The voices of the past and the future overlap, trapping her in a never ending hell.

Somebody told her a long time ago that crying was childish.

That very same person defended somebody who committed wrong deeds.

It was somebody important to her, but they didn't think so. She was the only one who saw it that way.

'Then what do you want me to do? Not cry? I am human too, I'm not a robot with no emotions..'

Sumire felt her vision gradually get blurrier and her body weakened. She landed on the ground with a thud.

...

Someone was calling her, calling her name. Who was it? Why did it seem so sad. The brunette hair girl opened her eyes and glanced around her surroundings.

The huge spiral stair case by the brown curtains, lead to downstairs. The floor was wooden wood, but a beautiful shade of gold. A velvet brown sofa with creamy white shaped cushions.

A huge metallic coloured wardrobe with a small mirror attached inside.

Hidden underneath all those boxes were probably there most prized possessions. A massive flat screen tv in the center of the room. A glass table in front of the sofa, creamy colored carpets. The bed she lay in was placed in the corner of the room, by the huge windows. Which was black and had bright brown cushions.

A desk and medium-sized bookshelf beside the bed. Beside the bed a small bedside table with a lamp.

Huh? A person's room, still though it's pretty huge for a just your average person.. Or rather she glanced down at her clothes and sighs a breath of relief, at least nothing happened. At least she thinks so, she is in a stranger's house, in his bed of all places.

The brunette placed her hand on her head, she still feels sick. What happened? But more importantly, she should leave before the person returns.

'They didn't do anything to me yet. Who knows what could happen?' Yet...she didn't feel well. Her body still felt weak ....even right this second as she stood up she felt as though she would fall any second. The brunette leaned on the dresser for support, why did she stand up again? The door she had just been standing before opened in minutes.

"Woah what are you doing getting up?"

He instantly rushed over and left the tray by a counter in the door to assist her.

"Thank you very much ...but I have to get back.... Besides normal civilians shouldn't…"

"Take a look at who I am Ibuki Sumire."

Despite her destorted vision she could make out the guy quite clearly. "Hino?"

"Correct."

A deep sigh escaped her lips. "This is unsightly."

Hino laughed. "Well, it's not like your drunk or something." He picked her up.

This action startled her. "Hold on what are you---?"

"Relax, I won't do anything to you. You need to rest after all."

That's true, with the way she feels now. She probably won't be able to move for a while. The brunette reluctantly agreed and relaxed in his arms as he brought her to his bed.

"You know, I thought I should call Yuhi. But you probably don't want to see him when you're wounded."

Sumire quickly realized that she no longer wore her blood-stained clothes. She shot Hino a glare and yet the man shrugged.

"I have servants Sumire."

He said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Besides, you're underage." Hino picked up a bottle of alcohol from the bedside table. "I don't touch girls who are underage. I'm not Sano."

Sumire flinched when she heard those words. A deep sigh crossed her lips. "I thought you were his loyal friend. But here you are badmouthing him."

Hino laughed. "Well, I've known him for a long time."

"Did you know about me?"

"Yeah I mentioned it before, he spoke about you."

He spoke about her huh?

"But that's not what you want to ask right?"

"I have something to ask of you. Regarding Yuhi's ex girlfriend. Is she dating Shadow's center?"

Hino blinks. "Out of all the questions you clearly have to ask... Well no matter what, they did after that time. However, it only lasted three months."

Eh? Such a short amount of time.

"Of course it would, after all, Torii's dream is to become an artist. It was clearly obvious that she wouldn't stay with us long. She left without saying a word to Moris. Later on, we found out she enrolled in Iro Road high school, coincidentally enough that's where Yuhi was. Although it appeared as though they didn't meet each other for a while and when they did Yuhi had a new girlfriend already."

A new girlfriend.. If she considers the time length these events happened then, " Miyazawa...Makino.." she murmurs.

"Yeah, I heard he started dating the chick he met at the bar and coincidentally enough they went to the same high school. Torii clearly didn't like the girl at all but I think along the way she accepted the relationship. But those two broke up after one year, even though they were getting along really well with each other. Because Yuhi for a short while went somewhere and when he returned he told Makino that they had to break up.

When I asked Torii the details it seemed like the only information she knew was ' He went to see his first love, my guess is he fell in love with her all over again.' Well Morris was clearly furious with these turn of events and started calling him all sorts of names. I suppose it's natural to be frustrated, he couldn't get a girl after Torii and even after Torii, Yuhi managed to score someone who cared about him a lot only to break up with her after a year for somebody else."

First year of high school, near Christmas...

First love? Ah---! Her eyes widened when she realized something. 'This is about her isn't it?' It seems like she has underestimated Yuhi-san's feelings for her.

Hino brushed his fingers across her forehead. "You're feverish. But, do you want some alcohol?"

Sumire rolled her eyes. "It seems like Sano was the one who asked you to investigate me."

"Well, believe me, I didn't want to investigate you that way. Sure I didn't have a favorable impression of you at the start. But once I learned your name, I realized it would be best to stay away. However, Sano wouldn't let you go." Hino opened up the bottle and poured it down a new cup.

He extended it towards her and she accepts it. She didn't drink it immediately and let her fever subside.