Chapter 3: Damn bear. Damn creepy old man.

Ah, Teddie's pity date. The day poor Yukiko thought would never come, because she thought Teddie was confined to the TV world. The girls are making use of him though. Teddie is their shopping pack mule. The day has been going pretty much the same so far. They didn't even pressure me to follow them into the one-millionth store they went into, which I believe is the one we lost them at.

Yu looks around, "I think we lost them."

"We should split up and look for them," I shrug. Just like last time.

Kanji goes on ahead, "I'll try this way."

After Kanji leaves I start in another direction, but Yu grabs my wrist, "Wait Yosuke."

Okay, my heart did not just vibrate through my ears, "W-what's up, Partner?" And I didn't just stutter either. Nope, uh-uh.

"We already lost the other girls," Yu uses the serious tone he usually reserves for the TV, "I don't think it's wise for you to wander off by yourself too."

I try to fight down the blush creeping up to my face, "You have my number, what's the big deal?"

I can't bring myself to look him in the face, so I can't see his expression. He doesn't say anything, but pulls me along as he walks in the opposite direction Kanji went. Damn, he has a strong grip…

When I went off last time, I ended up running into Rise near that club, Escapade. Yu showed up with Chie, so he must've found her before we all met up.

We walk in silence for a bit, and he hasn't let go of my wrist, "H-hey Partner? That's startin' to hurt a little."

"Oh," he lets go like my hand is on fire, "sorry."

I look up at him. Is he actually blushing? No way. It's just the sun hitting his face, or something.

We stop across the street from a block of stores with a few alleyways between. I sit down on a nearby bench. I guess we walked pretty far; my feet are killing me… That's when we notice yelling from an alley across the street.

"I think that's Chie," Yu turns toward the alley. "Wait here. I'll be right back."

"Okay, dude. I don't feel like walking anymore, so don't worry, I'm not moving." I watch him run across the street. Figures Chie got into some kind of scuffle. I swear she searches for trouble like it's a hobby.

After I can't see him anymore, I flop back on the bench. I probably don't look very ladylike like this, but Hell if I care. It's hot out, and I feel like we've been walking all day.

A few minutes later, I see someone's shadow loom over me, and I sit up like a shot. It's a couple of seedy looking dudes, and they're staring at me like I'm meat. Seriously, their expressions really match Chie's expression right before she devours a beef skewer. One of them starts talking, and he sounds even seedier than he looks, "Hey baby, what's a hot number like you doing out all by yourself?"

Wow. I hope I never sounded that creepy when I spoke to girls. If I did, now I get why I couldn't get anywhere. These guys look so desperate they make me look picky. The other one adds, "Come with us. We'll show you a good time." Seriously? Are these guys for real?

All right, enough comparing. What the Hell should I do? I guess, I'll just tell them I'm not interested, "No thanks, I'm good. I'm waiting for someone." I try to wave them off like it's no big deal.

The first one reaches for me, "Oh come on. We'll take you somewhere real fun."

I can't scoot any further back on the bench, so I swat his hand away. Honestly, he's staring to piss me off, "I said, no thanks. Get lost asshole."

The second one grabs my arm and pulls me up from the bench, "Such dirty words from such a pretty mouth."

Oh crap, this guy is stronger than he looks. I feel a hand brush against my leg and all I can do is cringe. Shit.

"I believe the lady told you 'no'," I look past the creeps and see Yu giving them a menacing glare.

The creepers turn to face him, and I use that opening to slam my heel into the second guy's foot. Thankfully, that's enough to get the jerk to let go. When he recovers, he tries to grab me again, but I'm too fast for him. The first one growls in frustration and comes at me from the other side. Yu grabs him by the arm and twists it behind his back.

Yu's voice comes out in a low growl, "Don't. Touch. Her."

I stumble as I back out of the way and someone catches me, "Hey, are you okay?"

I sigh in relief when I realize it's Chie, "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks."

Yu lets go of the guy and continues to fix a dark glare on the creeps. They try to stare him down, but give up quickly and run off.

