Yumi Azusa paced herself when she strode down the halls of Franken Stein's home.

But she found herself walking a bit faster, more quicker strides.

Shinigami-sama's warnings repeating in her quick mind And each time she heard Shinigami-sama's words, she felt a stab.

Yumi could not believe that Stein was losing his mind at a random pattern. And she didn't want to.

Yumi had reached Stein's lab, now. And almost too soon her doubts were answered.

Just behind the gray colored door was the sound of Stein's voice. He was having a one-sided conversation...with himself.

Yumi clamped her eyes shut and counted slowly to ten. A habit she'd gotten use to during those long, chilling nights alone when her mom worked night shifts at the cafe. She opened her eyes now, her confidence showing. I must. She told herself, I must...for Stein. Yumi reached for the brass door knob.

Her hand halted mid-air once again when Medusa's name sprouted into Stein's rambling. She felt an instant pang.

Yumi remembered the time she'd first discovered her feelings for the peculiar man who only wanted to dissect things. She thought it silly at first. But the more she avoided the truth, the more she found herself staring in longing at professor. She started to admire his silver hair that seemed un-brushed each time she saw him. The way his smirk seemed a little twisted when he was amuse.

...By the time the third month swung along, Yumi knew she was in love.

Yumi shook her memories off. It wasn't the time. But she remained hesitant.

Another second had past.

Yumi wrapped her fingers around the door knob.

---

Stein hadn't even noticed her until she called out his name. "Stein."

He whisked around, startled. But when he recognized his intruder, he regained his momentum. "Ah, Yumi...What brings you here?" he asked, cheerfully.

Yumi's heart jumped inside her chest. Stein... She crooned within the walls of her mind.

The way he'd greeted her was just too painful. Especially when Yumi knew what was underneath.

"Marie..." she said, her voice sounding as if it were about to break.

Silence.

Yumi adjusted her tone, more stronger. "She got lost again," she finished, her eyes gaining back their gleam.

She couldn't lose herself. She had to be strong. It was her nature.

And mostly, Yumi felt that it was all she could do...