A/N: Doing a one-shot interlude while I try and come up with a plot for the next chapter of KEIKAKU and figure out my next major skyshipping project.

In the meantime, Kiyuzanova (the talented and lovely author of Quasar) has kindly lent me her versions of older!Yuma and older!Kotori to 'play' around with, so to speak...I've always admired her story and writing skills in Quasar, and so I wanted to mess around with those two on my own terms. This can be viewed as a total stand-alone, if you haven't read Quasar, although I wrote this with chapter 9 in mind.

Again, keep in mind that I'm just borrowing the characters/settings, this has nothing to do with Quasar nor does it have any plot input from the original author nor will it influence the future chapters of Quasar. And be prepared for sex.


He really needed to invest in some damn blinds, or at least some better curtains. Bright sunlight filtered through the cramped attic space, which, along with the incessant sounds of the constant construction going on in Neo Domino, did nothing to ease the pounding reminder of last night's binge-drinking in his head—why had he even agreed to a drink in the first place anyway—or the nausea that was starting to rise in the back of his throat. Groaning slightly, he clawed his way out of the tangles of sheets, hoping to at least make it to the bathroom before—

the sheets wound around them like a prison but he was too lost in their pleasure to even notice, to even care—

Without warning he slumped against her warm body, shock temporarily overtaking his hangover as the memories of last night came back in a rush of blurred feelings and emotions, all running together due to the amount of alcohol that had been involved.

Anger...Lust...Guilt...Passion...

"...Yuma...?" Her voice, thick with sleep, pierced through his brooding and suddenly he realized exactly where they were and how they got there. He didn't dare turn his head nor acknowledge her presence, because he was afraid if he did, he would never have the strength to turn away. Without another word, he stumbled and groped his way towards the bathroom (damn hangover was still affecting his movements) and shut the door, hoping she would get the point.

Kotori blinked a few times, eyes still straining to adjust to the harsh sunlight. A few seconds later she heard the unmistakable sound of him vomiting into the toilet and she sighed, sinking back into the now-crumpled sheets as she attempted to will her own headache to go away. It wasn't working very well though, and she feared that she would have to take her turn at the toilet if she didn't take some medicine soon.

Last night...last night was something she'd never thought would happen, not in a million years. Despite all her social outings with her friends, Kotori had always considered herself to be a relatively light drinker—certainly nothing compared to Akari, who could drink any man under the table and then some. Anything more than two drinks, and she'd have to call a cab home. Forcing herself to ignore the nausea, she sat up and attempted to locate her d-gazer, which was theoretically either in her purse or her pockets. The world spun heavily as soon as her feet touched the cold floor, and she had to hang on to the bedpost before gravity finally seemed to settle. Gingerly, she picked her way through the piles of outer garments and underwear—how did her bra manage to end up on the ceiling lamp—before reaching her purse, which had been carelessly tossed into a corner along with one of her shoes. Unceremoniously she emptied its contents onto the floor, and picked out the device among the scattered offerings of her purse. Squinting to focus her sight on the small font, she clicked through her files until last night's bar tab popped up, the list so long that it took all of five seconds for her to scroll through all the text.

Holy shit. $208.15 for just the two of them? No wonder they were paying for it now; she didn't even want to think about how she was going to explain that charge on her credit card bill to her mother. The thought only made her stomach churn more, and she decided she'd better try and see if this house had any hangover cures before she threw up all over the floor. Shakily, she wove her way back to the bed, pulling one of Yuma's t-shirts over her head and then grabbing a pair of his boxers out his (she assumed) clean laundry pile. There was no doubt in her mind that her own clothes were probably beyond any kind of redemption, and after everything he'd put her through, he could at least stand to lend her some clothes. Still cursing herself, she staggered out the trapdoor, prayer she could make it down the stairs without falling.


