Chapter 10

"I can't believe you dragged me along with you." The ever so whiny voice Mikuo protested for about the tenth time that night.

"Seriously? This again?" She whispered back at him. Growing ever so more annoyed of his constant complaining.

"Yeah this again." He shot back, zipping up his coat and crossing his arms in defiance. "Do you even know if this is legal!?" He demanded, staring at her. She opened her mouth to answer but she was cut off before she could speak. "No, it's not legal! It's illegal Gumi and don't you try to tell me otherwise. We cannot sneak into a crime scene and frankly, I don't like the idea of getting blamed for a murder! I have my whole life ahead of me!" He continued complaining some more.

Gumi blew a bubble and it popped, she continued to chew her gum. Obviously not caring as she had been doing all night. She only turned and stared him directly in the eyes.

"Mikuo, if you complain anymore I'll call you a woman got it." She meant it too complete with a girly name and everything.

"You're a wonderful friend you know that." He snidely proclaimed.

"Thanks." She smiled, noticing Mikuo's sarcasm.

"We don't even need to do this the police have it handled don't they?" He added going straight back to the complaining.

"You're really gonna put all your trust into the Popo?" Gumi protested.

"Are you seriously using slang right now?" Mikuo said giving a look that couldn't even comprehend the whole situation.

"Look!" She finally snapped. "Do you want to find out what happened to Rin or not? Besides I'm trying to brighten up my mood I'm nervous too." She admitted, her hands were a little twitchy about what she was about to do. There hadn't been a choice, if she ignored her impulse to go search it would tear at her till there was nothing left, and the woman surely wouldn't be pleased.

Mikuo went silent for the first time that night. Shrugging his shoulders he finally caved in

"Might aswell."

It was true she was nervous, but she couldn't forget that voice earlier today. She had a feeling that she wouldn't find out where it came from if she didn't go back to the crime scene. The impulse was too strong, during work it had been all she thought of all day.

Which was quite horrible considering a person had just died. Maybe death didn't affect her as much as it used too, she was somehow used to death by now. Well, the thought of death anyway. Her parents were missing after all.

Slowly she slid under the tape while Mikuo stood watch scanning the area. It didn't take her long to find the thing that had been blinking except when she found what it was, it didn't make sense.

Looking around quickly she found nothing else so she jumped back over the tape, nearly crashing into Mikuo. They both started leaving making their way back. It was about one in the morning now, as they had left at approximately 12. It took them a whole hour to get there by foot having walked quite a few decent blocks to get there. Thankfully though Mikuo wasn't complaining the whole way they got back, but instead asked her questions.

"So what did you find?" He asked flicking hair away from his face.

She handed him the sliver of paper she had found. When he received it he stared at the paper, confusion and disbelief on his face.

"This is what was blinking? Paper can't blink Gumi." He empathized on the blink part of it.

"I know." She agreed "It was strange to me too, but I'll tell you everything when we get back alright." She promised, matching her pace with his so she wouldn't walk ahead.

Watching her for awhile he stared. She wondered if he would say something but instead he nodded satisfied. He obviously wanted some answers since he had, in the end decided to join. She would give him answers too, because right now he was the only one she could really trust. As many answers as she had anyway, which wasn't very many.

"Isn't this a piece of paper from a book?" He finally spoke breaking the minor silence.

"A book?" She repeated quizzically, almost sounding as if she had never heard of the word.

"Yeah you know those things in libraries you don't read." He teased, taking note of her earlier tone. She gave him a little shove.

"Ok, then what was it doing there? Smarty pants."

"Even If you asked me..." He said placing his hands on the back of his head. "Regardless this is the only lead we have to go on right now." She sneezed, it was starting to get cold. She cursed her past self for not taking a jacket, then she felt warm.

"I told you to take a jacket didn't I?" Mikuo whispered into her ear, suddenly pulling her close against him, setting his coat around her. She stiffened, and quickly moved away. Not knowing wether to be freaked out or not. The action had been so sudden and unexpected, so she took it as a friendly gesture. It was just him looking out for her after all.

"Thanks for the jacket." She mumbled, pulling it over herself.

