Maybe it seemed that the story was already finished… well… you're complete wrong~! There is another chapter more to go! I really need to stop this obsession… I shouldn't make the stories longer… but oh well, you like it, and I like it, so everyone's happy! And you should also be happy about this chapter being SOOO long! So, enjoy reading and review! ^^
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In the last chapter…
Yakumo went before Haruka and when she was about to close the door she heard those words again. The words that Akemi-san whispered.
"Thank you for everything…"
Chapter 13: Answer
Haruka was already in her room, resting in her bed. She didn't even change her cloths; she only rested in the bed. She was too busy remembering all the things she had done that day. She couldn't believe that she helped a couple with their problems. Spiritual problems, no less.
Until now she was the one creating those problems, not the one resolving them. It made her feel… strange. Strange, but in a good way! She helped Yakumo with the case! She was more than happy to be able to do something like that, but she only regretted the environment.
The couple she had helped was so kind… and they only suffered, even at the end. She knew that the end of the 'cases' was the worst part, but she couldn't imagine that being the one telling them the truth was so hard. Haruka though that after knowing the 'why' of the ghost, the case would be already over. She really didn't know how wrong she was.
Haruka sighed and rolled on her bed. She didn't move a bit and suddenly she smiled. She was remembering what happened with Yakumo before reaching her own home…
It was already dark and there was almost nobody in the streets. Haruka and Yakumo didn't talk, so the way to the bus was really relaxing. Haruka had still things to think about, things to accept and try to remember with a smiling face. She couldn't help but remember the face that Akemi-san had before disappearing. Haruka though that after knowing the truth, Akemi-san would disappear. She already knew that, but she didn't though about her thanking her.
Haruka really didn't do anything. Akemi-san was the one that showed her the dream and thanks to that they solved the case. Haruka wasn't the one that could help ghosts, it was Yakumo. Haruka wasn't the one that could help the families in need of help, it was Yakumo. Haruka was only the troublemaker, the one that annoyed Yakumo and didn't let him work.
Haruka sighed and wished to be able to help for who she was, not by the ones that helped her. (A/N; I'm sorry if that didn't make sense…) Haruka continued to walk behind Yakumo. She didn't really know where she was and walking far from him would be the worst mistake.
Haruka looked up and saw Yakumo's back. She stared at him as if she was hypnotized. She didn't know why nor didn't understand why, but every time she looked at him she would start feeling butterflies in her stomach. His eyes weren't the only thing that made her to look at him, it was himself.
He could be cold and distant, but he knew when someone needed help. He also needed help for himself, even if he didn't want to admit it, she knew that. She wanted to know him better, know things that other people didn't know, but he wouldn't tell her anything. Maybe he thought that if he told her something about himself, Haruka would use it against him. He really didn't know how wrong he was.
Haruka continued to have her OutSpace thoughts and didn't see that Yakumo stopped walking. She bumped into him and cursed herself for not seeing him stopping. When Yakumo looked back at Haruka she was touching her nose, trying to calm her little pain.
"We're already at the bus station." Yakumo told Haruka … and that's all? He suddenly stopped only to tell her that? … and he is supposed to be a good psychic?... dear god…
Haruka looked up from Yakumo's shoulders and saw that it was true. They were in the bus station and it seemed that the bus was about to reach. She looked back at Yakumo and nodded her head. After that neither of them talked and even if it was normal in Yakumo, Haruka always had something to say or comment. She was just trying to start a conversation, but Yakumo would only answer: 'mmh'.
"Thank you." Haruka suddenly said while moving her hair out of her eyes. The wind started to appear and it was moving her hair out of it place. Yakumo didn't show much emotion, but she knew he was shocked.
"Yeah, you should be thanking me." Yakumo answered serious, too serious if you ask me. Haruka raised an eyebrow and crossed her arm. "About what?" he asked and she smiled a little bit.
Yakumo wouldn't (EVER) admit it, but he was worried when she didn't try to start a conversation. He would always tell her that she was noisy and a busybody, but he liked her the way she was… wait a moment! Like? He knew that he liked some things about her, but he didn't like her! … Right?
