Aaaahhhhhh!

Please pardon me, I just couldn't help it. I'm  so happy! +_+ Oh, oh, oh! Thank you for all your reviews! Really, I'm so appreciative. I'm sorry if I got the chapter out slowly, but I've been busy and guess what – yesterday was my birthday! ^-^ Right, May 23 was my birthday, now I am officially twelve! Whee! Anyway, you must be tired of my babbling. So! You can read the next installment of SOASBE! Enjoy~! And thanks again, very much!

                                                                                                                                ~BK0011

P.S. School is coming soon, so I won't be able to update very frequently, but I'll try! I promise!

Part II.

                "Yui! Yui!" There were voices all about…worried voices. Familiar ones…Miaka. Taka…Tetsuya…

                "Aggh!" Yui woke up, to the deafening sound of her own head splitting. She also woke up to the worried faces of her friends. It took awhile before they came into focus, but when they finally did, she stared in surprise. "Wha…? What are all of you doing here? Miaka, I thought you stayed home today..? And you too, Taka." Miaka gripped her friend's hand tightly, childish, round, face looking worried. "Oh, Yui! What happened..? Mr. Tanaka called me, and Taka too. He said you suddenly got all shaky, and that you passed out. Of course I went here right away. What's wrong, Yui..? Are you sick?" Yui rubbed a cool hand over her head. What happened...? My mind is suddenly blank. I know it had something to do with…Suboshi. She jerked violently, as though someone had electrocuted her. Her friends looked at her in surprise. "Good gracious, I don't feel so well. Tetsuya, would you be kind enough to call my mom's office and ask her to pick me up?" Tetsuya got up. "I can drive, you know. Want me to drop you off?" Yui shook her head. "No thank you. Please, just call my mom." Tetsuya nodded and left. "Taka…can you go to the cafeteria and get me a Sprite? And some aspirin from the school nurse, while you're at it." Tamahome's reincarnation responded quickly. "Sure thing! Be right back." He left the room.

                Miaka knew something was up; She also knew that Yui wanted to talk to her in private, and that she had sent out the boys because of that.

                "Tell me now, Yui. What's going on?"  

                The blonde furrowed her brow angrily, wondering how to start the conversation. She knew she didn't have much time before Taka or Tetsuya returned, but she still didn't want to hurry this precarious topic up. "Miaka…I know we promised not to keep secrets from each other anymore, after the book closed." The glutton nodded her head vigorously. "Have you a secret?! Oh, Yui, you should have told me!!" Yui shook her head. "It's not really a secret…it's a…feeling. Miaka, you know about me and Tetsuya, right?" "Of course. Everyone knows about you two, let alone your best friend!" "Uh-huh. Well, we've been going out for some time now…two weeks, I believe. I want you to know that I like him…but…." "But what? Yui, you can't date someone you don't love!"

                Yui smashed her fist against the bed in frustration. As you know, tolerance was not her best asset. "I know that! But I can't love him!! I keep thinking of someone else!! I know I shouldn't, but Miaka, you have to understand…" She looked at her friend with sad, begging eyes. "I'm haunted. The book – it's still in my mind! Everything...! And everyone, also…Nakago, Amiboshi, even your star warriors…Nuriko, Tasuki, all the others and…" She struggled not to say it with affection. "…Suboshi. They're all here"- Tapping her head sadly –"And it's all I can do to cling to this life. It's so hard Miaka. I'm not as strong as you. I can't move on. At least you have Taka. Someone to remind you that not everything is lost. But me..? I have no one." Miaka smoothed Yui's hair, trying to calm the upset blonde. "Stop thinking about it, Yui. The book is over. It's done. You don't have to worry about the bad things your star warriors did. I forgive them, and most especially, I forgive you. We defeated them already! Stop grieving. You were blinded by Nakago…he manipulated you to do wrong. It's not your fault. It's his." Yui stood up from the bed, overcome with anger.

                That's not what I mean! Not what I mean at all! I'm not feeling sorry for the bad things my star warriors did. I'm missing them!

                "Nakago did not brainwash me. He was brainwashed himself! Don't you understand?! The emperor used him for his own evil biddings. Nakago was NOT bad!! And I know that you forgave them already, darn it! What I meant was -!" The door swung open, and Taka shuffled in before Yui could finish her sentence, holding up a Sprite. "Here you go. Aspirin and a drink. I paid." He handed them to Yui, and she took them reluctantly. She and Miaka made eye contact, and both understood that this was a matter they could discuss later on. Right now, they had to keep hush-hush about it. They didn't want to worry either Taka or Tetsuya. "Thank you, Taka, for all your help. I'm sorry for making you go all the way to the canteen. I'll do it next time." Her legs wobbled slightly, and she sat down on the bed quietly, sipping her Sprite. A nasty headache had begun to stir in her head, and she laid back down on the pillow, closing her eyes. "I need to rest, you two. My head hurts a little. Thanks for coming by on such a short notice – Mom will take me home from here."

