"I have a constant fear that something's always near,
fear of the dark,
fear of the dark,
I have a phobia that someone's always there…"

-Iron Maiden

Davina returned to her apartment later that evening in a rather strange mood—she marveled at the thought of how truly small the world was, having just learned that Shuichi worked at the café she frequented. What came as an even bigger shock was that he was the step-son of the kindly owner she had been casually conversing with nearly since the beginning of her life in Kaiden. Of course, that particular train of thought prompted her to realize that, if he was indeed family of Kazuya, the odds were that Shuichi lived in the house she had witnessed the older man tending the exterior of during a prior interaction—being in such close proximity, they were nearly neighbors.

It seemed peculiar to her that Shuichi had failed to mention such a thing—not that it was entirely important, but it did seem like something that could have been brought up in passing. And while Shuichi hadn't seemed unhappy to see her there, he had certainly come across as somewhat terse—their conversation had been exceedingly brief, and her companion had seemed fairly eager to depart from her side. The moment she finished her pastries and coffee, Davina had taken her leave of the café, not wanting to stick around, lest her presence cause Shuichi further discomfort. It was just a bizarre feeling—Davina felt as if she could no longer visit the Koeda Café now that she knew it was his place of employment. It was as if she were trespassing in his personal space, a sour sensation that came as a most unwelcomed feeling.

It took a great deal of effort to push aside the rather unpleasant thoughts that had blossomed as a result of their unanticipated interaction, but Davina was determined to accept the awkward encounter for what it was and move along with her evening. Perhaps Shuichi was embarrassed—he had no reason to be, but it seemed as good an explanation as any. Maybe a previous partner had looked down on him over his occupation in some prior capacity—such a thing was absolutely asinine to Davina, who honestly found the fact that Shuichi could balance a full class load, a job, and the responsibility of taking care of his family an impressive feat, to say the least. Her experience with employment wasn't overly impressive, mostly summer jobs as a retail cashier or restaurant hostess back in the states. Her mother had absolutely refused to allow her to maintain a part-time job during the school year, concerned that such a thing would interfere with her class work. Her protests had fallen on deaf ears, much to her chagrin.

Whatever the reason, Davina turned her focus elsewhere, quietly hoping that maybe, just maybe, she'd hear from Shuichi following the conclusion of his shift. Such contact would certainly make her feel better about the entire scenario, but she did not wish to get her hopes up.

Suddenly, the urge to take a nearly boiling hot shower hit her with unanticipated force, and Davina swiftly decided to indulge such a whim. She stood beneath the steaming rush of heated water, her eyes closed and muscles growing lax, all while her mind hummed loudly within the confines of her skull. At random, the thought of her grandmother's diary came to mind—it had been several days since she had first acquired it, and she hadn't even attempted to pick it up to continue her reading. Upon her return home from her late grandparent's village, Davina had relocated the weathered book from her bag into a catch-all drawer within her desk. Of course, the urgent curiosity was still undeniably potent, but a deep seated fear accompanied that desire. It had caused her to abandon her efforts more than once. Was she really willing to delve into things seemingly beyond her understanding? What good could truly come from such a thing? So many questions existed, but were the answers worth the cost they would no doubt carry? Perhaps she sought plausible deniability—maybe taking the diary home to learn its secrets had been a mistake. She pondered this concept as she scrubbed the day off of her skin, knowing deep down in her soul that she couldn't abandon what she had started.

As the water faded to cold, Davina made a mental promise to herself, unwilling to be a victim to her reservations. She would continue her reading of the diary within the next few days, following the completion of her test and the impending social gathering that awaited her Saturday. Consequences be damned—she couldn't just sit idle and find complacency in ignorance. She just needed a little more time to build up her determination to continue down the path she had begun. The relief that came with the knowledge of a few days reprieve from her intended activity was surprisingly calming—her mood swiftly lifted, content with the plot she had set for herself. Shutting off the water, Davina dried herself thoroughly before donning her damp towel and heading for the privacy of her bedroom to dress.

