Staying Alone

Chapter 12: Searching for Truths

"Max, I don't want anything to happen to her; she is more precious to me than anything else in the world."

Max could hear the whispered echo in the soft, cool breeze. He knew that comforting voice all to well; it was no other than Viggo Sakeyo, his very dear friend. As Max peered through the opening between the wide bedroom doors, he watched the petite form of young Sara, sleeping peacefully in her bed. Raven black contrasted with her pale skin as it fanned out, draping itself over her small form, breathing lightly, her chest rising up and down.

In that moment, Max did not see the warm, caring young girl, who was slowly melting the young Viktor's ice heart.

"Miss. Tanya, you have always protected the ones you love, even at the risk of your own life. Please, be there for Sara; guide her through this journey she travels. Don't let your own son be lost in the darkness of his own heart."

"Max, is that you?"

A soft, silken voice broke through the man's silent thoughts. Max looked up, with surprise in his eyes, to find the door in front of him swung wide open, with Sara standing inside the entrance of the room.

"Miss Sara, I'm sorry I disturbed you, I was under the impression you were sleeping."

At the surprised tone in his words, green eyes quickly widened, as the girl quickly bowed her head respectfully, "No, forgive me, I should have told you. I am a light sleeper; for some reason I can't sleep for more than a few hours at a time."

Max had to smile at that looking deep into emerald eyes, "You truly are amazing; you get hardly any sleep, and whenever I see you, you always are so full of life." Then he saw it, getting a twinkle in his own gray gaze. He was searching for something and he knew she held answers.

"Miss. Sara, I hope you won't find me too bold, but would you mind telling me about yourself, I mean you have been living here for near four months, and neither I nor Viktor know much about you except that you're Japanese."

Sara choked for a minute on her breath stared at her feet for a moment to gather her thoughts, but as she looked back up, she found she was being rude.

"Would you like to come inside?"

That also brought Max out of his silent musings, realizing he was standing stationary in the middle of an empty hallway. He looked back at Sara whom had step away from the door allowing him a passage to enter.

"First off, why don't you tell me about your family?" Max soothed as he placed his warm, gentle hand around the girl's petite, pale, white sweater covered shoulders. His grip became increasingly tighter as he caught sight of crystalline tears watering in her normally bright emerald eyes.

Sara took a deep breath and began. "You already know I am Japanese. I came to America when I was fifteen years old. I was told to find a place to stay and wait until my mother finally came to meet me." Sara paused for a moment at the silence that fell on the room. She looked up and flushed a little when she saw the shock that filled the normal calm gray eyes. "You have been living alone for 3 years!"

Sara was a little taken aback by this, "And what's wrong with that? Besides, I have done quite well. I have found places to stay, and I have worked hard to earn my keep wherever I was. I never asked for anything, but people always insisted on giving me something in return, so I have been saving the money I receive so to speed along my mother's arrival."

Sara stopped again, this time at the sound of a chuckle. She looked over once more to see Max's eyes shut and a hand over his mouth. Emerald eyes filled with worry, and Sara blurted out her concern.

"Max, daijobu? (Max, are you okay?)

Max soon composed himself and looked at the young girl through a joyful gaze. "Don't worry, Miss Sara. I merely found it funny. All the time since you arrived here, you had wanted to help me with all the chores. I was beginning think you wanted to replace me."

Sara gasped silently, wanting to correct him quickly. "Goman nasai!" (I'm sorry)

"I didn't mean anything by that; I only wanted to thank you, in return for letting me stay here. I really didn't mean to impose on any thing."

Max just smiled, reaching over to stroke Sara's raven black hair, "You're a sweet young lady, it's no wonder Viktor is so kind to you."

Sara's gaze then turned to a glare as she scoffed turning away from Max, her voice hardening to ice. "What do mean 'kind'? I don't think there is a single kind bone in that boy's body."

Kind gray eyes widened as the elder man turned to face the young woman, grabbing her shoulders, and looked directly into her eyes. "Please, Sara, do not wish anything ill of Viktor. I know you would never want to hurt him, nor would he want anything to happen to you. He has already suffered too much to have you turn away from him now; both him and his family."

Sara's eyes widened in shock, Viktor's family's has suffered. I didn't know. It's no wonder he is so withdrawn from everyone. What have I done! He'll never forgive me now; I pushed him away! I want to do something to help, but what? What do I know about Viktor or his family?

"Sara, are you alright?" Max asked uneasily as he noticed the dark blank stare deep within the girl's normally bright eyes.

...but I want to know about him. I want to be near Viktor. What should I do?

Sara awoke from her wonderings and saw the worried look in Max's gaze, and stared back with confidence filling her own. "Max, I want to know about Viktor, please, tell me everything you can."

Max gaze softened as he smiled at the girl's determination, "I will tell you his past, but I think you should seek the rest from Viktor's own words." And Max breathed in, looking out briefly towards the dresser across the room. Among its other knick knacks and dolls, was a picture of a smiling young woman, with long silken black hair framing her dazzling sapphire blue eyes, was wrapped in the arms from behind by a tall young man, pale blonde hair that fell around his content light blue gaze. Behind the happy couple, small crystals fell around them in the back ground surrounding them in a wonderland of the snows of winter.

Max smiled as he began the tale of the past.

TBC>>>.>>

Alright, I am very sorry this up so late, but I have been so busy and this was only time I could find to type and update.

I will tell you the next chapter will be a little long, because Max will be telling of Viktor's parents' past. This idea has been floating in my head for a while and I just decided to add it in.

Hopefully I will update sooner!

Whispirah