Wild Thing

After the show, Hilary headed backstage. She maneuvered through the girls who were all chatting and laughing loudly, still in a high from the show. She strode to her vanity and picked up her bag, before chancing a glance in the mirror. Her hair surrounded her head in uncontrollable curls, her eyes were smoky, her lips red and plump. She looked wild. She was wild.

Looking away, she began peeling off what was left after her performance. She never took everything off, unlike some of the other girls. Her manager didn't complain, saying it added to her mystery. She laughed to herself at the thought.

No one, not even her boss knew that she was that Hilary. The one who used to follow the Bladebreakers around. The one who dated Kai Hiwatari. She had an alias. No one called her by her real name anymore. No one she still associated with anyway.

"Hiromi," One of her fellow dancers, Yuka, called to her. Hilary looked up after pulling up her skinny jeans.

"Yeah?"

"What was that thing you did at the end? That upside-down spin on the pole? We didn't rehearse it, but the crowd went nuts." Hilary smiled.

"I taught it to myself. I can teach you, too, if you want." Yuka grinned.

"Thanks. I could use all the help I can get." Hilary pulled on her leather jacket over her tank top, then sat to pull on her boots.

"You're not performing in the encore?" Yuka questioned as she eyed her friend.

"She's been skipping the Saturday night encore since she started screwing Takashi."

"Bite me, Akane," Hilary snapped.

"You and Takashi are dating?" Yuka questioned, her eyes wide. Hilary glared at Akane.

"No. We're not."'

"Sure they are. She's the only dancer who has a key to the club, isn't she?"

"You're just a jealous bitch," Hilary sniped back.

"Yeah, I'm real jealous of my manager and his junkie whore." Hilary whipped her head around.

"You're one to talk." Hilary turned to Yuka. "She hates me because she was lead dancer until I showed up."

"And started fucking my boyfriend!"

"Is that what you thought he was? He seemed to think otherwise." Hilary left Akane gaping after her and stalked out the side door that led to the alley that lined the club. She sighed once she got out there, trying to regulate her breathing. If she got too worked up, she might pass out again, and she had an important appointment. She was only waiting for a few minutes when she heard approaching footsteps. She looked up to see a silhouette walking toward her. Straightening herself, she casually leaned against the wall.

"…Hello Hilary," The man said to her, catching her off guard. Hilary's eyes widened. The man stepped into the light of the streetlamp. Hilary immediately felt something inside her clench as she stared into the face of her ex-boyfriend. It was none other than Kai Hiwatari. Remembering she was gaping at him, she pulled back her emotions.

"What are you doing here?" She sneered as she resumed her position leaning against the wall.

"I could ask the same thing of you." Hilary went pale. Had he been in the audience? No. The Kai she knew would never lower himself to go to a strip club.

"I happen to be waiting for a friend," She responded. "And he doesn't like strangers."

"Cut the crap, Hil. You know what I meant. So this is who you are now? A stripper?" Hilary bit her lip. So he had seen.

"What's it to you?" She cut back. For the first time, Kai seemed caught off guard. He approached her, before reaching a hand out to tenderly caress her cheek. She flinched.

"Hilary…You went missing. None of us knew where you were. Do you know how hard that was for the team? For me?" Hilary stepped away from his hand.

"How'd you even know I was gone? You didn't come back to Japan after the tour like the rest of the boys."

"They told me when I came back for you." Hilary felt something in her stomach she hadn't felt in a long time. Butterflies? He had come back for her?

No. She argued with herself. That doesn't excuse what he did.

"I looked everywhere," Kai continued. "Your old house was empty. There was no record of a Hilary Tachibana anywhere in Tokyo…I didn't know what happened to you."

"I stopped being a concern of yours when you broke up with me, Kai." Hilary said fiercely. Kai looked away briefly. When his gaze met hers again, his eyes were burning.

"Hil…"

"Don't call me that," She snapped, turning away. "It's Hiromi." For a minute, the pair stood in silence. "…How did you even find me?" She questioned finally.

"One of the girls, Yuka, told me you would be back here." Hilary sighed. Sometimes that girl was too nice for her own good. "Hil, I want to make amends. Make things right." Hilary burst out into laughter she didn't mean.

"You think after three years we can just pretend it didn't happen? That you didn't break my heart when you went on tour with the boys? I waited for you Kai. I waited months for you and all I got was a fucking letter?" Hilary felt tears begin to make their way down her face. Kai's face and the outline of the dumpster behind him began to go out of focus. Hilary shook her head, fighting it. Not now. She needed to face him.

"Hil…" He said, coming closer and reaching out a hand to put on her shoulder.

"Don't touch me!" She screamed, slapping his hand away.

"Hilary, please let me explain."

"Stop calling me that! It's…" Hilary felt the world begin to spin around her. She reached out for something to grab onto, but her hand merely grasped at air. She collapsed into Kai's arms.

XXX

"Shit…" Kai muttered as he cradled a passed out Hilary in his arms. "Hil?" He asked again, gently shaking her. When he was met with no response, he sighed and lifted the tiny brunette into his arms, cursing when he felt how light she was. He carried her out of the alley to the street where Tala was waiting with the car.

"Damn, what'd you do to her?" He questioned when he saw the girl was passed out in his arms.

"Just shut up and open the door," Kai snapped. Tala did as told, pushing forward the passenger seat so Kai could place her into the back. He then strode over to the driver's side before getting in. Tala sat beside him, watching his best friend tentatively. Kai peeled out of the parking space with a screech before making a U-turn and heading down the strip.

"Did you find out why she disappeared?"

"We didn't get that far, but I have a pretty good idea," Kai answered through gritted teeth.

"Kai…" Tala started, knowing his best friend too well. "You can't think she did this because of you."

"Why not? I left her after she promised to wait for me and then I didn't even have the balls to come back and break up with her to her face?"

"You had-"

"This is my fault Tala. I'm going to fix this."