Chie lets out a breath, "Whew, and I thought those jerks trying to take that kid's money were nasty. These guys were just plain disgusting!"

"Yosuke," Yu runs over to me and grabs my hand. God dammit, now he can tell I'm shaking, "are you all right?"

"Yeah," I am totally failing at acting casual, "I'm g-good. You guys showed up just before I could give them an ass kicking…"

I let go, and Chie guides me to a bench. Yu goes over to a nearby vending machine and buys a couple of bottles of water. He comes over and hands them to Chie and me.

I try to change the subject, "So Chie, what kind of trouble were you causing?"

"Some punks were trying to hustle a middle-schooler's lunch money. I scared them off though. Yu showed up as they were running off. Glad we got here when we did." Chie chugs her water.

"Good for you," geez, what the Hell is wrong with me?

The three of us sit on the bench in silence for a minute. I look over at Yu. He's hunched over with his fists clenching on his lap. He can't be blaming himself for leaving me alone, right?

Chie's buzzing phone makes all of us jump, "Oh, it's a text from Rise. She wants us to meet her at this club she knows about."

Oh yeah, Escapade. Here's to a long evening.

The night kicks off just like before. We find Naoto at the bar right inside, and we invite her up to a VIP room Rise was able to snag for us. We get served a bunch of free sugary drinks most of us believe have alcohol in them. Then Rise suggests playing the king's game after the first round of drinks were downed.

Let me set the scene for you right now. If this is what my friends are like on too much sugar, they're going to all be horrible drunks when we get older.

Rise has become extremely whiny and bossy. Yukiko now laughs at everything. Even Teddie. Yukiko finds even Ted funny like this. Chie got super quiet. It's creeping me out a little. Ted has become very touchy, clingy, and even more perverted than usual. He has even expanded out to treating the dudes the same as he treats the girls. Naoto is drinking, but seems unaffected. Kanji has refused to touch the stuff since he got a look at how it's affecting Yu.

I don't blame him. I stopped drinking after I saw Yu the first time. This time I am drinking the sugary crap in hopes my partner's behavior doesn't disturb me half as much as last time.

Good god, when I first met him, I would've laughed if someone told me he did what he did this evening.

If I had to sum up how he was acting in two words, I would say obedient sex god. Okay, that's three, sue me.

Yu has unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his chest. Then he slips on the TV glasses. After he gives Rise some chopsticks for the game as if he was proposing marriage, he sprawls out on the long couch next to Kanji. That's when Kanji shoves the drinks away.

Rise and Yukiko are openly staring at him. Chie, Kanji, and Naoto are making an effort to look anywhere else. Ted has his head in clouds, totally enjoying how loose the room has become.

First drink. Damn this stuff makes topsicles taste like water.

Rise starts the king's game. Round one goes just like before. Ted gets king. Asks for a kiss from #3. Kanji is #3. Ted tries to change his mind, Rise whines at him. Ted shrugs and forces Kanji to the ground.

Second drink. Is this stuff just pixie stix and ice water?

King's game round two. Again no change. Yu gets king. Yukiko and Rise show their pervy side when they suggest spooning. I'm not joking. Yukiko suggested spooning. Thankfully, Yu just tells #2 to sit on his lap, or shall I say he demands in a husky voice, after making a show of hitting the #2 on a dart board, "Number two, my lap is yours."

Third drink. I'm starting to like the burn.

Chie is still the holder of #2. She flinches when she sits on his lap as if he's covered in spikes. Then Yukiko shows Chie how it's done. Rise soon bumps Yukiko out of Yu's lap and lays on it. Then the girls just cover him. I roll my eyes and down another.

Fourth drink. I can't taste it anymore, but it burns so good.

The next round finally gets dealt as I slam an empty glass down on the table. I notice I attracted Kanji and Naoto's attention. I must look like the angry drunk to them. Things take a turn at this point. Ted is still awake. He was out by now last time.

Ted gets king again. Yukiko pouts, "No fair, Teddie just had it!"