After changing into her favorite pair of loose fit purple plaid pajama pants and a gray pullover hoodie that was nearly two sizes too big (upon closer inspection, Davina recognized the article as previously belonging to her eldest brother—somehow, it had found its way into her possession), she decided to wind down for the remainder of her evening with a cup of hot chamomile tea and her newly acquired book—she was only ten chapters in, and already desperately in love. It was such a unique retelling of the ancient myth, and Davina found herself hanging on every paragraph as her eyes gazed over the pages, eager to witness the calamity that was the budding relationship of the ruler of the dead and the goddess of spring.

Nearly two hours had ticked by over the course of her mental venture into this new fictional realm, and only due to the loud, unwavering demands of her painfully full bladder did Davina pause her activity. She abandoned her position upon the couch and raced towards the bathroom, letting out a nearly comical sign of audible relief when she reached her intended destination. After washing her hands, she returned to her post, checking her phone out of mild curiosity.

It was rather later when she finally retired to her bed for the night, having lost track of time during her mental excursion into the Underworld—she was out within seconds of her head hitting the pillow, her body cradled by sleep as her mind painting pictures of the impossible.

. . .

She was dressed in a soft lavender shift that draped off her pale shoulders, her long copper hair curled and a crown of white narcissus flowers atop her head. She walked through a flat plain thick with pale asphodel blossoms, her bare feet tickled by the creeping tendrils. In her left hand, she held a pomegranate, ripe and crimson red against the pale flesh of her appendage.

Beyond where she walked stood a lone figure, tall and clad in black robes—it seemed as if the figure had its back to her, and it wore a hood to conceal itself further. She approached it with an odd familiarity, and gasped when the hooded form reached out to take her hand.

"Walk with me?" a voice asked gently. It was Shuichi's voice that emerged from beyond the shroud—she nodded her head, smiling as she intertwined her fingers with his own.

. . .

Her Friday moved with a speed Davina hadn't believed possible—time moved with a swiftness she hadn't been anticipating, and before she knew it, she was headed towards the assigned lecture hall for her sociology class. Her nerves twanged as she selected her set and waited for her exam to commence, trying to soothe her concern as the scan sheets and test booklets were distributed. Once the test had begun, all the worries Davina was entertaining quickly dissipated as she quickly read over the provided questions, and realized that she was more than amply prepared. Thanks to Shuichi's notes, she completed the exam with plenty of time to spare, and was confident that she had done well. Coupled with the realization that her weekend had officially begun and that she would be seeing Shuichi shortly, Davina made her way off campus and over to the train station with a skip in her step and a happy smile on her lips. After taking her exit at the Kaiden depot, she made the short walk home while humming an upbeat, nameless tune to herself. She had barely gotten through the door and into her apartment before her phone vibrated, signaling the arrival of a text message.

Davina's smile widened as she withdrew her phone and spied Shuichi's name in the notifications, chuckling softly to herself—someone was eager. The correspondence announced that he was en route to his house with the intentions of taking a quick shower, and then he'd be on his way to see her. She quickly responded with pleased anticipation of his arrival, quickly stowed away her backpack, and raced into the bathroom to ready herself. After a short but refreshing shower, she headed into her bedroom to dress, opting for a pair of her usual black leggings and a tank top in a red plaid pattern that hugged her bosom. It was a bit more risqué than her typical wears, being just a tad more revealing in nature, with a lower cut in the front that afforded a fairly decent view of her chest, but in that particular moment, Davina failed to see a problem with her selection. Between the physical closeness they had shared the other evening and their not so subtle interaction on the train, she was inspired to keep the somewhat decadent momentum moving forward.

