Because he would sneeze dammit, and all the ugly bruises on his body would hurt like hell. Subconsciously, he reached out and touched his jaw, running his fingers down his chin. Oh man, how could a girl fight so well? girl fight so well?

"Sendoh-kun!" A perky voice reached his ears and the spiky youth turned around; it was Aida Hikoichi.

Sendoh loathed disappointing the boy for he particularly valued his eagerness and passion for basketball, "How about next Thursday?"

His face lit up. "Deal?"

"It's a deal." Sendoh promised.

"Sakura-san! Behind you!" Sendoh frantically dashed towards her, in hope of doing something, anything!

"Falcon. You didn't disappoint me." Something stirred in the black shadows and some movements could be detected. A tall man's outline could be seen.

"You didn't even have the courtesy to knock?" Dark eyes flashed in anger.

"Get to the point, Wolf." She turned around and faced him.

"Ah, it seems that our assassin has a heart." He mocked.

"You know that I'm without conscience." Fully lashed eyes narrowed with displeasure.

"Don't even think about it." She warned.

"Your predatory sense never fails to amaze me, Falcon." His eyes glinted with baneful amusement. "I'm sure you know VIB was hacked into 2 nights ago, and he is pretty good; thrown me off the track with a couple of false leads. Any idea who he is?"

She stretched and pulled out the swivel chair next to her prior sitting on it. "He has to have access to the resources; might be working for the high officials, but I had run a check on all the possible suspects; none fit the bill," she coldly replied.

"How was it?" A disembodied voice demanded.

"Then get rid of her once we get the stuff." The dry voice commanded.

The reverberation of applause reached her ears.

Loud, high pitched, incessant and annoying; typical of most high school's girls' cheer. Continuing her stride, she hefted her school bag over shoulder, oblivious to the excitement surrounding her. Unexpectedly, she suddenly halted in her pace.

"……Sendoh! Sendoh! Sen……"

It was his fans, his basketball fans who were mostly female. She turned around and glanced. Catching the ball in midair in its rebound, Sendoh dribbled across the court with much fury. Leaping off the floor and towards the backboard, he dunked the ball right into the rim with so much vehemence that the entire structure vibrated. This powerful dunk raised his fans to yet another level of hysterical.

Akira Sendoh: the basketball ace of Ryonan High. This is common knowledge. The other side of him that is not widely known, she mentally reflected, comprises of good, in fact, superb fighting skills. . She was surprised herself that a high school boy was able to receive the blows from her so well. Determined, stubborn and a quick thinker; he managed to decipher her style of attack, something which she had never encountered in her opponents. On a more mundane note, he is popular with both sexes, friendly, outgoing and gentle; especially towards girls. A fleeting, ephemeral sort of a smile passed her face when she recalled how he gave her paramedics care. This explains why he was so liked by the girls.

~ Kanagawa : Venom Night Club , 01:18:18 ~

The music bounced off the walls, the resounding euphony blared into the visitors' ears as the DJ added to this chaotic mix of symphony. Splashing, colorful neon lights rotated about in their orbits, creating a wild kaleidoscopic vivid display.

Beneath, hundreds of moving bodies swayed to the music, creating a huge mass of sinuous flesh; writhing contorted and serpentine. Cigarette smokes and perfumes, both cheap and expensive packed the viscous air.

Sendoh pushed his way around, murmuring words of apology as he made his way towards the wine counter. He was decked out in a fashionable suit and his height made him stood out even more in the crowd. Moreover, his striking good looks had some of the females stared on with appraisal eyes.

It was not his habit to come here; in fact, he hated the crowded atmosphere, especially the pungent air. He had came here for a purpose, and this purpose would bespeak and answer much suspicions and questions he had.

After ordering a drink, he sat down in a corner, his alert blue eyes hunted the vicinity for the tall, slightly hunched frame he was so familiar with; the person he had much respected - Hayama Sensei.

He finally caught sight of him at the lower deck, looking tired and guarded. The chemistry teacher was with a man in strict business suit flanked by two males who looked suspiciously like bodyguards.

They looked as if they were negotiating something, with the unknown man clearly having the upper hand. Finally a bargain was sealed with a leather case exchanged. Then the small company briskly left, leaving the weary man behind.

The brief exchange between them was enough to confirm that the information Sendoh had so painstakingly gathered over the last few nights was correct. With a heavy heart, he was about to leave the counter when he noticed a motionless figure sitting in a darkened corner on his far right.

It was her stillness, the utter quiescent around her that arrested his attention. She donned a simple sleeveless black bodice that clung to the delicate curves of her body and the long slit in her skirt showed a pair of shapely long legs. Her long raven hair was stylishly swept up, revealing a sensuous neck.

Of course, Sendoh was not surprised to see her. In fact, he was half expecting her to show up. Resolved, he decided to confront her, vowing not to let her get away this time. He stood and lingered around before finally following her out of the club.

Once outside, he took in a lung full of fresh air before openly trailing her.

Before long, the girl in front of him halted besides a small alley and he also stopped in his tracks, crossed his arms and waited.

"Why are you following me?"

Sendoh was surprised; an enunciated voice with a touch of melancholy. It was strangely enduring.

"Who are you, really?"

She turned around. Uncannily, large dark eyes met his, mirroring his reflection in those limpid pools. "It was you at the Staff Room, wasn't it?" he accused.

A strange expression crossed her face. Surprise, suspicion, anger, fear? Who knows?

"I don't know what you are talking about." Came her calm, measured reply.

"You damn well do," he persisted, "I saw you saved Sakura-san yesterday." Crystal blue eyes flashed.