                Miaka and her boyfriend waved small goodbyes to Yui as they crept out of the room, but Yui didn't see them.

                She was already fast asleep.

                                                                                                                                ***

                "What happened, Yui? Your father and I were very worried. But you say you aren't sick. That's very odd indeed. Are you sure you don't have even the slightest fever?"

                Her mother was pestering her. Yui did not like that. "Yes, I'm fine. You can stop worrying. I'm just feeling a little distracted. I don't think I'll be able to do my work well in this state – that's why I asked you to come pick me up." "Well, all right…if you're absolutely sure." Yui made no moves to reply – she simply cupped her head in her hands and stared blatantly at the road. It hurt her a lot…she didn't really know why. Why am I trying to get rid of him? Shouldn't I be happy that one of my seishis is coming back to life, to me? Suboshi is just a friend…I shouldn't care so much…and if he doesn't remember anything, all the better. I'm so hyped up and freaked out about this…I'm getting worked up over nothing. Yeah. That's right. The car screeched to a stop, and Yui floated out of it, still thinking deeply. "Well, I guess we're home…I have to go back to the office know, if you don't mind. Remember, call me if you feel sick or anything, okay? You have the keys!" Yui felt the clink of the keys hitting each other in her purse. I'm always home alone…mom and dad never have time for me. She turned back to her mom and waved a little, who gave her a worried smile, and began backing out of the driveway.

                The blue-eyed blonde started up the stairs to the family's apartment. She didn't really like the positioning, actually. The apartment on her right was always very loud – people were shouting all day, having fights about every frivolous thing. And the lot on her left was empty and bare, said to be haunted, and there were rats living there, which sometimes crept into Yui's house, bothering her greatly. Miaka lived next to Fu and a nice old lady named Mrs. Ruriko, but Yui…? She lived smashed between a haunted room and screaming people. It was not pleasant. Upon reaching her floor (it was the 4th) she saw a great bunch of sweaty workers hauling giant boxes into apartment 102. A realtor was shouting commands and directing things, and it hit Yui that someone was moving into the 'ghost' apartment, the one chockfull of mice. Wonder what the family will be like..? She crept past the mess of crates and into her own apartment – 103. There was a 'connecting door' in their lot, leading to her neighbors. Of course the doors were never used - it just would do no good to walk in on people declaring a divorce, or rats scurrying about. Yui walked over to her room, and onto her bed, crashing down on the deep-blue silk.

                She switched on her television set and stared at it dumbly.

                The next thing she knew, the doorbell was buzzing, she had dozed off, and the TV was still on, now showing a pair of tacky comedians. Rubbing her head, she shut the TV, got up and stalked into the lobby. Not bothering to check who it was – probably just Miaka, come to see if I'm fine – she swung open the door, scratching her head. Two pairs of stunningly bright blue eyes met her own. She must've been seeing double, because two extra-identical figures were in front of her, smiling nervously, both holding foil-wrapped meals. They looked surprisingly familiar…still, it did not register in her head who they were. She was feeling hot-tempered because of today's past events, and barked at them rather rudely. "Yes? And you are?" The boys exchanged glances, and the older-looking sibling stepped forward, a hand stretched out in a friendly manner. "I'm Kotou Takada, and this is my brother Shun. We're moving in next door, and our parents thought it would be appropriate for us to…" The other one quickly finished. "To be hospitable and neighborly. We prepared you some dinner …" –gesturing to the trays in their hands – "…And we were thinking maybe we could have a little chat."

                Ah. Normal, friendly people. I must act civilized, in front of my new neighbors.

                "Oh, please, do come in. My parents are out for now, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind having you over." Yui stepped aside, allowing them passage. She was still in her uniform, but then, she didn't have to look very good in front of her neighbors. She led them to the sitting room, allowed them to place their meals on a table, excused herself and brushed her hair a little in the bathroom, that was all. They seem like nice guys. Good-looking, too…and very…familiar. Entering the sitting room again, they unwrapped the meals, and Yui found that it was good Chinese cuisine. She smiled pleasantly, and they began to eat, striking up several conversations. "So, you two must be twins." "That's right." "And Kotou is older?" "Nah. Just seems like it." Shun was the more talkative one of the two; already he had begun to feel cozy around his neighbor. Yui felt comfy with him too, surprisingly, and somehow she caught herself staring a few times…Stop it. You already have an attachment. She slapped herself figuratively, and tried to think up more conversation…to distract herself, of course. "Um…what school did you say you were going to attend?"

                "Yotsubadai high. Why?" Something seemed to click in her head. She got up from the table, looking rather appalled.

