"Why is so hot?!" Sakuno complained, laying on the table, over her notebook and books. Ryoma and her were on the outside porch of his house, doing their summer homework together. The boy had placed the table there, with the fan that was turned on and he was answering some questions when his girlfriend stopped.

"Do you want some more iced tea?"

"Yes, please!" she sat down and offered her empty glass to him. He poured the dark liquid with some ice rocks. But, instead of drinking it, she tighed her hair up, in a bun and pressed the cold glass on her neck, releasing a deep breath as closing her eyes.

The rational side of his brain was sure she had no intention of doing such a thing, but the teen boy side looked at the gesture as an extremely erotic one. She was wearing a strap blouse and her shoulders were showing. He accompanied the path a single water drop slid on her skin and disappeared between her breasts.

Since they went to the beach he was even more aware of his girlfriend's body and actions. Ryoma felt extremely ashamed of himself. He was the one who said they should take things slow, he still wanted to be respectful towards her, but it was so damn difficult being 17 with such a beautiful girl so close. He averted his eyes and called himself a pervert, returning to his math questions.

"I can't believe is already the last weekend of vacations." She said, looking back at the books. "Does it always go by that fast?"

"When we are enjoying ourselves, it does." His response made her giggle.

"Are your parents coming back soon?"

"I don't think so. They are probably going to come back only in September."

Ryuzaki looked at him and stood up, sitting by his side. He was surprised as she cupped his face.

"What's wrong?"

"Are you really okay spending so much time by yourself?"

"I am." The golden eyes were gentle. "Don't worry about me."

"Of course I worry. Specially now, if I am accepted on the kendo club, I will have less time to spend with you."

"You will be accepted. I am sure. And I am going to watch your practices, so I can walk you home."

"You are such a good boyfriend."

"I have a good girlfriend too." He showed a small smile.

"Ryoma, how many girlfriends you had before me?"

"None." He said, naturally.

"Really?! But… you are so handsome, how come?!"

"I hardly ever talk to people on school. Before you arrived, I always ate by myself. I received some letters on my locker a couple of times, but the girls were so shallow and annoying, I just didn't want to do it." He touched her face and his fingers were very gently. "Everything I know about being with someone, I am learning with you. You are the owner of a lot of my first times too."

Sakuno kissed him deeply. Ryoma tried to interrupt the kiss, but his girlfriend pushed him down, the upper part of her body was on top of his. He had already forgotten how strong she was. But, the kiss was very gentle, even being so assertive. When their mouths finally separated, Sakuno laid her head on his chest, her face resting on his jumping heart.

"Sa…Sakuno?"

Her hand touched his cheek and she whispered.

"Ryoma, let me hold you for a little while like this." The girl closed her eyes, she wanted to memorize the sound of his heart. "Please."

He didn't understand, but he gave in on her request. His hand caressed her soft hair and he also closed his eyes. Although it was an extremely hot day, Ryoma didn't mind about having his girlfriend close, while the cicadas continued to sing.

#############

Sakuno crossed the hallways of the Tezuka mansion in hard and hurry steps as soon as her mother gave her authorization. The way to Syuusuke's room never seemed longer.

She remembered being at home with her brother when the telephone started to ring early on that Sunday morning. She stood up by her door and watched Kunimitsu leaving his room, caressing her hair on his way and telling her to go back to sleep before picking up the call. His sleepy expression disappeared completely, being replaced by absolute shock as Kuniharu informed him that Syuusuke was hurt.

They changed clothes and packed quickly, taking the first schedule on the bullet train to Kyoto. Ayana hugged her as she arrived and Kunimitsu was straight to Syuusuke's side as the doctor was working on him. Two hours had passed slowly. Her father was locked inside his office, receiving many phone calls from different people.

Her red eyes were filled with concerned when she slammed the shoji of Syuusuke's room opened and her heart stopped inside her chest as seeing the young man.

"Hello, Sakuno-chan." He smiled at her, sitting on his futon. There were bandages on his arms and a big one over his right eye, covered with a part of his light bangs.

"Syuusuke-san!" the teenager ran to kneel by his side. "What happened to you?!"

"I got into an accident, it was not serious." His smile was still on, even in such poor shape.

"He lost his sight." Her brother's deep voice called her attention.

"What?!" her eyes filled with tears.

"Please, Sakuno-chan, do not look at me like that. I am fine. It is not even hurting so much."