"Shit...shit...what the hell was last night all about..." Pushing back his sweaty bangs, Yuma turned on the faucet and splashed the cold water over his face, which helped to wash away the sour taste of bile but not the guilt in his chest. The face that stared back at him in the mirror showed a haggard-looking young man, his crimson eyes bloodshot and lined with dark circles. The nausea had abated slightly after his business with the toilet, but the pounding in his head had only seemed to worsen. Kotori...he hadn't wanted anything to do with her, or anyone else from Heartland, anymore, yet there was no denying the activities that had taken place last night.

"Tell me, Yuma...why are you doing this..." She gasped out as he drove into her at a relentless pace, her nails digging into his back but not quite mauling him yet—

SLAM. A wave of nausea rose up again, but he fought it back down. Don't think about this, Yuma, just stop... Water dripped onto the countertop but he made no move to reach for the towel. And yet when he closed his eyes, his thoughts drifted through the haze of emotions, back to that single moment last night...


He was irritated; that much was certain. Things were already tense enough with Kaito and Ryoga, and all of sudden she came into the picture. Who the hell gave her the right to tell him what he could and couldn't do, anyway? Especially after she left him like that—his blood boiled at the mere memory—and now she claimed she wanted to help? It was all bullshit. Lies.

The thumping bass of a popular song drew his attention. Without realizing it, he had walked right to the entrance of the most popular clubbing spot in downtown Neo Domino, 'Synchro'. Partying wasn't exactly his idea of a good time, but right now, with his emotions running wild and thoughts a jumbled mess, a drink didn't seem like such a bad idea.

– – – – – –

"What, can't I have a drink, or is that a crime too?" He stared at her, ruby-red lips set on the edge of a half-empty glass, an astonishingly low-cut minidress hugging her curves in all the right places, the roundness of her firm breasts pushed up just enough to send a familiar tingle running down his spine. Without even waiting for a reply, she signaled the bartender for a refill, who must've been paying attention for he immediately swapped out her now-empty glass out with a new one.

"And what can I get for you, sir?" Yuma jerked towards the bartender, who apparently assumed that they were here together. Crap. He rarely went out for drinks and even then a place like Synchro was way out of his budget range. What were you supposed to order in a high-end club like this anyway? "I—it's fine, I don't ne—"

"—he'll take a cuba libre. That's all right with you, isn't it, Yuma?" Kotori replied for him, casting a knowing look in his direction. "It's also about the only thing you'll order, if memory serves..." Before he knew what was happening a glass was pressed into his hand, and then the bartender was gone, already serving another patron. "Relax, I'll pick up the tab this time," she said sarcastically, as if reading his mind. Taking a rather heavy sip of her second(?) drink, she patted the empty stool next to her. "Now, are you going to sit or just stand there awkwardly the whole night?"

Reluctantly he eased into the chair, his eyes never leaving hers. He swirled the glass around in his hand, the strong fumes already making him slightly light-headed. Then again, if she was serious about paying the tab... A part of his brain seemed to snap, and he downed half of the rum and coke in one shot, resisting the urge to wince as the alcohol burned the entire way down. It was a good burn, though—something he'd needed, after the shitstorm that happened earlier in the afternoon. Kotori seemed to find his reaction amusing, her light giggle reaching his ears after he quickly emptied the entire glass. "Refill. Same drink." The glass tumbler was instantaneously replaced with a new one, lime wedge and all.

"Careful there, Yuma. You'll get fucked up if you keep downing them like that," she commented casually, as if they were merely talking about the weather next day rather than getting wasted in a bar. He wasn't even sure why he decided to accept her offer in the first place, and now they were sitting in an unsettling silence, downing drinks with abandon.

"Hey, you wanna dance?"

He nearly choked on the liquid. "Wh-what? Dancing?"

She rolled her eyes as she slid off the stool, hanging onto the back of the chair to steady herself. "Well, yeah, what else would you do at a club? Come on, it'll be fun—oh, they're playing my favorite song—come on!" With a surprising amount of strength, she yanked him towards the dance floor, which was already pulsing with other lithe, young bodies, all looking to have a good time. The bass was overwhelming, but by this time the alcohol had left him strangely compliant to her suggestions. They managed to squeeze themselves in a small corner near the speakers, and despite the staggering amount of alcohol in their systems, Kotori was still swaying her body to the beat, looking not at all drunk. Resigning himself to the inevitable, he followed her lead, moving and grinding against her.

