As of tomorrow, it will be exactly one year since I've last updated this fic. I'm going to try to finish this thing once and for all, to give myself and disappointed readers peace of mind and to shake off this writer's block from another project of mine. For anyone who was actually waiting for this (I doubt it though), I thank you. Hope you enjoy the latest installment. =) It's still going to be dark for a good while with plenty of angst, just to warn you. If anything, my writing skills hopefully improved after all this time...


So without further ado,


Till Life Do We Part

Chapter Four


By Juri aka "Lady Ryouko"


Taka was used to feeling helpless. He certainly didn't like it, but this sense of restless, restrained fury and grief was nothing new. As he sat in a train heading for Tokyo Hospital, he mused how strange that the course of life can change in a matter of minutes. Happiness is often fleeting, but it's worth striving for and protecting.


After all, he and Miaka finally managed to be settle down and be together despite all the trials they faced. They were living a quiet, pleasant life for once, and Taka finally felt like he had things under control.


Yui's accident had thrown everything into turmoil. He couldn't help but be somewhat angry at the careless motorist for messing up everyone's lives. It killed Taka how he could nothing but pray for her and be there for Miaka and Noku. They've all gone through so much together already though; they could make it through this one too. Taka sighed. They were all in for a long ride.


**


It was too quiet in that little room. Miaka glanced over at her purse where her portable radio was, but decided against getting it. Any other noise except for the soft whirs and clicks of the machines would've been crass, and false cheer. The silence made her painfully aware of the surreal reality of the situation. Yui, her Yui-chan, was lying on that bed unconscious.


And it was her fault.


Miaka stirred in her seat, her body creaking internally after being immobile for so long. Her face threatened to crumple again, and she let it. Why not? Why should she resist being in pain? It was no worse than what she did to Yui.


She hid her face in her hands. What kind of friend was she? She didn't mean to keep hurting Yui, but somehow, she kept getting hurt because of Miaka. If she hadn't been such an idiot and ran out into the street like that...


Miaka looked up at the little bed where her friend laid. The doctor had told her that speaking to Yui would be helpful, but it's been harder for her to do without completely breaking down. Still, it was the least she could do. The only thing she could do. She stood up and resolutely walked over to the bed.


"Hey Yui, it's me again..."


**


It didn't take Noku long to realize he was utterly lost. Getting through the doorway had been easy enough, but this daunting expanse of gray mist left him feeling a bit discouraged. He had no clue where to begin. Even worse, the longer he stood there looking around bewildered, the more his initial adrenaline rush was replaced with a vague need for sleep. Noku shook his head.


"I don't have time for this!" he growled. "I need to get my fiancee back from that green-eyed psycho." With that, he plunged into the mist.


For hours he plowed steadily through the mist, letting his feet guide him. At first, his mind was busily occupied with thoughts of revenge and how happy he and Yui would be after this mess was over with, but as time passed, his feet pounded less vigorously and he was aware of the silent, slippery worries making their way through his otherwise black and white mind.


"What if... what if she doesn't want to see me?" Noku frowned. Why wouldn't she want to see him? He realized he was scared of thinking of an answer. Noku clenched his fist. It's not as if he didn't try hard enough for her. He swore he would protect her and take care of her, no matter what. His devotion to her was unshakable and he strived to make himself worthy of her by becoming as perfect as possible.


When he was promoted to co-chairman of his company, he invited Yui out to dinner to celebrate. That night, he proposed to her. He was absolutely certain of her answer, but still took pains to pick out a nice restaurant and ring.


And she had refused.


Eventually she changed her mind, but Noku was baffled by her initial reluctance. As far as he knew, there was nothing he did wrong. He had tons of friends, wealth, power, and good looks. Any girl would love to be with him, but he only had eyes for Yui. There was something about her, a fierce and fragile beauty that seemed untouchable. Although her hair was cut short and loose like a boy's, she was incredibly feminine, from her mischievous eyes to her knowing half smiles. She moved with the natural grace and confidence that was completely Yui. Intensely stubborn, yet incredibly impressionable. She was a treasure box of paradoxes, all of them locked away beneath a cool, confident exterior. No girl could match her intelligence, dry wit, generous smiles and alluring grace. He was hopelessly devoted to her and strived to be everything that she could possibly want, but still, there were times when he suspected she wasn't quite as amorated with him. She closed herself off from him, despite her many reassurances that yes, she loved him.


