Heartfelt Serenade. [A. BLACK]

[Mitsuki Park]

It was Mitsuki's third day staying with Andrew, filled with beautiful memories that she would cherish as long as she were alive. They both knew that she would have to leave soon, as all good things come to an end; some sooner than others. There was no official set time and day as to when Mitsuki would leave, nor did she ever plan on a set time, but in the back of her mind she knew that tonight, she would disappear. As heartless as it seemed, she would not be telling Andrew when she would go. She was hoping that he would take a shower, and that she would be able to slip unnoticably. Why? It was quite simple. She did not want to say goodbye to the love of her life. As difficult it is to explain, she felt that goodbye would mean forever, and she was sure that if she were to return to his arms, there should be no goodbyes.

She had managed to get her clothes from her car to change into, not that she complained about walking around in his clothes, but if bad guys were to come crashing into his home? She would not be in appropriate attire. So for that reason alone, she dressed into the security suit which looked very much like a regular hoodie, given to her from Mr. Malice. Her gas mask that came with the security suit was in the passengers seat of her car, which was nestled safely in Andrew's garage. If she wanted to drive out in the open with her car, it would have to be at night. She had bulletproof windows with a 50% tint. Her tires had been changed to something less showy, and her car, gone from blood red to a simple white. Her whole car had been modified from a sweet baby EvolutionX to...some sort of hybrid of an Evo9 and a Honda Accord. Definitely odd, but it blended in well with the other cars out on the road.

Currently: 18:00.

"The face is the mirror of the mind,
and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart."
- St Jerome

...I think we both realize that I have to leave soon.

[Tyr Odinson]

It seemed, after that night, that the days had taken it upon themselves to slip away, to jump and pass and flitter by into nothing as the memories they created slipped away, making it known that there had to be an end. Andrew was no fool- while he enjoyed the time with her, he could feel the tension, building, ever present, a thought passing before both of their eyes constantly. Something was telling him that soon, very soon, she would be gone, dancing away once more to flee from the men who haunted her. He wished he could follow. Wished he could stay with her always and, even if it meant risking his life, live with her, even on the run.

He didn't care. Being with her was ecstasy.

But night was coming on this day, their final hours together. How he knew? It was the same feeling he had every time he killed a man. A thick tension to the air, like a pollutant, tearing through they're happy little fabric like a razor through paper. It always ended that way. He wasn't the most sentimental, at least, not always, and he knew she would wait until he was away from her to run off into the night. He wouldn't try to stop her- it was something she had to do. For herself, and in her mind, for him. He had things to do himself- titles to claim, people to put in line. He was far from those goals, but her appearance had been like a life water to a mental dehydration, food for his starving soul.

Andrew Black was back.

He had checked her car, looking through the engine, the parts, everything. He had adapted it a bit, changed it from the vehicle it was to the vehicle it is. Now, with a supercharger/twin turbo duo, this car would tear rubber, giving it a speed in excess of 190 mph. Her steering, handles, all that? He left that alone, only tweaking it a little so it was prepared should she need to hit those speeds. He wanted her to have a faster car, but he didn't want to change the feel too much, after all, it was still her car. She needed to continue to love it no matter what. He had done this the night before, while she slept...after a session between them...a session of-

He shook his head, clearing it of those memories as he looked to the sun, sighing lightly as it touched the horizon.

"We better head back."

They were at they're spot, one last time, standing on a large outcropping overlooking the country side and the city, the sun setting in front of them. How long they had been there, holding each other, he didn't know, nor did he care. His glasses were over his eyes as he turned, taking her small, soft hand in his as he climbed down, his car directly below them. It was a clear path, no dirt or filth around to cling to they're clothing, making sure she felt nice and pure when she left. He opened the door for her, letting her in first, before he went around to his side and fired it up. He drove home in silence, not truly feeling like anything was needed vocally. He held her hand the entire time, even while he shifted, driving the speed limit the whole way.

He pulled into his driveway, stepping out of the car, his thoughts a little jumbled. He didn't want it to seem like he set this up, he wanted her to feel like she could get away without him knowing. His entire atmosphere, how he looked, spoke, acted- all of it screamed innocence, like he knew nothing of what she planned. Hew would walk into the house, stretching in the doorway for effect. Then, turning to Mitsuki, would take off his glasses casually before finally speaking again.

"I'm gonna go jump in the shower, then we can start a movie or something, if thats alright with you."

He would wink at her before walking toward the stairs, stopping at the bottom. Turning, he would walk back to her and take her into a deep kiss- holding her body to his one last time as he said all her could through it, through his body, his lips, his touch. Then, pulling away just an inch or two, he would look into her eyes, his own saying what his mouth wouldn't.

"I almost forgot to say it, but... I love you."

Goodbye Mitsuki.

Then he would turn back around, giving another little smile before heading to the stairs.