"About believing me." Haruka answered while sitting on the empty bench. From there, she smiled at him again.
Yakumo just watched her. He was worrying about things that were going to happen. Yeah, he would look at her from the corner of his eyes when she wasn't looking; and he would also try to come closer to her by saying that she was low (like when he suddenly stopped). But never, ever, would he like, much less, love her.
He continued to think. Even if he loved her, they couldn't be together. It was simple. He was no good for her. She was a good girl (even if he complained so much about her), a girl that wouldn't worry about herself if any other person was in trouble. She would try to help them, even if she couldn't. Oh! And he couldn't forget about her words! She wouldn't be a help with ghosts, but her words helped people. Basically, she saved him.
And Yakumo could go on and on… but everything would end in the same way. Ozawa Haruka wasn't for Saito Yakumo. Not now, not never. End of the story. Caput.
"If I tell you the truth… I thought that you would say that I was crazy." Haruka continued, taking Yakumo back to the present.
"And it would have been a natural reaction." Yakumo answered while sitting next to Haruka. He saw Haruka's pouting face and tried not to laugh.
"How can you be so mean?" Haruka asked to herself, but aloud so that Yakumo could also hear.
"And how can you be so noisy?" Yakumo shot her back. Haruka glared at him and would have said something more, but Yakumo didn't let her.
"From now on lookout for yourself." Yakumo said really serious. That seriousness passed down to Haruka.
"Are you worried?" Haruka asked looking at Yakumo. He only looked ahead. He didn't answer and Haruka was waiting patiently for him to answer. "Yakumo-kun?" Haruka asked him seeing that he wasn't answering her. He looked at her and seemed to be a bit surprised about her calling him, but recovered fast and answered.
"'He' killed his own friend and supposed love. 'He' hasn't been caught yet, and 'he' could kill another person if he wanted. Of course I'm worried." He answered with hatred all over his face.
"Oh…" Haruka answered. She was feeling a bit disappointed. She though that he was worried about her… 'stupid' she thought to herself.
"Oh…" Haruka answered. She was feeling a bit disappointed. She though that he was worried about her… 'stupid' she thought to herself.
"We still haven't phoned Gotou-san, he doesn't know that we already have the criminal. And 'he' also doesn't know that we got him." Yakumo continued without noticing Haruka's voice in her last sentence.
"Aren't you going to call him?" Haruka asked. It was pure logic. If the police don't know that we already found the criminal they won't be able to catch him.
"Later, but I'm being serious." Yakumo answered looking straight. Haruka's eyebrows met in a frown.
"About what?" Haruka asked. Yakumo this time looked at Haruka in the face and for some odd reasons, she blushed.
"I want you to lock the door of your apartment. I already promised you that I would protect you." Yakumo answered and Haruka knew why she had blushed.
Haruka was still in her bed, biting her bottom lip while remembering that last sentences of Yakumo. She really wasn't waiting for an answer like that but…. oh, god. Haruka never felt like that before.
The next second that those words left Yakumo's lips, Haruka was in her own world. She didn't know if he said something more after that, she just didn't hear him. She couldn't hear him because she was remembering the day that Yakumo protected her with his own body. There was a chance were Yakumo could end injured, and even so, he stood in front of her and promised to protect her.
She didn't know that he would still remember that promise.
She though that he said it because of the moment and everything. She didn't expect him to really keep that promise. Oh, and Haruka couldn't forget about the sparkle that she was in Yakumo's eyes. She knew he was human (there were some hints…) but she was surprised when she saw that sparkle. It was as if-
RING!
… the phone! Haruka though. Haruka's eyes went wide and started to look around her room like crazy, searching for her mobile phone. When she tried to stand up, she tripped with her bag (A/N; Of course she would! She left it in the floor!) and ended in the floor. I don't know if I should say that it was lucky or not… but when she touched the floor, the mobile phone was in front of her.
She caught the phone and looked at the screen to know who the one calling was. Haruka read the name and almost fell to the floor again. The phone was still ringing and Haruka was doubting about answering or not.
