Twenty fifth chapter! YAY! Only a few more chappies left...kinda makes me sad =( But it's also why I decided to make a vote for which story I should write after this...Please look at my profile page and read the choice I typed out. Otherwise I'll go by feel ;P

Inescapable Nostalgia

"How could you do this to me?"

I continued to insipidly stare at a random spot on the wall, not really listening to what the other was saying.

"Really, how could you?"

I sighed as I switched arms to lean on.

"Considering everything we've been through together?"

I yawned tamely as I continued to listen to him ramble on.

"After all the things I've done for you?"

I licked my lips in slight irritation but continued to stay silent.

"And all the cruelty I've endured from you?"

I noticed his tone became slightly more desperate as I began to think crude thoughts about his accusations.

"And this is how you treat me? I thought we were closer than that."

I could partially hear him pout on the other side of the line. I coughed, clearing my throat before I directed my voice at the receiver end of my phone. "I really doubt we are really that close considering that I know nothing about you and I have yet to see your face." I clucked my tongue as I dryly added. "So why don't you stop fooling around? Dealer." I groaned in annoyance when heard him pout in his usual fashion. "But, it's not like you know how to anyway."

"But princess! We've been together through thick and thin and you couldn't even tell me yourself that you got a boyfriend." He whined. "Do you know how shocked I was to find out when one of my lovely hardworking subordinates told me?"

"Dealer." I sighed. "I have no obligation to inform you about anything that's occurs in my social life. We are strictly connected though business."

"Princess! How could you say that after all the favors I've done for you?"

"What favors? Anything you gave me always came with a price, that's why you're called the Dealer isn't it?" I rubbed my temples. "You should be glad I'm even bothering to talk this out with you."

"And it had to be the leader of PandOra, the head honcho, the boss. Don't you think you have enough danger in your life?" He lectured in jealous tone. "He doesn't deserve you." I heard a note of resentment in his usual deep confident voice.

"Whom I date is none of your concern." I answered. "And it's not like I wanted it to turn out this way, from the beginning I just wanted something from them. I can't dictate where fate decided to push me into."

"You never believed in fate before! Not that it isn't good that you're more open to new ideas but princess if you're going to be connected to him in that sort of way, how do you expect to attain the thing you want without hurting him?"

"It's not like they don't know I'm an assassin, I'll figure it out somehow. So stop poking your nose in my business." I said in a snappish sort of tone, it rung through the receiver like a warning bell.

I heard him make a sniffle on the other end; he was always such a drama geek. "So that's it? You don't need me anymore?"

I groaned this is why I hate phones sometimes; you never know what the person on the other end is really feeling. I smirked, but then again, before this I didn't really care. "What are you talking about?" I said in a snobbish voice. "You're my precious business partner. If I can't rely on you for information who else would I turn to?"

I waited as his sniffling sounds died down and a silent pause filled the air. "Well, you know there's no one better or as sexy to talk to than me!" H announced with a playful attitude. "I knew you wouldn't abandon me with those other ruffians!"

"I never said I was going to, and aren't those 'ruffians' your clients?" I sighed again; I never know when he's serious.

"But I wouldn't mind if you were my only client princess." He sang childishly.

I smirked into the phone. "Well, back to the main point of why I called, I heard that there's someone after Crow's head."

"Crow? As in the moonless killer Black Crow?" He tried to confirm.

"Yes."

"Are you sure you want him? He a small-timer." I heard the clicking of keyboard buttons as he tried to reconfirm.

"Well, he can't be that small if he has a name for himself." I justified.

"The awards not that big. Just a measly ten thousand."

"It's fine, I only need an amount that's enough to pay my rent." I chided.

"Then why don't you use your part time job?" He question, his words came as smooth as honey.

I growled. "Can't, I got fired."

"You? That's hard to believe princess."

I frowned. "Although I find pleasure in knowing something you didn't know for once, I'd rather not talk about it. All I'll say is that there's one granny who kept complaining about me so they had to let me go."

I heard him release a deep rich chuckle. "Well, my sympathies then."

"Plus the rents due in three days. A part time job would never be enough." I sighed as I leaned back into my chair. "So give me the job before someone else takes it, Dealer."

"Alright princess, I'll send the information the usual way then?"

"Can't you for once tell me which locker it's going to be in? Every time I go to the public lockers and try to solve your ridiculously abstract riddles to try see which number it is, is very tiring and a waste of time."

"Sorry princess, that's protocol." He let out another deep chuckle. "Crow should be easy anyway, since he's C-type after all, although he made a name for himself he's still a rookie. You're lucky tomorrow is a new moon or you would have had to wait for a while. No matter how good you are princess, you can't catch someone who is only willing to kill on a 'moonless' night."

