"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." – Martin Luther King Jr., "Strength to Love" (1963)

He carefully stood from the bed and walked over to the window, opening the curtain slightly to watch Junko and Yukinori's incarnations as they calmly yet determinedly walked towards their destination.

*chuckle* "Some things never change huh Daichi? Sending out your loyal soldier and that cheap girl, hm... Well, let's see if he can catch me this time."

Changing into an all-black ensemble, he glanced over the bed, looking for any signs of movement and when he found none, he then slipped into the quiet hallway.

His strides were hurried, a creepy smile on his face, as he carefully but skillfully walked towards his destination.

After rounding one corner, he accidentally hit a person. The action was sudden and the maid he bumped with fell on the floor,

"Oh sir! I'm sorry!"

He faked a smile and offered his hand, "don't worry about it. You are not hurt, are you?"

The maid blushed and accepted the hand offered to her, "oh um... yes sir...not to worry sir. Oh, is there anything I can help out with?"

He shook his head and grinned, "oh no... I was just about to go get a glass of water. I can't bother you with that."

"It's not a bother sir as it is my job. My partner should be back in a few minutes. We'll get you something and bring it to your room as soon as possible."

*Raised eyebrow* "Partner?"

The maid nodded enthusiastically and answered, "Ah it was the young master Higuchi's order to not go anywhere without a partner. He is a wonderful person for worrying about us like that. Even if we are mere maids."

He bit the inside of his mouth to keep his true emotion from showing on his face and another girl approached them then, "Minerva! Sorry I took a long time. Were you scared? Oh... hi sir..."

"Youko! Let's go get sir a glass of water! We'll have it delivered to your room shortly sir!"

He shook his head and smiled as sweetly as he could, "it's all right. I'll just go back to my room."

"O-oh okay sir... please be careful!"

'Mine' pulled on 'Youko' and dragged the latter down the stairs...once the girls were out of ear sight, he scowled openly and hit the wall with his fist, "that damned Daichi... always getting in my way! I'm going to make sure you rot in hell where you belong!"

He stayed in that position for a few minutes, unmoving, blood trickling down his fist. A small laugh escaped his lips as he straightened... raking a hand through his hair...a malicious smile graced his face as he turned to walk in the opposite direction of the room he came from.

Slowly... he roamed the quiet halls for his next 'sacrifice. His gift to his dear Daichi, the perfect man, everyone's favorite.

And there she was... a pretty young thing wiping a painting of dear Daichi... alone...

"Not my type but she would have to do..."

He licked his lips and like a predator waiting in the shadows, he skillfully moved behind the unsuspecting female... and in seconds... she was on the floor unmoving... eyes still open and reflecting surprise and fright... as she realized her fate.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rainier cracked his neck and sighed, an action that Erin found amusing and she laughed lightly.

"What's with the laugh?"

Erin stifled her laughter and wiped her eyes as Rainier's left eyebrow started to go up,

"I just remembered how similar you and Raina acted... its cute"

The brown-haired boy crossed his arms, "there's this part of me that dictates its not real... but there's another part of me that knows that for some reason it is... its confusing"

*BUMP*

"Ouch!"

"Oh no... sorry... erm.... president?"

Motoki chuckled and offered a hand to Rainier who was on the floor, instantly turning red at seeing the Student Council president, "just Motoki. We are not in school. Are you okay?"

Erin started picking up the papers on the floor, "we should be asking you senpai... that seemed to be a loud crash."

Rainier took the offered hand, still blushing and rubbed the back of his head – "I'm okay thank you Motoki senpai. What are these?"

Motoki thanked Erin and took the papers from her arms, "these are the blueprints Drake asked for. He asked me to get them copied."

"Eri chan! Ran Chan!"

Yuri ran towards her friends while Jeremy lagged slower looking behind him. Motoki noticed the weird action and called out to his cousin, "Jeremy...?"

"No... I... thought I saw Akio... but he disappeared on a corner."

Rainier's forehead creased, "that can't be. We saw Akio and his wife as we left the room. Could it be the younger brother you saw?"

Jeremy walked beside Yuri, still thinking thoughtfully, "I'm not sure...maybe I just saw wrong."

Erin meanwhile tapped Yuri, "Yu... I saw your brother run over there."

Yuri's head whipped at the direction Erin pointed, "Touya niichan?"

A blood curdling scream echoed at the hall where all of them were gathered followed by a loud crash – Yuri wasted no time and sprinted immediately towards the direction.

"YURI WAIT!"

Jeremy and Erin rushed after Yuri while Rainier asked Motoki to take the papers to Drake. While jogging, he shouted that they would inform both Motoki and Drake of the incident.

Motoki looked torn but decided to follow as Rainier asked, hugging the blueprints closer to his body as he started feeling unexplainable chills.

Erin and Jeremy were both panting at they stood a few steps away from Yuri whose back was turned from them. She was unmoving for a few seconds with her fists clenched tightly,

"Jeremy... we just received welcome back present... number 3."

The boy walked forward and stopped dead in tracks as Erin slumped on the floor at the sight of the girl lying on a pool of blood in front of a large painting with blood smeared right across the painting's center - with words painted in blood beside the body...

"Did you like my gift?"