*Telepathic speaking*

/thought/

Projekt Engel 01- Missions

Yoji hadn’t thought it was even possible but it had actually happened, for the first time he was *not* enjoying his date. Usually he was really good at picking women with at least half a brain so he didn’t know why he agreed to go out with this airhead. "Yoji!" the dark haired woman pulled hard on his arm, "are you even listening to me?" he was tempted to say ‘not for the past hour and a half’ but instead he fought off a grimace and looked at her his sunglasses.

"Sorry Sukio. What were you saying?"

"Never mind it doesn’t matter." Sukio kissed him passionately. He just caught sight of a figure in jeans and a ball cap before it pushed Sukio into him as it dashed by. "Hey you brat."

"Gomen. In a hurry." Replied a feminine, slightly accented, voice as the girl yelled over her shoulder. Yoji stared after her until Sukio was pushed into him again by Crawford? He reached for his wire but then remembered Sukio who was now grumbling about the mud on her skirt.

"Yoji how about we go back to my place. I really need to change." Yoji sighed and nodded.

*****************************************************************

"Damn it she got away again." Schuldich slammed his fist into the wall.

"You’re just mad because she refused you, told you off, and then shut you out of her mind." Nagi said calmly before adding, "Again." Schuldich snorted.

"Hey Crawford where’s she going next?" Schuldich changed subject, Crawford took off his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose he closed his eyes. Opening them again with a smirk.

*****************************************************************

The mission was a simple one track down, kill a group of scientists that were continuing Masafumi Taketori’s work, and if possible retrieve a data disk that was supposed to be in main computer. Yoji dashed down the dark hallway judging from the sounds within the lab Aya and Ken had already set to work. Omi was stationed at the back entrance incase anyone made it outside. "Balinese you got one headed your way." Ken yelled over the microphone in his ear. Yoji heard footsteps coming down the hall he stepped into the shadows, wire ready. A black haired woman ran towards him, unknowingly, she was pretty for someone whose hair was turning gray. He wrapped his wire around her neck but before he could pull it tight a gun cocked behind him. A smooth voice accompanied the motion. He recognized the accent from last night.

"You don’t want to do that."

"You." Yoji heard the woman in his wire whisper.

"Are you Akutagawa Kunie?" the kid asked the woman. She made to turn and face the girl but Yoji tightened his wire warningly. She took the hint.

"I am."

"Good than maybe you can a…" Yoji heard the gun clatter to the floor he turned his head slightly to see. The girl was clad in a black turtleneck, jeans, and a trench coat that was not unlike Aya’s, her hair was covered by a black ball cap. She was locked with Aya katana to katana; she twisted, almost disarming him. Blades clashed as the two engaged in a deadly dance at one point a particularly well aimed sweep made by Aya knocked her cap off releasing long violet hair from it’s confines. She seemed to get really pissed of by this and almost disarmed him two more times before the two became locked again. A gunshot broke the silence, Yoji felt blood splatter up the side of his face and the body in his wire sag. "Akutagawa!" the girls’ distraction would have cost her life had she not jumped back as Aya’s sword swiped at her throat. The girl threw a kick at Aya; he groaned and fell to his knees cupping his groin. She ran over the Yoji and knelt beside the woman as he laid her on the ground. She wasn’t dead yet, blood poured out of the hole above her left breast.

"Disk… get the…"

"Shhh. don’t talk." The girl said.

"Disk… forgive me… I tried to…" A choking sound came before she finally died, blood leaking out of her mouth. The girl grabbed her gun before breaking into a run down the hall.

"CRAWFORD YOU BASTARD!" Her angered shout was followed by the exchange of gunfire.

"Guys I got the disk how’s things where you are?"

"Mission’s over." Aya hissed out as Yoji helped the injured man to his feet once he was up he started to sheath his sword when something glittering by the handle caught his eye. Taking it off he held it up. A crucifix.

*****************************************************************

"Damn it Crawford I said I wanted the girl dead not some old woman. That girl could be very dangerous to us."

"Mr. Takatori please. That old woman was the lead researcher in Projekt Engel. With her gone the girl will never find out about what was done to her. Besides she’s got a lot of power, it would be wasteful to let it go unused."

"What are you saying Crawford?"

"Sir I’m just saying that my superiors in SS have become interested in her."

"She’s too dangerous Crawford. To me and all that this family is trying to achieve."

"Yes sir I agree. All I’m saying is let us handle her how we see fit. If she truly has the power that I suspect she has then she could become very useful to us."

"Very well Crawford do as you wish but what of Weiss? They always seem to get in your way."

"Pests Sir. Pests that will be dealt with."

"You’re right of course. But when I wonder?"

*****************************************************************

Melody stood under the shower spray letting the near scolding water beat out the knots in her back. That redhead tonight was strong, she seriously doubted that it would have ended the way it did if Crawford hadn’t shot Hilde. Her usually violet tresses fell in orchid waves down to the middle of her back. "Melody? Are you ok in there." Came a soft voice from outside the door.

"I’m fine Sister Heather."

