"I'm the best shot in the underground," the man said smugly.

He chewed repulsively on his bread, his filth encrusted shoes resting on the table, all the while inclined in his seat. The other customers glanced in disgust at him and his comrades, mumbling insults and various unpleasant words. He gulped down his water to the last drop then slammed the tankard onto the table again, issuing a satisfied sound.

"You really like to brag, don't you?" his friend shook his head in exasperation. "Your big mouth will get you into deep shit one day."

"You might be right, but if I have my gun and my hands I'll be able to get out of anything."

"Look here," another man said. "If you get us killed-"

"Come on, Al," the sniper grinned confidently. "Don't be like that. Tell me, when have I ever wasted a bullet?"

Al admitted defeat. "Never."

"See?" the man guffawed. "Stick with me and there'll be holes pelted into anybody who dares stand in your way."

"Well then, customer-san."

"Hm?" the sniper looked up at the handsome blond waiter.

The blond sparkled with blazing (obnoxious) beauty.

"What do you want? Gonna kick us out?"

"Not at all," the waiter beamed. "I'm here to give you a little tip."

"Huh? And what's that?"

The blond directed his gaze over to the entrance of the bar where three people were being dealt with by an employee.

Two young men and woman had strolled in, all cloaked and geared. When they entered, the air seemed to vibrate as if aware of their status and strength.

"A table for four," the gray haired man said.

The waiter looked suspiciously at them, checking to make sure he counted right.

"Who are they?" the sniper narrowed his eyes, watching as the three cloaked figures sat at an empty booth. "Looks awfully young."

"Right?" the waiter drew out the 'I' in an agreeable fashion, nodding solemnly. He leaned down to whisper. "But, they're the infamous bigshots from the upper levels."

"What?!" the sniper's friend exclaimed. "The ones that killed Amand?!"

The blond nodded furiously. "The very same."

"L-let's get out of here, Bastian," Al said, shaking in his big boots. "I don't want to get involved with them."

Bastian didn't move. The waiter's cheerful façade broke for a split second, showing a dark, evil embodiment before going back to normal.

"If you can take them out with your amazing abilities," the waiter held his chin, feigning thoughtfulness. "That would be a one way ticket to establishing that you truly are the best shot in the underground."

Al was frightened by the look on Bastian's face. "You're not actually thinking about-"

The waiter held back a dark sneer. "Think about how easy it would be to pull the trigger."

Bastian's grip on his pistol tightened.

It was chaos. These people were demons come from hell. Bastian watched in horror as his men were casually knocked away by the hotshots. They weren't even breaking a sweat.

"My gun!" his shaking hands ripped the weapon from its place on his belt and aimed it carefully at the short man who looked to be the leader. "This is the end for you!"

Levi's eyes widened at the barrel of the gun but he relaxed a moment later.

A shot rang out and a cry of pain later, Bastian was breathing heavily.

"Wha-"he barely whispered as he saw Al crumple to the ground, clutching his bleeding thigh.

"What were you aiming at, Bastian!?" one of the others roared.

"I was aiming at..." Bastian's eyes fixated on Levi again. He gritted his teeth and readied the pistol. "One more time."

His finger pulled the trigger but once again, his hand jerked to the side against his wishes. The bullet made a dent in the building beside them in the alleyway.

"Oopsie."

Bastian's eyes dilated and he gave a sharp gasp. A dark brown haired, short, young man was sticking out his tongue playfully. Before Bastian could recover from his shock, Charles struck his hand and the gun fell out of his grip. Charles caught it and twirled it around before stopping it when it was upright. Bastian stumbled back, his eyes popping out of his sockets.

"Who... how..?"

Charles tilted his head like a curious child, still smirking. He aimed the gun at the man.

"Dull," Charles commented before unlocking the trigger.

Bastian cringed, waiting for the blinding pain then the end of his life. Instead, he heard a clunk and he snapped his eyes opened. His gun lay forlornly in front of him after being dropped callously onto the ground. He looked up.

Charles threw the bullets up into the air and swiped them into his grasp again. He pocketed them and turned.

