•••••Raven's POV•••••

"Why are you silent all of a sudden?" I asked Ethan.

A shocked expression was still plastered on his face and I do not know why he became silent all of a sudden.

I knew I was crying and Ethan knew how much I hate crying. However, I did not have any other choice. I could not hold it back anymore. I became really vulnerable these past few days and I believe, it can never be stopped. It is inevitable.

While I was looking at Ethan, I realized that he was slightly trembling and he was sweating despite the strong AC in the room. I found it odd. Could he be plotting another lie in his mind again?

"Do you know this girl named Hashira?" I asked again. "Just answer me, for crying out loud!"

"Hindi, okay?! So, never mention that name ever again!" I was shocked by how he reacted.

Sure, I understood that he was angry at me for defying his orders, but to react like that because I asked her about this Hashira girl? It was so uncanny, so, I did not waste any more time to ask him.

"Fine, pero bakit ba ganyan ka mag-react, ha?!" I was so infuriated. Galit na galit ako sa kanya.

"It's because you're so thick-headed!"

"Seriously, Ethan?! You are the one to talk. Ikaw nga ang paulit-ulit na nagsisinungaling sa akin, e! You are the one who is thick-headed, not me!" Mas lalo pang tumulo ang luha ko.

My headache was also slowly coming back to me. I was so exhausted of asking him questions without any decent answers─only lies. However, I was so desperate to know the truth.

When I came back to Misawa, I saw nothing, not even our house. I searched all around to find clues that might help but it was wiped clean. I did not find any clues.

"Raven, I lied for the sake of your safety! Kahit sinong nakakatandang kapatid ay gagawa no'n para sa ikabubuti ng nakababata nilang kapatid!" I really hated it every time he raised his voice at me.

He never really do it to me unless he is very angry. He has completely lost his patience and I did not care about it a single bit.

"I am only your sister in the paper! Your parents just adopted me, for fucking sake!"

"Watch your language kapag kinakausap mo ako, Raven! Know your place dahil hindi kita pinalaki ng ganyan!"

"Talagang hindi dahil hindi naman talaga ikaw ang nagpalaki sa akin to begin with, kundi ako lang mismo!" I stopped to catch my breath. For me, it was really pointless arguing with Ethan. He would always insist that he is right even though he is not every time he gets mad. It is very irksome. "You were not always around when I was alone when our parents died. I may not look like it but I needed you, Ethan! I needed you more than anyone else that time!"

Napayuko ako nang mas lalo pang bumilis ang pagpatak ng mga luha ko. It became arduous to stop them. My tears did not listen to me anymore. It was as if they had self-control.

"I know you were very hurt because aside from being Mom and Dad's biological son, you shouldered all the gigantic obstacles and responsibilities right after they died." I tried to calm myself. To be honest, uttering words between my cries was rough. But I chose to neglect it. "That is why I tried to understand you spending almost all of your time dealing with the company. But frankly? I really wished for you to truly understand me also, because I may not know much about treasuring people, but at least, I had you."

"R-Raven..." I slightly raised my head to look at Ethan. He never looked at me in the eye. I think I hurt him, too.

"I know you are genuinely worried about me pero intindihin mo naman sana ang nararamdaman ko, Ethan. You always keep on protecting me, but you never consider my feelings. Not even once." I frowned. "You have no idea what I have been through, so you do not have the right to lecture me about your responsibilities as a brother!"

"Believe me, Raven, I know. All these years, even during that time when I was away from you, ikaw palagi ang iniisip ko." He was about to get closer to me but I glared at him, so he stopped.

"Do not come near me," I said. "and spare me the bullshit coming from your mouth."

"Raven, naman, e. 'Yan kasi ang problema sa'yo. You want me to consider your feelings pero ayaw mo naman makinig sa mga sinasabi ko sa'yo."

I got even more mad at him. He started turning around the tables again, making me feel like I am always on the wrong side. He was so complicated and such a pain in the neck.

"How can I actually believe you when I know that you keep on lying to me?" I gritted my teeth. "Kapal ng mukha mong e-pinpoint sa akin na ito ang problema ko without even dealing with your own crap first!"

"Bloody hell, Raven! You're so impractical! Ang hirap maging kapatid mo!"

Just that, napahinto ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Kaagad na nag-sink in sa utak ko ang sinabi niya at mas lalo pa talagang uminit ang ulo ko.

"Then, don't! Stop acting so fatherly and being a reasonable elder brother!" I felt how my eyes changed its colors. "Now that I know how you truly feel, thank you for being honest with me even just for once and for making me fit to be tied."

"R-Raven, hindi k—"

"Sta 'zitto." Shut up. "There are already so many assholes in the world. Just get lost."

