MBP: Okay, so after that rushed intro for the last chapter, I have a little time now... I had to clean the kitchen, and I did not want to get my parents angry.

Rini: Sniffle...

Kio: Onee-chan...

MBP: Well, I own nothing, and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 25: Y is for...

Yahiro was trying to piece the hints together unsuccessfully. So far, the only one he actually understood was the one about Finn. And Finn had told him that she hadn't spoken to Megumi since she left, though Ryuu and Jun had gotten calls lately. So there really was no connection.

He could still hear Ko and Kohaku running around excitedly in the hallway, since Sota had brought them again. Sota apologized, and warned Yahiro that they were going to be there until after Christmas, so Yahiro didn't mind much. Plus, they helped to distract him from the letters.

As of now, he was staring at an unopened Megumi letter in front of him. It had arrived after he'd gotten the rest of the mail, and surprisingly enough, it was Chitose who'd delivered it.

"Sui said that it showed up at his house with your name on it," Chitose had explained when he returned from his surprise sleep-over. "I told him I'd deliver it since he's kinda worried you'd murder him."

Like that would happen. He was too worried about the letters to kill the Takishima brat. Of course, now he was just staring at the letter, unable to get the will to open it.

Okay, he'd admit it, he was scared to open it. He didn't want to read the second to last letter, and he didn't want to know what word was coming. He didn't want to know what else was going to come from Megumi, and he was scared. He was terrified that if he couldn't figure the letters out today, that he'd lose her forever. Yahiro knew it was foolish, but he felt that the longer he didn't open the letter, he could believe it wouldn't be over soon.

Countdown until Christmas: 3 days.

Taking a deep breath, he opened the envelope holding the letter slowly.

Hello Yahiro... how are you doing?

Not well... he'd do better if she'd slip and show up in his house so he could talk to her.

Well, time for your letter...

() () () () () ()

'Y' is for you. Not your name, which is kind of obvious, but just the word you. A funny word, you... it starts so many sentences, and is used in a lot more. So, I'm going to use the word you in every sentence of this letter.

'You' is a meaningful word no matter how it's used. 'You' can be used as a threat, a confession of love, used to call someone, for a lot of things. "Hey you!" "I love you!" "I'm going to kill you!" See, you can be used a lot of ways, but I like describing things with the word.

So, I'll describe you Yahiro.

You were a despicable jerk that was in love with Akira since the both of you were children.

You were a rude, selfish, spoiled brat that tried to force Akira to see you.

You are obsessed with your work, and you never make an exception or leave it to see people.

You are confused when someone shows signs of concern for you, because you try to make it seem like you don't need anyone else.

You are kind in your own confusing way.

You are gentle, and protective of the people you consider friends.

You are loving to the people you care about, though they may not always realize it when you're trying to help them.

You are the most awkward person I've ever met, simply due to the fact that you can't accept a person's concern, or that someone might actually like you for you, instead of your family's name.

You are the boy that always tries to help people, but you're also the one that never wants appreciation for what you do for others.

You are a lot of things that no one else knows about.

You have darkness in your heart, and you have the strength to fight against it.

You are a dear friend to many people who love you.

You are Yahiro Saiga, a person most people would kill to be. You are a human being who cares too much, but has no way to show it. You are an enigma, a puzzle not even I could solve. You are someone who needs to learn to care about themselves sincerely before they can let someone else in.

You are you.

So I will give you your hint this time, which is also a bit of advice to...

Hint: You need to look inside yourself.

() () () () () ()

You only have one letter left Yahiro... please be close!

-Megumi

Did she want him to find her? Then why didn't she just come back?

Yahiro knew why. She had to finish these, to prove she could finish the challenge, try to prove she wasn't the idiot he'd always accused her of being.

Yahiro sighed, unsure of what he was supposed to do. What did she mean, "look inside himself"? He was pretty sure he meant it in a soul-searching sort of way, but he didn't even have an idea of where to start. How do you start looking at yourself if you didn't like the person who was there?

Megumi was right about all the things she'd said. He had been a spoiled brat, a jerk that only cared about making Akira happy. His work was his safe haven, where he didn't have to worry about anyone and he could escape. He didn't deserve to have people care enough to worry about him.

Maybe he did have a lot of self-hatred in there... But what exactly could he do about it without the one person who ever made him feel wanted?

() () () () () ()

Mitsuru sighed as Megumi locked him out of the room, pleading for a bit of privacy. She'd been more withdrawn from them as the letters kept going. He didn't like seeing her so worried and unhappy.

Mitsuru really didn't like this Yahiro. He seemed stuck-up and rude... never mind the fact that he was really desperate to find Megumi. It was probably only because he couldn't stand the fact that she could mess with him and not get caught.

Oh, who was he kidding? He was jealous that Megumi still liked the jerk. But he still cared enough to make sure that she finished what she needed to do... even if she never realized the way he felt about her...

MBP: Well, that's the end of this chapter! Hope to see you next time!

Rini: Only one letter left... *sobs* DON'T END, PLEASE DON'T END!

MBP: ...Someone please tell her something that will stop this crazy crying... please...

Kio: Um... please review... we hope you enjoyed... Jaa nee...