Riko stood tall in front of the towering wooden gates before her. Wind blowing through her hair, sending shivers down her spine, as time stood still all around. She could hear the distant noise of life through the door that separated her from joining in. Their blend of laughter and conversations had never felt so comforting.
Each life lived without care. And Riko couldn't wait to be right there alongside them.
The guards all gathered around, working together on the inside to push the wooden gates open. Slowly, they moved inch by inch apart.
As the doors cracked open just enough to peek inside, Riko took a deep breath. The wind pushed her stray hairs away from her face and as she closed her eyes she felt a new chapter of her life opening. Perhaps she was basking in the moment too deeply though.
What brought her out of her euphoric state was a light grip, tightening just a fraction in her hand.
Riko opened her eyes, turning to see You. Finally she was out of her bloodied clothes and into newer attire. A faded black shirt with white stripes tucked into washed out blue jeans for You, and even Riko had finally taken off her usual buttoned up look for a slightly oversized faded cream-shirt, with a chipped away black biker logo on the front that she tucked into her jeans as well. Riko specifically picked out the stripes for You though when she was looking for new clothing. She knew You would've died for some type of different pattern than her old white shirt she sported since the start of everything.
Unfortunately, Riko wasn't very good at finding clothes that fit the two, or didn't scream 80's fashion, but You didn't mind.
However, there were other things that occupied the sailor's mind.
You held onto her cane Riko had made for her after waking up, as You still had a bit of trouble going long distances without assistance, but her grasp was tighter than usual on the handle. Her eyebrows were scrunched together as her demeanor showed anything but excitement.
Riko turned, placing herself in front of You and her back towards the town as she tried garnering her attention,
"Hey, are you okay?"
You snapped out of her train of thought when she heard that familiar voice. Seeing Riko's worried expression overshadow the excitement she knew Riko had was enough for You to get herself together. Taking a breath, You dug her foot into the ground as she anxiously let out,
"Yeah, sorry. I'm just, uh, nevermind."
Riko nodded her head before glancing over her shoulder at the guards waiting patiently for them. She did inform everyone after her last visit to give the two, well mostly You, some time to work their way up to them. You was very wary of first impressions, and though she didn't say anything leading up to the days, Riko knew to take things easy. Especially with her health in mind as well.
"We can wait longer, I'm sure they won't mind if we stop by the beach first. I heard they just cleared it."
Riko brought the option up with a smile but You shook her head though,
"No, it's nothing I promise. Plus, I'd rather get settled. I'm pretty tired from walking anyways."
You let out a light chuckle that didn't match her dejected demeanor, but Riko didn't want to push her. Instead, she motioned her head towards the gates,
"Shall we then?"
Taking a gulp, You shakily smiled,
"Let's."
With a thumbs up from Riko, the mechanics of the rusted doors roared as they opened fully, clearing out the nearby birds from their trees with the sound echoing all around. The noise was intimidating to say the least.
Riko didn't move at all, instead she waited for You to go first.
You inched her cane forward slowly, feeling it sink beneath the dirt it laid on before taking a step with it. Her face was tense, and even her hand shook in Riko's grip. There wasn't anything Riko could do besides hold onto her tighter, assuring her that she was going to be by her side the entire time.
As the guards all cleared them a path, a few of the younger ones offered to help with the bags they carried from their journey. As they motioned their arms forward though You raised her hand, offering an apologizing smile as she stayed glued tight to Riko like a lost child.
With how the village had been growing since Riko's first visit but a month before, seeing someone unrecognizable didn't cause much of a stir as before. The two were able to slip in without causing any double looks which worked perfectly in their favor.
As they followed the stone path into the town, You's head went in every direction. She could see streets filled with people and shops stocked high in fresh foods exchanged between neighbors. There was even a riverbank ahead but rather than everything stopping there, the houses were lined to fill even more of the roads. It made You and Riko's aquarium look like a sad pebble in the eyes of the diamond they stood in.
Seeing more people than just Riko within the first minute was almost overwhelming to You, and Riko could see that. She let You set the pace, to really soak everything in while she only guided them towards the direction they needed to go with a slight tug of her hand.
As they passed by one of the first streets, You slowed down their stroll. A small tree with its flowers blooming casted shade onto the path as it grew between the walkway and shops, giving the perfect place to rest for just a moment.
You stopped beneath the tree, leaning her back onto the wall with a heavy plop. She never dropped Riko's hand though but rather rubbed her thumb in soft circles across it, discreetly letting her know there was something she had to say. You let out a deep breath, finally speaking up for the first time since their arrival,
"Riko, can I be honest?"
