Hey everybody! I'm sorry this chapter's taken so long, but there were some file issues, and the end of school had me really busy. Then in July I did Camp NaNoWriMo (google NaNoWriMo if you're curious) so now I'm finally finishing it. I had most of it done a while ago and thought I'd finish it then, but all of the above made me wait until now. Sorry times a million! But thanks for sticking with me if you're reading this! :D You guys rock.

For this scene I actually used quotes from an episode of Shugo Chara, which I got from , a legal sub anime watching site. It's from episode 26, just after Nikaidou has left Easter. I also got the translation to Meikyuu Butterfly (Butterfly Labyrinth) on the internet, but i deleted the link, so I'm not sure where :P Thanks for sticking around! Sorry for any oocness! :)

I looked into the recording room as Utau's powerful voice poured in through the large black headphones that chafed my ears uncomfortably, reaching back to pull out a group of maroon hairs caught in the headphones.

"Don't stare at me, don't capture me,

I'm a butterfly whose lost her way."

I closed my eyes for a moment. It was true, I'd heard the song Butterfly Labyrinth many times, but still the lyrics moved my heart slightly. I'd never show it, of course, but every time I heard those words I couldn't help but feel connected to it. I suppose it makes sense, I thought. Since the goal is to make children feel drawn to it and make it reach their hearts eggs. I looked at the teen through the sound-proof glass, her long blonde pigtails moving with her passionate sound. Shaking my head at my own distractedness, I looked back down at the binder in my hands.

We have to think of something else soon. We're not going to be able to continue with the same song and expect to continue with the same success level, especially without... I let out a breath. Not only had it been a month since I broke up with the man, he had also declared his resignation from Easter but a few days ago.

I remembered a few nights ago well. The boss had just called me into a meeting when he realized Nikaidou wasn't around. So he called him to see what was going on. I was still trying to figure out what he had meant.

"The day when you present the embryo to Gozen is not far off."

What did he mean? I thought. And then to go and quit because of the 'Gaurdian' kids? What is going on with him?

I shook my head again, as if trying to lose the thoughts. It had been so long since I ended this, and still I seemed unable to get my mind off of him. I ran my hand through my hair as I let out a sigh. After two meetings, a recording session and taking Utau to a magazine interview across town, I couldn't help but be exhausted. And now, to be trying to make sense once again of what happened a month ago once more like I had done every day since... Stress was filling me to the brim.

"The precious, beloved key to my heart,

regretably broke."

I frowned. Utau's lyrics were always dead on. I knew I had to get out of here before I lost it. Slamming the white binder shut, I looked at the man running the audio, pulling off the uncomfortable headphones. "I'm going home now. Can you take it from here?"

The man looked up at me, his plain brown eyes meeting mine. "Uhh, sure, Sanjo-san. But shouldn't you wait to receive Utau-san?"

I shook my head. "She'll be fine. Tell her I said good work."

He looked at me for a moment more, then turned back to the soundboard. "Well alright then. I'll tell her."

I gave him a nod before stepping out of the room. As the door came to a close, I moved my hand to my head. "Why can't I stop thinking about him?" I whispered to myself. Anger rose inside of me. This isn't right. Why can't I just be rid of him? Why am I still worried? I sighed as I ran my hands through my curling hair. I couldn't help the anger and frustration, especially when I got distracted so often because I couldn't stop picturing his face. I still missed him, but the sadness of losing him had quickly turned into anger. Much of it was directed at myself for being unable to forget him, but some of it was directed at him for... I don't know, everything. Being so wonderful. Being so irresistable. Being so unforgettable. God, Yukari, what are you doing to yourself? I shook my head again, which seemed to do me no good.

I headed off to the main Easter building to gather up my things.

Purse, notebook, cell phone... My hand froze as I looked at the phone in my hand, the keychain on it swinging, red string brushing against my knuckle as I stood in the small office. The tiny robots arms swung at its side. Again, Nikaidou's face filled my mind, as his words came back to me once more.

"I'm giving you this so we remember, and when the time is right, I can tell you everything."

