I'm back a little early this time, everybody! Thanks for your reviews! I apologize again if the last chapter was slow...I'm not very good with date scenes and whatnot...but practice makes perfect! I think this chapter is a little shorter compared to the others...I'm not entirely sure, though...maybe it's just me. Anyway, enjoy! Review please!

Disclaimer: I do no own Chobits, any of the characters, or the story this fic is based lightly upon.

Chapter 7- Answer

Hideki served the customers at My Pleasure feeling as though he was walking on air. He felt much more at-ease since his date with Chi the day before, and even better that they had finally kissed. He had never felt so happy in his life.

He set a pile of dishes down on the counter of the sink, suddenly staring off into space. For some reason he remembered Blue, and his spirits sank. There was still so much he needed to do...It was Wednesday, and the week was almost up.

He sighed gravely- so much for walking on air...

He had not been able to think of anything for Blue's price, and he knew that if he didn't think of something, the lovely dream he was in would end. He had to admit that he liked her to be a human, and what was more, she absolutely loved it. He didn't want her heart to break over something he could help her with. He just couldn't figure out anything as precious to him that she was.

"Hey Sempai, are you okay?"

He jumped, nearly knocking over the plates on the counter. He looked over at Yumi, who sometime during his thoughts, had wandered over next to him.

"Yeah. Sorry about that. I just spaced out a little."

She took the plates from him. " A lot on your mind?"

"Oh yeah," he sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair.

She put the dishes in the sink and started to run water over them. "Anything I can help with?"

He hesitated, remembering that she didn't know about Chi, but as he saw how eager to help she was, he figured that he might need her help.

"Well, um, do you think that there's anything as precious as a human life worth giving up?" He blurted out, and her eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. She looked down to the dishes and began to scrub them clean. He waited until she finished the sink load without a word and wondered if she was going to answer at all.

His head hung and he went back to work, scrubbing down the tables after the customers had left and he had turned the sign around to "CLOSED" outside. He had just wiped up a nasty smear of mustard when Yumi tapped on his shoulder. He turned to see her sitting atop of the table across from him, her short legs daggling off the side.

"It's a trick question."

"Huh?"

She laughed, "What you asked me earlier! It's a trick question. There isn't anything as precious as a human life." She placed a thoughtful finger on her chin. "Unless it's the love you have for them, but then what good would that do?" She giggled and sat forward eagerly. "Is that about right?"

He nodded, slightly confused, then smiled in awe. "I guess that does make sense." He quickly put away the spray and cloth he had been using when he saw Manager Nekoi go by and joined her again when the boss was gone. "I thought you had forgotten about it earlier...maybe even ignored it..."

She grinned, "It took me a while to figure it out. That was a toughie!" Her smile faded. "But Sempai, why would you be thinking about something like that?"

He cringed, looking away from her. What could he say? He couldn't tell her yet about Blue and the real Chi. "Um, t-this dream I had the other night. It was really weird."

Her eyes sparkled with interest. "Well, let's hear it!"

He had to smile at her enthusiasm, and supposed that he could tell her parts of what had happened. "Well, I was in some sort of big building, and it was pitch black inside. Out of nowhere this tall, blue woman comes over to me and asks me what was as precious to me as Chi's life. She just kept asking me, and I couldn't answer."

Yumi's eyes grew wide," Whoa...that's kinda creepy..."

He nodded, "The worst part of it is, I know I've seen her before, but I can't figure it out."

She also nodded, "It's pretty common in dreams. I'm sure this whole thing is nothing. You might just be under stress." She slid off the table and gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry Sempai."

He thanked her and fell back into his own thoughts. If this was just a trick question, why hadn't he figured it out sooner? Why did he still have this uneasy feeling?

It wasn't long before he was allowed to go home, and he hardly concentrated on walking. He shuffled his feet slowly down the sidewalk to his home, and when he finally reached the front of the complex, he stopped and closed his eyes. Two days...one not counting tomorrow.

If Blue really had asked him a trick question and he went back her telling this to her, the was the chance that it was the right answer and Chi could stay real. However, there was also the chance that it was the wrong answer and Chi would turned back into a Persocom. He wouldn't mind if she was a Persocom- after all, that was the way that she had been when he had fallen for her- but her dream would be ruined because of him if he was wrong.

He shook his head violently and opened his eyes slowly. He needed to talk things over with Chi. He wasn't sure if she knew or not, but they needed to figure things out together.

He opened the front doors to the complex and walked quickly to his apartment, where Chi waited patiently for him inside.

A/N: You guys must hate me by now. XD This chapter was so angsty! I did get to include one of my other favorite characters from this series, and I'm very happy! I'm not making things easy for you all! More questions will be answered in the next chapters! (I feel like I'm advertising for a soap opera or something LOL) Oh, by the way, sorry for any confusion concerning the completion of this fic. There are 10 chapters total in this fic. Sorry if I scared you guys...DX Anyway, review please!