Info: Chapter 3 is here! Thanks for all of the awesome reviews, and a special thanks to Laura Schiller and LilyGinnyBlack for some really helpful and kind reviews. But also thanks to all of my reviewers and readers, your encouragement keeps me writing! Thanks so much for sticking with me to chapter three! This part is going to be hard to figure out, but I'll do my best! Keep an eye out for chapter four! It doesn't end here!

Note:In episode 21 and other episodes we see Yuu's robot key chain on his phone, but for the purpose of the story, I'm gonna ignore the fact that he technically still has it at that point in the anime. You'll get it when you read this.

-A few weeks later-

I brushed back a lock of maroon hair as I stepped towards the break room, silently hoping Yuu wasn't there. Yesterday was his first day at Seiyo Elementary, and I wasn't too eager to hear about it. I really wasn't sure why. It's because I can't imagine Yuu manipulating a bunch of kids, that's why. I felt my stomach turn. It was true. Yuu and I had been getting together less and less recently, and as much as I wanted to go back to the passion we used to have, seeing Yuu now, seeing how different he had become... the whole thing was kind of unsettling to me. I couldn't put my finger on why.

But the fact that I couldn't avoid it forever was confirmed as I took a step inwards. Yuu was leaning into the refrigerator, no doubt taking out his bento, when he turned and noticed me, his face turning into a soft smile. My heart moved, but not in love, in a strange sense of longing. Which didn't make any sense, but I was still overcome with unexplained sadness. I was filled with feeling like things weren't going to last much longer, and I didn't want that. Right?

Yuu stood up to greet me, but with his upper half in the refrigerator, he just smacked his head on the top of the fridge. I smiled a little despite myself as he stepped away from the fridge, rubbing his head as he closed the door and came over to me.

"Greetings, Yukari-chan," He said with an overly ditzy smile, which was slightly unsettling. I noticed that his wardrobe had changed. Where he'd normally where a blue shirt and tie, there was a dorky yellow and green combination. His crazy hair was just as unkempt as usual, but it was back in a dull purple tie, which was odd for him. And instead of his gorgeous eyes shining, they were covered by silver wire-rimmed glasses.

I raised an eyebrow. "Yuu-kun, why are you dressed... like that?"

Yuu looked down at himself as if he forgot what he was wearing. "Oh, this? I figured I'd do better under the radar if I looked more like a teacher. Glasses, dorky clothes, that sort of stuff."

I bit my lip. I had to talk to him now, in private. "Yuu, let's go somewhere else to talk," I said, coaxing him into the hallway. We walked for a bit until we were at an end of the hallway that people didn't walk through much. "Under the radar?" I quoted in confusion.

He nodded, his soft butterscotch-colored hair moving with his head. "Of course. I don't want the teachers knowing what I'm really doing there."

I felt my stomach flip a little. "That's... I mean, it seems almost..." I searched for a word to convey this discomfort I felt. "Wrong." I spit out the word without thinking about the reprecussions.

He raised an eyebrow, and his eyes flashed with a bit of annoyance. "Wrong?" He looked at me. "And how is it more wrong than you using Utau and sucking the dreams out of children who just want to listen to some music they like?"

I cringed at his harsh tone, but he noticed immediately. He put a hand to his face. "Oh, Yuu, what are you doing?" He put my hand in his, and I felt chills run down my spine. It had been a whole week since I had made physical contact with Yuu-kun, and I missed the feeling of his arms around me and his lips on mine. "I'm so sorry Yukari-chan, I don't know what keeps getting into me nowadays. I love you," His words were soft, and as he reached his arms around me, I couldn't help wanting to embrace him again.

I let myself be pulled into his strong grasp, enjoying the hug more than I'd tell him. "I'm sorry Yuu. I just... I can't see you manipulating children like that, I guess."

He released me gently. "What do you mean? I'm getting them back on track, making them focus on becoming beneficial members of society instead of chasing worthless dreams. Nothing more."

I lowered my head. I could help but notice his red phone sticking out of his pocket, and the chain dangling from it... A robot? "Yuu-kun..."

