Lord Muffintops here. Yep, it's the yandere-happy-fun-time route now. Whee. The story is coming to a close! It'll break fifty chapters, but we're closer to being done than not. Will I start a new fanfic afterwards or will I just find other ways to waste my life away? Only time shall tell! Mwahaha! Anyways, enjoy the story.

~ Musca ~

"Michi!" I gasped, reaching out blindly as I came out of unconsciousness. "Where…" In my daze the place I'd called home looked entirely unfamiliar.

"You're alright, Musca." Small hands gently took my shoulders.

I looked into large round eyes and recognized curled black horns. "Orion? What happened?!"

"You're back in the spirit world. Lady Faera and Lord Nhil are discussing at the moment, but they should be here to explain soon."

"You're still not answering my question!" I snapped, almost screaming.

Orion blinked at me, surprised. "Seems like Michi has rubbed off on you… But I don't know what happened. You just appeared back here collapsed."

"Is Michi okay?" I touched my stomach. I'd felt the impact if the knife because of our shared connection. All of the fear that had paralyzed her, the anger and desperation, it had almost been unbearable. "Dammit!" I pulled at my hair in frustration. "I didn't protect her!"

"There was nothing you could do. I know it from experience that sometimes even when a situation is at its worst we're completely powerless."

"Your heroine got put in a cage and mine got stabbed… Maybe we're just incompetent."

"Fate can be cruel. But it will be okay. We'll figure it out."

"I have to get back. She needs my help."

"But you just got here…" Orion trailed off as Lady Faera and Lord Nhil materialized upon the cloud we were nestled at.

"Musca…" Faera embraced me. "I'm proud of your work. You've been doing so well."

I shrugged her off. "But I'm not done yet! Please let me go back."

"Nhil and I have been testing the connection with Michi for a little while… Musca, we can't reach her. The link has been severed."

"How is that even possible?" I jumped up.

"The doorway is shut on her end. Michi has closed us out, most likely on a subconscious level."

I squeezed my eyes shut, focusing. It was true; I couldn't feel her anymore. "Then… Even, even if she can't see or feel me, let me go back! I can reach her!" I would do anything. "Michi would never, ever forget me or push me out. As long as I'm by her side, it'll be okay."

Faera smiled. "You truly do love Michi…"

"However, all of Michi's memories will be gone," Nhil explained. "She's in a world that she's technically not supposed to exist in. Everything will fragment with her connection to you severed."

"So send me in! If I'm by her side again then she'll remember, right?"

"That should work… But remember the deadline, Musca. You don't have forever," Nhil reminded me.

"What is the deadline for?" I asked, frowning.

He smiled mysteriously. "You'll see."

"It doesn't matter." The most important person was waiting for me. "Michi's mother… What do I do?"

Nhil's mouth turned into a grim line. "That was what I needed to explain. Michi's destiny is to be without a family. The existence of her mother is incorrect in this world. Because of her mother's connection to the Spirit World in this plane of existence, she understands how dire the situation is too."

"Dire?" I echoed, getting chills.

"Michi and her mother can't both exist at the same time. Rather, they can't both retain their memories of the world they're in at the same time. The more Michi encounters her mother, the more of herself she'll lose."

I felt sick. "So only one… Only one can retain memories at one time…? Does that mean that... We have to get rid of Michi's mother?" I couldn't see any other alternative. The damage had already been done to Michi's body and mind; we had to get rid of the threat immediately.

Nhil and Faera glanced at each other, neither wanting to confirm the horror of it. They squeezed each other's hands for comfort. They had never intended for this to happen. "I'm sorry, Musca," Faera said gently.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "No choice then… Can either of you do one thing for me before I go back?"

"Anything within my power," Faera confirmed with determination.

"I need you to give another one of the humans the ability to see and communicate with me."