"Then come out before the water gets cold." Melody tried not to laugh. Heather was a young nun, only two years older then herself, and tended to suffer from a sever case of Mother Hen Syndrome. They had met back in England before Melody accompanied her and Father Christopher here to Japan last month. "MELODY!"

"Coming." Melody stepped out of the shower wrapping a towel around her slender body she rang the excess water from her hair. Then she walked out using another towel to dry it. Sister Heather stood there wearing her night cloths and her blond hair had been released from the confines it stayed in all day. "Have you seen Father Christopher. I need to talk to him about something." Melody asked her friend as she pulled on a pair of blue jeans and a white blouse, leaving the top and cuff buttons undone.

"I think he went to the library to research something." Heather climbed into her bed. "Do you want me to leave the light on for you?"

"No. I’m not sure when I’ll be back." Melody pulled on her healed boots.

"Alright I’ll see you in the morning then. Good night."

"Good night Sister."

Melody wandered around the small church’s gardens for a bit before actually going into the library. "Father Christopher. Are you here?" she walked down the rows and rows of books. "Sister Heather said…" the rest was cut off as she screamed at the sight at the front of the library. There hanging on the giant cross was Father Christopher like he’d been crucified. Blood covered the wall where he hung with the words "GOD CRYS OVER THE BLOOD OF THE ANGELS."

"Father!" Melody climbed up the desk taking the dagger she kept in her boot she pried the nails out of his wrists and sliced the ropes around his waist and neck. Catching the gray haired man as he fell she tore pieces off her shirt and wrapped them around his wrists to stanch the bleeding. "Father Christopher! Can you hear me?" No reaction. "God no please." Melody begged putting her head on his chest his heart beat weakly and his breathing was becoming labored. "Thank you."

"Don’t be thanking God yet." Melody whipped toward the voice her dagger in hand.

"Schuldich. Where’s that psychotic bastard, Farfello."

"He’s not here anymore it’s just me." A sudden force through her against the wall with bone jarring effects. "And Nagi."

"What do you want you son of a…"

Schuldich tsk’d "Now, now none of that you’re in a church remember." She growled leaping at him almost breaking Nagi’s hold only to be knocked back again. Early on in her dealings with Schwarz she’d learned that she was able to block such attacks, she tried to call on that power now but instead pain flared through her brain. *Not a good idea Engel. * Schuldich appeared in front of her so close that their breaths mingled. "Our superiors have expressed and interest toward you."

"Oh and should I be flattered?"

"No, not really. You should be about my interest though."

"What are you…mph…" He leaned in and kissed her forcefully. Pushing against Nagi’s power she was able to get an arm free.

Melody swung at him. He dodged it, mentally backlashing her in return at the same time Nagi let go. She crumpled. He knelt beside her taking her chin in hand.

"Come now girl. I don’t necessarily like my women feisty." She only caused herself more pain when she spit at him and was rewarded with another blast of mental pain from Schuldich. She would not give him the satisfaction of her screams.

*****************************************************************

Waking up hurt like hell. Smelling the sterile air of a hospital Melody sat up quickly, gasping as white-hot pain shot up her body and spun in her head, startling the figure next to her. "Relax Miss." Melody slowly swung her feet over the side of the bed "Miss please you have three cracked ribs and an concussion." The nurse gently tried to push her back.

"How did I get here?" the nurse just looked at her. Realizing that she must have spoken English she switched to Japanese and asked again.

"We got a anonymous call." Was the answer.

"Where’s Father Christopher?"

"Father Christopher? Oh that Christian priest that came in with you. He’s still in critical condition at this moment."

"Critical condition. Will he make it?"

"We don’t know." Melody tried to get to her feet unsuccessfully.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

"I want to see him where is he?"

"Absolutely not. Your ill and hurt, you need rest."

"I’m fine. Just tell me where he is." Melody stood slowly.

"No. Miss please lay back down you are only going to cause further injury to yourself." The nurse pleaded.

"Forget it where is he?" The nurse tried to force her down yelling for help. Two more nurses and a doctor answered the call. It took all three nurses to shove her back into the bed and pin her. The doctor filled a needle; Melody screamed and struggled regardless of her injures.

"Now Miss, relax this won’t hurt."

*flash*

"Hold still darling this won’t hurt I promise." It did hurt, terribly.

"Has the patient been given the treatment?" Fear, so scared.

*flash*

Melody gasped, feeling seeds of panic growing in her stomach, "Miss please. Stop struggling. " One of the nurses, which one she didn’t know.

*flash*

Harsh poking left painful tingles in her skin, "Stop. It hurts." How many times had she said it? She couldn’t remember. It didn’t matter they ignored her.

*flash*

She relaxed making them think she’d given up then kicked out and heaved her body up taking the medical staff in the room by surprise. She ran.

"Wait stop!" She just barely registered the hand until it gripped her wrist pulling her roughly against a hard body. She hissed as her ribs screamed in protest. "Oh Ran. Thank you for catching her."

"I know this woman. I’ll handle her from here." Melody heard his voice rumble in his chest.

