A/N: Well crap… this took forever! I apologize to all of you for the excessively long wait! Between classwork, videogames, Netflix(classic killer of all productivity), trying to have a passing semblance of a social life, writer's block, and just plain laziness my writing sessions have been far less frequent than I would like. Well here it is. I came THIS close to caving and hooking up our favorite duo out of guilt. But I didn't, so yeah, sorry to disappoint those expecting that. But that doesn't mean there isn't a fair bit of sparks in here, so hey! It's coming I promise, and now that the semester is just about over and finals are pretty much wrapped the next update should take FAR less time! I'll admit though this chapter was tough, emotions and stuff y'know. Let me know how (hopefully good) it turned out. Well enough of all that, onward to the review responses!
MasterBlaster01: Here it is! Thanks for the feedback. Fight scenes are always tough, and I'm excited to try my hand at them again. That'll be a little later though, so stick around!
OriginalJuan92: I hope I delivered at least somewhat on the expectations for feels! And don't worry, Rise will be showing up next time, so get ready for that!
Darman154: Thanks for taking the time to review! I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much as the others!
Guest: Far from dead my friend, I was just… hibernating shall we say? Anyways I'm back now, so fear not!
Thank you all for the favorites and follows those are nice too! But I'm always looking for feedback to improve my writing so please review if you feel so inclined! Enjoy!
Chie vigorously slurped up noodles, attacking her pork lo mein with her usual gusto. Quickly finishing, she set aside her chopsticks and let out a contented sigh of satisfaction. Yu had joined her, their visit's to Aiya having become a weekly routine.
Turning toward Yu she suddenly spoke. "Hey Yu-kun, can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead," Yu replied, still eating his dish due to his more subdued pace.
"What was it like?"
He raised an eyebrow at her in confusion as he chewed. Swallowing he asked, "What do you mean?"
"Before you came to Inaba," Chie clarified. "I remember when you first moved here you told us that you had moved because your parents, but we didn't get to really have time to ask you what it was like back in the city, what with the first murder and all." Chie elaborated. Yu frowned and set down his chopsticks as if he had suddenly lost his appetite, prompting Chie to backpedal a bit. "But… you don't have to if you don't want to though! It was just a dumb question…"
Yu smiled and shook his head. "No, it's fine. It's just… I've never really told anyone before, about my life before coming… not just here, but anywhere really." He laughed, but the sound was strangely devoid of any real mirth. "I guess I've never really stuck around long enough for anyone to get curious," He chuckled bitterly. Chie frowned, noting her friend's uncharacteristic behavior.
Clearing his throat he began. "My family had been in Tokyo for almost a year, one of our longer stays." Noticing Chie's inquisitive glance he elaborated. "We've moved around a lot, as long as I can remember really. My parents are constantly working to try and work their way up the corporate ladder. So whenever a company said they needed them half way across Japan, our bags were packed the next morning. This time they got jobs overseas, so they made arrangements for me to move in with Uncle Dojima for the year. And here I am."
"Yu-kun… Have you heard anything from them recently?" Chie asked. I can't even imagine what that's like… moving around all the time… barely seeing your own family.
Yu shook his head. "Not even so much as an email." He shrugged dismissively. "I'm used to it. Even when I was living with them, they weren't really around much. That's how I picked up cooking; my parents would come back with takeout sometimes, but it would normally be late when they got back from work. Pre-made meals eventually made up most of what I ate, but eventually I just got tired of them. So I started experimenting with some odds and ends until I made something edible." He smiled in reminiscence before realizing himself. "Sorry, I got a little carried away there."
"Don't apologize," Chie reassured. "The least I can do is listen every once and a while, right? Besides, I'm sure it's even more of a pain to work in our training sessions with all the commitments you have, not to mention the case and stuff. I've even heard that you started working at the hospital at night. Yeesh, that place would give me the creeps."
"Word certainly does get around quickly," Yu chuckled.
"Well yeah!" Chie laughed. "Small town, remember?"