"You're a million years too early to mess with us, rookie," Charles said coolly, joining his comrades.

Bastian sunk onto his knees, amazed that he was alive. He gulped.

"Monsters... the lot of them..." he whispered, fearful and numb.

Levi punched Charles on the head. "Who are you to act all high and mighty?"

They began to walk away. Bastian was staring confoundedly after them, right until they rounded the corner, out of sight.

"Charles Schatten!" Charles answered proudly.

Levi slowly lifted his fist and punched down onto the top of Charles' inflating head.

"Stop hitting me! That's domestic violence!" Charles pouted.

"I'm hungry..." Isabel whined.

"We just ate," Farlan said in astonishment.

"I'm still hungry..."

"Yosh!" Charles filled her cheeks with air. "Levi will cook us a feast when we get back!"

"Yahoo!" Isabel cheered.

Levi scowled. "Don't go deciding things for m-"

"Charge!" Isabel and Charles stampeded to the house, dust trailing in their wake.

Is that really how twenty year olds should act...? Farlan thought, with an unimpressed expression chiseled on his face. No... is that really how women should act...?

Levi mentally sighed.

Up on the roof, looking quite at home, was the blond waiter. He wasn't wearing his uniform, but a black trench coat, pants, sweater vest, then a crisp white dress shirt. The corner of his neck was adorned by an elaborate tattoo and his eyes were a brilliant green. He peered down at the retreating thugs with a dangerous inkling in his gaze.

"Mitsuketa...*" he jeered.

_

"Why did I call him a rookie?" Charles repeated, sprawled out on the couch. "You mean you haven't heard?"

"What're you talking about?" Farlan said from the desk in the corner of the room.

Charles sat up. "There's been news that new rookies have been sprouting up in the underground."

"Enlighten me," Farlan opened up a notebook and prepared his quill.

Charles grinned. "I feel important."

"Don't get used to it," Farlan dodged the perilous projectile that had been thrown at his face.

Charles huffed in annoyance. "I'm surprised you haven't heard. They've been causing trouble everywhere."

"Mainly the lower levels?" Farlan said smugly.

Charles quickly glanced around then glared at him. "Levi doesn't like me going down there. Keep your voice down."

"Yeah, yeah," Farlan waved his hand nonchalantly. "Give me the information already."

"Well, I think there are four that have the most attention. The one we beat up just now was S. E. Bastian, a marksman. He's the more overly confident ones. But if I hadn't been there, you might have actually had a hard time defeating him. There's also, Fried Ham."

Farlan arched an eyebrow. "Do you mean, Friedhelm?"

Charles pointed at Farlan. "Yeah! That! I can never remember that."

Farlan gestured uncaringly. "Go on."

"He's a mean martial artist. He has red hair and dark skin. Taller than you, I think."

"Would I be able to take him?"

"Probably. Like I said, they're rookies. Not much to go for them except for their recklessness.

Next, is a gang leader. I've never heard his name but he does have a code name: Alex. He's the one that, like Levi, can see me perfectly. Black hair, slightly tanned, between yours and Levi's height. All round fighter. I'd say he's the one that we really have to look out for.

The last one is faceless and nameless. Some have called him the Pied Piper. Always carries around a flute and wears a mask."

"That's it?" Farlan said after scratching away in his notebook. "Doesn't seem too bad."

Charles shrugged. "I never said they were skilled. I just said they were reckless. Had a few skirmishes with the military police and of the like. Well, it's not bad to be informed."

"Agreed," Farlan put the notebook away and picked up his book again.

Charles fell backwards onto the old couch, hugging a pillow.

"Are you going to grow your hair out?" Farlan turned a page.

Charles hmmed in thought. "Don't know... maybe."

"Why are you hesitating?"

"It's because of familiarity. I've gotten used to cutting my hair this short. The last time I went full on girl was-"

Charles clamped her mouth shut. Farlan looked up from his book.

"Was?"

"Before I went full on boy," Charles finished.

"Nice save," Farlan sniggered. "What? Were you a prostitute?"

