Isougai Auyakusoku

It had been two weeks, two wonderful weeks she'd spent at the Aogiri shrine, and she still hadn't told anyone why she'd been wandering the streets with a duffel bag before they took her in. She'd spoken a lot with Yuuhi, and she felt guilty for hiding everything from him. Still, she still couldn't bear to bring up her ex-fiancé.

"Hey Usagi," Her eyes snapped open; she'd almost slipped into slumber with her daydreaming. She sat up from her futon and connected eyes with Yuuhi.

"Yes?" She inquired.

"I'm going to the store to pick up some fresh broccoli; Suzumi bought the frozen kind again. You want to come?" He asked, almost shyly. Usagi's face lit up like a Christmas tree and she hopped to her feet.

"I'd love to!" She exclaimed as she draped her coat around her shoulders and slipped her sneakers on. Yuuhi smiled and shook his head at her child-like enthusiasm. She nearly bowled him over rushing out the door, and paused to grab his arm and drag him along behind her.

They walked, not because the store was particularly close or because they couldn't use the car, but simply because Yuuhi had the impression that Usagi loved the snow. She'd twirl around on the sidewalk like a little girl and catch snowflakes on her tongue, then laugh when passersby looked at her strangely.

It seemed the girl was like a magnet. Her free spirit attracted everyone to her, and indeed Yuuhi enjoyed her unrelenting fervor for even the smallest of activities. Everyone at the Aogiri shrine had instantly taken to her, even the students in Suzumi classes who giggled as she stood in the back of the room trying desperately to mimic his sister-in-law's graceful movements.

Still, every once in a while Yuuhi would catch her blue eyes gazing out the window at the sky longingly, as if she were an angel missing heaven. It was hard to believe someone so absolutely dazzling could be the least bit sad, but he knew that anxious look in her eyes, because it mirrored everything he felt when he caught himself thinking about Aya.

Strangely enough, he found himself thinking less and less of the bleach blonde girl who used to occupy every thought in his head. Whether it was because, for the first time in months, he actually had someone he could talk to whenever he felt lonely who would instantly cheer him up, or because he was cooking even more these days was unclear. Apparently when Suzumi mentioned the 'cooking for a small army' she didn't realize that Usagi could eat the equivalent. Also, it seemed as soon as the food reached her stomach it vanished, for the blue-eyed girl never gained a single pound.

As they reached the market, Usagi began walking on the slightly elevated concrete rims to the makeshift gardens in the parking lots. Yuuhi trailed behind with a slight smile upon his lips. They entered the automatic doors and Usagi sighed happily at the sensation of warmth upon her frigid cheeks. She followed Yuuhi to the produce section, looking at each thing she passed like she'd never seen it before.

"I didn't realize you wanted to get out of the house so much. You're acting like you've been confined to a jail cell for decades." Yuuhi teased, effectively making the blonde flush with embarrassment.

"Sorry, am I annoying you? I act immature all the time. Mamoru says it's very unbecoming for a lady." Usagi nearly bit her tongue off and turned redder than the display of tomatoes beside her. Yuuhi sent her an inquiring glance.

"Who's Mamoru?" He asked. Usagi opened her mouth, looking quite pained, but she never got a word out before someone interrupted them from behind her.

"I am, and I've been looking all over for you this past week." Usagi, given, was paler than most, but her skin turned transparent as she turned to face this newcomer. Yuuhi, with a broccoli bunch in his hand, narrowed his eyes at the man.

"Oh, Mamoru, fancy meeting you here; it's a small world after all." She followed this nervous statement with a high pitched sound of laughter that made a few other customers glance at her irritably.

"Usagi, I'm sorry if I may have hurt your feelings from time to time, and that I called you selfish. Please, just reconsider your decision. You don't have to decide right away. Hold on to this, too." The dark-haired man known as 'Mamoru' stepped forward and grabbed onto Usagi's hand, making her flinch and Yuuhi to constrain himself from whipping out his metal chopsticks. Mamoru placed something in her palm and closed her fingers around it before walking off with his yet-to-be-purchased groceries.

"Um...did I miss something?" Yuuhi asked awkwardly. He frowned as he realized that Usagi was trembling from head to toe, her knuckles white from gripping whatever was in her clenched fist. As he placed a hand on her shoulder, she jumped and dropped the object on the ground where it made an audible 'clink.' A ring.

In a movement so fast he couldn't do anything to react, Usagi turned and threw her arms around him, clinging to him desperately. His heart pounded against his ear drums as he felt her quiver against him. Though vaguely aware of the whispers and stares of passersby, he wrapped and arm around her shoulder and coaxed her to stand beside him. She bent down and picked up the piece of jewelry, placing it in her pocket and allowing Yuuhi to lead her out of the market, all broccolis forgotten.

Though she was sure that Mamoru must have still been in line and watching the whole scene, and she knew that strangers were looking on disapprovingly, she clung to Yuuhi like she couldn't walk without him. He silently guided her back towards the shrine, never loosening his hold, and she never loosening hers.

In what seemed like no time at all, they were stepping into Usagi's room. Finally she let him go, and her arms fell to her sides like dead weight. Her jacket was falling down one arm, her eyes were red from half-fought, half-shed tears, and now more than ever she looked like the lost puppy that had arrived on his doorstep one week ago.

"He's my ex-fiancé." Yuuhi didn't have to ask, she knew the question that was running through his mind. She dug the shimmering ring from her pocket and dropped it on the wooden floor between them.

"I left himtwo weeks ago because I knew inside I didn't love him anymore. He said I was being completely selfish, begged me not to go as the train rolled away, and apparently has been searching for me since. He knows I'm not strong enough to turn him away again so soon. He knows I'm naïve and childish; that he can control me with barely any effort at all. I have to--"

"Don't say it." Usagi looked up with shock. "Don't even think you're going to just walk away and go back to some life that you hate. I won't let you leave, especially when I don't even know you."

Usagi stared; stricken, heart-broken, and mystified. The look in his eyes told her that he wasn't just spouting nonsense, he was serious. So serious that she could feel the tears running down her cheeks at his words. With nothing else to do she stepped forward, leaning into Yuuhi once more and holding on.

"You're so warm." She smiled lightly to herself, but she couldn't see Yuuhi turn scarlet. "I can only start from the beginning, because it won't make much sense otherwise."

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Yes, of course this is going to be Yuuhi/Usagi. Silly gooses. Thanks toall of you who reviewed, and those that made me laugh. I appreciate it so much. :D

-SachiNyoko-