Humiga na ako sa kama at nagtago sa ilalim ng blanket. As childish as it may sound, I just wanted to cry under it. It makes me comfortable all the time.

"If that's what you wish." I felt his presence slowly leaving my side. "However, Raven, as you know, the doctor said that your dizziness was because of the sudden weather change. Unfortunately, I don't really think that's the case."

I slightly peeked just to see if he was about to go outside. However, he was just standing by the door, hand on the doorknob. He was keeping his head down.

"Someone was behind it," he whispered. But I could hear it clearly. "and I will do everything in my power just to make that person pay."

Ngayon na nasa hospital ako kasama si Ethan, as much as I hated throwing a question at him, pero wala na akong ibang choice. Ethan was the only lead I have got.

I was reluctant to ask him. But then again, I had no other choice. He was about to go out when I stopped him.

"Wait." I took a deep breath to lower down my anger, at least. "Who are my biological parents, Ethan?"

I expected no decent answer from him. I already prepared myself for another bluff from him. Besides, I could also blame myself. I came here in Japan without any accurate leads. I was just being illogical. I was not thinking very carefully.

"I don't really much know about them but," he paused. "all I know is they were both kind and powerful who deserved to live."

It was not the answer that I was looking for, but it was not also the answer that I was expecting from him. For me, it was half-decent.

Ethan threw me a glance one last time and at that moment, I knew how hurt he really was.

"You're precious to me, Raven. Always," He opened the door but before he completely left the room, he whispered one last thing. "and I'm sorry."

-----

I arrived at the place in Misawa where we once lived without any problems. The air in the place was still fresh as how I left it. I loved it in here. I did not want to leave this place. It was a better place for me to live in and enjoy my life.

"Raven-san, koko wa anata ga naritai bashodesu ka?"

I diverted my attention to the Japanese driver that also worked for Ethan. I hired him and he was not a problem to me anymore since I already paid him two-hundred thousand pesos just to keep his mouth shut.

"Do you speak English?"

He walked towards me.

"Yes, Madam," he said.

"Then use that language. I do not really speak Japanese," I said. He started to annoy me, actually. Other side of me rued for hiring him as my driver. "What exactly are you doing?"

I raised a brow at him when he started roaming his eyes to scan the area. He was very irksome and other side of me really wanted to get rid of him.

"Scanning the area, Madam, for something out of the or—"

"Am I a joke to you?" I rolled my eyes at him. "I am not an idiot, you fool. Get back to the car or else I will get my money back."

"Y-Yes, Madam! I-I'm very sorry!" He hurriedly went back inside the car.

I just shook my head in disbelief. I really hate people who keeps on butting on other people's businesses. Such a troublesome attitude.

Nagsimula na akong maglakad-lakad around the area, hoping to see something that might help me. Unfortunately, wala. Malinis pa sa bahay namin sa Philippines ang area. It was like no house was ever built in the place. Napakalinis lang talaga.

I walked a little further until I saw a river stream up ahead. Lumapit pa ako doon at pinagmasdan ang napakalinis at napaka-blue na tubig. It was very refreshing to look at.

"As expected from Japan," I whispered as I savoured the air that was making my hair dance.

I crouched down by the river stream and extended my hand to touch the water. It was so cold and it quenched my thirst just by looking at it.

"Weird," I said. "I never noticed this river stream when I was a kid."

Naramdaman ko na may paparating kaya dali-dali akong tumayo at napatingin sa may gilid ko.

"Konnichiwa, nanishiteruno?" A man came out from the bushes. He was carrying a backpack on his back, paint palette, canvas, and an easel. So, I was assuming he was a painter. "Maketa?"

I could not help not to roll my eyes. Naintindihan ko naman na magsasalita talaga sila ng Japanese because this is Japan. But, hell! The language is hard and I do not even know how to speak it.

"Ah! Gommen-ne, you're a foreigner. How rude of me." So, he can speak English. He walked towards me and that was how I realized that he was taller than me. He also smiled and that smile made me recognized how charming he was. "What are you doing by this river stream, Miss? Are you lost?"

"No, I am not. I was just awed by the beauty of this river stream," I said.

I should not be talking to strangers, but he was not giving off any dark aura. I did not let my guard down, still, he seemed to be a good person for me.

Confident rin naman ako na walang ibang nakakakilala sa akin dito na kapatid ng isang napakamayamang negosyante dahil hindi naman ako pinakilala ni Ethan to the public.

"I see," he said.

He distanced himself probably eight steps away from the river stream before starting to set up his things.

"You should get in here since the sun will reach there soon enough." He slightly raised his voice because he was kind of away from me already.

