Chapter 10- A Key Unlocked a Book and a Secret to go with it

Serena's POV.

...CLASH!

"SIRRR! ARE YOU HOME?!" Ryosuke voice yelled making the two of us jump apart.

I looked down as my face went red hardcore, while Soryu moved away from me but not before I saw the redness spreading in his cheeks.

"SIR?! I BROUGHT SOME FOOD FOR THE PRINCESS! CAN I PLEASE COME IN SIR?" Ryosukes voice rang out yet again this time longer than before. But unlike the first time my stomach didn't growl at me as it squeezed the insides of my stomach. How many days has it been since I had last eaten again...?

"GROWL...!" I looked down once again as I grasped my stomach in attempt to shush it as my face went dark red. I heard a sigh as Soryu stood up and walked out of the room leaving me to drown in my embarrassment. Oh come on! How embarrassing can this day get!

"SIR! IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU SIR! I brought some food for Miss. Howl I thought she might be hungry since she hasn't eaten anything." Ryosukes voice rang out loud in the two story condo. At that remark my stomach growled at me once again and I blushed in embarrassment even though there was no one here to hear it.

"SIR?! ...SIR! WAIT SIR, PLEASE DON'T CLOSE THE DOOR SIR! SI-"

"SLAM" With that I heard footsteps coming toward me. Not knowing what to do I looked down and saw that the T-shirt I was wearing was pulled downward and the top of my breasts were in a clear view. I gasped and quickly pulled the shirt upwards and positioned it the correct way. Oh my god... did he... Did he see!?

Before I could say anything Soryu walked in the living room with two plates of Japanese Curry Rice that seemed warm enough to eat, must have been a store nearby or something. Without knowing I forgot all about my embarrassment as my mouth watered from the smell of the Curry Rice. As he placed it in front of me I resisted the urge to dig in immediately. I found that very rude especially since he basically nursed me when I was sick. I waited until he sat down in front of me than I also joined him in front the small coffee table. I sat on the small mat and waited for him to start eating. Apparently he had the same idea in mind as he looked at me silently waiting for me to start eating.

I felt bashful at this small act. "T-Thank you for the food." I said in a timid voice and picked up my chopsticks and started eating. When I put a piece of meat in my mouth I almost moaned in pleasure of having food in my mouth. And it was soo good, the meat just feel apart in my mouth as the curry's juice mixed together leaving a sensational taste in my mouth, leaving me craving even more. Before I knew it, I had gobbled up the entire plate that was once filled with lots of Curry Rice.

I sighed in relief was my stomach felt full and warm once again in a long time, at least for me it was... I looked up and meet the stormy gray eyes once again, as I recalled my actions I began to feel embarrassed and looked down. I slowly set the chopsticks down and pulled my hands down to my lap."...Sorry about that...that was very rude of me." I felt ashamed especially since Mrs. Shells always taught me to become and be a very considered and respectful child to myself and others and she was so strict on it, I couldn't help but feeling like this.

Soryru suddenly chuckles in amusement and for a moment I was surprised. Before I could look up I felt a hand on my slightly damp hair. "It's fine, I'm not sure how I'd react to having some normal food after days of no eating *chuckles*." He said this, in a soft voice that almost made me melt. But no worries, his eyes did it for me as it looked at me in warmth, amusement, and love? Or maybe joy I'm not sure, but I am defiantly melted emotionally and my rapid beating heart didn't help in the process of it and of course accompanied by the hundreds of butterflies in my stomach.

I blushed as he stroked my head affectionately then pulled away and started to finish his food. When he pulled his hand away I felt the familiar loneliness spread in my chest to my heart and throughout my body. Why do I feel like this? I should be used to this now I shouldn't be feeling sad just because he pulled away. Do I? Do I l-l-like him? No way that's impossible, he's WAY too old for me. But he does look good for his age... Argh! That's not the point! I mean how could I even like him! Plus he must think of me as a kid since I'm 20 almost 21 in a two months and he is... maybe 27 or 28 years old. Okay maybe not THAT old but... STILL!

*Sigh* Why do I feel like this? I asked myself again,... I've never liked anyone in my entire life because I just didn't care. I went to school nearly every day and was pushed around a lot, no one liked me. Not even in the orphanage I only felt loved by one person and she died on my birthday which was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. I was finally going to have a family again, be loved and love was ever orphans dream. But I was left there in the orphanage watching as new children came and left with smiles on their faces. And I just sat there and watched every single one get adopted and some even had tears in their eyes from joy of finally having a family to love and be loved. It was everyone's dream and they all lived it, except me that is.

