Author Notes: I edit the Master-At-Arms name from the first chapter from Eric Laennac to Thomas Walter, it's more historical accurate this way. Warning: Sinon appears in this chapter but is OOC.

Midori walked up to Kazuto, an unreadable expression embedded in her face. There was little doubt that they had overheard what he'd just said, and he tried to search for a way out. But time ran out as Midori drew closer, and in a one swift motion of her hand that held nothing back, she slapped him. Pain vibrated through his cheeks as he felt a burning sensation lit his skin. Anger boiled within him, but before he could say anything, his mother screamed in his ears, "What did you say?"

Mr. Yuuki, with his wife next to him, pointed his finger accusingly at them. "You two lied to me!"

"Please forgive us, Mr. Yuuki. My son just had too much port tonight, he doesn't know what he is saying," Midori spoke strictly, attempting to defuse the situation.

"Do you think I will seriously believe that?"

Midori pulled Kazuto's ear like he was a child being chastised as she menacingly asked, "How many drinks did you have tonight?" She pulled his ear harder, and it felt like it was being torn off him. "How many?" she shouted this time, and it was obvious she wanted him to lie to save the situation.

But that was the tipping point for Kazuto. Perhaps he didn't know what he was saying, perhaps, but it certainly wasn't because he was drunk. No, it was because all his life he wasn't given a choice, everything was forced upon him with no regard for his thoughts, a fact that he will no longer accept. "No," he said, removing his mother's hand forcefully from his ear, "it's true, we're in debt. This marriage is for the sole purpose of obtaining money from you, sir."

Mr. Yuuki's face turned white. "I should have known! No wonder Minetaka has refused my past few invitations to meet, probably running away from his debtors."

"Stop it, father!" It was Asuna who spoke. Everyone turned to her. "When will you admit that we are just as broke as the Kirigayas?"

Mr. Yuuki's face went through an assortment of colors before settling for red. He opened his mouth to what seemed like to scream, but Midori beat him to it.

"Is this true, Mr. Yuuki?" she spoke with a growing resent.

"Of course not!" he spat out. "And listen here Mrs. Kirigaya, you are in no position to ask questions. And also if the situation wasn't clear enough, this marriage is off and my family will no longer have any dealings with yours!"

Those words stung Midori deeply, however she restrained herself. "Very well, Mr. Yuuki. Kazuto come, let's leave."

She dragged him by the arm to inside the ship, away from the dark night sky and stars. She didn't say a word whilst they walked, although Kazuto noticed her steps were hurried, and her grip on his wrist painfully tight. They stopped in an isolated hall.

"Are you happy?" she said with no attempt in hiding her contempt.

"What do you mean?" he said.

She spoke more forcibly this time. "Are you happy?"

"I don't understand."

SMACK! The slap echoed loudly in the empty hall.

"You never understand! Our family depended on this and you ruined it!"

Kazuto clutched his jaw. She had slapped the same cheek from earlier and now it was burning a bright red. He saw some servants come in the hall after hearing Midori's shout, but they quickly scurried away at the sight, most likely not wanting to interfere in a family affair. He wished they did though. "Does it matter?" he mumbled.

"Of course it matters! Our family is still on the verge of bankruptcy!"

"No it doesn't." His voice grew louder. "Didn't you hear them? The Yuukis are just as broke as we are. They were relying on us for money as much we were to them."

"Mr. Yuuki said it wasn't true."

"And you believe that?"

Midori seemed lost for words for a moment, then she slapped him again. "You disappoint your father."

"For what?" he spoke with a rising anger. "I never wanted this engagement!"

"Don't talk to me like that, I am your mother."

"Damn you!" In the heat of the moment, he reached for the ring box in his pocket, grabbed it, then threw it across the room. He shook his head. She didn't understand. Why doesn't she understand? Why couldn't she understand? He couldn't handle it anymore, he'd kept his frustration in the whole time, but now he can't hold back no more. His blood boiled as his anger spiked, and he kicked the wall, the portrait of Horatio Nelson tilting slightly, and for the next few minutes he continued to kick, punch, and scratch, exhausting all his emotions pent up over the many years.