"Yeah, I guess that's one of the things I'm still getting used to. Back in the city there was so much going on. When I still lived there, I didn't think about it much but now… it seems like everything was always rushing forward, there was always so much going on it was like a bunch of white noise. The change of pace has been… nice, murders aside."
"Yeah, that sure stirred things up around here, I can't even remember the last time something really big happened here, other than Rise-chan moving here of course." They went on, discussing the difference between city and country life, the subject of Yu's parents long forgotten. After talking for nearly an hour, they reached a lull in their conversation.
"Chie… thank you, for listening earlier," Yu said softly.
Chie suppressed a blush at his sincerity. Regaining her composure slightly she managed, "Y-yeah! Anytime! That's what friends are for right? Besides, I bet its tough moving around all the time. I know I can hardly imagine living anywhere but here. I should be thanking you really, for putting up with my nosiness."
"To be honest I'm glad you brought it up. It felt… good to talk about it."
Chie couldn't keep herself from smiling at that. The fact that he trusted her enough to share something like this, if only for a brief moment, meant more than something she could just put in words. Shifting her gaze to Yu her tone was suddenly serious, "You told me something last time we hung out… about how I'm not alone. How I have you, and everyone else standing with me. Just remember that… we're here for you too y'know?" Chie cast her eyes downward. "I can't imagine what it would be like, being at the head of all this, and I know we worry you sometimes, like when I get all gung-ho on the other side." She chuckled lightly, then met his gaze with firm conviction. "But we're all with you till we nab this guy!" She watched as his tranquil mask slipped for an instant before reasserting itself.
He closed his eyes and smiled softly, chuckling. "I know," He said quietly. He locked his eyes with hers and smiled sincerely. "But it's nice to be reminded sometimes."
Chie immediately fought the blush that was making its way to her cheeks. "W-woah look at the time, it's getting a little late, I didn't mean to keep you so long!" Chie replied, the room seeming unbearably warm at the moment.
Yu merely shrugged as he rose from his seat, "I'll walk you home."
Chie merely nodded, both paying for their meals as they exited the restaurant. They had just begun the route toward Chie's house when some familiar voices drew their attention.
"Stop! Please! That's all I have I swear!"
"You gotta be kidding me, there's no way all you got is a lousy 1000 yen!"
Chie's eyes widened. Takeshi? She quickly ran down the alley she had heard the voices coming from. Rounding the corner she saw him, backed into a corner by some gang of older high school students, no doubt the group they had heard about the other day.
"Hey!" She shouted angrily, drawing the attention of Takeshi's attackers.
"Chie!" Takeshi cried out, relief evident in his expression. Suddenly panic crossed his face. "I'm getting out of here, take care of them for me, yeah? You always were strong…" He quickly bolted from the scene.
"Wait!" Chie cried, calling after him. Refocusing her attention on the three now very agitated teenagers in front of her, she sighed. "Geez…"
"What the hell! You're gonna pay for that!" One of them yelled. "Give us everything you got or you'll be sorry!"
Chie immediately assumed a fighting stance. "Psh, I'll take you all down! You're all just a bunch of cowards, picking off people while they're alone!"
One of the others chuckled, "Just look at this bitch! Thinks she can take us with some of that kung fu crap or something! Come on, we can take her!"
Chie's muscles tensed as they began to approach her, ready to strike the second one of them got too close. A series of footsteps came from behind her, and she tuned to see Yu.
"Ah, another one eh? Let's teach these losers a lesson!"
Yu fearlessly stepped closer to them, his demeanor calm and collected. "Back off," He said icily, in a tone that brooked no argument.
"What's with this guy?" One of them complained. Seeing that they had lost their opportunity for seemingly easy pickings, the thugs backed off. "Tch, whatever. This isn't worth the trouble. This isn't over…"
Chie, shocked by the sudden turn of events, could only watch as Yu stared down the gang as they left. She clenched her fists tightly. It was irrational she knew, but she couldn't help the emotions boiling in her veins. Fighting had been one of the few things that she had been actually good at, the one thing that made her useful. And for him to just step in like that without even lifting a finger… Unable to contain herself, she blurted out, "What'd you do that for?" Upon seeing the shock on Yu's face she pressed on, "Did you think I couldn't handle those guys? That I can't do anything on my own?" Her face fell, awaiting his response.