"Which one? It will get me expelled from the Spirit World for sure, but this last thing I can do." Faera nodded. "Then we can send you back. When you collide with Michi again, just be aware that it's going to hurt her a lot. Remembering is going to be excruciating because it reintegrates her consciousness into the world she's in. It'll be like getting stabbed all over again, but many times the pain. You won't reconnect immediately, but you'll be near her so just pick a good time."

"I understand. I'll be right there with her through it. As for my choice… Please let me be able to talk with…" I took a deep breath, hoping that I was making the right decision. Everything hinged on it.

~ Toma ~

I paced back and forth, gritting and gnashing my teeth. This was completely unbearable. I'd been right there, so close, yet…

"Toma!" Shin ran up to me. "What happened?"

"I'm not sure. She said something about her mother."

Shin flinched, and his eyes darkened.

"What do you know?" I frowned.

"Not all of the details. But she's scared of her mom. A lot."

"Huh…" I turned at the sound of rushing footsteps. Oh great… Just what we needed.

"I got your call, Shin…" Ikki huffed, Kent on his heels.

I glared at him. Why'd he have to go calling them? They'd just get in the way.

He noticed my expression and narrowed his eyes back. "We're basically all she's got."

"Excuse me?" A doctor approached us. "Is one of you Toma?"

"Yeah?" I stepped forward warily.

"You're Miss Ohayashi's emergency contact. She's open for you and whoever else you allow to visit her."

It was more than tempting to not let everyone else in, but I couldn't do that in good conscience or without earning the fury and suspicion of the others. "Can the four of us go in at one time?"

"Yes, but don't overwhelm her. You should know… It seems that she has amnesia. It's unexplained medically, so we're attributing it to shock."

"Amnesia?" Ikki gasped.

I felt my own expression mirroring his surprise. But then looking at Shin and Kent, they didn't seem surprised at all… I waited until the doctor left. "Why don't you two seem even remotely phased by this?"

Shin hesitated. "She told me. Asked me not to tell anyone else, but considering the circumstances…"

"I figured it out. It was actually quite simple upon examining the symptoms. Frankly I'm shocked that we all weren't able to discern it…" Kent trailed off. "Pardon me. I'm quite frightened, so I rambled…"

"We may as well see for ourselves then…" I gulped, nervous.

"Should we go in one at a time? Like the doctor said, we shouldn't overwhelm her," Ikki suggested.

"… Good idea." Being alone with her was far better. "Well then…"

"I'm going first." Shin strode past us into the room, shutting the door softly behind him.

"Well, that's that…" Ikki sighed and plopped into a waiting chair. "I call next."

"Then me." Kent sat next to him.

"Hmph." I sat down too. That was fine. Going last had just as many advantages as going first.

~ Shin ~

I leaned against the door for a moment before stepping in further, cautious. "Hello, Michi…"

"Uh… Hi." She looked at me, clueless.

I couldn't stop sorrow from spreading across my face. She was just so pale, laying back with her hands gingerly over her stomach. And she didn't remember anything? None of the bad or the good? I wanted her to know it all. The good outweighed the bad, finally. We'd come so far after so much tension and hate hanging between and over us.

"Who are you?" She raised her eyebrows, ever the straightforward one.

"Er… My name is Shin. I'm a friend."

She frowned, suspicious. "Hm…"

"Do you remember anything at all?"

"Um…" Her face fell, and she looked away. "My head hurts. Like I'm supposed to… I mean… I feel weird. Like I'm not supposed to be here."

"Well…" I had no clue what to say to that.

"Not that you care… I don't even know you… Yet I'm telling you this! I feel stupid…!" She started to sit up but winced and cried out softly, gritting her teeth afterwards.

"Woah, careful…" I took her shoulders and gently pushed her back. "Just rest, okay? You're always like this… Too hard-headed." I smiled slightly. "Is there anything I can do?"

She just kept looking at me, almost unnerving. "You… look at me like you know me."

"Because I do." I loved her in fact, but now definitely wasn't the time to say that.

