Haruka: OK people. I know my lack of updating is inexcusable, but I've been really, REALLY busy for the past year. I am now attending University, so that probably means I have even less time to update. I will, however, work out some sort of plan, so there will be an new update at least once a month. OK, that's a lie. I do, however, plan to finish this story up. And yes, there is going to be a sequel. See, I have everything planned out in my head...I just need to transfer all that onto paper!! But yea, without further ado! Enjoy!

Chapter Six

The Beginning of End

Shinn Asuka's day was composed of many different parts. A quarter of it belonged to work, the other to school, leaving only half of his day to do whatever he wanted. Sleep took up most of his free time. Sometimes he thanked god for giving him a good brain, for he would never be able to afford to attend a school like Higrashi without a scholarship.

Things were finally starting to get back to normal. That is, if it were ever normal. For a moment, Shinn stared into the brightness of the sun. It was a bad habit that he had picked up when he was young. It wasn't good for his eyes; his mother had told him that many times during the years that she had still been alive, but he had failed to listen as a child, and in turn, had been losing bits and pieces of his visions ever since.

It was a Sunday afternoon. He had been awake since the crack of dawn, and had failed to get back to sleep ever since. Rey had left a note the day before, saying that there was an emergency back home, and had left his best friend on a short notice. Now it was just him and the empty apartment. He had called Ayame earlier that morning. If there was one thing that he'd learned over the course of the week, it was that Ayame was busy every Sunday. To what exact cause was unknown to him. He tried to ask her many times during what little time that they had together, yet had gained nothing but sudden agitation. Ayame had made it clear that it was her business, and although she'd welcomed him to her world, there was still no place for him in her sea of void. So to him, she was simply unavailable on Sundays.

He drew himself away from the balcony. How long has it been since he last visited that place? He had questioned himself many times during the course of the year; he even had the trip planned out in his mind, yet never actually gathered the courage to go. Truth was, he was scared of returning to that day. Yet the memories seemed to latch onto him like cancer. Shinn wanted to forget it all, the smoke of the car crash, the smell of blood, the way his sister's lifeless corpse laid in that black body bag. He wanted so much to take that day and erase it out of his life, but he couldn't. Memories are what defined a person, and without it, he would just be an empty shell.

"Might as well." He grabbed the jacket that lay on the living room floor and walked out the door.

She stared blankly at the e-mail in front of her. It was from her brother. He wanted her to go to New York. It seemed as though her steps were planned out for her ever since the day she was born. If Ayame's parents hadn't passed away, she would probably end up like Athrun, a human puppet without a mind of its own. Though she knew it was in Athrun's wishes to revolt, but it would be useless to fight against the Zala Empire. They held too much influence over Japan, and without the power that followed behind the Zala name; Athrun would be nothing. Society had it that the future heirs of the four family name would have nothing to worry about, but reality was, that they were nothing but caged birds. They wouldn't be able to survive one day out in the open. Athrun knew. Kira knew, and even Lacus.

For that, she was furious. This sudden anger seemed to have burned into the back of her mind. She knew it was probably for her own good, but she was not ready to throw away the things she fought for, not was she ready to leave him. Though it was unreasonable for Hotoshi to ask for her return, she could still understand her brother's motivations. She had almost reached a legal age, and it would soon be time for her to take her fair part in the legal play of the Kashino Corp. Knowing her stepfather, though, it would be his sincerest desires to see her parish from this world. For if she were to die before she was able to transfer her share of the company under her brother's name, her stokehold would eventually belong to him. Still, it was against her wishes, and Hotoshi knew better to push her.

"Ayame-san." She looked up at her name. "He's ready for you."

Ayame mumbled a thank you and closed her laptop. She had blown off Shinn's offer for a movie, and instead, she spent that time sitting in her shrink's office. How long has been since the day that she was subjected to be his patient? She couldn't remember. It was suggested that she attend ever since that day. She closed her eyes, wanting not to remember. It haunted her. She took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and got up.

Ishizu was a tall and lean man. His slanted eyes were hidden beneath a thick pair of glasses. He had been Ayame's doctor ever since she was young, and had always been the part of her memory that she wished to suppress. Was he her friend? No. It wasn't in his interest to make friends with his patients; he had learned from his mistakes, they would only become too attached, and eventually grown to depend on the doctor. The man watched from behind his desk as Ayame made her way through the door. She had outgrown herself over the years. He still remembered the first time they met. She was only a scared child, and he was still a young doctor. He hadn't seen anyone quite like her; she simply refused to let go of the past. Although Ayame had been able to break out of that void that somehow held her back, she was still refusing to let go of the anger, and perhaps, she was the only patient in his medical history record, that had not completely opened up to him.

