:CHAPTER 3: 

"What happened to Yuki and him? I mean my Uncle Eiri and Mr. Shindo." Sakura asked then took another sip of her coffee and said, "Were they-"

"An item?" Ryuichi finished for her.

"Yes." Sakura said.

"Shuichi told me that he first met your uncle at a park. Since then there was a mutual attraction between the two." Ryuichi then chuckled and added; "I remember when Shuichi used to make up excuses just to see him. Shuichi was a very sensitive guy. Anyhow as you've already discovered Shuichi was the lead singer to the band Bad Luck. On the other hand your Uncle Eiri Yuki was a famous novelist. They were both very popular in Japan and continued seeing each other. Shocked the shit out of me when Yuki announced to the public that he and Shuichi were lovers."

Sakura raised an eyebrow and then said, "How do you find that funny? When someone loves a person they deserve to be with them despite gender."

Ryuichi stopped laughing, "See that's the thing. Someone raped Shuichi and threatened to black mail him and Yuki unless his demands were reached. No one ever really knew this except Hiro and I but that person also threatened to kill Yuki… "

Sakura covered her mouth shocked, "Why? Who was that man?"

"If my assumptions are correct it was my old manager... Mr. K." Ryuichi recalled.

"Mr. K?" Sakura asked, "who is he?"

"I guess you know him as Mr. Claude… Your father's personal body guard." Ryuichi whispered as he took a sip of his coffee.

Sakura's mind flashed back to the family picnic where Mr. K was acting the part of a bodyguard to Shuichi. Her eyes widened in shock.

That must be him, Sakura thought.

"My father? He could be in danger right now! Please tell me that at least Mr. Claude has been tried in court! Please tell me that someone knows what he has done!" Sakura whimpered.

"Nope. There was never any proof of what he did…" Ryuichi said as he looked out the window.

"What are you talking about?" Sakura raised her voice astounded.

"From what I hear Eiri dropped Shuichi. Bam! Just like that. He dumped him worse than trash. Lemme tell you. Not a pretty picture." Ryuichi said infuriating Sakura more.

"Then, why?" Sakura trembled as she stood up and slammed her fist on the table causing attention from the other customers in the coffee shop.

"I thought for a long time that Mr. K had something to do with Shuichi's disappearance but there wasn't any proof." Ryuichi explained as he took another sip of his coffee.

"So until this day no one knows what happened?" Sakura concluded.

"Correct-o." Ryuichi said staring deep into Sakura's eyes.

With the silence that followed Ryuichi found Hiro's address. Taking out a pen and paper out of his jacket as well he wrote down the address. As he wrote down the address, he shifted his hat so that the people passing by in the window wouldn't see his face. After all, even if you're a retired legend like Ryuichi, fan girls can still mob you.

"I take it that you're doing this against Touma and Mika's wishes." Ryuichi said.

"Oh! Please don't tell my father what I'm up to!" Sakura pleaded.

"Don't worry. You're my favorite girl! I wouldn't tell, though Touma might get suspicious when he finds out that you've been gone for awhile away in Kyoto." Ryuichi said.

"You mean that Mr. Hiro lives in Kyoto!" Sakura asked, her jaw dropping.

"Yep!" Ryuichi laughed, "four hour drive if I'm correct."

"You really suck you know that?" Sakura said sourly.

"AW! Come on Sakura!" Ryuichi said putting his arm around Sakura, "I was just poking some fun that's all!"

Sakura smiled and said, "All right!" Just then one of Sakura's maids pulled up in front of the coffee shop, drawing her attention to her silver Porsche convertible, "I better go." Sakura said walking out of the shop.

Ryuichi started jingling something. Sakura looked back and saw that he was holding up her purse, "Forgetting something?"

"Thank you!" Sakura exclaimed as she embraced Ryuichi and walked off to her car.

Getting in the driver's seat Sakura found that there was a suitcase with clothes and other necessities in it.

Good old maids, Sakura thought, they know me better than anyone else. Guess they figured that I was going to be gone for a while. No wonder it took longer than usual.

"See ya later kiddo! Be safe!" Ryuichi laughed as he handed Sakura his komogoro. It was a pink bunny but its name was Mr. Bear (komogoro.)

That thing meant a lot to Ryu and in giving it to Sakura, she felt honored.

Rolling down the window Sakura shouted, "You're the best Ryu!"

