.KARA.

They had sped down a hidden case of stairs. They were now in what looked like a garage, with plenty of extra supplies of everything possible and several figures hidden behind panels.

Kara was still confused as to what exactly was happening. She got the jist of it; they were leaving because someone had found them out. What she didn't know was why it was important to leave or who was behind them. She did know that no one was about to tell her anything for at least another few hours.

"We've got fifteen minutes, guys let's hurry this up."

"The bikes aren't warmed up, it'll take at least eight minutes, Luca." the twins disappeared behind the panels and a low humming filled the room.

Jocelyn and Skye were going through the supplies,

"I know we have the basics, but remember last time? I really don't want to go through that again, get a few things that we might need if they fit and won't burden us." Luca had told them, and so that was what they were doing. Dehydrated food, slim bottles and other things were considered, discarded or dropped into black expandable bags.

Kara sat down, not knowing what to do after deciding she was pretty much useless in this situation. Luca was talking with 'The Cold One' as she had nicknamed Artemis.

"Oh, I almost forgot, we sharpened your blade after what happened last week, Artemis. Turns out the malfunction was just a loose screw from when we were fixing it the other time." Kara heard one of the twins say behind the panels.

"Alright." There was a look on her face that Kara knew very well; Artemis wanted the conversation to be over.

"Sorry about that, but we made sure that everything was in pristine condition yesterday."

"Alright." She repeated. Kara didn't know what was making Artemis so uncomfortable, then again, she didn't know what 'screws' the Akira and Kazu were talking about.

"Wait, Kazu, what do you mean, 'after what happened last week'?" Luca frowned and looked at the panels, one of the twins, Kazu, stepped out from behind it with a confused look on his face.

"Artemis didn't tell you- oh. Sorry, nevermind." his words came out fast and nervous. By the end of Kazu's words Luca looked absolutely perplexed, not something I had ever seen on his face.

"It doesn't matter." Artemis said, but Luca wasn't dropping it. Kara didn't expect him to, when she got hurt once, Luca hadn't stopped bothering her about it until she told him. It had included her tyrannical parents and he wasn't overjoyed to hear what they had done.

"Tell me, you don't keep secrets from me."

"Neither did you." Artemis fixed Kara with a hard look that made her glance around the room nervously.

"This isn't about me."

"We know, this is about the six of us and our safety, right? Besides, it was something that happened. It's the past now. Can't be changed."

"Dit-moi."

-Tell me. The words appeared in her eye sceen, foreign languages were immediately translated for her.

It was a few seconds before anybody did anything, even Jocelyn and Skye had frozen. Luca got frustrated and gripped Artemis' shoulder harshly. She didn't know who was more surprised. Luca or herself. Artemis just stood there with that blank face of hers. Luca was the one to grimace as his hand came back with dark red stains.

Kara watched as the white shirt she had been wearing turned dark with blood. It wasn't much, but enough to make Kara flinch; she wasn't used to the sight of it. Luca looked horrified, he hadn't touched her so hard to make her bleed, but she could still tell that he was going to start feeling bad about the whole thing. Kara would stand idly for anything that Artemis did, but not this. She wouldn't watch as Luca began to blame himself for Artemis;

"Just tell him already!"

"Nobody included you in this conversation if I recall correctly." she shot at Kara,

"Well you're just trying to make Luca feel bad!" Kara only recalled seeing something flash in the other woman's eyes before a harsh sting erupted in the side of her face. Her cheek felt ablaze and her eyes started tearing up. She sat back down on a steel box dumbfounded. Kara never thought Artemis would hit her.

"That is the last thing I would want to do, Kara. As for what happened last week, Luca, while you were away with her, I took a job from a client. My scythe wasn't working well. I had to resort to a hand-to-hand confrontation. That sums it up."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Luca's voice sounded hurt and his face showed that precise emotion.

"I did." she said curtly, "I sent a notice to you before accepting and before I left."

Kara did notice that there had been a couple of rings coming from Luca's earpiece a few days ago. She hadn't thought it was important since Luca hadn't seemed to mind. They had been... rather occupied. A frown marred his face,

"Sorry... What did you do for them?"

"Clean up after a kid's screw up with the daughter of Oshiro, Arata."

"You alone?" Artemis shrugged, her bloody shoulder ignored, lips pursed.

"I didn't want the others in more danger than they already were with you gone for a longer period of time."

"The bikes are ready." Kara stood up uncertainly and uncomfortable as she realized she was now the center of attention.

"What're we going to do with her? There aren't anymore bikes, and we don't have a spare hoverboard to lend her."