"Hm…" She shook her head. "It's so frustrating… Not being able to remember a thing."

"It's fine. You'll remember." I tucked hair behind her ear.

"Er…" She pulled back and looked away. "You're close, a bit…"

"Sorry." I'd gotten too used to her not minding.

"It's fine… Whatever. " She mumbled awkwardly.

I looked at the table beside her; it was strewn with her belongings, or at least what she'd had on her at the time of the attack. I blinked at one of the items, reaching for it. "Is this a Japanese to English dictionary?"

"What do you think?" She asked, eyebrows raised.

I just looked at it, used to the biting sarcasm. "Why do you have this?" Michi had never once been interested in learning English.

"I… I was…" She narrowed her eyes and held onto her head with both hands. "Er…"

"You don't have to push yourself."

"I was… trying to catch up to someone. I think."

I caught my breath. "Oh." That statement couldn't possibly refer to anyone but me. But why? Catching up to me? What could it mean?

"That's just the feeling I get." She shrugged. "So… Shin."

"Yeah?"

"What should I know about you? Anything important that might help jog my memory?"

I sighed and pulled up a chair next to the bed. "Well… That's complicated."

"What a lame answer." She frowned, pouting.

I laughed. "I'm going to tell you… But just saying, it's not pretty."

"Okay?" She tilted her head.

"Well… In short… We were good friends, and…" Maybe it was better not to mention that we had almost started dating back then. "Well, something happened, and… My father killed your father. Self-defense in a bar fight."

She sucked in a breath, shocked.

"So we didn't talk for a while after that." Despite everything, I found myself smiling. "But you came swooping into my life again. You were insane… And you forgave me. My dad too." I closed my eyes, almost overwhelmed by the peace of it all. "So I guess you could say you ended up rescuing us a bit." And then I'd gone and fallen in love with her again.

"Oh. That's… a lot to take in." She laughed weakly. "Well… I feel like you're being honest… And I appreciate you being here. So, uh… Don't worry, okay?"

I reached out to flick her on the forehead. "Idiot. That's what I should be saying to you. You'll remember everything, so don't worry. And even if you don't… We've started over before. We can do it again."

She laughed. "You're dramatic, aren't you?"

"Whatever." I shook my head. Nothing was going to change. She was still the same person, after all.

"So, uh… One more question?"

"Yeah?"

"Were we… uh, particularly close?"

"Uh…" I cleared my throat. "I consider us good friends. Why?"

"Nothing, nothing…" She absentmindedly put a hand to her chest. "Well…"

"Excuse me!" We both jumped when Ikki poked his head in, smiling pleasantly. "But you're holding up the line, Shin."

"Ikki, you asshole, this isn't a bathroom. I can't be holding up the line."

"My statement still stands." That idiotic grin just pissed me off.

"Fine." To spite him I kissed Michi on the cheek. "I'll visit again soon."

"Y-yeah…" She nodded, waving back at me as I slipped out of the room.

"How'd it go?" Toma asked, sounding bored.

"You could've stopped Ikki, you know…" I grumbled as I sat next to him.

"Didn't feel like it."

"I'm surrounded by assholes…"

"You knew that though." Toma shrugged. "Is she okay?"

"Other than drawing a total blank, she's fine."

He nodded slowly. "I see…"

"What are you thinking about?" I asked warily. There was the vague sense that something was off with him, but I couldn't quite pin what he was planning, if anything.

"Just worried."

"Ah." I could hope that that was all there was.

~ Ikki ~

I frowned at the blush on her face and reached out to pinch her cheeks. It was the drama that had gone on in the triangle of her, Shin and I a little while ago all over again. The jealousy was both unexpected and familiar. "Cut that out."

"Hey!" She swatted my hands away. "And who the heck are you, asshole?"

