a/n: sorry for the unusual delay for me. got that flu shit man.

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Return to Me

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"You don't have to follow me everywhere you know," Ryo groaned as he glanced over his shoulder at the burly man keeping a slight distance between them, "Don't you have something better to do on a Friday night?"

"You paid me to keep you safe so I'm gunna do just that," the bodyguard growled as he folded his arms across his chest, "You don't know this girl. You don't know who may be watching you. Fuck, you were kidnapped only a few months ago man! By god, be grateful you have the luxury to get annoyed, to breathe another day."

"She's a police officer. Fully capable of protecting me if need be," Ryo snapped - not liking the idea that their dinner might not be as private as he wished and knowing that nothing in the world he could say would make that man stop following him, "I gave you the night off. Go home."

"And leave you to walk around the streets of Osaka by yourself?" the man snorted as he rolled his eyes, "No way. No how. I take my job very seriously."

Rolling his eyes, Ryo pulled out the address from his pocket before glancing up at the apartments lining the street and sighing. This was a terrible idea in retrospect – pushing him further into the friend zone than he truly would've liked but…but still there was that chance that maybe one day they could be more. There was something about her. Something undeniable that had her haunting his every waking hour. Was it because she had rescued him or was it something more?

"So what's it with this girl?" the brutish man scoffed behind him after a few moments of silence, "I mean, you haven't even had a girl over in what, weeks? That's not like you at all. And this girl isn't even interested in you man. What you doing chasing after her?"

"This is merely a friendly visit," Ryo replied casually – trying to not let his bodyguard's comments get to him, "There is nothing going on."

"Oh please," the bodyguard snorted, "I haven't seen you this excited to see a girl….well, ever. You can lie to yourself all you want but you ain't fooling me."

"I'll thank you to keep your comments to yourself," Ryo replied scathingly as he glared over his shoulder, "I am merely helping her find answers. As I said, you're free to go at any time."

Rolling his eyes but otherwise remaining silent, the pair walked slowly up the largely abandoned street until Ryo stopped in front of a plain looking apartment building and approached the buzzer. There was her name clear as a bell – almost calling to him and he sighed in relief even he began to feel rather giddy at seeing her again. So, perhaps there may be more than just some friendly feelings towards the girl. Just perhaps. But it was no matter. She wasn't interested in him that way…yet…but like the weather that could always change when he least expected it. Pressing the buzzer, Ryo held his breath and released it with a happy sigh when he heard her voice on the other end.

"I'll be down in a minute. Hold on," Chiyo's gravelly voice came through the intercom – making butterflies take flight in poor Ryo's stomach as he responded eagerly that'd he was more than happy to wait – ignoring the knowing chuckle of his bodyguard behind him.

"She's just a friend," Ryo snapped back as he glared at him, "No more than that. Now either be quiet or leave if you value your job."

"I'll be quiet then," the bodyguard responded – his tone full of amusement as he watched his employer pat the wrinkles out of his designer suit and look in the window to fix his usually unruly hair. The smirk grew when he saw him pull himself up to full height and try to put on his best winning smile as he waited anxiously for his…acquaintance…to make her way downstairs.

When she did pull open the door, it was clear that she had not put as much time and effort into her appearance as the man anxiously waiting for her. Donning a sweatshirt and a pair of yoga pants – her arms filled with various file folders, her hair up in a messy bun– she gave the man a suspicious once over before grinning herself, "So there's a coffee shop nearby. It's pretty quiet and we should be able to go over everything there."

If anything Ryo's grin grew wider as he took in her appearance. Women usually dressed to the nines whenever they met him and again, her dress was refreshing. Plain. Simple. Opening his mouth to compliment her, he quickly caught himself – cringing slightly at the nagging little voice in his mind that reminded him she wasn't interested. Why did this bother him so much? Was he really that pathetic that he couldn't handle a little rejection like that? Dear god, what was he becoming.

"That sounds perfect," he voiced then – realizing as she stared at him expectantly that he hadn't commented on the matter, "Wherever you feel most comfortable."

It was a quiet walk to the shop only a few blocks away. The tension was almost palpable as Ryo again and again tried to drag conversation out of the girl who would merely answer shortly before becoming quiet once more. It bothered him to no end how this girl who had been so obviously into him changed so drastically since that night at the ball. Something must've happened. Someone must've said something to her. Ryo wasn't necessarily a humble man but dammit, he did pride himself on his charms. Why wasn't it working on her?!

As they entered the small shop, the air was thick with the scent of freshly ground coffee and although Ryo drink in the aroma like everyone else, he couldn't help but frown. It was a quaint shop. Not at all what he was accustomed to and, much to his chagrin, the passing glances and faces people made when they saw his suit made him a little uncomfortable. Almost everyone was wearing something similar to Chiyo – just regular folks stopping by on their way home from work, students typing feverishly on their computers and here he comes in a tailored suit looking like he was going to the fanciest diner in Osaka…which honestly had been his plan. Yes, he wanted to spend more time with her but he also wanted to show her what being with him might entail. Fancy dinners. A night on the town perhaps. And yet here he was in a po dunk coffee shop sticking out like a sore thumb.

"You alright?" Chiyo asked when she saw the grimace on his face, "Trust me. The coffee here is absolutely fantastic and it's very quiet."

"I believe you," he chuckled good-naturedly before sending her an apologetic grimace, "I just feel overdressed."

"Just stay with me and no one will notice," Chiyo laughed warmly – the conversation so reminiscent of their conversation only a month earlier, "Let's get a table and maybe your shadow can get us some coffee, hm?"

"I'd be happy to oblige," the bodyguard laughed as he stepped a little closer, "What would you like?"

"Coffee, black," she responded happily before looking expectantly at Ryo who was looking at her appreciatively though for the life of her she couldn't figure out why.

"Green tea if they have it," Ryo responded after a moment before quickly moving to a table and pulling out the chair for her, "Please sit. Sit. And then we can discuss the case more."