XX A/N XX

Cultural Context: Since once of the below lines may make some of you raise an eyebrow, fried chicken is in fact very popular as a Christmas dinner in Japan. Look it up, because the story behind it is quite interesting.

On reflection, Yuka is a hard character for me to write, since her personality jumps all over the place. Her way of speaking is strange to emulate as well.

X December 2 X

Should I? The question had been repeating itself in Satoshi's mind since yesterday, sometimes blocking out everything else. Thanks to Yoshiki's pushing, Satoshi was starting to think that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance. But the nagging thought persisted: was it really right to ask at a time like this? After the school day ended, Satoshi found himself by the Academy's front entrance waiting and thinking.

"She's still really upset..." Satoshi admitted to himself. She was always saying how unfair it was that everyone else was gone. Would she get offended if he suggested they just act normal for a while and have fun like they were ignoring them? And then there was whatever she and Shinozaki had gotten into... "Gah!" He was caught off guard as something grabbed onto him.

"Big Brother!" Yuka hugged him and buried her face in his chest. Satoshi had been so busy thinking he hadn't notice her approach. He awkwardly patted her on the head.

"Are you ever going to stop doing that?" Satoshi ducked his head slightly at a few passing students who laughed or grinned at the sight. Walking home together had been habit before Heavenly Host. But now Yuka had decided ever time they saw each other required a hug. Satoshi supposed that was partially his fault; during the incident, he'd ended up leaving Yuka by herself despite promising not too. After that terrifying separation, he supposed he couldn't be surprised if she was a little more attached.

"Nope." She let go and grabbed his hand.

"Yuka..." Satoshi sighed but didn't argue. Hand in hand, they started walking home. Being spoiled by their parents, Yuka never had acted mature, and Satoshi had found it annoying sometimes. But he was actually kind of glad to see it now. Heavenly Host had taken its toll on Yuka's young and naïve mind. She'd wake up in the middle of the night screaming from nightmares and would need new sheets, just a minor part of a 'control' problem she seemed to have gotten from that place. During the day she'd been quiet and subdued like the rest of them, something the siblings' parents had noticed quite easily. Even if it was her annoying side, Satoshi was still glad to see her acting somewhat normal again.

The season probably had something to do with it; Yuka had always adored December, and not just because she loved the snow. She still got presents from their parents, even though Satoshi had longed stopped receiving them. She'd probably still get one this year too, but it would probably be the last. She'd turned 14 in September too, so she was already too old for the parties they usually held for children, however much she hated it. But at least they could both always look forward to Christmas dinner, fried chicken and Christmas cake, with their parents.

It cheered him up. But if Satoshi could decide if this year he'd have something to do on the 24th, then he'd be a lot happier...

"Big Brother, what's wrong?" Yuka asked. Satoshi hadn't realized his feelings were showing on his face. That was something he'd been having trouble with ever since they got back, once guilty thoughts started plaguing all of them all hours of the day.

"Ah...Nothing, Yuka." Satoshi tried to turn the conversation in another direction. "You're glad it's December again, huh?" She nodded eagerly. "I'm glad to see you're acting happy again." Satoshi told her.

"Why aren't you happy?" Yuka asked, catching Satoshi off guard again. Yuka could be annoyingly persistent.

"It's... nothing for you to worry about, Yuka. Just forget about it." Satoshi said quickly, and they walked in silence till they got home. Yuka had stared at the ground for most of the time, and Satoshi wondered if he'd upset her. She was probably just worried for him, but Satoshi really didn't want to let her worry about him when she was finally acting better.

But Yuka was an insistent girl. And even if she naïve in many subjects, she wasn't stupid. Actually, she could be surprisingly smart when it came to certain matters, so Satoshi wasn't all that surprised when she came to her own conclusion about what was bothering him.

The day ended and he'd just been settling into bed. Both sibling's rooms were connected, and it wasn't uncommon for Yuka to barge in whenever she wanted. "Big Brother?" This time though, she poked her head around the door instead of coming in.

"Huh?" Satoshi had just about dozed off when he heard her. "What is it?" He sat up to face her. She meekly stepped into the room and walked over in her pajamas.

"Umm." She clasped her hands together and stared at the ground for a moment before looking back up. "About earlier... did it...have something to do with Naomi?" She asked. Satoshi awkwardly glanced around. Yoshiki, he didn't mind. But he really didn't think this was a issue he should discuss with his little sister. But she probably wouldn't let it rest until he told her.

"Yeah." Satoshi admitted, feeling embarrassed.

"Is she okay?" Yuka asked. The two girls had struck up a surprising good friendship during the small time together in Heavenly Host. That was the reason she'd decided to wait at the hospital with them. And why'd she asked about visiting her or having her visit since she'd gotten out, at least until Satoshi explained Naomi still wasn't acting herself.

"She's...still the same." Satoshi sighed. Yuka sat down on his bed while he spoke. "I was hoping she'd cheer up once she came back. But she just always seems out of it. Even when the three of us are together, she's still depressed. I just wish we could do something to help her."