"You are not fine. Stop saying that. It is not time for jokes." Her brother's voice was deeper and more serious than ever. He was sitting by her side, his head down and his dark hair over his eyes. His firsts were closed tightly and the girl was sure he was extremely shaken as seeing Syuusuke on that state. Fuji looked down and took a deep breath, before starting to talk.

"I had a mission last night. Everything seemed fine, the target is an opium distributor that reaches all Japan. His drug is more potent than anyone ever seen on the market. The police has been after him for many years, but he is sneaky and in constant move. One of the families his drug destroyed hired us. But, there was someone from the Aomori was with him. He was fast and precise, I tried my best but I was able to just scratch his stomach with my blades. I tried to continue fighting after my eye was hurt, but I could not see properly with all the blood. I would be dead if the cleaning team did not interfere. He was about to cut my neck wide open." He put his hand on his neck. "I had the impression he was not just doing his job, but also was angry at me."

"So, what is going to happen now? It was a paying mission, right? We still need to execute it."

"Well, without you and me in this state, there is no one who could complete this job against that person for now. And, the longer we wait, the longer the opium guy is free to move to hide in other places again."

"I am going." Kunimitsu said, seriously. "I will end the mission for you."

"What are you talking about, Nii-sama?! You cannot, not with your arm!"

"It would be a quick suicidal mission." His remain blue eye was gelid over the young man.

"I will go." Sakuno said, seriously and both men looked at her surprised. "I will find him and finish the job."

"You cannot, Sakuno." Her brother said, seriously. "You have a new term starting at school tomorrow and you are retired already. There is no way Chichiue will allow this."

"It is not like he has any other choice." The scarlet eyes were full of determination. "We never let a job undo. Someone so dangerous and with such deadly bodyguard, it needs to be eliminated soon. It can put all of us in risk. If Tou-sama gives me a document saying we are having a family emergency, I can take it to school tomorrow and return here after it. It is going to be okay."

There was a long silence, before Tezuka touched his sister's hand, making her look at him.

"Very well, then."

"Thank you, Sakuno-chan." Syuusuke looked at her gently.

"I will talk to Chichue."

"Yes." Fuji smiled at her before she left the chambers. "Even though you are really not related, your seriousness really shows on her sometimes."

His attempt of joking with the situation died on the heavy atmosphere surrounding them. Taking a deep breath, he smiled at himself, looking down to the bandages on his forearm.

"You cannot sulk like this, Kunimitsu. Many years ago, you said death was our occupational hazard, didn't you? I am okay with what happened. Since you arrive you look at me so horribly. I understand my state is unsightly to you, so, you do not have to fell force to be around me now."

"What are you talking about, baka?!" it was the first time in all those years they knew each other Fuji listened to Tezuka saying such words and him raising his voice. "Do you really think I am worried about such small thing?!" the dark eyes were filled with sorrow. "Do you have any idea of how terrified I was until I was able to see you? I thought you were dead. Not only I made a mistake and became useless, I was not able to help you when you needed me the most. I was supposed to be by your side and protect you!"

Tezuka's eyes were wide in surprise as Fuji's arms were around his taller body and his forehead was on his chest. Syuusuke noticed his body trembling and the loud and hurt heartbeats.

Gently, Syuusuke raised his head to look at him.

"What happened to me it was not your fault. Even being unable to join us on missions you were always taking care of each one of us."

"Syuusuke…"

"Even if I had lost my sight completely, I would be still satisfied to be able to remain by your side. I can already recognize your smell and the warmth of your body, even in the darkness." He smiled at him and Tezuka's embraced him tightly, his words completely lost.

"Kunimitsu?" his voice was as sweet as calling his name.

"Yes?"

"You are hurting me."

"I am sorry!" the shorter man giggled at his preoccupied face as he released him.

"It is okay." Syuusuke's hand pulled him close to a gentle kiss.

#######

Ryoma jumped from his bed as soon as he finally received a message from Sakuno. He had sent her texts all day. The boy founded strange his girlfriend missed classes and didn't say anything. He crossed his house in hurry steps and opened the door in a quick movement.

"Sakuno! What happened? Are you all right?"

She was looking down, the dark bangs over her eyes.

"We need to talk, Ryoma." She responded, quietly. The boy touched her hand and investigated her face.

"Tell me what happened. Why did you miss school?" he turned around, trying to bring her in. "Let's go inside, we can talk better in there."

She didn't move and he felt her hand slipped on his fingers. He turned around, surprised.

"Sakuno?"

The night wind blew and moved her long red hair. The scarlet eyes finally rose to meet his, glistering seriously under the moonlight. Ryoma didn't recognize the serious expression in front of him.

"Ryoma, I want to break up."