Instead of taking her usual seat by the window and getting ready for her treatment, she sat across from him today, and spoke softly. "You lied. I'm not getting better. I'm getting worse."

He stepped into his father's office. It was late in the afternoon, and he had been called back from the floors of the studio. Athrun brushed back a lock of blue hair from his eyes, and straightened his shirt. He needed to look presentable for his father. It had been a month since the last time he saw Patrick Zala. His father's business trips had made it hard for father and son time, even though they live under the same roof. Not that quality time spent between the two was expected. He doesn't even remember the last time they had a normal conversation. Under the Zala household, everything was run under tight orders, and old-fashioned traditions. Who a Zala talk to, and what sort of relationship a Zala must be able to gain with other members of the other higher-ranking family was out of their control. One wrong step would result in the next day's headline.

Athrun hated the limelight. Once, when he was thirteen, the members of the Zala family were to take a simple family photo, and sent it into the daily newspaper. For whatever reason was unknown to him. He had refused to smile that day, questioning why he was forced to do something against his wishes. He still remembered the hard stroke his father sent his way that afternoon. He had the wind knocked out of him for the first time in his life, and remembered the words his father said afterwards. Patrick Zala had made it clear, that under his household, it was either follow orders from him, or be eliminated. From that moment forward, he feared his father. Moreover, he feared what his father was capable of, and rendered himself as helpless as a stringed puppet.

He stopped in front of his father's door and knocked. When a signal to enter came from the inside, he took a deep breath, and pushed the doors open. There, sitting in the middle of the room, behind a pile of papers, was Patrick Zala. The president of Zala Corp was a serious man with strong ideologies, and those who opposed him never lived to tell the tale. He looked up when Athrun entered, his eyebrows twitching slightly at the sides. Athrun immediately tensed. He was in trouble.

"Sit down."

And like a toy solider, he made his way across the room, taking the seat opposite of his father's. Athrun knew that look. When Patrick Zala was not pleased, his left eyebrow twitches. Which puzzled Athrun. He had been on his best behaviour in front of his father at all times. Of course, he also made sure that what went on behind his father's back never went into his ears. Perhaps it was a leakage of information?

"I understand you've been spending a lot of time at the studio lately." Patrick Zala spoke, his voice sounded with power. He didn't bother to wait for an answer. "I allowed you to dance because of the future heir of the Kashino throne, but clearly, you can't even handle as simple a task that that." For the first time, Patrick Zala looked up at his son, his eyes reflecting a man who've been hardened in order to achieve his goals. "You will stop wasting your time at the studio starting tomorrow."

"But father-"

"But nothing. That's an order." Patrick Zala made it final. "That's all."

For a moment Athrun looked like he had the wind knocked out of him for the second time by his father. It was useless to argue the man. Talking back to him would give Patrick Zala the impression that he was challenging his authority. So Athrun did the thing he does the best. "Yes father."

He obeyed.

Shinn stood staring at the flowers in front of the tombstone, and wondered who beside himself would come and visit this place. It had been a while since Shinn visited, so long that he was almost ashamed of himself. He, himself, had brought flowers. White roses. They were Mayu's favourite.

He should have died with them that day. He had been telling himself the same thing over and over ever since the accident. Shinn placed the flowers beside the white lilies that were already by the tomb, remembering that they were his mother's favourite. Suddenly, it hit him. There was a time long ago, when a friend of his father's would come and visit when he was young. After the accident, this person took care of Shinn for a while, before he got the scholarship to Higrashi.

"It's been a while, Shinn Asuka." Shinn turned at the voice, finding a man with a tall nose and handsome figure standing behind him.

His name was Yokashi Tanami. Shinn heard from his father that this Yokashi character had been in love with his mother during college years, but never got the chance to get close enough. After his parents married, he became the godfather to the children. To Shinn, Yokashi felt like the last family left in this dreadful world. He smiled up at the man, grateful that he still remembered his mother's favourite flowers. Perhaps the man was still in love with his mom, maybe that was the reason why he never married.

"Uncle Tanami." Shinn's tone of voice was polite.

