As you can see I decided to continue this. I have no plans yet how long this is going to be but as long as somebody wants me to continue this I'll continue it. Now enjoy and review!

… and the Pain of Ignorance

He had warned her so many times not to come to this place or at least not all alone. But she couldn't resist. She just loved this place and he did as well. To others it may have been just an other abandoned factory but to them it was so much more.

She marvelled at the light of the late afternoon sun on the broken windows lying on the floor covered by layers of dust. Everything around her was silent. The sounds of the busy city were barely  audible in the empty halls. At night the place was almost crowded with all the homeless and junkies and freaks seeking shelter for a few hours but during the day the place was normally empty.

Hikari kept glancing at her left and right side while she slowly walked down the long hall towards the stairway leading up to the second floor and the roof. She was pretty sure that she was alone but through a few unpleasant encounters she had learned to be careful. She knew how to defend herself but with all the freaks running around she couldn't be careful enough.

The stairs weren't a much saver place either. She tried to stay close to the wall always keeping her eyes on her feet climbing up the crumbling stairway. When she had finally reached the top and pushed the rusted metal door open she was greeted by a gust of cool wind. She stepped out onto the roof and walked over to the edge of the building while deliberately avoiding the dangerous holes. From this place you could see the old factories and warehouses stretching out towards the city. The sun was still high but soon it would go down behind the tall skyscrapers casting long shadows over these deserted ruins.

"How often did I tell you not to come to such places alone?"

The unexpected voice from behind her had startled her and she quickly whirled around to face the intruder. She had already recognized the voice but she had to be sure that it was really him.

Yamato had stepped out behind an large old brick chimney where he had previously been hidden from her eyes. His big blue eyes where glittering in the afternoon light like the sea but his face was serious. She thought she could see a hint of curiosity in his eyes and maybe something else but she wasn't sure.

"Often enough, I guess but that won't keep me from doing it and you know that."

"Yeah, I knew it but that doesn't mean that I'm less worried. There are other, less dangerous, places as well so why do you insist on coming back here again and again?" the older boy inquired.

She just stared at him for a moment before a broad grin spread on her face and she started to giggle. The blond boy gave her a bewildered look.

"You think that's funny? Well, sorry, but I can't laugh about it. I was really worried."

"No, silly, it's not that. It's just that you always have to suspect some great design behind everything. There are things in this world without a deeper meaning behind them. Is it so unbelievable to you that I just come here because I like this place?"

She grabbed his hand and pulled him closer to the edge of the roof and gestured towards the city.

"It's so quiet here. There are no cars, no quarrelling people, just us. Look, how beautiful the skyscrapers are glistering in the sunlight. Do you see what I mean? This place is special not because it is meant to be something extraordinary but because it is probably one of the most ordinary spots in town. There is no higher meaning behind it. People used to work here to earn some money, to feed their children and themselves. There is nothing special about that, right?

Forget all those things you are constantly worried about for just a few minutes and relax a little. You have to lighten up once in a while, you know."

He gave her doubtful look but she noticed that he also seemed less worried now. She smiled at him warmly and tugged on his arm again.

"Come on, let's sit down for a moment and watch the city for a while."

He didn't answer her but sat down willingly beside her. They stayed like that for quite some time without speaking or looking at each other. The sun was now slowly beginning to sink behind the highest buildings and casting long shadows over the outskirts.

Hikari was the first one to break the silence.

"Now you know why I am here but you never told me why you always come back to this place. So, why are you here today?"

"Would you believe me if I told you that I love the atmosphere?"

"Maybe, but I wouldn't be satisfied with that answer because I know that there has to be something more behind it. I'm sure I know you well and long enough to know that you do nothing without pondering it for days. You have many qualities but spontaneity isn't one of them."

Her smiling face slowly became more serious. They were still looking out at the city but when Yamato turned his head for the first time since he had sat down to look at her he couldn't help but notice how mature she looked. Her hair, a little longer now than it had been a few years ago, was pulled back into a ponytail. Her features were more feminine now but she still had those warm eyes that made her look like the little innocent girl he had known once.

Suddenly she turned towards him and looked him straight in the eyes.

"You don't trust me."

He was a little taken aback by her sudden accusation: "What makes you think that I don't trust you?"

"You never tell me what's really on your mind. I can tell when something is bothering you. I would be there to listen but you keep all your problems to yourself. So this can only mean that you don't trust me."

He shook his head a little: "I'm sorry if I gave you that impression but that's not the case. I trust you but I really don't have any problems at the moment I would need to talk about."

"Don't lie to me! You can fool others with that look but I can see that there is something going on behind your mask!"

"I didn't mean to keep the truth from you, sorry. But, honestly, Hikari, there is no one who knows more about me than you. Not even my own family knows the things you do about me. It's not easy for me for some different reasons to let somebody else into my life. So, please, understand that there are a few things I don't want to talk about."

"I think I can relate to that a little." She was looking back at the city again and her voice had taken a much softer tone. "There are also a few things on my mind that you don't know about either. It seems that I'm not ready to talk about them and I'm not sure if I ever will be but when I'm ready I will come to you to talk about them.

Anyway, I forgive you but I'm not going to give up. I'm going to find out what's bothering you!"

Yamato was laughing lightly while Hikari got up and left the same way she had come earlier. He listened to her fading footsteps for a while not leaving his place at the edge of the roof. It was good to see her happy side. He knew that she had her own share of problems to deal with but she had managed to keep this side of her as well.

But he also had to think about the things she had said and about the sudden change of tone in her voice. He couldn't help but wonder what was possibly on her mind that she couldn't talk to him about.

He watched her as she left the crumbling building and made her way towards the next subway station which was somewhat far away. It was then that he understood how special she was to him. The only thing he wasn't sure about was what he wanted her to be to him. He didn't feel ready for it yet but he knew he was slowly falling in love with her.

A moment before she disappeared behind an old warehouse he began to sing quietly.

If you could step into my head,

Tell me, would you still know me

If you woke up in my bed,

Tell me then would you hold me

Or would you simply let it lie,

Leaving me to wonder why

I can' t get you out of this head

I call mine

And I will say

Oh no I can' t let you go,

My little girl

Because you 're holding up my

World, so I need you

Your imitation of my walk

And the perfect way you talk

It' s just a couple of the million

Things that I love about you

So I need you

* * *

I forgot to mention it the last time. The lyrics in the first chapter and in this chapter don't belong to me. The song in chapter one is "'ere the flowers unfold" by Cinema Strange and "So I need you" is property of 3 Doors Down. I'm going to use a new song in each chapter but if I don't find a place to fit it in I won't force it.

Thank you for all the reviews! It feels good to know that some people read and maybe even enjoy my stories.