"I don't know what you are talking about." She quietly repeated before turning away, her back against him.

Incensed, he called out, "I checked through the files. Hiroko is not your real name; she never exists." Footsteps stopped.

Triumphant, he continued, "Tell me how much you know about……"

The hair on his nape rose when he suddenly saw a tiny, brilliant red dot of light appearing on the back of her head. Without thinking, he lurched forward and threw his body over her, trying to shield her from the attack.

A single, crisp gunshot instantly crackled through the night air half a heartbeat later, denting the concrete floor where she was moment's earlier.

It was a sniper at work.

White-hot pain shot up his right shoulder. It then slowly spread its crippling hold over his right body; damn, he had accidentally dislodged his shoulder when he crashed against the ground. He bit hard as he tried to contain himself from crying out in pain, drawing a streak of blood from his lips.

"Are you alright?" Slim fingers tentatively touched his shoulder.

Sendoh grimaced in response.

She turned around, keenly surveying her surroundings, all her senses honed. Then she immediately hefted him up, his left arm over her shoulders as she supported him.

"Hang on."

~ Kanagawa : Student Hostel, 01:51:59 ~

She didn't know what she was doing.

Why had she tried to save the youth? In doing so, she had risked too much; she risked blowing her cover.

Why? You know why. He saved you.

If what he said was true, he knew too much and that was enough to warrant Death by her own hands. And how did he manage to gain access to her files? Her fabricated identity was designed not to be exposed easily because ultimately, files in VIB had to be accessed…….

Her hands paused in the washing sink. So, he was the one who broke into VIB. Confused, she stared at her hands. Silence him? The long scar on her right palm mocked at her.

~ Flashback : Ryonan High School : Emergency Medical room, ~

Offering his left arm, he smiled, "This will certainly hurt so it is fine with me if you need to squeeze my arm a bit."

~ End of Flashback ~

Squeezing her eyes shut, she plunged her right fist into the lukewarm water.

~ Flashback : Ryonan High School : Emergency Medical room, ~

Still smiling, he went on in a comforting voice, "I will stop if the pain is too unbearable," he promised.

~ End of Flashback ~

*****

~ Kanagawa : Student Hostel, 02:18:02 ~

Sendoh opened his eyes.

He saw that he was lying on an old couch placed against one of the faded walls. Grimly, he struggled into a sitting position painfully and looked around. A small vastly unfurnished room, with only a tiny table in front of him. No television or hi-fi set. Nothing. It sternly looked as if abandoned.

He had lost conscious during the escape and had no idea how he ended up here. However, he did have a vague impression that he was with her.

Then, a small movement to his right made him turn around. The smaller figure was carrying a towel and a basin of water. Silently, she made her way towards him.

"Your shoulder needs to be relocated."

Kneeling in front, she submerged the towel into the warm water. Next, she twisted the wet fabric to remove the excess water.

"Don't move."

The heat from the damp towel warmed his shoulder and he instantly felt better. Soon afterward, he felt her soft hands over his shoulder and arm. Gritting his teeth, he braced himself.

An experienced twist. A severely painful push and it was over. Soon, the throbbing pain was mercifully subsiding.

The girl before him got up, ready to leave.

"Wait!" His left hand shot out, grabbing her arm. "Who wants you dea ……"

Something tepid, sticky and wet stopped him. He realized in alarm that it was blood. "Your arm; it's bleeding!"

"It's nothing." She coldly replied.

"It must be treated!" he insisted. "Where is the First-Aid box?" Then he spotted it just right under the table in front of him. Ignoring her further protests, he forced her to sit down on the sofa. Neglecting his own pain, he awkwardly tried to open the white case with only one hand since his other was still hurting.

Something stirred in the depths of her enigmatic dark eyes. Slender hand reached out and covered over his. Sendoh stopped his fumbling and looked at her.

It was the first time he really saw her face. Soft silvery moonlight tenderly caressed her oval visage, gently highlighting her facial features: red lips, which were not full but somewhat luscious, straight nose and long, sweeping eyebrows that benevolently framed her large but cold eyes. To conclude, she was ravishing in a rather unique way.

"I can take care of myself."

Suddenly, Sendoh felt a mild but pleasant warmth creeping up from the base of his neck up to his face and the tips of his ears; he was blushing. Oh hell, he never flushed, he only made girls go crimson red; not the other way.

"……" Then it occurred to him something, "why didn't you switch on the lights?"

"I'm used to the dark."

"Oh."

Silence.

"What were you doing in school that night?"

"……"

"Why are you being hunted?" he pressed on.

"It is best that you don't interfere in dangerous affairs, Sendoh-kun; it might cost your life."

"I don't care whether is it going to get me killed, dammit! The whole school is in danger; I just couldn't just sit and watch!"

"I can only assure you that it isn't; nor is it going to be in any danger."

"You know something, don't you?" Angry blue eyes glared. "They're going to use it against the school right?"

Dark eyes slightly widened in surprise; she underestimated him. Cautiously she answered, "By telling me all this, do you realize that you're putting your life in my hands, Sendoh-kun?"

"I witnessed you risking your own life to save someone you hardly knew. I don't see why I shouldn't trust you." It seemed that she was startled by his answer.

A few minutes passed. Then she got up and stood beside the window, not wanting to face him. "Again, I can only say that the school is not going to be in any danger. I hope that you'll understand……there are reasons for my safeguard of information.…. "

Sendoh stared at the silent girl. "……I understand. I once said the same thing to a friend…….a very close friend."

"……"

"Your name; I still don't know your real name."

Another wordlessness moment passed.

At last, she replied, " Yuki, just call me Yuki."

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