Second Thoughts (Sequel to To My Dearest)

Tell Her

Then, with that line and note, he shoots out of bed, hurriedly collecting his old clothes from the night before, before dashing into the shower, desperate to get the other woman's scent off him. He was so disgusted, with his choices, the night before, with himself.

He needed to tell her. He needed to tell Sakura. He knew it would hurt her, he knew he would probably break her heart but it was better. Better than having her find out herself, he didn't want to see her tears fall because of his dishonesty. Because of his stupidity.

Quickly changing into his suit, he slicked back his hair like usual, sighing as he opened the door, making sure to page for a maid to clean his room. Sakura had to be home by now.

He poked his head into the lounge kitchen first, expecting her to be there, cooking breakfast for the boys and him like usual. Empty.

"Hey, Sor." Baba's cheerful voice calls to him from behind as a group of footsteps approach, making him turn around. "What are you doing?"

He takes a moment to reply. "...Looking for Sakura. She should've been home 5 hours ago. It's 10:00." he answers, looking around the lounge for any sign of his girlfriend.

"Oh yeah!" Ota cheers, grinning. "She's not home yet? How about we check flight schedules? Maybe it's late?"

"It's fine. I'll just wait longer." Soryu shakes his head, sitting down on the couch to try and calm himself as he looks for answers.

Did she get in an accident? Or is she late? Or is it that she cheated on me, too?

But as he silently thinks about his actions and Sakura, the said girl was already packed and in her jet with Shay, looking out the window with a blank expression. 

"Hey, you want anythin' to drink?" the detective sits beside her friend, gesturing towards the small bar of the jet. Shaking her head, Sakura lowers her head, staring at her hands on her lap. The detective nods and stands, walking over to grab a glass of water.

"Alright, so what's the plan?" She asks, finishing the glass. "We go to Paris, I come back while you meet up with your team. Then what?"

"I've decided I would make another base for the Foxes in Paris. The girls will most likely be the ones taking over the station, I've already talked to the boys. They'll be visiting often." she replies, leaning back onto her chair.

"Ma'am?" Aiko pokes her head out the cabin, "Sam and Ed are ready to go. They just wanted to make sure you're good to go."

Taking a deep breath, she releases a sigh, "Go ahead. We're ready." she replies firmly, making the flight attendant nod and walk to the front to tell the pilots.

They lifted off the ground, higher and higher. And they were gone.

~*****~

"Sakura!" Charlotte, a trusted member of Sakura's team, bows once she spots her boss step out the jet. Two men from her group step forward, grabbing her luggage and such, lugging it to the limo, where the driver waited patiently.

"What's with the sudden move? I thought you were with Soryu at Dubai?" she asks, handing her and Shay a drink of champagne.

"Just some problems. I'd rather not speak of it." Charlotte nods respectfully, drinking her champagne. "We'll be at the HQ within 15 minutes." the driver says with a small smile before rolling up the privacy divider again, hearing Sakura say a 'thanks' before it becomes silent on both sides of the limos.

Within the promised 15 minutes, they arrived at the big mansion settled by the Seine River.  "Here we are. Prepare a room for Shay, she'll be staying over a night and leaving tomorrow. Understood?"

"Yes, Leader." the group of three bow to her before scattering, the two men walking upstairs of the mansion, probably to Sakura's room to place her luggage there. Charlotte left to make some food for the two.

"I'll show you the spare room. Come on." Sakura gestured to the detective who follows with a nod, fixing her black leather jacket. "Anyway, since you liked music, I had them install the speakers in your room. There's also a piano down stairs in the study room and a guitar in your room."

"Seriously?" she grins widely, "Man, thanks. I really appreciate it, but I deserved this anyway, you owe me for saving your ass." she teased, beaming.

"Your welcome," she replies, laughing slightly. "Anyway, I still need to fill a few holes in my plan." Sakura sighs.

"What?" "They'll be suspicious and send a search if I don't return or give an excuse... I can't talk to them right now, either..."

"Ah, don't worry about that," Shay laughs, running a hand through her hair. "I had Mamo cover you. He'll figure it out so don't worry. The Foxes have your back, too." 

"Really? God... Thanks, I owe you big time." "You really don't want to talk to him, do you?" "No... I will, maybe someday but... Just not right now."

~*****~

Back in Dubai... 

"Soryu, calm down... Maybe she had some extra business to attend to, okay?" Baba says, handing the mobster a drink. "The auction will be starting soon, you need to think straight or something might go wrong."

"What's going on?" Eisuke comes strolling up to the two, two girls trailing behind him. It was one blonde and a raven haired girl who looked to be the same age. 

"Whoa, who are these pretty ladies?" Baba winks at the two girls, who give him disinterested looks and return to a quiet conversation of their own.

"Ah, remember Mr. Steffen? I've been trying to acquire a connection to his company. And he said that he might give it thought if I took care of his daughter and niece for the night while he did some business around here. They'll be in the auctions with us." 

"This-" he starts, but the raven haired girl steps up with a small smirk. "Jenna Steffen," she grins. "Pleased to meet you."

"Olivia Kimber, cousin." the blonde beside Jenna smiles, holding out a hand which Soryu and Baba shook. "So I heard that you had connections to the Black Foxes, correct?" she suddenly says, and the bidders' eyes widen.

"Excuse me?" "Don't bother to hide it, I know. I've seen them on missions. They've stolen from my friend's family before."

"I've taken quite the interest in them,"

~*****~

During the IVC and auction, Jenna and Eisuke had become acquainted, becoming closer than when the event started. Olivia, after the Foxes arrived after being invited by the bidders, had disappeared with them, connecting with Kenshi quickly.

Paris had come with the rest of the Foxes' girls and the group, leaving with Baba, leaving Soryu alone. He felt incredibly lonely and as he trudged back to his suite that night, he opened the door, heart sinking as he visualized the events that had happened the night before and the scene left in the morning.

The same feeling of regret and disgust washed over him as he changed into his pajamas, settling into the empty bed. Her side was cold and empty.

As he drifted into a restless sleep, he wondered to himself:

'How am I supposed to tell her...?'