Hearing she had amnesia and seeing it for myself were two different things. I guessed that the only thing left to do was to introduce myself formally. I took her hand, lifting it. "My name is Ikki and I'm in love with you." I kissed her palm and closed her hand around it, holding it gently in mine. I didn't have a flower to give or a childhood promise to remind her of this time. This was about all I could offer.

She stared at me for a while and then slapped her cheeks with both hands. "Your eyes, something's up with 'em…" She looked away, out the window.

I couldn't help but laugh. "A good slap never fails to banish impure thoughts, huh?"

Her gaze snapped back to mine and then away the next second as she was surprised. "How'd you know?"

"It's not the first time you've done that in front of me."

"Oh… So you do know me, then, or else you couldn't have known that I did that… Okay." She paused, then stated at me openly now. "Did… did you just seriously introduce yourself by saying you l-love me?"

"If you remembered me you honestly wouldn't be surprised at all."

"Well I'm surprised now!" She huffed.

I sighed, smiling. I loved seeing her flustered, but it just wasn't the same without her remembering everything we had shared. "Does this make you feel better?" I put my sunglasses on.

"Well…" She hesitated. "Not really…"

"Huh?" Then what could I do?

"What I mean is, well… You look unhappy to have to wear those. I dunno…"

"… Do you remember anything at all?" I murmured.

"Not really. I get weird feelings or inklings though. Like how your eyes make you sad or why I have that dictionary. I don't know why. Doesn't feel like stuff I should know. But, uh… I don't want you to be sad either," she mumbled. "Weird as that sounds, considering we've just met…"

I laughed. "You just made me fall for you a bit more." It didn't take a lot of effort from her to move my heart.

"How can you say such cheesy stuff without blinking?" She blushed, embarrassed.

"Only because I'm saying it to you. Trust me, normally I try to be a bit more dignified."

"Somehow I doubt it," she teased.

"Even with amnesia you see right through me. Fine, I admit it. I'm really just a tactless playboy," I sighed, holding my hands up in mock surrender.

Michi shrugged. "Look on the bright side. At least you're not annoying me."

"That's helpful." I frowned, removing my sunglasses again. "I don't know what Shin said to you or how the others feel, but I'm not okay with this. I don't want to start over." All of those experiences were far too precious to simply let go of. I couldn't accept the possibility.

"That's not what I want either. It's not as if I enjoy not remembering anything about you guys… I feel like I should and I shouldn't all at the same time. It's confusing…" She slouched, showing how exhausted she was all of a sudden.

"Hey…" I softened, knowing I was being a bit selfish by voicing my frustrations like this. "I'm sorry. I can't imagine what you're going through. But I promise to be here for you, okay? Anything you need, even if it's just to talk… Or maybe a shoulder to lean on." I smiled.

"Hmph. Smoother than you make yourself out to be, aren't you?" Michi smirked now, tilting her head at me. "But… thanks. That does make me feel a little bit better." Relief had made its way faintly into her expression. "Is there anything you can tell me about you and our relationship that might be important?"

"Well, you did promise to marry me…"

"What?!"

"… When we were kids."

"Say that in the first place!" She hit my shoulder, then winced and put her hands to her stomach.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, fine… I think the meds should be kicking in sooner rather than later."

"Good. Hopefully you'll get some relief."

"Yeah…" She studied me. "Your eyes… They really are pretty."

"Sorry if they make you feel weird. It just happens," I said sheepishly.

Michi shook her head. "No, there's no problem. I'm just saying."

"Stop, you'll make me blush."

"You really are kind of an asshole in the end, aren't you?"

"I won't exactly deny it, but I have my charms."

"Whatever…" She blushed. "Keep telling yourself that."

So she would blush for both Shin and me, huh? It was also frustrating to know that she clearly had feelings for multiple people and people I was close with to boot, but the most important thing was making sure she was okay for now. Everything else seemed a bit trivial in comparison to the fact that she'd gotten stabbed. She could have died. At the thought my chest squeezed tightly and I lost my breath for a few moments, recovering with a gasp.