"You wanna go somewhere later?"

"What?"

They had to shout at each other, the volume was so loud next to the speakers. She smiled coquettishly, leaning so close that she was practically pressed against him, her softness making her all the more irresistible.

"I said, interested in someplace more private?"

He had no answer for that; whatever logical reasoning he had left was long gone after that last drink, but even so a part of him stopped his voice from responding right away. Kotori waited patiently for his reply, taking the opportunity to wrap her arms around his neck, lips ghosting down the open front of his button-up. He groaned and bucked against her slightly after she unexpectedly ground against his crotch, and from the knowing simper on her face, he knew she could clearly feel his lust. Another writhe of her hips, and abruptly she was pinned with her back to the wall, his hands groping her curves as he struggled to control his instincts.

All around them, the other couples continued to throw themselves into the beat, oblivious to the unresolved sexual tension that was thick in the air around the two. He didn't care anymore at this point; even if he would come to regret it tomorrow, in this one, current moment, there was only one thought in his mind, and that was he wanted her.

He needed her.

"My place or yours?"

She laughed that tinkling laughter again, carefully tracing his lips. "We're staying at the same place, remember?" It took him a moment to process what she had said—those hands of hers were awfully distracting—before he proceeded to shove his way through the crowd, trying not to stumble like a total drunkard. Miraculously, their coats and even their unfinished drinks were just as they left them, although Yuma took the opportunity to finish what was left before leaving. "What, might as well not waste it, right?" He retorted after Kotori gave him an amused glance.

"True, since I am paying the bill. Lead the way then, Mr. Neo Domino resident."


"So...I see you've finally woken up, Miss Mizuki." The proprietor of the place nodded in her direction, a neutral expression on her face. Kotori wasn't sure if this was a good sign or a bad sign, but she was too hungover to care and frankly, Cathy's actions the other day had not endeared the girl to her at all.

"Ugh...good morning, Miss Cathy..." She grabbed a chair and slumped down heavily, massaging her temples.

"Rough night, nya?" A cup of water was placed in front her, along with a small bottle. "By the way, it's past 1 o'clock in the afternoon now," her lips curved upwards in a knowing smirk, and Kotori could practically feel her eyes locking in on the bruises that were now speckled all around her neck and collarbone.

"...Thanks." It was a bit eerie how there just happened to be a bottle of eki-kyabe for her, and vaguely she wondered exactly how much Cathy had deduced about her relationship with Yuma. Ignoring the bitter taste, she drained the bottle, then the cup of water. She hated taking the stuff, but it was pretty quick in clearing up hangovers, particularly the nausea part. She nodded slightly as Cathy refilled the cup with some more water.

"Well, how was it, nya?" The cat-girl licked her lips in a devious manner, which pissed Kotori off. What was this, some sort of supposed 'girl time' gossip session? She barely considered them to be acquaintances, let alone friends, and now she was expected to regale the details in which she and Yuma screwed each other last night?

"...What?" She tried her best to prevent her voice from taking an accusatory tone, but it wasn't very successful. Cathy seemed nonplussed though, and merely shrugged.

"Where were you two last night anyway? I thought you changed your mind and headed back to Heartland, until the two of you barged in around 1am? And besides," she took a sip of her own cup of tea, oblivious to Kotori's livid expression, "you're wearing his clothes."

If her grip had been any stronger, the glass might've cracked in her hand. "...Th-that's...I don't see how any of that is your business. What happened between Yuma and I...it's nothing you need to concern yourself with." Inwardly she fumed—what the hell was her damage? Obviously this girl had some sort of strange attachment to Yuma, although it was clear that the feelings were not reciprocated. Perhaps it was jealousy...but even if it was, she was being oddly indifferent about it, as if she were merely pointing out a fact.

