Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any of the characters

"Thanks Silver," Ruby wrote the address onto a piece of paper against a trailer. He turned off his phone and went to talk to Sapphire. It was still early and didn't know if she was awake yet. When he knocked on her trailer door and no one answered, he knew that she was still asleep. Sighing, he took a pin to open her door and saw her sleeping on her bed, snoring softly.

He smiled softly to himself as he sat on the bed's edge. She was just adorable, buried under the blanket making her so small and her lips slightly parted. He was conflicted between waking her and letting her sleep some more. From the bags under her eyes, he could tell that she really needed her sleep by the bags under her eyes.

He had wanted to give her time, so she could come to an answer for his question last night. Would she give them a chance? But he needed her by his side and told himself that he wasn't pushing her into an answer, just asking her for assistance in the investigation. He also knew that she would be angry if he didn't ask her to come with him during the investigation.

Silver had called him to tell him that the Jack in Boxes was custom made but he tracked them down to a small shop that sold little knickknacks. They were supposed to start driving toward their next act but he was sure that White would allow them to go off for a while if it meant that they could find the killer. Though White insist on coming as well and then Black would want to come. That would be too many people and would gain too much attention. They didn't have to tell her though.

"Ruby," He heard her mumble and he immediately leaned down closer to her so he could hear her more closely. She was dreaming about him! She turned to her side so that his lips brushed against her cheek and she swatted at him before curling into herself. "I'm sorry Ruby. I didn't want to lie to you but you wouldn't love me if you knew the truth."

"Oh, my Gem, I will always love you." He assured her though he knew that she couldn't hear him. He brushed his lips over hers and felt her respond. He knew she was sleeping and wondered what she was dreaming of again but if she didn't fight a kiss, it couldn't be all bad. He leaned back and kissed her eyelid to wake her. "Wake up, my Gem."

Sapphire grumbled and tried to push him away which he only chuckled. He pinched her nose and she swatted him away. She rubbed her eyes as she sat up, pulling the blanket around her shoulder. It took a moment for her sleep clouded mind to register that someone was in her trailer. She felt a hand on her shoulder but recognized Ruby's presence and turned to him.

At that moment, she remembered that she was supposed to hate him and pulled away. She saw the hurt look on his face and regretted her quick action. He sighed and sat straighter on the side of her bed. "I just got a phone call from Silver. He found where they were custom made and I want to go speak with them directly. I know you'll want to come with me."

You know more about me than I give you credit for, she sighed to herself. "Thanks for considering me, just give me a moment to get dress and I'll be out in a minute. Can you just give me a moment to do all that?"

Ruby saw the sadness in her eyes and gave her a gentle nudge. "Were you dreaming about me?"

"Wha?" Sapphire blushed, how could he have known that? She couldn't look away from his knowing eyes because she knew that action would damn her. She blushed harder, remembering the dream which were more than just a memory of their past, it was a fantasy of their impossible future. Of them in a peaceful cottage, free from any of the world's worries.

"I've been doing a lot of dreaming since we've broke up too," Ruby admitted softly. "Dreaming of what I'll say when we reunited… what you would say to me. I guess it was a little too much to hope that you regretted it as much as I did and that you wanted to try it again."

I do regret, just not the same aspects, she turned away from him, not wanting to have him see her regret as well. He took her hand and kissed it gently, "I told you last night that I wouldn't push you for your answer and I never break a promise to those I love."

He kissed her forehead and went out the door for her to change. When he closed the door behind him, he turned and saw Black walk by. It would be better to talk to him about going to the shop right now while Sapphire was changing which he knew wouldn't take all too long. "Black, I need to tell you something."

Black sighed, looking as if he really didn't want to speak with anyone. He didn't want to since he was just about ready to strangle someone due his frustration. He could feel White pulling away from him and didn't know what caused it. He thought he had a good enough connection with her that she could tell him what was on her mind.

He barely heard Ruby call to him, so caught up in his thought, but stopped and turned to the man. "Is there a problem?"

"There's no problem," Ruby saw that he was stressed so he tried to calm him. He looked around him the corner of his eyes and lowered his voice so no one would over hear them. "I just wanted to tell you that Sapphire and I am going to another town today to check on a lead to where the killer got the Jack in the Boxes. We won't be that long and should be at the meeting spot by tonight."

