You've found hope, you've found faith,
Found how fast she could take it away.
Found true love, lost your heart.
Now you don't know who you are.
She made it easy, made it free,
Made you hurt till you couldn't see.
Sometimes it stops, sometimes it flows,
But baby that is how love goes.

You will fly and you will crawl;
God knows even angels fall.
No such thing as you lost it all.
God knows even angels fall.
                        -Jessica Riddle; Even Angels Fall

Tokyo, Japan

“Thank you, Mrs. Takashi, for coming here on such a short notice.” The old chubby teacher said while wiping the algebraic formulas off the chalkboard with a half worn eraser. “I am sorry if this was inconvenient.”

The woman she was talking to held her hand up and spoke very softly and politely. “No, no, no. It’s quite alright. Business was slow down at the café today.” The woman was young, around her thirties. She was pretty, raven hair, hazel-green eyes, slim, and held a motherly smile. “So, I was told that there was a problem with Sakura?”

The teacher placed her fist on her fat hips and sighed. “Yes. I am afraid that your daughter is, well, falling behind. She has turned in less than half her work, she has gotten into fights with the other students; girls and boys; skips class, and pays no attention to the lessons.” The teacher took another deep sigh. She took her spectacles off the end of her nose that was connected to a silver chain around her neck. She took out a handkerchief from her right pocket on her blouse and cleaned her glasses with it. She cleared her throat and spoke very quietly as though passing on a secret. “I believe that you have had this talk with several of Sakura’s other teachers.”

Mrs. Takashi nodded, “Yes, they mentioned everything you did and more some. But, I just can’t get Sakura to do her work when she gets home. She tells me she’s going to do it but then doesn’t. She hasn’t always been like this.” She looked over her shoulder at the young girl sitting at her desk with her gaze fixed on whatever was outside the window.

Sakura Takashi was 16 years old, green eyes, long raven hair and had a black and white school uniform on. She was watching a few of the students that were still hanging around the school throwing autumn leaves at each other playfully. Then they fell onto the ground in childish laughter. She could not help but feel a little envious of them. She always wondered what it would be like to have friends like that, or to have friends period. Someone to hang out with, someone to talk to, or something… But, if the kids at school didn’t want to hang out with her then she had no intention to seek them out. The whole time that she was sitting there she had tried to ignore the conversation between her mother and the teacher. They were talking about all her personal problems as though she wasn’t even in the room. It wasn’t that she tried to be bad or get in trouble. It just seemed to find her somehow or she would be in the wrong place at the wrong time. She didn’t feel like going to school sometimes because it just made her feel bored and depressed. Sakura would usually head down to the arcade or get some hot chicken ramen hoping maybe to find something new or exciting. But, it would just be another ordinary day. Just like the one before and before that and so on. She knew that nothing exciting would happen to turn her entire world around. Or so she thought.  

“Sakura?” her thoughts were interrupted and she turned her head to her concerned mother. “You ready to go?” Sakura nodded without saying anything, grabbed her book bag, and followed her mom out to the baby blue car.

The ride home was silent and awkward. Finally, Mrs. Takashi broke the silence. “Your teacher says that you are not doing your work. I thought you promised me that you would start doing it.”  Sakura just shrugged and averted her gaze out the car window. She went on, “She also said something about fighting. Who was it this time?”

Sakura looked out the window. “Nobody. Just some girls that thought they could boss me around.”

“You aren’t hurt are you?” her mother exclaimed. She put a hand up to her daughter’s forehead. “Do you have a fever.”

“No,” she laughed. Her mother worried so much, she would almost forget to change out of her P.J. s before heading off to work. Sakura knew that she was the one causing her such concern and felt guilty every time she got in trouble. She really did try to be a good student. But, the only way she could avoid getting pulled into other peoples problem was by distancing herself from everyone. But, even that did not keep people from picking fights with her. “Don’t worry, mom. The teachers came and put an end to it before anything could happen.”

“I don’t want you getting into any more fights like that! You understand me?”

She shrugged and turned her attention back out the window “Okay.”

“Okay? OKAY? You say that every time, Sakura! But, not once, not once, have you lived up to your word.” She sounded tired and worn. I’m sorry, Sakura but I have no choice then to take away the laptop until you can act grown-up.”

“What?!” Sakura yelped.

“When you show me that you are responsible enough you can be granted your laptop back. If you want it you have to work for it.”

Sakura gapped at her mother but did not say anything. There was no point, because somehow her mother would always win the argument. So, she just leaned back against her seat and sighed deeply while crossing her arms. At that moment the conversation was over.

---

The next afternoon, Sakura had planned to go to school. But, somehow she ended up sitting on a bench, eating the best ramen in the world. School just kind of slipped her mind. But, it did not matter now. At that time she would be taking a geometry test. Yuck!  She smiled cheerfully as she was about to take another bite of her ramen noodles until she heard the most annoying voice in the world.

“Hi ya’, Sakura-chan!” the voice sounded squeaky and stopped up. Like fingernails scrapping across the black board.

‘Oh god…please don’t let it be him! Please, oh please, don’t let it be…” She turned slowly to see a short boy with light brown hair going in every direction, glasses that were so big it was a wonder how that boy could walk, and a uniform with black pants and a white shirt tucked into them with pencils in the left pocket.

