Xander stretched and his hand landed on something warm. 'Since when is my bed warm?' he thought groggily. Stretching again, he felt a slow, rhythmic rise and fall beneath his palm. 'No. Something is wrong,' he thought, his heart skipping a beat.
As his eyes fluttered open, the sight before him made his stomach churn—Ariana lay beside him, peacefully asleep, and his hand rested on her waist. A sudden rush of confusion and unease gripped him, and reality hit like a punch.
"What the hell?!" he yelled, jolting upright. Ariana stirred, her sleepy eyes blinking at him in surprise. Before she could respond, he pushed her off the bed. "Ariana, what the fuck are you doing here?" he barked, his voice laced with panic and disbelief. She sat up on the floor, staring at him like he'd lost his mind.
"Weren't you the one who held me?" she asked, confusion giving way to indignation. Xander's mind reeled as flashes of the previous night came rushing back—the kiss, the way he had clung to her in his drunken haze.
"What the fuck... I was drunk for God's sake. You shouldn't have stayed... or even let me hold you," he snapped, running a frustrated hand through his disheveled hair.
Ariana's eyes narrowed. 'What the hell is he saying?'
"Well, first of all, I didn't choose to stay with you, you—" she began, but he cut her off before she could finish.
"OUT!" he bellowed. Her chest tightened at the sharpness of his voice. "Xan—"
"I said get out!" he repeated, his voice cracking ever so slightly. Ariana swallowed hard, blinking back the sting of tears as she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
Once she was gone, Xander exhaled a shaky breath he didn't realize he had been holding. His pulse thundered in his ears, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
'Xander, why did you scream at her like that?' an inner voice scolded.
He leaned against the headboard, rubbing his face in frustration. Guilt gnawed at him, and the memory of her hurt expression haunted his thoughts. He had been the one to hold onto her first, yet here he was, pushing her away. Again.
Ariana clenched her fists as she stomped down the hallway, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and sadness. "You'll regret this, Xander Smith," she muttered under her breath, swiping at the lone tear that slipped down her cheek.
Meanwhile, at the Yakima clan's mansion, Sakura towered over the limp figure of Justin Heartfill. "Ahhh, my good friend, are you still with us?" Sakura's voice dripped with mockery and pride as Saiko doused Justin's face with ice-cold water.
Justin gasped, sputtering, his bloodshot eyes flickering open. He winced, his body hanging limply from the chains suspending him.
"Let's cut to the chase, old friend. I have acquired the chip. Now tell me how to open it," Sakura's voice was sharp, his patience wearing thin.
Justin groaned, exhausted, his head lolling forward. "Saiko, keep him company until he's ready to talk." Sakura smirked, stepping back while Saiko's grin widened, eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure.
Sakura strolled back to his office, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag. Pouring himself a glass of whiskey, he downed it in one swift gulp.
"Hello, Father," Yuka's voice interrupted his moment of reprieve.
Sakura turned, his expression unreadable. "What?"
"I want to know about the Chronochip in detail," Yuka stated firmly. Sakura studied him, momentarily surprised by his son's determination.
"Hmm... I see. It's quite a long story," Sakura said, gauging Yuka's unwavering resolve. Flicking his cigarette away, he sighed, refilling his glass before speaking.
"Years ago, the world's biggest satellite system faced imminent collapse. Communications, power grids, everything was on the verge of failure. Governments around the globe scrambled to find a solution, but none could. That's when a man named Genesis, or as you might know him—Justin Blackheart—created the Chronochip."
Yuka listened intently as his father's tone darkened. "The chip had the ability to restore the satellite's core functions, balancing the internet, even the electrical grid."
"That sounds incredible... but what else can it do?" Yuka's brows furrowed with suspicion.
Sakura's lips curled into a sinister grin. "It can also shut down every system permanently. The chip grants absolute control over electronics, making its holder the most powerful being in the modern world."
Yuka's mind raced. "And... Genesis? Is he still alive?"
Sakura smirked, standing. "Follow me."
As they walked down the dim corridors toward the basement, the muffled cries of pain grew louder. The metallic scent of blood filled the air.
In the darkened room, Justin hung from his shackles, his body trembling. Saiko stood to the side, her hands still damp with his blood.
"Sir, young master. Welcome," she greeted smoothly, stepping back.
Sakura knelt before Justin, his eyes cold. "Old friend," he said, his voice dripping with venom. "You've become quite famous, you know. How about we take a little trip down memory lane?"