The next morning dawned pale and still, much like the girl that stared back at Kyris from the mirror. Her hair was up in the usual ponytail, hair clip in it's proper place, but her face was paler than usual, her cloudy eyes more vacant. She looked like a ghost. It should have been alarming that such a change could happen over night-- the first change had taken many years.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"M'lady?"<br/>"Yes?"<br/>"I... I don't like it."<br/>"Don't like what, Kyris?" M'lady had answered, her voice cold and almost derisive.<br/>"Hurting people... It makes me sad."<br/>M'lady's eyes narrowed dangerously, "You listen, Kyrisa, and you listen well. You were not made to be happy. You were made only to serve me. You will never have happiness, only purpose."<br/>"But-"<br/>"You will not bring this up again, Kyrisa. Only the weak are merciful. You will not have the luxury of such a weakness. I have made you strong, have given you purpose. I have given you a chance for glory that no other could ever hope to attain. You should be grateful to me."<br/>"Yes, M'lady," Kyris had answered, eyes downcast, "Thank you."<br/>"Dismissed."<br/>And Kyris, perhaps only ten or eleven, had bowed and exited the office. </span><br/><br/>She had never brought up her feelings again, and in time, she became the numb, merciless ghost that stared back at her from her reflection. Mechanically, she pulled her uniform on, adjusting the tie so that it was just so, then headed out the door, Toshi's surveillance photo in her pocket. She studied the bus rout from the supermarket-- it went through only one residential area, so that was where she began her search. Kyris came to a large apartment building and paused. She was pondering the possibilities when she almost crashed into someone. A blond man that looked as though he'd had to work through the night.<br/><br/>"Oh. 'Scuse me, miss," He said tiredly.<br/>"Not a problem. Pardon me, but I'm actually looking for someone. Have you seen this boy?" Kyris asked, pulling out Toshi's photo.<br/><br/>Recognition flashed in the man's eyes before he answered, "No. Nope. Can't say that I have. Sorry miss!" He gave a cheerful wave and a forced smile before walking quickly into the apartment, but Kyris wasn't fooled.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Bingo. </span>She turned on her heel and made her way to the rooftop that would give her the best vantage point. Toshi would have to come out eventually, and Kyris only needed one shot.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">___________________________________</div><br/><br/>Ren tapped his foot impatiently as the elevator made its agonizingly slow way to his floor. He might be exhausted from working overtime, but meeting that girl had given him a burst of energy... And not in the good way, either. If he was frank with himself, she gave him the willies, but that was beside the point. She was looking for Toshi. And that couldn't be good.<br/><br/>He fumbled with his keys and toppled into the apartment, then looked around frantically for the boy. His feet carried him automatically to the living room; of course, the boy would be watching his cartoons. Or sleeping.<br/><br/>"Toshi!"