CHAPTER 6 – HOPEFUL VISITATION

"Yuu, tell me what happened?" Anju pleaded in the bedroom doorway. Yuu sat on the windowseat, looking out at the city lights. When he'd entered, he didn't say a word and had gone straight into the room, closing the door behind him. It had taken Anju 10 minutes to gather to resolve to go in after him. She was afraid what she might find.

His face was a mask that Anju couldn't read. It was totally blank. She knew him too well to know that he was hurting inside whenever he put on a face like that.

"Yuu, don't hide it from me, I know something happened with Miki. You can talk to me!" Anju walked in the room and sat down beside him.

Yuu didn't move, he simply whispered, "Please, leave me alone."

Anju nodded sadly and left the room, shutting the door behind her.

"What can I do?" she thought, "There's no use trying to talk when he's like this…"

Matsuura & Koishikawa Residence

Three days had passed since Yuu had paid a visit to Miki, she was at home now curled up in her bed. Her eyes were dry from crying and refused to let any tears come forth. But her whole body still shook. she lay in bed holding Kappa-chan, and staring off at her reflection in the mirror, vacant eyed.

"Miki!" Chiyako knocked on the door, "Miki, you have some guests!"

"Leave me alone please!" Miki sat up in bed, clutching Kappa-chan tightly.

"Don't be so rude Miki!" Came a familiar female voice from outside the door.

Miki blinked and the door swung open. Arimi and Ginta stood in the doorway.

"Arimi? Ginta!" Miki said surprised.

Arimi nodded. "Yeah! We journeyed all the way here from Hokkaido, so you'd better let us see you!"

"How'd you—"

"Meiko called us and told us you awoke." Said Ginta.

Miki stared at the two of them standing in her room. They looked much older, Arimi with slightly longer hair that brushed her shoulders, and Ginta wore a business suit.

"Don't forget about us!" Miki heard another familiar female voice as Suzu burst in the door, dragging Kei behind her. After them followed Miwa.

"Suzu-chan! Kei-kun! Miwa-san!" Miki looked at everyone in exasperation, then her frown turned into a smile. "You all came to see me!"

"We heard from Arimi and Ginta that you woke up." Said Suzu.

"Yeah, it was lucky for me," muttered Kei with a smirk. "I was on a world tour, and happened to be passing through Tokyo when I got Suzu's call.

Suzu took Kei's hand and they looked into each other's eyes. "We're both famous now, And even though we don't see each other much, we're dating." she winked at Miki. "So, I have his private cell phone number to reach him ANY time!"

"Cell phone?" Miki looked at them puzzled.

Suzu and Kei chuckled "We'll show you later."

Miki laughed and looked up at Arimi and Ginta. Ginta stood pigeon toed.

"We're married." He said redfaced.

"Married?" Miki asked excited. "Really!" The two nodded their heads.

"Just last fall," Said Arimi. "No children...' she flashed a look at Ginta. "YET." At the look, Ginta probably could have melted into a puddle of embarrassment. Arimi just giggled.

"Oh! And don't forget who else is here too!" Said Miwa, who'd been keeping quiet until now. He stood aside in the doorway to make room for Tstomu and Yayoi.

Miki laughed, Tstomu didn't look a DAY older than she remembered him. But Yayoi had matured quite a bit! She was dressed in a business suit and high heels. Miki clapped her hands. "Wow! Tstomu and Yayoi-chan! Everyone came here to see me!"

"Well…" Said Tstomu in a surprisingly mature tone of voice, "I guess it's been passed through the grapevine not only that you've awaken—"

"-But that you've been very depressed since you woke up!" Yayoi finished his sentence.

"Miki," Ginta stepped forward and sat next to her bed; Arimi followed. "We're all here to cheer you up. Everyone's taken a week of their schedule to visit you!"

"Really?" Miki looked at all the smiling faces, all these people that she'd missed interacting with for three and a half years—all the people that she considered to be her most important friends. She smiled, tears once again forming in her eyes, but this time, tears of happiness. "You all—even after so long, still love me? Thank you…"

Ginta wiped her tears away with a finger and hugged her. He exchanged confused glances with Arimi, what did that last sentence that she said mean?

"You all, even after so long, still love me?"

