Author's note: Okay, chapter 2…sorry it took so long for those of you who are actually reading this. If you are, thank you very much and please review. Enjoy.

He was there. Above her, beside her, around her, he was her. She was him. There was no distinguishable difference between the objects. Rei was there with her. Always with her. Together. It was so nice. Rei…but it wasn't Rei. It wasn't. This alien presence began to frighten her. Invading her. Leaving her open to the entire world…dark hair…those eyes. Cold. Deep. Dark. Go away, she thought. Go away! Rei! REI!

Rei awoke abruptly to the shrill pitch of Kira's scream. Rei shook her roughly frightened for her. Kira's eyes flew open and she screamed again.

"Kira! Kira, calm down," Rei said in a loud, commanding tone. Kira's small body heaved with labored breathing as she clutched Rei.

"Oh god," Kira breathed. "Rei."

"What was it?" Rei asked as he pulled away to look into her deep blue eyes that were now filled with fear. Kira looked away and took a deep breath. As she reagained calm, she drew close to Rei once more..

"Nothing," she replied, as a guilty pang shot through her. For some reason, she couldn't tell him. She didn't even understand it herself.

"Just a dream."

Kira idly watched her broom sweep the same spot over and over again. The morning had not gone well. Rei had gotten upset that Kira wouldn't talk to him and got ready and left for work without speaking.

This is what we talked about last night, Kira thought. We're growing apart, and it's killing me.

"Kira, you going to move anytime soon?"

Harumi's voice snapped Kira out of her reverie. Kira looked up to see her friend in her cute little waitress outfit with her short blonde hair covered with the cap. The two girls had moved to a different restaurant for a different job for better pay.

Doesn't matter, Kira thought. They're all the same. All contained the intermingled smell of people, grease, and salt, all small. If one of my paintings ever make it big, Kira thought, I'm out of here. But what if they don't? I'm trapped, Kira thought. I'm trapped and confined and I have to be so I can live. With Rei.

"Hey!"

Again Harumi's voie interrupted Kira's thoughts. "You're completely out of it! Did you talk to Rei last night?"

Kira nodded. Harumi's face grew worried.

"How did it go?"

Kira's face broke into a smile for the first time that day as the memory of the previous night broke through her dark thoughts.

"Pretty well," she replied with a small smile.

"Oh god," Harumi groaned, rolling her eyes. "Please don't go into detail."

Kira laughed. Harumi smiled in return.

"So why so glum today?" Harumi asked carefully Kira's face grew troubled once more. How was she supposed to answer her? Tell her about the dream? The thought of her job entered her thoughts once more.

"It's this place, I guess," Kira replied. She wasn't lying, she just wasn't telling her everything. Harumi sighed.

"Yeah, I know what you mean." She managed a small smile. "But you know what? Soon someone's going to see your art, and you won't have to work in this dump anymore."

Kira smiled.

"Thanks," she replied quietly. Harumi took the broom from Kira's hands.

"Now go work the counter. I'll finish up for you," Harumi said as she began to sweep.

"Thanks."

Kira crossed to the counter. As she took her position, the quiet delicate ring of the entry bell met her ears. She looked up towards the door. Her breath left her in a rush as the deep, sinking pit of fear hit her like a train. Was it fear, though? Some of it was, but there was also…oh god. Those eyes. No, Kira thought. Just a dream. But she could swear it was—no, he looked too—different to be—

"Hi Kira. It's been a while."

Oh god. It was.

"Dammit, Rei!"

Rei slowly shut his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, the six foot three figure of his boss filled his vision.

"Rei, how many times did I tell you that I wanted the crossbeams on the fifth floor finished today!"

Rei sighed again and allowed his gaze to turn to the construction sight. It was ugly. There were no other words for it. Steel beams and wooden planks lay in messy piles and construction workers crawled all over the site.

Rei hated this job. God, I wish I were on a motorcycle now, Rei thought.

"Rei!"

His boss's loud, brass voice snapped him back to reality.

"Too many times," Rei responded dully.

"That's damn right, too many times!" his boss shouted, though his face was no farther than three inches away from Rei's. "No get your ass back on that site and WORK!"

With that, his boss strode away in his odd, Neanderthal-type walk.

"God," Rei groaned. He ran his rough hands through his matted blonde hair, filled with dust.

"Hi Rei."

Rei turned. A gorgeous young woman with long, slim legs and a full figure stood behind him in a short, blue skirt and a low-cut red top. Golden brown hair cascaded down her back in soft curls and her full lips were set in a sultry smile.

Rei groaned again, only this time mentally. He heard whistles come from the construction workers. The brunette ignored them as her deep brown eyes were focused on Rei.

"What are you doing in a rough place like this?" she asked quietly.

"Earning money to support my wife," he said, with the slightest emphasis on the word "wife".

"Ah, so the rumors are true," the brunette said with a playful smile. "Rei married. Now there's an oxymoron if I've ever heard one."

"Why are you here, Akari?"

Akari's face grew serious, although the hint of a smile still played on her lips.

"My father's company is interested in sponsoring you."

Rei hid his surprise. It had been a year since he saw the sultry Akari, and they hadn't parted on pleasant terms.

"What, in for the race?"

Akari rolled her eyes.

"No, for the construction job. We hear you're excellent with crossbeams."

"Be serious, Akari."

"You started it." She sighed. "Anyway, my father heard about your skills and would like to sponsor you. Supposedly there's some big race coming up and sponsoring you would bring him business and get you money. What do you think?"

Rei thought. He knew Akari's father was big in the business world. But did he really want to be a walking—or rather, riding ad? He cared about the thrill of the race, not the ads. This race was big. It meant a lot, and he had been training as much as he could, but his lap times were still suffering.

This might be the only sponsor opportunity I'll get, he thought. This could help me and Kira out so much. He might be able to quit this lame job. But would he sell out for all that?

"Well?" Akari asked.

"I don't know…" Rei's voice trailed off. Akari snorted impatiently.

"Well, I'll come by tomorrow. Have your decision by then."

With that, Akari walked away. God, Rei thought. Did he really want to be a sell-out? God…