Hello from person that doesn't not own these characters in the story except Aleksander and the other characters I created. I own them.

Been a while guys. Like 2 days? xD

Bout time I updated. Kitty updated her HikaKao fic too. Go read. (Kitty-Ramen)

Remember the fears challenge I did a couple of stories ago? Well look what I found!

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia – fear of the number 666

Omphalophobia – fear of bellybuttons

Triskaidekaphobia, – fear of the number 13

Just thought they were cool xD

Sorry to disappoint for the lack of Hikaru: :[

Enjoy anyway!

Tora xxx

Waking up the next morning I noticed a distinct absence. Hikaru was no longer resting on my lap rather he was nowhere in sight.

I remember during the night feeling him fidget but I just stroked his cheek and thought nothing of it. That was all I remembered from the night. I had been so tired that goings on had barely registered in my mind.

But as my eyes fully opened I could only focus on the small piece of paper tucked under my leg. A closer look revealed the untidy writing which covered both sides of the paper. I instantly recognised it as my lover's handwriting.

Furrowing my eyebrows I read through the message.

My beloved and most beautiful Kaoru,

I am a coward as you can now see.

To your face these words would not come so easily.

Therefore I have written them, on paper, in lead.

Your reaction to which I genuinely dread.

My presence you notice is lacking

As is my sanity too.

My mind mentally scared

By the feral images of you.

Please know that you will always

Be in my thoughts and in my heart.

And the day I become just like you

We shall never again be apart.

But for now I feel I need to escape,

Allow my nerves to calm.

Until once again I return to you

And rest my soul in your arms.

My love always, till and after the day you find me.

Hikaru.

I couldn't prevent the red tears for streaming down my cheeks. He had left. Run away because he was scared of me. If he had just turned me away the moment I told him who I really was then the pain wouldn't be so excruciating. But the fact that he had let me get close enough to him to fall deeply in love, just made the ache in my heart too much to bear.

Not caring who gaped at me I ran through the city. His name continuously feel from my mouth. To be honest I had no idea what good this would do me. He must have been long gone now. I wouldn't dare check his home, simply due to the possibility that if he wasn't there, his parents would be worried sick, even more sick than I assumed they would be after the previous disappearance.

So I just ran through the streets, screaming his name, and hoping that somehow he would just appear and tell me he was sorry for running away and that he wouldn't do it again. But of course that didn't happen. Letting my hopes get to high would only further my disappointment. As it did when I was pulled in dress shop I was running past.

I knew from the moment this person grabbed me that it wasn't Hikaru. Their hands were small, the skin soft and pale. This person was definitely a woman and last time I had checked, Hikaru wasn't.

'Shh! Shh….Sweetie don't worry you can't stop crying now…' Tears continued to pour from my eyes as the woman dabbed at my cheeks with her handkerchief, staining it with my tears. I was surprised actually that she didn't seemed disturbed by the fact that I was practically bleeding from my eyes. As my crying slowed to sobs she took me into the backroom of the shop and sat me down on a chair at a small table with a sewing machine on top of it. She seemed to have been in the middle of sewing a dress layer when she'd left her work.

Pulling a wooden stall from the corner she sat down opposite me and moved my fringe out of my face with her slender fingers.

'Now. Would you like to tell me what's wrong?' She seemed genuine but I couldn't trust her. I shook my head no. I expected her to start begging me to tell her but to my surprise she didn't. 'Alright. Well I'll go make us some tea and then when you feel like talking please don't hesitate, okay?'

I nodded as she went off to make the drinks and glanced around the room. There were various rolls of coloured fabric stacked on shelves and a mannequin in one of the corners. The mannequin was dressed in what looked like a pink silk. I wouldn't have been able to tell it was silk if I hadn't been living with Hikaru for months.

I felt a pang in my chest and I thought about him and danger he could be in right now. Alek or one of his army might have captured him. He was so defenceless, especially after all the blood he had lost just hours before he ran.

'Here we are.' The woman sat down on the stall once again, setting the tray of refreshments down on the table in front of the sewing machine.

I smiled in thanks and took a sip of the tea. I took this moment as an opportunity to get a good look at this woman. She was young, probably around 19 and she was very pretty. But her light brown hair and soft green eyes were nothing compared to the fire of Hikaru's eyes and hair.

Placing the tea cup down on the table and clearing my throat, I looked her directly in the eyes.

'My name's Kaoru.' She smiled at this and placed her cup down also.

'Caroleyna. But please do call me Carrie. Everyone else does.' I nodded slowly and bit my lip.

'May I call you Leyna? It seems to suit you much better.' She blushed slightly before replying.

'Why of course.' When I had nothing to reply to her with, Leyna broke the silence. 'Who's Hikaru? If you don't mind my asking.'

'My brother.' How else was I supposed to answer? 'We ran away from home you see and just last night he ran away again whilst I slept.' I felt my hand move to my pocket, stroked my thumb across the folded note inside. I saw Leyna looking at my hand and she must have seen the corner of the paper as I pulled my hand out.

'What's that? Is it a note?' I hesitated before answering her.

'Yes…'

'May I read it?' All of the sudden, this once well presented young lady had become a pestering child.

'I'd rather you not.'

'But why not?' She pouted slightly, her eyes wide.

'…I should probably get going. Thank you for the tea and your hospitality. But I must go find my lo- brother.' I stood to leave but she grabbed my wrist.

'I'm sorry. Sometimes my curiosity just gets the better of me. Wherever you are going, I would be delighted to accompany you. I can tell that something must have happened to hurt you, more mentally than physically perhaps, that resulted in in a lack of trust. But I assure you that I want nothing more than to assist you in achieving your aim and finding your brother.'

Her eyes were so sincere. I had lived long enough to be able to tell a liar from a genuine soul, and this young woman here, Leyna, was most certainly the latter.

'Okay. But I will just inform you now. I can't promise you will ever come back home, nor can I assure your safety.'

'Oh goody! This sounds like an adventure.' I rolled my eyes, already able to tell that she was going to be another one of those annoying girls that always seemed to want to tag along with me. 'Let me just tell my aunt that I'm going. She won't mind.'

I watched as she disappeared through a door. I sighed heavily and closed my eyes. I could only hope right now that Hikaru was safe somewhere. And when you live as long as I have you begin to notice, that hope, as with optimism, only sets you up for disappointment.

Woah. Okay it's time for unanswerable question time! Where is Hikaru? Was Kaoru right to trust this girl? Could she be with Aleksander? Did you all like my poem?

Yes I did write that poem. It took a while xD

Sonspiration: I Miss You – Blink182 (gawsh I hate these guys. Except this song. Though I don't like when one of thems all like 'WHERE ARE YOU?' in his high pitch squeaky voice. Groan.)

Kk R&R!

Tora xxx