I just wanna say...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE 23k READS! ^_^ SERIOUSLY IT MEANS A WHOLE LOT TO ME! The last time I realized this was when the reads were 10k, I swear I was on clouds for hours! Even tho it's cuz of the chapters build up...twenty-three thousand is a lot :D

Thank you!!!

Soryu's PoV

It was 1 a.m. of the day when Mei Ling arrived. It was a surprise to see she's already married and has a daughter now. Since the last time she was here—

I quickly stopped thinking.

Paper work was spread messily in front of me on my desk. Over these years I have worked myself to the way of leader-in-line. Just a few steps more to make it official. I had been gathering money from the auctions, it's a huge profit from that line. Though I need a bit more now that I've spent twenty-five mill on that girl.

Speaking of that girl....

My legs carried me out of my room and in front of her tightly shut door. My hand landed on the handle and turned it slowly.

She was clutching her pillow so hard her nails dug in; her hands were shaking despite their strong grip on the pillow. Her legs completely tangled with the sheets, she almost whimpered.

She's something else.

This girl just suddenly popped into my life just like how Arian did. Does it mean anything?

Sweat beads started forming on her forehead. I took another two steps closer to the bed. Taking up a corner of the tangled sheets, I lightly dabbed her forehead.

Her shoulders relaxed a little, I have a feeling she's gonna wake up, so I left in a hurry.

***

"I wanna tour around here first!" Li Yan cheered the next morning. She was energetic, just like Mei Ling.

"Sure." I didn't try to smile as I stood up.

Arian's PoV[dun dun DUN!]

After Yui disappeared for a week, I decided that I couldn't do much myself, I had to find help. But if I call the police, they'll ask questions... I don't want that. The only possible solution popped into my mind.

I never expected him to agree to this, but Mamoru agreed to help look for Yui. On one condition, was that I had to explain everything to him. So I did. From why I left, to how Yui is related to Soryu.

Now he phones me daily for updates. Still nothing on Yui, he just said yesterday, but he keeps me updated on Soryu. I just heard that Mei Ling was back. The thought of an old friend who played a role in Soryu's and my love story just.... And I heard that she had a daughter. Twelve years old.

I choked back a sob as I tried to wash the dishes.

The vibration in my pocket let me turn off the tap and pick up my phone.

"Hey, kid." I recognize that voice.

"Detective Kishi! Any news?" I ask desperately.

"..." He seems to be hesitating on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Yes... um... I think I've found the girl you've shown me on that picture."

Thank god there weren't any plates in my hands at that moment because I surely would've dropped them crashing onto the ground.

"W-What?! Really?! Where is she?!!"

With hesitation continuously in his voice, he explained the whole situation to me. From when Yui was sold off at the auction, to that she might've found out about Soryu being her dad but is pretty sure that Soryu knows nothing such.

"I'm coming over right now!" I untied my apron and sprinted towards the door.

"Wait—no! You idiot!" His yelling made me came to a halt.

"Why?"

Soryu's PoV

We were hanging around the huge hotel, mainly at the clothing areas. It seems that Li Yan likes shopping.

Yui, on the other hand, seemed bored as hell.

I was accompanying Mei Ling at the dresses section while Yui was with Li Yan at the jeans and T-shirt section.

"How about this?" She held a tomato red frilly dress against herself. I feel that would only look good on a small frame... like chestnut brown hair, big eyes, and—

Wait. I am practically describing Arian.

"It's okay, I think. You'd be better with tighter dresses." I hid my inner thoughts perfectly as I advised. She nodded in agreement as she hang it back on its rack.

I glance around as Mei Ling's trying to pick out another dress, and I see a boy near the window frames of the shop, he's peaking in, obviously. He's wearing a hoodie. 

Then, he slipped out a phone with a spider-shaped phone strap on it, and seems to be taking pictures. My gaze followed his lens. Why is he taking photos of Yui?

"How 'bout this one?" Mei Ling pulled my attention back to her as she held up a tight dark blue skirt meant to be worn on a business meeting.