"Of course we do Miki-san!" Said Arimi with a wide smile.

"And tomorrow—" Came Meiko's voice from the hallway as she entered, followed by Na-chan holding their baby. "Tomorrow, we're going to take you someplace special to cheer you up!"

"Meiko, Na-chan!" Miki smiled as Meiko sat on her bed in the middle of the group of friends.

Na-chan laughed. "No one has called me that in quite some time!"

"Remember when you helped me out after Shinichi had left?" Meiko told Miki with a wide grin. "Well, we're all taking you to Carrion Farm tomorrow!

"Ohh—but," Miki turned away and sighed. "I can't walk yet."

The entire group exchanged confused glances.

"You—can't walk…?" Mieko stuttered.

"-Yet?" added Arimi.

"It's because I didn't exercise my muscles after so long, so that I was very weak when I woke. I have to build my strength back up." Miki confessed, embarrassed that it had been several days since she had even tried to walk. She'd been content to sit in bed and cry instead.

"Well then, that's what we're here for! To make you stronger!" Ginta grinned and jumped up excited from his chair. "We're going to have you not only walking, but running by the end of the week!"

Everyone agreed in unison, Miki just shook her head. "I don't want to!" She blurted out, the group of friends all quieted down, surprised.

"What's been bothering you Miki? If it's not being able to walk, than what is it?"

Meiko bit her lip and glanced around the group of confused face, she hadn't told them about Yuu yet. Ginta was the first to guess. The lack of Yuu's presence in the room was pretty obvious to them all.

"Hey, where's Matsuura?" He looked around. "Didn't someone call him and tell him!"

Miki's eyes shot wide open, a new flow of tears started and she clutched Kappa-chan tighter in her arms. "Even if he did know about this, he probably wouldn't come…" she whispered. "He doesn't love me anymore…'

The entire room went silent. Ginta looked at Miki in horror.

"He—what?" Ginta muttered.

"That's insane!" cried Arimi. "How do you know?"

"It's true." Meiko whispered and everyone turned to her. "I was there when he told her to her face the day after she woke. He and Anju are together, and that he couldn't be with her anymore—"

"—Because!" Miki interrupted. " -Because he couldn't wait for me! He… he got tired…and he gave up." She didn't want them to blame him. She knew what it was like, the pain and suffering of not being able to be with the one you love. It was an unbearable pain. She hadn't been able to live with it for 2 months. But Yuu… he'd endured it for over three years.

"Matsuura that BASTARD!" Ginta rolled up his sleeves angrily and marched out of the room.

"Yuu is about to get a nasty phone call…" muttered Arimi.

"Miki-san…" Suzu said worried. "I know how it is between you two though, I'm sure you'll patch things up!

"How can I… like this?" Miki gestured to herself, then rolled up into a ball, tears still rolling down her cheeks.

"Miki," Miwa sat down on the chair where Ginta had sat. "I know Yuu pretty well, of all the people here, he probably stayed in touch with me the most. I have letters that I'd like you to read, that express just how deeply he loves you—"

Miki looked up at him confused. "But, he told me!"

"I think you should read those letters before you jump to any conclusions… Yuu is simply caught up in the game of reality—and he's a little stuck right now, not knowing what to do…"

Kei made a fist. "Miki—you shouldn't give up like that! I hate to see you in such pain! The love that you two shared lasted throughout ALL of the odds… and all of the hardships!"

Miki sniffed, "You all, are so wonderful! But— I can't even walk! I can't face him again like this. He's taken charge of his life now. I no longer belong in it… I must look so pathetic to you all."

"You just need some sun, good food, and a little exercise!" Grinned Arimi, "We'll have you healthy in no time!

"Get healthy for Yuu, Miki…" Miwa put his hand on her shoulder. So you can walk up to him one day, and tell him what a bastard he's being!"

Miki laughed through her tears. She wiped them away with the back of her sleeve, a tiny flame of hope lit inside of her.

"Yeah! Become a strong, independent woman!" Said Suzu cheerfully. "We'll all help you. By the end of the week, he'll be begging you to take him back."

" You're not alone Miki!" Added Tstomu.

" I'll—get stronger, and see Yuu again!" Miki finally said. She nodded with determination. "Let's do it!"