“Yukio…”

“You wouldn’t be skipping again would you?” He eyed her suspiciously and leaned closer. Sakura glared at him and got up to throw her noodles away while finishing the last few bites off.

“So, what if I am skipping? You are too, aren’t you?” She threw her bowl in the trash and dusted her hands off. She pushed her hands into the pockets of her jacket and began to walk in the direction of the arcade.

She heard Yukio chuckle like a goat. “Do not be silly, my little raven princess. I’m only out getting the principal his lunch and to get more office supplies.”

“Brown-noser.” She muttered under her breath. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

He smiled mischievously. “Well, yes, but I’m sure the principal can hold out for a few more minutes. I haven’t seen you for awhile since you never come to school very often…my little raven princess.” Sakura rolled her eyes at his newfound pet name for her.

---
“There she is.” A young man whispered to himself. He was seated at a table in front of the coffee shop across the street. He wore a black biker jacket that was about two sizes too big over a simple white shirt, jeans that were worn and torn at the bottom and at the knees, red and white sneakers with flat soles, black biker gloves, goggles with a few crimson bangs messily hanging down in front, and a black biker helmet sitting on the table top. He was holding miniature binoculars up to his eyes and zooming in on Sakura. “Hmph… She looks like a regular human to me. There seems to be nothing special about her.” He zoomed in closer. “Except that she is prettier than I expected.” He lowered the binoculars and smirked. He had found his girl.

---
They came to the curb and saw that the sign across the street said no crossing with a big red hand. ‘Oh great!’ Sakura started growing anxious as she continued to wait for the light to change. ‘Change… change….’ She growled in her head. Yukio was behind her going on about how wonderful it would be to study alone together sometime. The light had to change sooner or later. Sakura was starting to grow very uneasy and began to pull on a loose string on her book bag and tapping her foot on the sidewalk in aggravation. ‘C’mon…change you stupid piece of sh…’

Ding.

“Thank you!” she then took off before Yukio could stop her.

The boy watching across the street saw it coming right when Yukio did and he stood, knocking over his seat. “Sakura-chan, wait! There’s a …. LOOK OUT!” Yukio screamed out.

SCRRREEEAAACCCHHH...BAM!!!

---

“I’m not getting a pulse.”  The paramedic told the other medic adjacent from him as they hovered over the lifeless girl. The bystanders watched in curiosity, horror, and worriment while not far from the accident the delivery truck driver was explaining his side of the story to the authorities.

“It was an accident! Yes, I was careless not to pay attention to the road. But, she should have been looking both ways before crossing. The girl just bolted right out in front of me!” the driver took off his cap and scratched his head before putting it back on. “Poor kid. She can’t be much older than sixteen.”

Yukio was standing in front of the surrounding crowd with concern and remorse on his face. He would have been by her side but the police were keeping all the onlookers back. ‘Sakura-chan…you can’t die!’ he thought frantically. ‘What about our future together? Our own little house with a white picket fence, a dog and a cat, maybe a bird, and the little ones?’

“Come on. Let’s load her onto the truck and get her to the hospital as soon as possible and contact her family.” The paramedics were about to lift her up onto the stretcher but someone called out above the crowd.

“Wait right there!” The crowd, policemen, and the paramedics all turned to the where the voice was coming from. It was the young man at the coffee shop. He made his way to where Sakura was without any lip from the police. Everyone was so taken by this mysterious boy and were all curious as to what he planned to do. He stood by her feet and looked her over.

“Umm…er…who are you?” One the medics asked.

“Don’t worry. I’m a doctor. This girl is in critical condition.” He stated.

“Uh…yeah. She just got slammed by a truck. That is why we got to get her to the hospital and…”

“No!” he said firmly as he pointed his finger at the man. “She could be suffering from internal bleeding or injury. Moving her would just increase the fatality of the situation.”

The medics looked stupefied. “You don’t expect us to do surgery on her out here do ya’?”

“Feh, of course not.” He got down on both knees and leaned over her. “I used to practice medicine down in the rainforests of Brazil. Learned everything I know from the Watulchakawazii tribe’s medicine man, Tuki-Tuki. I learned a very special technique of reviving somebody.”

Yukio was growing a little wary of this stranger. His eyes bulged out when he saw him lean in even closer to Sakura’s pale face. Now they were only inches apart. He finally pulled away from her and that’s when Yukio discovered he was holding his breath the whole time. He let it out in a relieved sigh. The boy lifted up and pulled off his goggles revealing the rest of his face. His hair was a little messy and a few more bangs had fallen around his face and his eyes were chocolate brown ovals.

The medic scratched his head quizzically. “What do you plan to do?”

Yukio tensed up again when he saw the biker lean back down to his previous position. Only this time he was even closer. He was staring down at her with a serious and thoughtful look.

“How are you going to bring her back?” the other medic asked.

“The only way a man can bring back a woman.” With that, he dove his head down and his lips quickly connected with hers. This made poor Yukio almost faint but instead he just stood there, speechless. The whole crowd was gaping at the scene. After about half a minute, Sakura;s chest rose and fell heavily and began to squirm and the boy removed his lips. The crowd clapped but still looked pretty surprised. “See? I told you. I’m a professional. Actually, come to think of it, I never used that method before.” He sent the two stunned paramedics a warm smile. “Good thing it worked, huh?”