"Your welcome." He smiled. Geez what happened to his earlier annoyed whiny behavior.

"But next time really do pack a jacket, now I have to freeze." There it was! His arrogance returning. However she was just a tiny bit disappointed that he hadn't said something else, something well sweet or whatever. He had really ruined the moment not that she had wanted one.

Thankfully nobody was awake when they got back, and somehow they successfully managed to sneak in quietly. Deciding to head to her room. Gumi stopped right in the middle of the second lobby, and stood there.

"Mikuo…we have a problem."

"We do?" He said questionably looking around the empty lobby. It was more dead than a cemetery, he couldn't see what the problem was.

She looked back at him completely serious. "I don't remember where my room is."

He stood glowering at her extremely peeved. However he didn't say anything, just sighed.

Taking her wrist he lead her in the direction of her room. She was thankful, at least he knew where it was. Opening her door and letting him in once they arrived.

Immediately he sat down on the couch and stared at her, awaiting his answers. So she told him. Everything had just seemed to pour out, everything. The bizarre dream she had had, how she had responded to her mothers disappearance, how the police said it was a serial killer that had kidnapped her, the knowing feeling of Rin's impending death, and the surging impulse to search the crime scene, the dream woman.

She had expected Mikuo to get up and walk out. To abandon her as everyone seemed to be doing. To think she was some crazy schizophrenic psychopath, cut her off, claim they weren't friends anymore and rush out as if he had never heard a thing.

Yet he hadn't, instead he sat there staring at the ground holding a cup of water in his hands. Concentrating and staring taking everything in.

"Okay I think I get it." He said rising off the couch. "Got anything to eat."

After her whole explanation thats how he reacted. She had said all that and he reacted as if it was not the most insane thing he had ever heard.

"That's your reaction?" She asked, staring at him waiting for his answer.

"Well, I wouldn't have got into this if I wasn't ready to expect the unexpected. Besides we're going after a killer, so nothing really surprises me too much anymore. It is a bit to take in though." He said rubbing his head and heading off to the kitchen.

It was another weird impulse but she suddenly felt like hugging him, to just throw her arms around him and cry. To have someone she could tell everyone too, it was amazing. A refreshing feeling of lightness washed over her. It was still kinda mind boggling to herself, but Mikuo had accepted it so easily.

For once she wasn't alone, she didn't have to hold it all in and solve her own problems. Had a best friend always been this nice to have? A new thing was apparent; She was not alone in this. She had Mikuo, and they had something to solve Rin's murder. She had one lead for that case at least.

Leads…a wave of uncertainty hit her along with an uneasiness, that washed away the refreshing air. Her mom was missing, still missing. There was a serial killer on the loose too, not to mention the murder crimes were pilling up. She watched the news… Not really but she heard things from it, and thanks to that she only vaguely knew what was going on around her.

Tears stung the sides of her eyes and she concentrated hard to not them flow, there was a sinking feeling on the back of her seat.

"Hey don't think too hard okay. We'll both figure this out." It was Mikuo, his teal eyes were full of concern. Her eyes caught his as she looked up. She couldn't help but notice that he had very beautiful eyes. A smooth teal color with flecks of blue that shimmered in the lighting, and danced as they looked at her. Her breath caught in her throat.

They were locked on her staring down into the very depths of her soul. Gently prying her open and yanking her down into the warm core of blue. Transferring her to another universe which she would be lost in. They were such alluring eyes, dangerous even. So she broke eye contact.

"Listen if anything happens, call." He spoke softly. She didn't understand why but his words were suddenly so reassuring and somehow she felt protected. No, this is false security…isn't it? How could she be confused again... What was so confusing? She needed a barrier, a wall anything. She was feeling weak with lightheadedness. A best friend was far as it went.

"I'll be fine. Stop worrying about me already." She said, everything was off her chest now so she could have mind to do other things. At that moment, he bent down and brushed hair away from her cheek.

"I can't do that." He whispered so silently she almost didn't hear it. Wishing her good night before turning around, leaving, and closing the door. For some reason her chest felt warm.

She pulled in her legs and tucked herself up on the couch, "Probably heartburn or something..." She mumbled, definitely heartburn...