HEYO! I am SO SORRY for not updating in a while. I was swamped with homework and schoolwork. Okay kind of, but it was enough work to make me hold off on writing this for a while. But since I have a four day weekend and not much homework, I PRESENT THE NEXT CHAPTER!
Oh yeah, this chapter will feel rushed, and I am COMPLETELY SORRY. But I just want to give those reading this something to read

I promise I'll work hard to make the next chapter better!

But for now, enjoy this quick chapter! oAo"

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"AHHH!" Tatara turned the tv down and heard Kumiko screaming. He threw the remote to the side, jumped over the couch, and ran up to her room. He flew the door open and saw her clutching at her blankets as she screamed in her sleep.

"Onee-chan! Wake up!" he shook her arm and her tear-filled eyes shot open.

"Are you okay?"

Kumiko stared at him then rolled over on her back. She draped her arm over eyes and took deep breaths in and out.

"Ugh..." she mumbled and rubbed her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Tatara asked again.

She buried her face in her hands before running her hands through her hair. "I have no idea."

"Did the dream have to do with King?"

He saw tears make their way down her cheeks.

"You should go visit him today."

She rolled over, her back facing him.

"He wants to see you."

Kumiko's ears perked and she turned her head to look at Tatara. "What? How do you know?"

"I...ran into him yesterday."

Kumiko sat up. "And he told you that he wanted to see me?"

"Well...Kusanagi-san told me."

She laid back down and grumbled. "Oh..."

"King's having a tough time, too."

"Why? Why would he be having a hard time?"

"Kusanagi-san said...well...that he was trying to protect you."

She rolled over to look at Tatara with wide eyes. "Protect me?"

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"He's trying to protect her," Izumo said.

"Protect her?"

"Ya see, he beat up four kids at school because they were teasing Kumiko-chan. It may have looked like he just beat them up like any other high school ruffian, but when it comes to Mikoto, no one knew how much he probably had to restrain himself. He would have gladly killed them. But he forced himself to stop. Mikoto's hot-headed and he's distancing himself because he's worried he might hurt Kumiko-chan."

"But...but will he ever talk to her again? She's hurting."

Izumo sighed. "Hmm...aha! Maybe she can come over tomorrow?"

"I don't know...she might just lay in bed."

"We'll think of something. But for now, just tell her Mikoto wants to see her."

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"He's trying to protect me from himself?"

Tatara nodded and grabbed her wrist. "Let's go and get ready to see him," he said with a small smile.

"I'll...do so later."

"Now, Onee-chan!"

"If you keep pushing for me to go, I won't."

"Aha! But I know you really want to go. And you'll just end up going, eventually."

Kumiko pouted and got up out of bed. She rummaged around in her closet and pulled out a black skirt, gray tank top, black sweater, and long, black socks. She showered, brushed her teeth and hair, and looked for her coat.

"Tatara! Where's my jacket?"

He tossed it to her. "Now go out there and talk to King!"

She nodded and walked out the door. Once outside, her smile disappeared and she sighed. Instead of walking over to HOMRA, Kumiko was going to roam around Shizume City. She just told Tatara that she would visit Mikoto to get him off of her back. She would visit him when she's ready. Buuuut for now, she was just going to spend time in the city.

"I thought I told you that being alone wasn't healthy?"

Kumiko whipped around and saw Munakata leaning against a light post. He wore a black winter coat, a dark gray plaid scarf, and black jeans.

"Do you always appear out of nowhere?" Kumiko asked and started walking past him.

He jogged to catch up with her. "No. You just happen to always run into me."

She rolled her eyes.

"Are you on your way to visit Suoh?"

Kumiko mentally sighed. "I came on this walk so my younger brother would stop bugging me about visiting him."

"You can't ignore him forever."

"Why do you make it seem like we're dating?" She said in a very frustrated tone.

"Well you do like him."

Kumiko furrowed her eye brows and closed her eyes. "Change the topic."

"Alright. You have a younger brother?"

She nodded. "Tatara Totsuka. He can be a handful most of the time. But then again, so can I. What about you? Do you have any siblings?"

"No. Never did."

"Ahh. No wonder why you bug me. No one at home to bug."

"You're right."

"'You're right'," she mocked, making him smile. "Your parents are smart."

"How so?"

"They stopped."

He raised an eye brow in question.

"After having you, they were smart in not having anymore children," she smiled and looked at him. "Can't have another Reisi Munakata running around."

He turned his head and pushed his glasses up.

"What's the matter? You actually don't have a witty comeback?" She smirked.

"You'll eventually pay for that one," he smirked.

"Yeah yeah," she laughed. "So, how many jigsaw puzzles have you completed in your life?"

"Too much to count."

"Guesstimate."

"Hmm...over...sixty?"

"That's a lot."

