YAHOOOOOOO! I UPDATED, AT LAST! MWAHAHAHA! :D

Miss me? Nah. You're probably agree at me. For not...you know...updating quick? But man! *whines* being top grade-niner ain't that easy, y'know? *whines more* If you guys don't feel me, I know that we can all agree that surviving school ain't like eating nuts! TT~TT

And oh yeah...it was my waifu's birthday two days ago! Well, I greeted her with a kiss after I woke up in the morning on 21 XD Oh Glob, why am I sooooo in love with you, buchou? 3 Tell me! 3 3 3

Enough with the chit-chat cuz I know ur itching for CHAPTER IV! Well, who isn't? ^_^ just one more thing. Here's Cat...

NOTE!: FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS TWISTED ROMANCE, PLEASE READ THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER/S. *~nyaaaa* I SERIOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT SO YOU WOULDN'T GET LOST...BECAUSE THIS IS COMPLICATED IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PREVIOUS HAPPENINGS... *~nyaaas more*

Arigatogozaimasu, minna-san :3

Chapter IV

Ritsu's collapsed body was carried by concerned citizens and brought her to a nearby hospital. Miraculously enough, no serious wound marked her body and nothing left her disabled so she was soon released after she woke up.

But someone is seriously missing...

'If I remember correctly...there's the black-haired girl last night again...'

"If you're worrying about the girl you just saved...", someone spoke from behind. "...she's fine, thanks to you..."

She turned around and met Japan's Crown Prince, Prince Shigehito.

And by the prince, her face expressed total shock."Your Imperial Highness!", she immediately bowed.

"Oh Tainaka-san, can't you be less formal?", the prince laughed. "You're an absolute hero! You have my utmost respect, Tainaka Ritsu-san!"

The Tainaka was blushing because of gratitude. "Thank you, Your Highness."

"Come on, don't bow before me too long", he smiled. "I personally invite you for a dinner tomorrow night at the palace, Tainaka-san. For you're bravery and for your successful business, we will toast!"

"Business?"

"My father, the Emperor, wanted to meet you because of the triumphant agricultural bussiness you have, remember? Guess what? Tomorrow's the night!"

Soon enough, their little conversation reached its peak. "Your Highness...", a man in a suit said. "...His Imperial Highness, the Emperor, needs you in the palace."

"Very well then. The royal family's expecting you tomorrow night, hero", the prince started to walk away.

"Thank you so much!", exclaimed the golden-eyed, gratitude filling up her smile.

Shigehito abruptly halted. "Oh and if you're still worrying about the girl you just saved, I took care of her already..."

"I can never express my thanks furthermore..."

A shuddering gleam. "...no, thank you for saving my little entertainment...", with that said, the mysterious prince headed out of the hospital.

'C'mon, Ritsu...you really need to stop thinking about Mio!'

She uncomfortably shifted on her bed.

'God, why do I love her this much? I swear that this love is undying and must be impossible...'

Tears once again flowed down. This was one of her sleepless nights. Where she would scream inside her head, comfortless budging on the bed, argue with her mind, cry till she falls asleep over her tears and once in her slumber, images of Akiyama Mio would flood her head, sending shots in her heart, waking her up tearfully.

Life was good, but love really hurts. She can't think straight. Her mind would always wander on the memories she once had. With the most important person in her life.

"Gihee, Mio! Found you!"

"It's not fair. You're so good at 'Hide and Seek'!"

"Well, accept that Ricchan's the best. Ain't that easy?"

"No! Next time, I'm gonna hide and you won't find me forever!"

"H-Hey! I don't want that! No one else can make my day this bright like you do, Mio!"

"A joke, Ritsu. We're gonna be by each other's side till black turns to white, remember?"

"'Hide and Seek', huh? Guess you're doing great at that game. I can't seem to find you anywhere...", the lonesome being murmured.

The businessman couldn't find what she was looking for. Money, power, chasing girls and successful business those she had but never did she felt alive. Ritsu helped her family and their province, she was a hero. But why can't she feel the triumphalism like what others sees in her? Like what other people think she has? She's close to perfect, she's more than complete, as what the others sees. But why did she feel so incomplete? She asked herself about this trivial things many times before but she can't find the right answer until now. It seems that she needs someone to live for.

Love? Love was everywhere.

Girls around her age from different regions of Japan tried to reach out and catch her stubborn heart. Never did she answer anyone for the umpteenth time.

"There are hundreds of fantasizing girls out there, Tainaka Ritsu..."

'...but she's the only one I wanted...'

This is the first time that she realized that she was stubborn. Her heart was hard as adamant. An adamant with 'Mio' written all over it. She tried her very best to get over this and move on, but hell no did she succeeded. And this was her biggest fail in her lifetime. And the hardest to manage business for her is 'love'.

Everytime she tried to forget and leave the killing memories alone, the more they would rain back in her mind and the drops will always struck her heart.

'The 'MiTsu' with a huge heart carved on the sakura tree...our sacred hill...my harmonica...the dandelion...the spring...her smiles and laughter...hugs and tackles...'

Moments which can never be erased.

'Our promises, witnessed by the sun and the heavens...she will perform in front of everyone...I'll be there for her...I'll always be by her side...I'll always be, but where am I now...?,'

Promises that cannot be broken.

'Mio, where are you? I'll be by your side always, remember?'

People might judge her for holding on to the vows she made with someone from her childhood days, but the vows almost made up her whole being.

The harmonicist stretched her hand up high, imitating the moment when she and Mio did their unbreakable pinky swear.

"Always remember...", she smiled through the tears. "...that I'll be there when you perform..." Her arm felt numb and slumped down. "And I'll always love you...it hurts..."

Unbeknownst to her, the girl she just protected the night before would say that last phrase every night. Every night that was filled with someone's hands roaming her body but never removed the tears from her face. Every night that was filled with agony. Every night that was filled with a wish that someday, a certain golden-eyed harmonicist would save her from the tragedy she have fallen into.

'Ritsu...'

O/N: Ok now, are you guys missing me? *Puss-in-boots' eyes* Aww, no? Well, toooo bad.