Places

Is there a place

where blackness doesn't live?

a place with color

besides red and white?

where science doesn't exist,

and people are happy?

a place where I can be strong,

and in fear of death?

it there a place I can call my own?

where black flames don't exist,

and I can have a family?

can some one help me?

show me life,

color,

and love.

somewhere I can truly

be happy?

-

Kowaru's eyes opened slowly to the smell of eggs being made and the feel of warm sun blanketing him. Slowly Kowaru turned his head toward the kitchen. H slid off the couch and into the kitchen walking up to Shuichi who was cooking, "don't tell me you just got home" Kowaru asked. Shuichi didn't look at him, "it was really late, two in the morning" Kowaru put the crackers away, as breakfast was set on the table.

"Thanks" Kowaru said turning around and sitting to eat a truly home cooked meal, but as usual in Japan this time hadn't happened yet.

Sakuya smiled knowing that one way or another she would find out the name of the man in the picture no matter what the cost. Sakuya 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.

Sakuya climbed up the side of her house by using the emergency ladder and crept up onto the balcony of her house. She crept across the wall past her parents room and over to hers sneaking in thru the window. Huffing and puffing Sakuya managed to say, "Phew! That was quite and exercise!" 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.

Kowaru who had eaten a was having no intentions of staying home went out for a walk to the park. The birds, squirrels, and other things really didn't make him very happy as much as he tried following Shuichi to work every day when he was little depressed him as much as his father was.

He walked past his favourite place, and international food store, he ran in grabbing some strawberry pocky and walked back the way he came. He read the ingredients in Japanese he was happy at how well he could read it. He didn't look Japanese at all not even the face or the eyes, but he knew he was, he was genetically created by a team of scientists from Shuichi's dna and another person who he didn't know. Kowaru walked in thru the front door.

Shuichi was sleeping on the couch. Kowaru didn't care his father had been out till one in the morning and got up and seven most likely on a Saturday, to cook breakfast. Kowaru would let him rest. He place the Strawberry pocky on the table and walked up stares to his room to pick up the sad notebook.

The next time Sakuya opened her eyes it was ten o'clock and her father Touma was gently shaking her shoulders for her to wake up. She blinked a few times before fully sitting up and being fully awake.

"Rise and shine." Touma said smiling at her as she replied the smile. Touma exited her room as Sakuya 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 Sakuya 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 Sakuya did was pick at her food.

"What's wrong Sakuya? You haven't touched your food." Mika said.

"Oh! It's nothing! I was just thinking that's all!" Sakuya smiled.

"Are you sure?" Mika asked.

"Yes! I assure you I'm fine!" Sakuya 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.

Kowaru laid on his bed think about the other man, he wrote all the things that he knew on a sheet of paper from his note book,

nice

caring

strong

loving

tall

protective

rich

blond

That was all that Kowaru could remember about the mysterious Eiri. He didn't know the mans last name because Shuichi wouldn't tell him. But Kowaru didn't care "it was probably for the best" he said aloud to the lamp again, "I mean if he didn't try hunting for dad he couldn't be all that?" Kowaru asked again this time doubting him self.

Kowaru sat up and had a look of curiosity on it, "But what if he doesn't know" Kowaru pondered. He jumped up running to his dad's bedroom taking out a little address book from the bottom of Shuichi's sock drawer.

Kowaru his the book in his pocket and ran down stares. He slowly walked past Shuichi careful not to wake him. he grabbed the mobile phone out of the kitchen and ran back up to his room. He flipped thru all the numbers. But he soon found it pointless to call anyone out of the book. He placed it back in its proper spot.

"What the fuck was I thinking" He aid falling backwards onto the bed

" we are heading off." Touma said as a maid handed him his black jacket. He put is on and Sakuya sighed wondering why her time was up.

"Right dad." Sakuya 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 Sakuya opened the door to her room. Her clothes were still in the bathroom so she grabbed her hoodie sweater. When Sakuya reached inside her pocket the picture was gone.

She ran around her room looking "Where is it?" Sakura cried as she frantically searched around for the picture.

Touma who was getting impatient yelled up stares "Sakuya! We're going to be late!" Touma called, "what's taking you so long!" He said peering up the hole that was the three sets of stares.

She looked back at the door "Coming!" Sakuya 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!" Sakuya 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 Sakuya as she jumped inside.

"Did you find what you needed?" Touma asked as he sat in the limo looking for what she grabbed

"Yes!" Sakura said smiling back at him. They rode all the way to NG Records. Sakuya stepped out and looked at the building that loomed above her. What answers can I find here? Sakuya 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 Sakuya. I have to deal with another band. Please go wait in the lobby." Touma told her as he walked away to where he was going so he could have a talk with a much stupider band.

"Yes dad." Sakuya answered. She walked out of his office and took a left and walked down the stairs with the glass railings. I hate waiting; Sakuya thought as she reached out for an orange chair and took a seat in it.

For some reason when Sakuya looked over at the wall of famous artists it intrigued her. It was a feeling that Sakuya couldn't explain. It was like something drew her to look at the wall. It was so quiet in the building that when Sakuya walked over to the wall, her footsteps echoed in that part of the building. That's what I hate about this building, Sakuya thought; it's always so quiet in here. Like someone died.

The wall that Sakuya 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, Sakuya 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?" Sakuya 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!" Sakuya 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?" Sakuya asked in a panicked rush

"Oh them!" Mr. Sakano smiled, "I managed them for awhile. The band name is Bad Luck." He said looking back at her and she crossed her arms.

"I know that!" Sakuya 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!"

Sakuya'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 Shindou. Some say he died of a broken heart. Hiro disappeared after the car accident that killed your father's cousin." Sakano said looking back down at Sakuya

"You mean that-" Sakuya 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."