"I had no idea, Totsuka-chan," he said sarcastically. Kumiko shoved his arm.

"Your turn to ask me something," she said.

"Do you want to sit and have some tea or coffee?" He asked and motioned to the coffee shop to his right.

Kumiko looked around her and finally realized they reached the city. The coffee shop he pointed out said, "COFFEE SHOP" in large, cursive letters over a small baby blue and white striped awning. On the inside, you could see the busy employees running around, serving tiny sandwiches and cups of tea or coffee to the customers sitting at the small round tables.

Munakata held the door open for her and she thanked him as she walked in. While she took off her jacket, Munakata helped her and draped it over a chair. He pulled the chair out and she smiled when she sat down.

"You're suuuuch a gentleman, Munakata-kun," she teased and pretended to swoon over him.

"Thank you," he smirked and walked around to sit across from her.

Before they started talking, a waiter came and took their order. Munakata both ordered them Earl Grey tea.

"You know my hobbies," he started. "So tell me what yours are."

"Mm...I love to play music!" She said with a big smile.

"Really? What do you play?"

"I play piano, my brother plays guitar, and we both sing."

"When did that start?"

"Well...I guess my parents were both musical geniuses. They taught Tatara and I when we were young."

"Were? Taught?"

She nodded. Their tea arrived and she took a sip before saying, "my parents left Tatara and I. It was a 'family outing' kind of day, and we went to the park. We all sat down at a bench, eating ice cream. Then they told us to 'wait right there.' So we did and they got up and walked away. We waited for a couple minutes...which turned to hours and we saw their missing car from the parking lot," she stared at the warm drink in her hands.

"You must perform the piano for me one day," Munakata said, attempting to change the subject.

She looked at him and smiled. "Maybe. I hope I can play music in the future and perform all over the place. What about you?"

He smirked. "I plan on becoming a member of Scepter 4."

"Scepter 4? So you want to become something like a police officer in Shizume City?"

He nodded and crossed his arms.

"So...if I go to jail, I can count on Captain Munakata to bail me out, right?"

"Hmm...only if you promise to give me free concert tickets and backstage passes to your concerts."

"Deal," she said and raised her tea cup. "Cheers to bailing me out of jail and free concert tickets!"

He chuckled and they lightly clinked their glasses together.

"Scepter 4 is also known as the Blue Clan," he said.

"The Blue Clan? You mean the colored clan that was once ruled by Jin Habari?"

"Yes."

"The king that died while clashing with the red king?"

He simply nodded his head.

"And I assume the captain is just another term for king?"

He nodded again.

She frowned and messed with the tea bag. Munakata noticed this and said, "are you worried for me, Totsuka-chan?"

She widened her eyes. "N-NO! I mean we are friends...I think...but I mean I'm—"

He cut her off with a chuckle. "I'm kidding."

She pouted. "I'm not gonna give you free tickets and passes anymore..."

"I won't bail you out of jail."

"Our friendship is cut off."

"You need me more than I need you."

"And why is that?"

"Because we both know that you're going to end up in jail and you need someone to get you out."

She dropped her jaw. "You really suck."

"I don't think that's something you say to someone who's going to bail you out of jail."

She sighed and put her forehead down on her arms. "What is wrong with you?"

He chuckled and finished his tea. "Nothing at all."

She scoffed and finished her tea as well. "Shall we get going?"

Munakata nodded and payed their bill. He put her jacket on her and held the door open for her. She laughed and thanked him. When she walked out, she ran into someone.

"I'm sorry!"

"Kumiko-chan, you look like you're doing well."

She widened her eyes. "Izumo-kun...what are you doing here?"

"Ahh Mikoto's moping is bringing me down. I needed air. Who's your friend?"

"Reisi Munakata," he said and stuck his hand out for Izumo to shake.

"Nice to meet you," Izumo said in a...strange way. "Can I steal Kumiko-chan for a moment?"

"No you can't," she said.

"I'll be waiting for you over there," Munakata said and pointed to some random direction. "Take your time."

She glared daggers into Munakata as he started walking away, then focused them on Izumo. "Yes?"

"Come to HOMRA."

"No."

"He wants—"

"To see me. I get it."

"Don't you want to see him?"

"Izumo-kun, he told me he doesn't want to see me, and you and Tatara said he wants to see me. I know he's trying to protect me from himself, but all this 'go see him, he wants to see you' crap is getting on my nerves. I think I give up already."

"Do you not believe Totsuka and I? Do you want to come and see him for yourself? He's certainly gotten more cranky that's for sure."

She rolled her eyes and sighed. "I'll come when I'm ready."

"What are you scared of, Kumiko-chan?"

"That he might say something that'll hurt me again, alright?!" she blurted out. "Now if you'll excuse me..." Kumiko pushed past Izumo and jogged over to Munakata.

