Chapter 7

Duo, Lily and Sakura all stood outside of the building where Sakura had her accident. Each stared up at it as Sakura tried to recall what had happened that night. Walking into the large building, Sakura remembered that there had been a huge party that night. Pictures drifted across her mind, almost like a storybook. She had been standing over by a table in the corner, grabbing herself a drink when her phone had gone off. Wanting to get away from all the noise so she would be able to hear whoever was calling her, she found the nearest balcony and walked out onto it.

Sakura looked around, trying to remember which balcony it was. As soon as she found it, she ran in that direction, running out onto the balcony.

"Sakura, what is it? What do you remember?" she heard Duo ask her.

Sakura shook her head and continued concentrating.

It was dark that night, and Sakura was feeling a little giddy from all the excitement, and a bit she guessed from the alcohol as well. Closing the doors behind her, the music was drowned out into the background. Pulling out her phone, she stared at it and blinked. She didn't recognize this number at all. Who could be calling her?

Flipping it open, she placed it against her ear. "Moshi moshi?"

"Aw, you actually answered. That's so kind of you."

Sakura blinked when she heard the voice. She didn't just hear it on the phone. She…

Turning around, Sakura dropped her phone, stumbling back against the banister. The guy she stared at shut his phone and placed it back into his pocket. "So you're the one." He grinned. She couldn't see him well since it was dark out and she had shut the door, shielding most the light. When she had come out here she had sworn she was the only person on the balcony. Where had he come from? Was he hiding from her?

"W-what do you want?" she asked the man.

"What do I want?" He laughed. "Would you understand even if I told you?" An evil smirk appeared on the man's face as he moved towards Sakura.

Sakura looked around, trying to find any way to escape, but there was none. She gasped when the man grabbed her by the throat, squeezing tightly. "After all these years, to think that I finally found you."

Tears stung Sakura's eyes. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to move, do something, anything, but her body wouldn't let her. Why?

"You're wondering why you can't move, aren't you?" the man asked her. "It's me. I'm the one who won't allow you to move." He moved closer to the woman. "You can't escape me."

"Please," she pleaded with the man. "Why?"

"Why?" He grinned. "Well, you are about to die, so I guess there's no harm in telling you. I'm doing this to get the Gatekeeper."

"Gatekeeper?" Sakura was confused. "I don't understand."

"You do! You have to! You're the only one with the ability to go see her!"

"No! I don't…" She let out a small cry as his grip around her throat tightened even more.

"You do!" he said angrily. "I know you do." He blinked and his grip loosened around her neck, but he still didn't release her. Taking a deep breath he smiled. "I see. So you don't even know about it. You see, many years ago there was a wanderer. Her ability was to wander between the land of the living and the land of the dead. That wanderer often went to go visit the Gatekeeper. It was said that the ability had died out, but I wouldn't believe it. Now I know I was right not to give up. You are that wanderer… Reborn!"

Sakura's eyes widened. She could wander between the living and the dead? "No!" Somehow, deep inside her, she knew that she could not let this man take that ability from her. Pushing away from him, she felt herself fall from the balcony. She could see the surprised expression on the man's face. She closed her eyes and…

Sakura gasped as tears came to her eyes. She turned to Lily. "You have to go back! You have to go back now!"

Lily blinked as she stared at the woman. "What do you mean? What did you see? Tell me!"

Sakura shook her head. "No! Just listen to me! Please, you have to go back or…"

"It's too late." The three all turned their gaze to the doorway of the balcony, a young man standing there, a smirk clear on his face. "So it's you… The Gatekeeper."