Chapter Nine

Eyes

~Arashi~

I leaned against the window and stared out. "Heh... he's going to be here soon", I chuckled. My eyes averted to Chihiro who lay on the ground. Her face was calm and serene. Strands of loose hair fell over her face bit by bit.

I had to admit that she was quite attractive in her own way but that didn't mean that I was in love with her. But it would be fun to mess with her as well as Akito. "This is going to be fun".

But the look on Chihiro's face was still bothering and haunting me.

Why is it that the look she had in her eyes bother me?

~Akito~

I felt pain all over me. My body ached with so much pain that it throbbed beyond compare. In the darkness, I could see Ryo in the distance. He just smirked at me and began walking away in the distance. I wanted to catch up with him and pound him but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't catch up.

But just as I almost caught up with him, he disappeared and then Chihiro appeared. She was walking slowly in the distance and didn't seem to notice me. She looked to the side and seemed to notice me because she turned around.

A bright smile appeared on her lips-the smile I always hoped to see again. It was the smile that had cheered me up and helped me get through the hard times.

But then she disappeared as well. Then I woke up from that nightmare. I shot up as soon as my eyes flew open. The nightmare had disappeared but the pain was still here. I was lying on a futon in a large room.

My head throbbed as much as my wound in my stomach. "Ugh..." I twitched in pain.

"Watch it", a voice said sharply beside me. It was Amaya. She looked cold as ever but she watched over me with gentle eyes.

"You'll spread you're wound if you move around too much", she murmured, pressing me back gently. I looked around. "Where is this?"

"My room", Amaya said quietly.

"Really? You're joking right? This is an entertainer's room", I laughed out weakly, my wound stinging at the slightest move.

"Heh... Did you forget I too am also an entertainer?" Amaya laughed softly.

"But why would you be an entertainer even though you're rich?" I asked and then my eyes narrowed. "And besides, why would you laugh at Sayuri for being an entertainer if you are one yourself?"

Amaya laughed again. "You have a lot of questions don't you?"

I didn't answer. My eyes widened when I saw something in my head. It was Chihiro's face. It was all scrunched up like she was in pain. "Help me Akito!"

I quickly pushed myself up but my wound nearly stopped me. I gritted my teeth and ignored the pain.

"What are you doing Akito? Don't be so rash!" Amaya scolded me, trying to push me down again.

"No... I have to save Chihiro", I said through my teeth.

Amaya's hand rested on my chest for a second and then she drew it away.

She stood up. "Why? Why do you care so much about this one human!" She cried out at me angrily.

I said nothing and Amaya said nothing after she said that.

"So... Do you want to know why I became an entertainer and live in this place?" She said, breaking the silence. She stared at me with sad eyes. "Because I wanted you to notice me".

"Huh?"

Amaya sighed. "You'll never understand until I tell you huh?" Amaya's eyes looked so sad. She got up from where she sat. "Never mind", she murmured. I stopped her by grabbing her wrist. "Whoa, back up there", I said. "What do you mean?"

"Heh, it seems like Sayuri has figured it out right after we met", Amaya laughed softly under her breath. "What do you mean?" I repeated again, my tone impatient.

Amaya bended down and touched my face gently. "Though you don't see it, everyone has already realized that I'm in love with you, Akito".

Amaya took a deep breath. "Or should I say Haku?"

My eyes widened, at both Amaya's bold confession and what she had just said. "How did you-"

Amaya laughed, more loudly this time. "You don't actually think that I'm just an ignorant rich girl not even knowing her surroundings do you?"

I didn't answer because she had hit me exactly on the mark.

"And I know that Sayuri is the girl you fell in love with eight years ago", Amaya added in a soft whisper.

My eyes narrowed. "Fell in love with? Are you joking?" I scoffed, hiding my real emotions underneath hard.

Amaya was right about everything; I was in love and I always will be for as long as I live. She was the first one to make me genuinely smile and she helped me remember my true name. But how did I thank her; I threw it away.

"Stop lying", Amaya said to me sadly. "Don't deny it, you're in love with that pathetic human and you know it".

I glared at her. "Get out".

"What?"

"I said GET OUT", I shouted at her in fury, my wounds screaming in protest at the strain.

Amaya looked at me with shocked eyes that brimmed with tears. She got up and scrambled away.

I sighed and lay downer to my pillow. "Phew..." I rested my hand on my forehead. Amaya loves me? Do I love her?

An image of that person flashed in my mind. Her image. I clenched my fists. Where are you Chihiro? Just where are you?

~Chihiro~

Haku? Was that Haku's voice just now? My eyes slowly opened and I found my face pressed to the ground. No... He can't be here. Not in this place. I pushed myself up slowly. I was still in the cage of wind and Arashi was still sitting on the throne staring at me.

"So, you're awake?"

I glared at him. "Let me out now, Arashi", I demanded even though I knew it might not work.

"Why? I'm having fun right now so I can't think of a reason why you aren't", Arashi chuckled in a cold voice.

I tried not flinch at what he had just said. "Just let me out", I repeated through my teeth.

Arashi got up and slowly walked toward me. He waved his hand once in the air and the prison around me disappeared.

He came closer to me and I slowly crawled backwards. "No... Stay away from me", I warned but it was useless. Finally, he grabbed my face. I tried to pull away but he used his other hand to grab my arm. He looked at me with cold eyes. I tried to show no fear even though inside I was frightened of him.

I looked at him strongly and the more I stared at him, the more I wasn't scared of him.

"Don't look at me like that you stupid girl", Arashi snarled in a low voice. His hands moved from my face to my neck.

They clasped around my neck tightly and the air stopped. I gasped but it was no use. I clawed at his grasp. No... Save me Akito. I saw his figure up a head in my mind but slowly, he walked away. No... he won't come will he?

"This is a warning", Arashi hissed in my ear, "Upset me one more time and I won't show any mercy". He let go of me and flung me onto the ground. I coughed and my chest heaved to breath. The aching feeling in my lungs subsided as air flowed through.

Arashi glared at me and then walked away. I lay on the ground breathing loudly. Please save me... Akito!

~Arashi~

The look in Chihiro's mind burned into me. That look... it's just like that one time. A memory flashed through my mind and I stiffened. Just like his eyes, eight years ago.