Midori could only stare in horror as she watched what her son tore down several of the paintings that hung from the wall. It was like watching a demon at work, and she didn't dared speak or move.

It wasn't only after a few more minutes, did Kazuto's anger died down a little for him to speak. But when he spoke, it did nothing to hide the respite in his tone. "I'm done with this family."

He didn't mean to say those words; it was one of those things that you blurt out without thinking. But he didn't want admit that, and he looked away from his mother's eyes. He thought she was going to speak, but she stood frozen like ice.

Footsteps echoed from behind him, and then he felt his arm pulled by soft hands. Before he knew it, he was dragged from the hall, leaving his mother by herself. Kazuto looked at the person pulling him, smiling as some of his anger receded.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"To the lower decks, where we can hide amongst the third class passengers." Asuna replied as they took a sharp right turn.

"Sounds good."

He didn't ask for why she was running away. The fresh red cut above her left eyebrow spoke for itself. And having witnessed Mr. Yuuki's temper, he could only guess his wife wasn't exactly forgiving either. However, one question did pop up in his mind as they continue to move.

Why did she come for him?

He didn't ask that though, and they stopped to ask the servants for directions. They pointed them to a door leading to a staircase.

The stairs was dimly lit. It was a scary preposition to go down in the dark, but they did so anyway. Their steps echoed vibrantly as they descended. Kazuto pulled Asuna closer to him, and she tightened her grip on him.

"Hold tight," he said. Asuna nodded.

Their legs soon grew sore as the stairs seemed to continue on forever. Asuna discarded her high heels, a wise decision indeed. The temperature rose higher the lower they went, and the air was moist yet stagnant with no good circulation, the salty smell of the ocean smelling stronger than ever.

"I think we are almost there," Asuna said as voices and cheers grew louder.

Sure enough, they reached a door to which they pulled and went in. The third-class deck was noticeably less lavish in design and finesse when compared with the upper class. For one, there were more doors as each room were much smaller and compact, architected to fit as many passengers in as possible. And then, there were the people, who were in numbers and staring at Kazuto and Asuna as they appeared from the stairways. Kazuto felt Asuna flinched under their gaze and he hurried them down the corridor.

"I feel like we are some sort of pariah," Asuna said.

"No, we are not. It's because first-class passengers rarely come down here," he responded.

"Nevertheless, I feel uncomfortable at their staring."

Kazuto nodded and they walked hastily to the end of the corridor, brushing past some people with curious expressions on their faces. They needed a room to hide so they moved towards one of the doors that didn't have any people standing near it. He grabbed the handle and pushed down. The door clicked opened, and so thinking that it was unoccupied, he let Asuna in.

The room was lit with a precarious bulb that swung loosely to the motion of the ship. There was a small desk and a single sized bed, which predominantly took up the room. It would seem the perfect place to hide out for the time being, however…

"Who are you?" the room's occupant, a dark-haired girl who sat on top the bed, challenged. The glasses she wore had traces of tape stitched to the black half-frame. An opened book rested on her lap, its pages indicating that it was already halfway read. She looked familiar to Kazuto, and then he remembered that he'd seen her on the first day on this ship.

"Sorry," Kazuto muttered, turning to leave.

"Wait."

He paused.

"What are you doing here?" the girl asked. She looked to be around Asuna's age; late teens to early twenties.

"It's nothing," he said.

"It doesn't look like nothing." She pointed at Asuna's bare feet. "Now tell me what happened."

Kazuto stared blankly at the dark-haired girl, not even considering talking about anything. It was none of her business, but yet at the same time, he thought, they had intruded her room.

"It's nothing really, we will leave now." He turned to leave again.

"You are Kirigaya Kazuto aren't you?"

Kazuto froze. How did she know his name? He looked at the girl and noticed her eyes were trained on him.

"Yes, how do you know?" he asked.

The girl placed a bookmark in and closed her book. "I used to work for a journalist who had interviewed your father and some other influential business folks," she said. "I never forget a face, and I recognized your father's look on your face. He's mentioned about you once before. By the way, she's Yuuki Asuna, am I right?"

