Distraction is trying a new fandom –gasp- Though, to be honest, I wrote this a long time ago then forgot about it. Heh… So watch your heads, folks, because this piece dates back to 2008. Which means quality may vary.

You have been warned.

Disclaimer: Do not own. Yadda.

-A Glance-

/"Even though I'm a freak with a demonic eye that'll do God knows what?! Can you still say you'll stick around knowing that?! Can you, huh?!"

… You're not a freak.

"I gross you out too, don't I?"

No-

"Admit it!"

You don't. You could never.

"You wanna break me? Well here's your chance!"/

-x-

To say I was surprised when Lucia shot me would be an understatement.

Getting hit with the vaccine, whether from the bracelet Nahashi had given me or Lucia's gun, never really hurt; the feeling was more of a pat on the shoulder—like someone was wordlessly telling me "Your turn's up. Let me give it a shot".

Whenever I went Berserk, there was always that struggle for dominance between myself and my inner demon (I had come to call it Berserker)—a struggle I knew I couldn't afford to lose. That was why, taken by surprise, I did lose it for a split second.

I wanted to kill Lucia—to tear away her Light, to break her… Or, the Berserk part of me did, at least.

Then, I reminded myself of that image I had seen in Lucia's memory: the sad little girl who looked so very fragile as she begged me, "Break it!"

And I knew what I had to do.

I didn't need to break Lucia. I needed to break her out—out of the protective barricade she had constructed over the years.

I needed to make her happy.

-x-

/"Come on… What are you waiting for?"

"Break Her."

How could I ever break something so precious?

"Do it!"

In that instant, I had to make a choice. I raised my arm, fingers ramrod stiff as though I was going to pierce flesh.

I saw Lucia wince, close her eyes.

Heard my own heart roaring in my ears.

'SLAP'

My palm stung, but not as much as the thought of hurting Lucia did.

"Cut it out, Lucia! I mean it! I told you I wasn't deserting you! So I'm not going to. Ever!"

I meant every word.

"I mean… how could I? We're friends, remember?"

Her expression was a mixture of shock and sadness. "Sumire…"/

-x-

That was when Lola appeared.

And I'm glad she showed up: she was a great cook despite her chocolate fetish and as talented with gadgets as Nahashi was.

The problem? Lucia had once again holed up in Nahashi's room and refused to speak with either of us. I knew Lucia didn't trust our newest tenant—old habits die hard after all—and I knew that Lola was a bit… "out there"—another reason for her avoidance. But still it bothered me.

I had a feeling she was avoiding me and me specifically.

Was it because I had almost lost it?

Because I had hit her?

Because she was ashamed of showing that moment's weakness?

"Hey, Sumire!"

I jumped, so lost in thought that I hadn't noticed the little blonde girl's approach. Lola smiled cheekily around the chocolate cigarette clenched between her teeth. "Am I interrupting something?"

I shook my head, prying my gaze from the star-studded sky outside one of Venus Vanguard's wide windows and drew the heavy, velvet drapes back into place. "Not at all. Did you need something?"

"I don't think Lucia likes me very much."

Leave it to Lola to approach the subject in such a straight forward manner…

"That's not true! She's just… overly cautious. You did shoot at us after all."

Lola quirked an eyebrow. "If I recall correctly, you two shot at me first."

She had a point…

"But I understand what you're getting at." She paused. "Something on your mind?"

I closed my eyes, suddenly very tired. "No."

The look she gave me was one of disbelief, but all she said was, "Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."

Then she grinned, twirled, and marched off to the storage closet she had claimed as her room.

Was it that obvious? Lucia and I weren't best friends, but usually, we did get along reasonably well. Now she wouldn't even talk to me.

I heaved a sigh and trudged to my room, though not before stopping in front of Nahashi's closed door. He usually kept it closed, but now it had an ominous, almost angry feeling about it.

"Good night, Lucia."

There was, as usual, no response.

-x-

"Break her."

No.

"Do it."

I won't.

"BREAK HER NOW!"

-x-

A gasp escaped my lips as I was rudely forced into consciousness; choking back a sob, I sat up and hugged my knees to my chest.

Why? Why was I still having these dreams—these nightmares?

It was funny: the thing that scared me most was not the knowledge that I had a demon trapped within me, but the thought of losing control and hurting those near to me.

Like Lucia.

There was a creak as my door opened and the silhouette standing there, dark as it was, was unmistakable: Lucia.

I opened my mouth to say something, but the words caught in my throat.

"… You should be sleeping."

Why aren't you?

Again, I found that the words wouldn't—couldn't?—leave my lips.

And then, she was gone.

The next morning, I got up and made breakfast as usual. Lola was up and eating a bowl of Cocoa Pebbles (how the heck did she stay so small with such a diet?), as usual, and Lucia remained in Nahashi's room, as usual. This routine had been going on for the past few days.

I was sick of it.

There was the 'click' of a lock and, to my surprise, the Virus hunter herself emerged from Nahashi's room, fully dressed in her usual Lolita fashion.

She didn't say a word to either of us, her knee-high leather boots 'clomp'ing as she walked past us and up the stairs. The door opened, and then shut.

"Me-ow!" Lola said, curling her hand so that it resembled a claw, eyes wide. "Geez, someone isn't a morning person."

I bowed my head, staring steadfastly at my breakfast even as it went blurry.

"Hey…" Her voice was gentle. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head, willing myself to stop being such a baby.

