CHAPTER SEVEN: THE SECRET IN BLACK

"Let's talk," Huang said as Hei approached his team in the park. "I guess you think it's cute to turn your transmitter off. Damn it, Hei! We don't see you for weeks and then you have the nerve to show up yesterday for a car?" Hei slipped Yin a peppermint silently before sitting down on one of the swings.

"Want to tell us what you've been doing?" Mao pressed.

"Keeping a low profile," Hei replied. "I met Sora's parents last night."

"You went to that uppity party last night?" Huang mused. "It was in the papers. Bad publicity for Kanbimura: 'Sakura's launch brings humiliation for Kanbimura.' What did daddy think of you?" Hei didn't respond.

"Hei, this could be bad," Mao pointed out.

"I'll take care of it, Mao," Hei muttered coldly.

"So what are you now? Boyfriend and girlfriend?" Huang continued.

"Something like that," Hei replied casually. Mao started.

"Hei! I thought I-"

"Shut up!" Hei interrupted. "I'm 'Li', remember? Right now, 'Li' has a girlfriend. My alias has to have a normal life, otherwise the purpose is defeated."

"Have you made any legitimate progress?" Huang asked.

"Paintings," Yin whispered. Once again, they all ignored her.

"She says there's something I don't know about her, something she wants to tell me," Hei explained. "When she returns from class, that's where I'll be."

"What do you think she'll tell you?" Mao asked. Hei stood up and started to walk away. Mao followed him.

"What now?" Hei asked, stopping once Huang and Yin were out of earshot.

"You slept with Sora, didn't you?" Mao asked.

"And if I did?"

"I knew it; you're falling in love with this girl!" Mao was trying to keep his voice down.

"Sex doesn't require love, Mao. It requires interest." Hei began walking again. Mao followed him. "I can be interested, can't I?"

"Ordinarily yes," Mao replied. "However, she's gotten to you, I can tell. If this interferes with-"

"It won't," Hei insisted. "In fact, I've secured the memory in my grasp this way. She trusts me now. That's what it takes to acquire a sacred memory." Mao couldn't exactly argue with this logic.

"You aren't going to like the truth when it hits you, Hei," Mao called after him. "Your emotions are involved."

"I'm a Contractor. I don't have emotions." Mao thought differently.


"You're in an awfully good mood," Li said, laughing. Sora was on top of him, nuzzling his neck with her nose and nipping flesh. Li managed to pry her from him and planted a loving kiss on her cheek. He grabbed hold of the television remote and turned the television off.

"Of course I'm in a good mood," Sora replied, sitting up. She smiled sweetly at him. "I wouldn't be this way without you."

"What do I have to do with it?" Sora grew serious, but in an innocent way. She seemed embarrassed and held her head down. Li was puzzled; she had transformed into a young child before his very eyes.

"It's about last night," Sora whispered softly.

"In what way?" Sora didn't realize just how dense Li truly was.

"I gave you my virginity last night, Li," she said, her voice still low. "You're very special to me. I..." Sora trailed off, still very shy. Li smiled brightly and maneuvered Sora back into his arms. Together they lay on the couch, Sora with her head gently on Li's chest.

"I hadn't realized how big a deal last night was for you," Li admitted, running his fingers through her hair.

"I've never been so vulnerable before," Sora muttered. "And now...when I see your face I just see this amazing guy that I..." Sora trailed off again.

"Is there something you want to tell me?" Li pressed, concerned. Sora lifted her head off of his chest and looked into his eyes.

"I think...that I'm...falling in love with you," she replied, her voice unsteady. She could feel Li's body tense and she began to panic. "Li, it's fine if you don't feel the same way, I-I-I only said that I-I thought I loved you. Its not-it's not official or, um, anything like that!" As Sora began to feel Li relax, she calmed down, but it was obvious to Hei that his nervous silence had affected Sora.

"I love you too, Sora. Don't worry about that." Sora let out a relieved sigh and her head fell back onto his chest.

"I've never been in love before," she whispered. "It feels so wonderful and uncertain all at the same time."

"Me neither," Li lied. "And I agree, it does feel good."

The two eventually fell asleep on the couch. Li's phone began vibrating in his pocket, and though he wanted to ignore it, he flipped it open anyway. He had a text message from Huang. Huang's becoming awfully high-tech. Hei thought sarcastically. But once he read the message he grew serious. Suspicious figure outside Saito. Be on guard. As Hei tried to slip his phone back into his pocket he woke Sora up, who sat up almost immediately as though resolved to do something.

"What is it?" Li asked.

"Do you remember when I told you that there was something you didn't know about me?" Sora asked eagerly.

"Yes," he mumbled, clearly confused.

"Well, I've decided that I trust you," Sora said. "Do you want to know?" Li nodded.

"Of course," This could be the memory I've been looking for...