Asuna nodded hesitantly.

The girl spoke again, this time to Asuna, her voice was cold and full of conviction. "I met your mother before in London, her words was a spit to my face." The bespectacled girl glared at Asuna. "She probably never mentioned about me to you but my name is Asada Shino."

"Actually she has," Asuna said, putting on a brave front. "I can't remember her exact words but she said something about a person so unkempt in their ways that it was degrading to even look at her."

Shino snarled as a slight anger flashed across her eyes. Kazuto, sensing a confrontation, stepped in.

"I think it's best if we leave," he said.

"No, stay here."

Kazuto glared at Shino. The girl showed nothing in her expression.

"Why?"

Shino tapped her fingers on the hard cover of her book. "You guys are hiding from someone, aren't you?"

Kazuto stared at Shino wide-eyed. She had guessed correctly somehow and he dreaded to wonder what else she had discerned as well. The light bulb swayed more voluminous as the ship rocked roughly in the deep ocean, and out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Asuna flinched a little, but she quickly regained her posture.

"I guessed it right, didn't I?" Shino mockingly phrased the question. "And I will tell you that there is no other place here in this part of the ship that you can hide. So why not stay here a while?"

Asuna stepped closer to Kazuto. "What do you want?" she asked.

Shino shrugged. "Nothing, I just want some company."

"Well, there are more than enough passengers just outside this door, why don't you ask them instead?"

The dark-haired girl smiled wryly, and it made Kazuto even more uncomfortable in her presence. "No, you see, I'm a novelist. I write on inspiration, those people out there, I've seen them all, artists, firemen, laborers, you name it. But it's not every day when a pair like the two of you come running in through my door."

She stood up and pulled out two wooden stools from underneath the bed. Kazuto felt Asuna hold his arm. Shino was obviously inviting them to sit, but he was conflicted on whether to take up on her offer. He stared at the little porthole that showed nothing but darkness of the night, although, the sound of water gushing was loud and he was pretty sure that they were near sea-level. Shino climbed back up on her bed, looking at them impatiently. It was a drawn out staring contest, neither side spoke whilst they glared at each other.

Then Asuna went and sat down on one of the stools.

"My feet are killing me, Kazuto-kun," Asuna said as she rubbed the sole of left foot.

Kazuto nodded, and Shino smiled as she gave a little clap. "It's best not to move around then. So why don't you two be good and tell me what happened?"

Asuna sighed. "It's a long story."

Shino gave that grin of hers again. "Well, we've got plenty of time."

Kazuto sighed, and then sat down on the other stool. Like Asuna had said, it was a long story, but the bespectacled girl seemed like she wasn't going to relent anything soon. He looked into Shino's eyes, which were gleaming with a light that Kazuto did not understand, and he rubbed the back of his neck before speaking.

"Where do we begin?"

Thomas Walter was doing one of his late night security checks around the portside of the Titanic, when three passengers came up to him seeking for his assistance. He was tired and the day had gone by slowly, and he wished for nothing more than to retire to his cabin, sleeping contently until the next morning, where he would have to begin the same daily routine again. As Master-At-Arms, his job consisted of him regularly keeping men of employ in disciplinary check and provide passengers with assistance whenever they so require them.

He smiled at the trio. "Good evening, Mr. Yuuki."

Mr. Yuuki wasn't in a mood for formalities and he cut right to the chase. "Walter, I need you to find my daughter and bring her to me, she ran off with Mrs. Kirigaya's son after we had a mild…scuffle."

Thomas Walter frowned on the inside, but kept his smile going. "If this is a family issue, I fear that I have no right to interfere," he said.

"Well, I'm giving you the right," Mr. Yuuki pressed. "And if you don't find her, I will hold you responsible if any harm comes to her."

Walter didn't like being threatened, but if his experience at sea was anything, it helped kept his patience in check. "I see. I'll send someone to look for them."

"You better do so now!" Mr. Yuuki demanded.

