CHAPTER 7:

It's Saturday. Which means, I could go visit anyone I wanted to visit.

I dumped my duffel bag on the passenger's seat and glanced around the parking lot. My mafia bodyguards were still watching me like the most precious thing in the world. Supposedly, I was planning on seeing my family this weekend. But since I still couldn't contact any of them, I was left no choice than to go back to my condo unit.

"Amu-chan!" a familiar voice called.

Instinctively, I looked behind me and saw purple hair bouncing up and down as the owner of it ran towards me. My hand automatically rose up for a face palm but suddenly decided against it. This kid probably needs less stress now more than ever.

Instead, I tried to lift my face up for the best reassuring smile I could manage. "Nadeshiko," I greeted her.

"Are you going to see your parents?" she innocently asked.

I almost grimaced right there and then.

If I only knew where they were.

"Yeah," I lied.

Ndeshiko flashed me her famous 100-watt smile. "That's great! I'm going to visit my family, too,"

Feeling awkward at the conversation, I had no other choice than to nod. "Listen, Nadeshiko-"

I was cut off as rapid gunshots suddenly resounded throughout the parking lot. Luckily, I was able to grab Nadeshiko by the arm and hide her behind the car before she got hit.

What the fck?

The frenzied birds flew to all directions as gunfire caused reverberated chaos. After the series of gunshots - after thinking it was temporarily safe - I held Nadeshiko, prepared to drag her away from this mess, when the next batch of gunshots were suddenly fired at us. The next thing I know, I was thrashing around; violently flailing as I was being dragged way from Nadeshiko's helpless, bloodstained body.

"Amu-sama, we need to get you to safety now," one man - who was probably the in-charge of my father's men at the time - told me in business-like voice.

"No." I firmly denied. "You have to save her first. She's still breathing," I pointed at Nadeshiko's general direction.

His brow creased, as if what I said was highly indecipherable. "But, Amu-sama-"

I stood my ground, ready to save her myself. "I will not go with you if that girl dies!"

The man, probably realizing that he would never win against me, bowed and rushed to Nadeshiko's aid, hopefully able to save her life.

As soon as they were out of my sight, I looked back at the firework display of bullets and grenades at the parking lot. My car was in pieces; several lampposts were beheaded; some civilians were even shot down; but the worst thing I saw was the pooling blood in the center of the battlefield,.

Bile rose up to my throat but I successfully flushed it back. This was probably the worst Mafia battle I have ever encountered alone. I looked around, unable to just watch as others fought well, and spotted a shotgun. And right when I grabbed the gun, a hooded person suddenly stepped in front of me, making me shoot him by instinct.

The man clutched his wrecked shoulder, now enormously bleeding, and cursed me. He screamed in agony as he helplessly fell on the cold concrete. I backed away, utterly grossed out of all the blood, and bumped into a broad chest.

I turned around in a flash, afraid that it would be Death I bumped into, and held him at gunpoint.

"What the hell?!" he cursed, looking absolutely dumbfounded.

I gripped the gun firmly, ready to shoot him down if he makes the wrong move. "What the fck are you doing here, Sanjou?"

"H-Huh? Wha-"

I tackled him, fully realizing that we were out in the open. His eyes were guarded, but his voice was devoid of all but confusion.

What game is he playing?

"There were bombs. We have to get away fast," I finally said.

He stared at me like I grew a second head or something. "What bomb? There are no bombs, Amu,"

Hinamori Amu IS a bomb!

I turned around harshly, facing the traitor head on. "You're that guy. You're one of them," I said grimly, realizing what was going on here.

Kairi arched one eyebrow at me. "One of what?" he asked

I raised my hand - the one supposedly gripping the 410 backpacker - and aimed at him.

"What...are you doing?"

My hand trembled - for only a while ago, it held a loaded gun. Now, what I held was a puny tree branch.

"Shit..." I dropped the tree branch and faced Kairi, suddenly on alert for sudden assaults.

But he only stared at me blankly like any minute now I would burst out laughing.

Suddenly, I noticed that the gunshots stopped, no bombs exploded and the chaos died down. The parking lot was completely deserted - not one body nor shells were present. What the hell happened?

"Damn it, Amu. What's happening to you?" Kairi's voice shook me from my internal rant. Was this guy freaking serious?

I looked into his eyes, searching any sign of feigned care in him. But it was either I failed to see it or that he was truthfully, earnestly, genuinely concerned.

"Hey, are you listening?" Kairi asked again, "What's wrong with you? Are you okay?"

I shook my head, completely baffled. Confusion made my head spin into a nauseating storm.

Was I hallucinating?

No.

That's impossible.

I looked around, searching for the guards my father appointed to me. They were the only ones left for me to prove that I wasn't going out of my mind. And there they were...with confused eyes as they watched me and Kairi. They were probably estimating whether to close in or stand by.

Kairi swept his hand across his forehead, swiping away the tangles of his dark green hair. "You fainted here, Amu," he said, "What happened?"

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Okay. I'm sorry. I know I promised a fast update but college life is sooooooo different than high school. One month of rest is over and here's your update. Please review XD Arigatou minna.