If you recognize it, I don't own it.

14. Wo Ai Ni

Sen jumped out of her bed and ended up on the floor of her apartment. She fell on her knees and her hands hit the opposite wall so hard it made her eye water. For a while she just laid there, too stunned to move.

"Wh-wha-what…?" She could hear loud music coming from her neighbour's apartment. Her schoolwork lay on the table near. Her bag was there. She sat down to the floor and leaned to the bed. "A dream?"

She breathed deep and buried her face to her hands. When she opened her eyes and looked at her hands she gasped, the scars. The scars were there! It wasn't a dream! She reached out for the book laying on her bed.

On the last page there was only one phrase.

She traced a finger over the kanji's.

"Wo Ai Ni." She whispered the words. And then she cried.

---

Loud banging woke the boy sleeping on the couch in the messy living room. He remote clattered on the ground as he got up and stretched. The banging grew more frantic.

"Yeah yeah, hold your bloody horses." He cursed as he made his way to the door.

"Sarah?" He questioned as he opened the door and found the brunette standing there on her pajamas, crying. She was barefoot and holding an old looking book to her chest.

"Peter-chan.." She whispered.

"What the hell Sarah, its bloody 2 am!"

"Oh Preter-chan, taskede kudasai..."

"Eh?" He pulled the shivering girl inside. "Sarah, I can't understand a word you're saying."

"Nani?" She quirked an eyebrow at him. "Demo.."

"Are you speaking Japanese?" His eyes went wide. "When the hell did you learn Japanese?"

"I... D-don't... Know..." She managed to stutter.

"Are you drunk?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure." She thrust the book at him. "But I think it's all in here."

Peter took the book and opened it. It was written in Chinese. "I swear if this is some kind of joke..."

"No joke."

"Fine." He sighed. "It's going to take me the whole night to translate this..."

---

Sen felt someone tugging her sleeve.

"Mmmhp... I don wanna get up ye-et..." She muttered.

"You'd better." Peter said. He was sitting next to her on the couch holding a coffee cup in one hand and the book in other. She yawned and sat up.

"Peter." Sen smiled and too the offered cup.

"I got it done.." He looked tired as hell. "It's pretty amazing book."

"I know."

"Did it really happen?"

"I think so."

"What are you going to do?"

"Return it."

"To where?"

"Tokyo. It has a library tack on the back."

"You need money?"

"Yeah."

---

6 months later….

Sarah Nolan walked down the stairs to reclaim her luggage in the Narita Airport. Her 11 hour flight had given her time to sleep, but she still felt tired. She had felt tired for half a year now. She had a melancholy cloud around her as she walked to the NEX.

It was a pretty morning. Sun was shining, smog wasn't up yet. Sen enjoyed the cool air-conditioned ride to her city centre. It took the train about an hour to reach her station. The busy streets were filled with people even though it was just 7 am.

She left her luggage to her hotel and took the book with her.

---

The library was a huge place. Sen stood near the front door and tried to take it all in. Her university library was about the same sized building, but it had far less books in it. She shook her head and spotted some vending machines near the stairs.

"Caffeine.." She sighed happily while digging out her wallet.

There was a girl standing next to the vending machine. She was fuming and banging the plastic cover.

"Gimme my drink you goddam.. I put my money in you… Dammit!" She kicked the machine.

"Ummm.." Sen tapped her shoulder. The girl eeped and turned rapidly around, knocking Sen out of balance. She yelped and grabbed the girls shoulder and they both soon found them selves on the floor.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry." The girl cried as she sat up.

"It's ok. It was my fault." Sen smiled as she stood up. She held out a helping hand for the girl.

"I'm such a clutch sometimes." The girl blabbered on. "I always get in to these situations, why, Taka always makes fun at me when I do, but he doesn't really mean it." She smiled and took the offered hand.

"O-K." Sen quirked an eyebrow.

"Are you here just for a holiday?" The girl asked innocently. "Your Japanese is quite good..."

"I'm returning a book actually." Sen answered and stuffed money into the vending machine and got her coffee. "I should be going now." She smiled and waved her hand goodbye, leaving the girl standing there.

"Oh. Okay. "

"Hey Miaka! what's taking you so long?" Someone yelled right before Sen turned to talk with the librarian sitting behind the counter.

---

It was her last day in Tokyo. Sen was writing a card for Peter in a quiet café near her hotel.

'I prob get home before you get this.

It's been a wonderful vacation, I've been everywhere,

I've managed to spend all my money and all your money too.

I love this city.'

She thought for a moment.

'I returned the book.

It's over…'

Sen put the pen away and gazed at the busy street. She sighed. Had it all been a dream after all? She leaned her elbows to the counter and sipped her coffee when someone bumped into her and made her spill the hot liquid to the counter. She just managed to save the card.

"Hey! Watch it asshole!" Was her quick remark. She turned to look at the idiot that had crashed into her when her gaze met a magenta stare form the doorway. Her breath got up as she tried to gather her wits. "Chi…Chichiri." She whispered.

The man smiled at her as he waved his hand in apology. He turned and exited the café before she could do anything.

"No, no wait!" She yelled after him as she struggled to get her purse. "Wait!"

When she finally got to the street he was nowhere to be seen. The crowd was walking around her as she stood there, paralyzed. Was it just a hallucination? He couldn't possibly be here. But he had looked so much like Chichiri it was insane. She could feel her eyes tear up. Why? After all this time? He was there, and then he was gone. It's not fair.

"It's not fair." She whispered letting her tears fall.

"Excuse me miss?" Asked a familiar voice. "Are you alright?"

Her eyes went wide.

She turned her head slowly.

He was there.

---

The End.

---

AN: For now. The story shall be continued in 'Broken Dreams' when I have the time :D

Translations: (again, spelling can be really off.)

Taskede kudasai Help me

Nani? What?

Demo But