"Good morning!"

Damn Shigure.

"And how are you doing this fine morning, Miya?"

Great, until you spoke.

"Fine, Shigure," she said, somewhat annoyed. She rubbed her temples as she squatted down on the balcony bench.

"You okay, Miya?"

"Yeah, sorry if I sounded mean. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night."

"Why not?"

"Just couldn't."

Miya couldn't tell Shigure the reason why she didn't get any sleep last night. Yesterday's thought lingered in her mind.

His eyes were hauntingly beautiful…

Over and over, it repeated and she couldn't make sense of it. Tossing and turning didn't help either until finally she let it go for what it was, a passing thought.

That's it. A stupid thought at an extremely stupid moment. I won't let that ass think he's go me shaken up. Hell no.

And with that, Miya had a normal night's sleep. But still, the nagging at the back of her mind wouldn't let go.

"Ah, good morning, Hatori."

"Morning. Is Akito up yet?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him."

"Okay. Morning, Miya."

"Hey."

"You don't look so good." He walked over to her. In an instant, she raised her hand.

"Ah. Don't start. I already had this talk with Shigure. Restless night. That's it."

"If you say so."

"I say so." He said nothing more.

'Now I can enjoy my food in peace.'

Ah, the smell of sizzling bacon, fresh chocolate chip pancakes, soy-sauced scrambled eggs, and fresh, hot coffee was enough to turn any bad morning around. Any girl who had ever stated that bacon was very bad for you needed to be shot on sight. The eggs melted perfectly in Miya's mouth. Exactly what she needed to forget about a certain young man on the first floor. Unfortunately, Hatori thought differently.

"Miya, could you please go and see if Akito's awake?" Miya almost dropped her fork.

"…Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Ok, but if anything happens to me, it's all on your head."

Miya began the slow walk to Akito's room. She prayed Akito was asleep so she wouldn't have to deal with him. Maybe he was in a good mood? Nah. That never happened. In fact, now that she thought about it, Miya had never seen Akito smile. The arrogant smirk, yes, but never a real, full smile to indicate he was truly happy. Miya thought of what Akito would look like if he smiled, and nearly ripped her seams laughing. That, along with Akito being nice, was next to impossible.

The beige door to his room came into sight. She knocked lightly, not sure if Akito could even hear that. Minutes passed before she knocked again. No answer. She grabbed the door and slowly slid it open.

His room was dark. The curtains were drawn, but the morning's light still seeped through and brightened it up. Surprisingly, it was clean. No clothes thrown about, everything little knick-and-knack in its perfect place. She stepped in further. Right under the window was Akito's sleeping form. His breathing, deep and steady, gave her the answer she needed. As she left, Miya glanced at the small dresser next to her. A piece of paper under a box caught her eye. She took one last look at Akito before walking up to the dresser. Curiosity never hurt anyone. She picked it up and turned it over. Her eyes widened.

A picture. Of Akito when he was younger. A carefree smile graced his face. He looked happy, but he wasn't alone. Beside him was a woman about thirty years old. Her smile looked strained. A pretender who wanted to look happy to whoever saw the picture. She looked at Akito. He didn't seem the type to leave personal item lying about for someone to find. Then again, she was in his room, without his permission, which he would be pissed about. She set the picture down the way it was and quietly left.

Akito sat up as soon as he heard the door shut. He had heard the knocks, but ignored them. Most of the time, it was Hatori coming to wake him up. He hadn't figured Miya was the one knocking. So he kept quiet, wanting to see what she would do. It surprised him that she didn't search his room. The notion had to have crossed her mind. He watched as she was walking out to leave when she looked to the dresser and walked over to it. She picked up something that surprised her. After a few more minutes of looking at it, she left. Akito hurried over to the dresser and picked up the same item. He glared at it. Mother. How that picture got there was beyond him. He hated it, hated her. Akito ripped it into as many pieces as possible. He paced the room, his temper rapidly increasing with each passing second.

"He's not awake."

"Yes, I am." She swiveled around to see Akito standing in the doorway.

"Good morning, Akito. Did you sleep well?"

"Well enough," he answered gruffly. He made his way over to the balcony. "Miya, would you like to take a walk with me?"

"Uhh…I guess?"

Akito insisted on walking around the lake. The morning sun cast a bright glow on everything it touched, especially the lake. Its waters were as blue as the Mediterranean Sea. A few scattered clouds brought some shade from the harsh sun. Miya stayed a couple of feet behind Akito. Why did he ask her to walk with him if all he was going to do was keep his back to her?