"I'll tell White, if she asks where you two went." Black nodded, not really thinking over Ruby's words. Ruby could tell that Black was distracted and wondered if anything had happen between him and White. Everyone was slowly losing their senses in this circus.

"I'm ready," Sapphire came out of her trailer wearing a casual sweater and jeans. He smiled to himself that she was able to make his heart skip in such simple clothes. Something came into his mind and when she stood in front of him, he rubbed the material of her red sweater between his fingers.

"Is there something wrong?" Sapphire asked, able to sense the tension between the two men. She knew that Black wouldn't direct his anger toward Ruby since he hadn't been in the circus long enough to make any enemies. Despite how arrogant Ruby was, Sapphire couldn't see him anger anyone this quickly.

"Don't worry about it Sapphire, it's nothing." Ruby assured though she didn't believe his worlds and waved bye to Black as he ushered Sapphire to the spare pickup with an arm around his waist. She protested but Black had already walked away. She made a note to herself to ask Ruby about it later as they drove to the shop.

She rolled her eyes as he opened the truck door for her and gave an exaggerated gesture for her to enter. She didn't take his hand as she climbed into the truck but she was holding back a smile. It was strange to admit that it was a little endearing since she would be the first to admit that it was annoying. That didn't seem to bother him for he walked to the driver's side of the truck and climbed inside.

"That's a nice sweater," Ruby smiled to himself after a while of driving. Sapphire raised her brow at him and pulled at the hem of her simple red sweater. He reached over and tugged at her sleeve so that she looked into the sleeve hem and noticed a little stitched 'R'. "You kept it?"

Sapphire blushed, remembering that it was one of Ruby's old sweater that he gave her during their first date. She puffed her cheek and retorted, "It's warm and practical. I didn't even remember that it belonged to you since it's so simple and not at all like your other designs."

"My mother bought it for me and seeing that it still fits you, you haven't grown as much." He teased her and she puffed her cheeks. She rolled her eyes but leaned into him as he drove, staring at the clouds above them. "It should be an hour before we get to the store so you can rest until we reach it. It looks like you didn't sleep that well last night."

"I couldn't sleep." She said softly, rolling down the window and letting the air wash over her. She leaned back and closed her eyes, feeling sleep overtake her slowly until she was asleep. She couldn't sleep last night, or any other night, haunted by the memory of their past. Ruby looked over her from the corner of his eyes, smiling at the sight of the wind playing at her hair.

He wanted to brush her hair aside and tuck it behind her ear but kept his eye on the road. He was glad that she was able to relax around him and smiled at the hope that they could be more. As soon as he caught this killer, he would ask her to be his once again. Then again, it could've been her tiredness but he liked to think that it was otherwise.

Missy took care not to draw attention to herself as she exited her trailer when she felt the circus stopped. They hadn't reached the next town yet but White wanted to stop for rest and to practise. She wanted to speak with Pearl and Dia about the Masked Magician. Pearl didn't hide the fact that Poppy was given a Joker card and that it was a sign that he might be next.

She reached their trailer and knocked softly. She leaned closer into the door and could hear the two going over their routine by rehearsing their lines. She held her breath until Dia opened the door. His wide smile told her that he didn't question why she was out without the two which wasn't the norm for her.

"Is there something wrong Missy?" Dia asked and she shook her head, not wanting to worry him.

"I wanted to make sure that you two are still safe. With this warning the killer has given us, I was worried about you two. I don't think that you two should be alone with this turn of events." Missy's voice was deadpanned but Dia could see and fear in her tawny eyes. Her next words were so quiet, he wasn't sure that she even said it, "I couldn't bear to lose either of you."

"You don't have to worry about losing us," He assured her with a gentle nudged and led her in. Pearl smiled at her when she walked in.

Missy sat on Dia's bed as the two went back to their routine but she didn't really notice them, more intent on surveying their surroundings. She had a keen eye for detail and was hoping to find any trap the killer could've left. She didn't want to leave with their death on her mind. It was already hard enough to leave when she made such a connection with everyone.

But she knew that it wasn't safe for her to stay any longer. She heard slight clicking but didn't smell any smoke. She parted the drapes to see Poppy practising her act. Maybe she could ask her more since she had encountered the Masked Magician personally. There might've been something see looked over and she could help her remember.

