Chapter 2: His Hold on Her

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Daiko popped a bleary eye open. Wha---

He rubbed his eyes. Where? How…? His vision took shape of a neatly-made oak canopy bed; the peach curtains drawn and fastened to reveal no occupant. Daiko moved from his sleeping-on-stomach position and the quilt fell; he was on a divan.

Eriku must've found me sleeping at the door and carried me in.

Daiko smiled softly, unable to will away the gentle-smiling Eriku from his mind. His heart asked: Why must I hide my feelings for her?

"Mom! I'm back!" Riku called opening the back door with a key she found in her dress. Not exactly her dress, but Eriku's.

Throughout the night, Riku was entertained by Daiko's narration of the day's events, carefully avoided the kissing scene. For a second there, Riku's breath hitched in her throat as her mind swarmed with questions like 'has Daisuke ever kissed Risa before?' and another nasty voice sounded, 'he could've have. Behind your back.'

Riku pushed the negative thoughts away and tell 'it' to shut up.

Yes, Riku recovered most of her ancestor's memories through jolts of familiarity from Daiko's enthralling reports of the day. And through her dreams, Riku found out a lot on Eriku's childhood, as an orphan.

Actually, Hikari, Eriku and Daiko are all orphans who met each other on the streets of Florence when Florence was under the ineffective ruler, Francesco I that came from a long line of Medici. Florence's economy languished; poverty and crime walked hand-in-hand. It was a despairing time for the three children.

Hikari met those two when he was looking after the painting studio for his employer; Daiko and Eriku were apparently trying to steal while they were there. If Hikari were not intuitive, Daiko and Eriku would have disappeared without a trace then. In the end, stealth and sleuth were not enough to fool the Hikari progenitor. However, the chase to catch them proved to wield bad consequences as they made a mess of the studio.

Hikari was thrown back out on the streets. Daiko and Eriku felt sorry for him and began to cheer him up by offering him free lodgings, which are in people's garden sheds. Hikari was amazed on how they survived on their own at their tender age of 13 whilst he was 16 then.

Three months after, Eriku was the first to be offered by the baker's wife to be her adopted daughter. Therein after, Daiko was picked up by a visiting foreigner, who surprisingly came about to be his biological uncle whose sister was his mother. Hikari was offered his job back by his previous employer. Interestingly, the bakery where Eriku worked and lived was just opposite Hikari's workplace.

Riku was thankful that her work dress was comfortable and easy to move than the ones she saw ladies wearing; the stiff curve, telltale signs of a cage underneath. She shuddered and prayed that she never had to wear that.

"Eriku?" A puff of flour enveloped her vision as she felt someone lifting her up and twirling her around.

"H-Hey…!" Riku caught a glimpse of golden hair under the white baking powder.

Hikari.

"Eriku." Although Hikari's face was covered with flour, he still looked awfully handsome with those beautiful blue eyes. Riku shook her head.

Hikari moved his arms and settled on her shoulders while his hands clasped behind her neck. The concern in his eyes touched her and his warm smile was gentle. "Don't worry about your hair, Eriku-dear. It is so becoming of you. Although I have to say you shouldn't have traded your hair for just a couple of dollars to buy me something, but… I would cherish the gift forever." He leaned in, his forehead touching hers.

Riku suddenly had a strong sense of slapping him as his face got closer. But she can't! Her ancestor loved him. I-If they got separated because of her, she could've messed up history and the entire family tree!

Ugh. It's not like I want to go that far.

Just a fraction away from her lips…

Eeek! What do I do now?! She debated whether to 'accidentally' kick him on the shins, or pinch him really hard or, or…. Her mind is spinning in circles.

"Eriku?" A chirpy voice rang from the corner. "Oh, my!"

M-mom!

"Yes, mom!" She tried to feign disappointment but it came out a little too eager. Riku slipped out from under his arms and hurried over to her mom's side. "Can I help you with anything?" Riku gave her mom a hopeful look.

"Dear, I'm sorry for interrupting, but could you deliver this basket to Mrs. Klein?" 'Mom' handed a large straw basket with a large handkerchief on top to Riku.

"Alright, mom." Riku dashed, hoping to run past Hikari, but he caught her arm.

"Huh?" Riku had to refrain from shaking away his hold on her.

"Eriku, here." He fastened a bracelet onto her wrist. "I made it myself and I want you to wear it."

"What is this for?" Riku stared at the ruby-red beads. It struck her as rosary beads, although there were weird symbols on the extra large one.

"It's for your protection." Hikari smiled down at her. He loved how she was so easily embarrassed.

"Well, I-I have… to go." Riku stammered and turned around to go out through the front door.

"No, wait." Hikari caught her again, his arms circling around her tiny waist. Riku felt her head turned back, her chin tilted by the coaxing of his hand.

Ba-bump! Ba-bump!

The very moment Riku dreaded had finally come.

Hikari moved his mouth over hers. He made it deliberately slow as his tongue ran across her trembling lips. He loved how she taste and loved the fact that he can distract her so easily.

Riku mentally groaned. She was being subjected to this unfair predicament and she really hope that they were not yet married.

Daiko stood very still outside the bakery. He watched the couple kiss.

He broke into a run. Anywhere to be away… away from the pain that he felt in his heart.

I should've known! I should've…!

Sobs were threatening to spill out. He dug his fingernails into the palm of his hand.

Daiko ran.

"Hey, Daiko!" Hkari yelled. His bare feet sloshing his way out into the shallow river. He slung his bare arm on his shoulder to catch his breath.

Daiko chuckled. "Who got you out of breath?"

Hikari looked at him with a silly grin etched in his mature and handsome features. "I asked Eriku and she said yes!"

Daiko's smile froze, his heart crumbled and his brain stopped functioning. All he knew was he had lost his chance to tell Eriku how he felt.

Daiko had finally worked up the courage, but it was shattered when he saw them kiss.

It's not fair! I know her longer than him! I loved her even before he made her cry when he went out with Arisa!

Why?

His head hit a solid wall.

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