I'm not sure how long they whipped me before they grew bored, but I don't really care. Ever since I came back here, I feel like I've become exceedingly devoid of emotions; even more-so than before. No matter how deep I look, there's just…nothing.

They jeer at me; nothing.

They starve me; nothing.

They abuse me; nothing.

I may have been distant in the past, but this is new. This is…I don't know, but I don't think it's normal to just feel…empty.

I say all this, but I have my suspicions why I'm feeling this way, and it does or certainly does involve the color red. Taking a moment to be deep and philosophical, red is the color of life. Red is the color of the blood running through our veins, it's something we need. It is the color of hate and anger, but in lighter shades, it's also the color of love and passion. Red is something everyone has, but mine was taken from me. Actually, if I wanted to be factual, then it would be more correct to say that I left my red; I crumbled it up and threw it away like it was worthless…

Every time I think about that, I always find myself thinking that I deserve what I'm getting right now; the beatings I'm getting daily, and whatever else Akui has to throw at me. I'm the one who is worthless…

Heh…I told him not to look for me, but who would even want to?

…..

Momoi was growing more worried as the days passed. Akashi was completing all his work quickly and efficiently like normal, but there was just something about him that was off. There had been ever since that day he came in late. The pinkette wasn't sure if anyone really noticed it, but there was this aura that surrounded the red-head that just screamed that something was wrong. No matter how deep she dug, she just couldn't find out what was bothering the man.

Since Akashi had been acting normal, everyone else seemed to shrug off his actions of the previous week. Put it off saying he "had a rough night" or "he had a long night" followed by laughs and high-fives. Honestly, Momoi didn't know how guys could be such pigs, but she wasn't entirely ruling out that possibility. She had never known Akashi to get hung up on anyone, but maybe that was the exact reason he wasn't able to hide his emotions for a while? Whoever it was that the red-head had met must've been a very special person to get the ever-in-control Lieutenant Akashi Seijuurou to fall to his knees like this.

The pinkette repeatedly ran the whole situation over and over in her mind, processing every small detail like a computer. Admittedly, she was starting to find that scenario more and more likely. In fact, Momoi was pretty sure Akashi had gone to stake-out some bar for the trafficking case the night before he was AWOL for a few hours. If that was the case, then she just might find out something if she were to go to that bar…

Making up her mind to check it out after work, she finally focused her attention on the computer screen…Now she just needed to find out where this bar was…

…..

Watching from behind a pillar as Akashi locked his office door, Momoi waited until the red-head was far enough away before quickly jogging to the next pillar. She continued this process, each time hiding behind a wall or pillar so she wasn't seen.

Witnessing this act, Aomine and Kise stared, completely dumbfounded. Why was she acting so weirdly? Shooting each other a look, they slowly got up from their desks and followed the pinkette.

Keeping his voice low, Kise covered his mouth with one hand as he whispered to Aomine. "What do you think Momoicchi's doing?"

"Hmm…Who knows? Satsuki has always been weird, hasn't she?" Brushing off the blonde's question, the tanned male continued to…well, stalk the pinkette, putting his detective skills to the test. From what the pair had gathered, Momoi seemed to be following the red-head, although they didn't know why. It's not like the reason really mattered though. Once they got outside, Akashi would immediately notice he was being followed.

When the pinkette hurriedly ducked around a corner, Aomine and Kise quickly followed suit, not wanting to lose their target. Hastily tip-toeing around the corner, the two office idiots came face to face with the red-headed demon who looked every bit as ticked off as he felt. Crossing his arms over his chest, all Akashi had to do was narrow his eyes for the pair to instantly kneel to the ground, sitting formally and bowing their heads.

Sweating bullets, Aomine and Kise were helpless under the intense eyes of their boss. Averting his gaze to the side, Aomine caught sight of Momoi, who was nonchalantly leaning against a wall shooting them a peace sign. The bluenette felt a few veins pop as he elbowed Kise in the ribs, directing his attention towards the devious pink imp with a jerk of his chin. Once he saw the girl shoot him a wink, the blonde's mouth dropped open as he froze in shock. As Akashi continued to list their punishment for, they quote, "being creepy stalkers who should use their time more efficiently," they watched in stunned silence as Momoi made her way outside, heading towards the parking garage; which was weird, since the computer nerd didn't own a car.

…..

