Chapter Twelve: Decision
Matsuda had never been more shocked in his life. No, that was a lie. But it was extremely surprising to find one's friend in an abandoned warehouse in the middle of the night. An abandoned warehouse that was obviously under investigation by the police, no less.
"It can't be… Why would she do this…? I told her to rest and keep safe… Why did you come here, Sayu? What if it had been the people who killed Ide who found you, instead of me and Mogi? What then?"
"S-sayu?" he said, "What…why?"
Mogi turned from where he was crouched next to the other girl.
"Let's go back to the others," he said, "We'll be able to talk there."
"You're gonna take them out there for Aizawa to yell at?" Matsuda thought. "Okay, maybe that's good. Let Aizawa handle this."
He still wasn't sure whether to yell at Sayu or hug her. On the one hand, he was relieved that she was outside, doing something. On the other hand, he was angry. Didn't she understand? Something could have happened to her. She could have died, if the people they were trying to find had found her and Callie sneaking around.
He turned and plodded outside, not really caring whether the others followed him. They probably would. After all, Mogi had suggested this.
Mogi shook his head at Matsuda's retreating figure.
"Yes, leave me with the girls, Matsuda. I'll be able to handle them, I'm sure."
He looked back at the girl on the ground. She was still staring at him, and Sayu-it was Sayu, wasn't it-was standing behind her.
"We'd better go with him," Mogi said quietly. He wasn't good with girls. He didn't even want to be around girls, since…
"Not now," he scolded himself, glancing at the two girls, who were walking away, "They'll be gone in a few minutes, and they'll be someone else's problem."
When he got outside, Mogi found Aizawa staring at Sayu and Callie in evident confusion.
"Mogi?" he said, "What is this?"
"I'm not sure," Mogi said, "We just found them."
"It's Sayu," Matsuda pointed out.
Aizawa frowned.
"Sayu Yagami?"
Mogi nodded.
"Matsuda," Aizawa said, "Tell me you did not tell this girl about Ide."
Matsuda laughed nervously.
"Um…" he mumbled, "I kinda…"
"Idiot!" Aizawa yelled, "This was supposed to be a secret investigation, Matsuda! Why are you so stupid?"
"Mr. Aizawa," Sayu said, stepping forward, "I asked him. He was obviously upset. Was I supposed to sit there and wonder why he was so sad and not be there for him? He's always been there for me."
"I agree that he needs your friendship," Aizawa replied, "But he didn't have permission, and there's no getting around the fact that he told you classified information, and you apparently told the other girl."
Mogi glanced at the girl in question, who was chewing on a strand of her long red hair.
"She's obviously not from Japan…so why is she here? However…whoever she is…she is rather pretty…"
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Callie Suzuki," the girl replied, "And you're Mogi, right? So the grumpy guy is Aizawa?"
Mogi nodded.
"And who's he?" Callie asked, pointing at Naoki, who was sitting on the hood of Aizawa's car. "Sayu never mentioned him."
"That's Naoki," Mogi said, "He's new."
"Oh, okay. That explains a lot, 'cause if he wasn't, I guess Sayu would've mentioned him."
"She really talks a lot," he thought, "She's almost like…like…"
"Mogi?" Aizawa said, "Are you listening to me?"
"Sorry," Mogi said. "What did you say?"
"I want you to go with these two and make sure they go back where they came from. I'll send Naoki to get you when you're done."
"Hang on a second," Sayu said, "You're sending us home? Like we're little girls?"
"Yeah!" Callie contributed, "We're in college, for Pete's sake!"
"My point exactly," Aizawa said, "The last…no, we're not going there. It doesn't matter. You're both going home. Now."
Matsuda gulped. He wanted to send Sayu home more than anything…but only if he could be sure she would stay there.
"Aizawa," he said, "I need to talk to you. Right now."
Aizawa glared at him.
"Is this really necessary right now?" he asked.
"Yes," Matsuda said. "It's necessary because I don't want Sayu to get hurt and I need you to tell me what to do after I tell you my idea."
"All right, Matsuda," Aizawa said, "What is it?"
The black-haired man beckoned Aizawa away from the others.
"They're gonna keep investigating on their own," Matsuda said, "You know they will. They're gonna get hurt. Aizawa…what can I…I have to keep Sayu safe."
Aizawa frowned.
"I know what you're suggesting, Matsuda, and I don't like it. I don't feel comfortable having Sayu Yagami involved in this, for reasons you well know."
"I promise you, she won't turn out like Light," Matsuda said, "I know her."
"Like you knew Light?" Aizawa asked, "Matsuda, you know what I'm going to say. Why are you pushing it?"
"Because she's the last one," Matsuda said, "The last person I care about…who cares about me."
Aizawa stared at Matsuda.
"Does he really think that Sayu Yagami is the only person who cares about him?"
"Matsuda," he said, "You know…me and Mogi…we do care what happens to you."
"I didn't mean it like that," Matsuda said, "You guys…you're my friends…but Sayu is the only person who accepts me. She doesn't try to fix me because she knows that nobody can fix me. She still…loves me…"
"So that's it," Aizawa thought, "He thinks that no one can help him. But Sayu is helping. The way he acts when he talks about her. It's almost like having the old Matsuda back."
"Matsuda…listen…" he said, "I think we should…"
Mogi was so focused on Aizawa and Matsuda, wondering what they were talking about, and why he was being excluded from the discussion (not that he would have contributed much), that he almost didn't hear when the red-haired girl-Callie-started talking to him.
"Do you think they're really gonna send us home?"
"They should," Mogi said, "As long as you're not involved in this, you're much safer."
"And you're out of my way," he thought, "I don't think I can cope with having you around. You're too happy, and too much like…like someone I used to know."
"Sayu's not gonna stop looking," Callie said, "And if Sayu's out in the dark chasing criminals, then so am I."
"It's not safe," Mogi said, "You're just little girls."
Callie stamped her foot.
"I am almost twenty-two years old!" she announced, "I am not a little girl!"
"I see," Mogi said softly.
"Stop talking to her, right now, or you're going to be sorry," he ordered himself.
At that moment, Aizawa and Matsuda rejoined the group.
"Everyone," Aizawa said, "I've made a decision."
Well...Mogi is way harder to write about than I'd anticipated. It's the curse of the minor characters... :/ Anyways, I just need to say: 27 reviews? In eleven chapter?! That's possibly the most I've ever gotten in this little time. :) Thanks, everyone who reviews! As you know, reviews are what I feed on. Besides chocolate, that is. Must have chocolate. ;)
