<blockquote class="uncited"><div>The doorbell rang as Yukiko's mother was in the middle of doing some housework. It was clear she had been a very attractive woman in her youth, but she appeared now to be in her late 40's, with brown hair a few shades duller than Yukiko's tied back into a braid, and gentle blue eyes. She set her broom against the wall, calling out to whoever was at the door that she would be with them in a moment. A few moments passed before she opened the door to see a handsome young man standing there, one who was unfamiliar to her. "Hello," she said with a smile. "Can I help you?" He answered by saying that he was searching for Yukiko; this was something which she had certainly not expected, if her reaction was any indication. "Oh! Are you.. a friend from school, perhaps?" she asked, her eyes widening.<br/><br/>Kenji looked at the woman who answered the door. Blinking as she looked a lot like Yukiko. She had the same beautiful appearance even though she was much older. At least now he knew where she got her looks from. He nodded his head. "Yeah. Me and Hoshi live further down the street by a couple of miles. We were hanging out yesterday." That wasn't a lie - they had technically hung out last night. "I was just wanting to see if she was in. See if she wanted to hang out again." Again this was the truth as he did. He didn't mention the strange sense of worry he felt when he thought of Yukiko. In all honesty it was probably stupid. "Is she home ma'am. My name is Kenji. I apologize for not introducing myself already." He smiled a bit.<br/><br/>Her eyes returned to their normal size and she smiled as Kenji spoke. "I'm so relieved she has friends already.. Here I was thinking her paranormal obsession would never end. Oh, but you poor dear, you look a mess..!" she commented, noticing the bruise on his forehead. "Why don't you come inside and sit down? I won't trouble you by prying, but that wound looks awfully recent. My husband is a medical practitioner; he happens to be home now and could take a look at it if you'd like," she offered with a concerned smile, dodging the question of if Yukiko was home or not. "My name is Harumi; Harumi Asaname. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kenji."<br/><br/>She simply smiled at his compliment, though in the back of her mind she couldn't help wondering if he was interested in her. It seemed likely enough, considering his words. She didn't comment on it though, of course. She led him to the living room, gesturing to the large couch in the center. "Please, take a seat," she said with a sigh. "I'm afraid it's not such a simple question, although, no, she isn't in right now. Would you like something to drink?" she asked, hoping to change the topic.<br/><br/>&lt;Kenji&gt;: Kenji followed her into the living room. Taking a seat on the couch as she had indicated. If he did like her as of yet he was unaware of it. He did genuinely think Yukiko very cute albeit still infuriating at times. He didn't understand how it wasn't a simple question if someone was in or not. Nodding his head. "Why are you trying to change topics Ms. Asaname?" He asked curiously. Not sure what was with the topic change. "Though no thank you on the drink. Not quite ready for breakfast or anything else right now." He looked at her and smiled. "Thanks for offering all the same." He was a bit confused by the topic change. His worrying feeling grew a bit stronger but then dimmed down. He was probably reading too much into it.<br/><br/>A deep, long sigh escaped Harumi's lips as she sat down on the opposite end of the couch. There was a long period of silence before she spoke again, but eventually she did. "It's a long story, Kenji, and I don't really have the right to tell you some parts of it. That I'll leave to Yukiko, if she ever decides to. But I can at least tell you enough to ease your mind, hopefully. Yukiko isn't home right now, as you know; she left early this morning, barely saying a thing. I could tell by the look on her face that something was bugging her. I suppose I should start at the beginning. Yukiko isn't like most girls, you see; ever since she was born, she's always been a tad eccentric. Because of it, she had almost nobody to call a friend as she was growing up. It was a long time before she started being comfortable with who she is; for her earlier years she would always come home in tears because all of the other kids would pick on her, and nobody wanted to play with her. When she was 8, she finally met a girl who took the time to get to know her, and the two became fast friends. You'd be hard pressed to find two kids more inseperable," she said with a sad laugh, pausing for a few moments before continuing. "It was around then that Yukiko finally started ignoring the opinions of everybody else, and just focusing on the people who mattered to her. She was so much happier, it was really an amazing change. Unfortunately, though, it only hits her even harder when people she cares about pick on her. Whenever something like that happens, Yukiko has a tendency to disappear for hours, sometimes even days.. But she always comes back safe and sound. She's a smart girl, and I scarcely worry about her, even when she does that. It's usually just better to leave her to her own thoughts when this happens," she finished with a sigh. "I won't stop you if you're going to go look for her, but I don't know what her reaction would be. I also haven't the slightest clue where you could find her," she added.