It was a long day in the lab. Shiho had to work restlessly for hours. So when she finally sat down on her desk chair, she seemed almost to fall into it. She closed her eyes for a minute, enjoying a moment of internal peace until someone interrupted it.

"Sherry!" Gin's voice reverberated through her bones.

Her blue eyes swiftly opened and landed on his. Shiho didn't feel like seeing anyone at the moment, especially him. For that reason, she turned her gaze to the laptop on the desk, placed her delicate fingers on it and started typing in hope of him leaving her alone.

"What are you doing here, Gin? It's past midnight." She asked unenthusiastically.

"I was outside and saw the light coming through your window. I figured I'd pay you a visit."

"And what were you doing outside the lab at this hour?" She teased despite her already knowing the answer; Gin came to see her, maybe to invite her to his flat, or to invite himself to hers.

"I had a job. You're not the only reason I come here, Sherry." By the time he finished his sentence, Gin was standing right next to her seat looking tall and mighty.

Shiho knew too well the kind of 'jobs' he does. He was the one responsible for executing assassinations and he sure as hell enjoyed it. It was his hobby, you look at him the wrong way and you'll find his gun tip on your head, as though all the feelings had died inside his chest leaving nothing but ruthlessness. Who knows whom he'd killed just before appearing next to her, she thought.

"I appreciate your visit Gin but I'm afraid you have to leave. I have a lot of work to do." She retorted.

Although she was really busy, Shiho always exaggerated showing it in Gin's presence. She preferred having to do loads of work over having to be with him. Being busy with work granted her the perfect justification to deny his undeniable invites.

"You've been too busy lately, you should get some rest."

"That's not Anokata's opinion. He wants this done soon as possible and if I take rests that won't happen."

"One day won't make a difference." Gin replied softly.

His green eyes ate Shiho as he spoke, intensely enough to make her stop typing and turn his way. He kneeled down to her level, searching her gaze. Shiho could've sworn that there was no life behind his eyes, just having them so close made her heart beat a bit faster.

"Don't come to the lab tomorrow. I'll pick you up from your apartment, we could spend the day together." He added with a low deep voice.

"That can't happen. I have a report to finish tomorrow and I need to monitor the health status of the test subjects."

"That's why we have other people working here, I'm sure they can handle babysitting some mice." His soft tone turned rough this time. Gin stood up and before Shiho could protest, he mumbled a goodnight and left.

The scientist's excuses for being busy weren't working anymore. When Gin misses her so much, he'd go as far as defying the orders just to spend some time with her. Frustrated, Shiho closed her laptop lid violently. After escaping his grasp for a month, he's back again. Tomorrow, he's going to put his hands on her again! She hated it, yet she was too scared to say no. She never dared to say it and he had his gun tip on her head twice, so what if she does? He'll certainly kill her with no hesitation, or worse, hurt her sister.

Gin walked down the corridor. He felt a certain kind of happiness he had lacked for a month. While he doesn't deprive himself of rewards, Sherry was always something else, her beauty was something else to him. Her white skin and her flaming locks, they were all his and only his. Tomorrow, he will be breathing her sweet scent again! The thought drew a little smile on his face as he continued walking outside the lab.

(~)

"Are you ready to order?" The waiter asked with a smile splitting his welcoming face.

"Not yet, I'm still waiting for someone..." Shiho smiled back.

She was in an especially good mood today since she was about to meet her sister, Akemi. It was a well-deserved rest after spending her last night with Gin.

Adjusting the strap of her dress, She turned her head to the window where soft drops of water patted the glass. It was raining yet people filled the streets of Tokyo. Shiho examined them until her eyes landed on a couple. For some reason, it's always too easy to spot couples; they all have mysterious energy surrounding them exposing the love and caring in their eyes by one look. But that was not the idea Shiho had for a relationship. Gin would never look at her the way that man was looking at his girlfriend, and she for sure wouldn't either.

With a sigh, she looked away uninterested and perused the menu again.

"Shiho!" The familiar voice made her smile instantly. "Sorry I kept you waiting, I got splashed by a car and had to change my clothes."

"Don't worry about it." She stood up and hugged her sister.

When Akemi proceeded to take a seat, Shiho examined her with a caring look. There she was, sitting with the widest smile on her face looking almost idiotic. Shiho suppressed the urge to tease her about it since that smile won't even wear off. This hasn't been always the case with Akemi but lately, she seems to be happier than ever, and Shiho knew exactly why.

"I want to meet him." The youngest finally declared.

This boyfriend of her sister has been a mystery for three months now. All that Shiho knew about him was that Akemi hit him with her car and they somehow ended up dating, that Akemi was head over heels for him, which she didn't like one bit (She feared her sister trusting the wrong person). But then the third thing she knew about him was that he made Akemi so happy, and that was enough for Shiho to want to meet him.

"That's great!" Akemi grinned. She was thrilled to finally reunite the two people she loved the most together.

Akemi knew Shiho to be an introvert always preferring solitude over people. So when Shiho didn't want to meet Dai at first she respected her choice. But introversion and busyness weren't the only reasons for Shiho to refuse, there was the history of Akemi too. From all the guys that the elder sister had dated, Shiho always had something to complain about; He's stupid, clumsy, weak, effeminate, infirm, loud, shaky, unfashionable... and the list goes on.

Despite the complicated and difficult taste, Akemi was sure Shiho will like Dai for she couldn't help but notice a resemblance in her boyfriend's and her sister's personalities.

"This time, I just know you're going to love him as much as I do." The brunette winked.

Thank you for reading!

Next chapter: Shuichi gets to meet Shiho and Gin, but things don't go the way he wanted.