"I've got my own," she contributed, the hoverboard in her pack was brand new, fully charged, she could use that one.

"No, no. That's too slow."

"But I've got the latest model, it'll work."

"We build our hoverboards so they're customized for each of us, the ones on the market are standard fit, they're too slow." Akira said dismisively.

"Artemis and I can't take her, with what we've got we fill up the maximum weight." Skye said from the corner of the room.

"Then..." Luca turned on his heal to face Jocelyn, "Jocey! You're still rather light, correct?"

"Of course I am!"

"Well, then... put your pack on my bike, Kara, and ride with Jocey. We'll figure out a way to get you a bike later."

Kara gave Luca her black bag, and sat down behind Jocelyn. It was uncomfortable at first, but soon she wrapped her arms around Jocelyn's slim waist and let Kazu press a thin helmet on her head. Glancing around, everyone had a somewhat different bike. Jocelyn's was a two wheel machine, with a short tail and handle bars with intricate light patterns. The twins shared a bike that shimmered and seemed to tremble with energy. Luca and Skye's were identical; with two wheels, twisting silver bodies and narrow handles, the only disitnction were the colors. Luca's had a chain of red lights quivering in the wheels while Skye's lights were navy blue. Artemis had a one wheeled cycle, it was simple with a thin neck and handles, the foot rests were just barely studs at the center of the wheel, Kara thought that it looked rather unsafe.

"We don't have much time."

The black door slid open and Luca's bike sped away. Skye. Artemis. The twins. Jocelyn.

Kara grimaced as the helmet tightened around her jaw and pressed on her bruised cheek. That slap had hurt more than she imagined one would. It had been a while before she had grown accustomed to her mother's hits, and then she had left, carried away by a beautiful prince she had always imagined would come. Four months without a hit, just love and fun had softened her, Luca had made her believe that no one would ever touch her again. But he hadn't stopped Artemis, or said anything after that pale woman had slapped her. Tears began slipping down her face and the wetness gathered at her cheekbones since the constricting helmet didn't allow them past further.

Jocelyn's voice rang in her head, that soft ringing that sounded more motherly than anyone she had really known.

"I'm sorry that Artemis hit you."

I she jumped slightly, but chided herself when she thought that the helmet probably had a microphone in it.

"I know she doesn't like me, but I didn't think she'd actually touch me.", she confessed, there was just something in Jocelyn she knew she could trust. Instinctive.

Jocelyn was silent for a bit, and Kara just concentrated on making sure she didn't fall off the bike. She could feel the low hum of the vehicle shaking her knees slightly and took deep breaths trusting Jocelyn to not turn the bike over. The wind made Kara's thin shirt flap and billow around her waist, the chill made her shiver.

"She's tough to get along with at first," Kara paid keen attention and waited patiently, she really wanted to hear this, "but if you give her some time, she won't be so hard on you."

"Really? I like all of you but she just seems so... cold. I don't think we'll ever get along."

"Well, Artemis is just like that."

"Is her name actually Artemis? It just seems like such a weird name, you know?"

"Eh, no. But she doesn't like her real name, so when Luca started calling her that she just allowed it."

"Do you even know her name?"

"Of course I do!" Kara giggled along with Jocelyn, she decided not to worry about Artemis, instead, she just asked about the final topic on her mind.

"What did Artemis mean when she said that I didn't know what goes on that concerns you?"

Another long pause.

"I'll tell you later, alright?" There was something that made Kara stop talking. Something melancholic in the way that Jocelyn leaned forward and tightened on the bike. Something strange in the way that Jocelyn refused to tell her something. Kara sighed. These people were so complex. What had made them that way? It wasn't natural, surely. It couldn't. Especially with the music and creativity bouncing back into civilian life.

Whatever this thing was that they weren't talking about, it seemed like a big secret. Something dangerous and mysterious. Fun. Kara wasn't stupid enough to think that she would get the answer quickly, she would have to try and pry the conversation out. That was what made it so entertaining. The intrigue to find out to know something new brought out a strange and ellastic curiosity from her. It let out the questions and friendly banter in order to know.

She sighed again. She did like to know things, but she didn't like having to wait to try and find them out. She was going to get bored. Kara looked around at the city flying past her and she finally noticed they weren't going at a very safe speed. Looking over Jocelyn's shoulder, she noticed the bright red light blinking, too fast. Way too fast.

"Where are we going?"

"Berlin."

"Berlin? Wait? Berlin!? As in Germany?"