"That’s nice of you Ran but she has numerous injuries and..."

"Thank you young man."

"Who are you?" The man holding her asked. The nurse made to say something but the doctor cut her off.

"I’m a new transfer. And who are you?" Melody knew then that something wasn’t right and by the stiffening of the man behind her she knew he must have thought the same thing.

"I’m a friend of this girl." Melody wished to say something but as if sensing it he twisted her arm further up the back. "She’s coming with me."

"But…" the doctor tried to protest but he was already pulling her along, she recognized him as the assassin she’d fought earlier. Once outside she clawed at his hand to regain possession of her wrist when they reached what had to be his car she tried to kick him in the leg but got tossed through the open door before any of her kicks could connect. She yelped as her side was twisted at an odd angle until she straightened herself out, her head swimming. He said nothing as he slid into the drivers’ seat. He started the car and Melody pulled the latch to her door intending to jump out before he pulled away from the curb. It would have worked had he not grabbed the collar of the hospital gown with one hand and shut and locked the door with the other. He forced the seatbelt around her but got his hand bit hard enough to draw blood for his trouble. He cursed and slammed her head back on the seat, which really didn’t help her head and made her stomach clinch. "Stay put." He growled as the belt clicked closed.

They drove for a short distance before she gained enough of her senses to ask, "Are you going to kill me?"

"Not yet."

"Why not."

"Not ordered to."

"Oh."

Aya studied the girl next to him. Her hair was deep violet and her eyes where a misty silver lined with light blue. Her build was small and slender; her face was pretty though not overly beautiful, she looked like an average 18-year-old girl. He had exited his sisters’ room hearing the commotion in the hall and after recognizing the girl he grabbed her. Suddenly she started giggling. "What’s so funny?" she looked at him through half closed eyes.

"You mean besides the fact that I think I’m losing my mind?" Aya glared at the rode in front of them.

"How’s that funny?" He was greeted with silence, glancing her way he found her passed out. Reaching the Koneko Ie Sume Aya reached over and shook the girl frowning as she moaned, a brief touch to her forehead told all he needed to know. A fever, probably brought on by shock. Getting out of the car he went around, unlocked, and opened her door, unbuckling the belt he lifted her out surprised at how light she was.

"Hey Aya whe… who’s that?" Ken exclaimed, Yoji looked from the magazine he was reading. Aya ignored both of them stalking upstairs practically shoving Omi aside before entering his room and kicking the door shut. Laying her on his bed he left locking his door.

Melody woke her eyes her blurry and unfocused. She didn’t recognize the room, suddenly remembering what had happened she groaned.

" She’s awake!" A sandy haired boy she didn’t recognize yelled out the door sending more flashes of pain through her head making her groan again as she curled in a fetal position.

"How are you feeling?" He asked quietly as he felt her head. At first she didn’t understand the question but she quickly figured it out.

"Like I got hit be a train. Where am I? How long have I been here?"

"You’re above the Koneko Ie Sume flower shop. And it’s been almost a week we were beginning to wonder if you were ever going to wake up. I’m Tuskiyono Omi."

"Melody. Don’t have a last name." She introduced herself as she sat up rubbing her forehead she realized Omi was blushing, taking a look down at herself she found that she was dressed in a large white button up shirt; half the buttons had fallen undone during her rest. The red-haired man from before entered Melody snatched the covers up to her nearly bare chest.

"Manx is downstairs." Omi nodded and left. Aya sat on the bed.

"How are your ribs?"
"My ribs?" He nodded.

"I checked you over for injuries while you slept, you had three cracked ribs."

"Oh… well…fine I guess. What are you going to do with me?"

"A contact from our employer is downstairs. It all depends on his orders." He stood and opened the door to leave. Pausing he turned to her, "I don’t recommend running because it won’t save you." He left and Melody heard the lock slip into place.

Manx shot Aya a glare as he came down into the mission room but said nothing as she started the tape. "Weiss. We have received information that a group of scientists that belongs to an international crime ring has taken over Masafumi Taketori’s work. This woman is believed to be the only surviving test subject from that experiment," The picture brought gasps from Yoji and Omi and Aya’s glare at them. "We know nothing of her past other than that she disappeared 4 years ago and finally resurfaced in Tokyo last month. Your mission is to make contact with her and any information out of her about this ring. Until you have gotten all the information you can you are to protect her but once that information is safely in your hands she is to be disposed of. She could be very dangerous to you if she knows who you really are. White Hunters deny these dark beasts their tomorrows." The screen went black. "So who’s in?" Manx turned on the lights the four men exchanged looks. And gave consent, though Yoji didn’t look happy, Aya turned his back and headed back upstairs.

"Abyssinian where are you going."

"To get the girl."

As soon as the door had closed Melody had begun her search for an escape route but found that the windows were alarmed and the door was locked tight. She could break a window and jump but with out knowing exactly how far it was to the ground or how close her captors were that could end in wither suicide or re-captor very quickly. Fighting the impulse to scream she began looking for a possible weapon. But again her captors must have thought things out all objects that could be used as a weapon had been removed.