If she ever had a chance to leave...this would be it.

As she would back out, Andrew would be on the top floor, looking out with his arms folded, making sure he couldn't be seen. Reaching up, his hand would find wetness, a silent tear, though he only felt a slight sadness. He steeled himself. He was stronger now, and everyone, everything, would realize it.

Forty-five minutes after her leaving, an alarm would go off in her car, like the beeping of a watch, coming from her glove-box. Inside would indeed be a watch,a gps and a note. Written on it was an address and a gps code number. Below it, written in red:

1327 Adams drive, Lincoln, Nebraska.

GPS #- 804127r48e29

"I had this place built for myself some years ago. Punch in the gps number in your gps to find it. Go there, only if you have dire need. Punch in 48176 on the keypad to the door. This number and building is only usable once, but will protect you. Make sure this is the LAST place you go to before using it, as it will not let you out until it deems you safe. Burn this after memorizing.

Goodbye my love, and be safe.

-Andrew."

[Mitsuki Park]

Something had clogged inside of her chest, making it unbelievably hard to breathe. Her focus and concentration was on her lungs rather than the beautiful scenery in front of her. A chest pain? No. There was no pain, it was just this tight, uncomfortable feeling. Anxiety? Perhaps. Nervousness? Another possibility. Who knew that missing Andrew Black would take this kind of toll on her? Who knew that leaving him behind a second time would be harder than the first? But she just had this feeling that she would be coming back one day, to claim Andrew as hers once more, and to challenge something, or someone. Whoever had that school captain title right now had better be ready, because Mitsuki Park was going to hit the school - hard. She wouldn't be accepting the school captain title, no.

But she would take over the school.

By the time she got back, she would have been graduated already from high school, despite it being only her junior year. Reita would never let her simply get away with skipping her education. Those spare moments that she has? Are spent studying, reading text books, doing worksheets. Homeschooling - and yes, she actually gets grades. AP classes and regular electives, and all the running she does along with the fighting? "Physical Education".

She leaned against him, closing her eyes. Why was it so difficult to breathe?

"We better head back."

Mitsuki silently agreed, allowing him to guide her to his car. Once buckled in, she held onto his hand once more, giving him a light squeeze before turning to look out the side window, watching. Although usually, if Mitsuki were following the speed limit, she feels as if she were going too slow, but as of now, things were going too fast, and she almost told him to slow down if it weren't for her peripheral vision catching hold of his speedometer. Right. Her perfect, perfect vision.

He was so oblivious, but even so - he couldn't have been ignoring all this tension between them. He must have known what was to come, and the mere fact that he didn't fight it made her break. He was going to jump in the shower, but they both probably knew they would never watch that movie. She stared deep into his eyes, a slight smile appearing on her face from his wink.

And he turned to walk away.

"Wait! Andrew-"

But he came back, kissing her deeply. Her breathing, which had come back had startled her, and when he pulled away she took in a deep breath of air.

"I almost forgot to say it, but... I love you."

"I love you too."

And he left. And once he was up the stairs, her figure was like a blur. The time when he was spending on his car was the time Mitsuki wrote him multiple letters in bed. Her writing, ever so neat... You could tell was a bit rushed, but she did not have much time. She wrote exactly six letters and hid them around his house. Whether he found them or not, Mitsuki didn't know, but she hid them, running around his house skillfully. She didn't see him standing there, because she was too concentrated on one thing. The first note would be set on his pillow, which would contain a clue as to where the second note would be, and the third, and so on.

But they would not be easy to find, and not all of them would be placed inside his home.

Then she went into the garage, staring at the beauty of her car and his car next to one another. A sigh escaped her as she made her way in, turned on the engine, and pulled out of his driveway.

The note.

Andrew,

I'm sorry. It would be too hard for me to leave you face to face, and I wanted to leave with the expression of happiness. I don't want my last face in your memory to be filled with negative emotions. This is not a goodbye - I will return - though this is far from a promise. I just want to let you know that I love you, I really do, and should I not return in the months to come, then here is my first message to you.

Move on.

Do you understand me, Andrew Black? My last request is that, should you not receive any kind of word from me, it would be to move on. Even if it hasn't been months, and you find a woman of your taste, then chase after her just as you have done with me. I don't want to deprive you of the many things teens our age go through.

If you love me, you will allow this.

As for my second letter, this is your clue.

Up.

I love you.

Mitsuki Park.

As she pulled out of his driveway and onto the street, there was hesitation in her movements to shift out of reverse. If Andrew was looking, he would not be able to see her through the tinted windows, and Mitsuki would not be searching for him.

This is not goodbye, Mitsuki told herself. She shifted, pressed on the pedal, and sped off into the night.

