:CHAPTER 2:
Sakura smiled knowing that one way or another she would find out the name of the man in the picture no matter what the cost. Sakura then walked out to her Porsche convertible. She unlocked it and got in preparing for the long ride home. Once she was home her eyelids were drooping with weariness.
Sakura climbed up the side of her house by using the emergency ladder and crept up onto the balcony of her house.
Huffing and puffing Sakura said, "Phew! That was quite and exercise!"
She opened the balcony window and slipped into her bed without changing. Yawning, she fell fast asleep. It was well into the night. The clock read exactly three o' clock in the morning.
:IN SAKURA'S DREAMS:
Sakura opened her eyes to see herself as her seven year old self. She was wearing the yellow sundress that she had that day at the picnic. When she looked around it was as if she didn't exist. Sakura was standing, well more like floating outside Yuki's apartment complex. She saw as Yuki removed Shuichi's shirt passionately kissing him.
Look! They belong together, Sakura thought as she smiled.
Her heart raced as the scenery changed in a flash of colors. She saw a car and many police officer lights with paramedics. She could overhear them say that there were no survivors and that the man inside was someone by the last name of Fujisaki.
Fujisaki? Where have I heard that name? Sakura thought.
Her mind then flashed to the day of the picnic. She saw herself sleeping in Suguru's arms. She looked as her mother took the white box out of the sleeping girl's hands.
I remember that box, Sakura thought as she saw her mother look at it in disgust.
Her mother took the box and went to throw it away. Instead, when Shuichi and Yuki came back her mother snarled, "Why are you doing this? Stop while you're ahead! I don't want you getting closer to my daughter!"
"Where is this coming from Mika?" Shuichi asked.
Yuki pulled out the strawberry pocky out of his mouth and said, "Screw you Mika."
Mika only glared at Yuki, "What are you going to do about it."
"Shuichi is my lover." Yuki said as he pulled Shuichi into a small peck, "it's your damn problem if you don't like it. You can stop from seeing me all you want but please let me continue to visit my niece."
"You're really full of yourself." Mika scoffed as she walked away.
I saw her go to throw the white box in the trash. Huffing Mika saw Touma come up behind her. Touma hugged her small waist and said, "What's wrong?"
"Here." Mika said as she handed Touma the white box, "Throw this away. I just can't bring myself to do it."
Touma glared at the box and asked, "Shindo gave it to Sakura didn't he?"
Mika nodded and said, "Keep this away from Sakura. I don't want her to have anything to do with them."
Her mind flashed to the library located in the house. Sakura saw as her father put the box under a bunch of books at the highest bookshelf he could find.
: WAKING UP INTO REALITY:
The next time Sakura opened her eyes it was ten o'clock and her father Touma was gently shaking her shoulders for her to wake up.
"Rise and shine." her father Touma smiled.
Sakura's father exited her room as Sakura jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom to change. When she emerged she was wearing a white skirt, pink tank top with sequins sewn onto it and a white top over that. Her hair was down and crimped.
Once Sakura entered her lavishly decorated dining area she found that breakfast was served. One of the maids pulled the chair out from the table so that she could sit down. She didn't feel very much like eating and all of breakfast all Sakura did was pick at her food.
"What's wrong Sakura? You haven't touched your food." Mika said.
"Oh! It's nothing! I was just thinking that's all!" Sakura smiled.
"Are you sure?" Mika asked.
"Yes! I assure you I'm fine!" Sakura said as she shoved a piece of bacon in her mouth to convince her mother that she was all right, not really tasting the bacon as she swallowed it, "May I please be excused?"
"Be back soon." Mika said.
Sakura nodded and ran to the library. There she saw the many rows and bookshelves.
How am I ever going to find the necklace? Sakura thought, as she looked frantically.
"Miss?" A maid said.
"Yes?" Sakura answered.
"Do you acquire this ladder?" the maid asked.
Sakura nodded as the maid gave her the ladder. Sakura smiled appreciatively and continued her search. She had gone through five bookshelves and made her way to the grand window on the other side of the room. The blue velvet curtains prevented the morning sunshine from coming in. When, Sakura climbed up the ladder to that bookshelf she remembered how a book was on top of the white box. She wondered what was in there and moved the old, dusty book from on top of the place it was. Sakura sneezed from the dust and found what she was looking for. There sat the box. It was faded and gray but the one she was looking for.
Ten years can do this to something huh? Sakura thought as she grabbed it.
With trembling hands Sakura opened the box. Inside was the butterfly necklace that the pink haired man had given her so long ago. She smiled as she watched the white jewel sparkle from the center of the butterfly.
"Sakura! Where are you?" Touma called.
Startled Sakura looked down and saw her father staring up at her. Sakura fell from the bookshelf in shock. With a small scream she landed in her father's arms.