"Yuma is a dear friend of mine, too. I just wanted to make sure he's all right." Those eyes gleamed over the edge of her cup, and for a second Kotori wondered if she was part-cat, or if it was just her hangover playing tricks on her. Although Cathy hadn't said anything, the threat had been clear—hurt him, and you'll have to deal with me.

Well, if that was how she was going to play this...game on, then. "We went clubbing at Synchro—you know, down a couple of drinks, hit the dance floor—then we came back," she replied smoothly and took a drink of water, taking note of the slight change in Cathy's attitude.

"Synchro, eh? I'm surprised he even agreed—Yuma's not the clubbing type, after all. Oh, but I'm sure you already knew that, no?" The gloves were coming off now, and with each passing second the tension was growing heavier.

"It was more of an accident, actually. I was there by myself first, and he just happened to show up."

"And so you both just happened to end up drinking together, and then just happened to end up in the same bed." Her scathing tone was laced with sarcasm, which pleased Kotori to no end.

"Hmm, something like that. It gets a little hazy after the bed part—Yuma does have a tendency to get rather aggressive when he's intoxicated. Oh, but wait, you probably already knew that, huh?" Voice dripping with venom, she couldn't resist giving the bitch a smug smile, especially since she knew for a fact that Yuma would never sleep with her, not in a million years. That's right you skank, no matter how hard you to try to please Yuma, you'll never have him.

To her credit, Cathy remained remarkably composed and lady-like, although it was clear to both of them that she was only acting out of politeness now. "I see. I'll keep that in mind for future reference. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to check on the other tenants for a bit. Feel free to use any of the facilities if you need to...freshen up." With that she left in a whirl, and Kotori heaved a sigh of relief, glad to be rid of the crazy cat-lady for now. Her headache and nausea were much improved now, even though other parts of her were still rather sore. While she had spiced up the wording a bit to grind Cathy's nerves, it was true that Yuma had been rougher than he usually would be last night; she knew, deep down, that he still hadn't forgiven her for that incident. Though, she wouldn't deny that it had made for some incredibly hot sex—fighting him for domination like that, it had turned her on more than she thought. It could've also been due to their incredibly drunken state, since she knew from experience that they both had a tendency to get rather horny after consuming alcohol. Leaning back in the chair, her mind inevitably went back to a few hours before...


The cab driver had given them suspicious glares the entire ride back, although at the very least he refrained from making inappropriate comments about their state. Kotori was amazed that she had yet to feel sick, given that she had consumed more than twice her usual tolerance level. Rather, she was enjoying the floaty feeling, her body getting warm and tingly all over, especially her lower regions... Subconsciously she rubbed her thighs her together, wondering just how much longer it would take to return to that high-rise. If they didn't reach the building soon...for a moment she wondered just how pissed the driver would get if they started making out in the back seat. But no, that wouldn't be a wise idea, not when she didn't know her way around this unfamiliar city.

"All right folks, Beaumont Towers, it'll be $22 even," the driver announced gruffly, glad to be rid of the drunken couple. At least they hadn't vomited all over the floor, although he could tell just by the way their hands had been wandering all over each other that sleep was probably not on their itinerary for the night. Kotori made sure to give him an extra-large tip, feeling slightly bad for making him so uncomfortable, before stumbling with Yuma into the lobby and up the elevators.

– – – – – –

The elevator ride up was spent in a stony silence; physically, she could tell that Yuma was interested in continuing what they started back at the club, but his expression was a different story entirely. Whatever; if this encounter ended in a one-night stand, then so be it. She had long trained herself to hide her truest emotions, her vulnerability.

"...What did you mean, you were trying to 'forget'?"

She was startled out of her own trivial thoughts by his voice. "...Pardon?"

He shifted uneasily, as if debating whether or not he should continue. "Back at the club; you mentioned that forgetting was hard work. What were trying to forget?"

"A lot of things, I guess..."

"Such as...?"

He was baiting her, although she didn't understand why. Was it not obvious enough, given everything that had already happened? Or did he just want to hear it from her own mouth? Regardless, she had not been his friend for more than 15 years without learning his inner workings, never mind that they'd been apart for so long. Feigning ignorance, she simply shrugged, enjoying his increasing ire.