Walter's eyebrow twitched a little. "Very well, do you require anything else, Mr. Yuuki?"

"I do." There was menace in the elder man's voice. "I would like you to also arrest young Mr. Kirigaya when you find him."

Walter raised a confused eyebrow, but before he could ask for a reason, Mrs. Kirigaya flared, "My son has done nothing wrong!"

"Quite wrong, who knows what he is doing to my daughter as we speak."

"I'm warning you Mr. Yuuki, don't let your twisted mind run wild," Midori snarled. "Minetaka has been partnered with you for years, you owe him as much as half of your success, and this is how you repay him?

Mr. Yuuki growled, "Oh please, he's as incompetent as a swinerat."

Mrs. Yuuki joined in, obviously in support of her husband. "And you talk about backstabbing! Look what you have done yourself!"

"Enough!" Walter raised his voice. He disliked arguments, especially when they were conducted without regards for his presence. Mr. Yuuki opened his mouth to respond, but Walter was quick to intercept. "Enough, I said! Otherwise I will arrest all of you for disturbing the peace."

The trio watched their mouths, and when Walter saw that they were compliant, he spoke, "Alright, I will send someone to look for them now. It's getting late, I suggest you all return to your rooms, and I will inform you when I find them. Good night."

Without another word, Thomas Walter left their presence. He knew it was a pointless task, for the Titanic had close to three thousand passengers and it would be nearly impossible to single out two in one night, but nevertheless it was his job to take some form of action or face scrutiny. He went to the break room and didn't find the man he was looking for, but saw one of the guard officers and opted for him instead. The officer was tall, a giant from Wales, and always looked as if he held a vendetta against all those who spoke to him.

"Lewis," Walter called, "I need you to find me two passengers; one male, and the other, female."

"I'm on break, sir."

"The sooner you get this done, the sooner you can return to your break."

The giant let out what sounded like a frustrated sigh. "What do they look like, sir?"

Walter paused for a second as he thought of the two's appearance. Although he had only seen them only a handful of times, part of being a naval officer required a high level of memory. He said, "Both passengers are of Japanese descent. The male, Kirigaya Kazuto, is in his early twenties, slightly taller than average height, dark-haired and slim build. The female is, I guess, the same age, chestnut hair, and hazel eyes. Her name is Yuuki Asuna." Walter waited a moment for Lewis to digest the information before continuing, "Both are first-class passengers, and considering that their parents couldn't find them up here, they should be hiding in one of the lower decks. So investigate anyone that looks like they don't fit in. You think you can handle that, Lewis?"

Lewis grunted, and then asked, "I think it would be much easier if you come with me, sir."

Walter waved him off. "I have more pressing matters to deal with." Said matters were reaching the comfort of his bed. "When you find them, bring them to me, I will be in my cabin. Understood?"

"Yes, sir. Do you want me to bring you supper as well?"

"That won't be necessary."

The giant rolled his eyes, not doing much to hide the annoyance showed in his expression, and Walter thought that perhaps he'd asked the wrong man for the job. But he ignored that feeling as Lewis went out of the room to begin his task.

With him as the only one in the break room, Thomas Walter thought to make himself a cup of tea before heading back to his cabin. The break room wasn't lavish and large in size, and was actually pretty humbling when compared to other parts of the Titanic. He found the kettle and filled it with water. A couple of minutes later, the kettle was boiling and he poured the hot water into a small cup and dropped a teabag in it, adding sugar and stirring to complete his drink. He sat down on a seat near the door and sipped at his tea. It was relaxing as he felt his weariness slowly seep away. He thought of his five children back home in Essex and wondered how they were getting on by themselves; his eldest was twenty-one and was in the fishing business, while his youngest daughter was only a fledging three years. He smiled quite contently. Then, he remembered his wife who had died no longer than a year ago, and he felt a drop of tear flow down his cheek.

It was at this moment, Jack Phillips, one of the two radio operators, walked in the break room. Thomas Walter quickly wiped the tear from his face, but it didn't escape the eye of Phillips.

"Thinking of home, Tom?" the operator asked.

