Author's Note: *sweatdrop* Geez, school just has me on a tight schedule
now. But, thanks to good ol' Turkey Day, I had some time to write up
Chapter 8. I wanna thank you all for your good reviews! *sniffs* I don't
think I could have ever done it without any of you! In fact, I'll reply to
some of you right now!
Ledophole: Well, maybe you'll be a bit more satisfied after reading this. *points down* Just wait 'till you see what happens in this chapter. Hehehehehehe!
Minako: Yeah, I guess I do kind of lack in the description area. I usually don't have much time to right, so I pretty much rush though my chapters ^_^ Anyway, I've seen to episode thirty-six. It's really not too far into the series, so that's why I made an Alternate Universe story.
To my other reviewers: Thanks a bunch for your great comments! I love you all!
Disclaimer: I don't own it. Really. I swear. You can sue me if you want, but I'm warning you - you won't get much. Really! I swear!
* * *
"EH?" Sana shrieked loudly, her chestnut eyes huge with surprise. "You married your bodyguard?"
The actress's attention was diverted as the heavy door to the bathroom swung open, banging against the wall loudly.
"Are you okay?" Hayama asked calmly, a pistol held in his outstretched hand. It looked so casual, almost as if he were born with it.
Sana's gaze fell onto the gun. It seemed that her bodyguard was always ready for action. He must have been constantly armed, in that case.
'A bodyguard must be prepared for anything and everything.'
The words rung in her ears as she recalled the tragedy on the airplane. 'At least one of us will always be prepared,' she thought grimly, yet admirably. 'I don't think I would have ever been able to stop trembling if it weren't for him.'
Natsumi rolled her eyes, her reaction contrasting highly with the stunned expression on Sana's face. "Really Akito, did you not see the 'WOMEN' sign on the front of the door?"
"I heard a yell," Hayama answered, making no move to recoil his arm.
"I-It's fine," Sana stuttered, clearing her throat. "Natsumi-chan just told me some surprising news."
A second past before Hayama accepted this answer, sliding the gun inside the waistband of his dark denim pants. "What, you're not pregnant, are you?"
"WHAT? Of course not!" Natsumi yelled, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Okura-kun and I have only been married for a month!"
Hayama smirked, leaning against the wall while he folded his arms across his sculpted chest. "And you two haven't gotten it on yet? I'm ashamed to have you as my sister."
"AKITO!" Natsumi shouted as she violently swung her purse at the bodyguard's head.
Hayama ducked the offending pocketbook as his fingers curled around his sister's wrist. "Hn. Don't take it out on me if no man wants to get in bed with you," he told her, the sneer still crossing his lips.
Natsumi's behavior changed drastically as she closed her eyes and chuckled deeply - almost sinisterly. "Pregnancy is a whole different matter, Akito-kun," she said silkily, wrenching her captured arm back.
The singer swung the strap of her purse across her shoulder before exiting the bathroom, her high heels clicking against the spotless tiles. "I'm just careful," she threw over her shoulder before the door closed, leaving her brother and the actress alone.
Sana stared blankly at the closed door, blinking rapidly.
"You and your sister have a weird relationship," she murmured after a few moments of a silence, somewhat dazed.
Hayama stared at his client from the corner of his eye as she shrugged. "It's nothing special."
"It is," Sana protested quietly, a smile of envy gracing her lips. "I don't know what it's like to have siblings."
"What did Natsumi say to you before I came in?" Hayama asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.
Sana's eyes widened at the question as blood flew quickly to her cheeks.
"She told me about how she was once in my position," the actress half- lied. "I was so surprised. I would have never thought that anyone would want to hurt her."
'Well, it's part of the truth,' the actress thought, giving herself a bit of credit.
Hayama grunted, pushing himself off the wall. "Mirou Genji," he muttered, scowling at the ground.
"What?" Sana asked, taking a step closer to her bodyguard.
"That was the name of the man who was stalking her," Hayama replied. "After Saichirou caught him, he was thrown into an insane asylum." After a moment, he added, "Saichirou is her husband."
The actress's flushed face contorted into one of disgust. "Ugh, he was crazy?"
Hayama stared at her, knowing it would be best not to tell her that he was the one stalking her as well - or one of the ones stalking her. "Yeah..."