She had not expected him to cross the floor of the elevator in two strides, and suddenly she was pinned by her shoulders, his scowling face inches from hers. "Don't play dumb with me, Kotori, you know exactly what I'm talking about!" A slight shiver of fear went through her as she felt her back press against the wall, but it was quickly replaced with anger of her own.

"I...I don't know what you're talking about," her mouth arranged into a defiant smirk, determined to get a rise out of him.

Surprisingly he backed off, his features arranged into a neutral expression. "...I see. Okay, then I guess you don't care that I've got no plans to return to Heartland, nor do I care about staying in touch with anyone from there," his lips hovered just above her neck, and instinctively her pulse quickened at the sensation.

"N-no..." Oh god, his touch...he was teasing her, torturing her with the just-barely-there kisses, and her hands immediately grabbed the bottom of his shirt. She heard him smirk in her ear, but she refused to give in.

"Really? Even if I told you that maybe this is all just a part of something bigger..." One of his hands was firmly groping her ass, and she couldn't stop the moan that escaped. "Tell me...did you miss me," his tongue traced a slow line down her jawline and she squirmed, "...as much as I missed you?"

"...Ng...n-no..." She was faltering, she knew, but the anger in her refused to dissipate.

"Liar." And then his lips crashed against hers and she pulled him close, their tongues battling for control. He tasted strongly of alcohol, but beneath the layers of spirits and chasers she recognized a familiar flavor, the part that made him uniquely him. She groaned and writhed as he rubbed against her, the heat pooling rapidly in her loins. Not wanting to lose, she pulled at his shirt, tearing through the buttons with a fervent need.

A ding from the elevator brought them back to reality, and they nearly fell through the doors, all coordination gone but by some means, they managed to reached the front door, Kotori panting heavily against his shoulder as Yuma fumbled for the keys, cursing under his breath. Finally, the door swung open and she tripped over the step, dizzy from the alcohol and heat. She reached for the light switch, but he pulled her back and towards the stairs.

"Don't—it'll just make things more complicated."

Despite the darkness, Yuma was able to navigate with amazing accuracy up to the attic, with Kotori wobbling behind. A soon as she shut the trapdoor his hands found her waist, and he wasted no time in pulling the tight black dress off, tearing the flimsy shoulder straps in the process before he proceeded to ravish her, the alcohol-fueled lust driving his actions.


Aside from blinds, another item he really needed to invest in was a laundry hamper. Usually Yuma could keep track of which pile was clean and which needed to be washed, but after staggering through them last night, they were little more than scattered bunches all over the floor. Sighing, he randomly grabbed a blue sleeveless shirt that was hanging off the back of a chair (he was pretty sure it was clean) and his grey sweatpants. As he was about to head down, his foot hit a shiny object, and he stopped after realizing that there were several objects strewn about. Reaching down, he picked them up and put them back into her purse, but not before taking a closer look at a photo that had gotten caught among the make-up and tissues. He barely recognized it—the photo was taken just after their middle school graduation, the two of them surrounded by the rest of their friends, Akari playfully messing his hair just as grandma took the picture... It all seemed like a lifetime ago, a different lifetime.

Just as he was about to slip it back into her bag, something soft and lacy fell onto his face. Sputtering, he grabbed the offending object and held it at arm's length, only to register it was a bra. A lacy, baby blue strapless bra, which could only have belonged to one person. Looking up, he saw the other half of the set dangling precariously from the light above him. How the hell did those end up there...


She had come in a rush, her sweetness gushing over his tongue, the scent and taste making him even harder than he already was. He licked the remaining essence off her thighs, triggering a lust-filled cry from Kotori, who was no doubt still acutely sensitive from her orgasm. But she was still the same, still sweet and slightly sour, a subtle floral-ness.