"Hey, you okay?" She looked at me with concern on her pale face. It was ridiculous that she had to be the one asking me that; I was being foolish and weak and I couldn't help it one bit.

"Yeah, I'm fine…" I put my hands on her shoulders. "Mind if I hug you, just for a little while?"

"Uh… Sure." She probably let me do it out of concern, but even that was enough. I held her as tightly as I dared, wishing that there was more I could do. No amount of smooth words or love for her would solve this. Admitting how helpless I was, how helpless we all were, was the hardest part.

"Hey." Shin rapped on the door as he entered, glaring when he saw the position Michi and I were in. "Kent started muttering to himself nonstop, so… Maybe we should let him in now. Stop holding up the line, yeah?" He smiled spitefully at me before leaving.

I sighed and reluctantly pulled away. "I suppose that's my cue to leave."

"Oh." Did she sound a bit disappointed? I hoped it wasn't just my imagination.

"The next guy coming in is Kent. He's not so good with words so just give him some patience, okay?"

"Got it. Thanks for the heads up."

"See you again soon." Tearing myself out of the room was unpleasant, to say the least. I could've stayed all night if they had let me.

"Bye…"

I hit Shin on the shoulder once I was back in the waiting area. "You suck."

"An eye for an eye," he muttered. "She rejected you, so cut that out…"

"You're such a child," I sighed. "Giving up so easily on such a good girl."

"It's not like I…!" He took a breath to mediate himself. "Just shut the hell up before I end up getting us kicked out, okay? I already feel like hitting something and you aren't helping at all."

I nodded, finding some empathy for him. There was an urge to find who had done this and get some sort of revenge or justice, but we were without power in that aspect too. "There's not a thing we can do for her. Being so helpless is…"

"It's shit," Shin concluded quietly.

"Exactly…"

~ Kent ~

I entered the room and promptly sat on a chair that had been pulled up next to the bed; it was already warmed from having others seated there. "… But if we were to go with the stance that the current level of amnesia was psychosomatic, it would then further be argued that it was a result of mental shock and a weakness of fortitude that attributes to the present condition. This doesn't fit in well with Michi's overall character whatsoever in that she is both physically and mentally strong… Or am I overestimating her character out of my own biased emotional attachment? I can't quite seem to make things add up…"

"Hey." Michi bonked me on the head. "How long are you going to keep muttering to yourself, Kent?"

The greeting was so familiar that it startled me out of my thought process. "Do you… Do you remember me, by any chance?" She had even said my name.

"Ikki told me you were coming in and warned me you're a bit awkward. He really wasn't lying."

"Ah." I was both appreciative that Ikkyu had taken the time to provide me with a disclaimer in my frazzled state and disappointed that Michi had no memory of me, although I shouldn't have expected anything else. "Curious…"

"What is?"

"It seems that I had desired and almost expected you to hold me in such high regard that you would remember me above the others… But of course that's flawed logic. I can't expect that in your mentally impaired condition…"

"Uh… Sure."

I sighed. "My apologies. The more I try to figure it out, the more unclear it becomes. Part of me is angry at you for allowing this as well… But that makes even less sense."

"You're really honest, aren't you?" She chuckled.

"Of course. That's the policy between us. We always attempt to put forth as much candor as possible."

"Oh." She smiled. "I really like the sound of that, actually."

"I've quite enjoyed it myself. It's made us much closer than we had been."

"I asked the others this question too, but is there anything you can tell me that you think I should know? About you and me. I keep hoping that something will trigger a memory, but…"

Hopefully I could help, then. "Hm… Well, I hated you at first."

"Okay?"

