A story based on...

Hanazakari no Kimitachi e

Hana Kimi story by: Hisaya Nakajo

Featured in: Hakusensha's Hana to Yume

This tale by: Hideki Kinomoto

Act VII - Nevermore.

"I see, thank you." Sighed Sano, for one out of many times it was necessary. Fingers slid from his smooth forehead to intertwined with strands of his black hair.

Hanging up the phone, as he'd done some twenty times now, he slowly slouched down in the chair he'd chosen to tax with keeping him comfortable in this endeavor. The night he'd spoken to his father he returned to a room that held only Mizuki, whom had fallen asleep. Had it not been for that, he'd probably have told her just what he was planning to do. But that night he found resolve to take care of this situation himself and he wasn't about to bring her in on a family crisis. All this explained why he was here, utilizing the vice principal's office to seclude himself and phone each hotel he could find in the phonebook. So far there had been no Shin Sano's in the region. He'd once or twice thought of an alias his kid brother might have chosen to go by, but that was to admit to himself that his own blood was part of the Phantom conspiracy. An idea which made him feel childish and quick as that, the thought would be dismissed. Least, that had been the mind set so far.

"Alright Shin, lets say you are the Phantom..." he whispered into the silence, staring out the large window behind the vice principals office. Within his near gray gaze, the setting sun reflected. The orange hue which painted across the sky seeming to offer his thought process meager help. "You aren't acting alone, are you? There's somebody behind the scene's. Telling you to act irrationally..." Slowly, his gaze trailed away from the setting sun and studied the phonebook in front him. Slamming it shut, he slid the book aside.

"No luck so far, eh?" Nakatsu wore a sideway's smile studying his friend as he propped on a portion of wall near the door. Arms stuck up quickly as though held at gun point once Sano's sharp gaze peered upon him. "Mizuki's safe! Don't worry about that. Just came to see how everything's going." Slowly, he stepped towards the desk, eyeing the closed phonebook a moment.

"Of course not." Sano returned to looking out the window. Nakatsu was the only person he'd told about what he was doing, because he wanted him to look after Mizuki while he searched for Shin. Maybe Nakatsu had heard a little too much though. "How long had you been standing there?" he questioned, never tearing his gaze from the window.

"Long enough to hear a little theory." Nakatsu replied, a sigh lingering behind his words. He'd taken to joining Sano in staring out the window. "I don't..." He'd have to chose his words carefully, family being a sensitive subject when accusing and finger pointing. "I don't think it's a bad start. The Anti-Phantom Society had long sense figured out it was someone we know, that we've met, and someone close."

"I don't want to hear about them right now..." Creases of thought and stress had returned to his expression. Though he'd begun the thought process, Nakatsu certainly hadn't kept it from taking a roller coaster ride around his imagination. "None of it makes sense, its bound to be someone else."

"Just 'cause he's your bro doesn't make him any less suspicious, you know?" Nakatsu never really had much love for the younger Sano brother, that was a known fact and prejudice that was present each time he spoke of the guy. "If you don't take each clue as a probable lead simply because you're in denial, the truth could get away Sano!" He'd shouted that out, but he didn't regret it.

"Just shut up..." Sano growled, standing from his chair. He knew Nakatsu was making sense, for probably the first time in a long time. But that didn't change the fact his own brother was in the spotlight on top of being missing. He'd certainly heard enough now and was tired of sitting around inside of the school expecting all the answers to come to him. Striding towards the door, he picked up the pace to escape the curious eyes of Nakatsu which he could feel burning into the back of his skull.

"Hey, wait! Where are you goin' Sano?"

"Just keep looking after Mizuki for me. You and that Anti-Phantom Society just play the role of snooping guard dog, like always. I'm going to find my brother..." Gathering his bag and jacket from the coat rack near the door, he made his swift exit, leaving Nakatsu to himself.