"You wish. You wouldn't have been able to afford me anyway," Charles did a mock hair flip.

"Dang it," Farlan said halfheartedly, still into his book.

The door opened and Charles hopped up, grinning.

"Welcome back!" she greeted.

Levi stepped inside the room and kicked the door closed. Isabel was drunkenly sleeping on his back. She giggled once and buried her flushed face into Levi's shoulder.

"Whoa, what were you trying to accomplish, Levi," Farlan said with a teasing smirk.

"There's the closet, Farlan. It's where your brother perverts live. There's some bleach in there too, if you ever choose to clean out your mind and come join us again," Levi retorted as Charles relieved him of Isabel.

"What happened?" Charles said as she pulled Isabel's arm around her shoulders and led her to the bedroom.

"I took my eyes off her for a few seconds and she gets herself drunk."

"It's your fault then," Charles reprimanded.

Levi scowled at her. "Just because we know you're female now doesn't mean I'll give you any special treatment, brat."

Charles dumped Isabel on her own bed before turning to give Levi a crooked smile. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

Electricity sparked between them and Farlan rolled his eyes. "Take it outside, you two."

_

Charles was awake alone in the bedroom, the soft breathing of her comrades in crime surrounding her. After a while, she noticed that their breathing naturally matched with each other's. She thought it was a bit disturbing at first but she smiled, pleased at being the only one to witness this spectacle. She swung her legs over the bed and began to change.

She opened the drawer in her bedside table and instinctively went for the strip of cloth that she'd always used to tie back her bangs. This time around, however, she paused, her hand hovering over the spiral of fabric. Her eyes had wandered over to the shell like instrument, forlornly shoved to a dust free corner of the drawer. Her eyes narrowed, wondering why it was sparkling-

Charles sighed suddenly. Levi must've saw the layer of dust that usually occupied the ocarina and had taken upon himself to clean it.

She stared at the wind instrument, her eyes going out of focus. She hadn't played, never mind even picked it up since she started calling this house her home. Her fingers twitched involuntarily, almost as if responding to their owners yearning to issue that beautiful sound again. But her ocarina meant Lizzy's accompaniment... and she didn't have that anymore.

Charles grabbed the strip of cloth and using her teeth tied it to its usual spot on her right upper arm. She closed the drawer softly, so as not to wake the others and feeling around the crevice between her mattress and the bed frame, found the little container she had hid there. Turning her back on Levi's sleeping form on the other bunk, Charles crossed her legs on her bed and opened the ampule. Inside was a skin colored cream. She dipped the tip of her fingers into it and layered it over a spot on the crook of her neck, smoothing it out to match her skin hue perfectly. Nobody would've suspected a thing.

The brown haired woman closed the container shut and tucked it back into its respective spot. The bed creaked as she got off of it again. Stretching her worn out limbs, she yawned and pondered about who she should wake up first.

Levi wasn't a morning person and he hates being woken up earlier than needed. Farlan on the other hand was a light sleeper and didn't mind the morning, but he has a disastrous bed head. Isabel decides when she wakes up, until then she's a dead log.

Yeah, Farlan.

Charles climbed up on top of the bedframe on the bottom bunk and peeked her head over to see Farlan's peaceful expression, mouth wide open, sucking in air with great relish. Charles reached over and pressed his nose shut. Farlan started and wriggled away from her fingers, he peeped out from under his eyelid to see Charles. He groaned and sat up. Yawning loudly, he rubbed his eyes and rotated around to stare at Charles. He blinked.

"It's rare to see you awake so early," he scrutinized her worriedly. "Are you sick?"

Charles shook her head. "No. I want to show you guys something."

Farlan lowered himself to the floor and cracked his back.

"What?"

"It's a surprise," Charles glanced behind her. "You want to do the honors?"

Farlan gradually realized what she was talking about and quickly shook his head. Charles smiled.

"Don't look so frightened. I was teasing. Go get ready, since it's my surprise I'll take care of it."

"Okay," Farlan ducked out of the room.

Charles cracked her knuckles and rolled her shoulders back. "Yosh... let's get this over with."