“What?!” The medic flamed. “You risked this young girl’s life on a chance?!”

“We could have gotten fired!” the other added.

Sakura blinked her eyes open and looked around. Everything was blurry at first but finally her vision focused on her rescuer. She tried to sit up but one of the medics took her shoulders to keep her from moving. “Easy now. You might have something broken.”

But, Sakura could not feel any aching anywhere. She couldn’t feel any pain at all. She had just gotten ran over by a truck and she was feeling better than ever. Wait… that boy… did he…?

“Hey!” her voice was still a little weak and shaky but he heard her.

“Yes?” he asked innocently.

As soon as he spoke, she didn’t know why, but Sakura felt a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. She ignored the medic’s pleas and sat up on her elbows anyway. “Are you the one who revived me?”

“Yes.”

She knitted her eyebrows together but spoke very calmly. “What did you do to me?”

He turned away and walked over to pick up his helmet and goggles. With his back still turned to her he answered, “It’s called the kiss of life.”  

“That’s not what I meant! I mean I can’t…!”  Before she could finish, he was walking over to a black Kawasaki ninja sport bike parked on the side of the street. It was midnight black and appeared to be freshly washed and the hubcaps were polished.

He hopped onto his bike and put his helmet on before he turned back around. “I’ll be seeing you around, Sakura.” He slid his goggles over his eyes and turned and peeled off down the road and around the corner.

‘Did he say my name?’ she asked herself. How could have known her name? She never even met the guy!

She would head home in a few hours but did not really feel like going through the strenuous task of explaining about the accident to her mother. She especially did not feel like talking to her about the mysterious boy who somehow knew her name. And she was wishing that she wouldn’t see him again anytime soon. But, not all wishes can be granted.

---
As soon as Sakura got home around 4:00, the first thing she saw was her mother. Her arms were crossed, lips tight, glaring, and tapping her foot. She pointed out that the school had called and said that she was not there. After giving the teen another grueling lecture about responsibility, which was beginning to sound like a broken record, she put her right to work on cleaning every crease and crevice in her room. Sakura dragged her feet to the steps of the staircase and looked back boldly. But, her proud face was quickly smitten when her mother gave her the infamous Do-It-Or-I’ll-Hang-You-Upside-Down-From-Your-Toes look. So, she rolled her eyes and sulkily made her way up the stairs.

When she got to the top, Sakura looked around cautiously and then slowly made her way for her room. Right when she reached for the knob and slowly began turning it, someone form behind cried out like a banshee. Without turning around she spoke casually, “Hello, Grandpa.” The old man behind her, holding a wooden sword and wearing an old fashioned warrior outfit, came to a halt. She smiled triumphantly at the elder. “You do this everyday, Grandpa. Wouldn’t think you would be pretty easy to predict by now?”

He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Ye…yes. Hello, Sakura.” He quickly changed the subject. “Usually you go to the arcade until 5:00. What are you doing home so early?”

The image of the strange boy flashed through her mind. “Let’s just say a cat crossed my path.” She mumbled the rest. “That and a truck.”

Her grandfather cupped his hand up to his ear. “Eh? What was that, dear?”

She put on her most cheerful smile and waved dismissively. “Forget about it. It’s nothing. I’ve got a lot of work to do now. See ya’ at dinner, Grandpa!” She opened the door and entered her room and gently shut the door behind her, leaving her grandpa in a confused state.

“She seems overly-happy today? Doesn’t she, Sanura?” He asked the white and brown spotted tabby that was rubbing and purring at the old man’s feet.

---
Three Hours Later….

Sakura was in a state of nearly collapsing on the floor after she had finally succeeded in making her room spotless. Well, spotless as spotless could get in a teenage girl’s room. She had changed her attire to make it easier to clean She had all but a few wisps of bangs pulled back by a white scarf and wore a white apron over torn jeans and a quarter sleeved blouse. She glanced around her room and marveled at her work. But, then her gaze fixed on the huge pile of old and useless clothes, shoes, socks, old toys, and boxes that were all taken out of her dresser. ‘Now what?’ she thought. ‘Cleaning this stuff up will take me at least another hour or so.’ She sighed and plopped down onto the freshly vacuumed carpet. Her thoughts were then interrupted by a strange gurgling noise. Sakura realized that it was her stomach that was making the odd noises. She took hold of her growling belly and looked over at her alarm clock, which read 7:15. She had not realized how long she had been cleaning and that it was dinner time. ‘Oh…So, hungry.’ That’s when she caught a whiff of something really good that had drifted from the kitchen to her room. ‘Mmmm. Mom’s yakitori.’

“Sakura!” her mother called from downstairs. “Dinner’s ready! Have you finished cleaning your room?”

Sakura eyed the vexing pile and formed a shrewd grin. She then quickly opened the door to her closet and swung the garments, toys, and boxes in and forced the door closed. “Yes, mom! I’m done cleaning my room!”

Her mother responded. “Okay, come down then before your plate gets cold.”  

The hunger-stricken girl did not need to be told twice. She threw off her apron and scarf and vehemently made her way down stairs. She could smell the tempting food as she rounded the corner for the dining room.

“So, mom,” Sakura chirped happily as she entered the room, “What are we going to….Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!” Her scream echoed throughout the entire house and, not surprisingly, probably all of Japan. There, seated at the head of the table with her mother and grandpa sitting on either side of him, was the boy from the accident. “…I-it’s…the biker.” She stammered.