Riko smiled, waiting for this conversation for a while.
"Yeah, of course you can. What's wrong?"
You looked elsewhere and despite her face already being red from the sun, she could feel the burning sensation travel all the way up to her ears,
"I'm a bit nervous, I guess?"
Riko leaned her back onto the wall right by You with more grace, never taking her eyes off of her,
"How come? If you want, I can go tell Dia we're here and we can meet her when you're more comfortable."
You shook her head with laughter. Taking that route made her feel like a child.
"No, no. What I mean is that you know everyone here already, or at least most people, and they all like you. That's kind of some big shoes to fill when I'm really just known as patient zero."
Riko nodded her head as You spilled her thoughts, understanding her worry.
"I get it, really. Well, in case you should know, nobody really knows me here as anything besides 'The girl that got beat up at the beach', unfortunately." Riko laughed at the memory before continuing,
"And from the people that do know me, I never talk about you like you're a patient. You're beyond that to me, obviously."
Riko brought their interlocked hands upwards and even You laughed along this time.
"Okay, okay, that's true. But I still worry. What about the ones you said came over while I was, you know?"
You didn't finish her sentence. She hated saying it, but Riko knew what she was referring to.
"Well, that was before. This is the real you, and they've all been dying to see just that."
You looked at Riko, trying to spot any lies within her words but she had nothing to hide. Riko's ears were nearly talked off after her last visit when she finally told Dia, Mari, and Kanan that You was coming over. Mostly from Mari, but she could only imagine the others' excitement as well.
You took a deep breath before pushing herself off the wall. She was just overthinking things, as she knew she did quite often. She knew the faster she got the new introductions over with, the quicker it would put her mind at ease.
Riko pushed herself off the wall as well and before she could ask You if she needed to rest more, You was already tugging her forward to their destination with a new found determination across her face.
Reaching the riverbank down the path, You's burst of energy slowed down in front of the bridge as the two went back to enjoying the scenery. She didn't want to burn herself out too quickly in the day anyways. Soon enough though, the couple heard little feet scurrying across the wooden floors they stepped upon with high pitched voices accompanying them,
"Hurry, Shizuko! Rina should be done with breakfast now!"
Kasumi yelled back at Shizuku, who was holding onto her small yellow bucket hat as she ran behind trying to keep up. The two were dressed in overalls, obviously prepared to tear up the town, in a way only kids could. Kasumi, being who she was though, wasn't looking ahead. Right before she could run straight into You, Riko held out her hand to stop any possible disaster that would occur.
"Woah there, watch where you're going there, little one."
Kasumi bumped right into Riko's palm face first. With a quick sneer asking just what force stopped her, her expression soon fell as she saw it was the same adult with Chika before. Kasumi immediately gasped aloud,
"We weren't playing by the water, I swear!"
Riko opened her mouth with a response only for Kasumi to grab her hand in front of her, holding it close to her face tightly,
"Please don't tell Miss Chika, she'll yell at us again!"
Riko retracted her hand with a laugh,
"You're okay, I won't tell, but be careful and look where you're going more often."
Kasumi nodded her head furiously as Shizuku walked up behind her, patting her like a puppy,
"Thank you, Miss Riko. We have to go get Rina, but it was nice seeing you again!"
Shizuku grabbed Kasumi's hand as the two ran off before anymore could be said. The couple watched the younger kids race past them and between the other people in their way, giggling to one another over their smooth escape. You looked at Riko with curiosity,
"Did she just say 'Miss Riko' to you? You know that one?"
Riko nodded her head,
"Yeah, she's a good kid. She loves to play pretend and dress up a lot, kind of like you. Hey, remember when you used to have all of those costumes around your room when we were younger?"
Riko poked at You's side with a giggle, earning a blush from her sailor at the reminder of her years long obsession with costume-making before she entered college. You sarcastically laughed along as she swatted away Riko's hand,
"Alright, alright, I like to think I grew out of that phase when I got my hands on a real sailor uniform."
Riko smiled as You began to walk forward again. She decided not to bring up the fact that she knew of You's secret suitcase filled with old uniforms that she kept hidden under the bed in their old apartment.
