I'm sorry for the extremely late update. It been hard for me to concentrate on things since my grandmother passed away on August 7 and the funeral took place from the 16th to the 18th, which is recent. However, I just caught up with my junior high friend and was inspired to work on my story. And so, here is the next installation of Rainy Days. Enjoy!

Recap

Having sense the rising tension, Quillsh interrupted the one-sided conversation. "Hikaru," he addressed his old friend politely, "L here was the boy I had taken in a while back. I do believe that I have spoken of him to you."

"Oh yes… So this is the infamous detective who keeps his identity hidden from the world and has already solved a handful of cases that detectives around the world had deemed unsolvable." Hikaru replied. "It is an honor to meet you, L."

"Billionaire, Hikaru Haruno. You are also the current owner of Sakura Corps and Haruno Entertainment. You are also the sixth master of the Haruno Household, son of Natsume and Fumi Haruno." L stated as though he were reciting the alphabet.

"Well, someone here has done his research." Hikaru said jokingly, while L just stared back at the elder man. "Well! What brings you to here? Moreover, I do believe my presence in England was kept a secret, but knowing Quillsh here, he would have certainly known about my business trip two weeks prior to my arrival."

Quillsh chuckled, "You know me all too well. But yes, we, L and I, have something to discuss with you. It concerns your safety." Quillsh continued with a tone of foreboding.

Chapter 2: Destiny Revealed

Sensing the forbidding tone, Hikaru's smile immediately turned into a frown. Worry immediately engulfed him. "What is it?"

"I am sure that you have heard of the numerous killings in Japan, correct?"

Hikaru's eyebrows scrunched together as he tried to process the information. "Ah… Yes. However, how does that relate to me?"

"We had mapped every site of the killings on a map of Japan and this is what we got." Quillsh pulled out a sheet of paper with an image of Japan on it.

"That is—" Hikaru pointed at a marked point on the paper.

"Yes. It is your house, and the murders are marked in red. As you can see, they have formed an outline of a circle with your mansion in the center."

L interrupted. "We came here today to inform you that your family's life is in danger. Whoever it is that is targeting you knows exactly where you live, and all these murders are just warnings for you and your family to know that they are coming."

Hikaru could only stare wide-eyed at the two seated in front of him since he could not manage a single word out of his mouth because of the overwhelming shock he was experiencing. Nevertheless, he knew that his family was in danger. Yet he did not know how to protect them, and that is what scares him the most.

"When… when will... will they come after us?" His words stumbling as he spoke them.

Quillsh could not bear to pass on such heartbreaking news to his long-time friend and looked away sadly, leaving L to answer the shock man's question. "Within one week."

Japan

Haruno Mansion

Click.

"Madam, if you lock the door, then others will get strange ideas," Shiki nervously uttered as he watched Madam Kaori lock the door.

Kaori quickly turned around towards the young butler and made a motion with her hands as to say 'nonsense.' "Come sit." She suggested pointing towards the luxurious sofa set towards the right of the study room.

Once they sat down, Shiki could not help but turn his eyes to stare at the floor, stomach jittering with anxiety. Moreover, just adding to his anxiety was Kaori who was piercing the young butler with her gaze as if she were analyzing him to the core, which, for the readers' information, was exactly what she was doing.

"Shiki," Kaori started, capturing Shiki's attention, "I will tell you the entire story since I am entrusting Sakura's wellbeing to you. Please do not interrupt me."

Shiki gulped and nodded, afraid of what would happen since his madam was giving him that look, the look that told everyone that if he/she refuted, then he/she would meet a terrible disaster. And, Shiki, for one, wanted to keep his life.

"It was before I was pregnant with Sakura…"

Thirteen Years Ago

'Ahhhh! I knew I shouldn't have stopped for that cake sampling!' A twenty-two-year-old Kaori thought as she rushed through the park. A small, pink petal fell in front of Kaori's view, leading her to bring her gaze upwards. "Hmmm…" A smile etched itself on her face. 'The Sakura trees are in bloom again.' She thought as she stood there admiring the pink flowers that nested on the trees, petals flying all around her.

