Spring Winds.

A/N: Yay, Happy late Lunar New Years! Hope you enjoy the conversation with Byakuran and Sakura. I personally am intrigued with the topic so I thought I'd throw it in there.
Transitions, transitions. Soon, soon.

Announcement: Shards of a Broken Mirror chapter 2 is out, if you're interested. :) If you haven't looked at it; it's a Hibari-centric. Third person limited. TYL; AU. Pairings are 1896, 6996, OCx?. Sakura is in it btw, haha. Genre : Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Supernatural, slight Mystery.

CHAPTER 15

"Sakura."

"Father," I smiled.

"I have good news, sweetie," he said, walking in his usual lab coat. His blonde hair actually seemed to be in a better condition than usual.

"What is it?"

"Well. Good news for me. The research is really getting along!" he beamed.

"That's good, father," I clapped for him.

He nodded. "So next week, I'm going to give most of the staff a vacation. Although you know.. I'd like to keep our cook around…" I laughed and he continued. "Going to take some time off. And then we can be like a normal family," he smiled gently.

"We are a normal family," I told him. To me, at least.

He hummed to himself. "Well you know what I mean."

"Yeah," I replied. But isn't this normal? If normal is him spending time with me, that was rather unordinary. And for some reason, I felt like typical normalness should come with a mom. And school. But what did I know?

"Is Jun excused too?"

"Yes, is that okay with you?" he asked. I had a feeling it didn't really matter what was okay with me. But at least he asked.

I nodded. "I think he should have a break." And I need one too. I love Jun like a brother but I needed time to myself, some privacy.

"Me too," he placed a hand on mine and gave it a small squeeze. "Then I'll finish whatever I can during this weekend and we'll enjoy next week together. Is there somewhere you want to go?"

"Um… I'm not sure yet. I'll give it some thought. Anything we do is fine," I smiled.

"Maybe we'll have a picnic with your mother," he suggested with a warm smile, his blue eyes softened greatly. That sounds nice. If only it was literal.

"She'd love that," I laughed softly.

He nodded and stood up, ruffling my hair. "Okay, sweetie. Enjoy the rest of your day."

"You too, father. Good luck with the research."

Jun was speaking to my father about something, probably regarding next week. So I had this time to myself. I went through the many records my parents owned. Apparently they had a thing for the waltz-y type of music. I placed one of them onto the machine for a good spin. Soon, the lovely music filled the room and I found myself entranced by it. I liked it. I wonder why I haven't tried this before. I wonder which one was my mom's favorite, perhaps I'll ask my dad later. I was looking through the rest when…Holy shit! I jumped, throwing everything. Hand flying up to my chest.

"Sorry, sorry." I whirled around to find Byakuran, smiling apologetically. "You were so into it you didn't hear me."

"Ah… Sorry," I bent down to pick up everything and he helped me like the good soul he is.

"I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's alright," I smiled. "How's uh… the research?" I asked as we both stood up. He handed them to me and I placed it back onto the rest of the stack.

"Going well. I don't do much except give them ideas," he stated casually.

"I'm sure you're not giving yourself enough credit," I offered. "My father regards you highly."

"Ma…" he ruffled the back of his hair. Byakuran looked over at the record player for a moment before bowing down, extended a hand out to me.

"Excuse me?"

"Care for a dance?" he smiled playfully.

"I don't know how to dance," I mumbled.

"It's okay, take my lead," he offered.

I nodded slowly before taking his hand. He pulled me in closer and put a hand on my waist. "Um.. I-"

"Put your hand on my shoulder," he instructed. I did as I was told and he nodded happily. "Now follow my steps," he assisted me slowly.

After a few steps, I feel like I was slowly getting a hang of it. I laughed softly, "This is pretty fun." I only stepped on his feet… like twice. That wasn't so bad, right?

"It is, isn't it?"

"You know, I read somewhere in a book that said to never trust a man who can dance," I teased.

He raised an eyebrow. "Some things don't lie." What? I was taken back by his answer but he was probably kidding. Right?

I didn't want to dwell on that topic any longer. "Are you sure you shouldn't be working?"

"No, we're pretty much done for today," he answered, twirling me. "Sakura-chan."

"Hm?" I asked.