[Tyr Odinson]

Andrew sighed, flicking on the light to his bedroom as he tore off his tank and tshirt, ready to make good on his words to mitsuki that he planned to take a shower. He didnt want to, since he smelled on her, but he guessed her body could never truly be far from his after what they had seen and done together. His eyes went to his bed, a frown coming to his face as he saw a folded paper on his pillow. Walking over calmly, he opened it and read what it said quickly. It angered him, made him wish she would come back so he could give her a tongue lashing. Telling him to find another woman. Even if he wanted to, he wouldnt. If she would have remembered, he only ever had one girl in his heart- her.

Now she wanted him to forsake his feelings and to simply move on?

Yeah, okay. As if.

He was a little intrigued by the letters, however, and was most interested in hutning them down. It would be done, hopefully within the next few days, before he returned to school. He only realised, just then, how dragged down he felt. Like a weight was added to his shoulders. He pulled hi phone from hi pocket, looking at the little blip on the screen as it moved away from his house. Thats right, Andrew had placed a tracker in Mitsuki's car. Decietful? possibly...but he needed to know she was safe, and the only way he truly knew how was to leave his watch with her. He hoped she would find sentimental value in it and wear it, since it would also monitor her heart rate and tell him how deep in distress she was.

More importantly, it would monitor if she was alive.

He sat on the edge of his bed, feeling depressed as his thoughts began to once again dwell on her... on the nights... their bodies... the passiona nd love... He fell back stretching out his body as he looked up to the cieling, eyes closed, mind in a car as it drove out of his life.

Possibly forever.

[Mitsuki Park]

45 Minute Mark
BeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeep

1327 Adams drive, Lincoln, Nebraska.

GPS #- 804127r48e29

"I had this place built for myself some years ago. Punch in the gps number in your gps to find it. Go there, only if you have dire need. Punch in 48176 on the keypad to the door. This number and building is only usable once, but will protect you. Make sure this is the LAST place you go to before using it, as it will not let you out until it deems you safe. Burn this after memorizing.

Goodbye my love, and be safe.

-Andrew."

She opened up the glove department, thinking that a bomb was ticking and she should chuck it out the window. Stopped at a red light, she pulled out the contents and pressed the side of the watch to stop the beeping, her eyes quickly scanning over the letter. She smiled to herself, pulling off to the side of the road as she quickly punched in the GPS number, before pulling out a lighter and burning the note. The keypad? Easily memorized and tucked away into the back of her mind. As for the watch, she slipped it around her left wrist - though was a bit big - and then placed the GPS back into the glove department. Of course, she had her suspicions about his watch. Why did he give it to her? What importance did this watch have?

She knew he had a tracker on her somewhere, whether it be her car, the watch itself, the GPS...or maybe he placed one in all three. Regardless, she was beginning to wish she left something of hers with his. Her dogtags, maybe. She sighed, a small smile crossing her face as she pulled back onto the road, her heartbeat simply picking up momentarily at the thought of the days spent with Andrew.

...* Days LATER

They had regrouped in Wisconsin, only to find out that Mitsuki had gone terribly ill. She would eat a whole lot, then end up throwing it all up; her body ached, her head was pounding, and she couldn't understand what was going on. They were supposed to already be in Chicago that day, but had to make several stops because of Mitsuki's sudden car sickness and dying hunger. How long has it been since she's last been with Andrew Black? A week and a half? Two weeks, almost?

=Puke=

It was Reita who came up with an assumption.

["...Mitsuki, are you..."]

"Oh.... Oh my--" Mitsuki cut herself off, eyes wide, her hands going straight to her stomach. "No... I.. I can't..."

Her heartbeat must have been off the roof at that moment, as fear had overtaken her. It just wasn't possible. Why in heaven's name would...would....

"If I get injured... If I die, then it's like... It's like...."

Killing two birds with one stone.

["Let's not jump to conclusions. We should take a proper test first."]

Her brother's words were soothing and made her calm down. She nodded her head, taking deep breaths, but she could not find any other explaination for her sudden hunger for food, her pain and the vomit, all at once...

A couple hours later, with the test all done? It had been confirmed.

Andrew Black...
I'm pregnant.


____________________________________________________



Letter Number Two.
Placed on the ceiling of his room.

Andrew,

The notes will progressively get harder to find. This, you should have spotted quickly, but I hope you don't think that the rest will be that easy. There will be places you have to travel - to places where you've probably never been to - and possibly armed. Be careful with where you go. Just know that I would never put you in a situation where you would be cornered.

I don't know what day, exactly, you would be reading this note, but I miss you. Even as I write this...even as you are simply below me in the garage, working on my car (Andrew Black, if I find a tracker on my car, I'll blow it up), I still find myself missing you.

I shouldn't be saying such things if I wanted you to move on though. But who knows what I really want? Maybe I want to lock you up in a box and put you in my pocket.

But that would be too selfish of me.

I love you.

I miss you.

Always,
- Mitsuki Park.

P.S. The clue is... My comfort zone.