A slightly stronger breeze jostled her hair out of its ponytail, which brought her out of her daze as she pulled the loose strands behind her ear. Taking a quick glance at her watch, she saw the time. 2:33P.M.

"GAH! I'm late!" Kaori realized. "Now isn't the time to get distracted!" Kaori quickly continued towards her destination. As Kaori raced through the park, she had not notice the elderly woman sticking out her cane to stand up. Hence, with the grace of an elephant, Kaori ended up landing face first on the cement flooring.

The pain was immediate and Kaori could not help but groan in pain. "Ugh…" Kaori slowly pushed herself into a sitting position on the ground, where she held her forehead in pain.

"Oh dear," Kaori heard an aged-voice utter with concern, "are you alright?"

Slowly pushing herself off from the ground, Kaori looked towards the person who had tripped her and saw an elderly woman. Quickly remembering the elder's question, Kaori brushed her clothes off and politely reassured the elder woman, "I am fine! No need to worry! Thank you for asking though!"

A look of concern showed on the elder's slightly wrinkled face. "I apologize for tripping you."

"Ah. As I said just now, it is fine… umm…" Kaori paused, realizing that the elder had not introduced herself.

"Utami Yuki," the elderly woman answered abruptly.

"Well, it is fine Yuki-san. I am –"

"Haruno Kaori." The woman now identified as Yuki interrupted. Puzzled, Kaori did not know how to react. It was not a daily occurrence where one runs into an elderly woman who knows his/her name.

"How do you know?" Kaori asked hesitantly, afraid of the answer to her own question.

A sad, painful smile made its way onto Yuki's face. "I came here to pass on some information for you, and since I knew that you would come this way, I decided now would be the perfect opportunity. I apologize once again, but had I not tripped you, you would not have stopped to speak with this old woman."

"Wait. You said that you… knew?" Kaori pondered aloud.

"Yes." Yuki reassured, "I knew as in I am able to see the future—the imminent future actually— and that is not all. I can also see the past, but that is not as important as what lies ahead of your future."

"So…" Kaori paused, trying to figure out her thoughts, "you are here to tell me something in regards to my future?" Yuki nodded. "But, how can I trust you?"

"Whether you trust me or not, that is your choice."

"Why tell me? You could be telling others their future. I am no one special…"

"Because my dear, the child you will bear will be one who will change the world." Yuki answered softly.

A blush appeared on Kaori's face because she knew what had to happen for a child to happen. "Ch-ch-child?!" Kaori stammered.

"Yes. Child. Your child will be extremely gifted, but he or she has a heavy burden to carry out." Yuki explained.

"W-wh-what?"

"Someday next year, you will give birth to a baby. Boy or girl, I am not sure, but this child has been given a duty by the gods –a duty that cannot be avoided." Seeing that Kaori could not respond since she was trying to comprehend everything, Yuki continued, "When thirteen years have passed since the birth of your child, the wheels of fate shall turn. A storm will announce the coming of the beginning. The gods will warn you, and they will by lightning. Darkness will follow the last strike of lightning, leaving everything encompassed by shadows. And, on this moonless night, blood shall be spill. Your child remains unharmed but …" Yuki stopped; she could not bear to tell the young woman her fate.

The silence told her all; Kaori realized what Yuki failed to tell her. With a sad smile, Kaori nodded in understanding. "Will my child be alone?"

"No. One will be chosen by you to accompany him/her."

"So she isn't alone. That is good." Kaori thought aloud to herself with a smile of relief.

"There is more. Revenge certainly will be what your child seeks, but he or she must learn not to give into his or her thirst for vengeance. What the gods have fated for your child is a path for happiness and the perseverance of humanity. However, if your child seeks vengeance, then he or she will end the world and be left in despair," Yuki said sternly.