"How awful," Sana muttered before trekking to the door in her unstable high heels. "Who knows what an insane person might do...?"
"She's over it," Hayama stated. "Don't worry about her right now."
Sana stared intently into her bodyguard's deep eyes, a small smile wavering on her lips. "We should go. Men don't usually walk into women's bathrooms," she spoke quietly, holding the door open for her bodyguard.
Hayama didn't walk through the doorway, but rather held the door in his client's place, allowing her to walk ahead of him. "I'll be right behind you."
The young actress nodded numbly, hesitantly stepping through the varnished frame. She immediately felt her bodyguard's strong hand on the small of her back, intending to firmly guide her back to their table.
'Natsumi-san married her bodyguard...?' she thought to herself quietly, her russet eyes traveling over the exotic restaurant. 'Romantic, now that I think about it.'
Her gaze wandered across tables, settling on a few dancing couples every now and then. The action came naturally to her. Ever since she received her first letter, she couldn't stop glancing around. It wasn't necessarily a nervous take, but rather being extremely cautious. After all, she couldn't really bring herself to be nervous with her defender there, always ready to shield her from harm.
Sana quickly moved to the side of the carpeted aisle as a tall man wearing a deep red apron passed by. He slipped through the crowd easily, holding a two layer chocolate cake on a tray, raising it above his head with his right hand as he weaved through the throng of people dancing happily to the Spanish music.
The actress smiled to herself, realizing that it must have been a birthday cake. 'Good wishes to the one receiving it,' she prayed silently.
Four blinding, orange flames caught Sana's attention, as she stopped in front of the little girl receiving her layered dessert.
Sana tilted her head slowly to the side, mesmerized by the shimmering flames as they danced in the depths of her chestnut eyes. 'Four candles,' she thought dreamily. 'I've seen this before...'
"What's wrong?" Hayama urged when she came to a halt. He followed her intense watch to the flickering fire, arching an eyebrow when she continued to stare.
'What is she doing?' The bodyguard's eyebrows drew together, registering the misty look in his client's eyes.
Four candles.
A newly aged four year old sat at a round, mahogany table, placed in front of a towering, three layer fudge cake.
"Snap out of it," he demanded firmly as he curled his fingers around Sana's upper-arm. "We need to get back to the table..."
The limb was abruptly shaken away as it fell limply back to its owner's side. "No," came the flat, dead response.
Four candles.
A gunshot shattered the stillness of the tranquil night.
Sana stood, rooted to her spot in the mix of dancing and eating families as long-forgotten scenes cried out in rage to play in her mind's eye.
Four candles.
A man fell forward onto the polished table, his eyes glazed over.
"Kurata," Hayama whispered soothingly into the actress's ear, trying to get her mental state back in this world.
Four candles.
A sickening sound of thick liquid being pressed between the man's body and the surface of the table, crimson droplets staining the girl's terrified face.
"Sana," Hayama tried again, this time reverting to her given name.
Four candles.
Another gunshot, this time a woman being the one to succumb to it.
"Damn it," Hayama cursed under his breath, waving a hand in front of the dazed girl. "Come on, Sana."
Four candles.
A chocolate dessert falling onto the timbered floor.
"Sana!"
Four candles.
A burning cabin.
"Get a grip, already!"
Four candles...and the anguished scream of a little girl.
"HEY!"
All at once, the pictures shattered.
Cheers and applauding drowned out the fearful gunshots.
Whipped, chocolate frosting replaced the scarlet pools of blood.
Four, flameless candles beat out the scorching flames.
Sana's hand immediately leapt to her chest as she gasped with the insistent pounding of her heart. Her russet eyes roamed frantically around the room, searching for any recognition of where she was.
"Sana?" a deep, alto voice tentatively asked.
The actress whipped her head around, staring into the eyes of her protector.
"...Are you okay?"
Suddenly, everything returned to the lost girl's memory. She was here, at the Mexican restaurant, to eat lunch with the famous singer, Hayama Natsumi. No one had been shot. The edifice wasn't enveloped in blazing embers.
A relieved serenity overcame her frenzied heart as she wavered a smile. "Since when did you start calling me by my given name, Hayama?"
Hayama stared blankly at his client. "What happened to you?"
"Nothing...I was just remembering one of my birthdays!" she stated cheerfully.
