A/N: Hello people! ::eyes darting about:: okay, coast is clear. Let you in in a lil secwet of mine. I wasn't able to update because… because second sem has finally started, sembreak's over ::gee, big news:: and I'm hampered by different problems one way or another. So forgive me. Really.

Thanks for your continued support.

And now, on with the story.

Chapter 7

Sakura

I stood up and stretched my aching muscles. I've been writing for at least half an hour and I developed this pain on my right shoulders. Gee, that's big news.

After almost a week and a half, I still can't believe what just befell on me. I surveyed my room… it screams of wealth, vanity, extravagance, aloof beauty and old money. Yes… probably too fancy for my tastes but hell… I loved ever second I spend in it. Or ever damn second I spend in this haven. Probably, yes, it is too stuffy for me… the Presian rugs, carpeted hallways, great wide staircases and expensive paintings and centerpieces… but there's nothing that would stop me from feeling secure and comforted here. Why the sudden change of attitude, you ask me. No, I haven't turned into a clique bitch and yes, I'm still the same old me. It's just… well… it's just… finally…

I've found a home…

Mito

I tossed one flat rounded pebble across the river. Made four skips. "Hey, got four," I said. Sauichirro, Ookusu and Takamiya were busy selecting their own on the riverside.

"I never see Sakura around anymore. Where is she?" Ookusu suddenly wondered out loud. I wish he didn't. I stopped myself from wincing and sighing visibly. But the more I do it, the more the frustration builds up and sometimes, I just want to scream the nastiest things you have probably never heard before.

A week and a half. Hey, that's not long. But sometimes, time has its own twisted schemes and ever second feels like eternity. Damn.

A week and a half. And I never breathed a word about it. They didn't know what happened that night. Nobody knows. But me, Sakura… and him.

No. Don't ask me for a flashback. No. If you want, I'll tell you the whole story but definitely, NOT a flashback.

I inhaled sharply. It all began when that Lexus from hell stopped in front of us. When he stuck his face out of that expensive window. I didn't know Sakura got wounded. To cut the long story short, well, I finally knew she was but then, that was after she lost so much blood. We were in the hospital and I would really want to donate my blood to her but then, she's and AB and I'm a B and that guy, whose name was Retsuya and-I-don't-know-the-next, was an AB. I don't know why he's so godawfully concerned about her and I would really appreciate people who's concerned about her well-being but there's just something in that awfully slick and handsome man that I just hate. He's perfectly polite, sincere and you know, all that perfect qualities-- wealth, looks and such-- but I don't know…I don't trust him with a nanosecond of my life.

Then, after that, when she's recovering (she does quickly anyway), Retsuya bastard revealed his identity to us. Gee, guess what? He's the best man of her deceased parents in their wedding. He is her father's best friend. And they both have exactly the same picture of her parents wedding… the only memory she has of her parents. And there's a bonus. Retsuya was in the picture too. You don't know how just happy she is. So happy. I wouldn't blame her. She found a true family. He explained that her aunt was a fake and such (I think I was away during that part) and he's been searching for her all these years. Gee.

And now, she's staying at his glorious mansion and she never even bothered visiting us. Crap.

I think… she's just like any other people. Drifters. I was so stupid to believe she's any different from the rest.

Sakura

"Do you mind if I enter?" The door opened hesitantly. I rolled my eyes. "You already opened it. Might as well as enter." Retsuya laughed and closed the door behind me. "Right."

"What are you doing?" he asked me, peering curiously. "Nothing. Just writing at my journal, that's all." His eyes took an unpleasant glint. "Oh no… you don't." I held the journal behind me.

"I didn't say anything. You're too defensive. And, that journal won't contain anything that I might be interested in anyway," he shrugged with an air of aloofness.

"Same old tricks. You can't fool me." After a second of taut atmosphere, we both burst out laughing. "Hey, I'm just wondering… I want to show something."

It was my turn to have an unpleasant glint in the eyes. "Hey, trust me. I thought you love arsenal. Well, turns out I'm wrong." He shrugged. "Sorry for bothering you. Good night."

"No wait!" I yelled but he was already stalking out of the room. I have to run to catch up to him. Giving me one sidelong glance, his mouth barely curved upward, he said, "This way."

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

I fell on my bed and the soft four poster, ultra-gorgeous bed swallowed my being comfortably. I checked the clock. 2:45 am. Man, after all these target-shooting, I'm drained. My lids involuntarily closed and I felt being drawn inside the vortex of a deep, dark dreamless sleep.

Everything has been so perfect. So good. So real. Too good to be true. I think it's okay to admit that in the marrow of my bones, I know I was never made to be happy. That all of this would fade soon. God. But that's okay. Maybe I still have a right to catch a glimpse of happiness once in a while. Maybe.

Then, no more.