I let out a breath. "But when?" Now that we'd broken up, how would I ever really understand what had upset him so badly that day? For all I knew, I'd have this keychain forever. I wasn't making any plans to see Yuu—No, Nikaidou-san—in the near future. I let out a sigh and cleared away the thoughts as I gathered my things and headed outside.

How dare he... I suddenly thought. First, he makes me fall in love with him. Then he keeps secrets from me. I felt myself clutching the trinket tightly. Then he guilts me by joining Easter, then he starts acting completely differently than the man I fell in love with. This isn't my fault, it's his! Deep inside I wasn't so sure, but I was so angry I couldn't help but believe every negative thought that swarmed into my head. I threw my phone into my purse and headed for the door, trying to clear my anger from my face as I stepped into the hallway.

I stopped dead as I saw the orange car in the parking lot outside of the main Easter building. It can't be. But I recognized Nikaidou's newer car the moment I saw it. He came back? The thought was filled with my immediate caution, as well as the anger I'd just built up and some suprise. I walked down the steps without much thought until I stood right next to it. I took a moment to consider my next move, but before I could, I saw a familiar figure coming out of the Easter building with two haphazardly stacked boxes. I turned and crossed my arms, trying to keep too much of the anger off of my face while still giving him a frown.

Nikaidou took each step carefully with the boxes to keep from falling. When he finally made it down safely he glanced at me, then swung the front door open and shoved the boxes inside.

"Honestly..." He closed the door gingerly, and I watched his caramel hair move with the effort. Geez, Yukari, focus. He turned back to me, and for the first time in what felt like forever his amber eyes fell on me with a cautious smile. "After working so hard for the company, they tell me to collect my belongings myself." He raised his hands and eyebrows, as if he'd expect sympathy. How could he act like nothing's happened and joke just like he used to?

I fixed him with a hard glare. "That's the life of a loser."

"Man," he put his hand in his hair. "You're harsh." I didn't respond. He's acting just like... Just like before we dated. "But you know... I've completely lost interest in winning or losing." Suddenly his smile lestened, and his eyebrows relaxed. His face left joking as he looked at me as if trying to show me with his face how he'd changed. His expression was the same non-joking, casual expression he'd worn so many times before. When he was consoling me, or talking serious with me, or... I felt my heart ache, which just made me more annoyed. I narrowed my eyes. "Working overtime again?"

I didn't respond, since he was completely right, and I hated it. His face changed back to joking. "If you push yourself too hard, you'll age faster."

I felt my eyebrows tighten to a glare. Nikaidou knew I hated people bringing up my age! "That's none of your business, Nikaidou-sensei." The polite suffix felt strange on my tongue, but I didn't mind since I was so annoyed. I noticed that he was out of his teaching clothes, and wearing a neat dark brown suit and clean white shirt.

His face softened, and he gave me a genuine smile. Somehow I knew there was nothing fake about it, no hiding pain, no hiding post-break-up grievances. "Well, take care."

Nikaidou waited for a reply, but I simply could not think of one to give him. After all of the frustration I'd gone through, to have him act like he was completely not upset was shocking. So as he got into his car I fixed him with a hard, "stay away from me" glare. I didn't stop him, or try and give him the charm back, not knowing how he'd react. After a moment he pulled away, and I just watched him go. My insides swarmed with annoyance. I wondered how he wasn't upset, and how he could put on such a happy face. But this is the man that destroyed peoples dreams under the guise of a kind teacher. Suprisingly the thought sent a chill down my spine. Nikaidou was a man of many faces, that much I knew was true. But as I thought back to the charm in my purse, I rememebered how he'd promised to show me and explain to me all of those faces, and all of who he was. But to really understand a person like that would take so long. Months, years. We'd have to be... married. I put my hand up to my face in frustration now that his car was out of sight. I don't want that, so I don't have to worry. Right? I let out a breath. I spent so much time thinking Nikaidou was my saving grace, but really he's just as imperfect as I am. I know that. So why does he stay on my mind? I muttered some unproffesional words under my breath as I turned and headed towards my car.