In truth, such thoughts had been at the back of her mind over the duration of the past few days, lingering with a consistency that both amused and concerned her. There felt as if something were truly beginning to blossom between her and Shuichi, and the desire for more of it, more of him, was almost ridiculous. Davina's nerves began to twang with anticipation as she finished getting ready, applying her deodorant, spraying on her perfume, and running a brush through her hair, all as her mind jumped from one scenario to the next of what was to come of their impending time together. As she returned to the bathroom to apply a bit of makeup, the mental imagine of Shuichi kissing her popped into her mind's eye, and immediately, a heated blush emerged on the crests of her cheeks, burning so hot that, for a few brief moments, she appeared nearly singed by the sun. The idea was so distracting that she nearly poked herself in the eye with her mascara wand, and, after taking a few seconds to steady herself, a nervous, almost goofy laugh involuntarily escaped her lips.

"Get your shit together, girl," she commanded her reflection, smiling in spite of herself. She finished the task at hand, and had just returned her cosmetics case to its home within the cabinet when a firm knock on the front door to her apartment caught her attention. Following one final once over in the mirror, Davina left the atrium and headed into the hall, pausing in front of the door to take a deep, quick breath before pulling it open to reveal her guest.

"Hey," she offered softly, fixing Shuichi with a small smile. He returned her greeting, mirroring her welcoming gesture, and entered the apartment as she took a step back to allow him in. The familiar scent of his cologne flooded her nose as he slipped past, and for a brief second, she felt weakness in her knees.

"So, I take it your test went well?" he inquired as she carefully pulled the door closed behind him.

"It did," she replied, trailing him as he headed into the living room and together, they claimed spaces on her couch. "It was far easier than I expected, thanks to your notes. How about yours?"

"It went fine," Shuichi replied, with a mild smirk of satisfaction. "I suspect I'll have made top marks for my class, but I won't know until Monday." He was wearing a forest green cardigan sweater that complimented the fiery shade of his hair, and made the emerald hue of his eyes appear even greener in comparison. Davina found it hard not to blatantly stare at him as they continued to converse.

"Did you have any ideas in mind for this evening?" he asked curiously, and a sudden sinking feeling flooded through Davina's entire body. She had been so preoccupied with her thoughts that she hadn't even considered such a thing.

"Erm…perhaps a walk? Maybe grab a bite to eat?" she offered sheepishly, knowing without a doubt that Shuichi would pick up on her poor planning. But rather than comment on her lack of preparation, he simply smiled in agreement and nodded his head.

"There's a park fairly close to here that we can walk through, and then we can head to the downtown district to have dinner—do you have a preference, or can I make a suggestion?" he asked, his gaze grabbing onto hers and holding firmly.

"Suggest away," she replied, confident that his choice of places wouldn't disappoint.

"There are several food stalls near the museum—I'm sure one of them will suffice. Shall we head to the park now?"

Davina nodded in agreement, and quickly rose to her feet. After tugging on a sweater and grabbing her purse, the pair left her apartment, with Shuichi taking the lead down the stairs. As they ventured out onto the sidewalk, a deeply seated pit of dread bloomed within Davina's belly as she realized what lie in the direction they were heading in.

Her fears were confirmed as the tall, iron archway came into view as they approached, and, even as she did her best to school her face, her stomach churned painfully at the realization of their current destination. Her throat suddenly tightened, and when Davina attempted to swallow, the effort was pained.

'No, no…not that. Please, not that…'

"Here we are," Shuichi announced, gesturing towards the park entrance with a wave of his hand. "Yureihana Park."

. . .

Following the swift and successful completion of his examination, Shuichi left the lecture hall feeling rather satisfied with himself. He headed towards the room that held his final class of the day, eager to complete his educational obligations and commence his weekend. A quick glance at his watch confirmed the time, and he realized that Davina would be undergoing her own exam in a matter of minutes. He toyed with the idea of sending her a quick message of encouragement, but vetoed the idea almost immediately, concerned that his correspondence could prove a distraction.

To his good fortune, his last class ended nearly thirty minutes prior to its usual length, with the professor stating that he had other obligations to see to that afternoon and would thus be cutting time a bit short. Shuichi was grateful for the early and unanticipated reprieve, planning to head home immediately and prepare for his evening in Davina's company. But en route to exiting the university, his efforts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of an old friend. He heard his name being called as he headed towards the front gate of the college, pausing his onward stride to glance back at the source.