The alleyway was silent for a moment, save for the gentle breeze that ran through the air. Finally Yu spoke. "Is that what you think?" Chie didn't meet his gaze. "You're wrong… If I hadn't stepped in, those guys probably would've gone home with more than just their pride broken." He chuckled, "If anything I intervened more for their sake than anything else. I mean I'm sure Uncle Dojima wouldn't be too upset if he got a report saying you had saying that a bunch of two bit muggers got beat up by you, heck, he'd probably thank you next time you came over."
Suddenly Chie was confused. She didn't understand then, why he had done that. "Then why didn't you let me take care of them on my own!" She asked, her voice gradually rising in intensity, "I could've-"
"Because things happen!" Yu nearly shouted, his composure slipping. Gathering himself after a moment he continued. "Because those guys aren't like you. They wouldn't have fought fair… they might not have just stopped if they managed to overpower you. I just didn't want you to get hurt, no matter how small the chance of that happening might have been."
There it was again. That nagging feeling in her chest that always seemed to worm its way out of her heart at some point or another in his presence. It was infuriating to no end that he had protected her without her asking, yet at the same time something, some part of her was grateful that Yu found something in her worth protecting. She attempted to gain some sense of composure, so that she could respond without making herself look like an idiot. She shifted her gaze upward from the ground, finding Yu looking downward, likely awaiting her response.
"Yu…"
His grey eyes rose to meet hers.
Chie swallowed. "I'm sorry… I just charged in again without thinking and pulled you into another mess. I didn't mean to make you worry I just…"
"You wanted to protect your friend, I know," Yu replied, smiling softly.
"Yeah," Chie scoffed. "Some friend, just bailing on me as soon as he could turn tail and run… But wouldn't just sit there and do nothing, no matter who it was. That's just not me." She smiled and rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "But you already knew that." She smiled. "In the end it doesn't matter, because I've got friends like you who'll be there to back me up, always. So… thanks Yu-kun."
Yu responded with a grin of his own. "You'd do the same for me, it was no trouble."
Chie nodded in response. Suddenly she took notice at just how quickly her heart was beating. Internally she cursed her failing nerves. C'mon, you can do this, Chie thought, hoping to goad herself into doing what she should have done days ago. Yukiko was right, why not indeed. To hell with all those insecurities and nagging voices, she owed it to herself to at least try. She opened her mouth to speak, finding her throat had gone dry in the span on the last minute. Steeling herself she managed, "Yu?"
The boy in question raised an eyebrow at her, prompting her to continue.
"Uh," Damn it, Damn it. "Umm, nevermind, it's not a big deal, don't worry about it!" Chie said, feigning her usual cheerful attitude while internally berating herself for backing down.
"Alright," Yu said, looking like he didn't quite believe her but he didn't pursue the matter. Part of her wished he did, if only because it would force her into action.
"Well, it's getting really late now, I should probably get home," Chie said awkwardly.
"Yeah, I should too, I've pretty much become the household cook, so I should to get back so I can whip something up for Nanako and Uncle Dojima."
"Oh, well… I shouldn't keep you then, I'll see you tomorrow then!"
"Likewise," Yu replied, waving at her as he started in the direction of the Dojima residence. Turning around she started walking toward her own home, letting out an exasperated sigh. Geez, why does this have to be so hard? It was easy enough to mentally dismiss her anxieties, but when faced with the actual task of confessing her feelings to Yu, well, that was an entirely different matter. At this rate I'll be reduced to one of those giggling school girls. Boys. Confessing. Feelings. What a load of crap! This was completely uncharted territory for her, and her lack of experience in the area was making itself painfully clear. Sighing dejectedly, she had to resist the strong urge to violently kick a nearby inanimate object into oblivion.