DISCLAIMER: ANY RECOGNIZABLE CHARACTERS, I DO NOT OWN. SAIA IS MY OWN CREATION.

PROLOGUE:

He weaves and darts his way through the alley ways, desperately trying to get away from his pursuers. He's getting tired but he knows that if he stops, he's dead. These people do not take kindly to traitors.

I'm not a traitor though. I'm just trying to do the right thing. Is it so wrong to want to be a good guy for a change?

Turning a corner into yet another alley, his chest suddenly slams into a very solid object and he falls flat onto his back. Gasping for air, he squints up to see a dark shadow reach for him and he desperately tries to move away. His back hits the brick wall with a crack as he is lifted up and slammed into it.

"Do you have any idea what you have done?" his attacker snarls and spits in his face. "You have ruined the whole deal and you will pay with your life!"

The man squeezes his eyes shut, preparing himself for the blow but instead he hears a loud thud and his attacker suddenly lets him go. Opening his eyes, he watches in shock as the bigger man slowly sinks to the ground in front of him, unconscious.

"You need to get out of here." A soft voice says. The young woman is already sporting a fierce black eye and her clothes are torn but she looks ready for anything as she looks around for the other men.

"I can't just leave you here like this. You're too young to be taking on these men by yourself. Your father will never forgive me if anything happens to you."

"I can take care of myself. He knows that and if I don't he will punish me anyways. He's your father too you know. I don't care what anyone else says. You are the only member of the family that treats me like a human being instead of a thing."

"I'm only your half-brother, the son of your father's mistress for that matter. You don't owe me anything."

"Yes. I do." Taking out an envelope from her pocket, she pushes it into his hands. "This is all the money that I managed to save up from my job after school. Take it. It's not much but it should help you get some place safe."

"Boo Ki… I can't take this. You need this more than I do."

She furiously shakes her head and her hair flies around her face. She dyed it to a deep red color today and father is furious. Her black eye is a testament to his rage, something the entire family respects more than censures.

"Just go! They are coming! You don't have time to argue!" Boo Ki shoves him towards the street and he reluctantly leaves. Looking back at her one last time, her step-brother makes her a promise.

I promise that someday I will return the favor Boo Ki.

(^_^)

[NINE YEARS LATER]

BOO KI'S POV:

This past year has gone by so fast. So much has happened. My best friend Saia and I have managed to get wrapped up in an international government conspiracy. I thought that after walking away from my past, I would never be involved in such things again but I was wrong. We were attacked, my apartment was blown up, and we lost people very important to us.

Five months ago, Yoon Ji-Hoo and Song Woo Bin died in a car explosion. Saia and Ji-Hoo had been so I love. It was heartbreaking to see her so devastated. She has been trying so hard to be strong but she is overdoing it. Ji-Hoo had given her everything in his will which included the Foundation, the Hospital, and the Clinic his grandfather started. His family believed that the best way to heal someone was not just through Medicine but also through the Arts. It's a noble idea but it angers me that he has put all that pressure on my friend. Between her work and joining the Seoul Ballet Company (SBC), she hardly has time for anything or anyone.

As for me, I was devastated to learn about Woo Bin's death. He was a good friend. He was kind and protective, something I am not used to from a man. Even now I won't admit my feelings for him to myself or to anyone else. He was a Chaebol and engaged to Ha Jae Kyung. My heart has no right to even go that route.

"Why the long face?" a playful voice asks me. I look up at Saia and my jaw drops in surprise. She has been so depressed since Ji-Hoo died that I was beginning to think I would never see my playful and lively friend again. Something is definitely up. She's practically glowing.

"What is up with you? Did you get laid?" I ask in surprise. Her eyes narrow at me and she looks at me in disgust.

"Geez… You know I'm not like that."

I turn my attention to her bodyguard, DK, and he raises his hands. "Don't look at me. I'm not getting involved."

"You guys are no fun. I know that you just got back from Tokyo this morning and you don't look like your drunk. You aren't taking drugs now are you?"

Saia slaps my arm and it's then that I notice the rock on her finger. Snatching her hand I gape at it. "Oh my god… Look at the size of that thing! Did you get married? Who is the guy? It has to be some kind of drunken marriage thing, right? I know you would have told me if you had a new boyfriend."

She sighs in exasperation and shakes her head.

"It's just a promise." She says vaguely.

"A promise of what?" I ask suspiciously. She pulls her hand out of mine and smiles.

"I'll tell you someday but I came here because I have a surprise for you." Pulling an envelope out of her purse she hands it to me.

"What's this?" I ask.

"Open it."

Inside is a plane ticket to New York and a room key for a hotel room.

"I'm sending my best friend on vacation." She says with a bright smile.

A/N: Hello! For anyone who has already read Heart's Song, I think you already have a good idea of what is going on. For those of you that haven't, I do recommend it to avoid confusion but I will do my best to explain things clearly. I am looking forward to writing this story. ^_^ Thank you for reading!