A few weeks since past events had passed and in August my parents would be back from America where they went due my mom's work.
They had no clue of what had happened the past few months and to be honest I was a little nervous to tell them.
When I told them I'd move in with Ryou they were like; wait what? So quickly?
You don't know the guy, he might have really bad intentions. Who was the person to let him into my life, hmm? Okay the part on you don't know this guy I just added to add some drama but for real their reaction was not what I expected.

Instead of over thinking this I stood up from the desk I was working at and walked downstairs into the kitchen, took some plates and the notes next to it and went into the café itself to bring the orders to the people at the tables.

"There you go."

"Thank you very much…"

"Mitsuki-san, Mitsuki-san?"

I snapped out of my thoughts. Lettuce looked at me worried.

"Are you alright?"

"Ah, yes yes I am fine." I smiled sheepish.

I turned around and went back into the kitchen where I sat down.
I sighted.

"Mitsuki-san, everything alright?" I looked up.

Keiichirou placed a cup of tea in front of me.

"Yes. Well I don't know. Oh Keiichirou, I don't know what to tell my parents. They haven't been around since New Year's and I doubt they have a clue what has been going on in my life. I… I don't know what to tell them when they come to visit Ryou and me. Oh hey did you know we fought some weird English guy with his two siblings."

Keiichirou sat down beside me. I stared ahead.

"Does Ryou know this is troubling you?"

I nodded.

"But with those busy shifts he has I don't want to bother him with the trivial thoughts I am having."

"You could tell them about Ryou's and your birthday…"

"Oh our birthdays... Did you know they didn't even message us for our birthday? They probably didn't feel the need or maybe they even forgot."

"But you also can tell them how Ryou cooked your favorite dish or the midnight walk you had.

I turned around to face Keiichirou.

"How do you know that?"

"Well Ryou was planning it two months ahead. He felt quite guilty that he wasn't able to be with you until the evening."

"I... I didn't know. I knew he put a lot of thought in it. It is forgiven that he was so late. He had a night shift and after that he came here because Berry had called in stressed."

"Good to know I am forgiven." From behind Ryou wrapped his arms around me.

I smiled and laid my hands on his.

"Still troubled?"

I nodded.

"Mits, it'll be okay. They'll have their stories to tell too and don't forget that Yuuki would love your attention for herself."

I giggled. "She would."

"Don't worry." He softly squeezed me.

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling of safety he gave me.

It had been a month since the big fight with Joseph and we didn't have an attack since.
Ryou had taken a part-time job in the hospital as a doctor and he fully enjoyed it. Sadly it meant he had less time and more night shifts which made the days he had off days he would sleep or work here in the café.
I tried to trouble him less with my problems but he always knew when I was troubled and he would try to help me out even though he was tired.

I stood up and faced Ryou. I took his face in my hands, he looked tired once again.

"Let's go home okay?"

He nodded and took my hand in his. We said everyone goodbye and drove home.

As soon as we were home and we got in Ryou laid down on the couch and within seconds he had fallen asleep. I felt frustrated as we barely spoke to each other. Soon the frustration made spcae for guilt, he was working extremely hard while I was sitting home. He was working part-time but the paperwork he had beside it made it a full-time job.
I sat down next to him and stroke my hand through his hair. I bend down and kissed his forehead.
I should go and find work myself.
I stood up and went to make dinner.

I walked out into the garden and the warmth hit me. Since it was summer it was so hot outside and the sun was shining brightly. Every time I stepped out to hang up laundry I was struck by the heat.

"Tadaima."

I went back inside and walked towards the front door.

"Okaeri~.. Eh?"

Ryou was holding a bag in his hands.

"I thought you'd like it if you didn't need to cook with the weather like this."

He looked up after he had taken of his shoes.
He looked surprised at me.

"What's wrong?"

Instead of saying anything I flung my arms around his neck and embraced him.
I started crying.

"Mitsuki?"

I let him go. For the first time in forever he looked awake and happy.

"I'm sorry, I am so sorry for yesterday." He looked at me.

"It must be the tiredness that's taking over." I smiled sheepishly.

He sweeped me off my feet and took me into the living room and let me down on the couch. He sat down next to me.

"I quit my job." He said.

"Ehh..." I was trying to take it in. "What?! Why?"

"Well many reasons, they took someone on who could work full-time. And beside that we kept fighting, I wasn't making you happy, was I?"

I shook my head insecurely. He cupped my face.