"I shall only be a moment," She told the two. Pearl nodded but Dia looked after her worried. When Missy left the room, Dia voiced his concern to Pearl.

"You should be asking her. You two seem close enough that she would tell you what's wrong if you only asked her," Pearl told his friend. "Everyone's stressed and she must be worried with what Poppy told us. You're the one that's usually all laid back, why are you suddenly worried?"

"I can't be worried about my friends?" Dia wasn't angry at Pearl words, just a little hurt.

"We're going to make our next act the best and that Killer isn't going to break apart our perfect duo! Don't worry, if that killer comes for me, I'll be the one to capture him and save the circus." Pearl and Dia laughed together.

Missy smiled to herself, hearing the two laughing together. They were always able to bring some light and humour to any situation and she would miss that when she leaves. Poppy was helping to set up the tightrope for Stevie. Her poi's at her hip clicked together and that made Missy paused a little.

"Is there something wrong?" Poppy asked without turning and her voice was laced with concern. Missy didn't know how she was able to notice her when she was so quiet. She kept her head high as she was taught and nodded regally to her.

"I want to discuss with you what you saw last night. If he is going to attack my friends, I want to do everything I can to protect them. Did he say anything last night that might tell us why he is targeting Pearl and Dia? He gave you that card, so he must've given himself away to you in some way."

Poppy looked at the ground and let the silence wash over her as she remembered back to the events to the events of last night. She never spoke with any one at length really and the way Missy seemed to size her up made her nervous. She took a calming breath and answered, "He told me that secrets are immoral."

"But Dia and Pearl don't have any secrets." Missy pointed out. "Neither does White."

"But you do," Poppy said quietly and Missy froze at her words. "You do not hide it well."

Ruby considered letting Sapphire sleep in the truck while he went to question the store owner but knew that she would be angry if did leave her. So he regrettably walked to the other side of the truck so he could open her door. He reached over and gently shook her shoulder. She mumbled something beneath her breath and rubbed her eyes as she came awake groggily.

"We're here," he told her and she nodded. She came awake pretty quickly and she allowed him to help her down. She looked over the old shop wedged between two other ones such that she almost missed it since it didn't give anything to stand out from the others with much colour. She looked over the trinkets in the window, her eyes drawn to the glass lover figures.

She pulled herself away, "I don't see any Jack in the Boxes, are sure this is the right place?"

"This is the address Silver gave me," Ruby nodded and opened the door. She followed him, scanning the inside of the store, a little nervous at all the dolls seemingly watching her. Ruby stopped in front of one of the dolls and felt the fabric. His brows furrowed, it was the same material as the Masked Magician's cape.

Sapphire wondered from his side and went to the counter. An elderly woman was reading at the register and Sapphire tapped on the glass counter to gain her attention. She scowled up at Sapphire, putting her book aside and asked "Is there something you need, ma'am?"

"I was wonderin' if ya made a Jack in the Box like this?" Sapphire asked, pulling out a sketch of the Jack in the Box from her satchel and placed it in front of the woman. She readjusted her glasses and called out to someone in the back.

"I don't make any of the actual ornaments, my employee does. You will have to ask him about this," She explained as a blonde man came out from the back room. Sapphire had to step back at how tall he actually was. Her keen hearing picked up the sound of rusting metal parts and she wondered if there was something more to him. "Did you make this Emerald?"

The man took the sketch from her and nodded, "A man came in and asked if I could make a collection of circus based boxes for him. He said that they were presents for his fellow circus performers."

Sapphire jumped at his words and asked, "If I gave you a picture, would you be able to identify him? Wait, there was more made? You need to tell me which performers they were of so we could protect whoever's targeted next! Did he saw anything else to you?"

"Wait, is there some trouble with this man?" The old woman asked. Sapphire didn't want to scare the woman but didn't know if she would still give out the information is she said otherwise. It didn't seem to matter for the look on her expressive face gave her away. She didn't react as Sapphire expected though, lashing out at the man instead.

"How could you let that man into my shop? All you do is stay back there with your childish toys, what use are you to me?" She snapped at the man and by his defiant look, Sapphire knew that this was a common occurrence. She bit her lips against her rage, how could this old woman talk to another human being like that? She knew that the man was on the edge of snapping too and the thought of how long he must've taken her abused pushed her past the edge.