The actress winced slightly under the intensity of her bodyguard's glare. "Don't," he warned.
"Don't what?"
"Don't lie to me."
Sana swallowed, looping her hair behind one ear. "I'm not lying, Hayama!"
"I'm supposed to protect you," he reminded her.
"And you've been doing a fantastic job!" Sana tried to convince him, flashing her best awards smile.
'I can't do this,' the actress thought to herself as she felt her smile tremble slightly. "I'll be right back. I forgot my lipstick in the restroom!"
"I'll go with you," Hayama immediately offered.
Sana shook her head violently, her dark curls whipping across her face. "No-no-no-no-no!" she refused enthusiastically. "If anyone sees you going into the women's bathroom yet AGAIN, it'll be somewhat embarrassing."
"Kurata," Hayama warned again, using the formal approach once again.
"I'll be fine," the actress insisted, backing toward the restroom. "Just go back to the table!"
Hayama released a heavy breath, watching as she safely returned to lavatory.
* * *
Sana stared at herself in the mirror, shaking her head disapprovingly at the weary young woman scowling back.
'After all this time, it still haunts me...'
A deep sigh escaped her lips as she leaned idly against the door, only to jump forward with a startled cry as it opened with the weight.
"Stupid thing!" she exclaimed in frustration as it swung shut again, and settled for resting against the wall instead.
Her mind back on what happened earlier, Sana scrunched her nose in thought.
'I locked it in the depths of my mind. I forbade myself to ever think of it again, but...' Sana lifted her gaze to the ceiling, as if her thoughts were written there. 'When I saw those candles, it was as if I went back in time. It was all I could see.'
"Mom...Dad..."
* * *
Filmy shadows gathered in one corner of the restaurant, cloaking the lone figure standing there with curtains of darkness. Gray ashes from his cigarette butt fluttered to the ruby-colored carpet, the orange embers nestled in the scarlet fibers.
A deep, growling laughter emitted from his throat as he watched his actress walk through the door to the restroom once again.
"And now, time for fun," he mumbled, fingering the cigarette lighter in the pocket of his black trench coat. He tossed the cigarette into the center of the room, signaling for all other men to start preparations.
* * *
"Where's Sana-chan, Akito?" Natsumi inquired once her brother reached the table.
"Still in the restroom," he replied casually as he glanced over at the other two, giggling girls. The one with lighter hair had a cell phone in her hand, and her cheeks were practically flaming.
"Yeah, I've been doing fine," she spoke into the mouthpiece, smiling while still biting her lower lip. "You should come down and visit, Tsuyoshi-kun."
Hayama rolled his eyes as he shoved his sister farther into the booth to make room for himself. "He can't visit. He's busy protecting a man who had been receiving threats since he witnessed a murder."
Fuka shook her head, grinning saucily at her friend's bodyguard. "They caught the guy who was making the threats. He's free to come here!"
"Tsuyoshi-kun and Aya-san," Natsumi murmured, trying out the idea. "I like it!"
"Whatever," came Hayama's flat response.
'She should be back by now,' the bodyguard thought worriedly.
"Hey," Natsumi spoke abruptly, stiffening in her seat as she sniffed the air. "Do you guys smell...smoke?"
Hayama, suddenly alert to the mysterious chain of coughing flitting through the exotic restaurant, inhaled deeply. "There's a fire...!"
"A fire?" Aya echoed, distracted from her phone call.
A few flames scattered in one dark corner of the edifice's interior, not much of a threat by itself, but enough to inflict the customers inside with smoke inhalation. And that was with the fire's condition NOW. It was already starting to rapidly spread along the crimson carpet and peach- colored walls.
Screams erupted from several women as they hurried to get out of the fire's reach. Hayama stood up abruptly, whipping his head around in all directions. From six other corners of the huge restaurant, flames rose along the walls and singed the fiesta tablecloths.
'What the HELL is going on?'
* * *
'What the HELL is going on?'
Sana covered her mouth with her trembling hand as smoke started to invade her nostrils.
'A fire?!'
The actress ran to the door, preparing to open it. 'I might get trapped if I stay here. I've gotta get back to Hayama!'