She tiptoed over to Levi's bed and tentatively lifted a pillow up to guard her face. She tickled Levi's ear and he cringed up a bit in his sleep. Charles gulped, taking a step closer. She poked his cheek and he waved her hand away. The tension was getting to her and she danced on her feet for a second before going ahead and ripping the bandage off. She tackled Levi.

Levi grunted in surprise and found himself in the clutches of a cross dresser. His arms were pinned to his sides by her hold and he felt her face burrowing into his shoulder blade.

"Charles..." he snarled.

Charles seized up as she felt a sort of doom fall on top of her.

_

Charles was humming happily, skipping through the dim, dank cave with a new bandage on her cheek. The threesome was trailing after her sleepily. Isabel was still asleep more than awake and Farlan got tired of making sure she didn't fall and resorted to puling her on his back. Levi looked downright horrifying.

"Where are you taking us, Charles?" Farlan called after the petite figure ahead of them.

"This better not be a waste of time," Levi added menacingly.

"It won't be, I promise," Charles beamed, then began walking again.

"Oh!" she exclaimed excitedly, before running ahead and disappearing around a corner.

The boys glanced at each other before Charles came dashing back again. She twirled around Farlan to wake up Isabel. Soon, the three were standing in front of a jittery Charles. She grinned.

"Give me your hands," as she said it, she put out her own.

They did so, Levi's on Charles' right and Farlan and Isabel on her left.

"Now, close your eyes."

They didn't. Charles pouted. "Come on. There's not enough time."

They relented. Closing their eyes and blinding themselves.

Charles carefully led them through the cave and when she reached the edge of the area warned them not to open their eyes no matter what.

"Why do I feel like you're leading us off the edge of a cliff?" Farlan said as he scooted forward.

"Sshh, you're ruining the magic," Charles hushed.

Isabel giggled.

Charles made them halt, then proceeded to line them up where she wanted the three to stand. This meant that Isabel was standing in the middle of Levi and Farlan, Farlan on her right and Levi on her left. Charles grinned in satisfaction then took a step back. She looked up and her eyes glittered. Just in time.

She walked backwards into the shadows, making sure she still had a good view of their faces. She pulled out her sketchbook.

"Okay," her voice was soft and gentle. "Open your eyes."

They did so, and what they were greeted with made their eyes widen more than they thought they would. Farlan's normally edgy face relaxed and he glowed in childish wonder. Isabel was gaping at the sight, her green orbs lighting up like jewels. Levi's lips parted slightly and his normally stony eyes became warm and unfathomably unending.

The celestial sun was stretching its precious light over the world like it was hungry for more. It sunk into the gaping hole above their heads that opened up to the field above. The cold sky broke into thousands of melodies, the sun dancing across its surface after a night of cowering and desolation. The plants that had been deprived of sunlight in the cave like sewers seemed to shiver at its touch and scream out its true dyes, confidant and proud, reaching up to drink in their life.

A rustle of feathers and a beat of wings broke the trio out of their revere and hundreds of birds that have lain dormant took flight into the new day. Isabel barked with laughter, throwing up her hands and jumping up and down.

"This is brilliant!" she proclaimed, as the birds' shadows swam upward and above them.

"Until one of them shits on you," Levi said.

"You're ruining the mood, nii-san!"

Levi tossed his jacket on top of Isabel's head. Isabel gave him a questioning look.

"I have this," Levi took off his shirt and lifted it over his head.

Isabel smiled brightly.

"Eww, bonding moment," Farlan leered. "And over bird feces."

"You can stand there and get pelted by shit all you want," Levi said. "Just don't expect to be allowed in the house till you manage to clean all of the lingering grime off you."

"Yeah!" Isabel agreed.

"Suck up," Farlan threw at her.

"Huh?! What did you say, Church?"

Levi realized they were missing someone and his eyes landed on Charles. She was quietly sketching in that book of hers, her expression concentrated and serious. Farlan noticed Levi staring at something and cut off his argument with Isabel to follow his gaze. It took him a while but he finally distinguished Charles apart from the shadows. It was unnerving to see how naturally she melded in.