The two took their time with the walk, waving at the townspeople who passed them and even on the occasion; sitting to rest. You couldn't remember the last time she was so tired. Every few feet made her notice just how heavy her backpack was or how glaring the sun shined. And of course, with every tug on Riko to slow down, she felt like a bother. However, Riko was always there to reassure her that in time her strength would come back and it'll be back to being the other way around before they knew it.
As the duo got into the main plaza, they began to pass under a large oak tree. Its roots broke apart the peaceful walkway, allowing for more root room, as the shadow it casted onto the two was so peaceful. The leaves rustled in the wind as if the tree were dancing under the sun. You breathed in the fresh air, almost turning to Riko to express her appreciation before she heard a loud gasp.
You flinched at the sound before looking over to see three teenagers staring straight at her. You glanced quickly at Riko as she asked,
"Did they?"
She left the question open ended as Riko nodded her head. She held onto You tighter, a bit nervous at their reaction. She only told them You would be coming over 'one day' after her last trip to the town, but as she thought about it now, maybe she should've been more specific in her time frame.
The worry she had was soon washed away though as smiles burst onto their faces. One by one they all ran towards the couple, overwhelmed by the excitement of seeing the doctor and her finally cured girlfriend.
Ruby was the first to reach You, she stopped for only a moment to see if it really was her. You smiled nervously at her; curious of her reaction, before Ruby latched onto You, engulfing her into a hug. Then Hanamaru jumped straight in and finally Yoshiko, completing their four person group hug. You, being as weak as she was though, fell to the floor with all three of the teens still holding onto her. Riko was quick to react, grabbing hold of Yoshiko first, as she sat at the top. She attempted to peel the other two off one by one as she reprimanded their irresponsibility,
"You guys! I know you're excited but You is still in her healing phase. She's not as strong as she was before."
The girls all mumbled out apologies, getting up from You as they fixed her outfit and helped her stand. You couldn't stop smiling though, even if she felt like she broke three ribs on the way down. As she painfully stood up, she ruffled Ruby's hair,
"It's fine, they were just having fun."
Despite not remembering who they were, You couldn't be happier to see she didn't leave a bad impression on them. Ruby was the first to speak up,
"Oh, sorry, we didn't introduce ourselves. Or at least, not really formally. I'm Ruby, this is Hanamaru, and that's Yoshiko."
Ruby pointed over towards her friends. Hanamaru brought her hand up in a small wave as Yoshiko, who was still hanging in Riko's grasp, posed her fingers over her eyes while sighing out,
"It's Yohane."
You bowed her head to each of them before she held her muscle-memory salute up,
"Well, it's nice to meet you Ruby, Hanamaru, and Yohane. I'm Watanabe You."
Yoshiko was quick to beam with excitement when she heard her preferred name be addressed, as You continued on,
"I apologize for any way I acted before, I wasn't really me at the time. As I'm sure you know."
Yoshiko got up, and as she dusted herself off from Riko's grasp, she waved her hand nonchalantly,
"You were fine, lots of growls and grunts, but mostly fine. You talking right now is already a huge step in the right direction."
The trio laughed with one another, all remembering how their first meeting went and just how absolutely horrified they all were. Hanamaru added onto Yoshiko,
"But don't worry about that. Riko told us a lot about you, so don't feel the need to exert yourself for us to see a 'newer' you."
You nodded her head furiously, already excited that her first meeting was going so well. She hadn't met friendly strangers in so long, it was almost like a lost foreign feeling was coming into light again. Before the trio could leave You and Riko back to their original destination, Riko quickly stopped Hanamaru from going,
"Hey, I have something for you."
Hanamaru hummed in curiosity as she watched Riko reach her hand into her pocket, pulling out a closed fist. She turned it over, revealing three seeds, already beginning to sprout greenery from their tiny shells. Hanamaru gasped, holding out both of her hands as she shakily let out,
"Don't tell me... are these what I think they are?"
Riko nodded her head,
"Yup, I saved the mikan seeds from before and luckily enough I managed to grow three, of course with some help from You. I know they'll take a couple years to produce anything but hey, now you can plant them nearby and they won't be far from home."
Hanamaru jumped up and down in excitement as she carefully took them from Riko and showed them to Ruby and Yoshiko. She handed each of them one seed before turning back to Riko, pulling her into a tight hug. She mumbled out in joy against her shirt,
"Thank you so much!"
As Hanamaru took a step back, she looked at her friends with determination,
"We have to get to the library now, not just for our daily check in, but to read on how to get these things growing healthily and quickly."