"Daddy you scared me!" Sakura panted as she hugged him.
"What were you doing all the way up there Sakura?" Touma asked the frightened girl in his arms.
"I was looking for a book." Sakura lied as she hid the white box in her shirt.
"Well, if I were you I wouldn't do such dangerous things. You could hurt yourself." Touma scolded gently.
"Yes, daddy." Sakura said.
"Then we are heading off." Touma said as a maid handed him his black jacket.
"Right dad." Sakura said standing up as one of the maids handed her, her black Guess jacket then added, "Oh! I forgot something in my room! I'll be right back!"
Running back up three flights of stairs Sakura opened the door to her room. Her clothes were still in the bathroom so she grabbed her hoodie sweater. When Sakura reached inside her pocket the picture was gone.
"Where is it?" Sakura cried as she frantically searched around for the picture.
"Sakura! We're going to be late!" Touma called, "what's taking you so long!"
"Coming!" Sakura called as she opened the glass doors of the balcony.
There, in the middle of the balcony was the picture flipped over so that the white side showed.
"There it is!" Sakura breathed a sigh of relief.
Picking it up she hid it inside her bra and ran down the stairs to the limo that was waiting for her and her father. The driver opened the door for Sakura as she jumped inside.
"Did you find what you acquired?" Touma asked.
"Yes!" Sakura said.
They rode all the way to NG Records. Sakura stepped out and looked at the building that loomed above her.
What answers can I find here? Sakura thought.
She opened the doors and walked inside. She walked in and sat down in her father's office.
"I'll be with you in a little while Sakura. I have to deal with another band. Please go wait in the lobby." Touma told her.
"Yes dad." Sakura answered.
She walked out of his office and took a left and walked down the stairs with the glass railings.
I hate waiting; Sakura thought as she reached out for an orange chair and took a seat in it.
For some reason when Sakura looked over at the wall of famous artists it intrigued her. It was a feeling that Sakura couldn't explain. It was like something drew her to look at the wall. It was so quiet in the building that when Sakura walked over to the wall, her footsteps echoed in that part of the building.
That's what I hate about this building, Sakura thought; it's always so quiet in here. Like someone died.
The wall that Sakura walked in front of first was the Platinum Record wall. The first band that she looked at was a band called ASK.
They sure had some weird names for the bands back then, Sakura thought as her hands ran over their picture, the man in the middle the picture… He looks almost evil.
She chuckled to herself and thought, that's crazy! I don't even know him.
His eyes were the untrusting kind. They were a tea brown, droopy, and his hair was jet black.
Sakura passed up the Platinum wall and went to look at the Gold Record wall. Her attention was drawn by the name of Bad Luck.
"Bad Luck?" Sakura laughed, "Who would name their band that?"
Her jaw almost dropped to the floor when she saw all the men that were in the picture. There was a red haired, blue eyed one and a green haired chocolate eyed one, but the one that she was most surprised about was the pink haired one.
"It's him!" Sakura gave a cry of surprise. She found Mr. Sakano walking down the stairs in a hurry and shouted, "Mr. Sakano!"
"Yes, Miss Seguchi?" Mr. Sakano asked.
"Would you be as so kind as to tell me who these men in the picture are?" Sakura asked.
"Oh them!" Mr. Sakano smiled, "I managed them for awhile. The band name is Bad Luck."
"I know that!" Sakura said annoyed, "What are their names?"
Mr. Sakano pointed to the man with red hair first and said, "His name is Hiroishi Nakano. Quite the talented guitar player." his finger then moved to the green haired chocolate-eyed one, "his name is Suguru Fujisaki. He was the keyboard player." then he traced his finger over to the pink haired boy, "his name is Shuichi Shindo. He was the lead singer!"
Sakura's eyes widened as she thought; now I remember! That was their names! Uncle Shuichi and Mr. Hiro! And Suguru! I wonder what ever happened to him.
"Is that all Miss Seguchi?" Mr. Sakano asked.
"No, actually I was wondering what happened to all of them." Sakura said.
"Oh." Mr. Sakano said looking away, "No one knows what happened to Shindo. Some say he died of a broken heart. Hiro disappeared after the car accident that killed your father's cousin."
"You mean that-" Sakura started to say but was cut off by Mr. Sakano.
"Yes, you were related to the key board player of Bad Luck." Mr. Sakano finished.
"Why didn't my father ever tell me that he died?" I asked.
"Suguru died a long time ago." Mr. Sakano said, "You were so young you probably don't remember."
: FLASHBACK:
"Daddy?" a seven-year-old Sakura dressed in a black dress asked, "what's going on?"
"We're going to a funeral." a stressed Touma replied.
"Who died?" Sakura asked.
"My cousin." Touma said.
"What happened to him?" Sakura asked.
"He died in a car accident." Mika said.
