Hello folks! Here's a heads-up on how this story is set up(in case you haven't noticed yet). Every chapter is going to be a day. Remember, Yusuke only has seven days from the day he returns (which was sunday). A little note: the wedding for Keiko is on Saturday. I know the title for this part isMonday, butits starts out as a continuation of the the last day (sunday) but once you reach the point with Keiko in the car, that starts Monday (actually its monday night). In case you're still confused, I'll put the day in italics when it changes. Sorry for the confusion!

Seven Days

Chapter 2: (Monday) Three Simple Words

(Sunday night...continuation from last chapter)

"Y-your...what?" Yusuke finally managed to choke out, staring at Keiko in disbelief. Instead of answering, Keiko averted her gaze away from Yusuke and back to Rokuro.

"My fiancee," the blonde said, moving toward Keiko and draping his arm around her shoulders. The sight of the two standing so close was enough to make Yusuke's stomach churn.

"When did this happen?" Yusuke was surprised as the calmness in his voice.

"About a year and a half ago...a little more."

Not even two years since I leave and she gives up on me. Yusuke had never felt such devastation. In the past, when he caused something to happen to Keiko, he felt horribly guilty, but that was nothing compared to now. He felt completely empty, except for a pain that pounded in time with his heart. For the first time in his life, Yusuke felt completely hopeless.

"Well...it's kinda late," Keiko said softly. "I'll just head home now."

Yusuke remained silent as she walked past him to grab her raincoat that hung by the door. He lowered his head as Rokuro slipped his arm around her waist and the two made their way out the restaurant together.

"Here."

Yusuke's head snapped up as Mr. Yukimura placed a plate full of steaming food before him. "I'm really not that hungry..."

"You look pale. You need food Yusuke. When was the last time you ate a decent meal?" For that, Yusuke had no answer. Instead of protesting, he grabbed a pair of chopsticks before slowly picking at his food.

"I've never seen you like this Yusuke." Yusuke glanced up at the old man, who was studying Yusuke from behind the counter.

"Yeah, well I've never felt like this before."

"I'm really sorry. I always thought you'd come back from...wherever...someday." The old man sighed and turned to wash the dirty dishes that lay in the sink.

"Obviously Keiko didn't."

Mr. Yukimura sighed again before running his hand through his thin gray hair. "I don't know what got into her."

"You mean you don't approve?" The thought that someone hated the relationship as much as him suddenly gave Yusuke his appetite back; he began shoveling the food into his mouth.

"I dunno what got into that girl...its not that I don't like Rokuro...he's a great help around here and I think he truly loves my daughter, but...I just didn't think she'd change her mind so fast."

Yusuke pushed the empty plate back and stood up. "Maybe she never had to change her mind. I never gave her any reason to need to."

"Please Yusuke! You may have been kidding around with that proposal before you left, but that girl treasured your words! I'd always tell her you didn't mean it–" Yusuke glared over at him and Mr. Yukimura held up his hands defensively, "–but she'd always say that you'd come back. I may not have always had complete faith, but Keiko always did."

"Until she met that bastard...what's-his-face," Yusuke spat.

"I'm telling you, I don't know why Rokuro was different from the rest."

"The rest?"

"Keiko always had some boy following her back here and trying to take her on a date. She'd always refuse and say she had a boyfriend. Some were more stubborn than others. They'd argue that they never saw her with any guy, but she never listened to them," Mr. Yukimura shook his head.

Yusuke decided to change the subject, "So...she doesn't stay here anymore?"

"What? Oh! No, she has an apartment down close to the subway station...I have the address somewhere," Mr. Yukimura began digging through all the drawers, yanking out the contents and scattering them on the counter top. "Ah ha! Here is it," he handed the small, crumpled slip of paper to Yusuke. Yusuke nodded his thanks as he stuffed the paper in his pocket.

"Would you mind if...I took a look up in her room?"

Mr. Yukimura shrugged, busily trying to fit all the assortment of junk back into the drawers.

