A/C: The finale! I really enjoyed working on this little story, it was super fun! SHOUTOUTS to jjjan1125 and Kaehari thank you two for reviewing every chapter:) Until next time! xox

..::Song of Inspiration - Hot Chelle Rae Ft. Demi Lovato - Why Don't You Love Me?::..

I don't remember when I fell asleep. I was so tired and had felt so empty that when I awoke in the beautiful basking rays of the sun, I felt absolutely nothing.

As my eyes adjusted, I noticed a table was now in front of me. The entire house had a delicious smell throughout too, and I heard the sizzling of someone making food. I stayed on my side, watching the smoke in the kitchen and listening to the sounds of plates clanking. Soon, Hei appeared out of the kitchen, in the black tank top I had taken a picture of him in. He was still wearing those pants that clung to his legs but his knives were nowhere in sight.

He set down a plate of fried rice and vegetables in front of me.

"You should eat," Hei said. He set down his own plate of food across from me before he sat down on the ground.

For a moment, I was taken aback. It was like, everything that happened yesterday disappeared. It felt like this was Li again, the most beautiful man that I had ever met. For a moment, it was like everything was normal.

Slowly, I sat up and held the blanket close to my shoulders. I watched Hei as he dug into his food, scarfing it down by the spoonfuls.

"If you won't eat it, then I will," he threatened when he was done. From the way he had devoured his own food, I didn't doubt he was lying.

I looked at the plate, picking up the spoon finally. "Thank you."

I thought about him all night. Mostly because I couldn't stop thinking that if Hei did want to kill me for the meteor core, he could have. Yet he didn't. Even that night on the rooftop, when he had an inkling my necklace was a fake, he still told me to protect it.

To make me think that it was real.

Or, did he say that because I told him what it meant to me? Why would he do that if he didn't care, like Mao said contractors did. There was something about Hei though that I couldn't understand. Why go through all this trouble to keep me safe if it were easier to kill me?

The only reason I could think of was that maybe he did care. Maybe he was flawed as a contractor, just like he was flawed as a human.

I thought about what to do while I ate. I only wanted to keep the possible location of Shion a secret because I knew they wanted the meteor core and couldn't get it if I didn't tell them. It was selfish, but it gave me the upper-hand.

After finding out that this necklace was a fake, I had no reason to want the real one. I didn't want to ever see the real one actually, because it would only remind me that Shion had lied to me. Maybe he did it to protect me, but that wasn't his call to make. Especially when it would just put a target on my back.

It made me sad that Shion would do this to me. But, it made my decision all the more easier since it meant that my family could be safe. I would tell Hei where to find the real shard. If it was where I thought it was - with Shion.

When I was finished, Hei cleaned up the dishes. I stayed on the couch, wrapped in that blanket until he was done and I got up.

Hei grabbed his coat, "I need to meet with my team. Stay here until I get back."

"Hei wait," I strode across the room to him. Hei faced me and the emptiness between us felt like it was larger than the Grand Canyon. The distance was unbearable.

I stepped closer to him and he marked my movement. I had no doubt that Hei noticed everything. "I'll tell you were the meteor core is. But only on one condition."

He waited, but when his patience ran out he snapped. "Well?"

"Tell me that you care about me." I moved closer to him, closing that gap. "Whether it was because you wanted something from me, or because you would feel guilty killing me. I want you to say that while you were pretending to get to know me, or whatever, you actually cared about me. That you care about me now."

"Why do you want to hear that?" Hei stood perfectly still. "I was doing what I was told to do."

I shook my head, "that's not true and you know it."

There was something on Hei's features that faltered. I could tell he didn't like the feeling of being interrogated. A mixture of emotions. But this was better then the unrelenting mask he wore.

"What do you want from me?" he growled in a low, deep voice.

I struggled to get down a single, deep breath. "Tell me you care, Hei. Because when I think about what has happened, I don't see you as a soulless, killing contractor. Even though, it would just be easier if I did."

Hei stirred on his feet. I moved even closer to him, I was so close now that I could touch him if I just reached out. My hands shook at my sides and I dared myself to move closer…

What did I want? To be recognized? To feel cared for?