Her mother quirked an annoyed eyebrow at her daughter. “Sakura Takashi! It’s not polite to scream your lungs out in front of a guest.”

But, Sakura wasn’t paying any attention to her. She was too focused on the boy who was just sitting there dumbly with chopsticks half way raised to his mouth. He then smiled politely and set his chopsticks on the plate in front of him and bowed his head slightly. “Good evening! I see you’re feeling well! Not everyone can get run over by a truck and be able to scream like that.” He said jokingly.

“Wha…what?” she squeaked out.

“Oh, my apologies.” He bowed his head slightly. “My name is Akira.”

Her mother spoke up. “Akira was just telling us about the accident. Why didn’t you tell us? You could have been seriously hurt! None of this would have happened if you had gone to school today!” After pulling her wits back together Sakura opened her mouth to talk but was interrupted by her mother.

“Don’t just stand there girl! Sit down.” He grandfather instructed. Not taking her gaze off of the boy she sat down on the cushion at the opposite end of where he was sitting. Akira seemed to not notice the lethal look she was giving him. Her grandfather gave a thoughtful expression and stroked his pointy beard. “You know, Sakura, Akira has been traveling all over the world for the past few years.” He directed his attention to Akira. “That must have been an exciting experience.”

Akira took a couple of sips of his tea. “It was very exciting. But… after being away from my home in Japan, well, you grow a little homesick.”

“Do you live in or outside of Tokyo?” her mother asked.

He sighed sadly, “Actually, I don’t have a home to go home to. I wanted to travel and my father wanted me to take over his cereal company. When I told him no, he kicked me out. And my mother…well…let’s just say that the last time I saw she was in a white padded room thinking that she was empress of the gingerbread people.” A long awkward silence followed.

“He-he…I can see the relation there.” Sakura snickered.

“Sakura Takashi!” her mother snapped. “I’m so sorry, Akira. A father’s pressure on his son, a mother with a psychological disorder, and nowhere to go.” Suddenly, Sakura saw a look come across her mother’s face that she really didn’t like. “I have an idea! Why don’t you stay with us for awhile?” Sakura fell over backwards and felt like the room was spinning. “Is something the matter, dear?”

She pushed herself up off the floor. “Yes! Actually, there is!” she yelled. “What do you think you’re doing inviting a complete stranger into our home and giving him a place to sleep?!”

“He has nowhere to go and, in case you have already forgotten, he also saved your life! He is staying with us and that is that!”

Akira bowed again. “Mrs. Takashi, thank you for your offer. But, I really don’t want to impose.”

“Don’t be silly! You won’t be imposing. It’s the least we could do after you saving my daughter.”

Sakura stood on her knees and pointed at the crimson haired boy. “Listen to him, mom! He doesn’t want to impose! Let him do what he wants!”

“He’s staying here until things straighten out!” her mother scolded. “It is the polite and right thing to do.”

Akira looked up to the ceiling dreamily. “I have to admit. It would be nice to stay in one bed without moving so much. Alright, Mrs. Takashi, I’ll accept your offer. As long as I get to help out with chores. I don’t want to feel like I’m taking advantage.”

The woman clasped her hand s together. “Perfect! Now, let’s eat!”

Sakura stammered. “Bu…but…mom…”

“I said lets eat!” she growled, which made everyone at the table quiver a bit. Round two; Winner: Mom! It never failed.

‘What is he really doing here?’ Sakura thought. ‘How come he seems so calm, quiet, and polite? I know there is something strange about this guy. But what is it? Back at the accident… I was dead. I don’t know how but I knew I was. Then, I felt something… something odd yet wonderful at the same time.’

Sakura was so deep in the abyss of thought, she couldn’t hear her mother. “Sakura! Earth to Sakura!”  The girl looked away from Akira, but only for a second. “Sakura, I need you to pass the tea please.” She picked up the porcelain teapot and handed it to her mother. But, she soon returned her attention to the young boy across the table, who was still as calm as ever. Yes, there was defiantly something he wanted from her. ‘How did he know where I lived? Why did he chase me down? As soon as we are alone, I’ll ask him my own questions.’

As dinner came to an end, Sakura’s mother started to pick up the dishes. “Mrs. Takashi, I’ll get those for you.” Akira offered.

“No, I can take care of them.” She smiled warmly as she picked up his plate. “You just sit and finish your tea and I’ll tell you where you can stay.” She reached over and jerked the plate out from under the old man’s nose.

“Hey!” he shouted defensively. “I wasn’t done with that!”

“Yes you are. I need your help washing the dishes.” Before he could argue she had gone into the kitchen.

He turned to Akira and whispered. “Get out while you still can.”

“Dad!” she called from the kitchen. He ran into the kitchen as fast as his poor, old, short legs could go.

Sakura and Akira sat there in silence, just staring at each other. It lasted for about a minute or more and she couldn’t take it. Not for another second. She stood up and stomped down to the other end of the table. She got down on her knees and her hands were curled into fists in her lap. He was still looking down at the table and was sipping his tea. Not even caring that she was there, or pretended not to.