<br/><br/>Kenji listened and took in everything that was being said. He felt bad because at first he had been a bit like those mean kids. Which made him feel bad. He didn't know if Yukiko cared about him because she seemed to flip back and forth on that. He didn't even know if she really considered him a friend or if it was just Hoshi. He had no doubt in his mind she was his friend. He stood up. "I'm sorry ma'am...I need to go find her. It might be a hopeless chase but...I can't just leave her out there like that." He bowed to her and sighed. "Part of it is I need to apologize to her. The other part...nevermind that...I just need to find her." He hurried outside after one more bow and took off in his car.</div></blockquote><br/><br/><br/>~Three hours later...~<br/><br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>Kenji had been driving all over the place looking for her. Only stopping once to fuel up his car before going back to searching again. He wasn't entirely sure what she was wearing or what she would look like today. All he knew is this feeling inside him told him when he was hot cold or getting warmer. He was following the feeling even though it made no sense how his gut could know something like that. How it could tell him when he was getting closer and when he was going the wrong way. Right now he wasn't bothering to question it. It just was and that was all that mattered. He slowly pulled up not too far from Yukiko. Spotting a girl that looked like her and his gut told him was her. Even if she reacted badly and wouldn't accept his apology it was something he needed to do. He turned off the car and got out. Shutting the car door. "Yukiko?" He asked. Walking closer but stayed a bit away. He didn't know for sure but something told him this girl was her. "I know I'm probably the last person you want to see but...I wanted to say I'm sorry for how I've been acting. I had no right to react the way I had to you. I'm really sorry for being a jerk towards you." He stayed where he was. "I wouldn't blame you if you don't believe me or even throw something at me. I would deserve it. I shouldn't have been trying to push you away. I just wasn't sure how to take your reality when it shook mine up. I apologize for how I've been treating you. It was wrong and it won't happen again." He was being honest. He would treat her like he would Hoshi. Like a friend and not any different. Even if she didn't want to be around him after that. "You and Hoshi are cool in your own way. Being as open minded and optimistic as you guys are. I won't treat you differently anymore. Shouldn't have in the first place." He fell silent after that.<br/><br/>It had been hours already, that she had been sitting on that hill, with nothing but her own thoughts to keep her company. She didn't feel any better than before, but then again, she hadn't really expected to. The unexpected thing was when she heard the sound of a car driving up nearby and parking, and the fresh footsteps on top of the grass a ways behind her. She already had a feeling who it was, and stayed completely still as he spoke. It took her a moment to gather her voice before responding; when she did, her voice was soft, weak; muffled by the fact that her face was still buried in her knees. "What, come to laugh some more at the <span style="font-style: italic">spirit detective?</span>" she asked, more out of spite than anything. She once again stayed silent as he went through a lengthy speech apologizing to her, and this time the silence after he was finished lasted much longer. She barely moved an inch the entire time, though her mind was racing at a thousand miles a minute. "You don't need to try and make me feel better, idiot.. What am I going to throw at you, <span style="font-style: italic">grass?</span>"<br/><br/>Kenji looked at her. "If I laughed at you before it wasn't really at you. It was at the concept I felt you were trying to force on me. I came to realize you weren't trying to force your beliefs on me just to make me open minded to possibilities. That said I apologize if I laughed at you." He sat down. "I don't mean that nickname as a bad thing. Hoshi is Ghost Lover. Me giving you a nickname isn't supposed to be a bad thing. When its towards friends it more a sign that I trust you. I should have shown I respected your beliefs more but I never meant Spirit Detective as an insult." He really hadn't. It just seemed to fit her as a nickname. He had a nickname for most of the guys on his sports teams. It was something he did. "I won't call you it anymore if it bothers you that much." He said. He didn't move. "I'm not laughing at you Yukiko. The concepts and reality you throw at me is something I've been told wasn't real...since really little. Then you come along and tell me I'm insane for not believing." <br/><br/>Yukiko's grip on her legs tightened as he again mentioned that he had been told spirits weren't real. She could feel the anger at that idea, that spirits weren't real, building up inside of her. Her head shot up and she spun to look at him, revealing the reddened, tear-streaked face she had been hiding the entire time. Without caring if she was interrupting him or not, she yelled. "<span style="font-style: italic">You want to know why I believe in spirits?!</span> Because my only friend was killed by one, god dammit!! And there was nothing.. <span style="font-style: italic">Nothing</span> I could do about it! I watched her die in front of me!!" she screamed, tears flowing freely from her tightly-shut eyes before she buried her face again, her shoulders heaving as she sobbed into her own arms.