Yahiro continued to walk up the long staircase that led to the VIP section of the Opera House. His arms were swaying in coordination with the strides of his feet while his hands balled into fists. His eye brows were perfectly creased at similar angles and his eyes were glaring holes into whatever they fell on.

Yahiro tilted his head slightly to the side to glance at the looming figure behind him. It was none other than Yamamoto Megumi. She looked like a walking zombie with a dark cloud above her lowered head. Her slender arms were hanging loosely from her sides – one clutching her new eraser board while another clutched her purse.

Yahiro's temper rose once more when he caught sight of the eraser board.

He LITERALLY almost died getting it just for her for the purpose of protecting and preserving her most precious voice. But what does she do in return? She ignores the board and uses her voice instead.

Running a distance of more than a kilometer…

In the midst of a jam-packed highway…

While wearing some of his most expensive clothes, which have now lost their worth…

And almost having his heart explode…

For what were all those then?

Yahiro averted his glance away from the singing goddess onto whatever was in front of him. He needed to avert his attention elsewhere somehow to keep his emotions at bay. Unfortunately, what he saw only ignited his anger even more. He was about to turn to the right to continue climbing the staircase when he caught sight of his reflection on the shinny gold surface of the staircase's wall. It was only then that he realized the sorry state he and his clothing were in. To say that he was shocked was a compete understatement.

Megumi, sensing the Saiga heir's halt, raised her head up to glance at him. When her eyes fell on the sight of the shocked Saiga, she could only bite her lip in response. She wanted to say something to him but she was afraid that her words would only make him angrier.

Megumi watched as Yahiro closed his eyes and released a heavy sigh. He grabbed his phone from his pocket and began dialing a few numbers before turning to the right and continuing onto the staircase.

Megumi's eyes anxiously followed Yahiro's figure. His clothes really were so ruined. Scratches, mud patches and creases were seen at random places. If it weren't for Yahiro's incredibly handsome face, Megumi wouldn't be surprised if he would be mistaken for a beggar on the street who probably successfully dug an expensive tuxedo from the garbage.

Realizing that she was falling far behind, Megumi hurriedly climbed the staircase not wanting to anger the Saiga heir even more.

When she finally reached the top of the staircase, Yahiro was already there waiting for her.

"You go in first." Yahiro said as he tilted his head towards the door of the VIP section. His face was stern but calm. "I'll follow after I get changed."

Megumi hurriedly wrote a reply on her eraser board.

Yahiro patiently waited for her answer. When Megumi raised her board, Yahiro raised an inquiring eye brow as he read what she had to say.

'No. I'll accompany you.'

Megumi held the board up unyieldingly.

"After all, it was my fault why his clothes got ruined."

Yahiro continued to look at Megumi with an inquiring glance but she simply gave him a determined look – a look that said he had no choice but to concur with what she wanted.

Yahiro sighed and turned his back to her.

"Do what you want. But you can only accompany me till the outside of the changing room."

Megumi scrunched her eyebrows.

"What is he trying to say?"

Yahiro turned to face Megumi but this time, he had his trademark smirk on.

"Sorry Megumi, but your fantasies of seeing me naked won't become a reality today or anytime soon."

Megumi's face colored into different shades of the darkest reds known to mankind. She could not believe what she just heard him say. In fact, she was taken so off guard by his statement that she failed conjure up a witty comeback. She could only stare at his supercilious form in shock.

Megumi was brought back into reality when she heard Yahiro laugh as he headed towards the restrooms. Behind him was his chauffer holding a hanger with a new black tuxedo.

Megumi's irritation and embarrassment were replaced by surprise as she sweat-dropped.

"How in the world did Yahiro's chauffer get all the way up here that fast?"

She didn't even see or sense him come.

Megumi sighed and shrugged. The chauffer was probably used to these things. After all, he had the world's worst brat as his boss.

"I'm sure he makes his servants do impossible things…"

Megumi frowned. Yahiro sure was spoiled.

Megumi huffed as she hugged her eraser board near her body. She slowly leaned on the large doors of the VIP room and waited patiently for Yahiro. She had her eyes closed and her breathing was quiet and slow, as if she was sleeping.

The show had started. She could faintly hear the voices of the actors and actresses of the play.