He was right. Unti-unti ko nang nararamdaman ang init sa balat ko kaya sinunod ko ang sinabi niya at lumapit sa kanya. Mainit ang panahon pero malamig ang hangin.

The man was just right under a very big, tall tree. It was such a good spot to paint.

"Are you going to paint that river stream?" I asked.

"Yeah, my mother loves the river streams here in Japan," he said while he was busy setting up. "I'm Maiko, by the way. I'm a Filipino. What's your name?"

Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot sa tanong niya. Not because I was surpised that he was a Filipino, but because I was reluctant whether or not I tell him my real name. I knew he was not giving off any hint of dark aura. However, I should not keep my guard down.

Inobserbahan ko ulit siya na nag-se-set up pa rin ng mga gamit niya.

Should I tell him or not?

"I understand if you won't tell me your name." He threw me a quick glance and smiled before continuing to set up his things. "We barely know each other, so I get it."

"I'm a Filipino, also," I bit my lower lip. I was having doubts saying my name to him. "and... just call me whatever name you prefer. I just hate my name."

Of course, that was a lie. I do not hate my name at all. I just did not want to tell him my name. I was just being cautious.

"Wow, I can barely even tell that you're a Filipino because of the way you look and speak." You are the one to talk, Stranger. "As for your name, are you sure?"

He stopped to look at me. I just nodded to him. A sweet smile plastered on his face as I did that.

"I'll call you Kira, then. How's that sound?"

"Not bad." I shrugged. "Why that?"

"It was..." His voice was low. However, since the place was so serene, his voice was still loud for me. "my cousin's name."

"Was?" He nodded.

"She died when she was very young." He sighed. At that moment, I could describe him as a forlorn figure in front of an empty canvas. "I only saw her on the day she died."

"I guess, people do leave others with immense heartbreak."

"Absolutely." He burst into laughter and hearing that was such a good music in the ears. "Anyway, enough about that. What are you doing in here, Kira? I'm assuming you're not just here for the river stream."

"Oh, not exactly. I was just passing by." To be frank, weird pa rin sa akin pakinggan kapag tinawag na niya akong Kira. I have a name but I chose to hide it from him.

"I see." He let out a tiny can of paint from his backpack. Then, he resumed to setting up his things again.

Since I noticed that I will not be much of a help to him, I decided to lie again, even though lying was really against my will.

"I need to go. I still have some things to attend to," I said.

The smell of the paint reached my nose and I did not know if it was just me, or the paint smelled so uncanny. It was making me feel dizzy, so I shook my head. Luckily, nawala naman.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Maybe because I am not used to the weather change," I said. That was what I actually thought. "I am going now."

"Sure, stay safe." He waved his hand. "Nice meeting you, Kira."

"Likewise." I slightly bowed as a sign of respect. People usually do that in here. "Oh, and, Maiko? Show your painting to me when we see each other again, okay?"

I was never really a fond of painting since Ethan only loves abstracts. However, there is nothing wrong in looking at other paintings for once in a while.

"Sure!" He smiled. He looked very happy, though.

Tumalikod na ako sa kanya at umalis na. I did not throw him one last glance because I started feeling dizzy again. Nang makarating na ako sa sasakyan, pumasok na ako kaagad.

"Where to, Madam?" Mas lalo pang umikot ang paningin ko.

I did not know what was the reason for it, though, I suspected that it was because of the weather change. Siguro hindi kaya ng healing abilities ko ang mga weather changes symptoms. But... is that really possible?

"Madam, are you okay?"

"I-I am... Just take me to the Shuichin Hospital. I j-just need to check on things," I told him.

"Copy!" He nodded and started hitting the road.

Umikot na talaga ang paningin ko at nahihirapan na akong mag-focus sa dinadaanan namin. Sweat started to seep at the side of my face as I tried to calm myself.

"Ma'am Raven." I slowly opened my eyes when I heard someone else's voice.

I had a dream again. A long one. It was all about what happened at Misawa earlier with Maiko. It was more of a flashback than a dream to me, though.

"What do you want?" I asked the nurse.

"It looks like you just missed a video call from someone, Ma'am," She handed over the phone to me kaya tinanggap ko iyon. "Sir Ethan kept your phone. But he ordered me to return it to you since he thought it was from a friend."

I turned my phone on and I was surprised to see more than thirty missed video calls from Maura and Blade.

I glared at the nurse when she was still standing beside me.

"What are you standing there for? Get out." She flinched and hurriedly left the room without saying anything.

Sa dami ng chats na natanggap ko, I figured out that it would be wise to just read the one that was sent recently. Dahil sa binasa ko, biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

Raven, we've a problem. Hades' missing.