"That Sano..." he sighed in retort. Instead of a jacket he'd been parading around in a gray hoodie, naturally over his school uniform. Reaching into the little pouch on the front of the hoodie, he pulled out his cell phone and hit a few buttons, holding the ringing phone to his ear until Kayashima's voice greeted him. "Yeah, I tried the plant the idea in his head, but he'd already jumped to the thought. But he's sort of in denial about it all." Kayashima opted to interrupt him momentarily. "No, he's not going back to his dorm. I'm pretty sure he's going out there to find him. I'll be back at the dorm after I check on Mizuki again...Bye." Hanging up the phone, he slid it back in his hoodie pocket. A wide grin spread across his face as she darted out the doorway. "Super Nakatsu R.E., to your guard post!"

The days were becoming progressively a very small bit warmer as spring rounded the corner, but Sano's jacket was as warmly welcoming as always. He hadn't taken the time to change out of his uniform, drop off his school bag, gather a few things to eat or drink. Nothing. That mind of his had already become dead set on finding Shin, one way or another. He wasn't sure what compelled him to march about the streets, but something just felt right. Like a clue would jump out at him at some point. Whether it was a simple clue or a violent one, he was ready seek out some answers. Little did he know, but the answer to his questions lurked but four small little feet behind him, smiling wickedly from ear to ear. He was being followed, but his other worldly focus kept him from feeling the dagger like stare of Kagurazaka.

Finally, the two approached a crosswalk. The lack of need to move for some reason made Sano more aware of his surroundings, where ever he might be. But one thing was certain, he felt a presence behind him. Quickly, he spun around, looking at what appeared to be vacant space. Slowly, his eyes darted down and met with the eyes a small girl, staring at him very startled. Slowly, his gaze softened so as not to frighten the girl. Where had she come from though? There was no one else around, no one that even resembled the little girls parents.

"M-Mister...?" she choked out, sounding like she'd been startled into shaking. However, her body motions gave away the fact that she was simply cold. Her lips had already begun to turn a tender purple.

"Are you lost? You look like a grape popsicle..." Kneeling down, Sano tried to meet the little girl eye to eye. Something about her looked familiar. Her tone was very soft spoken and reminded him of Amagasaki Kana, who they'd seen recently at the Aquarium.

"Y-yes..." she looked away shyly, grinning now because Sano suddenly didn't seem so frightening. "My mean old nanny wouldn't take me to visit my sister...so I ran off to find her." She'd taken to playing with an oversized button on the front of her soft pink jacket. Despite the fact she was utterly bundled up, she was shivering head to toe.

"How long have you been out here by yourself?" Again, he glanced about for this nanny who should be with the little girl.

"The sun was waaaaaaaaaay..." she indicated this by pointing up as far as her little arm could manage. "...up in the sky! But now I don't see it..." A frown tugged at her lips, but she said nothing else.

"You'll catch your death out here if we don't get you where you're going." Sano tried not to sigh, because for now it seemed he'd have to postpone seeking out his brother and instead make sure this little girl got to her sister. "Where does your sister go to school at, I'll take you."

"Ah!" It was like two giant sparkling lights came on behind the girls eyes. "Someone finally will help me, I knew I'd find someone nice." Walking up to Sano, she stared at him and waited. When it seemed he didn't get the hint, she commanded well. "Up!"

"Oh, right." Sano stood up and picked up the little girl, who was standing with arms outstretched towards him. That was really his only clue. Instantly, she snuggled close, still shivering. He was able to hold her up easily with one arm, so with his free arm he pulled the scarf from around his neck and gave it to her, opting to talk while she wrapped it around herself. "You wouldn't happen to be of any relation to an Amagasaki Kana, would you?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed giddily, finally finishing bundling herself up in Sano's scarf. "Tomoyo Kana, thats this one's name. How do you know my sister, mister?" Looking at Sano with a blank stare, she blinked very rarely.

"I go to Osaka High, we work pretty close with Saint Blossom's for school benefits and..." the entire discussion would no doubt fly over the little girls head so he stopped. "Your sister is one of my friends. My name's Izumi Sano, but just call me Sano, if you'd please." Softly bowing his head, he began walking in the direction of Saint Blossoms.

