The Differences

Part One: Chapter Four

Maeko stared at Calpyso with wide eyes. She smirked. She sat down in front of Maeko and stared at her. Maeko looked terrified, she was petrified, adrenaline was rushing through her veins, however not a word was carried through the air. Zero watched as the two locked their sights on eachother. "You don't look like the type to be a killer, Maeko" said Calpyso. The silence that resonated through the alley corrupted, and Maeko began to speak, just as she lost her words. They were out of her reach. She could not look past Calypso and grasp onto the vocabulary she was looking for.

"You're too cute to be a killer, I think" said Calpyso, smiling. Maeko lost more breath. "Maeko!" Zero said, as Maeko fell on his shoulder, passing out. "I think she had too much going through her mind just then..." said Calypso. "Are you dumb? You almost scared her to death. Don't make it seem like you're gonna kill her then trip her out" said Zero. "I don't think you know who you're talking to, kitty. I have no intentions of killing Maeko, in fact, I'll sacrifice my life to protect her just as I did at the funeral. She is like a little sister to me. However, if you get in my way, I won't hesitate to kill you" Calypso said, staring Zero dead in the eyes.

"As if you would know her; you met her today. I doubt you can protect her"

"I'm sure you're aware of my conditions. Didn't Faith tell you?"

"...Yeah. Even so, I don't trust you"

"Seems fair. However, know you have no meaning. You should just erase her memory now and make her forget all about you. Or should I do it for you?"

"I can't do that again...She'd be too cold"

"I see" said Calypso, standing up. "Rayne knows Maeko murdered Faith. For now, it's best Maeko doesn't stay at her house. I'll take her in" said Calypso.

"What About the rest of us? They saw that we were with her"

"I'll be sheltering Onyx and Dingo as well. However, don't you dare come 100 feet within the radius of my house"

"What makes you think I'd want to?"

"You're a cat"

Zero stood up, and dusted off his suit. "I'm sorry Calypso, but Maeko is coming with me" said Zero, picking up Maeko and speeding off. "Uh- what?" said Calypso, in realization Zero was no longer there, and had left in a flash. "I should've seen that coming" said Calypso, stretching out her large wings.

Maeko woke up in a familiar place. It was the same bed; the same room that she woke up in when Zero had saved her from passing out on the street. "Awake?" said Zero. "Uhh- where am I? What happened? AGH! Where did that creepy girl go?!" said Maeko. "She's gone. I brought you back here since I don't think it's safe for you to go to your own house. She tried to take you, but I rescued you before she could take you" said Zero. "Ahh- thanks. Uh, but what about my clothes?" said Maeko. "I'll go to your house and collect them, wait here" said Zero.

Within a second, Zero was out the door and at Maeko's house. The door was still broken and wide open for anyone to walk in. Zero walked in, prepared for seeing thieves. Rummaging was heard from upstairs. Zero fled up the stairs, and found a familiar face looking through Maeko's closet. "Raeylynn?!" Zero said. "Ah- it's not what it looks like! I was looking for Maeko. I have unfinished business with her. I was wondering if she was hiding, and looking for thieves that might've broke in" said Raelynn. Zero sighed. "Whatever" he said, picking up her clothes.

"So where is she?"

"My house."

"Why is she there? Did you kidnap her?!"

"NO! Calypso almost kidnapped her so I rescued her and brought her back to my place to rest. She can't stay here any longer"

"Why not?"

"Because she ki-"

There was a silence as Zero stared into the clothing drawers.

"What'd she do?"

"Sh- she um, kicked someone, and they beat her up pretty bad to the point where she passed out"

"Can I see her? I need to talk to her"

"No."

"Fine. Then I guess she isn't getting half of her clothes..."

Zero glared at Raelynn, who was smirking, holding Maeko's clothes in her arms.

"Fine" Zero said, sighing.

Zero and Raelynn returned to his home. He quietly shut the door, so he wouldn't disrupt Maeko. Zero put the bags of clothes on the kitchen table, and turned on the TV. He sat on the couch, relaxing. "Where is she?" asked Raelynn. "In that room"

"I heard you got hurt..." said Raelynn, walking into Maeko's room. Maeko gave her a confused look, but turned over so she wouldn't have to face Raelynn. "Hey...I'm sorry for what I said back then. I shouldn't have bullied you for being smarter than me. That's something that...I never want to do again" said Raelynn, quietly. She looked down, holding her arm. Maeko turned over to look at Raelynn. "It- It's okay..." said Maeko.

"I'll leave you to rest. I need to talk to Zero" said Raelynn, walking out. "Zero, what is Maeko to you?" asked Raelynn. "She's like my little sister" said Zero. "Always getting herself in trouble. And I'm her brother, always saving her from her stupid mistakes" said Zero. "But you haven't known her long have you" said Raelynn. "I suppose you could say that" said Zero. "To me, Maeko seems like a great person. She seems smart, reliable, and capable. However, she has a cold aura. When I walk near her, she is frozen. Yet she still moves. She can talk. Her breath is that of the ice dragons, yet it's warm. Her words aren't hot, but warm. I used to look at her like when she talked she'd be shooting out icicles, but now it's like she had a fireplace in her head, and the heat is traveling out of her mouth" said Raelynn.

"She can be surprising" said Zero. The door fell down. In front of the door, stood an angry Calypso. "I'm sorry Raelynn" Zero said, standing up. "What?" she said. As soon as she blinked, Zero was no longer in her vision, but gone. "WHERE IS THE GIRL?!" Calypso said, grabbing Raelynn by the shirt. "I- In that room..." she said.

"She's not there. Dammit, Zero must've run away with her again" said Calypso. "...But you're still here. I wonder why. Zero doesn't care about you, I guess. Heh. Maybe you're exactly what I need" said Calypso. Raelynn stared at Calpyso petrified.