"But you reached out to me and we became friends. I asked for your advice rather often on… matters." I didn't particularly want to expound upon the fact that I had been attempting to date another girl at that time. "You were very helpful in teaching me about human interaction, and…" I trailed off. "You helped me learn how to better relate with my family as well." It wasn't until I said it aloud that I realized how much she had done for me. I had known it, but was almost overwhelmed by it now. She had been doing these sorts of things for Ikkyu as well. "You're the most amazing person I have ever met, I do believe…"

"Oh, well… Thanks." She smiled in an embarrassed manner. "It's weird to hear about how I've done all of these things for you guys… I think you're all making me out to be a lot cooler than I am."

I shook my head. "I would not exaggerate, I assure you. Every bit is entirely sincere."

She blushed, seeming rather pleased. "Okay then… I mean, I can remember and get a sense of what sort of person I am… But anything relating to anyone else, you guys in particular… I've got nothing."

"Hm… I could try hypnosis… Reading up on such a thing as that would be simple, and there are different kinds of therapy involving assisting trances as an alternative…"

"Do you always start muttering to yourself while in the middle of a conversation?"

"It's quite ordinary for me when I'm processing things."

"Ah, sorry. I know everyone must be worried. And I appreciate it, but I sort of wish I could appreciate it properly… You all feel like strangers."

"Well… Being a stranger is the first step to becoming a friend." And, maybe one day, something more. "Let us view the situation in those terms for the time being."

"Sounds good to me." She smiled, not in the same way she had before, but still a smile.

"… We'll get back to that place," I said softly. "I assure you." After all, there would be no stopping us until that was the case.

Hope and doubt mingled on her face. "I hope so…"

I felt emotion welling up in me and stood. "I think it best I depart." These feelings… Despair. Fear. Hopelessness. Tears. Everything that had been gained had been lost so easily, possibly to never return. I simply couldn't process it in a collected manner. The best course of action was to leave before I did something unbecoming.

"Oh, okay, well… Nice to meet you, I guess."

I smiled bitterly over my shoulder. The words stabbed at me. I was nothing more than a stranger. "And you as well."

"Are you okay?" Ikkyu was, of course, the first to notice the welling unpleasantries beginning to show on my face.

"I am fine… Please allow me a moment to myself… Actually, I'll depart now."

"I'll come with you… There's nothing we can do for tonight." Ikkyu nodded, most likely wanting to offer me what comfort he could.

I sighed, unfoundedly exhausted. "Toma, do go on ahead."

"I think I'll give her a breather…" He murmured.

"Awfully considerate of you…" Shin muttered, implying that this wasn't the usual.

"I'm allowed to pick and choose who I'm gracious towards. Deal with it." Toma shrugged.

An interesting pair, they were. It was a strange thing, to be chuckling and crying at the same time as we walked away. I didn't know what it meant at all.

~ Toma ~

"You're not going to try anything, are you?" Shin asked bluntly.

He knew me almost too well, it seemed. "I'm an asshole, but I'm not completely evil. Relax."

"… Fine. I'm going home. Dad will be worried."

"So things are good now, huh? You're lucky." He was nowhere near to understanding the loneliness I'd felt for years now.

He looked towards Michi's room. "… Yeah. Anyways… See you later. Let me know if anything changes."

"Yeah. Don't worry."

He gave me one last look before leaving.

I sat back down, closing my eyes and running through my plan of execution one more time. I'd had a while to consider it and was fairly certain of success, although Michi's personality was a potentially dangerous variable. Better to just get this over with.

I took a deep breath. Now, of all times, wasn't the time to hesitate. I was certain that what I was doing was right. Protecting Michi was the most important thing, no matter what kind of person it made me. Even if I became hated… Nothing else mattered.

"Alright." I swept into the room, heart hammering, limbs almost shaking.

"Hey, what's your na—" Michi started to ask, but I cut her off by kissing her. I held her arms tightly, willing her not to hit me. Luckily she seemed to be too shocked to have a violent reaction.

When I backed away I put on a sheepish but sweet face. "Sorry… That must have surprised you."

"I-I mean…" Michi coughed. "To say the least."

