Truths of the Heart

Thanks for your reviews, Eigwayne and lady-sess. I thought it'd be interesting with Juli being a little different and in a situation you wouldn't really have expected her to be in. As for Blue… well, you'll see. Btw, I forgot to mention earlier that this fic doesn't take into account what happened in the last ep.

Another minor note: in chapter one, I wrote that Juli has blue eyes. I think she actually has green eyes, so please excuse my mistake :). Will try to update as frequently as I can. Keep reading and hope you guys enjoy!

Chapter 2: Memories and New Situations

When Juli woke up, sunlight was pouring into her bedroom through the glass door that led to the balcony. She sat up, only to double over in pain. She lifted her shirt to find a large bruise imprinted on her midriff.

The memory of the night before came pouring back, of how she had spent the day like a normal young person, and how she had been attacked and…

The glimpse of blue…

Juli threw the covers off her bed and vaulted out. She hurriedly dressed in a black sweatshirt and jeans and practically ran down the stairs.

"Young mistress," Yuki said in surprise, "why are you in such a hurry?"

"Yuki," she said breathlessly, "send for the car."

"But, mistress," Yuki lowered her voice. "After you came home late last night, Jun-san was insistent that you are not let out today."

"What? Why?!"

The young maid was taken back. "Mistress, don't you remember? Nishikawa-sama is coming this afternoon."

"Nishi…" Juli murmured. "That's right."

"Mistress," another maid, Fiona, said as she approached. "Shin-san would like to discuss tonight's menu with you."

"Where's Eiko-san? Couldn't she do it?"

Both maids stared at her, startled. "Today is Wednesday, mistress," Yuki said. "Don't you remember that Eiko-san takes Wednesdays off to visit her family?"

"Oh, of course," Juli said, deflated. "Alright then."

She spent the entire morning in the kitchen nodding as Shin, the head cook, explained what she was preparing. Her head, however, was filled with thoughts of last night's events.

Could it be Blue? she wondered. I thought that I'd never see him again.

She remembered the last time she had seen him: in the doorway to the bridge, how she had pleaded for him to stay, but he had refocussed her on the task at hand with one sentence. He's a true leader, Blue, she thought. Much better than I ever could be.

Afternoon soon came around and Juli found herself in her bedroom, pulling on a simple red dress. She finished brushing her hair and walked across the room and out onto the balcony that overlooked the wide green lawns at the back of the mansion. She closed her eyes as a small breeze blew, playfully lifting her hair from her shoulders.

"Blue," she said softly, "I want to see him."

"Um, young mistress?"

Juli turned to find Yuki behind her, carefully avoiding her eyes. "Yes Yuki?" Did she hear what I said?

"Nishikawa-sama is here."

Juli descended down the winding staircase to the hall where Takeshi Nishikawa waited, his yellow hair gleaming in the bright light and his suit neatly pressed. He bowed. "Juli-san, it's very good to see you again."

Juli returned the bow. "Thankyou for joining me for dinner."

The two walked to the sitting room and took their places opposite each other on the expensive cream settees.

"I hear that you successfully closed many business deals lately, Juli-san."

"Yes."

"That is very impressive. You only had two years' preparation, yet you've come this far."

Juli shook her head. "No, it's not like that."

Nishikawa laughed. "Don't be so modest. I have been trained to take over my father's business my whole life and I haven't done as well on some transactions as you have. I really admire you, Juli-san."

Juli forced a smile. "Thankyou." She didn't think what she had done deserved admiration. All it had inspired in her was a feeling of self-contempt.

"Is it true that before all this you were a pilot trainee?"

She started as she stared into Nishikawa's blue eyes. She hadn't expected him to bring that up. "Y-yes, that's right," she replied.

"And you were involved in the Ryvius incident?"

Juli looked down at her hands as old emotions; excitement, fear, uncertainty and happiness, came flooding back. "I really…"

"What was it like?" She started as the young man leaned forward towards her excitedly. "What was it like in space?" he repeated. "I mean, I've travelled to other planets before, but only on business trips and the like. What was it like travelling with other people our age and then having complete control of a ship?"

Juli didn't know what to say. "I really don't…"

A knock on the door saved her from answering.

"Mistress, Nishikawa-sama," Yuki said as she entered the room. "I'm sorry for the interruption, but dinner is ready."

"Alright Yuki," Juli said, relieved, "thankyou. Nishikawa-san, do you mind?"

The young man straightened, looking more like the son of a wealthy businessman instead of the excited young man he had resembled earlier. "Not at all," he replied, offering her his arm.

Ryu joined the pair for dinner. Silence settled in the room as the servants refilled glasses and exchanged dishes for each course. Juli looked at Nishikawa, who was sitting at the other end of the table, observing how neatly he ate, like all well brought-up upper-class young men. Eating like that was the least of our concerns on the Ryvius, she thought. He's so different from Blue.

"Juli?"

"What?"

"What are you doing trying to eat soup with a fork?"

Juli looked down at the fork in her hands stained orange with pumpkin soup. "Oh, heh, I wasn't concentrating."

