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Falling for Dark Illusions
A fat man walked down the street holding an empty leash. He paused by a corner and waited patiently for several minutes before going back the way he had come. Yukari watched him as she waited for someone to pick up the phone in Amano's apartment. The phone kept ringing and she could swear she heard someone whispering not to pick it up. She frowned, but continued to wait. The man passed her a second time, this time wearing a baseball cap. She yawned and listened to the ringing line.
"Yukari, what are you doing?" Amano demanded as he came running up the street. She stared at him in surprise, glanced at the silent phone in her hand, and ran to meet him.
"I was calling your apartment. We have to talk," she told him breathlessly. He smiled winsomely and kissed her cheek.
"We're late. Hurry up." He grabbed her hand and jogged down the street. They past the fat man who was now struggling to carry a large inflatable penguin down the street.
Suddenly they stood before her house and in the yard several of her schoolmates waited with cans of various diet drinks. They greeted the couple warmly and asked if Yukari thought it would rain.
"I'm not sure. Have you checked the TV?"
"I think the weatherman's married though," Hitomi quipped as she opened the front door. "He has a goatee." Amano and Hitomi led the burgundy haired girl inside, chatting idly about the weatherman's new tie.
"Hey," the fat man murmured as he flipped through the channels on the TV. Beside him a small dog watched Yukari with uncanny intelligence.
"What is he doing here?"
"Oh he's just visiting for awhile," Hitomi replied. "Amano has to talk with you. Why don't you go in the kitchen?" She closed the door and Yukari found herself alone with Amano in a sunny kitchen that she didn't quite recognize.
"Why isn't there a refrigerator?"
"Yukari, I know that you probably won't understand."
"Don't all kitchens have refrigerators?" She ignored her boyfriend as she stared at the empty spot where a fridge should have been placed. For some reason it bothered her that there wasn't one there.
"I'm going away for awhile. I don't know if I'll see you again."
"I thought we had a refrigerator."
"There's this thing I've always wanted to do and I think I'll find it out there."
"Hang on, Amano. I'm going to have to talk to my mom. Every house needs a refrigerator," she told her boyfriend as she picked up a green phone. He gave her a small wave and walked out the back door. She stared at the phone, trying to remember her mother's cell number, and then just pushed random buttons knowing she'd probably hit the right combination sooner or later.
"Hello mom? We don't have a refrigerator."
"Dear, I'm expecting a call from Amano. Please call back later."
"But mom…"
"Love you, bye Yukari."
* * * *
Yukari jerked awake and bumped her head on the shelf above her bed. She cursed and rubbed her head in frustration. A glance at the clock showed it to be five-thirty. She flopped back down with a dejected sigh.
* * * *
"So what do you think it means?" the burgundy haired girl demanded as she sipped her soft drink.
"You need to get a new refrigerator?" her friend offered with a shrug. Yukari rolled her sorrel-brown eyes and threw a waded up napkin at Hitomi.
"I'm serious. He kept saying he was leaving and all I cared about was the fact that we didn't have a damn fridge."
"Maybe it's like I said the other day. Love and people change." Yukari sighed and pushed a french-fry about her plate, making childish designs with ketchup.
"But I don't want it to change. I used to be content."
"Don't get so depressed, Yuki. I think you should really talk to Amano about this. I mean he is the one you're having problems with."
"I'm not having problems. I'm just…confused."
"All the more reason to talk to him," Hitomi told her, placing a gentle hand over her own. "We can always go shopping later. Now go hunt him down and have a long talk."
Yukari stared into her friend's earnest green eyes and sighed. "When did you get so mature? Before I had to drag you by your hair to get you to do anything." She gave her friend's hand a squeeze before standing up. "Thanks, 'Tomi."
"Good luck."
The burgundy-haired girl gave a short wave and then left the fast food restaurant. Hitomi watched her as she crossed the street and disappeared behind a building. A soft smile graced her face as she twirled her straw between two fingers. She sympathized with Yukari having been stuck in a similar situation involving her heart.
Her green eyes lowered to her hand and she rubbed it, imagining she could still feel the imprint of her friend's hand. No matter what Yukari decided concerning Amano she, Hitomi, would be there.
* * *
Well, here's another chapter. I hope it meets with your expectations. It's coming along pretty slow, but that's because it's a rather tricky plot line to deal with. So please show your support…or hate and review. Review!