"Yes?" He said, his voice sweet and soft, but his face not nearly as soft as it used to be.

"You like robots?"

I looked up at him, and he looked shocked. He turned his face away, hiding his expression, but I could tell it wasn't a happy one. "Ro... robots? Of course not, robots are a useless waste of time."

I reached up and grabbed his shoulders, and his head turned towards me. "Don't lie to me, Yuu."

He looked at me with his kind eyes, which had slowly turned hard these last few weeks. "Yukari-chan, I honestly could not care less about robots."

I knew he didn't believe it at all. "Yuu... These past few weeks... you've changed so much."

His eyes met mine in confusion, with a mix of accusation. "What do you mean?"

"You..." I almost couldn't think of the words, and wished I could say it without hurting him. "You've become so much colder," He raised an eyebrow, and I looked away, knowing I never wanted to face this. "Manipulating kids? You would have never done that before this. Easter... it's changed you."

"Yukari, you were the one that wanted me to take this job," He said, his voice nearly accusing. "Are you telling me you're upset that I did?"

I felt sadness wash over me as his tone hardened, but I swallowed it, keeping my gaze hard and prideful. "I'm not sure." I took a pause, and sighed. "It's just... ever since that day in the car, you've been so cold."

"Cold?" He sounded much more upset than usual, and I felt just the same. Maybe Yuu wasn't the only one who had changed. "Yukari, everything I've done here has been for you because I love you!"

I looked down. "I know, but... You're keeping secrets, you don't embrace me to say hello like you always have, and just a few days ago when we saw each other, you were..." The words were strange on my tongue, and I didn't want to let them out. "Looking at another woman." My cheeks reddened.

I could tell my words were bringing him pain, and I longed desperately that none of this had ever happened, but I knew it already had and I had to do this now. His pain this time was not sadness, he was past sadness, but now anger. "Yukari-chan," His tone was much darker than normal, and I nearly took a step back. "I've always kept that event in my life secret, and I'm not allowed to look at another woman? It's not like we're married," My heart was hurt by his words more than I'd say. He didn't even deny it... "And besides, hugging every time we see each other is an impractical waste of important time." He said it like a scientist more troubled by practicallity than emotion, and it was worrying.

Now I was the surprised one. Yuu... what happened to you? "I just wish things hadn't changed so much between us."

"Yukari," He looked at me sharply, and I felt a tinge of fear at how he was acting as I realized that he'd never go back to the way he used to be, no matter what I tried to do. His hands were balled into fists. "I have worked so hard to make you happy because I knew it would make me more happy. But look at this!" His tone was angry, his eyes becoming noticeably moist as he gritted his teeth. "I threw out a secure, well-paying job for you. I began doing something I tried to convince myself was right, and now have convinced myself that it is, but I still don't like doing it. I come here every day in the hopes that I'll see my Yukari-chan, in the hopes that I can make things better for my Yukari-chan, in the hopes that today I'll get over it all. I've tried so hard not to be changed, and you never even warned me that you were becoming unhappy! How can you blame me for this if you didn't even tell me if you were upset?" His breath was rapid, frustration building in his voice. He reached up and pulled out the tie in his hair, than grabbed off his glasses and shoved them into his pocket. "Everything I've done here, every time I've put up with one of your coworkers leering at me, every time I've put up with all of these dumb jobs to find some stupid 'magical egg' thing that probably doesn't exist... It's all been for you, to make you happy!" His words brought me more pain than I'd admit, but judging by his grim face, he was feeling worse. "I've jumped through hoop after hoop for you, and you're telling me it's still not enough?"

For a moment I couldn't speak as my heart was torn with pain. He's right. He's never stopped working to please me, and here I am denouncing everything. But now that I know what Yuu is really like, how could I go back to dating him like nothing's happened? "Yuu..." I found myself caught up in a sob, shaking my head as I tried to keep the tears from falling. "I am so, so sorry. For everything," I said honestly.

