My Bloody Valentine By: Skittlez and OtakuSailorV

Chapter Two

It had been a week and the cops had yet to find who had killed Yuka's boyfriend. Yuka herself hadn't had the heart to turn Renkotsu in even though she knew what he had done was horrible. She was so confused inside that she wasn't sure what to do. Only a few days after he had left for California, she had decided that she would follow him. She had to find him and tell him how she felt.

She was sleeping on park benches and occasionally a nice elderly couple would lend her a guestroom for the night as she hitchhiked. She mostly slept in her car though.

No one had bothered her, and she felt strangely secure, despite the fact that she had the strangest feeling she was being watched. 'Naraku doesn't have that much time though.' She reminded herself firmly every time she had this premonition.

She wondered how far Renkotsu had gotten. Maybe she could try calling his cell phone.

Yuka fumbled with her cell phone. Picking out his number, she wondered if she should really call. They had left each other on kinda the wrong foot, how should she know if he even wanted to see her again? She might just cause him more trouble. Biting her bottom lip, she pressed the 'call' button before any further determination could be taken.

"Hello?" A gruff, tired sounding voice answered.

Yuka felt like she had just been punched in the stomach. She had no idea what to say now that he had picked up. "Hi."

"Yuka?"

"Yes." She swallowed back her fear as she awaited his reaction.

"Oh...hi..."

Yuka let out a breath that she hadn't been aware she had been holding. "Uhm...hi..."

"What's going on?"

"Nothing really, actually. I'm just," She looked around at the surrounding area for some sense of what she was actually doing at the moment. "Hanging around." She finished before there was a pause in her words.

"Oh...how's Nothing new, nothing out of the ordinary." She shrugged slightly. "And you?"

"Nothing...really."

"Oh...Did you find your bro?"

"I'm not quite in California yet...I'm about to hit Vegas."

"Oh." Yuka checked where she was. He was still a good piece ahead of her. "That's cool."

"Yah...I think I'll hang around there for a bit."

She laughed a little at him, despite the seriousness. "Have fun in Sin City."

"Yeah..."

Yuka felt the awkwardness set right back in. "Ok, well, I just wanted to see what was going on." She said softly.

"Oh...so...how are you fairing?"

Yuka cocked her head to one side in question, and when she noticed that he could not see her expression, spoke up. "Fairing? Oh, I'm fine."

"That's good."

She smiled. "Yeah, I suppose." Inwardly, Yuka wished that he could see her smile, if only to reassure him.

He was silent for a minute. "God I'm tired."

She laughed a little again. "Then sleep more."

"I can't."

Yuka's eyes widened slightly in understanding, and she dropped her eyes and happy tone as the understanding flooded her. "Oh."

"1. I don't have enough money for a hotel room. 2. If I sleep in my car it'll get towed and 3. I'll have nightmares and wake up freaking out."

Yuka felt the need to comfort him, but she knew of no way how. For some reason, she seemed to have destroyed a great deal of her maternal instincts when she was younger and hung around with mostly boys and other girls like herself. Despising herself for being so stupid now, she felt useless and she shifted in her seat. "I'm sorry."

"It's not a big deal. Jakotsu is just as mental as I am. He's weird." He noted. "I haven't seen him in a really long time though."

"Well, it's nice that you're trying to find him again, at least." She pointed up, hoping to cheer the conversation up a little. "Ya never know, maybe you'll end up having lots in common."

"He's a gay sadist. I don't think we have much in common." He pointed out.

Her eyebrows raised and she laughed nervously. "Ah, I see. Things haven't change in all the years apart then?"

"Highly doubtable."

Yuka laughed again. "Well, ya never know, right?"

"Yeah, I guess."

She couldn't help but give off another short laugh at his expense. "I wish I had some brothers or sisters." She mused.

"You can have mine."

Yuka laughed loudly this time. "Are you sure he'll like that idea? I thought you told me once that he hates women?"

"So? He can live with his boyfriend."

Yuka grimaced slightly and gave another nervous laugh. "Ah, I see."

"Listen. My phone's about to go dead. I'll talk to you later?"

She nodded. "Sure." She smiled, though she wasn't ready to let him go yet. "See ya later then."

"Bye..." he replied slowly, then he hung up.

Yuka sighed to herself as she heard his phone click as the line was cut and pulled her head slowly away from hers. Sighing, she ran one hand through her hair as she deposited the phone back into her bag.

She wondered if she could catch up with him.

'Maybe...If I drive non-stop for a few hours...' She ticked everything out on her fingers, her eyes briefly wandering to the sky as she counted. "Mm...might be able to pull it off." She grumbled to herself as she slung her purse over her shoulder.

She couldn't help but think about how damn tired she was after an hour and a half a driving.

"What to do, what to do?" She wondered aloud, dreamily walking back to her car at a slow pace as she looked up to the light-blue sky that was dotted with puffy white clouds.

'Stock up on coffee and drive!' She thought after a minute of debating.

She smiled wryly to herself and got in the car, deciding to stop at the first gas station and stock up on all her needs.

