The Beach**

"Problem's Sakura." Kaisu told Cross, lowering his voice so that Hinaki wouldn't overhear. He cast a meaningful glance to Nakida and she shot back another before steering Hinaki away.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait ... wait," Cross said "Are you saying that she likes him?"

Kaisu turned his head to look at him strangely.

"Well... Sakura kitchens Ren." He said cryptically.

(I have never heard that before, and I honestly don't know what to think of it. Can't wait to find out in the upcoming posts, no doubt. I have an idea, but doubtful what it actually means.)

[I actually got it from Cross. Yeah, unoriginal, but... It makes sense.]

"Dai..." He repeated, stopped and pointed at Nakida. "-domo."

(Not to me)

Cross looked dumbfounded.
"Dai do ko ro ... Ki chi n?" He wondered allowed "... eh?"

Kaisu facepalmed before pulling out his keys. He held up the pair of dice on it before holding up a key.

"Dice ... key" He paused, wracked in thought "Oh! Daisuki! You think that Sakura fancies Ren!"
"I don't!" She protested

"Wonderful," Kenji sighed walking up to them "I leave you alone for twelve minutes and you manage to get yourselves into a cosy little domestic,"

Ren came with Kenji, holding onto the file of Marcel Labat.

Cross cocked his head.
"What's in the folder?" He asked.

"Information on a Marcel Labat; the man who will be temporarily replacing me after we deal with Neo Terror." Ren said, not caring anymore to keep that a secret.

Cross stared at him.
"You're quitting!?" He shouted "Is Yuki making you do this? Because that's domestic abuse, if she's forcing you into something you don't want to do then she can't make you,"

"After we defeat Neo Terror...Yuki and I want to travel a bit...see England. We never did have a proper honeymoon or anything. And the European branch needs some training, so I'm going. It's my decision; don't start with me about blaming Yuki for anything." Ren said, getting defensive. He didn't want the same argument he had already had with Sakura.

Unfortunately he was going to get it.
"And this is the first we hear about it!?" Cross shouted.

"I just got approval from the Supreme Commander for the transfer, so yeah." Ren said.

"Y-you didn't even think about telling us you were thinking about it!?" Cross shouted.

"I felt it was better if I didn't." Ren said, "I wanted the focus to be on the mission, not this."

"That's bullshit!" Sakura shouted "You just can't wait to get away from us!"

"You're my team! My comrades! And most importantly, you're all my friends. You're wrong, Sakura." Ren hissed.

"You didn't tell us anything!" She shouted, starting to tear up "Look at you! All prim and proper, how can you be friends with people whose whole pasts are just black spots!"

"Y-you have everything! You ha-have a family and- and- your okay and all we," She sniffled and looked down "- a-all we have is you,"

"So...that's how all of you see me." Ren said, shaking his head, "All of you...you may have "black spots" as pasts, but...all of you share that. I can't share that with you. You can all grow together, even with me gone. And when I come back, your dynamic, and ours, will only be stronger after your times together.

"I may have a family now. I may have more to my life now...but I'm still the same person to all of you. I still want to be that same person, even if I'm going to leave for some time. Get past your needs for me, and move on with each other. Please."

"I don't want to ..." Sakura said "I don't want ... I don't want you to ..." She paused.

"This was the first group I- I ever joined, the first time I ever poured my heart out was to you! The first time I ever went through an adventure was with you four by my side and without you here it just ... it just won't be the same," Sakura said biting her lip.

Ren put his hand on her shoulder, "I will be back. Soon. You all can wait for me to return."