"Hey, Charles!"

Charles looked up from her work.

Farlan waved her over. "Don't sit there all by yourself!"

"Come join us!" Isabel shouted.

Charles stared at them for a moment before smiling and shaking her head. She pointed at the break where the shadows and light divide then adjusted her angle so she was gesturing to the shadows.

"I belong on this side."

_

The streets were bustling with patrons and servants. Wealthy nobles were sweeping the streets, taking the chance to show off their exorbitant garments and ornaments. The new shipment of food had come up into the river from the outer wall, the best quality that had been purposefully placed aside finally arriving at its destination. Lords and their servants walked the streets, passing by extravagant storefronts and fellow aristocracies.

Charles passed by these snotty humans without any disturbance and enjoyed her stroll through the city. She had finally bugged Levi enough to let her go above ground, although she had tried and failed to sneak out without his permission, leading to numerous kicks to the face. So after flattering and whining and working her butt off cleaning trying to convince him, she was finally here.

"So, why..." her mouth twitched and she whipped her gaze onto the disguised, nonchalant Levi. "Are you following me!?"

He met her gaze, unimpressed. He was wearing a starched white shirt and a black jacket and pants that he had managed to acquire. He wore an ebony velvet bowler hat and a loose tie hung tediously around his neck. He had brought his standard bored expression and had his hands shoved into his slacks' pockets. He looked even more suspicious than when he was in his regular clothes.

"Why?" he repeated her question. "That should be obvious."

Levi tilted his head back and an otherworldly light seemed to provide him a spotlight. "Because I want to."

Charles glared at him and continued to stomp down the street.

"Oi, if you don't calm down, people will notice you."

A vein protruded from Charles' forehead. "And whose fault is it that I can't get my head on straight?" she snarled through her teeth.

"That's your own fault, brat," Levi drawled.

Charles opened her mouth to retort but she stared at Levi in the bowler hat and snorted, stifling a fit of laughter. "I really can't take you seriously in that hat."

Levi looked up at the brim apathetically. "It was the only one I had access to."

Charles took it upon herself to look around and spotting a good style, went to retrieve it. Levi watched after her and when she came back, she took off the bowler hat and roughly pushed the fedora onto his head.

"There!" she beamed, throwing aside the other unattractive headgear. "Now I can call you a real man."

"I can't say the same for you," Levi scrutinized her choice of clothes. "You're growing out your hair."

Charles played with a lock as they continued their stroll. "Yeah, I thought I'd try it out."

"Don't."

"Huh?! You're the one that told me to!" Charles snarled.

"It'll attract unwanted attention."

Charles took a moment to process his words then an evil smirk spread across her face. She covered her mouth with her hand mischievously. "Are you calling me... feminine?"

Levi scowled. "Stop making such a creepy expression."

Charles laughed and looped her arm into Levi's. "Don't worry. I was only teasing, I know I'm just an inept brat."

"You're twenty-one," Levi contradicted himself as Charles dragged him along.

Charles lifted an eyebrow, looking surprised. "I am?"

"You joined us five years ago. You were around sixteen then."

"And you were 19," Charles scrunched up her face, counting her fingers. "That means... you're twenty-four..."

She grinned brightly up at him. "You're an old geezer!"

"I take back what I said. You will never cease to be a brat in my eyes."

"Good," Charles smiled, retracting her arm out of Levi's. "Nothing more, nothing less."

Levi frowned, disappointed. About what? He didn't know.

"So, you're sure about this tip off?" Charles changed the subject.

"No, that's why we're looking into it."

"It didn't need to be 'we'," Charles sounded disappointed. "It would've been just me if you had just kept your promise."

"I did keep my promise. I promised that you can go aboveground. You're aboveground."

"You and your technicalities."

"What did you say, cross dresser?"

"Nothing, fun sized thug."

Normally, this was when they began to fist fight but since they were in a street filled with people, they really couldn't risk drawing attention.

"If what the information said is correct," Levi said. "Then the military went mad."

