Author's Note:

Ah, I can't wait until the introductions are all complete and I can get to the good bits, but such is the life of a writer!

Anyway, please enjoy and, if you could, please leave a review!

The apartment block was quiet, just like it always was. She didn't live with a bunch of partying university students, or really anyone with any intention of being sociable. Most days, it didn't bother her, but now the silence was just asking to be broken.

Sitting at her desk, she dimly observed the shelves filled to the brim with psychological studies, old books from university, various pieces of fiction she had never gotten around to reading. Everything was busy but not busy enough. Ice crept around the rim of her window, the cold very much unappreciated ever since the Christmas season had ended. Now wrapped in a blanket, she dimly flipped through the pages of yet another study. She had been waiting for that study for months; she should have found it interesting but…

Do you have any friends?

God, that question just wouldn't leave her mind. Thinking back on it, yes she could have tried harder to stay in contact with everyone but… even they began to drift away from her. It wasn't her fault that now she was without them. That now she was alone.

Shaking her head, she slammed the book shut and placed it back onto the shelf. Let's change that, she decided, grabbing her laptop from her bag and placed it upon her now clear desk. Opening it up, she logged on and opened the internet. A clear plan in mind, she opened the first social networking site she could think of and started searching. One by one, their names began to appear. Yosuke, Rise, Yukiko, Chie, Yu… they were all there. Naoto wasn't but that hardly surprised Kali, the young detective never seemed to be the sort to have taken part in such things.

However, she realised, she couldn't base her expectations on what they used to be. It had been a long time since she had even seen them and looking over their profile photos now was a surreal experience, it was like looking at totally different people. She had missed a lot.

She laughed softly when she came across Chie's page, some things never change. There she was, her arm looped around Yukiko's shoulders in a protective gesture of fierce friendship. Both looked older, even if only a little bit. Chie's hair was a little cleaner cut than it had been the last she had seen her, but it was still short. Yukiko, ever the elegant one, had her hair tied up in a bun, her pale skin and simple smile made Kali jealous. In that sort of friendly envious way, anyway. She hadn't felt beautiful for a long time.

Yosuke looked as shaggy as ever, his career likely secure due to his father's position. Still, she could hardly judge. Akiyama had helped her a lot in meeting potential employers and, even though she still worked for her position, she was thankful for his assistance. Rise was still glamourous, but Kali hadn't seen her on the television since her teenage years. Likely, a case of falling from fame but at least it appeared she was doing it gracefully.

Surprisingly, it appeared that everyone was still living in Inaba. Hell, even Yu had moved there since she had left. Seems she had been the only one to actually leave… There was that guilt again. She felt she had abandoned them in pursuit of her own career, a selfish move that they'd probably not forgive anytime soon.

Even then, it was worth a try. With everyone's profiles lined up, she went through each of them and added each of them as a 'friend'. It was strange how something so superficial and empty could be considered 'friendship' on this sort of site. Her criticisms meant little compared to her true fears, however – would they even want her as a friend anymore?

She stared at the screen for a few minutes, eagerly awaiting a response before taking a glance at the time. Oh, it was two in the morning… very unlikely that anyone would respond at this hour. With a soft sigh, she resigned herself to a likely sleepless night and closed down her laptop.

… Now what do with herself?

Cook? No, she wasn't hungry enough to justify the effort.

Read? She'd already tried that, it was unlikely to be a productive task when she was in this state of mind.

Stare at her phone and mindlessly scroll through countless videos, websites and pictures? Sounds great.

Reaching once again into her bag, she pulled out her phone. Quite different from her old flip phone, now she had a touch screen piece of tech, no real sign of personality on its surface. Any trace of her personality remained hidden inside of it, protected by a 4 digit code she breezed through without thought each time.

This time though, an alert on the screen caught her attention. Or more… alerts. Missed calls and texts, at least a dozen of them listed down the screen. All of them from her dad, Akiyama.

Immediately panic rose up inside of her. She had no time to check the texts; she just had to call back quickly. Hoping to God that whatever was happening wasn't too bad… but that would be a vain hope with the urgency of Akiyama's calls.

The silence before the ringing began was seemingly endless, but then it all happened too quickly. Not even one ring had passed before the phone was picked up, "Kali?!" came the distressed voice over the phone. It was definitely Akiyama.

"Dad? What's wrong? I'm sorry I couldn't answer earlier, I had my phone on si-"

"That doesn't matter! Kali- Kali this is… Oh God, I don't know how I'm meant to tell you this…" His voice became muffled and she could visualise him covering his face with his hands.

A thousand possibilities whirled through her head, each of them worse than the last, "What is it?" She urged, her voice surprisingly quiet.

"It's Kanji…" Her heart dropped, "He's been in an accident."

He couldn't find her voice. She wanted to scream but she couldn't move. She made a quick audible gasp, tiny noises of pure horror escaping in short bursts.

"He's alive, but only just. His mother called me and… his injuries are so severe, he's in a coma, Kali." He could hear her short breaths over the phone and his voice adopted an almost panicked tone himself, except his being one of concern. He had always hated seeing her upset but knew he could hardly avoid this sort of reaction.

She was totally unable to speak. She closed her eye, trying to force herself to breathe but every breath caught painfully in her throat.

Akiyama continued speaking at her, "Kanji's mother wanted you to go and visit him… Would you be able to do that?"

"Yes," She choked out quickly, not another moment of thought was required. Her job was very important, yes. But every client she already possessed had her phone number, she could just… call in and tell them there has been an emergency.

Her dad sighed softly, "I'll leave to come and get you, now."

She gasped, "What…? No, I could just get a train or-"

"It's not fast enough. I'll be there in a few hours, get yourself packed. I'll call your work and explain. Just sit tight, I'll be there soon." He hung up and left her alone once again.

She sat there for hours, her head bent down and her single eye wide in silent shock. Her phone rested on her lap, forgotten.

It wasn't until dawn that she finally moved, moving robotically to pack clothes and other daily necessities into a travel case. After an uncertain amount of time, the door to her flat opened.

There, in the light of the doorway, stood Akiyama. Her spare key still gripped in his hand and a look of pure worry on his face. Seeing him there, looking like a knight in shining armour, she broke.

Sinking to her knees, she broke down into floods of endless tears. She vaguely registered the feeling of his warm, strong arms wrapping around her to pull her into the warmth of his fatherly embrace. She heard his gentle hushes, his reassurance but none of it truly registered in her distraught mind.

Knowing that time was of the essence, he carefully guided her onto her feet. Grabbing the blanket that had earlier been discarded on the floor, he wrapped it around her shoulders before picking up her travel case and guiding her out of the flat, locking it behind them.

"Come on, sweetheart… Let's get you home."

Author's Note:

I'd be lying if I said that part of me didn't start this sequel just to write Akiyama again... I love him too much to let him go. This chapter may not have shown a huge amount of him but, do not fear, he shall return! We shall also soon discover why the two parted when they clearly didn't fall out of love with each other... but I have already said too much~!

See you guys next time!

Please leave a review!