The door swung open with Sana's violent strength as she rushed out. The huge mass of people were scurrying to the exits, screaming and crying. The four-year-old girl was carried off in the guarding arms of her mother, tears running down both of their cheeks.
"Don't cry, sweetie," Sana heard as the mother tried to comfort her child while desperately running to the exit.
"It's hot, Mommy!" The girl buried her face in her mother's silk blouse, staining the material with salty tears.
"We'll be out soon! So please, don't-"
A burning rafter from the ceiling came crashing down just as the two were in front of the restroom. With all the strength that she could muster, Sana sprang forward and pushed them out of the way.
"Get out of here!" she warned, crouching down on the carpet. She clutched her ankle, the limb that all of her weight was forced upon during the leap. 'My ankle...'
"Th-Thank you, miss!" the mother exclaimed, picking up her crying daughter and joining the crowd of people in their fight to the exits.
Sana watched as the mother and daughter rushed to safety, just when the hungry flames encased her, trapping her with a fence of fire. Fear took over her heart as she fell into a sea of red.
Four candles...and the terrified scream of a young woman.
* * *
"Sana!" Hayama shouted, recognizing the shrill cry of his client.
"Get outside, now!" he commanded the other three girls.
"What about Sana-chan?!" Aya asked shakily, still holding the cell phone.
"I'll get her! Just go!"
The three nodded, taking off for the exit as Hayama trekked to the crying woman, fire extinguisher in hand. He could see the wall of fire by the restroom, separating him from his one and only purpose.
"Sana!"
Another scream ensued from the terrified actress as she lifted her horror-filled eyes to voice asking of her.
Without any hesitation, Hayama held the fire extinguisher out in front of him. With the simple steps of "ready, aim, fire!" the white foamy substance spilled forth, smothering the greedy flames.
In the center of it all, a huddled woman was bent over an injured ankle, shoulders sagged in defeat, head bowed. Her eyes rose from beneath her disheveled bangs, gazing into the brown pools of her defender's.
Hayama ran forward, sweeping the actress into his arms in one swift movement.
"Hayama..."
"I'm your bodyguard," he whispered to her, holding her frail body to his chest. "I'll protect you."
* * *
Author's note: So, there you have it! Okay, I really rushed with this, so it probably looks like crap, but hopefully it'll be enough to hold you all for now! *whines* I really need to start editing my chapters. Well, see ya'll later!
Ledophole: Well, maybe you'll be a bit more satisfied after reading this. *points down* Just wait 'till you see what happens in this chapter. Hehehehehehe!
Minako: Yeah, I guess I do kind of lack in the description area. I usually don't have much time to right, so I pretty much rush though my chapters ^_^ Anyway, I've seen to episode thirty-six. It's really not too far into the series, so that's why I made an Alternate Universe story.
To my other reviewers: Thanks a bunch for your great comments! I love you all!
Disclaimer: I don't own it. Really. I swear. You can sue me if you want, but I'm warning you - you won't get much. Really! I swear!
* * *
"EH?" Sana shrieked loudly, her chestnut eyes huge with surprise. "You married your bodyguard?"
The actress's attention was diverted as the heavy door to the bathroom swung open, banging against the wall loudly.
"Are you okay?" Hayama asked calmly, a pistol held in his outstretched hand. It looked so casual, almost as if he were born with it.
Sana's gaze fell onto the gun. It seemed that her bodyguard was always ready for action. He must have been constantly armed, in that case.
'A bodyguard must be prepared for anything and everything.'
The words rung in her ears as she recalled the tragedy on the airplane. 'At least one of us will always be prepared,' she thought grimly, yet admirably. 'I don't think I would have ever been able to stop trembling if it weren't for him.'
Natsumi rolled her eyes, her reaction contrasting highly with the stunned expression on Sana's face. "Really Akito, did you not see the 'WOMEN' sign on the front of the door?"
"I heard a yell," Hayama answered, making no move to recoil his arm.
"I-It's fine," Sana stuttered, clearing her throat. "Natsumi-chan just told me some surprising news."
A second past before Hayama accepted this answer, sliding the gun inside the waistband of his dark denim pants. "What, you're not pregnant, are you?"
"WHAT? Of course not!" Natsumi yelled, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Okura-kun and I have only been married for a month!"
Hayama smirked, leaning against the wall while he folded his arms across his sculpted chest. "And you two haven't gotten it on yet? I'm ashamed to have you as my sister."