"The perseverance of humanity? You can't be serious?! Why have the gods chosen my child?! Why such heavy burden?!" Kaori shouted with utter confusion and disbelief. It was not a surprise; anyone would be shocked tremendously if he or she was told that his or her child was given such a cruel and heavy burden.

Yuki pitied the young woman, but she could do naught but warn the woman of the burden her child had to carry. Yuki closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh, "Even I do not know what the gods are thinking…"

"B-bu—"

"Your husband is here." Yuki interrupted abruptly.

"Hikaru?" Kaori turned around to find that it was indeed Hikaru who racing towards her. However, disregarding the temporary interruption, Kaori quickly remembered her question. However, when she turned around to continue, she was shocked to find herself alone in the path. The elderly woman was nowhere in sight. Looking left and right, Kaori could not even catch a glimpse of Yuki anywhere.

So caught up in her search for the old woman, she did not hear her husband near her. Only when he had pulled her into an embrace from behind had she realized his presence.

"Hi-Hikaru!" Kaori shouted in surprise. Suddenly Kaori found herself being turned around and was facing her husband face-to-face. Moreover, seeing his flushed face, hair matted to his forehead, and completely out of breath, she knew her husband had been searching for her.

"Kaori!" Hikaru started, "I know you have a tendency to be late, but this time… not only were you late, you were late by an hour!"

"I'm sorry! I was stopped by this lady and—" Kaori suddenly stopped as a strong wind accompanied by Sakura petals blew pass the couple, along with the wind was a whisper that only Kaori could hear.

"And?" Hikaru asked firmly once the wind had settled down.

"Umm… I was just helping this old woman… Sorry I took so long." Kaori answered with a weak smile. "I didn't mean to make you worry. Come on let's go! We still have a dinner to go to." Kaori hooked arms with her husband and they both continued on their way.

"-sigh- You… Okay. But, just so you know! I'm not letting you anywhere without someone else. Is that clear?" Kaori chuckled lightly at her husband's antics. Seriously! This man has been saying that since forever but never once had he managed to get personnel to be able to follow her.

"Yes. Yes. Whatever you say Hikaru…" She replied half-heartedly as she tugged him towards where they were supposed to meet.

Once they were a good distance from their previous standing, Kaori sneaked a glance back, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elderly woman from before. Surprisingly, in the distance, Yuki, standing beneath a Sakura tree, waved lightly before disappearing as the cherry blossoms fell to the floor.

The words Kaori had heard as the wind blew pass earlier repeated itself in Kaori's head. 'Pass it on only to the one who is to protect your child. It is crucial that you heed my words.'

Sensing the urgency in Yuki's words, she heeded the mysterious fortuneteller's warning so Kaori kept quiet of their ordeal that is until she finds someone to protect her child.

"You…" Shiki began once he realized his Madam was finished with her story, "you are entrusting Sakura to… me?"

Eyes closed momentarily as Kaori replied tersely with a "Yes."

"W-why me?" He weakly stammered.

Kaori stared straight into the young boy –no– man in front of her. He grew up handsomely for sure. However, that was not why she entrusted Sakura to him; it was… "Your willingness, devotion, strength, pigheadedness…"

A slight chuckle escaped her lips at the last thought and at the flushing cheeks of the man in front of her. "You have stood by our little hime's side since the day she was born and have never once left my daughter's side. Even since you saw my baby, you have always protected Sakura… I still remember the day you caught her when she fell off the tree and ended up with a broken arm and sprained ankle. And, even with a broken arm and sprained ankle, you refused to rest so that you could keep a close eye on her."

Kaori paused to chuckle lightly as she remembered the day Sakura was crying about Shiki dying. It was one of their memorable moments. "Also, you are undeniably loyal to this family and strong. You have mastered martial arts, use of weaponry, and more, and you are irrefutably a suitable butler and bodyguard for this family." She smiled. "That is why I fully believe that you are capable of protecting Sakura. Although Sakura has been trained just as you have, she still needs someone by her side."