I growled. "I know that, but since tomorrows a new moon I should be fine."

I heard him let out a low whistle. "As always you're confident."

"Naturally," I answered in a slick voice. "I'll send the payment when I confirm that I received the information."

"Alright, anything else?" He asked.

"Actually, yes, I've heard that some organizations are going to be after the Dragon's Eye two weeks from now." I proceeded slowly.

"Is that right? Where'd you hear that from? And don't say a little birdie told me." He added quickly.

I swallowed. "I found it through a fairly shaky and unreliable resource, which is why I asked you." I complimented him.

"Not telling huh." He murmured. "Why do you want to know?"

"Is that relevant?" I asked slightly defiant.

"No." He chuckled again with an all knowing attitude. "Just curious. The Dragon's Eye, well, according to my sources, your lovely boyfriend's group PandOra is after it, as well as the Black Chimera's." He whistled. "Wow, the two rival teams are finally going to clash."

"Is that all?"

"Yup, but really I never you were interested in the Dragon's Eye." He commented.

"I'm not." I admitted. "I'm interested in the people who are after it."

I swear I could hear him smirk. "Well I knew that."

"Then why did you ask?" I almost snapped at him.

"I wanted to see if you would admit it. You know, you've really changed, princess. We never had a conversation this casual and long before." He laughed softly.

"Are you displeased?"

"No, I'm rather thrilled that you would talk to me like this, it makes me look forward to our future conversations." He sighed blissfully. "My princess is all grown up."

"I'm glad you approve, it would be such a shame to lose you, for business reasons that is." I stated. "Then, till next time, Dealer." I hung up the phone and stepped out of the isolated booth. I looked up into the grey coloured sky, the moment I've been waiting to happen is approaching in less than two weeks now. If I could just somehow, plan this to give me the greatest advantage. Technically if I asked to team up Syaoran it would provide me with best chance, but Syaoran would probably refuse. He doesn't even know my relation with Touya. 'Then why don't I just tell him?' I closed my eyes at the passing thought, that would be a lot simpler, but how would he react? 'You don't know until you try.' I frowned, great; my mind is beginning to talk back to me.

I took my time as I began to walk towards the direction of my apartment. I felt I was being less anxious than I should, less prepared than I would've been and more blissful than I thought that I would ever be. I began to walk on the short-leveled wall carefully balancing myself as I stride along it. It was almost as if I nothing life-changing ever happened to me, that I was just a normal girl working for her future.

There are so many things that I would've wanted if that was true, so many things. I looked down onto the shadow I casted on the untouched snow. I sighed as I continued to glide on the wall. Even without anyone else saying anything I can clearly tell the difference from the 'me' today and the 'me' from before. I was less conceding, more open, and maybe slightly kinder. I gave a small smile, and I'm enjoying it, that's why I want to protect the 'me' who I am today, without ever forgetting the 'me' from my past.

I hopped off at the end of the wall, I could see the apartment building coming into view. As I walked along the pathway, in the corner of my eye I could see small snow angels off to the side. I chuckled as I sped up to my door and opened it. I glanced around my apartment, it was as simple as it ever was, but lately, it seemed much warmer to live in. I stopped midway in the process of putting my coat away when I hear the bell sound. I made a slightly confused face, it couldn't be Mrs. Smith, I haven't seen her for weeks, let alone talk to her. I went to answer it, as I did I smiled, before I wouldn't have even thought of opening the door.

I slowly opened the door and saw nothing, nothing but the grey sky. I frowned, a prank? Really how ridiculous, I never thought anyone would do that around here.

"Excuse me?"

I looked downward to the direction of the high-pitched yet politely toned voice. My eyes were greeted with sight of two children, a boy and a girl. The boy was no doubt older than the girl, probably her brother even. I glanced at both of the warmly dressed children; their cheeks still red, probably from being outside for too long. I sighed, if it were the 'me' from before, I would've probably sent them away. I smiled as I glanced at them the girl dressed in pink and her brother dressed in blue, both of them showing only a few strands of brown hair under their patterned hats. I bent down slightly; the boy was probably no older than ten. "What can I do for you?"

The girl began to stutter incomplete words before the boy cam in front of her, their hands linked as he stated strongly. "You dropped this." He stretched out his hand.

I blinked at his outstretched hand, where in his glove lay my gloves. I was too lazy to put them back on after talking to the Dealer. It was only a few minutes to the apartment after all. I smiled sweetly at him. "Thank you."