"Do you ever wonder about the future?" he smiled but it was starting to look more like a smirk to me.

Did I? "No, I suppose not."

"I see," he muttered.

"Do you?"

He hummed. "Yes, I do. The future is everything, wouldn't you say so?" Our steps came to a stop and I stood in front of him, watching as his expression grew amused.

I pursed my lips. "I think the present is more important,... I, uh, beg your pardon." I avoided getting into debates with people, especially philosophical ones. Because I could get pretty passionate. "If you don't give it your all in the present.. What good is the future?" I mumbled but caught myself. "T-That's just my opinion…"

"A very wise one," he nodded approvingly. "The present is very significant indeed," he mused but I felt like he wasn't talking to me. "And your opinion on time travel?"

"Time travel?" I raised an eyebrow. That escalated quickly. "I don't think that's possible… conventionally."

"Say it is."

"Then… I think it's a bad idea," I frowned.

"Oh?" he seemed interested in my answer. "And how come?"

"Because if people think they can change what they see or seen… Doesn't that just ruin the purpose of life in general?" I challenged.

"You may be right," he smirked.

"And if time travel is possible," I paused to think for a second. "Then parallel worlds must be possible."

"You think so?" his smirk widened.

"Because say you see one future, you go back to the present. You decide to change something that you saw. That means another branch has to stem from that. The future that you saw couldn't be changed because it's already a separate branch-" I caught myself. "Sorry, I'm rambling," I apologized embarrassedly. Who am I to say such things in front of a physics kid genius? I'm probably wrong about everything.

He shook his head. "You're the one that doesn't give yourself enough credit. You're like your father," he smiled.

"Really?" I laughed softly. "I'm just interested in parallel worlds, that's all.."

"You are?" Byakuran eyes glinted. "That makes two of us. Don't you think it'd be great to hold every information from every form of yourself, in every world?"

I thought for a second but there was no point. "That sounds like overloading," I laughed.

"But just think about all the things you could accomplish," he gestured a wide arc in the air to prove his point.

"I think one world is enough to handle," I said.

He chuckled. "I see. Then… Do you believe in fate?"

"Fate? As in one's destiny? That ought to be ironic due to parallel worlds. I think it's our destiny to all die," I accidentally said.

He raised an eyebrow. "That was morbid of you."

"It's just… realistic, isn't it? But … No, I suppose I don't really believe in fate."

"How about a red string of fate? Or do you not believe in that either?"

"Two people being tied together?" I paused for a moment. I felt shy when I spoke again, "I do, actually. At least I think that's a wonderful concept."

His amusement seems to have heightened. "Really? First you're logical, morbid, and now romantic?" He chuckled. He forgot to mention hypocritical. But perhaps he was just polite.

"I believe people should be destined to be together. And if something happens, if things fall apart… that was due to choices, reasons. Hence parallel worlds. But I feel like the underlying workings of fate is that… you are tied to someone, at some point," I ranted and finally stopped myself.

He nodded slowly. "What an interesting way of seeing things. You are one amusing person to talk to."

I laughed lightly and thanked him. "You are too."

His light purple eyes glanced over at the darkening sky. "I should head home now. I hope we'll have more interesting conversations like these," he smiled. I nodded and he waved before walking towards the door. It opened to reveal Jun or uh….. perhaps not. Byakuran brushed against his shoulders. Rokudo stared down at Byakuran with a stern expression. Byakuran simply laughed it off and apologized, leaving.

"Good evening, dear Sakura," Rokudo replied as he stepped inside the room.

"Rokudo?"

"Are you close to that man?"

"Not really… We talked only a few times," I recalled.

"He seems suspicious," he muttered.

"What?" I asked.

"Nevermind. Moving on, I'm going to be very blunt about this."

"What is it?" I asked, feeling a prick of skepticism.

"What is your father researching?"

I parted my lips. Is he just curious? "I don't know."

"Oya? You don't trust me?" he sat down on the couch next to where I just seated myself.

"I do trust you," I mumbled. "I just don't have an idea."

"Sakura, and you want me to believe that you don't have the slightest idea?"

"Yes? If you trust me too," I frowned. Where was this going?

He shook his head, grabbing my arm. A bit too tight, I might add. "You can tell me."

I stood up, annoyed. I glared down at him. "I can't tell you what I don't know."