A period of silence passed between the two as Shiki tried to compute the new information that he was given. Kaori waited patiently for Shiki since she understood the position that Shiki was in since she was in the same position once before. Kaori stared sadly at the floor while her lips turned tilted into a small, remorseful smile. To know she would not be a part of her daughter's life anymore sometime soon was something she wholeheartedly wished would not occur, but her child was fated for more and if Sakura was happy in the end, then she would allow the tragic fate to befall the Haruno household.

Sigh. 'If only Hikaru were here with me…' Kaori thought sadly, realizing that she would not be able to part the world with her beloved by her side. 'I hope you are safe Hikaru…'

Hotel du Vin in Winchester, England

Moments Earlier

"Is there any more information that you can tell me?" Hikaru questioned, his eyes firmly shut in frustration and worry.

"I am sorry, Hikaru. That is all we have gathered." Quillsh answered with regret.

L stared blankly at the two's interaction. This show of human compassion still was a complete mystery to him. He could never comprehend why human beings expressed such a wide arrange of emotions… were emotions really needed? From his experience, he knew that emotions blocked human's capabilities to think thoroughly and clearly… Perhaps he should conduct an experiment…

"Mr. Haruno," L interrupted courteously, "we shall take our leave now."

Hikaru nodded weakly. Quillsh went to Hikaru's side and placed a hand upon the other's shoulders as a method of comfort. "If we have any more news, we shall call you immediately." Quillsh reassured in which Hikaru replied with a small, grateful smile.

"Thank you, Quillsh. L, it was nice to meet you, young man." Hikaru stood up and walked them towards the door. "Please contact me as quickly as possible when you both find something new on the ones after my family and me."

"We shall. Good day, Mr. Haruno." L stated and was out the door. Quillsh quickly nodded a good bye and rushed after his young master.

Present Time

"… I need a flight to Japan." Hikaru stated roughly, as he threw his belongings into his luggage. "4:30 in the morning of tomorrow… that isn't early enough. Is there a flight for today? I need to be back in Japan as soon as possible." He continued while pacing back and forth in his suite as he tried to gather all his things.

Phone clenched tightly between his shoulder and ear, he walked towards the bedside to grab his laptop, documents, files, and what not. "Sir, there is a flight to Japan in 3 hours and one in another 5 hours and 45 minutes. However,—"

Hikaru quickly interrupted the assistant. "Three hours…" He threw the armful of papers and laptop case onto the bed and glanced at his watch. 3:30P.M. "Okay. I'll take the flight in three hours."

"Sir, I am not confident you can get on the flight since it is full."

"I don't care what you do! Get me on that flight!" He nearly shouted into the phone. "I don't care if I am placed in the cargo area! I need to get on the first flight to Japan by today!"

Hearing the urgency in the male's voice, the assistant released a heavy sigh. "Let me check if someone has canceled the flight. Please wait momentarily."

"I understand." Hikaru took the phone from its position between his shoulder and ear and held it in his hand. Quickly craning his head left and right, he felt the incoming cramp go away. Then he placed his phone in its previous station and firmly pulled the zipper of his luggage closed. Everything was in its place; now all he had to do was to wait for the assistant to confirm his flight…

Hearing a quick shuffling through his phone, he instantly knew the assistant was finished and hopefully with good news.

"Hello, Mr. Haruno sir?"

"Is there an available seat for me?" He asked straight to the point.

"We have found out that there have been some people who have canceled just recently. There are available seats in the First, Business, and Economy class. Which would you like to book?"

"Place me in the First class."

"Aright. Your flight has been booked, and I shall send you your ticket to your email. Thank you for your time."

"Thank—"

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Hikaru hanged up his phone and walked towards the door. "Quillsh?" Click. Hikaru slowly opened the door, believing that his friend and L had come back with more information.

"Do you have more information for me?" Hikaru asked stepping back slightly for the door to open.