"I wanted to give it to her!" The girl squealed at her brother.

"It's not my fault if you started stuttering like baby." He droned as he stuck his tongue out.

"But I couldn't help it, she's so pretty!" She whined making me I chuckled lightly.

"I know that." He said curtly. "But if you stutter how's she suppose to understand you?"

"But, but." She began to stutter again before breaking into tears, well, she is still at the crybaby stage.

The older child immediately had a look of guilt on his face when he noticed his younger sister began to cry. So he tried to calm her down. "I'm sorry okay? So stop crying."

"But-"

I sighed as I saw her continue to cry, I brought my slim finger below her eyes wiping away a tear as I began to say. "Now, now, little miss, crying isn't suited for cute girls like us you know. I'm sure you older brother just wanted to be as quick as possible so he could play with you afterwards."

She looked up. "Really?"

I smiled. "Yeah, I had one too so I'd know."

"Really?" She faced her brother.

"Yeah." He muttered shyly. "It's still your fault for stuttering all the time though."

At this she began to cry again. "Brother is so mean."

I groaned, as I was about to interfere again the boy said. "I got it, I'll give you my share of hot chocolate later but you have to stop crying." He put on a screwed up superior face mixed with guilt.

At that she stopped crying as she peeked from her hands. "Really?"

"Yeah." He groaned out.

"Promise."

"Yeah, yeah I promise." He sighed; I smiled at how stubborn he was to show that he loved his sister.

"Then pinky promise it." She stuck out her wet chubby pinky after taking off her gloves.

"Why do I have to do that?" He complained.

"Because big brother doesn't always keep his promises and mama said that if I do this you cant break it." She said stubbornly.

"Fine, I got it." He pulled his hand from his glove and linked his slightly bigger pinky with his sister. "And you have to stop crying." He added lightly.

"Yup!" She answered energetically as she began to sing a hot chocolate song.

The boy turned back to me. "Sorry for the trouble."

I glanced him, since when are ten-year-old boys that polite? Nevertheless I smiled at him. "Not at all, thanks for giving me back my gloves."

He gave a 'big boy' face before dragging his now content sister away. I sighed again as I closed the door, I never thought I'd have a conversation like that. I staggered slightly towards my bed before falling face down onto my bed. Interesting kids though I closed my eyes as I turned my head to the side. 'Siblings'. Such a warming and horrible word.

"Why?" I was sitting on the dining table my big emerald eyes gazing at Touya for answers.

"Why what?" He asked in a patient tone, his dark brown hair dripping from his recently taken shower.

"Why Touya?" I repeated childishly.

"Call me oni-chan." He frowned.

I made a whining sound. "Why? It sounds so childish."

"It's fine, since you are still a child." He chided maturely.

"I'm six years old though." I objected showing him six fingers.

He smiled as he gently bent one of them back down. "That isn't until tomorrow, right now, you're still five. So you're still a child."

I pouted before my eyes began to sparkle. "Then Touya-"

"Oni-chan." He corrected.

I giggled. "Then oni-chan, when I turn six tomorrow you can't call me a child anymore."

"I didn't say that." He smiled nonchalantly as he continued to fold the laundry.

I made a whining sound again. "No fair."

He laughed. "What's wrong with calling your oni-chan, 'oni-chan'? You are my cute little sister after all." I pouted at him; he looked at me and grinned. "So, what were you asking about earlier?"

I thought about it. "I don't remember."

He laughed again. "You were asking me why, weren't you?"

I grinned. "Yeah, Touya is so smart."

"Oni-chan." He corrected again. "And? Why were you asking?"

"You know, you know, why do people lie?" I asked.

"That's a very deep question." He said.

"Deep? Is the answer underground?" I asked confused.

He chuckled. "No, it means that it's complicated."

"But mama said deep was something below me." I said my head was going in circles.

He gave me a slightly anxious face. "Well, you'll learn what I mean when you're older. Why do people lie?" He murmured. "Well, sometimes it's because they're bad people."

"Does that mean grandma is a bad person?" I began to tear up I liked my grandma.

"No, why would you think that?"

"Because grandma told me that oni-chan is scared of dogs, even though he wants to play doctor." I grinned. "But there's no way right because oni-chan isn't scared of anything."

"I don't want play doctor, I want to be one, a vet to be precise." He chuckled nervously. "Of course I'm not afraid of dogs. But grandma isn't a bad person."

"But you said only bad people lie."

"Well, sometimes people lie to protect people they love."

"Oh." I hummed. "I still don't like it."