"AKITO!" Natsumi shouted as she violently swung her purse at the bodyguard's head.
Hayama ducked the offending pocketbook as his fingers curled around his sister's wrist. "Hn. Don't take it out on me if no man wants to get in bed with you," he told her, the sneer still crossing his lips.
Natsumi's behavior changed drastically as she closed her eyes and chuckled deeply - almost sinisterly. "Pregnancy is a whole different matter, Akito-kun," she said silkily, wrenching her captured arm back.
The singer swung the strap of her purse across her shoulder before exiting the bathroom, her high heels clicking against the spotless tiles. "I'm just careful," she threw over her shoulder before the door closed, leaving her brother and the actress alone.
Sana stared blankly at the closed door, blinking rapidly.
"You and your sister have a weird relationship," she murmured after a few moments of a silence, somewhat dazed.
Hayama stared at his client from the corner of his eye as she shrugged. "It's nothing special."
"It is," Sana protested quietly, a smile of envy gracing her lips. "I don't know what it's like to have siblings."
"What did Natsumi say to you before I came in?" Hayama asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.
Sana's eyes widened at the question as blood flew quickly to her cheeks.
"She told me about how she was once in my position," the actress half- lied. "I was so surprised. I would have never thought that anyone would want to hurt her."
'Well, it's part of the truth,' the actress thought, giving herself a bit of credit.
Hayama grunted, pushing himself off the wall. "Mirou Genji," he muttered, scowling at the ground.
"What?" Sana asked, taking a step closer to her bodyguard.
"That was the name of the man who was stalking her," Hayama replied. "After Saichirou caught him, he was thrown into an insane asylum." After a moment, he added, "Saichirou is her husband."
The actress's flushed face contorted into one of disgust. "Ugh, he was crazy?"
Hayama stared at her, knowing it would be best not to tell her that he was the one stalking her as well - or one of the ones stalking her. "Yeah..."
"How awful," Sana muttered before trekking to the door in her unstable high heels. "Who knows what an insane person might do...?"
"She's over it," Hayama stated. "Don't worry about her right now."
Sana stared intently into her bodyguard's deep eyes, a small smile wavering on her lips. "We should go. Men don't usually walk into women's bathrooms," she spoke quietly, holding the door open for her bodyguard.
Hayama didn't walk through the doorway, but rather held the door in his client's place, allowing her to walk ahead of him. "I'll be right behind you."
The young actress nodded numbly, hesitantly stepping through the varnished frame. She immediately felt her bodyguard's strong hand on the small of her back, intending to firmly guide her back to their table.
'Natsumi-san married her bodyguard...?' she thought to herself quietly, her russet eyes traveling over the exotic restaurant. 'Romantic, now that I think about it.'
Her gaze wandered across tables, settling on a few dancing couples every now and then. The action came naturally to her. Ever since she received her first letter, she couldn't stop glancing around. It wasn't necessarily a nervous take, but rather being extremely cautious. After all, she couldn't really bring herself to be nervous with her defender there, always ready to shield her from harm.
Sana quickly moved to the side of the carpeted aisle as a tall man wearing a deep red apron passed by. He slipped through the crowd easily, holding a two layer chocolate cake on a tray, raising it above his head with his right hand as he weaved through the throng of people dancing happily to the Spanish music.
The actress smiled to herself, realizing that it must have been a birthday cake. 'Good wishes to the one receiving it,' she prayed silently.
Four blinding, orange flames caught Sana's attention, as she stopped in front of the little girl receiving her layered dessert.
Sana tilted her head slowly to the side, mesmerized by the shimmering flames as they danced in the depths of her chestnut eyes. 'Four candles,' she thought dreamily. 'I've seen this before...'
"What's wrong?" Hayama urged when she came to a halt. He followed her intense watch to the flickering fire, arching an eyebrow when she continued to stare.
'What is she doing?' The bodyguard's eyebrows drew together, registering the misty look in his client's eyes.
Four candles.
A newly aged four year old sat at a round, mahogany table, placed in front of a towering, three layer fudge cake.
"Snap out of it," he demanded firmly as he curled his fingers around Sana's upper-arm. "We need to get back to the table..."