Jocelyn nodded, and Kara gulped, tightening her grip on Jocelyn's waist. The ride was vaguely uneventful after that and she almost fell asleep on Joce's back. Had it not been for the impending death threat if she did fall asleep, Kara would have dosed off a long time ago.

The darkening sky had long ago turned into a pitch black blanket of nothing. The bright lights and music from the buildings were dizzying and swarmed around Kara in a mess of colors and sounds. People were on the streets talking and laughing, enjoying life the only way they knew.

Kara hadn't ever bothered with learning much about the War and the Death. She did like history, but learning about such depressing topics wasn't exactly what she enjoyed. But if she recalled correctly, it had happened halfway through the last century when a few countries couldn't agee on something, she couldn't remember what, and they had gone to war. Then, somehow, almost all countries got involved, not the best course of action by what her teacher had told her. Poverty and political instability, fear and crime were rampant. It got worse in countries where it was already a problem and began affecting others where it wasn't so much of a trouble. It wasn't the most exciting time to live in. She knew that the Old people had wars before them, two big ones and then a few smallish ones. But none of them were compared to this one. It raged on firecely for a few decades, until it died down to an uncompared animosity between countries. Once in a while one would make a move, the other would respond, another would take that oppourtunity to attack another country. It was wrong, that's all she could think of in respect to it. In the process of wanting to be safe, the United Unions broke up and different countries formed alliances.

After the war, a new alliance came up in 2989 promising peace and stability. Some countries tried to get in, but most were turned away. By the year 2995, the alliance was completed.

A year before the third millenium, the Death ended. The Death was what most people called that long time of misery and lack of life. Now, it was the Birth era, and everybody was enjoying what they could; everything. Music and art sprang up once life was stable on Earth. The past two years and foward would be what people remembered, not that dark time when nothing had a meaning.

"Kara, we're going to stay in an apartment of ours and head for Berlin tomorrow, Artemis' shoulder is bothering her too much."

Kara didn't want anybody to be hurt, really, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that Artemis deserved it. She was rude and unabbiding. She didn't like Kara and there was no reason for Kara to like her either. But she understood that maybe Artemis did feel pain beneath all of that cold arrogance.

"Okay." Besides, though the bike was comfortable, she was starting to get a bit sore.

They rode for a few more minutes until Luca's bike tilted left and everyone dissapeared down an alleyway. It was dark and made Kara shiver, but soon a light blinked and a large door opened up. Everyone got off their bikes and parked them into the garage. The door closed behind them and Kara glanced at Artemis just to see what state she was in.

She gasped.

The tall woman's shoulder was covered in slick, dark blood. It matted her shirt down onto her skin and her lean muscles were defined. She clicked the helmet off and leaned against her vehicle. As she turned around, Kara saw that most of her arm and chest were also stained.

"Jocelyn." Jocelyn nodded and bounced over to her, they both walked to a corner where Artemis took off her shirt.

"It got worse."

There was a long gash on her left deltoid. It was scabbed and sticky looking with violent scrapes and purple bruises. The thin shirt she wore was also stained, and Kara's stomach felt quesy.

"Don't look." Skye advized her, his lavender eyes gloomy. Luca's arm was around her and pulled her close.

"Luca, please tell me, what's going on?"

Up to that point she had been able to push aside most of her more important questions and worries. Not anymore, Artemis was bleeding, they were leaving the country, Kazu and Akira were talking about scythes and hand-to-hand combat and jobs and powerful Japanese men. There was something very wrong in that picture. She had only been able to look over it because Luca had assured her he would explain everything. Once they got settled in, of course.

"I- Bien. Vas-y."

-Alright, come.

Kara read, she had gotten used to the random bits of French that crept into Luca's speech every so often. She saw him sigh and look sadly across her shoulder, Kara didn't bother looking over to see what he was looking at. She knew it was Artemis.

Kara wasn't jealous. Not really. But she couldn't help but wonder what kind of relationship they had. Had they kissed? What kind of memories did they share for Luca to feel as strongly as he obviously did towards the blonde woman?

She didn't bother thinking too much about it, there was something else more important going on.

The two walked through a door at the far right of the garage. When they passed Jocelyn and Artemis Kara couldn't help but shudder as she got a closer view of the injury. Blood stained Artemis' skin like ink would on paper. It was so easy to see the flesh and bone beneath that it was too grotesque for her. As she glanced away, she caught the stern look on Artemis' face. The way her eyebrows pulled together creating a few wrinkles, her teeth chewing on her bottom lip, but she made no noise.

If that were Kara, she had a feeling she would be sobbing and whimpering to no end. A moment of curiosity went towards Artemis as she wondered; what would someone have to go through to stand that kind of pain?

