A/N: Well, I told you, I don't have any ideas in Perfect Match. ::sighs:: so, this fic goes on and on and on and who knows? I would finish this sooner than expected? I don't mean to sound so obnoxious. I mean, yeah, I admit, I frustrate my readers with my nonstop abuse about my fics and constant threat that I have no plot, that I'm gonna sell it, that I don't know what the hell I'm gonna do with the fic and such. I'm so sorry. ::is it confession time?:: But you know, I admit, at least, I have a vague idea about how this fic is gonna end, who's gonna die and who's gonna survive or if anybody would survive at all (ooooopsssss…. Uh, forget I mentioned that ^_~ V) but in Perfect Match… ::sigh:: I wish somebody would take the responsibility of it. But okay, I promise, with your constant encouragment, I'll really really really really finish that one up. Then if I did… wahahahahaha… another proof that you can overcome your obstacles in life….

Believe me. I'll continue that one. Don't leave me!!!!

But I thank you all for sticking up with me. Thanks a lot. ^_.^

Note: This mark ***************************** denotes that a large amount of time has passed.

Chapter 6

*~A WEEK LATER~*

Sakura

"YAAAAHHH!" I jumped up high in the air, and looking as if suspended mid-air for a second or two, then, I came down in such steep angle, charging at Mito. Mito's eyes grew really really round, probably the size of a tennis ball. Instead of blocking my attack, he just stood there, gaping at me. Because of my steep angle and momentum, I can't… I couldn't lessen the force in any way. The result was the sickening sound when my fist came in contact with his body and he bounced a good few feet away from me.

BANG!

Takamiya, Ookusu and Sauichirro were seated in straight line side by side at the far end of the dojo, their jaws reaching the floor, unadulterated horrified looks in their eyes. Well, I call this little training house of ours (where my good aunt trained me) a dojo. Sauichirro stood up, as if wanting to help their fallen friend.

"Don't help him." I warned sternly. They knew not to disobey me when I'm in training mood. I watched Mito intently as he coughed and slowly stood up, swaying and shaking visibly. "Why aren't you applying all the moves I taught you? C'mon. FOCUS on training."

"Sakura… you can be such a… a…" he glowered at me, holding his stomach. I admit it, I never wanted to hurt him… but I can't turn him into a whiny sorryass. I don't tolerate such cowardice especially inside my dojo.

"…a bitch. Yeah, for the right reasons…" I offered helpfully as I launched another attack, this time, simultaneous kicks and punches. This time, Mito regained some of his wits and he blocked my attacks effectively. But he never launched any kind of attack, however puny it might be.

"Give," cough, pant, wheeze, "me…a break. I just came out of the hospital, for God's sake!"

I hauled him overhead. BLAM! Don't worry. That wouldn't hurt him much. It looks worse than it really feel. I assisted his fall so it's nothing really more than like falling a three or two step stairs.

I stood before him, my shadow covering him, my hands on my hips. "The point is, you never give your adversary a break. Not until you're sure he's down. Understood?"

"Yeah yeah yeah. Whatever," he lay there, with his arms and legs spread, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. He was breathing really hard. I studied him. (Don't peek into my thoughts. My mouth is zipped.) I instead reached out both my hands and helped him up. With that, I turned around and faced the three people at the back.

"Who's next?" I saw them gulp.

I saw it coming but I didn't expect it coming. I felt his hands lock around me. In an instant, I was lifted and thrown overhead. I felt the air rush out of my lungs in one whoosh! I lay there, with my legs and arms spread, my eyes staring at the ceiling.

"Got me there," I jumped up nimbly after a second or two. Mito grinned at me, facing me again, challenging me. "The point is, you never give your adversary a break until you're sure he's down. I think I know that by heart." He grinned wider, his eyes challenging me even more. Wiseass.

I rolled my eyes. "Aw shucks, quit it. You ain't my only student here. And the sun is near setting." I faced him and bowed low. End of the session. Mito grinned again before walking away. He plopped beside Takamiya.