Yoshiko and Ruby nodded their heads before following behind Hanamaru who was already rushing ahead. They all waved their hands back at You and Riko, thanking them over and over as they headed straight for the land of knowledge.
The couple waved back before continuing on their path hand-in-hand. Finally, as they walked farther, they could begin to see the beach within eyesight beyond the buildings.
As they passed by the upcoming streets bustling with crowds, You could smell the food wafting through the air. You nearly moaned at the thought of each ingredient she could buy for the perfect meal she hadn't had in years. The thoughts were so overwhelming that Riko had to wave her hand in front of her face,
"They prepared snacks for us, you know. Just focus for a few more streets, You."
You bashfully smiled, embarrassed at her excitement but Riko loved it. She would've also loved if her first experience had been that enjoyable but seeing You have a good time was enough for her.
Riko decided to take them on a quick detour through the road that was filled with street foods, pointing and recommending certain meals to You that looked interesting. Of course You would point towards a few others, fascinated with their smells. What neither of them said out loud though was the date-nights dinners they were already planning to surprise the other with.
As they finally reached the end of the street, You took a look at just how lively it all was. It was like a spot lost in time, where no apocalypse ever affected them. So much was going on all around that neither girl noticed the fast footsteps approaching behind them. Riko just barely saw a brief flash of blonde hair before You was on the ground again with a loud thump.
Mari sat on You's back, pinning her arms above her head. She lowered herself to You's ear as she devilishly smiled,
"How does it feel to be on the other side of things, huh, You?"
You had her eyes closed in pain as she mumbled out on the floor,
"Uh, it hurts pretty bad I guess."
Riko held onto her chest, about a few moments from having a heart attack at nobody around having the slightest clue how to treat an injured person.
"Mari! You can't just jump on a recovering patient!"
Mari laughed off Riko's concern, even patting You to show she was just fine. Before Riko could really give her a piece of her mind, Kanan walked into the picture. She grabbed Mari by the waist, lifting her off You with ease and setting her aside,
"Mari, I told you to at least give them a warning."
Kanan held her hand out for You to grab onto as she helped her up next. Riko, of course, had to take deep breaths on the side to not cause yet another scene.
Kanan dusted You off and handed her back her cane before taking a step back to really look at her. With her hand on her chin, Kanan couldn't help but realize something was off. With a snap of her fingers she got it though.
"You know, you look skinnier without that costume on."
You laughed in confusion as she looked over at Riko for an answer. Riko laughed along, avoiding eye contact but before You could question her, Kanan roughly patted You's back as Mari walked beside her,
"Well, either way, we're glad you're back. I, personally, can't wait to get to know you better. Riko told me you used to be into diving and I'll have you know, I used to be a scuba diver instructor."
Kanan proudly announced with her chest boasted in pride as Mari joined in,
"And Riko also said you used to work out, I'd love to see someone give Kanan here a run for her money."
You nervously smiled and nodded along with the conversation. She felt like she was going to die after walking a single block, the only show she'd give Mari was of her final moments if she went against Kanan now.
"I'm not really in the state to do that at the moment, but maybe I can be whipped back into shape as time goes on, yeah?"
Kanan nodded her head, already excited at the idea of a training partner,
"Deal! I'll go easy the first day, meet me at 5am tomorrow morning in front of the Takami Inn."
You looked towards Riko, a bit frightened as to what she got herself into, as Kanan steadily began describing her usual work-out schedule. Mari spoke up though, cutting Kanan off before she could get too into it.
"Well, we should be heading out. We'll definitely be seeing you two around."
Mari started pulling at Kanan, letting You and Riko free. They both set off towards the street foods, falling easily into their previous conversation. Mari even grabbed onto Kanan's arm as soon as they walked away from the couple, almost like second nature. You turned to Riko as she lets out a chuckle,
"They seem nice. Also oddly familiar."
Riko laughed along as she once again took You's hand,
"Yeah they're something alright."
As they continued what seemed like their never ending walk, You would point out the smallest details of things. She'd make Riko stop at every plant or colorful tree, claiming that she hadn't seen one like it in years. She'd then proceed to pick the flowers off to give to Riko. Of course, Riko couldn't be the only one flustered, leaving a multiple exchange of flowered gifts between the two. By the time they arrived at the Inn, both girls had random flowers in each other's hair, some falling off, but a single white daisy tucked neatly behind their ears, as those were their favorite of the bunch.
As they got into the driveway of where the cars used to park at the Inn, You turned to Riko,
"You know, Kanan brought up my costume. Exactly how long did you have me in that thing?"