"Ya have no right to speak like tha!" Sapphire's eyes flashed. "He's your employee but he's work is what runs this place and making figurines like this is not childish. It's hard work and talent! I'll like to see ya pick up a knife and make anything half as beautiful!"

"And you have no right to comment on how I speak with my employees," She shot back. She reached over and tugged at Sapphire's hair. "You're nothing more than a barbarian!"

"She's the Queen of Gems, flying far above what you can hope to reach," Ruby cam e beside and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. He was so caught up in the clothes that he hadn't noticed Sapphire leave his side until he heard her shouting. The moment he heard Sapphire being called anything less than beautiful, he had to speak up though with more finesse.

"If we were to bring you to our circus, can you point out this man? I'm sure that you can spare a few minutes of you time." Ruby spoke and Sapphire quickly added.

"How's your ability with a knife?' She asked and when Emerald shrugged, she said. "We need more performers and Wally wouldn't mind help with his knife throwing act! In fact with your talent of making all these things, you can help repair some of our equipment! I'm sure White wouldn't mind giving you a job and it's better than working here when you're not happy."

Emerald hesitated for a moment but Sapphire took his hand, finding that it was cold as metal. She wouldn't take no for an answer, "Go pack and met us outside. We'll be waiting in front of a truck."

Emerald took her courage and went back into the backroom. Sapphire ignored the woman's glare, more intent on helping this man find a happy life. She felt Ruby squeezed her gently and whispered in her ear, "You're a good hearted woman and I hope that you can find room in it for me."

You already took so much of it, she thought to herself, how much more can I give before I fall in love with you again?

Dia placed the two pieces together and fumbled across the table for the tape he had placed there earlier. He was working on the ripped note he had found in Missy's room the night after he was attacked. He was finishing it for pure curiosity. Something deep inside him hoped that what he found would help him find what Missy might've hiding.

Pearl was speaking with Poppy at that moment, despite Dia's worry since he didn't want his friend to be alone with a clear threat from the killer. He knew that any argument he could've given would only hurt his friend's pride. He pushed aside his worry, telling himself to have more faith in his friend.

He took another piece in between his fingers after he tapped down the matched he already found and tried to find where it went in the puzzle. He already had most of it completed, a poster that he recognized of the circus from some years ago. He was more interested in the note on the back but focused more on the poster said, half afraid of what he would find.

The knock at his door didn't scare him, but he was surprise when he parted his curtains and found Missy standing at his door. He pushed all the pieces back into his desk, not wanting Missy to see what he was doing since he didn't know if she would explain to him or just continue to hide behind her lies. Pushing it aside, and went to open the door for her. She was wringing her hands together and he began to worry about what was worrying her.

"I need to leave," She said and that took him back a moment. She saw the shock on his face and felt ashamed that she was taking advantage of his kindness. Poppy's comment had scared her even when she pushed Poppy, it didn't show any sign of knowing more than the fact that she was hiding something.

That was dangerous enough though and it was enough to push her to escape sooner than she had planned. She was sure that Dia would help her but she felt deceptive since she knew she would have to lie to convince him to take her away.

It took a moment before he was able to compose himself and asked, "Why would you want to leave Missy? Is it because of the killer?"

"No. Yes. It's complicated!" Her usual composure faded away because of her fear. "I can't stay with you anymore, it's not safe for me anymore. I really want to stay but it's just not logical."

"But… I was supposed to take you to see your sister," Dia said softly, disappointed that he wasn't able to have more time with her and he wanted the trip to bring them closer together and hoped that she would open herself up more to him. "Do you still want to take me met her? I know that you were really looking forward to seeing her again."

"It's not possible, no matter how much I want to see her again." Missy said softly. She seemed to be taking him with surprise after surprise tonight and wondered how much she was really hiding. Did she lose contact with her family? Was she running from something? He had so many questions to ask her but didn't know if it was his place.

It was! "Is someone after you? Is that person the Masked Killer?"

"I can't tell you much," she rubbed her arm, feeling the illusion she had coated herself with fade away. "I can only say that I don't want to be found. Please, just help me get to the next town so that I can hide before he finds me again."

The fear in her eyes was genuine and that washed away his questions. He would protect her by letting her go, no matter how much he didn't want to let her go with so many questions.

"We'll leave right after the next show." Not as quickly as she would've liked but she nodded.

Review if you liked.