"Man… was it really that bad? I mean, it sure looked horrible," I heard Takamiya whisper. Mito gulped half of the mineral water. He wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his white robe. "Prepare to meet thy God," he said and smiled again. "Hoo… that drained me."

"Thank you very much. That's so comforting," Takamiya pursed his lips. "Maybe I'll consider the extension programs Shohoku High offers and take Spanish classes instead."

I hid a grin. My fondness for this little round man got the better of me. I approached them. I smiled warmly at him (in futile hope to reassure him) as he stared at him in ice cold fright.

"I think we better start on you," I smiled at him, more cheerfully than ever, warmly reaching out my hand for him. C'mon, baby. Don't be afraid. I dunno why but he certainly got more horrified at me than ever. The others breathed a sigh of relief.

Wha--? Mito chuckled softly.

"Let's start then."

Sweet brave soul.

*******************************************

Mito

After changing back to our usual jeans and shirts and returning the white tae kwon do kimonos we borrowed (is it called kimono? It sure looks like kimono), Sakura served us some refreshments. The sun had almost set, thus, the four of us have to go.

Takamiya, Ookusu and Sauichirro were almost too glad to step out of the dojo behind Sakura's house. I followed their act and stepped out of the wooden floor of the dojo. I descended the small four-step stairs and turned around to wave good bye. Sakura grinned and gave a half-nod, her back resting on the wall. I turned forward and walked slowly (my body aches like hell, you know). The three figures of my friends were silhouetted in the distance, already far from me until they were almost swallowed up by the darkness. I didn't notice that the night has already descended upon us. The light in the post glowed in their yellow amber light and moths gathered around them. I rounded the corner around Sakura's house and approached the public sidewalk.

Suddenly, I felt a slight movement behind me. If not because of Sakura's careful training for this past two months, I wouldn't have even felt it. I swung around to face it, my body crouched in fighting position, ready to face anything.

"Hmmm… fast reflex and keen perception. You're learning fast, Mito," Sakura slapped my right shoulders good-humoredly. I have a nice patch of purple bruise there but I didn't let her know.

"Hmmm… I wonder what are you doing here," I said and looked at her. We are standing on the side of the street, her house not very far behind us. She lives in the part of the city where there are lots of trees and fairly big houses, although it never occurred to me she's a rich kid. Maybe she's not. Or else she would be studying in a private school of some sort.

The wide street is deserted. Probably this place isn't really the side of the town where you see buses and middle-class cars. You're likely to find emerald Lexus here or something. Thick grove of trees lined the pavement and there's abundance of fancy streetlamps here. Hmm… I didn't notice this before. My eyes reverted back to Sakura. We've been silent and still for almost a few seconds. I'm almost half-afraid that any form of awkwardness would descend upon us.

Luckily, it didn't. I was so lost with my own thoughts that I didn't notice right away that Sakura has moved. She faced the thick grove of trees beside us. When I looked at her, I almost wished I didn't. Bathed in the amber glow of the fancy street lamps and in her white kimono, she was leaning on the rail that separates the trees from the pavement. Her white slender tapered fingers curled around the cold metals delicately. Her nails are clean and untainted. For the first time, I saw her long black hair in loose tie, the simple white tie almost falling loosely to the tip of the silken body of hair. Funny how the shadows can play illusions at you. But she was no illusion. In fact, the warm glow and the shadow of the twilight didn't make her look like an illusion. If anything else, it enhanced her features, her heart-shaped face, her thin and prominent nose and full parted lips. But most of all, her eyes, those deep depths, not wide like a child's or Haruko's but the sharpness was just in perfect angles that gave it an exquisite, if not exotic, beauty. Sharp, but beautifully… and dangerously sharp. Like a silver wolf's in the dark of the night. But now, as she stare, it mirrors anything but danger. Innocence, purity, simplicity and childlike happiness. It almost made my voice get stuck in my throat. Almost made me impulsive enough to… to…

The wind rustled. Time seemed to stop. "Isn't it beautiful?" she shyly commented, as if talking to herself, barely audible. Huh? I ripped my gaze off her and focused on the vision before me. I was amazed by what I saw.

