Hello everyone!

I would like to thank those who took the time to read this story of mine. My deepest appreciation :) I honestly think there will not be people who would take the time in reading this so when I woke up and checked my account, I became happy seeing that there were some who took the time to take a glimpse of my work. I know there are a lot of other authors out there that may be better than me but still, I'm glad. ^_^

If you have some feedbacks or suggestions, please don't hesitate to tell me. :)

Thank you very much! Here's Chapter 2. Enjoy~ 3

Chapter 2: 嘘と責任 (Lies and Responsibilities)

Please! Anyone!

As if by cue, I felt iciness wrapping up my hand. What is this? I didn't see anything. I gasped for air in surprise. There was something in my dream that never showed up before.

And there was light.

I blinked several times to clear up my clouded vision. It was from a chandelier. It never resembled the one we have at my room. Am I dreaming? I bit the inside of my cheeks to check. Thank God it was just a nightmare. But why is it that the frost I felt in my dream never seemed to leave my hand?

To my surprise, I saw a young man at my left, his ocean blue eyes staring down at me with slight astonishment painting his expression. I have never seen a person as beautiful as he is. This guy has slightly curled hair that transcends from orange to light blond at the tips. Although he was just wearing a simple blue dress shirt with a white shirt underneath and brown pants, I couldn't help myself from admiring him. I imagined him as an angel on a canvass painting for some reason. Who would have thought such beauty exists?

His expression then changed from surprise to nonchalance as he gazed below. I wondered because he didn't look at me in the eye and it appears that he was staring at something else. I followed his gaze and there I found my hand… holding his. I immediately retreat my hand. I could feel heat creeping from my nape to the back of my ears. How could I hold onto the hand of a person I don't even know? How inappropriate. I felt like I was crossing boundaries I should not be traversing. "W-warui…(My bad)"

"It seems she's fully conscious now." Said a playful voice somewhere around me. I tried to sit down so that I can see my full surroundings but the pain from every parts of my body stopped me in doing so. I quietly winced in pain

"Oh I love the hurt expression in her face~"- a young guy with a fedora hat suddenly appeared in front of my eyes almost a few inches from my face. How did he do that?! It almost seems like he just materialized in a second through the thin air —"You're so cute even! I really think I would really enjoy it if I can get a taste of you at this instance."

I gasped at that very instance he licked the back of my left hand. My eyes widened in shock by the actions that he had made. I managed to take my hand out of his grip and placed it near my heart. What on earth he thinks he's doing? The young guy never seemed to be sorry at his actions though. It looks to me as if he was even enjoying the moment.

"I-I apologize but I believe it is rather improper for you to do that kind of gesture especially at our first meeting." I said still trying to be friendly beside his previous action.

"Ohoho-Ho! This girl is not afraid to say her opinion! I'm rather impressed." He snickered in pure amusement. Seriously, what's with this guy?

"I rather agree with this lady here. It is indeed bad manners if you are to do that on your first meeting. Haven't you got anything with what I said with Yui before?" said another guy in the room. I think he is the serious type, considering how he looked like. His gloved hands showing up on his crossed arms and how he dressed like is rather giving me an impression that he was a butler. That is if you are going to add up his rather critical and strict expression that his face and eyes emit.

"Nfu. It's not bad to taste something that looks delicious isn't? Don't be so stiff Reiji."

"I'm going to have a taste as well so don't move." Suddenly, I felt something cold and moist on my left cheek and I could not prevent the yelp that came out of my mouth. I quickly moved on the corner of the bed where the pillows are at making sure I make enough distance from the purple hair guy who materialized out of nowhere (again) who licked me and the previous guy who did the same thing. "She does taste sweet. Ne, Teddy?"

The 'butler' named Reiji held his forehead and sighed. "Am I seriously having dejavu here? What is this? Another episode of Yui's arrival?"

He looked at me straight in the eye and my body jerked in surprise yet again. "I apologize for their behaviour. I tried to straighten up their habits but it was just pointless."

Now that you think about it, it is not just the four of us here in the room. I suddenly became fully aware of my surroundings. There were a total number of seven persons, six guys and me, inside the room where were at right now with me lying on a bed. I was in a state never in my life have I imagined myself to be. Looking at the bedside mirror near my bed, my forehead was covered with a white bandage and at my right cheek has a bruise. I could see a few purple and blue patches as well on my arms as well. They looked so noticeable due to my complexion. I looked like a ghost. It was as if there no blood flowing within me. My midnight black long tresses are in a mess and my bluish green eyes were wide in shock.

"What happened to me? Where am I?"

"You are at our mansion and you are under our care. You got into a car accident because you came out running in the middle of the rain like a madman and crossed the street."- That was clearly an insult but I didn't mind it much. Reiji continued on as he noticed me not being bothered by the stung of his words. - "It just so happened that our coupe was taking the same path at the same time and got you in that condition."

"Heh! I don't understand why Shu has to take her in. We could have just left her there. She's too troublesome." Ouch. Now those words definitely sting. That guy with the whitish pink hair parted to the right is too blatant I must say. His hair was parted to the right covering his right eye and the end of his red shirt is ripped. He's in complete contrast with Reiji who was very much prim and proper. But you can't deny the fact that he still looked just as good-looking as Reiji despite the contrast.

"We have to take responsibility of course." Said Reiji as he slowly took a glimpse of the blond guy I held hand with a while ago who is now seems to sleep on a long couch on the left side of the room with his earphones plugged on.

"Additionally, it would be too much a bother on my peace of mind if we leave her cadaver lying down there becoming roadblock to other passer-by."—I don't know if he was trying to lighten up the atmosphere or what but this 'butler' really has a dry sense of humour.—"It would be a blemish in my image as a person of a high class."