The limb was abruptly shaken away as it fell limply back to its owner's side. "No," came the flat, dead response.
Four candles.
A gunshot shattered the stillness of the tranquil night.
Sana stood, rooted to her spot in the mix of dancing and eating families as long-forgotten scenes cried out in rage to play in her mind's eye.
Four candles.
A man fell forward onto the polished table, his eyes glazed over.
"Kurata," Hayama whispered soothingly into the actress's ear, trying to get her mental state back in this world.
Four candles.
A sickening sound of thick liquid being pressed between the man's body and the surface of the table, crimson droplets staining the girl's terrified face.
"Sana," Hayama tried again, this time reverting to her given name.
Four candles.
Another gunshot, this time a woman being the one to succumb to it.
"Damn it," Hayama cursed under his breath, waving a hand in front of the dazed girl. "Come on, Sana."
Four candles.
A chocolate dessert falling onto the timbered floor.
"Sana!"
Four candles.
A burning cabin.
"Get a grip, already!"
Four candles...and the anguished scream of a little girl.
"HEY!"
All at once, the pictures shattered.
Cheers and applauding drowned out the fearful gunshots.
Whipped, chocolate frosting replaced the scarlet pools of blood.
Four, flameless candles beat out the scorching flames.
Sana's hand immediately leapt to her chest as she gasped with the insistent pounding of her heart. Her russet eyes roamed frantically around the room, searching for any recognition of where she was.
"Sana?" a deep, alto voice tentatively asked.
The actress whipped her head around, staring into the eyes of her protector.
"...Are you okay?"
Suddenly, everything returned to the lost girl's memory. She was here, at the Mexican restaurant, to eat lunch with the famous singer, Hayama Natsumi. No one had been shot. The edifice wasn't enveloped in blazing embers.
A relieved serenity overcame her frenzied heart as she wavered a smile. "Since when did you start calling me by my given name, Hayama?"
Hayama stared blankly at his client. "What happened to you?"
"Nothing...I was just remembering one of my birthdays!" she stated cheerfully.
The actress winced slightly under the intensity of her bodyguard's glare. "Don't," he warned.
"Don't what?"
"Don't lie to me."
Sana swallowed, looping her hair behind one ear. "I'm not lying, Hayama!"
"I'm supposed to protect you," he reminded her.
"And you've been doing a fantastic job!" Sana tried to convince him, flashing her best awards smile.
'I can't do this,' the actress thought to herself as she felt her smile tremble slightly. "I'll be right back. I forgot my lipstick in the restroom!"
"I'll go with you," Hayama immediately offered.
Sana shook her head violently, her dark curls whipping across her face. "No-no-no-no-no!" she refused enthusiastically. "If anyone sees you going into the women's bathroom yet AGAIN, it'll be somewhat embarrassing."
"Kurata," Hayama warned again, using the formal approach once again.
"I'll be fine," the actress insisted, backing toward the restroom. "Just go back to the table!"
Hayama released a heavy breath, watching as she safely returned to lavatory.
* * *
Sana stared at herself in the mirror, shaking her head disapprovingly at the weary young woman scowling back.
'After all this time, it still haunts me...'
A deep sigh escaped her lips as she leaned idly against the door, only to jump forward with a startled cry as it opened with the weight.
"Stupid thing!" she exclaimed in frustration as it swung shut again, and settled for resting against the wall instead.
Her mind back on what happened earlier, Sana scrunched her nose in thought.
'I locked it in the depths of my mind. I forbade myself to ever think of it again, but...' Sana lifted her gaze to the ceiling, as if her thoughts were written there. 'When I saw those candles, it was as if I went back in time. It was all I could see.'
"Mom...Dad..."
* * *
Filmy shadows gathered in one corner of the restaurant, cloaking the lone figure standing there with curtains of darkness. Gray ashes from his cigarette butt fluttered to the ruby-colored carpet, the orange embers nestled in the scarlet fibers.
A deep, growling laughter emitted from his throat as he watched his actress walk through the door to the restroom once again.
"And now, time for fun," he mumbled, fingering the cigarette lighter in the pocket of his black trench coat. He tossed the cigarette into the center of the room, signaling for all other men to start preparations.
* * *
"Where's Sana-chan, Akito?" Natsumi inquired once her brother reached the table.