Kowaru flipped thru the book of names and pictures once again, he had the phone at hand then stopped at one. It was a picture of a young man with dark green hair and chocolate brown eyes. Kowaru made a distasting face at the sound of chocolate, "Suguru Fujisaki" He said looking the picture over one more, "Probably the sanest one of the bunch" He dialled the number and some one actually picked up.

"Konichiwa" A female voice asked. He looked the picture over again, what this actually a girl?

"Konichiwa, gomen nasai nozoite desu Suguru soko? (Hello sorry but is Suguru there?)" Kowaru asked the lady in Japanese. He used that language a lot with Shuichi.

"gomen nasai iie kare ippuku nai ikiteru koko nandemo yori (sorry no he dose not live here any more) " The lady said and Kowaru felt very stupid.

"Arigato (thankyou)" He said hanging up and fell face first down on the pillow. That was pointless, no one probably lived where they used to. Kowaru felt defeated. But why should he care about the other man. He then made a pact with him self to never talk or think about the man again.

Sakuya laced her fingers together and leaned up to him crowding his personal space Sakuya asked, "Mr. Hiro is still alive though right?" She pleaded looking up into his eyes pulling off some girly charm.

Sakano sighed falling in to the girls trap "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." As Sakano finished the last part, Sakuya started to get a little let down.

Sakuya held her chin in thought "So Mr. Sakuma is the only one who knows where he is?" Sakuya repeated.

"That is correct." Mr. Sakano said.

"Thank you!" Sakuya said bowing. I'm getting the hell out of here, Sakuya thought running up the stairs. Touma was walking down the hallway when Sakuya ran past him.

"Sakuya where are you going?" Touma called. Turning around and watched her run off.

"Why?" Sakuya shouted as she turned around looking her father in the eyes.

"Why what?" Touma asked looking at Sakuya with question.

"Why did you keep the truth from me?" Sakuya shouted pulling out the picture from her bra. Touma frowned and walked over to take a closer look at the picture. He never looked up at her.

"Let me ask you a question dad! What ever happened to the lead singer of Bad Luck?" Sakuya asked looking her father in the eye who didn't look her back in the eye.

"No one knows." Touma said quietly, looking at the ground and never looking at his daughter.

"Why do I not believe that?" Sakuya asked clenching her fists "is that another one of your bullshit lies?" She yelled tears coming out of her eyes.

"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, putting his feet to the ground he didn't want his daughter to be around 'them'.

"I'm leaving!" Sakuya announced as she ran past Touma, and he turned around trying to grab her before she left.

"Sakuya come back!" Touma yelled as she ran out of the building. He just stood there doing nothing. This is bad, Touma thought as he rubbed his temples.

Sakuya ran out of the building and to the left thinking, I've must find Ryuichi!

Taking out her pink cell phone Sakuya called her house to have her car brought to her. Her car was to be brought to her by the café down the street. Sakuya 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!" Sakuya cried hugging him.

"The one and only." Ryu laughed.

"Am I glad to see you!" Sakuya said smiling up into Ryuichi's face

"Am I glad to see you!" Ryu said, "Where's Touma?" He said looking around holding Kumagorou up to get a better view.

"He's busy right now." Sakuya lied, "will you please come down with me to the coffee shop?" She said bowing in apology for her fathers so called absence

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?" Ryu said poking her in the nose.

"I'll tell you later!" Sakuya laughed she was having too much fun to ruin this moment, she wanted to make it last. Man I love Ryuichi! Sakuya 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 Sakuya?" Ryu asked taking a sip of his coffee.

Ryuichi always knew when there was something wrong with Sakuya. She pulled the picture out of her shirt and said, "Do you recognize this man?" She held it up to Ryu's face so he could get a better look.

Ryuichi looked at it for a while before exclaiming "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?" Sakuya asked resting her chin in her hands.

"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 looking out the window trying to decide if he should tell her or not.

"Please Ryu!" Sakuya begged, "tell me where Mr. Hiro is! The well being of my Uncle Yuki depends on it!" She cried

"Very well!" Ryu said, "You win. I can resist hundreds and hundreds if reporters but I can never say no to my favourite girl!" Ryuichi once again poked her in the face and she looked relived. 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!" Sakuya 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!" She smiled placing her hands on the table and leaning forward.

"That's right." Ryuichi replied as he took a sip of his coffee, becoming more serious by the minute.

Kowaru fell on his bed again. It was sundown on Sunday, meaning he had school tomorrow oh joy for him. He curled up his blanket around him. When sleep wouldn't come for him he pulled out a picture that was framed and most of the people he didn't know.

There was a man with long red hair that had his hand rapped around a girls shoulder that was shorter than him and had brow hair. They looked happy together. He traced them on the picture muttering words to himself.

There was another couple. A short man with blond hair and a taller lady with brow hair. They had a child but for some reason they gave of a tainted feeling. He went to trace his hand over the family but he was only able to trace his hand over the child that they held before he couldn't keep his hand there.

Then there was his father who was standing next to a man that he thought and knew as Eiri. He looked at the man, he was tall and had a clod look on his face, and his smile didn't look friendly. What did his father see in him why did he stay with him. And why did Kowaru share his dna with him.

Kowaru recognised one of the men to be Suguru, next to him was a man with long hair that had a gun raised in the air, he took this to be K, and there was a shorter man that resembled his father there, he had brow hair and was clutching what looked like to be a bunny. He had one like it but his was blue his favourite color. Kowaru traced these people too.

"Why" He asked putting the picture away and watching the moon rise as he slowly fell into a picture less dream.