"And that's why I quit. If you or I am unhappy of something either of us is doing then that needs to stop."

Even though it was extremely hot I crawled close to Ryou and put my head against his chest.

"Thank you."

He held me. After a while he pushed me off him.

"You are sticking to me." We both started laughing.

Ryou opened the bag of food and out came sushi.

"Sushi!" I happily said.

"I thought that with the heat it would be nice to eat something that isn't warm." He grinned.

After dinner we were watching some television until Ryou broke the silence.

"Do you want to take a bath?"

I looked up.

"Yeah."

He turned off the television. I looked surprised at him.

"I never said you were going to take it alone."

I became tomato red.

We were living together for quite some time now but I had been so insecure that I always kept some distance. We never bathe together or showered together. We do things like cooking together and we sleep in one room on two different futons but being together in the bathroom… nope.
I wasn't necessarily a prude I was just insecure and shy. And most important probably our relationship was our relationship is my first serious relationship.

I saw Ryou's look.

"There is no way you are getting out of this." He was teasing me and he was grinning from ear to ear.

He held out his hand and I knew he was letting the decision in my hands. I could run, I could deny him but for the first time I didn't mind. Maybe it was because he had sacrificed something he really liked for me. Why am I explaining this to you? Heck let's get back to reality.

I pulled a piece of paper out of my pocket and took his hand.

The next day

I walked down the stairs sleepily in one of Ryou's simple t-shirts.
As I walked into the living room I rubbed my eyes.

"Good morning sleeping beauty."

I couldn't help but grin and looked at the table where Ryou was sitting.
He wasn't alone and my grin soon turned in to a blush.
I slowly bowed.

"Good morning."

There, at the table, were Zakuro and Keiichirou sitting and looking at me like I murdered someone.
Well I was basically in my underwear and a white shirt that was baggy for me.
In all honesty the both had seen me like this before, Keiichirou like months ago and Zakuro saw me like this daily due the fact we had to change in our uniforms.

"Do you prefer wearing Ryou's shirts instead of yours?" Keiichirou said teasingly.

"Maybe I do." I stuck out my tongue and sit down beside Ryou.

"To what do we owe you this pleasure?"

Keiichirou put his muck down, got a paper out of his pocket and put it down on the table.

"It seems the fight is not over yet. See this red area here? There has been abnormal activity there for quite some time now. We have been trying to track it but it seems something is making our data disordered."

He looked at Ryou and he just nodded.
Keiichirou took out another paper and put it next to the other.

"I know this one.. But it has changed."

On the table was the paper Keiichirou had shown months ago.

"The past few months Ryou and also have been observing you Mitsuki, and your powers."

Both of the guys looked tense at me, obviously seeing my face go from a surprised look to a kinda pissed off look.

"Mitsuki, is it possible you have been holding back?"

I stood up. "Are you seriously asking me that? I have been fighting my butt off. Where the hell do you base on that I have been holding back!"

I was shaken by my own anger and pressed both of my hands against my mouth.

"Sorry..."

Zakuro took a tablet out of her handbag and put on a video.

"This is you fighting before the last. And this is the video from the last time. See the difference? Also remember how you changed at the end of the battle last time? There is no way you got that strong in such a short time. We are not insinuating you are keeping things from us but it's extremely strange."

I let myself sink back into my seat, I saw what she meant but it was like I couldn't comprehend what was going on.

"We want you to check out this place." Keiichirou pointed at the red area.

"I don't know..."

"Mits, think about it. Don't make hasty decisions."

He looked at Zakuro and Keiichirou.

"Thank you for informing us. But I think we should let Mitsuki think about the whole situation."

He combed through my hair.

"Besides she is just awake." He grinned.

I blushed. I was totally aware what he was meaning.

Keiichirou and Zakuro stood up.

"We understand. Let us know what you decide. But don't wait too long or our chance will pass."

I nodded. Ryou let them out.

Ryou came back into the kitchen. I sighed.

"Nice way to spoil my fun." My stomach rumbled.

"Hungry? I'll make you something."

"Next time warn me. Maybe I'll dress properly then."

Ryou laughed.

"What's the fun in that? Then I wouldn't be able to see you like this."

Ryou put down the plate with food in front of me and wrapped his arms around me and kissed me in my neck. I giggled.

"Finally you're smiling."

He let me go and sat down beside me, looking at me. I smiled at him.

"Itadakimasu. Hmmm oishii!" I continued eating my breakfast.