With that Sakura made the long journey to Kyoto. After about an hour on the highway Sakura yawned and decided to pull over for gas. While the tank was filling up with gas Sakura pulled out the picture of her Uncle Eiri and Shuichi. In the picture his eyes weren't the least bit cold and menacing like they were now.

Loneliness, Sakura thought, no one deserves to be alone. Especially him. I might not know anything of his past but I want to help...

Sighing Sakura paid for her gas and walked out to her car putting the picture on the dashboard of the car. She took out the faded white box and looked at the butterfly necklace inside. Sakura carefully put it on and smiled. Its green eyes matched hers. It's wings were pink, which was Sakura's favorite color.

"I'll find you Shuichi." Sakura promised herself, "and that's a promise."

: KYOTO:

"I'm finally here!" Sakura shouted a cry of happiness.

Without another word Sakura got out of the car letting the sun's rays touch her face.

The sun feels so great! Sakura thought as she pulled out Mr. Hiro's address from her purse. She then wandered down the vast, rocky, stone streets of the beautiful countryside city Kyoto.

The air is so clean here, Sakura thought as she admired all the beautiful cherry blossom trees on the block.

She also found that she was very close to Kurama hill. It was said that if you walk on that hill and pray at the little shrine, it would bring you good luck. The sidewalk that Sakura was walking on was entirely made of brick and stones. Venders trying to sell their merchandise crowded the streets. She found a man with long, red hair and shouted, "Excuse me sir!"

He was wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.

When he turned around his face seemed somewhat familiar, "Yes?" he responded.

"I was wondering where I could find this address." Sakura said showing him the piece of paper.

He looked at it and eyed Sakura suspiciously, "What do you want with him?"

"Please sir!" Sakura begged, "It is absolutely crucial that I speak with him."

"He's not home." he said casually.

There's something about this girl that makes her so familiar but what is it? She looks an awful lot like Touma Seguchi. Could she be related to him? The man thought.

Sakura's face dropped as she whimpered, "I came all the way from Tokyo to see him…"

"He's not home." he repeated, "but I can tell you where he is."

Sakura looked up into his face and said, "Please tell me!"

"You're looking right at him." the man said.

Sakura's eyes widened in shock as she asked, "You're Mr. Hiroishi Nakano?"

"I don't know how you got a hold of this address or how you know my name but you can start by introducing yourself." Hiro said calmly.

"Mr. Hiro don't you remember me?" Sakura laughed, "It's me! Sakura Seguchi! Touma's daughter!"

"Well I'll be damned." Hiro said in shock. Sakura gave him a puzzled look and smiled, "Come're kiddo!" Hiro laughed hugging her, "long time no see! However I don't think you came all the way from Tokyo to visit me. Now tell me, what's on your mind?"

Looking away Sakura said, "Indeed. I have come all the way from Tokyo against my father's wishes to ask you many questions. If you have any information on Mr. Shuichi Shindo I would be most honored if you told me."

Hiro raised an eyebrow and said, "In fact I do, but when your father finds out you've come all the way to Kyoto just to see me… He'll be pissed as hell."

Hiro then started to laugh as Sakura said, "This is not a laughing matter. The well being of my uncle depends on this. This isn't exactly fun and games to me. Don't you know that the truth about all of you has been kept hidden from me? Now I've come here seeking the truth but the question remains; can you give it to me?"

Hiro sighed then said, "Exactly like your father. He always got this face, you know when he's serious about something."

"Will you please stop comparing me to my father? I am a different person from him. Yes, true, that I look a lot like him but believe me I'm not a scheming bastard like him."

"Woah! Sakura! I'm sure your father would be very upset if he heard his own daughter say that." Hiro said shocked.

"You know as well as I do how my father really is. He's greedy. He keeps the good groups around and drops the ones that are just taking up space and not bringing in the pay roll." Sakura said.

Just then her cell phone rang. On the caller I.D. was her mother's phone number. Rolling her eyes she took out her cell phone and answered it, "Hello?" an annoyed Sakura answered.

On the other line she heard the sobbing voice of her mother saying, "Eiri's in the hospital! He's not doing very well. The doctor's say that he has only a week…"

Sakura dropped her phone and fell into darkness.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: What did you think? Cliff hanger! Again! Yes, I know I'm cruel! Please send in many reviews! It would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! Signing out with much love.

kuramasbabygurl