"I've heard of you! Sister say's you're the bestest jump higher ever!" Little Tomoyo took to clinging even closer to Sano at this notion. "Thats you, huh!?"

"I don't know about being the bestest...er, the best. But she is right, I am a High Jumper." He couldn't help but grin at the little girls mistakes with words, she couldn't be much older than five, yet roaming the streets by herself just to visit her sister.

"You're gonna be at the competition this weekend, ya? Sister and her friends go to cheer for Sano all the time."

"Oh, they do?" The look of disappointment tried so hard to not stick on his face. She'd mentioned the one thing he'd decided to forget, and thats the weekends competition his injury wouldn't allow him to participate in. "Sano might not be competing this weekend, though." The use of third person was accidental on his part.

"No! Sano has to compete or lots of people will be sad..." A sideways frown popped up on her face, but disappeared as a yawn squeaked from her. A tear drop popping up in the yawns wake from her left eye. "Missed my nap..." she chimed, embarrassed.

"Then go to sleep, it's a bit of a walk and I've got a hold of you." It was a welcome subject change for him.

He didn't get a reply to the offering, but then again he wasn't paying much attention. Eyes darted to each street sign as they came across them. It was an easy walk, just they were still a good distance away. With the sun down now, the night was actually very cold in comparison to how it was thirty minutes past. Little clouds left his mouth each time he exhaled, signifying the difference in temperature. All at once he seemed to notice the silence and glanced to his right, where he held the little Tomoyo. She had passed out with her forehead buried against his neck and half her face covered in his lengthy scarf. Softly, he laughed to himself. It was only now he reflected on what made him turn around. He was almost certain it wasn't the little girl that drew his attention. But if it wasn't her, then just what was it? With a shake of his head, he decided to save thinking for another time.

It didn't take nearly as long as he thought it would, but they finally arrived at the gates of Saint Blossoms. Due to the hour, he had to press a button to page someone to open the front gates and then to open the front doors. The school was very secure for those who stayed at the on-campus dorms. It wasn't just anyone who greeted them, but a very distressed looking Kana. Eyes overwhelmed with joy and mingled with tears to see her little sister safe.

"Oh thank you, Sano! I could just choke that nanny of ours!" exclaimed Kana, trying not to cry. She was in a robe and obviously her pajama's. This let Sano know it was probably well into the twilight hours, which made him wonder about Mizuki. A worry that knotted his stomach, he didn't like being out of range to protect her.

"It's no problem, Kana." Smiling, he moved to pulled Tomoyo from him and hand her sleeping form to Kana's open arms. She barely even moved during the transaction, but it was during this move that he noticed the little sign upon the wall. The declaration of "The Phantom Fanclub", which made him sneer a bit, but it was the picture that caught him off-guard. "Could you do me a favor though?" he mumbled, still staring down the picture.

"Of course, Sano! Anything. I'm just glad Tomoyo is safe, you'll always be indebted to my parents you realize." Smiling, she stared at Sano, then slowly followed his line of sight to just what he was staring down. Softly, she gulped, but looked back to him no less.

"Who provided those pictures of The Phantom?" Softly, he cleared his throat and tried to lessen his gaze, glancing to the drooling and totally out cold Tomoyo before studying Kana's face, suddenly appearing a bit nervous.

"I...I actually don't know who gave them to Ms. Hanayashiki. But she seemed rather resentful she had to feel grateful for the person who gave him to her." By the time she'd looked back up to meet Sano's gaze, she saw he wasn't there but that he was walking past her slowly.

"Would she happen to be in her office, I have to know who provided those pictures." He was certain whoever provided them was in league with the Phantom. There was no way he could manage the shots without being close to the man.

"I believe she is, still working on some paper work I would guess. But Sano!" Holding her hand out, she shook his scarf at him and raised two sympathetic eyebrows, her gaze still filled with gratefulness. "Might need it on the way back to Osaka High."

"Thank you Kana. Talk some sense into that nanny, make sure little Tomoyo doesn't go off on her own again. I'd be upset if I wasn't around to help her next time, she really cares for her big sister..." Casting a warm smile, he took the scarf and left Kana to take leave to her room. Now his war path would begin, but he wasn't without his manners.

