Chapter 3: What Do I Do Now?

Authors Note: So we are now caught up to the present. There is not a whole lot going on just yet, but hang in there. Trust me it only gets better from here.

I awoke the next afternoon to the sound of my phone ringing. It was Yusuke.

"Hey," he said, "How are you doing? I just wanted to make sure you got home okay last night."

For a split second, I thought that perhaps I had imagined everything that happened the prior evening. It was nothing but a nightmare, and there is nothing wrong between Yusuke and me. He sounds so concerned and gentle. But then he continued on.

"I followed you out to your spot last night, but you seemed so upset, and I thought that if you saw me there it would only make matters worse, so I just went home instead."

Okay, it wasn't a nightmare. All of it was real. Every last little bit of it.

"I'm fine, and yes I did get home alright last night. Thank you for your concern."

"No problem. I was just making sure. I was kind of worried, but hey, that's all I wanted to know so I'm gonna let you go cause I have to go back to work. I'll talk to you later. Bye."

And with that he hung up the phone. That was the shortest phone conversation we had ever had. In the mornings, we would talk for at least an hour. And even though he said he was worried about me that didn't change the fact that he didn't tell me he loves me or even have a nice day. It made me resume the crying I had stopped last night.

Then my phone rang again. Hope swelled within me and I thought that it maybe him again, calling back to say the things he didn't say before. Stifling my tears, I picked up the phone, relief filling my being until I heard who was on the other end of the line.

"Good afternoon Keiko. How are you? Yusuke called me this morning and told me about what happened last night. I am so sorry you guys broke up. Do you want to talk about it?"

It was Botan.

My mind immediately started screaming, 'HE CALLED YOU BEFORE HE CALLED ME! HOW DARE YOU, YOU OF ALL PEOPLE ASK ME HOW I AM!? WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I WOULD WANT TO TALK TO YOU ANYWAY? WAIT, HE TOLD YOU WE BROKE UP!!' But I chose to keep those thoughts to myself for the time being.

"I'm alright. Just a little tired. Thanks for asking though." My curiosity got the better of me before I could stop myself from asking the next question. "What exactly did he tell you anyway?"

She became quiet for a few moments, almost like she was trying to sort out their conversation in her head so she would only have to tell me certain details.

"Well, he said that you guys had a long talk last night, and he said it would be best for him if you guys broke up, because he is confused about his feelings for you. He told me he told you we have feelings for each other, and I just wanted to let you know that I have we intention of pursuing anything together without your permission. After all, you are still our friend and we don't want to hurt you. Besides, I'm not even sure if I like him like that or not."

That would have hurt if I still had the ability to feel pain. I am still THEIR friend. She talks about it like they are already together, and what does she mean by "my permission" and who wouldn't want Yusuke? Is she insulting my taste in men? With my mind being in "ultra attack mode" like it was I decided it was not a very bright idea to further continue this talk with my 'soon to be former friend.'

"Botan, I'm sorry, but can we discuss this later. I have a terrible headache, and I am afraid I am not a very good conversationalist right now. Perhaps I can call you later?"

"Okay, that sounds good. I hope you feel better. Bye."

I hung up the phone and began to ponder what had just happened. Why did he tell her we broke up? What is going on? I needed to know the answers to these questions, so I picked up the phone and went to dial Yusuke's number, but then I stopped myself. I told him I would give him time. Bothering him now may seem like all I do is harass him. Letting this realization set in I hung up the phone and cried some more because I didn't know what else to do.

A few more hours passed and Yusuke called me after he got off work. We didn't talk for too much time and nothing if any import was discussed. The conversation merely consisted of him asking me how I was feeling, and me lying through my teeth telling him I was okay. That was it.

I decided not to call Botan back at this moment in time because I didn't trust myself enough not to "fly off the handle" and accuse her of things that I had no proof of. I had no evidence that she was instigating this whole thing. For all I knew it was Yusuke who started it. I doubt that, but none the less, I resigned myself to keep quite until the proper time for such a fight was needed.

A few days later, I met up with Shizuru and Yukina for lunch. They were listening to me as I told them everything that happened over the past couple of days.

I told them how Yusuke said he was taking some time to sort out his feelings. I mentioned that one of the reasons he said he was doing this was because of my depression and how I am to busy all of the time. I explained to them how there was a slight possibility he would leave me for her. I also told them about the phone call I received from Botan the morning after our "break-up" was decided. Yukina looked horrified, and Shizuru looked like she was going to go kick some ass.

"I can't believe they would do this to you," Shizuru said. "Who the hell do they think they are anyway? Yusuke and you were meant for each other. We all know this. She is supposed to be your friend. He just needs to get whatever this is out of his system. You don't have anything to worry about. And if he should do something stupid like break up with you for her, you know I will make him sorry."

All I could do was sourly chuckle at that and reply, "I don't think I have anything to worry about either. Or at least I hope not. Yusuke and I have such a deep past. I only hope he sees it too. I need him you guys. I love him so much. I don't know what I will do without him."

"You know I hate to say it, but I did warn you about this. I told you she was going to try to weasel her way in between you guys. I get so tired of being right." Shizuru said.

"But why would she want to do that anyway?" I asked her.

"Isn't it obvious? She is jealous of your relationship. She sees how happy you two are together and she wants that for herself. Yusuke has shown on many missions that he cares about her safety and well being, so why shouldn't she pursue it? How many other males in her life have shown her those kinds of feelings? Think about it, if Yusuke has already shown her the signs that he cares in any way, of course she would want that?"

Taking in what Shizuru was saying was hard. She was right. I was almost in tears again when Yukina shot her a warning look as if to say, "that's enough" and reached over to give me a hug and told me not to worry.

"Keiko everything is going to be okay. I know it is hard right now, but just wait and see. And just for the record, Shizuru, you are not always right. I'm certain that Yusuke will come back to you."

"Yeah sure." Shizuru replied sounding not as sure as she implied, "But look at it this way, you have got everything she has and more. Yusuke would have to be a complete idiot to not see that. And if all else fails, you still have us."

I smiled weakly, and sighed audibly, "Thanks. You guys are the best friends I could hope for. But I just can't help but worry. Yusuke said give him one week, then he would make his decision and that time is almost up. I have hardly spoken to him at all. I told him I would give him the space he needed to figure things out for himself. I don't call him, he barely calls me, so I figure that is a good thing because then that means he is still thinking about us and he hasn't given up just yet. I guess I will know either way soon enough."

Once again, I was right to worry because as I soon found out, I could not have been any further from the truth.

Authors Note: Not that it's any big secret, but can you guess what will happen next? I never thought what happens next would ever come into play. Read on and keep reviewing.