"You're tasty," he said matter-of-factly, taking in the way she was sprawled over his sheets, hair tangled and a thin sheen of sweat covering her body. She was still struggling to catch her breath, limbs trembling slightly in the aftermath. Leaning down, he captured her mouth in his, shoving his tongue past her lips so she could taste her own juices. She protested weakly, but quickly allowed him access after he stripped off his boxers and sank his tip in very shallowly, just enough to make both of them moan at the contact. Despite her earlier exhaustion he could feel her trying to coax him to enter, but he held firm, even as she vainly tried to impale herself.

"Please, Yuma..." Her voice was breathy, pleading; Yuma refused to give an inch, however.

"No, not yet... You didn't answer my question yet..."

"Wha...question?"

"In the elevator, when I asked you, if you missed me...answer it, Kotori," Her name rolled off his tongue, and he was reminded of what they used to be, how they used to be... "What I said...about missing you...I wasn't lying, you know," he whispered in her ear, voice laced with restraint. He pushed a little deeper into her and instantly she tightened, latching on to the head. A shuddering wave of pleasure flooded his body, and he nearly lost what slight control he had left; still, he'd be damned if he lost to her now.

She arched her back, desperately seeking the friction she wanted. "I...I..." Her voice died as her breath hitched from his subtle motions.

"Just say it, Kotori. Did you miss me? Did you miss my touch, the way I pleasure you, the way I can have you screaming my name in ecstasy as you come?" She was fairly sobbing now, but he willed himself to remain still. "Well, Kotori Mizuki?"

"I...y-yes Yuma, yes—oh gods, I missed you so much...you don't even..." Her eyes opened and stared into his, and for second he lost himself in them, reflecting both their desires back at him.

With those words, he thrust himself in fully, groaning as he buried himself deeply inside her, relishing the tight heat that he had gone so long without. She writhed and clawed his arms, the sensation of being filled so suddenly too much. He probably should have been gentler, given her more time to adjust, but it'd be so long since he felt this pleasure that he couldn't stop the frantic pace that was building. Her hips undulated to meet his thrusts, and in the haze of lust he found her lips, kissing her with a ferocity he hadn't known as she clung to him helplessly, crying out with each thrust.

More...he wanted more, needed more, he wanted to completely own and fuck her senseless, until they were nothing more than a trembling, screaming mess, drowning in their own pleasure. Even as her lithe body was pressed against his, he managed to hook one leg over his shoulder, the change in angles allow him to drive into her more completely. She moaned into his mouth, before parting to catch her breath. He knew he was being rougher than usual—the memory of their parting was forever tainted—but it was so good. His own body was reaching its peak soon, the underlying tension being pulled taut as her walls seemed to suck him in with each push. He gasped out wordlessly when she suddenly ran her tongue down his collarbone, sucking the corner where his pulse hummed. "O-oh, Jesus..." Try as he might, he couldn't stop his voice from wavering slightly, the wave threatening to crash all too soon.

"Tell me, Yuma...why are you doing this..." She gasped out as he drove into her at a relentless pace, her nails digging into his back but not quite mauling him yet, although he was pretty sure wasn't going to mind anytime soon.

"What do you mean..." He couldn't tell what she was referring to—the sex? The lies? Neither of which he had answers for, none that he could tell her, in any case. It was better for her, for all of them, if she never knew the truth.

"All of this," she whispered solemnly, despite the fact that her body was trembling with anticipation.

"...I can't...I don't..." He was losing himself, on the verge of just breaking down and telling her everything, about Kaito, the Numbers, and Astral...but no, he couldn't, not when it would mean the complete and utter destruction of everything he'd worked for and sacrificed to build up. He looked into her eyes pleadingly, praying she would somehow understand without words.

"Then, at least answer me this," she managed to choke out, "am I...am I still important to you?"

How was he supposed to answer something like that? If he said yes, it would just be giving her false hope, but if he said no...it wasn't even a lie he could consider, regardless of all the circumstances. He jerked again and nearly fell into her as she squeezed him, both on the edge of a tremendous orgasm.

He couldn't...yet he had to...

