Well...here's the next chapter...hope you guys like this...and of course, thanks bunches to Silverquickstar, and Mogul Kahn(thanks for helping me pick out name!) for reviewing...hehehe. Thanks! Onto the fic...

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the SNK characters I use in these fics...

Chapter 10: Check outs

Benimaru's POV

After I got home last night, there it was...the pain, the memories...I only wish I could take it all back...turn back the time. I splash the cold, bitter water on my face, its morning. Sunday...with nothing else to do. Of course, I had almost forgotten about the exams...they're coming up really soon. Crap. I've gotta start concentrating on that more. I hear the phone ringing. It hurts my ears for some reason, even if the phone is one room away. Maybe its this migraine that I'm starting to get from the open curtains. The morning light is still too bright. I quickly head out of the bathroom, drying my face along the way with my shirt. I pick it up quickly.

"Hello?" I answer, almost out of breath. Don't you ever get that? Like if you've run a mile, only when you come to realize that you've only walked across the room? Am I getting fat? I ask myself out of no where.

"Hey, Beni...how'd I get home?" Its Kyo. He seems confused. And I'm pretty sure Yuki saw his state of being. Hehehe...he deserved it.

"I drove. Then, of course, I walked home. Why do you ask?" I smirk over the phone, though I know very well that he can't see it.

"Because...well, I got drunk...just wondering. Well, anyway did you have fun?" He asks.

"Yea, of course I did." I lie, adding some fake laugh, like everything's all right.

"That's good..." He trails off. There isn't really much to say today. I just want people to stop bothering me...maybe I'm being too anti-social today...I sigh, looking at the clock on the wall.

"It's noon. I should get going."

"Where are you going?" He asks.

"None of your business. Anyway, I'll see you later."

"All right. Later."

"Bye." I hang up the phone, letting out another heaving sigh. All of these problems...and I haven't even stopped by the park anymore...where she is. I hurry up, and get dressed. I actually put my hair in a lazy pony tail...though, I really hate how I look this way. Can't blame me, though...I just look way too feminine.

I head out the door, wondering if she even gets there at the same time anymore...maybe she will...I'll just have to find out. Kami, I swear I look like some psycho stalking people in the park. I sit at my usual spot, where I have a clear view of anyone that might be there. I decide to get up after a while, and head over to the swings. Which is the last thing she'll get to. I know her routine. She goes to the slides, then the monkey bars, then those animals you can ride...I don't know. I never actually got what the fun was out of those things. Man, I must really sound like a stalker now. Am I really? I begin to ask myself. I swing gently, watching the ground move beneath me slowly, with the thoughts of her still on my mind. Should I write her a letter? No, she's probably still too young to read it...It might start off like this:

Dear little blonde girl,

I know you don't know me, and I don't know you...but I want you to know that...

Nah. That sounds too cheesy. Even for a little kid to read. How stupid am I?

I suddenly hear giggling from a distance. I know it's her. I look up, and see her in front of me, a cheerful smile on her face. I just have to smile back.

"Hello there, mister!" She seems happy to see me.

"Why, hello there." I reply as she gets on a swing. I'm surprised that she didn't go through her usual routine today...maybe we have some kind of connection?

"What's your name?" She asks me suddenly.

"Well...just call me Mr. Nikaido." I answer, but then quickly add. "What's yours?"

"Sakura." She responds innocently. That's what I see...innocence in her face...pure...definitely not in mine.

"Sakura, what are you doing sitting beside this stranger? You know you're not suppose to sit around anyone you don't know." That woman from last time takes her, looking at me with the same disgust she had for me the last time I saw her.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hahn." The little girl looks away from the woman's stare, and to the ground. I get up from the swing, looking at the woman.

"And you, why are you here every morning? Are you stalking us? You certainly look like the kind to do so. Kami know's what people like you do for a living." She spits out. That's right...it's all true. Only he knows what I'm doing.

"Only people like me? Well, I can't blame you..." I trail off, walking away from them slowly.

"I'll see you around...Sakura." I say with out looking back. But Sakura doesn't say anything. I know she won't...not in front of that sourpuss, anyway...

XDXDXD

I get home, tired as heck. All I want to do now is sleep. Sunday's...Kami, I swear they are the most boring days EVER. Well, that and Monday's. I quickly take off my jacket, hanging it on the coat hanger nearby. I pull out a cigarette from the cabinet(the forbidden cabinet), and light it up with the lighter that I had also supplied in there. I sit in a chair in the kitchen, taking in a big, long drag. Oh Kami...I feel so much better...I let it out slowly, reaching over to get the remote control to the TV, and turn it on. It comes on whatever channel Ash was last watching. Funny, I haven't really gone to see him lately...I wonder if he's even alive. I take another drag, then watch as the smoke comes out slowly, and steadily...filling the kitchen.

The door suddenly swings open. But through all the smoke, I can barely see that person. Kami, I hope it's not Ed. I head over to the door, watching someone leaning against the wall. My eyes widen as I see who it is.

"A-Ash?" I look at him. He looks pale, looking like he's about to fall over any second.

"Benimaru...so glad to see you..." He falls onto me. I catch him, startled as to why he's here.