However, silence answered him. Once the door opened fully, two –obviously males— wearing masks with feral expressions on them greeted him.

"Hello there, Haruno Hikaru." A gun quickly appeared in front of Hikaru, and Hikaru could not avoid the bullet swiftly enough as it pierced his stomach. Hikaru did not feel the pain for the first few seconds even as blood trickled out of his mouth. And, once the fiery whiplash of the pain invaded his senses, he crumpled to the floor. Struggling to keep conscious, Hikaru could see the two men continued to stand there. Hand pressed tightly on his wound, but the blood continued to gush out of his wound.

Even in severe pain, he stammered out angrily at the two, "You bas-bastards! Wh-what the h-hell do y-you w-wa-want?!"

Although it was the one on the left, who tilted his head mockingly at Hikaru, the slightly shorter one on the right answered. "Our leader wants something that you possess. We believe it came into your possession thirteen years ago…"

Hikaru's eyebrows scrunched together forming a define V on his forehead as he thought of what they meant. 'Thirteen years… The only thing that happened thirteen years ago is… Sakura…' He thought back to the man's words and realized something. 'But they referred to whatever they want as 'it' so that means they don't know what they are looking for…' He bravely glanced at the mysterious masked men, "I do-don't know wh-what you are t-talk-talking about…"

"Hn. Then you are useless to us." The right one turned to the other and nodded his head. In response, the latter raised his gun.

"Kukuku," the one with the raised gun chuckled wickedly, "nice meeting ya, Haruno Hikaru!" With that, the man pulled the trigger.

He knew that this bullet would kill him, but the time it took to pierce him seemed so long. While he waited for death to come, Hikaru could only helplessly stare blankly at the ceiling with feelings of remorse and sorrow. Even though he accepted his fate, he could not help but think of his daughter, his wife… everyone waiting for him at home. Slowly tears trekked out of the corners of his eyes. 'I'm sorry I couldn't return to you all.' Hikaru thought regretfully.

Then slowly… but surely… darkness cloaked his vision as he entered an unwavering cold, dark abyss. 'Please be safe… Kaori… Sakura.' With those concluding thoughts, his eyes closed, accompanied by one last exhalation of air.

Omake

"So…" Kaori paused, trying to figure out her thoughts, "you are here to tell me about my future?" Yuki nodded. "But, how can I trust you?"

A blush adorned Yuki's cheeks, "Ahem… Excuse my invasion of privacy, but you asked for evidence. Exactly three years ago on your honeymoon, your husband and you had taken a trip Paris, France. You two booked a suite in Shangri-La hotel. After a romantic dinner near the Eiffel Tower, you two proceeded to go to your hotel. Drunkenly you pulled your husband onto the bed. I am sure you remember such event occurring correct?" Yuki paused slightly and continued, "But instead of 'embracing' one another, you fell asleep while your husband was in the process of undressing you."

Kaori's face was as red as a tomato by the time Yuki ended her story telling; she was flushed with mortification. Pointing a finger at the elder woman in front of her, she managed to stammer loudly, "Y-y-y-you!"

"Well… you did not believe in this old woman so I had to tell you something that only you would remember…"Yuki replied, eyes casting downwards in discomfort. "It is not my wish to see such things, but I did tell you I could see the past."

Kaori could not reply; she was having trouble to find the proper way to reply to the elder.

"Ahem!" Yuki coughed, "Would you like me to continue with your birthday celebration from last year?"

"NO!" Kaori shouted as she covered her face in humiliation. If anyone thought that a person could not turn redder than a tomato, then Kaori sure proved that belief wrong.

I didn't have time to revise this chapter fully, but I did make this chapter slightly longer than the previous ones since I owe you guys that much. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and…

Would you all possibly review for me?

I would appreciate comments and critics. It would help me improve myself tremendously. I'll try to get back to my update within two weeks routine since my life is a bit less hectic, but since school is almost here, I can't promise you guys that I will update in two weeks.

-Curomi