"What does she want from me? What am I doing wrong?" he whispered to the soft, swirling mist. To his surprise, it seemed to have lightened a bit, enough for him to see a green grove in the distance. With a grin, he raced toward it.


**


The moment Tetsuya reached this strange misty world, he didn't stop moving his feet. The last thing he wanted was to konk out even before his search had begun. That wouldn't do anyone any good, least of all Yui.


As he ran, he stared around him in awe. The description the website had didn't do this place justice at all. All around him was a thick gray fog that slid through his fingers like liquid wool. When he looked down, his legs turned to jelly and a wave of nausea threatened to collapse him.


"Ok, not going to do that again," he muttered to himself and resolutely looked ahead.


Hours ticked by like seconds. Tetsuya had read about how quickly time seems to pass in this place, but it still felt unsettling. He chose to spend his time wisely by focusing on his one memory, his "safety line."


Who else did he know by heart? Thinking about her would be the easiest thing he'd have to do.


After the whole fiasco with the book, Tetsuya eased himself into her life as if he'd always been there. Before then, she was always just his friend's sister's friend, of no concern to him. Admittedly, she was a beauty, but she seemed so different from the girls he usually dated. Perhaps that was what eventually attracted him to her.


It didn't take her long to trust him. He was there for her when she was at her most vulnerable and she appreciated that. Still, she seemed embarrassed that he knew so much about her without her permission, so it took her awhile to warm up to him. Tetsuya admired how she wasn't as indecisive as most girls, but that usually meant she tended to make judgments too quickly and was stubborn to change her mind. She liked him as long as he didn't hurt her, accidentally or otherwise.


The fog was dissipating, but Tetsuya took no notice of it. He realized that had he been interested in her right from the start, she probably would've rejected him. She had told him that what attracted her to him was his kind heart and bumbling charm, but Tetsuya was starting to think it was a case of being in the right place at the right time. Still, that didn't really matter. He and Yui ended up together. The more he found out about her, the harder she was to define. Yui was just... Yui. She certainly wasn't completely perfect, but perfect in all the ways that mattered. Tetsuya loved her all the more for her little quicks, even that short temper she kept under wraps. They were a happily imperfect couple. Or so he thought.


Her sense of loyalty was shaky. She valued it highly in others, but had trouble with believing she was capable of it. She certainly didn't allow herself to be blindly loyal to anyone though. Her trust was easy to obtain, but hard to secure. Tetsuya knew that well, because he had tested that loyalty more than once. They had their share of arguments, which usually ended up with Yui running away and screaming that he didn't love her at all in the first place. Tetsuya would then go after her and, after many reassurances of his love for her, they would make up and last another day.


And then the day came when Tetsuya stayed right where he was and watched her go. He was sick and tired of having to profess his love for her over and over and how he was forced to follow her like a puppy dog and beg for her forgiveness. Nobody treated Tetsuya like that. He may have been a playboy, but with Yui, he was serious. And he was sick of how many times he had to say that. So he stayed.


Tetsuya cringed as the memory painfully rewound and played itself over and over. There was nothing more he wanted than to do go back in time and run after her. His pride wasn't worth losing her. He would hold her as she cried in his arms, just like all the times before, and tenderly remind her how much he loved her as many times as she needed to hear it. But no, he let her go and she went right into the arms of Noku Honda, quite possibly the most perfect guy in the world.


Tetsuya's steps faltered, but he kept on running. He wasn't going to give up on Yui again. It didn't matter who she wanted to be with. Right now, all that mattered was to make sure she'll be alive.


In the distance, he saw a dense cluster of trees. As he came closer to it, he was shocked to find out it was exactly like the same grove Yui and him had their last argument. He carefully made his way into it.



To Be Continued


**


There. *cracks fingers * Sorry if all that analysis gave you a headache; I promise more action in the next chapter. It's good to know I'm writing more complete paragraphs now though. Before, I guess I gave the impression of a clear Yui/Suboshi ending but now... well, who knows? I love those two together, but even I don't know how this is going to turn out now. Actually, I do have a not-so-vague idea. XD Oh what I am saying? *zips lips *


So, next chapter, we'll see Tetsuya and Noku's eventual confrontation and figure out what's the deal with all this mist. A review would be lovely, although I won't nag you for one this time. XD; I'd love to know what pairings you guys are hoping for though, just so I can see what kinds of impressions this chapter left. Much thanks.