"Still in the restroom," he replied casually as he glanced over at the other two, giggling girls. The one with lighter hair had a cell phone in her hand, and her cheeks were practically flaming.
"Yeah, I've been doing fine," she spoke into the mouthpiece, smiling while still biting her lower lip. "You should come down and visit, Tsuyoshi-kun."
Hayama rolled his eyes as he shoved his sister farther into the booth to make room for himself. "He can't visit. He's busy protecting a man who had been receiving threats since he witnessed a murder."
Fuka shook her head, grinning saucily at her friend's bodyguard. "They caught the guy who was making the threats. He's free to come here!"
"Tsuyoshi-kun and Aya-san," Natsumi murmured, trying out the idea. "I like it!"
"Whatever," came Hayama's flat response.
'She should be back by now,' the bodyguard thought worriedly.
"Hey," Natsumi spoke abruptly, stiffening in her seat as she sniffed the air. "Do you guys smell...smoke?"
Hayama, suddenly alert to the mysterious chain of coughing flitting through the exotic restaurant, inhaled deeply. "There's a fire...!"
"A fire?" Aya echoed, distracted from her phone call.
A few flames scattered in one dark corner of the edifice's interior, not much of a threat by itself, but enough to inflict the customers inside with smoke inhalation. And that was with the fire's condition NOW. It was already starting to rapidly spread along the crimson carpet and peach- colored walls.
Screams erupted from several women as they hurried to get out of the fire's reach. Hayama stood up abruptly, whipping his head around in all directions. From six other corners of the huge restaurant, flames rose along the walls and singed the fiesta tablecloths.
'What the HELL is going on?'
* * *
'What the HELL is going on?'
Sana covered her mouth with her trembling hand as smoke started to invade her nostrils.
'A fire?!'
The actress ran to the door, preparing to open it. 'I might get trapped if I stay here. I've gotta get back to Hayama!'
The door swung open with Sana's violent strength as she rushed out. The huge mass of people were scurrying to the exits, screaming and crying. The four-year-old girl was carried off in the guarding arms of her mother, tears running down both of their cheeks.
"Don't cry, sweetie," Sana heard as the mother tried to comfort her child while desperately running to the exit.
"It's hot, Mommy!" The girl buried her face in her mother's silk blouse, staining the material with salty tears.
"We'll be out soon! So please, don't-"
A burning rafter from the ceiling came crashing down just as the two were in front of the restroom. With all the strength that she could muster, Sana sprang forward and pushed them out of the way.
"Get out of here!" she warned, crouching down on the carpet. She clutched her ankle, the limb that all of her weight was forced upon during the leap. 'My ankle...'
"Th-Thank you, miss!" the mother exclaimed, picking up her crying daughter and joining the crowd of people in their fight to the exits.
Sana watched as the mother and daughter rushed to safety, just when the hungry flames encased her, trapping her with a fence of fire. Fear took over her heart as she fell into a sea of red.
Four candles...and the terrified scream of a young woman.
* * *
"Sana!" Hayama shouted, recognizing the shrill cry of his client.
"Get outside, now!" he commanded the other three girls.
"What about Sana-chan?!" Aya asked shakily, still holding the cell phone.
"I'll get her! Just go!"
The three nodded, taking off for the exit as Hayama trekked to the crying woman, fire extinguisher in hand. He could see the wall of fire by the restroom, separating him from his one and only purpose.
"Sana!"
Another scream ensued from the terrified actress as she lifted her horror-filled eyes to voice asking of her.
Without any hesitation, Hayama held the fire extinguisher out in front of him. With the simple steps of "ready, aim, fire!" the white foamy substance spilled forth, smothering the greedy flames.
In the center of it all, a huddled woman was bent over an injured ankle, shoulders sagged in defeat, head bowed. Her eyes rose from beneath her disheveled bangs, gazing into the brown pools of her defender's.
Hayama ran forward, sweeping the actress into his arms in one swift movement.
"Hayama..."
"I'm your bodyguard," he whispered to her, holding her frail body to his chest. "I'll protect you."
* * *
Author's note: So, there you have it! Okay, I really rushed with this, so it probably looks like crap, but hopefully it'll be enough to hold you all for now! *whines* I really need to start editing my chapters. Well, see ya'll later!