"Well I don't mind her being in this mansion for a while. It would be fun if we have another girl in this mansion aside from Chinchinashi. And besides…" - the red hair guy at the other side of the room as he placed his eyes towards my directions with his grin widening- "I think she would a good source of entertainment."

"Oh so you're saying that you were becoming bored with Bitch-chan eh? So then I guess I can fully take ownership with her~" announced the guy with the fedora hat

"Heh! Nobody takes Ore-sama's property! That girl is mine and mine alone!" I can't help but stare at the snappy guy. He has a messy reddish-brown hair with hints of purple color on his nape, with lighter shades of ash brown or light blond to the tips. I can't tell much, my eyes are still not that adjusted to the light in this room. His eyes are green like the fedora hat guy, only sharper. It somehow reminds me of a hawk ready to pounce on its prey given any opportunity. I suppose I can assume that the snappy guy and the fedora hat guy are relatives.

"You know I'm getting sick and tired of you calling yourself 'Ore-sama' everytime." – retorted by the frank ivory haired lad

"Can't you stop that impudent mouth from opening? You are infuriating." – butted in by the purple haired guy who licked my cheek. He looked really annoyed as his eyebrows cross.

"Shut up you pipsqueak! I am not talking to you!" –The ivory haired guy snapped again

There it started. Never in my life have I heard a parade of colorful language from people. They were basically throwing insults at each other. What kind of relationship exactly do these people have with each other?

"Stop this nonsense right this moment. I will not tolerate you people arguing over this girl." At that command from the 'butler', all of them have stopped arguing, leaving just the almost quiet laughter of the fedora guy in the air

"Anyway, all of you are not allowed to touch our visitor here until she is fully healed up. As I mentioned, she is a guest. So do keep your manners and don't do anything 'unpleasant' to her. Am I understood?"

"So you mean we can't have even just a taste of her?" The fedora hat guy frowned at that. I really couldn't ignore the way they pertain to me so I decided to butt in in a soft voice.

"Excuse me. I would really appreciate it if you don't talk to me like I'm some kind of food. I'm a human being so please…"-They all laughed at that. I could even see the smile of Shu from my view. It was as if they were enjoying an inside joke or something like that-"Did I say something wrong?"

They laughed even harder. The red hair guy looked at me and pointed his finger at me while laughing. "You are definitely clueless! Hahaha!"

I crossed by brows at that. What exactly did I say that they keep on laughing about? I felt insulted in some way.

"You are too cute for your own sake. You know you're gonna get in bi~g trouble if you won't stop doing that." Said the guy with the fedora hat. Somehow I think that there was a hint of a warning in his words that become shrouded with his witty smile.

"I don't understand."

The fedora hat guy suddenly appeared to my right this time and whispered. "I don't wanna spoil it out but you'll learn in no time."

There were chills running down my spine when he said it to me and I didn't understand why. I tried to move again so that I can distance myself from him. How did he manage to go unnoticed and moved near me?

"Anyway, we have been talking for a while now but we haven't heard a thing about you. Who are you? What are you doing in the middle of the night running like a fool?" Reiji stared at me in question

My heart beat in loud "dub". Everybody's attention is on me now. My mouth opened up to respond but the words got stuck in my throat. If I tell them who I am and where I came, there is that high chance that they may throw me back at 'that place'. Or probably not. Will they understand and empathize with me if I tell them the truth? Should I tell them who I am?

Can I trust these people?

"Yes, I am interested in what you have to say. Say something about yourself." It was the Ore-sama guy who asked this time. They were all waiting for what I have to say and I became uneasy at that. But if don't tell them who I am, what will I say? What answer should I give them so they won't suspect a thing? I was quivering in dilemma. I don't want to lie. But what should I do? This is so much of a headache.

"Oi? How about saying something huh?" said the ivory haired guy.

The harsh memories were flashing in rushing sequence. Images of a whip, blood, merciless eyes, people laughing and darkness. No. I'm not going back at that place. I firmly closed my eyes trying to come out of a decent answer while my hand automatically touched my bandaged temple.

"Could it be that you hit your head big time and lost your memories?" I looked up to the fedora guy in wonder.

"That can't be?!" exclaimed the purpled hair guy

"First she gets ran over by a car and now she has amnesia. She is seriously becoming so much of a hassle really." said by the ivory haired guy. How I wish I could address them properly instead of using their hair color as reference.

"So you really can't remember anything?" asked Reiji in confirmation

"Gomen…" -I'm sorry I had to play along and fool you guys. I just didn't have much of a choice. Tears were flowing through my eyes now in lamentation of the lie that I have to make. Is this how I repay the people who help me out? The guilt was killing me.- "Gomenasai."

"Oi! Don't cry!" commanded the red haired guy. I wiped the tears with the back of my hands and breathed to calm myself.

"Gomen…" I breathed again to calm myself. The fedora hat guy gave me a glass of water which was beside the bedside table near me. I grabbed the glass and sipped.

"Well I guess that can't be helped then. In that case, she will have to stay a little longer than expected until she remembers something about her past."

"Oh I won't mind that. That means we get to bond much longer. Right, Bitch-san?"

Eh? He called me a what?

"Who will be responsible for her then?" asked the snappy red haired guy.

Nobody answered at that. Of course, it would be so much of an inconvenience on their end. I am already disturbing them as much I am now and I felt somehow repentant for that

"The one who brought her here will be the one responsible of course." Said Reiji. At that, as if by cue, every one inside the room looked in to the only person who was lying in the couch. The only person who hasn't said a word about since I woke up.