Chapter Two

Junpei Iori yawned suddenly and sat his chin down on the counter in front of him. Officer Kurosawa raised his eyebrow and glanced at the student.

"Tch. Junpei, move your head."

Junpei raised his head and looked at the newbie cop as he entered the police station.

"I can't help it Akihiko-senpai. I'm exhausted. We got a hot new girl in school today." Junpei watched in satisfaction as Akihiko's expression changed from irritation to interest. As much as Akihiko concentrated on work, he still had to have some interest in the female species.

"What's she like?" the young cop asked, glancing warily at his superior officer. Kurosawa shook his head and walked to the back room, causing Junpei to crack a grin.

"I told you: hot. Every guy in the school wants her, but she only has eyes for one Junpei Iori." he grinned with a nod as Akihiko shook his head.

"Have you even actually talked to her?" Akihiko challenged skeptically. Junpei grinned proudly and continued to nod.

"You bet senpai! She was all over me!" he yelled, waving his arms. Akihiko grinned and lost the battle against laughing. Junpei couldn't help but be glad to be here. Akihiko-senpai was the only person from last year that he could still talk to. Being here at the police station was somewhat of a release after spending so long repressing his past.

Suddenly, Akihiko's laughter was cut short and his eyes narrowed through the glass doors of the police station.

"Something wrong, senpai?" Junpei questioned, spinning around on his stool.

"No, nothing," Akihiko said quietly, walking behind the counter. Junpei, however, was finally able to focus in on what the young cop had been staring at. Sitting on the bench outside was Yukari Takeba, who had fought alongside them last year to end the Dark Hour. After last year, however, Yukari had slowly drifted away. Her once beautiful hair had grown long and ratty and her signature pink sweater had been disposed of and replaced with the plain school uniform. Yukari had lost her bubbly personality and had more in common with The Lost than her previous self. While the other members of SEES had at least somewhat moved on with their lives, it was starting to feel like Yukari had been a casualty.

"It's sort of like a reunion, huh?" Junpei mumbled quietly, "I mean, how often are this many of us this close?"

Akihiko bit his lip and frowned.

"We can't just stand around here and feel sorry for her, Junpei. Minato died so that we could live. If she wants to waste away for the rest of existence, then it's her decision. I know it's hard to accept the past, but there's no other way."

"I know senpai," Junpei answered, letting out a sigh, "I don't know how to help her though."

"We've done all we can, Junpei. It's her turn now."

Suddenly, the awkward silence was broken as the glass doors to the police station slid open. To Junpei's surprise, it was Kartilkeya-kun and Nanako that walked it.

"Hey Junpei. Can you hold on a second? I'll be back," Kartilkeya stammered breathlessly, staring back through the door towards Yukari. When he had been a new student, Kartilkeya had developed somewhat of an infatuation towards the empty girl. Just as it started to seem like Yukari was returning to normal though, it ended. She refused to speak to him and the relationship ended.

"Sure," Junpei replied, his eyes falling on Kartilkeya's companion. Nanako raised her eyes towards him and grinned, causing Junpei's heart to skip a beat.

Kartilkeya nodded quickly and stumbled back out the door. Through the glass, the police station occupants watched the boy run towards Yukari and set down on the bench next to her, displaying bravery stronger than any sane man.

"Anyway, Akihiko-senpai. This is Nanako Amano, the girl I was talking to you about earlier," Junpei said, grinning widely, "And Nanako-san, this is Officer Sanada. He graduated from Gekkoukan last year."

"Hello, Amano-san," Akihiko stuttered, obviously surprised, "You can just call me Akihiko. I can't believe your real. I mean, I can't believe Junpei told the truth. I mean, ugh…"

" You can call me Nanako as well," Nanako informed, not even phased by Akihiko's nerves. Hot AND polite.

"Thank you, Nanako-san. Well, I should probably be getting back to work." Akihiko observed, obviously horrified by his behavior. Nanako nodded as he left.

"He seems nice," Nanako observed, grinning, "Anyway, that girl…"

"I'm back," Kartilkeya interrupted, slouching back through the glass doors. From both his expression and Yukari's absence from the mall, Junpei didn't even have to wonder what had happened.

END CHAPTER