OOC warning.

Disclaimer: I do not own KHR

Chapter Two: Unexpected Trap

Bright sunlight streamed through the blinds, hitting my face and gradually pulling me out of my sleep. I turned my head away from the light and attempted to fall back asleep when last night's events rushed through my head like a current, and I bolted up in bed.

Oh, crap, that's right, Tsuna! It's morning already?!

I checked the clock at my bedside table to see it was nine o'clock. I jumped out of bed and rushed out into the living only to stop when I saw the couch empty, the blankets folded neatly and a note sitting on top. I plucked the note up and silently read its contents.

'Stella-san, thank you so much for your kindness and care. To avoid inconveniencing you any further, I decided to go ahead and take my leave. I'm sorry for intruding on you as well as not explaining my story to you, but trust me when I say it is for your good. –Tsuna'

So, he really left? But no way he's in any condition to move, I thought worriedly. I sighed and shrugged my shoulders, tossing the note on the table as I entered the kitchen to prepare breakfast. There was no point in worrying. It wasn't like my worrying was going to help Tsuna recover. Still though, what was that idiot thinking? I thought, frustration spiking through me.

After I finished preparing breakfast, I set a place for myself at the counter when several series of sharp knocks sounded at the door, startling me.

"Stella, it's me! You awake?" Amelia asked. I opened the door to reveal Amelia in casual wear while carrying my laptop. "Hey! I stopped by to return your laptop. Thanks again," Amelia said, handing me the device.

"Not a problem. Did you enjoy the finale?"

"Yes! It was the season finale so, of course, they left it on a cliffhanger," Amelia said, rolling her eyes. She sniffed the air, her brown eyes widening in pleasure. "Ooh, that smells delicious! What is it you're making?" Amelia asked, breezing past me into my apartment.

I smiled at my neighbor's actions, closing the door behind me and setting the laptop on the glass table before heading in the kitchen were Amelia was leaning on the counter, staring hungrily at the frittata in the pan.

"It's a ham and roasted peppers frittata. Would you like some?" I offered, even though I knew the answer.

"Yes, please! Thanks for having me!" Amelia clapped gleefully. "Man, I wish I can cook like you Stella. All I can cook is boiled eggs and even then I still mess up," she said, sighing.

"I only know how to cook because of those cooking classes I took last year. Maybe you should sign up for one," I suggested, setting a plate of the frittata in front of Amelia and handing her a fork. "What would you like to drink?"

"Water's fine. Cooking class, huh? I'll sign up if you sign up with me," Amelia said, eating her meal.

"Eh, me? But I already took the beginning class. If I were to sign up again, it'll be for the intermediate course," I said, setting a cup and jug of water on the counter before settling in a seat beside Amelia.

"I guess that's true," Amelia admitted, pouting. "Perhaps I should just hire a personal chef?"

"Amelia, cooking isn't that hard," I said, giggling.

"I know, but it can be time consuming. I should just hire a personal chef and not just any chef will do. He has to be young and hot," Amelia said, staring off into space with a dreamy expression. "Oh, speaking of young and hot…." Amelia elbowed me, raising her eyebrows up and down in a suggestive manner. "I saw your guest leave this morning. Stella, I must say I'm surprised at you. To have a man sleep over your place… when you said you had a guest, I never imagined—"

"N-No! It wasn't like that at all! He, uh…."

"Look, you don't have to explain yourself. I do want to know when I can meet him, though."

"That will be never," I replied. I recounted last night's incident to Amelia and to say the girl was shocked was an understatement. Amelia practically choked on her frittata, bits of egg and pepper flying onto the counter. "Amelia! Are you alright?" I asked, patting her back.

Amelia waved me away, grabbing her glass of water and downing the drink in record time. She gasped aloud when she finished and set the glass on the table, her pale complexion, which had turned ghostly white during my story, regaining some color.

"What's wrong? I know the story's pretty shocking but—"

"S-Sorry. Sawada Tsunayoshi, huh…?" Amelia muttered.

"Hm? Amelia, would you happen to actually know the guy?" I asked, surprised.

"I don't really know him, know him…. I know of him," Amelia replied.

"Seriously?! Then, what is it that you know? Is he involved in some underworld type stuff?" I questioned.

"Um… maybe…?"

"What's with the uncertainty?"

"I told you, I know of him. I just know he's a friend of my brother's," Amelia said, frowning.

"Your brother, huh? Hey, wait, you have a brother? I've been over your place and saw your family photos, but I don't recall seeing anyone looking to be your brother…."

"We're not that close, but enough about that. Stella, stay away from Sawada Tsunayoshi, got it?" Amelia fixed me with such a hard glare, I felt frozen to the spot, managing only a small nod.

"O-Okay…. I don't get it but since you seem so serious about this, I'll listen. Not that it'll be that hard; it's extremely unlikely Tsuna and I will meet again," I said.

"Yeah, that's true. Sorry for my behavior, ha ha," Amelia tried laughing the awkward air away, the cheerful gleam returning to her brown eyes.

"It's not a problem. Thanks for warning me."

We finished our meals while moving onto lighter topics such as Amelia's new job and funny recollections of my patients. After the meal, Amelia helped me clean before leaving me alone. I tossed the blankets Tsuna used in the hamper and swiped up the note he left behind for me.