Yusuke slowly made his way toward her bedroom door. The hallway was too dark to see clearly, but he had been through her house so many times, he knew the way by heart. Before he knew it, her was up the stairs and standing with his hand on the doorknob. Taking a deep breath, Yusuke twisted the knob and took a step in the room.

The curtains over the windows were pulled back, light from the outside street lamps shining in the room. The furniture was the same as he remember, just rearranged differently. Yusuke make his way across the soft carpet and sat down on the chair at her desk. A neat stack of papers sat in the center of the desktop. Curiosity drove him to finger through them, only to discover they were blank. Next, Yusuke opened the drawers; the left held only pens and pencils, but the right was very messy. Papers practically exploded out the minute he opened it. Picking one up, he found it was a letter written to Keiko from himself. As he read through it, the memories flooded back to him. Scanning the other papers, he discovered they were all letters from him; some dating back as far back to when they were in kindergarten.

As he picked up the last letter, a single picture fluttered to the ground. Yusuke carefully laid the letters back in the drawer before bending down to pick up the photo. Yusuke smiled as he turned it over.

Well Keiko...maybe you never gave up after all, Yusuke thought, placing the picture of himself back in the stack of letters.

(Monday! Its been a whole day since the part above)

The rain beat down hard, pounding on the windows of the car. Keiko stared out at as a flash of lightning lit up the sky. Her mind couldn't focus on the date she'd just gone on, but continued to flicker back to the previous night.

Yusuke...you really came back...

The car eased to a stop and Keiko jumped as a hand landed on her shoulder. "Keiko? Are you alright?" Rokuro asked, concern filling his voice.

"It's nothing," she replied, brushing his hand off her shoulder.

"Keiko...why are you acting like this?"

Keiko chose to ignore him as she fumbled with her seatbelt buckle.

"It's because of Yusuke, isn't it?"

Keiko froze. The buckle suddenly slipped out of her hands and snapped up, hitting her nose on its way. Rokuro immediately yanked out his handkerchief and flipped on the indoor car light.

"It's nothing," she said again, waving off his helping hands.

Rokuro sighed and turned off the ignition before pushing open his door and stepping out into the cold rain, umbrella in hand. As he made his way to her side, Keiko opened her door as well and stepped out next to him under the umbrella. Together they walked up the slippery steps of Keiko's apartment building to the door.

"Keiko...I know something's bothering you. And I'm going to stand here until you tell me what it is."

Keiko felt unreasonable annoyance at her fiancee. "Then I suggest you get comfortable," she told him dryly. She turned to door, but Rokuro grabbed her arm and yanked her back closer to him.

"It is Yusuke, isn't it?" Keiko turned her head to stare at the ground. "Keiko! Answer me!"

"I...I just thought he really wasn't going to come back...you told me...back when you asked me to marry you that he wouldn't return," Keiko snapped her head up and glared at him. "Now I don't know why I listened to you! What would you know about Yusuke!"

"Enough to know he doesn't return your feelings."

Keiko's eyes widened and she opened her mouth, but found it dry.

"Keiko," Rokuro said softly, grasping her hands with his own, "I did tell you the truth back then. Yusuke wouldn't return– not the way you thought. Sure, he might come back to Tokyo, but that doesn't mean he'd come back to you."

Keiko yanked her hands away, "What are you talking about? Of course Yusuke came back to see me, just like he promised! He loves me!"

"Has he ever told you that?"

Keiko started to say yes, but as she searched her memory, she couldn't recall a single time Yusuke has told her those three, simple words. Her heart sank as she said, "No..."

"Then what makes you think he does?" Rokuro said coldly, turning back toward his car. "Keiko. I love you. I've done everything to make you see that. But I can tell you that Yusuke doesn't love you. Now which would you rather have? A man that can give you the love you deserve, or a teenage delinquent that's just toying with you?"

Keiko didn't answer, but simply stared at the car as it started up and drove down the street, all the while the rain showering down on her. As the car disappeared around the corner, she raised her head up to sky and let the rain wash the tears off her face.

Hey everybody, I'm so sorry for the confusion! I hope the notes in italics helped! Anywho, I really hoped you enjoyed the story! Please don't forget to review! Btw- thanks to all who reviewed last time!