Burning

Burning inside,

flames that hurt,

the mans quest ends

because he's a dieing man now.

He reeks of blood,

and dirt form his searches,

and now his soul is no longer burning.

Please let him live longer.

-

Kowaru bolted up in bed. He couldn't breath, his lungs burned and his lower stomach was starting to hurt. The pain in his stomach went away, but his lungs still hurt. He cried, it hurt so bad, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" He yelled tears falling form his eyes, just then Shuichi burst in and ran to his son.

"Kowaru" He yelled running out and coming back with some Vicks Vapour rub. He put some on Kowaru's chest. The boys lungs loosened up. His body was so tired that he soon fell asleep. Shuichi picked the boy up and moved him to his own bed setting the boy down before he himself went back to sleep.

Upon Sakuya's awakening she found herself in a soft, feather mattress with a cold cloth over her forehead. She reached her hand up and touched it.

"I'm glad to see you're up!" Hiro said walking into the room, he was carrying a new cloth and something for her to drink.

"Hiro?" a woman's voice called, "is she all right?" The voice asked again Sakuya looked in wonder. Looking back Hiro saw the face of his new wife looking at him through the doorsill.

"What happened and who is she?" Sakuya asked sitting up as the cold cloth fell off her forehead.

"Sakuya." Hiro said as the woman came in, "this is my wife Ayaka." He said pointing to her as he wrapped his arm around her.

"Your wife?" Sakuya asked still in a daze.

"Yes." she chuckled, "it's funny how we met though. Originally I was engaged to Yuki. But then I met Hiro and we fell in love." She giggled holding a hand up to her mouth.

Sakuya narrowed her eyes at her, "You were engaged to my uncle huh? Too bad he was in love with Shuichi Shindo." Sakuya said nastily anger showing in her face.

"Sakuya!" Hiro said shocked, "that wasn't very nice! Apologize to her!" Hiro said getting in Sakuya's face about it. Sakuya scoffed and said, "Me apologize? There's no need for apologies in this world. Besides what the hell is this? Sakuya apologize for knowing the truth day?"

"It's all right Hiro." she said, "She doesn't have to apologize. After all she probably thinks of me as a mean person." Ayaka said trying to reason with her husband. Damn straight, Sakuya wanted to say with all her might but kept it to herself.

"So you want to find Shuichi?" Hiro asked.

Sakuya nodded and said, "Yes…"

"I don't know his exact whereabouts but the last time that we spoke he told me that he was in San Francisco." Hiro said, "and that was the last I ever heard from him… We were best friends you know."

"Some friend you are! Why didn't you even try to find him?" Sakuya asked anger building up inside her once again.

"Don't you think I tried that?" Hiro asked raising his voice, "no matter how many times I tried to trace the call back I couldn't! And nothing in the world could ever persuade him to come back to Tokyo! Once Shuichi has his mind set on something he does it! How the hell do you think he won Yuki's heart over? Your uncle had a heart of ice before he met Shuichi! What made you think that he was ever a good person? What the hell do you expect to protect when your feelings are the only weapon you have?"

Sakuya looked frightened and said, "You're wrong! My uncle never had a heart of ice! He is a very kind individual and believe it or not I'm going to find Shuichi Shindo and bring him back to Tokyo if it's the last thing I do!"

With that she ran from the room as fast as she could with Hiro shouting after her, "Sakuya come back! I didn't mean those things I said!"

"Will she be all right Hiro?" his wife shouted.

"If she's anything like her mother she gets her way whether anyone likes it or not!" Hiro said getting up and running after Sakura.

Hiro made a face and recalled the time that Mika ran through the wall at the Zepp Tokyo Clubhouse in her car looking for Shuichi. She even shoved him in the trunk to make him come with her. If ywere anything like her she would most likely shove Shuichi in a suitcase and take him with her. It was too late because Sakuya was already running out the front door and running down the street. As she ran she thought, He's wrong! I'll find Shuichi if it's the last thing I do! She found the block where her car was still parked. It seemed to be late afternoon because the sun was the color of blood red. She now found that her car was locked.

"Damn it!" she shouted, "Where the hell are my keys!" It dawned on Sakuya that she left her cell phone and keys at Hiro's house.

"Shit!" Sakuya shouted again as she banged on the car door.

"Sakuya wait!" she heard Hiro shout.

Looking back she asked, "Get the fuck away from me before I call the cops!"

"How are you gonna do that little missy?" Hiro asked as he held up her cell phone and keys.

"Give them to me!" Sakuya demanded.

"Meow!" Hiro said as he held out her things.

Snatching them away Sakuya said, "Thank you." then turned to her car. Opening the car she got in and slammed the door shut. Hiro walked up next to the window and said, "If it helps then I know for sure that he lives in the northern part of San Francisco.'

Sakuya smiled and put the keys in the ignition. Starting the car, she nodded, smiled, and drove off. Hold on Uncle Eiri, Sakura thought, I'm here for you. Sakuya glanced over at the clock in her car. The time read: 4:15.

"It'll be eight o'clock by the time I get to Tokyo!" Sakuya muttered, "I don't have that kind of time!" She then banged her fists on the steering wheel as she drove. Tears ran down Sakuya's cheeks as she thought, but why did Shuichi leave? It doesn't make any sense! What reason did they have to leave when they were both so much in love? It doesn't have to be this way… Why the hell did everything get so screwed up!