“Okay, pal.” She said through gritted teeth. “I have some questions about the accident. But, first answer me this. How did you know where I lived? Why are you here? And why in hell are you being so overly polite?!” She inched closer, hoping that he would give some sign of noticing her. With no luck she yelled, “I felt something strange back at the accident and I think you have something to do with it! You came here for another reason didn’t you?” He glanced at her for a second from the corner of his eye, giving her a knowing look. “Uh-huh! I knew it! You may have my mother and grandfather fooled, but I,” she pushed her thumb against her chest, “I know otherwise! Now, what is it?!”

He turned his head fully towards her with a strange, mischievous look in his eyes. Before she could react, he leaned closer to her and grasped one of her hands, keeping it pinned to the floor. He scooted a little closer, almost completely closing the scant distance between them. A lecherous grin slowly crept onto his face. With their eyes still locked, he pointed towards the table and whispered in a husky voice, “Your hand’s in the tea.” She slowly looked down at her hand and saw it placed in the opened teapot of steaming liquid. She withdrew her hand from the tea with a shrieking scream of realization of the pain. He let her hand go free and watched her flounce about indignantly in pain. Sakura quickly stuck a napkin in a pitcher of water and laid it over her scolding hand. She wiped the tea off and threw the napkin on the table in frustration. When she looked up to tell Akira off, he was gone again.

---
She didn’t go look for Akira. At that moment, all she wanted to do was take a cold shower to cool off. It would not change the fact that this young man was here to stay. But, at least it was a way to relax her tension with him. She took a ten minute shower, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and slipped into her pajamas. They were baggy pink pants with red hearts printed on them and a white spaghetti strap tank top with a big red heart on the front. As Sakura made her way down the hall, she heard someone talking in her room. She could not make out what they were saying until she pressed her ear right up against the other side of the door.

“No, stay there, I can handle this.” The voice was Akira’s. Who was he talking to? Sakura slowly slid open her door and peered into the room and saw him sitting cross-legged in the middle of the floor with his back to her. But, where was the person he was talking to? “Look, this is my assignment and my job to take care of the girl!” There was a long pause after that. “Okay, so letting her get run over by a truck was kind of a step backwards from that. But, she’s okay now.” She stepped the rest of the way into her room and kept her hand on the handle. “I can take care of this on my own. I’ll let you know if I see anything suspicious. Over and out.” He slumped his shoulders forward and sighed. “I’m going to be fired before the week is up.” Sakura then slammed the sliding door shut, making Akira yell in surprise and fall backwards. He looked up at the girl with those big innocent green eyes and smiled timidly, a light blush tinting his cheeks.

She gave him a look of ferocity. “What are you doing in my room?”

He sat up right and rubbed the back of his neck. “Your mother, she said that I could share your room.”

Sakura jutted her chin out and placed her hands on her hips. “Really?” She leaned forward and eyed him suspiciously. “And who suggested that?”

He realized what she meant and he furrowed his eyebrows. “I know what you’re thinking and it wasn’t me. Your grandfather, he said something about getting to know one another better.”

‘Great, now my grandpa wants us to hook up.’ She thought stressfully. Then, she realized something that made her squeak and blush. “Wait! Just… freeze! I only have one bed, and I don’t think we have a sleeping bag.” She looked over at her bed that was really just a mattress on the floor with blue and star blankets and pillows. It was big enough for two people, but sleeping in the same bed with this boy just didn’t sit right with her.

The young man shrugged. “So?”

Sakura’s mouth dropped. “So? SO?! So… it’s kind of awkward to sleep in the same bed with a complete stranger.” She then realized what he was wearing. He had kept on his white shirt but only had on black boxers. “And you are wearing boxers!”

“Okay, first of all, it’s no different from me wearing shorts.” He pointed out. “Second we are not complete strangers. There is no need to be hostile, I don’t bite or anything.”

She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “Biting is not what concerns me.”

He sighed and rubbed his fore and ran his hand through his hair. “Look, Sakura, I can understand your uneasiness with the situation. But, we really have no choice.”

“You do! You could sleep on the damn couch in the living room. Explain to me why in the hell you can’t do that?”

Akira’s eyes grew huge and pitiful and his lower lip puckered out. He pulled the blanket off the end of the mattress and pulled it over his head. “I’m afwaid of the dark.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You are afraid of the dark… right. What makes you so ‘afwaid’?”

He pulled the blanket tighter around him and whispered in a raspy, small, and terrified voice. “I see dead people.” Sakura rolled her eyes. “Oh, Sakura! I’m so frightened!” Before she could act, he had sprung forward and was on his knees with his arms wrapped around her waist. “Will you please hold me and make the fear go away?” This was a little too close for comfort. Then, he began nuzzling against her causing her to blush like crazy. “Mmmm….You feel so soft and smell so good.” Okay, that was the last straw! Like a flash, Sakura swatted Akira with the back of her hand and he flew across the room and slammed right onto the wall.

“You hentai…free-loading…BAKA! You…you.” She was beginning to feel fatigued. She yawned and stretched then heard the rustling of sheets and springs. She turned her full attention to the boy who had recovered from the blow. He was now sitting there, leaning back on his elbows, giving her a lascivious wink and a smile that was warm with teasing humor. She gave him a scandalized glare and was about to say something but yawned instead. She was too tired to uselessly argue with him. With a ‘Hmph’ she walked over and slid into bed. Before she laid down she took some of the throw pillows and stuffed them between him and her.