                "Excuse me, please." She rushed to the bathroom, without waiting for their reply. Did I see right? Why didn't I notice before? The sleep must have clogged the respectable part of my mind. There was no denying those eyes…and that impish grin, and little swagger of the voice…Good Seir-I mean, Good Lord, I'm really so haunted. Why is this happening to me? Why are they appearing everywhere? "Hongou-san? Hongou-san? You've been in there for some time. Is something the matter?" She brushed a hand through her hair, feeling very tense. She had locked the bathroom door, and steadied her voice, thinking up some answer. I can't go out there. I don't want to see him. Not even Amiboshi. She cleared her throat. She opened her mouth to speak. No words came out. She was choking on 'I…'. Something was not right. She hurriedly tried to open the door. Her hand could not rest on the knob. She looked about wildly. Her world was spinning. "He-help!" She tried to call. It failed. Another blackout is coming on…she stepped near the bathtub, accidentally slipping in, knocking her head on the peachy tiles. Blag. Instant knock-out. There was silence.

                 The twins outside were getting worried. Their neighbor had walked out on them when all was going well, and now the bathroom was silent as stone. "Think something happened?" Shun asked his brother, trying to be casual. He had taken rather a fancy to this pretty neighbor of his – of course, a girl so attractive would already have someone, but he couldn't help liking her. Maybe just in a friend-way. Yes, in a friend-way. Of course. It was just an instant liking, but then maybe it was chemistry. Whatever. He didn't want to think of it. He wanted to know if she was all right – perhaps she slipped and her head cracked open, and she was now dead and the police would come and arrest him. "I don't know. But the door is locked." They tried calling their neighbor again. Nothing. "Isn't there any way we can open the door?" A few traces of shakiness had now crossed Shun's face. He was still a kid, after all, and a neighbor's odd disappearance was still pretty creepy. "No, I don't believe so…should we call the police or something?" They waited around for a while, and Kotou finally took action. "I'm going to get mom and dad. Be back right away. Keep watch, all right?" "Of course." Shun's 'aniki', as he liked to call him, ran off in a hurry, whilst he paced back and forth in front of the bathroom. His hands were jammed into his pockets. He was trying to keep cool. Nothing bad could've happened.

                He stared at the knob for awhile. If only I could somehow unlock it. Impossible. He reprimanded himself for thinking such a thing. By now he was very worried about the beautiful blonde. He liked that girl. Not just superficially – he wasn't that shallow, though he could be, at times. There was something about the ratty way that she answered the door that he liked. Fierce girls were his type – not b*tchy, just forceful. They were pretty attractive. He stared at the knob again. Unlock…unlock…he felt a strange surge in his head, all of a sudden. It was not painful, but it felt strange, a powerful, magnetic feeling. He concentrated a little…staring at the shiny silver metal, willing it to unlock. Crreaak. The door swung open. There was Miss Hongou, sprawled in the bathtub, her head slumped against the wall. Apparently she had fallen, had simply passed out. He took her into his arms very cautiously. It seemed a little dramatic, this night – girls falls lifeless into the tub, young, new, neighbor helps her up. It seemed a little close to irony, even, if it wasn't so freaky.

                He lugged her over to the sofa, knowing it would be impolite to enter her room, even if her own bed might have been more comfortable. The door opened not five seconds after, with Kotou and his parents, all looking dreadfully worried. "She's out!" Kotou cried in surprise. "Out of the bathroom, and knocked out as well." Shun couldn't help making a little pun, even then. Mrs. Takada looked her over, and announced that she was fine. "She's quite shaken up. I believe something rather frightened her – did you tell some scary story over dinner, or something?" The twins held up their hands. "No. Honest." It was a good lucky thing that Mrs. Takada was a doctor, and she quickly ordered a cool cloth placed on Yui's forehead. They waited around for awhile, keeping watch on the feverish girl, for indeed it seemed as though she would catch a fever. Towards 10 o'clock the heat in her head cooled down, and she woke up numbly, just as her parents walked in the door. "Yui!" They cried, finding their beloved daughter surrounded by strangers. "You're awake!" Shun called, sounding very alleviated. The brilliant student's eyes fixed on his relieved, grinning, face, and her expression seemed to glaze over.

"It's…the twins…it's really…you two…" She called out hoarsely. Another number of voices cried out her name, yet they did not seem as familiar as before, and she dozed off again, most uncomfortably.

                                                                                                                ***

There's a face that

Creeps up everywhere

Can't seem to leave me alone

Always gives me a scare…

Those cheery, piercing eyes

Always electrify me,

And though I turn my head

It's always that face that I see

I thought I'd never see that smile again

Those lips I want to kiss

I thought that I'd be over him

But still it's him I miss

It's a face that I want to forget -

To erase from my mind.

But however much I try to let go

It's always that face that I find.

And now I'm so tired,

There's nothing I can do

To block out that freaky face

The face that belongs to you.

NOTES:

- I'm sorry if I ended this chapter with Yui passing out again. Believe me, not every chapter will end that way. ^_~

- Can anyone tell me Tetsuya and Taka's last names? I forgot…-_-''