Huh? How come? Yuhi looked puzzled, and the brunette beside him sighed.

"This is why I worry for you, Yuhi-san. How come you didn't realize?"

How was he supposed to know? He never looked at that woman properly; he only used her as a substitute. No, she wasn't even that much. If it weren't for Hino's request and the agency's sake, he would not bother. Now that he no longer needed her, Yuhi almost forgot about the woman.

Shin nodded. "I wondered when he would realize."

Even Shin noticed? But now that he thought it through, Shin showed a vague interest whenever that woman was involved. Yuhi, however, never thought much of it until now.

So the reason why she insisted remaining a couple with him was because of this? It seems like she was no simple person, but Yuhi understood that she was still nothing.

"Leave this to me. Shin, take care of Sumire today."

...............

The place he chose to meet her was the location of one of the many places the paparazzi photographed them. Yuhi wanted to create the illusion that he was thinking of the past. Sure enough, he spotted her all dressed up through the double doors. Yuhi pretends to look down all melancholy.

Sure enough, the moment she arrived, she wrapped her arms around him.

Sara brushed her lips against his neck. "Yuhi, did you miss me?"

"Mm."

"I thought you would, that little girl isn't good enough for you."

"Well, she is younger." His replies were rather vague, but Sara did not question him even once. She even went along with everything he said. It felt like it was far too good to be true. No matter what, he said she seemed to have a comforting reply for everything. It seemed very strange to him.

Sara kissed his neck and ran her hands through his chest. "You can ask me anything."

"Black Alice?"

At that comment, the woman froze, but she quickly regained her composure. "Sleep with me. I will tell you everything."

Yuhi nodded. "Alright."

After a few drinks, it did not take long before the woman passed out. He scooped her up and quickly carried her through the backstairs of the hotel lobby. He glanced over at the staff member who nodded at him, and he silently walked through the halls.

It did not take long before he arrived in the room. Yuhi quickly entered and placed the annoying woman onto the bed.

Sleep with her? As if. Yuhi extended his thumb out, and a dark light surrounded his fingertips. Initially, Hino suggested asking somebody else to do it with her. But his consciousness would not allow him to do that. That would be the same as asking somebody to **** her.

So he came up with this method instead. He could apply some pressure using his ability that would lead to dark marks. All he had to do was place his finger above the area he wanted.

A deep sigh crossed his lips after the first few successful ones. He was worried about Sumire and SF. If they didn't allow him inside, would it not be the same for her?

Sumire is, without a doubt, an ability user. But her ability is most likely something regarded as unacceptable. However, she has another life force in her body right now. That should be enough to let her inside. Should he have told Shin that Sumire is pregnant? It isn't confirmed, but she showed more than enough signs.

After a few minutes, Yuhi finished the marking process. He quickly removed his shirt and deliberately tore it, alongside the woman's clothes. He kept the blanket around her, though, so he could not see her bare skin.

It feels like Sumire will kill him, regardless. She wasn't kidding about carrying those knives around. Information, information - getting direct source from a member is better than nothing.

Sara stirred awake, and Yuhi quickly turned his attention back to her. For a moment she looked around, she saw him and then glanced at her body for confirmation.

Her eyes brightened, and lips curved to a devilish smile. "I knew you couldn't resist me."

"Mm."

"Alright, let me tell you what you want to know." She wrapped her arms around him. "This isn't free, though."

"Give me a break. Even I get tired."

Sara laughed. "Right, you do. So Black Alice? It is exactly like what your thinking. It is a global underground organization. They deal with people with supernatural abilities and use them to commit heinous crimes."

"What is with the name?"

"The name? Well--"

___

Sumire and Shin, who were on their way to the SF headquarters, were also having a similar discussion.

Sumire still found it hard to believe that Shin rode a motorbike. But, her gaze fell on the man who was parking the bike. 'It seems like he is a bit different than before.' She wondered what it was. The demeanour around him seems to have changed. He is no longer naive and seems to be more serious.

The SF headquarters is in a place like this? The entire area had barren lands. No signs of any buildings or wildlife, it looked like they were in a desert.

"By the way, you said something earlier about the name of the organization?"

"Mmm." Sumire nodded. "You don't find the name weird?"

"I never gave it much thought before. I mean organizations like this don't give much thought with names. Some try to make it sound threatening.."

"With that logic, don't you think the name Black Alice is strange?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"When you think Alice what's the first thing that comes to mind?"

"There is a book about it right?"

"Mmm." Sumire trailed off. "Yes. A book from 1895, by Lewis Carroll. It's a story about a young girl named Alice who falls into a rabbit hole and ends up in a fantasy like world. A world filled with strange creatures. People described that book as a mere fantasy since it plays with the idea of logic. Even if a young seven year old girl fell down a hole, there is no mysterious world at the bottom. In the bottom of those holes is a dark and grim place. So the story is ironic. Alice is a young and innocent seven year old. However, in recent years people have played with the idea of a grown up Alice in the mysterious place called wonderland. What if she turned into the Queen? What if she ended up like the Queen who caused problems for her?"

A strong gust of wind seemed to blow then. "What if she ended up as a black Queen?"