They lead their daughter Sakura into the limo that was to take them to the funeral. Once at the funeral home Sakura saw dozens of girls standing in front of it. Two bodyguards were standing outside the doors.
"Why are all those girls here?" Sakura asked.
"They're here to mourn over daddy's cousin." Mika said.
"Do we know them?" Sakura asked.
"No sweetie, let's just get inside." Touma said as they entered the funeral home.
Inside, the carpet was gray just like the day outside. The walls were no better. They were an ugly shade of green. It was very quiet inside and smelled of cigarette smoke. When they entered the room reserved for them it was a little bit prettier than the regular building. The carpet inside was beige and the walls were a soft color of baby blue. The casket was on the top of a few stairs. The alter stood directly to the right of it and on the left of the casket was and a stand to make speeches.
When Sakura walked up the stairs she found that the casket was closed. All around there were flowers and people crying.
This place is so sad, Sakura thought, if only he was still alive they wouldn't have to cry so much...
: END OF FLASHBACK:
That was him, Sakura thought, at the funeral! That's why the casket was closed! And the fan girls! I was too little to understand. But now I know!
"Mr. Hiro is still alive though right?" Sakura asked.
"Yes. I believe that the only person that knows his whereabouts are Ryuichi." Mr. Sakano said, "but he refuses to tell anyone where Hiro is."
"So Mr. Sakuma is the only one who knows where he is?" Sakura repeated as she held her right arm with her left hand.
"That is correct." Mr. Sakano said.
"Thank you!" Sakura said bowing.
I'm getting the hell out of here, Sakura thought running up the stairs.
Touma was walking down the hallway when Sakura ran past him.
"Sakura where are you going?" Touma called.
"Why?" Sakura shouted as she turned around.
"Why what?" Touma asked.
"Why did you keep the truth from me?" Sakura shouted pulling out the picture from her bra.
Touma frowned and walked over to take a closer look at the picture.
"Let me ask you a question dad! What ever happened to the lead singer of Bad Luck?" Sakura asked.
"No one knows." Touma said.
"Why do I not believe that?" Sakura asked clenching her fists "is that another one of your bullshit lies?"
"All right you caught me. But that does not mean that I'm going to tell you. You deliberately disobeyed your mother's wishes. For that you're grounded!" Touma sternly said.
"I'm leaving!" Sakura announced as she ran past Touma.
"Sakura come back!" Touma yelled as she ran out of the building.
This is bad, Touma thought as he rubbed his temples.
Sakura ran out of the building and to the left thinking, I've must find Ryuichi!
Taking out her pink cell phone Sakura called her house to have her car brought to her. Her car was to be brought to her by the café down the street. Sakura continued running down and gasped when someone grabbed her arm unexpectedly. Turning around she saw that it was none other than Ryuichi! He was wearing his usual goofy grin, a pair of ripped black jeans, and a beige hoodie sweater.
"Ryuichi!" Sakura cried hugging him.
"The one and only." Ryu laughed.
"Am I glad to see you!" Sakura said.
"Am I glad to see you!" Ryu said, "Where's Touma?"
"He's busy right now." Sakura lied, "will you please come down with me to the coffee shop?"
Ryu looked down at Sakura and smiled. He could never resist that puppy dog look of hers.
"Okay!" Ryu agreed as he put his arm around her shoulder, "so what have you been up to kiddo?"
"I'll tell you later!" Sakura laughed.
Man I love Ryuichi! Sakura thought, since I could remember he's always been a like a brother to me!
"Let's go!" Ryu laughed as he took her arm and ran down to the coffee shop.
He was like a little boy impatient to get to the candy store. They entered the store, bought their coffees and sat down in a table for two by the window.
"So what's on your mind Sakura?" Ryu asked.
Ryuichi always knew when there was something wrong with Sakura. She pulled the picture out of her shirt and said, "Do you recognize this man?"
"Yeah! That's Shuichi! Him and me had some good times! Never could find anyone quite like him." Ryu recalled as his eyes became glassy from the memory.
"What happened to him?" Sakura asked.
"Dunno. The only person who knows where his whereabouts are Hiro. But Hiro told me strictly not to tell anyone where he was." Ryu said.
"Please Ryu!" Sakura begged, "tell me where Mr. Hiro is! The well being of my Uncle Yuki depends on it!"
"Very well!" Ryu said, "You win. I can resist hundreds and hundreds if reporters but I can never say no to my favorite girl!"
He then started to fumble around his jacket for something. In the end he found it and pulled out a palm pilot.
"Wait a second!" Sakura said, "then if Mr. Hiro knows his whereabouts… That means Uncle Shuichi is still alive! He didn't die of a broken heart like they say he did!"
"That's right." Ryuichi replied as he took a sip of his coffee, becoming more serious by the minute.