"C'mon, Sumire, something's obviously bothering you."

Still, I didn't look up.

"… Well, when I showed up, you two were obviously in the middle of an argument, so… " Her tone was thoughtful now. "It must have something to do about that, right?"

Slowly, I nodded.

"You should go apologize or something!" Lola exclaimed. "Whatever it was that you two were arguing about couldn't have been that bad!"

"S-she obviously doesn't want to talk to me, Lola."

I heard Lola's chair screech as it was pushed backwards and tensed, fully expecting a lecture of some sort from the hyperactive blonde. When I felt two slim arms wrap around me from behind, I broke down—bawled like a baby on the younger girl's shoulder.

-x-

I was cradling Lucia, head bent as I gazed at her through half-lidded eyes. And, yet, how could that possibly be me if I could see myself doing it? It was as though I was watching the scene through someone else's eyes.

"Come, let us become one."

Of course. Not me—Berserker

Lucia's face was flushed. "What do you mean?"

Berserker traced a finger over Lucia's collar bone, exposed by the black, silk gown she wore to bed and I saw Lucia shudder.

"Give me your precious Light…"

Then, Berserker looked up and met my gaze, eyes wild.

"Break her!"

-x-

How long had it been since I had cried on Lola's shoulder—three days? I had lost track.

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and stared up at the ceiling. All of my dreams since then had been like this latest one, although…

Why had Berserker and Lucia been so close?

… And why did it bother me?

"Hey, Sumiiirree," Lola called, barging into my room. "Aren't you going to school today?"

"It's spring break, Lola." I yawned, stretched. "No school for a while."

"Oooh, so you won't mind coming with me?"

"Where?"

But she was already bouncing around eagerly, demanding that I "get ready already!" I laughed, unable to resist doing so.

"Ok, ok! I'm getting dressed."

Moments later I was preparing breakfast for myself and Lucia. As I sat down to eat, Lola launched herself out of her room, a bright blur of colours as she rushed past me. There was a loud 'bang' then several smaller ones that made me cringe before she was running back to her room.

"Uh, Lola?"

"Hurry up!" she giggled, emerging from her room a second time.

Deciding it was better to just agree with the girl then try and figure out what she was planning, I quickly finished my breakfast.

Just before leaving, I grabbed my gun and sheathed it in the hip-holster Nahashi had made for it.

"Lucia, I'm going out!"

-x-

"Where exactly are you taking me?"

I eyed the bobbing blonde tresses in front of me warily, wondering what exactly the girl had on her mind.

Lola half turned, but didn't stop or slow down, her smile mysterious. "You've got a job."

It took me a moment to realize what she was talking about. "We had a client? When? And why didn't you just tell me?"

Lola merely giggled as though she knew something I didn't, holding her arms out and twirling. "You'll see!" she sing-songed.

I ended up following Lola through town, picking up various food stuffs and growing more and more mystified.

By the time we started heading down a street that lead towards Venus Vanguard, carrying heavy paper-bags of groceries, I had had enough. "Lola! I thought you said I had a job!"

She blinked, "Yeah, I did."

"Well? Where's the Virus!?"

When she started laughing, I frowned. "I didn't say anything about a Virus, silly! I was talking about Lucia!"

NowI was completely lost.

"What?"

"You need to make up with her, don't you?"

"Yes…"

"Well, I have a plan!"

She struck a goofy pose, but I was too busy worrying to laugh. "A plan? And what exactly are you planning?"

There were so many things that could go wrong when Lucia was involved and I didn't want to make things between us even worse.

As if she could read my mind, Lola stopped mid-step and met my gaze. "Don't you worry! I'll fix everything. What've you got to lose?"

I tried not to sigh at that, really I did, but it slipped out anyway. "Nothing, I guess."

By the time we returned to Venus Vanguard, the sun was setting. Lola ushered me into my room immediately, promising to call me once everything was ready.

… And, after about a minute, there was an explosion.

Then, a voice that I hadn't heard take that angry tone in a while:

"LOLA!?"

Then gunshots…

And maniacal laughter that could only be Lola.

By the time I had rushed to my door and reached for its handle, it was flung open and a blur of bright colours pushed past me.

I didn't have time to think because Lucia was suddenly standing in front of me, the cobalt eye that wasn't covered by an eye-patch narrowed into a glare, gun in hand.

"Move, Sumire. I'm going to kill our guest," she ground out between clenched teeth.

Behind me, Lola giggled, seemingly unaware of the danger she was in. "C'mon, Lucia! Can't you take a joke?"

"A joke? You just chocolate bombed Nahashi's room!"

I couldn't help but gape, wondering if Lola had lost it. "Why would you do that?"

"It was a joke," she repeated as though speaking to small children. "Consider yourself evicted, Lucia."

"Where the Hell am I supposed to sleep now?!" Lucia snapped, clearly at the end of her rope. Although she was angry, it was nice to hear her voice.

"This is your room isn't it?"

"Yes, but—" She stopped, shaking her head, and our gazes met for a split second. "UGH! Forget it. I'm going out to buy some cigarettes."

She turned on her heels and stormed out, Venus Vanguard's door slamming shut behind her moments later.

"Operation: 'get Lucia out of her room' is a success!" Lola grinned, walking past me. "Ok, I'm going to go cook dinner and start phase two."

With that, she skipped out of my room.

-End Chapter-

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