---I do not own Ayashi no Ceres—

-oOo-

Aya…Aya…

Oh, it's you again Ceres…I thought I was never going to hear from you again…

You're so reckless Aya, I told you not to let him go there… You must stop him…Stop him before it's too late…You still have time…

Him? Tooya again? Everybody's so worried about him. Nobody cares for me anymore. Maybe Tooya doesn't love me anymore. Maybe, that's why he's been so cold to me lately.

You won't listen to anything I say, will you Aya? You'll only listen to him, right Aya? And here I am, telling you that he's always calling for you.

He is?

Listen.

"Aya…It's me…" Tooya told her while caressing his nervous hands on her face, trying to wake her. You were really calling me… "What's wrong? Do you feel alright? You want me to take you to a hospital?"

Aya with her eyes half open, only shook her head. Maybe you do still love me.

Tooya, feeling a little relieved from her response, tried to sit her down on a chair.

"Tooya…" Aya managed to say, "My head hurts a little, I just dozed off a bit, can we go home now?" I want to sleep and dream about you Tooya.

"Of course" he said while kissing her hair.

Tooya and Aya were already inside the car. Chidori couldn't stop apologizing for making everyone worry "She just got sleepy, that's all, nothing to worry about..!"

Yuuhi was looking rather worried, but was comforted by the fact that Aya was in the care of Tooya. Ever since their conversation earlier that night, Yuuhi's doubts disappeared all at once.

Before Tooya could speed off back to their house, Suzumi just had one more thing to say, "I hope you make the right choices Tooya."

Tooya simply told her. "I don't make the decisions, Aya does."

-oOo-

"Aya? You're awake?"

Aya, still half-asleep, opened her eyes to the moving street lights by the passenger window.

"We're almost there. How are you feeling?"

Aya didn't answer. She kept silent. She always had imagined that even through her silence Tooya could understand what she was saying. I'm fine Tooya…but I feel so weak…it feels so heavy…

"It's two in the morning Aya. Sleep a bit more."

Don't worry Tooya…I'll be okay as long as you're here…just don't leave me tonight… you'll see, I'll be better…so don't worry.

The cool air entered through the open window. It was already nine in the morning.

Aya finally woke up at the sound of the birds chirping. It's late morning already…'must have overslept…I have classes in the afternoon… Aya objectionally got up from bed, wishing to have more dreams of Tooya and her. Tooya? Where's Tooya? Tooya was always beside her when she wakes up. And once again she panicked because he was not there. "Tooya?" Where have you gone to again?

She didn't need to shout. Tooya was just nearby, sitting in a chair facing the bed, apparently still asleep.

Aya in instinct covered her mouth. Never has she seen Tooya asleep; he was always the one who wakes up before her. He would always watch her sleep and patiently wait for her to wake up.

Why? Have you been watching over me all night?

As if her stares started penetrating Tooya, he started to wake up. Aya in the meantime decided to pretend to be still asleep. She smiled at her idea that Tooya will wake up mortified because she woke up first.

Tooya woke up, finding her still sleeping. He went to the bed and sat next to her. "You must be very tired. I never should have agreed on that date after your classes yesterday." He whispered to her. What? No! You never question what I say, you always believe me, right? Why are you saying that now? Is that what you think when you always say yes?

"Why can't I say no to you Aya? Even if I think it's not good for you? Didn't I promise that I'll always protect you?"

Aya slightly flinched at his words. Tooya didn't seem to notice. But he whispered in the faintest voice as to not wake her, "So please Aya…let me say no to you for just one time…just this once…" What does that mean? What do you mean Tooya?

"This time tell me what you really want Aya…please…" What I really want?

"Just tell me…and let me lie to you…just this once…before I leave you for my next mission…"

"WHAT! Tooya!"

Aya said outloud, unable to keep pretending to sleep. "What did you say Tooya?!"

You're going to say no to me? You're going to lie to me? Leave me?

"Aya, you're awake?!" Tooya asked, taken aback to find her awake so suddenly and shocked.

"Well? Well? What is it? You were saying??"

"Nothing, nothing…good morning…" he kissed her on the cheek like he always does. "…you must be dreaming still Aya, don't get up, I'll make breakfast now."

Aya could only shake her head in disbelief as he turned his back to her.

--oOo—

You must have thought I was really asleep Tooya…you thought I didn't hear you say those words…but I was wide awake…and I heard it all. Aya's concentration on her classes was a bit off; there was an unsettling feeling in her heart constantly troubling her. Why won't you let me know? Just 'nothing'? Then it's true…you lied to me… Aya was beginning to get tearful at this realization. She didn't want to believe it, but in her heart she knew it was true. And you know what Tooya…I wish that I really was asleep at that time…I wish I had never woken up.

"Aya! What's up?" Chidori had approached her. Both of them had a 15 minute break before their next class. Chidori was taking up a course in Physical Therapy for Shouta and Aya was in Business Management. She wanted to have a music bar for a business someday. It would have bands, concerts; she could sell CD's and stuff; Shuro and Kei could perform there every night when they have finished touring all-over Japan. Aki even suggested that Aya put her karaoke skills to work and sing in front of the crowd now and then. Aki had a scholarship in the US and before leaving he told her "Hey Aya…sing for me now and then, huh? Queen of Karaoke!" Aya jokingly punched Aki for teasing her and Aki left for the US with a rather sore arm.

"Oh, hi Chidori!" Aya greeted with a smile. "I'm fine, you? How was class?"

Chidori flinging her arms in a tight hug, "Great! Everything's going great! And I'm so excited about the date with Yuuhi tonight! He said he was going to take me to the fair! Aren't you excited?"

"Really?," Aya said with her face lighting up, "How sweet, I'm so excited for you!"

"Hey, aren't you and Tooya coming with us? You said last night you'd double date, how rude! Backing out like that! And I thought I'd spend more time with you!"

Aya completely forgot that she agreed to such a date.

"Ah right! I'm sorry…it just slipped my mind…" Aya honestly answered.

"Oh you better come! We'll meet the both of you there at eight! Don't forget to tell Tooya!" Chidori told her. "See you later!" she waved goodbye as sped to her next class.

"Bye. See ya!" Aya waved back as she too went to her next class.

A date? Tooya's always happy when we're out together….Maybe this'll be a great time for me to talk to talk to him! If only I could talk to him for much longer…we could sort this out… Suddenly, her uneasy feelings started to fade and a glimpse of hope sparkled in her heart. She rejoiced at the thought that maybe, she simply misunderstood it all and was over reacting about something so small. I know my Tooya…he wouldn't do a thing like that to me…I just didn't know what he was talking about earlier…It's okay…I trust him, I still do…I know he loves me…I know he does… She decided to forget what has happened earlier and just pretend that nothing was wrong.

Before stepping inside the classroom, she called Tooya on the phone to tell him about tonight. "Thank you Chidori! You made this possible!" she thought as she dialed his number. But even before she could, her phone rang. Tooya called.

"Aya?" he said on the line. Aya was surprised. She hesitated before answering.

"Tooya? Yes?"

"Can you take the train this afternoon? I won't be able to fetch you today."

It felt as though the sky fell on her. What's more important than me Tooya?

"Why, Tooya? Is something wrong? Are you alright?"

"I just have to finish something. Can you?"

Aya had no intention of answering that question.