"Why, yes." Walter felt no shame in admitting. "I don't know why though, it only has been four days since we departed."

"It's the tea," Phillips said, helping to a cup himself. "I need this break. Bloody Cape Race has kept me busy all evening. Damn that stupid piece of faulty equipment."

The radio had broken down yesterday, and when it was fixed earlier today, Jack Phillips had found a huge backlog of personal messages that passengers asked to be telegraph, namely to, Cape Race, Canada.

Walter nodded. It seemed that everyone had a day to forget today. The Yuukis, the Kirigayas, Him, Phillips, Lewis might have counted but the Welsh always looked angry.

Phillips was still ranting. "And there was this operator from SS California that kept hounding me on reports of ice. Ice!"

"Ice?"

"I don't know, I wasn't paying much attention. Cape Race had me in a sack full."

"I see."

The two continued to chat for the next five minutes. It was then, Jack Phillips' break had ended and he said goodnight to Walter and returned to the operator room. It was not long after, Walter yawned heavily and he dropped his cup in the sink before leaving for his cabin.

The hour had gone by surprisingly quickly for Kazuto. What started as a telling of what had happened soon turned exposition of his life story. And whilst he sat and recount his troubled background to Asuna and Shino, he'd found a sense of peace, it was as if the pain was being released through his words. He wasn't the only one talking though, Asuna spoke as well, and Kazuto noted that they shared much more similarities than he'd previously thought. Shino listened attentively for the most part, she had a notebook in hand, scribbling bits and pieces of information that he'd guessed were used as inspiration for characters. One may have considered it rude for her to do so, but Kazuto discovered that it didn't bother him as much as he thought it would.

"…and it was then, we realized that we weren't alone in this room," Asuna finished off her quick summary of the night's events.

Kazuto smiled. "You know, I still have yet to thank you for pulling me out from that corridor," he said, looking into Asuna's eyes. "Thank you."

Asuna's cheeks flushed as she looked away. "It was nothing. Honest."

"Aww, this is some really good material here," Shino cut in. "I could write a whole romance novel off of this. Just think of it. Two troubled individuals finding love aboard the Ship of Dreams." She hugged herself uncharacteristically to demonstrate the love.

The two people said individuals were based on blushed heavily. The awkward silence between them grew as Shino started to make kissy faces. Kazuto decided to change the topic.

"So your genre is romance, Shino-san?" he asked.

She stopped her demonstration, much to their delight. "Any genres actually, it all depends on my mood."

"So what is your mood so far?" Asuna asked.

"Oh, the usual Adventure, Action, a short Horror, Comedy once but that wasn't a great success."

"And now?"

Shino paused for a moment, her eyes wandering off into a thoughtful gaze, and then she answered, "Tragedy."

Kazuto quirked an eyebrow. "Tragedy?"

"Yes, Tragedy, I mean why not?"

Kazuto scratched the back of his head. "Well, our story isn't tragic at all."

"That's where you're wrong." Shino grinned. "All it needs is a twist!"

Then there was a knock on the door.

Kazuto opened his mouth to speak, but Shino gestured for silenced with a finger on her lips. She got up from her bed and crossed the small room to the door, motioning for Kazuto and Asuna to try and hide. She leaned an eye in at the peephole. Another knock and she cursed silently before opening the door partially, enough to peek her head through.

"May I help you?" she asked.

A deep voiced reply came from behind the door, and it was as Kazuto feared.

"Miss. I'm Sergeant Dryden Lewis. I'm here to find two passengers, eye witnesses have told me that they were seen going into this room."

Author Notes: I'm not really proud of this chapter. Now I've said that I will post chapter 2 when I had finished writing the entire story, but unfortunately I haven't. This chapter was perhaps what made me stopped writing this fic a month ago and now I've made some major revision from what I have wrote a while ago. Still not very satisfied with it, especially how I have changed Sinon's character. So if you see any improvements that can be made tell me right away. Anyway chapter three is already written, but I'll wait till I finish the story then I will post it.

Anyway that's the end of this chapter, remember to favorite, follow, and review or PM me if you want to. See ya.