As he marched through the hallways, instead of jogging, he found new scowls to play across his face. There were several fliers up regarding the fanclub and far as he noticed, roughly seven difference poses the Phantom was in. Then it jumped him very suddenly. The Phantom had arrived when they were doing the promotional photo-shoot. It was the Photography Club from Hokkaido who had been enlisted by Hara to help with the shoot. The quality of the shots were proof someone with even some slight skill with a camera had taken them. Maybe Shin's only link to the Phantom was that of a simple photographer, yet something had gone wrong and he still wasn't back home. Again, he shook his head. Thoughts seemed to hit him most when he wasn't willing to think. When other things were around to be taken care of. Finally he progressed onward, finding the door to Hanayashiki's office he knocked with near zero hesitation.

"Enter my dear, enter!" piped Hibari, seeming to believe it was simply one of the girls. As she wrote something into a small book, he eyes slowly moved from the paper to the form at the doorway. The soft glow of her desk lamp didn't offer any description of the form, but it offered enough for her to know it wasn't one of the girls. "W-What business might you have here, sir?"

"The Phantom Fanclub." Sano began, closing the door slowly behind him and clearing the distance between himself and the desk Hibari sat at. The dim light finally revealed just who he was to the shocked woman. "Just need a little favor from you, Hanayashiki." Moving his messenger bag out from behind him he sunk slowly into the leather chair that rested in front of her desk.

"Oh my, Sano. I must say, I hadn't expected to see you." A smile slithered across her face, her tone rather flirtatious. "What ever could someone such as myself do for someone such as you?" The tip of her tongue had made its presence and teased slowly across a few of her teeth before hiding behind her smile once more.

"I want to know who gave you the pictures of the Phantom." Her actions were unregistered by him, even if they had been he was very much a loyal person. Very loyal to his Mizuki. So for him, it was straight to business. His expression was fairly emotionless, if not glare worthy.

"Oh, that." Finally she cast away her flirtatious ways and leaned back in her chair, releasing a bit of a sigh. For a moment she stared at him, as though deciding if she should tell him or not. "What business is that of yours anyway, Sano?"

"Excuse me?" Growled Sano, softly. The question seemed amazingly idiotic to him and his expression wore that impression. "He attempted to harm Kayashima, need I mention he pulled Mizuki below stage, and..." He knew this was the spike that would land things in his favor, he knew of Hibari's desire for fame. "...he forced them to delay the play's rehearsals and debut. The Phantom is a menace and I'm almost certain whoever gave you those photographs knows where he is hiding." As he spoke, he had leaned forward and glared even more harshly.

"I should have anticipated you to be so determined. You certainly don't gain the title of Japan's best High Jumper without such an iron clad determination..." Softly, she nibbled at her bottom lip. Still debating heavily. But the evidence was quite clear, the Phantom was the reason she hadn't gotten to make her stage debut yet. "I'm tempted to tell you, but I did hear you recently were injured during practice. You wouldn't happen to be..."

"To be simply looking for someone to take the blame? For someone to vent my injury at and give me a sense of self gratification?" Quickly, he leaned back in the leather chair once more, shaking his head. "Far from it. He's said several things to me that have sent my world into a tailspin. Mizuki won't say, but something was said to him as well." Referring to Mizuki as a 'he' felt odd after so long, but Hibari wasn't aware of her secret. "Do I really need to say that if it wasn't for Nakatsu that Kayashima might have been hospitalized? Don't pretend I'm doing this for me."

"Then, Sano Izumi, why are you doing all of this? Why are you investigating everything so intensely? I can't begin to imagine..." Now she was chewing at her bottom lip, finger tips petting at the little book on the desk. It was in this book that the name of the photographer rested.

"I'm doing this for justice."

"Well..." she couldn't help but laugh, what he said was true, that she knew. Yet at the same time how serious he was made her laugh this soft giggle of sorts. "Melodramatic, but I like it. I could never say no you either way, Sano." Slowly, she slid the book open and eyed the name. She really didn't much care for him, so keeping his secret so tightly seemed silly. At least now she'd feel she was doing something right. "Kagurazaka Makoto, he was the one who gave me the pictures."

