Well, here is Chapter three! I really hope you like it! This story idea has been sitting under my bed for a LONG time so it finally has seen some light! I'm so very glad that you reviews have said such wonderful things about it. Oh, I wanted to thank Mr. Random Person, because he/she reviewed and there was no way on thanking you. So if you read this, thank you for reviewing. And therest of you all too. Please enjoy and review!

Chapter 3: Imagining not

As Ayame walked away from Shigure's house, he smiled at himself. I'm fine! He thought to himself. I probably was just imagining it. He realized that the thought was just to make him feel better. He was not imagining it. There was signs of someone following him. He sighed deeply. But to ignore the beating of his heart, he began to hum a song.

As he hummed he realized how quiet it was, and how dark. He shrugged it off and tried to ignore the fact that his feet were hitting the pavement a bit too loud for someone so light. So, Ayame began to skip.

He heard a foot step that was not his own. Panic griped at his throat like a cold, clawed hand. He ceased his skipping and quickened his pace. He didn't dare himself to look over his shoulder. As Ayame walked quickly, he passed a large store with a grand window for advertizement. He glanced at the window as if he was going to fix his hair but he saw some movement in the shadows. He continued his walking, his heart pounding as if it were going to burst from his chest.

What shall I do? He asked himself. His hand fumbled for his cell phone, ready to call for help, but he stopped himself. If I call someone...then I could be shot before I get the phone to my ear! Dear God! What can I do? He noticed to his left was a dark alleyway. He argued with himself wether he should take it or not. It could be a dead end...Or maybe if I continue down this road...it might be easier for him to get me! What do I do! At the last second, he took the alley. When he was out of sight of the road he broke into a run.

There was no longer a point for stealth, Ayame's follower began to run as soon as he heard Ayame's feet hit the pavement. He ran with such quietness that Ayame was unsure if he was still being followed.

Ayame looked over his shoulder and saw his unheard follower. The man was tall and was wearing slick, dark clothes. Ayame saw a shimmer of a concealed weapon. He faced the front again and at that precise moment, he tripped over a large garbage bag. As he crashed to the ground he heard the crack of the gunshot. Heart ready to burst from his chest, Ayame scampered to his feet, but in the process, he fell to his knees. He tried to crawl away, but the man jumped onto Ayame's back and grabbed his long white hair. Ayame felt the cold thin blade of his attacker's knife at his neck. Sweat fell from Ayame's brow.

The man's breath was hot in Ayame's ear. "Ayame Sohma...You are a difficult man to follow. But you were told that you couldn't hide for too long."

"Hide? I- I- I d-don't know w-wh-what you are t-ta-ta-talking about." Ayame stammered.

The man pulled the knife closer on to Ayame's neck. Blood trickled down onto his shirt and he gasped. "Don't...lie...to me!" The man said and with each emphasized word, he dug the knife deeper to Ayame's neck. "Now, you can come quietly or with a slit throat. It makes not difference to me. You are worth enough dead."

Ayame swallowed hard. He nodded slowly and felt his follower pull him to his feet. The man began to pull him back the other direction. Ayame slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a very expensive and very sharp pair of scissors, used for cutting cloth. He quickly stabbed them into his captor's hand.

The man cried out in plain and released his hold on Ayame. Ayame turned tail and ran as fast as his legs would carry him. As he ran images came into his mind. Yuki, Shigure, Hatori, Yuki, Kyo, Momiji, Haru, Tohru, Yuki, Shigure, Hatori, Mine, Yuki! Dear Lord! What have I gotten myself into! In seconds that man could be on me again! Or worse! Walking away leaving me with a knife in my back! Dear God! Please help me! Ayame ran through more alley ways, down side roads, past houses until his shop finally came into view.

He ran to the door, fumble for the keys, pushed open the door and slammed it shut behind him. He collapsed on the floor with his back against the door. He gasped for breath and attempted to clam his fast beating heart. He glanced behind him and to his horror he saw his follower running toward the shop. Ayame, quickly crawled toward the back of his shop and he hid behind a counter. There was a moments silence until the sounds of gunshots were heard. The glass to his shop shattered, clothes were destroyed. Ribbons, dresses, suits, customs fell softly to the ground.

Five minuets felt as if it lasted forever, until the rounds had ceased. Ayame tensed. Surely the follower must think he was dead. And it that was the case, would the man come to look and smirk over Ayame's could be dead body? The sound of glass cracking proved just that. The sound of foot steps proved to be closer than Ayame wished he to be. There was a long pause and then to Ayame's relief, the sound of sirens was heard in the distance. Ayame's follower swore and fled.

Ayame sat in a daze, his chest heaving. He quickly pulled out his cell phone, dropping his phone in the process. He dialed Hatori's number once his fingers had controlled their shaking a little. As the phone rang he began to ask himself. Shall I call him? What will he say?

"Hello Ayame. What are you bothering me with this time?" Hatori's tired voice asked over the phone.

Ayame quickly hung up. He didn't want to talk to anyone now, when he just realized that he had just escaped death.

Well, there is chapter 3. I hope you enjoyed it. I know I really liked writing it. I love Ayame anyways.

White or silver hair, which ever you prefer.