Hi, Norasakka here. I'm now back into the full swing of things at college, so updates will be a bit slower… Maybe once a week to once every two weeks depending on how well I balance my school work and job. Funny enough, my roommate here at college writes fanfiction too. Her user name is Em Love Ali and she writes Emison fanfiction from the show Pretty Little Liars. If you're into it, check it out. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the story.

~ Michi ~

"Hey… Why can there not be a day where I can just pause reality and just lay down for a long time?" I asked, muttering under my breath as I set tables at work.

"You're not that special," Musca teased as she patted my head.

"You've wounded me!" I dramatically fell to the floor, clutching at my heart. "Waaahhh…."

"Michi!"

I looked up when I heard footsteps, and then Toma was crouching over me.

"Are you okay?" Concern lined his expression.

"I, uh…" I tried to think of an excuse while Musca laughed her ass off in the background. "Tripped. Over myself. My feet. Ahaha…"

"Geez, don't scare me like that…" He pulled me up.

"Thanks." I brushed myself off. "It's been a while since we've been on the same shift, it feels like."

"I've been really busy trying to help work on an undergraduate project before school starts back up, so the manager's been lenient on my schedule. But I'm glad we ended up on the same shift finally too." He smiled, eyes lighting up. "Here, come look at this."

"What is it?"

"The manager posted a schedule of team building events we're having this month. See?" New notes had been posted on the schedule with red marker and large letters for emphasis.

"Oh yeah, Sawa told me about a fireworks festival what seems like forever ago."

"Yeah, she and Mine got way too excited about it and went shopping before the manager had even confirmed it. But it looks like there's a pool party on the 22nd and the fireworks festival is always held on the 30th. I guess we'll just be going to that as a group."

"Right…" Today was the fifteenth. These events would be coming up sooner than they seemed, and based on what Ukyo had said, I was running out of time. So, I'd make it my goal to be done by the time of the fireworks festival. "Well, cool. It should be fun. Wait, do I even have a swimsuit?"

"I could help you find one if you like." Arms wrapped around my shoulders from behind, and I almost jumped out of my skin as I let out an involuntary shriek.

"Ikki! Back! Off! BACK OFF!" I gasped, ducking, rolling and jumping up away from him.

"Nice to see you too." He looked a bit puzzled, but mostly just amused. "That's an honest offer though."

"No thank you. I'd rather take Toma than you," I mumbled.

"Huh?" Toma blinked at me, cheeks turning just slightly red.

"Yeah, wanna come with me one day, shopping? I can trust you for an honest, non-creepy-staring opinion." I glared at Ikki.

"Come on! I wouldn't stare at you in a creepy way. I'd stare, certainly. But not creepily."

"Nope. Nope nope nope! You creepy adult person. Anyways… What do you say, Toma?" I looked up at him.

"I mean, sure… If you want."

"Cool. When's the next day we're both off?"

"Looks like… The 18th."

"Cool, let's meet up for lunch that day and then take care of business."

"Okay…?" Toma was looking between Ikki and I, just plain confused as to what exactly was going on.

"I have to say, I'm jealous…" Ikki shrugged, then smiled. "But at least I get to be surprised by you on the 22nd, Michi."

"Shut up! Creepy adult!" I spun around and went back to messing with the tables while they prepped the kitchen.

"That's sort of a lame insult," Musca commented.

"It suits him though… This creepy guy all going off and doing his adult things…" I felt my face heating up thinking about it, the things Ikki had done so casually. I just couldn't imagine something like… That. "A-anyways… I have to admit that I'm not quite sure how to help Kent any further than I have. If he was as simple as Ikki was, just getting him to realize he needed to try harder, we would have solved the pathway already. There has to be something else."

"I agree. We can try to think of something we can do to proceed… What about his phone call to you last night?"

"I'm not sure… I guess he was just curious. But if it's not just social cues he's having trouble with… Ah!" I got a sudden thought. "His parents. He's brought them up once or twice, and I think they're a large part of the reason why he is the way he is. I think I should try to meet them and see what's up for myself."

Musca nodded. "It's as good a plan as any. Either way, let's have a good day today, alright?"

"Right!" The shift was normal until close to the end when Toma approached me.

"Michi," he said. "There's a customer asking for you. A woman. Table 9."

"Really? I guess… That's flattering." I shrugged and peeked out into the main room. "Oh, shit!" I ducked down.

"What's wrong?" Toma bent down next to me as Ikki came over, attracted by the slight commotion.

"Rika… What's she doing here?" He muttered angrily. "I can handle this, Michi."

I jumped up and grabbed his arm. "No… If she asked for me, I can at least see what she has to say. I can always take her ass into the back alley again, right?" I tried to joke but only succeeded in making his expression turn angrier and more serious. "Okay, lame joke… Look. I've got this… And I know you're here too, so it'll be fine."

He sighed and touched my cheek. "You're finally healing… Just don't do anything reckless."

"Yeah, yeah." I squeezed his hand before going out to stand before Rika. "Hey, so… What do you want?" I just hated her too much to bother with niceties.

She stood abruptly and pushed her chair in before bowing. "I'm sorry!"

I stared at her for what felt like a long time as the other customers turned to witness the developing spectacle.