"Kagurazaka..." he muttered in reply, his stare seeming to smoulder out and grow distant. His mind flashed back to just before finding Tomoyo by the crosswalk, when he'd felt the need to turn around, a presence behind him. For some reason hearing that name made it settle within him. That was who had been watching him. The injury took him out of the competition which would no doubt seal the deal that Kagurazaka would win. But if Kagurazaka gave her the pictures, where did Shin truly tie in? Hibari's voice broke through his deep though, finally. Tearing him back to reality.

"Sano...you seem to have had a tough day. Its freezing out and I couldn't dream to let you walk all the way back to Osaka High in such conditions." Standing up, she closed the book and began walking towards the door, motioning to him. "I certainly wouldn't mind sharing my bed with you. It is rather small though! So, I fear we may have to sleep with one of us atop the other." A large smile slipped across her face.

"Its not too cold out, I'll survive." Scooting past Hanayashiki, he couldn't help but grin to himself. She looked completely dejected and embarrassed, probably the first time she'd been so coldly shot down. But he had no regrets. Wrapping his scarf back around him, the red material smelling faintly of cotton candy thanks to Tomoyo. He headed back towards the entrance grounds. "Thanks for the help, we'll see you next week for rehearsals."

"Send my regards to the others, or whatever." Growling faintly to herself, Hibari headed off in the opposite direction.

Once outside he heaved a heavy sigh that flooded clouds from his mouth. Slowly the feeling sank in once more, the feeling of being watched. Quickly he was distracted though, hearing his ring tone 'Zen Me Ba' chime from his pocket. Reaching into his coat pocket, he found himself smiling with delight at just who was calling him. At once though, the smile turned to frown eyeing the name "Ashiya Mizuki" alight on the screen. Sighing he pressed the button to send her a busy signal and crammed it back into his pocket. He would explain to her later just what he was doing. For now, however, he couldn't speak of things to her and he wouldn't be going back until he'd gotten to the bottom of his. Looking back up to the gate, hearing it groan as it opened, he expected to see someone enter. Instead the form stood there. Slowly, Sano's eyes widened, eyeing the sarcastic smirk that riddled Kagurazaka's face.

"This is the part where you chase me, Sano Izumi!" Sprinting to his right, Sano's left, Kagurazaka felt his heart racing. He could tell by the expression his rival had worn that there was anger brimming at the top, ready to overflow. The idea behind the chase was to give Sano a bit of time to wear out or for the injury to kick in and keep Sano from beating him to a pulp.

Sano didn't hesitate, bolting after Kagurazaka as though nothing were wrong with his body what so ever. The intense activity of the moment, mingled with the cold, made his muscles burn even more as he ran full speed. Kagurazaka was fast, but he knew he was faster and would eventually catch up with that blonde headed bastard. Strands of hair danced past his vision, wavering like black silken sheets as he sprinted full speed. His breathing perfectly regulated to keep him at maximum speed and not wear out too quickly. Behind him the crimson scarf danced to and fro. He resisted the urge to shout at Kagurazaka, knowing it would only wind him quicker. But that didn't keep him from clenching his teeth and feeling his lips snarl slightly on the left side. There was a lot of anger inside of him, but not all of it focused at Kagurazaka. The other half would be reserved for the Phantom.

Giving a glance over his shoulder, Kagurazaka couldn't believe how much Sano had gained on him. Bolting around a corner he found himself at what would normally be a dead end, however, there was merely a waist high wall leading out to an open road and only a distant car closing in. With a grin, he realized this jump might be what kept Sano from catching him. If the pain of the injury had a chance to kick in at all this chase, now was the time. Hurdling over the cement wall, he slowed his sprint a bit to cast a gaze behind him. Riddled with curiosity if he'd clear the jump. Oblivious to all else.