In the midnight blue darkness of the night, hundreds of little twinkling stars danced right before us, glowing shimmering green and golden yellow. The trees seemed enchanted, their verdant leaves alive with strange ethereal colors and their old barks looked almost golden brown. The strange little fairies of the night danced happily in some strange flicking steps unknown to us. I was never a poet… but believe me… it was too good to behold. I almost felt a sacrilege, like I'm interrupting a sacred ancient ceremony by my mere presence.

"Yeah…" I just breathed out in reply. So low, as if I'm afraid of disturbing these little twinkling stars. Sakura smiled. I'll be damned. Hell, she's way better to behold.

"Guess it beats eating potato chips in the backyard while staring at the distant skies, huh?"

"You bet."

"You know, you're a natural. If you really focus on training, within a month or two, it would be hard to tell who'll win the next match. Me or you."

"I feel my head growing big."

Silence. The night cicadas started their serenade. If this moment could just last… I sighed. Who are you kidding? She's not yours. She's just a friend. Besides, it's not like you have a chance, bro. She doesn't acknowledge human emotions, remember? Looks can deceive.

"Did I hurt you?" She reached out to take my hand, her eyes resting on mine. Oh God, don't do that. I might do something really stupid that I might regret later.

Hurt me?

"Uh… what do you mean?"

"I mean, you were just out of the hospital and I… I might be pushing you too far," she shrugged her shoulders and stared at the cold metal rail. She really looked like an enchanted priestess from feudal Japan.

"Well..." I started. Not really, you know. Physical pain is way lot different from mental pain.

"You know, I'm just doing this for your own welfare too. You know my reasons. I'm just protecting you guys. You need to be ready because anything might happen. It's not like protecting other people was my expertise before… before I knew you guys."

"Well… I know. I guess we just need a more gradual training. Our bodies can't adjust that fast, y'know." Her brows furrowed then relaxed in understanding. Then she squeezed my hand and gave me a lopsided grin.

And she was like, so close. Her scent is blurring my senses. Really. Blocking my logic and throwing me into the sea of impulsiveness. I couldn't think straight. Except of that sweet spicy scent that's assaulting me.

I moved closer. Her eyes gazed up on me, puzzled.

I moistened my lips and swallowed. Do or die.

The fireflies of the night danced around us, showering us with glowing little orbs falling slowly and softly around us. Her eyes shimmered as they reflect the beautiful light.

"Sakura?" I whispered. Almost a plea… for permission. Because I know, one wrong move, I'll be sealing my fate. You can never taint the goddess hand with your kiss, nor the very soil she treads upon without her permission. I tilted her chin with my fingers and found myself drowning in her eyes again.

And I inched my face closer. I didn't feel any resistance… just visible tenseness… but no hostile reaction. It reassured me, somehow. We are now just mere centimeters apart.

I felt her warm breath in my mouth, smelled it in my nose and almost tasted it with my tongue. So sweet… yet not sugary sweet. It's… sweet yet so spicy, you'll never get tired of it. She could tempt the gods.

I saw her move her right foot back, as if thinking to flee but decided against it. I saw uncertainty in her eyes before she closed it. She closed it. She's submitting herself to…

But suddenly, I felt danger… danger so tangible I can almost touch it. With my peripheral vision, I noticed a quick streak of red light far ahead, near her house.

"SAKURA!" I shouted her name as I threw her and myself out of the line of fire. Instantly, the street lamp behind us shattered. Sakura nimbly got back to her feet in one quick movement. "Mito…" she started, uncertainly.

"I think I can do this," I whispered. But the uncertainty remained in her eyes. "Trust me."

"Okay. But… if anything happens… know that I'm always right behind you, okay?" she squeezed my right hand once again. I nodded and squeezed back.

"Let's get over it, then."

********************************************

Sakura

Glass shattered, showering both us and Mito with shards. We both ducked as another round of gunshots were bestowed upon us. Man, they use magazines upon magazines of precious bullets like there's no tomorrow.

We were crouched below the window behind our house. We must get to the dojo soon. If we make it there, there's a bigger chance that we could escape here alive.