"Well, well, if it isn't my former academic nemesis," the bespectacled male teased with a friendly smile as he approached Shuichi with a rapid pace. "I had heard you were attending here, but luckily for you, we don't currently share any classes."

"Kaito," Shuichi replied, unable to keep the smile from his face, inspired by his friend's exceedingly dry humor. "It's been a while."

"It has. How goes it? Still living life at the top of the academic food chain, I take it?"

"As expected. Yourself?"

"Shuichi, do you truly think so low of me?" he joked, halting his stride as he reached his goal. "I do have standards for myself, after all." He paused for a second, purposely lowing his voice before continuing the conversation. "I heard through the grapevine that the second tournament was quite the event. Hiei as king, who would have thought?"

"It was," Shuichi confirmed quietly. "And yes. From what I gathered, he's taken quite well to the role. We were fortunate that he emerged victorious."

"I would have to say so," Kaito offered agreeably. "Any chance that you're interested in grabbing a beverage and catching up? I have some time to kill, if you are available."

Shuichi hesitated for a moment, considering his options. "I suppose I can do that," he replied, feeling obligated to play catch up with his companion, if only for a short period.

Kaito appeared pleased by this positive response, and immediately suggested heading to the coffee shop within the library. Shuichi agreed , and together, the pair headed in the direction of their intended destination. During their time together, Shuichi kept a close eye on his watch, wanting to part ways the moment Davina would be exiting her class, well aware that he still needed to shower and ready himself prior to their meet up. The time spent in Kaito's company passed rapidly, and when it came time for them to part ways, Shuichi took his leave quickly, wishing his companion well and agreeing to a future hangout. He hastily headed for the train depot, curious as to if he would encounter Davina on his venture home. But when he failed to spot her, he realized that she might have already taken her leave for the day, if she had managed to complete her examination quickly.

From his seat on the tram, he penned a short message of his current situation, and informed her of his intentions before heading to her. Her reply came quickly, and it was rather obvious that she was eager for what lie ahead, which encouraged him. Shuichi made it home in record time, his forward stride fast and full of purpose, happy to realize that the house was devoid of others. He showered and dressed quickly, wanting to be on his way before any of his family returned home, lest he get caught up in conversation that thwarted him from getting to his current destination.

The walk over to Davina's complex was blissfully short due to their close proximity, and as Shuichi made his way up the staircase to the second floor, he found himself curious as to what the evening ahead would hold. Given the collective of events that had occurred over the course of the past few days, it would be fair to say that he had all the manner of serious intentions of continuing on the current course. He fixed her door with a heavy knock, and seconds later, it swung open. To see her smile waiting there, anticipating his arrival, caused a sudden rush of warmth to flood his person. The memorable scent of her perfume wafted out to greet him, causing him to sigh internally with pleasure. It wasn't until after they had exchanged greetings, inquired about each other's tests, and made their way onto her couch did he notice the ample cleavage she had on display, to which he found his gaze drawn to in quiet appreciation. Something so simple had a fairly profound effect on him, causing him to want to lean in and press quick, little kisses to the arch of her collarbones, and to nibble on the soft flesh cradled by tartan fabric. The hunger he felt for such things was unmistakable, and he only hoped that such a chance would present itself in the near future.

"Did you have any ideas in mind for this evening?" he questioned, inquisitive as to what the expectations of the evening ahead entailed, if only so he could plan accordingly.

"Erm…perhaps a walk? Maybe grab a bite to eat?" Davina suggested lamely, suddenly appearing ashamed. It was clear that she hadn't really considered a plan of action for their time together, but rather than annoy Shuichi, her lack of decision only amused him. If she were in the same boat as he was, and he had a decent inkling that she was, Davina had plenty on her mind to serve as distractions.

"There's a park fairly close to here that we can walk through, and then we can head to the downtown district to have dinner—do you have a preference, or can I make a suggestion?" he inquired, opting to quickly form ideas rather than tease her.

"Suggest away," she responded, relief clear in her voice at his statement.

