Masako's POV

     It was the day of the mission; well, THEIR mission. I had to stay home and help Boss clean up the CUSTOMERS' mess. The boys were getting ready to leave, and I was mopping the floor like a maniac. I want to go to sleep... I want to watch anime... I want to play video games... I want to read... I want to- Then, Takuto interrupted my thoughts by bump in into me. He flashed me a nasty look.  "Watch it!" he scowled. I glared at him.

     "You're the one who bumped into me!" I hissed back. He rolled his eyes and said, "Whatever." before walking away. Man, that boy really knows how to light a fire to my ass... I put away the mop and dried the clean dishes.

     "Masa-chan!" sang Hiro as I walked out of the kitchen. I gave him the "What the fuck. Don't call me that." look (if that is even a look).

     "Quit calling me that stupid nickname." I replied.

     "Masa-kun!" I slapped my forehead.

     "Don't call me that either!"

     "Masa-sama!"

     "Ugh! Never mind! Go back to Masa!" I walked away from him and leaned against the counter with Boss. Hiro kept giggling with Hyosuke like little girls at a tea party.

     "Geez! What is up with these people?" I mumbled to myself.

     "They're good people.  They're just hard to break through." Boss said smiling as the boys talked and laughed together.

     "I take it as they're nicer on the inside?" I asked. He nodded.

     "I used to babysit them when I was in my early teens. But I didn't know Yuki, Hyosuke, Taiga, or Tatsuro." I see... They're all like a family. ....I kind of envy that. I looked up at Boss.

     "You guys... have a nice relationship."

     "Yeah." he said. "I never got the chance to have kids or brothers of my own, so it's a nice feeling to have them by my side." His eyes looked kind of sad. Did he never marry? Or did something happen to his spouse? And he's an only child... I probably shouldn't touch that subject around him.

     They all gathered around a table and discussed a few things.  Of course, I stood back and watched.  "Ready?" asked Riki.  They nodded and followed him outside.  Hiro glanced at me, winked and smiled, and saluted me with two fingers before walking out to the black van.  I looked out the window and watched them leave to their destination until they were out of sight. I have mixed feelings about that ginger... I shook my head and sat down on a chair.

     "Hey, Boss?" I asked. He looked down at me.

     "Yes, Masako?"

     "How did Hiro end up the way he is?"

     "....." He paused for a while. Oh shit. Shouldn't have asked. Just as I was about to say sorry, he replied much to my surprise. "When Hiro was in elementary school, his parents divorced. They always fought and often... took it out on Hiro and his twin sister Seiko."

     "...That's horrible." I mumbled.

     "Yeah. But he always kept a smile on his smile whenever he played with he others. He was so demanding and laughed all the time. It was hard to tell that he was suffering from pain on the inside." Boss paused. "...Then I went to Hiro's house to babysit him and his sister. Kenshi and Takuto and Riki were out somewhere doing something that day. I was playing with Seiko, and then... Hiro's parents were fighting."

     "My parents used to fight frequently." I said.

     "No. They were hitting each other. Hiro ran over to make them stop before I could grab him. And then his father hit him right in the temple." WHAT?! What BULLSHIT! "The worst part is, they kept fighting even after he was knocked out onto the ground. I had to drive him to the hospital in my own car. Hiro knew at that moment that trying to get his parents back together was almost impossible and just pretended to be happy go lucky further on."

     "...What is wrong with people these days?" I clenched my fists and thought of the scene.

     "Ah, yes. Eventually, pretending to be happy sunk into Hiro, and he began forcing it to the point to where he became carefree." So that's how it happened. He didn't have any control over his feelings... "He still has time to be truly happy again though. I mean, he's still in college and twenty one years old. It's gonna be hard though. Bringing something cute and innocent would just remind him of his past self. It probably make us all uncomfortable."

     "True..."

     "By the way, are you still in college too?" I stiffened up and looked down.

     "I-"

     "Sorry! You don't have to answer. Well not now anyways." I bit my lip and nodded. I glanced at the wall clock and saw that it was eleven at night.

     "I-I'm going to bed now." I said grabbing my jacket and heading towards the stairs.

     "Masako."said Boss.  I turned around and saw his sad brown eyes and smile.

     "Yes?"

     "This stays between us, okay?" I paused and nodded and walked towards my bedroom.

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     Hiro's POV

     Kenshi knocked out all of the guards with Riki. Takuto hacked into the security system, and Hyosuke picked the door to leave us in. "No electric locks? So old-fashioned." said Hyosuke jokingly. We ran in groups of two except for me. I ran towards the paintings room in the attic. Nobody was in there.

     "Riki, no one is here." I spoke into my transceiver.

     "Okay. Check for traps."

     "Got it." I threw three rubber balls into the room, but nothing happened. I took a deep breath and walked towards the back of the room where a wooden chest laid. Blowing off the dust, I coughed and opened it. You wouldn't believe what I saw.

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     Masako's POV

     "Masako." It was my mom. Her wavy, brunette hair reached her waist, and her green eyes shone brightly in the light.

     "What do you want?" I snapped. Her eyes looked sad.

     "I'm sorry. It's important." she said. "Please listen."

     "No. Why should I listen to you?" I glared at her, but deep down, I wants to hug her and ask her how she had been. But the scars she left were far too deep.

     The wind blew more harshly and I grabbed a tree to keep from blowing away. "I must go. May fate be on your side." She disappeared and everything turned white.

     I woke up yelling, "Wait!" I blinked my eyes five times and sighed. Damn it.. Why do I keep having these damn dreams? Then, I heard some people talking downstairs and glanced at my watch. It's two in the morning... Are they back? I pulled on my black jean shorts, put on my black hoodie, and tied up my hair into a ponytail. Time to see what's going on... I clumsily lumbered downstairs and fell on my face on the last step.

     "Huh?!" yelled  in surprise.

     "OW! Damn it... Hey.. *yawn* what's going on?" I asked sleeping. Then, someone's voice made me wide awake. A small, childlike voice.
"Who are you?" I looked up and saw a young girl about nine years old with silver hair in a bun and big, pretty red eyes. Normally, you would be mesmerized by her, but she was CUTE and she looked INNOCENT. I looked at Boss and knew that this would lead to problems.