Riko's eyes widened, looking elsewhere as she really hoped she wouldn't have to explain the situation of keeping her in there longer for her own selfish needs.
"Oh, just, until I thought you were okay."
Riko nervously smiled as You's gaze became more focused on her, slowly cracking her down. That was until a familiar voice came yelling out for her,
"Riko! You made it!"
With a flash of orange, You couldn't even turn towards the noise before a body came crashing into Riko. The red-haired girl barely caught onto Chika, keeping them from ending up on the floor. She had only slightly gotten used to her split second time prep.
You looked at how comfortable Riko really was around the town. Every person talked about their time with Riko, granted they all had known her, but it was odd to feel as if she was an obligation to speak to.
You stood off to the side a bit, waiting until the two were done. Riko noted how awkward You looked, really about everything since their arrival. Sure they hadn't been around people in a while, but You was always the social butterfly in every situation.
She lightly pushed Chika off, motioning her to You for them to finally meet.
Chika turned around with a smile, putting a heavy hand on You's shoulder, a bit too rough for Riko's liking.
"So, this was the girl you were so strung up over, huh, Riko?"
Riko wanted to palm her face. You looked to the side bashfully as she didn't know how to respond to that. Riko swatted Chika's hand away from You's shoulder as she grabbed onto You's arm,
"This is Chika, she's one of the children from the family who run the Inn. You'll find her literally anywhere but working there."
You recognized that name from Riko's tellings of the townsfolk. You bowed her head in respect,
"Thank you for taking care of Riko when I couldn't, Chika. It means a lot."
Chika swayed her hand, lightly scoffing at You,
"Please, don't be so formal. It's a bit weird. We're all practically best friends now. You know, I've never been friends with such a young married couple-"
"We aren't married."
You and Riko both answered simultaneously as Chika waved them off again,
"When you've been together that long you might as well be. Oh you know, I'm pretty sure there's a priest around, or maybe Mari can do it, either one so we can get that fixed right away!"
With You and Riko quickly trying to sputter out their words, Chika walked around, fitting herself between the two as she wrapped her arms around them,
"And, as best friends now, we should all hang out!"
Before You could even question Chika's logic of best friends, she heard a noise coming from the Inn. A voice called out, sounding like a lost memory from her younger years,
"Say, Chika, where do I put the new order of fruits?"
Moving aside the drapes that covered the door, the young girl held a box of fresh apples over her shoulder. Her black hair was just to her shoulders and as her purple eyes met You's, they both stood still for a moment. Riko's eyes widened as she saw her. Chika had constantly mentioned her protégé, but even she was shocked to actually see who it was.
"Is that?"
Riko asked as You finished her sentence,
"T-Tsuki?"
The ravenette kept her eyes on the couple as she carefully dropped the box onto the ground. She couldn't hold back the excitement in her voice as she yelled out,
"You! Riko!"
Tsuki ran forward, giving You the hug of her life, lifting her frail body, before turning over and giving Riko a more delicate hug.
"It's so good to see you guys! How did you even make it out of the fire? Where have you guys been?"
You could feel her heart beating out of her ears, overfilled with emotion, as she tried to answer amongst her confusion,
"I don't know what you mean by the fire, but we've been living out at the aquarium I worked at in high school for years now. A few months after everything went bad we got out. What about you? There wasn't a single place even remotely functioning after a few months."
Tsuki couldn't help but get emotional as well, having already accepted not a single person she knew survived the monstrosities that lived alongside them.
"A fire burned down that apartment you used to live in almost a year into everything. I tried to visit the rubble to see what was left but it was in such bad shape I didn't even bother to have hope. I tried finding any of our family members, but house after house was abandoned."
Tsuki grabbed You's head, pulling her close to hold her as You clung tight,
"I really thought I lost everyone. I know we didn't talk after school, and I can say I've never regretted anything more than that."
Riko watched their exchange with a smile, trying to not get emotional as she saw the two reconnect after so many years. While Riko knew most people in the village, at least You knew one person now as well. It wasn't much, but she knew it was enough to get You slowly more comfortable with the place.
Chika lightly tapped Riko's shoulder, whispering in,
"You didn't tell me you knew her, Riko. You could've spared me these past few months of awkwardly dancing around her name."
Riko leaned over to Chika,
"Well, her name is Tsuki. She's You's cousin. Try not to forget it again."
