Normally Yuri would have had no problem keeping up with Alice's long strides, however the cumbersome load of bags and suitcases were slowing him down quite a bit. After the "incident" in the train station Alice had taken off in a flurry, ignoring his calls after her and his pleas for her to slow her pace. She was currently nearly half a block ahead of him and Yuri was struggling to keep her in his sight as she made her way around corners and through the crowds of people.

Yuri finally realized what he would have to do in order to get Alice to stop her breakneck speed. It had been about fifteen minutes since he had begun following her and he still had no idea just how close they were to her mother's home.

"Alice! I'm sorry okay?" Yuri yelled.

Yuri let out of sigh of relief once Alice turned around and began walking back towards him. Her face was a little less red than when she had first chastised him and his wandering hand, but her eyes now held a contemptuous glare.

Alice stopped a couple of feet in front of him.

Damn, I'm really in for it now.

"Yuri, sometimes it just seems like you do certain things for the sole purpose of upsetting me."

Yuri meant to pay attention to what Alice was saying, but he couldn't help but notice that her lips came together to form a small pout when she was angry and that the expression gave her a more child-like appearance.

She looks so cute when she's angry.

He quickly realized that a smile that was threatening to show on his face, but repressed it. He knew that it was important to Alice that he take what she was saying seriously.

"I'm not trying to upset you or make you mad on purpose," Yuri said. "I guess, it's just now that all of the stress of our trip is over I felt like being a little goofy and, um playful."

Yuri tried putting on one of his more boyish and charming smiles after the last statement.

Alice's expression softened slightly and Yuri inwardly sighed in relief.

Good, I'm making some progress.

Alice looked as if she we were about to reply when Yuri heard loud chuckling to the right of himself and Alice. There was a group of boys, just slightly younger than Halley's age, sitting on the front stoop of one of the nearby houses. They were watching the exchange between Yuri and Alice and seemed amused by the whole situation. Interruption

Yuri glared at them, and unconsciously started to bear his teeth. Alice, on the other hand, became slightly flustered once aware of their existence, but seemed intent not to acknowledge them.

"I can understand you wanting to relax and, well, be more casual now that our trip is over, however that action was just inappropriate."

Yuri heard another round of laughing to his right. He looked over and again glared at the boys, but this did nothing to stop them. Those damn boys were distracting him and making it difficult for him to gather his thoughts.

"I don't mind if you show your affection for me," Alice continued a bit quieter. "But, please just do it in a different manner." Alice blushed a bit. "At least until we're--"

Yuri felt his hearts flutter. Was Alice about to say what he thought she was? Before he could wait for her to continue, a series of loud cat calls and kissing noises interrupted Alice.

Alice blushed a deep red and quickly looked away from him. Yuri had finally reached his boiling point. After months and months of he and Alice being interrupted and disturbed by others he was no longer willing to put up with the juvenile behavior of the boys.

"Shut the hell up before I come over their and kick your butts," Yuri snarled. The kids seemed taken aback for only a moment before they began laughing and jeering Yuri on.

"Oh yeah mister? I'd like to see ya try!" one of the smaller boys called. He stood up and flexed one of his bony arms while the other boys cheered him on.

Yuri began cracking his knuckles.

"Just don't go crying to your mommas when I'm through with you." Yuri took on a fighting pose and made a "bring it on" motion with his right hand.

This display was enough for Alice. She let out a deep sigh, turned on her heel, and continued in the direction she had previously been walking.

Yuri was torn. He badly wanted to knock some sense into the street kids for ruining his moment with Alice, but she was, once again, walking down the street at an incredible speed. He only had about thirty seconds before she made her way out of his sights.

Yuri looked at the boys and then at Alice. Looked back at the boys and then back to Alice. Finally, he let out a deep groan, picked up the heavy luggage, and began to chase after Alice. His decision to follow Alice brought the loudest round of jeers and laughter from the boys on the street.

"Don't think I won't be back!" Yuri yelled angrily behind him at the kids and, in the process, almost managed to trip over one of the bags he was carrying.

"We're shakin' in our boots!" the small, bony boy called back.

The boys' taunts and laughter gradually faded as Yuri jogged down the street to catch up with Alice.

Although he was swiftly dodging through the crowd, Yuri was close to losing Alice from his eyesight. He couldn't believe the pace she was keeping. At least after she had left the train station she would glance back every now and again to make sure that he was still following her. However, now she was only looking straight ahead, her head held stiff and high. Just when Yuri felt about ready to drop all of the luggage in the street and yell a slew of curse words at the oncoming crowd Alice stopped dead in the middle of the sidewalk. Yuri caught up to her quickly. Once he got close enough he could see tears forming in the corners of her eyes, but also noticed that there was a small smile on her face.

"Alice? What is it?"

Alice turned and looked at Yuri and then looked back at the house she had stopped in front of.

"I'm finally home."

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This chapter has been in the making for a long, long time. Playing Shadow Hearts: Covenant inspired to finish it. Playing SH:C will (hopefully) also inspire me to write some future chapters of this fic. I've already got quite a few ideas for the next chapter :D