Disclaimer: Zzzzzz…… how many times do I have to say it? You should know by now.

Notes: -- word – indicates flashback or memories.

Moshi-moshi – hello, who's there?

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(Sei's POV)

I dashed after her, not wanting to let her go anymore, not wanting to lose her again… Never wanting to lose her ever. Even so… why was it that the faster I ran, the further she seems to get?

I continued sprinting after her… watching helplessly on as her silhouette blurred further and further, until all that's left of her was only printed in my memory.

Come back… don't go away… don't leave me alone in this cold and dark place…

I want you…

I need you…

Suddenly, your face floods my vision… and I couldn't see anything but a swirl of midnight hair before you disappeared again.

…… The warmth from your brief hug still lingered on me…

What did you mean by that?

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Argh… what's this sudden blinding light?

No… Come back…

"Sei, it's time to wake up. It's already half past ten for goodness sake! You shouldn't be sleeping in on Saturdays!"

I snuggled closer to the pillow, trying to curl myself around it. It wasn't time for me to wake up yet; I still wanted my beauty sleep after staying up late for the project yesterday. Why couldn't she just give me a break! The bed's so comfy and soft… and she's there… she's there… I'm not letting her run away from me!

"Sei, wake up or else…" Kei's voice echoed in the vast empty space where she disappeared…

Her voice came intruding upon my dream again… Can't she just let me sleep?

Oh well… it's best to slur to make my point… Do it well and I'll probably get to lie in for a little longer. It's really still too early to wake up yet…

"Els' wha' me dear pretty Kei, let me sleep an hour more, it's stil' early."

"Fat hope, sleepyhead, that's what you said two hours ago! You…"

I felt a sharp pinch on my arm, jerking me instantly to wakefulness.

"OW! Oh gods, woman. Why did you do that for?"

"Now get up. It's going to be noon soon. We're going out for lunch today."

I groaned inwardly. What did I get myself into, fancy living in the same house with someone like Kei! Dear Maria, is this your punishment for me? If it is, I'd gladly be your slave for eternity than to suffer like this… Anything but having my sleep robbed from me.

"Sei!"

I felt her hand creeping to my arm again, causing my jarred nerves in the morning to tingle as her feather light touch brushed past my skin.

Then she pinched me again.

"OW! Ok, ok, I'm up! I'm up! There's no need to pinch me any further!"

"Gods, Kei. Must it be the same spot again? It hurts like hell!"

I saw her smirk at me, her eyes half covered by the glasses she wore. Oh man, how I wish that she would be more like the bookworm image that she portrays.

And to think I was the one insisting in my head just three months ago that she was categorized under "strong" and "silent". It was my last option at that time to put her under "wolf in sheep's clothing" or "queen of devils". How true it is that you'll understand and know someone better when you are physically closer to them. This was when you could differentiate between angels and demons or someone that's plainly just out to get you.

And I could swear that she belongs more to the second and last category.

"Well, I know fully well that you won't get up unless I pinch the same spot twice."

Great… what's the first thing I learnt about Katou Kei?

She's the first grade tormentor of Satou Sei. And I still can't imagine how she could rein in a person like me. Must be the way she yells at me or something…

Oh… I get it now… it must be the motherly style she has that I detest so much… I thought I had the end of it when I left Lillian Highschool and escaped from the paws of Youko.

Thinking about her just gives me more problems to flood my rather puny brain…

"Oh, and Sei… Yumi called you this morning at about eight. She doesn't sound good to me. Maybe you should call her back later on."

I got up and took a bow, grinning cheekily at her.

"All duly noted, mi'lady. Please excuse me while I go make myself presentable for the date later on."

I turned away, knowing fully well that she's probably beet-red now.

Heh… at least I could still get my revenge by making her blush…

Hmm… why did Yumi call me so early today when she usually prefers to call on Sundays?

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I stretched out my full length in the bath tub, soaking in the warmth of the liquid surrounding me and playing with the frothy bubbles from the shampoo. The most relaxing activity was still to take a snooze in a bath full of warm water… Feeling all the stress and aches being washed out of your system in the water had to be one of my favourite sensations.

But the best was still tasting the inner tresses of Youko… Something that's not probable to happen anytime soon, and coming close next was hugging Kei's warm body.

Youko.

Kei.

Youko.

Kei.

-- I don't know. –

……

-- Make up your mind before I give you my answer. –

……

But till now… I still don't know what I want. After all, love makes you strong, but it makes you stupid too. So I guess I'm forgivable.

Ahhh…

I wonder what does it feel like to take a snooze in the bath without any interruptions from thoughts like this? I wanted so much to be a free woman too. But I guess you couldn't really control the feelings of love… or was it something else altogether?

"Sei! You've been in there for eons. Are you flushed away along with the water or something?"

Talk about interruptions…

"Five minutes, Kei. I know you're anxious to go."

I stepped reluctantly out of the bath and showered myself free from all the foam before stepping out of the bathroom. Just in front of me was a towel and clothes that Kei had put out for me, knowing fully well that I'd forgotten about my clothes and towel.

Thanks Kei. For this and many more. Perhaps you are an angel at times too.

I quickly got dressed, before Kei yells at me again for being slow. Really… that woman has a sense of urgency that reaches near to two hundred percent, and that's not counting the times where she's really pressed for time.

Just when I finished pulling on my jeans, she barged in the room, holding the phone.

"Couldn't at least knock or something, Kei?"

She shot me a dirty look that spoke volumes, before handing the phone to me.

"Sei, your call, it's Yumi on the line."

I took the phone, and she left me alone in the room to talk with Yumi.

"Moshi-moshi?"

"Sei-sama! This is Yumi."

She sounds a little too anxious to talk to me…

"Ara… Yumi-chan. Why the sudden urge to call me?"

"Ano… Sei-sama, do you have free time today? I want to meet you for lunch… I got something to talk to you about."

I wonder…

"Eh? isn't it a little late to date me this afternoon? Yumi-chan, you've got to try harder than this…"

"If you're busy… then it's ok, Sei-sama. Well then, I'll just meet you another time."

Something's not right.

"Wait, Yumi! I'm just joking. Of course I'll meet you today. After all, you are my favourite girl even after all this time. Besides, have you ever seen me being not free during weekends?"

"Really? Then can I meet you at two at Nott's Restaurant?"

"Not a problem, my dear Yumi-chan. Not a problem at all."

Nott's Restaurant… The place that brings back fond memories for more than just me it seems.

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A/N: Wahaha… Sei got pawned by Kei. xD Ah… this is how I see the relationship between Kei and Sei. Hope it doesn't affect the fic too much… does it? I think I hear some SeiYouko fans screaming in protest, or SeiKei fans screaming. But not to worry, their relationship status ain't confirmed yet, and yes, Kei is Sei's roommate. No, they don't sleep on the same bed, just the same room. Haha, don't kill me. Oh yea, and Nott's Restaurant is the place where everyone likes to go in pairs, even though those out of the pair don't know it. Am I making sense?

Oh yea… I hope this doesn't ruin anything in the fic. Just thought it would be nice to sidetrack a little from all the heavy doses of angst, I couldn't stand the overload of sadness myself… T.T

Yay… Today's Racial Harmony Day in Singapore. So let's all enjoy the different ethnic food!