Tsuki overheard Riko and Chika's exchange, laughing as she whispered to You,
"She literally forgot my name the moment we met, it's been pretty fun seeing how far she was going to go before asking me. I wonder if the same will be for you."
Tsuki placed her hand on You's right shoulder jokingly only for You to flinch at the contact. Tsuki retracted her hand, worriedly letting out,
"Sorry! Wait, are you hurt?"
You placed her hand on her shoulder, trying to relieve the tension as she massaged it the way Riko would. Riko was quick to walk beside You, rubbing small circles onto her back in comfort.
"It's a bit of a long story. I can tell you sometime, but honestly I'm a bit tired from traveling right now. I just really want to sit down."
Tsuki nodded her head, entirely understanding her situation,
"I gotcha, don't worry about it. I have to go put up this order anyways, but I'll find you in a bit to see where you're getting settled! Hopefully it's near me, I could use a morning exercise buddy like the good old days."
You let out a strained laugh, already thinking of the double torture she'd go through with Kanan and Tsuki.
"We'll see alright. I'll see you around."
Tsuki went in one more time for a hug, making sure to avoid You's shoulders as they embraced. Finally, the two stepped back. You watched Tsuki go to pick up the apples once more and be on her way. Chika followed along, waving them goodbye as she guided Tsuki to the drop off.
Riko lightly pushed You's shoulder with her own, sliding their hands together for what seemed like the umpteenth time today.
"You okay?"
Riko asked as You shook her head. She turned to Riko, slightly tightening her grip as she smiled,
"Yeah, I've never felt better."
Finally, the couple turned to face the Inn they stood in front of. Their final, yet most important, meeting was just up ahead. You gulped, already knowing if she didn't land this first impression she might ruin a life in this ideal town, and she wasn't ready to leave just about ever now.
As they began to walk inside, the bustling heaps of people all passed by one another, carrying different types of supplies as if it were the postage office of the village. Crates upon crates were brought in and out in an orderly yet dysfunctional mess. Whenever a pair of eyes went over to the couple though it was always followed with a kind greeting or a pardon to pass by them.
As Riko walked up to the main desk, Chika's older sister was there with a pencil behind her ear while reading her sheet in her hands, mumbling out just what had been delivered or not for the day.
"Hey, Mito, do you know where Dia is?"
Mito glanced up for a moment before grabbing her pencil and pointing outside,
"She's in the back garden. She cleared her schedule so she's been waiting all day for you."
Riko thanked the older girl before motioning to You where they were headed,
With the couple walking down the less chaotic hallway together, You leaned in towards Riko as she whispered,
"You know, everyone's so friendly with you. I don't even remember you talking to many people when you worked at the hospital."
Riko laughed, almost embarrassed of how much she used to despise interacting with others when she was fresh out of school.
"Well, I did come around here pretty often by myself so I guess I just fell into it after a while."
You nodded her head. She looked down at the ground as her footsteps clanked against the worn out wooden floor boards. They were clean, but there was obviously a time when no one tended to them and nature took its course.
You glanced up on the occasion to see what everything looked like, only to go back to focusing on the floor when she met someone's eyes. She wasn't sure if she could fit in just yet, given everything that happened. She felt in control of herself, but what if others didn't? Even if they didn't know, You still did. The worry ran through her head, that was until Riko stopped finally at the open glass doors.
Riko tapped on the side, alerting the taller women with long black hair by the water fountain. She sipped from a cup of tea as she stared at the ripples of water in the pond from the table she sat at.
"Sorry for interrupting."
Riko apologized before Dia turned her way. She set down her drink, clearing her throat as she waved her hand over,
"No, you're fine. Come on over."
Dia stood up, letting You get a better look at just who Riko fought against in her story she told her before. The town's leader definitely had the aura of a cold blooded murderer, but she was about the same height as Riko, You came to realize as she got closer. Then again, neither girl had trained in the sand, so going against Dia would've been bad news for any person.
As You stood before Dia finally, she bowed her head down as far as she could, trying to her best to show the utmost respect for the leader. When she looked up though she saw that Dia did the same, something she didn't expect from a girl that could end her in a second if she chose to.
"I'm glad to see your journey went well. If you still have any supplies at your previous home we will gladly send a group out with you to bring back anything you want, or think the town can use."
Riko waved her hand at Dia's gesture though,
"We're fine. We brought our research, and a few seeds of the plants we harvested. We didn't exactly have very much, if anything we were running out of supplies on our last days."
"Ah, I see."