"That should be good. Try it on." I suggested and she happily skipped to the change rooms.

I looked back up. That boy was gone.

Shoot. I thought. That could've been someone suspicious.

~~

Yui's PoV

After our little 'shopping trip', both of them wanted to laze at the hotel for the rest of the afternoon so I was free to go out for a bit.

As long as I stay away from alleys and secluded places, I'll be fine.

My shift starts today at seven p.m. That's still many hours away.

Also school starts tomorrow. I'll have to mentally prepare myself for homework.

Ahh... nothing to do... well it's time to collect my 'subway money'. Don't do this at home, kids.

With just one ticket, I could go twenty-four stations away and back. This is how it works:

Subways are always busy here.

Found target. A man was sneaking a wallet out of an unaware man's wide pocket. As soon as the thief slips the wallet into his own pocket, which is when he is the most contented, I slip that wallet right out of the thief's pocket. I've trained myself to do this. Not to be a pickpocket. But for this.

I take out two hundred yen [don't worry that's not even two American dollars] yes it's very less and I'm actually taking out money. But I consider that as paying myself for saving the thousands in this man's wallet.

As I went there and back add together forty-eight stations, I count my 'pay'. 1420 yen. [that's not even twelve dollars, like...] When I get lucky, I can meet more pickpockets and get up to two thousand add up, but this is just normal.

I arrive just in time for my job. After changing into the uniform, I started waitressing. Hmm... Hikaru's not here yet. Where's he off to? He's usually here when it's my time to work. Or...he's upstairs in one of the private rooms.

Ew.

"May I take your order?" I clicked the pen and held up the notepad as two male customers waved my way.

"Yes... I'd like... your number, beautiful." I eyed that one. He seems no more than twenty. Probably just two years older than me.

"Sorry, I'm taken. If you don't have any orders—" I tried to turn and leave. The other one caught my wrist.

"Hey, hey, now. Who's your boyfriend? Why not dump him and date me?" he asked with a wink. I admit he is hot, but no, I'm not currently interested in an actual relationship.

"Please let go, or I'm going to have to call the manager." When he refused to, I couldn't actually call the manager, he'd totally be on the customer's side. Damn it, Hikaru's supposed to be my way out of situations like these! That's what the deal was for! Looks like I'm on my own now.

Flipping his arm, I twisted his wrist bone out with ease. He fell off the chair to the direction I was pulling him.

"Ow, ow ow!" I let go as I didn't want any extra attention on myself.

"Self defence... I like that in a girl...." The other one twisted a smile. Hey.... I suddenly recognized him.

Isn't this that Daryl guy? I looked at him. He is. With those unique grey and yellow ring eyes, there's no doubt. I pulled a bored face on him once I found out. He, on the other hand, grinned at me.

"Hey, Yui. Care to bring us two bottles of Inniskillin Icewine?"

That is my job, whether I like it or not, I went to get their drinks.

Where the heck is Hikaru?? He's still not here! I'm not gonna walk to the hotel alone in the dark at midnight! He's not answering calls or texts!

Debating on what I should do, I stood in front of the bar, that's closed, by the way. It's still very dark despite the street lights and constant passing cars. And it feels like it's going to rain....

"Need a ride?" someone called out to me. My gaze dropped onto an unfamiliar beautiful red convertible. Wow, what a show-off.

"Daryl?" I asked in a 'seriously?' voice. I can feel the humidity in the air now. It's definitely raining in a few short minutes.

"Yup." His twisted smile looked kinda hot in the dim light.

This is my only choice... even though I don't trust him at all. The hotel is a few blocks away.

"Hop in." he reached over and opened the passenger seat door for me. As soon as I closed the door, he pressed the sunroof button. And almost just on cue, water drops began falling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yeah...if ur wondering why Daryl's pov isn't here yet...it's part of the plot. It needs to be later than previous routes. Be patient ^_^! Sorry if there are typos I don't have time to re-read it it's eleven pm right now (same as story time setting right now lol)

Thanks for reading! 1677 words

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—Lillie

Edited: June 5, 2016

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