Yuu lowered his shoulders, a look of tender sadness crossing his face for the first time in a long time. His shoulders lowered, but he didn't even look at me. "I am too. I'm sorry that no matter what I do, I can't make the only woman I've ever really loved happy."

is words cut me deep as I looked up at him, and his face had gone back to the soft innocent and kind look it had held just a month or so ago that I hadn't seen in so long. But I knew it wouldn't last, and I couldn't handle any more of his instability. "I don't want this to end, Yuu."

"So are you saying it won't, or," He paused, and looked down in sadness. "Or that you don't like it, but it's over?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but my words failed me, a rasping sound coming from the back of my throught instead.

Yuu looked away from me. "So all good things... really do have to come to an end?" He looked at me for confirmation, but I gave none. "Yukari..." He waited until I looked into his eyes. "I want you to know that I don't want to lose you. If this is the end, I'm not going to be immature about it and beg. I'm not going to be one of those messed up guys that starts stalking you, and I'm not going to make you regret anything you do because I love you too much to hurt you. But..." His voice was choked for a moment as he searched for the words. "I love you, and I'm sorry for every way I've changed." His voice was a weak sob. "That's all I have." He looked at me with that cute half smile of his that he used when he just made a joke, but the way his eyes were clouded over and the way his eyebrows were cocked up made me know it wasn't funny.

I looked up at him sadly. Is this really the time to end this? Is there anyway to salvage this at all? I knew what the answer was, but I didn't want to end this thing that had been so wonderful. But no. I'm not ready to live with someone who has so many different personalities and feelings that seem to drive him crazy on the inside. This... this is it. I have to end it now, I can't go through this all again with him, or else I'll just give up again.

I have to do this now.

"Yuu-kun..." For a moment I feared couldn't form the words, but slowly, with a regretful and pained voice, I did. "It's over."

Yuu paused, and avoided my eyes. "I..." He froze so long I feared he'd never move again. "I understand."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, carefully using his long fingers to unclasp the robot key chain. I was unsure of what he was doing, but I didn't speak. He slipped his phone into his pocket and touched my hand, lifting it up, palm up. He his other hand on top of mine, letting the key chain fall into my palm. I looked down at the cute robot in my palm, and Yuu put his hand down.

"What... why?"

He looked at my hand. "It's a reminder of my promise. I told you I'd tell you everything, and no matter what, I'm not going to break that. You're too important for me to keep secrets from you anymore. So I'm giving this so we remember, and that when the time is right, I can tell you everything. Alright?" His last word was shaken with his voice. Neither of us had let a tear go, but that wouldn't last long.

"But Yuu, this must be important to you," I could think of nothing better to say, and I cursed my own foolishness.

He shrugged, and gave me a weak fake smile. "I guess I won't forget then." His voice shook with the tears that threatened to come out. "Don't lose it."

"Yuu-,"

Suddenly he grabbed me into a strong hug. The feeling of his arms around me, face against mine, his handsome caramel hair falling against my face, was so perfect I never wanted to let go of him. I let him hold me there, eventually putting my arms around his, for as long as I could. I was overcome with the intense desire to hold him forever and ever, wishing it could just stay like this. I didn't want to lose him, so what was I doing? I shook with sobs as he held me, the key chain in my hand. A tear traced it's way down my cheek, and I felt embarrassed that I had let him see me cry like this. I wanted to hold him there forever, but when he began to pull back, like always, I let him.

As he pulled back I saw that I indeed hadn't been the first to cry. Yuu's cheeks were covered in tears, and I immediately felt awful for everything I had put this man through, wishing there as some way I could undo it all for about the eightieth time since Yuu joined Easter.

He looked into my eyes, their soft kind amber penetrating the icy blue of my eyes, and didn't try to give me a weak smile this time, his face the picture of sadness. "Goodbye, Yukari. I love you."

"Yuu-kun," I choked out.

He looked away from me for a moment, then wiped his face with his sleeve, fixing me with a hard amber gaze, a frown across his normally smiling face. "It's Nikaidou."

I felt his words tear at my heart, but before I could come up with something smart to leave him with, he turned, lowered his head, and walked away.