Like our situation could get any better. The whole place is crawling with armed men. Like all hell broke loose. One good thing though. They might be many, but hell, a baby could aim better than they could.

"Why are we going back? Shouldn't we flee from here?" Mito whispered fiercely. I didn't realize how hard we're panting mainly because you can't possibly breathe from all these smoke because of gunshots here and there. And how cold my hands are. No, wait. It's not my hands. It's Mito's. All the while, I didn't let go of his hands.

Hell, I can't risk having him separated from me.

"I've got guns there. At least, we can fight our way out of here," I whispered back. Seeing coast is clear, we ran a few feet, crouching.

I saw that only one dash, we can slip inside the dojo. We were hiding behind some bush. It felt so pathetic. I turned to face him. "Listen, we might get inside the dojo but God knows how many jackass are in there already. These guys… they know the places and whereabouts about my house… which only mean, it's been kept under strict surveillance over the past days. So, once you get hold of your gun, make a full use of it. Don't hesitate blasting some perp's ass. Aight?"

Mito looked stunned. Like I'm telling him to murder his own mother. Which is about half-truth. I'm ordering him to kill. I felt a wrenching pain in my chest but I decided not to ponder about it. In the life I'm living, it's do or die.

Yet he nodded gravely.

As we made a dash for it, a thought passed my head faintly. The pain. Because… because I now can see how different my life from his. How stained, how tainted and how dirty I am. And I pushed them… pushed him into the mud I'm drowning in.

****************************

"Whoa… you've got an arsenal here." Mito reveled at all the guns in neatly arranged order stacked high against the wall. We were in the basement of the dojo. There's only one way to go in and out here and it's a secret door. But hell, by the looks of it, these bastards know all about this house as much as I do.

I carefully but swiftly surveyed the guns. Most are big shotguns, wicked looking but hell, we don't need Micro Uzi, whether full automatic or semi, nor Heckler and Koch HK91 which fires 7.62 NATO cartridge enough to penetrate tree, brick wall and a car and still can take the sorryass hiding behind it.

All these babies… it would be a pity not to use them. But anyway… I got a handgun and threw it to him. "Browning nine-millimeter and semi-automatic. There's more to it than what it lets you see."

Mito gazed at the formidable handgun in his hand. I got myself a Korth .38 revolver. Man, I love this baby.

"C'mon. let's get the hell out of here." I motioned him to follow me.

"Wait… you're just seventeen, right? How did you acquire so many guns, pistols and assault rifles? You can't even buy this legally even if you're in legal age."

"Spare me the petty questions. What's important is, we have a fraction of a chance to get alive from here."

*************************

Mito

As soon as we stepped out of the safety of the dojo, bullets rained against us. I dove for cover behind a brick wall, probably more than a feet thick. Another rain of assault showered us. This time a bullet penetrated the brick wall and all, missing my face by inches only. I stared at the hole horrified.

Damn.

These guys are using stuff way lot more powerful than my handgun or the revolver Sakura carries. Probably Micro Uzi or… what's that? Hassler and Scotch?

Then, I felt it coming again. The aim of whoever the jackass is, is getting better. If I stay in my position for another second, I'm toast. It's obvious they know where the hell I am.

I dashed to the left, going straight to the little woods, risking the danger of being in the open space. Once I get the advantage of the camouflage of the woods, things would ease a little bit. As expected, another round of gunshots were aimed at me. I retaliated with the little handgun of mine. I don't even know if I hit something. Sakura didn't teach me how to handle guns yet.

Then, the sense of being in danger building as second pass by, everything all seemed like a blur. Sakura said I was a natural. Let's see how my "natural abilities" can save me now.

All I remember was dodging these bullets then like in movies, you stick out your head from where you're hiding and BAM! You knock out some ass or two. I was in constant move, hiding behind trees and blowing these perps down. Its really bad at first… you know… almost evil knowing you might've killed somebody. But, it's self-defense too. If I just stand there or run hiding, I know, I'd be dead minutes ago.

In this jungle we're living, the law is, survival of the fittest.