"I just couldn't wait to see you, so by the time everyone else came out…" I laughed. "They had me go last because they knew I'd want to keep you all to myself."

"What am I missing here?" Michi asked suspiciously. Hopefully I'd be able to destroy that guard soon.

"This is awkward… Um… I'm Toma… Your boyfriend."

"… Oh." Her eyes got big.

"I brought you to the hospital. Do you remember anything? Anything at all?"

"Sorry… But nothing about you. I remember Mom stabbing me, and then it's like there's this huge blur…"

"That's okay." I touched her cheek. "All that matters is that you're safe." That was probably the most truthful thing I intended to say.

"Um…" Her cheeks turned red, a welcome bit of color to her pallor. "If it helps… My heart's beating really fast right now."

"Good…" I leaned in again. "Do you want me to hold back a bit?"

"Er…" She let out a tiny squeak as I kissed the corner of her mouth gently. I felt her resistance wearing down quickly. She was becoming malleable, her mind free for me to twist in the most convenient way possible.

God, it was exciting.

"W-wait," she stammered, and I pulled away again. "Will you tell me about… about… um, you know…"

"The two of us?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, well…" I'd had plenty of time to craft a believable backstory while waiting for my turn. "We dated in middle school for a while but broke up later on, deciding to just stay friends, but then we got back together in high school and have been together since. I'm in college now and you aren't, but we work at the same place; it's a café."

"So we've been dating for a while…" Her blush reached her ears and neck. "Have we… um… been intimate…?"

"Oh." I hadn't expected that question. "A little bit, but not fully. Normal couple stuff… Don't worry." There was no need to shock her too badly by revealing the masochism and sadism aspect of the relationship.

"Okay…" She sounded relieved. "Just, the thought of not being able to remember something like that…"

"I get it…" I smoothed her hair. "But it's okay. You did agree recently to move in with me though. Even if you hadn't I'd still want you near me… I want to be able to protect you right now."

"I'd rather not be by myself either."

I gently kissed her brow. "You don't have to scared."

"Th-thanks…"

Unbelievable. She was just accepting whatever she was told. It wasn't that she had much of a choice, but it made me want to push harder. It was best to be cautious though. "This may sound strange, but… We don't really talk about how we're dating with anyone else."

"What?'

"See…" I had to cover this so no one would be able to contradict the statement and reveal I was implanting lies in her mind. "They all like you too, so it's sort of a touchy subject that you're saying me… We just agreed it was better not to make them uncomfortable."

"Oh, that makes sense, looking back on how they acted towards me… Okay. I understand."

"Thanks for being understanding. I know how crazy and sudden this is."

"No, it's fine. I'm really glad to know that all of you care so much…"

I nodded, almost feeling guilty. But not quite. I was doing what was best for her. "… I love you."

"Oh!" She gasped. "Um, I… Uh…"

"You don't have to say it back. I'm just glad… So glad that you're okay. I don't know what I would've done if I'd lost you." My voice slowly devolved into a whisper. It would have broken me for sure. I felt her hand on my cheek and closed my eyes, and then her lips were against mine softly, tentatively.

Michi shook her head when she pulled back. "The meds are kicking in… My eyes are getting heavy."

"Get some rest then. I'll stay here for as long as I can." As her emergency contact I had a bit more leeway with visiting hours.

"Okay…" She lay back and closed her eyes, shifting to be as comfortable as she could. "Good night."

"Sleep well."

She was mine. I would protect her for sure.

I was almost starting to doze off myself when I heard it.

"This isn't going to work out like you want it to, you know. Not at all."

I thought I was dreaming but still looked up hazily. Then I jumped to my feet, chair clattering being me, at the sight of a young girl with horns and silver hair floating in the air, arms crossed over a pink shawl draped around her, and large yellow eyes narrowed imperiously in my direction. "What the…"

"Hello, Toma. You may address me as Musca."