Hey everyone...

So, I edited some stuff with this story especially with the pairing. I just realized that I sucked royally in the grammar and I didn't know then that the tense is supposed to be past tense.

I didn't edit everything, mind you. I'm a loyal slacker so I guess you could see that in the story. I think I started in chapter 2 with the major editing...

Anyway, I've written two new chapters after a very long hiatus (sorry i didn't warn any of the guys waiting for almost a year-major problems came up in my family and school). Second year high school was hectic in Phil-Sci. At least in my third year this year, it won't be so hectic.

I'm done with promising you guys for a certain time for my update. I'm done with breaking my promises. I can't even tell you guys how sorry I am.

Since those who had been waiting for this story to update probably got sick of waiting, I'm just going to say sorry and i hope you'll forgive me. To those who had been reading my stories and making Story Alerts and some even gave a few reviews, thanks a lot. I really appreciate it.

P.S. : This note is just going to repeat from the first chap until the 22nd chapter of my story.

Chapter 13 – A sweet dream in a beautiful nightmare

A little girl, 8, with hazel hair and brown eyes, was swinging in the children's park just near her house. But then, men in raggedy clothes came up to her and took her away. She struggled to escape but it was all for nothing. One man started to take off her skirt while another started to take off her shirt.

"No! Mama! Help me! Tasukete kudasai! Anyone?" The girl screamed but nobody could hear her well since they were on the other side of the park with the trees covering them.

Suddenly, a little boy with raven hair and a black cat mask and another boy with raven hair and a tiger mask came and snatched the girl away. They put her behind them and fought the 4 men who tried to hurt the girl. They managed to gain the attention of policemen who were strolling and the policemen caught the rapists.

"Job well done, boys," one of the police said. "You're pretty strong and brave out there."

"Thanks, sir," the boy with black eyes replied. "You should thank our parents since they were the ones who trained us."

"Well, send our regards to them," the other police said with a smile and dragged the unconscious men away.

"Sweetie, are you alright?" the boy with black eyes asked.

"Yes," Sweetie sobbed. "Thanks so much, Ton-kun!"

She hugged Ton-kun and turned to the one with crimson eyes.

"Thank you so much," she said to him. "If you guys didn't come here, I don't know what to do!"

"Hmph, you should be thankful," he said as he scowled at her. "Those guys are about to hurt you."

"I already said it, didn't I?" Sweetie retorted as she put her hands on her hips. "Thanks so much, Tsu-kun."

The two boys smiled at her and grabbed her arms as they led her towards where the boys were playing.

"Sweetie, we're playing 'animals'," Ton-kun said to her. "Wanna join us?"

Sweetie nodded excitedly and they played happily with their animal masks and toys. Then, the sky turned gray and they ran towards her house which was nearby.

But fate didn't want to have a happy ending. Sweetie ran across the street with Ton-kun and Tsu-kun behind her. A blue car with a fast speed collided with her and she flew a good 10 meters away.

"Sweetie!" Tsu-kun yelled and ran to her.

Her body lay broken and bleeding. The two horror-stricken boys held her body as they wept.

"Don't cry," Sweetie whispered. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."

"Swe-sweet-ty," Ton-kun tried to say but it came out it sobbing gasps. "Anyone? Please help us!"

"Futon-kun," Sweetie whispered. "Don't worry about me."

"But—" Futon tried to protest but he couldn't do it.

Then, Sweetie softly let her hand touch Futon's face then Tsu-kun's.

"Natsume-kun," Sweetie whispered and her eyes were slowly closing. "…."

Both of the boys were shocked as the rain dropped. Her hand left his face and Natsume looked up in the sky.

"*****!" Natsume yelled with all his might as he wept his final tears.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

I sat up in my bed gasping for air and cold sweat trailing my face. I held my face in my right hand and slowed my breathing.

"It's a dream," I murmured. "But also a nightmare."

I looked at the alarm clock beside me and it said that it's still 2:00 in the morning. Damn, it's also the same digits when she left me. But it made me look back at the event last night. Equinox was just like her but I was sure that Sweetie was gone now. It was all over the news. The heiress of the IzuNazu Management & Corporations was now resting in peace. The first girl I met, the first girl who touched me, the first girl who became my friend, the first girl who became the love of my life… was now gone. Because she's gone, I made a vow that I won't forget her and I won't come out with a relationship with someone. I became what was known the Black Cat and the coldest person who ever lived.