Charles grunted. "Burning the whole underground down. They finally decided that it's too much work trying to stop the criminal activities the routine way."

"Filthy government dogs," Levi spat as he tilted the brim of his hat to cover his face, a pair of soldiers passing by them. "Scurrying around using their hollow authority for their own gain."

"While on the other end of the spectrum," Charles pointed at herself and then at Levi. "Are the worthless, never-should-have-been-born delinquents that don't give a damn."

"Which is better you think?" Levi questioned.

Charles placed a finger on her chin in mock thought. "Have all the riches, food, and shelter aboveground but have to be subordinate to the king, or be looked down upon by other people, struggle to get by, have barely enough food, and live in the cold, filthy underground..."

She grinned. "Our life has never sounded more excellent."

Levi flicked her on the forehead. "Like you wouldn't hesitate to join the king's ranks."

Charles rubbed her forehead and looked to the side.

"Trust me," she whispered. "How I'm living now is way better."

"So, what they're trying to do is build up the underground city from scratch," Charles picked up the original subject.

"On top of our ashes," Levi handed her the letter they had received from their anonymous source. "Which is both hard to believe and easy to accept. This is something they would think of, but after all the trouble building the half-baked streets and structures it's improbable that they would go ahead and tear it all down."

"Hmm," Charles scanned over the words on the paper. "And if this is true, how are we going to stop them."

"We're not going to," Levi tucked the letter into a pocket in his jacket. "We're going to stand back and watch."

"I see," Charles cracked her knuckles.

"Needless to say," Levi said. "That we're going to give them a hard time lighting the match."

Charles smirked. "As expected."

They stopped their stroll in front of a gaudy looking building that they had been heading to all along. The sign next to the door said: The Abbing Abode.

"Abode?" Charles snorted. "Who uses the word 'abode'?"

"The Abbings apparently," Levi walked to the door. "That's just an alibi. We're dealing with the people who sent us the letter. They told us to meet here."

"Tell them to pick a better place next time," Charles joined him on the doorstep. "When people recite our legends, I don't want them to know we came to a place that looks like a wannabe rainbow."

"I'll make sure to mention it," Levi reached for the doorknob.

Charles' eyes enlarged and her pupils dilated, she grabbed Levi's wrist and kept him from opening the door. He gave her questioning look as she shivered on the spot, her grip iron on his wrist.

"Charles?"

She raised her dull eyes to gaze up at him. She swallowed hard and lifted her other hand to land on his shoulder.

"Don't..." she managed to say. "Don't go in there..."

"What's the matter with you?" Levi went wide eyed as Charles slumped a bit.

Charles felt the bile charging up her throat and quickly covered her mouth. Images of Levi, Isabel, and Farlan flickered through her head.

All of them... at the same time...?!

Charles grabbed a handful of Levi's jacket and looked up at him in panic. "We need to get back!"

"Why? What's wrong?"

"You go in that building and a line of soldiers with guns are going to greet you," Charles panted as Levi's eyes remained wide. "And I don't know why but Farlan and Isabel are in trouble too. We need to leave!"

"What-"

"Just trust me!"

Levi closed his mouth and crouched down in front of Charles. She raised an eyebrow.

"Get on," he ordered. "If you can't even speak properly in that state, how do expect to run?"

Charles decided it wasn't worth arguing and lowered herself onto his back. He secured her by her thighs and began to sprint to the nearest manhole cover.

"I take it that the 'burning the underground' information was inaccurate," Levi said.

Charles nodded. "All to lure you into a trap."

Levi glanced behind at her before turning a corner. "And the others? Is the MP behind the danger they're in?"

Charles bit her bottom lip. "Not sure. Maybe."

Levi kicked the sewer cap open and jumped in, while Charles grabbed the metal lid and placed it back over the hole as they fell. When Levi landed, he bulleted forward, toward the lights at the end of the tunnel.

"Are they going to die?" Levi asked bluntly.

"Depends."

"On what?"

"Whether we get there in time."

___________________________________________________________________

mitsuketa- found you