"Sorry about that."

"It's completely fine. But you do look a bit flustered. Maybe you should go home and rest a bit."

She nodded and they started walking back to her house.

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Izumo trudged into HOMRA to find Mikoto still resting on the couch with an arm draped over his eyes.

"Ah," Mikoto mumbled and looked to see who walked through the door. "Make me something to drink."

Izumo sighed.

"What?" Mikoto said and slowly sat up and ran his hand through his hair.

"I ran into Kumiko-chan."

Mikoto stood up and walked to his seat at the bar. "Great."

"She was with some guy. I don't know who he is. His name was...uh...Re...Reisi Munakata! That's it!"

Mikoto's ears perked. "Good for her."

Izumo walked behind the bar and prepared something for his friend. "It bothers you doesn't it?"

"Shut up."

"I take that as a yes."

Mikoto glared at Izumo and held his cup out to the side to pretend as if he was going to drop it.

"Okay! Okay! Sorry!" Izumo panicked. "She...hm...you have to see her soon."

"Is that so? Why should I?"

"She said she's thinking about giving up."

Mikoto clenched his fists.

"Said if she comes here, you might tell her something that'll hurt her again. So she's scared to hear what you have to say."

"Good. It'll keep her away."

"She's not scared of you," Izumo sighed at how dense his friend was being. "Honestly..."

Mikoto lightly shook the cup and watched the drink swish around. "Hn..."

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"Thanks for walking me back," Kumiko said and smiled at Munakata.

"It was no problem at all."

She spaced off, catching his attention. "Is everything okay?"

"Do you think I should see Mikoto?"

"I'm having a strange sense of déjà vu."

"Haha," she said sarcastically.

"Yes. I think you should."

She bit her lip and nodded before she started walking to her door.

"Where are you going?" Munakata asked.

"I'll visit him...mm...some other time except today."

He sighed. "If you say so. Goodbye, Totsuka-chan."

She waved and walked inside.

"Onee-chan! How was King? You look kinda happy. Is everything okay now?"

A wave of guilt crashed into her. Tatara looked so happy and hopeful. Kumiko didn't want to lie to the puppy dog face before her.

"Everything's great," she gave him a smile. "I'm gonna go take a nap. See ya in a few hours."

Kumiko walked up to her room and heard something small, like pebbles, hitting her window. She let her bag slip down her shoulder and she took tiny steps to the window. She pushed away her lavender curtains and stared outside to find Munakata inspecting the tiny rock in his hand.

Kumiko chuckled to herself and opened the window. "Oh, Romeo. Oh, Romeo. What in the world are you doing, Romeo?" She said quietly, but loud enough for him to hear.

He looked up and smirked. "I don't believe that's how the play goes."

She shrugged. "What are you doing? What if you were hitting Tatara's window?"

"Then that would be pretty embarrassing. Are you free tomorrow?"

She rose one eyebrow. "Yeah?"

"I'll meet you here at one in the afternoon."

"What do you have planned?"

"You'll see."

"Okay...but just so you know, this won't be a date."

"Of course not. Just two good friends spending time together."

She nodded and said, "alrighty then. See you tomorrow Munakata-kun."

He waved and walked away.

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FINISHED!
Yeeeeaahhh again, I'm very sorry it's rushed. U_U But like I said, I WILL attempt to make the next chapter better! Also, I'm sorry the characters keep bugging Kumiko. HAHA. But hey, they just need to talk maaan. :)
Thanks for all of the reviews/views/favorites/follows!

Ana: Thank you! You're too kind. v/w\\v

SilverNeira: Ah…I feel sad for them too. Hope you thought the chapter was pretty decent. owo"""

Kyoichi Amaya: Le gasp! Haha. I'm sorry for updating late! Hope you somewhat enjoyed this.

seijuro-san: Awww thanks! I'm sorry for causing you misery! Don't be sad! :) lololol

xXxWolvesInTheNightxXx: Thanks! And I feel bad for Mikoto as well. :)

Miechan-ish: LOL Tsun Mikoto. Thank you for the review!

juneamber: Haha! Thanks! And yeah, now that you mention it, Izumo does act like a smart butt, huh? And yes, I have read/watched Say I Love You. :) I actually didn't get my inspiration for that. But I guess it is somewhat similar. OAO; Should change it a bit?

ShannyHeartsYou: v/w\\v oh stop it youuuu. :) haha thanks!

Lolani: OMG OKAY! I SHALL GIVE YOU MORE CHAPTERS! lol :)

fearfulfears: Thanks! And don't worry! I'll keep writing it!

Sinigamichick39: OMG BLOCKHEAD MIKOTO LOL. Maybe she will in the next chapter? Who knows? Not even the author knows for sure yet. lol. And I am loving your lovely comment! Thanks!

HAVE A NICE DAY! :)