I sat there and just imagined that, that was me and Mr. and Mrs. Shells adopting me holding me as I laughed with them. Playing with them, baked with Mrs. Shells, doing puzzles with them, making and doing some silly jokes with Mr. Shells, reading a bed time story with them, I thought of every possibility you could ever think of doing. I still love them from the bottom of my heart to this very day. There hasn't been a week were my thoughts aren't on them, nor a day even if it's a small thought or even a glance like one, they're still and forever in my heart and mind. I sigh as I look at the black wooden coffee table silently as Soryu finished his Rice Curry.

"...Serena?" Soryu suddenly called pulling me out of my thoughts.

I looked up and meet his glaze in question. "Yes?"

"Is something wrong?" He asked in a worried tone but yet somehow still stern as his eyes showed me pure concern.

"No nothing is wrong, just remembering something that happened in the past." I told him with a small meaningful smile, but my eyes held untold secrets, tears aching to break free or at least be seen, longing, fear of the unknown, what is to come, who to trust, loneliness, pain, sadness, and fear once again. They held books of stories and small novels waiting to be read, but it was all locked up with a vintage style keys. And those entire key's a completely different from each other, but yet they were the same. They are made by the same warm tears that had cooled and hardened into metal that were in place of the walls and boundaries in and around my memories, heart, and soul. Each had their own crests representing their stories and tales to tell when you opened the books and chests that is. But they were as quiet as the gentle wind that you can barely hear, see, or even feel in the hot summer air.

I know that I shouldn't let anyone in, none at all. Because when I do let them see even a small part of me, they turn away from me, or I lose them forever... I know this listen well but,.. this man in front of me is turning the tables like no other. And as he turns the tables, he turns the keys little by little he turns some of them at once while the others seem to be inching forward to be turned like the others eager with the chance of finally becoming free. Somehow they are opening the doors and the ripped, damaged covers of my books of all shapes and sizes, which have been untouched for years leaving it a very dusty like old storage room. But of course the locks and keys do not rust from the dust but instead they become even more secure every day and every night.

That is until he appeared and starting doing things that made me feel things that I haven't felt before. These few days have been terrifying for me, not only because I was kidnapped and it was a scary experience and all. But because of all these new emotions that feel very foreign to me, are all piling up and bursting like a soda when you shake it too hard and things get messy. Just like how I did these last few days, it's making a war break out inside me and I have no idea how to respond to this, to anything actually. I have no idea how to deal with these new emotions that were unknown to me, those that weren't felt new and almost unrecognizable. I let out another sigh... Why do things have to be so complicated in life?

Before I knew it I fell asleep with my back against the leather couch, leaving myself defenseless. Something I would never have done but I'm doing it now more than ever and more than I should. I was already half asleep when I felt strong arms pick me up held me for a while before I was laid down on something soft and comfortable. Which of course, made me fall deeper in to the bitter yet sweeter darkness, but not before I heard Soryu's last words as something soft yet warm and comforting in some way, tickled the left side of my face.

"Sleep well Serena, I hope you will come to trust me as I do, Serena...my one and only Serena."

At these words I felt a key unlock and a weird warmness spread throughout chest and my heart started to beat even faster and harder than the last time. For a moment I wondered if he could hear it, then there was nothing as all my senses were pulled into the pool of darkness and my I feel asleep once more.

Soryu's POV.

I watched as her tormented eyes grew heavy once more and drifted off to sleep leaving her wide open for an attack of some sort. Something told me that, that wasn't something she would normally do. I slowly and quietly, as to not wake her, stood up and walked toward her and pulled her into my arms which seemed to be a perfect fit for her especially. I slowly walked to my room but took the time just to hold her I my arms a bit longer, before I actually set her down and her warmth disappears from my arms once more.

Sadly we made it there sooner than I had wanted and planned to be. I laid her down on the bed and pulled the white sheet over her sleeping body. I looked at her face once more, wishing I could save her from this life she was bound to have because she is the daughter of one of the most powerful and dangerous mafia's in the world.

I sighed as I as looked at my little angel in front of me looking so defenseless and so cute, like a tiger's cub that needs protection from its mother constantly. And I will protect her but not like a mother or anything like that, I will protect the girl I've fallen in love with as child. And now that I have found her again, I am never letting her go again.

I slowly stroked her face with my right hand as softly as I could, thinking she'd break if I applied any pressure. I sighed once more... All this time you were so close to me yet so far from reach.

"Sleep well Serena, I hope you will come to trust me as I do. Serena...my one and only Serena" I said to her knowing there might be a possible chance she can still hear me, then I said something so quietly I doubt she may have heard me. "I love you and I always have and always will love you, I hope soon you will feel the same about me... Kitty-chan, your still the same after so many years, I will love you more than forever itself and now that your here, I will be that one person you can lean on and talk to just like when we were younger Rina."