With a grunt, Sano sprang over the cement median, far from worried about his injury till he felt a twinge of pain riddle up his back upon landing. Teeth clenched harder, but the shock of landing seemed to bring a loud ring to his ears. The sound wasn't within his mind though and at once he knew it, turning his glance to the left, he managed to catch a glimpse of the car before the bumper knocked his legs clean out from beneath him. The driver having slammed on the horn, that was the loud sound within Sano's ears. Lucky for him, however, it wasn't much of a hit. Simply causing him to crash to the ground and roll. His determination hadn't left him in his great surprise though. He leapt up to a kneeling position, feeling tension in his left leg. There was an injury but he could keep going. Before he could address the drivers question, Kagurazaka had started into a full sprint once more. The guy was frightened, seeing Sano hit by the car and then on his feet nearly instantly once again. Teeth gritted, he sprang after Kagurazaka once more.

The pain shot up his leg, it pulsed in his back. The need to catch Kagurazaka was over powering his instinct to simply stop and nurse his wounds. Kagurazaka had begun to feel himself tire out, but still he decided to slow down and glance behind him. Watching as Sano ran with a very, very slight hobble to his left leg. A grin slipped across his face but was replaced with sharp pain as he felt his entire speeding form crash in to a wall in front of him. An impact that knocked him flat on his rear. Sano chose this moment to speed up and before Kagurazaka could regain his senses. Suddenly, Kagurazaka realized someone had him by the back of the jacket collar and was dragging him. A sharp pulse of pain in his head caused him to wince before he spoke.

"Don't do anything rash Izumi..." his lungs were still working on catching his breath, vision slightly blurred from the crash impact.

"Says the man who ran another in the path of a car..." Grunting as he dragged Kagurazaka towards a nearby alley, he slid the near rag-doll like form against a wall, letting the back of his collar go. Standing in front of Kagurazaka, he stared down at him.

"Well, what the hell do you want Izumi?" The question was clearly rhetorical by the tone he used, sliding his vision away from Sano for but a moment, only to feel a swift pain to his chest which knocked the breath clean from him. Coughing hard for a few moments, he tried to regain his breath from being kicked in the sternum, but before could speak Sano had the front of his collar held and dragged him up into a standing position. "So the fag of Osaka High knows how to play dirty too, eh?"

"You don't even know what you're talking about!" Releasing Kagurazaka's collar with his right hand, he used its freedom to ball up his fist and punch his rival square in the face. Not once, but twice before he felt satisfied with the bit of blood that leaked from his nose. "Now that I feel a little better how about you explain your connection to the Phantom." Now he fully let go of Kagurazaka, watching as the man slid back down the wall.

"You son of a bitch..." he cackled, looking up at Sano with amusement but no longer wishing to play games. Sano had proven he wasn't playing by the rules, the time of his ignorance long since past. "Wanna tell me how you finally connected the dots?"

"The fliers in Saint Blossoms. Hanayashiki told me who gave them the pictures for the fliers. Don't think me dense, Kagurazaka." Finally able to relax from their heated chase, Sano leaned back against the opposing wall. He could tell his left leg had begun to spasm, a slight trauma caused by the chase but mostly the car incident. His back also felt the throbbing pain but at least Kagurazaka was the one with blood on his face. "You don't get any more questions, start answering mine..."

"There are still some things you don't fully understand about it all. Those will remain, but I'll tell you this much..." running his right hand under his nose, he studied the blood that glistened off the back side of his hand. "The Phantom did just what I wanted him to. My desires ended the day you got injured." He could tell Sano was about to call him a liar, but cut him short. "Shut it, right now. I am not lying! Whatever that kids doing now is his own agenda. He just wasn't thinking when he gave me the pictures of him posing about as the Phantom. Heh..."

"What do you mean?" Growled Sano, slowly kneeling down to Kagurazaka's level. "Isn't he still under your word?"

"That kid told me to leave you and Mizuki alone, he'd handle things from here on. I'm not going to tell you who he is, so don't even try to drag that out." Turning his head to the side he spit a little blood from his mouth, the first punch had cut open the inside of his lip.

