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She turned her head aside dissaprovingly for a moment, speaking out of the side of her mouth, "It's just formal attire, I didn't think it looked like a mob suit."

She was actually pouting as she spoke, extending her lower lip, because she thought he looked like someone classy and businesslike in the black sport coat, white collar shirt, dress pants, and black leather shoes with matching socks.



He didn't need to apologize, from him there was no way possible that could sound weird, anyone else would get punched, but from him it was a compliment, a gift.

"You really think so!" she said excitedly, "I'm glad. Tee hee!"

She left him take her hand, but made sure he wrapped his arm around her own before taking it so they could be intertwined together. There was no blushing or confusion any more, she simply smiled, enjoying his attention.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of mobsters, they were eating at Club Gambino, the most expensive restauraunt on the gambling strip, and strictly by reservation only. Being one to plan ahead, those reservations had been made a long time ago.

The inside of the Restaurant was furnished in mahogany, gold chandeliers and expensive artistics objects adorned the inside. Their were signed portraits of Gambino and other high ranking island personalities on the walls. The silverware was actually silver, the napkins were silk lined with gold, ice cold spring water was served in crystal chalices. The first thing they would see is the wine menu, but Adaire knew little about good wine, and left it sit on the table. She supposed a bottle of their finest champaigne would do, at least for Zetsu, she didn't intend to have anymore than a sip anyway. She kept looking up toward Zetsumeii, each time her smile was a little less subtle.

"I know what you're thinking, Zetsu," Adaire said, "This place is really posh. I'm thinking the same thing."

She pulled out her purse, no make-up or feminine items to be found, just a very compact picture, some folded documents, and a few pictures. One of the pictures came out of her purse and she handed it to Zetsu. It was a picture of the temple in West Fall.

"You see that building?" she asked, "That's where I was kept and experimented on. My personality was changed by that event, they really messed me up. I was an experiment much like you. I was wondering if you might recognize it."

"I heard he started gambling with a single piece of gold and won the whole island. Just about everything here is owned by him."



"That night you carried me and I walked in on you," she said, reddening visibly, "You might have seen a spiral scar on my left hip, that was caused by what they did to me there, as was my aversion to concentrated elemental energy. They made me into a vessel some creature known as Ymir, who was supposed to be a god or some very powerful being."




"Snow," she said in a low whisper, almost talking to herself, "It does snow at times in Western Gaia, sometimes pretty heavily, but the temple borders Barthovos, and it would be unlikely for a heavy snow to fall. The day I escaped, everyone was long gone, when I first made it outside it was sunny. I hadn't seen the sun in such a long time, it hurt my eyes, I could barely get myself outside the gate."


"I just thought," she said, a little louder, reaching for his hand from across the table, "That maybe if you were from my time, that you were held in the same place I was. I'm sorry to bring this up tonight, I shouldn't have, I just........ I just wanted to help you put these things behind you. I thought maybe we could find out what happened to you, together. But you have the right not to know, Zetsu, it's your decision."

As neither seemed interested in the wine menu, and Adaire had forgotten about it, they took it and brought the dinner menu.



"It's okay Zetsu, I shouldn't have dug this up tonight of all times," she said, knowing he was hurt, suddenly feeling in tune with his sense and his emotions, almost ready to cry for him.

She took the hated picture back and tore it in half before stuffing it in her purse, it was only for his sake she had it in the first place. She took his hand again if he'd let her, and cleverly changed the subject.

"Zetsu, after supper tonight, can we go out and get a few pictures taken, of us, together?" she asked, "I'd really like that. I may never get to see you in suit again, and who knows how long it'll be before I wear this again."

In all honesty, she never wanted to forget this night, it would be a picture she could actually cherish instead of hate.

And then soon, it would be time to actually order.

"I'm going to help you find out," Adaire said, "This time I have good friend who knows how to find things. You met him at the wedding awhile back. His name is Evan White. Zetsu, you should really try your best to get hired by R.I. They have great pay and benifits. I admit I want to keep you close to me, that's my selfish reason, but I think Evan would make good use of your talents. You should try to stay on his good side if you can."



"It would be a lot of firsts, for me too," Adaire said, almost sadly, as if she opened a door that could never be closed, "Today was the first time I ever wore a dress because I wanted to, it was also the day of my first kiss. Zetsu, have you ever kissed a girl you liked, before today?"


Write down their names and address so I can hunt them down mercilessly for elimination. evil

The waiter came.

"A fine couple, may I take your orders?"

