[Rinrou]

Pepper smirked slightly, "Would I have? You weren't completely in the way until recently," she replied too calmly. She stepped forward, her face getting close to his, "It wouldn't take much, you know. Human bodies are so frail."

"Enough, Pepper."

Pepper turned and snorted at Wolfe, "What's this? The prince as come to rescue the useless damsel?" Wolfe's face remained the same. "I know what you did earlier, you've crossed a line."

Wolfe sighed slightly, "Have I?" he mused, "I don't recall seeing one." Was... Wolfe actually trying to be funny?

Pepper glared at him, "We have so much to do! You don't have time to mess with him! We need to focus right now, Ryu, we're running out of time!"

"You don't think I know that?" His voice was cold now, eyes flashing slightly. "What have I done so horribly? What have I messed up so badly for you to threaten someone who is no threat to you?"

"You got involved in HIS affairs!" Pepper shouted, pointing at Raven.

"So?" Wolfe countered, "Did that change our plans? Have I not done everything up until this point without fail?"

Pepper was silent.

"Well, have I or haven't I?"

"You have," she muttered.

"And are you suddenly my babysitter? My mother who checks on who my friends are and if I'm doing my homework? Who are you to question me? I've never given you any reason to doubt me, Pepper! I've held our team together from the start!" Though his voice never got louder, the angry showed clearly in his tone and in his eyes.

Pepper glared at him, "You're losing focus!"

"Why?! Because I installed a security system at his house to protect what he loves? That's losing focus?" Pepper continued to glare but did not answer. "Let's set one thing straight," Wolfe nearly whispered, eyes flashing, "If we are not able to protect the innocent, we have no business finding this lab. If we do not try to protect those who are swept in this chaos, we are no better than CLIKZ."

"Don't lecture me, Wolfe!" Pepper hissed, "You're the one infatuated with a useless farm-boy." She stormed off leaving a still clearly angry Wolfe glaring at the plants.