Author's Note: Wow, an update after a few days and another one to be posted a week or so later. I'm on a roll.

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Chapter 11

Jian's kissing me! How is this happening?

Pucca's eyes widened in surprise but she didn't push him away. She knew Jian wouldn't do anything more. And neither would she. So she closed her eyes and settled in to the feeling of Jian's lips on hers.

She felt like this was some kind of test. Not just for him but for her too. It was for them to realize their respective emotions and to see if they could be more.

The kiss itself felt nice and chaste. Nothing more than their lips brushing, his thumbs caressing her cheeks and her head tilting to reach up to him. It would've been easy to pretend that Jian was the one for her. But… her heart ached because it was missing something essential. He's not who I want, she thought.

Jian broke the kiss and smiled down at her. She couldn't help but smile in return. He looked like his usual self again.

"Feels nice. But let's agree to not do that again," he concluded and Pucca burst out laughing.

"It felt like kissing a friend."

"Because we are friends." Jian sounded relieved to voice it out.

"Or…" Pucca shot him a meaningful glance. "I'm the one you think of as a sister. Not Tara. You had it the other way around."

"Yes, I understand now. Thank you." This time when Jian lowered his head to kiss her, it was on her cheek. "I owe you, Pucca."

"Yeah, you do," she smirked. "You used me as a reference point to figure out what you felt for her.

"Yeah," he agreed sheepishly, "but I don't believe I told you it was her."

"I guessed and you agreed." Her lips curled in a self-satisfied grin. "Does Tobe know?" she asked and he shrugged.

"I don't know. But I think he knows I'm having trouble sorting out my relationship with her. And speaking of Tobe, come on. He must be tearing his hair out wondering what evil I'm doing to you." Jian stood up and helped her up.

"Yeah right. I'm sure he's too busy with Jing-Jing to remember me." She had meant to make it sound like a joke but her loneliness had crept into her voice.

Jian's face softened in empathy. "I'm sure you're wrong. During dinner you were the one ignoring him and he was the one who kept glancing your way."

"Did he really?" Jian gazed tenderly at the girl in front of him. His heart ached in sympathy at the fear and hope swirling in the depths of her eyes, almost as resplendent as the moon itself.

"Really," he said with a tender smile, "It looked like he hardly paid any attention to Jing-Jing at all."

Pucca walked silently beside him. She was afraid to believe him. He could just be saying that to spare her feelings.

When they reached the house, Jian pushed open the back door leading to the kitchen. They heard a thud and a squeak. Wonderingly, they peered inside to see Tara sitting on the floor.

"What are you doing?" Jian asked then he looked apologetic. "Sorry, did I hit you? Let me see." He knelt beside her then tilted her face up to meet his.

Tara squeaked again then scrambled to her feet. "I'm fine. You- you don't need to be worried or anything."

Jian's brows furrowed as he straightened. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing! I was just being clumsy as usual! I have two left feet, you know that. No wonder you still see me as- as a kid." Tara laughed nervously. "I was just here then I tripped but now I'm gonna go." Her voice was overly bright and so was her smile.

"Tara?" Pucca beseeched. Tara looked pained as she cast her a glance before running out of the kitchen.

"I've got this." Jian said halfway out the door leaving Pucca wondering what the heck was going on.

Pucca wandered aimlessly around the house wondering what happened with Tara. Did she see them together? She hoped Jian could sort out if there was any misunderstanding. In any case, Pucca concluded that she had to talk to Tara.

She was still meandering through the hallways, lost in her thoughts when she bumped into Juru. She tried to sidle pass him but he kept blocking her way.

"Get out of my way before I kick you and send you all the way down the hall."

"That's rude. I just wanted to say hi," he greeted.

"Yeah, hi to you too," she replied aloofly. "It's not like we didn't see each other during dinner."

"Touchy…" He looked amused but he sidestepped to let her pass. Pucca raised her chin haughtily as she went by him. "Are you looking for Tobe?" he asked suddenly.

Pucca stopped in her tracks but didn't face him as she replied, "What I do is none of your business."

Juru snorted. "I thought you said we could be friends."

"We could. If you actually want to be friends."

"Touche."

Pucca started walking again but halted when he called her name.

"I was looking for my sister so I asked you about Tobe. You know how they're always together." Even without looking she could hear the smirk in his voice.

Pucca turned around to look at him but he was already walking away. He raised a hand in parting.

Ignore him. I wasn't even looking for Tobe in the first place.

She stomped off, angry at herself for being so affected by something she already knew. But after a few feet, she found herself in front of his door. "What am I doing here?" she grumbled to herself. She forced herself to move but her feet seemed stuck to the carpeted floor.

She suddenly heard a muffled voice through the door saying, "Chief, I'm not sure I agree with you on this."

Pucca froze when she realized Jing-Jing was in there with Tobe.