…
In the end she answered.
"Yes?" Haruka asked.
"Can we met?" Yakumo asked. Haruka really fell to the floor. She blushed and almost let the phone to fall.
"Right now?" Haruka asked back, looking at the clock. It wasn't even 8 o'clock.
"Yeah, right now." Yakumo said after a sigh that annoyed Haruka.
"But you told me to stay at home." She said, trying to make longer the conversation that wouldn't even exist.
"Because, even if you were alone, you would be protected. If we met up you won't be alone. Now, can we meet? I have something to tell you." Yakumo answered. By that time, Haruka's annoyance already disappeared. How interesting…
"Okay… at the park next to the club?" Haruka asked. She heard him say an 'okay' and hung up the phone. She frowned at the phone and sighed.
Haruka looked at the hour again and wondered why Yakumo wanted to meet her right now. It wasn't pretty late, but it wasn't the afternoon either. It must be important. Haruka though. And it had to be. Not many people would want to meet at such hours… but Haruka wanted to know and she really didn't mind the hour.
Haruka was already dressed up; she only needed to take her bag, keys and shoes. She closed the door after she stepped out of her apartment and went to the street.
It was a nice night. There was a little wind that felt great and the sky was clear. Haruka could see some starts already sparkling, like saying 'Hey! I'm here!'. She smiled at that though and continued with her way to the park. It was the park where she played with Nao-chan. (A/N; I just made that up… it was easier this way.)
She was about 5 minutes to the park when her mobile phone rang again. She took it and saw that it was Yakumo again. She pressed the button and his voice reached her.
"Where are you?" Yakumo asked fast, faster than normal. Haruka frowned.
"Where's your manners?" Haruka asked annoyed.
"In holidays." He answered sarcastically. "Where are you?" he asked again.
"About 5 minutes to the park, why?" she answered in the end.
"Great. Gotou-san called me and told me that he went to 'his' house. He wasn't there and I think 'he' is after us." Yakumo answered, again really fast.
"Just… wait… Takuya Shimizu isn't at his house? And why do you think that he is after us? What did we do?" Haruka asked… a few questions.
"I will explain it later." And he hung up, again. Haruka stared at the phone with her eyes narrowed. She was about to curse him when she heard someone call her name.
Haruka looked up in front of her and saw Yakumo. He was breathing hard, as if he had been running until now. When he was about ten meters to Haruka, she was going to wave at him but he screamed something.
"LOOK OUT!" Yakumo screamed. Haruka looked back and saw a figure, a man figure.
That man had his hand up in the arm and Haruka could see that he was holding something. She though that it was a stone, but it really didn't matter. If the man hit her with that stone it would be the end of her, and she knew that it was his intention.
Just before protecting with her own hands, Haruka saw that the man that was going to hurt her was Shimizu Takuya. Yakumo already warned her and she was already in problems. She screamed and heard a loud sound, like something hard making contact with something smooth.
Haruka felt to the ground with something heavy over her. She had her eyes closed and couldn't see anything, but heard something low, like a whisper and opened her eyes. Haruka could see that Takuya was shocked, at least, and that he was shaking.
Slowly, Haruka looked to her side and saw something brownish. It was hair and the owner was breathing next to her neck. The fear and worry made way to Haruka's brain and tried to shake Yakumo. He groaned and she hugged him, like trying to protect him.
"Are… you hurt?" Yakumo's voice came really low, as if it was hurting him. Haruka was shaking.
"Yeah… I'm…" Haruka answered in the same low voice.
She was moving her hands really slow and almost without touching Yakumo's skin. But when she reached his head she touched something warm and liquid. Her hand was shaking with the options of that liquid. It was night, but Haruka saw the blood that was leaving her hand all dirty.
"Great…" Yakumo whispered and Haruka could swear that he smiled, and then he stopped moving.
Haruka shook him, trying to make him say something, anything.
"Yakumo-kun…" Haruka whispered with tears already falling to her cheeks.
He didn't answer.