Disclaimer: I don't own RK. All original characters are mine to claim.

Synopsis: What would you do, when the only thing you want to run away from…it's yourself? I'm weak. I'm my own enemy. I'm in constant battle with my conscience. I'm Kamiya Kaoru, and I'm a hypochondriac. Modern day AU. KK story.

Italics – thoughts

A/N: Re-edited!

On with the story!

Story Of My Life

Chapter Two: Florence

If my mother was alive, she'd be freaking out right now. Ever since I was a kid, she'd always say 'Never walk away with strangers because they'll do something bad to you!'

I really hope you were wrong mom…or else, I'll be dead in a couple of minutes.

The stranger is walking by my side, with a gentle smile set on his lips. He doesn't look like a killer to me. Then again, I've heard stories about little kids who killed their entire families and they sure didn't look like criminals. Maybe I should just turn around and leave. My partners must be worrying, especially since I forgot my cell at home. Read somewhere that specialists say they give brain tumor and other diseases. I'm definitely not risking that for a piece of technology.

I glance at him from the corner of my eye. This killer thing is really bothering me now.

"Are you kidnapping me?" Wow…what a great question, Kaoru...you never seize to amaze me.

He chuckles. "Perhaps."

Eehhh?

"But," He says, looking at me shortly. "Don't you think you should be tied up, with your eyes covered and in my car's trunk?"

Well...

"I don't even have a car."

"Really?" I ask, curiosity being stronger than my fear. "Why not?"

He shrugs. "I think life is too beautiful for you to drive fast by it. And then someone crashes against you and you die in the most stupid way."

"I've never thought of it that way."

"You drive?"

I shake my head. "I'm too lazy to start up with lessons." I answer him, grinning.

He smiles.

Silence falls between us and we keep walking somewhere. It's a beautiful morning. It's amazing how we keep having some kind of conversation even without knowing each other. I don't even know his name. But somehow, that makes it all the more special.

"My boyfriend says I should though…take driving lessons, you know?"

"Why is that?"

I shrug. "I don't know. I guess he thinks it would give me more freedom."

"Freedom? How can you have freedom when you can only drive on that particular road? You have to follow the path already established by someone who didn't know what he was doing when he built it."

I laugh. "How do you always find a way to contradict what every other person thinks?"

"I like to be myself. And think for myself." He smiles softly.

I grin.

"What are you grinning about?"

"Nothing."

"Tell me."

"Well…it's just…I've never met anyone like you before." I feel my cheeks burning. Damn blush.

He doesn't say anything. Maybe he thinks I'm flirting with him. Then again, it did sound like I was. I should just re-phrase it.

I open my mouth to speak but he beats me to it.

"Tell me something."

I title my head to the side, closing my mouth, waiting for him to continue.

"If you could choose a place in the world, any place, which one would you choose?"

A place in the world? Hm…not the question I was expecting. Let's see…

"I would choose Florence."

"Italy?"

I nod. Most definitely. I'd give anything to visit Florence.

"That's interesting."

"Why so?"

"I half expected you to name a place here in Japan."

"I guess I'm not that predictable then!"

"You sure are not."

"Is it bad?"

He shakes his head. "Not at all. People are boring when they're easy to figure out."

"Oh I'm not easy at all to be figured out."

"How so?"

I chuckle lightly. "Too long to explain…you don't mind, do you?"

"No. I'm just here to make you comfortable."

We continue to walk and I suddenly realize we've been walking for half an hour already! How much longer will it take to get to the mysterious destination?

"So…where are we going anyway?"

"To a place I go often. You'll like it."

"Really? How are you so sure?"

He stops walking and I turn to look at him, surprised. Did I say something wrong?

His eyes held comprehension and, for the first time, I feel like he understood what I'm going through. Even if I haven't said anything.

"Because you're as lost now as I once was."

I blink and we stay staring at each other for a few seconds. He then smiles softly and nods, resuming his pace.

Who are you, stranger? And how do you seem to know so much about me when I don't even know it myself? In half an hour, you figured out more things about me than all of my friends in years. Am I that crystal clear to you?

"You don't want to come anymore?" He asks and I realize I'm still standing on the spot he left me. Nodding quickly, I resume my walk beside him.

I wonder what he's thinking. Is he crazy? Does he think I'm crazy? I would think that.

No, wait.

I do think that. We're two strangers who don't even know each other's names, talking as if we were longtime friends. I don't know what you have around you, Mr. Stranger, but I feel like I can talk with you about everything and anything.

"So why don't you?"

I blink. "Huh?"

"You were whispering." He answers simply.

Oh, how much more embarrassing can I get? Come on...

"Sorry." And I'm blushing again.

"No need to. So…why don't you?"

"Why don't I what?" I ask, blinking.

"Why don't you talk with me about everything and anything?"

I give a small smile. "Because you have no obligation to listen to my rambles."

"I'm here, am I not?"

Smiling, I nod gratefully. "Indeed."

He smiles and we stare at each other for a moment. Then, he glances briefly at something, and looks at me. "Wait here."

"Where are you going?"

"I'll be right back." And he walks away, leaving me puzzled and alone.

We're currently at a small park in the middle of the city. I've never been here before but, then again, I never took the time to explore my birthplace. I sit down on a bench near a tree and wait for the mysterious man to return.

Birds are chirping on the trees and I close my eyes to enjoy the moment. I guess I needed a day like this, away from my job. Even though I hate to admit it, designing clothes doesn't fulfill me at all. Most often than not, I'm sitting at my desk dreaming of a kind of freedom I don't have. Dreaming with the possibility of, one day, just leave everything behind and start a new life, somewhere far away from here. But I can't leave my problems behind…because I am my own problem.

So complicated...

I want to be happy. But, at the same time, I'm scared of being happy. And then he says human beings will never be truly happy, unless they stop asking for more. I'm always asking for more. Not more money, or anything, but more living conditions for myself. Less worries about my health; more enjoyable moments like this one; strength enough to be happy.

Maybe I'll never find happiness. Perhaps, I'm one of the many who search their entire lives for something that's out of their reach.

A hand suddenly covers my eyes and before I could open my mouth to scream bloody murder, a beautiful voice whispers near my ear.

"I'm back."

I smile lightly, letting go of my breath. Geesh, I thought I was being kidnapped. My eyes are uncovered and I blink twice to adjust them to the morning light. He's standing in front of me, his hands at his back, smiling warmly.

"Did I scare you?"

I shake my head. "Not at all." Liar.

He smiles. "Good. Here." He says, giving me a small brown package.

"What is this?" I ask, taking the small bundle from his hands.

"Open and see."

My hands open the package and my eyes widen when I see what's inside. Grabbing the small gift, I glance at him with my mouth slightly open. "Florence."

He nods. "Florence."

In my hands, lies a small glassy globe, with the city of Florence inside. I shake it slowly and little snowflakes fall over the city, making it look so real that I feel tears in my eyes. It's the most beautiful present anyone has ever given me.

"Something for you to remember me by."

I look up at him. "Thank you. It's beautiful."

"Whenever you feel like giving up, look at that globe and reach out for me. I'll find a way to come to you."

I chuckle. "How?"

He stares at me intensely. "I will listen to your calling."

He sits next to me, and we both stare at the little Florence, as a future promise.

I don't know who he is.

I don't know why he's doing this.

But to me…

He's my angel of peace.

To Be Continued…

A/N: Aww I actually love this chapter. Well, the ending of this chapter. Anyway, here it is! Chapter 2 revised!

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Nes.