Maybe he saw me…

She quickly shook that thought out of her head. If Akito saw her, he wouldn't wait until to say something. Would he? He stopped at the edge of the lake. The water barely touched him. Miya's head snapped up. Two robins flapped around a nest full of twittering babies. A small smile showed on her face. One of them flew over to Akito and landed on his finger. With his other finger, he stroked the chest of it.

"Birds like you a lot, don't they?" He then stuck his arm up and the robin flew back to its nest.

"Yeah," he whispered.

"You ok, Akito?"

"No."

"What's wrong?" He swung around and fully faced her.

"Aw, worried?"

"Not really. Just curious."

"If you must know, I saw something today that I never want to see again." Miya's body tensed as those words left his mouth, but she kept her demeanor calm and carefree.

"Oh? What?"

"I found a picture on my dresser of my mom and me when I was younger. I hate that picture, so much that I ripped it up five seconds later. I don't like leaving personal things of mine out for the world to see." He stepped towards her. "You know, I thought I heard someone come in my room this morning, but I figure it was a dream."

"Maybe."

"You know, I would hate for anyone to see that picture, especially when they aren't supposed to be there in the first place." She nodded.

Akito stared at her the whole time he talked. He was far too angry to let what she did pass. No one in his family dared to do something like that. But she wasn't part of the family and not part of the curse. Still, he wouldn't hurt her. She needed to know that he knew about this morning. And he was pretty sure she did know. That's why she didn't yell at him or make a comment saying it wasn't her. She stood there taking it all in. Perhaps last night got to her. His heart raced when he remembered that certain look. One of the few, rare moments that Miya showed vulnerability. But for now, he'd let the matter slide. Akito started making his way back to the house, but not before stopping next to Miya.

"Don't worry, Miya. I don't think it's you so you have nothing to worry about."

She'd done it. Miya had avoided Akito ever since the lake walk and even on the car ride home a day later. She spent the rest of the time with Shigure and his antics. Shigure had the amazing gift of cheering up people when they are down or, in her case, bored. Dealing with Akito wasn't at the top of her list. She shifted positions on her purple bean bag. Apparently, boredom was something that followed her around lately. She'd been sitting for the past hour staring at her ceiling. Finally, Miya was tired of doing absolutely nothing and decided a walk would be better than counting the clouds on the ceiling.

This place is huge!

Miya turned another corner of the main estate. For the past thirty minutes, her feet had taken her through new corridors and corners. Throughout her "journey," Miya discovered Hatori's bedroom, which consisted of Hatori firmly telling her to get out, and a door which led to a grand backyard. She didn't feel the need to check every single door that appeared. Soon the unfamiliar became familiar as Miya recognized some of the furniture when she turned yet another corner.

A faint sound caught her eyes. It sounded like someone yelling. She couldn't make out who it was. There it was again. What was that? CRACK! Miya sped up, running towards the sound. A big thud increased her panic. She stopped right outside a closed door. It didn't help that the hallway she was in had Akito's bedroom encased in its walls. Miya grabbed the door and slammed it open. Her eyes widened.

Yuki lay on the floor motionless. Akito stood above him, looking down at Yuki with a whip in his hand and a wicked smile on his face. Akito enjoyed this? This monstrous torture of his own blood? Miya's own blood boiled as she saw Akito raise the whip over his head. He brought in down again…but it didn't even touch Yuki.

Akito felt himself hit the floor and the whip leave his hand. He pushed himself off the floor and glared at the one person who fueled his anger more than anybody. If glares could kill, Miya would have dropped in an instant. She picked up Yuki by his arm, earning a groan from him. His bloody back revealed a torn shirt and numerous wounds.

"Are you all right?" she whispered to him. He nodded. She turned her attention back to Akito. Her eyes narrowed in disgust at the sight of him. "Go straight to Hatori." He nodded lightly and limped out of the room.

Miya's hands balled into fists. The hate in her eyes turned the room into ice. The tension between Akito and her reached an all-time high as Akito returned with a malicious glare of his own. She understood Yuki and how he felt because she had gone through it too. The torture and the pain instilled by a loved one, though Miya doubted Yuki ever loved Akito like family.

"You disgust me." Miya didn't disguise the evident loathing in her voice.

"Did I upset you?"

"You're a monster."

"That's true. I'm a monster," he mocked her.

"How could you?"

"I can do with him whatever I please."

"Not anymore."