"What? Lying? Well, you're right lying isn't good but sometimes you can't help it."

"I don't like it." I repeated. "Because it's like betrayal isn't it?

"Who's telling you all these things?" He asked in disbelief.

"Grandpa." I answered innocently.

He sighed.

"Oni-chan you wouldn't lie to me right?"

"Of course not." He smiled.

"You would never betray me right?"

"Right. I will always make sure your happy."

"I don't believe you." I pouted.

"What?" He sighed. "Then I'll pinky promise it. Mama told you that if you pinky promises you can never break it right? I'll even swear on it."

"Yeah." I linked my pinky with his giddily. "It's a promise, oni-chan. So you cant ever, ever, ever betray me or lie to me, 'kay?"

"Alright." He smiled. "I swear I'll never lie to you." He caught my frown before adding. "Or betray you."

I brought my pillow to my face, digging my fingers into it. I'm not happy Touya, so what does that make you? "Liar." I whispered.

I got up, as I looked into the mirror, I glared into the reflection my emerald orbs blazing. Only Touya and I had inherited my mother's eyes, the beautiful emerald eyes of my mother's family. "You're such a liar."

"Tou-ya." I said as if his name was two separate words.

"It's oni-chan." He repeated the phrase I've heard everyday.

"Then oni-chan, where are you going?" I tottered after him.

"I have club practice this morning."

"But you said you'd walk me to school." I pouted.

"I said maybe, I'm sorry, I promise that when I have time we'll go out for ice cream."

"But you're always busy." I complained.

"I'll do it as soon as I can, someday alright? I have exams to go through."

I pouted. "Fine."

"You're such a good little sister." He patted my head warmly.

"I know." I giggled. "Bye-bye, oni-chan."

"Bye, see you after school." He waved at me.

That day was such a normal day, so how did it end up being the death day of my family? I clenched my teeth. "Liar." I repeated again. You betrayed me, I hate you, I hate you I wish you were dead. I will make sure that you're dead I glared at the mirror. I raked my hand through my hair, remembering a time like that is unlike me though. Reminiscing is a waste of time, when it's about him at least. If only I didn't spend so much time with him as a child.

"Mama, mama!" I ran as fast as I could towards the garden where my mother and father were drinking tea.

"Yes? What is it?" She smiled kindly at me.

"Look! I found a clover!" I grinned at her raising the clover proudly in the air.

"Wow, that's amazing. Did you show it to your brother yet?" She patted my head.

"No, I'm going to show them now! But I can't find Hiro-ni anywhere." I frowned.

My father laughed. "He's at camp remember? Why don't you show it to Touya? He just got home."

"Really papa?" I asked excitedly.

"Yup." My father grinned. "He just came back from a tournament, he has another one tomorrow."

My eyes sparkled. "Then I'll give this to Touya!"

"That's nice of you." My father commented.

"You really love Touya don't you?" My mother smiled kindly at me.

"Yeah!"

I sighed, mama and papa, I haven't said those two words in such a long time. They were such kind people, who loved each other just as much as they loved their kids. To them we were always first priority. Since my little sister wasn't born till I was five, I was the youngest for a while, so Touya had always been the one to take care of me when my parents weren't around. So, I really, trusted him.

"Touya! Touya! Look!" I skipped towards him as he entered the house.

"Oni-chan." He corrected in his usual teasing manner. "Wow, a four-leaf clover, you're so smart." He ruffled my hair as he picked me up.

"It's for you." I grinned as I slid it in his hair, the way my mother did. "It looks good on you."

He grinned back. "Really?"

"Yeah!"

"But, I'm going to be busy for a while and I might lose it, so why don't you take care of it for me." He slid the clover behind my hair. "It looks nice on you too. Much better."

I giggled. "You know, you know-"

"Hmm? What is it?"

"I really love you oni-chan." I smiled.

"I love you too."

"Really?" I asked.

"Really, you're my very adorable little sister after all." He kissed my cheek.

I giggled again before hugging. "I love you, oni-chan!"

He's such a liar, he betrayed his family, and me but the only question I could never answer is why? Why did he do it? Did we not love him enough? Did he hate us? Why?

I slipped back into my bed; my eyes furrowed the whole way. I used the sheet to cover me completely, as I scrunched the bed cover underneath it. My glaring eyes slowly softening into a regretful look that I would never show anyone else or would even admit I ever made. I whispered into the newly found darkness miserably. "I hate you."

Love it? Hate it? Once again, not much action, but I think I gave you a better understanding about how close they were before right?
Please review!
-Thanks for reading-
See you again next week!
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Yuukiri