<br/><br/>Kenji saw the reddened tear streaked face and felt bad. He knew he was probably the cause of her feeling sad. Add in what happened at the factory...wow...she just hit overload most likely. He listened as she yelled. He listened and didn't say anything. He saw her start crying and he moved. Sitting beside her and wrapped his arms around her. Pulling her into him. Not caring if this resulted in biting, scratching, smacking or whatever. He pulled her close and stroked her hair. "I believe you Yukiko. Really I do. I'm sorry you lost your friend that way. Really I am. You have friends now. You have Hoshi who has literally decided you are like a sister...and you got me. I may not show it right but I think you are cool. You have so much life and spirit in what you believe in. You are passionate about what you put your mind to." He held her close still. "I'm a jerk for the way I acted yet...I never meant to hurt you. I did and that was wrong of me. Just know...you aren't alone anymore. You'll never be alone anymore because me and Hoshi aren't going anywhere. Especially me. No matter what you say or do I'll stick with you like glue. Even if you don't want me to. I'll be there when you need it most. Thats what friends do."<br/><br/>Yukiko's first instinct was to push him away. She tried for a fraction of a second, turning and meekly placing her hands on his chest to push, but found that she really didn't have the strength to. After he started talking again, her hands fell to her side and she fell forward, her head resting against his shoulder. It was there, in that position, that she stayed for a long time, letting the tears continue to fall as she cried. Gradually, her tears ran dry and she found herself unable to cry anymore, but it still took her a while to get her voice back, the two being otherwise silent the entire time. "..Last night was exactly like the day I lost her.." she started, her voice hoarse and weak. "We had developed a reputation around town for checking out all the rumors nobody else would.. We didn't think much of the paranormal back then. There was a rumor going around about this old, abandoned house that was said to be haunted, so we decided to check it out. We wandered around the house for a while, and nothing really happened.. There were some creepy noises, but nothing serious. Then everything went crazy.. Stuff was flying off the walls, and we both thought it was the coolest thing ever. A little scary, but really exciting." Yukiko made a sound that might have been a laugh, but it was hard to tell because of her voice. "We walked into a really dark room, and the door shut behind us.. I turned around and tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge.. I was going to tell her we were trapped, but when I turned around.." Yukiko's entire body shivered, and her hands wrapped themselves around her arms. "I don't even know how to describe it.. But I saw that <span style="font-style: italic">thing</span> run her through.. Watched helplessly as she fell limp, not even two feet away from me, in a pool of her own blood. That's why.. that's why last night scared me so much. I already said my town didn't have anything paranormal.. and aside from that, it didn't. Since then I've never actually <span style="font-style: italic">seen</span> anything paranormal happen. The police couldn't find any evidence in their investigation, and her case was thrown away, forgotten about entirely by everyone but me. I can hardly blame them.. would you believe a kid who's only explanation was 'a ghost did it?' ..But I know what I saw."<br/><br/>Kenji didn't let her go when she weakly tried to push him away. He kept holding her close. Listening to her talking. "Now I see why what happened shook you up so bad." He said softly. "It was more than being trapped in a dark room...it was a total flashback for you." He felt for her.  Listening as she spoke on what had happened. <span style="font-style: italic">Yukiko...</span> He thought to himself. He just listened to her speaking. "I'm sorry you lost your friend like that." He said. Holding her even closer. He nodded his head. "Now it makes more sense...why you looked so pale last night." He said softly. "Before my parents told me such things weren't real...I would have. Hoshi would have no matter what. Grownups can be idiots..." He shook his head. "So can people our age. So am I...I believe you even if I'm conflicted on my beliefs...I believe you." He was being honest. "Paranormal activities...they are part of life in Yokohama. Hopefully nothing like that ever happens again." He said. Stroking her back with his hand. Just in a soothing way nothing else. "Lets not think on last night. Lets look forwards instead of backwards. Take the past and use it as wisdom for the future. Okay?" He felt for her. "You aren't alone anymore...you have us. No matter what...no matter what I personally believe. I'll always believe you." He looked up at the sky. "Besides...you've been right on everything you said so far. Just shows that there is lots of reason to believe you. You are the leader after all." He said with a soft smile. He looked back down at her. Smiling at her. Hoping she would feel better. He wanted to make her feel better. Even if he hadn't the faintest idea how to do so.<br/><br/>Yukiko stayed silent, again, as he spoke. After a few moments, she pulled her legs in closer and looked up at him. "..Kenji?" she said softly.<br/><br/>Kenji looked down at her. "Yes Yukiko?" He asked.<br/><br/>"..Thanks.."<br/><br/>"Anytime."</div></blockquote>