I didn't know. I only hoped that being close to Hei again would help me understand what I wanted.

Hei moved. He leaned down in one fluid motion, kneeling at my level. One gloved hand caressed my cheek, wiping away a stray tear I hadn't even noticed. He kept that hand there, cupping my face as his thumb stoked - so devastatingly - gently.

Intense violet-blue eyes were on me, and I couldn't escape the heat that threatened to burn my body. I leaned into his touch, lifting my own hand to cover his - even though it was much smaller. I closed my eyes, burning this moment into my memory. I never wanted to forget this.

"I don't have the answer you're looking for," his voice was velvety smooth. "I promise you will find them one day, Suou."

He pulled away, taking that heat and intensity with him as he stood again. I was left breathless, my body felt light. But, as he opened the door, the person standing on the other side brought me crashing back down to earth. Hard. Surely there was no way Hei wouldn't have noticed the person standing there. He must have known, anticipated it.

My father stepped through the threshold. He glanced at me, then at Hei. Papa's eyes were daggers, unflinching as he took in the lethal male.

"Papa? What are you doing here?" I found my voice.

"My daughter is not worth keeping this. You contractors will stop at nothing to get your hands on it, so take it." Papa tossed Hei a small box. With his fast reflexes Hei caught it mid air, opening the lid and examining what was inside.

"Now keep your promise to me, contractor." My father hissed. Hei didn't even flinch, didn't even acknowledge my father as he calmly turned to me.

"You're free to go," he said. I gave him a blank stare, then looked back at my father. Was that where Hei was last night? Off finding a way to use taking me hostage so he could get my father to give him the meteor fragment?

From the look on Hei's face… He didn't deny it.

Indeed, contractors were cruel and calculating.

"Come one, Suou. Let's get out of here," Papa beckoned for me. Instinctively, I ran into his open arms, breathing in the relief of feeling safe within them. As we embraced, I glanced back a Hei.

He watched us, his face frozen in time. Those eyes were distant, but my skin still burned from the moment we shared… Hei caught my stare, and it was smouldering. I couldn't breathe in enough oxygen and I turned my face back into my father, who lead us outside into the fresh air.

"Did he hurt you? Are you alright, my girl?" My father knelt down once we were far enough away from the cottage. Not that it would have mattered, since if Hei was intent on keeping us there, he would see to it. My father checked my arms, legs and face but I recoiled from his touch.

"I'm fine, Papa." I stared at the ground. "He didn't hurt me."

"Good," he rose. "Contractors are ruthless killers, they'll do anything to get what they want. It's best if you never have to run into one again."

My father opened the passenger door for me, gesturing inside the car.

"Let's go home Suou. Forget this ever happened. Trust me, it's for the best."

I stared at the figure that watched us from the door. Even though Mao and my father claimed contractors were cruel, Hei never once tried to hurt me. He maybe got frustrated with me, but I could tell he had no intentions of harming me. Maybe that's why I felt safe with him.

I knew he was protecting me, even though Hei didn't tell me the words I wanted to hear. He not only saved me from those pursers, but he went against orders to take the meteor core and kill me. Plus, Hei was aware of how much the necklace meant to me when I thought Shion had given me the real one. All this time, He never tried to harm me. Instead, he tried to protect me...

Hei.

I climbed into the car reluctantly, and stared out the window the entire drive back home. All this time I thought the man I had met as my neighbour was gone. Perhaps he was, perhaps that smiling kind male never existed. But, there was a man who was passionate and kind, in a silent and indirect way.

When we got home, I went to my room and looked found the picture Hei had sent me.

'I don't have the answer you're looking for. I promise you will find them one day, Suou.'

His words rang in my head and I re-read his note over and over again. He may not have admitted it, but I knew that he must have cared enough to go to all these lengths. Even if it was just a selfish reason as not wanting my blood on his hands. That was still a reason to protect someone.

Despite what my father had said, I would never forget Hei. And, I secretly hoped that he would never forget about me.

^.^