How minutes has passed by anyway? It couldn't be more than half an hour or else the police would be here by now. But I really felt that eternity has passed. I feel like I've been dodging at least a thousand bullets and fired at least a thousand bullets and killed, no I didn't kill, I… I wiped some one thousand sorryass already.

Silence. All of a sudden there was silence.

Wiping my perspiration from my brow for a second, and using just a moment to breathe deeply while I lean against the tree I realized one horrible thing.

Sakura got separated from me!

And it was all silent, like, both sides are waiting for each other's move. Waiting. Watching. Like a predator when it sees its prey.

Sakura… where the hell are you? Panic and worry welling inside me, building until it was almost despicable to just stand there and wait. I need to find her. I need to do something. She might be sprawled there, blood pooling around her, her body riddled with bullets… no! I wouldn't think about it. She's an expert. She could handle anything. If anything else, she has way lot better chance to survive.

So I ran… ran blindly, yet unconsciously I didn't know I was still retaliating with every gunshot from the other side. I ran, searching for her, searching, searching. Sakura, where are you?

I felt a hostile presence behind me. I swung around and fired three consecutive shots. Down.

I ran again, now coming into the clearing, where a hazy gray smog settled around. Then I felt a quick movement, lithe and familiar. I almost felt overjoyed when I saw her face coming closer to me. "Sakura!" I whispered overjoyed that she's alive and well and whole. I felt my throat tighten and I felt giddy despite the gashes, wounds and cuts I obtained (well, I'm not bullet proof, you know. And I'm not Superman. I'm just tough lucky but bullets still graze me and I was in the woods).

"Mito! Oh God, you don't know how worried I am!" Sakura's eyes were wide and she breathe a sigh of relief. "There's no time to talk here. Let's get outta here."

I wondered for a moment how. We can't run in the sidwalk. That would be really really dumb. How the hell are we supposed to get out of here is something I can hardly fathom. Leave it to her. I trust her completely.

I followed her as she winded around the whole area. Obviously, she knows a better way out of here. I sighed, relieved.

Sakura

How the hell can we get our asses here? Damn. We're circling the area but I doubt that they left the outskirts unguarded.

Turns out I'm right. I stared in awe as Mito knocked 'em down with precision and accuracy. I was just sort of inflating his head when I told him he's natural. But hell, unless he's got himself private tutoring in practice targeting elsewhere, I know for sure he's a natural when it comes to firing. Anyway, I didn't render myself completely useless. I raised my gun and pulled the trigger. After two shots or three, surprise surprise, I've run out of bullets. And I forgot to pack spare shells due to hurry.

Mito seemed to notice it and he guarded me like one fierce bulldog. I hated it. I felt so pathetic.

I held my left shoulder firmly, stopping more bleeding. When Mito were crouched behind that little brick wall, and he was busy with those jerks in his left, he didn't see the one in his left. I fired but I missed so i… I did what cost me this.

I wish I wore something darker. In my white kimono, the dark blood was so easy to see. I don't want to worry Mito more than he's worried about me now. I hid my left shoulder in the darkness as we trudged along.

Suddenly a bluish black Lexus pulled up in front of us. Mito was instantly by the driver's window and pointing his gun on the drivers head.

The driver, hidden in the shadows, was unruffled. "Come on inside, hurry. I'll drive you out of here," was the lithe silky voice. Authority is woven in it.

"Why should we trust you?" Mito didn't put down his gun a bit. I felt like fainting. All this blood loss. Stand up straight. You've suffered more than this. Don't be reduced into one pathetic pile of fainting damsel in distress.

The driver of the said car leaned forward, just to have his face bathed in enough light to be recognizable.

"Sakura, don't you remember me?"

Sakura, don't you remember me?

That face…

A/N: GOD!!! I CAN'T MAKE THIS CHAPTER ANY LONGER!!! IT'S ENOUGH!!!! WAHHHHHHH!!!!!!

So that's it for chapter 6. Thank you for reading this. Uh, like, don't forget to review and… ::sigh:: let's see who's that savior is. You probably have an idea who the hell that guys is…

::sigh::

you won't believe how this thing would end. All this insane and crappy twisted ideas of mine…

::sighs while walking away::