She walked mindlessly down the middle of the street, her eyes unfocused. If anything, Ayame wasn't getting any better. The events of that day replayed over and over again in her mind. It began to rain. People rushed up and down the street for refuge. She did nothing to speed up, allowing the cold water to wash over her body. She wanted to scream out, wanted it to stop haunting her.

Without knowing it, she had reached Shinn's apartment. She buzzed him. There was no answer. He wasn't home. She placed herself on the stairs, unable to move. A few by passers gave her a bazaar look when they passed, but none had the heart to stop and ask if she needed any help.

"Shinn…"

"I heard a lot went on at school."

Shinn blushed. His uncle had a way of knowing things. They were sitting inside a small café a couple of blocks away from the cemetery. "Yea."

His uncle looked away from him, as if trying to contain whatever he was going to say next. "Do you like her?"

Tanami watched for a reaction, and nearly allowed a smirk to escape his lips. But he wouldn't let that happen. Surely Shinn would see through his plans if he were to allow that to happen. He waited patiently until Shinn gave a nod. 'Bingo.' He thought. He was a born actor. There would be no problem fooling the child.

A troubled look crossed his face. "I was afraid that might happen."

Shinn frowned. "Is there something the matter?" He said slowly.

"I'm sorry Shinn. But whatever I've kept from you, it's for your own good." Tanami said.

"What are you saying Uncle Tanami?"

Tanami looked at Shinn seriously. "Your parents' accident wasn't really an accident. At the time, your father held one of the top positions of the Kashino Corp. There was an argument, and your father threatened to spill all of the Kashino's dirty secrets. The accident happened a day later. The breaks were cut."

The man sat back and waited for the boy's reaction. Shinn felt like somebody had purposely ripped his heart from his chest. His mind travelled back to the girl. What would that make them? Enemies? Thousands of pictures flashed in his mind. The black body bags, his sister's corpse, the first time they met, the first time he hugged her, the first time he kissed her. He wished then and there that this was all a nightmare, and that he would soon wake up in his bed with Rey nagging at him. He didn't want to believe it was real, that the man sitting in front of him was lying. But what would Tanami gain out of this?

"What proof do you have?" Shinn demanded.

"Shinn, don't be so naïve. The Kashinos aren't stupid. Do you think they would still be in a position of power if there were any proofs left behind?"

His world came crashing down on him. They were enemies; they belonged to different worlds. They didn't fit in the first place. It was like trying to push two magnets that were from the same pole together, hopeless, and impossible. What was he to do from that moment forward?

"You realize what you have to do, right?"

But he wasn't listening. He got up from his seat, apologized quickly, and left the café with a blank look on his face. Tanami smirked as he watched the young boy leave. His plans were put to action, and he didn't have to do a single thing.

Shinn felt like he had just been stabbed a couple of times through the heart as he walked down the muddy sidewalk. It was still raining outside, he, unlike many others, was in no rush to get home. As a matter of fact, he didn't even know where he was going. To others, he might have looked like a wondering soul, for he had walked around the same block for at least four times before getting on with his way. For once in his life, he had thought that something might have worked out. But no, she had to be the daughter of the enemy. How would that affect their relationship? He didn't even want to think about that right now, but the more he tried to block her out, the more her image appeared in front of his eyes.

He had been walking mindlessly when he realized he had reached his apartment. He shook his head. He would think about it after he dries himself off. What would he do if she were to appear in front of him right now? Would he be angry? Would he want to hurt her? His family would still be alive if it weren't for Kashino Corp. He would still hear Mayu's voice, his mother would still be making him breakfast, and he wouldn't be alone for this world. He hated the Kashinos for that. But was it right for him to pin all that on her? What would his reaction be the next time he sees…

Her.

She was sitting in front of his doorsteps like a lost child. Her eyes lit up at the sight of him. He could tell that she had been crying, and it pained him to see her like this. She got up, rushed forward, and wrapped her arms around him. Shinn watched her; his hands were numb. They were both wet from the rain. He wondered how long she had been sitting there all by herself. Her body trembled in his arms. She was scared. What was he to do? He did the only thing he could do. Slowly, Shinn wrapped his arms around Ayame's body. This would be the last time he showed her any warmth.

He loved her.

Yet at the same time, he wanted to hurt her the same way her family hurt him.

Haruka: Sorry this is so short, but that's where I wanted to cut this off. I've been having a bit of a problem with obsessing over JJ Lin. He's the cutest C-pop singer I've ever encountered. 3 JJ 4EVER! So when I'm not updating, you'll know who's been distracting me. Review!