The next three weeks of my life became hell. I was running low on cash since my mom's card declined more than a week ago. I had to work 2 jobs just to keep up with the hotel bills which meant Hiroki was left on his own most of the time. He stayed over at Alex's during the weekends since all I had time for was work. Working wasn't that bad, it was just close to horrible. I helped teach a pencak si lat class Wednesday through Friday from 3 to 7 and during Saturday and Sunday 8a.m.-4p.m. while I was a waitress at common bar from 6p.m. to 1a.m. on Friday's & Saturday's. The children were loud and noisy and disobedient while the customers at the bar kept groping me, squeezing my butt as a tip.

At school, I became a real outcast once everyone figured out Amber and Aelita 'dropped' me. Amber was still upset over what had gone down, but I don't think I could apologize now. It was too late and too much time had passed. Aelita always tried to be by my side, but she had enough to deal with the after school activities and helping out at the orphanage already that I couldn't keep asking her to do that for me. So, I had to go through the process of school, pushing away people's remarks and insults. Every once in a while, there were bold people who threw something at me.

Ulrich used every excuse possible to talk to me. After that, he gave up and took the straight forward approach which included grabbing me by the shoulders and forcing me to face him. Each battle I had with him made me more weary than the last. I was at a point where I would collapse. He was persistent and wasn't about to leave me alone. Since getting me to talk wasn't an option anymore, I figured he had given up. But, apparently, I'd forgotten how Ulrich was. He was as determined as he was strong and it annoyed me to every extent.

Monday came around the corner and thankfully it was a 'No School' day for only that day. I slept in and took advantage of my free day. But, I was unprepared for the visits I was paid. I was still sleeping when Hiroki answered the door. I hadn't heard someone knock (probably because I was so worn out).

"Hello...wha...? What are you doing here? Get out. Get out!" I heard Hiroki scream.

I shot out of bed and looked at the intruder. I was a disaster; I knew that much. I felt that tiny bit of drool on the side of my lip and my hair was like Robert Pattinson's disgusting bed hair that seems like he never cleans up. My shorts were riding up in the wrong places and only one of my socks was on. But, it didn't matter at that moment. Ulrich stood in the doorway standing with his stupid pride and strangly new maturity as Hiroki tried to push him out.

"How did you find us?" I whispered, still shocked.

"You're not that hard to find, Yumi." I scoffed at his response, crossing my arms.

"What 's going on, Yumi? Why are you at a hotel? How long have you actually been here? Tell me something, Yumi!" he roared.

I looked away from his angry, pleading eyes, biting my bottom lip. My heart heaved, weighing heavily, as if it was being forced down.

"Tell me, Yumi," This time, his voice softer. "Just tell me what you need."

I didn't know what to do. I was weary and wanted to rest. Having to run away from Ulrich had become a full time job. I couldn't do it anymore. I felt light-headed and drowsy. I couldn't even keep my eyes open.

"I-I....I need...." I couldn't even finish the sentence.

My head blanked out before the walls began to spin and I saw Ulrich and Hiroki panicking and screaming something I couldn't understand. The ground seemed to be getting closer and a loud boom followed. Darkness drowned me, with no chance of resurfacing.

__________

Ulrich.

I don't remember the last time my heart stopped beating like that. Even when I was scoring the winning goal in the rain for the final championships and won, I don't remember ever felt my air cut of so sharply.

But, I remembered her hair felt like luscious silky swan feathers and her pink pouty lips and the her soft breathing. I remembered how she looked so peaceful as she slept, her chest rising in continuous measures. I remembered feeling at ease when I saw her sleeping peacefully when everything in the outside world wasn't okay. I remembered, with her, I could be myself.

Seeing her with tubes all over her arms and the monitor keeping track of her heart beat left me close to a heart attack. I was scared for her life. She'd gone through tough times without so much as a grunt and a roll of the eyes. She was stronger than me; she never gave a hint of weakness or loss of control. She knew how to trap all her emotions in a box and toss it somewhere forever. But, she'd changed. She'd become snappy and grouchy as if one sound would set her off like a bomb.

I pulled away stray hairs from her pale face watching her intently. I have tried over and over to be there for her. I loved her. And I still do. Why couldn't she just see that?

Sorry for updating so LATE! I'm kinda busy with volleyball, tying to keep up with grades, and the whole enchilada. The school year is always hard for me to continuously update fanfiction because I have other things to deal with. I know I need to make more time and I'm going to try harder in everything. Wish me luck!