Job Thirteen: 
They

    Ahura Mazda leaned against the brick wall of Rave's club. He did know the people who were after him after all. It was an organization he and many others in his profession had come to know as "They" or "Them."  They were the ones who had supported and funded the experiments on him, Rave, and Asuka. They probably funded all of the illegal genetic experiments in the past fifty years.

    Now why the hell would these bastards be after him? Ahura Mazda was just a mere thief--a very good thief true--- but still just a thief. He could never acquire something that the organization could not retrieve easily. Unless....

    *That is probably what they're after, you know. It is a very important part of you.* Raphael had slid down to the ground. He found it more comfortable moving on his own than taking a ride on Ahura's shoulders. He was getting to big anyway.

    "Why? I doubt that little "key" could do anything."

    *I told you Ahura! That's the key to your heart! It's very powerful, and if they get a hold of it they could control you!* The wyrm puffed up a bit.

    The thief sighed. "We should find Anghiari." With that said the green haired young man picked up the young dragon and reentered the club.

    It was not the blaring music that phased Ahura, it was the sight he saw as he walked in. If it were possible for something to be more disturbing, he was not quite sure. Even Raphael was shocked and queasy. 

    Anghiari let go of the policeman with a smile painted on her face. "Maybe next time I'll give you a better one." The assassin winked her good eye before walking towards the exit, right past the shocked bondmates. She smirked back at them before exiting.

    Spyridon wore a lovely expression on his face. A cross between happy, amused and I wish this could never end. Of course the smack upside the head brought him back to reality.

    Chiara grumbled and dragged her partner out of the club.

***

    "So, you have a mysterious high paying job that conveniently needs both of us." Ahura said as he trimmed his nails. "Don't you find that a little odd? Like a set up?"

    Sindiri shrugged as best she could, "It pays good, and I triple checked the stream. It looks legitimate."

    *Looking and being are two different things,* Raphael said as tinkered with the box that stored the key.

    "The verification data was correct," the Torienga insisted. She wanted some of the profits too, and would never lead them willingly into a deadly situation. It was unusual for them not to trust her.

    "We have a problem you know. People are out to kill us," Ahura sighed and set his nail clipper down. "People we've met before, and people we haven't. They want to kill us because of what we are, and not who we are. They want to get rid of the evidence."

    Anghiari sat down at the table with Ahura. "You know that sounds very familiar. I swear I've heard it before..." She shrugged. "Well, we know we both come from the same scientific experiments, so there's a start."

    *You think the scientists have the resources to do such a thing? And why only you two?* Raphael jiggled the music box open as he spoke. He needed to check the contents once again.

    "They have the resources all right," Ahura sighed.

    "And we do cause the most trouble," Gi admitted. She paused a moment before stopping Raphael. "Wait, you have the key in here right?"

    The little dragon nodded. *I wanted to see the key again,* he blinked in surprise when Anghiari picked up the music box. *Is something wrong?* he asked.

    "I remember this box."

    The three other members of the party stared at her in confusion. "Care to elaborate?" Ahura asked crossing his legs as he made the inquiry.

    "I remember this from when I was little! Someone, someone important gave it to me, and told me to hid it, so I gave it to someone special to keep." Gi's eyes widened. She had know Eugénie as a child, she had given the girl the box for safe keeping, and she was supposed to give it to one special person. Someone who could old her heart. Eugénie thought Ahura Mazda was that person?

    She sure had bad taste in men.

    However, that did not matter at the moment. It lead them one step closer to who "They" were.

    "I think I know what we're up against."

    Ahura sat up straight, "Oh?"

    "I also think I know what they're after."

    Ahura sat up straighter, "Really?"

    "Remember the legend of the Hai Wings and the Zai Crystal? The non corrupt version that has a bittersweet end?" Gi leaned forward as she spoke.

    *Well, I know nothing about either object.*

    "The Hai wings bring immortality to the user, and the Zai Crystal can produce the liquid of life, that will heal all wounds," Ahura shrugged, "Real simple concept that supposedly can't go wrong."

    *Supposedly?*

    "The lovers who acquire these objects in the legend end up dying because of them."

    *How?*

    "They didn't read the fine print."

    *If it were possible I would face tail.*

    "Yes well... that box, the key, they have to do with the Hai and the Zai, and the people who caused the lovers destruction...."

    "Gi. That's downright impossible," Sin growled.

    "It is. We don't know how long people can extend their lives for, anyway."

    "But...."

    Ahura stopped the two ladies from arguing. "If magic can be explained scientifically, living extended periods of time is no real feat."

    *But that also means you have magic right? And you also have the Hai and Zai right? So what are we going to do?*

    "We're not going to get caught by the organization, and we're going to live our lives as best we can," Ahura said with a note of finality.