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

Mito

Four weeks. A month. And still no signs of her. Bullshit. What am I expecting anyway? I should've know. Really known. She's not any different from any other people. Mercenaries.

I angrily pulled the framed photo of the five of us down, slamming it on the table. The glass shattered.

But why do I still care? Why am I worried about her? She's safe, with that hundreds of men guarding the place and such. And I don't think Retsuya would let any harm come upon her.

That's if, Retsuya isn't the harm to her. Ah, bull. All of these musings are bull. I stood up and walked out of my house. I want to have some fun. Get preoccupied with something else. Else I'll go crazy. I dug my hands on my pocket.

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

Sakura

I curled my knees under me. Retsuya was facing me and books are surrounding us. We were in his library and he was telling me all sort of different and useless information. But still, interesting.

Like, do you know that every information you learn adds a wrinkle to your brain?

And I must admit he is beautiful. With all these yellow soft light bathing the ancient antique place and he in his black turtleneck sweats that wouldn't dare conceal the gilded muscles beneath it, the strong jaws, deep-set almost purple blue eyes and pale skin, the silky black hair tied down at his back, sensuous mouth and aristocratic nose… he's beautiful to behold.

"… however, is it in Zaire? Zaire or something like that, where the AIDS virus originally came from…" his eyes are deeply immersed in a dark bound book entitled "Narcissus and Goldmund by Herman Hesse".

"Restuya," I started, "tell me something about my parents."

"…where being infected by it is as common as cold, some people there have actually developed antibodies against HIV virus… What?!"

"I said, tell me something about my parents," I repeated, the corners of my lips curling upward. For a moment, an indescribable emotion registered in his eyes, almost untraceable but there, I saw it. Then his eyes disappeared behind his glasses in a generous smile.

"Sure. I'd love that," he got up and poured another glass of wine for both of us, handing me one. "Let's start with your father. Your father is a handsome gentleman, skilled in many ways. A man of few, terse words. Every word he utters is gold. we've been best friends since children and I've never heard him say nonsense. Women loved him and many men adored him. He is especially good at target shooting and swordsmanship, which I believe, you have inherited from him. What else? He graduated in the best universities and excelled… "

I shook my head. "No, that's not what I want to know. It's very impressive, I think but… what is he like?"

He smiled again. "Hmmm… I told you. Very cold and very detached. People say he's too aloof and they mistake it for arrogance but I think it's just the way he is. Once you get behind all the emotional barriers, you'll find a very warm, trusting, dependable and affectionate person inside him. Which was, basically, what your mother did. On the contrary, she is warm, witty and good at word play. Small-boned and I should say, very attractive and sexy but behind all those innocent eyes and shy smile is a powerful woman, one who can really beat the crap out of you. Besides, she's the type of "been there, done it" and she has seen the world and its ways. She's very wise too. And she's the kindest, most beautiful woman I've ever known. You have inherited your looks from her. You have the same dark hair, the same complexion and the same smile. And when I look in your eyes, I almost feel like I'm looking right into hers, into her bottomless, dark and fiery soul. She's… she's perfect. And she loved you and your father more than anything else in the world."

I didn't realize that while he's telling me everything about my past, I'm smiling like an idiot, drinking every information he tells me. I felt like a missing piece of my being has finally been added and at last… I'm complete. I loved it.

Then, just a thought occurred to me. "You mean, they are rich?" I blurted out then turned red. "I mean, no, I was just thinking… it sounds so glamorous, fabulous and such…"

He held up a hand. "No, it's okay for you to ask that. That means, you're listening attentively. Yes, they are rich and in fact, one of the richest people in Europe that time. They met in France, by the way then, established their relationship in Tuscany and got married in some far off private island in Italy."

"Whoa." I felt my jaw drop. I surveyed all the richness and wealth that practically covers me. He must be really rich too. "Yeah? How about you? What do you do to… to be so rich as this?"

He laughed. "Your parents and I founded a research institute and it boomed. We were doctors. Well," he got up and held his hand out for me to hold on. Not that I needed it. "enough has been said. There's always tomorrow for the continuation of the long story."

"Not fair." I made a face.

"To you it maybe but for me? It's okay." He grinned. "C'mon. Let's get out of here and return to our beds. Breakfast at 7:30, ok? I have lots to show you." He opened the door. "Hmm, and by the way, good night. Sweet dreams." he said, without even bothering to look back before he closed the door, leaving me at the library alone.

He is so… so incredibly mysterious.

A/N: Hey, hold on for a sec before you sentence me death! I'm so sorry! And really, I guess I'm not continuing what's that? Ah, Perfect Match anymore. Not until I get a specific plot in mind. Hehe. sorry, but I'm not really a writer, y'know. took me 3 months to finish this chapter. hehe. Happy New Year to all!!!