Dia turned to You, showing a pleasant smile. You tried to look her in the eyes but even when Dia was happy she was still so intimidating.
"I'm glad to finally meet you, You."
Dia genuinely let out. You stumbled upon her words,
"Oh, ah, thank you? I didn't know you knew about me."
Dia stood taller as she spoke out,
"I do. Due to me looking out for everyone's safety I asked Riko to not hold back anything about anyone wanting to join our little town. With that being said, Riko gave me a general overview of you and why you didn't come with her the first time."
You subconsciously held onto her injured shoulder as she broke eye contact,
"Ah, so you know about that."
Dia nodded her head,
"It's okay, I don't think of you as any less of a person because of what happened to you, but rather a stepping stone for humanity. I can assure you anyone who thinks otherwise will personally be spoken to by me."
You gulped at the sound of that. She tried to laugh off how serious Dia was becoming, as she preferred her about 2 seconds before in her calmer state.
"I'm sure I'll be fine."
Dia broke her serious nature as she smiled,
"Good, now come over and sit with me."
She motioned towards the table she sat at before as the couple walked over towards the two empty seats. Riko and You both heavily dropped their backpacks as soon as their bottoms hit the chair, exhausted from their long journey. They tried to keep themselves composed but they couldn't help but take huge sighs the moment they finally could relax entirely.
"Tea?"
Dia motioned her cup upwards to the two. You breathed out,
"Water for me, please."
Riko nodded her head as she held up her hand in agreement with You's choice. Dia called back to one of the standing servants for the drinks before leaning forward a bit towards You and Riko, getting right down to business.
"So, I'm sure you're curious about where you will be staying for the time being, but rest assured, I will actually have you two sleep here at the Inn. My own orders, considering you two are a special pair."
Dia leaned back a bit, tilting her head towards the constant bustling noise of the staff,
"It'll be a bit loud during the day with many official business going on, but at night we all retire to our own homes, or rooms for some, so it'll be peaceful. At least that's the plan until we can get you two situated into one of the many homes we've been clearing recently."
The couple sighed in relief together. They weren't sure just what their living situation would be before they arrived. There was a slight fear from both considering the medical care You still needed.
The staff came over soon enough, carrying two cups of water for You and Riko. As they set it down though the couple waited for just a moment before chugging it down entirely.
Dia folded her arms over her chest and crossed her legs, getting comfortable before she began again.
"So, Riko told me briefly of what happened; however, she said she couldn't tell the full story with her "You" here."
You smiled bashfully as Dia tilted her head,
"So, I'd love to hear just what happened back in that aquarium. I have many questions: how did you two survive for so long on so little, or how did you manage to ward off any trespassers?"
Dia's voice lowered a bit as she looked around very quickly,
"Most importantly, how did you two deal with You's Infection? I've only gotten minimal information, but with both of you here, I'd love to hear the rest."
Riko looked over at You, placing her hand on her thigh. She squeezed it just slightly, silently asking permission to tell her story.
You knew it was coming down to this, as Riko had prepped her before, Dia wasn't one to easily trust anyone. Yet, the inner turmoil of that time in her life still nipped at the back of her head. A period of lost memories, only with Riko to be able to replay how harshly violent she reacted when she awoke.
But, You wanted to be trusted, she wanted to prove she was more human than anything she used to be.
With that, You placed her hand on Riko's, giving it a light squeeze back as she forced a smile. It was now or never.
Riko nodded as she let go. Leaning over to her side into her backpack, Riko dug around for just what she was looking for.
She pulled out her rugged journal, some papers were barely hanging on for dear life but it was all there. It was the key that held everything.
On one hand, it had the possibility of saving so many lives, but each time Riko saw those messy formulas she couldn't help but think; if they hadn't ever gone to get supplies that day, You wouldn't have gone through all of that. She wouldn't have to be struggling with basic tasks now, nor in fear of what way her body will react in the future to the vaccine.
Yet, there would be no cure either without someone's sacrifice.
It was truly a love-hate relationship Riko had with the journal. The pages were a tad bit worn out from the constant flipping and scribbles, but it was all there. Every little note and complex formula ever thought of was on those pieces of paper.
"Well, I guess we should really start with this."
Riko set down the book in front of Dia, flipping to the first pages.
Riko took a deep breath as she explained how they had come upon the journal. She vividly retold the tales, some with better memory while others she would reread her journal entries for certain specifics.
