Chapter 7:

"Who are you guys? What do you want from me?" I ask to the people surrounding me. It is dark out and I can't see their faces. One comes at me and I easily deflect him. I learned to do that living on the streets, and now, it's even more useful. Another comes at me, and the same thing happens. I'm getting annoyed now, I mean, what are they even doing here?

Soon everyone is coming at me, I am out-numbered. I am trying my best to not be defeated when someone comes up behind me.

"Yuri, my, how you've grown," he says in a low voice. I turn around and look at him, puzzled. He lifts his arm up, and hits me in the head. Before I get knocked out, I hear one thing. Aido. Calling out to me.

I open my eyes. Where am I? I look up at Aido's face. I'm lying on his lap. I sit up, feeling awkward.

"Sorry," I mumble. He smiles at me.

"Why are you sorry, isn't that what a boyfriend is for?" he asked, amused. Wait. BOYFRIEND! When did this happen?

"What do you mean?" I ask timidly. He looks hurt.

"You asked me out a year ago. Today is our anniversary." Aido announces.

"Aido. I never asked you out!" I say, defending myself for no reason.

"Call me Hanabusa, and yes you did. After you turned me down, time after time." he says, chuckling a little.

"Okay...?" I feel a slap.

"Ow! Did you slap me?" I ask him.

"No! I would never do such a thing!" he exclaims.

"Yuri!" someone shouts. I feel another slap.

"What's going on?" I ask. Ai- I mean, Hanabusa looks at me worriedly.

"I-I don't know." he says. I feel another slap on my cheek. This time, it stings. I yelp in pain. "What's wrong?" he asks me, wrapping me in a tight hug. A tear falls down my cheek and my eyes open. I'm no longer safely wrapped in Hanabusa's arms, but now on a couch in an uninviting room. Hovering over me is the guy who knocked me out.

"Who are you!" I demand.

"Ooh, feisty. Even better," the guy says. I look at his face, and notice he has two different colored eyes.

"What do you want from me?" I ask, trying to NOT let the fear I have show.

"Since you keep insisting on knowing who I am, I will tell you. I am Rido Kuran, you uncle, and fiancee." Rido stated. I stare at him, unable to piece together what he has just told me. He continued, "I am your mother and father's brother. I was to be the one to marry your mother, but your father did instead. They had promised I could marry one of their three girls instead. I had chosen you, Yuri."

"Uhmm, y-you shouldn't have..." I stutter, forgetting to not let my fear/disgust show.

"But I did," he says, taking hold of my arm. He drags me into a room and shuts the door.

"I hope you don't mind, but I will be locking the door." Rido says, menacingly. I go over and lay on the moldy looking bed. I stare at it, wondering how I got into this mess, wishing I would have stayed with Hanabusa. The only reason I left was because I was starting to form feelings for him. Was that so bad? I mean, everyone else seemed happy with their pair, so why couldn't I be?

Thinking like this made me mad at myself. The only one to blame for this is me. And my stupidity. I'm sure no one's even looking for me, figuring I just went back to live on the streets. No one has ever cared about me, not that I know of anyways. Why do I have to screw it up when I finally feel important and loved?

I look around for a way to escape, afraid of bursting into tears if I keep looking down on myself. I see a vent in the ceiling. I run over to check it out.

It's all rusty and I could probably rip it off easily. I reach up, my heart racing, and pull it right off. I hear the door creak and I drop the cover to the floor and run over to sit on a chair. I pinch myself to bring tears to my eyes. I can feel Rido's eyes boring holes into the back of my head. I sniff and he backs up and shuts the door.

Yes!

I run over to the vent and stand on a chair. I lift myself up into it. I start crawling, hoping that he can't hear me, and that I will find a way out. I hear another creak. Not good!

I fall down to the ground with a loud thump. I frantically look around, hoping no one is there. Luckily, no one is. I stand up and dust myself off. I guess I'll have to go by foot.