“Uh… What are you doing?” he asked, poking at one of the pillows.

“I’m setting a boundary.” She said while setting and fluffing the last pillow into place. “I’ll stay on this side and you stay on your side. If you cross the line, there will be dire consequences. If you even attempt to, I will personally castrate you! Understand?”

In a defensive instinct, Akira crossed his legs protectively. He put on an uneasy smile. “Transparently, Sakura.”

Sakura, satisfied and with some of her worries put to rest, turned over, laid her head down, pulled the blanket up to her chin and immediately began to drift to sleep.

Akira laid on his back and stared up at the ceiling. Shadows, cast from the trees outside the window, danced across the ceiling. Many thoughts were now buzzing through his mind. How was he going to get this girl to understand the truth? How would he be able to protect this headstrong and stubborn teenager? Was he going to get fired if his comrades told of his carelessness with the truck? Would they tell? Would she really try to castrate him? All of this was keeping him from getting the sleep he so wanted. He glanced over at the girl who seemed to be breathing easily. Evidence of her being asleep. Her booming voice and the indignation on her face popped into his head. What drove her to act the way she did? He shrugged off the thought and turned his head the other way. He looked up and spotted a silver picture frame holding a picture of two figures. He carefully, as to not stir Sakura, reached up and picked up the picture. He held it in the moonlit room and saw that it was a man and a young girl of about twelve who both looked a like in a few ways. Especially in the eyes. They were both smiling, the girl was holding a balloon, and the man had his strong hand placed on her shoulder.

He glanced down at the sleeping girl and gently poked her on the back. She stirred a little but did not wake up. He leaned over the pillow boundary and looked down at her face. He had to admit, she was very pretty. She looked so angelic when she slumbered he couldn’t believe this was the same girl. He tried one more time at poking her and this time she turned her head to the side to face him. “Sakura? Who are these people?” he asked pointing at the photo.

She sat up, supporting her weight on her elbows. She sleepily rubbed her eye, and blinked a bit until her eyes adjusted and looked at the photo in his hand. She tensed a bit and then looked the other way. “It’s no one important.” She rolled over on her side again, pulling the blanket even tighter, “Now go to sleep.”

Akira was not satisfied with this answer. He poked at her shoulder and received a low growl from the girl, but she did not turn around. “Sakura this is you as a child isn’t it? And this man… Is he your father?” There was a long pause but finally Sakura spoke up.

“Shadows from the past.” She whispered, “Nothing more than that. Now, please go to sleep and leave me alone. I have school tomorrow.” Akira opened his mouth to ask where her father was, but thought it over again. It was really not his place to get involved in her life like this. So, he sighed and placed the picture back on the drawers and fell back onto the pillow. After rolling around, a glass of water, and adjusting the pillow about ten times, he finally succumbed to sleep.
***

Alone…that’s how Sakura felt in the dark, silent, cold, damp room. She could not even see anything except utter darkness. Nor could she hear anything besides the uneasy sounds of her own breathing. She wanted to run and find someone, but was afraid of falling or bumping into someone or something. After awhile she began to feel even more cold…and alone. She wanted somebody, anybody, to be by her side. She felt her eyes grow heavy with tears and she had to fight back the urge to scream. Finally, she saw a faint light up ahead that seemed to almost call to her. She hesitantly took a step or two towards the light and then after a moments pause, she began running towards it. When she got close enough she reached out to touch it, but the light grew and then disappeared into thin air. Again, Sakura was all alone in the darkness but this time she heard a small, almost child-like, voice whisper, “It’s all your fault…your fault…” Suddenly, she felt her self plummeting deeper into the abyss of darkness below. She tried to scream but nothing came out. “You are alone. No one can hear you…”

“Sakura…” It was another voice but it sounded familiar. “Sakura…it’s okay. It’s alright, wake-up…”
***

Akira took a soaked rag and twisted it with his hands, squeezing the water onto Sakura’s sweat-covered face. She finally awoke but with a panic stricken expression and a wild look in her eyes. She raised her head up and looked around frantically, “I was…alone. It was dark and this voice…it was my fault!”

Akira placed the rag on her forehead and hushed her. “Sakura, shhh…It was a nightmare. You’re not alone, you’re here.” His words were so soft and reassuring.

When Sakura realized where she was, she sat up all the way, catching the rag in her hands and looked at Akira, “Wha---What happened?”

“I woke up and heard you crying in your sleep and you were sweating…I was…” Worried was the word but he just couldn’t say it. Best not to get in that deep. He shook his head and changed the subject. “Are you alright?” She looked down and found herself nervously fiddling with the rag. She was still a little shook but nodded anyway. She did not know how, but Akira must have sensed her uneasiness.  “You’re a poor liar. What was it about?” Sakura frowned and quirked an eyebrow at him. He put up his hands defensively. “Okay, it’s none of my business.”

Sakura began to feel a sudden burning sensation on her hand, “Ouch. What the…?” She pushed the sheets back and crawled over to switch on her lamp. She examined her hand and she gasped at what she saw. “What is this?” She held her hand up for the young man to see and his eyes widened and his mouth fell open. There, in the palm of her hand was one half of a blue angel wing tattooed into her skin.