"What?" he said sharply.

"I'm tired of it. Of you and everything that happens to good people because of you. You'll never put a hand on anyone again! Not with me around!" This took Akito by surprise. Who was she to tell him what to do? The cunt.

"Do you really think they'll go against me! They need me. You're a worthless bitch Shigure felt sorry for!" Twitch. "A dropout!" Twitch. "A rag doll for your poor, drunk father to throw around!"

She reeled her hand back…and punched Akito straight in his face. He stumbled back. He clutched his left eye. Her glare turned into a full on glower.

"Don't you ever say that again….or I'll kill you." He snarled. The nerve of that tramp! How dare she hit him! She'll pay for this. "In fact, maybe I should be the one who pities you, Akito."

"For what!"

"You were right. You didn't need to tell me, but I knew you knew that I was the one in your room. I saw that picture of you and your mother. I pity you because…not even your own mother loved you."

SMACK! Miya's head hit the ground with such an impact it left a small dent in the floor. Blood oozed from a large gash on her cheek. For someone who appeared so frail, Akito was strong. She didn't even care. She got up as though it wasn't even there. Years of torment made her numb to pain. Her anger didn't allow her to feel pain, only hate toward him. Her eyes bore into Akito's. His eyes held nothing but fury and insanity. In one swift motion, Akito gripped her neck and held her inches from him.

"You will never hit me again. Is that clear?"

"Fuck you." She scratched his arm so deeply, he dropped her. A sound of pain emitted from him. Little lines of blood emerged on his skin.

"You bitch!" He reached out to grab her again.

In a whir, Hatori and a servant appeared and held him back. He shouted for someone to come and help. A butler came in and helped restrain Akito while two other servants held Miya back. Hatori looked back and forth between the two. The contempt the two shared washed over him like a tidal wave. It was then he noticed the wounds on both of them. He couldn't believe it. He shouted at the servants to drag Miya out before another fight erupted. Yuki informed him on what happened to him and when Miya arrived. As soon as he was done tending to Yuki, Hatori hauled ass, bringing with him a servant. A foreboding feeling hung over him all the way to Akito's room.

Hatori removed the ice pack from Akito's left eye. The servants had gone back to their normal duties. He managed to calm Akito down enough to treat his wounds. He wanted to ask Akito exactly how the argument turned into a fight, but he knew he wouldn't receive an answer. After making sure his eye was all right, Hatori gave Akito his usual medication and left the infuriated young man to his thoughts.

Akito was beyond pissed. She didn't know him. Knew nothing of him and his past. That bitch crossed the line when she mentioned his whore of a mother. And she had the audacity to hurt him. He only wanted to vent his anger out. Miya didn't speak to him at all after their conversation at the lake. His anger grew to a point that if he didn't find a way to release it, he'll murder anyone in sight. And who better than Yuki? Until she came in and interrupted him. Suddenly, Akito chuckled, soon erupting into a fit of laughs. He immediately ceased laughing, a few chuckles escaping him. Who knew what the servants would say if they heard him laugh? But he'd never met anyone who had the guts to yell at him and hurt him at the same time. Everyone else followed his orders without complaint, but she…she never once listened to him. She went against everything he said and never cared. Akito laughed again. This was more fun than he first thought.

Miya wiped her cheek down once more and then placed a bandage over the cut. She drained the bloody water and exited the bathroom. Her clean body shivered as a blast of cold air circled her. She tiptoed over to the living room and slumped down on the wall. A couple of minutes later, another figure joined her on the ground. The figure grabbed her chin lightly and turned her face to him to examine the cut.

"Nasty cut."

"Uh-huh."

"Sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine."

"What happened?"

"Do you need to ask, Shigure? Hatori probably told you already." It was true. The doctor called Shigure earlier to tell him that Miya was staying over his house tonight and told him of the reason why.

"If it makes you feel any better, you're the first one to ever hit him." Miya chuckled.

"That doesn't surprise me and yes, it does."

Miya scooted her body in front of Shigure and laid back. Her head rested in his cross-legged lap. She took a hold of his hand and placed it on her head. A few seconds passed until Shigure got the message and began stroking her black hair. Her eyes locked onto his and neither could look away. She flashed him a smile and he did the same. Miya felt she was the luckiest person in the world to have someone like Shigure care about her well-being. Her eyes soon felt like a ton of bricks were hanging off them. They drooped closed and she snuggled further into Shigure's lap. He still hadn't stopped stroking her hair with a smile on his face.