"Can you grab my canvas bag out of the closet and bring it here?" Sora asked. Li stood up without replying and walked over to the hall closet. The canvas bag was sitting on the floor leaned against a wall at the front; an easy job done. When he returned, he handed Sora the bag.

"Here you go," he said, sitting down beside her. "What is this about?"

"It's my biggest secret and greatest weakness," Sora replied calmly. "You may not understand what I'm going to tell you, but can you keep an open mind?"

"Yes, Sora, just tell me!" Li begged. Sora smiled

"Okay," she said, unzipping the bag. She produced a canvas and turned it around for Li to see. Such a powerful shiver rushed through Li that he was surprised he didn't confess the truth to her right then and there. Sora frowned at his reaction.

"It's not too scary, is it?" she asked. "I thought you were braver than that!" Li at last managed to control himself. But deep inside, Hei could not believe the image before him. It depicted a cloaked figure in black wearing an eerie white mask. He was holding a dagger with a unique blade. Despite being unable to see his face, it was clear he had a mission.

"What...is it?" Li asked shakily. Sora immediately began smiling again.

"I hardly know where to begin," she admitted. "But he's known as the Black Reaper. Or at least, I think so." Li's face was so strange, Sora had to force herself to ignore it.

"I don't understand," Li muttered.

"Okay, let me explain it then," Sora said. Li nodded, waiting impatiently.

"Uh huh,"

"I was walking through Tokyo one night, shortly after I had left the family," Sora began, staring into the painting's depths like the evil queen once peered into her talking mirror. "It was dark and cold and I had no idea what Plan A was. My apartment at the time was so empty; the streets were that much less lonely. And that's when I saw him.

"There was this man racing down the street towards me; he nearly ran into me, actually. And chasing after him was the Black Reaper. Maybe it was my naivety that made him seem so handsome and majestic. Despite never seeing his face, seeing him utilize his weapons that way, I just-" Sora stopped short, finally unable to stand Li's expression any longer.

"What is with you?" she exclaimed.

"It's just...unusual. You know, for such a soft girl." Li couldn't help but lie. "I mean, just moments ago you were so fragile and innocent, and now I've learned that you're an otaku with a fetish for masked villains!"

"Don't say that!" Sora snapped, her emotions taking over. She had begun to cry. "I haven't touched a manga in years and we don't know that he's a villain and well, it's not a fetish, it's love!" After that last utterance Sora cupped her hand over her mouth. Li frowned.

"I thought you said-"

"I just don't know, Li," Sora admitted, standing up. "I mean, he's my muse. That night, the night he disappeared into the darkness, I went home and I started to paint. It was my very first painting and the Black Reaper became my everything." Hei couldn't believe what he was hearing. But what he didn't understand more than anything else was how the Syndicate had become so aware of her. And even more puzzling was how he had failed to recognize her in the slightest.

"Sora, I-"

"I know that I can't really love him, not the way I love you," Sora interrupted. "But you understand, don't you? He's my hero and special secret. You won't tell anyone, will you?"

"I wouldn't know how to bring this up," Li said, still in shock. "Did you...paint more?"

"I haven't seen him since, unfortunately," Sora whispered sadly. "But I've painted plenty of hypothetical poses. This one painting here means the most because I remember dropping to my knees on the concrete and looking up at him. He looked just like this. Even without this painting the image will remain fresh in my mind."

"Can I see them?" Li asked. Sora nodded somberly, and after returning the painting to its bag she led Li to the spare room next to hers in the back of the apartment. Inside, Li gasped.

There were roughly fifteen paintings, six of which were dedicated to the Black Reaper, within the room, as well as other landscapes and cityscapes. He even noticed the beginnings of a replica of Sakura Sunrise, a name Li had actually selected for Sora's masterpiece.

"Wow," Li breathed, admiring the works of art that filled the room. His phone suddenly began to vibrate in his pocket. Figure entered Saito. Li left the room silently and headed out to the living room. Sora followed him, puzzled.

"What's going on now?" Sora begged. "I know this has been weird but-"

"Be quiet!" Li commanded, listening intently.

"I can't believe you're pulling this shit again," Sora snapped.

"Someone's coming. Be quiet!" Li hissed. Sora stormed into the kitchen and grabbed a meat cleaver.

"I'm sick and tired of these crazy things happening, do you understand? It's not normal, not at all! Once we finish this guy, we're going to talk about that man I found in the alley." Li glared back at her.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, quickly returning his focused gaze to the front door.

"I knew there was something all too common about that dead man and the man that interrupted our picnic that day," Sora said. "And now I've figured it out. You're the common factor." Li pretended not to hear her, but inside his spirit was quaking. Sora had found her missing puzzle piece.


A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! And I hope that the "secret" wasn't too predictable. But don't worry, there's definitely more to come.