“Uhh…Maybe it’s err…puberty?” He shrugged and gave her his worst fake smile. In the next second, his face came into contact with one of the big pillows. He pushed it off and came face to face with the hot-headed teenager whose fists were clenched and eyes were flaming.

“You did this to me! Didn’t you?! Don’t deny it!” She had him trapped. He had no choice. Akira had to tell her exactly why he was there.

“Okay…okay.”  He said calmly, “I’m…I came from a space colony far away and was sent here to watch over you. Those markings are just the beginning of something much bigger.” Sakura just stared at him for the longest time and Akira sat there waiting for her answer. The awkward silence was getting to him and since she was not about to say anything, he continued. “You have a path that you must follow and a destiny that you will learn to understand.”

Sakura finally broke out of her silence. “You…are…insane.” Sakura gathered up her sheets and a pillow and headed towards the door. She called over her shoulder, “If you have anymore freakishly psycho stories to tell me, I’ll be downstairs on the couch. Goodnight.” Before she could reach out and touch the doorknob, Akira jumped in front of her and pressed his back against the door. “Hey, who do you think you are? Move it!”

Akira just stood there without showing any signs of moving. “I can’t. Not until you realize how crucial this is.”

“I’m going downstairs! I am tired of this nonsense!” Akira huffed a bit but gave up and took a few steps out of the way. Sakura looked at him suspiciously. “You’re just going to let me go? Why?”

“You are just going downstairs, right?” she nodded. “Well, then I see no reason to keep you secluded here. As long as you don’t just take-off without telling me.”

Sakura blew a strand of hair out of her face and rolled her eyes. “Oh god, you sound like my mom. Okay, whatever, I will not go anywhere. But, I still don’t believe you.” She tucked her stuff under her arm and walked out of the room.

Akira felt something pawing at his feet. “Huh?” He looked down at the feline that was looking back up at him with curiosity. Akira smiled sleepily and bent down to pick up the cat and held it like you would an infant.  “A cat would have been easier to work with.” He sighed in distress and then shut the door and went to turn in.
***
The burning in her hand had become nothing but a slight sting. The thoughts of how it got there puzzled her. Maybe, Akira’s story was true. What am I thinking? Of course he wasn’t telling the truth! Sakura laughed at herself for even considering that his story was true. There is not even one drop of truth in that guy. Sakura tried to sleep, but the couch was not exactly as comfortable as her bed. But, it was just a little bit too crowded with him up there. So, Sakura decided to do what she usually did in times of frustration or trouble. She went and got a clean plaid school skirt from the dryer and a black hooded sweater with a zipper but kept on her pajama top. When she slipped on her shoes sitting in the entry way and grabbed her book bag, she carefully opened the door and closed it behind her slowly. As soon as she heard it click behind her, she took off as fast as she could for the park.
***
Sanura sat on the window sill pawing at the window nervously. Akira had his arms behind his head peering up at the ceiling in thought until his thoughts were interrupted by meowing. He turned his attention at the fat tabby and immediately began to worry. He got up and joined the cat at the window and saw what she was going on about. There was Sakura, taking off towards the direction of the park. “Dang it!” He hurriedly got dressed and headed outside and hopped onto his motorbike. He revved up the motor and took off like a bat out of hell. Stubborn girl! I made it clear to her not to leave! She even said she wouldn’t and she did!  Akira sped up and sharply turned the corner to the park.
***
Sakura was sitting on a park bench, earphones on, c.d. player in hand, with her other hand in her jacket’s pocket where the pepper spray was, just in case. It was her only escape route to take. To runaway from her problems and not allow the world to bother her. She breathed in the cool night air heavily, leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Suddenly, there was high pitched noise, like a missile, heading her way. Sakura looked up into the night sky and saw something that looked like a giant ball of fire. It was coming right at her and she had no time to run, but just then, Akira sped by on his ninja bike and swept the girl up. The ball slammed into the bench roasting anything within twenty feet of there. Akira screeched his bike to a stop and let the shaken but unharmed Sakura down. He parked his bike and got off and walked up to the girl who was gapping at the crater made by the fire ball. He placed his hands on her shoulders and spoke with a firm tone. “Sakura! I thought I told you…”  

“Can you yell at me after we destroy that thing?!” She pointed up into the sky at a flying metal object coming closer and closer. As it landed, dust, dirt, and  debris flew around the park. Akira and Sakura covered their heads until the cloud of dust dispersed. When they peered up they found themselves looking up at a type of mechanical monster. Sakura’s eyes bugged out. She had only seen things like that in anime and mangas like Gundam Wing. “Wha…What is that thing?!” She looked over at the boy, expecting him to be just as freaked out as she was.

Instead, he was just standing there, un-phased by the giant robot before them. He looked like he was in such deep thought he probably could not be reached. “A mechanica.” Akira pointed out. “Sakura?” He said, still looking forward . “I need you to listen to me, okay? Go find shelter behind something.” The girl was going to retaliate, but Akira looked fully at her with a serious expression. “Please, Sakura.”