She did and bought what she needed, 3 cups of hot coffee, a few candy bars and a lot of soda.

Taking the time for a quick bathroom-break, she hurried back to her car with her stuff and hopped in, eager to get on the road again.

She drove...and drove...and drove.

Sipping on soda and munching on a candy bar, she briefly told herself that she would be fat by the time she got to Renkotsu. Glaring at the candy bar, she stuffed it to one side. "Well, can't very well run all the way there, can I?" She grumbled to herself.

Hoping her metabolism would be good to her as she finished off the candy bar, she turned the radio on.

It was playing a fairly familiar tune, but it was one that she did not enjoy in the slightest and she quickly turned the dial, searching for a good station. "Damn. Wouldn't you know that there's no good music out here in the boonies?" She cursed as she continued to twist the knob.

Finally she opened her glove compartment and pulled out her CD case, putting one in to listen to.

Continuing to curse the bad taste of the people in those parts of the country, she pumped her radio loud, as if to drown them all in what she considered 'good music'.

She wondered where she was, so she consulted the map she had in her passenger seat.

She grunted, tracing the line of the road all the way to Las Vegas. "Hmph, might get there by tomorrow, or late tonight if I'm lucky. Have to drive extremely fast though."

She kept a steady pace. She did NOT need to be pulled over.

Yuka kept herself occupied with small things, every now and again her mind wandering to some other place as she stared at the road ahead of her.

She almost forgot what CD she was listening to in her thought, though she was humming absently.

Briefly glancing at the clock, the time didn't even register as she continued to drive on, the sun setting and glaring in her eyes. Without much thought to it, she pulled out a pair of sunglasses that had been lost on the floor of the vehicle some time ago and put them on, shielding her from the harmful rays of light.

She ruffled her bangs. "I wonder how much longer."

Sighing, she pulled out her road map and hummed along to the song that was playing as she investigated her whereabouts.

She could be there by midnight. Smirking to herself. "About midnight, Renkotsu would be in a strip club." She laughed.

Smirking, she envisioned the look on his face when she walked in. "What a surprise." She giggled to herself again.

She paused as the song changed. "My Bloody Valentine, how ironic." She laughed.

She sang along with the song, a strange kind of lonesome sadness overcoming her as she sang.

After a few hours of driving she saw the bright lights of a city around the horizon. "Is that it?" She asked herself wearily, rubbing her eyes.

Her head slumped slightly at the sight of the sign that advertised the city's name. "Sin city, baby!" She called wearily, yawning through half the proclamation.

She searched the streets for a hotel or a familiar face.

Narrowing her eyes, she forced herself to stay awake long enough to accomplice this all.

She blinked once, parking in front of a Starbucks.

Groggily, she walked in and got a drink to go. Something that would keep her up just long enough so that she could find a room somewhere.

"Yuka?" A voice asked from behind her. And by God she knew that voice.

Still, her mind was half-asleep and at the sound of her name, something clicked and she flinched, her eyes widening as she turned. The sudden swing of her head gave her a bit of a head rush, but she ignored it as she stared at Renkotsu dead-on in the eyes.

He hadn't shaved in a week; he had a five-o'clock shadow and looked even more tired than she did.

Yuka raised one eyebrow, as if she did not understand something as she scratched one side of her head briefly. "Hey...."

"Hello."

Yuka yawned; her eyelids like dead weights now. "..."

Renkotsu sighed. "You need somewhere to sleep?"

Yuka made a face. "No." She said flatly, though she knew that he could tell she was lying. He had always had a knack for it.

He shook his head and fished around in his pocket. "Here's my hotel room key."

Yuka watched in slight shock as he placed the key in her hand, which he had forcibly opened for her. Looking back up, she immediately protested. "Oh, you don't have to-"

"Yes I do. You shouldn't chase me half way across the country without getting somewhere to sleep."

Yuka fidgeted slightly, her fingers closing back over the key. Lowering her head, she felt slightly ashamed, as if she were mooching off him. ". . .Thanks. . ."

He rolled his eyes. "My car just died anyway. I'm gonna be wandering, wanna go get some dinner or something?" He asked, he felt like he was asking her on a date or something.

She smiled a little. "Sure. I think I have enough gas in my car to get us around if you want." She offered, feeling like she needed to offer him at least something in return.

He laughed. "Ah sure, mine was a piece of shit anyway. Where to eat?"

She looked around at what the place had to offer. What looked fancy was too expensive, and what looked affordable seemed dirty. Grimacing slightly, she just shrugged at him. "You know any good places?"

He thought to himself. "We could hit a McDonalds."

She quirked a smile. "Sound fine to me."

He started walking. "Stay close. Dangerous at night."

Yuka did as she was told, instinctively closing in on herself slightly, her eyes wide and darting from side to side every so often. Though she felt secure with Renkotsu, she still had a smooth kind of fright clinging at her throat as she walked along behind him.

He walked with his head down, the hood of his trench coat pulled up. He found the nearest McDonalds and walked in. "What do you want, girl?" He asked her shortly, his tone low.