Hmph. Boys could be such idiots. Momoi knew from the start that Aomine and Kise would follow her. In fact, she planned on it. Their small little minds couldn't help but be curious, and it all played perfectly to her tune. The pinkette had intentionally led the pair straight into Akashi's ambush; which successfully preoccupied the red-head's time. With that, she would be able to carry out phase two of her plan.

After leaving dumb and dumber stupefied, Momoi quickly made her way outside the building; her next destination the parking garage. No, she didn't have a car, but Akashi did. 'So what', you say? Well, that's how Momoi's going to find out the location of the bar. After mulling it over all day, she finally came up with a solution. It was practically right in front of her eyes screaming, "Hello, stupid! I'm right here!" The pinkette did work in the IT department, after all. She should've known the only way she'd get anywhere was by using technology.

'What technology', you ask? A tracking device, duh! The only way Momoi would ever find out where the bar was, besides following Akashi all the way there (which wouldn't work since she would be found out), was to plant a tracking device on his car! Ingenious, if she may say so herself. This way, she would have access to the coordinates, and know where Akashi went – two birds with one stone! Knowing where Akashi went was just a side bonus; she still worried about him working the trafficking case alone, of course.

Arriving at the parking garage, Momoi immediately went to the second floor, knowing Akashi parked in the same spot every day. Actually, he had his own designated parking space, but that's just a minor detail. Pinpointing the sleek red Audi almost instantly, she carefully approached the car as if it would start up at any time. A little vein popped up on her forehead as she forced a smile. This car was worth more than she made in a year, which pissed her off. Momoi knew this wasn't Akashi's only car, although it was his favorite. Actually, it was the first he bought completely by himself, which pissed the pinkette off even more. One's first car shouldn't be this nice, right? At least that's what she thought, though she didn't even have one car.

Shaking those thoughts from her mind, she retrieved the small black device from her shoulder bag and kneeled to the ground. Momoi had just finished making the device a few hours ago, and now it was being put into action. She made sure to make it small enough that it wasn't noticeable, since she knew how observant the red-head was. Rolling over to her back, the pinkette shimmied her way under the car, sticking the device near the back bumper and right rear tire. Crawling out from under the car, she hopped up, admiring her work.

"Good, not noticeable at all. Oh my gosh, I should so be a spy!" Getting lost in her own world, Momoi was startled when she heard the banging on the metal door belonging to the parking garage staircase. Panicking, she hastily grabbed her bag, and ran down several rows of cars, taking shelter behind a large black escalade. Peering around the hood, she watched as Akashi sped off in his Audi. Breathing a sigh of relief, Momoi collapsed against the car, wiping the sweat from her brow.

"Ahem…"

Hearing someone clear their throat, Momoi looked up to find the chief medical examiner staring down at her with a stern look. Giving an awkward smile, she stood up and after giving a little bow, she put one finger to her mouth before taking off, leaving the man stunned.

…..

Akashi sped home in his car, extremely unhappy and very stressed. He was pretty sure he was beginning to lose his mind, with everything that was happening lately. Not only was he being swamped with work, but his father was visiting frequently, which was unpleasant to say the least. As if that wasn't enough, the office clowns had been following him when he left work today, which was exceedingly annoying. With all this on his plate, he barely had any time to investigate the trafficking case and…Blue Eyes…

That thought had his heart clenching as he pulled into his driveway. Putting the car into park, he leaned his forehead against the steering wheel and screwed his eyes shut. He still wasn't able to think of the bluenette without feeling depressed and downright miserable. As cheesy as this sounds, his heart practically cried out for the bluenette. Akashi wanted with all his being, his heart and soul, to be together with him once more; not knowing what happened to the bluenette or where he was, was eating the red-head alive. The one person Akashi had actually felt a connection with, wasn't within his reach. He wonders if what he's feeling is what Romeo and Juliet felt when they were told they couldn't be together, although that may be a corny comparison.

Drawing in a long breath, Akashi removed the keys from the ignition and stepped out of the car. That was enough of wallowing in his own self-pity; now he should actually get some things done. If he wanted to find the bluenette – and believe him, he did – then he needed to be productive. The red-head would find Blue Eyes again, no matter the costs and risks. This is the first time in his life he ever wanted something so badly, and he was going to have it – he would do anything and he wouldn't let anyone stop him.

'Just you wait Blue Eyes, I'm coming for you…'

A/N:

Okay...Sorry for the really late update, but I did say I would be busy!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please let me know what you think! :)