Disclaimer: You know how it works. SM isn't mine. I'm just doing this for fun.

One

Motoki saw Darien wince as he dabbed some cotton at the cut on his forehead. He was about to close the arcade when his friend came, brutally beaten.

"So are you gonna tell me what happened?" Motoki asked, breaking the silence.

"Ken Tsukino's security personnel"-Darien cleared his throat- "beat me when I tried to force my way into their house."

"Why did you do that? Darien, you almost got arrested the last time you were there. You know Serena's father doesn't like-"

"I know! But I can't help it! It's been two fucking weeks Motoki!" Darien shouted, hands slamming the countertop. "I miss her; she won't even answer my calls. I knew there was something wrong. She was distracted and won't talk much that night in my apartment."

Motoki could only stare at his friend. Yes, it has indeed been two weeks since they last saw Serena. He couldn't entirely blame Darien for doing what he did. After all, two weeks was enough time for Ken Tsukino to make sure Darien never sees the girl ever again.

To say that Mr. Tsukino disliked Darien was an understatement. The man loathed Darien. For the businessman an orphan, who relies on scholarship and works two jobs to feed himself, does not deserve his only daughter. But Motoki believed otherwise. He had never seen anything as beautiful as the love Serena and Darien had for each other. Sure the two started as enemies. He smiled to himself remembering their constant bickering. He was lucky enough to witness their hatred bloom into deep affection for each other. Their happiness was infectious.

Sadly, Serena's father was not convinced. Instead he saw Darien as an obstacle to the future he envisioned for his daughter. That Serena marries man like Diam Turner. The son of Dillon Turner, owner of Turner Corp.

"Did you at least saw Serena?" He finally asked Darien.

Pain. That was what Motoki saw in Darien's eyes when his friend looked at him.

"Serena left two days ago, to study in London. Kenji said she finally accepted Dillon Turner's offer to pay for her college. He said she also agreed to go there with fucking Turner's son."

"One chocolate milkshake please."

"Sure pretty." Startled, Motoki smiled at the little girl with green hair tied into buns. It was the sight of that hairstyle that brought back the memories of two of his friends from ten years ago. "Would you like a cupcake too? I'll give you one for free."

The little girl jumped in her seat.

Motoki headed to prepare her order all the while thinking how Darien and Serena are.

Darien was interrupted from reading the report in front of him as the voice from the intercom echoed in his office. "Mr. Shields," it was his secretary Mina Aino, "you asked me to inform you as soon as Mr. Tsukino arrived. Well, he's here half hour late and you have a conference meeting in fifteen minutes shall I ask him to-"

"Send him in." Darien said.

"Surely you can see him after the meeting Mr. Shields, the-"

"Cancel the meeting Ms. Aino." He said with finality.

Darien did not wait for his secretary to answer. He was keeping track of the Tsukinos ever since he graduated from business school. And he found out Kenji Tsukino was struggling business wise for the past years now, his newly discovered addiction to gambling only sealed his company's fate. So Darien knew it was only a matter of time for this day to come.

The day when he takes back what Kenji Tsukino took from him. And damn if he will wait one more minute.

Two days after their fated meeting, Kenji clutched the phone in his hands, unsure of what to do. Mr. Shields, as he prefered to be called now, was very straightforward with his proposal. He offered to help him financially, the man knew everything about his current predicament.

He sighed remembering the events that led him to this situation. Last year, the last branch of his chain of restaurants closed for good. It was easy to blame it on economic recession but Kenji knew better. It all started when he sent his daughter away to study abroad.

Serena had totally distanced herself from him. She never did once came home during vacation or even during holidays and Kenji knew it was an act of rebellion. But he'll be damned if he's going to say he wasn't affected. He loves Serena so much that her indifference caused him to be depressed. He was drunk almost every day; he went womanizing. He did everything to distract himself. Lately, the best distraction came in the form of gambling. And so next thing he knew everything he's worked for his entire life was gone. He also also owed Dillon Turner a huge sum of money. Yes, even this house will soon be taken by the bank. This house that holds so much memories of his beloved wife Selene, and he can't let that happen.

He recalled his conversation with Darien Shields.

"It's easy Kenji, give me what I want and I will write any amount on this check." Darien said.

Kenji was expecting Darien to insult him for what had become of his life. And to point out that he was wrong when he told him that he will never achieve anything. From what he heard the man was now the owner of several hotels all over Japan.

But Darien remained civil. He never did once mentioned anything about the past. Well except maybe now. For Kenji knew there is only one reason Darien would seek him out even after all this years.

"What is it that you want Da- Mr. Shields?"

"Serena."