…

Every morning his voice is in her ear leading her to the realm of consciousness.

Somehow, during the night, he had managed to bypass the barrier of pillows and bed sheets between them, and enfolded his limbs around her.

When he whispers sweet nothings in her ear, she wishes she were somewhere else, in someone else's arms. She extracts herself from his hold and avoids his good morning kiss, her excuse: unbearable morning breath.

She is out the door within minutes of waking up, her excuse: catching the morning train. In reality it's so she can leave before he does. She works overtime, her excuse: they need the money to pay rent.

In reality, it's because she wants to get home late- keeping their interaction at minimum. Haru likes things the way they are, he doesn't.

They haven't had a real conversation for almost a year. She wishes she could say she loved the man she was with but it would be a lie.

And, so, when she sees Sawada Tsunayoshi again, surrounded by his entourage of friend, being held at gunpoint, she does not hesitate. She takes the bullet for him, knowing that if he had moved a child of ten would die.

And, as the last of her strength wanes she looks into the eyes of the man she had loved, in that with every breath, all-consuming, way and says the words he needs to hear: "I regret nothing."

…

Her body burned like fire, both hot and cold.

She was bathed in a cold sweat, and beds sheets entangled her limbs. Her heart pounded rapidly against her chest. She had no trouble imagining assassins lurking in all-encompassing the misty obscurity.

She could barely grasp what was going on, one minute she suffocating, fading from existence then she lying of a cushiony bed quivering as if she just had a nightmare.

Just what had just happened?

…

A/N: I hope you guys like this.