But… ever since I saw Sakura no First Name and Equinox… I feel her inside them. That's what made me have doubts of her death. Yes, her parents could easily cover up her death and make a funeral for her with a real-life, nonliving body! Nope, they couldn't do that. They don't want to mock the dead just like their daughter. I saw her body cold, pale, and blue. But then again, Sakura had a sorta attitude like her and Equinox has almost the same features as she did. And I saw the Punk who was Sweetie's brother…who's also Equinox's boyfriend.

God, I wanna have a brain like Einstein to figure this out.

I lied on my bed again but didn't close my eyes for fear the nightmare would return. Wait, fear? Since when did I get scared? Until the time she was gone. Maybe the better word would be guilt. That's right, I'm guilty. Guilty that she's gone, guilty that she's never by my side ever again, guilty that I never said that I love her!

A snore could be heard in the other room. Stupid Koko, drinking that much beer and being all hyper is making me want to scold him like a mother hen. Also, he almost revealed our reason—my reason to return to school.

"Sumi-chan… come with me…!" a muffled voice came from another room. That Kitsuneme was dreaming about a girl named—what was that again?

"Sumi-chan…!" he moaned again and I heard his bed creak.

Sumi-chan? Now who would that be?

"Hit, hit, punch, kick. I…hit him! Yey…" another voice said. I listened harder and was shocked (but didn't show it) that Futon was the one who spoke. Actually, I expected Futon to be a peaceful sleeper.

"Snowbelle… pretty girl…" Ruka whispered and suddenly yelled, "COME BACK!" making my ears bleed (not literally, idiots). Can someone help the poor guy? I may be his best friend but I ain't an expert on the cat-sick treatments.

I tried to tune out the sounds that they were making and I succeeded in doing so. Besides, if you have a dead-girl in your dreams every now and then that would be enough to tune the sounds out.

"Sweetie…" I mumbled and turned over. As much as I hate to admit it, I like her name because it's… cute (it really hurts my pride even thinking about the word). Then again, I didn't know her real name because the subject never came up in our time together. Stupid, stupid, Natsume.

Thankfully, my insomnia was slowly fading because I finally had more than 4 hours of sleep, more than 10 minutes of sitting, and, as childish and idiotic as it sounds, I finally have time to read my Manga.

Yeah, I finally slept again but woke up again. Damn dreams.

Every time I get a good night's sleep, (or dawn in this case) she always barges in my dreams like how she really was. I looked at my bedside clock and saw that it's already five o' one am.

I stood up, stretched like a cat, walked towards my mini-fridge, and grabbed a bottle of water. I gulped down to the last drop and threw the bottle expertly to the trash bin. I then entered my shower and had a cool, refreshing bath (plus cuss words). Anyways, good thing my room had a heater or else I'd be gone, too, no matter how appealing that thought was.

Using the towel to cover my lower torso and another to dry my hair, I strode towards my closet and chose black, leather, business jacket, a pair of black slacks, and a white polo. I put them on my bed first before going back to my closet to select a pair of clean socks and black shoes (shiny, and newly polished).

I dressed up quickly and personalized my look by leaving two buttons of my polo open, my leather jacket open, and my hair in its usual messy disarray. I also wore a loose silver cross which only rests above my chest. This cross was special to me and don't ask why.

As quietly as I could manage, I stepped out of my room and descended to the garage using the elevator the house had. The elevator stopped and opened to a dark room. I stepped out and used the switch near the elevator to turn on the lights. The garage contained all of the Hyuuga cars plus my band mates'. Since I always had my car keys with me, I just pushed the unlock button on the remote and I could hear the silent clicking of the locks and a faint sound of beeping. I walked briskly towards the sound and found my car. I noticed that the vehicle had vague dirt on the windshield. I counted the months in my head and concluded that it wasn't old enough to have dirt to it. Saying the name just made my blood boil.

"Aoi…" I hissed before typing in the password of the car-park lock. The car-park lock uses the ground to get the feeling of weight above. If the weight matches a car weight, it would automatically "lock" and if you move the car away from the car-park lock, it would give out a siren like the ones ambulances use. I explained this as simple as I could and if you can't understand it, you're an idiot.