He lost his smirk. His expression turned to one filled with annoyance. "And why would your father not tell you?" So I don't die?

"He has his reasons. And it's top secret research."

"And you've never questioned him? Really?" He narrowed his eyes disbelievingly, it grew skeptical along with my own. He tugged my arm and I yanked it out of his grasp.

"Why you pressing this on me? I told you I had no idea," I gritted my teeth. I was getting angrier by the second. "Where did this even come from?"

"Time is urgent. You must tell me. Better me than anyone else." Urgent? For what?

"What? What are you saying? I told you I don't-"

"What a waste of time," he muttered under his breath. Audible enough for me to hear. He stood up, brushing by me.

"Where are you going?" I asked but my tone sounded like a demand for an answer.

"There was no point in…" He stopped to turn his head slightly, something flashed in his eyes that sent a chill to my spine. "..You."

"In me?"

"You, were a waste of time, dear Sakura." Waste of..

"What?" I hissed. But under all my anger and disbelief, something struck. Hurt, probably. I grabbed his sleeve before he could get away. "What are you saying?" I softened my voice but I'm pretty sure it wasn't done intentionally. My head spinning. Waste of time? Stop joking.

"I'm saying that you aren't useful to me," he turned around with a malicious smirk. Useful?

"You're not being funny right now," I frowned, my eyes frowning slightly. My last attempt. He.. After all this time. No, I don't believe it. This isn't funny.

"Because it isn't a joke, Sakura," he shrugged. "I'm entirely amused at how easily people believe my words. And I thought you might be a bit more smarter, more cynical." Why… what?

I was gaping at him now. I didn't… I could barely process what he was saying. Let go. I allowed my hand to drop down lifelessly by my side, off of his sleeve.

I could barely hear his low, unique chuckle. "You actually though I cared about you." Yes? That's what I wanted to believe… My arm suddenly feeling tired. So were my eyes. And my legs. I felt tired. About everything.

Ah. So this is why I never trusted people.

"I thought you were different," I whispered. More to myself than him.

Don't leave. Please.

I heard the door close and I wasn't even aware that he moved at all.

So. So what now?

I slumped against the chair. My head was in my hands. I thought… To me, he was…

I thought he cared about me, my mind dared to whisper.

He was like a brother to me, my heart reminded me.

Then why?

Clearly he never did. Never thought of me than anything but…. of use?

I felt utterly miserable and tired. So very tired.

One world was definitely enough.

One world was already filled with pain, sorrow, disappointment, false hopes….

Why would you ever want to experience all of them?

I can't even handle one.

My head ached.

Instead of feeling eerily empty like before, there was a turbulence of sorrow. A cold wave of mental pain.

There was something else. Something that built on from this, awakened by a sharp reminder of what depression felt like. Something that I couldn't catch, couldn't grasp. What was it?

Ah. I just want to shut my eyes… And mind… And everything. Perhaps if the next time I sleep, I'll never wake up.

I wonder if that'll be okay. I wonder if it'll hurt. But it couldn't be worse than this torture. Couldn't be worse from the torment of my own mind and heart.

Can I just abandon all of it?

I'm tired of it all.

What would it be like to feel nothing I wondered.

Why did this pain feel heavier than what was caused by one man?

As if this sorrow was a reminder of the past. What past?

As if this wasn't the first time my heart felt like it was being choked, squeezed, strained.

I'm so tired.

A pair of mismatched eyes haunted me even after I closed my own.

Go away.

"When do you wish for this side to appear?"

Never, not anymore. GO AWAY.

"Then why do you trust me?"

SHUT UP. Because I was stupid. Naive.

"Things are never simple, Sakura."

Because you wanted something more from me?

"If you need me, you'll reach me."

Liar. You're a LIAR.

"I'd miss you too if you were gone."

LIAR.

"You miss me then?"

…

So, you're leaving me too, huh?

They always do, they always had.

What was the point anymore?

I'm so tired.

Why bother?

Who would miss me anyways?

No one.

I wonder if it'll hurt.

Maybe it'll stop.

There was nothing… It's so dark.

And it kind of felt welcoming…

"I'll find you."

No.

The needle slid off the tips of my finger, rolling out onto the wooden floor-