The door was an entrance to the lift, the clear crystal walls shone with energy making them seem like they were vibrating. It was strange, she had never really experienced something like this. It was really new or so she thought since the crystal appeared unscratched and unpenetrable.

As she looked out of the confining box she saw the lobby. It was large and bustling with energy. People's multicolored hair and gittering clothes danced through the view she had. It kind of made her dizzy at seeing so many distracting things all over the place. Kara had gotten used to seeing these weird and almost absurd designs and she loved them all.

After seeing Luca's family for the few hours she had gotten to, Skye's lavender eyes and the twins' fiery hair seemed tame next to the public. His family seemed like naturals, people who often boycotted and disagreed with large beauty corporations. She doubted it though, Jocelyn's almost golden skin was far too bright for it to be a natural, unadultured glow and even Luca had a tattoo. It raced around his body, laughing and swimming in which ever way Luca's mood wanted it to. It was a black circle with intricate details in and out of it, with a tail. Usually it resided on the skin of his shoulders, but when he was feeling playful and nice it moved around his back, arms and chest.

Thinking about Luca had her mind set on the light but authorative grip her had claimed on her upper arm. The fingers were warm and soothed her worries but failed to quench her curiosity. She really wanted to know what had her boyfriend so riled up. It was a pure feeling that came from her core and could be damaged when refused. She didn't like to be denied answers, she liked the feeling of when she learned something. It was the main reason she liked Luca.

Besides the beauty he held with his high cheekbones, and wavy blond hair, he held a strong character. A character that had never withheld answers, one that cared for her well being and loved her for her curiosity. He never told her she couldn't know something, and whenever things got slightly tense he would always soothe her. Kara liked the relationship he had with him. Even though she had only known him for four months to be exact. All he had ever asked of her was her undivided attention and care. It was an easy love she could provide for him, even with her insequrities and childish views.

She had been hurt when he had met her, in her opinion, she had been abused and pushed over the edge, both mentally and emotionally. Luca had been able to cure her with his loving and protective ways.

Now, she couldn't understand what was bothering him so much he wasn't even look at her. To be honest, she could tell there was a scowl begining to form on usually his peaceful face. It bothered darkening expression in his eyes was disconcerning and very unappealing in Kara's opinion. Hopefully he'll snap out of it, she thought.

The glass lift stopped and he pulled her through the threshhold onto the floor of the hotel. By looking over the railing, she could tell they were on one of the highest floors. A feeling in her gut made her freeze.

"Luca. Luca!"

His now passive eyes looked her over and her panic began to rise, she couldn't be up this high. No. Not even the height of the rooftops they had been were this high, consequently, neither had their apartment. Luca knew this, it was the only reason she hadn't been totally incapacitated back then. Now he was shamelessly treading on a fear he had full knowledge to. There was something terribly wrong. Luca wouldn't do this.

"Kara. Hurry up, and don't you dare make a scene here."

With Luca, and even before, she had always been happy and cheerful. After a while, she had found a way to be happy and have a 'good' life even though her parents never helped and nurtured that train of thought. Right now, as Luca's grip became more demanding, she knew she couldn't be that way with him. There was an innate sense that made her gather her bearings and try to ignore overbearing thought of the height.

With her heart beating so fast, she could hardly hear anything else, she took deep breathes but any attempt to fully soothe her nerves was futile. There was no way to convince herself that Luca would save her if the building gave in or if she fell. Not with the dark look he bore, Kara frowned too. Luca wasn't supposed to look like this, his face should always be happy and optimistic, lovable and caring.

The two finally entered a room after checking past the security on the door. The entrance room was large, large and rich. Uncommon browns and beige shades with green and white dominated the apartment. The Center of the room was a large orb, already humming with energy after having sensed the two humans at the door. The lights were low and comforting, as if attempting to calm her nerves. In fact, that was exactly what it was doing.

Luca's arm moved forward, tripping her into a sofa in front of him. The look he gave her was not friendly, but not as uncomfortable as the one in the hall. His eyebrow popped up, asking the question.

"Can you first tell me something?" Silence. "Why are you being so mean?"

His face softened, but not enough to make her feel safe. Rubbing his face, Luca groaned.

"I'm sorry, I just- I just really don't want to have this conversation, Kara. No one does, it's not something I like to talk about and I'm scared. I truly am."

"Scared of what?"

"You. You're too special to me," He looked up from his hands clasped tightly between his knees with a tortured look on his face. Seeing his eyes tinted with tears were too much and Kara reached out to him. Her arms circling his waist, she asked,

"What will happen to me?"