I got in the car and the gate automatically opened. I revved the engine and the car lurched forward to the main gate. One of the security guards waved me to stop and I opened my window.

"Good day, sir," he greeted, his eyelids sagging. Poor guy, mom better find him a substitute.

"Tsudatsu," I greeted back with a nod. "I'm only gonna go for an early drive. And you could go to sleep now. Just tell Mom."

He sighed in relief. "Understood, sir. But, my shift is until seven in the morning. Just a little bit sacrifice and all is well."

I raised my eyebrows before nodding and driving away from the house. The guy's a martyr.

I'm actually planning to go to the park where—ah, you'll know later. What's the use of explaining to you when you'll know where I'm going and what's there? Nothing, obviously.

I just sped up to 60 km/hr and easily wove in and out of the turning roads and corners. The traffic lights were hazard at this time of the day since there are lesser drivers. By less, I mean about just 200-300 drivers going around. That's how people of Tokyo live these days.

Finally, I spotted a bunch of trees and that was my landmark that I'm near my destination. After finding the narrow and rocky path leading towards the park, I drove into it and found myself in the greenery. It ended too soon and I found myself at the parking lot of the park (very redundant, right? Duh). Since I knew the rules (which said no car crosses the park), I parked my car beneath a huge shade created by cherry blossoms. I got out with my Aviator shades on and locked my door (only an idiot wouldn't lock the car doors).

The wind made the trees' leaves have that rustling sound. God, I miss her. Just looking at the cherry blossoms made my breath get caught up in my throat. I just made my signature sounds and walked towards the north end of the park (following the path, of course).

As I walked, I could make out a temple with fortunes in front of it hanged by tying it to a wire. Then, I saw a little chapel. It's small but that's my destination.

Before saying anything that could make me literally burn your hair, let me have a short explanation. Mom liked to go to this place whenever she's free from work. She usually brought me and my (irritating, annoying, idiotic excuse of a) sister here to, I dunno, probably worship with her.

So here's the deal, it grew on me and she made it a tradition in the family to go here every once in a while. Old man can't go here often because of work but he still tries. Now that I knew what the reason is, I finally went here for a reason.

It's been ten years since I knew the reason.

Damn it, Natsume! Stop thinking about it! You'll just kill yourself for this, my brain screamed at me.

I know what you're thinking and it's right. But, if you're thinking that I'm finally a holy man, go kill yourself.

I went inside the simple but elegant church and looked around.

It's still the same; faded yellow paint, brown pews with good-for-the-knees foam, the giant cross in front of the altar, the crucifix with Jesus at the right side, two candles at the altar, a place where you light candles and pay for it, and finally, the feeling that you're not the only one in the room.

"The place never changed even after how many years," an old man's voice said. I turned around and saw a man in a navy blue suit and black tie in front of his white polo. He had gray hair and beard, warm, brown eyes, wrinkles around his face indicating he's about 60 years old, and he had a smile on his face.

"You never changed," I countered and shook his extended hand. "Although, it's a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Takashi."

He only chuckled and let go of my hand. "You're certainly right about that. You, my boy, have changed a lot. You even grew taller than me! Tell me, what did you eat?"

I laughed softly at this routine. "Nothing yet… but strawberries."

He chuckled once again. "So you are the little Natsume I know! You still eat strawberries?"

"Not so much," I admitted while shrugging. "I was a little tight on schedule I didn't have time to eat even one."

He nodded and patted my back. "I understand." He looked behind my shoulder. "I must go now. My wife is waiting in the car."

I nodded once and he took off. That man always has a talent to get my childish side outta me. Too late to notice it's a good idea to go here.

I went inside and lighted a candle after paying 500 Yens for it. I clasped my hands together and prayed.

Just please let me see her again.

I'm done praying and I opened my eyes to see my candle melting. I nodded slightly and turned to walk out of the place.

But what the heck, just as I turned around someone bumped into me and fell butt-on the ground.

"Ouch! That hurts!" the person complained. The person looked up and her face looked like she saw a ghost. After taking in the features, I scoffed in my mind.

Very funny. You just had to send me her "incarnation".