Kowaru laid out on the beach under an umbrella. He had very white skin and the sun was bad for it, Shuichi was laying next to him, "You want to play volley ball" Shuichi asked and Kowaru sat up, "it is only the national sport of California" He said getting up and offering Shuichi his hand.

As they walked Kowaru wondered before he decided to ask, "What what my other father like" He asked and Shuichi thought for a few moments, "He doesn't exist" Shuichi said walking past the kid. Kowaru sighed he should just give up. But for some reason he felt like he was never going to be able to meet his father, like he was growing farther and farther away.

When Sakura got into Tokyo she was more dishevelled than ever. Pulling out her cell phone she called her mother. "Mom." Sakuya whispered hoarsely, "What hospital are you at?"

"Memorial Tokyo hospital." Mika said crisply. She was obviously angry that Sakuya had disappeared all day without a word to anyone. Ryuichi was the only one who knew where Sakuya had been. Touma would probably be furious later when he found out that Ryuichi knew where his daughter was and didn't tell her. Parking her car she got out only to find herself herded by paparazzi.

"Sakuya!" magazine reporters shouted, "Is it true that, your uncle, famous novelist, Eiri Yuki is indeed hospitalised?" She sighed and walked away.

"Step away from me please!" Sakuya shouted, "I refuse to comment on anything!" Before Sakuya entered the hospital police squad cars pulled up and pushed all of them back. Walking up to the receptionist Sakuya asked, "Eiri Yuki please."

"Third floor, room 111 to the right." the old woman said.

"Arigato!" Sakuya said as she ran to the elevators. The elevator ride seemed to last an eternity as Sakuya waited for it to get up to the third floor. Once the elevator door started opening Sakuya squeezed through and ran down the white hallway towards her right. She arrived in front of the door that held the numbers 111.

Mr. Claude was standing outside the door, "Miss Sakuya?"

"Not now Mr. Claude." Sakuya said as she started to put her hand on the door.

Mr. Claude grabbed her hand and said, "I wouldn't go in there."

Sakuya shot him a disgusted look and snarled, "Let go if you know what is best for you."

"You have that look in your eyes." He whispered.

Sakuya shot him another look. She then closed her eyes and touched the handle, "Very soon you'll pay. You'll pay for what you did." Sakuya snarled. She opened the door leaving Mr. Claude there speechless. Sakuya found her mother sobbing and her father holding her hand.

"Sakuya!" Mika shouted running up and hugging her, "don't ever scare us like that again!"

"I'm sorry mom." Sakuya cried as she embraced her mother. Her father, Touma's face, seemed to age since Sakuya had been gone.

"Please don't scare me like that again Sakuya. I was scared that I was going to lose my only daughter." Touma said embracing Sakuya as well.

"I'm all right daddy. You don't have to worry about me anymore." Sakuya sighed.

When they were all done with their teary reunion Sakuya looked upon the face of her dieing uncle. He looked so peaceful sleeping there on the bed, and his sickly appearance made him look like death was upon him. The truth was it looked like Eiri Yuki was close to death's clutches.

As Sakuya walked over to the bed she saw that her uncle was now awake. Eiri Yuki's eyes were cold and now glaring at her. He said nothing but the look of pure hatred in his eyes gave away his disgust in being in Sakuya's presence.

"I know that nothing I say will change your fate but I still love you even if you hate my guts." Sakuya said taking his hand.

"Eiri has pneumonia." Mika said, "It's gotten so bad that he doesn't want to live any more. He's lost his will to live."

"That can't be. Uncle Eiri is too strong for that! He can make it!" Sakuya whimpered trying her hardest not to cry.

Eiri Yuki continued glaring at his young niece. The young girl would not give in as she kissed his hand. His hands were very cold. Amber orbs stared into green ones. Sakuya held his hand to her cheek.

"Your hands are so warm." Yuki whispered.

"Uncle Eiri please don't give up. Give me a smile like you used to." Sakuya said as the dying novelist said nothing, "I'm going to pat your head the way you used to do for me and say that it's all right… It's all right because I'm here for you. Trust me Uncle Eiri… I won't let you go! And not like this!"

Eiri Yuki's eyes widened as he recalled a faint yet distant memory. He remembered the day that Shuichi dumped him. Shuichi had said the exact same thing as Sakuya said. 'I won't let you go! And not like this!' Eiri Yuki didn't hear Sakuya's words but instead Shuichi Shindo's echoed inside his head like a sickness.

"Sakuya…" Mika said as she tried to hug her daughter and comfort her.

Sakuya's parents tried to comfort her as Sakuya then said, "I have to use the bathroom."

Sakuya opened the door and ran down the empty, white hallway. Sakuya knew nothing of the place but the only thing she did know was that she hated it. The hospital was a place of death. A horrid place… Upon her entrance to the bathroom Sakuya pulled out her cell phone and dialled information.

"Information." the man drawled, "how may I help you."

"Yes. Please connect me to the Tokyo International airport." Sakuya said.

"Please hold as we transfer you there." the man drawled.

No matter how… No matter what… I will you find you Shuichi Shindo and find out why you left Tokyo…Sakuya thought as she stood there in the bathroom stall alone…