The Flight

Looking out into the clouds was something that Yako found herself doing often. Wondering how different her life would have been if Neuro hadn't saved her.

A deep breath, in and out. The pressure and stress was getting to her, but there was nobody there to for her. Her mother was busy traveling the world, Godai wasn't exactly the best conversation starter, and she hadn't talked to Ishigaki since Neuro left.

This is tiring, I don't know how much more I can take. Starting to message her own neck, the aching was killing her. If only she had someone there to help relieve the pressure. Yako was getting sick of airplane food and the weird hours. She never imagined how difficult it would be to become a detective.

"Miss, would you like something to drink?" the stewardess asked giving her a worrisome look, making it seem as if she cared more for her wellbeing rather than the job she has in front of her.

"Just water please."

"Right way, Miss," she answered. As she was turning around, Yako could hear her mumbling under her breath.

Why bother asking if you hate the reply? Then again, even I'd be cynical if I had her job. A chuckle overcame her as she began thinking of her former job. A sigh escapes her lips as she turns her head to the window and sees the last thing she ever expected to see on the wing of the plane.

Neuro! What the hell! "Oh my god…"The stewardess came back at the worst moment possible.

"Here's your water, Miss. Is there anything else you'd like?" Seeing the expression on the stewardess' face brought Yako back down to earth. Standing up as fast as she can, trying to block the window, Yako grinned uncontrollably. "Thank you so much for the water. Can you point me to the closest restroom?" Placing the water in the left hand side of the chair, she turns around and saw the stewardess' perplexed expression.

"Of course. Um… Miss, do you need help with something?"

"No! No, I'm alright. Just a little queasy from the altitude," Yako tried to act as normal as possible as she turned to the stewardess and had her gently show her the direction of the restrooms."

"Miss, are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, of course! You know what, why don't you check the restrooms? I'll go back to my seat."

"Wait, but didn't you say you needed to…"

Yako "gracefully" sprinted back to her seat and looked out the window, but nothing. No one was outside, she imagined the whole thing.

"Why do you insist on staring out the window," a deep voice from behind her sent shivers up her back.

"Neuro," she whispered. Turning around faster than she ever had in her entire life, she came face to face with the last person she expected to see fifteen thousand feet in the air. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in hell, literally?"

"Didn't I say I'd be back? You've devolved, top slug. "

"Crap," Yako could see her life flash before her eyes. "Neuro, I…" unable to finish her thoughts Yako paused and remained with her jaw hanging open.

"I'm extremely disappointed in you, slug. After all this time, I expected you to have learned some."

"I…I…"a sigh escaped her lips. Her nerves were getting the best of her. A deep breathe, just breathe, all I have to do is breathe. "I have not advanced Neuro. You just scared the crap out of me."

A grin spread across Neuro's face, one that scared Yako more than anything in her life. She thought of all the torture she'd have to go through again. Perhaps it would have been better if he'd just stayed in hell, maybe then she wouldn't feel like running off in some corner, hiding.

An ache began to grow in her heart, maybe she had missed him more than she would have liked to admit, not like she would ever say it out loud.

"Slug, where are we headed off to, hmm?"

"We? I think you've made a mistake Neuro. We are not going anywhere, I, on the other hand am. "

Neuro's grin was quickly replaced by a scowl, "watch what you say, slug. My good mood is quickly disappearing."

"Why should I? Who do I have to fear?"

A snap resonated in the air.

"What did you just say, slug?"

Yako remained wide eyed and an unexplainable fear passed through her. A gut wrenching feeling crept in, one that she only got when she realized how sick the people she captured were. What had she just done? "Listen Neuro, I know that my talking back may come as a shock, but I'm exhausted. You left me to go replenish your strength. You have no idea what I went through alone."

"Why should any of that matter to me? The only thing you're good for is feeding me," Neuro's cold tone was the coldest than any other time she could recall.

I think I went overboard.

No, Yako, you did not.

Remember what he did to you.

Hey, it's not like he knew my feelings at the time.

It doesn't matter, he can solve any mystery in the world, yet he can't see my feelings!

"I'm sorry Neuro, it seems the stress has gotten to me. It won't happen again, I promise."

"No need to promise Yako. I'll make sure it never happens again," a sadistic smile flashed on Neuro's face, one that brought back unpleasant memories.

A feeling of dread passed though Yako. So much happened since he left, she was a different person now… at least she hoped she was. Yako closed her eyes and tried to recall a moment that had changed her life forever; more than Neuro saving her life, more than Sasazuka's death, more than defeating the New Bloodline. Pain seared her veins as she thought of the time Neuro was away and all the obstacles that she had to face alone.

"Why…why did you leave me alone? You have no idea what I went through, not that it would make much of a difference to you."

A tear escaped her eyes, her breath began to quicken.

"I have seen so much pain and sorrow to last me a lifetime, and the only reason I had to see those things was because of you. "

The same cold expression was on his face, "I made you do nothing. I gave you a choice from the beginning. You made that of your own volition. I expected you to last longer, to evolve more. I guess I was wrong."

"You were. I wanted to prove you wrong. To prove to you and the rest of the world I could make it on my own, but I only managed to disappoint us both." A deplorable expression was visible on Yako's face. "You have a detective agency that is prosperous, you'll always have a mystery. So, what's the point in me staying? If I leave, would you care?"No, I can't say I would." The tone devoid of any emotion broke Yako's heart. How had she lasted so long working for a monster? This is what I get for trying to change people that can't be changed.

""Ladies and gentlemen, we've begun our initial descent into the Tokyo area. We're currently 150 miles from the airport and should be touching down in 10 minutes. The weather in the area is reported as sunny, with clear visibility, and winds at 10 miles per hour. At this time we're going to turn on the seatbelt sign and ask that you return to your seats and ensure that your seatbelts stay fastened until we are safely parked at the gate. It's been our pleasure to have you with us on Air Tokyo today." The voice that could be heard through the whole plane cut the tension between the two like a knife. Yako noticed the stewardess from before coming to check the passenger's seat belts.

"Neuro, fasten your seat belt before you get in trou-" her sentence was cut short as she noticed Neuro was no longer seated next to her. Yako frantically started to look around, but realized quickly he had left without saying another word. Maybe it's for the best, a clean break was what I need anyway.