Ryu began to laugh and, to everyone's surprise, Nishikawa joined in. "You're a funny woman, Juli-san," the blond man said.

"Isn't she? Look at her face!"

Juli stared at the two youths still surprised, but also annoyed. This was meant to be a stiff, boring dinner. Just how did things end up like this?

"I'm very glad that you invited me to dinner, Juli-san," Nishikawa said as he took his coat from a servant. "I enjoyed it very much."

"I'm glad too, Nishikawa-san," Juli said. She was still surprised at how normal and relaxed the young man had seemed after the fork incident, as if he had momentarily forgotten his formal upbringing and teachings.

"Please," the blond man took her hand, "we've known each other for months. I would be honored if you called me by my first name."

"Um," Juli was too startled to withdraw her hand from his grasp, "alright, Takeshi-san."

"Thankyou." The young man bowed before departing, leaving her standing in the hall.

What was all that about? She thought as she slowly climbed up the stairs to her room. She remembered the excitement in his eyes as he asked her about the Ryvius in the sitting room,and also how he had laughed unguardedly in the dining room. He might not be like the others after all. The thought gave her some comfort. I'm glad that not everyone in this part of the world is pretentious and arrogant.

"Hey, neesan," Ryu, who was waiting for her at the top of the stairs, said.

"What is it, Ryu?" Juli asked as she noted the seriousness in his eyes.

"I heard that you came back late yesterday and was messed up and everything. What happened?"

"Nothing. I just tripped and fell on the street that's all."

The brown-haired teenager stared hard at his sister before whirling around and walking towards his room. "Yeah, alright then."

Juli changed into a comfortable pair of pyjamas as soon as she got back to her room. It felt like Ryu hadn't believed her. And the look in his eyes before he had turned disturbed her. It seemed as though her lie had hurt him.

"Nah, why would it?" she said aloud and quickly dismissed the thought.

Anyway, I know what I have to do. Tomorrow is the day. I have to look for him.

Juli curled up in her bed and hugged her knees to her chest, ignoring the throbbing pain she felt in her stomach. "I will," she whispered, "I will find him."

"I really don't think that this is a good idea, young mistress," Kobayashi said as he circled the street once again.

"Let me out," Juli said.

"Not until you promise that you will call me to pick you up and make it early."

"I'm sorry Kobayashi-san, I can't make a promise I might not be able to keep."

"Then I can't let you out, mistress. I have to ensure your safety first."

"Kobayashi," Juli folded her arms. "I'm ordering you as mistress of the house to let me out at once."

The driver paled. "But…"

Juli pounced as she sensed his weakening, "I won't say it again, Kobayashi." She hid a smile as the vehicle came to a stop and the doors unlocked. "Thankyou, I will call you as soon as I'm ready."

"Young mistress," Kobayashi turned to look at her. "Please stay out of trouble."

Juli smiled at him. "I'll try," she said before closing the car door and running down the street.

"Wait, mistress! What do you mean 'you'll try'?!"

Juli headed down the street, her blue jacket slipping off her shoulders as she ran. She ran past the coffee shop she had had lunch in two days ago until she finally reached the alley.

She stopped and leaned against the brick wall, panting. It was a bright morning and there were many people about on the street, but Juli still felt a small fear creep into her as she peered into the alleyway.

It didn't look as frightening in the daylight. It was dirty and there was an overturned garbage can on the ground, but aside from that, there was nobody there.

What did you expect? She thought as she walked back the way she had come. That maybe he had left some kind of clue behind? You'll never be able to find him this way. No, don't think that way, I have to be optimistic.

"Where can I go next?" she wondered aloud. She stopped when she spotted a man rummaging through a rubbish bin on the sidewalk. He was a large, unshaven man and was wearing a beanie and a dirty old coat. She frowned. He looked kind of familiar. When her eyes slid down to the bandaged hand gripping the side of the bin she gasped.

It… it had to be him.

Taking a deep breath, she approached the man, fists clenched at her sides. "Hey you!" she said.

The man turned to look at her and his eyes widened. She expected him to run away or try to attack her again, but that was not what he did. Instead, he fell backwards, his eyes wild. For the first time, Juli noticed the bruises on his face and his broken nose. "What –" she began.

"Stay away, stay away!" the man babbled. "I promise not to do it again!"

Despite the events of the night before, Juli felt a twinge of sympathy for the man. "Hey," she said, "I just want to talk to you."

"No, I can't! He'll kill me!"

"Who?" Juli said sharply. "Who will kill you? Is it Blue?"

"Bl-blue," the man nodded. "He had hair as blue as the ocean."

Juli felt hope rising within her. "Please, mister," she said gently. "Tell me where I can find him and I promise that I'll leave right away."

"You promise?"

Juli frowned, wondering what had happened to reduce the rough man who had attacked her into a frightened wreck. "Yes, I promise."

"The abandoned warehouse on Hunpo Street. Now leave me alone!"

Juli ran down the street towards the t-intersection. Hunpo Street, that's not far from here. Finally…

Her heart lightened as she ran. Each step she was getting closer, closer to him.

Finally, I can see him.