Yuka blinked slightly startled by his non-use of her name. She was infuriated and had the mind to call him out about it right there, but she bit her tongue and allowed the slight damage to her reputation. Doubtless of her feelings, she refused to humiliate him publicly with an outburst over such a thing. "A small drink and some fries is all." She mumbled.

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "Think you're gonna get fat if you eat anything more?" He laughed a little. "If that's the case. Too late."

Yuka's eyes narrowed, sparks flying from her eyes as her jaw muscles grew taught, her fists shaking with indignation. "No." She bit out. "I'm just not all that hungry. Thank. You."

"Jesus, I was kidding." He replied, stuffing his hands into his pockets and walking to the front.

Yuka stuck her tongue out at him like a child would to retaliate. "Nya."

She found a table and he returned in a few minutes with some food. "Here." He grunted handing her what she wanted.

She smiled at him, his earlier comments obviously already forgotten and forgiven. "Thanks."

He shrugged, taking a bite out of his hamburger. Obviously a 'no problem'.

They ate quietly, alone in the place thanks to the hour of night. Yuka, usually so peppy felt drawn and in need of sleep and other bodily needs such as a shower. Blinking back her tiredness and suppressing a yawn, she munched on her fries and slurped on her drink.

"How long have you been following me?" Renkotsu asked suddenly, absently rolling his tongue ring in his mouth.

Yuka shrugged, rolling her eyes up to the top of her head in brief thought. "Dunno, not so long." She shrugged again to show that she had not real inkling as to how long she had been searching for him.

He smirked, lip ring clicking on his teeth. "Oh, ok."

She raised one eyebrow at him innocently unaware of what caused his amusement. "What?"

"I dunno. Its just funny."

Yuka shrugged again. "Whatever."

He shrugged back, mocking her. "Uh-huh."

She made a face at him, smirking to show that she understood what he was doing. ". . ."

He didn't say anything, continuing to eat the burger. He finished after a minute of silence. "So..."

Yuka pushed aside her fries and finished up her drink. She stretched slightly, her eyes blinking again as they tried to force her to close them and sleep. "Yep."

"Wanna go back to the hotel? You look dead tired."

Yuka nodded slightly, a small yawn coming forth at his words. "Yeah."

He stood up and walked to the door. "You just happened to park in front of my hotel...are you stalking me?"

Yuka rubbed a fist in her eyes to keep them open for just a bit longer. "Of course not." She growled. "I'm just gifted that way." She let out a laugh at her own joke.

He snorted back a laugh as they walked.

"What?" She asked innocently. "It's true."

"Uh-huh." He replied walking into the hotel.

Yuka followed after him, handing him the key so that he could open the room door.

He opened it forcefully. "Sorry it's shitty. Sleep if you need to, I have to clean my stuff." He told her.

Yuka yawned widely and nodded. "Uh-huh. Thanks." She said through the yawn. Drearily, she walked to one side of the room and fell on top of the bed still dressed. Curling up, she closed her eyes and gently started to float away.

She heard a sink turn on but she ignored it.

Perfectly comfortable, warm and content, her mind again started to drift away, though she briefly wondered what he was cleaning.

"Ah! Shit!" Renkotsu cursed. "That stung."

Yuka giggled into the pillow, trying not to let him hear her amusement at his pain.

He walked out of the bathroom and grumbled. "Move Yuka." He grunted.

Groaning, she scooted over, away from his voice. "That better?" She felt herself mumble, though she had not bidden herself to talk.

He fell back on the bed and was asleep as soon as he touched the mattress.

Rolling her eyes at him, Yuka curled in on herself again to keep warm and drifted to sleep.

Renkotsu yawned in his sleep rolling onto one side.

Yuka rolled onto her side, facing the wall.

She smiled realizing how even his breathing was, though the occasional whistle came through, she supposed it was the tongue ring. Giggling to herself again, she pressed her hands to her mouth to make sure that she didn't disturb him.

Suddenly he sat back up, fully awake with his brows furrowed. "Damn." He cursed to himself.

Yuka's eyes drifted open and she looked up at him groggily. "Wha-?"

"Nothing, just rolled down on the infected ear. That's the last fucking time Hiten pierces my ears." He grumbled.

She giggled audibly this time, drawing his attention.

He glared. "What's funny? It stings like a bitch!"

Yuka quieted herself. "Sorry, couldn't help myself." She apologized with a smile. "It just struck me as funny is all."

He sighed. "Its not."

She smiled even wider. "I know, but it just struck me as funny anyway."

"Ok."

Sighing away her smile, Yuka shut her eyes again, trying to fall back asleep.

Renkotsu sighed, falling back onto the bed, completely flat, staring at the ceiling.

Yuka opened one eye and stared at him blankly for a few brief moments before shutting her eye again.

He took a deep breath before closing his eyes and falling asleep.

Smiling to herself, she also succumbed to a contented sleep, curled into a tight, warm ball on the bed.

End Chapter