"So, what's your deal, Ryoshi? Did your ophthalamaphobia go away or somethin'?" We're sitting on the edge of my bed. The halls are still dark outside, leading me to believe that the power is still out, although I haven't checked in a few minutes. Lightning cuts apart the darkness for a brief second, and I catch a glimpse of Ryoshi's form next to mine.

"No," he admits. "It still freaks me out—but it's getting way easier, at least. Sometimes I don't even notice anymore when someone's looking, and when they do I can take it most of the time. I'm getting used to it!" he says cheerfully.

"Wow," I laugh. "That's really awesome."

"Well, I have all of you guys to thank… I mean, if you hadn't called me in that one day, I never would have made any real friends and gotten used to being around people."

"H-hey! Don't get all sappy on me," I tease him. "You're the one who deserves the credit. After all, you made us notice you."

"Only because I noticed you. If you hadn't been there… what would have been the point? I knew I had to change. You deserve someone who can look you in the eye." he says, his voice getting shy as he finishes the sentence. Silence drifts between us.

"Hm. True enough. So it's officially my fault I'm dressed like this?" I sigh in mock sadness.

"Dressed like what?"

"Tch. You're losing your touch. What happened to your observational hunter skills?"

He laughs. "The dark. And you're losing your touch too—seems like you used to be wilder." He teases back.

"Hey! Don't push it," I growl.

Ryoshi smiles. (Okay, technically I don't see him smile, but I feel like it happened.) His hand brushes mine.

"I wonder if everyone else is holed up somewhere." I ask, to cover the sound of what feels like my heart boxing my ribcage.

"They usually wait in the basement if a storm's this bad… but if they were gonna do that, Mom would have gotten me by now." He speculates.

"Gotten you? Does she know you're here?"

"Oh yeah. I guess she doesn't. Well, I'm not gonna tell her." He pauses.

"Unless she already knows that you're here?"

"Well, the thing about that is…" I start. Thunder shakes the house, and I jump. Ryoshi's shoulder touches mine. Neither of us moves. I'm blushing, not just because he is touching me but because I'm letting him. Does he notice?

"Yes and no. I mean, she's talked to me and seen me a bunch of times, but she doesn't know it's me. I used a fake name. And I wear a blue wig, just in case she's seen, like, a picture or something."

"Wow. You really planned this out…"

"Yeah. Well, it didn't end up working. She suspects that I was in your room last night."

"What?" he exclaims, his body twisting toward mine.

"She came to me this morning and basically threatened to fire me if I did it again. But it was weird—like she was saying it without actually saying it, you know?"

I can hear the frown in his voice. "This is bad. Do you think she will expose you?" Before I can answer, he says, "It doesn't matter—I'll protect you, no matter what. You're staying with me."

"It's not so bad," I explain, touching his arm gently. "In a week Aragami's sending a bus to get us."

"How is Aragami involved?" Ryoshi asks. "Hold on a second, 'us'?"

"I… I kinda… used my wishes to come here, so Aragami set the whole thing up." Ryoshi is silent.

"You really did that?" Crap. Is he mad? As if I weren't embarrassed enough. I jump to my own defense.

"Um! Well, you just ran off without saying anything and… God, I don't know, I just—!" C'mon. This is my chance. I may not get another one. His mother is onto me, and even if she weren't I'll never get this good of an opportunity—no interruptions, no people running around. Hell, I don't even have to look him in the eyes. It's pitch black. I take a breath.

"I'm taking you back with me to Otogibana. We need you there. We're your friends, Ryoshi, and we don't care what it takes—we'll keep you around. We need you." I need you.

"I…I don't know what we'll do about your mom finding out. I don't really care. You're coming with me whether she likes it or not." My heart beats wildly. I'm blushing. I can't believe I managed to say all that…! Silence wraps around us as he absorbs what I've told him.

"Wow… Thank you—I've… I've missed you so much, Ryoko." He says softly. "Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy about this—but I'm surprised the president made you use your wishes. Why didn't he just make it happen himself, like with all the other stuff?" he asks. I stare at my lap. This is it. The truth comes out.

"He…The president doesn't even know about it—I used them myself. No one in the Bank knows. This was… this is my own thing." I confess, trying to make it sound like nothing special.

Ryoshi is silent. My heart lurches into my throat.

Then, his voice quiet, he says, "You did this? You… worked, and hid, and lived far away from everyone who you know and care about… Why?" He sounds curious, just a little confused.

Say something! This is what you came for! Are you a coward or are you Okami Ryoko?!

I open my mouth. My heart blazes as the words pour from my lips. It's now or never.

"D-don't you get it?! I couldn't let go of you!" I shout at the universe, but mainly at myself, at all the little voices in my heart that have been bugging me nonstop since the first day we stormed Onigashima:

I was standing in front of Hitsujikai, feeling my fear washing over me, drowning me, as his eyes gleamed mockingly at my shaking body. He was back, the shadow in my nightmares, the shredder of my formerly soft, vulnerable emotional core. He was back, and everything I had worked so hard for was going to be destroyed anew, and I was going to be left dying in his wake. He was going to ruin me and laugh, laugh as I lie weak and bleeding in front of him, alone. It was over. He was back.

Then a single voice had punctuated the crushing air. I had turned and seen Ryoshi standing there, and everything had changed. I believed, in that moment. I was loved, taken care of, and I didn't have to afraid of anything. Nobody was gonna hurt me with Ryoshi around.

That day, something changed between the two of us. I ignored it though, tried to shove it someplace else, like I always did with all my inconvenient feelings. However, since then my heart has refused to shut up, no matter how much I try to ignore it.

"You have to believe me," I whisper gently, reciting the words he spoke to me first, at the fireworks display party.

"No matter what happens to us…I..."I can't bring myself to finish. The words stick in my throat.

"Ryoko," Ryoshi whispers. His voice mixes with the whispering of the wind outside through the trees. There's something different about it—usually it's gentle and kind when we're together, and this hasn't changed, exactly, but there's definitely something else there, deeper. I like it, whatever it is. His voice is nearer in the darkness.

"Did you come because…" Ryoshi's voice is close, so close. I'm glad it's dark, so he can't see my inflamed cheeks. This is different—that's for sure. Ryoshi is never this bold.

It's really attractive.

"…You want me around?" he whispers. I swallow. My heart is pounding so loud, I'm afraid someone will hear it out in the hallway. What do I say? Brush it off? No. Enough of this.

"Yeah," I say trying to sound nonchalant, before changing my mind. I let the emotion come out, my voice turning soft with a sweetness I haven't heard come out of me since I was thirteen.

"Yeah. I want you around." My breath is silent against the still air.

I still haven't confessed my true feelings. But at least I did something.

The wind is quieting down, but the lights stay out. Music drifts from down the hall. Someone must have an emergency radio on.

Finally, Ryoshi's voice stirs the air.

"If you want me around, then that settles it, forever." Ryoshi takes my hand. Mine fits perfectly inside his.

"I'm never letting go of you, Ryoko. You're the only one I love. I don't care what I have to do." His voice is passionate.

"We're getting of here together. I will always be strong for you."