She realized that this was no time to be stubborn. So, with a little reluctance, she took off for the bushes and crouched down behind them. But, only to where she could still see what was going on. Akira was still looking at her with his subtle look when he nodded in approval and turned his attention back to the mechanica. He then held his hand up to the night sky and it began to illuminate a blue glow. Then, many designs and symbols surrounded his body and his normal clothes were being replaced with a different attire. When the strange pictures and symbols disappeared, Sakura nearly fell over from what she saw. Akira was now wearing a black shirt with the sleeves cut off, gray pants with the bottom part tucked down into a pair of black boots with straps buckled around them. He also had on black leather gloves that were similar to his biker gloves, two belts hanging loosely around his waist, and a strap around his shoulder that had a sheath containing a sword. He reached behind his head and withdrew his sword and got into a fighting stance. Then, with that mysterious look on his face he nodded his head for the mechanica to attack. The robot held out its arm and made a whirling noise before it transformed into a cannon.

“What’s going on? What does that thing want?” She gasped, “Wait a second! Everything that Akira had talked about, was he telling the truth after all?” The firing of the robot’s mechanical arm shook her from her thought. The arm was smoking but the fire ball was being blocked by Akira’s sword. He swung his sword with a great force, throwing the ball of fire back at the mechanica, knocking it backwards quite a ways. Akira stood up straight again and planted his sword in the ground. “That was…amazing!” Sakura exclaimed to herself. “This guy is no ordinary human!”

The mechanica twitched a few times before picking itself off the ground. “Wow…A tenacious one aren’t you?” Akira smirked. “I will remedy that.” The robot transformed its other arm into an even larger cannon. Akira smiled nervously. “Eh…he-he…I should really start thinking before I speak.” The cannon began to charge and then shot out a red beam that was too big and too fast to dodge or block. It knocked Akira back into tree, tearing it up from its roots.

Sakura covered her mouth to keep herself from screaming.  “Oh, my god, he’s…dead!” she panicked mentally. Then, the mechanical monster moved its head around, scanning the area. It picked up Sakura’s body heat on its radar and aimed its cannon straight at her. “Eep!” She nearly tripped trying to get up and out of there when the robot fired, blowing the bushes clear of the now smoking ground. She ran as fast as she could through the park. She didn’t have any idea what she was doing or where she was going. Out of nowhere, the mechanica landed on the ground in front of her blocking her path of escape. She fell to her knees and looked up at the thing in fear. It began to charge its cannon again and aimed. This…this is it. I’m…going….to die. She thought as she trembled and closed her eyes, awaiting the shot. Suddenly, the mechanica was knocked over by an unknown force. She opened her eyes and saw the robot twitching and sparks flying from its middle. Sakura look over at her savior and it was no other then Akira. “A..Akira? You’re alive?!”

He looked at her quizzically and then smiled his sweet smile. “What do you mean? Of course I’m alive! I’m not one to let some dinkey beam cannon bring me down.” They both heard the mechanica trying to get up and Akira casually moved Sakura safely to the side. He then turned and ran towards the robot, jumped into the air, and raised his sword high shouting, “This battle is over!” He brought his sword down but it looked like it didn’t even damage it. Akira landed in a crouched position a bit of ways in front of the mechanica with his back to it. After a moments pause, the robot sparked and then blew up, reducing into nothing but fire, smoke, and scattered pieces of metal. Akira stood up and moved some bangs out of his face.

He walked up to Sakura, but she took a few steps back. “Wha…What are you?”

He frowned and tilted his head to the side. “I told you that I was not from around here. Look at your hand, Sakura.” She looked down at her hand and just saw the single angel wing. Then, Akira pulled off one of his gloves and held out his hand. “You see? We are both beyond any normal human.” There printed on his right hand was the same single angel wing as on her hand. Only it was facing the other direction.

She looked from her hand to his and then to the smoking mechanical monster and then back to him. “You weren’t lying.”

Akira laughed lightly and took her hand gently. He pressed his palm against hers and suddenly both of their wings phased through each others hands, completing the angel symbol on the back of their hands. “You must realize that this is serious. Now that that angel wing has appeared on your hand, more of these things will come after you. You see, you hold half of the key to the heart of the universe, to the secret of the stars, literally in the palm of your hand. As do I.” He removed his hand from hers and made his way to his bike. His hand was glowing at his side and in a flash he changed back into his normal clothes. Akira reached down and picked up his helmet and held it out to Sakura.

“What is that for?” she asked suspiciously. Akira smiled slyly and nodded his head over at his ninja bike. “Huh?! Are you kidding? You’ll probably kill us!”

He smiled cheerfully. “Not if you wear your helmet.” Sakura just rolled her eyes. “Look, there is no way that I’m going to let a young girl walk home alone. Especially now that the corporation can track you down easier, it would be unwise to be out alone. It’s my job to watch over you whether you like it or not.”

She tilted her head to the side, “Corporation? What corporation?”

Just then, they both heard sirens blaring from approaching fire trucks. “I’ll explain later. Come on, let’s get out of here! They’ll probably think we committed arson or something.” He held the helmet closer to Sakura and she was hesitant. “Sakura, I know that an arrest for arson on your record is the last thing you need. Is it not?” He was right. After all the brawls she had been in, the times she had skipped school, and the failing grades, getting arrested would be her one way ticket to juvie. She sighed in defeat and took the helmet from Akira. He got on his bike and Sakura climbed on after him as she fastened the helmet. As soon as they saw the flashing red lights he started up his bike and yelled over the motor. “Hang on!” She tightened her grip on his shoulders as he took off out of there just when the fire trucks arrived.

To Be Continued…