"Ash, what are you doing here?" I ask him, but he seems to be in a daze. I realize I still have the cigarette in my hand. I quickly drop it, and put it out with my foot. I help him over to the couch, shaking his shoulders. "Ash, Ash. Listen up." I finally get his attention.

"Benimaru...s'il vous plait...stop shaking me. I am not dead." He finally responds.

"Well you sure look like it." I tell him, sitting next to him. "How'd you get out?" I ask.

"I checked my self out...I got bored..." He responds.

"You checked yourself out? But how?" I ask, although I know the exact answer. He doesn't answer. I get up to go make him something to eat. Kami knows how long he's been with out eating anything...

XDXDXD

It's night...he's been asleep for the longest time. I couldn't go with Kyo today because of Ash. Though, it was worth watching TV all day long. Movies, mostly though. All the re-runs are not for me-especially on Sundays. I'm on the couch, drinking a cup of coffee to calm my nerves. This is usually what I do to calm them. I have been trying to quit smoking, but it never works. I always end up smoking a pack by the end of the whole month, anyway. Used to, I'd smoke a pack in about two days. I probably already have some tumor in my lungs, waiting to expand, and finally end my pathetic life...but no...I can't die...not yet. I still have a purpose in this life.

"Benimaru...you are always so serious..." I suddenly hear a voice, I realize it's Ash's voice. I look over to him on the couch across from me.

"Serious?" I question, taking another drink of my coffee.

"Oui...you're always like that...thinking...what do you think about?" He asks me.

"It's...nothing. Nothing. Just some dumb shit running in my head." I lie, clearing my throat as nervousness rises in me.

"Merdi?"

"Huh?" He knows I can't understand French, why does he speak it?

"Shit...you said shit running in your head..." He smiles.

"Oh..." I try to hold back a smile, but fail miserably. I chuckle, putting down the cup of coffee. "You know, for a French dude, you sure don't know manners..." I laugh slightly.

"Oh, but I do...it is you who doesn't know...and besides, Benimaru-kun...I think a part of you has rubbed off on me." He laughs weakly, while trying to sit up a bit. He only manages to prompt himself up on his elbow.

"Oh, really?" I sigh, leaning back against the chair.

"Yes..." He trails off.

"Well, I think it's time for a little nap, don't you think?" I smirk. Well, since he's already had an all-day nap. I suppose another wouldn't hurt him. It certainly wouldn't hurt me now.

"I still feel very sleepy. It sounds about nice." He manages to stand up from the couch. I'm guessing that he wants to sleep on the bed. I get up, deciding to follow him anyway.

XDXDXD

"You know, I have been thinking...and I think we just might make it through..." Ash responds as I lay in bed, thinking about Sakura...it's a pretty name...

"How?" I mumble sleepily. It's like if I don't know him anymore-well, it's not like I have known him well...but now that I know he did that stuff...I think of him differently.

"How about...we gather up people to play the instruments...like the drums...guitar...we can sing. It shall make us some money." Ash responded.

"Sounds good..." I trail off, getting even more sleepy.

"Well...bonnuit Benimaru." He finally sighs, turning over in bed, while I keep staring at the ceiling...wondering...(Will this work...will this actually get us out of this hell...?)

XDXDXD

Normal POV

In the morning, Benimaru and Ash headed off to find people-who at least seemed interested in taking part of a band...of four people, that was. It wasn't as hard to find them, but Ash had a better idea.

"We need a fifth member." He suddenly thought up.

"What? Why?" Benimaru seemed confused. So far, they had only found one-and that was the drummer, who seemed to be some sort of pale, vampire-looking person.

"I've got an idea. Trust me. This will go far." He responded, looking over to a guitar store. 'We can find us a couple of guitarists in there, Benimaru. You just watch..."

XDXDXD

"No...way..." Benimaru trailed off, looking at Ash in shock after having found the remaining members of their 'band', then headed to the apartment once more.

"Of course...the plan I have in mind is for each of us to switch places in singing-me without having to play any type of instrument. When you do vocals, you can do it anyway you want...but when I do vocals...it'll be a whole different type of band. We'll get more money that way." He explained, doing the finishing touches on his finger nails.

"That sounds good...now we have to write out the guitar parts, and all the rest..." Benimaru felt frustrated already.

"No...I've got a better idea...let them decide what type of music the lyrics should be in...and besides, Benimaru...the voice will be what attracts the audience." Ash put up the nail polish.

"Right. So, when do we get started?" Benimaru asked.

"Tonight...at 9:30 sharp." Ash responded. "We'll get to meet these...people really well, then decide on where it's going to go." Ash seemed to be the professional one out of both of them-even if he had just 'gotten out of' the hospital for addiction...

"The earlier we start, the more progress. I'm definitely looking forward to this..."

XDXDXD

All right...it seems as if this is finally getting somewhere, eh? Well...sorry for the lateness...but lately, I've gotten too lazy...either that, or I'm just too busy trying to think of other stuff for all the other stories I still have unfinished. lol Anyway, please review if you can. See y'll later!

Translations(French):

S'il vous plait-please
Merdi-shit