"Has Naomi told you what happened?" Satoshi shook his head.

"No, but whatever did really got to her. And right after Heavenly Host too. I'm worried she won't be able to pull through it all." Satoshi had been worried about that ever since they'd gotten back. Even after she resisted the darkening once, it had been clear to Satoshi when she'd told him what happened that she was still distressed about the whole thing. "I wish I could be sure."

"Well..." Yuka said thoughtfully as she swung her feet.

"Huh?"

"Yuka is happy and got better because Big Brother is here for her." She fell backwards onto the bed and turned her head to look at Satoshi. "Is Big Brother there for Naomi?"

"Uh...well..." Satoshi was taken aback. He thought he had been. He'd listened to her the day after they got back. He'd always greeted her everyday in school. He'd always tried talking to her, even though she never usually responded. Was that not enough? "I think... uh..." Satoshi trailed off when he realized Yuka was glaring at him. "I guess not." He finally admitted, sighing.

"Big Brother, you're a idiot!" Yuka sat up and jabbed a finger at him, suddenly looking annoyed.

"W-what?!" Satoshi stammered, taken aback. That outburst out, Yuka calmed down.

"You talked about finding everyone and surviving together." She reminded him, referring to what Satoshi had vowed right after the two of them had been transported to Heavenly Host. "Why are you abandoning them now?" Satoshi was baffled at the attack.

"I..." Satoshi faltered as a thought crossed his mind. Have I done enough for them?

"You need to be there for them!" Yuka insisted. "Your smart and brave and they need you!" Hadn't Satoshi already been there for them? "Don't let them get hurt too!" Now she was begging, and Satoshi understood she was just as afraid as he was that they'd still lose someone even outside of those cursed halls, and thought he was the one person who could make sure that didn't happen. He saw her eyes start to water and tried to reassure her.

"I'm there for them, Yuka. I'm trying." He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Stay positive, you've been doing really well the past few days."

"I'm not crying!" She insisted, laying back down. "You're an idiot!" She repeated, turning to look the other way. Satoshi didn't take it personally this time. He sat and considered what she'd said.

Right after they'd gotten back, Shinozaki had told them all to come to school the next day. She wanted to make sure everyone was okay, and that everyone looked out for each other. It was an act they all should've followed on. Had Satoshi really been doing as much as he could've? Was there something more he could've done. It was only two weeks after they returned that Naomi and Shinozaki had acted on their own. Could Satoshi have done something in that time to prevent them?

He thought about his friends for a while after that. About how a invisible rift seemed to have formed between them all since the disaster, which had hung between them and blocked everything else. A bit of defiance, an emotion that had driven him during the mis-adventure, found its way back into his thoughts. Why should they let that cursed place drive them apart? Why should they let it ruin their lives? Why should they let it make them disregard what their perished friends would want them to do?

The simple answer was that they shouldn't; They should stay strong and defiant and keep living how they wanted. The thought seemed to bring clarity to his mind, and he kept repeating it to himself again and again as motivation. When Satoshi did speak again, he sounded as confident as he'd ever been.

"Ok, Yuka. Thanks. I realize what I need to do now." No response. "Yuka?" Satoshi leaned forward and tapped her on the shoulder. She proceeded to curl up into a ball and start snoring. She must've fallen asleep while Satoshi was thinking. It took me that long to decide? He shook his head. At least she didn't seem upset anymore. "Yuka, wake up. You have your own bed." No response. Satoshi sighed and got up.

"Come on." He picked her up and carried her to her own room. Mature and insightful sometimes, just not always. After she was tucked in, Satoshi returned to his own bed and laid back down, but didn't sleep. Instead, he thought. No, he plotted. He would make sure they all went on with their lives and that Heavenly Host wouldn't stop them from being unhappy.

Yuka was right, he had made that oath to help his friends, and it certainly hadn't ended once they were out of the school. He still had to help his friends even now. Maybe if he'd paid more attention, Naomi and Shinozaki wouldn't have attempted whatever they'd done. Well, he'd do his best to prevent anything like that happened again, and his first step was to help Naomi.

Yoshiki had been right about that too: Satoshi had been the closest person to Naomi after Shinohara, so she'd respond to him. She needed cheering up. Something to show her she wasn't completely alone and misunderstood. That people still cared. And he wanted to prove that to her and that she should move on, just like Shinohara wanted.

Maybe he shouldn't have stopped with just himself either; Yuka and Yoshiki were Naomi's friends too. They definitely didn't want her to be sad either. Maybe the three of them could do something together for her; it was a holiday season and Naomi's birthday was on the 14th... But Satoshi did still did like the idea of the two of them spending the 24th together.

It was decided then: He'd definitely ask Yuka and Yoshiki to help him set up something for her... And...

"I'll ask her." Satoshi said to himself, still confident. He decided then and there: "I'll ask her to go out with me. That place won't haunt us forever." He had a plan, now he just had to carry it out.