As they flipped through the pages, Riko was able to explain at which points were her own research notes from before and which were from the person who had left the journal behind. She retold the ways she tested her vaccines and soon enough, what started as solely research entries in the beginning would further turn into trips down memory lane with a Riko who just couldn't let go of the past she held with You. At some points, even Riko realized it was a bit sad when she reread what she had written. However, that motivation drove her until the end so perhaps it wasn't too terrible.
With every entry, Riko would turn back to make sure You was still okay, especially with the beginning retellings of her more animalistic state. You powered on though, giving Riko a thumbs up but slightly cringing when Riko was turned away as she was retold of something she had done that was out of character for herself.
Soon enough though, they started getting guests with every passing minute. First Mari, dragging along Kanan, barging in to announce their presence before sitting by the pond. Then the rumbustious teenage trio came along as well, of course confirming they had finished their chores first before taking a seat next to Kanan and Mari. By the time Riko had gotten to You's healing process, Chika brought along Tsuki to sit by and burn the time.
They all were focused on Riko's words while on the occasion just speaking amongst one another. While they were well aware of each other's presence in the village, with so much needing to be done all the time, it left no time to really get to know each other.
As Riko would explain everything, You couldn't help but notice just how much Riko had grown on her own. Riko never was one to be the center of attention, nor take charge of a situation ever. Yet, she grabbed death by the horns all so she could have one more chance to make up for every wish You asked of her when they were younger.
It wasn't a one-sided story though, You didn't know it but Riko was well aware of how You had changed too.
You never liked depending on anyone. She trained herself to have the utmost strength, physically especially, for her and Riko. Now though, she learned to swallow her pride when she needed to ask Riko for help with simple tasks. When she was out of breath walking to the door, it took just one request from Riko and there she was walking to the new village with the cane Riko specifically hand made for her.
Riko knew it took a lot from You, but she couldn't be more happier that she could finally depend on her as well. Their relationship no longer felt imbalanced, but more of a real duo.
Riko's breath finally ran ragged as the once burning sun faded to the cool night. She closed her journal, catching her breath from the long story as she finally leaned back a bit from the book,
"And so, now we're here. I don't know if You was just an exception, or if maybe jogging her memory helped along the way. We can only rinse and repeat with new subjects, however they might come."
Dia nodded her head, already mentally planning just what team to put behind Riko to ensure she gets the best results in her studies. However, before any names could be announced, she first noticed that nighttime had secretly struck while they were talking.
"It's getting late, but I do hope to discuss with the both of you tomorrow the possibility of new testing and ways to duplicate your research so it isn't so confined to one journal that could easily be lost."
Riko nodded along as she also asked,
"Is it okay if we get an extra set of medical supplies tonight? That's definitely one thing we ran out of back at home."
Dia nodded as she called to one of the staff for the task. Dia then turned to their little crowd that had gathered as she started motioning them away with her hands,
"Alright, everybody, shoo. It's time to close up shop for the night and go home."
One by one Dia began pushing everyone out of the garden, even Chika as she yelled back,
"Hey I live here!"
Dia stopped at the door as she looked back at You and Riko still sitting in their seats.
"I'll have a staff member guide you to your bed tonight. I need to help Ruby get supplies from our home so we can stay close and help situate you two within the next couple weeks. For now though, sleep well, you'll be getting up very early tomorrow."
Dia happily closed the door as everyone let out an exhausted groan. If Dia was up early, everyone in town was up early as well.
With the lot cleared out, Riko looked at You, who was already staring right at her. A faint giggle escaped their lips. Being together so long still didn't mean it wasn't embarrassing getting caught admiring the other.
The only thing to light their failing sight was the moon above them. It shined against the trickling water, giving them just enough light to enjoy their view of one another.
You leaned forward, feeling their magnetic attraction as Riko couldn't help but do the same with a slight smile on her lips.
With but a breath between them, You had to tell Riko one last thing to really finish their night together. Something that she felt like she needed to shout on every mountain for the rest of her life.
"You know, Riko,"
You started. Her hand reached up, pushing Riko's stray hair from her face. Riko leaned into the touch, humming in question before You whispered to her.
"I always knew you could do it."
Riko smiled widely, reaching her hands up to trace You's jawline before pulling her in to cut the gap between them to nothing.
With no noise besides the whistling wind around them, You and Riko could finally sigh a breath of relief.
A new journey was ahead of them, as adjusting to a new environment is never an easy feat. However, like always, they were ready hand-in-hand to take that first step together.
And for the first time in a long time, that journey looked quite radiant.