"I don't need that information anyway." There was a sigh behind his words, still ashamed to admit what might actually be true. That denial still there that Nakatsu spoke of. "Then why start a fanclub at Saint Blossoms?"

"I intended to make things tough on him for thinking he was the one running the show now. You know, give him something else to worry about. I hadn't intended on the Aquarium incident. Believe that or not, it was all coincidental. A good laugh no less..." He tried to laugh, but that kick Sano gave him made his chest a bit sore.

"If you two cut the cord, then how is he still in town? That kid doesn't have the funds to continue to stay here, least in the shadows." A hand slid behind him, nursing his back as he tried to pop it with little success.

"Thats the interesting part, isn't it?" Softly resting his head against the wall, a tender thud resonating, he stared at Sano with a slight bitterness. "I never met him, but I guessed he had another contact here in town thats paying the tabs for him. If so, that means three plans were being acted out at once. As much as it pisses me off to say, my plan and the kids seemed to play to the tune of the third." Slowly, he tempted to rise to his feet. What he didn't expect, was Sano to be there to help him up.

"You've gotten what you wanted then, right? I'm not competing. So is it safe to assume you're out of this all then, that I have nothing to worry about regarding you?" Slowly, he shifted his gaze to look Kagurazaka right in the eyes. To see if he was going to lie.

"Truer words were never spoken, my dear rival. I won't even let slip about, well you know, about you kicking my ass. To help you out a little though, you won't find the hotel registered under his name. It'll be the third party, the one paying all the bills." Moving away from Sano, he cast a little backwards wave at him before slowly walking out of the alley. "Sometimes to move forward and win, you have to take a couple of steps back. Get a running start, ya know?" Despite what he was saying, everything played out right. Between Sano viciously hunting down the Phantom and Saint Blossoms, the bases were covered and Shin's hiding places were dwindling to nothing. Even though Sano played into his palm, with more violence than was anticipated, the plan was finished. What he hadn't counted on was the urge to help his rival a little. That was why he said what he had, why he sought a more clean conscience.

Sano remained in the alley, watching Kagurazaka until he turned around a corner and left sight. Back down on a knee, he couldn't help but grit his teeth harshly. Though not a full on hit, the car had hurt his leg fairly good and strained his back a bit more. Finally calm, the cold made him shiver. Pulling his phone out, he looked at the time. It was nearly one in the morning. Shaking his head, he sighed into the cold air. Kagurazaka wouldn't have been out so late unless the encounter had been somewhat planned. Maybe it was all just coincidence, like the Aquarium. But the truth of the matter was that he now had stumbled into more and more information upon leaving Osaka High. His instincts were guiding him properly, he knew it.

Where would he go now? The only leads he held were that whether Shin was the Phantom or not, he was tied into the incident and now had his own agenda. Despite that, his financial backing for staying this region hadn't been removed. Which would prove Kagurazaka right about all the plans pooling into one ultimate goal that he didn't quite understand at all. Shaking his head, he felt that thinking about all this in the cold certainly wouldn't help right now. The problem being that he was tired, the cold did nothing to help either. For now, he would back track to Saint Blossoms and take Hanayashiki's offer to a place to stay. Though obviously not in the same bed, but somewhere in that school. Wounded and fatigued, he nearly finished the trek back to Blossoms but found a sudden rest on the cold concrete outside the school's gate. Finally, he had passed out.

Morning came, but Sano didn't find himself out on the cold cement. The air was slightly perfumed and the atmosphere very warm. He heard a muffled voice, humming softly to what he was certain to be 'herself'. Slowly he sat up and looked around the ornately decorated room. To his left in a chair was his coat, scarf, and bag. Glancing down quickly, he sighed relief to realize the rest of his clothing was still on. Well, minus shoes of course. They were near the doorway. His body ached a bit from last nights activities that spilled well into the early morning hours. Sneering at the soft pink comforter and white silken sheets that kept him warm, he cast them off of himself and stood on his own two legs at the bed side. Quickly, movement caught his eye as the bathroom door opened and a lavishly dressed Hanayashiki came out. His presence standing there startled her for but a moment, but then she smiled and gave him a soft bow.