Megumi concentrated further as she wondered. What part of the play were they in now?

No songs were being sung yet but she could make out some of their dialogues and movements.

When Megumi heard sounds of footsteps towards her, she immediately opened her eyes and tilted her head towards the sound.

Yahiro had finally finished changing. He was now walking towards a blushing Megumi.

His once white tuxedo was changed into black and his muddy shoes were replaced by shinny new ones. His hair was back in place and his face was now free from the highway's filth.

What it just her or did Yahiro get even more handsome?

Megumi mentally slapped herself. She needed to get a hold of herself. She had to at least conserve some amount of her pride, right?

Yahiro finally reached the petite songbird. He gave her a smile that successfully stole a beat from the poor girl's heart.

Megumi cleared her throat as she tore her eyes away from the Saiga heir and onto her eraser board. She scribbled on it slowly and calmly, buying herself sometime to collect her thoughts and relax her demeanor.

Yahiro folded his arms in front of his chest and waited patiently for the girl to finish writing. She was taking a lot longer than usual but Yahiro was willing to let it pass. After all, she was finally using the eraser board he arduously got for her.

'Now that you're ready, let's go in.'

Yahiro's eye twitched. That was all? She wasted their time for that? They were late enough already! She should've just pointed towards the VIP doors or something!

Yahiro let out a sigh as he massaged his temples. There was no use getting angry anyway.

Megumi, seeing the Saiga heir's changed expression, began to write a question on her eraser board. However, a hand on hers stopped her from doing so.

"There's no need."

Megumi glanced at Yahiro's left hand on her right. She tried her best to fight a blush slowly creeping on her face.

"We're late enough as it is…" Yahiro added as he used his right hand to take the magnetic pen out of Megumi's hand. He placed it carefully onto the pen holder of the board as he glanced at her.

"Let's go."

Megumi felt Yahiro's left hand tighten a bit on her own and before she knew it, she found herself being dragged into the VIP room.

Megumi no longer fought her blush.

This was it. This was finally it!

Their date was finally on its way.

No more problems. No more arguments. No more distractions. No more anything!

It was just her and him, enjoying each other's company, looking into each other's eyes and savoring the moment that she wished would last forever.

However, her euphoric state was interrupted when she bumped onto Yahiro's back. She massaged her nose that took most of the damage as she glanced at the Saiga heir's back irritated.

"Why the heck did he stop all of a sudden?"

Megumi glared at the back of Yahiro's head. She waited for him to glance at her and acknowledge the fact that he caused her to bump into him but he never looked back. He was staring intently at something on the left side of the room.

Realizing this, Megumi scrunched her eyebrows and directed her attention towards the direction Yahiro was so resolute on.

She froze.

Her eyes were wide with surprise as she watched two figures stand up from two of the four seats placed strategically on the VIP section.

"Megumi? Yahiro?!"

Megumi could only stare at the two. Her face was still in slight shock.

"What are they doing here?!"

"Small world…" Yahiro stated in a soft but audible manner. Seriously, what were the odds that these two would be here at the same time they were as well?

Megumi was still frozen. This couldn't be happening. Everything that could have gone wrong had gone wrong already! So why did this have to happen in the last minute?

Megumi felt Yahiro withdraw his hand away from hers as he folded his arms in front of his chest. The lost warmth made Megumi look away sadly.

"I didn't expect to see the two of you here."

"Likewise, Karino." Yahiro answered impassively.

Tadashi waved a hand up in the air. "Please, just Tadashi is fine."

"D-Don't tell me…"

"What is it Akira?" Tadashi said as he glanced at his girlfriend's shaking form.

Akira raised an accusing finger at the two with a look of disbelief evident on her face.

"You two are dating?!"

Megumi simply managed to give her a soft, nervous laugh as she glanced at Yahiro from the corner of her eyes. His head was slightly tilted to the side and his eyes were looking away.

Megumi looked down sadly. It was over. The chances of this date ever becoming successful just dropped down to zero.

Thankfully, a song number in the play disrupted the slowly growing tension between the couples. It somehow managed to distract all four of them from each other.

"Oh right, we're watching a play. Sorry for disturbing you." Tadashi said as he scratched the back of his head. "You guys should get seated now."