Amelia's reaction sure was strange, but it's nothing to worry about since I won't be seeing the guy anytime soon, I thought, flicking the note in the trash can before heading into my room for a day of Netflix.

A week has passed since I met Tsuna, and the busyness of life crowded out the memories and worries for the mysterious man. It was a Saturday evening, my day off, and I was camped out on the couch, having watched movies back to back all day. I wanted to invite Amelia over, but she was working late so I was home alone, watching my seventh movie and finishing my fourth bowl of popcorn. The movie was a romantic-comedy, but I was barely paying attention as I browsed several social media sites on my phone to see other people enjoying their Saturday way more than me.

Ugh, staying home alone and having a movie marathon sounded like such a good idea, I thought, sighing. I glanced at the TV screen to see the main character and her love interest in a lip lock and stifled a groan. Why am I watching this anyway? It's just a painful reminder of my own love life… or lack thereof. I stopped the movie, browsing through the library for any action or comedy when someone knocked sharply on the door several times. "Coming!" I called.

I set the remote down and shuffled toward the door, opening it to reveal Amelia whose appearance was disheveled. Several blonde strands were loose from her sloppy bun, which usually was tight and secure, and her pale face was flushed pink with mascara running down her rosy cheeks and eyes brimming with tears as Amelia spoke in a broken voice.

"Stella!" Amelia sobbed.

"Oh my—Amelia! What's wrong? What is it?" I demanded, concerned.

"I need you to come downstairs! I hit someone with my car! I hit them, and they're not moving!"

"What?! Where did this happen?!"

"In the parking lot! Please, you're a nurse, right? Please, you have to see him!" Amelia pleaded. She was clearly distraught, the tears refusing to cease as water ran with inky mascara.

"Okay, but did you call the paramedics?" I asked, rushing inside towards my room and searching for shoes.

"I called them, and they're coming, but Stella, please… you're a nurse, you can help, can't you?"

In my haste, I opted for flip flops and grabbed my keys off the drawer before dashing out and rejoining Amelia at the door.

"I'll certainly try. Lead the way," I said, closing the door. We rushed down the stairs with me trying to get information out of Amelia. "Did you check if he was breathing or had a pulse?"

"I checked, and he seemed to be breathing, and his pulse was faint, but oh, geez, the blood! There was so much blood!" Amelia choked out, shoving open the door and sprinting across the lobby and out the double glass doors. I tried to keep up, amazed the woman could move with such agility in three-inch heels. "Stella, over here!" Amelia cried, beckoning for me to hurry.

I sprinted toward her, running past her as I surveyed the parking lot for any sign of a fallen body. The lot was scarce with cars and only one light provided dim lighting of the area, casting a haunting shadow that sent shivers down my spine.

"Hey, Amelia, where is he? It's dark, so I can't see…." I said, turning to the woman.

Amelia had stopped crying with indifference taking the place of the sorrowful, remorseful expression she had in the previous moments.

"That's a question… where is he indeed…?" Amelia muttered, tucking several blonde strands behind her ear while a ghost of a smirk played across her pale face.

Immediately, a wave of foreboding washed over me as I studied the woman in front of me, whose behavior was increasingly unsettling me. The hairs on my neck started to stand on end, and my heart thundered furiously in response to the adrenaline suddenly rushing through my veins. Something wasn't right. Clearly, my body had entered into fight-or-flight mode, but I remained rooted to the spot as if the frosty gleam in Amelia's brown eyes were the ones responsible for freezing me in place.

"Amelia, what—?"

"I'm not Amelia," the woman deadpanned, frowning, distaste evident in her pale features.

My eyes widened at this revelation, my brain all the more screaming for me to run, but I couldn't move, whether because of the intense fear overwhelming my motor function or shock from the surprise reveal, I couldn't determine. 'Amelia's' entire body flickered and dissipated in a flash of white light only to be replaced by a slim young man sporting large-framed glasses and a white fedora. The transformation defrosted my frozen state, and I gasped sharply, rearing backward while maintaining an accusing glare on the stranger.

"What the—? How did you—?! Never mind that, what did you do to Amelia?!" I demanded, scowling.

"Rest assured your friend is a-okay," the man said, holding up the OK symbol while grinning.

I didn't know if the man's words were to be trusted or not, but I did know I had to get the heck out of there! I pivoted on my heel and attempted to sprint away only to collide into a wall, or rather, a broad-chested muscular person who was blocking my path.

"What—?!"

A man appearing older and much taller than the other man and myself had appeared, his blond hair slicked back and crimson eyes staring down at me with cold indifference. I flinched beneath the man's cool gaze and looked back to see the other man yawning while twisting his pinky finger in his right ear.

"Ah, Kaoru, I'm glad you're here. She was about to run for it, and I just didn't feel like chasing after her. After my performance, and the fact we had to run down five flights of stairs, I'm pooped," the man spoke to his comrade nonchalantly.

"I don't know who you guys are, but I am not going down without a fight!" I growled.

Not that I had any self-defense skills whatsoever, and they'll soon figure that out, but there was no flipping way I would let them do what they want so easily! I made to scream, but the blond-haired man—Kaoru—immediately set his beefy hand over my mouth. A sweet chemical smell invaded my nose, and immediately I knew I had just inhaled chloroform.

No…! I protested feebly, the chemical's effect already taking hold as my vision blurred and my body slumped against Kaoru as I slipped into unconsciousness.