PART III

 "I really don't dig this!" Yohji exclaimed before the four later that day. He walked over and looked at Alex, his aqua eyes scrutinizing her.

"Yamero, Yohji-kun!" Omi cried out noticing the faint blush that crept up her creamy cheeks. "You are being rude." He continued.

"What the hell is this about, anyway?" Yohji asked walking back at them. "Kuso! Will someone tell me why a girl is sitting here instead of a boy?"

"What did he say?" Came Alex's soft voice. She looked at Omi, her eyes pitifully questioning.

"Uh…" Omi mumbled trying to search for the appropriate word. "He- he says you look good." He finally added.

Alex's eyes narrowed suspiciously. She pursed her lips and instantly a dimple appeared on her right cheek. Omi thought she looked cute for a second there.

"Iie." She said simply shaking her head. With that, the four men looked at her with surprise.

"Y- you know Japanese?" Omi asked astounded. With that, Alex gave a soft laugh. She shook her head.

"A little." She replied. "Just bits and pieces."

Ken chuckled.

"Okay try me?" He said.

Alex looked up to think then she smiled.

"Um… Yohji no baka?" she said uncertainly the accent strongly pronounced.

With that, the two guffawed, Yohji frowned showing his displeasure. Even Aya had to snicker. Alex sure is using her supposed-to-be-ignorance to her advantage.

"True, true." Omi managed to let out.

"Hounto ni!" Ken seconded the notion.

"Doushite?" Alex asked innocently. "What did I say? I just heard that from the airport."

"Shinitai no ka?" Yohji asked turning to her darkly. Immediately the smile on her face disappeared.

"Iie." She squeaked shaking her head vigorously. Then she smiled at him sweetly. "Anata wa kawaii." She added softly.

With that Yohji gave a satisfied smile as he stood before her. Alex had to stifle her laughter upon noting the comical gesture he sported.

"True, true." He said in English. "And besides no women can resist my charms." He added.

"Except Manx."

They looked up only to find Manx descending from her the basement stairs. She lifted her had and checked her watch.

"Right on time. Impressive." She said.

"Manx!" Alex exclaimed relief in her voice. She immediately stood up and ran to her. She threw her arms around the startled lady.

"And who is this girl?" she asked. Alex faced her.

"It is me, Alex!" she cried out. "Alexandra."

With that, Manx's face changed from wonder to disbelief. She held Alex at arm's length, running her eyes to her face.

"Is that you, Alexandra-chan?" she asked. "What brought you here?"

"Apparently she is Alex Castillo." Yohji replied. Manx's eyes fleeted from Yohji to the young woman before her. Then her eyes widened.

"You are Alex Castillo?"

"Yes." She answered. "I'm so glad to see you, Manx! Everything's just been so- so- " she couldn't continue any longer as a single tear trickled down her eye.

"Sit down, tell us what happened." She said as she led Alex to a couch. Omi immediately handed her his handkerchief, much to everybody's surprise.

"It- it started just two days ago." She began. "Mark, Dan, Kristine and I- we started the operation and something went wrong! I- I- " now the single tear turned to torrents of it as her body wracked with heavy sobs.

"Perhaps we should let her rest up a bit?" Omi suggested.

"They- they were blasted away." She suddenly said. "S-somehow they found out about us and planted this bombs and-- "

"Shh… that's enough." Manx said as her hands went to her slender back, stroking it.

"They died, Manx and I'm the only one who survived." She said crying. "They died in front of me, I was so helpless! I can't even do anything to save them!"

"Everything is beyond your control, Alex." She said comfortingly.

"I can't, will never forgive myself." She cried out. "I won't stop till I get them! I won't stop till I nail each one of them!"

"Yes, yes we won't stop." Manx cooed as she pulled her head to her embrace. "And Wieb will help you."

Aya looked at the scene before him and somehow he felt something tugging at the strings of his heart. Just a while ago, Alex was laughing and smiling and then now crying her heart out. It made him think that she was actually feeling very rotten, with all those things bottled up inside her, but then she chose to be cool. He found himself giving her credit for her bravery.

Well, he may not know but it sure is clear to understand what she must have felt losing her teammates in front of her. Silly it may seem, if he is the one to encounter something like that, it would be enough to make him insane. Although denying it openly, he couldn't bear losing his teammates, his only friends.

"I- I ran away from them." She continued with light sobs. "There was never a time I didn't hear gunshots behind me… I- I though I would die. Maybe I should've… I am nothing but a pathetic coward… I ran away, I ran away!" she said pummeling Manx with her little fists softly.

"Enough, Alex!" she said as she tightened her grip on her.

"I ran away." She whispered softly. "I should've stayed and died with them there. What does surviving leave me with all my teammates dead?" she said this time crying weakly.

"Come on, Alex I'll escort you to your room." Omi offered deciding that everything is just enough.

"Yes, Omi, kudasai?" Manx said. Then she gave Alex a soft kiss on the cheek. "Rest up a bit. I promise you everything will be all right, ne?"

Alex didn't protest as she let herself be led by Omi. She didn't utter anything as Omi held her with his arms to slowly help her up the stairs. When they were gone, Yohji let out a low whistle.

"That- that was terrible." He said.

"Yes." Ken mumbled out. "And to think that she was just laughing a while ago…"

"Well, so very much like Alexandra-chan." Manx said shaking her head. "That girl really would bottle up everything inside her just to burst later." She added.

"You know her." Aya said curtly. Manx nodded her head.

"Yes, she was one of the new Crasher recruits I trained when I went to the Philippines." She replied. "I didn't quite expect that she would use her father's name though."

Upon hearing that, Aya felt a familiar sensation coursing through him. Could it be that, just like him, Alex lost a loved one and seeking out for revenge? But she was too young and too innocent looking, just too sweet…

"So what do you plan to do?" Ken asked.

"Well basically, take her shopping." She replied. With that, the three men turned to her as if she had gone insane.

"My dear boys, she brought nothing but herself." She said laughing. "What would you let her wear?"

"Oh." Yohji and Ken managed to say.

"Then what?" Aya prodded.

"Well, find her a good school, let her lead a normal life in here as possible, mingle, blend in, while working secretly on the side."

"Why not let her go to Omi's highschool?" Ken suggested. "In that way, Omi would be able to keep an eye out for her. After all she's new here and everything."

"I think I'll do just that." She said nodding and standing up. "Now if you will excuse me, I have to go check up on her." She added walking away from them.