Just when he thought he couldn't hold the silence any longer, Kotori's eyes shot open and her body arched, his name mixed with incoherent cries as she came hard, clutching him tightly. Yuma only managed to clumsily thrust a few more times, before he lost all control and came deeply inside, her name the sole word he managed to utter. Exhausted, he buried himself in her comforting embrace, not wanting to pull out just yet.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered into her hair, not sure if she was even conscious to hear it. To his surprise, she stirred and gently traced lines on his torso, the sheets wound around her frame.

"It's okay...I guessed as much, anyway." Subconsciously he stroked her soft hair, admiring their silky texture. "Everybody has their reasons, even you, Yuma Tsukumo."

He could feel the uneasiness in his stomach welling up again at the mention of his decisions...not exactly the best topic to discuss during a post-coital cuddle. As her hands started straying over his body again, he could feel himself getting hard once more... Before she could say anymore on the subject, he brought her into a heated kiss, much to her surprise. She moaned slightly as his erection brushed her thigh, signaling his intentions.

"A-again?" She blushed and looked shy, and suddenly she seemed just as innocent as she was during their first time together, embarrassed, but pleased. He chuckled lowly into her ear and she gave a squeak as he flipped her over onto her stomach, hands groping her breasts. "Aahnn...Yuma..."

"You really didn't think I'd be satisfied with just one round, did you?" Without warning, he entered her and she shrieked, although the cries dissipated into pleasure-filled moans soon enough.

Even if it was just for one night, he needed to get his fill of her, before he pushed her out forever...


"Oh Yuma, there you are! I was just about to check in on you~" Cathy pranced about in front of his face as soon as he descended the steps, handing him a glass of water and a bottle of eki-kyabe. Kotori was strangely nowhere in sight, despite the fact that she had headed down before him. "You should hurry up and drink it, Yuma, you don't want to feel sick all day, do you?"

He had grown used to Cathy's eccentric ways over the years, but sometimes her behavior still puzzled him to no end. She stared brightly at him, as if determined to make sure he drank the medicine before doing anything else. Well, whatever—he needed it anyway, so down it went.

"By the way, if you're looking for Miss Mizuki, I believe she left already," Cathy replied breezily, much to Yuma's shock. Left? Her? How had she managed to get past him on the stairs—

"How—are you sure?"

The cat girl nodded, pushing her glasses up the bridge of nose. "Sure I'm sure—I was the one who called a cab for her, after all, nya. Though, Yuma dear, if you want my honest opinion, girls like her aren't worth chasing after. In the end, she'll just make you cry." She patted his shoulder sympathetically, before picking up his glass and moving it into the sink.

He stood still for another minute, before turning down the hallway and back up to his room. Cathy meant well, but she didn't understand, not like the way she understood him... As he began returning it to some semblance of order, a trinket fell out of the sheets; picking it up, he realized it was her choker, the one with a heart-shaped pendant that she'd worn since childhood. It'd probably gotten loose during their tussle last night, and she'd must've forgotten about it in her haste to leave. Well, that wasn't his problem; he was simply getting rid of the trash in his room.

"Yuma, lunch is ready, nya~ Better hurry down before it gets cold!"

"I'll be there in a sec!" He bounded down the stairs, but not before sliding his desk shut. His deck scattered a bit at the force, some of the cards sliding over a heart-shaped jewel.

They were, after all, all that he had left.


A/N: Ugh. This one-shot went though a very heavy edit before reaching this stage; originally, I had written a lot of PWP scenes, which I ultimately cut out because my beta pointed out to me that not only was it dragging the story on too long, sometimes, less is more. And I agree. Anyway, credits to Kiyuzanova and her story Quasar for being the inspiration and backdrop for this one-shot—I think this is one of the few situations where I can write Yuma and Kotori as very different than how they are in anime canon, and I'm not sure how successful it was, considering that I'd highly doubt they'd become like this without some sort of major catastrophe (but that's what AU's are for, yeah?)

I'll post the parts I edited out, after I clean them up. Yay for PWP? As always, I'd really appreciate your reviews and thoughts, especially on how successful (or not) I was with their characterization. I'm still striving to write a lemon where they are as in-show canon as possible, so that will be a future project...