Ryou grinned. He then stood up and walked out of the kitchen, leaving the kitchen door open.

"Eh? Ryou?"

"I am going to clean up upstairs." He said while he reached the stairs.

"Oh…"

The next two days I thought over the question Keiichirou and Zakuro asked me. I still didn't understand it at all but I did know one thing. If we were at danger, still or again, I would do anything to protect us.

I was walking towards the café. The humid July weather made want to go back inside and sit in a cold bath, sadly that was not an option. Sadly I wasn't able to take the car, the AC would be preferred at this moment. Sadly Ryou had taken the car this morning and taking the motor was a big no-no.
I had decided to walk even though it was the hottest of the day but it was so busy all around Tokyo, even worse than usual so I didn't want take the subway. I sighed. Let's not think about the weather now. There were a few things more important than that.
Last night I made up my mind but I hadn't exactly told Ryou. Actually Ryou had been trying to convince me it would be a bad idea to go on my own and in all honesty I agree. But someone has to do it and in the end we don't even know what I might face. It might be nothing, it might be my death.

I was standing in front of the door of the café.
I just stood there, contemplating how I was going to tell them. Oh hell if I wouldn't die there Ryou would probably kill me for being an idiot. But as always my motives were meant well, like last time.
And one of the facts was that this might be just the beginning and even worse tasks lay ahead.

I stepped forward and pushed the door open.
They were all sitting down, looking onto laptops and I was aware that Keiichirou and Ryou were informing the others about the situation.
They all looked at me, surprised. I was aware that I had a very serious, determent look in my eyes.

"Mitsuki-chan?" Ringo asked.

"I'll do it."

Everyone looked stunned. Ryou's look became very dark.

"On one condition. I don't need to fight and in case I do that someone will come and help me out."

I looked at Ryou. "Also you are not allowed to come near the place. I am not going to let anyone risk their lives for me, again. So I only want one of the girls near only to make sure we can escape from fight and get back as quick as possible."

It was obvious that Ryou was very pissed.

"I am not doing this to annoy anyone even though I am. It's just that I don't want to see… the hurt on your faces, the fear… I might be horrible at protecting anyone from hurt but I can ask this. If it's not possible I understand but please promise me that you at least try to meet me in my efforts."

"When do you want to leave?" Asked Zakuro.

"Tonight."

"That soon?! Don't you need to prepare?" Ichigo asked.

"I prepared all I can, I have rested my body and trained. I did everything to be ready body wise. I only need to pack what I need."

Ryou stood up and walked away.

All of me wanted to run after him. I was sure he'd try to convince me in not going and he would succeed. So instead I stayed and answered all the questions of the others and discussed the data.
I was sure Ryou wouldn't be home tonight…

I opened the front door and threw my shoes off, immediately walking upstairs. I took out this small backpack I got in England and put in all the necessities.
I needed a rope in case of, my pocket knife, eavesdropping equipment, pepper spray, an old phone so it couldn't be tracked and some other things. The fact that I had all these things made me look like some spy, something I'm obviously not. The fact I was well trained in multiple martial arts, which I did when I was younger and I secretly picked them up after the last attack, made me quite hard to tackle.
I put on some black clothes with a belt, put my hair in a high ponytail, took off my make-up and put the most important necessities in close reach.

I went downstairs into the kitchen to eat and to get some food in case I would be away for longer then one day.
I had to leave in an hour so I just sat down calmly at the dinner table but my heart was saying other things than calmly and my head were having nervous thoughts.

The fact that it was an hot day and I was sitting there with long sleeves, trousers and socks made things even worse.

I heard the front door opening and closing, Ryou got home.
I continued eating my dinner when the door opened. Ryou and I looked each other in the eyes. Without a word he walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge.

"I cooked, it should still be warm."

Ryou only made sound of confirmation and took out a beer.
Ryou was not much of a drinker and when he did drink it was either due something good or when he wanted to numb his feelings. The latter was now.
I decided that not reacting to this was best. Ryou took a plate, put food on it and walked upstairs. Obviously to his study.

I felt bad mainly because I hated to upset Ryou. I hated fighting with him but this time I couldn't talk it out immediately. First of it would be a very heated fight, second it would make me leave late, third if we'd fight now then we'd both hurt even more.

So I decided to write him a note. I took the finished note with me into the hallway and put it on the table with our house phone. I put on my shoes and the thinnest black jacket I had.

I then left.