"I am deeply sorry for my deplorable actions! A woman in my standing should never have stooped so low and done such reprehensible things."

"Wait wait wait, slow the fuck down. You're sorry all of a sudden?" I had to take this with a heavy dose of skepticism.

"Yes, I am! Truly! I –"

"Okay, stop there. We can't have a heart to heart here, I'm working. Look, just…" I dragged a hand through my hair, exasperated. "Meet me outside after my shift. And just know that if this turns out to be a trick… I'll kick your ass and turn in the video to the police. Got it?"

"I understand." She bowed and left, full dress flouncing behind her.

I trudged back into the kitchen, still stunned beyond comprehending what had just happened. "She apologized to me…?" I looked at Ikki cluelessly. "An apology, and she wants to talk… I'm meeting her after work."

"Don't." He shook his head. "The last time you did that…"

"Yeah, I remember what happened, I was there. But it's not like that this time. My gut says she's telling the truth. I'm going to listen to what she has to say. I've got nothing to lose; she's the one with leverage hanging over her. Trust me on this, okay?"

"Let me come with you."

"No. She might not say what she wants to with you around." I ruffled his hair. "It's going to be fine, you'll see. But I'll call you after and tell you how it goes if that'll make you feel better."

He had been frowning, but the expression relaxed as he sighed. "Fine. You'd be mad if I went behind your back too, so I'll leave it in your hands. But again, be careful." His hands went into my hair, and I stood still. "It's messy," he explained as I stared.

"Oh…" Guess I'd messed it up pretty bad while talking with Rika. I looked at the hairpin he had given me when he took it in his hand, letting my bangs fall back into my face.

"I'm glad you still wear it, really. It makes me feel like I have a chance with you."

"Oh." My voice got smaller. It wasn't just a hair clip to him; it was a representation of his feelings. I was carrying those feelings with me too; I carried my feelings for all of them constantly.

"Listen, just tell me if you don't like what I'm doing by still chasing you, and I'll back off. I don't want to be an annoyance, I just want you."

"I mean, I will say something if you piss me off, but it's just that…" I sighed. "You honestly don't care where you do things like this, do you, or who's watching?"

"I live my life freely now. What can I say?" He smiled as he finished fixing my hair.

"Thanks, you creepy adult. Get back to work now." I punched his shoulder and spun around only to catch sight of Toma watching us quizzically with a slight frown on his face. I coughed and ducked my head as I went past him, unable to tell what he was thinking. Ikki was comfortable with public displays of the mushy sort, but me… Not so much.

Gross adult…

After the shift ended, Toma caught me just as I was heading out the door. "Hey, I don't really understand what's going on, but… This has something to do with what happened to you, right?" He gestured to my face, where the bruises were fading pretty well.

"Yeah, but like I told Ikki, everything's just fine. I gotta go, okay?"

"Okay, but meet me back here when you're done. Let me walk you home at least."

"Fine, fine, but I don't know how long it's going to take. See you here." I slipped out and saw Rika waiting for me, hands clasped in front of her and head bowed in penitence. "Uh… Hi." I waved at her.

"Listen, I know you must hate me, so I won't keep you long. But I want to apologize to you sincerely for everything I and my cohorts did. We all experienced the same thing, where every time we looked into his eyes, we were consumed by something that made us…" She shook her head helplessly. "It made us different people than who we were. I'm well aware that it makes no sense. I don't understand it myself…"

I nodded slowly. Mine had said something along those same lines. "That being the case…" I sighed heavily. None of them even understood the power of Ikki's eyes. It was no wonder they ahd fallen victim to it. "I guess I can't blame you. So, apology accepted."

"Really…?"

"Yeah." I shifted awkwardly, not knowing what to say, but she threw her arms around me.

"You have my most sincere thanks! Oho ho ho!"

"What the hell kind of laugh is that? Get off, you're freaking me out!"

"My apologies. I was just so overwhelmed with relief…"

So this was how she actually acted when she wasn't under the influence of Ikki's eyes… I found myself starting to laugh too. "You're a funny girl, you know."

"Am I?" She blinked, surprised.

"Yeah… Anyways, I guess I'll see you around. I'm walking back home with a friend, so…"

"Ah, yes. Well then, off you go. And, again… Thank you."

"I'm keeping the video though."

"That's a respectable decision," she admitted. "I don't want to forget what I've done either."

"Well, good. And, uh… You have a nice evening, okay?"

"You as well." She bowed deeply before departing, and I went back inside, shaking my head.

"That was fast." Toma looked me over and smiled when he found that nothing seemed to be wrong.

"Yeah… She has got to be the second weirdest person I know. First place is Kent."

"He is strange, you have that right. Anyways, ready to go?"

"Yeah, just let me lock the front door." Just as I said that, I heard the bell ring signaling someone's entrance. "Were obviously closed…" I walked around and jumped when I saw who it was, feeling my heart punch my ribcage as it leaped just as high. "Sh… Sh…"

"Shin. What are you doing here?" Toma stood next to me and raised his eyebrows.

Shin glanced at Toma, but his serious gaze slid over to me. "Michi, I want to talk to you. Can you come with me now?"