An empty feeling entered her mind; a lonely feeling that tore into every rival of her being. What was her name? Who was she? All her unanswered questions floated around in her head until she couldn't take it anymore. Perhaps it was all just a bad dream and when she awoke, she would be lying in her own bed and someone would be sitting beside her, awaiting her wake.

Slowly, she opened her eyes. She was lying in an unfamiliar room, on a strange bed. A chill ran up her spine and she twitched involuntarily. Her green eyes widened, and she felt a sharp pang with every intake of breath. A cough escaped her throat and her eyes watered in pain. She lifted a hand, to brush a few strands of auburn hair from her face, but gasped when she discovered it was completely covered in bandages.

"Where…w-where am…am I?" she tried to speak, and grimaced as the words passed her lips.

She let out a startled cry when a voice answered her question.

"Um, the local flower shop."

A handsome brunette stepped from the shadows of the room. A pair of goggles, which rested at his forehead, made his bangs stick up in the unnatural form most guys could get only from using 2½ bottles of freeze gel. He had a faded, brown-leather jacket on and a bright-orange sweatshirt tied about his waist. He wore casual blue jeans and a dark-brown shit that complemented his warm, chocolate eyes.

"What's your name?" he asked in a soft voice.

She shook her head, concentrating on the answer to his question. The truth stabbed her in the back. She didn't know. She didn't know her own name. Looking up at him, she frowned.

"I don't…I can't…remember…" her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm Ken," he whispered to her, "Ken Hidaka. Don't worry, I'll do all I can to help you."

Before she knew it, he had drawn her into a gentle embrace. He let her cry on his shoulder until it was soggy, and no more tears remained. She hiccoughed and pulled away from him. Her eyes were red and her delicate cheeks were flushed.

"Ken…thank you…" was all she could manage to say before passing out on the bed, once again.

Nodding, Ken stood and exited the room, closing the door as quietly as he could behind him.

Once in the hallway, he walked a bit faster until he reached the front of the store. A tall man with wavy, light-brown hair stood at the counter, smoking a cigarette. He looked bored, but in a somewhat-sexy way.

"Yo, Ken," he greeted him in a relaxed manner, "is the girl awake yet?"

Ken gave him a fierce look before replying, "She fell back to sleep. God, Yohji, give her some time! She was seriously wounded, lost a lot of blood! She-"

"Enough."

A red-haired boy ended the argument before it had time to begin. He was dressed in a long trench coat, which was buttoned up all the way, hiding what he wore beneath it. The only thing visible under it was a pair of black slacks, from the knees down.

"Aya," Ken complained to the red-head, "Yohji's gonna be hitting on that poor girl before she can even walk. Do something about it, oh fearless leader."

Aya shrugged and said, "You found her, you take care of her, Hidaka. I'm an assassin, not a babysitter."

"You're such a stiff, Aya," Yohji laughed, while putting his cigarette out in a nearby ashtray, "A totally hot chick is in the bed in the back room and you completely ignore it? Are you sure there's not something you'd like to share with the group?"

Ken couldn't help but smile as Aya stalked off, muttering something about idiots and how it was all headquarters' fault. Plopping himself down on the counter, he used it to crack his back. Yohji didn't flinch at all, in fact, he pushed Ken off the counter and onto the floor, smiling stupidly.

"C'mon, y'know that shit doesn't bother me at all, Ken. I hang people, remember?" he said, shaking his head.

Ken scratched his chin thoughtfully, "Yeah, you hang 'em with 'fun wire', as you like to call it."

The two broke into giggles and only semi-regained control when a younger boy walked into the room.

"What are you guys laughing at?" he asked innocently.

"Nothing much, Omi, just one of Ken's stupid-jokes-that-are-somehow-funny," Yohji replied with a shrug.

Omi had short, dirty-blonde hair and was wearing an orange tank top with matching shorts. He had a baseball cap on that formed a shadow over his eyes and said in plain, yellow letters: "Guns Don't Kill People, Aya Does."

"How long do you think it'll be before he notices?" Yohji asked the shorter boy curiously.

"Not long, now," Omi said with a devilish grin, "he's supposed to be the observant one, remember?"

"Not too observant for his reputation, though, is he?" Ken mused, raising an eyebrow in mock concentration.

Yohji and Omi collapsed against the counter, fighting down fits of laughter. Their jubilation ended abruptly when they heard footsteps coming down the hall.

"Shut up, quick," Yohji hissed to Omi, who was still shaking with mirth, "its probably Mr. Fun-stealer, and he hates when I slack off. He takes the job seriously, okay?"

Omi took a deep breath and the three prepared to get a big lecture from Aya. They were, instead, met by the pretty girl with auburn hair.

"You're up, already?" Ken gawked at her.

"Yohji smirked and said, "Damn, you are one foxy lady."

Omi elbowed him roughly and bowed saying, "Konnichiwa. My name is Omi Tsukyono."

She gazed at the three of them, each in turn, looking confused. She had the look of a lost child, insecure and afraid. Her eyes finally rested on Ken. She began to limp towards him, but stumbled and fell into his arms.

"Ken…" she murmured, "You saved me, I think. Thank you, again."

Yohji and Omi exchanged glances while a faint blush appeared on Ken's face. The girl seemed not to notice, for she balanced herself again, and waited for him to say something.

"You're welcome, miss," he replied, then Yohji nudged him and he added, "Oh, this is my friend Yohji, by the way."

"it's a pleasure," she said, meaning Yohji and Omi, but Yohji assumed she was talking to him only.

He bowed to her, as Omi had done, then knelt and kissed her hand, "The pleasure is all mine, princess."

"Um, right. Thanks," she said halfheartedly.

"Oh, for the love of God, Yohji, back off."

Aya had returned. He was now wearing a white apron over his clothes. It was quite amusing, apparently, because Omi and Yohji started giggling. Ken, however, was gazing fondly at the girl.

"Yohji, get you apron on," Aya commanded, "Omi, Ken, get yours on, too, and get to work arranging the flowers. Ken, get that stupid look off your face, we open in ten."

Ken blushed at being caught staring and it got even worse when Yohji said, "Oh, you know he always looks that way, Aya."

The girl watched them all, confused. Her eyes wandered around the store, moving quickly from place to place. They met Ken's gaze and she quickly averted her own.

"So…what should we call sleeping beauty?" Yohji asked, while tying his apron on.

"Ohh! How about Koneko?" Omi asked excitedly.

"Why don't we just call her Foxy," Yohji said in a voice dripping with syrup, putting an arm around her.

"Yohji, back OFF," Ken exclaimed, as he removed the arm heatedly.

"Must you all be so incompetent?" Aya asked frowning.

The four boys glared at each other momentarily, then turned away to get back to their duties. Ken, and Omi tied on their own aprons, looking agonized. Ken walked up to the girl, his eyes holding a warm aura.

"How about you help me and Omi with the arrangements," he said, giving her a kind of half-smile and waiting for a reply.

"Alright," she said, watching Omi start arranging the flowers, "it looks kind of fun."

Ken nodded and they walked over to where Omi stood, getting to work, while Yohji stood miserably behind the counter, smoking again.