"Prince Charming finally wakes up, I see? Its well afternoon and I'm off to finish out my classes." She was already making for the door, but Sano chimed in before she could make her exit.

"How did I get inside?" he groaned out, realizing he was thirsty and hungry quite suddenly.

"Well, that Kagurazaka called me and said you might need some help outside the gates. The nerve of him calling at the hour he did!" Sighing with frustration, she regained her composure. "But anyway, I went out and got you. Don't sweat the fact you were in my bed. Despite certain urges, I don't thrust myself upon people at random. I kept to my side, however small it was..." The last part she mildly grumbled.

"That bastard..." Sano couldn't help but grin at the idea. It made it hard for him to stay angry at Kagurazaka when he'd helped him from freezing to death on top of all the information he gave him last night. "Thanks for looking after me then, Hanayashiki." Reaching for his coat, he put it on and placed his scarf over his shoulders lazily. She watched him all the way as he put his bag on and made towards her to retrieve his shoes.

"By the way, Sano..." Opening the door, she waited for him to get his shoes on and walked beside him down the hall a bit. "Himejima called earlier this morning and said that yesterday he had some extravagant meeting with the organization promoting the benefit for the play and he didn't invite even moi!" She pouted for all of a split second before speaking again. "We're starting rehearsal's again on Monday evening and the show will be next Saturday."

"So I have four more days to end all this..." He mumbled to himself, not noticing that Hanayashiki had leaned in and used her keen hearing to decipher his words.

"Nonsense, dear Sano! Whatever you're out there doing, you have until this Saturday night." Her tone was very matter-of-fact, her arms were even crossed over her chest.

"What are you talking about?" His brow quirked delicately.

"You have a competition Sunday afternoon, sir." Quickly her finger jumped up and over to block his lips, a hissing 'Shh', escaping from between hers. "You'll get better, we all have faith in you! So until then, you know where the door is!" And like that, she walked off with an extra boost of speed in her step. Going who knows where.

Once outside, he took in a deep breath of fresh air. The sun was out and though the air was chilly it held a crisp warmth, something reviving about it. While he'd been walking out of Saint Blossoms, his first thought was food which was something he was going to take care of immediately. Second order, was to assemble his thoughts regarding what Kagurazaka had told him. One thing stood out more than the rest and that was what he was told as Kagurazaka left the alley: "Sometimes to move forward and win, you have to take a couple of steps back. Get a running start, ya know?". As he had thought, to figure everything out he would have to go back to the beginning. Just a few steps back. Shin was only in town because of the promotional photo-shoot for the play. The crew had been hired by the famous photographer and close friend, more so acquaintance to him, Hara. Then again, Kagurazaka had mentioned that the pictures were given to him by the Phantom, for whatever reason. Meaning Kagurazaka was even manipulated by the third party as well. There was that bitter taste again, like he'd just realized he couldn't trust another person he was slightly close to. Kagurazaka had always been shaky, Shin he still didn't want to believe as it hurt him think it, but now he was beginning to question Hara.

For now, he would continue to think. Reaching to his pocket, he saw he had a missed call from Mizuki. Sure, he could tell her what was going on, but then she'd just be frantic and feel responsible somehow. Even if he wasn't there to protect her face to face, he was fighting hard to protect her future and the future of the play. The future of something she cared for and how he got in the situation in the first place. Sliding the phone back in his pocket, he trudged off in the direction of a few nearby restaurants. A full stomach would help him think, after that he had a plan. The investigation of Kagurazaka was complete in his book and Hara was next on his list...

Know its been a while! But, here's hoping this chapter of the fanfiction was everything it was anticipated to be! Feel free to Read and Review and let me know my area's of weakness and strength. This is a work of fiction. The song "Zen Me Ba" belongs entirely to its creator S.H.E.. No characters from Hana Kimi are mine. No rights to The Phantom of the Opera are mine. But the idea to mingle both into an art of fanfiction IS mine, mwah-haha. Thank you for your time! Hope you enjoyed