

Slowly she embraced him, if he was as nervous as she felt she didn't want him to be. She closed her eyes resting her head against his chest, if he had fed earlier she could have heard a faint heartbeat. Though at that moment she could only hear hers, slow and soft.

Before she had caught up with herself, her lips pressed against his in a kiss, letting it linger longer than the others had. She didn't want it to end but there was something she wanted to say before they got further. Drawing back only slightly she looked up into his eyes almost afraid of his reaction but needed to say it now.

'Gabriel ... I love you.'