"There are several food stalls near the museum," he offered, knowing full well that one of them provided the best tempura in all of Kaiden. And if she didn't have a taste for that, it would afford them several options to explore. "I'm sure one of them will suffice. Shall we head to the park now?"

She was quick to agree, and after collecting herself, they headed out, with Shuichi taking the lead. Their current destination, Yureihana Park, was only several blocks away, and while the park itself housed a dark and ominous sort of beauty, it was a quaint and peaceful location, one that he often went for walks himself in when the weather was kind and the urge for fresh air and quiet was needed.

Davina trailed behind him, and immediately, he picked up on the hesitation of her footsteps. He thought little of it, until they stood at the entrance into the park and announced their arrival. In that moment, a soft breeze slipped past the pair, and a mild air of fear flooded his nostrils, hailing forth from Davina. It was a curious reaction, but still, Shuichi thought little of it. After all, the park was home to a massive collection of spider lilies, the crimson blossoms, which were also known as ghost flowers and were associated with death. He chalked her inhibitions up to this realization, understanding that she must be aware of the link between the eccentric foliage and its dark meaning. He fixed her with a reassuring smile, hoping to encourage her to not be concerned, but the look on her face had quickly morphed into one of worry. On top of that, her color had gone pale, her lips pressed together in a tight frown.

"No need to be worried," he offered quietly, wanting to quell her fear. "I can assure you that this place is beautiful, despite the connection with less savory concepts."

"It is beautiful," she replied softly, her voice small, as if that of a child. "It just kind of…menacing to see."

He chuckled at her candor, and took the opportunity to offer her his hand to hold. Davina stared at his outstretched appendage for a long moment, almost appearing confused. But she slipped her hand into his own, the warmth of her palm against his own nearly electrifying in its own right. "Trust me, you have nothing to be afraid of." She smiled at that, some of worry creasing her brow fleeing forth from her visage. Hand in hand, they continued on down the stone path, heading in the direction of the lake.

The scent of dread worsened as they approached the lake, and this confused Shuichi, although he said nothing more on the matter. Perhaps she had a fear of dark water, or was just overly superstitious. He found it silly, but still sought to be reassuring. He led her over to one of the benches that sat alongside the lake, and together, they took their seats, maintaining their point of connection. He studied Davina's face as she stared hard over at the nearly still water, her gaze darting over the dark surface as if searching for some untold monster. Shuichi wanted to say something on the matter, but held his tongue. They sat in silence, and after a few minutes, Davina finally began to visibly relax.

"It's rather peaceful here," Shuichi offered conversationally, staring out at the water, which had begun to ripple as a result of gentle wind. Davina remained quiet, but nodded her head in agreement, finally withdrawing her gaze from the distance and staring over at him. He felt the pressure of her eyes and met them quickly, smiling over at her. It seemed to have the desired effect, causing her lips to mirror his own. Encouraged by this, Shuichi rose to his feet and waited for Davina to follow his lead. Together, they walked the circular path that encompassed the lake, once, twice. On the third go round, all the fear that Davina had been holding onto appeared to ease, and color returned to her cheeks. They continued to hold hands as they walked, making casual conversation as they rounded the lake for a fourth time. In the midst of their talk, a small but audible grumble rose forth from Davina's belly. Shuichi took this as a sign that it was time to leave the park and consider their options for food, so he suggested that they make their way out. She was quick to agree, and together, they ventured towards the exit.

Once clear of the park, a deep sigh of relief escaped Davina, and while Shuichi wanted to comment on it, he chose to keep his questions silent. They made their way to the downtown district, intent on selecting something to eat.

. . .

Author's Note: After much time away, I've managed to finally complete this chapter. My apologies for the extremely long and unanticipated hiatus. My creative drive is still returning, but I'm actively working on making writing this story a priority. To those who took the time to message me, I appreciate you all. Death is such a killer when it comes to creativity, but I'm looking to this to be an emotional outlet rather than a chore to be completed. I've started the following chapter and hope to have it completed soon. Thank you to my new followers, I truly appreciate you being here. Please stay safe out there, and take care of yourselves.