Rise repeats for at least the third of fourth time, "The king's orders are absolute!"

"Sorry Yuki-chan," Teddie grins wickedly, "I guess that's just bear's luck!"

"I know, just make it saucy, okay?" Yukiko giggles, "Let's keep beating the last request."

"No problem!" Ted leans over me. I push him off. He snickers, "Number one has to steal Yosuke's first kiss…" Rise rolls her eyes as if he's being lame, so Ted just has to add, "with tongue!"

"Whoo! Nice Teddie!" Rise giggles. I swear any other day the girls would rip him apart.

"Wait a second, Ted how would you know I'm not number one?" I stop myself and slap my forehead, "That's why you leaned on me!"

Ted just laughs. Damn bear. Great, who has #1 anyway? I look around. Chie is sighing in relief. Yukiko snaps her fingers and mutters "Darn." What's up with that? Rise and Naoto are looking around.

That just leaves Kanji and Yu. I turn slowly to look at them. Yu is leaning back and tossing the chopstick up and down with one hand and there's a cheeky smirk on his face. You have got to be kidding me.

My face must be on fire, and steam must be coming out of my ears, because Yukiko has started giggling so hard she falls off the couch. Chie taps my back and whispers, "Lucky…"

I wish I had another drink, "Hey Partner," I laugh nervously. I can't tell if it's the club's bass or my heart beating loudly in my head. "You don't have to do this if…"

Yu crawls over to me until his face is only an inch away from mine and whispers, "The king's orders are absolute."

I'm starting to hate that phrase. I hear Chie yelp behind me and a thud, and then I get pushed right into Yu's face. I think it was Yukiko who did it, "Come on Yosuke, play fair!"

"Yukiko!" Chie yells probably from the floor.

I can't tell, because I swear the world stopped. I can't hear the music or the giggling girls anymore. I close my eyes and feel his hand run through my hair. It's got to be the drinks, because it shouldn't feel this good. I let out a small whimper, and he pushes his tongue inside my mouth. I feel like my body's turning into jelly. I feel his other hand grab my arm, keeping me steady. When he finally pulls away, the hand that was in my hair brushes against my ear and follows down my jaw, then lingers on my chin for a second before he takes it away and sits back.

I stay where I am, completely frozen, until I pass out from the shock.

I wake up in the hotel bed in the middle of the night. Chie's foot is in my face. How does she manage to move in her sleep so much? The other two are on the other side of the bed out cold. Only Chie is snoring away; Rise and Yukiko look dead to the world.

I carefully roll out of bed, so I don't wake the ferocious steak beast. I hold my head. It's swimming. Ugh. I stagger over to the bathroom. Did all that just seriously happen? I touch my lips. Shit, I've got problems! I shake my head. It just makes me dizzy. I run the faucet and stick my head under it. I feel like my emotions are spiraling out of control right now.

"Well, don't you look frazzled?" Marie's voice causes me to raise my head too quick and it strikes the faucet.

"Ow, shit!"

Marie sighs, "Keep it down, stupid."

"Yeah, yeah…" I rub my head. I suddenly remember what Marie said last night about the old man messing with stuff. What the eff was he trying to pull?! I glare at Marie, "What the Hell is that old fart on?!"

Marie lets out an impatient sigh, "What are you talking about?"

"You know damn well what I'm talking about!" I try to keep the shouting to a minimum, "Making Yu kiss me!"

"Hmm," Marie lets out a soft, but smug, chuckle, "he didn't do that, stupid. He just kept your bear from falling asleep. That was the only change. Your luck, and the bear's luck did the rest."

Bullshit. I don't care how crazy Partner was last night. There's no way he really would… Damn it.

"Did it do anything for you?"

Marie's question made my stomach sink to my feet. I'm still lightheaded, that's all. The sugar is making my heart pound like crazy, not that… Not that… k-kiss… "N-no?"

Marie laughs, "Sure, whatever." I don't think she buys it. "Just keep thinking, or something. Remember, you don't have to worry about weirding anyone out as long as you're like that." Marie points at my chest before she vanishes.