Adaire ordered something off the menu, a grilled fikan steak topped with a light garnish.

He looked up at her with a strange expression on his face, one that seemingly radiated embarrassment.

"Well, when I was around twelve years old or something, I did kiss a girl..but it was mostly a dare..I didn't really like her at all, and afterwards I was a couple coins richer..I think the reason I did it was to keep her from telling on us. We were pretty troublesome kids back then.."

He laughed, having never remembered that certain incident until Adaire had brought it up. It was strange, if she asked him questions like this maybe he could regain memories he lost awhile back. He thought this over as he relayed his order to the waiter, their prime steak dish, cooked rare.

He thought back to what she mentioned earlier, and went on to talk about the possibility of help.

"Evan? I remember him..still have his card too. He looked like a nice enough guy, but I was never really given details on how to apply for a job. I guess I'm just supposed to show up one day. "

Using his free hand he thoughtfully felt his pockets, suddenly remembering he had left the card back at the stadium. He'd have to call that number sometime soon.

"Mabye when I get in, you and I could..

He paused, having no idea what the R.I. was all about.

"..um..what does Evan employ people for..exactly? I never asked.."

"Adaire!"

He was crestfallen, he hadn't meant to upset her..he was merely telling the truth.

'I was twelve then..I didn't understand what love even really was.'

The tone of her voice was what brought him to think she was upset, and he had not a clue of what he had said to cause her to act the way she did.

'She's right though, you did feel something.'

Zetsu stared at the surface of the table, suddenly remembering something important about that kiss.

'I felt scared.'

In truth, he was scared even when kissing Adaire. It was the most frightful thing; he could look into the eyes of a dying man, he could act collected and cool during a fight, he could remain stolid in the face of death, yet everything brought along with a kiss frightened him more than death itself.

In his entire life he had only truly loved two women, one being far from alive and the other being in the same building as he was. In the ladies room to be exact.

Having been betrayed once by the woman was something Zetsu could never forget. In truth, Adaire was the only woman he really believed in. The only one he trusted in.

Maddick just followed behind ever so quietly, it wasnt that any of this made him uncomfortable, he just wanted to say Raven do her thing. A beautiful woman that knows how to work her beauty is a magnificent thing indeed.

And then she entered the club. They look in her eyes, the look of a predator, a hunter, a vixen ready to strike.

Have you ever been in a crowded room when a loud sound went off? Like perhaps a gunshot, a glass shattering or something of that nature? With the thunderous pound of the music no sound like that would have any effect. But Raven's presence acted as that loud sound should of, one by one within a few seconds almost every eye was on her. Not disgustingly, or longingly, but admiringly. As if a top notch celebrity had just graced there presence. People hit her with every look from utter amazement to downright speechless shock.

Even the guys were too impressed to just throw cheezy or sleezy pick up lines. They were on there best behavior, immediately.

Maddick had that mischevious grin about him, and a slow expectant nod. He had neglected to mention, when a creature such as Raven or Maddick is hungering there body natural emits an aura of "Presence", its makes them noticed, even wanted. All for the sake of attracting prey. Depending on the willpower of the targets, they will have any reaction from following in awe, or madly falling in love with the hungry being. Considering this was a room fool of drunks, there will wasnt doing very well right now. Although Raven was beautiful, to them, there simply was none more. Men partying with there wives still found there eyes obviously drawn, as did the wives!

Raven. Had just become the life of the party.

His eyes rolled back as a look of total bliss came over his face...she was touching him. It might as well have been god herself. The man hit the table like a sack of potatoes. A thump, and he was wearing his drink on his pants, normally that would be a mess and there would be alot of cleaning going on, but no one noticed the thumping they noticed her, and she was giving someone attention! A woman in the back of the bar nearly fainted.

The drunk, despite the slight headache he was going to have in a few hours was out like a light. A ridiculously goofy grin across his face. She touched him...he he he...he was in for some sweet dreams. He wasnt a meta, so there was no new powers at her immediate disposal, but she woudl be able to feel a tad bit of his buzz.

Normally a single soul like that would have been enough, but that poor man had just gotten off a long annoying shift, he was tired, and he was currently beating his soul with booze. He gave her a jolt thats for sure, like a caffienated kick to the soul, if she was tired before, she was sure awake now. But it wouldnt last long enough to fill her, she had taken a major energy kick earlier today. She needed a more, something more substantial. But at least she didnt feel like she had just run a marathon.

Maddick, was enjoying, the sights, the sounds, the people, and most of all, seeing Lady Raven at work. She was a natural.