"Oh, come on. The reason I took a break from modeling was because you wanted me to investigate. I had to do a lot of digging, a lot of… unapproved borrowing and some , um, forceful persuasion." Pucca mused suspiciously at the woman's evasive tone. "Quite selfish of you to ask, really. As I recall, you're the one who wanted me to turn over a new leaf. Then out of the blue you employ me because of the expert skills you disapproved of in the first place."

"Yeah, yeah. So you say. You didn't even hesitate when I asked you."

"Riiight… You knew I couldn't say no when you asked me so nicely," Jing-jing voiced sarcastically.

Tobe grumbled something, Pucca couldn't catch.

Pucca was shocked yet curious about their secret agendas. She looked left and right to make sure no one else could see her before she pressed her ear to the door, not wanting to miss a single word.

"You trusted me on this so this is what I have for you. Despite what you believe, the Silent Ninja Clan isn't what it used to be. They're more concerned about power than any other virtue they once claimed to live by."

Silent Ninja Clan. He had Jing-jing investigate about the ones who drugged her? But it couldn't be for that reason since it only happened recently. Pucca wondered then it hit her. Could it be about Tara?

"Hadn't they put so much stock in their honor and integrity?" He sounded doubtful.

"They're decreasing in number so they want power in order for them to dominate the other clans. But I do believe that it's just the higher ranks that are pulling these underhanded tactics.

"They're using their vast medical knowledge to make new biochemical weapons. Using every means necessary to attain their goal which includes espionage and sabotaging others they view as a threat."

"And they view me as a threat?" he sounded incredulous.

"Is it really that hard to believe? You have considerable influence over several regions in the country and you also have several ninjas loyal to you and would do anything you ask them. And," she paused meaning fully "there's also that."

Pucca didn't know what they were talking about so she waited for Tobe to reply but there was only silence at the other side of the door.

Jing-Jing hissed irately. "I don't think you've forgotten how you had that scar. Even back then, not all of them are quite as honor-bound as they claim to be."

Pucca speculated impatiently at Jing-Jing's loaded statement.

"I don't want to talk about this." Pucca heard heavy footfalls grow fainter and fainter. She could only imagine Tobe walking away from Jing-Jing.

"We have to. You've always carried a grudge towards them. And they know it. Now, Pucca's here. It's all connected!"

"I told you. I don't want to talk about this."

Pucca's heart pounded when she heard Jing-Jing say her name after spouting words like espionage and sabotage. Did they really think she was sent here to destroy Tobe? She waited desperately for them to break the heavy silence that hung in the air.

"Wait a minute. This isn't about who's trying to sabotage your company anymore. Or who had tried to harm your sister." Jing-Jing sounded amazed. "This is about Pucca."

"I'll advise you to stop talking," Tobe replied darkly. Pucca could well imagine his anger and she shivered slightly.

"No! This is about you not wanting Pucca to be connected with the Silent Ninja Clan. You refuse to believe what's in front of your eyes because you don't want her to have anything to do with Garu!"

"Shut up before I rip your big mouth off!" Tobe growled savagely.

Pucca heard Jing-Jing cry out in frustration. "Fine! But the next time you ask my help, be more honest about your motives!"

Pucca heard feet shuffling. Panicking, she jumped away from the door and pressed herself to the wall beside it. The door flew open, obscuring Pucca from plain view. Jing-Jing marched huffily, muttering a string of profanities under her breath.

"Damn woman," Tobe cursed before slamming the door shut again.

As soon as she felt safe to move, she dashed away, not stopping until she reached the safety of her room. As soon she had the door firmly shut behind her, she sank to the floor.

What did she just hear?

Clans, espionage, sabotage, biochemical weapons. She was right to feel apprehensive about her knowledge underneath the thick veil of her amnesia. This was something bigger than her and she landed smack dab in the middle of it.

And Garu… Who was that guy? Why did his name seem so familiar?

A memory appeared in her mind.

"What do you remember?" He asked suspiciously.

She struggled with herself whether or not she should tell him. But in the end, she knew that she had no choice. "Nothing." The word echoed inside her. There was nothing. She was nothing but an empty shell.

"You're lying. Garu put you up to this, didn't he?" He snarled.

"I don't know who I am, okay!? Let alone someone named Garu! "

Of course. Tobe asked her about him the first time she met him. But could it be anything else? Jing-Jing implied that there must be some sort of history between Tobe and this other guy. But what has that got to do with her?

"Tobe wouldn't lie about my past, would he?" she whispered to herself. For some reason, her statement lacked conviction. She curled into a ball and placed her head between her knees.

An unwelcome voice resonated I her mind. He has a grudge against the Silent Ninja Clan. Against Garu. From the first moment, he suspected that you're in league with him. Why wouldn't he develop a grudge against you too? It makes sense, doesn't it? You've always been wondering why he hates you.

You came here to crush him. He hates you. He's lying to you. He wants to keep you as his prisoner. He's taking his revenge on Garu through you.

"No, no, no!" She rocked back and forth, willing the doubts in her head to disappear.

Garu. It all went back to Garu.

"Garu," she whispered hoarsely "Who are you?"

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Author's Note: So what do you think? Like it, hate it or just blah?