Megumi watched Yahiro head towards the right side of the VIP room where two chairs were located. When, she brought her attention back to the left side of the room, she saw Akira starting to silently beat up her boyfriend. As for why, she didn't know.

Megumi glanced back at Yahiro anxiously. He was now sitting on a chair looking at her questioningly. She could almost read his thoughts. 'What are you doing? Come over here already!'

Megumi smiled slightly to herself as she directed her attention back to the couple. Yahiro could be so predictable sometimes. But most of the time, he was a puzzle – a puzzle Megumi struggled to solve. But then again, that was what made her like him in the first place, right?

Yahiro watched with surprise as Megumi walked towards Akira and Tadashi and started talking to them via her eraser board.

"What is that idiot planning?!"

Yahiro's curiosity skyrocketed when he saw Akira jump up with joy and hug Megumi.

"What are they talking about?"

Yahiro was about to stand up and drag Megumi to where their seats were but what he saw made him stop all his movements.

Tadashi stood up from his chair as he smiled and nodded at the two girls. He watched with shock as Megumi smiled at the couple before she seated herself comfortable on the Karino heir's chair.

"What does she think she's doing?!"

Before Yahiro knew it, the Hakusen school director's son was making his way towards him.

"What on Earth?!"

When Tadashi was close enough, he flinched in fear at the Saiga heir's glare and aura.

"Explain." He demanded silently but dangerously.

Tadashi raised his hands up in defeat.

"Hey, it wasn't my idea! The girls suddenly wanted to sit together so I let them." Tadashi brought one of his hands down to his side while the other scratched the back of his head.

"And besides, I'm not really into watching plays. If I watch alongside Akira, she'd beat me up every single time I fall asleep or not pay attention."

Yahiro's eye twitched which made Tadashi flinched once more.

Deciding that he's frightened the Karino heir enough, he directed his attention back towards a certain idiotic, long haired brunette, only to see that she was avoiding his glance.

This irritated Yahiro even more.

"What the hell does she think she'll achieve by doing this?!"

To say that Yahiro was pissed was an understatement. He was just about ready to kill someone.

Sensing this, Tadashi moved his chair further away from the Saiga heir. He didn't want to be the victim of Yahiro's displaced anger.

Megumi shifted uncomfortably on her seat. She knew he was looking at her. No, she knew he was GLARING at her. But she had to bare it.

She'd rather have Yahiro angry at her than have him hurt over Akira. At least that way, Yahiro could vent out his emotions on her and not keep it all to himself.

Besides, this was the best solution she could think of. She'd feel even worse if she sat with Yahiro only to see him glance occasionally towards Akira and Tadashi with that hurt look in his eyes. That would have made her suffer even more.

Megumi glanced down as she smiled a bitter-sweet smile.

She had to admit. Yahiro was rubbing off on her. Sacrificing herself to make another happy…

Megumi wanted to laugh, but she knew she couldn't.

Yes, she was sacrificing herself to make Yahiro happy. But that wasn't her only intention for doing what she just did. It was also for her own sake – her own happiness. She was afraid that her heart would no longer be able to take one more solid proof that the man she loved loved another. She was afraid of feeling that oh-so familiar pang of hurt inside her again. She was afraid of losing all hope she had with him… With the two of them…

In other words, she was afraid, period.

"Megumi-chan, are you alright?"

Megumi raised her head to look at Akira's worried expression.

Megumi placed a convincing, fake smile on her face as she shook her head.

"Are you sure? Because…" Akira paused as she watched Megumi scribble on her eraser board.

'Sure!'

Megumi still had the fake smile on her face.

Realizing she had to change the subject and fast, she began to talk about the play with Akira – making comments, laughing at the scenes and showing amazement at the stunts. She tried to make it as natural as possible so Akira wouldn't notice anything.

She succeeded.

Megumi glanced at her watch. She still had time.

She had until the end of the play to enjoy herself because right after it, she knew she'd have to inevitably face Yahiro. And for sure, their confrontation wouldn't be pleasant.

Well, that's it!

I AM BACK!!!

I'm so sorry I took this long to update. I just don't have the time to write. But I have already finished this story in my head. It's up to either 4 or 5 chapters. I'll try to upload the next chap as soon as possible!!! And I'll also try to finish this story before the year ends! I think I can do it...:)

REVIEW please!!!